First winner for Grunt
The Yulong first-season sire Grunt (NZ), who enjoyed a strong week of results at Karaka, logged his first-ever winner on Thursday evening when the 2-year-old Veight won by a fetching 5l at Pakenham. Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy at Ballarat, the colt blew away his rivals over the 1200-metre sprint.
Veight is a Yulong-bred son of the dual Group 3-winning mare Neena Roc (Fastnet Rock). He was sold to McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) for $220,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Tony McEvoy, speaking to the trackside Racing.com broadcast after the win, said he was expecting Veight to get out much further than 1200 metres, based on his pedigree. The trainer added that the R. Listed Inglis Millennium would likely come up too soon for his colt, but there were plenty of other targets in sight.
“I think he’s a miler, but that was an easy watch and a lovely watch,” McEvoy said. “He had great swagger (as a yearling) and when you see him walking around out here, he’s a beautifully balanced horse. He’s got a great honesty about him and great movement, and that’s what tipped me over the edge (at the sale).”
Veight was the third runner to the track for first-season sire Grunt following Magic Stella at Wyong in mid-January and All At Once, in the Yulong colours, at Sandown on Australia Day.
Wilchino tops Magic Millions Online Sale
Super-fast mare Wilchino (Maschino) came out on top of the Magic Millions Online Sale on Thursday as Gray Williamson of Mungrup Pastoral went to $140,000 to secure the mare, who was offered by Morton Racing.
Wilchino won nine of her 18 career starts and six of those wins came in succession in 2021. The daughter of Maschino finished second in the Listed Summer Scorcher H. on New Year’s Day.
Wilchino | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Williamson said her speed was one of the most attractive aspects of the mare, who will likely be mated to Playing God later this year.
“She was a very fast mare,” Williamson told TDN AusNZ. “Any horse that wins nine out of 18 is very good. At one stage she was just devastating in Western Australia and at her best she was the best we’ve had here for quite some time. She will go to Playing God later this year.”
The next best seller of the afternoon was the dual-winning gelding, Memoire Parfait (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who is a half-brother to Hong Kong Champion Werther (NZ) and he was bought by Karasi Park for $39,000.
First Hong Kong winner for Fiorente
Widden Stud resident and Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente (Ire) is now a winning sire in Hong Kong, after the Jamie Richards-trained Hoss triumphed in Race 5, a 1200-metre Class 4, at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Hoss made $100,000 when offered by Basinghall Farm at Book 1 of the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The 4-year-old was one of two winners on the night for Zac Purton, who took his tally to 85 for the season, 41 ahead of his nearest rival.
Perilous Fighter on trial for Diamond tilt
Clayton Douglas is keen to get a guide as to how good Perilous Fighter is, throwing him in the deep end for his debut assignment. The son of Starspangledbanner will contest Saturday’s G3 Chairman’s S. (1000 metres) at Sandown-Hillside.
“Perilous Fighter is probably still a little bit new and raw, but he’s done nothing wrong,” Douglas told News Corp. “We’re going to chance the arm and give him a run Saturday; I’m happy with how the horse has taken shape, he seems to have done everything right, where he measures up in the scheme of things against a couple of those horses already proven I’m not sure.
“If he comes out and zooms and runs really well it’s three weeks to the Diamond… we paid up during the week in case that happens.”
Begg bullish ahead of Group 3 mares’ race
Cranbourne-based trainer Grahame Begg will reluctantly run Rose Quartz (Written Tycoon) and Vespertine (Epaulette) against each other in Saturday’s G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine S. at Sandown-Hillside.
“I hate running them against one another, but unfortunately that’s the case on Saturday,” Begg said, who believes both mares will prove hard to beat in the $200,000 sprint. “She’s (Rose Quartz) drawn well, she can be positive out of the gates and we feel she will switch off well enough once she’s allowed to do that, and she can run very well.”
Gallery: Vespertine and Rose Quartz will go head to head in Saturday’s G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine S. at Sandown-Hillside
On Vespertine, Begg said; “She was going very well leading into the race at Flemington, and she’s continued to train on well since. From barrier one the race did not pan out for her whatsoever at Flemington, but she’s fitter now and I think this is an ideal distance for her.”
Polygon for Australia?
Connections of the in-form Kiwi filly Polygon (NZ), a daughter of Highly Recommended and a dual Group winner already, are considering a trip to Australia. Polygon is due to line up in Friday’s G2 Waikato Guineas, but her trainer, Lance Noble, told NZ Racing Desk on Thursday that the atrocious conditions at Te Rapa could put her out of the race.
“It’s looking very doubtful that she’ll run on Friday,” Noble said. “If it stays a Heavy 9 or worse, then no, she won’t. The forecast isn’t that good either.”
Noble suggested an Australian campaign could be on the cards if the filly doesn’t run, with mention of the G3 Keith Nolan Classic at Kembla Grange on March 10. The G1 Vinery Stud S. was also mentioned, as was a possible tilt at the G1 Australian Oaks during The Championships.
Firestorm for Taranaki 2YO Classic
The 2-year-old Firestorm (NZ), a daughter of Satono Aladdin (Jpn), will head to this Saturday’s G3 New Plymouth Taranaki 2YO Classic, just the fillies second career start. Trained at Cambridge by Paul Mirabelli, she won on debut over 1000 metres.
Satono Aladdin (Jpn) | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
“She is definitely a staying filly of the future,” the trainer said. “She is going to be looking for 2000 metres-plus at quite short notice. I am sure she can (do well on Saturday) because she is a really good galloper, but I do think she is going to be at her best when it comes to an Oaks sort of distance.”
Firestorm wasn’t offered as a yearling and she is the fifth foal from the Istidaad (USA) mare Dancing Embers (NZ). The filly will head to New Plymouth with stablemate Charmingaffair (NZ) (Cape Blanco {Ire}).
Former Victorian trainer relocates to QLD
Former Cranbourne trainer Shaun Quigley is relaunching his stable at Mackay in Central Queensland. The 66-year-old stepped away from Victorian training ranks in April 2021 after more than 60 winners in the southern state across 20 years.
“The itch never goes away from training,” Quigley said. “I didn’t think it would take this long to get back into it, but it has.”
The veteran trainer was busy at last year’s Magic Millions Capricornia Yearling Sale at Rockhampton, picking up three youngsters who are close to a stable debut. Quigley confirmed they will be aimed at the Capricornia graduate races later this year at Callaghan Park.
Anderson’s North QLD satellite yard on the board
Eagle Farm trainer Chris Anderson, who took up a satellite yard in Bowen, North Queensland, is out to improve on a last-month victory by his filly, Glamborgini (Better Than Ready). Anderson is hoping the new satellite setup can keep going on that good trajectory.
Chris Anderson | Image courtesy of Anderson Racing
“The stable up north, while it’s never going to be big, we do identify the opportunity to race certain horses there,” the trainer said. “If we can place them there and win QTIS races, which are $24,000 to the winner, then I think it is a wonderful opportunity for owners to get involved in.”
Rawiller tries his hand over jumps
Racing.com has reported that the talented apprentice Campbell Rawiller will embark on a career as a jumps jockey in the upcoming week, albeit without totally abandoning his career in flat racing. The 21-year-old has admitted to weight struggles.
“I feel confident enough to be able to go out and ride over the stick, and I just feel where my riding is at and where my weight is at, it’s just hitting too hard at home trying to rip off four or five kilos every week,” Rawiller said. “It (jumps) will give me a whole new lease on life really. It’s been a tough couple of years physically and mentally with my weight.”
Freedman mare to benefit in Bellmaine
This Saturday’s G3 Bellmaine S. at Sandown is set to benefit the 4-year-old mare Belle Et Riche, a daughter of Rich Enuff that is trained by Mitch Freedman. As a result of being at Sandown and not Caulfield, the race has been adjusted in distance to 1300 metres, which Freedman told Racing.com will suit his mare.
Belle Et Riche (pink silks) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“While 1400 metres is her ideal distance at the moment, she’s not going to be out of play over 1300 metres,” the trainer said. “It’s not that much of a difference.”
Belle Et Riche has won three of her nine races and never been out of a place. She is yet to win a stakes races, and Saturday’s feature will be her first appearance in stakes company.
