Sandhu up for Lofty Imperatriz test
Julius Sandhu is under no illusions regarding the enormity of the task confronting his stable star Lofty Strike (Snitzel) in Saturday’s G1 Darley Champions Sprint, but he’s happy to have a crack at knocking off champion mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible).
“Every run he has gone to Flemington he has run well and has performed time and time again,” Sandhu told Racing.com.
“So, if we are going to have a crack at a horse of her calibre I would rather do it at Flemington than the Manikato at Moonee Valley.”
Julius Sandhu | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sandhu is confident his dual Group 1 runner-up will be competitive in the $3 million dash.
“I was a little bit surprised with the number of runners and, secondly, when you compare it to last year when you take Imperatriz and In Secret out of it, there aren’t many other Group 1 horses in there,” he said.
“If he is going to perform like last year (he finished seventh, 1l off the winner), he is going to give it an almighty crack.”
Prowess spot on for acid test
Veteran trainer Roger James claims star mare Prowess (NZ) (Prosir) is in perfect order for her tilt at Saturday’s G1 Champions S. at Flemington - a race that will be the toughest of her career.
“It is her biggest test to date without a doubt, but we have ticked the boxes,” James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood, told TAB NZ.
Prowess (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“She has got fresh legs, it is only third-up for her – tick; it is 2000 metres – another tick; she is in grand order - another tick; and she is well trained – that must be four ticks.”
The two-time Group 1 victress, who won the G2 Crystal Mile at The Valley last time out, will break from gate four under Mark Zahra.
Blueblood Call Di after maiden black-type triumph
The impeccably bred Call Di - a daughter of the Group 1 winners Frankel (GB) and Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice) - has been knocking on the door in stakes company, and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou hopes she can land that all-important black-type win in Saturday’s G2 Hot Danish S. at Rosehill.
Call Di heads into the $500,000 race on the back of a fifth in the G3 Nivison S. and a third in the G2 Tristarc S.
Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It looks a good race for her on paper. She’s in good form, she’s been finding a bit of bad luck and hopefully she finds good luck on Saturday,” Alexiou, who trains in partnership with Gerald Ryan, told Racing NSW.
“It looks a race devoid of a specific on-speed horse. She’s led and raced prominently before and Nash (Rawiller) will have options from the barrier.
“She’s been racing super consistent and I’m sure a win is not far away.”
Antino spot on for grand final
Champion Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan claims he has promising galloper Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) right where he wants, ahead of Saturday’s tilt at the $2 million The Five Diamonds at Rosehill. Antino is in Sydney after a four-run campaign in Melbourne, where he won at Group 3 level, before placing second in Group 1 and Group 2 company.
“Overall, he’s raced terrific at a good level and this is his grand final, we’ve planned this race the whole time and I’m really happy with him leading into it,” Gollan told Racing NSW.
“This was always our favoured option, being a set weights and penalties for 5-year-olds at I think a distance which is perfect for him.”
Antino will jump from barrier two with Sam Clipperton in the saddle.
Freedmans eye Slipper berth with Microphone filly
Richard and Will Freedman have elected to bypass black-type options in Melbourne for Microphone filly Miss Judas, instead chasing the riches of Saturday’s $1 million Golden Gift at Rosehill.
Will Freedman said the prizemoney on offer in the Golden Gift was too much to ignore, as they look to secure a spot in next year’s G1 Golden Slipper S.
“If you finish in the top two you are in the Slipper so that's the allure,” Will Freedman told Racenet.
Will Freedman | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“We had options to go to Melbourne to get some black type but we think over the course of her 2-year-old season she will pick it up anyway.
“We have opted to go for the big prize and if you do you can really cater your autumn about getting to the Golden Slipper, you don’t have to win your way in.
“There was definitely consideration to not go to the Gift and go to Melbourne but we are happy with the filly.”
Hong Kong Cup for Cox Plate hero
Danny Shum has confirmed this year’s G1 Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) will next be seen in the G1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin on December 10 - a race he won last year.
Shum has entered the gelding for the G2 Jockey Club Cup at Sha Tin on November 19, but that race will come around too fast.
Romantic Warrior (Ire), winner of the G1 Cox Plate | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“His next race will definitely be in December, 100 per cent,” Shum told South China Morning Post.
“He won’t go to the Jockey Club Cup, because he will have only just got out (of quarantine), and the race is four days later.”
New Mandate takes Listed Ladies Day Cup
With Joshua Parr in the saddle, the Chris Waller-trained New Mandate (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) scored a 1l win in the Listed Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury.
The imported gelding, who commenced his career in the UK with Ralph Beckett, beat John Thompson’s Jojo Was A Man (Al Maher) and the Waller-trained stablemate Sky Man (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}).
Waller’s stable representative Damien Fitton praised Parr for his ride.
“It was a very good ride by Josh. He just got some cover early, he’s a horse that can get a little bit keen,” Fitton told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He executed well and it was a matter of just putting him through his gears in the straight. He really attacked the line strongly, so that’s promising moving forward.”
No Guineas for filly on a roll
RV Stewards confirmed on Thursday that Tuesday’s impressive Listed Desirable S. heroine Roll On High (Shamus Award) will not back-up in Saturday week’s G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
The Peter Moody-trained filly is now listed as spelling on Racing Australia, with her first racing preparation having yielded two wins and two seconds, including her breakthrough success at stakes level at the first attempt earlier this week.
No shuttle trip for Zoustar
Widden Stud flagbearer Zoustar, the sire of last Saturday’s brilliant G1 Coolmore Stud S. hero Ozzmosis, will remain in Australia in 2024 after the decision was made not to shuttle him to Tweenhills Stud in Britain for next year’s Northern Hemisphere breeding season.
Zoustar has shuttled to Tweenhills every year since 2019, with his Northern Hemisphere progeny spearheaded by G1-winning filly Lezoo (GB). He is set to return to shuttling duties as normal in 2025.
“Following discussions with Antony Thompson of Widden Stud, it has been decided that after 11 consecutive Northern and Southern covering seasons, to rest Zoustar for six months in Australia,” Tweenhills owner David Redvers said.
Zoustar | Standing at Widden Stud, image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Zoustar is happy, healthy and proving exceptionally fertile in Australia this season, where he covers a full book of mares at a fee of $200,000 plus GST, but we have always been mindful of protecting his long-term wellbeing and agreed that a break now is prudent.
“Zoustar is booked to return to Tweenhills in 2025. His Northern Hemisphere 2023 stakes winners include Champion 2YO Filly of 2022 Lezoo, G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint-placed and Serenia Stakes winner Starlust and St Hugh’s winner Miaharris.”
In other Tweenhills news, 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (USA) will stand for an unchanged fee of £15,000 (AU$28,800), while his G1 Sussex S.-winning barnmate Lightning Spear (GB) will also remain unchanged at £5000 (AU$15,300).
Shinn, Egan cop suspensions
Two of the most successful jockeys at this week’s Flemington carnival, Blake Shinn and Billy Egan, were reprimanded by Racing Victoria Stewards after being found guilty of whip breaches in the third race on Thursday’s card.
Having claimed the win aboard in-form mare Little Mix (Mahisara) in Race 3, Shinn was found to have used the whip 10 times prior to the 100-metre mark, one more than Egan, who rode the regally bred runner-up Rebadge (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).
Shinn, who enjoyed a double on the day, was suspended for eight meetings and fined $2000, while Egan was suspended for nine meetings and copped a $750 fine. Both riders’ suspensions will begin on November 19.
Morton maintains faith in God
Alaskan God (Playing God) hasn’t won since taking out the G2 WATC Derby in April 2022, more than 580 days ago, but trainer Daniel Morton is still optimistic about the gelding’s future.
The 5-year-old kicks off another campaign in Saturday’s G2 Lee Steere S. at Ascot, and while Morton concedes he may find some rivals too sharp over 1400 metres, he claims the run will bring him on.
“I haven’t lost faith in the horse at all,” Morton said to The Races WA.
Alaskan God | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“We took him to Melbourne, it didn’t work, so be it.
“We pulled the pin before we ran him right out.
“The 1400 metres of the Lee Steere might be on the short side for him, but it gives him a launch pad into nice races.”
A Lot Of Good Men ready to fire in Fairetha
Trainer Trevor Andrews is confident A Lot Of Good Men (A Lot {USA}) will play a prominent role in the Listed Fairetha S. at Ascot on Saturday, barring bad luck.
The colt will be third-up in the $125,000 contest over 1400 metres and should be ready to deliver, according to Andrews.
“The plan was to go third-up in the Fairetha and fourth-up in the WA Guineas,” Andrews said on Tabradio.
Trevor Andrews | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“His runs have been really good; he's drawn nicely again and should get a good run from there.
“The 1400 metres and the mile are right up his alley, he’s ticking over good and if gets luck on Saturday he’ll run well.
“He galloped really good on Tuesday and feeling pretty bright; he’s in a good place I feel.”
Del Mar to host 2025 Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup will return to Del Mar in 2025, meaning the track north of San Diego, has the next two editions of the famous carnival.
Consisting of 14 Grade 1 races, with purses and awards totaling more than US$31 million (AU$48 million), the 42nd Breeders’ Cup Carnival is scheduled to be held on October 31 and November 1.
“Our return to Del Mar in back-to-back years marks the continuation of a wonderful collaboration and successful partnership, both with our friends at the track and with the greater San Diego area, demonstrating our continued commitment to California horse racing,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited.
Del Mar hosted the Breeders’ Cup in 2017 and 2021.
‘He has pride of place here’: All hail Teofilo, the Cups King
Kildangan Stud’s nominations manager, Eamon Moloney, has lavished praise on star sire Teofilo (Ire), who earlier in the week sired his third winner of the G1 Melbourne Cup in the past six years.
Without A Fight’s (Ire) Flemington romp on Tuesday followed victories by Twilight Payment (Ire) in 2020 and Cross Counter (GB) in 2018.
“He’s the most extraordinary horse and I just wish he got the credit he deserves,” Moloney told TDN Europe.
Teofilo (Ire) | Standing at Darley
“We make no secret of the fact that his fertility has slipped slightly through the years as he’s got older, so he’s been covering 80 mares per year and at that we can keep his fertility to a very high level.
“He's a very important member of Kildangan. Once Teo has started then the lads can start up the rest of the day. He’s a big, substantial horse and he charges out to his paddock. He’s a tough sort of a horse, but there's a gentle giant behind it.
“He's in great health at 19, rising 20, and he very much has pride of place here.”
