Gold and Bowman to combine
Fresh off the back of riding four winners at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday, Hugh Bowman will fly to Melbourne on Saturday to chase victory in the G1 Caulfield Cup aboard Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}).
Gold Trip (Fr) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The reigning Melbourne Cup hero will carry 58.5kg in his quest to better last year’s runner-up effort behind Durston (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}).
Bullock rides five
Monday at Scone was a successful one at the office for Aaron Bullock. Bullock rode the Kylie Gavenlock-trained Beetson (Pride Of Dubai) to take out Race 2, followed by the Stephen Jones-trained Custo and the Cody Morgan-trained Last Frontier, both sons of Deep Field. Bullock then rode Heika (Maurice {Jpn}) and Justfour (Zoustar) for Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich to victory in Race 6 and Race 7 to round out his Monday.
Messara and Gavranich train a treble
Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich trained a treble at Scone on Monday. They started with the 3-year-old filly Genzano, a daughter of Maurice (Jpn) in Race 5. Maurice would also be responsible for the duo’s second winner, Heika, in Race 6. Messara and Gavranich’s final winner was in Race 7 with the 5-year-old mare Justfour (Zoustar).
Cup penalty for Military Mission
Saturday’s G2 Herbert Power S. victor Military Mission (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) has been handed a 0.5kg penalty for the G1 Melbourne Cup.
The 6-year-old would now carry 51kg should he gain a start in the $8.4 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 7.
The weight penalty moves the Tulloch Lodge-trained stayer to 33rd in the Melbourne Cup order of entry, which will be re-published following the closure of second acceptances on Tuesday.
Military Mission (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Military Mission carried 57kg in the Herbert Power Stakes on Saturday, and he was too strong late for his rivals including Daqiansweet Junior who now meets him 0.5kg better in the Melbourne Cup for that run,” Racing Victoria’s Head of Handicapping, David Hegan, said.
“The penalty takes into account his elevated domestic rating, which reflects the consistency of form of his last three starts - victory in the G3 Newcastle Cup, fourth in the G1 Metropolitan and first in Saturday’s G2 Herbert Power Stakes.
“It is the joint lowest penalty given to a Herbert Power Stakes winner in the past decade, since Sea Moon took no penalty for his win when already at 56.5kg in the 2013 Melbourne Cup.”
Duais for the Cox Plate
Star mare Duais (Shamus Award) is headed to the G1 Cox Plate at The Valley on Saturday week. The Edward Cummings-trained Duais will be partnered by Damien Oliver in the 2040-metre contest.
A winner of three Group 1s, Duais placed third behind Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) in Saturday’s G1 Might And Powers S. at Caulfield.
Doyle excited by Cup challenge
Hollie Doyle is excited ahead of her first trip to Australia to ride Future History (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
“I am absolutely delighted to secure a ride in the Cup,” Doyle told RSN.
“It’s a huge thing to be able to come over and participate. I woke up that morning after Future History won the Bart Cummings, and my manager and I were on the case.
Future History (GB) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s owned by Peter Trainor, who is a prominent owner in England, so we were both on the phone in the morning as he’s managed to slip into the Cup at the bottom weight (50kg) and I can get down pretty light.
“Anything can happen. It’s a tactical race, a huge field with the best of the best against each other.”
Shinn on a mission
Blake Shinn has secured the ride on Melbourne Cup contender Spanish Mission (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}).
Spanish Mission, trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, will bypass the G1 Caulfield Cup in favour of the G3 Geelong Cup, where Shinn has also been engaged.
Champion jockey Frankie Dettori, who last week shelved retirement plans, had been in the conversation to ride Spanish Mission and remains without a Cup mount.
Impressive import takes aim at Country Cup
Saturday’s impressive St Leger S. winner at Randwick, Land Legend (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), will head to Victoria for a tilt at the G3 Bendigo Cup on November 1.
Land Legend (Fr) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The James Ferguson-trained gelding, who is owned by Bon Ho of Legend Racing, claimed the $500,000 St Leger S. by 2.71l under Tyler Schiller.
Dwyer mulls Asfoora options
Henry Dwyer desperately wants to achieve a Group 1 victory with Asfoora (Flying Artie). But it is a matter of the right one, with Dwyer bypassing the G1 Manikato S. in favour of the G2 Schillaci S., which the star mare won in devastating style.
Dwyer has pinpointed the G1 Champions Sprint, the G3 Begonia Belle S. or Listed Century S. as potential following targets.
“The Champions Sprint is the Group 1 we need, but I’ll be guided by where the other horses are going. The other two races aren’t to be sneezed at,” Dwyer told Racing.com.
“It’s a 33 per cent chance of running in either of the three races at Flemington. The other option is to send her to the paddock, but it would only be a four-run preparation if we go again.”
Everest hero not done yet
Joe Pride’s 2023 The Everest hero, Think About It (So You Think {NZ}), is set to contest the Giga Kick S. over 1300 metres at Rosehill and may be joined by his stablemate Private Eye (Al Maher).
“Private Eye would be the one I take to Melbourne potentially, but he would be running in a $3 million race down there worth $1.8 million to the winner, but if he runs in Sydney, he is running for $1.7 million with the bonus for The Everest runners and the Sportsbet bonus,” Pride told News Corp.
“Essentially, Private Eye can win twice as much in Sydney, and he can turn the tables on Think About It.
Think About It | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Luck in running and improvement, you can make a cause for him.”
Pride is already looking towards autumn for Think About It.
“I am pretty confident he will get over further. Someone said he’s a miler masquerading as a sprinter and I think they might be right.”
Star sibling impresses in trial
Two-year-old filly Gai’s Artist (Snitzel) - a sister to the four-time elite-level hero and Group 1-producing sire Trapeze Artist - was the winner of the lone juvenile trial at Hawkesbury on Monday.
Partnered by Tyler Schiller, the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained filly made all in the 800-metre heat, prevailing by 0.55l.
A homebred for Bert Vieira, who bred and raced Trapeze Artist, Gai’s Artist is the fifth foal from the winless Domesday mares Treppes.
Ten juveniles for Debutant Stakes
Racing heads to Caulfield on Wednesday, with the main event being the G3 Coongy Cup worth $200,000.
The eight-race card also features the Listed Debutant S. for 2-year-olds. The $150,000 event has attracted a field of 10, including three by new Woodside Park Stud resident Shalaa (Ire).
The most expensive yearling in the field is First Settler (Written Tycoon). He made $750,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Yulong Investments (Australia)/Mick Price Racing and Breeding buying him from the Baramul Stud draft. The colt is a half-brother to Saturday’s Silver Eagle winner Vienna Princess (Snitzel).
“He cost $750,000, so that probably gives you an indication of the type of colt he is; he’s a big, strong, powerful horse,” said co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr.
“He’s very green and could do things wrong, but he’s got an amazing action.”
Miracle Of Love sidelined
Talented filly Miracle Of Love (Dundeel {NZ}) won’t be seen this spring, with co-trainer Paul Messara telling Racing.com the daughter of champion mare Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice) has gone to the paddock after contracting a virus.
“She got a virus on the eve of the Jim Moloney (S.),” Messara, who trains the JJ Atkins runner-up in partnership with Leah Gavranich, said.
Miracle Of Love | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“She had a good jump-out, but her bloods weren’t right after the jump-out.
“She was good leading into it and everything looked right but she regressed after the jump-out, so we didn’t want to press her any harder.”
Gold Rush to be renamed in Ollie’s honour
Champion hoop Damien Oliver will have a race renamed in his honour in his native Western Australia.
It was reported by Punters that the $1.5 million Gold Rush, held on December 16, will be renamed in Oliver's honour.
“Although it feels very odd to know there’s now a definite last ride in my career, I’m hugely excited that it’s going to be at Ascot, back where my story began so many years ago,” Oliver said.
“It’s a real honour to have the Gold Rush carry my name for 2023 and I’ll be doing everything possible to go out on a winner.”
Cox Plate off the cards for Jewel
Simon Miller is hoping to keep the dream alive with his star mare Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) set to contest the $10 million Golden Eagle after a below par run on Saturday.
The jewel of Western Australia was unplaced in Saturday’s G1 Toorak H. and pulled-up ‘not her usual’ self.
“She was a bit quiet this morning (Monday), not her usual self,” Miller told RSN.
“She’s not flat, she’s picking up again, but she’s not where she is normally.
Amelia's Jewel | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“There’s just something a little bit out of whack at the moment, so we’ll do some blood tests today (Monday) and figure out what’s going on.
“The Cox Plate I’ve ruled out, you can’t go there off a bad run. You’re hitting the elite and you’ve got to be on the upward spiral.
“I'm probably lucky the Eagle is three weeks (away) and not two, so I can just potter around this week and just make sure she gets back on her feed and see what the blood results show this arvo.”
Stock & Noble to supply fencing for Scone Equine
Stock & Noble will be responsible for the implementation of horse safe fencing at Scone Equine Hospital, the largest equine hospital in the Southern Hemisphere.
Joe Crisp, director of Stock & Noble said in the press release, “We are thrilled to have been selected for this momentous project.
“Our team has meticulously worked on this fencing to be not only safe and strong for the horses but also visually stunning to create an inviting ambience that resonates with the hospital’s dedication to exceptional care.”
Golden Eagle still on the cards for Yellow Brick
Gun Queenslander Yellow Brick (The Mission) was disappointing in Saturday’s $1 million Silver Eagle following an unplaced performance having jumped favourite. On Monday morning co-trainer Maddysen Sears reported to Racing NSW stewards that an endoscopic examination of Yellow Brick revealed the presence of mucus in the trachea.
Yellow Brick | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
However, Sears indicated that the stable would press on the $10 million Golden Eagle but would perform further blood tests on the gelding.
Yellow Brick is also intended to trial at Rosehill on Friday, October 27.
McDonald chases Cup victory
Not many races have remained elusive to the Champion Jockey James McDonald. However, the G1 Caulfield Cup is one such race. McDonald will chase his first Cup victory aboard the Chris Waller-trained Francesco Guardi (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who will carry 54kg, a weight McDonald has not ridden at in more than two years.
“It’s either ride 54kg or have no ride, so I chose to have a ride,” McDonald told RSN.
“It’ll be hard work.
“So, I’ve got a tough week ahead, but I’ve got time.”
Mr Brightside pushes on
Cult galloper Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will push on towards the G1 Cox Plate after finishing second to Fangirl (Sebring) in the G1 King Charles III S.
“We are very happy. He ran a credible second and got beaten on our merits,” co-trainer JD Hayes told Punters.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I thought he was going to run third there a second, but he was able to get his head down on the post and run second. We will find out now if Mr Brightside is a genuine miler or if he can add 2000 metres to his CV.”
