Veight ready to roll
Ballarat-based trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy are set to unleash their classy colt Veight (Grunt {NZ}), who will be nominated to return in either the G3 Manfred S. at Caulfield on Friday or the G2 Australia S. on Saturday at Moonee Valley against the older horses.
Calvin McEvoy confirmed he and his father (Tony) preferred taking on the older horses in the Australia S. and would bring Veight to Moonee Valley on Tuesday for a gallop.
“He’s in great order, and we will most likely run in the Australia S. first-up,” McEvoy told RSN927.
Calvin McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Veight will also be nominated for the G1 CF Orr S. He looks fantastic. He’s grown and developed, and his work has been good.”
The McEvoys are also excited about the return of the promising 2-year-old Rue De Royale (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), who will head to Sydney to contest the R. Listed Inglis Millennium at Randwick on February 10.
“He’ll run in the Inglis Millennium into the Todman into the Golden Slipper.”
Lighting showdown looms
The Everest-winning trainer Joe Pride is looking forward to one of his stable stars, Private Eye (Al Maher), clashing with Te Akau Racing’s superstar Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the G1 Black Caviar Lightning S. at Flemington next month.
“He’s heading towards the Lightning. It will be a showdown with the great sprinting mare (Imperatriz). It should be great,” Pride told Racing.com.
Private Eye | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Private Eye has returned in great order, and he loves the straight track; he also flies fresh.”
Pride also confirmed his The Everest winner Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) would be campaigned in Sydney during the autumn.
Alligator alert
Alligator Blood’s (All Too Hard) co-trainer Gai Waterhouse couldn’t be happier with the grand galloper as he prepares for another autumn preparation.
“Unbelievably, he’s grown,” Waterhouse told Racing.com. “We’re hoping to get him into The All-Star Mile. I’m very happy with him. He’s going well.”
Gai Waterhouse | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Alligator Blood is expected to contest the G1 CF Orr S. followed by the G1 Futurity S. before tackling The All-Star Mile.
Ryan’s Wolfy set to return
The Nick Ryan-trained Wolfy (NZ) (Tivaci) is spoiled for options with the upcoming autumn carnival but Ryan is keen for him to resume in the G3 Manfred S. at Caulfield on Australia Day (Friday). Ryan said the obvious goal for the son of Tivaci is the G1 Australian Guineas, although he’s not committing as he’s not certain Wolfy runs out a strong mile.
Wolfy (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We’re not sure whether he runs the 1600 metres. We’re still learning about Wolfy. The Australian Guineas could be the goal but it’s still early days,” Ryan said to Racing.com.
“I’m very happy with him as he’s had a good break. He won’t be wound up as he’s got plenty of improvement to come.”
Espionage to chase Slipper
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s G3 Breeders’ Plate victor Espionage (Zoustar) has enjoyed some downtime. At the same time, his stablemate Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) was the talk of the town, but the son of Zoustar is ready to return.
Espionage will take off his preparation on Monday in an 850-metre barrier trial at Randwick, with the aim of running in the G2 Silver Slipper at Rosehill on February 24.
Espionage | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“Espionage has been forgotten,” co-trainer Adrian Bott told RSN927.
“He trials on Monday. Espionage will be on the traditional Slipper path - the Silver Slipper, Todman, Golden Slipper, and he will be given every chance to put his hand up.”
Promising filly to tackle Diamond?
Kuroyanagi’s (Written Tycoon) impressive debut victory on Saturday at Gawler has given her trainers, Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea, the decision to target the filly towards the G1 Blue Diamond in Melbourne at Caulfield.
“We’ll see how she pulls up, whether she goes to the paddock or pushes on,” Clarken told Punters.
“I’m more excited about training her as a 3-year-old. She’s really raw, and if you asked me six or eight weeks ago, I’d say she wouldn’t have got to the races.
“Kuroyanagi has really come on in leaps and bounds in the month. We will keep the Blue Diamond under consideration.”
Kah and Gaudray to spend time on the sidelines
Celine Gaudray rode two winners on Saturday at Flemington, but it has been soured with the Racing Victoria stewards suspending her for 10 meetings for excessive whip usage.
Stewards deemed Gaudray guilty of over-using the whip when riding the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained So Risque (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}) in the ninth event. Gaudray used the whip five times more than permitted before the 100-metre mark. Her suspension will commence on Sunday, January 28 and expire on Wednesday, February 7. Gaudray was also fined $1500.
Celine Gaudray | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Jamie Kah also fell foul of the stewards after she was found guilty of careless riding aboard the Clinton McDonald-trained Helix (Flying Artie). Stewards deemed Kah’s careless riding to be in the mid-range, and she will be sidelined from Monday, January 29, until Thursday, February 8.
Unbeaten star Vandeek could return in Sandy Lane
Smart juvenile Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who races for KHK Racing, Ltd. is likely to make his 3-year-old debut in the G2 Sandy Lane S. in May, according to co-trainer Simon Crisford.
A multiple Group 1 winner in 2023, the colt won the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. in August and September, respectively.
“He's looking super, he's trotting and we'll probably start him off in the Sandy Lane at Haydock at the end of May,” Simon Crisford told ITV Racing. “One run before Royal Ascot.
“Commonwealth, July Cups – those sort of races we've got up our sleeve. The idea of not starting off in the Pavilion (S., at Ascot) is we'd have to start training him a month earlier. Quite frankly, with the weather we've got at the moment, we're wrapping him up in big, thick blankets.”
Simon Crisford
Besides his Group 1 exploits, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained grey was a debut winner at Nottingham last July and added the G2 Richmond S. at second asking at the beginning of August prior to his Group 1 exploits. He is unbeaten in four starts to date.
He added, “He was a little bit on the leg as a 2-year-old. He was tall and lanky and never really looked like a sprinter physically. But now he's beginning to take shape as a sprinter. His temperament is great and there's so much to love about him.
“He's done exceptionally well over the winter and fingers crossed he's got a big season ahead.”
Saudi Crown punches ticket to desert riches
Saudi Crown (USA) (Always Dreaming {USA}), winner of last term's G1 Pennsylvania Derby, punched his ticket to next month's G1 Saudi Cup with a facile wire-to-wire victory as the favorite in Saturday's G3 Louisiana S. at Fair Grounds.
Finishing more than 5l adrift was Red Route One (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}) in second, while Happy American (USA) (Runhappy {USA}) ran third.
Fierceness firing ahead of Holy Bull
Repole Stable's Fierceness (USA) (City Of Light {USA}), who is expected to be named champion of his generation at Thursday's Eclipse Awards ceremonies, worked five furlongs in 59.48s on Saturday morning at Palm Beach Downs, the fastest of 12 moves at the distance. It was the sixth timed workout for Fierceness since taking the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
The homebred is expected to make his sophomore debut in the G3 Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park Feb. 3.
“Fierceness has trained super. He's such a terrific workhorse. He does everything effortlessly,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I think with Fierceness we feel like the quality is there and the talent's there. Like everyone else we just need to keep moving forward and stay healthy.”
Tentative plans call for Fierceness to use the Holy Bull as a stepping stone to the G1 Florida Derby March 31.
High-priced Gun Runner colt romps to success
Hall Of Fame (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}), a US$1.4 million (AU$2.1 million) Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase, ran to his lofty purchase price with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen at second asking at Fair Grounds Saturday.
Hall Of Fame, one of seven by Gun Runner (USA) to bring seven figures at the 2022 yearling sales, finished second as the favorite on debut going seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on November 26. He was racing with first-time Lasix on Saturday.
The colt is from the unraced Flag Day (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), a half-sister to the stakes-placed Street Ready (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}), had a colt by Gun Runner in 2022 and a colt by Constitution (USA) in 2023. She was bred to Justify (USA) for 2024. Hall Of Fame is bred similarly to the recently retired Group 1 Gunite (USA).
West Coast making impact on Oaks
Fresh off a second-place performance over course and distance in the Untapable S., West Omaha (USA) (West Coast {USA}) managed to do one better and pick up an additional 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks Saturday with her win in the Silverbulletday S. With a total of 30 points, the homebred daughter of Gary and Mary West's young stallion West Coast (USA) now sits second behind G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Just F Y I (USA) (Justify {USA}) on the 2024 Oaks leaderboard.
Travers runner-up Disarm reloading for 2024
Disarm (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}), sidelined since finishing a closing second behind Arcangelo (USA) (Arrogate {USA}) in the G1 Travers S. at Saratoga, has returned to training with Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen at the Fair Grounds.
“He was walking visibly off after the Travers,” Fiske said. “Got him back to the barn and whipped out the x-ray machine. We were all standing there looking at the x-rays and everybody looked at one another and went, 'Do you see anything? I don't see anything.' So, that was a big relief that it wasn't anything more serious. We got him down to Lexington and he was diagnosed with some bone bruising.”
He added, “We weren't gonna make any significant races at the end of the year, so we said, 'Let's just give him as much time off as he needs.'”
Following approximately nine weeks of recommended downtime, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan revealed that Disarm still 'had some spots that lit up on him'.
“We gave him some extra time and now he's back,” Fiske said. “He looks great, travels great and has always been a great-looking horse. Hopefully, we can make some noise with him this year.”
