Amenable to follow I'm Thunderstruck's path?
Mick Price, co-trainer of Amenable (Lonhro), is leaning towards a tilt at the G1 Memsie S. on Saturday for the promising colt.
Price shared that Amenable would be nominated for the feature and the BM100 event.
“I am very tempted to run him in the Memsie because I think if you have a good horse going well, you always err on the side of ambition rather than caution,” Price told Racing.com.
Amenable | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I think he’s probably better at a mile but if he runs a place in a Group 1 his rating of 88 will go up a fair way.
“We (Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr) did this with I’m Thunderstruck when he was only just an average rating horse. He just got a run in the Sir Rupert Clarke, and he ran third and that got him a run in the Toorak, which gave him his ticket into all the good races.”
Arapaho encounters setback
The Bjorn Baker-trained Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) has experienced a spiked temperature that sees him likely to miss the G1 Caulfield Cup. However, it isn’t all doom and gloom for the G1 Tancred S. winner with the setback opening a door towards a tilt at the G1 Japan Cup in late November.
“There was a setback with Arapaho, he had a temperature,” Baker told Punters.
“He is back and okay now, but it has him back at the moment.
“We will be unlikely to get to the Caulfield Cup now, he is in the Japan Cup, which probably becomes a more likely option, we need to have a good think about.”
Neasham gains Sheeza Belter, back to drawing board with Kristilli
Sydney-based trainer Annabel Neasham has taken over training of the Group 1 winner Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) who was trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, with the target being the Golden Eagle.
“I’ve only had her for a couple of weeks, but she looks great. I’m still learning about her but she’s a horse that obviously has bags of ability, her record speaks for itself. She’ll be at the trials in a few weeks, and we’ll go from there,” Neasham told Punters.
Sheeza Belter | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Neasham is still scratching her head over the performance of her promising filly Kristilli (Hellbent) in the G2 Silver Shadow S. where she failed to beat a runner home.
“It’s back to the drawing board with her. You won’t see her for a while, and she’ll be back at the trials before we even consider bringing her back to the races.”
Veight ready to fire
Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s exciting colt Veight (Grunt {NZ}) will begin his quest for a G1 Caulfield Guineas victory in Saturday’s G3 McNeil S.
Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy shared that the stable is pleased with 3-year-old’s work leading into his first-up run.
“We trialled him at Cranbourne at the beginning of August and we were meant to have fresh ground in the trial, but it was a bit patchy and so we protected him.
“Veight went to Bendigo the other day and had another trial and was good. We’ve kept him fairly fresh going into his first run, knowing that he’s going to improve a lot out of it.”
TJ Smith hero not screwed down
Katherine Coleman - the co-trainer of G1 TJ Smith S. winner I Wish I Win (NZ) - claims the gelded son of Savabeel will derive great benefit from his fresh-up run in Saturday’s G1 Memsie S. at Caulfield.
“He’s got a lot of improvement to come and you’ll see that in the mounting yard,” Coleman told Racing And Sports.
“He’s still got a pretty wintery coat on him and he’s still carrying plenty of condition.
“He’s definitely not screwed down and it's a hot race. Some of these horses are going to be a lot more forward than he is and obviously we’re not there to give him a gut-buster first-up.
“I think you'll see him run well but with a heap of improvement to come.”
On Monday, there was 22 nominations for the $750,000 Memsie, including the multiple Group 1 winners Mr Bightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Alligator Blood (All Too Hard).
I Wish I Win is a confirmed starter in October’s $20 million The Everest after securing Trackside Media's slot, who purchased it from Inglis.
King takes silver in Japan
Group 1-winning jockey Rachel King finished second in the World All-Star Jockeys series in Japan. Japanese jockey Mirai Iwata denied King by one point.
Iwata is the son of the G1 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Yasunari Iwata who partnered Delta Blues (Jpn) (Dance In The Dark {Jpn}) in the 2006 Cup.
Rachel King | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“I am honoured to stand on this podium today,” King said.
“It was a great experience to be supported by such great Japanese fans and I am certain that all my fellow jockeys from aboard feel the same.”
Moody fined $5000 by VRT
Pakenham-based trainer Peter Moody has been fined $5000 by the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) for a positive swab received from Brereton (Zoustar) at Flemington in May.
Peter Moody | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Brereton presented with Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenbutazone in his system after finishing sixth in the Listed Straight Six. Moody pleaded guilty and could offer no explanation as to how the substance appeared in Brereton’s system. Moody shared that he has changed his stable and staff protocols to administering medicine or treatments, while his counsel Peter Jurkovsky told the tribunal that Moody would be the subject of public humiliation as the “public can't distinguish between the administration of therapeutic substances and wilful use of stimulants.”
The VRT ordered Brereton be disqualified from the event losing $3500 in prizemoney.
Moroney chases Cups double
Flemington-based trainer Mike Moroney is after the G1 Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup with Emissary (GB) (Kingman {GB}).
The imported gelding ran second behind Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
“We’re just after a very small double, the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double,” Moroney said.
“Emissary had another jump-out over 1200 metres at Flemington this morning (Monday) and was good.
“He’s been pretty slow maturing and he’s six months behind as well, so he really should be at his peak this time around.”
Portelli expects Fireburn to need the run
The G1 Golden Slipper heroine Fireburn (Rebel Dane) is ready to kick off her spring campaign in Saturday’s G2 Tramway S. at Randwick.
Her trainer Gary Portelli is certain the daughter of Rebel Dane will improve on whatever she does first-up.
“She will probably need the run first-up, then we’ll just keep stepping her up in distance if she comes through the run well,” Portelli said.
Fireburn | Image courtesy of the Image Is Everything
“I haven’t done much with Fireburn since her trial, she has only been trotting and cantering, but her work leading up to the trial was very good. She knows what race day is about though, she does things on race day we see at home so I’m looking forward to next weekend.
“She looks dour and going to the 1400 metres first-up off one trial is the only query, but we’re chasing our tail otherwise.”
Coome to retire from training
Rockhampton-based trainer Adrian Coome is set to walk away from training this week. Coome, also a former jockey, is likely to saddle up his last runners at his home track on Tuesday while his final runner could come at Doomben on Wednesday.
“I’ve lost interest and I’m looking for a change and want to move on,” Coome said.
“I’ve got a job in the mines working as a trade assistant at Blackwater. Racing has been good to me, but I want a life after training. I’ve got six horses in work and at this stage and provided the owners agree, they’ll be transferred over to be trained by my partner Sileas Green.”
Waller has faith in Nature
Chris Waller’s Champion Sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) is ready to rumble in Saturday’s G3 Concorde S.
With many questioning if the ageing sprinter is at his best, the man who knows him best is confident Nature Strip will run well.
“I’m not saying he’s going to be retired if he doesn’t win, but he needs to run well to continue on,” Waller said.
Nature Strip | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“We’re not here just to make up the numbers, we’re here to make sure that he’s back.
“He doesn’t deserve to be going around if he’s not. Nature Strip has come back well, he’s trialled well, everybody’s seen how he’s come back. Both his trials have been brilliant. We’ve just got positive comments every time he has worked.”
Written Tycoon colt breaks the ice
The Lindsay Park-trained Arizona Activist (Written Tycoon) broke through at the fourth time of asking, shedding his maiden tag with a determined victory in Race 2 at Pakenham-Synthetic.
A Listed placegetter at two, Arizona Activist was handled by Michael Dee.
The colt was offered by his breeder - Yulong Stud - at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He was bought for $160,000 by Lindsay Park Bloodstock.
Arizona Activist is the second foal of the winning Foxwedge mare Phoenix Claws and she herself is a half-sister to the stakes performer Princess Varunya (High Chaparral {Ire}). The colt’s grandam is stakes performer Bruges (NZ) (Groom Dancer {USA}), who is a half-sister to the 2001 G1 Victoria Derby hero Amalfi (NZ).
Yulong's Written Tycoon was also represented by the Robert Quinn-trained Charlie Foxtrot who won at Bathurst.
Paris pleases Webster
Talented Playing God mare Baby Paris, who placed second behind the brilliant Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) in last year’s the G2 Karrakatta Plate, turned in an impressive trial at Belmont on Monday.
The five-time winner won the 1000-metre heat by 0.92l, with Searchin’ Roc’s (Awesome Rock) second and Weaponson (Oratorio) third.
Trainer Colin Webster confirmed his long-term plan for Baby Paris is the the G1 Winterbottom S. (1200 metres) at Ascot later this year.
Baby Paris | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“We'll have to start her at Belmont,” Webster told The Races WA.
“I want to get her rating points up for the Winterbottom.
“Where she is rated now she would be on the border line of getting in.
“There’s no point going for something if you are not rated for it.
“That’s why she’s in a bit earlier than we normally would have.”
Neasham handed $4000 fine
Annabel Neasham has been fined $4000 by Racing NSW stewards on Monday after an inquiry into the analyst’s findings of altrenogest in a blood sample taken from Token Capitalist (Capitalist) after the gelding was victorious at Gosford on May 6.
Racing NSW stewards in accordance with rule AR240(1), was disqualified from first place, while the John Sargent-trained Toesonthenose (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) elevated as the winner.
Arcangelo in fine shape after Travers victory
Arcangelo (USA) (Arrogate {USA}) was in fine shape Sunday following his victory in the G1 Travers S. at Saratoga Saturday, but connections will take their time before picking out a next start for the sophomore.
“He came back well and is full of himself today,” said trainer Jena Antonucci. “Of course, the Breeders' Cup is on the radar, but horses don't care about schedules or spreadsheets. We'll do what we've been doing and give him his space. We'll let him pave the way.”
Arcangelo added the Travers to his win in the GI Belmont S. in June.
“I'm just so glad the race has helped to validate he's not a fluke or a one-hit wonder,” said Antonucci. “It allows him to be validated, and I'm grateful for that. Horse and team, I'm most proud of that.”
