The Autumn Sun’s first runner to step out at Warwick Farm
Arrowfield Stud-based first-season sire The Autumn Sun will be represented by his first runner at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when his son Deciduous runs in the aptly named The Autumn Sun at Arrowfield Plate.
Deciduous was purchased by his trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott alongside Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $475,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2022 and Bott said he has been impressed with the progeny of the sire so far.
The Autumn Sun | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
“We quite liked them as a whole through the yearling sales and purchasing, we were fortunate enough to be able to secure a few, and a number seem to be high on our lists judging by their physical type,” Bott said.
“They've all been very straightforward at this early stage and have been great to deal with and all have shown plenty of natural ability, which is good to see.”
Four for O’Shea in The Ingham
John O’Shea will launch a four-pronged attack on the G2 The Ingham on Saturday at Randwick as he saddles up Kirwan’s Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), Diamil (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) and Berdibek (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the $2 million race.
Stable representative Tom Charlton has singled out Diamil as the one of the four that has the most upside.
“He's probably the one that's the most unexposed of the crew,” Charlton said.
John O'Shea | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“The others have done a lot of damage over the last couple of years in a sense that their rating is high.
“This horse gets in at a lovely weight of 54.5kg and he's come off a really good run in The Five Diamonds where the form has been franked throughout the race. We loved his trial last week, gets Tommy Berry on and I think he's a live contender.”
Godolphin’s big guns return to work
Godolphin’s big guns, Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}), In Secret (I Am Invincible) and Aft Cabin (Astern), have returned to work following their short spell.
Godolphin Australia's Managing Director Vin Cox said that while no decision had been made on when or where Cox Plate hero Anamoe might make his international debut, the stable was delighted with the seven-time Group 1 winner.
“He’s back in training after a nice spell, but we’ve got no plans made at this stage,” Cox told Racing.com.
“He’s put on a bit of weight and everyone seems happy with him. I saw him myself on Sunday and he looks very well.
“We have to get him up and get him going so we won’t be making a decision on that (international trip) until early February.”
Imperatriz on-track for the Railway
Te Akau Racing’s dual Group 1-winning filly Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) is on-song for the G1 Railway S. at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day with an 850-metre trial at Te Awamutu on Tuesday. Partnered by Opie Bosson, she was given just a quiet hitout by trainer Mark Walker.
“She just had a quiet day out and will trial again before she heads to the Railway,” he said.
Imperatriz with Opie Bosson on Tuesday | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Imperatriz was joined in her effort by stablemate Stella Splendida (NZ) (Zoustar), who is set to resume next week, while Group 1 winner On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) was third in his respective heat behind Field Of Gold (Starspangledbanner) for the stable. Group 1 winner Maven Belle (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) was also runner-up in her heat.
Platinum Invador presses on to Waikato Cup
New Zealand’s top staying prospect of 2019 and 2020, Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), will take his place in the G3 Waikato Cup at Te Rapa this weekend. The 7-year-old gelding has been on the mend from a tendon injury since racing in Queensland in May 2021, and trainer Lisa Latta said the horse was improving steadily.
“He’s just his normal self,” she told NZ Racing Desk. “You can’t notice that he’s had his injury, but obviously he’s a day-to-day proposition.”
Platinum Invador (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Platinum Invador was a last-start fourth in the Listed Wanganui Cup on November 26, and before that third on debut from a long layoff. The gelding is nominated for two summer features in New Zealand, including the G3 Wellington Cup and G2 Auckland Cup.
Incentivise on track
Peter Moody has revealed that Incentivise (Shamus Award) is on track for a return to the track next autumn.
The son of Shamus Award has not been sighted since his second-place finish in last year’s G1 Melbourne Cup and Moody told Racing.com the gelding was flourishing.
“He’s bigger and stronger and coming along well,” Moody said. “He’s a couple of months away (from racing) but he’s doing everything we ask of him.”
Incentivise | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He’s in good order. He went to the paddock because I just thought he’d been through the wringer (in his rehabilitation).
“It was more a mental thing than anything else, but now he looks strong and he’s actually carrying more condition than he ever has so I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not, but I’m very happy with him.”
Explosive Jack set for return
Multiple Group 1 winner Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) has recovered from a head injury that put paid to his spring campaign.
“He had a few niggles after the (2021) Melbourne Cup and then he injured his head when he was getting ready for the spring,” co-trainer Ciaron Maher told Racing.com.
“We aren’t 100 per cent sure on how he did it, but you can see where he injured himself at the top of his nose. The main thing now is that he’s all good.”
Explosive Jack contested an 800-metre jump-out at Cranbourne this week to take another step in his comeback after having not raced since finishing down the track in the 2021 Melbourne Cup.
“He went well. We didn’t ask him for too much, but he did it well and he’ll have another jump-out in a couple of weeks and he’ll be getting closer (to racing again).
“The plan is to get him ready for the Sydney Cup. We’ve given him a nice base (of fitness) as he’s had a fair bit of time off and he should really improve into his next trial.”
Doyle cleared to ride
After returning an ‘indifferent’ COVID test upon her rival in Hong Kong, Hollie Doyle has been passed fit to ride at Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting.
Doyle has been riding in Japan for the past few weeks and she will get the leg up in eight of the nine races on the Happy Valley card on Wednesday.
Aga Khan filly tops second-straight session at Arqana
One day after the Aga Khan-bred and -consigned Shahnameh (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) topped the proceedings at the Arqana Vente d'Elevage, another of the operation's 3-year-old filly was the star turn in Deauville, as the unraced Vazzana (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) was knocked down for €120,000 (AU$187,600) to lead the way during the penultimate session of the auction.
Nearly four out of every five horses (217) offered during Monday's session were reported as sold for gross turnover of €2,540,000 (AU$3,970,500). The average of €11,704 (AU$18,300) improved by 12.77 per cent over last year, while the median price of €8500 (AU$13,300) represented a gain of 21.4 per cent.
Entering Tuesday's final session, 613 horses have changed hands for €56,099,500 (AU$87,693,700) The average of €91,516 (AU$143,100) and median of €26,000 (AU$40,600) are well ahead of last year's numbers.
Tosen Stardom to shuttle to Ireland
Woodside Park Stud-based sire Tosen Stardom (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will shuttle to Lemongrove Stud in Ireland where he will stand for a fee of €7000 (AU$11,000).
Lemongrove Stud’s Tom Wallace reached an agreement with Emiratis Hamad Al Kadfoor and his racing business partner Ali Farooq to bring the son of Deep Impact (Jpn) to Ireland.
