Golden Slipper wash-up
The G1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens wasn’t without incident when jockey Chad Schofield was dislodged from his mount Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}) in the feature.
A post-race veterinary examination of Learning To Fly found the filly to be lame at the walk she was transported to the Randwick Equine Centre as a precaution for further assessment and treatment. Trainer Annabel Neasham was advised a veterinary clearance will be required before the filly is permitted to race/barrier trial again.
Schofield sustained soft tissue injuries and was reported to be shaken but is otherwise fine after his fall.
While the Chris Waller-trained Lazzago (Capitalist) ridden by Kerrin McEvoy was severely checked by the interference caused by Learning To Fly and lost a considerable amount of ground, and consequently, was retired from the race concluded the stewards' report.
Teo Nugent update
It was reported by the Victorian Jockeys' Association that Teo Nugent's initial scans from the Royal Melbourne Hospital reveal Teo has a fracture to his C1 vertebrae.
Nugent suffered the injuries during the running of the Listed Abell S. when his mount Florescent Star (Zoustar) clipped the heels of the eventual runner-up In The Boat (Nostradamus).
It has been advised Nugent will be assessed by surgeons on Sunday.
Sadly, the Amy and Ash Yargi-trained mare had to be humanely euthanised on vets' advice by Racing Victoria veterinarians “due to the nature of the injury”.
It was the third fall on a Melbourne race day in as many Saturdays.
James Cummings trains a treble
Godolphin’s Head Trainer James Cummings had a successful day across New South Wales and Victoria, when the trainer recorded a treble.
Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) was the first when he scored his ninth Group 1 victory in the G1 George Ryder S. at Rosehill he was followed by Parsial (Astern) in the G3 Typhoon Tracy S. at Moonee Valley, Cummings rounded out the day with Zapateo (Brazen Beau) winning the G3 Birthday Card S. at Rosehill.
Parisal makes it back-to-back Tycoon Tracy winners for Godolphin
Winning this race last year with Hellfest (Fastnet Rock), Godolphin’s progressive 3-year-old filly Parisal (Astern) made it three wins from five starts and back-to-back wins in the G3 Typhoon Tracy S. for the Blue Army.
With Craig Newitt aboard, the daughter of Astern showed plenty of grit to hold Wee Nessy (Snitzel) to 0.3l in second and Lady Laguna (Overshare) only 0.1l away in third.
“She’s shown a lot of promise at home, but you’ve got to get up and do it against these hardened fillies in these types of races and she has; it was great programming from the team to secure this filly a Group race," Seán Keogh told Racing.com.
Winning rider Craig Newitt said: “She’s a lovely filly, great gate speed for a big leggy thing; she wobbled around the Moonee Valley corner but was strong to the line.”
Rubick filly wins Darby Munro
The progressive Luke Pepper-trained Opal Ridge (Rubick) scored her fifth career victory and first stakes win from only eight starts.
The filly received a brilliant ride from Tyler Schiller, who showed plenty of initiative after jumping from barrier 13 to find the fence and saving the 3-year-old filly plenty of ground before she unleashed an electrifying turn of foot.
Opal Ridge put a gap between herself and Kote (Choisir) in second place 1.93l away and Godolphin’s Spacewalk (Exosphere) 0.14l in third.
“What a ride from Tyler, and she was just dominant; she's a very good filly and I think she's (Opal Ridge) going to get better," Luke Pepper told Sky Racing.
Winning rider Tyler Schiller said: “She (Opal Ridge) is a terrific filly; she has been through all the grades and has a brilliant acceleration.”
She’s All Class wins Abell
The moody She’s All Class (I Am Invincible), as described by her trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, brought her A-game to the Listed Abell S. at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
With Harry Coffey aboard, the 4-year-old mare won her first stakes victory in a close finish from In The Boat (Nostradamus) and the Headwater mare Mileva in third.
New stakes winner for Shocking
RBC Racing’s blue, gold and black colours were carried to G1 New Zealand Oaks glory by Miss Mossman (NZ) (Mossman) in 2014, and on Saturday, they struck black-type gold again at the same Trentham meeting – this time with up-and-coming stayer Ess Vee Are (NZ) (Shocking) in the Listed New Zealand St Leger.
The Clothier family bred and raced Ess Vee Are, and they have entrusted his racing career to fellow Matamata family, the Weatherleys – trainers Darryn and Briar, and jockey Sam.
Ess Vee Are has been a model of consistency throughout his 4-year-old season. He won at Te Rapa in December and February.
A late-finishing fourth in the Nathans Memorial (2200 metres) two weeks ago, Ess Vee Are relished a strong pace in Saturday’s St Leger as he launched a relentless run from third-last.
“He’s never really run a bad race for us,” Darryn Weatherley said. “He tries so hard and is a genuine stayer, and I think he’s still about six months away."
Ess Vee Are’s impressive staying performance on Saturday may have earned him an opportunity on the other side of the Tasman later in the year.
Post-race celebrations were unfortunately cut short by an injury to Darryn Weatherley, who was kicked by Ess Vee Are and was taken to hospital for x-rays on his leg.
I Am Invincible mare wins Military Rose Plate
The $125,000 Eureka Stud Military Rose Plate over 1100 metres was taken out by the progressive 4-year-old mare Sweet Margot May (I Am Invincible)
The Robert Heathcote mare is unbeaten in four first-up runs and launched late to deny Majestic Shot (Shooting To Win) in second and the classy Isotope (Deep Field) in third place.
Sweet Margot May is the fourth foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare You Can Dance. She was a six-time winner and a half-sister to the G2 Sandown Guineas winner Cayambe (Danehill {USA}).
The mare was a $250,000 yearling purchase by Natalie McCall Racing from Yarraman Park Stud at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Kobayashi dominates Jewel
The $500,000 QTIS Jewel over 1200 metres at Doomben provided the young sire Kobayashi the quinella in the rich event when the Les Ross-trained 2-year-old filly Mishani Royale (Kobayashi) got the better of her stablemate, the 2-year-old gelding Mishani Gangster (Kobayashi) to take out the Doomben feature, third place was filled by Spin Doctor (Trapeze Artist).
Mishani Royale was bred and is owned by Mishani Enterprises Pty Ltd
The Aquis-based son of I Am Invincible has now sired 25 winners from 40 runners.
Catalogue released for Inglis Digital March (Late) Online Sale
A total of 390 entries have been confirmed for the Inglis Digital March (Late) Online Sale – which is now live on the Inglis Digital website and open for bidding – including 187 racehorses (96 race fillies), 117 broodmares, 45 yearlings, 29 racehorse shares, six weanlings, four unraced stock and two stallions.
A smorgasbord of broodmares with covers to some of the most in-demand stallions in the country- as well as stakes-performed gallopers- headline another large and diverse catalogue for the sale.
One of the standouts in the 4-year-old broodmare prospect Cascade (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}).
Cascade is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner More Than Sacred (More Than Ready {USA}) and is offered in foal to Proisir, one of the most progressive young sires in Australasia.
A most intriguing entry is Stormy Lucy (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}), an American Group 1 winner whose yearlings have sold up to $450,000 and is offered in foal to the burgeoning star stallion Maurice (Jpn).
Dundeel gelding wins Geelong feature
The feature at Geelong’s St Patrick’s Day meeting, the Geelong St Pat’s Cup over 1400 metres, was won by the progressive Claidheamh Mor (Dundeel {NZ}).
Trained by the Pakenham-based Gemma Rielly the 4-year-old gelding was winning his fifth race from 13 starts.
Galopin wins Gold Cup at Cheltenham
Willie Mullins, who was awarded leading trainer at Cheltenham Festival with six winners across the four days, admitted to some nerves as he watched Paul Townend guide the 7-year-old Galopin Des Champs (Fr) (Timos {Ger}) in jump racing’s most prestigious race the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
“I am delighted for his owners Audrey and Greg Turley and Paul; he had the confidence in the horse,” Mullins said.
“He (Galopin Des Champs) has that little bit of class: you could run him over two miles, two and a half miles. He has that little bit of speed when you want.”
Sheikha Hissa announces the death of Sarayir
Sarayir's (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}), a daughter of Shadwell’s champion Height Of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}), death was reported by Sheikha Hissa. Sarayir was a Listed winner during her career.
However, it will be her exploits as a broodmare that she will be remembered for. She is the dam of Ghanaati (USA) (Giant's Causeway {USA}) who won the G1 1000 Guineas and the G1 Royal Ascot Coronation S. Sarayir is also a full sister to Bashayer (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}), who is Baaeed's (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) fourth dam.
