Daily News Wrap

Per Incanto back at Little Avondale

Little Avondale Stud has this week welcomed its banner sire Per Incanto (USA) back to the farm. The multiple Group 1-producing sire, a son of the brilliant Street Cry {Ire}), suffered a paddock injury in July. He has been recuperating of late at Cambridge Stud under the close attention of Dr Laurinda Oliver and Dr Greg Quinn from Hamilton Vets.

Per Incanto will begin serving shareholder mares next week and his progress over the next few weeks will be monitored closely before any decisions are made regarding the possibility of serving any outside mares this season.

“Per Incanto’s recovery is down to the incredible attention and dedication from so many of this country’s leading thoroughbred vets and horse people,” Sam Williams said. “It’s great to have my and Time Test’s mate back, he’s enjoying being home, despite the first-class attention he received at Cambridge Stud.”

Stewards look into Giga Kick comments

Racing.com has revealed that Racing Victoria Stewards are looking into the comments made earlier this week by Rod ‘Rocket’ Douglas in relation to the ride of jockey Craig Williams aboard the Pinecliff Racing-owned Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) in last Saturday’s McEwan S. The Everest winner finished third behind Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) and Rothfire (Rothesay) in a finish that inflamed Douglas, Pinecliff’s racing manager.

Douglas claimed he’d have “strangled him (Craig Williams) with my bare hands, I’d have strangled him in the mounting yard”, among other things. The comments were made in a week that has brought attention down to racing in the shape of allegations of emotional and physical abuse being rampant across the Victorian industry.

On Thursday, a Racing Victoria spokeswoman said stewards were aware of the comments and were “looking into it”. Craig Williams has made no public comment specifically on the incident other than stating on Wednesday that he hadn’t read what Douglas had said.

“I’ve been riding for 30 years and racing is a very reactive and very emotional sport, and whatever Rocket has said is obviously what he’s said,” the jockey stated. “I have got my four kids at home, and my wife’s got me, and that’s what I focus on. I stay in my lane.”

Overpass out to impress Everest slotholders

Trainer Bjorn Baker will send out The Quokka winner Overpass (Vancouver) this Saturday in the G2 The Shorts, and all roads have led to a first-up victory in this race and a subsequent berth into The Everest, according to his trainer. This was the path that the 5-year-old Darby Racing gelding took last year when he was second to Nature Strip (Nicconi) in The Shorts and then headed straight into a sixth-place finish in The Everest.

“I’m not beating about the bush,” Baker said. “We need to run really well and we need to make a statement. He’s been gelded and only had the two runs in the autumn, so I think he’s had the perfect set-up to run really well.”

Overpass was last seen when second to Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) in the G1 Doomben 10,000, that race following his famous victory over Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) in the $4 million The Quokka last May.

Brightside to have Blood in sight

With just seven runners in the field, Ben Hayes believes Saturday’s G1 Makybe Diva S. at Flemington will be a tactical affair. Hayes, who trains Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) out of Lindsay Park alongside brothers Will and JD, knows their main danger Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) will roll forward, but insists Mr Brightside won’t be too far behind.

“Last year when we ran in those small fields, we drew wide and elected to go back,” Hayes said. “When you give horses like Alligator Blood an easy time in front in a sprint home, it’s very hard to chase them down. He (Mr Brightside) is very versatile, so we won’t be too far away from him in the race.”

QLD Thoroughbred Award finalists announced

Finalists for the 2023 TAB Queensland Thoroughbred Awards were announced by Racing Queensland on Thursday. A total of 30 awards will be presented at a gala event at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane on October 8, including Trainer, Jockey and Apprentice of the Year categories, as well as Queensland Horse of the Year.

Vying for overall Horse of the Year honours will be the G1 Queensland Derby winner Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), the R. Listed Magic Millions Classic winner Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready) and the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}).

The awards will also feature Horse of the Year categories for 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds and older, as well QTIS Horse of the Year, Broodmare and Stallion of the Year, Champion First Season Stallion and Champion 2-Year-Old Stallion.

Williams to reunite with See You In Heaven

Jockey Craig Williams will reunite with the top-class South Australian mare See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) in the G2 Let’s Elope S. at Flemington, a race that will also welcome the east-coast debut of the west-coast star Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}). Williams last piloted See You In Heaven when the pair was second in the G3 The Vanity last February.

Trained at Morphettville by Richard and Chantelle Jolly, See You In Heaven was a winner on August 12 in the G3 Behemoth S. before then running a last-start second in the Listed Macdonald S. on August 26.

Messara hopes Remarque earns Everest call up

Arrowfield Stud supremo John Messara has been surprised by the lack of interest in its quality sprinter Remarque, but he isn’t giving up hope of seeing the gelded son of Snitzel in the $20 million race at Randwick on October 14.

“We haven’t had a hint of an approach,” Messara told Racenet.

Remarque - an impressive winner of the G3 Concorde S. first-up - gets another chance to showcase his quality in Saturday’s G2 The Shorts at Randwick

“I think a lot of people want to see what happens in The Shorts, this race will tell us a lot more,” Messara added. “October 14 at Randwick has two races, The Everest and the Sydney Stakes. Remarque is pencilled in for the Sydney Stakes at this stage but he may earn his way into The Everest.”

Weir charged by Racing Victoria

Disgraced trainer Darren Weir, who had hoped to regain his trainer’s licence, has been slapped with 10 new charges by Racing Victoria (RV) stewards.

Weir has been pre-training horses at his Baringhup property between Ballarat and Bendigo since his four-year ban for possession of electric shock devices imposed by RV stewards in 2019 expired on February 6.

He later pleaded guilty to three animal cruelty charges in Warrnambool Magistrates Court, but avoided a conviction.

The new charges relate to corruption, dishonesty and misleading behaviour and the care and welfare of horses. McLean’s former stable manager Jarrod McLean and ex-stablehand Tyson Kermond were also charged by RV stewards on Thursday.

VRC ‘strongly supports’ independent review into abuse

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) released a statement on Wednesday in light of Racing Victoria’s independent review by the Office of Racing Integrity Commissioner (ORIC). It stated that ‘any form of abuse in the community is abhorrent and the VRC totally condemns this behaviour in society. The VRC has strongly supported the independent review… into historical abuse in the Victorian racing industry… and acknowledges the report that has been handed down and the important work conducted by the ORIC'.

The statement further read that the VRC acknowledges ‘both the pain endured by people across the racing industry and those whose lives have been affected’.

The ORIC statement was an industry bombshell when it was released this week. It alleges scathing and systemic emotional and physical abuse as recounted by victims across all three codes of racing, but in particular across thoroughbred racing in Victoria.

New debut winner for Justify

Reigning Champion First Season Sire Justify (USA) logged a new winner at Bendigo on Thursday in the shape of the 3-year-old gelding Verdad. Trained by Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock at Cranbourne, the gelding was a dominant, 3.75l winner when leading home the Hawkes-trained Copacabana (Toronado {Ire}) and Undercover Agent (Master Of Design) for Grahame Begg.

Verdad is from Group 3 placegetter and seven-time winner Whistle Baby (Magnus). He was a $65,000 purchase for Tal Nolen at the 2022 Inglis Premier Sale, and then bounced into the Inglis Ready2Race Sale where he was pinhooked for $150,000 when bought by his trainers and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA).

English Derby winner a ‘magical staying horse’

Gai Waterhouse has told Racing.com that the Epsom Derby winner Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whom she received from Robert Hickmott’s stable late last year after a luckless Melbourne Cup effort, should not be overlooked when starting this Saturday in a 2500-metre quality handicap. Serpentine is winding up for another tilt at the Cup.

The 7-year-old has resumed some degree of form for Tulloch Lodge with a second-place finish at his last start on September 2 in the Listed City Tattersall’s Cup at Randwick. In four starts for Waterhouse and Bott, he has run first, second (twice) and a ninth in the G2 The Q22 during the winter.

“He’s a very exciting horse,” Waterhouse said. “He’s a wonderful, very magic staying horse. He’ll go close to winning on Saturday. He’s very fit, and you only had to see his first-up start over 2400 metres. They don’t do that in Australia. He’ll really give it (Saturday’s race) a shake.”

Tweaks made to Sportsbet Bonus Series for Sydney Everest Carnival

Racing NSW on Thursday announced changes to bonuses offered for sprint and middle-distance racing totalling $6 million during the Sydney Everest Carnival.

The $3 million Sportsbet Bet With Mates Bonus will be offered in 2023 over six feature sprint races, which commenced with the G2 Concorde S. on September 2, and goes through to the Giga Kick S. on November 4.

The $1 million Sportsbet Multi Bonus applies to the Giga Kick S. for horses placing in that race after contesting the TAB Everest, Sydney S. or The Kosciuszko.

The $2 million Sportsbet Emerald Mile Bonus will be offered in 2023 for horses competing in both the G1 Epsom H. and King Charles III S.

Horses accrue points throughout the race series, with five for first, down to one for fifth.

Ordinary trial no worry for Steel City

Co-trainer David Eustace has told Racing.com that he isn’t worried about an ordinary trial effort from the 3-year-old Merchant Navy filly Steel City. She was sixth to King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) in a Sydney trial on September 8, but Eustace said it won’t reflect on her in this Saturday’s Listed Cap D’Antibes S. at Flemington.

“She trialled really well last Friday, as she was out the back of the field and she had seasoned sprinters in front of her,” the trainer said. “Her closing splits were very good. We have a big opinion of her and we hope to get her to the Coolmore where she can try and emulate her sire, Merchant Navy. This will be an important step to get there.”

Steel City was a winner of the G3 Magic Night S. at Rosehill back in the autumn and then 11th to Shinzo (Snitzel) in the Golden Slipper. She was also second to Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}) in the G3 Widden S. and Saturday's race will be her 3-year-old debut.

Gollan eyes Toorak with winning machine

Queensland’s premier trainer Tony Gollan will use Saturday’s Listed The Sofitel to gauge just how good his 5-year-old gelding Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) is. Antino has won eight of his nine starts, and prior to going for a spell, he notched his maiden stakes success, winning the Listed Wayne Wilson S.

“He’s pretty untapped, he’s got a fair bit of upside to him and he’s nowhere near his best either Saturday, he’s got good improvement in him out of the weekend,” Gollan told Racing.com. “We’ll get a bit of an idea where he’s at against southern horses on the weekend but there’s good improvement to come and I don’t really know how good he is yet, I’m nowhere near the surface of him, I don’t think."

Should the gelding measure up, Gollan will give Antino a chance at the top level in the G1 Toorak H. at Caufield on October 14.

“I’d love to head towards the Toorak with him, hence why we put this race in the plan for him - to head from here to Sandown and then from Sandown to the Toorak. They’re probably the three runs that we had in mind for him,” he said.

Studs show interest in ‘Vinnie’ colt

Don’t be surprised if the talented colt I Am Unstoppable (I Am Invincible) is racing in new colours in the future. According to his co-trainer Lloyd Kennewell, I Am Unstoppable is attracting plenty of attention.

“It’s still early days, but there are plenty of people watching him,” Kennewell told Racing And Sports. “There’s been interest from people that are keen to acquire a little share in the horse for a fair sum of money, but there are also (stud) farms watching to see what happens in the next start or two before the Coolmore.

“They all want to get involved for the sheer fact that they’re potentially buying into an investment as a stallion prospect. This horse is an investment at this stage. He’s worth money now no matter what, but it’s a matter of what level I guess, so we’ll see where we end up.”

A winner of his first two starts, I Am Unstopabble resumed with a fast-finishing third in the G3 Vain S. at Caulfield last month. He heads to Flemington on Saturday, where he will contest the Listed Poseidon S.

Frilled remains unbeaten

The 4-year-old mare Frilled (Star Witness) continued her gradual climb for Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith on Thursday when she won the opening event at Kembla Grange, her third win on the bounce. The mare remains unbeaten after previous wins at Kembla and Nowra.

Frilled was the $1.40 favourite on Thursday and she didn’t disappoint with Kerrin McEvoy aboard. She skipped away to win by 0.8l in a persistent finish from the Bryce Heys-trained Another Cognac (Zoustar) and the Natalie Jarvis-trained Kattegat (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).

Newcastle Jockey Club gearing up for spring racing

The Newcastle Jockey Club (NJC) will host its two-day spring meeting across Friday and Saturday this week and its chief executive, Duane Dowell, said the full field that the Newcastle Gold Cup has attracted is “an outstanding result”.

“Overall, there is over $1 million in prizemoney offered on Cup Day,” he said in a media release. “Would it be fantastic to have a Newcastle-trained trifecta in the race? We expect great crowds for both days. However, bookings for Ladies Day have been particularly strong.”

Newcastle Gold Cup Day will occur on Friday, with Ladies Day falling on Saturday. The $300,000 Newcastle Gold Cup over 2300 metres has attracted such locals as Kris Lees and Mark Minervini, while Chris Waller, Tulloch Lodge, John Sargent, David Payne and Annabel Neasham are all among the Sydney visitors with runners.

Coco Rox out of Kosciuszko

The 5-year-old Better Than Ready mare Coco Rox has been withdrawn from the Kosciuszko. Trainer Matthew Dunn informed Racing NSW Stewards that she had sustained an injury to a near-fore sesamoid and will be retired.

Coco Rox won four of her 17 lifetime starts and was just shy of $300,000 in earnings. One of her best performances came in the Listed Denise’s Joy S. last year at Scone when she was third to Godolphin’s Zapateo (Brazen Beau) and Mark Newnham’s A Very Fine Red (Deep Field).

Gear change the making of Derry Grove?

Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn has told RNSW News that the addition of a browband to the bridle of his Kosciuszko-bound gelding Derry Grove (Star Turn) has made all the difference. Ever since, the horse hasn’t been beaten in a trial or a race.

Five-year-old Derry Grove has won three of his nine races to date and is unbeaten in the last two. However, Dunn said the gelding will need to step up if he is to be competitive in the $2 million Kosciuszko on October 14.

“He needs to go to another level to be competitive with horses like Far Too Easy and Mogo Magic and the like, but who knows where his bottom is,” the trainer said. “He was untested the other day winning by five (in a Randwick Highway on August 19). I don’t think I’ve had one canter up the rise, like he did at Randwick, before in my life.”

Polly Grey heads home to New Zealand

The 9-year-old mare Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}) has headed home to New Zealand to wind up her racing career, Loveracing.nz has reported. She has gone back into the care of her part-owner, Kylie Fawcett, and, somewhere in the middle of final runs, a date with Proisir. She is likely to race at either New Plymouth or Te Rapa this weekend before Group targets later in the spring.

“We are going to scan her after this race and see where she is at,” Fawcett said. “It (future starts) will be determined by when she gets in foal and the weather conditions, so we will plot around those the best that we can.”

Polly Grey spent a number of seasons in Australia in the hands of Chris Waller. She won the Group 3 pair of the Epona S. and JRA Plate, as well as the Listed ATC Cup, Lord Mayor’s Cup and Gosford Gold Cup, in addition to the Listed Matamata Cup in 2019.

Time called on Justaskme?

Kiwi trainer Allan Sharrock has told LoveRacing.nz that he’s almost ready to call time on the handicap career of his loyal gelding Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}), a Group 2-winning, Group 1-placed warrior. The gelding has won just shy of NZ$500,000 but his handicap weights are now prohibitive.

“I’ve talked openly with the handicapper and it’s nearly all over when you’ve got 63.5kg,” Sharrock said. “It’s becoming time to pull the pin because it’s just too tough. His career could be curtailed shortly.”

The 8-year-old gelding will contest an open handicap this weekend at New Plymouth and was a last-start fourth in the G3 Winter Cup, but Sharrock believes it will be a struggle for the horse to be competitive against others claiming weight.

Jericho stepping-stones in NZ this weekend

Warrnambool’s folk-hero race, the Jericho Cup, a stiff test over 4600 metres, will be on the minds of New Plymouth racegoers this Saturday when the first of two qualifying races will be staged. The NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho (3210 metres) is the first of the New Zealand ‘golden tickets’, while the second will be the race of the same name over 3000 metres at Riccarton on October 28.

The winner of each qualifying race will earn an automatic berth into the Jericho Cup, which will be run on the fourth Sunday after the Melbourne Cup. The Jericho Cup is a long-running feature, first fun in 1918 but revived five years ago.

Flemington stable tours on September 24

The VRC will, on September 24, open its on-track stables at Flemington to public tours. All the major yards will be open from 10am to midday, coinciding with the Spring Classic Preview Day meeting on the track later that afternoon.

The operations of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Lindsay Park, Godolphin and Mike Moroney will all be open to the public, along with Anthony and Sam Freedman, Malua Racing and Danny O’Brien, among others. Children must be aged 12 years or over and the VRC is asking for registrations.

Goffs suspends Dubai Breeze-Up Sale for 2024

The Dubai Breeze-Up Sale, which took place for two seasons in association with Goffs, will not be staged in 2024, the company announced on Wednesday. The main reason for the suspension is that the sale fell within the holy month of Ramadan.

The Dubai Racing Club stated, however, that it ‘would like to commend the partnership with Goffs, who conducted both sales with huge professionalism, and look forward to the opportunity to explore potential collaborations with Goffs in the future under more favourable circumstances’.

Tally-Ho Stud to stand Good Guess

Tally-Ho Stud has snapped up the G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Good Guess (GB) for its 2024 stallion roster. The son of Kodiac (GB) led home such horses as Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Prix Jean Prat, and he will stand alongside his sire at Tally-Ho, who joined the stud’s roster in 2007.

“We are delighted to be adding Good Guess to our roster,” said Tally-Ho’s Roger O’Callaghan. “As one of Kodiac’s best sons, it is very satisfying to be standing him in the stallion yard as his sire.”

Good Guess won four of his nine starts and carried the colours of Hisaaki Saito throughout his career. As well as showing top-class form as a 3-year-old, he had the precocity to win over five furlongs on debut at Chantilly.