Daily News Wrap

Camilleri secures Everest Slot

Top breeder John Camilleri has negotiated a deal to secure the Aquis slot in the TAB Everest.

Aquis have had the slot since the inaugural running of the race in 2017, with their best result being Trapeze Artist’s (Snitzel) second to Redzel (Snitzel) in 2018.

Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds has been among the leading breeders in Australia for a number of decades, highlighted most famously by Winx (Street Cry {Ire}).

Camilleri’s colours were set to be in last year’s Everest via Sunshine In Paris (Invader), but the mare didn’t make it to the race after suffering an injury that ended her spring campaign.

Sunshine In Paris is now back in full-work with Annabel Neasham, with a return pencilled in for next month. Camilleri told The Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas that it would be a “privilege” to be involved in The Everest.

Camilleri recently had a monster Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast, having three yearlings make $1 million or more on a single day, headed by a Too Darn Hot (GB) colt from A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice), which made $1.9 million to the bid of Ciaron Maher.

Injury cloud over Bodyguard

G1 Blue Diamond S. second favourite Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) is under a cloud with a second vet check on Thursday morning seeing him show sings of lameness. The last start G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) winner will be re-inspected by Racing Victoria vets on Friday.

Raced by a group led by the James Harron Bloodstock Colts Syndicate, Bodyguard is the most expensive of the Blue Diamond candidates - the $1.6 million Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate bred by Emirates Park is a son of the unraced Tumooh (Fastnet Rock) whose dam is the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Mossfun (Mossman).

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt is due to be ridden in the Blue Diamond by Mark Zahra.

Jewel meeting stays put

Speculation around next month’s $2 million QTIS Jewel meeting being moved from the Gold Coast were quashed on Thursday afternoon by Racing Queensland, with CEO Jason Scott confirming the meeting would proceed as scheduled.

There had been some commentary around the Gold Coast turf not being ready for the March 9 meeting after the Saturday meeting for March 2 was switched to the Poly track this week.

But Scott said this was merely a precaution to protect the surface to have it in the best possible condition for Jewel race day.

He noted planned drainage works and sand grooving had been undertaken since Magic Millions day – just the third meeting run on the new grass at the Coast – and ongoing rain events had played their part in slowing down the return to the course proper.

“We were hoping to conduct the sand grooving ahead of Magic Millions (but) we opted to postpone it to the new year and if not for the recent inclement weather, we would have returned to racing ahead of the Jewel,” Scott said.

“It’s a cautious maintenance program we’re conducting, but it’s in the best interest of the course proper for the long term.”

GCTC CEO Steve Lines has always maintained confidence the course would be ready for the Jewel and said the club was “looking forward to what should be an outstanding day of racing.”

The Jewel meeting precedes the 2024 Gold Coast March Yearling Sale at the adjacent Magic Millions complex.

Last year’s Jewel meeting was run at Doomben owing to the re-build of the Gold Coast course proper.

Nash hoping history repeats

Nash Rawiller readily recalls his association with glamour colt Pierro (Lonhro) and he’s hoping his Silver Slipper S. mount Espionage (Zoustar) might be able to replicate at least part of the former champion’s heroics this weekend.

Like Pierro, Espionage won the Breeders’ Plate on debut last year and now makes his return to racing in the G2 Silver Slipper, a race Rawiller won on Pierro in 2012 before the pair went on to claim that year’s Triple Crown for 2-year-olds.

“He feels really high class,” Rawiller said of Espionage, speaking to Racing NSW this week.

“I love the fact he won the Breeders’. Pierro was able to win the Breeders’ by a narrow margin and take the improvement to make it to the Slipper and win and fingers crossed this bloke can do the same.

“You can’t deny that (Storm Boy) is the top of the mountain at the moment but every time I’ve sat on this horse’s back I’ve gained more and more confidence in him.

“I hope Saturday is a positive lead to the Slipper and he can continue on from there.”

Espionage was a $1 million purchase for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Rawiller also has the key mount on G1 Spring Champion S. winner Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) in Saturday’s G2 Hobartville S.

New Revolution winners

The Joe Pride-trained Eastern Front became the latest winner for Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution when winning strongly to break his maiden status at Wyong on Thursday.

Sam Clipperton was able to produce the 3-year-old gelding for an impressive finishing burst to win at start number five today.

Eastern Front is from the Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) mare Marvellous Miss and was a $160,000 purchase out of the Newgate draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

He was one of three winners on the day for Russian Revolution. Rush Hour completed a Wyong double for the stallion in taking out the Class 1 H. for trainer Nathan Doyle, before Kerensky broke his maiden at Pakenham.

All three winners are Newgate Farm graduates.

$650,000 yearling to debut at Doomben

Prominent Queensland owner Michael Sherrin will have his colours showcased by the well related Street Chase (Zoustar) at Doomben on Saturday.

Sherrin’s horses are noted for having “Chase” in their name, with the best of them being the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup winner Apache Chase (Better Than Ready).

Sherrin went to $650,000 to secure Street Chase at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Baramul Stud.

He is by Zoustar from the Street Cry (Ire) mare Walk The Streets, who is already the dam of dual Listed winner Stroll (Snitzel).

Walk The Streets in turn is a daughter of the Zeditave mare Kakakakatie, who was a dual Listed winner in Sydney and produced nine individual winners.

Third dam St.Kate (Danehill {USA}) is a half-sister to the Group 1 winners Bonanova, Fraternity and Telesto (all by Star Way), which of course is also the family of the wonder mare Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}).

Street Chase, who is prepared for Sherrin by top Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick, has looked the part winning two trials on his home track in preparation for Saturday’s debut.

Griffiths de Kock stable looking forward to a big Saturday

With four nice horses heading to Caulfield on Saturday, Griffiths de Kock Racing have plenty to look forward to - not only for this weekend but for the future with each of those horses still on their way up.

Last seen winning the G2 Sandown Guineas in the spring, Serasana (Snitzel) kicks her campaign off in the G2 Angus Armanasco S. with Robbie Griffiths hopeful of a good run whilst mindful that last time in the 3-year-old was at her peak fourth-up over 1600 metres.

“She has had a couple of trials and is going well and we will be happy to see her run a good race,” Griffiths told TTR AusNZ, “but her main aim if she is ready for it will be the Adelaide carnival - the G3 Auraria S. and the G1 Australasian Oaks looks a good race for her.”

The in-form Justaboom (Justify {USA}) has looked good winning her last two - the latest over 1800 metres against the boys and that is the trip she contests when tackling the G2 Autumn S.

“She has had four runs during this, her first racing campaign so this may be her grand final,” Griffiths said. But if she happened to win and pull up as well as she has from her other starts a trip to Sydney for the G1 AJC Oaks may be on the card - otherwise a freshen in preparation for the G1 Queensland oaks.

“I think it is really to her advantage that she has already beaten the boys at Caulfield,” Griffiths said, noting that Justaboom enjoys a 2.5kg weight drop from her latest success.

The stable has two nice chances in the G1 Oakleigh Plate - Najem Suhail (Starspangledbanner) and Rey Magnerio (Magnus) and Griffiths is happy to have horses with such different racing styles contesting the feature sprint.

“If the race plays to the leaders Najem Suhail - who is such an incredibly fast horse - is going to be suited but if they go hard Rey Magnerio is going to be finishing off strongly.”

Both horses have built imposing records; Najem Suhail a six-time winner from 18 starts including the Listed Century S. whilst Rey Magnerio - who races for the first time at stakes level - has won six of nine.

Ozzmosis amongst the Ranwick trial winners

Randwick played host to 15 trials this morning and with the summer/autumn carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne up and running there were a number of classy horses strutting their stuff.

Last seen racing away to an easy win in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. at Flemington on Derby Day, Ozzmosis (Zoustar) looked good cruising up - and away from - his rivals in the second heat over 850 metres with the second home being the fellow Zoustar colt Schwarz. That last start Listed Springtime S. winner was having his second trial for the campaign having won a 742-metre heat at Randwick a couple of weeks ago. Given a quiet time up along the rails finishing sixth was last year’s G1 Golden Slipper S. hero Shinzo (Snitzel).

Darby Racing’s Scott Darby was delighted with Ozzmosis’ performance - “that was a lovely first up trial. Wee are over the moon with how he has returned. He has strengthened and developed and hopefully he is in for a huge preparation.”

The first of the juvenile heats was another good result for Zoustar with his unraced Yulong-owned, Peter and Paul Snowden-trained son After Match first across the line having run third to Straight Charge (Written By) at his first trial 10 days ago. The $410,000 Magic Millions graduate is a half-brother to Coolmore Stud's dual Group 1 winner King's Legacy. Yulong also had the second horse home - Strong Trade (Written Tycoon), a $250,000 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale purchase.

Yulong's good morning continued in Heat 4 with a win by the $1.4 million Inglis Easter colt Media World (Written Tycoon), son of the dual Group 3 winner Meryl (Epaulette). He was a somewhat unlucky debut fifth in the Listed Merson Cooper S. won by G1 Blue Diamond contender Eneeza (Exceed And Excel) in early December.

The Greg Ingham homebred Inoue (Shalaa {Ire}) also impressed when not asked for a great deal by Tommy Berry. Having his first trial, he is a half-brother to the Listed Cap d'Antibes S. winner Wayupinthesky (Snitzel).

Improving off a distance last of three at her first trial at Warwick Farm last spring, the Strawberry Hill homebred Killcare Beachgirl (Too Darn Hot {GB}) could be another nice one for the prolific Denise's Joy (Seventh Hussar {Fr}) family. Her city winning dam Absolute Joy (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) - a daughter of the G1 Queensland Oaks winner Joie Denise (Danehill {USA}) - has already produced five winners including the G2 Autumn Classic winner Castlereagh Kid (Snitzel).

In October Manuscript (Written By) trialled nicely behind stablemate Catoggio (Written Tycoon) who subsequently ran fourth in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate and he was first home in an all Waterhouse/Bott finish in the last of the morning's juvenile heats.

An $85,000 Magic Millions purchase for Tricolours Racing, the son of the stakes-placed Sugarparma (Snitzel) defeated his stablemates Shivermepink (Zoustar) - a $520,000 Magic Millions filly out of the Listed winner Pretty In Pink (Sebring) from the family of Fields Of Omagh (Rubiton) - and Johnny The Kid (Trapeze Artist), a $120,000 Magic Millions buy whose dam is the speedy dual Listed winner I Got Chills (General Nediym).

An interesting 3-year-old trial winner was the unraced Waterhouse and Bott trained Justice Served (Justify {USA}), a $400,000 Magic Millions colt - the first foal produced by the dual Group 1 winner Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel).

Other winners of note included the G3 Festival S. winner Phearson (Exosphere) and the Group 3-placed Short Shorts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).

G1 Newmarket-bound Magic Time works at Sandown

Last spring's G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. winner Magic Time (Hellbent) is on track for a first-up crack at the G1 Newmarket H. having pulled up well from a gallop at Sandown yesterday.

A trip away from home (Cranbourne) with her new stablemate Cinderella Days (Astern) saw her quicken up over the final 600 metres of a 900-metre gallop with trainer Grahame Begg always happy to mix up a horse's work... a March 1 jump-out at Flemington next on her agenda.

“Both came through their gallops in outstanding order,” Begg said.

Both horses trialled at Cranbourne on February 5; Magic Time fifth in the heat won by the lightly raced G3 Blue Sapphire S. winner Grand Impact (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) whilst Cinderella Days - who was formerly trained by Joe Pride - won the strongest trial of the morning; that in which Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) finished second and Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) fifth.

Whilst Melbourne and Adelaide races are in the plans for Cinderella Days who is set to resume at Flemington on March 2, Magic Time has Sydney and Brisbane options after the Newmarket.

Hunter Valley farm active at US Digital Sale

Glenn Burrows’ Willow Park Stud was among the buyers at this week’s Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale, paying US$190,000 (AU$288,700) for the dual Grade 3-placed mare Sister Otoole (USA) (Amira’s Prince {Ire}).

The mare will be brought to Australia to breed from this spring.

Burrows has made a number of online purchases out of the US in recent weeks, with another being Breeze Easy (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who has since run fourth at Listed level. Willow Park gave US$180,000 (AU$273,500) to secure her at the Fasig-Tipton December online sale.

The top-priced lot this week was Pounce (USA) (Lookin At Lucky {USA}), which sold for US$370,000 (AU$562,300) to John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock.

The catalogue included racehorses, yearlings and breeding stock.

Overall, 116 horses were sold for US$4.3million (AU$6,534,600)

It was noted the 752 registered bidders was a new record for a single Fasig-Tipton Digital sale.

Broodmare Salt Lake Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) was the second highest priced lot at US$330,000 (AU$501,500).

David Hayes in form in Hong Kong

As Lindsay Park prepare for a big day locally - Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) an odds-on favourite to take out the G1 Futurity S. whilst Zestiman (Zoustar) vies to become the Hayes family's second consecutive G1 Blue Diamond S. winner, David Hayes was cheering home a nice winner at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Tomodachi Kokoroe (Written Tycoon) was up in class but was again too good, making it four wins from his current campaign of nine starts. A horse who has always shown that he really knows how to find the line, he raced as Bank Bank Bank in Queensland where he won six in a row between June and October 2022.

Little wonder he was of appeal to Hong Kong, hailing from the same family as the six-time Sha Tin stakes winner Scintillation (Danehill {USA}).

Australians at Happy Valley

In other Happy Valley news, the former Melbourne mare Bon's A Pearla (Bon Hoffa) - one of the few mares in work in Hong Kong - recorded her second win from her last four starts whilst Noor Elaine Farm's G1 Randwick Guineas winner Ilovethiscity was represented by a running double - Serangoon successful for the Tony Cruz stable whilst Galvanic broke through for his first Hong Kong win for Caspar Fownes.

The former won two of his four Victorian starts for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young whilst the latter was sold to Hong Kong off good jump-out form.

Enable to again visit Dubawi

Juddmonte Farms - who make available their star stallions Frankel (GB) and Kingman (GB) available to Southern Hemisphere breeders - have released 2024 plans for their classy broodmare band reports TDN Europe.

Of course the most famous member of that broodmare band is the superstar Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), the 11-time Group 1 winner who is set to pay another visit to Dubawi (Ire).

Meanwhile, Enable's stakes-winning dam Concentric (GB) (Sadler's Wells {USA}) visits Frankel who will also serve the Group 1 mares Announce (GB) (Selkirk {USA}), Emollient (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}), Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Proviso (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Viadera (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy) and Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Kingman will also serve his share of Group 1 mares including African Rose (GB) (Observatory {USA}) and Passage Of Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}), whilst newcomer - Frankel's G1 2000 Guineas winning son Chaldean (GB) will have 17 Juddmonte mares in his first book.

Juddmonte will also send mares to outside stallions Camelot (GB), Dark Angel (Ire), Wootton Bassett (GB), Zarak (Fr), Siyouni (Fr), Havana Grey (GB), No Nay Never (USA) and Too Darn Hot (GB).

Asfoora a Royal Ascot possibility

Asfoora (Flying Artie) may not be seen again on Australian shores should she salute in Saturday's G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield, the Henry Dwyer trained 5-year-old on track for a crack at Royal Ascot.

“If she wins, it will probably be her last run and if she doesn’t, she will probably go to Sydney for the G1 The Galaxy then go to Europe, but going there is contingent on her winning a race,” Dwyer told Racing.com.

Asfoora was first-up when a game third behind Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}) in last year’s Oakleigh Plate (run at Sandown) whereas this year she has the benefit of a run under her belt - a second to Kallos (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) in the G2 Rubiton S.

Boasting a great Caulfield record - four wins (three at Group level) from six starts - Asfoora has pleased her trainer with her recent work - “everything seems ship-shaped. She galloped along and worked really well on the grass this morning at Ballarat.”

Dwyer is looking forward to Asfoora contesting the Oakleigh Plate at a track she prefers to Sandown - “it was uphill the bit last year and as her record says, Caulfield is more her go.

“And last year we went into the Oakleigh Plate first-up as we were trying to dodge getting any extra weight by winning a race. This year we’ve got the weight, so we had a run beforehand - and so she will be a bit more forward.

“She has a fair chunk of weight with 57.5kg but it's relative to what she's running against due to the respective ratings and she's earned it.”