Daily News Wrap

Shinn to operate out of Queensland

Top jockey Blake Shinn will catch the Queensland sun in the coming weeks, basing himself in Brisbane from the latter part of December.

Shinn, who will return to riding after serving his current suspension on December 20, will seek opportunities in New Zealand and Melbourne in conjunction with his Queensland foray.

“It is such an important time for the industry with the first yearling sale of the season, which carries such significant participation both domestically and internationally,” Shinn told Racing.com.

“The Magic Millions Carnival boasts both elite equine talent and such huge prizemoney and having been a previous winner of the 2-year-old classic, I firmly believe that basing myself in Queensland over this four weeks will give me the best opportunity for success.”

Zipping Classic field loses three

Saturday’s G2 Zipping Classic field at Caulfield on Saturday has changed complexion since acceptances on Wednesday, with three contenders scratching, leaving just eight runners.

On Thursday, Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}) and Shock’ Em Ova (Shocking) were withdrawn, while Friday saw the removal of Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) from the field.

Serpentine will contest the Listed Christmas Cup at Rosehill on Saturday instead, with Adam Hyeronimus taking the reins for the first time on the G1 Epsom Derby winner. Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will still have representation in the race, with G2 Herbert Power S. winner Military Mission (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) lining up.

Defending champion Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) will also be lining up, as he begins the final phase of his career.

Can Smith’s missile fire in Winterbottom?

Lindsey Smith has returned to his adoptive state of Western Australia with talented sprinter Triple Missile (Smart Missile), with the veteran horseman eyeing off glory in the G1 Winterbottom S. on Saturday.

Now based at Warrnambool in Victoria, Smith, who achieved consistent success when based on the western seaboard, has sent Triple Missile to his base in Karnup, 40 minutes south of Perth. While there, the 6-year-old gelding has been keeping active ahead of his Group 1 opportunity.

“He had a pretty rousing gallop (on Tuesday), up the hill and had a good blow,” Smith told local station TABradio.

“His heart rate was a little high and he had a blow, but it’s 1200 metres and I’m quite happy with him.”

“He’s on the way up and strong for Saturday and he does like it here in Perth.”

Triple Missile faces stiff competition, both from fellow visitor Overpass (Vancouver), as well as local 3-year-olds Ripcord (Written By) and Oscar’s Fortune (Rich Enuff), on his quest to claim his first Group 1.

Snowdens hope for drying track

Top hope in the G3 Festival S., Tazaral (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), will need a drying track to put his best hoof forward on Saturday, according to co-trainer Peter Snowden.

“A Soft 6 is about as bad as he wants it,” Snowden told Newscorp.

Last seen finishing sixth in BM88 H. grade in September, Tazaral will be ridden by leading apprentice Zac Lloyd, who continues to increase his stock with wins in rich races such as The Warra, which he won on Saturday at Kembla Grange aboard Insurrection (Russian Revolution).

Tazaral has been allocated 53 kilograms for Saturday’s $250,000 race, and will jump from barrier five.

Glamorous filly can make her presence felt

Prominent New Zealand trainer Stephen Marsh has a good opportunity to win the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ S. at Wanganui on Saturday, with progressive 3-year-old Glamour Tycoon (Written Tycoon).

Breaking her maiden in good style at Ruakaka on November 14 by 3.5l has earned her a step back up in grade, having run in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas two starts ago.

“She’s been running really good races all the way through her career,” Marsh told loveracing.nz during the week.

“She put it all together at Ruakaka last time and got an impressive maiden win that she really deserved.

“I think that win has given her a bit more confidence. She’s going really well and should be one of the main chances in that race.”

Waterhouse and Bott rule early at Kensington

Training combination Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott continued their recent run of form at the Randwick-Kensington meeting on Friday, taking out the opening two races.

To open proceedings, tenacious filly Very Sewreel (Snitzel) dug deep in a two-horse battle down the straight, outlasting Miss Emma (All Too Hard) to win by 0.5l.

It was a much easier watch in the second event on the program, with Zouphoria (Zoustar) having a lovely run in transit, and dashing well clear in the concluding stages, drawing away to win by 2.8l.

Childs continues hot form on New Hampshire

The opening race at Moonee Valley contained a very familar face in the winners’ enclosure, with Jordan Childs driving out New Hampshire (I Am Invincible) to win the opening race at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Sent straight to the front after beginning well, Childs was able to control the speed, and stave off a monstrous late run from Lady Of Savoy (NZ) (Tivaci) to record a narrow victory.

Striking in the realms of 30 per cent from his last 50 rides, Childs has enjoyed a consistent spring, and has a strong chance to continue the trend on Saturday when he rides Miraval Rose (Grunt {NZ}) in the Listed Twilight Glow S. at Caulfield.

Tavi Time shines in Mudgee Cup

A fiercely run Mudgee Cup has gone the way of Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who recorded a dominant victory on Friday.

Sent out a popular pick in the public market, the 4-year-old gelding was able to find his rhythm in the second half of the field under jockey Aaron Bullock, who made his move prior to the home corner.

The race looked over at the 300-metre mark as the pair took Watadeel (Dundeel {NZ}), who had pressed forward to find the front, with the margin widening through the line.

Officially recording a winning margin of 6.6l, the win is Tavi Time’s fifth in eight career starts to date. Victory in the Cup provided Bullock with a running double, having won the previous race aboard Seguso (Redoute’s Choice).

Smashing result at Mudgee

Annabel Neasham sent 3-year-old gelding Rush Attack (Brave Smash {Jpn}) to Mudgee for the chance to compete in a $50,000 maiden on Friday, a decision that proved successful for connections.

Given a nice ride by Robbie Downey, the win makes him the 21st individual winner for Brave Smash (Jpn), keeping his winners-to-runners numbers at above 50 per cent as we approach the halfway mark of his second season.

Another member of his first crop, Brave Strike, will fly his flag in Western Australia on Saturday, when she competes in the Listed Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic. The Simon Miller-trained filly retains the services of Steven Parnham, fresh off his double in the G1 Railway S. and G1 WA Guineas.

Boom mare dominant at Rockhampton

Talented mare Chinny Boom (Spirit Of Boom) was at a different level to her rivals at Rockhampton on Friday, with Ashley Butler giving the talented 4-year-old a pat 30 metres prior to the winning post.

Sent straight to the front after a quick getaway, she burned around her home track with intent, and after Butler asked her for an effort halfway down the straight, she shot clear and put the race to bed in a matter of strides. The official margin of 5.2l, while very impressive, doesn’t do justice to the ease of the win.

Now a winner of seven races from 10 starts, she is perfectly primed to join in some of the more lucrative races in Brisbane over the summer.

Traralgon Cup goes back a week

Owing to heavy rainfall, the Traralgon Cup meeting, originally scheduled for Sunday, has been postponed, with the surface deemed unsuitable for racing.

With the Gippsland region not escaping wider downpours that have plagued Victoria for most of this week, the track, which is currently rated a Heavy 10, will likely not be ready for use this Sunday.

As a result, the meeting will be run on December 10, the same day as the Werribee Cup.

More accolades for Moore

Champion jockey Ryan Moore continues to cement himself as one of the greatest riders of the modern era, winning the Longines World’s Best Jockey title for the fourth time.

Moore, who has had extraordinary success with the likes of Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Shinzo (Snitzel) across the calendar year, ties retiring jockey Frankie Dettori as a four-time winner of the award.

Moore will receive his award during the gala dinner of the Longines Hong Kong International Races on December 8 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Rich Strike races on

Owner Rick Dawson has changed his mind a few times regarding the career of his G1 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (USA) (Keen Ice {USA}). Having been scheduled to sell in Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age sale as a stallion prospect, Dawson changed plans at the last minute, and will now send him to leading trainer Bill Mott.

“Bill Mott believes that if we can get him back to 100 per cent, he can return to a similar level as his Derby race, his Travers, the Lukas Classic, races where he did really well,” Dawson told TDN America.

Rich Strike is scheduled to return to training in April.

Matrick dips his toes in 2-year-old waters

One name that has been appearing more prominently in metropolitan form guides in recent months is Shawn Mathrick, who has enjoyed tremendous success in recent months with gritty gelding Cause For Concern (Worthy Cause).

Beyond his stable star, he also holds high hopes for newcomer Regimental Lass (National Defence {GB}), who makes her debut in the Listed Merson Cooper S. at Caulfield on Saturday.

Mathrick, who trained Regimental Lass’ dam, Gig (Commands), is excited to see what his filly can do.

“This girl can really gallop,” Mathrick told Racing And Sports.

“I don’t normally race 2-year-olds, so it is a bit exciting.”

Regimental Lass will go around as one of the outsiders of the field in Saturday's race, which runs at 12.10pm AEDT.