Record number of second acceptors for Slipper
A record number of second acceptances have been received for the G1 Golden Slipper S. with more than 400 2-year-olds remaining in contention for the $5 million showpiece.
The Australian Turf Club confirmed 440 youngsters have been paid up for at the second acceptance stage, an increase of 22 per cent on last year's numbers and significantly more than the record 384 received in both 2019 and 2021.
“With prizemoney now $5 million plus a $1 million bonus on offer from the Australian Turf Club if a horse wins two key pathway races and the Longines Golden Slipper itself, the race continues to grow in stature and influence,” James Ross, ATC executive general manager racing and wagering.
Godolphin's James Cummings leads the way for the most number of juveniles in Golden Slipper contention with 41, ahead of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace with 35, and Annabel Neasham with 33.
Waterhouse not a fan of mooted Cox Plate move
Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse has voiced her displeasure at the possibility of the G1 Cox Plate being moved to late November.
The rumoured changes would see the Cox Plate shift from October 28 to November 25, while sprint features like the G1 Moir S. and G1 Manikato S., as well as the G1 Memsie S. and G1 Thousand Guineas, could also be on the move as part of the revamp.
“It stretches out over six weeks, nowhere else in the world is there a carnival which stretches out over that time. Pushing the Cox Plate to late November and adding two weeks to the carnival to make it two months is too long,” Waterhouse told Racing.com.
“They have something which is magical and has stood the test of time. They have a wonderful progression from Caulfield, through to Moonee Valley and on to Flemington. The progression is just fantastic; why change something that works?
“Why worry about the opposition? If they make this move, they are doomed to failure.”
Charm Stone on track for Diamond
G3 Ottawa S. heroine Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) is ticking along nicely en route to the G1 Blue Diamond S. (1200 metres) at Sandown-Hillside on February 25.
The well-bred Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly, who is from the Group 3 victress Najoom (Northern Meteor), making her a sister to the Listed winner Najmaty, took part in a Cranbourne jump-out on Monday.
“She was pleasing, Damian Lane rode her and she just had a cruisy one running third under a hold,” Kent Jnr told Racing.com.
“She'll have a second jump-out in two weeks and then she’ll aim for the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100 metres) on February 11 first-up.”
Charm Stone was a $1,550,000 buy for Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Connections chase black-type success with Ruby Tuesday
Deep Field mare Ruby Tuesday will be given her fifth chance to secure an all-important stakes victory in Saturday’s Listed Carrington S. (1400 metres) at Randwick.
The Gary Portelli-trained 6-year-old was fourth in the G3 Belle of the Turf S. at Gosford last time out.
“We are chasing hard for some black type with this mare,” Portelli told News Corp.
“She has won a lot of money for her owners and for breast cancer research and if we can get some black type then she would be worth a lot of money at stud.
“There's a bit of ‘cut’ in the track which is perfect for her and I feel she is ready to run a big race. If she can finish top-three we would be over the moon.”
Schick upbeat ahead of Karaka Million meeting
Saturday’s The Karaka Million twilight meeting at Pukekohe Park on Saturday could be a big one for Windsor Park Stud, with the Cambridge-based operation nursery well-represented in the meeting’s two feature races.
Unbeaten juvenile Trobriand (Kermadec {NZ}) was bred by Windsor Park and is likely to start favourite in the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO (1200 metres), while fellow graduates Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh), Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) and Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) will contest the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600 metres).
“I am pretty excited about this weekend, having Trobriand and Wild Night as favourite and second favourite for both their respective million-dollar races,” Windsor Park Stud principal Rodney Schick said.
“Having the services of Opie Bosson for both of those horses is fantastic. We are lucky to have him on.”
Schick is bullish about the chances of Dynastic and Wessex in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, despite them having to tackle gun filly Legarto (NZ) (Proisir).
Four-timer for Stanley
Apprentice jockey Jett Stanley was the star of the show at Wangaratta on Thursday, riding a career-best four winners (from six rides).
The son of G1 Caulfield Cup-winning jockey, now trainer, Brent Stanley, won Race 1 on Brick’n’wood (Cluster), Race 2 aboard Ruckman (O’Lonhro), Race 6 on Oamanikka (Oamaru Force) and Race 7 with Communication (Akeed Mofeed {GB}).
Australian talent lands in Hong Kong
A host of promising gallopers that have been sold to Hong Kong interests arrived in the Asian city earlier this week.
The shipment of nine raced and 13 unraced gallopers from Australia included stakes performer Thron Bone (Thronum), Serangoon (Ilovethiscity) - the only horse to beat the highly promising stayer Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}), two-time winner Musashi (Fighting Sun), Aoraki Summit (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) - a maiden winner at The Valley, Benalla maiden winner Tex Mex (Toronado {Ire}) and Doomben victor Aircraftman (Starcraft {NZ}).
Tomlinson looking forward to SA stint
Apprentice jockey Sheriden Tomlinson needed some convincing to move to South Australia, but now he’s there, he’s chomping at the bit to start riding.
Tomlinson, who has been based in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales in recent seasons, has joined the Richard and Chantelle Jolly stable for the final months of his apprenticeship.
“I was with Brett Cavanough at his satellite stable in Ballina; I’d only just moved there from Brisbane, and I’d ridden a couple of winners there, but we expected some of the trainers to use me a little bit more,” Tomlinson told Racing.com.
“I wasn’t too keen on it (transferring) at first because I was pretty comfortable and settled at Ballina, but he (Brett) said if I was his son, he would’ve encouraged me to do it.
“Richard and Chantelle obviously dominate here, so I jumped at the opportunity once I did a bit of research about the stable.”
Tomlinson has three rides at Gawler on Saturday, including Does It (NZ) (Pins) for the Jolly stable.
New Zealand Derby dream alive for Phantom Dragon
Phantom Dragon (Highland Reel {Ire}) advertised his G1 New Zealand Derby credentials when he broke his maiden at Te Rapa on Thursday.
Trained by Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard, the son of Highland Reel (Ire) could now head to the G2 Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa next month before lining up in the Group 1 Classic on March 4.
“We’ll give him his chance up in distance next start, with a view to preparing for the Derby, and he’s just starting to muscle up now into a racehorse,” said Gerard. “Mike has had plenty of experience navigating a Derby path with these young horses.
“He certainly didn’t want to pull up yesterday and Jake (Bayliss) didn’t think there’d be problem with him getting a Derby trip. He’s got a pretty low head carriage and leans on the bridle, but that’s a staying-type attribute in a way.
“He’s a big horse and we’ll do some work with him this afternoon and give him a couple of quiet days getting over the run. He’s going in the right direction.”
Two more jockeys outed by stewards
Jockey Jack Martin has been disqualified for more than four months and fellow rider Kayla Nisbet two months at the conclusion of a Racing NSW stewards' inquiry into their conduct.
Owner and professional punter Jacob Hoffman was also outed for an extended period in relation to his involvement in the matters.
Stewards on Wednesday issued Martin with a disqualification of four months and one week after he was found guilty on three separate charges, including giving false or misleading evidence at a stewards' inquiry and conduct prejudicial to the image and integrity of racing.
He was also charged with wagering on races via a family member's Sportsbet account, for which he was hit with a further six-week suspension.
Martin's penalties will begin immediately and he can return to the saddle on July 3.
Nisbet was charged with accepting $1000 in cash from Hoffman, via a known associate, after Hoffman profited from her winning ride on Smuggler's Bay (Squamosa) at Wagga in May 2021.
She was also charged with providing false or misleading evidence at the initial stewards' inquiry into the matter. Nisbet pleaded guilty to both charges and was suspended for two months, starting immediately and expiring on March 18.
