Mr Brightside off to the paddock
Multiple Group 1 winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has been sent for a spell, following a busy spring campaign, meaning he won’t contest either the G1 Hong Kong Mile or G1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin’s Hong Kong International Races meeting on December 10.
“After discussion with the team, we have decided Mr Brightside will head straight to the paddock for a well-deserved break and won’t be going to Hong Kong for the International Races. We look forward to Mr Brightside returning for his autumn campaign and are so proud of all he has achieved this spring,” a statement from Lindsay Park Racing read.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
This spring, the 6-year-old gelding won the G1 Memsie S., G1 Makybe Diva S. and G2 PB Lawrence S., and finished second in the G1 King Charles III S., G1 Cox Plate and G1 Champions Mile.
Thousand Guineas favourites draw well
The two fillies at the top of the market for Saturday’s G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield - Skybird (Exosphere) and Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) - will jump from barriers two and five respectively.
Coeur Volante’s trainer, Mike Moroney, told Racing.com the filly should take a power of beating.
“We think she’s the right horse. She’s very talented, she could be one of the better ones I’ve trained, as far as the females go, and I’ve been lucky enough to have a few good ones,” he said.
Mike Moroney | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Moroney won the Thousand Guineas in 1999 with Shizu (NZ) (Manntari {Ire}).
A field of 13 will face the starter in the $1.5 million race over 1600 metres.
Zourion in search of ultimate success
Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud will have an incredibly valuable future broodmare on their hands if Zourion (NZ) (Zoustar) can win Saturday’s G1 Thousand Guineas.
The filly - already a Group 2 victress - boasts a lovely pedigree, being by one of the hottest sires in Australia, from the stakes performer Irion (NZ) (Danroad). Zourion is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Zourion (NZ) | Image courtesy of Te Akau Racing
“She’s got a beautiful pedigree, bred by Sir Peter Vela at Pencarrow Stud, and she was an expensive yearling, but she’s already added to that value,” trainer Mark Walker told Racing And Sports.
“If we could pull Saturday off, she’d be worth ten-fold what they paid for her.”
Zourion realised NZ$475,000 from the Pencarrow Stud draft at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1).
Outside alley for top mare in Sir Rupert Clarke
The Grahame Begg-trained Magic Time (Hellbent) will have to overcome a wide draw if she is to notch her maiden Group 1 triumph on Saturday. The 4-year-old was allotted barrier 15 in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S., but will jump from 13 if the three emergencies fail to start.
Magic Time has won two Group 3s and one Listed race.
A capacity field of 16 is set to contest the $1 million handicap.
Seven rides for outgoing Oliver
Champion jockey Damien Oliver has a busy day at Caulfield on Saturday on what will be his final Victorian race meeting. Oliver has a book of seven rides, including Vibrant Sun (The Autumn Sun) in the G1 Thousand Guineas, Vilana (Hallowed Crown) in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. and Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) in the G3 Blue Sapphire S.
Oliver will commence an eight-meeting suspension on Saturday night, before returning to Perth for the final leg of his farewell tour.
Mazu heads quality The Hunter field
Group 1 winner Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) will carry the top weight of 59kg in Saturday’s $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle.
The 6-year-old has drawn perfectly in six, but will come into five if the emergencies come out, and co-trainer Peter Snowden believes Mazu will relish the drop in class.
“He’s going better than reasonably well, he’s not getting beaten 10 and they are the elite horses,’’ Snowden told RNSW.
Mazu | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s finishing right there being caught three deep, going back to second last and having to run home in 31 to win. He’s been set impossible tasks but he hasn’t been running bad.
“The horse hasn’t won for a while and they can lose that last 10 per cent focus, he just needs to win a race and hopefully he’ll get that opportunity.”
A full field of 16 will line up in the 1300-metre sprint.
Pepper reckons Ridge can fire in The Hunter
Scone-based trainer Luke Pepper believes his talented mare Opal Ridge (Rubick) is spot on for Saturday’s The Hunter (1300 metres) at Newcastle.
Opal Ridge failed to fire last time out in The Invitation, finishing ninth, 3.73l behind Espiona (Extreme Choice), but Pepper claims there were excuses.
Opal Ridge | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“She never looked her normal self during the run so that’s why she’s on the back of a freshen-up now into The Hunter, it looked an ideal target for her,” Pepper told Racing And Sports.
“She had a week out on the water walker, and we’ve got her back in and I couldn't be happier with her, she seems a lot brighter and ready to go.”
Full Field for Placid Ark
The start of Western Australia’s Pinnacles Carnival is fast approaching, with the $500,000 Listed Placid Ark S. at Ascot attracting a full field.
Fifteen horses will line up on Saturday, headlined by the undefeated Oscar’s Fortune (Rich Enuff), who has been the subject of lucrative offers from Hong Kong since first appearing on a racecourse. Also set to line up are G3 Perth S. winner Ripcord (Written By) and 3-year-old Classic winner Almighty Class (Playing God).
Oscar's Fortune headlines the lineup for the Listed Placid Ark S. at Ascot | Image courtesy of The Races WA
Jockey-turned-trainer Mitchell Pateman believes running Almighty Class in the Listed Belgravia S. his recipe for success, telling Racing and Wagering Western Australia, “The Placid Ark Prelude form is probably not quite as strong as the Belgravia, but you have to respect winning form.
“The Belgravia Stakes was a proper race and they are as good as 3-year-olds that we’ve got.”
Rodd returns to metropolitan winners’ stall
Fresh off his first victory after an extensive layoff from concussion complications on Friday Night at the Sunshine Coast meeting, Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd navigated his first city winner back aboard Press Link (Press Statement).
Trained by leading horseman Tony Gollan, the 3-year-old gelding was able to chart a path between horses and fight on for a narrow victory.
Michael Rodd | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Meanwhile, South African-born jockey Barend Vorster, who has also faced an extended layoff due to concussion issues, is making progress towards a return to race riding, telling RadioTAB he is aiming for a return to the saddle by “early 2024”.
Grass is greener for Gold Coast Turf Club
After an extended break to facilitate the refurbishment of the course proper, the Gold Coast Turf Club has a fixed date in place for racing to commence on their premiere surface.
December 9 has been confirmed as the first turf meeting back, with racing throughout recent months being conducted on the all-weather track.
The announcement is timely, with the upcoming Brisbane Summer Carnival headlined by the famous Magic Millions Raceday in mid-January.
Work is still ongoing in the long-term, with the refurbishment culminating in the addition of lighting facilities to accommodate night racing.
Racing Victoria overcomes wagering decrease to post surplus
An almost $30 million drop in wagering for the 2023 financial year was successfully negotiated by Racing Victoria, who today announced a surplus of $0.2 million.
This marks the 11th consecutive positive result posted by Racing Victoria, who have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic whilst remaining profitable and keeping many country race clubs afloat.
The cessation of special grants to support clubs during the pandemic period is highlighted as one factor that has contributed towards the surplus, along with a decrease in total expenditure and an increase in media revenue of 12.5 per cent. Racing Victoria Chief Executive, Andrew Jones, said:
“FY23 saw record returns to participants and Clubs, along with the continuation of key strategic investments in infrastructure and media.
“Through sound fiscal management we were able to deliver a surplus for the 11th consecutive year, despite a significant downturn in the wagering market.
“In the face of macro-economic challenges, the wagering market is rebasing post COVID. This will continue to impact industry revenues.”
Further spring shuffles?
Racing Victoria is reportedly considering changing the placement of the G3 Coongy S. and the G3 Archer S., as part of a wider shuffle of the spring.
The Age on Wednesday reported that both races are being considered as moveable throughout the calendar. The current proposal is reportedly to move the Listed Desirable S. seven days forward, with it currently being unclear as to when the Archer would be run.
There is also a reported push to increase both Saturday meetings of the Flemington Carnival to contain 10 races, as a counter to the decrease in wagering turnover.
Zaaki, McDonald to tackle Northerly
Annabel Neasham’s consistent warrior Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) has been confirmed as targeting the G1 Northerly S. in December, bypassing Hong Kong.
Unlike his mount, superstar jockey James McDonald will get the best of both worlds, having received permission from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to pilot Zaaki on December 9, the day prior the Hong Kong International meeting.
Zaaki (GB) and James McDonald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Northerly, previously run as the Kingston Town S., has attracted a strong cast of nominees, with Tuvalu (Kermadec {NZ}) and Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) also confirmed as contesting the weight-for-age contest.
Overpass back for another Western raid
Another high-class performer on his way to the Pinnacles is Overpass (Vancouver), who will contest the G1 Winterbottom S. over 1200 metres on December 2.
Travelling with regular rider Josh Parr, the gelding caused a mini-boilover in the inaugural running of the $4 million slot race The Quokka, denying a rampaging Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) by the barest of margins.
Speaking to The Races WA, trainer Bjorn Baker said: “I think he's going well and will definitely acquit himself well.
“On his day he is one of the best sprinters in the country.
“If he runs up to that he will be right there.”
