Daily News Wrap

Waller confident Shinzo will run in The Everest

Reigning Golden Slipper winner Shinzo (Snitzel) remains a good chance to line up in this year’s $20 million The Everest, despite pulling up lame after his unplaced run in Saturday’s G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill.

“He’s fine. His foot’s improved,” Shinzo’s trainer Chris Waller reported. “He had a bruised heel. Farriers have worked on that, reconfigured the hoof so that it’s carrying its weight a bit more evenly and he looks fantastic. The vet’s happy, everyone’s happy.”

Shinzo is likely to trial next Tuesday at Rosehill.

“You’ll probably see him trial next week and he’ll bounce back,” Waller explained. “I’d say he’ll be going to The Everest. That’s always been the plan.”

Knight’s Choice options include Toorak

The G1 Toorak H. on October 14 could be on the cards for the Queensland hero Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice), a barnstorming last-start winner of the G3 Winx Guineas on the Sunshine Coast and a winner of his last four starts. Co-trainer John Symons, who handles the horse with Sheila Laxon, said the 4-year-old gelding will resume at Randwick this Saturday, then possibly consider the Silver Eagle or the Toorak before returning to Sydney for the Golden Eagle.

“We’ll see how he goes first-up before deciding about the Toorak,” Symons told Racing Queensland news. “At this stage, he’ll run Saturday then go into the Silver Eagle at Rosehill. But that could change depending on how he goes on Saturday, and he could go to Melbourne instead before going back for the Golden Eagle.”

Connections of the Knight’s Choice have turned down significant offers for their talented gelding, including a reported $2.3 million from Hong Kong.

Finalists announced for Horse of the Year awards

Finalists for the 2022/23 Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards have been announced by Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) in association with Racing Australia. The ceremony will take place at Optus Stadium in Perth on November 23, in alliance with the Australian Racing Hall of Fame ceremony.

Finalist categories include Champion 2YO, Champion 3YO across both sexes, Champion Sprinter, Champion Middle Distance and Champion Stayer, as well as Champion Jumper. As expected, the lists include such names as Giga Kick (Scissor Kick), Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}), Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) and Alligator Blood (All Too Hard), the latter competing with Anamoe, Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and the late I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) in a competitive middle-distance group.

Each of the category winners will have the opportunity to be crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year on the evening.

Jewel drawn wide in Stocks Stakes

Gun mare Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) will jump from barrier nine in Friday night’s G2 Stocks S. over 1600 metres at The Valley.

The Simon Miller-trained 4-year-old will face nine rivals in the $300,000 contest, including the Group 1 victress Affaire A Suivre (NZ) (Astern) and the Group 2 scorer Steinem (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Amelia’s Jewel was brilliant in winning her east coast debut in the G2 Let’s Elope S. at Flemington on September 16.

Seven rivals for Imperatriz

Eight runners will contest Friday night’s G1 Moir S. at The Valley, which is headlined by star Kiwi mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible). The Te Akau Racing-owned 5-year-old, who will be handled by Opie Bosson, will break from gate five.

Imperatriz was a devastating winner of the G2 McEwen S. at The Valley on September 9 and won the G1 William Reid S. at the track in March.

Lane booked for Japanese stayer

In-form jockey Damian Lane will partner the Tatsuya Yoshioka-trained Breakup (Jpn) (Novellist {Ire}) in this year’s G1 Caulfield Cup. Breakup, who won the G2 Copa Republica Argentina over 2500 metres at Tokyo last November, hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin in June.

Lane guided Japanese stayer Mer De Glace (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) to Caulfield Cup glory in 2019.

My Oberon ‘ready to run a big race’ in Epsom

Annabel Neasham’s racing manager, Rob Archibald, is confident My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will be highly competitive in Saturday’s G1 Epsom H. at Randwick. The 7-year-old hasn’t won at his past seven starts, but he did finish second in the G1 Doncaster Mile in April and his run in the $1 million 7 S. (he was fourth, 2.01l off the winner) was full of merit.

“He does appreciate a bit of give in the ground for him to be at his best, but he’s a lot more seasoned this time around and seems to have acclimatised better to Australian conditions,” Archibald told Racing And Sports. “His two runs have been very good on good tracks and back in Europe he coped really well on good tracks as well.

“I think he’s just in a really good place, physically and mentally, and we’re seeing him run consistently. He’s in good order, he’s third-up for the preparation and he’s ready to run a big race.”

Three in Equimillion from Brad Widdup team

Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup is sponsoring three of his staff across disciplines in this long weekend’s inaugural Equimillion at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC). They are Rosie Jilla, Poppie Gorton and Jessica Galea, who will each compete under the Widdup Racing banner. Each of the girls is experienced in showjumping and eventing.

This weekend’s event guarantees a minimum of $1 million across show horse, eventing, show jumping and dressage disciplines. Racing NSW has partnered with Equestrian Australia to deliver Equimillion as part of its welfare agenda.

Inevitable in the Epsom?

Tasmanian jockey David Pires will partner the embattled Tassie star The Inevitable (Dundeel {NZ}) in the G1 Epsom H. on Saturday, only the second Group 1 for the jockey and his very first ride at Royal Randwick. He will partner The Inevitable after the gelding’s last-start second to Golden Mile (Astern) in the G2 Theo Marks S. on September 9.

“I usually have a pretty good record on tracks I have first rides on,” Pires told Racing NSW news. “So I’m really looking forward to coming here and riding a horse I had a great association with before he went out for a spell. He’s a little superstar. There’s nothing much of him but he has a massive motor and massive stride, and he hits the line well. I think that’s his best attribute, the way he finishes off.”

The Inevitable has drawn barrier eight for the Epsom and is currently $8 in the market. Pires has been aboard the 8-year-old gelding for six of his 16 wins, and they were partners when third to Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) in The All-Star Mile in March.

Debut Group 1 for Marc Chevalier

Hawkesbury trainer Marc Chevalier will achieve a Group 1 debut this weekend when he sends out the 7-year-old Adelaide (Ire) horse Torrens into The Metropolitan. The horse is a rank outsider at $101, but the trainer is confident that jockey Jenny Duggan can find some magic in an old partnership. She has ridden the horse for three of his four lifetime victories, including the Listed City Tattersall’s Cup in 2021, followed readily by the $300,000 The Beauford at Newcastle next time out.

“Jenny knows the horse well and it will be good to get her opinion as to how he feels,” Chevalier told Racing NSW news. “I’ve been keen for her to ride Torrens again for some time, and booked her just after the horse ran in the Newcastle Gold Cup on September 15.”

Torrens was injured in the autumn, sidelining him from race fitness. Chevalier admitted the horse needed one more ideal run into Saturday, but he said you never know what could happen with the old warrior. The horse has drawn barrier 11 and saddlecloth 11.

Joe Cleary fined

Racing NSW Stewards on Wednesday inquired into the positive swab provided by the 4-year-old Joe Cleary-trained gelding, Dollywood (Star Turn). The positive sample was obtained ahead of a race at Goulburn last June, confirming the prohibited substance Meloxicam.

Cleary pleaded guilty to a breach of rule AR240(2) and was fined $4400 - $4000 as an outright penalty and a further $400 for failing to make available to Stewards his complete stable treatment records for the period of May 28 to June 2.

Lofty goals for Frosted filly

Frosted (USA) filly Arctic Glamour resumed with an impressive victory - the first of her fledgling career - at Rosehill. With Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle, the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained filly thrashed her rivals in Race 1 - a 1200-maiden for 3-year-olds.

“She is a filly we have always had a good opinion of,” Ryan told Sky Thoroughbred Central. “Kerrin has a lot of faith in her. After her first two starts, Kerrin said to put her away because she could make a Thousand Guineas horse. That’s what we did, and hopefully, that’s where we end up. She will probably go to the James Carr on Everest Day, then we will probably stay here for the Callander-Presnell, then down to the Thousand Guineas.”

Arctic Glamour is from the Galileo (Ire) mare Fartoo Flashy, making her a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Waging War (Rebel Raider). The filly made $185,000 at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, with her trainers buying her from the Noorilim park draft.

Rory Hutchings penalty varied

The Racing NSW Appeal Panel has varied the penalty placed by Racing NSW Stewards on jockey Rory Hutchings, which was initially five weeks in light of his ride aboard Thief By Night (Star Witness) at Scone on August 6.

Hutchings was found guilty under rule AR129(2) for failing to have taken all responsible and permissible measures to enable his horse to win or obtain the best possible place in the field. The Appeal Panel dismissed Hutchings’ appeal against his conviction. However, it reduced the penalty to two weeks and, as such, the jockey will be suspended from Sunday, October 1 to Sunday, October 15.

Industry outreach sessions in Western Australia

Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) is hosting a number of outreach sessions across the state for industry participants through October and November. The sessions will cover a number of topics, including code performances, distribution, infrastructure and welfare initiatives. RWWA is calling for RSVPs to events in Kalgoorlie, Ascot, Geraldton, Albany, Bunbury and Port Kennedy.

Third time lucky for The Inferno?

Trainer Cliff Brown is more hopeful than confident about The Inferno’s chances in Friday night’s G1 Moir S. at The Valley. The gelded son of Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) will line up for the third time in the elite-level sprint, having run second in 2021 and 11th last year.

“I reckon he’s going as well as he’s ever gone at the moment, but whether he is up to them, I don’t know,” Brown told Racing And Sports. “So long as the speed is on, and he finishes off, that will be great.”

Brown is planning to head to the G1 Manikato S. on Cox Plate Day (October 28) after Friday night’s assignment.

“We’ll see how he goes in those two races and then make a decision where we go after that,” Brown said. “He’s working well, he looks well and is in a really good spot.”

Forsman prays for rain

Group 1-winning trainer Andrew Forsman is hoping his star mare Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) greets a wet track when she arrives at Hastings on Saturday for her tilt at the G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate.

“The wetter the better for her. She handles most tracks whereas that makes it harder for a lot of her opposition,” Forsman told loveracing.nz. “On a rain-affected track she’s a real winning chance.”

The Hastings track was rated a Heavy 10 on Wednesday morning, with rain forecast for Saturday. Mustang Valley won last year’s G1 Livamol Classic on a Heavy 10.

Night racing returns to Launceston

Night racing will return to Launceston Racecourse on Friday, October 6, the first of 20 night meetings scheduled for the track this racing season, and the first of seven additional Friday night cards scheduled. The Tasmanian Turf Club said that Friday meetings have traditionally generated more wagering turnover and patronage than the previous Wednesday meetings.

“Having the extra Friday night meetings this season is great for us and a real opportunity for punters to come and enjoy the facilities and racing after work,” said Gary Raynor, the club’s CEO. “I may be biased, but I think this is the most picturesque country racetrack in Australia.”

Nine races have been scheduled for the first night meeting on October 6, with live coverage provided by Sky Racing and TasracingTV.

Charleville returns this weekend

The remote racing community of Charleville in Queensland hasn’t enjoyed its race club since August 2021, but this Sunday the Central Warrego Race Club will reopen its doors after a complete track rebuild that included surface, drainage, irrigation and new running rails.

“There is a big buzz in the community and trainers are looking at having extra horses now on the back of the track being back,” said Vivian Jones, the club’s president. “Everybody is talking about it, simple as that. It’s a real boost for the local community to have their races back, which is a big event for all people around the town and neighbouring areas.”

The club is set for two more race meetings this year after Sunday’s opening meeting.

Auctav to host exclusively flat sale

French auction house Auctav, a relative newcomer to the digital auction space since 2021, will conduct its first sale exclusively dedicated to flat horses on Saturday, October 14. Offered both online and at Haras de Bois Roussel, the sale features a catalogue replete with horses in training, yearlings, broodmares and foals.

Inspections will begin on October 13 and continue the following day. The sale will commence on October 14 at 12.30pm local time in France.