Star sprinter to take Pride of place in new stable
Group 1-winning sprinter Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) will enjoy a new home in 2024, with Joe Pride taking over from Peter and Paul Snowden after a vote by the ownership group.
Pride has a knack for rejuvenation of older horses, having turned Eduardo (Host {Chi}) into a formidable rival to Nature Strip (Nicconi).
Mazu | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Triple Crown Syndications said, “Our 5-year-old elite sprinter, Mazu, will be trained by Joe Pride in 2024. A majority of the ownership group decided they wanted to try something new and whilst we disagreed with changing trainer, we respect their decision.
“We have had great success with Joe in the past. He is also an outstanding trainer and will no doubt continue on the Snowdens’ success with this horse. We look forward to seeing Mazu return in the Autumn.”
Sydney Bowler remains unbeaten at Randwick
Against a handy field for a 3-year-old BM72 H., Sydney Bowler (Deep Field) was able to extend his unbeaten record to three, with a gritty victory in the fourth race on the program on Saturday.
The John O’Shea-trained gelding tracked race favourite Keenan (Capitalist) into the corner, before extending away impressively to win by 2.15l.
King Of Dubai (Pride Of Dubai) was able to stomp home late to grab second, getting past Dazzle Legend (Zoustar) and Keenan, who crossed the finish line in third and fourth place respectively.
Debut winner for Written By
In a pulsating finish at Morphettville, debutant Nosie By Nature (Written By) was able to get his nose down right at the post, giving his second-season sire another first-crop winner.
Backed into favourtism off a strong trial, the Craig Curtis-trained 3-year-old was able to sit outside the leader and show plenty of fight under Lachlan Neindorf, stretching his neck out in the knick of time to win in a photo finish.
He is the 20th winner from 52 runners in Written By’s first crop, which includes the G3 BJ McLachlan S. winner The Novelist, and the Listed Placid Ark S. winner Ripcord.
Bonny Lass has Richardson Railway dreaming
Trainer Graham Richardson is no stranger to success in the G1 Railway S. in New Zealand, with two trophies already on his mantlepiece, with the veteran trainer hoping Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) can provide him another victory in the race.
Given a barrier trial to retain fitness, Bonny Lass is ready for the challenge, according to Richardson.
“We are very happy with her and I couldn’t have asked any more of her in the last trial she had,” Richardson told loveracing.nz.
“It was a first-class effort where she worked home well under a good hold and since then she has continued to thrive and we think she is ready to run a big race.
“I guess at the moment the weather is the biggest consideration as she can handle a reasonably wet track although if it became a bog then we would have to reconsider with her.
“The Railway is one of my favourite races and it would be nice to think we could add another trophy to the cabinet with her.”
Derby winner back in the winners’ stall
Seven months removed from success in the G1 SA Derby, Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) propelled himself past the winning post in first place, aided by a sublimely timed ride by Billy Egan.
Electing to hunt the fence, Egan blew the whistle as the field rounded the corner, kicking clear from a game Independent Road (Declaration Of War {USA}) to win by 1.25l, with the returning Grand Promenade (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) sticking on for third.
There are options aplenty for the talented stayer in the coming months, with the G2 Adelaide Cup over 3200 metres highlighted as a potential option for the talented 4-year-old.
Speaking to Racing.com, Egan highlighted his belief that the gelding could reach that level.
“The other day he came out and built into the race and he just peaked on his run probably not long after entering the straight and he just maintained that gallop to the line,” he said.
“Today, even though he had a very cruisy run in behind them, he sprinted quite well and he was very good through the line and he was getting away from them.
“I certainly think an Adelaide Cup would be right up his alley.”
Rothfire poised to be crowned king of Toowoomba
The Robert Heathcote-trained sprinter Rothfire (Rothesay) will get his opportunity to notch career victory number 10 on Monday, when he contests the King Of The Mountain slot race at Toowoomba.
The G1 JJ Atkins S. winner has been allocated an impost of 60 kilograms, eight above the minimum, and will have to jump from barrier 16.
Narrowly defeated by Zoustyle (Zoustar) at his last start, he was a brave second to Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the G2 McEwen S., with his last victory being in April 2023.
Gaudray with 14 wins in December
Apprentice Celine Gaudray has enjoyed a strong season to date, but December has been the cherry on top, with 14 winners to her name this month.
Celine Gaudray | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
She notched it up in style aboard A Little Deep (Deep Field) in the second race of the Moonee Valley program on Saturday, having been caught wide and forced to cover extra ground. Gaudray was able to keep the promising 4-year-old mare in a rhythm, and her class prevailed late, surging home to win by 0.8l.
It was an eventful day for the leading apprentice, who had to control a bucking Piaggio (NZ) (Our Vespa {NZ}) in the sixth race of the meeting, with the $3.50 favourite taking no part in the race.
Montather secures valuable win for Goodwin
Emerging trainer Reece Goodwin enjoyed his second metropolitan success as a trainer on Saturday, when preparing his $8000 purchase Montather (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to a narrow victory at Moonee Valley.
Having placed second in three consecutive metropolitan races, it was a well-timed ride by Michael Dee that aided the 7-year-old gelding to finally get the breakthrough, defeating Naval Seal (Snitzel) and Zamborghini (Zoustar) in a close finish.
Goodwin, who trains at Pakenham, is enjoying a strong run of form, striking at 14 per cent from his last 50 runners, clear of his historical figure of nine per cent.
Grebeni wins thrilling edition of Maroubra Mile
Race favourite Grebeni (Ocean Park {NZ}) had to dig in for the fight to claim the feature at Randwick on Saturday, claiming the Maroubra Mile at BM100 H. level in a driving finish from Riyazan (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy had the 4-year-old gelding positioned close to the speed from the early stanza of the race, and despite a hearty challenge from Riyazan, who took off for home early under Jamie Kah, was able to secure success by 0.5l.
Grebeni now improves his record to seven wins from 15 starts, with the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained galloper managed conservatively as he has ascended through the benchmark system.
Shoot Out goes to Princess Rhaenys
Leading trainer Tony Gollan brought up a treble in the sixth race of the day at Doomben, taking the Shoot Out Quality home courtsey of a gritty performance by Princess Rhaenys (Iffraaj {GB}).
Sent forward in the 2020-metre contest by Ben Thompson, the 6-year-old mare was able to extend through the line strongly, and repel a challenge from Red Wave (Red Dazzler), who closed off strongly from the back of the field.
Now a winner of four races from 22 starts, the breakthrough marks her first win since relocating from Victoria at the start of 2023.
Habana finds changed course into Rich Hill Mile
Not everything has gone to plan for Habana (Zoustar) this preparation, but Monday’s G2 Rich Hill Mile at Pukekohe presents as a good opportunity for him to regain winning form.
Trainer Lance Noble knows the quality he possesses, but is wary of how troublesome the rain-affected surface will be for him.
“Obviously the weather is the big concern,” he told loveracing.nz. “It’s such a shame for everybody that it’s packed up the way it has, and at the moment it doesn’t look like the track is likely to be much better than a Heavy 8. It’s probably going to come down to who handles the conditions best.
“The Trentham race (the G1 TAB Classic) was a bit of a disaster for a lot of horses and I think we can put a line through his performance,” Noble said.
“The Rich Hill Mile wasn’t on our radar. We went down to Wellington hoping that we might run in the top three there, which probably would have meant he’d be weighted out of a race like this. As it turned out, this race has come back into our calculations, although he’s still ended up topweight.
“That makes it a bit tricky, but he’s come through the Wellington trip really well and has such a great record around Pukekohe, so we’re happy to have a go.”
Golden Sixty to miss Stewards’ Cup
Hong Kong hero Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) will bypass the G1 Stewards’ Cup at Sha Tin in mid-January, owing to a setback.
Trainer Francis Lui told the Hong Kong Jockey Club that an issue with his left front leg is the reason for the decision.
“We found, the day before yesterday (Wednesday) in the morning, a little bit of filling and a little bit of heat (in his front left leg). The vets did a check, a scan and an MRI, there’s nothing serious, but they sent a report to England,” Lui said.
Golden Sixty | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“It’s very slight but, of course, for the safety side, we don’t want to push him because the race is only three weeks’ time.
“The vets said we can give him light trotting for three or four weeks and progressively we can check on him. The issue is just inside the pastern on his front left leg.”
