Guineas goal for Otago
The promising Otago (NZ) kept his unbeaten record intact at Flemington on Saturday in a BM70 event over 1400 metres. Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the son of Ocean Park (NZ) defeated Valois (Under The Louvre) and Very Sewreel (Snitzel). The victory set up a potential tilt at the G1 Australian Guineas in March.
Otago was a NZ$50,000 purchase by S Clotworthy from the draft of Brighthill Farm at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Maher and Eustace strike in Magic Millions Cup
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable had to wait until the second-last race to get on board at Saturday’s Magic Millions meeting with the progressive Semana (Winning Rupert).
Ridden by Dylan Gibbons, the 4-year-old mare won the $1 million R. Listed Jewel Magic Millions Cup, beating Meridius (Extreme Choice) and Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution).
Semana is from the Nicconi mare Festivity, a half-sister to the Listed Atlantic Jewel S. victress Merriest (Denman).
The mare was a $200,000 purchase by James Bester Bloodstock and Vantage Thoroughbreds from the Newgate Farm at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Double trouble in Tassie?
Brothers Patrick and Andrew Payne are looking towards the Listed Tasmanian Derby with Saturday’s Flemington winner Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) and runner-up Crossoverkid (Alpine Eagle).
Bold Soul from Patrick Payne stable did enough to narrowly hold off the Andrew Payne-trained Crossoverkid, who came to Flemington with maiden form at Warrnambool and Bendigo.
The $150,000 Tasmanian Derby will be held at Hobart on Friday, February 9.
Houston stripped of Flemington win
Apprentice jockey Ryan Houston thought he had reached a milestone on Saturday, riding his first metropolitan winner with the Grahame Begg-trained Rivaport (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in Race 6 at Flemington. However, moments later, Houston was hauled into the stewards' room after Damian Lane aboard the Michael Kent-trained Kind Gesture (GB) (Decorated Knight {GB}) felt Houston had cost him the race.
After hearing evidence from involved parties, Racing Victoria chief steward Rob Montgomery said stewards were satisfied that the interference to Kind Gesture in the incident was greater than the near-length margin on the line.
Montgomery described the incident as being “severe”. The upheld protest saw the Charlotte Littlefield-trained Regal Vow (Swear) promoted to first, Kind Gesture to second, and Rivaport demoted to third.
Naval College sets record in January Cup
Annabel Neasham’s progressive stayer Naval College (GB) (Dartmouth {GB}) set a Randwick track record in the Listed January Cup on Saturday.
Naval College (GB) storms to victory in the Listed January Cup at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Champion galloper Octagonal (NZ) equalled Danewin’s track record of 1:59.99s in March of 1996; that long-standing track record was broken by Naval College, who recorded 1:59.11 on a drying Good 4 surface.
The 5-year-old gelding, ridden by Jett Stanley, defeated Riyazan (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) by 3.8l.
Dunn’s Derry scores big
Matthew Dunn will return to his Murwillumbah base with a $1 million race in tow. The Dunn-trained Derry Grove (Star Turn), ridden by Nash Rawiller, defeated Helluva Barty (Hellbent) and Golden Boom (Spirit Of Boom) to win the $1 million Magic Millions The Syndicate over 1100 metres.
Derry Grove is from the Elusive Quality (USA) mare True Malt. He was a $31,000 purchase by Jorson Farm from the draft of Three Bridges Thoroughbreds at the 2019 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. Jorson Farm reoffered Derry Grove at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Viva Racing, Matthew Dunn and Neil Jenkinson paid $30,000.
Tough on-pacer wins Subzero
Bringing the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable fitness to the Gold Coast, So United (So You Think {NZ}) ran his rivals ragged, trying to catch him to land the $1 million Magic Millions Subzero.
Ridden by Tim Clark in the 2200-metre feature, So United won by 0.20l from Parry Sound (Pierro) and Zennzella (Snitzel).
So United was a $190,000 purchase by Blueblood Thoroughbreds from the draft of Valiant Stud at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. His dam, the Magnus mare Maglissa, won three races and is the dam of the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic winner Unite And Conquer, who stands at Kingstar Stud.
Torque goes Boom!
It was an upset of sorts when the Matthew Dunn-trained Boom Torque (Spirit Of Boom) flew late to deny Better Get Set (Better Than Ready) and Chinny Boom (Spirit Of Boom) in the $1 million Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS Open over 1300 metres. The favoured Rothfire (Rothesay) finished fourth after enduring a wide run.
Boom Torque, ridden by Michael Dee, who was tasting success at the Magic Millions meeting for the first time, was a $50,000 purchase by Healey Racing, Furlong Bloodstock and SJC Thoroughbreds from the Glenlogan Park draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale. The progressive 4-year-old was re-sold for $180,000 to Sherian when offered by Healey Racing through the 2023 Inglis Digital March (Late) Online Sale.
Kendrick’s Meteor scores in Country Cup
The Stuart Kendrick-trained Zoumeteor (Zoustar) was successful in Saturday’s $500,000 Magic Millions Country Cup on the Gold Coast. The 4-year-old gelding, ridden by Angela Jones, defeated Velvet Haze (Spieth {NZ}) and Party Spirit (Winning Rupert).
Westbury Stud offered Zoumeteor at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he failed to meet his $150,000 reserve. Baramul Stud reoffered the gelding at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale, where he was passed in for $70,000.
The son of Zoustar is the 12th foal from the Zeditave mare Kakakakatie. She won five races, including the Listed PJ Bell S., the Listed Wenona Girl H., and the G3 Research S.
Saudi Cup meeting attracts entries from 15 countries
The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) has released the names of the 1162 entries –including 41 Grade 1/Group 1 winners – from no fewer than 15 racing jurisdictions around the world for the US$33.5 million (AU$50 million) Saudi Cup meeting to be held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh Saturday, February 23, 2024.
White Abarrio (USA) (Race Day {USA}) is chief among the entries for the US$20 million (AU$) G1 Saudi Cup. The Rick Dutrow, Jr runner is doing his preparations in California for the 1800-metre test, where he could face Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits {USA}), whom he defeated when last seen in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in early November. Other entries include the Aidan O’Brien-trained Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G1 Preakness S. hero National Treasure (USA) (Quality Road {USA}).
Gypsy Gold among late supplements to Arqana January Online Sale
Siyouni (Fr) filly Gypsy Gold (Fr), rated 91 at her highest, is one of several late additions to the Arqana January Online Sale. Bidding will open on Thursday, January 25.
Consigned as Lot 6, the 4-year-old is offered out-of-training and is a daughter of the Classic-placed mare Glorious Sight (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}). A two-time winner, Gypsy Gold is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Glycon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and a full sister to the multiple stakes-placed Glaer (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}).
Other lots include a breeding right to young sire Victor Ludorum (GB) (Lot 9) and a half-share in Group 1 winner Wooded (Ire). There are also several lots on off from Haras des Coudraies, as they are downsizing.
