Press Statement to stand at Novara Park
Group 1-winning stallion Press Statement will stand at Novara Park, near Cambridge, this coming breeding season.
Since retirement, Press Statement has stood at Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley. He is the sire of 115 individual winners among them six stakes winners and five stakes performers, including the Group 2-winning mare Roots (Press Statement) who will represent Chris Waller in the G1 Queen of the Turf S. on Saturday at Randwick.
Press Statement himself was a former trainee of Chris Waller, he was undefeated as a 2-year-old, winning all three of his juvenile starts culminating in the G1 JJ Atkins S.
Press Statement returned in the spring to win the G2 Stan Fox S. and G1 Caulfield Guineas.
Kingman juvenile retains unbeaten record
Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) carrying the royal blue silks of Godolphin kept her unbeaten intact at Hawkesbury on Wednesday afternoon.
The James Cummings-trained 2-year-old was a last start winner at Gosford over 1200 metres and handled the step-up to 1300 metres with aplomb, with Chad Schofield aboard the daughter of Kingman (GB) won by 2.17l from Icebreak (Pariah) and Californian (Justify {USA}) 0.31l away in third.
Zardozi is the first foal from the Dubawi (Ire) mare Chanderi (GB). Godolphin Australia purchased her from the 2017 Tattersall October Yearling Sale for £1.3 million (AUD$2.4 million).
Childs rates Critique
The Jordan Childs and Waterhouse/Bott hot streak continued when on Wednesday afternoon the combination was successful again, when the colt 2-year-old Critique (Written Tycoon) broke his maiden in style at Ballarat. The colt was sent out a favourite and gave his supporters very little to fear when leading throughout to win the juvenile maiden.
Critique | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
In the post-race interview with Racing.Com Childs said: He’s (Critique) is a very nice horse. I galloped him on Friday and he gave me a very nice feeling. We thought he’d come here and do that today and it was good to see him do that.
“I think he will be an even nicer prospect next time, just when he strengthens and matures, but Critique is definitely heading in the right direction.”
The colt was a $775,000 yearling purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
White Marlin heads Easter Cup field
Victoria will play host to two Group 3 events at Sandown-Lakeside on Easter Saturday. The G3 Easter Cup and G3 Victoria H., have both attracted 13 acceptors, with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s exciting unbeaten galloper White Marlin (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) the star attraction. Jordan Childs will partner the son of Mastercraftsman (Ire) for his autumn resumption in the $200,000 G3 Easter Cup over 2100 metres, while it will be White Marlin’s first dip in stakes company the grey galloper is already prominent in the G1 Melbourne Cup markets.
The Sandown-Lakeside Easter Cup has also attracted the likes of Right You Are (So You Think {NZ}) and G1 Queensland Oaks runner-up Barb Raider (Rebel Raider), while the G2 Curragh Cup winner Camorra (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) will carrying top weight of 59kg.
Anamoe featured in Lockinge S. entries
Godolphin’s Australian Champion Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) could run in Britain prior to Royal Ascot after the entire was featured in the entries for the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury in May. Anamoe is set to run in Saturday’s G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick where he will bid for a record-equalling seventh Group 1 victory for the season matching the feat of the Champion mares Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) and Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}).
Anamoe | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The James Cummings-trained 4-year-old is expected to have his last race start on Australian soil in Saturday’s feature before a possible raid at Royal Ascot with the G1 Queen Anne S. or G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at the Royal meeting in June.
Zahra thrilled with import
Simon Zahra believes his recent stable acquisition Maktoob (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) has improved since his first-up win at Pakenham in March.
The 4-year-old gelded British import has been nominated for the ‘Up and Comers’ race at Geelong on Friday alongside two events at Sandown on Saturday and Monday, but Zahra concedes the Friday is his first preference.
Zahra told Racing.com: “Within the fortnight since Pakenham he’d (Maktoob) really improved, he eats well, and whatever we have thrown at him he really enjoyed and he just has improved the whole six weeks.
“He’ll either run at Geelong or Monday at Sandown, obviously we are keen to keep him on the dry tracks for now.”
Pearl Of Alsace warrants Group 1 bid
The undefeated daughter of Tavistock (NZ), Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) has warranted a bid at Group 1 glory after winning the G3 Cuddle S. with her trainers Shaune Ritche and Colm Murray confirming she will target the G1 Breeders S. at Pukekohe on Saturday.
“She has given us no reason not to continue. Her (Pearl Of Alsace) work this morning was probably the best she has produced.
“She’s going to have to improve to beat Saturday’s field, however, she does things effortsly and is a very clean-winded horse,” said co-trainer Shaune Ritche.
Lucy Yeomans and Lloyd Kennewell to form partnership
Ciaron Maher Racing announced on Wednesday morning (local) that long-time employee and Assistant Trainer Lucy Yeomans will depart the business. Yeomans will join a partnership with the Cranbourne-based trainer Lloyd Kennewell on August 1. The statement from Kennewell Racing released on Wednesday afternoon (local) likened Yeomans to another graduate of Maher Racing, Annabel Neasham, indicating Kennewell feels Yeomans has similar attributes, drive and passion to see her have success in the very near future.
The statement from Ciaron Maher Racing advised: “It is with mixed emotions that we announce Lucy Yeomans will be leaving the stable in her role as assistant trainer to take up an exciting opportunity. At the same time, we are excited to announce Jack Turnbull will be taking over the reign as Assistant Trainer at Cranbourne, while Declan Maher will step up as assistant trainer at Ballarat.”
Yarra Valley CEO comments on track issue
The scheduled meeting on Monday at Yarra Valley was abandoned after the track was deemed unsafe for racing after following an inspection of the surface that revealed three ‘wet spots’ from the 800 to 400 metres of the surface. The Yarra Valley Racing club advised on Wednesday that the rail should have been moved and Racing Victoria alerted earlier to the issues the track was facing ahead of Monday’s abandonment.
The Yarra Valley Racing club CEO Brett Shambrook told Racing.com: “ We’ve had a busy racing schedule through the summer and autumn period and there was a bit of wear and tear on the inside and in hindsight the rail probably should have been out three metres.
“On the inside line there was some wear and tear, a bit of fill and patching back, that area was worn and retained the moisture.
“We are embarrassed, it was our stuff-up and we’ve failed.”
Multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Gufo retired
The three-time Grade 1 winner Gufo (USA) (Declaration Of War {USA}) has been retired and will arrive at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky on Wednesday (local), where potential buyers will have the opportunity to examine him as a stallion prospect.
“Gufo had a minor training setback, and his owner Stephen Cainelli, made the decision to retire him and find him a new career as a stallion,” said his trainer, Christophe Clement.
The 6-year-old was bred in Kentucky by Stephen Cainelli and John Little. He raced over four seasons winning nine times with seven black-type wins from 21 starts. Gufo’s three Grade 1s included the Belmont Derby at three and the Sword Dancer at four and five.
