Cups weights announced
Weights for the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup were revealed on Tuesday.
Early Melbourne Cup favourite, the Willie Mullins-trained Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), has been allocated 55kg for the famous two-mile handicap, which will be run on November 7.
Reigning Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip (Fr) (Outsrip {GB}) tops the weights at 58.5kg, which is one kilo more than he carried in 2022. No horse since Think Big (NZ) (Sobig {NZ}) in 1975 has carried more than 58kg to victory.
Gold Trip (Fr), winner of the 2022 G1 Melbourne Cup, tops the weights at 58.5kg | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We have effectively lifted Gold Trip 2kg from his true weight last year, which is less than the penalty afforded other Melbourne Cup winners in recent times, however, we are mindful that it is 48 years since a horse has carried 58.5kg to victory in either Cup so a significant challenge awaits,” said Racing Victoria’s Head of Handicapping David Hegan.
“Imports like Soulcombe, Francesco Guardi, Hoo Ya Mal and Just Fine, the Roy Higgins winner Goldman and last season’s Derby winners Kovalica, Major Beel and Sharp ‘N’ Smart, all sit in the 52kg to 54kg range and have demonstrated the ability to be highly competitive.”
Gold Trip also heads the weights for the October 21 Caulfield Cup with 58.5kg.
Early favourites from the Chris Waller stable, Francesco Guardi (Ire) (Frankel {GB}} and Soulcombe (GB) (Frankel {GB}), have been allocated 54 and 53.5kg respectively.
Tighe hopes to retain a share in Winx’s first foal
Peter Tighe - one of the part-owners of the great Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) - has no regrets agreeing to sell her first foal, but admits he is keen to stay in the ownership of the Pierro filly.
“It’s only fair that we put her on the market and then everyone gets a chance,” Tighe told Racing.com.
“We’d like to keep a share in her ourselves, but it will depend on who buys her and whether they allow you to stay in. It gives everyone that opportunity - myself, Debbie Kepitis and the Treweekes.”
The Pierro filly will be offered by Coolmore Stud at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Winx is due to be served by Snitzel, who she missed to last season, in the coming days.
Thirteen confirmed for Golden Rose
Twelve colts and one filly will contest Saturday’s $1 million G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill.
Golden Slipper S. hero Shinzo (Snitzel) will start from gate 10 for his first-up assignment, while stablemate Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) will break from barrier two.
Cylinder (Exceed And Excel), who is unbeaten this time in, has drawn perfectly in six.
The lone filly, Charm Stone (I Am Invincible), has the inside alley.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will be represented by King Colorado (Kingman {GB}) (barrier nine) and Nadal (Xtravagant {NZ}) (gate 13).
Maher is particularly bullish about the stable’s G1 JJ Atkins S. hero King Colorado.
“That was a huge run in the Winx Stakes and I think he would have learned a lot from that race,” Maher told Racenet.
“It was a big field, he was in the middle and I think it would have toughened him up.
“You see that happen quite a bit, the 3-year-olds they race in a race like The Everest and go on to be successful in a race like the Coolmore.
“I am very happy with him. The trial since then was great, he will have another nice gallop before the race and be heading there.”
Schulz shoots for the stars
Fledgling trainer Kylie Schulz is daring to dream with her Impending 3-year-old Surprise Coming, who will head towards the G1 Caulfield Guineas on October 14 after his brilliant second-placed effort behind Griff (Trapeze Artist) in Saturday’s Listed Exford Plate at Flemington.
“He’s bounced through it really well. We can dare to dream,” Schulz told Racenet.
Surprise Coming | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“(Jockey) Daniel (Moor) gave good feedback afterwards and thinks he’s up to one of the races over there so if he keeps going we can go to the Guineas in four weeks.
“He said, ‘I've got to be honest, this horse has really surprised me, I didn’t expect this’. He was waiting for him to lay down (in the straight) but the horse wasn't having any of it.”
Schulz trains out of Murray Bridge.
New jockey for Antino
James Orman won’t be riding Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) when he has his next start in the G3 Sandown S. on October 1, with top jockey Blake Shinn confirmed for the talented 5-year-old.
Queensland-based Orman partnered Antino in Saturday’s Listed The Sofitel and the pair had no luck when bailed up on the fence behind the leader until the race was over.
“The connections have had a chat and they want to go with a right-handed (whip) Victorian rider for the time being,” Gollan told Racenet.
“It’s unfortunate the way it played out on Saturday, the horse has pulled up super from it.
“There’s no blue with Jimmy whatsoever over the whole thing, he will continue to ride a lot of winners for my stable.
“Blake will be on the horse next start at Sandown and we will see where it goes from there, there isn’t much confirmed for the Toorak at this stage.
“The horse still had one of the fastest last 200 metres of the day, which was a big effort considering.”
Amenable on trial for Golden Eagle
Talented entire Amenable (Lonhro) will be given another chance at Group 1 glory, and a shot at the $10 million Golden Eagle, if he wins Saturday’s Listed Testa Rossa S. at Caulfield.
Amenable was an impressive first-up Caulfield winner in BM84 grade, before flashing home late at the same track in the G1 Memsie S. on September 2.
Amenable | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“If he wins he goes to the Toorak and the Golden Eagle,” co-trainer Mick Price told Racenet.
“We just need to get his rating (of 97) up.”
Winning both the Toorak H. and Golden Eagle would earn Amenable’s connections more than $5.5 million.
Waller to support Dettori
Champion trainer Chris Waller will offer the great Frankie Dettori some rides during the Italian’s farewell tour Down Under this spring. Dettori, who will retire at the end of the year, will ride in Melbourne for the first three days of the Flemington carnival.
“I’ve been in touch with Frankie and told him that we’ll definitely have some rides for him over Cup week,” Waller told Racing.com.
“He’ll be doing the best he can to get on the best horse in the Cup and we’re looking forward to having him down here.”
Waller stopped short of guaranteeing Dettori a ride in the Melbourne Cup.
“Local riders will get first choice but if we are looking abroad, Frankie will be getting a call-up pretty quick,” he explained.
“Hopefully, he’ll be part of it. It would be great to have him here as it will to have other internationals there, especially this year when we're also saying farewell to Damien Oliver.
“I think they thoroughly deserve a really good reception and to be shown the respect they deserve.
“You don’t want to see a jockey like him drift into the sunset, you want to see them blaze into the sunset.”
Romantic Warrior ‘going the right way’
Connections of leading Cox Plate contender Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) say the Hong Kong-based galloper is acclimatising to Australian conditions.
The 6-year-old arrived at the Werribee quarantine facility on the weekend, having been delayed out of Hong Kong because of Super Typhoon Saola.
“Although the first day is really tough, after these two days they are getting better and better,” Ben So, travelling foreman for trainer Danny Shum, told Racing.com.
“We are really happy about that.
“He is going the right way.”
SF and partners buy Good Magic colt for US$700k
On Day 3 of the 2021 Keeneland September Sale, bloodstock agent Donato Lanni went to US$775,000 (AU$1.21 million) for a colt from the first crop of champion Good Magic (USA) on behalf of the partnership headed up by SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables.
Reincarnate (USA) has helped put his young Hill ‘n’ Dale-based sire on the map with a victory in this year’s G3 Sham S. and Los Alamitos Derby, and the team will be hoping that lightning strikes twice after they parted with US$700,000 (AU$1.2 million) for the Gainesway-consigned Hip 2009 during the first of two Book 4 sessions in Lexington on Monday. The colt is the most expensive horse sold on Day 7 of the September sale since 2015.
During Monday’s round of bidding, the auction house reported sales on a total of 306 horses for gross receipts of US$24,681,500 (AU$38,375,000). The session average of US$80,658 (AU$125,400) dipped by just over eight per cent versus last year’s sale, while the median price of US$65,000 (AU$101,000) represented a decrease of 3.7 per cent.
Cumulative turnover through the first seven days stood at US$344,546,500 (AU$535,625,000), some 3.1 per cent lower than 2022, but the average of US$228,935 (AU$355,900) was effectively on par with last year while the median of US$150,000 (AU$233,000) was down by 6.25 per cent.
Rich bonus for 2000 Guineas announced
The Trustees of the Christchurch Racecourse on Monday announced they will provide a NZ$100,000 bonus to the owners of the first three placegetters in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600 metres) at Riccarton on November 11.
This is over and above the NZ$600,000 stake money attached to the Group 1 feature.
A NZ$70,000 bonus will be paid to the winning owner(s), NZ$20,000 to the owner(s) of the second placegetter and NZ$10,000 to the owner(s) of the third placegetter.
“The Trustees have a role to play in promoting and fostering racing at Riccarton Park,” Trustees Chairman Peter Cordner said.
“We see no better way to do so than to ensure that the flagship Group 1 race for all 3-year-olds has the best chance to attract the very best horses to New Zealand’s premier week of racing.”
Sharp ‘N’ Smart Cup ride may be up for grabs
Trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson may be forced to find a new jockey for Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) for his tilt at the G1 Melbourne Cup, following the release of weights on Tuesday.
The talented Kiwi 4-year-old was allocated 53.5kg for the first Tuesday in November, which makes it tough for Hugh Bowman, who had been booked for the ride.
“I think he is well-weighted. He is certainly up there with the top 3-year-olds (of last season),” Graeme Rogerson said.
Sharp 'N' Smart (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“I am not sure whether Hughy can make the weight, he was hoping that he would get 54.5kg. At this stage it is Hugh’s ride, and we will see where we head.
“But I am very happy with the horse. If he is fit on the day and everything goes right, he is in with a really good chance.”
Mindarie-Halidon Cup abandoned
The iconic Mindarie-Halidon Cup meeting in South Australia will not be rescheduled, after Sunday’s scheduled program was called off due to a wet patch on the track.
Despite pre-raceday inspections deeming the track presented in good order, a malfunction with the Club’s irrigation system the night prior to the meeting eventually resulted in the track being deemed unsuitable to race on just prior to the opening event leaving thousands of patrons and participants who had travelled to the remote course in limbo.
Racing SA says it will continue to work closely with the Mindarie-Halidon Racing Club to ensure a successful running of the Club’s Cup Day in 2024.
Frankel filly lands Group 3
The Joseph O’Brien-trained Maxux (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) blitzed her rivals in Monday’s G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies S. With Mikey Sheehy in the saddle, the 3-year-old scored by 4.25l.
From the Group 3 victress Crysanthemum (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Maxux is a sister to the Group 3 winner Cunco (Ire).
Maxux is owned by the Real Sociedad footballer Alvaro Odriozola.
Brereton Jones passes away
Former Kentucky Governor and Airdrie Stud founder Brereton Jones died at age 84 on Monday. His September 18th passing was announced via social media by current Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
Jones was governor from 1991 to 1995, and is best remembered in politics as a reformist who advocated for universal health care in Kentucky. He had previously served as lieutenant governor under Governor Wallace Wilkinson from 1987 to 1991.
In the Thoroughbred world, Jones will be remembered for taking a gamble in 1972 along with his wife, Libby, on transforming a farm on Old Frankfort Pike near Midway, Kentucky, into what would eventually become a well-respected, 2,500-acre bloodstock operation that has bred and/or raised 215 stakes winners, including 24 Grade 1 winners.
