Sheeza Belter to be offered for sale
Last year’s G1 JJ Atkins S. heroine, Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) has run her final race and will be offered as a world-class breeding prospect at a special stand-alone Magic Millions virtual auction early next month.
Sheeza Belter is from the winning Saxon mare Saxabelle. The mare was purchased by former trainer and part-owner Justin Warwick for $50,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale from breeder Mt Hallowell Stud.
“Her racing career has come to an end and we’re very grateful that we found her and now it’s time for her to get on with the next stage of her life,” Warwick said.
“She'll go to auction in the next 10 days through a Magic Millions sale.”
Sheeza Belter | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Sheeza Belter finished last in Saturday’s G2 Golden Pendant at Rosehill.
“She’s too valuable to keep racing and she had such a good career so we thought it was in her best interests to retire her after Saturday's run,” said Warwick.
The 4-year-old won five of her 14 starts and placed on three occasions, amassing earnings in excess of $1.8 million. In addition to her elite-level victory, Sheeza Belter won twice at Group 2 level.
“During her career Sheeza Belter raced against elite company,” Magic Millions’ Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “She showed ability right from the start of her career in Perth and just kept getting better.”
One of the best fillies of her generation, Sheeza Belter will be offered for sale virtually via the same online bidding platform used at all Magic Millions live auctions, with auctioneer Clint Donovan presiding over the sale process. She will go under the hammer from 3pm (AEST) on Thursday, October 5.
Amelia’s Jewel lights up The Valley
Simon Miller was smiling from ear to ear after his star mare Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) turned in a slick gallop around The Valley on Monday morning.
Ahead of her second-up run in the G2 Stocks S. at The Valley on Friday night, the 4-year-old Amelia's Jewel zoomed around the circuit, clocking her final 200 metres in a slick 11.6s.
“I thought she was good, professional, I thought she might’ve floated up the straight because she can do that, she did that up the straight at Flemington but she stuck to her guns and ran through the line. The last furlong was good, like 11.6 (seconds) on her own, usually she can put the cue in the rack but she ran through the line, I was happy,” Miller told Racenet.
“I know race-day pressure is totally different but she was good and Frosty (Damian Lane) gave her a good report when he got off. He said she quickened up nice, recovered well and handled the track.”
Amelia’s Jewel is a chance to run in the G1 Cox Plate at The Valley on October 28.
Hong Kong raider tunes up for spring assault
Trainer Danny Shum believes his stable star Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) is on track for his tilt at the G1 Cox Plate at The Valley on October 28.
Shum told the South China Morning Post he is satisfied with the gelding’s preparation.
A three-time Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, Romantic Warrior arrived in Melbourne more than a week ago and galloped on the turf at Werribee over the weekend.
“His gallop was okay,” Shum said.
“He’s not 100 per cent yet, but he’s getting better and better. I’m not too worried. He’s not eating as well as before, but he’s not dropping weight. That’s the good news.
“He was 1157 pounds (525kg) (on Sunday) - exactly the same weight as he was for his last start.”
Charm Stone for the Coolmore Stud Stakes
Star filly Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) will be aimed towards the G1 Coolmore Stud S. at Flemington on November 4, following her unplaced effort in Saturday’s G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Charm Stone finished fifth in the Golden Rose, beaten just 1.03l, despite being held up at a crucial stage.
“She’s a very tough filly, she’s so aggressive in the feed bin and she’s come out of it extremely well,” Kent Jnr told Racing And Sports.
“She ran super. I don't know if she wins (with clear running), but she goes close to running second or third.
“The Golden Rose is always the form race of the spring. The winner was outstanding, there were a lot of good colts in that race, and she’s definitely up to them.
“She’s won down the straight before, so the Coolmore’s the obvious option.”
MRC Foundation Cup winner handed weight penalty
Imported stayer Uncle Bryn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has been penalised 1kg for both the G1 Caulfield Cup and the G1 Melbourne Cup after his impressive victory in Saturday’s G3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000 metres) at Caulfield.
Racing Victoria’s Head of Handicapping, David Hegan, opted to give the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained 6-year-old a weight penalty – raising him from 51kg to 52kg – after he registered his first Group triumph.
“Uncle Bryn won the MRC Foundation Cup in effortless style running away, so the manner of the performance warranted a weight penalty in both Cups,” said Hegan.
Uncle Bryn (GB) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Only two of his 15 starts in Australia have been at 2000 metres, both runs have been most impressive and rate highly. He ran second in last year’s MRC Foundation Cup on a heavy track, splitting subsequent Group 1 winners Smokin’ Romans and Gold Trip, before going on to win the Listed Sale and Cranbourne Cups.
“He then went one better in the race on Saturday on a Good 3 surface, and the winning time was just a tick outside the track record which showed his class and versatility in all conditions.”
Oakleigh Plate hero ready to resume
Reigning G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}) will have his first start since finishing unplaced in The Quokka in April. He is set to contest Friday’s G1 Moir S. at The Valley.
The 5-year-old had a spin around The Valley on Monday morning. The gelding worked over 800 metres with race jockey Damian Lane aboard.
“We thought we’d give him a chance to have a look at the track and Damian felt he took to it really well,” Matt Hoysted, who trains Uncommon James in partnership with Steven O'Dea, told Racenet.
“He was nice and sharp right to the line and had a little blow after it so it should have him right where he needs to be for Friday.”
Campbell heads home
Young gun jockey Luke Campbell has returned to Western Australia as he recovers from a fractured knee following a race fall at Sandown in early August.
The 21-year-old rode 14 winners during a short stint in Victoria.
“I am planning on staying in Perth and riding through our carnival here,” he told Racing.com.
Luke Campbell | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I am thinking it will be hard to break back into Melbourne during the spring carnival, so I thought I’d stay in Perth and get going again here.
“I’ll play it by ear and maybe I will come back to Melbourne and have another crack.
“The injury put a halt to things, but I loved riding against all the good jockeys and the tracks, it was an unbelievable experience.”
Hong Kong winner for Brave Smash
New Yarraman Park Stud resident Brave Smash (Jpn) made the perfect start to his career in Hong Kong, with his first runner - Super Legends, scoring on debut at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The Danny Shum-trained Super Legends is from the winning Pentire (GB) mare Devil’s Harmony (NZ). Bred by Bhima Thoroughbreds, he was consigned by Lustre Lodge at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where Golden River Investments and All Winners Thoroughbreds signed for him for $200,000.
Brave Smash stands at Yarraman Park Stud at a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
Group 1-winning Zoustar filly to be sold
Zoustar’s 2022 Champion European 2-Year-Old Filly Lezoo (GB) will be offered at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
The Ralph Beckett-trained 3-year-old has won four stakes races, including the 2022 G1 Cheveley Park S.
Bred by Chasemore Farm, the filly made 77,000gns (AU$154,000) at the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, before being re-sold at the 2022 Arqana Breeze Up Sale. She was bought for €110,000 (AU$182,400) by Atlas Bloodstock.
Ladies Man on trial for Melbourne Cup tilt
Next month’s G1 Livamol Classic at Hastings will play a pivotal role in the spring schedule of Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), with a shot at the G1 Melbourne Cup (3200 metres) in the offing if he performs well.
Trainer Allan Sharrock said it was onwards and upwards for the 6-year-old following his second placing in the G3 Metric Mile at Awapuni on Saturday.
Ladies Man (NZ) | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
“He couldn’t have impressed me more with his preparation. He is bigger and stronger, and he is racing outstandingly,” Sharrock told loveracing.nz.
“To tick that box and head to Melbourne he has probably got to run top three in the Livamol. We do have a back-up plan of a New Zealand Cup. Those races are in close proximity, so we would have done the work for both.
“It all hinges on the Livamol for us.”
Adlerflug mare wins Cologne Group 1
The Waldmarr Hickst-trained India (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) proved too good in Sunday’s G1 Preis von Europa at Cologne.
The 5-year-old prevailed by 1.25l under Rene Piechulek.
India is the eighth elite-level scorer for Adlerflug (Ger) - a son of In The Wings (GB). Adlerflug has 63 stakes wins to his credit.
Harzand’s Caught U Looking on top at the Curragh
Noel Meade trainee Caught U Looking (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) made a smooth transition to black-type company with a landmark success in an attritional renewal of Sunday’s G3 Weld Park S. at the Curragh.
Caught U Looking is the first of two foals out of an unraced half-sister to the G3 Abernant S. and G3 Supreme S. winner Double Or Bubble (Ire) (Exceed And Excel) and the G3 Chartwell Fillies’ S. victress Mix And Mingle (Ire) (Exceed And Excel). The 2-year-old’s second dam, Mango Lady (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), is a winning half-sister to the Group 2 winner and Group 1 runner-up High Accolade (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) and the dual stakes-placed Oasis Knight (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}).
Caught U Looking is the second stakes winner for Harzand (Ire) - a son of Sea The Stars (Ire).
