Amade wins Geelong Cup
It was a blanket finish on Wednesday afternoon for the G3 Geelong Cup, with European imports the first six across the line, headed by the Phillip Stokes-trained Amade (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}). The 10-year-old gelding in the OTI colours just pipped the Maher-Eustace gelding Ashrun (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}), who needed a top-three finish to qualify for the Melbourne Cup in less than a fortnight.
Amade had been fifth to Future History (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in the G3 The Bart Cummings last time out, and was a distant 12th in the Sydney Cup in the autumn. In the Geelong Cup he was ridden by Zac Spain, who had to earn every inch of the photo finish. It was the gelding’s first win in 912 days.
“He’s been building up to this,” Stokes told Racing.com. “His run in The Bart Cummings was good. We had him peaking today. It’s funny when you bring him back to a track where he missed the kick by 12l two years ago and got beaten by 4l. Terry and the whole team at OTI have stuck with us with this horse, and Zac gave him a peach of a ride.”
Stokes said it was unlikely that Amade would head into the Melbourne Cup in 13 days’ time.
“We’ll keep the dream alive, but we’ve also got the Queen Elizabeth earmarked,” the trainer said.
Ashrun into the Melbourne Cup
Eight-year-old gelding Ashrun (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) was hanging on the Geelong Cup result on Wednesday to earn a spot in the Melbourne Cup, and he did just that for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace when finishing second to Amade in the race. Ashrun, a 2020 winner of the G3 Hotham H., needed to finish in the top three on Wednesday to pass the Cup’s ballot clause, and the blanket finish that resulted in the Geelong Cup left his managing owner, Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock, sweating.
“It’s a bit like winning a race. I’m really chuffed,” Lovett told Racing.com. “I was looking at the photo thinking, ‘Don’t finish fourth’. I’m delighted for the owners. It’s a group of owners who have been with us since the start. I think he gets back to Flemington on the big day. He’s probably not a winning chance but I can see him running top five, top six.”
Ashrun transferred to Maher and Eustace from Andreas Wohler after running 10th in the Melbourne Cup in 2020, fresh off his Hotham win. He has been out with injury and bad luck until last month, and finished sixth in The Bart Cummings on October 7.
Cranbourne-Pakenham merger
It was reported by Racing.com on Wednesday that an in-principle agreement had been reached for the merger of Cranbourne and Pakenham race clubs. The merger is still subject to a members’ vote and regulatory approval, but the confirmation ended months-long speculation.
A members’ vote for both clubs is expected late this year or early next year in a merger being labelled a ‘super club’ for Melbourne’s southeast.
“We have a unique opportunity to combine the strengths of both clubs to promote racing in the southeast, leverage collective assets and achieve improved commercial outcomes,” said Cranbourne chief Neil Bainbridge. “We encourage all our members to support the merger and we look forward to engaging with them, local trainers and our commercial partners in the weeks ahead on this exciting opportunity.”
Pakenham’s Blair Odgers said similarly when he claimed “we both operate first-class racing and training centres 40km apart in a rapid-growth area, and we have the opportunity to become a powerful combination in Victorian and Australian racing”.
A name is yet to be confirmed for the possible ‘super club’. The clubs will work with Racing Victoria (RV), rather than Country Racing Victoria, if the merger goes ahead.
“The combination of these two great clubs will deliver increased benefits for members, participant and the industry, and is a brilliant economic decision,” said RV boss Andrew Jones. “Racing Victoria commends the merger and we hope club members do likewise.”
Benedetta out of the spring
Jason Warren’s 4-year-old mare Benedetta (Hellbent), a winner of the G3 Cockram S. in September, has been ruled out of the spring by way of an accident. She had returned to Melbourne after her fourth in the Silver Eagle in Sydney and was eyeing up a sprint feature on Derby Day.
Benedetta | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“She pulled a shoe off and trod on a nail coming off the truck, and she’s broken a bit of hoof wall away, so she needs a break for that to grow out,” Warren told Racing.com. “She has always lived in bell boots because she pulls shoes off so easily, and unfortunately the boot came off in the truck. She has always had thin, dainty feet. There are a lot of good options for sprinters in the autumn, so if she goes out now she can come back for an Oakleigh Plate.”
Hyeronimus to pilot Tom Kitten in Spring Champion
Jockey Adam Hyeronimus has landed the ride on Godolphin’s smart colt Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) in this Saturday’s G1 Spring Champion S. at Randwick. He replaces Nash Rawiller, who has ridden the colt in all his starts to date but who will be in Melbourne for the Cox Plate meeting.
“It’s pleasing that what I’ve done this season is paying rewards,” Hyeronimus told Racing NSW. Earlier this season, he rode Tropical Squall (Prized Icon) to his second Group 1 victory in the G1 Flight S. “They are across everything at Godolphin. They do all the data and I guess I was at the top of their list, and it’s come off the back of how I’ve started the season.”
Tom Kitten has won three of his nine lifetime starts, the last of his victories coming in the G3 Up And Coming S. on August 26. Since then, he has been twice third and second at Group and Listed level. In the Spring Champion S., he has drawn barrier one.
Amelia’s Jewel back on track
It was confirmed on Tuesday that the star mare Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) is back on track for her tilt at the $10 million Golden Eagle next month, with doubts about her running rife since her G1 Toorak H. failure. But trainer Simon Miller told The Races WA this week the mare is going strongly once again after a Flemington work-out.
Amelia's Jewel | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She worked a thousand evens (15 seconds to the furlong) and home 400 (metres), and she handled the Sydney way of going like a professional,” Miller said. “I knew last Thursday that she’d turned the corner the way she was completely knocking her night and morning feed. She’ll have another gallop next Tuesday, going the Sydney way, and Thursday week will get on a truck to Sydney. She’s totally back on board.”
Amelia’s Jewel is a $4.40 favourite for the Golden Eagle at this stage in a field likely to contain Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) and Hawaii Five Oh (I Am Invincible).
Alcohol Free a ‘funny little horse’
Alcohol Free (Ire), Yulong’s $10 million import by No Nay Never (USA), is yet to live up to her price-tag in Australia, running last in The Everest a fortnight ago. Jockey Adam Hyeronimus has told Racing NSW that the mare, whom he rode in her early Australian barrier trials, is still up to the tasks ahead of her.
“She’s quite a funny little horse,” the jockey said. “She has a few quirks but I think she seems to be going well enough. She needs everything to unfold for her and not get knocked around too much in the run. Seven furlongs is going to make a good difference in where she ends up, and the tempo of the race. She’s come out of two high-tempo races and she’ll appreciate a more sedate temp. I think you’ll see a different horse over seven furlongs.”
Hyeronimus will pilot Alcohol Free in this Saturday’s $2 million The Invitation over 1400 metres at Rosehill Gardens. The mare has drawn barrier 13, which her jockey isn’t worried about.
Duais on-song for Cox Plate
The 6-year-old mare Duais (Shamus Award) was a last-start third in the G1 Caulfield S. and she is a live chance in this weekend’s G1 Cox Plate, according to her trainer, Edward Cummings. The mare has drawn the inside barrier at Moonee Valley and will be ridden by Damien Oliver at 57kg.
Duais | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I think she’s tracking really nicely,” Cummings told Racenet. “We haven’t had a lot of luck this preparation. It will be interesting to see how things pan out from a tempo perspective in a Cox Plate, but she has tightened up nicely from the run the other day and we would expect her to run very well.”
HKIR attract global stars
The 2023 Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) has drawn an elite list of 189 horses that includes 55 individual Group 1 winners. They include local stars Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), along with international headliners Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and Ballydoyle star Paddington (Siyouni {Fr}).
From Australia, super miler Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is among the 23 horses nominated for rich purses across the December meeting. Joining him at this early stage are Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), Godolphin’s In Secret (I Am Invincible), who was so sharp in The Everest, and Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).
“We are heartened by the positive support we have received from our international friends from around around the world, and it is clear that this year’s list of nominations has all the ingredients to produce a truly unforgettable Longines Hong Kong International Raceday,” said Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) executive director.
The triple Group 1 winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) is the sole entry from New Zealand, while the Australian-bred Singapore star, Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec {NZ}), is one of two from Singapore.
Long Genes ‘over the odds’?
The Edward Cummings-trained Long Genes (U S Navy Flag {USA}) will take his place in this Saturday’s G1 Spring Champion S. and, speaking to Racenet, his trainer has said that the 3-year-old colt is “over the odds” at 50-1 in the betting.
“He only got beaten less than 2l in the Gloaming and the form out of that is always the main form heading into a Spring Champion,” Cummings told Racenet. “He is out of a NZ Oaks winner and, despite being by U S Navy Flag, there is plenty of stamina in the pedigree, so 2000 metres should suit him.”
Long Genes | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Long Genes has drawn barrier 10 in Saturday’s race. He was a deceptive 7th in the G3 Gloaming S. at his last start, and ninth in the Listed Dulcify S. before that.
“He’s on his sixth run this preparation in his first prep, so we would be asking a lot of him (to continue into the Victoria Derby), but he does come across as a horse that loves his racing and he is getting better with each start.”
Unbeaten Midnight Opal a live chance in the Brian Crowley
Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle has his unbeaten 3-year-old Midnight Opal (Deep Field) in this Saturday’s Listed Brian Crowley S. at Rosehill Gardens, and he has told Racing NSW that he is confident the colt is up to a first crack at stakes-level tempo. Midnight Opal’s two wins in two starts have come at Scone and Kemba Grange this preparation.
“He’s been a little bit of a natural,” the trainer said. “I feel he is a horse that will be a lot more effective in a better grade. I’m sure he can take that step to stakes level. He’s a good horse and he’s doing it all on his first racing preparation. I’m sure he’s going to be better again next time in, but they are only three once and to take on your own age is probably more beneficial than taking on a BM72 against older horses.”
Super Smink return beckons
The 3-year-old filly Super Smink (Super One) in Western Australia, a winner of three of her five starts including the G2 Karakkatta Plate and G3 WA Sires’ Produce S. last season, is pipped for a seasonal return this Saturday at Ascot. Perth’s reigning 2-Year-Old Horse of the Year will take her place in the Listed Belgravia S. over 1200 metres, and her trainer, Dan Morton, is being cautious.
Super Smink | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“She’s got all the right attributes, but has to come back obviously as a 3-year-old,” he told The Races WA. “They have to come back with the same zest and want to do it in the best of company. It’s a fair step but so far, so good, and she’s heading in the right direction.”
Super Smink is likely to have bigger targets across the Ascot Pinnacles carnival in coming weeks, including the WA Guineas, Northerly S. and 1400-metre Gold Rush. She has drawn barrier six this Saturday in the Belgravia S., a race that was won last year by Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}).
Landmark partnership with Save A Horse Australia
Racing Queensland’s Off-The-Track Program (QOTT) has partnered with Save A Horse Australia (SAHA) to establish a formal safety net for animals that have left the industry. The partnership, worth $900,000 over the next three years, will assist SAHA to take in vulnerable and neglected former racehorses into its care at a rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary.
“The funding contributed to SAHA through this partnership ensures that our industry will continue to be there for former racehorses when they need us,” said Queensland’s Racing Minister Grace Grace. “Considering the whole lifetime of the thoroughbred and standardbred horses that leave our industry is incredibly important. I congratulate both them (QOTT) and SAHA on this landmark partnership.”
SAHA is a charity that rescues and rehabilitates neglected, abused and surrendered horses, rehoming them appropriately later on. Its president is Laura Cheshire, a former jockey.
Bernardini/Into Mischief colts top second session at Fasig-Tipton
The Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale reached its mid-point on Tuesday with 520 youngsters having gone through the ring. The second session was topped first by a US$500,000 (AU$790,000) Bernardini (USA) colt, who went the way of Jesse Longoria, bidding on behalf of Zane Kiehne and Grier Brunson, from the draft of Scott Mallory. The figure was matched later in the day when Tom Ryan bought an Into Mischief (USA) colt on behalf of SF Racing/Starlight Racing/Madaket Stables.
Through the two opening sessions, trade has aggregated US$24,157,300 (AU$37.6 million) for an average of US$46,456 (AU$73,000). The sale average is down 13.8 per cent on an equivalent figure of last year.
“It was another solid session,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browing Jnr. “We saw a continuation of the same trends that we’ve seen throughout the yearling sales season. I don’t think there was any expectation in my mind that we would match last year’s figures. What we have learned over the entire yearling sales season is that, for the most part, except for the elite part of the market, it’s off a little bit.”
