Icebath may face setback
A day after it was announced she will be heading to the Inglis Chairman’s Sale at the conclusion of her racing career, Brad Widdup reported his star mare Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) has a foot abscess.
An intended acceptor for this Saturday’s G2 Guy Walter S. at Randwick, that target may now be in doubt.
“The timing of it is unfortunate,” Widdup told Racing.com. “She’s probably only a 50/50 chance of running this weekend. We’re not going to take any risks with her.”
Anamoe not certain on Queen Elizabeth
With a view to a Royal Ascot campaign, Godolphin’s Vin Cox has revealed that their star colt Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) is not certain to contest the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. on April 8.
“The chances are yes he will turn up there for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes but it is not a lock,” Cox told Racenet.
“We want to get his next two starts out of the way, the Chipping Norton Stakes and more than likely the Ranvet Stakes, then we will have a good, long, hard look at the Queen Elizabeth bearing in mind Royal Ascot is very much on the radar.
Seven-time Group 1 winner Anamoe | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Once we get through the (G1) Ranvet (S.), assuming he is still winning and winning well, then that tells us the horse is in peak condition.”
Anamoe is nominated for the G1 Chipping Norton S. at Randwick this Saturday, in a bid to add an eighth Group 1 to his CV.
Purton to raid Australia
Champion Hong Kong jockey Zac Purton will dip into Australian racing having secured some elite rides during the Sydney autumn carnival, including Artorius (Flying Artie) in the G1 Canterbury S. and King’s Gambit (I Am Invincible) in the G2 Todman S. - both on March 4 and with both horses part-owned by Newgate.
“I am coming back to ride Artorius in the Canterbury Stakes and some other very good horses,” Purton told News Corp.
“It works out well because I got suspended yesterday (Sunday) in Hong Kong and I start my suspension after I ride in Sydney, so maybe I can spend a bit of extra time there (in Australia).
“I am looking forward to riding back in Sydney again, it has been a while.
“Who knows, maybe I will enjoy it back there and stay there?”
Patrol on Oakleigh verge
At 17th in the order of entry for this Saturday’s G1 Oakleigh Plate, Clinton McDonald’s Star Patrol (Starspangledbanner) needs just one horse to come out to secure a start.
Were the $750,000 feature to be held at its usual venue of Caulfield, Star Patrol would already be secured a place, however the race’s relocation to Sandown Park leaves capacity limited to 16 instead of the 18.
Star Patrol, winner of the Listed WJ Adams S. | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Star Patrol returned to racing this year with a bang when scoring in the Listed WJ Adams S. at Sandown-Hillside by 1.75l. The Oakleigh Plate entries are headed by topweight Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Alligator Blood on track for ASM
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s star gelding Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) stepped out in a course proper gallop at Moonee Valley on Monday morning, putting the finishing touches to his preparation ahead of returning in this Saturday’s G1 Futurity S.
Working over 1000 metres, he and stablemate Acosta (Snitzel) covered the final 400 metres in 24.66s, with Alligator Blood notably hard held.
Alligator Blood | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I’m really happy with him, he worked very strongly,” co-trained Gai Waterhouse told Racing.com.
“You look at him physically, he has massive forearms and wonderful bone mass. He’s just a very happy gelding.”
Alligator Blood was last seen winning the G1 Cantala S. on November 5, and he is amongst the leading contenders for the $5 million The All-Star Mile on March 18.
Hastings aiding cyclone recovery
After a cyclone devastated the Hawke’s Bay area a week ago, the racing community in the area is offering support to affected residents. Hastings Racecourse has become a base for the clean-up effort and is helping people and animals affected by the event.
The abandonment of Hastings’ meeting last Sunday was the only sensible course of action according to Hawke’s Bay Racing Chief Executive Aaron Hamilton, who said:
“It wouldn’t really have been the right thing to do to be running a race meeting while everyone’s attention is on trying to respond and help each other in the community.
“Once we had the abandonment, we turned our focus to the support and response, to play our part for Hawke’s Bay, to make sure we’re getting utilised and not sitting idle.
“Whilst we’re doing a great thing for the human side and the animals, we’re also doing our bit for the community here as well. We’re showing that racecourses do more than just hold racing. We’re a massive community asset and we’re here to support this response however we can.”
La Crique in search of confidence
La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) will head to Otaki this Saturday to contest the G1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600 metres), with connections looking for confidence-building result.
Trained by Simon and Katrina Alexander, the 4-year-old mare reappeared in the G1 BCD Group Sprint on February 11, in which she finished fifth.
“Obviously, it was a little bit of an uncharacteristic run for her at Te Rapa, but we’ve been over her with a fine-toothed comb and she’s fine,” said co-trained Katrina Alexander.
La Crique (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
“She got herself back into a position on the rail and didn’t cope with the kick back and looked like she was hanging at one point trying to get her head away from the sand coming back at her.”
Having run fourth in the G1 Empire Rose S. at Flemington last October, connections will discuss further cross-Tasman plans following Saturday’s race.
Rose retired
Connections of Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) decided over the weekend to retire the 6-year-old mare, with trainer Symon Wilde reporting that she sustained a minor tendon injury.
A dual-Group 3 winner, Tralee Rose gave Wilde a day to remember when placing ninth in the 2021 G1 Melbourne Cup.
"She was my first Melbourne Cup runner. It was a terrific experience. I never thought I'd have a horse run in it. Even though she only finished ninth, that's what dreams are made of," Wilde told Racing.com.
