Another winner for Saxon Warrior
It was a profitable weekend for the second-season sire Saxon Warrior (Ire), and his run continued on Monday, chalking up his third Southern Hemisphere winner.
The former Coolmore Stud shuttler is the sire of the Mark and Levi Kavanagh-trained Saxon Beauty, ridden by Robbie Downey was a dominant 3.25l winner from Final Crack (Puissance De Lune {Ire}).
Saxon Beauty winning at Wodonga | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
The 3-year-old filly was an $80,000 purchase by Kavanagh Racing from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Moody has no expectations for Spanish
Peter Moody is pleased to have the classy stayer Spanish Mission (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) return to the races after an injury-enforced layoff.
The son of Noble Mission (GB) will run in the G1 Makybe Diva S. at Flemington on Saturday, but Moody has no expectations he’ll be emulating his former stablemate Incentivise (Shamus Award).
“It will be nice just to see him back on the track and racing again,” Moody told Racing.com.
“He’s hardly been out of work all the same and he’s been rehabbing and working his way through and now here he is, he’s come up really well.
“For an old horse like him, we’d be happy to get him to the races and let him do his thing. We’ll ride him quietly and let him run home and hopefully he gives us some positives going forward.”
Private Eye to put Everest credentials on the line
Trainer Joe Pride and Proven Thoroughbreds already have Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) secured for The Everest by Newgate but are hoping Private Eye (Al Maher) can also gain entry into the $20 million showpiece.
The talented galloper will return in Saturday’s G2 The Shorts at Randwick, with Pride confident Private Eye’s strong first-up record will see him burst into calculations.
Private Eye | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I think as soon as my horse shows he’s back at the level he was last year, he is going to be in The Everest field,” Pride told Punters.
“I am expecting he will show it in The Shorts and if not, it will be in the Premiere, but I am confident he will run well Saturday.
“He is a good first-up horse and has won first-up fresh several times. I’ll be putting the shades back on Private Eye and Nash Rawiller has taken the ride.”
Ashrun on comeback trail
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Ashrun (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) is set to return to the races on Saturday after 1000 days on the sidelines.
Co-trainer David Eustace reported the import would kick-off in a 1700-metre H.
“He did a tendon when not with us and the owners have been bloody patient,” Eustace said to Racing.com.
“It’s been quite a long road for different reasons - he’s had a few setbacks, but he trialled adequately at Cranbourne last week for a horse that wants ground.
“He’s an 8-year-old but not with a lot of racing obviously. Gut feel, fitness wise I think he would be ready for a Melbourne Cup, but it depends on how he returns, and he’d probably have to win the Bart Cummings to get there.”
Ashrun was previously trained by German-based Andreas Wohler and owned-by Australian Bloodstock. The gelding ran 10th in the 2020 Melbourne Cup after winning the G2 Hotham H.
Wave of trainers head to Pakenham
Former Cranbourne-based trainer Brian McGrath has joined several new names at the Pakenham Racecourse training facility. Recently Pakenham has welcomed Annabel Neasham, David and Emma-Lee Brown and John Salanitri.
McGrath, son of the famous United Kingdom race caller and journalist Jim McGrath has acquired a 20-box barn at the facility.
Brian McGrath | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I took a horse to a trial there to experience the synthetic and everyone there just said, ‘You’ve got to come here,’ and that maybe planted the seed,” McGrath told Racing.com.
“I like the fact it’s quite relaxed and not as busy as Cranbourne. I came and saw the place and thought it was really impressive. The grass tracks and course proper are really good, the synthetic is good, and the new uphill looks great and then the wetlands track gives some nice variety for the horses.
“It just got me excited again.”
Magic Millions Raceday expanded
As reported by Punters, the Magic Millions Raceday on January 13, 2024, will expand to an 11-race card with eight million-dollar plus races. The extravagant day is traditionally held at the Gold Coast Racetrack. However, there is uncertainty surrounding when the new turf course will first be raced on.
Reportedly discussions took place at the Gold Coast with management during the week over the state of the new turf track, with officials eager to put horses over the grass as soon as possible. It is believed the first meeting could be held between mid-November to mid-December, but the timeslot leaves minimal room for staff to amend any damage to the track before the Magic Millions Race Day.
Wilson not daunted by Sydney mission
Brisbane-based jockey Kyle-Wilson Taylor will head to Sydney on Saturday to partner the Kelly Schweida-trained Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution) in the G2 Tea Rose S.
The young hoop claimed his maiden Group 1 success last season aboard the Chris Munce-trained Palaisipan (So You Think {NZ}) and is keen to make his presence felt in Sydney.
Kyle-Wilson Taylor | Image courtesy of Racing QLD
“It is one of my goals this year, to ride a Sydney winner If I can, so it’s good that Kelly (Schweida) and owner Darren Wilson have trusted me and given me the opportunity to go down and ride Miss Joelene.
“If the opportunity arises, I want to be going to Sydney on these big days. I can ride light, and I have proven I can ride competitively in Group 1s, so I am hoping to be able to go down there and have some chances present themselves.”
Pending her performance in the Tea Rose Miss Joelene will likely back-up into the G1 Flight S. a fortnight later.
Kavanagh rates First Immortal
Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mark Kavanagh can see similarities with the progressive stayer First Immortal (Churchill {Ire}) and his Cup hero Shocking.
The son of Churchill (Ire) returned on Saturday at Moonee Valley with an eye-catching run first-up and has won five of his seven starts.
“It was the sort of return you like to see after a break,” Kavanagh told Punters.
“It’s a benchmark race so we’re not getting too carried away. However, his form line is not dissimilar to what we did with Shocking.
“First Immortal will have to win some races and we’ve got to get him to the right races that he can win to get into a Cup, but if he’s good enough he’ll probably take us there. Everything is on the table.”
Hayes couldn’t be happier with Brightside
Ben Hayes, a co-trainer of the outstanding Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) couldn’t be happier with the gelding heading into Saturday’s G1 Makybe Diva S.
“He wasn’t screwed down at all and he’s actually still got a hairy coat on him,” Hayes told Punters.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“You have a close look, he’s still hairy... He’s got improvement to come, which is the scary thing.
“Mr Brightside enjoys racing, and he does very well off two-week gaps, so I’ve got no worries at all heading into Saturday.”
Imperatriz staying put in Melbourne
After much deliberation if Saturday’s electric G2 McEwen victress Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) would or wouldn’t tackle the $20 million The Everest, Melbourne racegoers could breathe a sigh of relief that the Te Akau Racing star would be staying put.
Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM told Punters, “We haven’t been offered a deal that we think reflets her ability in The Everest, so we will keep her in Melboune.
“She has won good races right-handed, but I think she is a fraction better left-handed. The Champions Sprint on the final day at Flemington is her goal, it is a $3 million race, and you don’t have to split it with anyone.”
Auguste Rodin likely Breeders' Cup-Bound
The Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita in November is likely on the agenda for Classic winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), trainer Aidan O'Brien revealed on Sunday. The Coolmore and Westerberg colour bearer earned a trip to California with his triumph in Saturday's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown, a Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifying event for the G1 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf.
“The lads love the Breeders' Cup and he's a lovely horse for it,” O'Brien said. “They will decide, but he'd love that ground. He's a beautiful mover. He won in Doncaster the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. as a juvenile on heavy and we couldn't believe that he did it, but it was probably just sheer ability.
“We'll take our time and see how he is, but I'd imagine it will be something like the Breeders' Cup.”
