Freak accident claims Snippetson
Western Australian stallion Snippetson died after a freak accident at Scenic Lodge on Monday morning in which he slipped in his paddock. The 21-year-old son of Snippets was the sire of 15 stakes winners overall, having relocated from Widden Stud in 2016.
In a statement released by Scenic Lodge, General Manager Jeremy Smith said: “We are all absolutely devastated and in total shock.
Snippetson
“For something so straight forward as a little stumble to take his life is hard to get your head around. I would like to thank everyone that has supported Snippetson since he relocated to us and a massive thanks to all our staff involved that care and loved him so much especially our Stud Manager Kirsty who had an incredible bond with Snippy.”
Kah, J-Mac confirm Millions mounts
Leading jockeys Jamie Kah and James McDonald could well fight out the finish of this year’s R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast on January 14, with the star duo booked for the two leading fancies in betting.
Kah will partner Saturday’s Doomben winner Sovereign Fund (Capitalist), while McDonald will stick with G3 Breeders’ Plate hero Empire Of Japan (Snitzel), who was turned over when a $2.50 favourite last start.
Perth Cup aftermath
The $500,000 G2 Perth Cup was deemed a no-race on New Year’s Day after two horses fell around 200 metres after the start, namely Chili Is Hot (Gingerbread Man) who was euthanised after appearing to clip heels and being run over by Dom To Shoot (Shooting To Win), who escaped uninjured.
Jockey Joseph Azzopardi has pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge and his licence to ride in races has been suspended for a period of six weeks with effect from January 1, 2023.
Azzopardi was charged under AR131 (a) with the particulars being: “Near the 2200-metre mark he allowed his mount Buster Bash to shift outwards when not clear of Chilli Is Hot, causing that mare to contact the heels of Buster Bash and fall with Dom To Shoot falling in consequence and Neufbosc and numerous other runners also receiving interference.”
Commenting on the incident, Perth Racing CEO James Oldring said: “This is one of the hardest events for anyone involved with racing to deal with.
“The welfare of jockeys and horses is always our top priority.”
Bagot winner’s future under a cloud
Imported stayer San Huberto (Ire) (Speightstown {USA}), who on Sunday won the Listed Bagot H. (2800 metres) at Flemington, may have run his last race, with the 7-year-old horse sustaining a suspected tendon injury.
“There’s a lesion there this morning (Monday), it’s in the same leg that we did have some suspensory problems about 18 months ago so it certainly looks as though it could be connected to that,” OTI Racing’s CEO, Terry Henderson, said.
“It’s hard to know the extent of it but the horse was certainly sore this morning and there’s a lesion there.
“It’ll be a week or so before things settle down, we’ll know by then the severity of it and then decide whether a rehab program is warranted or whether we retire the horse. He’s getting to an age where it’s not getting any easier to get him back.”
Telegraph Handicap for Babylon Berlin
Trainer Ben Foote has revealed Sunday’s G1 Sistema Railway runner-up Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) will head to the G1 Telegraph H. (1200 metres) at Trentham.
“She ate everything we put in front of her (Sunday) night and it was as though she had just had a track gallop,” Foote said.
“I will sit down with her owners and discuss plans for her, but at this stage we will be going to the Telegraph next.”
Babylon Berlin | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Foote will map out an autumn plan for the 5-year-old, who was beaten by star mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) after she tackles the NZ$350,000 feature on January 14.
“I would like to take her to Melbourne in the autumn, as we didn’t see the best of her in Brisbane when we took her there during the winter and I’d like to head back across to Australia and show them how good she really is,” he said.
Winner for Lucia Valentina
Luella Cristina (Snitzel) - the second foal of multiple Group 1 heroine Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) - made the perfect start to her career, winning over 1200 metres on debut at Tauranga on Monday.
The 3-year-old was bred and is raced by Wellington businessman Lib Petagna, who bred and raced Lucia Valentina, and the filly has the same trainer as the triple-Group 1 winner, Stephen Marsh.
“That was a very tidy performance and I know that Lib and the people around him will have got a real kick out of this as I know I certainly have,” Marsh said.
“She is obviously bred in the purple and has a lot to live up to, but to win at the same track where her mum kicked her career off is pretty neat.
“Every prep we have given her, she has improved and I have been pleased with the development she has shown in the trials we gave her.”
Incentivise comeback deferred
The long-awaited return to action for 2021 G1 Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise (Shamus Award) has been delayed, as trainer Peter Moody announced that the 6-year-old gelding knocked a leg.
“He'll be out for the early autumn, so he's probably at the back end of autumn now, but his condition is good, but we've just erred on the side of caution,” Moody told Racing and Sports.
Incentivise | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We've backed off for about 10 days and for a horse like him, that probably sets him back two or three weeks.”
Group 3 winner retired
Handy mare Fituese (Deep Field) has run her last race and will be sold at one of the upcoming broodmare sales, Prime Thoroughbreds' Joe O’Neill confirmed.
The 6-year-old raced 23 times, winning seven races, including the G3 Toy Show H. in 2021 and the Listed Denise’s Joy S. in 2020.
Fituese earned $549,515 in prizemoney, having been bought by Prime Thoroughbreds for just $55,000 from the draft of Western Breeders Alliance at the 2018 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
