Success of Sea not sight unseen for Player
Bloodstock agent Mark Player of International Thoroughbred Solutions (FBAA) enjoyed a stellar result on Sunday at Bendigo, with his imported mare Sea What I See (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) breaking her maiden in dominant fashion in the second race of the program.
“She was bought as a yearling in Europe a couple of years ago, during COVID, we gave her to Danny O’Brien, who has had a lot of success with European imports,” Player told The Thoroughbred Report.
“She’s a filly (now mare) that we’ve had a high opinion of the whole way through, but she’s had a couple of setbacks. She’s come through really well, she was a bit immature to start with but she’s really settled down now and (has) become professional.
“We can start dreaming now, until you get that maiden out of the way it’s hard to know (what level they can reach), but we’ll go to (a) midweek race in town next start, but in time we think she has the ability to be a Listed winner.”
Snowdens not short of juvenile diamonds
Leading Sydney-based trainers Peter and Paul Snowden are well-poised for an assault on the G1 Blue Diamond S. at Caulfield, with a number of their top juveniles in the frame to head south for the first 2-year-old Group 1 contest of the season.
“We’re tossing up (sending) a horse called Fearless,” Peter Snowden told Racing.com. “It ran second (in the G3 Canonbury S.) the other day. It’s a chance he could come down.
“I wouldn’t swap any one of those three (that ran on Saturday in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude {Colts and Geldings}), especially High Octane and Bodyguard. They would be a great chance.
Peter and Paul Snowden | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Holmes A Court, he might go back to Sydney and run in the Silver Shadow. I am not sure about him.
“As for Fearless, I am not sure he’ll get around Caulfield. He’s very talented but a bit green off the bridle so probably not the best track to bring a horse that gets a bit wobbly on the corners.”
Peru goes one better at start two
After finishing down the order the Geelong Diamond on debut, Peru (Brazen Beau) hit back with a vengeance at Bendigo on Sunday.
The colt always travelled nicely against his fellow juveniles in the opening race of the program for Rhys McLeod, and had enough toughness to repel the challenge of the odds on favourite Lario (Epaulette).
The Michael Moroney-trained son of Brazen Beau was a $180,000 purchase for Ballymore Stables, Catheryne Bruggeman and Paul Moroney Bloodstock at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Lindsay Park look to Futurity with stable star
After the dogged victory of Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) in the G1 CF Orr S. at Caulfield on Saturday, co-trainer Ben Hayes is now set to turn their weight-for-age champion to attempt to make it two wins on the bounce in the G1 Futrity S.
“He was a bit tired this morning, but overall, we were happy,” Hayes told Racing.com. “It was heart in your mouth stuff watching it, but he got his head down this time.
“If he pulls up well, we’ll head in that direction towards the Futurity.
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It was a very hard first-up run. It depends on him, but we’ll watch the horse and see how he is.
“He generally just gets better into a prep, which he has every prep, so I don’t think we’ll be too worried.”
Buenos Noches express to roll through Randwick
The talented sprinter Buenos Noches (Supido), who finished his spring with a game second to Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the G1 Champions Sprint at Flemington, will kick off his autumn assault in the G2 Expressway S. at Randwick on Saturday.
“We are looking at the Expressway and then the (G1) Newmarket (H. at Flemington). He’s very effective down the straight,” trainer Matthew Smith told Racing And Sports.
Matthew Smith | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“We will see what happens after that.
“I do think he might be better over further than 1200 metres and we are looking at the (G1) All Aged S. later in the autumn, but that’s a long way away.”
Sghirripa set for Oakleigh tilt
One of the current prides of South Australia, Sghirripa (Lonhro) is right on track for his next major assignment, the G1 Oakleigh Plate.
“Kayla was happy, he did what he had to do,” co-trainer Shane Oxlade told Racing.com.
Shane Oxlade | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He had seven or eight days in the paddock and had a bit of evens and then a half-mile gallop by himself, so it was to get him moving again and (it) gives me a few weeks to do a bit more with him.
“He had a blow but not a big blow, so he pulled up pretty good in condition.”
Group 1 winner to tackle CS Hayes
Leading trainer Ciaron Maher will aim his talented 3-year-old colt King Colorado (Kingman {GB}) at the G3 CS Hayes S. at Flemington on Saturday, which he hopes can be the catalyst for a return to form for the G1 JJ Atkins S. winner.
“Flemington should be ideal (for him),” Maher told Punters.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He’ll love that (course), you’d think he would be better there and hopefully (in the G1 Australian) Guineas.”
King Colorado finished second in the G3 Manfred S. at Caulfield in his most recent start.
Awkward draw for Magic Millions Pinjarra 2YO Classic fancies
Barriers have been drawn for the R. Listed Magic Millions Pinjarra 2YO Classic, to be run on February 17, with some fancied runners coming up with challenging barriers to contend with.
Raging favourite Golden Vale (Churchill {Ire}) has come up with barrier 11 of 18, while the impressive son of Tassort, Onemoretwomany, will find himself being loaded into the 16th stall for the 1200-metre race.
The ladies-owned Sinful Living (Safeguard) has plucked barrier seven, while the promising Define Beautiful (Ducimus) has collected barrier 10.
Stormchaser draws inside for 3YO Trophy
There will be no runner to the left of Stormchaser (Impending) when he jumps in the R. Listed Magic Millions Pinjarra 3YO Trophy on Saturday, with the race favourite drawing barrier one in the field of 17.
The last-start placegetter in the Listed Western Australian Breeders’ Classic at Bunbury has drawn ideally to go one better on February 17, where he will be partnered by leading jockey Clint Johnston-Porter.
If Stormchaser can greet the judge in first place, it will give trainer Luke Fernie his second consecutive win in the race, having won with Man Crush (Manhattan Rain) 12 months ago.
Can Bella strike in the Lightning?
Talented sprinting mare Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) will get her opportunity to bolster her CV when she competes in the G1 Lightning S. at Flemington on Saturday.
According to trainer Ciaron Maher, a change in tactics for her preparation and care could be the key to unlocking the best of the brilliant galloper.
“She was trained at a farm when she was in Sydney when she beat the Joe Pride horses (Private Eye and Think About It),” Maher told Racing And Sports.
Bella Nipotina (inside) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“She was trained on the beach up there and she trains down at Fingal, which is our beach place down here.
“She likes that softer environment.”
Farooq wins the Naracoorte Cup
The superstar stallion Frankel (GB) has seen his progeny win races all over the world, and he can now add a Naracoorte Cup to those ranks, owing to the gritty win of his 9-year-old son Farooq on Sunday.
Heading into the bend, the gelding appeared to be travelling strongly for newly minted senior rider Jacob Opperman, and he let down powerfully when asked to extend, claiming victory by 3.10l.
The Sue Murphy-trained warrior now boasts a record of 11 wins from 50 career starts, and over $400,000 in prizemoney.
