Shinzo favoured to win Slipper-Rose double
The Chris Waller-trained G1 Golden Slipper winner Shinzo (Snitzel) has yet to have his spring plans cemented in stone. Still, bookmakers have reacted to his Slipper victory by making him the early market favourite to claim the G1 Golden Slipper and G1 Golden Rose double.
Shinzo after winning the G1 Golden Slipper | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The filly Forensics (Flying Spur) won the 2007 Slipper and the then G2 Golden Rose in the autumn after the equine influenza (EI) outbreak disrupted the industry. It's the last time a Slipper winner has returned to a Golden Rose victory.
Think It Over to target Winx Stakes
The Kerry Parker-trained Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}) has been on the sidelines since a remarkable victory in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. in 2022 due to an off-side foreleg tendon. Parker was pleased to report this week that the star galloper returned to light work and could return in the G1 Winx S. in August.
Think It Over (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Think It Over has been back in training since the autumn carnival. He’s been working over 800-metres and going nicely,” Parker said. “I brought him back early to give him a good foundation before we have to start stepping up his work.”
Wellington stretches legs
On Tuesday, the Hong Kong-based Wellington (All Too Hard) stretched his legs with an impressive display in a 1000-metre turf trial at Sha Tin. The Richard Gibson-trained Champion sprinter will contest the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot on Saturday, June 24.
Caulfield is ready to rock
The Melbourne Racing Club conducted a set of jump-outs on the course proper at Caulfield on Tuesday morning. Mornington-based trainer Pat Carey sent out Crestani (Nicconi) and Starlight Scope (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and was complimentary of the surface.
“The track was in good condition, probably a Good 4, and it raced well,” he said. “There was a good touch of give in the track so the horses could break the surface. You wouldn’t have got a better surface in Australia than that.”
Racing is set to resume at Caulfield on June 24 after a long layoff.
Tunguska transferred to Hong Kong
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Tunguska (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) will do all his further racing in Hong Kong. The recent Kilmore maiden winner is owned by Cheng Keung Fai, who is based in Hong Kong and raced the four-time Group 1 victor, Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Tunguska will join the stable of Francis Lui.
Joining him on the flight to Hong Kong is the former Hawkes-trained Lipscani (Toronado {Ire}), who was a recent maiden winner at Newcastle.
Levendi's first crop of foals
Albeit late to the table, Magnum Park and Broadmarsh Stud announced the arrival of Levendi's first crop of foals born last year, with studmaster Brendan McShane declaring them a true representation of their Group 1-winning sire.
“The great stallions stamp their stock. You will spot a Levendi without fail. This is a new sire's first job, and job done,” he said. “Their physical attributes exhibit the perfect blend of strength, balance, and athleticism.
Levendi (red and yellow silks) | Standing at Broadmarsh Stud, image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The way they effortlessly cover the ground is a strong indicator of their natural ability already shining through,” added Levendi's owner, Alexis Beadman of Magnum Park. “They are intelligent, curious and eager to please, making them a pleasure to work with.”
I Am Caviar salutes at Ballarat
The Peter Moody-trained I Am Caviar (I Am Invincible), a son of the unbeatable Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), saluted for the second time in his career when winning a BM64 at Ballarat-Synthetic on Tuesday.
Partnered by Linda Meech, I Am Caviar posted a 0.75l win over Highland Girl (Highland Reel {Ire}).
Payne’s double at Ballarat
Dual-licence holder Michelle Payne trained and rode a double at Ballarat-Synthetic on Tuesday, just a short time after she appeared as Wonder Woman in support of Motor Neurone Disease and at the 'Big Freeze' fundraiser.
Payne debuted her 3-year-old colt Oubitsa (Palentino) in Race 2, narrowly denying the half-brother of Gentleman Roy (So You Think {NZ}), Trev The Driller (Rubick). Payne then saddled up and jumped aboard the fellow debutant Smokin’ Princess (Fastnet Rock) in Race 3, the 3-year-old filly running out an a 4l winner from Private Island (Pariah).
Far Too Easy chases Eye Liner
After missing out on a spot in last Saturday’s G1 Stradbroke H., the David McColm-trained Far Too Easy (All Too Hard) will target Saturday’s Listed Eye Liner S. at Ipswich.
Bookmarkers have already declared Far Too Easy the $3 favourite for the Eye Liner, and McColm feels the quote is justified as he believes his galloper wouldn’t have beaten Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) but would likely have run in the placings.
“He would have been a place chance for sure. But it wasn’t meant to be and we’ll chase the consolation on Saturday.” McColm added.
Scott feels Dark Destroyer on the improve
New Zealand-based trainer Andrew Scott will back up his Group 1 winner Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) in Saturday’s Listed Ipswich Cup over 2150 metres at Ipswich. Dark Destroyer was last seen on Saturday, finishing sixth in the Listed Wayne Wilson over a mile.
Dark Destroyer (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“Dark Destroyer has pulled up well from Saturday and the feedback was he wants further,” Scott said. “The quick ground in Brisbane this year hasn’t been in his favour. But he got too far back on Saturday and worked to the line okay. If he brings his best form, he should be competitive in the Ipswich Cup.”
Loft returns to work
The former Marcel Weiss-trained Loft (Ger) (Alderflug {Ger}) has entered the stable of his new trainers, Ben and JD Hayes at Lindsay Park. The 5-year-old gelding was favoured to win the 2022 Melbourne Cup before bowing a tendon.
He was sent to Lee Evison for a lengthy rehabilitation period and has now progressed enough to resume light work with his new trainers.
“Loft arrived last week from Lee’s (Evison) rehab. Lee has done a great job with him,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said. “The tendon appears to be good, so we’re pleased with how he looks. We will just take him nice and slow and build up slowly. Loft will tell us there are no plans for the horse at the moment.”
McDonald excited about future
The now Cranbourne-based trainer Clinton McDonald has admitted this week that “they had to drag me out of Caulfield kicking and screaming. I didn’t want to be anywhere near Cranbourne.” However, McDonald has changed his tune drastically regarding Cranbourne.
“I wish I had moved sooner,” he said. “Cranbourne is fantastic. It’s one of those places you’ve got everything at your fingertips. We’ve got grass every morning, unheard of in any training establishment.”
With the stable sending out a slew of winners lately from the new facility, McDonald is excited and he hinted at a future training partnership with his daughter, Ali.
“Coming to Cranbourne has rejuvenated me. Ali and I are looking at a training partnership that will happen sometime soon.”
Nolen cleared to return to riding
Luke Nolen has been cleared to return to riding work after he spent the last month injured on the sidelines due to a barrier incident at Cranbourne on May 12. Nolen was transported to the hospital that day and cleared of fractures, but he sustained intense bone bruising to the front and back of his pelvis.
“I hope I will progress enough to be back race-riding within seven to 10 days,” he said this week.
Black Fantasy on the road to Perth Cup
Karnup co-trainer Ben Pearce has told The Races WA that his 4-year-old stable star Black Fantasy (Blackfriars) is on a return path to a Perth Cup campaign. The gelding was last seen in July last year at the back end of a brilliant season, winning four on the bounce that included the Listed Aquanita S. and Listed Belmont Classic before a 6l demolition of a rated field over 2100 metres at Belmont.
Black Fantasy | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“This time last year he was flying,” Pearce said. “He was due to come back in January, but just got a knock to his tendon. He was impressive last year, but I thought his best win was his last race. He romped home to win by 6l on a Heavy track.”
Black Fantasy will spend another week on the water walker before coming back into full-time work after injury. The horse was a $36,000 purchase for Pearce Racing at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale in 2020 when sold by Scenic Lodge. He has won close to half-a-million in prizemoney and was third to Alaskan God (Playing God) in the G3 WATC Derby last season.
Saintorio, Belmont Guineas hopeful
Three-year-old gelding Saintorio (Oratorio) is on-song for this Saturday’s G3 WAROA Belmont Guineas, according to his trainer, Port Kennedy-based Stephen Miller. Miller told Tabradio that the horse has had plenty of work since his last-start eighth in the Listed Raconteur S.
“He probably didn’t go as well as expected the other day,” the trainer said. “But he’s come through it pretty good and I’ve put the work into him. He does have a good second-up record and is going to go into it pretty fit. He was a bit more underdone than what I expected the other day. At set weights, hopefully he can run a good race.”
Saintorio has won five of his 16 starts to date, including the Listed Lee-Steere S. He was third to Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G2 Western Australian Guineas in November.
Group 3-winning Haskoy retired due to tendon injury
Trainer Ralph Beckett has revealed that Group 3-winning filly Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) has been retired due to a tendon injury. Haskoy, fourth in the G1 St Leger last year having gone past the post in second, made a winning return at Newbury when landing the G3 Al Rayyan S. She had been just 8-1 for the Gold Cup at Ascot.
“Haskoy has strained a tendon, consequently she is being retired to the paddocks,” Beckett revealed on social media.
Haskoy is the first foal from Natavia (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), a Listed-winning half-sister to Spinning Queen (GB) (Spinning World {USA}), who left the likes of Soviet Song (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) and Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away {Ire}) 9l behind when upsetting the G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. in 2006.
Zenyatta retired from breeding
Beloved North American Hall of Famer Zenyatta (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}) produced her last foal, a filly by War Front (USA), on June 9 at Lane's End Farm. However, acccording to the Champion's connections, including co-owner Ann Holbrook (Moss), as well as Lane's End managers Todd Claunch and Jenn Laidlaw, all of whom were present for the successful foaling, it will be the mare's last.
Nineteen-year-old Zenyatta will remain at Lane's End into her retirement. And, in additional information by Zenyatta.com, she will remain and ambassador for the sport.
The winner of 19 of 20 starts and the 2010 US Horse of the Year, Zenyatta retired to the breeding shed in 2011 following her only career defeat after a famed battle with Blame (USA) in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic. The history-making racemare has had a troubled career as a broodmare, with only four of her offspring making it to racing age thus far.
