Bowness reduction draft leads Inglis April (Late) Online Sale
Seventy-three horses offered by Bowness Stud head the upcoming Inglis Digital April (Late) Online Sale, which will run from April 21-26 with bidding closing from an earlier time of 10am (AEST) on April 26 to facilitate the large catalogue.
Aside from two weanlings, the remaining Bowness offering is 71 mares, many in foal to D'Argento and includes 29 with foals at foot by D’Argento, Peltzer, Yulong Prince, Cosmic Force, Showtime and Ilovethiscity.
D'Argento | Standing at Bowness Stud
The dispersal of the Bowness stock comes as long-time owners John and Helen North hand over the business to their daughter Jocelyn Daly and her husband James, who will be combining the property their own Watershed Farm.
With entries to the sale closing at midnight on Wednesday, April 19, also confirmed for the sale is a Woodpark Stud dispersal which includes mares in foal to the likes of Bivouac and Harry Angel (Ire), an Arrowfield draft, a draft from Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and Electric Charge (Charge Forward), the dam of the unbeaten G3 Kindergarten S.-winning colt Libertad (Russian Revolution), who will be offered in foal to Prague.
Quinella for Hellbent at Geelong
Yarraman Park’s Hellbent posted a juvenile quinella on Tuesday when Vivy Air, trained by Archie Alexander, won the third race, leading home the Danny O’Brien-trained Hellara. Vivy Air, a filly from the Fastnet Rock mare Head Over Heels, was having her second start after a fifth on debut at Ballarat on March 28.
The filly is raced by OTI Racing and she’s a half-sister to the South African multiple Group winner New Predator, an Australian-bred son of New Approach (Ire) that was twice Group 1-placed. This is the family of the stakes winner Presently (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) and, further along, of the dual Group 1-winning sprinter Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Second placegetter Hellara, meanwhile, was an $85,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase in 2022 for Danny O’Brien. She was having her third start after two fourth-place finishes in December.
Amelia’s Jewel to target Golden Eagle?
Ascot trainer Simon Miller has said that the $10 million Golden Eagle in the Sydney spring is the prime target for his star filly Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}), who lost nothing when second to Overpass (Vancouver) in the $4 million The Quokka last Saturday. While a potential berth in The Everest was considered, Miller said he’s willing to forego the rich sprint in favour of the 1500-metre Golden Eagle.
Amelia's Jewel | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“You know she gets the trip, it’s against her own age at set weights, so it all married up and it’s big money,” Miller said. “I’ve got to sit down and figure out a few programs and once I have a few on the table, I’ll sit with Peter (Walsh) and figure out which way best suits us to an Eagle.”
Miller admitted that Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) was the horse to watch ahead of the spring, with both horses having just nine career starts to date as rising 4-year-olds. Racing.com reported on Tuesday that Amelia's Jewel could also consider a Cox Plate campaign.
Parr has faith in The Quokka
The inaugural winning rider of the $4 million The Quokka, Sydney-based Joshua Parr, told TABradio that the race will continue to grow as a feature of Western Australian racing. Parr was victorious with Overpass (Vancouver) as one of six interstate raiders, and one of two for trainer Bjorn Baker.
“I wasn’t too sure leading in just how I would react to a victory,” the jockey said. “I must say, I was as excited as I’ve ever been at a racecourse before. Whether it’s because they’re (slot races) a new thing to our sport, they could very well be attracting a new crowd. They create hype and atmosphere, and it’s felt by all involved.”
Kerrin McEvoy for The Archer
The three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy is heading north later this month to partner Maotai (Not A Single Doubt) in The Archer slot race at Rockhampton on April 30. The 4-year-old gelding, trained by Kacy Fogden, has been first or second in eight of his 16 starts, including his last three starts in Sydney.
Vow And Declare readies for Mornington Cup
The Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare, a 7-year-old son of Declaration Of War (USA), readied on Tuesday for this weekend’s Listed Mornington Cup with an exhibition gallop at Geelong. A victory on Saturday will earn the gelding a spot in the G1 Caulfield Cup.
Vow And Declare | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Jack Howard, a stable rep for trainer Danny O’Brien, told Racing.com that Vow And Declare had bypassed the Sydney Cup because of Heavy ground. He said the Mornington Cup would give them a gauge for spring plans.
“We just think his best form is when he can get on top of the track, so with bigger plans in mind towards the spring, we don’t want to bottom him out this time in his prep,” Howard said. “We'll see how he goes at Mornington but there’s always the temptation to potentially take him up to Queensland, where he performed so well as a younger horse, and just keep him ticking over through the spring.”
Australasian stars land in Hong Kong
Annabel Neasham’s import My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), along with Andrew Forsman’s Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and William Haggas’ globetrotting star Dubai Honour (GB) (Pride Of Dubai), touched down in Hong Kong on Tuesday for FWD Champions Day on April 30. The meeting will feature the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, G1 Champions Mile and G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize.
My Oberon, who was a last-start second in the G1 Doncaster Mile to Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), will contest the Champions Mile and has the services of Joao Moreira.
Kallos tops nominations for R N Irwin S.
Godolphin’s smart gelding Kallos, a 4-year-old by Medaglia D’Oro (USA) and a last-start winner of the Listed Bob Hoysted S. at Flemington, has topped the nominations for this weekend’s G3 R N Irwin S. at Morphettville. The gelding will be chasing three straight wins. Kallos will share topweight of 58.5kg with, among others, Lindsey Smith’s well-fancied In The Boat (Nostradamus), who has been second in his last two outings.
Kallos | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Kallos has also won the 2021 G2 Danehill S. during his career, and he’s a son of the Group 2- and Listed-winning mare Calliope (Exceed And Excel). He's won five races in 15 starts, with a further three placings.
ATC sixth round of donations
The Australian Turf Club (ATC) will shortly deliver its sixth round of grants to racing and community-based charities, totalling more than $150,000. The grants will be in addition to donations of funding and vital equipment made by the ATC to race clubs in northern New South Wales, including the flood-affected Lismore and surrounding regions.
A total of 13 charities will share the latest round of donations, ranging from $5000 to $20,000 in assistance of causes approved by the ATC Foundation Board. Donations have been raised by on-course fundraising, including the sale of Carnival pins and saddlecloth auctions from a number of Group 1 features.
“We are delighted to continue the work of the ATC Foundation in reaching many parts of NSW, and charities and organisations who share common value values with the ATC,” said Angela Belle McSweeney, ATC Foundation chair. “Since 2018, the ATC Foundation has helped to raise and distribute more than $1 million to assist registered charitable organisations and our industry partners.”
Latest recipients in this round of funding include Ronald McDonald House, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, National Jockeys Trust, Morris Children’s Fund and HORSEABOUT, among others.
Heavelon Van Der Hoven goes freelance
The former South African jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven, who has been tenured to trainer Bjorn Baker for the last three years, is now riding freelance in New South Wales. The 30-year-old has recently had a sponsorship restriction lifted.
Heavelon has notched Group 2 and Group 3 winners in his native South Africa and was Group 1 performed before arriving in Australia. He was educated at the South African Jockey Academy and is represented locally by riders’ agent Greg Burke.
Inver Park an Archer possible
The 5-year-old gelding Inver Park (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), an import for Australian Bloodstock, may feature in the $775,000 The Archer at Rockhampton on April 30. He would be the third horse to feature in the race for Australian Bloodstock after last year’s Ventura Ocean (Ire) (Raven’s Pass {USA}) and Gem Song (Your Song).
Inver Park is trained by Kris Lees and he won over 1400 metres at Royal Ascot in 2022. He could take the slot belonging to Ron and Jill Milne, with nominations for The Archer closing on Wednesday at 1pm AEST.
“At this stage, he is travelling up and will be our number one suit,” said Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett. “The horse is very forward and has strong form lines. He hits the line fast and we thought the 1300 metres (of The Archer) first-up would be ideal.”
Luella Cristina backs up
Snitzel’s promising Kiwi 3-year-old, the Stephen Marsh-trained Luella Cristina (NZ), will start in this Saturday’s Listed Warstep S. at Riccarton. The dual winner and Group 1 placegetter was second on a Heavy surface on the weekend in the Listed NZB Airfreight S., and her trainer is hoping for better going on the quick back-up.
Luella Cristina (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Iamges)
“She’d had a decent gap between runs and she also locked up in the ground a touch,” Marsh told NZ Racing Desk. “She has come through the run really well and I think the back-up will suit her.”
Nostrum out of Guineas
The Juddmonte Farms colt Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a leading Classic hope, has been ruled out of the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas next month, as well as the Irish and French equivalents. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Nostrum was unbeaten in his first two starts last year, including the G3 Tattersalls S. at Newmarket and he was later third to fellow Juddmonte-owned Classic contender Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Dewhurst S.
“Nostrum has had a little setback and he will not run in any of the Guineas,” said Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s racing manager. “He just needs a couple of weeks going easy, then hopefully we will have him back for the middle of the summer. I suppose we will aim for Royal Ascot and if we get there, great, but if we don’t, then we will just give him more time.”
First foal for Swiss Skydiver
Champion mare Swiss Skydiver (USA) (Daredevil {USA}), a dual Group 1 winner of the Preakness S. and Alabama S. in 2020, has delivered her first foal by Kingman (GB) at Northern Farm in Japan. The 6-year-old mare was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for US$4.7 million (AU$7 million) at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale, then sent to Kingman before heading to Japan.
Campaigned by Peter Callahan and trained by Kenny McPeek, Swiss Skydiver retired in 2021 with 16 starts for seven wins and five placings. She was crowned the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old filly in 2020.
Derby favourite arrives at Churchill Downs
The favourite for the G1 Kentucky Derby next month, 3-year-old Forte (USA) (Violence {USA}) for trainer Todd Pletcher, arrived at Churchill Downs on Monday after a 14-hour journey from South Florida. He joined fellow Derby hopefuls Kingsbarns (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) and Tapit Trice (USA) (Tapit {USA}).
Kentuck Derby favourite Forte (USA) | Image courtesy of Churchill Downs
Forte was a winner of last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and G1 Hopeful S. and won an Eclipse Award off the back of those victories, while this 3-year-old season he has won the G3 Fountain of Youth S. and G1 Florida Derby in two starts.
Harry Angel's Marshman makes all for Sigy success
Marshman (GB), a son of Darley shuttler Harry Angel (Ire), had twice knocked on the door as a juvenile in the UK last year and he delivered a first black-type triumph, tackling his third such contest, in Monday's G3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly.
The Karl Burke trainee won his first two races last year, before running second in York's G2 Gimcrack S. and a below-par fifth in Newmarket's G1 Middle Park S. when last seen. The well-backed 6-5 favourite on Monday, he broke sharply and raced on the front end from flagfall for his 3-year-old debut.
“He's a very nice horse and ran some lovely races last year, but we were a bit disappointed with his run in the Group 1,” the winning trainer said. “He was probably a little over the top at the end of a long season for him… He's a very good horse and will definitely come on for the run.”
It was a seventh stakes winner for Harry Angel, who is currently a first-season sire in the Southern Hemisphere. He will return to Darley Kelvinside after a good start to stand this breeding season at a fee of $33,000 (inc GST), up from $16,500 (inc GST) last year.
