Daily News Wrap

New 2-year-old winner for Zoustar in the UK

Widden Stud’s brilliant sire Zoustar is off the mark for the new flat season in Europe after the debut victory of Out Of The Stars (GB) on the All-Weather track at Kempton Park on Wednesday (UK time). The Qatar Racing homebred was born and raised at Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire, to which Zoustar has been reverse-shuttling.

Zoustar is the sire of Lezoo (GB), last season’s Champion European 2-Year-Old Filly. Out Of The Stars is trained by Archie Watson and was ridden by Oisin Murphy on debut.

Godolphin not rushing Anamoe decision

Vin Cox, managing director of Godolphin Australia, claims they will take as long as they need before finalising Anamoe’s (Street Boss {USA}) short-term plans. The nine-time Group 1 winner had been earmarked to campaign in the UK during their summer, but those plans are up in the air since his third-placed effort in last week’s G1 Queen Elizabeth S.

“We’ve still got Anamoe in light work,” Cox told News Corp. “We are not making any excuses for his defeat last week but we feel he wasn’t quite at his best. Anamoe will be given a chance to freshen up and we will see how he is later this month, then make a decision on Royal Ascot. We don't have to lock anything in just yet.”

McDonald confident in Zaaki

Eight-year-old Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) will make a long-awaited return to the racetrack on Saturday in the G1 All Aged S., and jockey James McDonald told Ray Hickson this week that he’s confident the gelding is back to his brilliant best. Zaaki was sidelined from major autumn targets back in February after a poor trial, but on April 3 the horse and jockey were reunited for a strong trial.

“In his last trial he was back to his brilliant, quirky self,” McDonald said. “I’ve had a bit to do with him now, so I know whether he’s on or off, and he’s back on song and back to his usual self. This is his toughest test over 1400 metres, but he’s going terrific. I like the gate, I like how he’s going and I wouldn't swap him for anything else.”

Zaaki will meet a high-class field on Saturday that will include the likes of Jacquinot (Rubick), Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) and the Japanese visitor Ho O Amazon (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). He’s currently a $5.50 second-favourite behind The Everest winner.

Pride on weather watch

Warwick Farm-based trainer Joseph Pride says his stable star Private Eye (Al Maher) won’t take his place in Saturday’s G1 All Aged S. at Randwick if the track is in the Heavy range. Private Eye, who was luckless last start in the G1 TJ Smith S., has won on both soft and heavy tracks, but Pride is adamant the 5-year-old is much better on top of the ground.

“If it’s in the heavy range, Private Eye won’t be there. He needs a better track,” Pride told RSN. “He’s a horse that’s not nearly as effective when he gets on these really wet tracks.”

The trainer has earmarked a winter campaign in Brisbane for the Group 1 winner.

Tom Kitten chasing Prized Icon legacy

Godolphin trainer James Cummings is hoping his smart juvenile Tom Kitten, a son of Harry Angel (Ire) and a last-start winner of the Listed Fernhill H. on Day 1 of The Championships, can emulate his former charge Prized Icon in also winning Saturday’s G1 Champagne S. Aside from Prized Icon, the only other two horses to achieve the double are March Hare in 1993 and Dracula in 1998.

“He’s the only proven miler in the race now,” Cummings told SEN. “Can that be enough to turn the tables on Militarize? Maybe. If there’s a 2-year-old I’ve got in training that will cope with that added pressure over a mile right now, it would be Tom Kitten.”

Tom Kitten will meet such winners as Don Corleone (Extreme Choice) and Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}). The colt was fifth to Veight (Grunt {NZ}) in the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. in February.

O’Shea hopes for change of luck

Classy sprinter Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) has a few things against him in the G1 All Aged S. and trainer John O’Shea is more hopeful than confident. The Group 2 winner will jump from the outside alley (barrier 12) in Saturday’s $1.5 million feature.

“The key with him is to get him on a surface that is conducive to a good performance and, most importantly, a barrier that allows him to perform to his best,” O’Shea told Sky Racing.

“We definitely didn’t get that first-up in the TJ (Smith) and we definitely don’t have that on Saturday. He needs to continue to race and get some miles into his legs. Ideally, we would freshen post-Saturday with a view to going to the (G1) Kingsford Smith. He is actually going quite well. He just hasn’t had circumstances to suit him in any capacity.”

Sir Patrick Hogan Unreserved Dispersal Sale launches next week

Buyers will have the opportunity to continue the legacy of iconic breeder Sir Patrick Hogan with the unreserved dispersal of the Cambridge Stud founder’s stock on Gavelhouse Plus. Weanlings, yearlings, racing propositions and broodmares comprise the 31-strong catalogue, which will launch at the conclusion of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale.

Among the young stock are opportunities for pinhookers and end users with x-rays and scopes to be available in the NZB Online Repository, with sires including Admire Mars (Jpn), Almanzor (Fr), Deep Field, Dundeel (NZ), Hello Youmzain (Fr), Per Incanto (USA), Savabeel, The Autumn Sun, U S Navy Flag (USA), Wootton Bassett (GB) and Yes Yes Yes all represented.

Covering sires featured in the sale include Almanzor, El Roca, Embellish (NZ), Proisir, Shocking, Tarzino (NZ), Tivaci and Vadamos (Fr). Bidding will open on April 26, and the final countdown will commence at 7pm (NZT) on April 28.

Alenquer to be gelded

Highly rated import Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) is to be gelded after two below-par runs in Australia. Now trained by Michael Moroney, last year’s G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero ran last in The All-Star Mile (1600 metres) and then the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. (2000 metres).

The 5-year-old, who races in the Rupert Legh colours, has been spelled and will resume in the spring.

Neasham, Forsman accept for Champions Day

Australasian-based trainers Annabel Neasham and Andrew Forsman will both have a runner in the G1 Champions Mile (1600 metres) at Sha Tin on April 30. The Neasham-trained My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Forsman’s Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) will tackle the two-time defending champion Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) in the HK$20 million (AU$3.8 million) contest.

Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) headline the HK$25 million (AU$4.8 million) G1 QEII Cup (2000 metres), while Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) and Wellington (All Too Hard) will renew their rivalry in the HK$20 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize over 1200 metres.

Ben Thompson living the dream with Uncommon James

Queensland rider Ben Thompson will partner Group 1-winning sprinter Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}) in this weekend’s inaugural running of The Quokka in Western Australia, and the jockey said things haven’t been better in his career since relocating to Queensland nearly three years ago.

“I’ve got the best job in the world, in my eyes,” he said. “There’s nothing better than things going well at work. It only happens with really good support and I’ve got a great team around me. It doesn’t happen all on its own.”

Thompson has been aboard Uncommon James in the horse’s last two starts, which included his win in the G1 Oakleigh Plate in February, and when runner-up last time out in the G1 The Galaxy to Mariamia (Toronado {Ire}).

Apache Cat cancer-free

The white-faced, Group 1-winning sprinter Apache Cat (Lion Cavern {USA}) is cancer-free, according to Living Legends. In late 2021, the 20-year-old gelding underwent surgery and radiation for a carcinoma in his right eye, but he’s been passed fit by specialist vet Dr Andrew Turner.

“Patch (Apache Cat) is such an important part of the Living Legends family and we are overjoyed to share this positive news with our supporters,” Living Legends stated on its social channels. “We are thrilled to announce that a recent checkup with Dr Turner, two years later, confirmed there is no sign of the original cancer.”

Fashions on the Field goes digital at Hawkesbury

Fashions on the Field at the Hawkesbury Cup meeting on April 22 is going digital, with the competition offering an online runway for racegoers. Competitors are being encouraged to upload images of themselves, taken at the racecourse’s designated Fashion Chute area, to social media, tagging the Hawkesbury Race Club on Instagram and Facebook. From there, they will join the ‘digital runway’ and be judged by Sky Racing broadcaster Kiersten Duke.

“We look forward to this digital format of Fashions on the Field as we aim to promote inclusivity for all racegoers, and we encourage those to enter who normally wouldn’t want to jump on stage,” said Eliza Babazogli, the club’s sales and marketing manager. “We will offer a great array of prizes for Best Dressed Lady and Best Dressed Gentleman, including a main prize of $500 cash.”

Hawke’s Bay Cup Day supports cycle relief

The Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand is still picking up its pieces after Cyclone Gabrille earlier this year, and this Saturday’s Hawke’s Bay Cup meeting has partnered with the East Coast Rural Support Trust (ECRST) to raise vital funds for cyclone recovery. The ECRST is a charitable trust that works with regional farms and farming families in hard times, and it was critical to the region this year.

Saturday’s race meeting is offering virtual ticket sales for those who can’t attend the races in person but still want to support the cause, while general admission tickets on the day will donate NZ$5 from the NZ$15 entry fee to the ECRST. Hawke’s Bay Racing has set itself a 50,000-virtual ticket target, which will equate to NZ$250,000 of fundraising.

Alice Lindsay to return to the Top End

South Australian rider Alice Lindsay will resume her career in Darwin later this month, the 29-year-old electing to move back to the Northern Territory where she has been given the all-clear to ride as a senior jockey for her ex-boss, Gary Clarke. Lindsay rode successfully in Darwin during the 2020/21 season before a serious fall during the Darwin carnival halted her career. She rejoined the Racing SA Apprentice Academy, but hasn’t ridden since early January owing to two surgeries.

“It was good to have a break and a refresh, but it doesn’t last long,” she said. “I feel like I haven’t really got a purpose when I’m not race-riding. I feel a lot better now that I’m back at trackwork.”

Blue Points impress Richard Hannon

English trainer Richard Hannon has told TDN Europe that of the 100-strong 2-year-olds he has in his arsenal this European spring, those by the Darley shuttler Blue Point (Ire) have impressed him the most. Blue Point posted his first winner this week in the shape of French runner Action Point (Ire), and Hannon said he predicts that he will struggle to get near the progeny of the stallion at the sales in future years.

“They are all pretty similar-looking and you can see the Shamardal coming out in them, but they all go nicely,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll be able to afford many of them next year. He could have a big year which will make them very expensive next year.”

Turf Paradise on its last legs

The Arizona racetrack Turf Paradise, in the American state of Phoenix, is reportedly in the phase of due diligence re negotiations to be sold for development. Racing is expected to continue only as a placeholder for several more seasons while new uses for the 67-year-old venue go through the planning, approval and construction phases.

The incoming owner of the track is expected to transition the property in pieces to ‘industrial and multi-family uses’, according to media reports on April 12.