Maher confident with Affaire A Suivre
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher is confident if Affaire A Suivre (NZ) (Astern) replicates her performance in the G1 Australasian Oaks victory she will win the G1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, feels the form from the Oaks in South Australia will stack up despite the small margin given the filly had to do a power of work throughout the race, where she was three-wide for much of the 2000 metre trip.
The G1 Queensland Oaks field is expected to include Fireburn (Rebel Dane) and Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) who have won key lead-ups in Queensland for their Oaks tilt.
Bowman wins Standard Chartered-Chater Cup
Hong Kong-based trainer Douglas Whyte and Hugh Bowman combined with Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to win the final Group 1 of the Hong Kong racing season, the G1 Standard Chartered-Chater Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.
With the favoured Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) finishing second after looking the victor in the run to home.
Russian Emperor is a son of the late champion mare Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock).
Forgot You on the comeback trail
The Natalie Young and Trent Busuttin-trained Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) took a significant step on his comeback trail after a tendon injury, with his first gallop on Saturday morning.
The 4-year-old entire hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced in the G1 ATC Derby in 2022.
If he remains injury-free, Young indicated the G1 Cox Plate was on the radar.
“Forgot You has scanned up really well after he tweaked his suspensory. He’s had a really good rehab program, with a couple in-and-out stints from the stable, so he could build up strength in that tendon,” Young said.
UK raiders jump out at Flemington
Monday morning at Flemington will play host to a 900 metre jump-out where the Royal Ascot-bound trio of Artorius (Flying Artie), Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) and Cannonball (Capitalist) are engaged.
Artorius’ co-trainer Sam Freedman added, “Artorius will be closing, he won’t be fast enough to go with Cannonball and Coolangatta though.”
Artorius | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Champion Sydney-based jockey James McDonald will make the special trip to partner Artorius in the jump-out.
Day out for Mertens
Beau Mertens had a productive Sunday at Ballarat, partnering four winners from seven rides.
Beau Mertens | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
Winning on the juvenile Peace Treaty (National Defense {GB}) in the opening event and followed by Diablo (Sebring), Anahita (Shalaa {Ire}) and rounding out with Sir Atlas (Ire) (Sir Percy {GB}).
Lane’s super Sunday in Tokyo
The Victorian-based, Australian Damian Lane had a day in the saddle to remember on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. Lane rode four winners including the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) aboard Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) denying the hot-favourite Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}).
Peace Treaty flies on debut
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Peace Treaty, a daughter of the late National Defense (GB), flew through the Heavy 9 conditions to win her debut at Ballarat on Sunday.
Peace Treaty partnered by Beau Mertens, was much too good for Pendante (Impending) and Credit Controller (Sir Prancealot {Ire}).
Carrying the colours of Roll The Dice Racing, it was the first runner and winner the popular syndication company has had with the training partnership of Anthony and Sam Freedman. Peace Treaty is a daughter of the Statue Of Liberty (USA) mare Relaunch. She was a three-time winner and a half-sister to Cavaloce (Testa Rossa) who won the Listed Durbridge S. and Listed City of Marion S.
Peace Treaty was a $50,000 yearling purchase by Roll The Dice Racing and Rogers Bloodstock from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Another juvenile winner for Better Than Ready
The winners keep flowing for the Lyndhurst Stud Farm-based Better Than Ready, on Sunday at the Sunshine Coast the stallion added another juvenile winner to his CV when the Kelly Schweida-trained Femme Fatale scored on debut, denying Elba (Fastnet Rock) and Encryption Elegance (Encryption).
Femme Fatale is a daughter of the seven-time-winning Lonhro mare Chaste. Femme Fatale was a $10,000 yearling purchase by Kelly Schweida Racing from the draft of Kenmore Lodge at the 2022 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
Better Than Ready will stand the 2023 breeding season for $27,500 (inc GST).
Baker wants rematch
Warwick Farm-based trainer Bjorn Baker is eager for his 4-year-old Overpass (Vancouver) to go head-to-head with star galloper Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) after falling short to the Clayton Douglas-trained gelding in the G1 Doomben 10,000.
Baker believes that with the right preparation Overpass can give Giga Kick a run for his money.
Bjorn Baker | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We really want Overpass peaking in October or close to it and we want to have a rematch with Giga Kick,” Baker enthused.
Gaudray and Hefel suspended
Melbourne’s two leading apprentices this season, Celine Gaudray and Carleen Hefel have both been suspsended by Racing Victoria stewards at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday for careless riding arising from the fourth race.
Hefel, partnering Do Ya Punk (Unencumbered), was suspended for causing interference to Gaudray’s mount Sandy Prince (Pride Of Dubai) in the closing stages, while Gaudray was suspended for causing interference to Hello Broadcast (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}) at the start of the straight.
Gaurday and Hefel had only returned this week after serving suspensions prior to Saturday. Stewards handed out eight meeting suspensions for both offenders, Hefel will begin her suspension on Thursday, June 1 and return on Saturday, June 10, while Gaudray’s suspension starts on Saturday, June 3 and ends on Monday, June 12.
Schofield suspended twice at Eagle Farm
The Sydney-based jockey Chad Schofield fell foul of Racing Queensland stewards at Eagle Farm on Saturday, when stewards found him guilty of careless riding in the G3 Premier’s Cup, charging the visiting jockey twice in the same race. Stewards found Schofield aboard Fancy Man (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) to have interfered with Blake Shinn, riding Kalapour (Ire) (War Command {USA}).
Schofield vigorously defended the first charge, Schofield felt Shinn was at fault for the incident. Schofield was suspended for 11 days, but will begin his time after next weekend’s G1 Queensland Oaks.
Damien Thornton has also been suspended by stewards for eight days regarding careless riding involving his winning ride on Cifrado (Encryption) in the G2 Sires’ Produce S.
