New winner for Written by
The Tony Gollan-trained Instagood, a daughter of Written By, scored on debut at Beaudesert on Saturday. The 3-year-old filly was ridden by Anthony Allen and won by 1.30l from Say It’s So (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) and Eye Wanted (Wanted).
Instagood is from the winning Street Cry (Ire) mare Taghrooda. She hails from the family of the G1 Doomben Cup winner Sense Of Occasion (Street Sense {USA}).
The filly was a $100,000 purchase by CSBS from the draft of Rathmore Lodge at the 2022 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Instagood is the sixth winner for Written By, who will stand the 2023 breeding season at Widden Stud for $27,500 (inc GST)
Bowman and Avdulla to return
It has been confirmed that the Hong Kong-based jockey Hugh Bowman and Brenton Avdulla will return to Sydney, Australia, next Saturday to ride in the G1 Winx S. at Randwick.
Bowman will partner with the Group 1-winning colt Lindermann (Lonhro), and Avdulla will ride Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro), both from the Chris Waller stable in the first Group 1 of the new season.
Inundation to undergo further tests
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Inundation (Headwater) will be sent for a dynamic scope following his unplaced effort on Saturday at Moonee Valley, where his rider reported hearing a noise from the horse when galloping.
The endoscope will allow veterinarians to examine the Inundation’s pharynx, epiglottis and trachea under pressure via a recording device worn by the horse when they exercises.
Sherry fined at Rosehill
Racing NSW stewards have fined Tom Sherry for vaping and inhaling from the prohibited device between races at Rosehill on Saturday.
Reportedly, Sherry initially denied or failed to recall using the device, but admitted to stewards the device was present in his suit pocket.
Tom Sherry | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Sherry admitted he may have inhaled from the device, ultimately pleading guilty to a charge under AR232 for failing to comply with stewards' orders. Racing NSW stewards fined him $400, and stated, “We are going to issue heavy sanctions on jockeys that don’t comply,” said chief steward Steve Railton.
Sherry’s indiscretion comes after Lee Magorrian was fined for using a vape in the jockeys’ room on Thursday at Newcastle.
Twin Perfection makes it three in a row
Pakenham-based trainer Phillip Stokes looked to have an progressive galloper on his hands when Twin Perfection made it three consecutive wins on Saturday at Moonee Valley.
The 5-year-old gelding was ridden by Zac Spain and defied his 62kg impost to score by 2.50l from Hissy Fit (Zoustar) in the James Miller H. over 1000 metres.
Twin Perfection is from the Stravinsky (USA) mare Miss Twin Peaks and is a half-brother to Santero (Hallowed Crown) who has won six races.
The son of Nicconi was a $75,000 yearling purchase by Regal Bloodstock, Matt Cumani and Bluegrass Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Nicconi will stand the 2023 breeding season at Widden Stud, Victoria for a fee off $22,000 (inc GST).
Waller stars step out
Those trackside at Rosehill on Saturday were treated to a pair of exhibition gallops by some Chris Waller-trained stars.
Following Race 1, Lindermann (Lonhro) ridden by James McDonald and El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) partnered by Kerrin McEvoy went through their paces over 1000 metres.
Waller then legged-up McDonald on Fangirl (Sebring) and McEvoy on Lazzago (Capitalist) after Race 3, the mare and filly also worked over 1000 metres on the course proper.
Blueblood’s quinella Highway
On Saturday at Rosehill, Race 4, a TAB Highway H. over 1300 metres threw up an intriguing result when a blueblood and a $1.1 million yearling ran the quinella in the event.
The Gayna Williams-trained Overlord (Sebring) ridden by Hannah Williams prevailed over the Danny Williams-trained and Jason Collett-ridden Wizard Of Oz (Exceed And Excel) in the Highway event.
Overlord is the third foal from the star mare Red Tracer (Dane Shadow), a victress of 15 races including the G1 Myer Classic and the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara. Overlord had shown ability winning three races and placing in the G3 Ming Dynasty, while Wizard Of Oz is from the unraced Frankel (GB) mare Dream In Colour (GB), who is from the family of the G1 Golden Slipper winner Forensics (Flying Spur).
Wizard Of Oz was a $1.1 million purchase by Tom Magnier from the draft of Milburn Creek at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he was later re-sold by Chris Waller Racing in the 2022 Inglis Digital January (Early) sale for $50,000 to Jack Colley.
Kavanagh duo train a double
Flemington-based trainers Mark and Levi Kavanagh enjoyed a productive Saturday and unveiled two progressive gallopers at Moonee Valley.
The father and son training partnership sent out Lakota Fire (Sioux Nation {USA}) in the opening event to secure his second career win, while in Race 6, they saddled-up Superstock (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). The 4-year-old gelding ridden by Craig Williams in the 2040-metre event also scored his second victory.
O’Sullivan and Scott train a double at Te Rapa
Matamata-based trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott took a handful of runners to Saturday’s Te Rapa meeting and walked away with two winners.
Starting in Race 3, O’Sullivan and Scott sent out the 7-year-old mare Highlighter (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) with Sam Spratt aboard to win her fourth race and second in a row.
Following on in Race 5, Warren Kennedy jumped aboard the O’Sullivan and Scott-trained Winexpress (NZ), also sired by Shamexpess (NZ), Kennedy guided the 4-year-old to his second career win.
Shamexpress will stand the 2023 breeding season at Windsor Park Stud, New Zealand, for NZ$8000 (plus GST).
Azure Blue to take on Highfield Princess in Nunthorpe
Azure Blue (Ire) (El Kabeir {USA}), who bested Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the G2 Duke Of York S. in May, will square off again with that multiple Group 1 winner in York's G1 Nunthorpe S. on August 25, trainer Michael Dods confirmed on Friday.
A Listed winner last October, the 4-year-old claimed the Listed Ellen Chaloner S. at Newmarket at the beginning of May before her group heroics. She was sixth in the G1 July Cup S. at Newmarket, but is reportedly doing well.
“At the moment we're thinking of going to York and the Nunthorpe,” said Dods, who has won the Knavesmire feature three times with Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in 2015/16 and Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in 2018.
“We're pulling her back a furlong and it will be very competitive if the 2-year-olds come in and also Highfield Princess was so impressive at Goodwood.
“We had had a run and Highfield had not when we met before and she's obviously come on a lot from then. But it is the obvious race and at the moment the plan is to go there.”
The five-furlong Group 1 is new territory for the filly, who has raced at six furlongs or farther in every other start to date.
“We're travelling into the unknown,” Dods acknowledged. “They will go a hard gallop and hopefully she will be fine. We're looking forward to it and at the minute it is all systems go.”
'Rising Star' Carl Spackler an 'ace' In Hall of Fame
It was a performance worth waiting for. Rescheduled from the end of last Friday's rain-cancelled card, the G2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. finally got its day on course as 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) drove right on past his opposition to pick up his first Graded-stakes win.
“The horse really benefited from a break,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “Like I said before the race, after the race at Churchill I shipped him back home to Belmont and he just was not looking well. He got sick on the trip and (owner) eFive Racing is always patient with their horses and Bob (Edwards) said, 'Listen, just point him to Saratoga and get him right' and the horse really blossomed. The last couple of weeks, his coat was shining, the horse had his energy back. His last two works were excellent. I felt even though it was off a layoff and it was a big race, he was ready to fire a big one.”
Carl Spackler is the 116th stakes winner and 65th Group/Graded winner worldwide for his prolific sire, Lope De Vega (Ire).
