Magic Millions Raceday rescheduled for Thursday
The Magic Millions raceday on the Gold Coast was called off after two races and the remaining races will now be run on Thursday.
After the first two races' jockeys conducted a secret ballot to decide if the conditions were safe enough to continue and the decision was taken to pull the pin on the day.
Fourteen millimetres of rain had fallen on Saturday resulting in the track becoming unsuitable after two races were run on the 10-race card.
Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell confirmed that the remaining eight races, including the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas would be run on Thursday at the Gold Coast.
“We want to give the track time to recover and with showers forecast on Monday and Tuesday, there was no guarantee that we have a suitable track by Wednesday,” Parnell said. “So we thought that Thursday was the best option.”
Revolution extends to Singapore
Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution sired his first winner in Singapore on Saturday, after his 3-year-old son Petrograd won an 1000-metre maiden on the Polytrack surface.
Trained by Michael Clements, he is also his sire’s first runner in the country, and is owned by Kuldeep Rajput Singh’s Gandharvi Stable, who also owns horses in some of Australia's leading stables.
A second-season sire, Russian Revolution has now clocked 37 winners in his career at stud, including three stakes winners.
Heroic Valour’s double
Standing at Raheen Stud, second-season sire Heroic Valour sired a double on Friday, both 3-year-old fillies. Michael Nolan’s Alfa Lily recorded her second victory at Ipswich, and Ryan Tyrell and Tom Button’s Heroic Rose broke her maiden at Warwick.
Heroic Valour is the sire of 17 winners from his first crop.
Shaddow Fear remains unbeaten
Having made a winning debut on New Year’s Day, Shaddow Fear (Sioux Nation {USA}) kept her unblemished record intact when she added a second consecutive victory at Ascot.
By Swettenham Stud’s former shuttler Sioux Nation (USA), the 2-year-old filly came out on top of a close finish to defeat Happy As Larry (I’m All The Talk) by 0.8l, while Ecstasy Of Gold (Smart Missile) was a further 1.5l away in third.
Shadow Fear winning at Ascot | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
The 2-year-old was purchased for $22,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Sale from the Leneva Park draft in 2021.
Sioux Nation stood for one season in Australia where he covered 54 mares at a fee of $17,600 (inc GST).
Buster Bashes his way to Cup victory
Trained by David Harrison, 5-year-old Buster Bash (Trade Fair {GB}) strode to facile success in the G2 Perth Cup (2400 metres). Ridden Shaun McGruddy, the pair pressed on well before they entered the home straight and that confident move was reflected in the winning margin, as he finished 4.22l ahead of his nearest rival, Stafford's Lad (Demerit). In third, 1.27l further back, was Pure Devotion (So You Think {NZ}).
It was a 10th victory for the gelding, and a first at Group 2 level, having twice been successful in Listed events.
Snapper wins Standish
Mike Moroney is now eyeing a tilt at the G1 Newmarket H. with Snapper (NZ) (Power {GB}) following his victory in the G3 Standish H. at Flemington on Saturday.
The 5-year-old grabbed his first win at stakes level when he defeated Rose Quartz (Written Tycoon) by 0.8l and Dawn Passage (Dawn Approach {Ire}) was the same distance away in third.
Snapper (NZ) leads from start to finish to win the G3 Standish H. at Flemington | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He kicks off that corner and is a good handy horse, a little bit underrated,” Glen Thompson said. “He'll win better races than this, hopefully. There's a lot of races for him at The Valley now and he could even be a lightweight chance in the Newmarket.
“He ran really well in the William Reid S. last year, so there are plenty of options.”
Ladies Man enhances Wellington Cup claims
Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) enhanced his G3 Wellington Cup claims when he took out the G3 Trentham S. on Saturday.
The 5-year-old gelding defeated Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) by 0.2l, while Waisake (NZ), who is also by Zed (NZ), was the same distance further back in third.
Craig Grylls returns to scale aboard impressive G3 Trentham S. winner Ladies Man (NZ) at Trentham | Image courtesy of Race Images - Peter Rubery
“I’m not 100 per cent with him yet, but he’s in the (Wellington) Cup and he is a big chance to win it as he is the favourite,” Allan Sharrock said. “I think I can improve the horse as he has had a rough week with a few things that have gone wrong, so that was a good run.”
Dunkel’s Derby path and a Dundeel double
Patrick Payne’s 3-year-old Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) has set himself on a Derby path after an eye-catching burst saw him win his second consecutive race on Saturday under Harry Coffey. Taking Race 2 at Flemington as top-weight in a handicap over 2000 metres, the odds-on favourite nabbed the lead late from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Soul Choice (Redoute’s Choice) to win by 0.5l, with Midnight Glow (Sebring) a further 1.25l back in third.
The rapidly improving gelding may now head to the Tasmanian Derby next month, with bigger possible targets including G1 Australian, South Australian and Queensland Derbys.
“He's got really nice ability and he's a stayer that's on the rise but he's just doing those little things that makes it hard to watch,” Coffey said.
“He's a horse that's going the right way and when he works out that thought process, he's going to be even better.”
It was a double on the day for Arrowfield Stud resident Dundeel (NZ), after 4-year-old mare Classic Deel made it two in a row for Kris Lees in a Class 1 at Tuncurry. Dundeel has now sired 60 winners for the season, including three stakes winners.
Toronado treble on Saturday
Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (Ire) sired a treble on Saturday. After the Robert Hickmott-trained 5-year-old gelding Beltoro strode to a 3.75l victory at Flemington, Toronado’s 4-year-old son Zatara claimed his maiden win at Warwick.
The treble was completed by Mariamia, a 6-year-old mare, who did best in a head-bobbing finish to Race 7 at Rosehill, a BM88. Mariamia has achieved a Group 3 placing since joining Joseph Pride’s Warwick Farm stable early last year, and is owned by Newhaven Park.
First at Flemington for McGrath
Trainer Brian McGrath sent out D’jumbuck (Starspangledbanner) to victory in the BM84 at Flemington on Saturday, claiming his first winner at Flemington in the process, a victory made all the more special as the 5-year-old gelding was bred by McGrath’s family.
“It’s a big thrill to get a winner at Flemington,” McGrath told Racing.com. “We had a filly here who ran third, no, fourth once, so to win here at headquarters is massive.
Brian McGrath | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“A real thrill. I am really thrilled also for the owners. A special moment.
“He’s taken a bit of time to mature like his mother did, but he seems to be hitting his straps.”
