Daily News Wrap

Coolangatta to return home

Dual Group 1 heroine Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) will head back to Melbourne following her failed Royal Ascot campaign. After finishing 11th in the G1 King’s Stand S., connections had considered a tilt at the G1 Nunthorpe S. at York in August and/or the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in early November. However, part-owner Ozzie Kheir said the filly’s below-par performance indicated she wasn’t at her best and was in need of a reset before the spring.

“She is back in Newmarket and will be returning back home on the next flight,’’ Kheir told Racing.com. “It was a great experience for everyone involved so I guess that was one positive. Ciaron (Maher) and Dave (Eustace) will bring her back and work through a new program.

“Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan and she wasn’t able to race at her best. We still aren’t sure what wasn’t right with her. To travel and compete against the best in Europe she needed to be 100 per cent physically and mentally ready. She definitely was not mentally on board as reported by James (McDonald) at the gates. We have no doubt at her best she would have been in the finish.’’

Mertens does dad proud

Jockey Beau Mertens “had a big smile on my face” as he crossed the line aboard Anahita (Shalaa {Ire}) in Race 4, a 1300-metre BM70 H., at Sandown-Lakeside. For Mertens, it was his first victory since his father, Group 1-winning rider Peter Mertens, passed away on the weekend.

“I had a big smile on my face, I was going to do it for him and he was definitely riding over me on that one, that's for sure,” Mertens told Racing.com. “I can't even begin to thank everyone for the support my family has received. It has been difficult for us all and this industry comes together as a family when someone is down.”

City Of Lights an emergency for Winx Guineas

Impressive debut winner City Of Lights (Deep Impact {Jpn}) , a half-sister to the four-time Cox Plate heroine Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), is the second emergency for Saturday’s G3 Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast. City Of Lights made the perfect start to her career on June 4, winning a maiden at Geelong and the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 3-year-old will run next Wednesday at Eagle Farm if she fails to gain a start on Saturday.

Grebeni out to defend distance record in Winx Guineas

Three-year-old gelding Grebeni (Ocean Park {NZ}) will be out this Saturday to defend his unbeaten career record over a mile when he lines up in the G3 Winx Guineas. He has twice started over the distance for two wins, those victories coming at Newcastle last December and Warwick Farm last month.

“He likes big tracks like Newcastle and Warwick Farm, so the Sunshine Coast should be ideal,” said co-trainer Gerald Ryan. “He’s going good and has always shown me a lot of promise. Originally I thought he’d run 2400 metres, but I’m not so sure now. Kerrin McEvoy got off him after his last win over 1800 metres and said not to go any further with him at this stage of his career.”

Grebeni has won four of his nine starts for Ryan and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou, including his last three on the trot in Sydney. The Guineas will be his first trip to Queensland.

Zoustar colts in thrilling finish

Race 2 at Warwick Farm proved one of the most exciting of the day, with a pair of Zoustar 2-year-old colts clearing out from their rivals and knuckling down for a stirring conclusion to the 1200–metre event. Just as Chris Waller’s Dazzle Legend looked to have the measure of Team Snowdens' Zouprince, the latter kicked back to notch his first victory at his second start.

Bred by Gerry Harvey, Zouprince was purchased by Triple Crown Syndications from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale for $220,000.

Zouprince is from the winning Fastnet Rock mare Moonlight Waltz and she herself is a sister to the stakes performer Twilight Song (Fastnet Rock) and a three-quarter sister to the stakes performer Cao Cao (Fastnet Rock). Moonlight Waltz is a half-sister to a couple of stakes winners - First Command (Commands) and One World (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), as well as the stakes performer Rule The River (Commands).

Other stakes winners on the colt’s page include Captivant and Headwater.

“He’s one of those improving types, the more racing he does, the more he will work the caper out,” Paul Snowden said on Sky Racing. “Once he got challenged late, it was good to see that fighting spirit.”

Ingham homebred breaks the ice

The Chris Waller-trained Utopian Wine (Pierro) knocked off her maiden at Eagle Farm, scoring in Race 1 by 0.58l under Ryan Maloney.

Bred and owned by Ingham Racing, the filly is from the Group 3 victress Dystopia (Redoute’s Choice) and she herself is a sister to the top-flight winner and producer Stratum, and a half-sister to the four-time scorer Grand Performance (Palace Music {USA}) - the dam of the Listed winner Burgeis (Catbird).

More juvenile joy for Spirit Of Boom

Town Crier became the 18th individual 2-year-old winner of the season for Eureka Stud’s gun sire Spirit Of Boom. Boris Thornton guided the Matthew Hoysted and Steve O’Dea-trained gelding to victory in Race 2 at Eagle Farm.

Bred and offered by Emirates Park Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Town Crier was a $160,000 buy for Proven Thoroughbreds and O'Dea Hoysted Racing.

The gelding is the first foal of the winning Choisir mare Tell Me. Town Crier is closely related to the stakes winners Nocturnelle (Elusive Quality {USA}), Dracarys and Dama De Noche (Snippets).

Russian Revolution sustains the hype

In Western Australia, the Russian Revolution 2-year-old Red Square won convincingly again for his Ascot trainer Paul Jordan on Wednesday. Lining up for the second time, the colt was an odds-on favourite after three unbeaten trials and a victory on debut at this track on June 14. Ridden by Craig Staples, he eased away for 1.08l victory over State Of Fury (Starspangledbanner).

Red Square has, to date, a perfect record and is an exciting option in the west. He was a $170,000 purchase for Jordan from Mogumber Park at the 2022 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale and is a son of the Show A Heart mare Go Daisy.

McDonald cops Royal Ascot suspension

Jockey James McDonald has incurred a 14-day suspension after his Royal Ascot fourth aboard Artorius (Flying Artie) last Saturday. The Sydney star was found to have used the whip twice more than was permitted, and he was fined £400 (AU$770) alongside a fortnight on the bench.

McDonald joined the likes of Frankie Dettori and Oisin Murphy, who also incurred 14-day suspensions during the Royal Ascot meeting. In Dettori’s case, it will mean he will miss the opportunity to win the July Cup, the only British Group 1 he is yet to snare during his long career.

Waipiro confirmed for Hong Kong

The Group 3 Royal Ascot winner Waipiro (Ire), a 3-year-old son of Australia (GB), has been confirmed as a new addition to Hong Kong by his trainer, Ed Walker. The colt is owned by the Sui family and he was a barnstorming winner of the G3 Hampton Court S. last week over 10 furlongs, winning by 2.25l with Tom Marquand aboard.

“The reason I have horses for the Sui family, and they are such great supporters, is for that reason, to produce horses for Hong Kong,” Walker said this week. “He is the perfect horse for the Hong Kong Derby. Mr Sui tries to buy one or two for the Hong Kong Derby every year. Why would you not take Waipiro?”

Codi Jordan heads to South Australia

Tasmanian apprentice Codi Jordan has relocated to South Australia in a loan arrangement with trainer Jon O’Connor. The 25-year-old will see out the last six months of her apprenticeship in the state.

“I actually flew over a good year or so ago and rode trackwork for Leon Macdonald and I really, really enjoyed it there,” Jordan said. “The lifestyle, the track and everything, it’s great, so here was always definitely an option to come back to.”

Jordan spent three months in Victoria with the McEvoy yard but said the Victorian ranks were very competitive. She has won the Tasmanian apprentice premiership twice, but in season 2021/22, she also won the overall Tasmanian premiership.

Jordan rode at Balaklava on Wednesday, finishing third aboard Exalted Kate (Valentia) in Race 2.

New hearing date for Chynna Marston

Racing NSW stewards have acceded to a request from the solicitor representing embattled racing host Chynna Marston and registered owner Alex Kean to adjourn the hearing of charges issued against the pair last Friday, June 23. A new hearing date has been set for Monday, July 10, at the offices of Racing NSW.

Marston was officially issued with charges by Racing NSW last week under Local Rule 114 and Australian Rule 228(a), relating to a failure to provide sufficient nutrition and veterinary attention to a number of thoroughbred horses between February this year and late March, and, under AR228(a), Marston is also charged with conduct prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity and welfare of racing by failing to ensure the welfare of thoroughbred horses.

Kean was issued similar charges, along with a charge relating to his euthanasia of a racehorse with failure to confirm with veterinarians the reason for that euthanasia.

Marston has denied any wrongdoing on social media and claimed last month she was cooperating fully with Racing NSW.

Treble for McNab

New Zealand’s leading jockey, Michael McNab, added another three winners to his impressive seasonal tally at Cambridge on Wednesday.

McNab now has 145 victories in 2022/23, following wins aboard Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel), Timing (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Hasstobefast (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) on the synthetic track.

Hartack trophies top auction

A group of Kentucky Derby jockey trophies, won by US jockey Bill Hartack between 1957 and 1969, have topped the three-day Julien’s Auctions Sport Legends session in Beverly Hills, California. They sold for US$317,500 (AU$480,000) after 10 bids.

The trophies represented wins aboard Derby winners Iron Liege (USA) in 1957, Venetian Way (USA) in 1960, Decidedly (USA) in 1962, Northern Dancer (Can) in 1964 and Majestic Prince (USA) in 1969. The five wins tied Hartack with Eddie Arcaro for most Kentucky Derby-winning rides.

Hartack was born in 1932 and, in addition to the above, was associated with such horses as Round Table (USA) and Tim Tam (USA). He died in 2007 at the age of 74.

Welfare rules tighten in New York

Thoroughbreds in New York will be required to pass a health check 72 hours prior to a race or workout if a new rule proposed on Monday by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) gets adopted, in lieu of passing a public commentary period and a final vote by the commission at a future meeting.

The proposal would require a trainer's attending veterinarian to conduct the 72-hour fitness exams. These health checks would be in addition to, and would not replace, New York's current rule that requires an exam by the racing association's veterinarian on race day. The proposal is being cited as “additional safeguards” by the NYSGC, with a horse prohibited from entry into a race or from performing a workout (in this instance, ‘an exercise session near full speed or close to full speed’) unless these proposed evaluation conclude that the horse is fit.

“The proposal is intended to minimise the risks of injury to horses that are unfit to perform,” wrote Edward Burns, NYSGC general counsel, in a recent brief. “The proposed rule would require such attending-veterinarian examinations to include, without limitation, a close inspection of the eyes, examination of the legs, and observation of the horse at rest and while in motion. Following a determination that the horse is either fit to race or to work out, the attending veterinarian and trainer would be obligated to inform the racing association's veterinarian of any changes in the horse's fitness before race day or the workout.”

Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Age catalogue online

Close to 200 horses have catalogued for the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale, which will get underway in Lexington, Kentucky, on Monday, July 10, a day ahead of The July Sale, the first major yearling sale of the year.

The July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale was established in 2013 and graduates have since earned more than US$75 million (AU$115 million), among whom is the G1 Pegasus winner Atone (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) and G1 Santa Anita H. winner Stilleto Boy (USA) (Shackleford {USA}).

Arqana August Yearling Sale catalogue online

The catalogue has been released for Arqana's August Yearling Sale, with 314 yearlings set to sell during the three-day sale, scheduled for August 18-20.

Beginning the day after the first running of the Arqana Series, and during Deauville's La Touques August race meet, the sale includes 18 siblings to Group 1 winners. A total of 40 per cent of the yearlings on offer are out of black-type mares and about a third of the catalogue are siblings to black-type winners.