Star Kiwi mares trial at Taupo
A number of Group 1 winners stepped out at the Taupo trials on Wednesday, including Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) and La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}).
In Heat 1 - an open trial over 1100 metres - Imperatriz finished second, while Legarto was third.
“That one (Our Alley Cat) scampered away up front, but Opie (Bosson) was really happy with her,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains Imperatriz in partnership with Mark Walker.
“She hit the line well, had another good blow, and she is on track to kick-off on the 9th of September in Melbourne in the (G2) McEwen Stakes.”
La Crique was second behind Te Akau’s Aromatic (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) in Heat 2 - also an 1100-metre open trial. Aromatic’s Group 3-winning stablemate Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) finished further back.
“Aromatic was really good. We weren’t thinking the first leg at Hawke’s Bay (G1 Tarzino Trophy) but now we might reconsider,” Bergerson said.
“It is hard to get a line on Tokyo Tycoon. He is just a relaxed, laidback horse. He has just turned three and was against older horses, but I thought he was okay.”
Bella Nipotina to bypass Carlyon
Group 1 victress Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) was a notable absentee when the final field was declared for Saturday’s Listed Carlyon S. at The Valley - a race she won when first-up last spring.
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher said the stable has opted against the 1000-metre assignment in favour of wet tracks, possible in Sydney.
“It’s weather dependent, she’s good on top of the ground but she’s better (in the wet). When she ran in the (G1 Black) Caviar (Lightning S.) it was pretty firm, but I think she does have an advantage when it’s wet,” maher told Racenet.
“She could run in anything really, but we’ll plot our path and she’s obviously very good here at The Valley.
“She doesn't mind it (travel), she’s won in Sydney, run well in Queensland, she’s just a good horse obviously, but probably The Valley is her best form.”
Waller rapt with Slipper hero
Champion trainer Chris Waller is brimming with confidence regarding the spring aspirations of this year’s G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Shinzo (Snitzel).
The 3-year-old looks to have come back well, having tuned up for his resumption with two trials. Shinzo won the most recent of those - a 900–metre heat at Rosehill on August 11, beating Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), who was excellent first-up on Saturday in the G1 Winx S.
Shinzo | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Shinzo is a very exciting horse. To do what he did in the Golden Slipper was extraordinary,” Waller told Racenet.
“Hand on heart, he really is a horse with untapped potential and it wouldn't surprise me if he shows enough speed when he resumes in spring that he could be an Everest contender.”
Mosse determined for one more Cup tilt
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Gerald Mosse is eyeing a return Down Under in what looms as a potential swansong for the French veteran.
Speaking as part of the Victoria Racing Club’s Melbourne Cup Tour through Europe, the 56-year-old, who guided Americain (USA) to glory at Flemington in 2010, said he is hopeful of returning to Australia to ride in the Melbourne Cup one more time.
“This is my wish,” he said.
“(It) probably will be my last Melbourne Cup. I will do everything to be there, to participate and to be able to win if I could.
“I would say, probably, it will be the end of my career.”
Yellow Brick’s 'data is scary', co-trainer says
Tony Sears, who trains in partnership with daughter Maddysen, has sounded an ominous warning for the spring rivals of their stable star Yellow Brick (The Mission).
The G3 Gold Coast Guineas winner, who holds nominations for the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Cox Plate, will trial next Tuesday at Doomben under new jockey Jimmy Orman.
“He is actually very forward, he has already had a few gallops and his data is scary,” Sears told Racenet.
Yellow Brick | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“The data says he has improved a lot since his last campaign.”
Yellow Brick is being aimed towards the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on November 4.
“We have nominated him for those big Melbourne races just in case things happen to change,” Sears added.
“But the Golden Eagle is the only path we are taking at the moment.”
Nadal aces rivals to open account
Xtravagant (NZ) colt Nadal is a maiden no longer after notching his first win at his third start. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained runner, who is owned by Ozzie Kheir and partners, claimed the opening event at Randwick-Kensington - a 1100-metre maiden for 3-year-olds.
Nadal won by 1.38l under Jason Collett.
“He came here (to Sydney) looking for dry tracks. He showed a good turn of foot and was very impressive,” assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
The colt was offered by his breeder - Newhaven Park Stud - at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He was bought for $250,000 by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock.
Nadal is the first winner from two to race for the Listed-winning Moshe mare Moshki.
Almanzor 3-year-old breaks the ice
The Chris Waller-trained Carrazana (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) displayed an impressive turn of foot when opening his account in Race 2 at Randwick-Kensington. Piloted by Nash Rawiller, the gelding circled the field to prevail by 1.15l in the 1300-metre contest.
“The instructions were pretty simple, shut him down in the first half of the race and let his ability do the rest in the second half,” Rawiller told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
Bred by Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Carrazana was consigned by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Chris Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock went to $440,000 for him.
He is the fifth foal from the unraced Shamardal (USA) mare Empress Cixi (GB) and she herself is a half-sister to the Group 2 scorer Ocovango (GB). Carrazana is a half-brother to the Group 3 placegetter Manchu (Redoute’s Choice).
Tulloch Lodge’s San Domenico triple threat
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable will send three 3-year-olds out in Saturday’s G3 San Domenico S. at Rosehill. Tulloch Lodge will be represented by The Instructor (Russian Revolution), Introducing (Trapeze Artist) and Butch Cassidy (Written Tycoon).
“They’ve still got to go on and be effective at this level at three but we’ve got some horses that are capable of presenting in these races,’’ Bott told Racing NSW.
“They all look in good shape and hopefully they can progress nicely for us.”
Chris Waller also has a three-pronged attack - Armed Forces (I Am Invincible), Kandinsky Abstract (Zoustar) and Cigar Flick (Churchill {Ire}).
Corniche (Fastnet Rock) and Barber (Exceed And Excel) will represent Godolphin, while the unbeaten Libertad (Russian Revolution) resumes for Annabel Neasham.
A total of 13 runners have accepted for the $250,000 race.
Kementari colt thrown in the deep end
Anthony Cummings was effusive in his praise of Manwe following the colt’s win on debut at Canterbury on August 16, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see Kementari’s lone colt head straight to stakes company. The 3-year-old will tackle some of last season’s better-performed juveniles in Saturday’s G3 Up And Coming S. at Rosehill.
“He’s a pretty nice horse and he was pretty well prepared for his first run,’’ Cummings told Racing NSW.
Manwe | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He’s done very well since then and he’s drawn a nice gate (barrier two). This puts him into a nice routine into what might be a run to the Golden Rose depending on what he shows.”
Manwe will face stiff opposition from horses including Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}), Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt) and Tutta La Vita (The Autumn Sun).
Vahala prepared to be patient with Ruler
Ascot-based trainer Stefan Vahala has been considering up his options since Aztec Ruler’s (Universal Ruler) dominant win at Belmont on Saturday but says the summer carnival may not be the best option for the gelding.
“I think I’ve run out of time for the carnival,” he told The Races WA.
“I think a better option is next year in the autumn, some of those bigger races then.
“He’s only a lightly raced 4-year-old and I’m taking a cautious approach.
“If I look after him now, I’m sure he will pay us back in time.
“He might have one or two more runs this preparation before going out.”
Aztec Ruler has won three of his seven starts.
New winner for Lean Mean Machine
Aquis Farm resident Lean Mean Machine welcomed his first winner of 2023/24, with the Michael Hickmott-trained Ladymeansbusiness taking out Race 2 at Murray Bridge.
Lean Mean Machine - a Group 2-winning son of Zoustar - tallied four individual winners in his first season. He stands at a fee of $13,200 (inc GST) this spring.
Ladymeansbusiness was partnered by Kiwi apprentice jockey Kelsey Hannan, who is on loan to Hickmott and was having just her second ride in South Australia.
Further upgrades for Pakenham
Victoria’s Racing Minister Anthony Carbines on Wednesday announced another upgrade to the training facilities at Pakenham. The plans include a 600-metre trotting track which will help ease the load on existing infrastructure as the training centre continues its rapid growth.
“It’s a big announcement, $600,000 for the new training track which is so important for the 75 trainers and 350-plus horses that we’re seeing out here,” Carbines said.
“It’s only going to continue to grow so we need to grow our investment in infrastructure here.”
The announcement comes after the completion of a wetlands track and the construction of synthetic and turf rise tracks at Pakenham.
It is hoped the new six-metre-wide standalone track will be completed by December.
Marston found guilty of multiple animal welfare breaches
Former jockey and Sky Racing presenter Chynna Marston has been found guilty of multiple animal welfare breaches.
Racing NSW on Wednesday released their findings following a lengthy investigation into alleged mistreatment of thoroughbred racehorses by Marston and her partner Alex Kean.
The release of the 14-page report follows the non-attendance of Marston and Kean at an inquiry at Racing NSW headquarters on Tuesday to answer a total of 15 charges levelled against the pair into their involvement with the charity, Recycled Racehorses.
Both parties were found guilty of all charges laid against them with sentencing to occur at a date yet to be determined.
In one of the most disturbing charges, it was found Kean shot dead a horse “after a paddock accident” and its carcass was disposed of in a bonfire.
“He did not seek confirmation from a veterinary surgeon, nor advise Racing NSW,” the stewards found.
Marston and Kean will be given the opportunity to make submissions in respect of their penalties before sentencing.
€200,000 Kodiac colt tops Arqana
The return to the V2 Sale at Arqana worked wonders for the middle market trade on Tuesday with eight six-figure lots going through the ring on a day where over €5.5m ($9,264,396) was spent on 141 yearlings.
The V2 Sale was replaced by the September Sale 12 months ago due to an oversupply of yearlings but an average price of less than €20,000 ($33,688) on 202 horses sold brought an abrupt end to the new concept.
It didn't take long for the big prices-relative to the stock on offer-to start rolling on Tuesday with lot 328, a Kodiac (GB) colt from Haras de la Louvière, selling to Arthur Hoyeau on behalf of the Windfield Colt Partnership for €200,000( $336,887).
Hoyeau commented, “He's been bought for a partnership put together to acquire colts. He'll stay here initially and we'll decide later whether he is to be trained in France or Britain.”
“He was one of my favourite colts in the sale and it has been hard going over the first three days so I'm delighted to get him. You have to pay for the nice horses and I think I had Jean-Claude against me so I knew I would have to keep going.”
