Undefeated Anavinci lands the Gosford Guineas
Annabel Neasham’s 3-year-old filly Anavinci, a daughter of I Am Invincible from the dual Group 1 winner Anabandana (Anabaa {USA}), won the Listed Gosford Guineas on Wednesday in a sharp finish with Russian Conquest (Russian Revolution) and Hell I Am (Hellbent). The filly was an $18 outsider in a competitive field and gave jockey Chad Schofield back-to-back victories in the race.
Connections of Anavinci after winning the Listed Gosford Guineas | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Anavinci has raced only twice but she is undefeated in both starts. She last raced on debut at Wyong on December 8 for her breeder and owner, the Huddy family of Peachester Lodge.
Ananvinci is the fifth surviving foal from Anabandana and a half-sister to the dual Group winner Packing Rockstar (Fastnet Rock), who was a one-time Hong Kong import and is now trained in New Zealand by Lauren Brennan. The filly was stakes winner number 88 for I Am Invincible.
Humbucker wins the Timaru Cup
The 6-year-old gelding Humbucker (NZ), a son of Iffraaj (GB), won the Listed Timaru Cup on Wednesday, defeating Monza Circuito (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) and The Buffer (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) in a career-best performance with jockey Kylie Williams. It was the gelding’s first win in 12 months, albeit he had been placed in almost all his starts since.
Humbucker is trained by Ellis Winsloe after relocating to the Southland trainer from Byerley Park’s Peter and Dawn Williams. He holds a nomination for the G1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham on January 28.
Humbucker (NZ) winning the Listed Timaru Cup | Image courtesy of Race Images South
“He’s a big, headstrong lad and can be quite a hard horse to handle,” Winsloe told NZ Racing Desk. “He’s a super horse and we’re definitely looking at going up there (to the Thorndon Mile). At this stage, I don’t think he’ll need another run but I’ll get him home and see how he is.”
Royal Ascot for Roch ‘N’ Horse?
The outstanding sprinter Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ), a 6-year-old daughter of Per Incanto (USA), could be Royal Ascot-bound, according to comments made by her trainer, Michael Moroney, on RSN this week. The mare was a last-start winner of the G1 VRC Champions Sprint Classic at Flemington, defeating Nature Strip (Nicconi), backing up her earlier win this year in the G1 Newmarket H.
Roch 'N' Horse (NZ) winning the G1 VRC Champions Sprint Classic | Image courtesy of Bruno Cannatelli
“There are races there (Royal Ascot) to suit her, but it would be up to the owners,” Moroney said. “Talking with Sam (Williams, of Little Avondale Stud), he is thinking along those lines. We’re going to start off with the Lightning, head to the Newmarket and then probably the TJ Smith.”
Roch ‘N’ Horse is raced in the colours of her breeder, Little Avondale Stud. She is just shy of $3 million in prizemoney across 18 lifetime starts.
Robbie Fradd retires
South African ex-pat Robbie Fradd, a professional jockey based in Queensland since 2014, has announced his immediate retirement from the riding ranks. His manager, former rider Jeff Lloyd, released a statement on Tuesday confirming Fradd’s heart condition, which will require triple bypass surgery.
“It has been established that Robbie’s main artery is 90 per cent blocked and he has already suffered a minor heart attack,” Lloyd stated.
Robbie Fradd | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Fradd last rode at Eagle Farm on December 21. His professional career saw him achieve top-shelf success at home in South Africa, in Hong Kong where he won the jockeys’ premiership in 1999/00, and he was associated with Singapore star Rocket Man (Viscount). He rode 762 winners in Australia.
Pinstriped the latest All-Star Mile hope
The Street Boss (USA) 4-year-old Pinstriped, trained by Enver Jusufovic at Cranbourne, is the latest addition to The All-Star Mile list, the gelding nominated on Wednesday for the $5 million contest. He earned a wildcard berth in the race earlier this year, running 10th behind eventual winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).
Pinstriped was last seen in the Golden Eagle in October when unplaced to I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel). He is lightly raced with three wins and two placings from nine overall starts, his victories including the G3 CS Hayes S. at Flemington in February this year.
Yaphet for The All-Star Mile?
The 4-year-old gelding Yaphet (Blackfriars), whose unusual grey markings have earned him considerable fame, is in line for a berth in the $5 million The All-Star Mile, his trainer Cliff Brown revealed to Racing.com. Yaphet was last seen when second to Jungle Magnate (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}), who's now in Hong Kong, in the G1 South Australia Derby last May.
Brown said the form out of that race has been consistently good, with the winner now a fancy for the Hong Kong Derby and third-placed Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) a winner of five of his seven starts.
Yaphet | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We want to have it (The All-Star Mile) there as a possible option when we see how he comes up,” Brown said. “He’s going to get over further but we’ll see where the campaign takes us and whether he gets votes or wins a race to get in, or even gets a wildcard if his form warrants it.”
Mugen likely for Hong Kong
Trainer Clinton McDonald has told Racing.com that he’s likely to lose his Deep Field star Mugen to Hong Kong, with the decision on the horse’s future set to be made in the next few days. Four-year-old Mugen is owned by the Hong Kong-based Upper Bloodstock and he’s been second and first in two starts since November 23.
Mugen winning at Moonee Valley | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We take them knowing they could head to Hong Kong,” McDonald said. “It’s always disappointing to lose a horse like him because he’s a horse that’s always shown great promise here. Anyway, best of luck. He’ll be good wherever he goes.”
Hopeful Stakes to Dura Erede
The G1 Hopeful S. over 2000 metres was run and won at Nakayama on Wednesday, with the 2-year-old colt Dura Erede (Jpn), a son of Duramente (Jpn), victorious in a tight finish with the Declaration Of War (USA) colt Top Knife (Jpn). It was a significant boilover, the winner paying as much as $81 on the Australian betting markets.
Dura Erede is from the mare Marchesa (Jpn), a daughter of the iconic hero Orfevre (Jpn), and he was ridden by visiting jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev. The pair won the Hopeful S. by a nose, edging out Top Knife to give trainer Manabu Ikezoe a big win.
Natalie Hewson appointed to ATC
The Australian Turf Club (ATC) this week announced the appointment of Natalie Hewson as an independent director for a four-year term, effective from February 1. It followed recommendations made to the Minister for Racing by a panel convened under the Clubs Merger Act 2010.
Hewson, 37, has close to 20 years of experience in the finance sector, with over eight years as a company director in the advisory firm FMA Partners. She is a member of the ATC with a long family history in racing and ownership.
Natalie Hewson | Image courtesy of FMA
“I am very pleased to welcome Natalie to the Board as we continue to make the ATC one of the nation’s best clubs,” said ATC Chairman Peter McGauran. “Natalie’s strong history with horse racing for her entire life, combined with being a young female entrepreneur with strong business background, adds a well-rounded, fresh and diverse perspective to our Board.”
Off-track grant recipients named
Racing Victoria announced on Wednesday the seven equine businesses that have received financial support from the Off The Track Program. The successful applicants each received $10,000.
The seven Victorian businesses awarded were JW Equestrian Riding Academy, Yarramalong Equestrian, Marcus Oldham College, Stonesthrow Equestrian Centre, the Australian Centre of Trauma and Wellness, Equus and Racing Hearts.
“We have received a strong response to the application process for the Off The Track business grant, which made awarding the seven successful applicants a tough decision,” said Melissa Ware, Racing Victoria’s general manager, equine welfare. “The aim of the business grant program is to increase demand for thoroughbreds and explore non-competitive avenues for retiring racehorses to enjoy a second career.”
PointsBet in negotiations with Betr
The betting firm PointsBet has confirmed that it is in potential negotiations with NTD Pty Ltd, owners and operators of the Australian wagering firm Betr, as reported by the mainstream media on December 23. However, regarding the sale of its Australian trading business, PointsBet said it routinely explores such options when they are presented by third parties, as is the case here.
‘Discussions between PointsBet and NTD are incomplete and preliminary in nature,’ read a statement released on Wednesday by PointsBet. ‘There is no certainty that these discussions will result in any binding transaction.’
Bisphosphonates rule change
Racing Australia has announced two new rules restricting the use of bisphosphonates in horses aged less than four years and horses four years and older. The 4-year-old age bracket was deemed a rational way of clearly demarcating to which horses the new rules apply.
Bisphosphonates are drugs that inhibit the normal biological mechanism for bone maintenance and repair, and can lead to accumulation of micro-damage and bone fragility. They are also potent analgesics and, according to Racing Australia, may disguise serious underlying injuries such as stress fractures in young horses.
