Purton creates history
Australian jockey Zac Purton on Sunday broke Joao Moreira’s record of wins in a Hong Kong season, which the Brazilian set in 2016/17.
Purton’s win aboard Magic Supreme (Zoustar) in Race 5 at Sha Tin was his 171st of the season.
Zac Purton | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Earlier this week, Purton became only the second jockey (after Douglas Whyte) in Hong Kong racing history to ride 1600 winners.
Another juvenile winner for Lindsay Park
The Ben and JD Hayes stable continue to churn out 2-year-old winners, with debutant Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) scoring on debut at Werribee on Sunday.
The gelding - a $90,000 buy from the Monovale Farm draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale - is from the Listed scorer Kay’s Awake (NZ) (Towkay) and was signed for by Lindsay Park Bloodstock.
“He was having a good little stargaze the whole way up the straight, so it feels like there’s good improvement to come and once the penny drops, he should be a really nice horse,” winning jockey Daniel Stackhouse told Racing.com.
Lindsay Park won this year’s G1 Blue Diamond S. with Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}).
Price and Kent Jnr eye Eagle for Golden Path
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Golden Path (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) has headed for a spell. However, co-trainer Price has revealed that the stable harbours Golden Eagle aspirations for the progressive 3-year-old gelding in the spring.
“Golden Path is about a 72-rater, and I think you have to be rated around 92 to at least get into this year’s Golden Eagle on November 4,” Price said.
Michael Kent Jnr and Mick Price
“He hasn’t specifically trained off, so I think he will do well in four weeks, and then if you’re racing at the start and mid-October, his two runs will determine if he can win and get his rating up and get into the Golden Eagle, that’s the plan at the moment.
“Golden Path is raw and talented, and he did it easy in his last win, and I get a bit optimistic with them.”
Debut winner for Star Turn
On Sunday, Sunshine Coast-based trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon saddled up a son of Star Turn, Winsome Star, at their home track in a 1200 metre maiden.
The 2-year-old colt, on debut, was partnered by Jaden Lloyd and won narrowly from My Spy (Better Than Ready) and Pinkus (Shalaa {Ire}) further away in third.
Winsome Star is the first foal from the unraced Congrats (USA) mare So Stylish. She is a half-sister to Heart Testa, who won the G3 Southern Cross S.
The colt was a $150,000 yearling purchased by John Symons from the draft of Baramul Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Star Turn will stand for the 2023 breeding season at Vinery Stud for $27,500 (inc GST).
Deep Field sires a double
The outstanding sire Deep Field, who will not stand the 2023 breeding season at Newgate Farm due to infertility problems, continues to produce winners on the track.
On Sunday at Hawkesbury, the Matthew Smith-trained Deep Voyage broke through for a maiden victory over 1800 metres. The 3-year-old gelding was ridden by Tyler Schiller and won by 1.03l from Rico Suave (Fastnet Rock). Deep Voyage was a bargain $30,000 yearling purchase by Darby Racing and Will Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Goodwood Farm at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
While in Victoria at Pakenham on the synthetic track, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Lacemaker scored over 1100 metres. The flying Carleen Hefel partnered the 3-year-old filly and was a dominant 2.75l winner. Lacemaker was a $100,000 yearling purchase by Roll The Dice Racing, John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) and Jeremy Rogers from the draft of Middlebrook Valley Lodge at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Shailer appointed as Te Akau Racing Assistant Trainer
On Sunday, Te Akau Racing announced that long-term employee and senior stable foreperson Nicole Shailer has been appointed to the role of Assistant Trainer from the start of the new season.
Shailer was recognised as the New Zealand Stableperson of the Year at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s Horse of the Year awards and has spent six years with Te Akau Racing managing the middle barn at their Matamata stable.
Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM sees this promotion as a natural progression to Shalier’s career, “Nicole (Shailer) has been a great asset as a senior foreperson, and we’re proud to appoint her to the position of Assistant Trainer for our New Zealand stable,” Ellis said.
“Nicole is a true professional and always delivers to an exceptional standard in every aspect of her role. Importantly, as with Sam Bergerson before her, she brings strong leadership attributes to the position and is also especially skilled in developing and nurturing team members.”
Headwater’s successful Sunday
The Vinery Stud-based Headwater enjoyed a successful Sunday when he sired three winners across Australia. The John Symons and Sheila Laxon-trained Taupo Tiger kicked off proceedings for Headwater, who saluted at the Sunshine Coast with Jaden Lloyd in the saddle by 1.30l from Ahoy (Astern). The David Vandyke-trained 3-year-old filly On Hold, ridden by Ryan Maloney, then won in Race 5 on the Sunshine Coast. Rounding out the day for Headwater was the Edward Cummings-trained Strait Acer, who with Koby Jennings, won narrowly from Kangaroo Court (Snitzel) at Hawkesbury.
Headwater | Standing at Vinery Stud
Headwater will stand the 2023 breeding season for a fee of $13,200 (inc GST).
Cepheus takes out Grafton Cup
The Matthew Dunn-trained Cepheus (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ire}) took out Sunday’s Grafton Cup with Aaron Bullock in the saddle by 0.18l from Cotehele (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Barellan Bandit (Declaration Of War {USA}).
The 5-year-old gelding’s victory earned him eligibility for the $3 million Big Dance to be run on November 7.
Astute purchase wins on debut
The Stephen Lee-trained The Astronomer (Zoustar) won on debut at Grafton on Sunday. The 2-year-old gelding was ridden by Les Tilley and triumphed by 1.70l from Rox ‘n’ Rol (Spill The Beans) and Star Emblem (Outreach) further away in third.
The Astronomer is the first foal from Snitzel mare Wisdom Tree. She won over 1200 metres and is a half-sister to the outstanding Fastnet Rock siblings Passive Aggressive and Missrock. Furthermore, the gelding hails from the family of the multiple stakes victress Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}). The Astronomer was a $290,000 yearling purchase by TFI from the draft of Raheen Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The gelding was later sold unraced for $32,500 to Antonio Aceti in the Magic Millions National Racehorse Sale.
Legarto working towards kick-off
The star New Zealand filly Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) is readying for an upcoming spring campaign. The rising 4-year-old is trained by veteran horseman Ken Kelso and his wife, Bev Kelso.
“We plan to have Legarto trialling on August 1 on the Te Rapa grass track, and then we’ll assess her,” Ken Kelso said.
Ken and Bev Kelso | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’ll have two trials and then we’ve got an option of going to Hastings for the Group 1. If not we’ll be heading to Melbourne.
“Long term, we’d love to get her back to Flemington because she really excelled on that big, roomy track and that would be the ultimate. There’s a lot of nice prizemoney over there, the ownership group really enjoyed Melbourne.”
Glint Of Silver to resume in July
The David Pfieffer-trained Glint Of Silver (Rubick), who won the G2 Autumn S. in February at Sandown-Hillside, is gearing up for a pre-spring preparation.
“It’s a bit early but he (Glint Of Silver) has had a good break and he’s the type of horse that gets fat quick so I decided to have one crack at more BOBS money before he turns four,” Pfieffer told Punters.com.au.
David Pfieffer | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“There’s a suitable race for him at Rosehill on July 22 over 1300 metres. I’m very happy with him and I don’t think I’ve got to the bottom of him yet.”
