Toorak next stop for Jewel
It has been revealed the star Western Australia mare Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) will contest the G1 Toorak H. as her next start on October 14.
The Simon Miller-trained mare took out Friday night’s G2 Stocks S. at Moonee Valley.
“We’re definitely going to the Toorak, I spoke to Simon (Miller) a few minutes ago, so that’s locked in,” said Peter Walsh, the breeder and owner of Amelia’s Jewel.
“Damian Lane gave me his opinion on Saturday, so we’re definitely going to Caulfield as long as we don’t get too much weight.”
Walsh added they would wait to see how Amelia’s Jewel performs in the Toorak before confirming any future plans. However, he confirmed they are leaning towards the Golden Eagle over the Cox Plate.
Purton eager for Cup ride
Champion jockey Zac Purton is hopeful he will pick up a ride on a legitimate chance in the G1 Melbourne Cup in November.
The Hong Kong-based rider is set to be active in Melbourne’s spring carnival securing a ride in the G1 Cox Plate aboard Light Infantry (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}).
“I think for any Australian jockey the Melbourne Cup is the dream, it’s the pinnacle,” Purton told Racing.com.
Zac Purton | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I’ve had a fantastic career and I’ve been fortunate to travel around the world and win in many different countries. But the Melbourne Cup is the race I’d like to win and put the cherry on top of the cake.
“At the moment I don’t have a ride in it, so I’m looking for one. It can be hard when it’s a handicap race and you’ve got horses coming from everywhere. They’ve generally got their riders. If I get offered a nice ride and I think it’s worth going to Australia, I will.”
Star import heading to Melbourne?
Saturday’s G1 Metropolitan H. hero Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is now qualified for the G1 Melbourne Cup, and co-trainer Gai Waterhouse feels it's natural the untapped stayer will look towards the first Tuesday in November.
“I think we might have to,” Waterhouse told Racing.com.
“It’s hard to deny after winning the Metropolitan. He just continues to improve and go the right way for Adrian and I, and he has opened up more options at the staying trip.”
Just Fine currently has 52.5kg in the Melbourne Cup but is liable for a penalty.
Brightside to Benalla
Star galloper Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) was scheduled for an exhibition gallop at Sandown-Hillside on Sunday. However, his trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes elected to scratch the gelding and head to Benalla for a trial on Monday.
Ben Hayes, on course at Sandown, indicated that Will Hayes had inspected Benalla on Friday and it was 40 minutes to the venue rather than a five-hour round trip from Euroa to Melbourne.
“We spoke to the track manager at Benalla and they’re going to put some water on the track. I think a jump-out over 1000 metres will keep Mr Brightside’s fitness up to the mark and get more benefits than working today (Sunday),” he said.
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We all had a big chat and we felt it was the better option for him.”
J-Mac takes Romantic Warrior for a spin
On Sunday morning returning Champion hoop James McDonald travelled to Melbourne to take the Cox Plate hopeful Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) for a spin around Flemington ahead of Saturday's tilt at the G1 Turnbull S.
The Champion Hong Kong-based galloper has formed a close association with the Kiwi-born jockey riding the Danny Shum-trainee to two Group 1 victories.
“He’s had a good look around Flemington,” McDonald told Racing.com.
“Romantic Warrior worked beautifully though. He got on his correct leads lovely, he was lovely and balanced, and he will improve immensely from today’s (Sunday) gallop, I would have thought.”
The work gave McDonald confidence that Romantic Warrior will have no issue with the left-handed Flemington.
“Despite Hong Kong racing in the right-handed direction, I think he’ll love Flemington. I think he’ll glide around this course on raceday beautifully.”
Vauban arrives in Melbourne
The reigning Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) arrived in Melbourne in the early hours of Sunday morning before being floated to Werribee for quarantine.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was joined by stablemate Absurde (Fr) (Fastnet Rock) and Ozzie Kheir’s recently purchased Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).
Lord to be third time lucky?
Michael Hickmott is hopeful Lord Vladivostok (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) can prevail in the Listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup on Saturday after impressing the trainer in an exhibition gallop between races on Wednesday.
It will be the third crack at the Murray Bridge Gold Cup for Lord Vladivostok.
“He’s a wonderfully consistent little horse and it was great to see him win first-up,” Hickmott told Racing.com.
“Todd Pannell and I had a good chat after the race and we’ve decided to go straight to the Gold Cup with him rather than race him again with 63kg.
“He came to Murray Bridge on Wednesday instead and had a nice piece of work. I’m very happy with him and hopefully it’s a case of third-time lucky.”
Javaja wins on debut
The well-bred Javaja, a son of the second-season sire Justify (USA), was an impressive winner on debut at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
Jake Bayliss rode the 3-year-old colt who beat the fellow Stuart Kendrick-trained Bonded Affair (Nicconi).
The colt is the second foal from the Group 2 winner Formality (Fastnet Rock).
Javaja as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Javaja was a $950,000 purchase by TFI, Kia Ora Stud and Dermot Farrington from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australia Easter Yearling Sale.
Wonderland Star stuns at Ballina
The second-season sire Brave Smash (Jpn) sired his 17th individual winner on Sunday at Ballina when the Matthew Dunn-trained Wonderland Star scored at huge odds.
The 3-year-old filly was having her third start after failing to beat a runner home in her first two races.
Wonderland Star as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Wonderland Star was an $8000 purchase by EDK Racing from the 2021 Magic Millions April Online Sale. The filly was reoffered as a yearling at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale consigned by Kitchwin Hills where Matthew Dunn and Neil Jenkinson paid $130,000 to secure her.
Fifteen for Harry Angel
Northam on Sunday saw Darley’s second-season sire Harry Angel (Ire) sire his 15th individual winner courtesy of Tycoon Harry.
The 3-year-old gelding trained by Jim Taylor was winning at start three. Brad Parnham rode Tycoon Harry to a 0.20l victory from Maxine’s Wish (Rogano).
Tycoon Harry as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Tycoon Harry was a $20,000 yearling purchase by Millenium Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when offered by Edinglassie Thoroughbreds.
Tycoon Harry was resold for $70,000 to Jim Taylor at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale when consigned by Symphony Lodge.
