King of the mountain Equinox retired
Thursday saw the curtain come down on a brief but sparkling career, with news of the retirement of superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}).
Racing 10 times, the talented entire was victorious on eight occasions, including in the G2 Hai Sisai S. over 1800 metres as a 2-year-old.
His next two races ended in defeat, in both the G1 Satsuki Sho and the G1 Tokyo Yushun as an early 3-year-old, after which he would never lose a race again.
Victories came in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the G1 Arima Kinen to round out 2022, before he announced himself as comfortably the best horse on the planet, demolishing his opposition from the front in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March of 2023.
Returning to his native Japan, he would race thrice more, winning the G1 Takarazuka Kinen and G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) for a second time, before bowing out with a monstrous performance in the G1 Japan Cup on Sunday.
He will join his sire, Kitasan Black (Jpn), at the world famous Shadai Stallion Station, alongside an incredible collection of breeding opportunities, with entires such as Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), Contrail (Jpn) and Suave Richard (Jpn) also calling the operation home.
Little Brose to Hong Kong
Blue Diamond S. hero Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}) will continue his career in Hong Kong under the watchful eye of David Hayes.
Presently trained by Hayes’ sons, Ben, JD and Will, the talented colt hasn’t been able to return to the winner’s stall since his Diamond win in February, and with the 4-year-old Classic season in Hong Kong fast approaching, the decision has been made to move him north.
Speaking about his new acquisition to Racing.com, David Hayes said, “He is a smart horse.”
David Hayes | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“The owner wants to watch him race in Hong Kong so happy to get him here as he should fit in well.
“I think he'll compete as a 1000-metre to 1600-metre horse in Hong Kong.
“He’ll be kept as a colt and if he does well up here, then he’d go back to Australia to be a stallion.”
Heathcote on weather watch
Group 1-winning trainer Robert Heathcote won’t hesitate to scratch top sprinter Rothfire (Rothesay) from Saturday’s G3 George Moore S., should the track deteriorate into the heavy range.
Rothfire has already secured a slot in the $750,000 King of the Mountain at Toowoomba on January 1, and Heathcote said that race, along with the $1 million Magic Millions QTIS Open in January, are the gelding’s main aims this summer.
“He (Rothfire) has to carry 61kg, Baller has 57.5 and Zoustyle 56; Zoustyle is still a bloody good horse,” Heathcote told Racenet.
Rothfire | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“I think Rothfire is the best proven horse, but if it is a heavy track, I may hold him back.
“The horse is in great order but the big fish to fry is the King of the Mountain and then getting him into the Magic Millions.”
Not guilty verdict for O’Brien’s company
Prominent Victorian trainer Danny O’Brien has put a difficult chapter behind him, with his company found not guilty of the charge of providing an unsafe workplace by the Geelong County Court on Thursday.
The charges stem from a tragic accident in March 2020, resulting in the death of trackwork rider Takamasa Takeda, when his horse was struck by a vehicle on Thirteenth Beach.
“It’s been a long road. I, like all in the stable, was devastated by Taka’s death,” O’Brien said in a statement to Racing.com on Thursday.
“Being charged was beyond my control, but I have always maintained that our systems of work were completely safe.
“I can only express my relief and thanks for the verdict, this of course does nothing to bring Taka back or repair the hole in his parent’s hearts.”
Mauricio to relish the mile, says Kelly
Cranbourne-based trainer Wendy Kelly is adamant her Sandown Guineas charge, Mauricio (Maurice {Jpn}), will appreciate the 1600 metres of Saturday’s Group 2 event.
The 3-year-old filly won her maiden over 1474 metres at Kyneton two starts ago, before placing second in a 1400-metre BM64 at Sandown-Lakeside.
“I’m thrilled to bits with her, she’s had a big campaign but she’s coped with it all really well and I’m really looking forward to Saturday because I’m dying to get her out to the mile,” Kelly told Racing And Sports.
Temperatures rise at Tattersalls as Havana Grey colt fetches 250,000gns
There was a familiar theme to develop at Park Paddocks on Wednesday as, for the second time in the space of 24 hours, the progeny of Havana Grey (GB) dominated at the December Foal Sale, with a colt by the Whitsbury Manor Stud-based stallion fetching 250,000gns (AU$503,400) to unknown entity Rumstar Bloodstock.
A brother to the G3 Cornwallis S. winner Rumstar (GB), Lot 638 was one of two foals by the sire to clear six figures on the day, with five more foals by Havana Grey selling for at least 80,000gns (AU$161,100).
Trade solidified on Wednesday, with the clearance rate standing at a much healthier 81 per cent, with 202 foals selling from a possible 250. The aggregate was down 12 per cent to 8,307,450gns (AU$16,731,000), while the median and average fell by three per cent respectively to 31,000gns (AU$62,400) and 41,126gns (AU$82,800).
Wexford seeking Group glory at Te Rapa
Dominant last-start winner Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) will lead Wexford Stables’ charge at Te Rapa on Saturday, with the filly stepping up to stakes company. Grail Seeker will line up in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO event over 1500 metres.
The 3-year-old justified her favouritism last start when cruising home by 4.5l under little encouragement from Niranjan Parmar, who retains the ride on Saturday.
Grail Seeker (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
“We’re confident she’ll run the trip and should be strong in the finish, so we’re hopeful for a good performance,” said Andrew Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O'Sullivan, told loveracing.co.nz.
“She’s certainly got to step up again on Saturday. She’s just been lacking confidence as well but she’s starting to find rhythm in her racing, which gives her more turn of foot at the end.
“She’s back on a track where she performed well last start, Parmar knows her well now and the draw gives her a big aid.”
Kiwi-bred enters HK Derby reckoning
Chill Chibi (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) took another step towards the 2024 Hong Kong Derby (2000 metres), with Danny Shum’s talented young stayer overpowering older rivals to win the Class 3 Dunnottar Castle H. (1800 metres) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Shum confirmed Chill Chibi would continue towards the blue-riband contest in March.
“He’s a nice horse and he's getting better day by day. Even though he carried top weight, I was still confident he could win the race,” Shum said.
“I can enter him (next) over 2000 metres at Sha Tin or run him in a 1650-metre Class 2 at Happy Valley. After that, we'll give him a bit of a break and go straight to the Derby.”
Plenty of reasons to smile for Saxon Warrior
The progeny of Saxon Warrior (Jpn) continue to shine in New Zealand, with 2-year-old filly Archaic Smile getting the job done under apprentice Lily Sutherland at Otaki.
Positioning outside the leader for the majority of the 1100-metre contest, she quickly grabbed control in the home straight, and resisted a late challenge from Full Force (Cosmic Force) to win by 1.3l.
Saxon Warrior (Jpn) | Standing at Coolmore Ireland
Himself a son of the legendary Deep Impact (Jpn), Saxon Warrior is rapidly establishing himself as a force within the New Zealand stallion ranks, with Archaic Smile being his 11th winner from Southern Hemisphere-bred runners.
Trafalgar Square chasing millions
Trainer David Payne has high hopes for 2-year-old filly Trafalgar Square (Churchill {Ire}), with eyes firmly set on the upcoming R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January.
Before then, the promising juvenile has an opportunity to solidify her race record, running at Rosehill on Saturday over 1100 metres.
She is out of Excellent Art (GB) mare Amnesiac, commanding $110,000 when sold in the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year.
With a plan hatched to make her purchase price many times over, Payne told Racing And Sports, “She should have been in the money at her first run in a strong race.
“She missed the break and he made a lot of use of her and she only compounded the last fifty metres.
“It's a smaller field this week, I think Gai's horse (Storm Boy) will be hard to beat, but she will be competitive.”
Frawley leaves nothing to chance at Geelong
Named after former Aussie Rules footballer, the late Danny Frawley, the impeccably bred Frawley (Written Tycoon) gave nothing else a chance in his racetrack debut at Geelong on Thursday.
Ridden by Beau Mertens, the 3-year-old rolled straight to the leading role, going through his gears stylishly when asked for an effort to win by 1.8l.
Speaking to Racing.com after the race, Anne James, sister of Danny Frawley, said, “I think Danny was up there riding him today.
“He loved his horses, we miss him terribly, but now hopefully we’ll live through another Frawley.”
Mertens was quick to praise the colt, saying, “He’s got such a lovely temperament this horse, he just took everything in his stride out there and acted very professionally like it wasn’t even his first start.
“That’s going to take him a long way, he’s got a lot of raw ability and plenty of upside.”
No Vase for Russian Emperor
Mike Cheung's reigning champion Hong Kong stayer Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will not take part in Sunday week’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase over 2400 metres, according to the South China Morning Post.
The 6-year-old, who gave trainer Douglas Whyte his first victory on foreign soil when taking out last year’s Listed HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar before successfully defending his title in the G1 Standard Champions and Chater Cup in May, will miss the Vase owing to an unspecified veterinary issue, SCMP reported.
The withdrawal of Russian Emperor leaves a prospective field of 11 for the Vase, topped by 2022 Sheema Classic hero and recent G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf third Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and the André Fabre-trained G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern winner Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}).
McDonald the blow in for talented gelding
Champion jockey James McDonald has secured a major opportunity to taste success on the revered Hong Kong International Raceday in December, collecting the ride on West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 Hong Kong Vase.
James McDonald | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
It will be a busy 24 hours for the champion rider, who is engaged to ride current favourite Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in the G1 Northerly S. at Ascot in Perth on December 9, before returning to his temporary base of Hong Kong to ride the next day.
Unchanged fee for Telecaster
Multiple Group 2 scorer Telecaster (GB) - a son of New Approach (Ire) - will stand for an unchanged fee of €4000 (AU$6600) at Haras du Mesnil in 2024.
A winner of the G2 Dante S. at three, he added the G3 La Coupe and G2 Grand Prix de Deauville at four and entered stud at Mesnil in 2021.
Telecaster, whose eldest foals are yearlings, covered 73 mares this season.
Petition opposing UK affordability checks hits 100,000 signatories
The petition opposing the widespread introduction of affordability checks outlined in the Gambling Act review white paper is to be discussed in the British parliament after it reached 100,000 signatories.
Parliament’s petitions committee will now schedule a debate on the issue in Westminster Hall.
Howden acquire majority share in HQ Insurance
Sydney-based HQ Insurance, who specialise in the Australian bloodstock landscape, have had a majority share acquired by Howden.
Howden, which has a global presence, but primarily operates out of the United Kingdom, also holds contracts with the Victoria Racing Club, the recent acquisition strengthening their ties to the Australian racing industry.
Group CEO David Howden said in a statement, “Joining with HQ strengthens our connection to the Australian racing industry and means we are now positioned to provide world-class expertise in all the major equine markets, with a global team that offers decades of experience in designing products for businesses and horse owners around the world.”
