Alligator Blood out of the autumn
Seven-time Group 1 winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) will miss the autumn carnival, and potentially be retired from racing altogether, after sustaining an injury during trackwork on Saturday morning.
Jeff Simpson, one of the members of the ownership of the star 7-year-old, confirmed that there is every possibility the $8 million-dollar earner has run his last race.
Alligator Blood | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I wouldn’t think that he’d come back (and race again), that’s my opinion,” Simpson told Racing.com.
“We are waiting for the vet report. I don’t know exactly what the injury is but it’s quite an unusual one they’re saying, it’s in his pastern.
“It’s just one of those things, it happened at track work last Saturday morning.
“He will recover, and he will end up at Living Legends, that’s where we always wanted him to finish.”
Giga Kick faces uncertain autumn
Star sprinter Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) faces a vital few weeks for trainer Clayton Douglas to plan a racing future for the electric 4-year-old, with some key early autumn races already ruled out.
“Giga Kick is booked for another ultrasound to have a look at that (gluteal) muscle,” Douglas told Racenet.
“He has been doing some light work on the treadmill, but he won’t be ready for the Lightning S. or the Newmarket H.”
The G1 Black Caviar Lightning S. on February 17 and the G1 Newmarket H. on March 9 are the two most prominent sprinting races in the Victorian autumn program, with the former being targeted by fellow star speedster Imperatriz (I Am Invincible).
It is understood that Douglas still holds hopes of getting the son of Scissor Kick back in time for another crack at the G1 TJ Smith S., a race he ran second in last year.
Ripcord locked in for The Quokka
Talented 3-year-old Ripcord (Written By) has secured his date with $5 million worth of destiny, with Peters Investments securing the exciting sprinter for their slot in The Quokka.
Ripcord | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
He joins Oscar’s Fortune (Rich Enuff), with the pair enjoying a fascinating rivalry during the Perth carnival, headlined by a thrilling stoush in the Listed Placid Ark S.
Also confirmed for the April feature are Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}), Overpass (Vancouver) and King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible).
Velocious eyes Aussie riches
Star Kiwi filly, Velocious (Written Tycoon), a last-start winner of the NZ$1 million R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO, has Australian riches in her sights according to connections.
The Stephen Marsh-trained filly is raced by Albert Bosma’s Go Racing.
“She’s through last Saturday brilliantly,” Bosma told Racing.com.
“We’ll probably go to the Sistema with her, but the thought is that we might come to the Sires’ Produce in Sydney - that’s just a thought if she can win the Group 1 here (New Zealand), but we’ll map out the rest of her autumn after that.
“She’s not just a squibby 2-year-old. She looks like she’s going to get a mile on her physical make up and I would expect her to develop.”
Gambit to be crowned King of Oakleigh?
Peter and Paul Snowden’s exciting colt King’s Gambit (I Am Invincible) was denied a chance at Group 1 glory in the spring when an elevated temperature saw him scratched from the G1 Coolmore Stud S. but the talented son of I Am Invincible will looks towards the G1 Oakleigh Plate.
“We’re very happy with him,” Peter Snowden told RSN927.
King's Gambit | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“King’s Gambit has come back a more relaxed horse which (he) needed to be. He got better last preparation, but he is better again now and that was always his battle as he was quite full of himself.
“With a bit of age and maturity, even though he is very lightly raced, we’d like to think the best is yet to come.”
Legarto to press on with Australian campaign
Despite a shock defeat in the Aotearoa Classic at Ellerslie on Saturday, the brilliant Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) will press on with an Australian campaign, according to co-trainer Ken Kelso.
The veteran trainer also pointed to track conditions as a primary factor for the defeat.
“The track was very shifty and they (stewards) had discussions through(out) the day as to whether they should keep racing,” he said.
“It was a biased track there on Saturday. She really had no hope from where she was and the way the track was racing. The track was a bit of a disappointment.
“She's come through it very good,” he added. “She ate up that night so all good.
“She'll go to 2000 metres next in the Herbie Dyke (February 9) then hopefully, all going well, she'll go to the Australian Cup.”
No fast-track for Caulfield-Heath
Barrier trials at the new Caulfield-Heath track were successfully completed on Monday, however, plans to bring the first competitive meeting at the course forward have been scuppered, with a preference to hold a further set of trials.
Racing.com reported that a meeting between stewards, senior jockeys, Racing Victoria and the Melbourne Racing Club has resulted in another set of trials being required before racing commences, meaning the proposed shift of the February 21 meeting from Sandown-Lakeside is unlikely to proceed.
As a result, the original planned opening of March/April of 2024 for the new track is likely to be the first time the track is sighted in competitive races.
Hannan cleared of serious injury
Apprentice jockey Kelsey Hannan has posted a positive update on social media after her fall at Strathalbyn on Sunday, which required an air ambulance to take her to Royal Adelaide Hospital.
“I’m awake now with a fractured C1 vertebrae, (it) could have been a lot worse!” Hannan posted.
Kelsey Hannan | Image courtesy of Racing SA
“Thank you for all the messages… Appreciate all the love.”
The 21-year-old from New Zealand has come away from the incident free of spinal chord damage. Her mount, Iva Dream (Palentino) has come away from the incident with minor lacerations and will require a veterinary clearance prior to a future trial, jump-out or race start.
Victor to try and be a winner in Japan?
After pulling off a stunning upset in the G1 Centenary Cup with Victor The Winner (Toronado {Ire}), trainer Danny Shum now has Japan on his mind with his talented sprinter, targeting the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen.
“I entered him in Japan over 1200 metres, so I will see how he pulls up and then decide if I keep him in Hong Kong or send him to Japan in March,” Shum said.
“I've considered Japan for a long time, because it's a left-hand turn. In the morning, his left-hand turn is better than his right-hand turn, so we have to give him a chance overseas.”
Jimmy excites Maher
Ciaron Maher is looking forward to the return of the progressive Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The New Zealand import has been impressive in two starts for Maher, and despite his 77-rating Jimmysstar is spoken of highly.
Jimmysstar (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He’s a ratings horse at the moment, but you’d think he may be better than that,” Maher told Racing.com.
“He was really well-managed by the guys over there (New Zealand). Lightly raced, well-placed and really well-managed. He came out here as a 4-year-old, not many miles on the clock. He’s a neat horse but they’ve given him time to develop. Clearly, he’s going very well.”
C’est Magique back on track
Grahame Begg is hopeful his classy mare C’Est Magique (Zoustar) is back to her best when she finished second to the speedy Philosopher (Zoustar) in a jump-out on January 22 at Cranbourne.
“That’s the best I’ve seen her go in a jump-out,” Begg told Racing.com.
“She had a long time off after the Coolmore. Ten months off is a hell of a long between going to the races. She was a touch disappointing in the spring, but she seems to have bounced back after having a break.”
While Begg’s returning star Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) has returned to work and will head to Sydney.
“Passive Aggressive will trial on February 5. I’m very happy with her.”
First foal for Champion Baaeed
The first reported foal for Baaeed (GB), the top-rated turf horse in the world in 2022, has been born at Haras de la Perelle in Normandy.
The filly is out of the Shadwell-bred Exceed And Excel mare Mejthaam (Ire), a dual winner and half-sister to Group 2 winner Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
Baaeed (GB) x Mejthaam (Ire) (filly)
“We are delighted with her. She is a strong, good-sized foal, full of energy and has a great temperament. She is doing everything right. It is very exciting to have had the first foal of the brilliant champion Baaeed,” said William Rimaud, manager of Haras de la Perelle.
Among the other mares set to produce a foal from the first crop of Baaeed this year are the Group 1 winners Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and The Fugue (GB) (Dansilli {GB}) among several others and dams of Group 1 winners.
Thunder Moon welcomes first foal
The first reported Thunder Moon (Ire) foal was born at Haras de Montaigu during Stallion Route weekend with three additional fillies making an appearance during the last week, announced standing stud Haras de Bouquetot via press release on Sunday.
The first, a colt out of Eterea (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) herself a winning half-sister to multiple Group-placed Munsef (GB) (Zafonic {USA}) and Italian stakes runner Danzaya (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) hailing from the extended family of multiple Group 1-placed Hamish McGonagall (GB) (Namid {GB}), brought praise from Haras de Montaigu's Erwan de Chambord.
“We are very pleased with this first offspring of Thunder Moon with a maiden mare. He is well-built with good bone, great limb conformation, and a very good temperament so far!”
The fillies arrived in Ireland and France–the Irish-bred is a daughter of G2 Prix de Malleret winner Al Wathna (GB) (Nayef {USA}) while the French fillies arrived at Mrs. Elisabeth Ribard's Haras de la Cauviniere to the stakes-placed Sporty Doll (Ity) (Pounced {USA}) and at Haras de Bourgeauville for breeder Philip Lybeck, who described her as, “A balanced filly with scope and very elegant, very much in the image of her sire.”
