Bondi Plunge breaks through
Bondi Plunge (Bondi) broke her maiden on Wednesday at Ascot for Daniel Morton. The 3-year-old filly, ridden by Brad Parnham, defeated On A Winning Day (Winning Rupert) and Firm Talk (Star Witness).
Bondi Plunge with connections after winning at Ascot | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Bondi Plunge is a daughter of the Lynwood Park Stud-based sire, Bondi, who sired Saturday’s Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy victor Bondi Bubbles. She is the fifth foal from the Tobougg (Ire) mare Le Plunge. Bondi Plunge was a $35,000 by Morton Racing from the draft of Dawson Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Perth Winter Yearling Sale.
Bondi will be represented by three lots at the 2024 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
New winner for Ducimus
The Rivercrest Park-based Ducimus sired a new winner when the Colin Webster-trained Hero Hunter saluted at Ascot on Wednesday in Race 4.
Hero Hunter, ridden by Jordan Turner, won by 1l from Bohemian Diamond (Maschino) and Simply (Domesday). The 3-year-old gelding is the second and last reported foal from the Bletchley Park (Ire) mare Magnificent Pair.
Hero Hunter with connections after winning at Ascot | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Hero Hunter was a $34,000 purchase by his trainer from the draft of Alwyn Park Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
Ducimus will be represented by five lots at the 2024 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
Racing Victoria implement hot weather policy
Racing Victoria has implemented their hot weather policy for Thursday’s meeting at Stawell with an expected temperature of 38 degrees. Stewards have elected to bring forward the meeting to avoid the hottest part of the day, with the first race now scheduled to jump at 11am AEDT and the last to run at 1.30pm AEDT.
The hot weather policy is enacted at all meetings where hot conditions are forecast to ensure the health and wellbeing of horses and participants.
Racing Victoria charge Jollys
South Australian-based trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly have been charged by Racing Victoria stewards after Karavas (Alabama Express) returned a positive swab to bute when winning the G3 Ottawa S. during Melbourne Cup week last year.
The Jollys were charged under AR 240 (2): Prohibited substance in a sample taken from a horse at a race meeting.
Reportedly, Karavas returned positive swabs in both a pre-race blood sample and a post-race urine sample.
Chantelle and Richard Jolly | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“An analysis of the (pre-race) blood sample detected the presence of Phenylbutazone,” the statement from Racing Victoria stewards read.
“An analysis of the (post-race) urine sample detected the presence of Phenylbutazone and its metabolites Oxyphenbutazone and Gamma-hydroxphenylbutazone.”
The charge issued against Mr and Mrs Jolly will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.
Unstoppable ruled out of the Newmarket
Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans have advised their promising colt I Am Unstoppable (I Am Invincible) will not contest the G1 Newmarket H. after a disappointing result in last Saturday’s G1 Black Caviar Lightning S.
“He pulled up with a slow recovery and his heart rate was pretty high for a fairly long time after the race and he was a bit agitated,” Kennewell told Racing.com.
“We’ve had him checked over, done some bloods and tests on him this week and he has gone to the paddock for seven days to get his head down on the grass and recover.
“He had some high white blood cells as well, so we wanted to make sure we treat it and reset really.”
Classy filly could be stakes bound
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Little Stirrer (Written Tycoon) could be stakes bound after breaking her maiden on Wednesday at Sandown-Lakeside. Little Stirrer, ridden by Michael Dee, defeated Yes Lulu (Yes Yes Yes) and Medici (Street Boss {USA}).
Co-trainer Ben Hayes told Racing.com, “It’s good to get a city win for Cambridge Stud. They are good supporters, and it’s pleasing for an expensive filly to break her maiden.
Little Stirrer winning at Sandown Lakeside | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“The G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. is likely the direction we will take with her. We will see how she pulls up and plot a course.”
Little Stirrer is from G3 Widden S. winner Teaspoon (Snitzel) and was a $500,000 purchase by Cambridge Stud from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Seven to take on Mr Brightside
Five-time Group 1 winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will face seven rivals in Saturday’s G1 Futurity S. and will jump from barrier five.
Western Australia will be represented by Dom To Shoot (Shooting To Win), who will jump from barrier six with Damian Lane. Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) drew barrier seven, while Attrition (Churchill {Ire}) will jump from barrier eight.
Godolphin will run Pericles (Street Boss {USA}), who will be ridden by Jamie Kah from barrier one. Rounding out the field is Munhamek (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in barrier four, Nugget (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in barrier two and Hey Fat Cat (Rubick) in barrier three.
Skew Wiff ready to rumble in Oakleigh Plate
The Waikato Stud-bred and raced Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) will look to add an Australian elite-level title to her record. The Mark Walker-trained mare will tackle the G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on Saturday. Te Akau Racing’s assistant trainer Ben Gleeson shared with Racing.com the mare has been going well, “Mark Walker says she is a very good horse fresh.
Skew Wiff (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“She won her jump-out last Monday really well and we will keep her fresh into Saturday. Skew Wiff has got a really good 200-metre sprint on her, she ran the quickest last 400 metres of the race in the Sir Rupert Clarke, so that shows the turn of foot that she has, and she was exposed for most of that run.”
Manifique out for success
Peter Didham’s regally bred mare Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel) is assured of a broodmare career, but Didham is keen to gain some black type before that time comes.
Manifique is a daughter of Savabeel and is from the four-time Group 1 winner Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}).
On Saturday, the 5-year-old will contest the Listed Kaimai S. at Matamata and Didham is confident the mare is capable of running a bold race.
“It was a great run in the Breeders’ S. at Tauherenikau over a mile,” Didham told loveracing.nz.
“Another 20 metres and she would have got up. She is a 2000-metre horse with a turn of foot. I am excited with the way she has come back; we still don’t know what went wrong at Wellington in the Manawatu Cup, but she seems to be over that.”
Waterhouse meets the family
Champion Trainer Gai Waterhouse, who trains the outstanding juvenile Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) in partnership with Adrian Bott, met the colt's dam Pelican (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) and her filly foal by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr).
Pelican, a daughter of the great mare Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}) is owned by Coolmore, Eddie Irwin’s Marlhill House Stud and Robert and Baraba McClure.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock revisited Coolmore’s Justify (USA) last spring.
Ramatuelle eyes Classics
Christopher Head won his first Classic last season with Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and he is now eyeing a possible run in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas for Ramatuelle (USA) (Justify {USA}), who was the top-rated juvenile in France in 2023.
The winner of the G2 Prix Robert Papin, and runner-up in the G1 Prix Morny, Ramatuelle is also entered for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and she will begin her preparations for the Classics in Deauville on April 9.
“Ramatuelle has been a tremendous filly for us as a 2-year-old and we are now preparing her for pretty much the mile program in France, but not only in France, in the UK too,” said Head.
Ramatuelle (USA) | Image courtesy of Scoop Dyga
“We're looking all over Europe to make the best program for her as a 3-year-old. Newmarket is of course a possibility, but at the end of the day her owner will decide where she will run.
“She's going to go to the Prix Imprudence and then from there we will see where we go. To be a successful miler is the main objective this year.
“I think Ramatuelle is a really nice filly and Justify has proven he can sire very versatile horses. I'm very happy to have her at three and can't wait to see what she is going to do for us in the mile races this year.”
Dual Group 3 winner First Captain to Brazil
Multiple Group winner First Captain (USA) (Curlin {USA}) has been retired and will stand the 2024 Southern Hemisphere season at Stud Eternamente Rio in Brazil, according to Turf Diario. The 6-year-old, who arrived in Brazil earlier this month, was acquired by a partnership that includes Stud Eternamente Rio, Stud Red Rafa and Stud H e R.
First Captain won the G3 Dwyer S. and the G3 Pimlico Special S. He also finished second in the G2 Suburban S. and was third in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Star mare taking to motherhood
Five-time Group 1 winner and 2021 Eclipse Champion Older Dirt Female Letruska (USA) (Super Saver {USA}) produced her first foal, a filly by Curlin (USA) on February 4 at Terrazas Thoroughbreds in Lexington, Kentucky.
Farm owner Eduardo Terrazas reported that the foaling was normal, and that the leggy filly has flourished in her first weeks of life; she seems to have adopted her sire’s physical and her dam’s personality.
“Her mama is a very secure type of mare, very sure of herself, and the baby definitely shows that,” he said.
“Ever since day one, she’ll come straight to you. She’s very independent and curious. She’s a little bit of a handful. I think my night crew spends a little too much time with her.”
Terrazas did not Letruska, she was raised on their farm and spent well over a year growing up there before she was sent to race in Mexico, where she would be named Champion 3-Year-Old Filly before moving to North America.
Japan’s Saudi team in fine fettle
Japan is set to be represented by five horses in Saturday’s G1 Saudi Cup and according to all sources the contingent has settled in well.
Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach The Crown {Jpn}), a winner of the 2022 G2 UAE Derby and last year’s G3 Korea Cup, galloped over the dirt track in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and pleased his connections.
“We did a 1200-metre gallop on the dirt track. He moved and accelerated well. We are happy,” Yohei Kotobuki, a stable representative, said.
The other Japanese runners in the Saudi Cup are Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits {USA}), Lemon Pop (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid {USA}), Meisho Hario (Jpn) (Pyro {USA}) and Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}).
