Miller loses jewel to Sydney
Leading Western Australian trainer Simon Miller will lose the pride of his stable, and perhaps the state, Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}), with the electric mare set to be trained in Sydney from the Spring of 2024.
Owner Peter Walsh told The Thoroughbred Report on Friday, "We're going to give her two starts there and then myself and Simon will sit down and work out if we do another one in Brisbane or whatever and then, unfortunately, she'll stay in New South Wales and she'll be trained over in New South Wales.
“Me and Simon have already talked about that. It's a bit impossible for him to be going backwards and forwards, but he's done a great job with her. It's been fantastic.
Simon Miller | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“Simon’s great, when she first went there I said, ‘If she shows a bit of ability, I'm sending her over east’, and he said, ‘Yeah, no worries mate’, and she never lost a race (as a 2-year-old).
“I could have sent her then, but I wanted to keep her in WA because Simon trained her so well.
“Of course, he’d be disappointed losing her, but I hope to keep him in the loop somewhere along the line and he’s probably had her an extra year-and-a-half and we’ve still got The Quokka and we’ve got the (G3) Roma Cup to go and then maybe a race up here (in Queensland).”
Doubt over Parkour’s place in 2YO Classic
Promising 2-year-old Parkour (Extreme Choice) will have to pass an examination on Saturday morning to confirm his place in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, with the colt identified as having, “displayed an irregularity of movement in its off foreleg,” on Friday morning.
The colt, who has form around fellow top contender Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}), is set to be piloted by star jockey Jamie Kah, should he be passed fit to take his place in the field.
Should he gain a start, Kah and Parkour will need to be at their best to overcome misfortune at the barrier draw, having come up with barrier 17.
Vianarra to upset the apple cart?
Irish-born jockey John Allen has been soaking in the Gold Coast sun in recent days, but come Saturday it is all business, when he steers Vianarra (Shalaa {Ire}) in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast Turf Club.
Speaking to Racing.com, Allen retained a sense of buoyancy about the colts chances, despite being no better than $51 in public markets.
Vianarra as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“(I’ve got) just the one ride, but it is a $3 million race!
“He’s going well, he’s improving with every start… obviously, the barrier draw is no favour.
“But I definitely think he’ll beat more than beat him, I’m confident he can run well.”
Lane records Cranbourne treble
Top jockey Damian Lane enjoyed a Friday night delight at Cranbourne, riding a treble across the meeting.
Things started warmly for the jockey known as ‘Frosty’, piloting Este Dia (Shalaa {Ire}) to a win in the opening race of the meeting for trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock.
He would go on to pick up a victory in the third race aboard Docinthe (Cable Bay {Ire}), before securing his treble aboard Signal (Danerich) in Race 6.
Busy Beuzelin finding his way in Australia
Talented jockey Louis Beuzelin is a relatively new name to Australian audiences, but the rider formerly domiciled in Singapore is pleased with his decision to chase a dream and try to break into the Sydney jockeys' room.
“I intended to come over here last year and seeing the announcement that racing in Singapore would be ceasing came as no surprise,” Beuzelin told Racing NSW.
Louis Beuzelin | Image courtesy of Racing NSW
“I had made my decision before that, it was just a question of time as my wife was pregnant and we had to wait for the arrival of our baby.
“The closing of the Singapore Turf Club just cemented my decision.”
Otago to tackle Guineas?
Roll The Dice Racing are certainly holding high hopes for their New Zealand import Otago (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), with the syndicators hoping their gelding can reach a tilt at the G1 Australian Guineas in March.
“The yearling sales might be on at the moment and the dream might be for some to find that $20 million colt but some people just want a horse that will get to the races quicker and they know has some ability already and will probably get to town,” Roll the Dice Racing’s Steve Travaglia told Racing.com.
“He was an Ocean Park and the mare has thrown three stakes winners in New Zealand.
“He had trialled up pretty well and we were pretty convinced pretty quickly (to buy).
“We got him out here and thought he might be a spring horse, the early reports on the horse were very good but he just had a little issue we had to let up on.”
The Autumn Sun shines across Hamilton and Canberra
Second-season sire The Autumn Sun enjoyed two 1600-metre winners across Australia today, as his first crop continues to churn along into the second half of his sophomore season.
In the opening race at Canberra, Autunno was victorious in a Class 3 H., while at Hamilton Autumn Colours broke his maiden in the third race on the program.
The success of the latter now takes The Autumn Sun to 24 individual winners from 61 of his progeny to run.
Saturday the day for Luncies?
Rarely a horse that puts in a below-par performance, Luncies (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) has a golden opportunity to record further Southern Hemisphere success, when he participates in the G3 January Cup at Rosehill.
“It’s an ideal race, just that little bit off the top standard of race, which is perfect for him,” trainer Kris Lees told Racing And Sports.
Luncies (GB) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He’s always capable, he’ll run well like always, but he’s just got to give a bit of weight to those up-and-coming horses.
“He’s bounced out of that return run well, the three weeks between runs in ideal for him, so he’ll run well again.”
Bonny Lass has Richardson eyeing Telegraph
Quality mare Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) has the backing of her co- trainer, veteran horseman Graham Richardson, to take out the G1 JR & N Beckett Telegraph on Saturday, off the back of a strong last-start effort in the G1 Railway S.
“She really did us proud with that performance,” Richardson told loveracing.nz. “She’s as tough as boots.
“She was flattened in the straight, but she managed to get going again and she tried so hard all the way to the line. It really was an outstanding run.”
Bonny Lass is a $3.40 chance on public markets to take out the time-honoured Group 1 contest.
Breeding right to Havana Grey headlines Tattersalls Online January Sale
Of the 95 lots catalogued for the Tattersalls Online January Sale from January 17-18, the highlight is undoubtedly a breeding right in sire-on-the-rise Havana Grey (GB) (Lot 95), who stands at Whitsbury Manor Stud.
Havana Grey (GB) | Standing at Whitsbury Manor Stud
There are also breeding rights in Cracksman (GB) (Lot 92), the sire of the undefeated G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Ace Impact (Ire) and Darley Australia shuttle stallion Harry Angel (Ire) (Lot 94) catalogued.
Tattersalls February Sale catalogue released
A total of 376 lots have been catalogued for the two-day Tattersalls February Sale at Park Paddocks, held across the first two days of February.
Divided between 146 fillies and mares in/out of training, 27 broodmares, 172 colts and geldings in/out of training, 22 yearlings and nine 2-year-olds, the sale will begin on February 1.
On announcing the catalogue, Tattersalls Chairman Edward Mahoney said, “Last year was another banner year for the Tattersalls February Sale with the dams of Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight, German Oaks winner Muskoka and Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Los Angeles, all purchased at previous February Sales for a combined total of 78,200 gns.”
