Prowess setback puts spring in jeopardy
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) had to undergo surgery to remove an abscess that was applying pressure to a blood vessel. The 4-year-old mare was originally scheduled to tackle the G1 Memise S. and the G1 Cox Plate, but the surgery has now put her spring preparation under a cloud.
“It’s pretty disappointing for all concerned but it’s not career threatening and sometimes these things are meant to be and there’s certainly nothing we could have done differently,” James told RSN.
Prowess (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It was pretty gutting but the owners have been wonderful in the way we’ve handled it and she’s got her whole career ahead of her. We’re hopeful Prowess might get over to Melbourne later in the year for the Matriarch and Mackinnon (Champions S.) if everything went 110 per cent right. But we’re just not making any plans at the moment.”
Goldman pleases Childs
Victorian-based jockey Jordan Childs is pleased with the physical improvement the G1 Melbourne Cup fancy Goldman (NZ) (Verdi {NZ}) has made.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 5-year-old worked around Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning ahead of his first-up run in the G2 Feehan S. in September.
“He was good, he wasn’t here to break any records, he was here to just have a nice workout over six furlongs,” Childs said.
“He had a good look around and I thought he did his work quite nicely. Goldman had a bit of time off, he feels like he’s strengthened up a little bit more, he had a trial up in Sydney and has come down to Melbourne within the last week.”
Aegon takes aim at Feehan
The Andrew Forsman-trained Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) will take aim at the G2 Feehan S. after an eye-catching run in the G2 PB Lawrence S. at Caulfield on Saturday.
“He was very good,” Forsman said.
“We weren’t expecting a lot first-up from the wide draw, knowing that he’d probably get back and we’re targeting middle-distance races this preparation.
Aegon (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“At weight for age it’s always hard to give them that much of a start and run like he did, it was very encouraging.”
Forsman confirmed the G1 Turnbull S. is Aegon’s immediate aim.
Globe to target Feehan?
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) may potentially run in the G2 Feehan S. after working around Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning. However, co-trainer Price will give himself a week to decide whether the progressive galloper will run first-up in the Feehan.
“Jamie Kah has ridden him in gallops, and she said he actually feels better here (at The Valley) than what he does at Cranbourne,” Price said.
“It’s a good sign if we go to the Feehan. The problem I have with that race is the mile and being a weight-for-age race first-up and he’s still a little round.”
Darling View pensions Patronize
Darling View Thoroughbreds in Western Australia has announced they have pensioned Patronize, a son of Redoute’s Choice.
“What a great old stallion he has been for us,” stud manager Brent Atwell said.
Patronize
“He’s been a super-consistent sire and a gem to have on the farm. He will live out his days here at Darling View.”
Patronize was a $750,000 yearling at the 2004 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. However, due to a hoof injury his career was limited to four starts of which he won two races. Patronize left two stakes winners and 11 stakes performers.
Marston and Kean no-show at latest welfare inquiry
Ex-Sky Racing presenter Chynna Marston and fiance Alex Kean once again were a no-show at the Racing NSW welfare inquiry into alleged animal welfare breaches on Tuesday morning. Racing NSW stewards were forced to continue proceedings in the absence of Marston and Kean deliberating on a total of eight charges against Marston and seven against Kean.
Following on from the adjournment of the latest inquiry on Tuesday, Marston released a lengthy video on social media she labelled “the longest mic drop in history.”
The video reportedly contains a range of allegations from Marston towards Racing NSW and other unnamed parties.
Marston stated she would not be attending any further Racing NSW hearings into the animal welfare matter.
“I will no longer be participating, involved with or have anything to do with Racing NSW stewards,” Marston said in the video.
“This has been the most ridiculous set of circumstances and I don’t want to partake in their game any longer.”
Plucky Pirouette’s comeback from tendon injury
The Tom Dabernig-trained Plucky Pirouette (Brazen Beau) will be searching for her first victory since VRC Oaks Day 2021 after suffering a tendon injury.
Plucky Pirouette spent 19 months off the track with a flexor tendon injury and underwent a rehabilitation program with Lee Evison.
The daughter of Brazen Beau is set to run on Wednesday at Sandown-Lakeside over 2100 metres.
“She had been off the scene for a while and we have gradually been building her fitness and building her up in distance," Dabernig said.
“Each run she has been slightly improved, and she is building up to being back in form.
Plucky Pirouette | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
"We're topweight and there is a couple in there with a bit of recent form, but I've left Jamie Mott on because she has gone well for him in her last two runs, and he seems to have confidence in her.
“So, rather than claim, we'll just carry the weight. She's drawn to get a nice run and over that distance she should be able to sit close to the speed.”
Wednesday's outing is at BM70 level, and at some stage Dabernig would like to try the mare at stakes level, but he will be guided by her lead-up form.
“Hopefully we can get her back winning, get a bit of confidence, but what level we can get her back to, I'm not sure.”
Marshman suffers season-ending pelvic injury
G3 Prix Sigy hero Marshman (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}) has suffered a suspected pelvic injury after returning sore from a tune-up breeze last week for his intended outing in the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. and will be out for the rest of the season.
Marshman (GB) | Image courtesy of Racingfotos.com
Conditioned by Karl Burke, the colt had won three of his nine career jumps and found his first Group black-type victory at Chantilly earlier this season in April when annexing the Prix Sigy. He had last been seen finishing eighth in Sandown's G3 Coral Charge S. in July but hopes were high as the return to York would've meant a return to a course at which he'd already put in two credit-worthy performances.
“He went for a breeze early last week and came back sore,” explained Nick Bradley, managing director of Nick Bradley Racing. “We sent him for a bone scan and it's not conclusive, but it looks like a suspected pelvic injury. I think that will be him done for the year. We'll bring him back next year. Three can be a hard age for sprinters, so we'll try again at four.”
Prince Khalid bin Abdullah inducted into QIPCO British Champions Hall of Fame
The late Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah has been posthumously inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, and is just the second person to be recognised within the Special Contributor category. He follows in the footsteps of 2021 inductee Queen Elizabeth II. Chosen by an independent panel of experts, in recognition of his contribution to the sport, his achievements through the breeding and racing operation Juddmonte leave a lasting legacy. The Prince's induction will be officially marked through a special presentation at York Racecourse on Wednesday, August 23, the same day as the G1 Juddmonte International S., a race that Juddmonte has supported since 1989.
Crowning his achievements and influence on the racing landscape is the venerable Frankel (GB), flawless in his career and crowned Champion sire in 2021, as well as globetrotting wondermare, Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Juddmonte-owned horses have won 76 races thus far in 2023 with Group or Grade 1 wins from Elite Power (USA) (Curlin {USA}), Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio {USA}), Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
“Prince Khalid was an owner-breeder like no other, with his numerous cherished champions, including perhaps the greatest thoroughbred of them all in Frankel. Through his racing and breeding operation, Juddmonte, the Prince has left a legacy which, now under the direction of his sons, Prince Fahad, Prince Saud and Prince Ahmed, continues to have a massive influence on the sport globally, at the same time as giving great pleasure and entertainment to his family,” said Douglas Erskine Crum, Chief Executive of Juddmonte.
“Prince Khalid would have been very pleased to be recognised by the British horse racing industry in this way and, on behalf of his whole family, I thank British racing and the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame for this exceptional accolade.”
Anthony Manganaro passes away
Anthony Manganaro, the innovative chairman and co-owner of Siena Farm who enjoyed success at the top levels of the racing and breeding businesses, passed away at his summer residence in Saratoga on Sunday. One of the co-owners of Flightline (USA) (Tapit {USA}) and a former member of the Breeders' Cup Board, Manganaro was 79.
“Anthony was a great partner,” said WinStar Farm President and CEO Elliott Walden. “He had bought in on most of our racehorses over the last few years. He was a man who was never satisfied with the status quo. He always wanted to improve things. He continued to press into difficult issues and that's what I'll remember most about him. He taught me an awful lot. He was a great mentor. The interesting thing about Anthony was, that while he was in his seventies, he was more technologically savvy than most people in their thirties. He continued to look toward the future with a zeal and an energy that made everyone around him better.”
“This is a tough one for the game,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “He was one of the best. Anthony was officially on the Breeders' Cup Board for four years and as a member for more than that. He was always extremely supportive of the company and the business. Everyone will say that Anthony Manganaro was a visionary who had a passion for the game. That passion for the game went way above and beyond breeding and racing. He wanted to improve the sport as a whole as well as the people involved at all levels of the sport. Anthony had a passion for innovation and technology and wanted to introduce that to our sport to modernize it and make it available for new, future generations. The forward thinking he had was like nothing I have ever seen.”
NYRA to pay tribute to Funny Cide
The New York Racing Association will pay tribute to G1 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}), one of the most successful and popular New York-breds of all time, on New York Showcase Day, August 27, at Saratoga Racecourse.
Funny Cide, who died earlier this summer due to complications from colic, became the first New York-bred to win the “Run for the Roses”. He was later named the 2003 Eclipse Award winner for Champion 3-Year-Old Colt.
“Few of us will ever forget Funny Cide's remarkable 2003 season, which helped shine a light on the growing success of the New York-bred program,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O'Rourke. “NYRA is honored to celebrate his life and career on this most appropriate of days: New York Showcase Day at Saratoga.”
Funny Cide's remains will be buried at Saratoga during a brief ceremony starting at 11am local inside Gate C and just a short distance from the horse path. Saratoga Racecourse will be the final resting place for the two-time New York-bred Horse of the Year.
