Daily News Wrap

Kah free to ride during spring

Star jockey Jamie Kah, who returns to the saddle on Saturday for the first time since March 11, is free to ride during the spring, after pleading not guilty to a misconduct charge over her part in the infamous white powder controversy.

Kah faced a Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) direction hearing on Wednesday to answer the charge of conduct prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity or welfare of racing. Her Barrister, Matthew Stirling, told the VRT that Kah intended to plead not guilty.

“The way we see the hearing going is, it’s obviously for Racing Victoria as prosecutor to explain how it is the alleged conduct translates into a commission of an offence under AR228,” he said.

The matter will return to the VRT for a two-day hearing, starting on November 13 - at the conclusion of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Kah will be in Sydney to partner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in the G1 Winx S. at Randwick on Saturday.

Parker’s realistic aim for Think It Over

Kerry Parker doesn’t have lofty ambitions regarding Think It Over’s (So You Think {NZ}) return in Saturday’s G1 Winx S. at Randwick.

The 8-year-old injured a tendon in the 2022 G1 Queen Elizabeth S. and hasn’t raced since.

Parker hopes his stable star - a two-time Group 1 winner - shows he still has a zest for racing when he lines up in the $1 million contest.

“You can go in wishing you can return a winner but you’ve got to be realistic,’’ Parker told Racing NSW.

“And realistic is he races well, shows he is enjoying it and pulls up sound.

“We’ve brought him along nice and steady. We were never in a hurry. I always aimed at this spring rather than rushing him back for anything else so I wasn’t under pressure.”

Eight for Waller in Winx Stakes

Champion trainer Chris Waller could have as many as eight runners in Saturday’s G1 Winx S. at Randwick. The Rosehill-based conditioner has accepted with Francesco Guardi (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro), Lindermann (Lohnro), Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}), Fangirl (Sebring), Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Princess Grace (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}) and Hinged (Worthy Cause). The former has also been accepted for the G2 PB Lawrence S. at Caulfield.

Waller will chalk up 150 elite-level victories, should one of his team prevail, while if Lindermann is first home, Hugh Bowman will reach 100 Group 1 successes, too.

“It’s a good starting point. He’s in between a handicapper and a weight-for-age horse,” Waller said of Lindermann when speaking to Racenet.

Full field for PB Lawrence

Saturday’s G2 PB Lawrence S. at Caulfield has attracted a field of 15 runners plus four emergencies, with the Lindsay Park-trained Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) the headline act. The All-Star Mile and two-time Doncaster Mile hero, who won this race 12 months ago, will resume from barrier nine (should the emergencies fail to run) under Craig Williams.

Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, who trained the 2021 victress - Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) - have Uncle Bryn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) engaged, while Chris Waller has accepted with El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Francesco Guardi (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Coleman celebrates first city win

New trainer Katherine Coleman, who trains alongside Peter Moody, enjoyed a milestone at Sandown-Lakeside when Masonry (Zoustar) won Race 2, handing her a maiden metropolitan success.

“Congratulations to Katherine for her first metropolitan winner. Unfortunately, she couldn’t be here with us, but someone has to hold the fort,” Moody told Racing.com.

Masonry is from the Listed victress Summer Girlfriend (USA) (Forest Camp {USA}), making him a half-brother to the stakes performer Patricia Dawn (Sebring).

The colt was offered by Widden Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Trilogy Racing and CB Bloodstock went to $250,000 for him.

Ace Impact takes Guillaume D’Ornano to remain unbeaten

Star Cracksman (GB) colt Ace Impact (Ire) extended his winning streak to five with an impressive victory in Tuesday’s G2 Prix Guillaume D’Ornano at Deauville.

The G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero, who is favourite for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October, was having his first start for 72 days. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained 3-year-old scored by 0.75l under Cristian Demuro, with Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) second and Birr Castle (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}) third.

“We will have to discuss his future with the partners (Gousserie Racing and Ecuries Serge Stempniak) - either he will have another race before the Arc or go straight to the big one,” Rouget said.

Demuro added: “It is always emotional when you have an unbeaten horse like this and a great relief to see that he has retained all his ability.”

The runner-up, who is trained by Joseph O’Brien, holds a nomination for the G1 Cox Plate at The Valley on October 28.

Australia filly lands maiden stakes win

It was a Group-winning double at Deauville for Jean-Claude Rouget and Cristian Demuro, with Elounda Queen (Ire) (Australia {GB}) too good in the G3 Prix de Lieurey - Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage.

Importantly, it was the first black-type victory for the 3-year-old filly, who is closely related to the multiple Group 1 scorer Dutch Art (GB).

Elounda Queen prevailed by a head.

Classic Winner And Arc Runner-Up Vadeni Retired To Stud

Prix du Jockey Club winner and Arc runner-up Vadeni (Fr), who also landed the Eclipse S. at Sandown in a spellbinding 3-year-old campaign, has been retired.

The highest rated son of Churchill (Ire) won five times for Jean-Claude Rouget and carried the colours of the Aga Khan. He will join the stallion ranks at Haras de Bonneval, where he will stand alongside Siyouni (Fr), Zarak (Fr) and Dariyan (Fr). No fee has been decided on yet.

Georges Rimaud, manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, commented, “We are delighted to have Vadeni join the team at Haras de Bonneval and he will come to stud with a very exciting profile. A stakes winner at two, he showed a fantastic turn of foot to win the Prix du Jockey Club by a record 5l margin at three, proved the best of a stellar field in the Eclipse Stakes, and placed in both the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Irish Champion Stakes.

“He showed a great constitution and temperament that enabled him to perform with distinction at the highest level, not just in France, but also in Ireland and the UK.”

Rimaud added, “He is everything you would want in a racehorse-precocious, fast, sound and consistent, and a dual Group 1 winner. After two busy seasons, he ran a great race to come second in the Arc in testing conditions on his first try at 12 furlongs, and it possibly took more out of him than we thought. We have therefore taken the decision to retire him now and focus on the next chapter ahead of him.”

Neasham stable expands

The rise of multiple Group 1-winning trainer Annabel Neasham shows no sign of slowing, with confirmation she will add a permanent base in Victoria. The Englishwoman will have 20 boxes on-course at the Pakenham Racing Club leading into the spring carnival.

Into just her third year of training, Neasham already has bases at Warwick Farm, Rosehill, Eagle Farm and the Gold Coast.

Pakenham-based trainer Bill Papazaharoudakis will head the operation.

“Billy has 40 boxes and it looks like we’ll be able to have up to 20 there,” Neasham told Racing.com.

“Particularly in the carnival, last year we did have 20 down there at one time but they were scattered everywhere and through the visitor boxes at Flemington.

“It was just going to be a lot easier for us to have a more permanent base.

“Billy is obviously a great horseman - and very experienced - (and) who has done a similar role for Lindsay Park in the past.”

Attards eye feature-race win on home deck

Hawkesbury-based co-trainers Jason and Lucy Attard have two chances in Thursday’s Listed Rowley Mile.

Ruby Flyer (Flying Artie) will be ridden by Jason Collett, while his sister Alysha will partner Luvoir (Deep Field).

Jason Attard expects Ruby Flyer to be very competitive.

“After he won at Warwick Farm last month, I was looking through the Racing NSW calendar and noticed the Rowley Mile,” he told Racing NSW.

“Ruby Flyer likes his runs spaced and this race being at home, I thought it would be rude not to have a crack at.

“I ride him in his gallops, and he has kept ticking over nicely. Obviously, it’s a big jump in class, but he is in great order, has drawn an inside barrier, Jason has won on him over the mile at Hawkesbury, and the soft ground is perfect.

“He (Luvoir) is at his right distance (on Thursday), having won over 1600 metres at Randwick, and the soft ground also suits him.”

Stakes-winning filly up for sale on gavelhouse.com

Exceed And Excel 3-year-old Sky On Fire, who won the 2022 Listed Welcome S. at Riccarton last November, has been added to the latest fortnightly sale on gavelhouse.com as Lot 64, which concludes next Monday.

The filly is the winning Northern Meteor mare Elusive Meteor and she herself is a half-sister to the stakes performer Aristocratic Miss (Foxwedge). Sky On Fire was consigned by Eureka Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and was bought for $400,000 by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis.

“She was such a beautiful yearling and had a very good pedigree behind her as well,” Ellis commented. “It was no surprise to me at all when she came out and won a stakes race at such an early stage of her 2-year-old season. She was always very forward and showed a huge amount of ability.

“It’s just a shame that we weren’t able to keep racing her. But with the breeding season now just around the corner, this is an excellent opportunity to put her up on the market, and I’m sure she’ll make a fantastic broodmare prospect.”

New winner for Jungle Cat

Telemon Stud resident Jungle Cat (Ire) - a second-season sire - notched his first win of 2023/24 when the Gregory Hickman-trained Tigers Roar saluted in Race 4 at Eagle Farm.

Hickman said he is likely to give Tigers Roar a break now before a tilt at the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas in January.

A winner of the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. in 2018, Jungle Cat - a son of Iffraaj (GB) - covered 57 mares in his first season at stud.

Jungle Cat stands at a fee of $8800 (inc GST).

Latta eyes big bonus with Belclare

A trip to Australia is likely on the cards for high-class mare Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), with the Lisa Latta-trained 6-year-old set for a AU$1 million bonus if successful in the G1 Empire Rose S. at Flemington on November 4.

Belclare became eligible for the bonus following her win in the G1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. (1600 metres) at Pukekohe in April.

“I am really happy with her, she has trialled up well,” Latta told loveracing.co.nz.

“She may well head to the Taupo trials next Wednesday just to have another hitout on a grass track. She is coming to hand nicely and we are just looking for the tracks to improve for her.

“We will just get through the first two runs at Hastings and then we will go from there, but we are looking at the Empire Rose in November.”