Perth Cup abandoned
Sunday’s G2 Perth Cup at Ascot was abandoned mid-race after a horrible fall that involved horses Dom To Shoot (Shooting To Win) and Chili Is Hot (Gingerbread Man).
Chili Is Hot appeared to have gone amiss about 200 metres into the race which resulted in Dom To Shoot to also fall causing jockeys Peter Knuckey and Jordan Turner fall from their mounts prompting stewards to abandon the race due to safety concerns with the field set to do another lap of the track.
Both jockeys Knuckey and Turner as well as Dom To Shoot have all been reported to be fine and are up and walking around however Chili Is Hot looked to have sustained serious injuries but there is yet to be an update on the mare's condition.
There has been no announcement yet by RWWA stewards whether the race will be rescheduled to a later date.
Blue Diamond on the cards for Exploring
High-class contests could now be on the agenda for Exploring (Brazen Beau) after she made the perfect start to her career in the New Year Sprint at Flemington on Sunday.
Trained by James Cummings and owned by Godolphin, the 2-year-old daughter of Brazen Beau defeated Picky (Cable Bay {Ire}) by 0.75l.
Exploring becomes the second juvenile winner of the season for Darley resident Brazen Beau, who is also the sire of dual winner and R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic-bound Croatian Belle.
Cummings' Melbourne assistant trainer Sean Keogh said Exploring could now head to the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) at Sandown on January 26.
I Am Me secures first stakes win
I Am Me’s (I Am Invincible) purple patch of form has been rewarded with a stakes victory as the daughter of I Am Invincible saluted the judge in the Listed Canterbury Sprint at Canterbury on Sunday.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained 4-year-old mare came into the Listed race having won her three previous starts and she continued her winning form when she defeated Spaceboy (Deep Field) by 1.21l.
Raced by an ownership which is headed by Dynamic Syndications, the mare was offered by Segenhoe Stud and snapped up by her part-owners and Dean Watt Bloodstock for $210,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2020.
I Am Me is out of winning mare Mefnooda (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and she is half-sister to Group 3 winner One World (Danehill {USA}) and she produced seven winners headed by fellow Group 3 scorer One Last Dance (Encosta De Lago).
In winning the race, she becomes the 89th stakes winner for Yarraman Park Stud resident I Am Invincible.
San Huberto eases to victory in Bagot
Earlier in the afternoon, I Am Me’s stablemate San Huberto (Ire) (Speightstown {USA}) produced an authoritative performance to win the Listed Bagot H. at Flemington.
The 7-year-old entire eased through the gears, eventually beating Nobel Heights (Fiorente {Ire}) by 4l. Sound (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) was a further 1l away in third.
“The blinkers and the tongue tie have given him a bit of focus," Eustace said. “Lucy (Yeomans) and the team at Cranbourne have done a great job with him. They have been working very hard over the festive season with all the racing.
“Hopefully now this horse can build a bit of confidence and get another win.”
Eustace said the G2 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville in March may be a suitable longer-term target for the 7-year-old.
Corner Pocket too strong in Chester Manifold
The Lindsey Smith-trained Corner Pocket (Toronado {Ire}) claimed his second Listed success when he took the Listed Chester Manifold S. at Flemington on Sunday.
The son of Toronado (Ire) came out on top of a close finish to beat Looks Like Elvis (All American) by 0.5l.
Corner Pocket was purchased by Craig Rounsefell’s Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) for $175,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in 2018, having been bought by Musk Creek Farm for $75,000 at the Inglis Weanling and Broodmare Sale the year before.
Corner Pocket was the headline act of a fine four-timer for the Swettenham Stud resident Toronado.
Alsephina continues brilliant form
The Grant and Alana Williams-trained Alsephina (Star Turn) continued her brilliant run of form when she prevailed in the G3 La Trice Classic at Ascot on Sunday.
The mare came into the race off the back of an unbeaten streak, having won her previous five starts including the Listed Starstruck Classic and she was able to extend her purple patch, beating More Special (Safeguard) by 1.8l.
Bred by G and G Bloodstock, Alsephina is one two winners, and only stakes winner, out of Listed Natasha S. winner Delta Gee (Street Cry {Ire}) and she is herself a half-sister to fellow stakes winner Wave Rock (Blackfriars).
Based at Vinery Stud, Star Turn enjoyed a good day at the races with another three of his progeny saluting the judge.
Shaddow Fear makes perfect start
The Luke Fernie-trained Shaddow Fear (Sioux Nation {USA}) made the perfect start to her career as she defeated More Special (Safeguard) by 1.71l on debut at Ascot on Sunday.
The daughter of former Swettenham Stud shuttler Sioux Nation (USA) was bought for $22,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale in 2021 and she is out of the winning Cape Cross (Ire) mare Noetic.
Party For Two wins at Sunshine Coast
Having finished third on debut, Party For Two (Sidestep) chalked up her first victory when she saluted the judge at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
Trained by Damien Batters, the daughter of Sidestep pulled clear to post an emphatic 7.5l win over Black Minto (Spill The Beans).
Party For Two was produced by dual winner Ponte Roma (NZ) and she hails from the extended family of dual Group 1-winning filly Katie Lee (NZ) (Pins) and fellow Group 1 winner Banchee (NZ) (Oratorio {Ire}).
Chilli Baba scores at Sha Tin
Chilli Baba made a winning debut at Sha Tin on Sunday which meant the gelding became the fourth winner from four winners in Hong Kong for Newgate Farm-based sire Capitalist.
The 3-year-old gelding defeated Innoconstruction (Headwater) by a 0.1l, while Flying High (Office Bearer) was a further 0.5l away in third.
Chilli Baba was purchased by Ricky Yiu for $155,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2021.
