Brightside ready to rumble
Lindsay Park’s cult galloper Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is preparing for another autumn campaign that could include a defence of his The All-Star Mile crown.
Mr Brightside is set to have his first public hitout at Flemington over 800 metres on Friday, before an official trial at Geelong later in January.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Mr Brightside will kick off in the G1 CF Orr S. on February 10, then the Futurity S., The All-Star Mile and then we’re looking at an Australian Cup and from there comes the fork in the road, but the first four runs are pretty much a lock,” co-trainer JD Hayes told Racing.com.
“Friday will be his first jump-out so he’ll just bowl around and have a nice fitness blowout and then likely trial at Geelong on the 30th. He’s been loving life at Euroa and we’ve just been ticking him over.”
Belle on the ball in Miss Andretti
Trainer Luke Fernie has always maintained that the lightly raced 4-year-old mare Wild Belle (Pride Of Dubai) has plenty of ability, and she put it all together at Pinjarra Park on Wednesday, winning the Listed Miss Andretti S. in comfortable fashion under top jockey William Pike.
Settling in the back half of the field in the 1200-metre contest, Pike had Wild Belle travelling sweetly into the final corner, where she was able to get past one-time leader Real Danger (I Am Invincible) and Gemma’s Son (Snippetson) to win comfortably by 1.7l.
Now a winner of four races from nine starts, Wild Belle’s first black type success puts her in the conversation for a slot in The Quokka, to be run in April for prizemoney of $5 million.
Well-related son of Harry Angel breaks maiden
The Chris Munce-trained Tiger Tie (Harry Angel {Ire}) broke his maiden on Wednesday at Doomben. The 2-year-old colt, ridden by Tahlia Fenlon, defeated Lady Bossa Nova (Power {GB}) by 1.5l, while Due Calzini (D’Argento) finished third.
Tiger Tie is from the unraced Snitzel mare Snitzel’s Moon, who is a daughter of the G3 Sweet Embrace S. victress Romantic Moon (More Than Ready {USA}). The colt hails from the family of the dual Group 1 winner and Group 1-producing sire Prized Icon.
Tiger Tie was purchased by A Cliffe for $20,000 when offered by Kat Attard on the 2023 Inglis Digital April (Late) Online Sale.
Oasis Thoroughbred Farm reoffered Tiger Tie at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale where Asrun paid $45,000.
Eneeza to have light path to Diamond
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Eneeza (Exceed And Excel) will likely only have one run before the G1 Blue Diamond S.
Eneeza would bypass the Blue Diamond Previews and Preludes, instead running in the Chairman’s S. on February 3, before tackling the $3 million G1 Blue Diamond S.
“She trialled this morning (Wednesday) and Damian Lane came down and rode her. He was very pleased,” Moody told Racing.com.
“Eneeza didn’t have a long time away and she looks very well.”
Fairytale horse on All-Star path
Munhamek (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) supplied one of the great moments in racing when the Nick Ryan-trained galloper carried the retiring legendary jockey Damien Oliver to success in the G2 Damien Oliver Gold Rush. Ryan shared he looks to chase further riches with the son of Dark Angel (Ire) starting with The All-Star Mile.
Munhamek (GB) | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“I think the CF Orr is a realistic option for him. We are chasing a spot in The All-Star Mile with him, which is our ultimate goal and hopefully we can get in,” Ryan told Racing.com.
“He’s arrived back at Flemington and looks super. He thrives in the stable and loves being in work.”
Ryan will seek Blake Shinn to ride in the G1 CF Orr S.
Gun colt to make an impact
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Veight (Grunt {NZ}) is nearing his raceday return. Veight will potentially kick off over the Australia Day weekend, either on Friday at Caulfield or Saturday at Moonee Valley, with both options over 1200 metres.
“He’s very good, excellent,” co-trainer Tony McEvoy told Racing.com.
“He’s on track to either run in the Manfred (Caulfield) or the Australia S. (Moonee Valley), we’ll just have to make up our mind when we have a look at both races.
Patterson double handed in Thorndon Mile
Robbie Patterson will be double handed in Saturday’s G1 Thorndon Mile when his star gallopers Puntura (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) and One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One {NZ}) cross paths for the first time this preparation at Trentham.
Puntura has scored victories in the G3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile and the G2 Challenge S., while One Bold Cat won both the Feilding Gold Cup and the G3 Counties Cup, as well as finishing fifth in the G1 Zabeel Classic.
Robbie Patterson and Craig Grylls | Image courtesy of Race Images South
“The mile will likely be too short for One Bold Cat, while it’s Puntura’s ideal distance,” Patterson told loveracing.nz.
“One Bold Cat has to start in the Thorndon (Mile) to qualify for the NZ$500,000 bonus, so then he’ll head to the Herbie Dyke and the Bonecrusher.”
Burn To Shine out to boast half-brother’s prospects
Connections of the Group 3 winner Burn To Shine (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}), feel the 3-year-old is in for an lucrative autumn after he made a pleasing return to the trials at Tauranga on Tuesday.
Burn To Shine won the G3 War Decree S. before running a disappointing ninth in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.
“He had a great spring and the only race he didn’t run well in was the Guineas, but he did jar up a bit after the War Decree,” The Oaks Stud's General Manager Rick Williams told loveracing.nz.
“He wasn’t quite himself that day, not coming out of the gates and over racing, it was possibly one step too far, but I have always believed what he did in the spring was a bonus because he is a slow maturing So You Think and I think his best races are ahead of him.
“Stephen Marsh will probably look for a 1400-metre race to kick him off in and that could be at Taranaki or Te Rapa.”
The Oaks Stud will offer Lot 415, a Hello Youmazin (Fr), half-brother to Burn To Shine at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka later this month.
No Compromise returns to New Zealand
Bill Thurlow has welcomed the return of No Compromise (NZ) (Pins). The gelding won two races for Thurlow before continuing his career in Australia where he won the G1 Metropolitan H. for Chris Waller. No Compromise is raced by Thurlow’s brother Grant and sister-in-law Patrica and will step out in Saturday’s G1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham, after finishing runner-up in the G1 Zabeel Classic.
No Compromise (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He went very, very well and we were all pretty happy. He’s had a couple hitouts and handled that well,” Thurlow told loveracing.nz.
“He’s done really well since he’s been home and is enjoying being back. The only concern is the mile, I don’t think he’s ever won over it, but he’s ran some good ones and a little bit of extra rain will help him.
“We are running in the Thorndon Mile because it qualifies for the NZ$500,000 bonus.”
Chapman on the sidelines
Victorian-based apprentice Tianni Chapman is expected to be sidelined for an extended period of time with a foot injury. The Lisfranc injury was sustained years ago but was re-aggravated. Chapman had surgery just under a month ago and is expected to make a full recovery but currently there is no timeline for her resumption to race-riding. Chapman will undergo rehabilitation.
Rawiller to get best of stud-bound Meritable
Mark Minervini is hopeful Nash Rawiller can extract the best from Meritable (Snitzel) when the pair combine at Rosehill on Saturday.
A placegetter in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas as a 3-year-old, Meritable has mixed his form, an impressive second effort in the Listed Starlight S., was followed by an unplaced effort last-start at Randwick.
“I think for the older horses with a bit of a mind, Nash might be the right man for the job,” Minervini told RSN927.
“He seems to be able to get the best out of horses that other guys can’t, so I’m hoping it’s the right move, but the proof will be in the pudding on Saturday.”
Meritable is raced by Colin Wightman, who bought the entire with the plan of standing him in New Zealand to serve his group of broodmares.
“He bought him to stand on the South Island. Incredibly, there are no sons of Snitzel there and Colin has a broodmare band of around 20. It was too late in the season to retire last year, so at this stage he will go to stud this season.
Minervini also confirmed his Group 3 winner Hosier (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) will target the G1 Doncaster H.
Wellington to contest Centenary Sprint Cup
The star Hong Kong-based sprinter Wellington (All Too Hard) will contest Sunday’s G1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin for Jamie Richards.
Wellington | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He’s going to have to be at the top of his game with Lucky Sweynesse in there but we’re looking to next weekend,” Richards told Punters.
“Wellington has had a bit of an easy time since the Hong Kong Sprint. The plan was to always give him a maintenance trial and he seems to be in good shape.”
Le Blanc credits Tasmania
Hannah Le Blanc has credited Tasmania with helping her become a better and more confident jockey.
“I think Tassie has changed me. I wouldn’t be where I am if I hadn’t started coming down here, it’s not just the horses and the wins, it's the people I’m around, the atmosphere in the rooms between the jockeys, everyone is good mates and it’s just a really good environment,” Le Blanc told RSN927.
"I love where I'm at and how it's going. I'm getting on the right horses, and my confidence is building, and that's helping me heaps. I used to put lots of pressure on myself, and that didn’t help me. I found it really tough that sometimes horses just weren’t good enough and I’d always blame myself.”
One of Le Blanc's biggest supporters is Broadmarsh trainer Brendan McShane. In November, the pair had a winning treble in consecutive races in Launceston.
HRH The Princess Royal guest of honour at 20th UK Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards
The finalists for the 20th edition of the UK Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), sponsored by Godolphin, have been announced. Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will be the guest of honour at Ascot Racecourse where the awards will be held on Monday, February 26.
Previously a three-day European eventing champion, Olympian and amateur jockey, Princess Anne is involved in several equine-themed charities including Racing Welfare, the Injured Jockeys Fund and Amateur Jockeys Association.
The finalists will be judged earlier in the day on February 26, with the awards hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin.
Highfield Princess resumes training
Multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) will resume training on February 1, trainer John Quinn announced on Tuesday.
“Highfield Princess is going to stay in training this year and I'm delighted,” Quinn said. “She retained her enthusiasm all year and keeps doing it. She won another Group 1, was placed in three Group 1s and won a Group 2, so it's not as if she had one outstanding run and four or five runs below par.
“She had one disappointing run in the Curragh when she slipped, apart from that she was second in the Duke of York, placed twice at Royal Ascot, fantastic at Glorious Goodwood, second in the Nunthorpe and put up a tremendous performance in the Abbaye.
Highfield Princess (Fr) | Image courtesy of Racingfotos.com
“She ran creditably in Hong Kong from a wide draw and the owners have decided they'd like to race her again this year, which is great.”
The 7-year-old and four-time Group 1 winner took the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye in her penultimate start last October in the colours of Trainers House Enterprises, Ltd., and ran a better-than-it-looked sixth in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December.
Quinn said, “She's having a break now and will be back in (training) on February 1. I think she'll kick off in the Duke of York again. It might be cold and snowy this morning, but it will soon come round, and then we'll aim for Royal Ascot.”
First foal for Jackie’s Warrior
Spendthrift Farm’s 2021 Eclipse Champion Sprinter Jackie’s Warrior (USA) has sired his first reported foal, a filly from the Group 3-placed winner Upset Brewing (USA) (Justin Phillip {USA}) arrived at War Horse Place.
Upset Brewing, was a runner-up in four stakes events including the G3 Winning Colors S., and the Jackie’s Warrior filly is the mare’s second foal.
