Daily News Wrap

Group 1 winner On The Rocks retired

The Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained On The Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) has retired.

“He had no luck this season with wet tracks, and we’ve been lucky enough to secure a very good home for him which is more important,” said Pam Gerard.

“He’s going to Dylan Ferguson, Jo Stevens and their 3-year-old daughter Gracie, and he absolutely loves her. No doubt we’ll see him out in the show ring.”

Before being gelded, On The Rocks won the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial and the G2 Avondale Guineas as a 3-year-old. His career highlight came when he claimed the G1 Herbie Dyke S. as a 4-year-old and added the G2 Rich Hill Mile S. to his CV.

The grey was subsequently gelded, and while he recorded additional wins and was placed in the Herbie Dyke S., he never quite rose to the same heights and ended his racing career as an 8-year-old with seven wins.

“He’s gone out sound and happy.”

Magnus joins the 100 club again!

Magnus, who stands at Widden Stud, Victoria, has once again achieved the feat of siring 100 winners in a season.

The son of Flying Spur, who has sired four Group 1 winners, posted his 100th winner for the 2022/23 season when the Charmaine Barnes-trained Mythical Magnus scored on Saturday at Ballarat.

Magnus will stand the 2023 breeding season for $16,500 (inc GST).

Vauban to chase Cup spot

The Willie Mullins-trained Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) shot to early G1 Melbourne Cup favouritism with an impressive victory at Royal Ascot in the Copper Horse H. over 2800 metres; however, the 4-year-old Northern Hemisphere-bred gelding has not yet met the first ballot condition for the race that stops the nation.

Vauban mixes a flat career with hurdling and, before the Royal victory, had not run on the flat since winning in France in July 2021. Despite the ballot concerns, it has been reported that Mullins is eager to gain entry in the Melbourne Cup but is conscious not to spark the attention of the handicapper, with several options coming up on the European calendar that would achieve the first ballot clause, include the G3 Irish St Leger Trial, the G2 Lonsdale Cup at York, the G1 Irish St Leger and the G2 Doncaster Cup, the ballot clause requires Vauban to run top three in any of the mentioned races.

Australian-first micro-ownership in thoroughbred broodmare breeding offered

BTX Racing an Australian company will be offering access to micro-ownership to the thoroughbred industry but rather than yearlings, BTX will be partnering with one of the country’s most prestigious stud farms to offer micro-ownership in broodmares and their foals.

BTX Racing founder and CEO Steve Piek says while there’s strong demand for quality Australian-bred horses, the breeding side of the industry has long been reserved for those with deep pockets - until now, with BTX the first to offer investors the opportunity to purchase fractional ownership shares in carefully selected Australian broodmares.

“Our first micro-ownership breeding product offers investors ownership interest in a portfolio of five broodmares and their subsequent foals for two years, with a forecast return on investment on the 10 foals to be sold at the 2025/26 auctions,” Piek said.

“All five broodmares are currently in foal at Blue Gum Farm - at the foot of the Strathbogie Range in north-east Victoria and renowned for producing high-quality yearlings and strong sales results. They are due in August/ September.

“Fractional investors share in the costs of owning and breeding these broodmares, as well as any potential profits generated through the sale of foals.

“Shares will start at approximately $300 for your right to the 10 foals and your share of the sales proceeds.”

Dettori to head Down Under

Champion jockey Frankie Dettori has confirmed his farewell tour will include this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The 52-year-old rode his last Royal Ascot last week riding four winners and won his ninth G1 Ascot Gold Cup.

Dettori will compete at Flemington on Cup Day, Oaks Day and Champions S. Day.

Dettori was set to retire after the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Santa Anita in November, but his hunger to win an elusive G1 Melbourne Cup has him delaying his retirement.

“I have achieved all there is to achieve in horse racing and have had a fantastic career, but the Lexus Melbourne Cup has always been one race that I would love to win,” Dettori said.

“I am looking forward to returning to Melbourne to ride at the carnival for one final time and hopefully I can finish my career with a Melbourne Cup win.”

Victoria Racing Club chief executive Steve Rosich is ecstatic to welcome Dettori back to Flemington.

“Frankie Dettori is one of the best jockeys and personalities the sport has ever seen and the VRC look forward to giving him a fitting farewell at Flemington at the Melbourne Cup Carnival,” Rosich said.

“The Lexus Melbourne Cup is a race that jockeys across Australia and the world want to win, and this year will be no different.”

King ‘proud’ of race named in his honour, V’landys says

Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys claims His Majesty The King was thrilled to hear of the new $5 million G1 King Charles III S., which will be run at Randwick alonsgide the $20 million The Everest, on October 14.

“When I met with him (on Saturday), he was very proud that we’ve done what we’ve done,” V’landys told Sky Racing Radio.

“Especially in Australia. He said it is one of his favourite countries and he spent a lot of his youth in Australia so he is very fond of our great country.”

V’landys, who has been in England and attended Royal Ascot, believes another injection of significant prizemoney at the top-end will enhance the state’s global footprint.

“There is now $87 million available in The Everest carnival, so we’ve certainly got their (English racing’s) attention,” he said.

“You have got a $20 million race in The Everest and a $10 million race in the Golden Eagle.

“You’ve now got a $5 million race over 1600 metres and still have the Epsom.

“There are so many races, I can’t even mention them all, so they have shown great interest and I think that you will find there are a lot of English horses making the trip to Sydney.

“That will continue to make the carnival grow.”

Steparty to go again

Paul Preusker has confirmed his unbeaten 2-year-old Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) will head to Flemington on Saturday for the $175,000 Taj Rossi Series Final.

Preusker had initially planned to spell the colt, but with black type up for grabs and the fact Steparty has done so well since his latest win, the Horsham-based conditioner has changed his mind.

“I was happy enough, so we will nom him up and play on,” Preusker told Racing.com after the colt worked on Monday morning.

“He went up the sandhills and rolled up the last 400 metres.

“I’m happy and he’s happy, so we’ll just poke away; there isn’t much left to do now.”

Dean Yendall will return from a holiday in Bali to ride the colt, who will strectch out to 1600 metres for the first time.

Steparty is a three-time winner with earnings of $236,035.

Victorian Breeding Awards to be held on July 29

In celebration of the horses and individuals in the Victorian breeding industry, the 2022/23 Victorian Breeding Awards will be held on Saturday, July 29 at the Marnong Estate in Mickleham. Attendees can look forward to food, drinks, live entertainment and an opportunity to catch up with others in the industry.

TBV’s Executive Officer Carrie Hu is looking forward to what will be a night full of fun and entertainment.

“It’s going to be a fantastic evening to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Victorian breeders and Victorian-bred horses,” she said.

“We would like to take this opportunity to recognise the passion and dedication of the breeders in Victoria as well as the top-class racehorses bred within this state. I extend a warm invitation to all members, breeders, owners and horse lovers to join us on this special evening.”

Nominations are now open for the Inglis Service to Industry Award and the Stud And Stable Support Rising Star Award. If you know someone deserving of recognition, please send their names and a short description to: tbv@racingvictoria.net.au

Hong Kong on radar for Uncommon James

Group 1-winning sprinter Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}) may have a crack at the G1 Hong Kong Spring in December, according to co-trainer Matthew Hoysted.

“It would be unreal to do it, but he would need to be winning the races to justify the trip, especially with the way Lucky Sweynesse is going,” Hoysted, who trains alongside Steve O’Dea, told News Corp.

“It is the dream and we’d love to be able to do it, but he has to improve a bit to even think about it.

“If he was to win a few nice races next prep, we would be open to travelling abroad with him.”

A winner of six of 10 starts, Uncommon James is likely to kick off his spring campaign in the G1 Moir S. at The Valley in September.

Payne a chance to ride at the Curragh

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne may attend next week’s time-honoured Irish Derby Festival at the Curragh - and not just as a spectator.

Appearing on Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday program, Payne said the deal is far from done, but if it does happen, she will be over the moon.

“That would be a real highlight if that was to happen because I’ve never been to the Curragh,” she said.

“I have heard so much about it and that would just be absolutely amazing if that was to happen.

“I’m not going to go too much into it just in case it doesn’t happen, but I have received a clearance from back home to ride.”

Godolphin juveniles fire at Canterbury trials

Canterbury hosted nine 2-year-old trials on Monday and three of the winners were trained by James Cummings for Godolphin.

Cummings’ Group 2 victress Exploring (Brazen Beau) took out Heat 11 (900 metres) in a time of 56.01s.

Mannequin (Exceed And Excel), who was unplaced on debut, claimed Heat 8 (905 metres) in 56.30s, while the Rosehill placegetter Diabelli (Fastnet Rock) was first home in Heat 14 (898 metres) in 56.68s.

Two winners came from the Team Snowden camp, with Fickle - an unraced I Am Invincible filly from the Group 3 victress Flippant (Hinchinbrook) - clocking 55.64s to take Heat 10 (900 metres), before He’s All Style (Supido) ran 55.03s to take Heat 13 (900 metres). Flippant is a three-quarter sister to the Group 1 victress I Am Excited (Snitzel) and this is the same family as the top-flight scorers Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock), Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Commanding Jewel (Commands).

Fickle was retained to race by her breeders, while her sister made $2 million at this year’s Magic Milions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The filly was bought by Tammy Rigney from the Yarraman Park consignment.

Giga Kick back better than ever

Clayton Douglas, the trainer of the reigning The Everest hero Giga Kick (Scissor Kick), is adamant the star is back better than ever. Giga Kick, who has been spelling the Queensland sun since his resounding G1 Doomben 10,000 success, returned to light work in the state ahead of a first-up run in the G2 McEwen S. over 1000 metres at Moonee Valley on September 9.

“Giga Kick’s physical development has been phenomenal,” Douglas told Racing.com.

“He was still quite immature when he won The Everest, but the strength across his back and he’s just got a lot of presence about him now. Giga Kick has gone the way you hoped and physically matured into a strong style of horse, which is huge given he was such a weak and immature horse as a juvenile.”

Haras de Beaumont buys into Classic hero Ace Impact

The G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Ace Impact (Fr) (Cracksman {GB}), who is currently the top-rated 3-year-old in Europe, is to continue his racing career for a partnership which consists of his original owner Serge Stempniak and the Chehboub family. Upon his eventual retirement, he will stand at the Chehboub-owned Haras de Beaumont, close to Deauville.

Unbeaten in four starts to date, Ace Impact set a new race record in winning his Classic for Stempniak and trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. From the first crop of Cracksman (GB), who was one of the earliest stars for his sire Frankel (GB), he was bred by Waltraut Spanner. Unsurprisingly, there has been interest in the exciting young colt from stallion farms around Europe.

“I was very keen for Ace Impact to remain in France for his future stallion career,” said Stempniak. “It was also very important for me to engage in a French partnership. I had a lot of offers from abroad. However, I thought that this was a shame because the horse certainly has a great career ahead of him in the breeding shed in France. I'm very happy to enter into a partnership with the Chehboub family whom I met a short while ago. We hit it off straight away. They are people with great human values. I have retained a 50 per cent stake in Ace Impact, and the terms of our agreement stipulate that the horse will carry the colours of both concerns on an alternate race basis. My last condition was that Ace Impact's Arc bid should be in my colours.”

Pauline Chehboub owns Haras de Beaumont with her father Kamel, traditionally racing their horses under the banner of La Gousserie. The stud, which is on part of the land formerly used by the historic Haras du Quesnay, was officially launched in December and is already home to the stallions Sealiway (Fr), who covered 160 mares in his first season this spring, and Intello (Ger), who was sent 130 mares.

Plans outlined for Shadwell runners

After missing the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot due to fast ground, Shadwell's Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is expected to make his next start in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. July 29.

“Hukum will run if and when we get some rain,” confirmed Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold. “It was a touch and go situation Saturday. We were longing to run him, but (trainer) Owen (Burrows) just felt in the end that, while we could run him and he could win it, he might come back a bit sore after it and we'd all look silly.”

He continued, “We kept him in training and spent a lot of time getting him right again after his injury last year and he just felt it was too big a risk. It is frustrating but sensible.”

Gold also confirmed that G1 Prince Of Wales's victor Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will miss next week's G1 Coral-Eclipse S., a race that has been earmarked for G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}).

“Mostahdaf has come out of it very good,” said Gold. “I spoke to (trainer) John Gosden (Saturday) and he says he is bouncing.”

Listed winner Al Asifah (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who finished sixth after being supplemented to Thursday's G2 Ribblesdale S., will also be given some time off, according to Gold.

“We'll give her a break now and get her back in the autumn,” he said. “I still think she will be a very nice filly. We haven't even discussed targets. We will give her some gentle downtime, three weeks or so, then bring her back and take it from there.”

Two Phil's likely finished for 2023 with ankle injury

GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil's (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) exited his win in Saturday's G3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown with an ankle injury and is unlikely to race again in 2023. The Daily Racing Form was first to report the news. He was being transported to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, where he'll undergo further evaluation and is expected to be operated on by Dr. Larry Bramlage said trainer Larry Rivelli.

Rivelli added that Two Phil's showed no sign of injury until Sunday morning, when pressure was detected in his right front ankle.

“It probably puts him out for the rest of the year,” Rivelli said. “We're sick.”

Rivelli said stallion farms have shown interest in acquiring Two Phil's, and it's not out of the question that the colt won't run again.

“He doesn't owe us anything. In my experience, they aren't usually the same horse after something like this. We don't know the extent of it all yet. The amount of time off he'll need still is to be determined,” Rivelli said.