Steparty and King’s Gambit scratched from Coolmore
Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. field will now see 17 line up after the classy colts King’s Gambit (I Am Invincible) and Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) were withdrawn from the event.
Peter and Paul Snowden reported to Racing Victoria on Friday morning that King’s Gambit had spiked a temperature, and the colt would be re-examined on Friday afternoon. Unfortunately for connections, King’s Gambit failed to overcome an elevated temperature and has been withdrawn from the Coolmore.
Late on Saturday evening, it was advised by Racing Victoria that the Paul Preusker trained Steparty will be withdrawn on veterinary advice.
Valiant King scratched
Racing Victoria have informed that Joseph O’Brien’s Melbourne Cup hope Valiant King (GB) has been withdrawn from Tuesday's race on veterinary advice. The son of Roaring Lion (USA) was found to be lame in the left front leg on Friday afternoon, and deemed unsuitable to race.
Valiant King (GB) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
While the Chris Waller-trained Sheraz (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was passed suitable to accept for the Melbourne Cup by Racing Victoria Vets. Sheraz was reported to have heat in the leg on Thursday.
All 24 Melbourne Cup acceptors will undergo a further veterinary examination on Monday, while runners from Saturday’s G3 Archer S. who intend to accept in the Melbourne Cup will be inspected on-course following the race, prior to acceptances at 4.30pm AEDT.
Cylinder chasing Coolmore
Godolphin’s iron colt Cylinder (Exceed And Excel) is ready to fire in Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Stud S.
The star 3-year-old was placed in the G1 Golden Rose and then finished fifth in The Everest against the older horses, and will drop back to his own age group in the Coolmore.
Tim Clark, who is set to ride the James Cummings-trained colt, told Punters: “I think the horse is obviously going great this preparation and his run in The Everest was terrific.
“That was on the back of some brilliant runs leading into The Everest. Cylinder is in great form, but he’s had a bit of racing and a couple of grand finals.
“It’s just a matter of going to the well one more time.”
Ozzmosis to emulate sire and grandsire?
The Bjorn Baker-trained Ozzmosis will look to uphold the family tradition in Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. The exciting colt is a son of Coolmore Stud S. victor Zoustar, while his grandsire, the late Northern Meteor, also took out the race under the current name.
Incredibly, Ozzmosis would be the fourth-generation winner of the sire-making race. His great-grandsire, Encosta De Lago, took out the Coolmore but then known as the G2 Ascot Vale S. in 1996.
Ozzmosis | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Ozzmosis is a well-bred colt, he’s got a great attitude and I think he can run a big one,” Baker told RSN.
“The Coolmore is obviously going to be a very hard race, but he is in good order. He seems to have settled well down here (Melbourne) and we’re very happy with him going into the race.”
Mazu out to make amends
Talented galloper Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) hasn’t had the best of fortune this preparation, however, co-trainer Paul Snowden is confident Mazu can show his best in Saturday’s Giga Kick S.
“We didn't get to see how well he is going in The Everest, we were coming into it nicely and the gate shut,” Snowden told RSN.
“Once we missed the Premiere, it has been a disappointing preparation for us.
“Everyone hasn't seen how well he's going because he's going terrific and he's a very happy horse, we just need to get a bit of luck on the day.”
Mazu will meet his The Everest conquerors again on Saturday, with the winner Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) and Private Eye (Al Maher) stepping out for Joe Pride.
“We found once we got to this race last year, he had run his best race in The Everest,” Snowden said.
“It's a completely different story this preparation knowing he hasn't had those (tough) runs because of those little hiccups.
“He is going as good as he can, it's whether the others turn up.
“But both of Joe's (Pride) are very tough horses and they will be hard to beat.”
Taree jockey falls updates
Lachlan Scorse remains in the high dependency unit being observed and monitored after falling at Taree last Sunday. Scorse is awaiting an MRI scan of his brain. While Courtney Van Der Werf’s surgery on Wednesday was reported as going well and she is much more comfortable. Jeff Penza was discharged from hospital and will continue to recover at home.
Oliver and Cummings combine
Retiring Champion Jockey Damien Oliver and Godolphin’s Head Trainer James Cummings will chase their 50th winner together when Oliver partners the Cummings-trained Vilana (Hallowed Crown) at Flemington on Saturday.
Vilana will contest the G2 The Damien Oliver S. and it would be more than fitting if the milestone could be achieved in the race named in honour of the hoop.
Damien Oliver | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I think Vilana is really flying, and he can win the race,” Cummings shared with RSN.
“I have great respect for the depth of this field, and this won’t be easy for Vilana with 59kg, but I like the way he’s going, and I can see things working out beautifully from this draw.”
Waller heavy-handed in Empire Rose
Chris Waller will chase his third success in the G1 Empire Rose S. with Princess Grace (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}), Atishu (NZ) and Hinged (Worthy Cause).
The market currently had Atishu favoured among Waller’s trio but the Champion Trainer doesn’t necessarily see it that way.
“Princess Grace is the form horse in my opinion,” Waller told RSN.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“I wouldn’t be too concerned about her last start when she was beaten. She was mid-prep, we brought her back in distance to 1400 metres after a couple of tough runs, and it just saw her one-paced.
“Princess Grace is now looking for the mile and probably gets her chance to be ridden a little more conservatively.”
Acer chasing Golden Eagle dream
Strait Acer (Headwater) has made a rapid rise through the classes this preparation and announced himself a contender in the $10 million Golden Eagle with an impressive placing in the Silver Eagle.
“Even though it was the plan and we got into the race fair and square, I thought I was half-mad just for trying it because he was so far out of the handicap,” Cummings explained to RSN.
“We started this preparation a month earlier than we normally do with our horses because he was that forward and because we needed to test him and get him up in the ratings quickly.
“We had one run where we could be unlucky and the rest of them would have to be runs where he was winning, and that’s basically how it has turned out.”
Bradsell out of Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Group 1 winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) has been scratched from the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint by trainer Archie Watson.
A winner of the King's Stand S. this term, the Victorious Racing runner was due to be ridden by Luke Morris, as his regular rider Hollie Doyle is serving a suspension.
Europeans are still strongly represented in the Santa Anita affair, however, as G1 Nunthorpe S. hero Live In the Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) is still signed on, as is Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}).
