Persan retired
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Persan (Pierro) has been retired from racing.
The 6-year-old notably progressed from a maiden win in May to finishing fifth in the 2020 G1 Melbourne Cup just months later.
Persan retired a winner of eight races and more than $1.7 million in prizemoney including a third-placing in the G1 Caulfield Cup. The son of Pierro was most recently sighted when he was unplaced in the G2 Adelaide Cup in March.
Persan | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Managing owner Robert McClure told Racing.com: “It was fantastic, he (Persan) did his job and got us through COVID winning a lot of races.
“He just kept stepping up and then he won the Bart Cummings to get into the Melbourne Cup.”
McClure said Persan will have a paddock at his Red Hill Morning Rise Stud property next to Realm Of Flowers (So You Think {NZ}).
“We will see if he measures up to being an eventer, he is a beautiful-looking horse.”
Curran brings A-game in Country discovery
Curran was famously a $600 purchase from the 2020 Inglis Digtial July Online Sale by trainers Lyn Tolson and her daughter Leonie Proctor, the son of Night Of Thunder (Ire) produced a huge run to come off the rails and chase down the favoured leader, In The Boat (Nostradamus), to land the biggest-ever prize for his trainers in the $500,000 Geelong Discovery.
Elated after the victory, co-trainer Proctor told Racing.com: “Finally we won another race with. I'm pretty soft on him (Curran) and I had to try something different so the best I could do was jump him a bit. I put him in a few pony club jumps and that seemed to have sparked him up.”
Deny Knowledge stuns in Country Oaks
Doing her best Vo Rouge (Ivor Prince {USA}) impression, the Mick Kent-trained Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) led from barrier to post in the $150,000 Country Oaks over 2200 metres at Geelong on Good Friday.
At the end of the staying trip the daughter of Pride Of Dubai was 10l infront of her rivals and her trainer admitted it’s a performance he has been waiting a while to see.
Kent told Racing.com: “She’s a nice mare and we’ve always wanted to get her up in trip. She had the best form in the race. A Group 3 winner and a Group 2 placegetter.”
It was quinella for the in-form Pride Of Dubai with his daughter Supagirl running into second behind Deny Knowledge.
Fancylanski stars in Up and Comers at Geelong
The Simon Lee-trained Fancylanski (Polanski) defeated the highly rated Cap De Joie (GB) (Farhh {GB}) in the $150,000 Up and Comers at Geelong on Good Friday.
The 4-year-old homebred daughter of Polanski had been in good form this preparation and under a bold ride from Ben Allen took the valuable event by 0.75l, bringing up the the fourth win of her career from 11 starts.
Suizuro puts hand up for SA Derby tilt
The Natalie Young and Trent Busuttin-trained Suizuro (Real Impact {Jpn}) turned in an almighty run to finish third in the G1 ATC Derby at Randwick last Saturday. The performance now has his trainers pondering another Group 1 attempt in the $500,000 G1 South Australian Derby on May 13.
Suizuro | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Natalie Young told Racing.com: “It was a huge run by the horse. He (Suizuro) pulled up well, but we will just wait a couple of days before making a decision about the South Australian Derby. It is more than likely, he has six runs through the prep though, but he normally bounced through the runs, so that’s the plan going forward.”
Good Friday double for Deep Field
Two 3-year-old fillies by the prominent producer of winners Deep Field, saluted on Good Friday at Ascot and Canberra respectively. The Daniel and Ben Pierce-trained Deep Envy brought up win two in a 1100-metre handicap event. She was a $70,000 yearling purchase by her trainers when offered by the Western Breeders’ Alliance at the 2021 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. Deep Envy was followed by the Scott Collings-trained Deep Shimmer who broke her maiden at Canberra in a 1000-metre maiden.
Zululand and Wordsmith sire ‘Tasbred’ winners
Launceston on Good Friday hosted the Tasbred 2-and 3-year-old events, both worth $50,000 apiece.
The 2-year-old event was taken out by the Stuart Gandy-trained Geegees Down South (Wordsmith). The 3-year-old Tasbred race was won by the Adam Trinder-trained Muscle Up (Zululand) a son of the Grenville-based Zululand.
Belclare set for Group 1 target at Pukekohe
Lisa Latta is looking towards her consistent mare Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) to continue the stable’s winning run in the feature races this season when she tackles the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Pukekohe S. on Saturday.
The 5-year-old daughter of Per Incanto (USA) will be having her last run of a spring and summer campaign that has seen her rarely finish out of the money while securing black-type victories in the G3 Canterbury Breeders' S. at Riccarton and the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Tauherenikau.
Belclare (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images CHCH
Latta said: “She (Belclare) has had a great season and those two stake wins were justified for her.
“She has only failed when the tracks have been too wet, so as long as they don’t get any more rain on Saturday then she will be well suited.”
Davies off the mark with Wanganui winner
Apprentice Toni Davies was enjoying a relaxing morning less than 24 hours after putting the first tick in the win column of her fledgling riding career at Wanganui on Thursday.
Davies, who is apprenticed to Moira and Kieran Murdoch at Waiuku but currently on loan to Peter Didham at Awapuni, piloted the Janelle Miller-trained Tequila Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) to a narrow victory in maiden event over 1360 metres to bring up win number one at her 29th raceday ride.
Toni Davies | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
The 22 year-old born and bred ‘Aucklander’ was still taking it all in on Friday morning and she recounted her thoughts approaching the winning post.
“It’s an amazing feeling now, but at the time it was quite surreal,” Davies said.
