Enterprise Pomme tops Magic Millions Online
The 5-year-old mare Enterprise Pomme (Spill The Beans) topped Magic Millions Online on Thursday, closing with a sale price of $120,000 to head to Australian Bloodstock. She was offered on behalf of the complete, unreserved dispersal of the Queensland-based Enterprise Stud.
Enterprise Pomme is a five-time winner who was a fast-finishing fourth in the G2 Furious S. in 2021 when trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou. She has won over $380,000 and last raced for current trainers Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted on July 29.
The mare was part of the 96-horse catalogue offered by Magic Millions Online this week. The Enterprise dispersal made the top three lots, with Enterprise Mia (Spill The Beans) fetching $42,000 when sold to Fairview Park Stud, and Enterprise Lucia (Divine Prophet) made $31,000 when selling to John Shelton Racing.
Invitation race to be held in Canberra
Canberra will host an invitation race in November, with local charities and community groups to benefit from the 12-horse event. The Canberra Community Chest – a 1400-metre open handicap – will be run at Canberra Racecourse on Saturday, November 25.
The race will be worth $250,000 with $200,000 of that to be paid out as prizemoney, while the remaining $50,000 will be shared between 12 charity and community partners.
“Racing people are generous and love helping the community. This raceday brings the community and racing together in a new and exciting way,” Canberra Racing Club chief executive Darren Pearce said. “We are dedicated to being a force for good within the Canberra community and this is a great opportunity to give back through a top-quality raceday and event showcasing the best of regional produce and hospitality. It will be a true celebration of Canberra with purpose, for our community.”
Full steam ahead for Alligator Blood
Multiple Group 1 winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) has bounced out of his fresh-up run in last week’s G1 Memsie S., the gelding’s co-trainer Adrian Bott said. Alligator Blood finished fourth in the 1400-metre Group 1, beaten 0.8l. The 7-year-old heads to the G1 Makybe Diva S. at Flemington on Saturday week.
Alligator Blood | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s pulled up super and he’s headed to the Makybe Diva,” Bott, who trains alongside Gai Waterhouse, told The Thoroughbred Report. “We are really pleased with the way he’s come through the run. I thought he was excellent there first-up. The horse wasn’t beaten far. He loomed up and his condition gave out late. He’s open to a good deal of improvement off the back of that.”
McEvoy hoping Derby winner can shine in Theo Marks
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy has told RNSW News that he’s hopeful the 4-year-old Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) can resume well this Saturday in the G2 Theo Marks S. The gelding hasn’t raced since his G1 Queensland Derby victory on May 27, but he was good in trials behind Shinzo (Snitzel) and Don Corleone (Extreme Choice) through August.
Kovalica (NZ) | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“He’s a nice horse and was brilliant when he went up to Brisbane,” McEvoy said. “He looks to be moving nicely in his trials and it’s a nice starting point for him in a race I’m sure he can make his presence felt. I know Chris (Waller) is unsure what his best distance might be, but I suppose Saturday is a starting point and hopefully he can kick off in good style.”
Te Akau hoping gun mare can fire over short trip
Star Kiwi mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) is yet to compete over 1000 metres, but Te Akau’s Ben Gleeson expects her to be sharp enough to mix it with her rivals in Saturday’s G2 McEwen S. at The Valley.
Imperatriz | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“In both her jump-outs she has really rattled home over the shorter trip,” Gleeson told Racing And Sports. “It’s a small field, so it will be a matter of where she settles, but if she can be fighting it out with Giga Kick, we’ll be happy.”
New winners for second-season sires
Three second-season sires - The Autumn Sun, Written By and Showtime - all logged winners on Thursday.
The Autumn Sun’s fine season continued when Harvest Moon scored at Cranbourne. Big Boy George broke his maiden at Hawkesbury for Written By, while Showtime filly Freeland was first home on debut at Lismore.
Open season for Queen Of The Ball
Michael Freedman is keeping an open mind about the ultimate spring target for the Go Bloodstock-raced Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) as she readies this Saturday for the G2 Sheraco S. at Rosehill Gardens. The trainer has told RNSW News that he’s allowing the 4-year-old mare to map her own path, but that even The Everest could be on the table for her.
Queen Of The Ball | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Queen Of The Ball resumed in the G3 Toy Show Qlty last month, finishing second to Parisal (Astern), and her three victories have included the G3 Champagne S. at Moonee Valley this time last year, the G3 Black Opal S. and the G3 Widden S.
“Depending on how she goes, the Moir at the end of the month would be something I’d have a look at,” Freedman said. “There’s The Everest slots hanging around. Every man and their dog is declaring their horse heading to The Everest, and if her form stood out enough, she might attract a bit of interest.”
Match-race discussions kick on
Racing.com has reported that discussions about a match race between Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) and I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) are ongoing at Cranbourne Turf Club (CTC), although the club’s CEO, Neil Bainbridge, said it’s unlikely any such race will occur this spring. Connections of both horses are reportedly interested, with an initial suggestion of a race under lights on September 22 ahead of The Everest the following month.
“They discussions have continued today (Thursday),” Bainbridge said on a Racing.com broadcast. “But I think it’s probably more unlikely than likely at this point in time. Credit to both camps, there was certainly a lot of interest in going head-to-head and running in a match race. Clearly we had a short runway, but we absolutely had great dialogue with Moods and Clayton Douglas.”
Sharp ’N’ Smart just that
The New Zealand Derby-winning hero Sharp ’N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) seems to be on song for his trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson after a fetching gallop at Te Rapa earlier this week. Loveracing.NZ has reported that the 4-year-old gelding is at ‘the top of his game’ leading into the G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings this Saturday.
Sharp 'N' Smart (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Sharp ’N’ Smart is likely to contest the G1 Arrowfield S. at Hastings on September 30, after which the rest of the spring will be mapped. However, the Melbourne Cup is definitely on the agenda for the three-time Group 1 winner.
“His work, you couldn’t ask for anything better,” Graeme Rogerson said. “Every time you ask him for something, he’ll give you that little bit more. He thinks he’s good in everything he does. He’s certainly got the ability.”
Impendabelle for the Gold Trail
The Tony Pike-trained Impendabelle (Impending) will resume this weekend in the G3 Gold Trail S. at Hastings off the back of a pair of good trials. The Group 2-winning filly took her place in the gallops against Group 1 sprinters and, according to her trainer, it was pleasing work.
“Her work during the week has been pleasing and she’s had a nice, long and slow build-up, so she’s definitely forward enough to run a bold race,” he said.
Pike is considering an ultimate target of the G1 1000 Guineas for Impendabelle at Riccarton.
Pier to improve?
The very talented Pier (NZ) (Proisir), whose wins last season included the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas, will also resume this Saturday in the G1 Tarzino Trophy. The 4-year-old gelding was a disappointing eighth last month on his seasonal reappearance in the G2 Foxbridge Plate, but trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley are hoping for vast improvement this weekend.
“He is well in himself,” Darryn Weatherley told Loveracing.NZ. “His work has been good and he has got the change of gear with the visor blinkers on. We are hoping that sharpens him up for the 1400 metres on Saturday.”
Back-to-back Balaklava Cup wins for Clarken?
Co-trainer Will Clarken is hoping that his Australian Bloodstock import, the 8-year-old Ironclad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), can land him consecutive Balaklava Cup wins in next Wednesday’s $120,000 feature in South Australia. Clarken won last year’s race with Noname Lane (Shamus Award) and, alongside Ironclad, the stable will also send out Silente Surrente (Fiorente {Ire}), all being well.
Will Clarken | Image courtesy of Racing SA
The last-start Darwin Cup winner, Write Your Name (Written Tycoon), is also among the nominations, as is the Michael Hickmott-trained Alpine Flyer (Alpine Eagle), who has won her last two starts.
Inglis Digital gelding shining in the west
The Kalgoorlie-trained Californication (NZ), a 4-year-old son of Preferment (NZ), has been shining for WA trainer Paul Rowe, winning three races from five lifetime starts since May. Rowe told The Races WA that the gelding has been a “real surprise packet” after transferring to him from Danny O’Brien’s Melbourne stable.
“I’m still not certain why they didn’t go on ahead with him in Melbourne,” the trainer said. “I thought I’d have a go with him and take a chance. I thought if I got him for under $10,000 I would be doing pretty good.”
Rowe purchased Californication for $3250 in the 2022 Inglis Digital September Online Sale, offered by the horse’s owners. He had previously been a NZ$280,000 yearling at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale when bought by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ). The horse hasn’t been out of the money since commencing his racing career.
Bayliss cleared to resume riding
Jockey Regan Bayliss has been cleared by Racing NSW to resume riding at Royal Randwick barrier trials on Friday morning. He will fulfill engagements at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Bayliss was stood down following a race fall at Wyong on September 1.
New Goffs Sale on Champions Day
Goffs will host a select auction of horses in training prior to racing on QIPCO Champions Day at Ascot, to occur on Saturday, October 21. The sale will be conducted from the winner’s podium and is expected to consist of roughly 12 elite horses in training, taking place in the parade ring.
“The Ascot brand is the most prestigious in global racing and we are truly honoured to have been chosen to conduct this sale on QIPCO British Champions Day,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive, Henry Beeby. “We believe this sale has huge potential for two key reasons; timing and location.
“October is the traditional end-of-season window for selling, while the spectacular location of Ascot Racecourse on Britain’s richest raceday offers access to a captive audience of international buyers and many of racing’s principals who will be in attendance.”
Sir Percy retired
The 20-year-old stallion Sir Percy (GB), a son of the 2000 Guineas winner Mark Of Esteem (Ire), has been retired from covering duties after 16 seasons at Lanwades. During his racing career, the horse won the G1 Dewhurst S. in 2005 and, the following year, the G1 Epsom Derby when trained by Marcus Tregoning.
Sir Percy (GB) | Image courtesy of Lanwades Stud
Sir Percy was bred by Harry Ormesher, who had bought his dam, Percy’s Lass (GB) (Blakeney {GB}), from Sheikh Mohammed. Sir Percy was the mare’s final foal and he was sold as a weanling before being pinhooked to Tregoning as a yearling.
The horse’s Derby win was memorable for his ability to have made up extraordinary ground, and he never won again after the effort. Sir Percy retired to stud in 2008 as an ideal Northern Dancer (Can) outcross. He sired the G1 Metropolitan S. winner in Australia, Sir John Hawkwood (Ire), who also won the G3 Sky High S., plus the 2018 Listed Andrew Ramsden S. winner Sin To Win (NZ).
In America, he had the Group 1 winner Wake Forest (Ger). Sir Percy shuttled for four seasons to Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand.
