Daily News Wrap

The curtain pulled officially on the career of Artorius

Time has been called on the incredible career of Artorius (Flying Artie). The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained entire ran a brave fourth in the G1 The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. last Saturday at Royal Ascot in his farewell from racing and will retire to Newgate Farm and stand for a fee of $27,500 (inc GST).

Artorius will retire as a dual Group 1 winner of the Blue Diamond S. and the Canterbury S.

Illustrating his remarkable consistency, the entire was placed in the G1 Caulfield Guineas, the G1 Coolmore Stud S., the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. and the G1 July Cup.

Freedman Racing concluded that Artorius had taken all his owners on a terrific ride on his two elite-level victories and two trips to Royal Ascot. They added that they look forward to seeing his progeny in their stable in the future.

Allen suspended for 30 meetings

Irish-born Victorian-based jockey John Allen has been suspended for 30 meetings by Racing Victoria stewards after he pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge.

Stewards concluded their inquiry into the race at Flemington earlier in June, where Linda Meech was dislodged from her mount Bitcoin (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}), and Allen rode Ain’t He Grand (Sebring) in the event.

Stewards established that Allen’s mount caused interference to Meech and Bitcoin when Allen shifted aboard the colt when not clear of Bitcoin, which caused Meech to be dislodged.

Kennedy rides three

The first-year Victorian-based apprentice Jaylah Kennedy took her career tally to 13 winners when she rode a treble on Tuesday at Ballarat on the Synthetic.

Kennedy partnered with the Genevieve Browne-trained Dancing Choose (Choisir) in Race 2 to a 2.25l victory over Boot Of Cortez (Wolf Cry). Kennedy, in Race 5, jumped in the saddle of the Archie Alexander-trained Kumicho (Street Boss {USA}). She then rounded out her day winning on the Brady Cross-trained Smokey Warrior (Warrior’s Reward {USA}).

Everest-Eagle target for Giga Kick

Clayton Douglas has confirmed that his star sprinter Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) will tackle the rich sprint feature of The Everest on October 14 into the Golden Eagle on November 4, a double worth a collective $30 million in prizemoney. The trainer confirmed that his decision was based on the Golden Eagle shifting back to November 4 from its original October berth, as announced recently by Racing NSW.

“I’ll definitely be going from an Everest into a Golden Eagle at this stage,” Douglas told journalist Ray Hickson. “To be able to win prizemoney like that is phenomenal for a gelding like him. The three weeks suits. He’ll be three weeks into a second-up run, two weeks into a third-up run (The Everest) and then three weeks into a fourth-up (Golden Eagle).”

Only a limited number of horses have attempted the rich double since the Golden Eagle was initiated in 2019, including Sunlight (Zoustar), Arcadia Queen (Pierro) and Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt). None were successful.

Giga Kick is currently favourite for both races in the betting market. He will likely resume in the McEwen S. in Melbourne before returning to Sydney for the million-dollar G2 Premiere S. into his defense of The Everest.

Churchill sires a double

Coolmore Stud shuttler Churchill (Ire), who will return to Australia this season, enjoyed a double on Tuesday at Taree when his 3-year-old son Hot Wok and 2-year-old daughter Lady Soames saluted for the judge for the first time.

The Justin Bowen-trained Hot Wok, with Darryl McLellan in the saddle, scored narrowly in the opening race over 1262 metres. The gelding was followed by the Kris Lees-trained Lady Soames, who was having her second start. She was ridden by Andrew Gibbons and, carrying the silks of Australian Bloodstock, the filly won by 2.89l from White Arendelle (Frosted {USA}).

Lady Soames was a $45,000 yearling purchase by Australian Bloodstock from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Churchill will stand the 2023 breeding season in Australia for $22,000 (inc GST).

Eighth winner for Harry

Exciting shuttler Harry Angel (Ire) posted his eighth Southern Hemisphere winner on Tuesday when the David Payne-trained Highborn Harry won the Manikato Place 2YO Maiden Handicap over 1400 metres at Kembla Grange. The 2-year-old gelding was having his second start at Kembla Grange after placing on debut at Hawkesbury. With Tom Sherry back in the saddle, the pair scored by 0.80l from the stablemate Intruder (Epaulette).

Highborn Harry is the fifth foal from the triple-winning Savabeel mare Faith In My. The gelding was a $140,000 Inglis Ready2Race Sale purchase by Payne Racing when offered by JCS Thoroughbreds in 2022.

Harry Angel will return to Darley, Kelvinside, for the 2023 breeding season at a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).

Warren welcomes back Benedetta

Mornington horseman Jason Warren has welcomed back his stable star Benedetta (Hellbent), and he has his eyes firmly on the spring. The progressive filly has won four of her six starts and was immediately spelled after placing in the Listed Sunlight Classic behind the smart What You Need (Supido) at Flemington.

“Benedetta is back and in great order, and we’re really excited about the spring for her,” Warren said. “We have set the Manikato as our target for the preparation and just work back from there. She will probably kick-off in the Carlyon over 1000 metres.”

The Listed Carlyon S. will be run at Moonee Valley on August 26 and was won by Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) in 2022, who claimed the G1 Manikato that preparation.

Dubenenko to get back on track

South Australian-based trainer Chris Bieg has elected to give Dubenenko (Russian Revolution) a two-race winter preparation before the spring. Dubenenko ran sixth in the G1 Blue Diamond S. before being brought down in a horror fall when favoured in the G2 Sires’ Produce S. at Flemington, albeit she was unharmed.

The daughter of Russian Revolution won a trial at Morphettville on Monday, and Bieg confirmed she would run in a 1200-metre 2-year-old race at Murray Bridge before tackling the Listed Oaklands Plate over 1400 metres in July.

“I am happy with Dubenenko. I brought her up pretty slowly this time in, with the Racing Rewards SA race at Murray Bridge on Saturday always there as the first-up target,” Bieg said. “I’m very pleased going into Saturday, and I won’t have to do too much with her between now and then.”

Piastri makes amends at Ballarat

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Piastri (Choisir) put an unplaced debut performance behind him when he made amends at start two to score at Ballarat on the Synthetic on Tuesday. Sired by the late Choisir, Ben Allen partnered with the colt in the 1100-metre opening event and won from the Grahame Begg-trained Inexorable (Dandino {GB}).

Piastri is the fifth foal from the Encosta De Lago mare Costa Viva. She was crowned the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year in 2013/14 and won the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

The colt was a $200,000 weanling purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Gilgai Farm at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.

Kangaroo Court hops to victory

On Tuesday, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Kangaroo Court (Snitzel) scored a 1.5l victory at start three at Kembla Grange. The 3-year-old gelding was ridden by Adam Hyeronimus in the Phar Lap Avenue maiden handicap over 1200 metres and won from Little Baia (All Too Hard) and Magic Carpet (Lonhro).

Kangaroo Court is the eighth foal from the Shamardal (USA) mare No Evidence Needed. She was a six-time victress, winning the G2 Let’s Elope S. and placed in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. and G1 Schweppes Oaks.

The gelding is a full brother to the Group 2-placed Discharged (Snitzel). Kangaroo Court was a $300,000 yearling purchase by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Baramul Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Winx Guineas the perfect fit for Stroll?

Co-trainer Matthew Hoysted, who trains at Eagle Farm in partnership with Steven O’Dea, is hopeful that his 3-year-old Snitzel filly Stroll is ripe for the G3 Winx Guineas this Saturday at the Sunshine Coast. Stroll was a last-start fourth at Ipswich, but this season has won at Listed level and been Group 3-placed behind Fashion Legend (Deep Field).

“We’re still learning about her and what is her pet distance really, but she’s always given us the feel that, in time, she’d be a miler,” Hoysted told Racing Queensland news. “This will be her first test there (1600 metres), so we’ll learn a bit more about her. There’s still improvement in her physically, but that’s probably her grade, around that Group 3 level, at this time in her career.”

Stroll is raced by Proven Thoroughbreds and her co-trainer said she has come up at just the right time for the race. It will be her first effort over the mile.

Record prizemoney for Birdsville

The Birdsville Race Club has announced that its iconic meeting, which spans 141 years, will have record prizemoney in 2023, valued at $300,000 across the meeting. The increase reflects a boost from Racing Queensland for the forthcoming racing season, as well as an additional contribution from the Birdsville Race Club.

“For many Australians, the Birdsville Races is a bucket list event that is not to be missed and this year will be no different,” said RQ’s CEO, Jason Scott. “The meeting showcases everything is great about country racing in the Sunshine State and we look forward to seeing the crowds once again descend on outback Queensland in September.”

The new $300,000 total pool is an increase of 15 per cent on 2022, while the TAB Birdsville Cup will increase in value by nearly 20 per cent from $42,000 to $50,000. The total pool for the Simpson Desert Racing Carnival, which includes Birdsville, Betoota and Bedourie races, now sits at a record $452,000, making it the richest fortnight of outback racing in the state.

Mair hopes to tribute late husband with Winx Guineas

Belinda Mair, the widow of the late Group 1-winning trainer Mick Mair, hopes to honour his legacy when she sends out Set Ablaze (Sizzling) in Saturday’s G3 Winx Guineas on the Sunshine Coast. Before her husband’s death in October 2022 from a battle with bowel cancer, Mair was her husband's full-time career and is currently in Dallas, Texas, trying to enjoy her first holiday since the tragedy.

“I miss Mick every single day. He was an amazing man. Set Ablaze is a really honest horse and he deserves a chance in this sort of race,” Mair told Punters. “Set Ablaze is only small, but he’s got a lot of potential. Tiffani Brooker will ride him. This horse absolutely loves her and I’m not kidding about that.”

Fear The Wind on a roll

In Western Australia, the Fiorente (Ire) 5-year-old Fear The Wind, co-trained at Karnup by Daniel and Ben Pearce, is on a roll after winning the Rogan Josh S. at Belmont last Saturday, his fifth win on the bounce. The gelding will be spelled with a return target of the revamped G2 Perth Cup on New Year’s Day, now worth $1 million.

“He’s just had a sensational campaign,” Ben Pearce told Tabradio this week. “It’s taken him a little bit of time to get there, but he’s really strung a good prep together. He has showed us ability along the way and had a Derby prep as a 3-year-old. He always stood out as a possible stayer of the future.”

Fear The Wind has had 21 career starts for seven total victories. His string of five victories began on April 22.

Pier on the way to Australia?

The 3-year-old G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Pier (NZ) (Proisir) could be on his way to Australia again this spring, with his co-trainer, Darryn Weatherley, hinting at a Melbourne campaign. Pier was injured after an unplaced run in the G2 Hobartville S. during the autumn in Sydney, but he’s since progressed well.

“He’s back in work,” Weatherley told Loveracing.NZ. “He had his first bit of three-quarter pace this morning (Tuesday). He’s been off the scene for some time with his broken pedal bone. It’s just nice to have him back and we will take one day at a time with him.”

It’s possible that Weatherley, who co-trains alongside his daughter Briar, will head to Australia with both Pier and stablemate Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca), a Group 2 winner. Pier may look at tackling the G2 Foxbridge S. as a lead-in event.

Rawiller benched for 11 meetings

Jockey Brad Rawiller has been suspended for 11 meetings after a careless riding charge eventuated at Pakenham on Monday, when he rode Air Defence (Stryker) to second in the eighth race. Stewards concluded that Rawiller ‘failed to make sufficient effort to keep his mount straight and, in doing so, tightened the running of All England onto Diesel ‘N’ Dust, resulting in All England having to be checked’.

Rawiller’s suspension will kick off on July 1 and end at midnight on July 12. The penalty is based on a mid-range category of careless riding.

Brung King chases Silver Bowl

Henry Dwyer’s progressive 3-year-old Brung King (Crackerjack King {Ire}) will look to extend his winter preparation with victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Silver Bowl Series Final at Flemington over 1600 metres. Brung King has put a disappointing first campaign behind him and has won on soft tracks at Sandown and Flemington over 1400 metres recently.

“Brung King is in a really good headspace,” Dwyer said. “I always felt he was a nice horse, but he disappointed us a fair bit in his first preparation by not winning a maiden in three starts, and most of the time, when you like a horse, and they don’t win a maiden in their first three races, your expectations are likely too high.

“But now Brung King has won three races from five starts this campaign and two other placings, and while it’s only winter, he’s a horse that’s going to get over further, and he’s got a fair bit of upside, I reckon.”

Chaldean eyes Sussex rematch with Paddington

Connections of the G1 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) could bid to turn the tables on Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood after suffering a comprehensive defeat to Aidan O'Brien's G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner in the St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot last week.

Frankie Dettori attempted to make all the running aboard Andrew Balding's Juddmonte-owned colt, who had no answer when Paddington swooped by early in the straight at Ascot, but those associated with the colt are far from downbeat after the performance.

Juddmonte's Barry Mahon said; “He ran a great race, to be fair. The winner is obviously a very good horse who is improving quickly and we were happy with our lad. We would have probably liked a lead. The early pace was pretty frenetic, I think Frankie just felt he couldn't get a breather into him the whole way and it just cost him when he turned in. All told, it was a nice run and we look forward to taking on the winner again some day.”

Asadna switches stables

Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), one of the big talking horses this season in Europe, has been switched by Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah from trainer George Boughey to Alice Haynes after the colt's ninth-placed effort in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot.

Much of the hype surrounding the colt stemmed from a scintillating 12l victory on debut at Ripon. It was on the strength of that performance that Asadna was sent off just 7-2 for the Coventry, but he failed to land a glove on River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and was beaten 6l at the winning line.

Haynes commented; “I'm very fortunate, it's lovely to be sent a horse who looks to have so much potential. It's great to get the call up. Obviously it's not too nice for George and trainers do like to stick together, but he was going to another yard and it's great for the team that he is joining us.”

July Cup for Highfield Princess?

John Quinn has identified the Breeders' Cup as the long-term target for Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) after his stable star placed in both Group 1 sprints at Royal Ascot last week. But first, Highfield Princess could take in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket, with Quinn reporting last year's triple Group 1-winning sprinter to have bounced out of Ascot in rude health.

The 6-year-old was beaten a length when runner-up to Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in the King's Stand last Tuesday and was narrowly denied again when third to Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S.

Quinn said; “We're as pleased as we could be. We'd like to have won one of them, but anyway, there we are. She has come out of Saturday's race really well, which is the important thing. She's a great mare.”

Blue Rose Cen going to Nassau S.

Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), one of the most exciting horses in France, is set to make her British bow in the Nassau S. at Goodwood on August 3. Christopher Head's star completed a rare treble at Chantilly when strolling to victory in the Prix de Diane earlier this month, adding to victories in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and last year's Marcel Boussac, a feat previously achieved by the likes of Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar {USA}), Divine Proportions (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}) and Allez France (USA) (Sea Bird {Fr}).

Blue Rose Cen, who has won seven of her nine outings, was stepping up to an extended 10 furlongs for the first time at Chantilly and Head is eager to stick at that trip as the Churchill (Ire) filly takes on older rivals for the first time at Goodwood.

“The main idea is to still keep up with the challenges,” Head told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast. “The owner has always been bold and daring in racing challenges, and we have been talking about the next stage for Blue Rose Cen and he wants to go to the Nassau to do the same as Nashwa did with the Prix de Diane and Nassau double and we really have great faith in her with that program.

“I don't think we have got to the limit of that filly yet. I still want to encounter the older fillies without getting into a new distance, so we'll keep with the distance we know she is best at right now and try to encounter a new panel of fillies to be able to know if she is capable of getting into the Vermeille, and then we will pretty much know if she is an Arc or an Opera (horse).”