Bruckner retired
Four-year-old entire Bruckner, a son of Snitzel, was retired on Wednesday in an announcement by his trainers, Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. The horse was last seen when unplaced on Saturday at Caulfield in the Listed Doveton S., the stable admitting that despite best efforts, he hadn’t trained on to his 3-year-old standards.
“It is a shame that we never got to see his potential on the track as he always gave us the impression of a true autumn 3-year-old, but his class was evident in the short time we saw him run,” the stable’s statement read.
Bruckner | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Bruckner won two races in his seven lifetime starts, including the G3 HDF McNeil S. last season. He is raced in a syndicate that includes Tony Fung Investments and Widden Stud. According to both Widden and Aquis Farm on Wednesday afternoon, no discussions about where the horse would stand sire duties has yet occurred.
Fifth stakes win for The Inevitable
Seven-year-old gelding The Inevitable, a son of Dundeel (NZ) from the very useful producer Gift Bouquet (King’s High), notched his fifth stakes victory on Wednesday evening when winning the Listed Newmarket H. at Launceston.
It was a 0.5l win for the Scott Brunton-trained gelding, who jumped from barrier 11 with jockey David Pires, leading home his stablemate First Accused (Turffontein) and the Barry Campbell-trained Alpine Wolf (Alpine Eagle).
The Inevitable has now won 12 of his 25 total starts, backing up victories in the G3 CS Hayes S., Listed Tasmanian Guineas and two further stakes victories before Wednesday night’s win. He is just shy of $1 million in earnings.
The gelding is the third stakes winner from Gift Bouquet, and a half-brother to the G3 Adelaide Guineas winner Blahnik (Jeune) and the Listed Cinderella S. winner Elysees (Statue Of Liberty {USA}). The Inevitable was a $90,000 yearling at the 2017 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale when sold by Cornerstone Stud to David Brunton.
D’Argento sister wins at Gosford
Youthfull, a So You Think (NZ) full sister to the G1 Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento, posted her second race win in 13 starts at Gosford on Wednesday in the opening Class 1 and maiden event. Trained by Brad Widdup, the 4-year-old mare was ridden to a 0.34l victory by Jay Ford over 1900 metres.
Youthfull is a daughter of the Baramul mare Fullazz (Redoute’s Choice), and she was bought by BK Racing at the 2020 Magic MIllions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $375,000. She capped a good couple of days for Widdup and her ownership, who had a strong trial win on Tuesday with the Magic Millions Wyong-bound filly Fire Lane (Hellbent).
Forsman with Karaka Million pair
Cambridge-based trainer Andrew Forsman will have two strong contenders for the 2023 Karaka Million series, with his filly Ethereal Star (Snitzel) heading the order of entries for the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO, and Devastate (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) for the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
Two-year-old Ethereal Star is a last-start winner of the Listed Challenge S., bringing her record of two starts for a win and a second place, while Devastate is a three-time winner in four starts, his last win being the G3 Wellington S. on November 24.
Ethereal Star | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Ethereal Star was a NZ$600,000 purchase for Forsman from Book 1 at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2022 Karaka Yearling Sale, and with NZ$57,300 in earnings, she leads Rhetorical (NZ) (Snitzel) and Balance Of Power (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) in the 2-year-old race’s order of entry.
Te Akau dominant in Karaka Million order
Te Akau Racing has six of the top 10 juveniles on the order of entry for the 2023 R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO. With Rhetorical and Balance Of Power occupying second and third on the ballot respectively, Viva Vienna (NZ), a daughter of All Too Hard, is fourth, and the latest Te Akau addition is the Satono Aladdin (Jpn) colt Tokyo Tycoon (NZ), who won on debut last weekend at Te Rapa.
Viva Vienna (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
The Te Akau operation has won the last six editions of the Karaka Million 2YO, including with Dynastic this year and, in recent years, On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau), Cool Aza Beel (NZ), Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), Avantage (Fastnet Rock) and Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands).
Manzoice half-brother breaks maiden
Raajoices (NZ), a 4-year-old Iffraaj (GB) half-brother to VRC Derby winner Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}), broke his maiden in good fettle at Rotorua on Wednesday at just the second time of asking. Trained by Cambridge’s Catherine Cameron, the gelding led home race favourite Prismatic (NZ) (Savabeel) by a short margin, with a further 3l back to third-placed Daydream Believer (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).
Raajoices was a NZ$210,000 purchase from Wentwood Grange for Australian bloodstock agent John Foote at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, and when plans for the horse to head to John Size in Hong Kong fell through, he landed with Cameron free of charge.
“He’s a nice, big horse,” the trainer told Punters.com. “He’s just been a bit slow maturing. I thought maybe he’d (Size) lease him to me with a right to purchase, but sometimes those guys in Hong Kong cut their losses.”
Prise De Fer for Group 1 breakthrough
The 7-year-old Te Akau Racing gelding Prise De Fer (NZ), a son of Savabeel for Matamata trainer Mark Walker, will be looking to break his Group 1 duck on Saturday in the Captain Cook S. at Trentham. It will be the 14th time of asking at this level for the gelding. Prise De Fer is a four-time Group winner and he was last seen on the weekend when winning the G3 Eagle Technology S. (Great Northern Challenge S.) at Te Rapa.
Prise De Fer (NZ) | Image courtesy of Megan Liefting
“He’s come through it really well,” Walker told NZ Racing Desk. “It was good to see him get another win on the board and hopefully that gets his confidence back up heading towards Saturday.”
Local bookmakers have Prise De Fer at about NZ$3.30 second favourite for the G1 Captain Cook behind Aegon at NZ$1.85.
ATC calls for sixth round of grant applications
The Australian Turf Club (ATC) Foundation is calling for applications for a sixth round of grants to be awarded to registered charities and racing industry bodies. Project-related grants of up to $150,000 will be available to racing industry causes across New South Wales, as well as Local Government Areas (LGA) around the club’s racecourses.
Over $1 million has already been raised and distributed by the ATC Foundation since 2018, and applications for the sixth round close on Friday, December 23 at 5pm AEDT.
“Our Club, through the generosity of our members and customers, is proud to help so many causes right across New South Wales," said Angela Belle, the ATC Foundation's chairperson. “We urge as many organisations as possible to apply so we can again quickly disperse funds.”
Moroney, Cumani each with two in Pakenham Cup
Saturday’s Listed Pakenham Cup has attracted a field of 11, with trainers Michael Moroney and Matt Cumani both represented by two runners in the $300,000 race.
Moroney has Sound (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) and Milford (NZ) (Savabeel) backing up from their respective runs last week, while Cumani has Future Score (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Nobel Heights (Fiorente {Ire}).
Inside draw for unbeaten Queenslander
Rising star Chinny Boom (Spirit Of Boom) will jump from barrier one in Saturday’s Listed Mode S. at Doomben. Trained by Clinton Taylor at Rockhampton, Chinny Boom is unbeaten in five starts and broke through in town (Eagle Farm) at her most recent outing.
Ben Thompson, who rode her last start, stays on the flying filly.
Chinny Boom | Image courtesy of Racing QLD
Gollan looks for Moore Stakes success
Queensland’s premier trainer, Tony Gollan, is hunting a fifth win in eight years in the G3 George Moore S. Gollan, who won the race last year with Zoustyle (Zoustar), will be represented by Garibaldi (I Am Invincible) in Saturday’s $200,000 sprint at Doomben.
Garibaldi has been knocking on the door of late, running minor placings at his past two starts.
Wet won’t worry Zola Express, says Millar
The prospect of heavy going at Trentham on Saturday poses no issues for Zola Express (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), according to the mare’s trainer Janelle Millar. The Group 2 winner will contest Saturday’s G1 Captain Cook S. over 1600 metres.
Zola Express (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“I do a lot of work on her myself and she goes through a wet track like a good track so it will only slow down some of those faster horses. She will cop it no problem,” Millar said.
Zola Express has won five races, including the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup and the Listed Wanganui Cup.
Purton sidelined by COVID once more
Hong Kong’s leading jockey, Australian Zac Purton, was forced to miss Wednesday night’s Happy Valley meeting after testing positive to COVID. It’s the second time this month the five-time Hong Kong Champion has tested positive to the illness, having also missed the November 16 meeting because of the virus.
“The club’s Chief Medical Officer is investigating a possible asymptomatic re-positive case, following a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test of Z Purton undertaken this morning,” Jockey Club licensing committee secretary Terry Bailey said in a statement.
“Jockey Purton first tested positive for COVID-19 on November 13, 2022 and has since fully recovered. Jockey Purton has been stood down from race riding at tonight’s (Wednesday) Happy Valley race meeting."
Ouija Board passes away
Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), the brilliant racemare and dam of Derby winner Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), has died at the age of 21. Confirming the dual Classic winner's passing on Tuesday, her breeder Lord Derby said, “In our wildest dreams, we never imagined we could breed a horse that would be a global record-breaker and inspire so many people with so many happy memories. She was simply the best and always had the most wonderful temperament. She loved a hug and a polo mint every time we walked around the stud. We were so lucky to have her in our lives as she brought us so much joy. The fun and the pleasure that she gave us in a four-year journey around the globe will give us happy memories forever.”
Trained by Ed Dunlop, Ouija Board won the Oaks and Irish Oaks and rounded off her Classic season with victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. At four, she added the Hong Kong Vase to her Group 1 haul and then remained in training at five to win the G1 Prince of Wales's S. and G1 Nassau S. before a repeat success at the Breeders' Cup.
