Daily News Wrap

Dalasan retired to Riverbank Farm

Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter Dalasan has been retired and will stand at Victoria’s Riverbank Farm. The 6-year-old son of Dalakhani (Ire) won eight of his 41 starts and contested 22 Group 1s, amassing $3.5 million in prizemoney. He will stand alongside Redente, Boulder City and Prince Of Caviar.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to stand Dalasan at Riverbank Farm and offer him to Victorian breeders,” Riverbank Farm’s Caroline Osborne told Racing.com. “He is bred on the successful Dalakhani/Sadler's Wells cross and with his success on the racetrack I believe he will be very attractive to many breeders.”

Dalasan will stand at an introductory service fee of $5500 (inc GST).

Juvenile Justify colt wins on debut

The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Californian (Justify {USA}) was an impressive debut winner at Hawkesbury on Thursday. Wide throughout and wayward in the run home, the lone 2-year-old in the race, who was handled by Tim Clark, touched off race favourite Sumo Star (Maurice {Jpn}).

Bred by Torryburn Stud, the colt is the first foal from the I Am Invincible mare La Pomme De Pin and she herself is a half-sister to My Favorite (Haradasun), who was third in the Listed Starlight S.

Californian’s third dam is the Strawberry Road (USA) producer Crimson Road, the dam of the G3 Kindergarten S. winner Crimson Reign (Red Ransom {USA}) and grandam of the Group 2-winning Deploy (Fastnet Rock).

The colt was consigned by Torryburn Stud to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Tony Fung Investments (TFI) for $125,000.

Eurell-trained 2-year-old scores first-up

Pride Of Dubai’s purple patch shows no sign of slowing, with juvenile filly Miracle Garden handing the sire his 67th winner of the season. The Greg Eurell-trained Miracle Garden won the opening event at Pakenham, a 1200-metre maiden for 2-year-old fillies.

Bred by Emirates Park, Miracle Garden fetched $20,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (Book 2), with Eurell buying.

She is from the winning Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Dhahab, who is a half-sister to the stakes winner Shumookh (Dream Ahead {USA}) and the stakes performer Shahad (Fastnet Rock). The filly’s second dam is the Group 1 heroine Shamekha (Secret Savings {USA}).

Trainer heaps praise on Supido colt

Mick Kent Jnr believes lightly raced 3-year-old sprinter What You Need is a special talent. The Supido colt is unbeaten in two starts and was an effortless winner down the Flemington straight first-up.

What You Need will contest his first stakes race on Saturday when he lines up in the Listed Sunlight Classic at the scene of his latest victory.

“An untapped colt. I think he has the potential to get to the top level,” Kent Jnr said. “He was only 80 per cent first-up. It was a sit and sprint, and he was too good form them. It will be a much tougher test on Saturday with the likes of Benedetta. She will be tough to knock off, but it’s a race worth half-a-million dollars. He's a rocket and he’s come on.”

Freedman sounds Vinery warning with Pavitra

Will Freedman, who trains in partnership with father Richard, believes star Kiwi raider Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) will need to be at the top of her game if she is to beat their filly, Pavitra (American Pharoah {USA}), in Saturday’s G1 Vinery Stud S. at Randwick. Pavitra heads into the $600,000 event fresh from a win in the G3 Kembla Grange Classic.

“If Prowess is off her game she’s going to have a handful in Pavitra because she’s definitely got the talent,” Freedman said.

The trainer has a great deal of respect for Prowess, who won at Group 1 level last start.

“New Zealand form can sometimes not be the strongest formline over here, but she is beating older horses at 2000 metres, so she’s obviously got her fair share of talent,” he said.

Cascadian spot on for Cup

Godolphin Australia head trainer James Cummings is confident stable stalwart Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) will be highly competitive in Saturday’s G1 Australian Cup at Flemington. The 8-year-old, who is lining up for his 47th start, ran a blinder in last week’s The All-Star Mile, beaten just 0.5l by Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars).

“He should be well-suited up to 2000 metres in a solidly run Australian Cup, and he’s in the form when he backed up and ran second to Zaaki in the Mackinnon the preparation before,” Cummings said.

“By the time he got through that run, we felt he was ready to run one of the races of his life in The All-Star Mile and he certainly did from a difficult barrier. He gave them a pretty big scare. If he got into the clear a little earlier or had a better gate, what might have been?”

Jigsaw out to extend winning streak

Cindy Alderson’s sprinter Jigsaw can lay claim to being one of the most improved horses in the country, with the 4-year–old unbeaten in four runs this campaign. The gelded son of Manhattan Rain gets the chance to add a Group 1 victory on Friday night in the William Reid S. at The Valley.

Jigsaw heads into the $1 million sprint after a little freshen-up.

“Being such a good horse fresh, we rolled the dice, gave him a couple of trials instead,” Alderson said. “He's maintained (his condition) all the way through and fitness-wise he’s as good as he needs to be. He’s not gone backwards. He’s done enough work and he’s pulled up well from both trials.

“He might not be the fastest horse in the race, but he’s got a lot of strength at the end and he’s racing with a lot of zest at the moment.”

Moreira gets all-clear for Sydney stay

Champion jockey Joao Moreira has been granted a visa and Racing New South Wales has approved his application to return to Sydney racing. The brilliant Brazilian will ride at Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday week and may be in action at Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting.

“Joao Moreira has submitted his application which is approved,” said Racing New South Wales chief steward Steve Railton. “I understand he will arrive here immediately after his Dubai (World Cup) commitments this weekend and is likely to accept from next Wednesday.”

Moreira is expected to ride in Sydney for six weeks before returning home.

Montefilia looks for a fifth major in the Tancred

Just a few weeks after the announcement that four-time Group 1 winner Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) will headline the upcoming Inglis Chairman’s Sale, the mare will tackle this Saturday’s G1 Tancred S. in attempt of a fifth major victory. To be again ridden by jockey Dylan Gibbons, she was second to Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) last Saturday in the G1 Ranvet S.

“It was a little disheartening getting beaten that way by a handy one because she deserves another Group 1,” Gibbons told Ray Hickson this week. “But she has a bit of improvement in her. I thought her run was super and she was only second-up. And if you take the winner of the race, she beat some of our very best horses at that trip, and beat them comfortably.”

Montefilia is the flyweight in the Tancred field with 57kg and she’s drawn barrier nine. At this stage she will meet the likes of Sydney Cup favourite Cleveland (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Melbourne Cup hero Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}).

Greg Northcott retires from NZB

New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) has announced the retirement of its longstanding airfreight manager, Greg Northcott. Northcott has been with the company since 1998, navigating such challenges as Equine Influenza and the recent COVID years.

NZB has appointed Sharon McDowell in his place, while the Australian-based operations will continue to be managed by Josh Murphy. Northcott will remain with NZB until the end of June.

“We’d like to thank Greg for his work over the years and wish him the best for a well-deserved retirement,” said Andrew Seabrook, NZB managing director. “Greg has been absolutely outstanding in his role. He has built relationships over the years and has huge respect from our clients and suppliers. He has led his team admirably through some very tough times.”

Lim’s Kosciuszko is Singapore Horse of the Year

The Karaka graduate Lim’s Kosciuszko (NZ), a son of Kermadec (NZ), was this week named Singapore Horse of the Year, sweeping three awards in total in Tuesday night’s ceremony. The gelding won seven of his 11 starts this season, including the Singapore Derby and Lion City Cup, and, along with the Horse of the Year title, he was also crowned Champion 4-Year-Old and Champion Sprinter.

Lim’s Kosciuszko was bred by Trelawney Stud and initially passed in at Karaka 2019. He was also passed in at the NZB Ready To Run Sale the same year. Trained by Daniel Meagher in Singapore, the gelding has now won 12 races in 16 starts for over AU$1 million.

Vale Alan Barton

The 57-year-old Bathurst-based jockey Alan Barton has died. Known mainly around the picnic circuit, Barton rode 93 winners during his career for 275 placegetters. He rode the Foreplay gelding Goodfa to victory at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day in 2012, and among his other career highlights were three victories aboard Red Marauder (Marauding {NZ}). Barton also worked for many years as a track rider, including for trainers Max Lees and Paul Theobald.

“Alan and I go back decades and he rode for me for a very long time,” Theobald said. “He was an exceptional horseman and rider. He rode my horses in trackwork and that made all the difference. I don’t like legging up a jockey when they don’t know the horse, but when Alan was in the saddle, I didn’t have to give him instructions as he just knew what to do.”

A funeral service will be announced for Barton in the coming days and is most likely to be held in Mudgee.

Favourite draws wide for Dubai World Cup

Country Grammar (USA) (Tonalist {USA}), the favourite and defending hero of this Saturday’s G1 Dubai World Cup, has drawn gate 14 of the 15-horse field. The draw was held at the Armani Hotel on Wednesday evening in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Six-year-old Country Grammar, trained by Bob Baffert, will carry Frankie Dettori in his effort to win the race for a second time, and it will be the final World Cup ride for Dettori. Country Grammar was a last-start second in the G1 Saudi Cup last month.

“We’ll leave it up to Frankie and he’ll get us around there,” said Jimmy Barnes, assistant to Baffert, after the draw. “The horse came over Saudi in good shape. He’s looking awesome.”

OBS Breeze-Up Sale wraps up

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales (OBS) Company’s March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale concluded on Wednesday in Florida after three days that saw increases in average and median over 2022’s two-day edition. The sale produced five seven-figure transactions, led by the record-equalling son of Good Magic (USA) that sold on Day 2 for US$2 million (AU$2.98 million).

Day 3 saw a Munnings (USA) filly reach US$1 million (AU$1.5 million) when selling to bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, who was bidding on behalf of Frank Fletcher. The three days of the sale realised an aggregate of US$70,399,500 (AU$105.2 million) and the average of US$156,792 was up 17.5 per cent on the equivalent figure of last year.

“I thought it was a really good sale and it held strong all the way through,” said Tod Wojciechowski, OBS director of sales. “There were quality horses on each day and we sold five for over a million dollars. The gross was up substantially, which you would expect because we had a lot more horses, but still there were a lot of good horses.”

New French ruling on covered fillies and mares

France Galop has announced an amendment to its rules of racing that will forbid fillies and mares from racing if they have been covered by a stallion. While the new rule brings thoroughbred racing into line with that of Arabian and standardbred racing in France, it puts French racing at odds with both Irish and British rules, which allow covered fillies and mares to continue racing for up to 120 days after their service.

The new rule is an amendment to Article 123 of the Code des Courses au Galop, which states that from March 1, 2023, no filly or mare that has been covered or confirmed to be pregnant may take part in a race. If a mare who has been covered does not get in foal, she will be eligible to race again after 120 days from the date of service. No female that has produced a foal will be able to race within 240 days from the date of foaling.

While there has been much discussion in European breeding about the amendment, not all of it has been in support.

“The French should have advised the Irish and English breeders,” said Pierric Rouxel, who serves on the jumps council of the Federation des Eleveurs du Galop (French TBA). “There has been a lack of communication from our side. I’m not against the change but the communication should have been better, particularly at this time of year when people are making plans for their horses.”

SA trainer disqualified for welfare breaches

South Australian trainer Dennis O’Leary and wife Karen have been handed lengthy disqualifications for serious welfare breaches that saw three of their retired thoroughbreds euthanised.

An independent veterinarian established that three horses were 'beyond rehabilitation' and 'had to be humanely euthanised', three were treated and rehomed, while a further eight horses were sold to a third party with the consent of the RSPCA.

After both pleaded guilty to the charges, Karen, a registered stable employee, was disqualified for 24 months and Dennis 18 months, the latter getting a lesser penalty because he assumed a secondary role in their care and did not have day-to-day oversight of the horses.

Parnham eyes stakes win with Demolish

Veteran trainer Neville Parnham is confident his speed-bred gelding Demolish can see out the 2200 metres of Saturday’s Listed Melvista S. at Ascot. The 3-year-old is by Rich Enuff from a Magnus mare, but Parnham believes Demolish “looks like a stayer”.

“He steps up to the 2200 metres and it looks like that’s not an issue to him,” Parnham told Tabradio. “He has certainly matured a lot more in this campaign and has always shown good ability. He’s going quite good at the moment and we expect him to be in the finish again.”