Benedetta to resume in the Oakleigh Plate
Jason Warren’s smart mare Benedetta (Hellbent) will resume in Saturday’s G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield. Her regular rider, Daniel Stackhouse, has committed to get down to 53kg to continue his association with the classy 4-year-old.
“I thought last week Benedetta was a bit disappointing in a trial at Balnarring, but I think she was just looking after herself on that surface,” Stackhouse told Racing.com.
“She’s not a real flash trialler normally though to be honest.”
Velocious to chase bonus
The Stephan Marsh-trained Velocious (Written Tycoon) is looking to become the first The NZB Kiwi bonus eligible galloper in coming weeks.
On top of the NZ$3.5 million prizemoney on offer in the inaugural running of the slot race, there is also NZ$1 million in bonuses up for grabs, and to be eligible for a share of the bonus pool, a horse must win one of the various bonus-eligible races on offer in New Zealand and/or Australia, and also run a top three placing in The NZB Kiwi on Champions Day next year.
Velocious (white cap) | Image courtesy of Race Images
The bonus-eligible horses that run a place in The NZB Kiwi will be NZ$600,000 for first, NZ$250,000 for second, and NZ$150,000 for third.
The first bonus eligible race will be the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. at Trentham on April 6. Owner Go Racing’s Albert Bosma is keen to be part of the action with his star filly Velocious, provided she comes through her next run, the G1 Sistema S. at Ellerslie on March 9, in good order.
Promising filly for Mynott and Kwok
The Sam Mynott-trained and Ben Kwok-owned Aquilifer (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) is set to target the G2 Wellington Guineas next month after pleasing her trainer first-up Hastings on Sunday.
“She was fresh-up and we didn’t trial her, so I always knew she was going to come on from this run. I had been really happy with her work leading into it and if all went well, I knew she should be there in the money.
“We are going to see how she comes through the run and look at a few options. One option is the Wellington Guineas, otherwise we will find a 3-year-old set weights and penalties race.”
Tulloch Lodge set for double-header
The powerful Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable are set to saddle-up Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) in Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond S. at Caulfield, while in Sydney Straight Charge (Written By) and Espionage (Zoustar) will contest the G2 Silver Slipper S. in Sydney.
“We are trying to have all of our juveniles peaking on Golden Slipper Day,” Bott told RSN927. “It’s hard to keep them apart.”
Opposition worries McEvoy
Veight’s (Grunt {NZ}) co-trainer Tony McEvoy concedes after watching last Saturday’s G3 CS Hayes S. that his promising 3-year-old will face a significant challenge in the G1 Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 2.
“Veight’s fabulous and heading to the Australian Guineas,” McEvoy told Racing.com.
Veight | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Damian Lane will ride him. Those two colts, Riff Rocket and King Colorado, who fought out that race on Saturday, look pretty damn good to me. It’s going to be a great clash when we come up against them.”
Soulcombe ruled out of autumn
Chris Waller’s exciting stayer Soulcombe (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has been ruled out of the autumn. It was discovered the son of Frankel (GB) had swelling in the gelding’s off-front leg which will require rest.
“Unfortunately, Soulcombe has been ruled out of the autumn carnival due to having some swelling to his off-front leg which will require rest,” Chris Waller Racing’s statement read.
“We will do our best to have him back for the spring but will take no risks and give him the relevant time required.”
Early Voting gets mare in foal
Early Voting (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}), who was taken out of stud duties after one season at Ashford while suffering from Anejaculatory Syndrome, has had his first mare test in foal since resuming his stud career at Taylor Made Farm this year, according to a press release from the Early Voting Consortium and Taylor Made. Dr Paddy O'Casaigh, who treated the 2022 G1 Preakness S. winner, confirmed a heartbeat which he described as, “spot on, embryonic development.”
“This attractive breeding opportunity has already seen 40 mares booked to him,” said Ben Taylor, president of Taylor Made Stallions. “Early Voting has already served five mares this 2024 breeding season.”
Gotham S. on radar for Deterministic
St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable's Deterministic (USA) (Liam's Map {USA}), off since earning 'TDN Rising Star' status with a debut victory at Saratoga last August, could make his return to the races in the G3 Gotham S., on March 2, according to trainer Christophe Clement.
Deterministic (USA) | Image courtesy of Keeneland Sales
“He won very impressively as a 2-year-old. We put him aside and he's on his way back,” Clement said. “He's a very exciting horse to have, but the question is, where should we bring him back? He might come back to Gotham. I will make my mind up later this week.”
The Gotham offers G1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points of 50-25-15-10-5.
A Dubawi filly for Arc heroine Alpinista
Kirsten Rausing's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has produced her first foal, a filly by Dubawi (Ire).
A fourth-generation Lanwades homebred, Alpinista, who is out of the Listed-winning Hernando (Fr) mare Alwilda (GB), herself a daughter of the treble Group 1 winner Albanova (GB) (Alzao {USA}), won six Group 1 races during her four seasons in training with Sir Mark Prescott in Newmarket.
Rausing said, “Following family tradition, the daughter of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner is a grey – all females in her family going back to (12th dam) Lady Josephine having been of that coat colour.
She continued, “I had been hoping for the mare to produce a filly, so I'm obviously thrilled and very grateful to Alpinista, who, as usual, can do no wrong.”
Alpinista is set to visit Siyouni (Fr) at the Aga Khan Studs' Haras de Bonneval in Normandy in her second season.
Jannah Rose retired
Al Shira'aa boss Kieran Lalor has announced the decision has been made to retire the powerful owner-breeder's flagship performer Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), with a visit to superstar stallion Dubawi (Ire) pencilled in for the 4-year-old this spring.
Lalor explained how retiring the Group 1-winning daughter of Frankel (GB) became one of the most difficult decisions he has faced as racing and bloodstock manager at Al Shira'aa but said the outfit still has so much to look forward to on the racetrack this season.
He said, “Jannah Rose has been retired. We made that decision in mid-January, and I tell you, it was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make. Generally speaking, our fillies race on as four- and 5-year-olds if they are sound but, aside from Mutamakina, she's our only Group 1 winner and is very important to us.
Jannah Rose (GB) | Image courtesy of French Racing
“Not only that, but Dubawi is not getting any younger so we thought it was the right time to retire her. She's our first European Group 1 winner and has a very exciting future as a broodmare.”
Jannah Rose won four races, including the G1 Prix Saint-Alary S. and the G2 Prix Alec Head.
