Caulfield Cup runners undergo vet examinations
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Grahame Begg’s Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) will be re-examined by Racing Victoria (RV) veterinarians after presenting with lameness on Thursday.
RV vets inspected 14 of the 18 runners on Thursday, with Breakup (Jpn) (Novellist {Ire}), West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Okita Soushi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Valiant King (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) to be inspected for the first time on Friday.
Positive signs from Amelia’s Jewel
Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) is showing positive signs after her shock defeat last weekend in the G1 Toorak H. Trainer Simon Miller told The Races WA on Thursday that the 4-year-old mare looked in better shape.
Amelia's Jewel | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“She ate up again overnight, which is great, and if she does the same thing this morning (Thursday), then she’s back,” he said. “She worked yesterday and had a trot and canter today, but she’s bright and her work was strong, very strong. She was breathing fire and now I’ll get her through the rest of the week, but we’re heading in the right direction.”
Miller confirmed that a track gallop next week will decide if Amelia’s Jewel goes to the Golden Eagle on November 4. She remains the race favourite.
Okita Soushi looks to follow in Mum’s footsteps
The Joseph O’Brien-trained Okita Soushi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will on Saturday aim to emulate the deeds of her dam - Amicus (Fastnet Rock) - by becoming a Group 1 winner at Caulfield. Amicus, when trained by Chris Waller, became an elite-level scorer when taking out the G1 Thousand Guineas in 2014. Okita Soushi gets his chance in the G1 Caulfield Cup.
Amicus was one of several mares Coolmore sent to the Northern Hemisphere to be covered by the great Galileo (Ire).
“Those mares who were purchased here in Australia to go up to be covered by Galileo, it’s all coming to fruition now,” Coolmore's marketing and nominations, Tom Moore, told Racing And Sports. “There was Anthony Van Dyck, who won an Epsom Derby – he’s out of Believe‘N’Succeed – you’ve got Warm Heart, a multiple Group 1 winner this year, who is out of Sea Siren, and now Okita Soushi is running in a Caulfield Cup. It certainly was a worthwhile exercise.”
Japanese raider on target for Golden Eagle
The Keiji Yoshimura-trained Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat {USA}) is set to become the first Japanese runner in the Golden Eagle. And according to the Australian Turf Club’s Head of Racing and Wagering, James Ross, the Grade 2 winner has acclimatised well to his new surrounds.
“He travelled well from Japan and has settled in over at Canterbury,” Ross told News Corp. “It’s fantastic to be able to have our first Japanese runner here for the Golden Eagle, a race we’ve had a strong focus on trying to internationalise over the past four years, and we are starting to see regular (Japanese) participation in both carnivals.
“Equally, to have Yutaka Take here to ride, who is a superstar in Japan and around the world, that will be very special.”
In Secret to chase third Flemington Group 1
Star springing mare In Secret (I Am Invincible) will return to the scene of her two Group 1 triumphs, Flemington, for the G1 Champions Sprint on November 11. That sets up a mouthwatering clash with the brilliant Kiwi speedster Imperatriz (I Am Invincible).
In Secret has come through her fourth in The Everest in good order, and trainer James Cummings is looking forward to getting her back to Flemington, where she won last year’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. and the 2023 G1 Newmarket H.
“I am delighted with her, she’s pulled up well from The Everest,” Cummings told Racing.com.
“Her run was huge, the team came running up to me with the sectionals sheet.
“To be fair to (jockey) Zac (Purton), I think he got us fourth place with the horse, he took a death-defying gap and she burst through.
“She’s going to look pretty sweet racing up the straight next start in the Darley Sprint.
“She’s got a penchant for the straight track there at Flemington and I’d like to think we’re going to have her spot on that day.”
Second-up test for Knight’s Choice
G3 Winx Guineas victor Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice) can all but secure a ticket into the $10 Golden Eagle on Saturday. The 4-year-old gelding, who resumed with an unplaced run behind Airman (I Am Invincible) in a BM94 H. on September 30, will contest the Filante H. (1600 metres) at Randwick.
“The ultimate aim is the Golden Eagle but he would have to win on Saturday, one would think, to have a chance of getting into the Golden Eagle,” Sheila Laxon, who trains Knight’s Choice alongside John Symons, told News Corp. Laxon said the gelding’s first-up run “wasn't as bad as it looked”.
Knight’s Choice | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“The sectionals he ran over the last 600-800 metres were on par with the winner of the race,” she said.
If Knight’s Choice fails to gain a Golden Eagle start, he could be freshened and contest a race at the Magic Millions carnival in January.
“If it doesn’t pan out on Saturday, there are lots of options,” Laxon commented. “He could go on holidays and come back in summer because he is a Magic Millions horse.”
Front Page news
The Kosciuszko winner Front Page (Magnus) has trotted up soundly after a thorough veterinary examination, his trainer Matthew Dale has told Racing NSW Stewards. The 7-year-old gelding presented as 3/5 lame in his off-foreleg after The Kosciuszko last weekend, his second straight victory in the rich feature.
Dale advised that x-rays and scans of the horse’s leg has not revealed any issues of concern. Dale further advised that Front Page will be given an easy week and will likely return to racing in several weeks.
Cummings cools Commemorative hype
Godolphin Australia head trainer James Cummings admits 3-year-old Commemorative (I Am Invincible) has plenty of ability, but was quick to point out she only has a maiden win on her CV.
The filly turned heads when winning on debut by 4.86l at Canterbury in June. She resumes at Randwick in a BM78 H. on Saturday and is likely to start at even-money or odds-on.
James Cummings | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Let’s not get our money ready before the horse,’’ Cummings told SEN. “We’ve got to concentrate on Commemorative from the outside draw with 52kg to get the job done. (If she were beaten) she would disappoint the hype, that’s out of her control and ours. While she is on the limit, she’s taking a quantum leap at her second start in a race.”
Cummings said Commemorative could head south in search of some black type, should she return a winner.
“If she can make that leap it will do well for her prospects of ducking down to Melbourne for a stakes race,” he said. “We’re just kicking off with 52kg in a handicap and feeling our way through. She will take us where she leads us.”
Justify gets another Kiwi winner
Triple Crown winner and Coolmore shuttler Justify (USA) posted his second New Zealand winner in as many days this week when the Te Akau Racing 3-year-old, Rule Of Law (NZ), produced a maiden victory at Tauranga on Wednesday. It followed the G3 Barneswood S. winner on Monday, Star Of Justice (NZ). Both horses are raced by the Te Akau Racing operation.
Rule Of Law (NZ) winning on Wednesday | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“One thing I think we’ve learned about these horses by Justify is that they seem to improve lengths with blinkers on,” said jockey Opie Bosson, who piloted both horses for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. “He’s (Rule Of Law) a horse with a nice action and he’s a promising staying prospect.”
Cash injections from Racing SA
Racing SA has announced a cash injection to the state’s racing clubs of more than $1.5 million for capital projects and facility upgrades. So far, 27 projects at 15 clubs have been given the tick of approval, with more grants under consideration.
“It’s crucial that we continue to invest in capital works to provide the infrastructure that’s necessary for the industry to operate at a high level, and to ensure the Clubs are viable in the long term,” said Nick Bawden, Racing SA’s general manager of operations. “Continued investment is also critical in ensuring a safe working environment for all participants.”
To date, such funding has provided upgrades to the big screens and semaphore boards at various clubs, including Mount Gambier and Penola, while air conditioning will be installed at Morphettville and new stabling at Gawler. Balaklava has received grants to replace stable flooring, and Port Augusta will replace its electrical switchboard. Other upgrades include track, barrier and machinery improvements.
Trainer bonus for SA Summer Sprint Series
Racing SA has introduced a new Summer Sprint Series to its 2023/24 calendar, with a $20,000 bonus for any trainer who can win two of the three Listed sprint features. The Series will kick off at Morphettville on December 9 with the Listed Christmas H., followed by the Listed Durbridge S. on January 27 and the Listed City of Marion S. on February 24.
“The Summer Sprint Series is an exciting new addition to the South Australian racing calendar and the new bonus will give trainers another incentive to target these black-type races,” Nick Bawden said. “We have seen some very good horses come through these races and go on to feature in our best races, so we hope this Series is also a launch pad for autumn.”
Dreaming big with Mississippi Prince
Hobby trainer Brent Gray, who has two horses in work at his Doomben yard, is riding the waves of good fortune with his 5-year-old Foxwedge gelding Mississippi Prince, who will line up this Saturday in the million-dollar Five Diamonds Prelude at Randwick. The gelding has won close to $335,000 in prizemoney after costing Gray just $7500 in an online catalogue during COVID.
Gray, a former coal miner, has been training for less than a year and the only time he has set foot on a Sydney racecourse was a day Kingston Town (Bletchingly) won a race, although he doesn’t recall which race or which track it was. Mississippi Prince was second last time out at Eagle Farm and he has drawn awkwardly in gate 16 for his Sydney debut. He could be in line for a trip to the Cranbourne Cup.
“We didn’t draw the gate that we wanted (on Saturday) but he’s made the field,” Gray told Racing Queensland. “I was happy with his last run when he got a nice trip. The winner went past him like he wasn’t there, but he fought back and was in front soon past the post.”
Cepheus reunited with Aaron Bullock
Jockey Aaron Bullock will reunite with the imported OTI gelding Cepheus (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in this Saturday’s Filante H. at Randwick. The pair was last seen together when winning the South Grafton Cup in July, which qualified Cepheus for The Big Dance on Melbourne Cup Day at Randwick.
Aaron Bullock | Image courtesy of Newcastle Racecourse
“I’m keen to get back on him,” Bullock told Racing NSW. “I’ve seen what he’s done this preparation and he looks to be going even better. This preparation they’ve got the horse flying. I feel he can only get better going into The Big Dance.”
Cepheus has won his last two races out of three this preparation, including the G2 Shannon S. and million-dollar Alan Brown S. In both races, Nash Rawiller was aboard, who will be interstate for Saturday’s meeting.
Merdeka leading the Picnics series
The 7-year-old Animal Kingdom (USA) mare Merdeka has the lead in the 2024 NSW Picnic Champion Series, courtesy of her being runner-up in the Cobar and Mungery Picnic Cups. Trained by the Dubbo-based Connie Greig, Merdeka received seven points apiece for her placings and leads the table with 14 points.
In hot pursuit is the Debbie Prest-trained Blinkin Nomore (Onemorenomore), who won the Young Picnic Cup last time out, and Captain Corelli (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), a winner of the Young Picnic Trophy. Both are on 11 points apiece.
The next chance for points on the Picnic circuit is the Harden Picnics meeting, which will occur on Saturday, October 28.
Stakes potential in Smashing Eagle
Co-trainer Gerald Ryan has said that his smart sprinter Smashing Eagle (Shalaa {Ire}) is a stakes horse in waiting. The 5-year-old gelding has been on the podium in his last four starts, all benchmark races from late July to September 9. Smashing Eagle has won three races in 12 lifetime starts and placed in a further four for a prizemoney haul of $220,565.
Smashing Eagle | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“I reckon there’s a stakes race in him somewhere, the right stakes race,” Ryan told Racing NSW. “There are a couple in the summer sprint series that could fall into that category.”
Ryan suggested the Listed Starlight S. or Listed Razor Sharp S. as possibilities in December. Smashing Eagle will take his place in an 1100-metre sprint at Randwick on Saturday.
USA-bound Without Parole filly on top at Arqana
A member of the first crop of Newsells Park Stud’s Without Parole (GB) led the way as trade resumed in the ring at Arqana, with Nicolas de Watrigant going to €160,000 (AU$267,400) for the filly from Haras de la Louviere (Lot 248) out of Pigota (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
Her dam may have been unraced but she is a daughter of the G1 Preis der Diana winner Penelopa (Ger) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) and a half-sister to Listed-placed dual winner Pennymoor (GB), who is by Without Parole’s sire Frankel (GB).
The agent confirmed that the filly will be exported to America to race for Madaket Stables.
“She will head straight to the States,” he said. “I haven’t seen many by the sire, but he is a son of Frankel and a St James’s Palace Stakes winner so there is a lot to like there.”
On Wednesday, 98 of the 113 horses offered were sold for an aggregate of €3,578,500 (AU$6 million) and average of €36,515 (AU$61,000). The median was down slightly at €25,500 (AU$42,600). Cumulatively, trade from the first two sessions is running roughly on par with last year, with 60 six-figure lots so far.
Doyle’s Breeders’ Cup bid hangs in the balance
Hollie Doyle, named to ride the G1 King's Stand S. winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita next month, has appealed a seven-day suspension and will have to face the British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel next week to determine if a trip to America is in the offing.
Doyle incurred the ban at Kempton on Monday and it is currently due to run from October 30 to November 4, plus November 6 as there is no flat racing in Britain on November 5. If she is successful in having the punishment reduced to five days or less, she would be free to ride at the Breeders' Cup meeting.
Facelift for Keeneland
Officials at Keeneland have announced plans for major capital investments at the historic Lexington oval, including the construction of a permanent Paddock Building and a reimagined saddling experience. The project, which is expected to cost US$93 million (AU$150 million), is the largest undertaking of its variety since Keeneland opened 90 years ago and marks the first major construction at the track since the construction of the Keeneland Library in 2002.
Construction is scheduled to begin following the 2024 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale and is expected to be completed by the autumn of 2025. The new structures will remain true architecturally with the existing clubhouse and grandstand and feature the two-over-two pattern of stonework unique to Keeneland.
“Keeneland's founding mission is to be a model racetrack, to invest in the future of our sport, to enrich our Central Kentucky community and to always do what is best for the horse,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “This project is central to our mission because it will allow us to welcome more fans and give them a variety of world-class experiences during our race meets and beyond.”
Coolmore's Early Voting removed from covering duties
Early Voting (USA), who was not on the roster of stud fees when Coolmore America announced their 2024 lineup, has been “removed from covering duties at Ashford Stud for the 2024 breeding season due to an inability to breed, according to veterinary experts,” Coolmore said Wednesday.
The farm said that the stallion, a son of Gun Runner (USA), was subject to an ongoing insurance claim. Early Voting got off to a successful start at stud in 2023, and did get mares in foal, but experienced problems midway through the season. Those issues have apparently not been resolved.
Gun Runner is America's busiest stallion
Twelve hundred forty eight stallions covered 28,548 mares in North America during 2022 with breedings resulting in 18,143 live foals for 2023, according to statistics compiled through Oct. 8 in the Jockey Club's Live Foal Report, the organisation said in a release Wednesday morning.
In terms of individual stallions, Gun Runner (USA), standing at Three Chimneys, was tops among all stallions when it came to mares bred. He was bred to 256 mares in 2022. He was followed by Yaupon (Spendthrift), 242; Mendelssohn (Coolmore), 232; Practical Joke (Coolmore), 230; and Not This Time (Taylor Made), 225. The top 56 stallions by mares covered were all in Kentucky. Five different farms had a stallion in the top 10, up from four in 2021.
