Sassi Jenni wins on debut
Team Hayes had a debut winner at Moonee Valley on Friday night with Sassy Jenni (Shalaa {Ire}). Owned by Tony Ottobre’s Cape Schank Racing, 2-year-old filly Sassy Jenni was a $160,000 purchase from Corumbene Stud’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. Sassy Jenni is the second winner for stakes-placed city winner Sheer Style (Snitzel).
Indian Pacific returns to form in Abell
Indian Pacific (Zoustar) hadn’t won since January 2021 but returned to form in fine style winning tonight’s Listed Abell S. The winner of six of his first eight starts in Perth, back in 2019/20 as a 3-year-old, Indian Pacific ran second in the 2021 G1 Newmarket H. behind Zoutori (Zoustar) but has mixed his form since with several placings in Group company.
Two starts ago, he moved from the Neville Parnham stable to Nick Ryan, and on Friday night defied his $12 price-tag to win. Winner of eight of his 31 starts, Indian Pacific took his earnings over $750,000. He was a $110,000 purchase by Neville Parnham from the Bowness Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Callsign Mav retired
Four-time Group 1 winner Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) has been retired.
“Mav’s career has been one of the highlights of my training career and he bows out gracefully from the racing world,” trainer and part-owner John Bary told loveracing.nz.
Callsign Mav (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Along with his fantastic Australian owners, he will forever be a stable champion, whose determination, heart and spirit inspired those who had the privilege to witness his feats on the turf.”
Callsign Mav won eight races including the 2020 and 2021 G1 Tarzino Trophy, 2021 G1 Windsor Park Plate, and the 2022 Sir Rupert Clarke S., and over $1.5 million in earnings. He ran sixth in the G1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic last Saturday in his final start.
Queensland Country Cups Challenge raises funds for Royal Flying Doctor
The Queensland Country Cups Challenge has raised over $116,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in 2023, eclipsing the $113,000 raised in 2022.
“With so many of our 122 racing clubs across Queensland located in regional and remote areas, the RFDS plays a vital role in so many of these communities,” Minister Grace told racingqueensland.com.au.
“Across the Sunshine State, there are 85 towns each year who host a raceday as the town’s biggest or second biggest event, with more than 80 per cent of the state’s 49,786 racing participants located in regional communities. The Country Cups Challenge and the Royal Flying Doctor Service are a perfect pairing, and the Miles Government is proud to continue supporting the RFDS alongside our country racing clubs, who are the lifeblood of the sport.”
With 16 qualifier events and a final, each club hosted fundraising efforts on their respective racedays.
Venturer provides winning update for Premier Sale
Friday’s win by Venturer (Capitalist) provided a good update for Lot 424 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Trained by Tony Gollan, 3-year-old filly Venturer took her record to two wins from three starts.
Lot 424 - Ole Kirk x No Looking Back (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
She was a $375,000 purchase from Kitchwin Hills' 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft and is a full sister to Group 2 winner Comrade Rosa. Venturer’s dam is the Listed winner and G1 Blue Diamond S. placed No Looking Back (Redoute's Choice), and Lot 424 is an Ole Kirk colt presented by Holbrook Thoroughbreds.
Cranbourne/Pakenham merger announces name
The merger of Cranbourne Turf Club and the Pakenham Racing Club will be named Southside Racing.
“The merging of the two clubs is a significant milestone,” Southside Racing Chairman Sean Clarkson told Racing.com.
“We have large training bases at both Cranbourne and Pakenham and a lot of industry participants in the southeast as well, so we're looking forward to improving our offering from the training point of view. We're grateful and thankful to our members for endorsing the merger. We're looking to provide them with a better race-day experience and some more opportunities to come to the races.”
The combined club will host over 60 meetings per year and will have around 500 employees.
Sportsbet Future Stars Series to chase black type
Trainer Racheal Frost will aim Thursday night’s Sportsbet Future Stars Series winner, Mislead (Shamexpress {NZ}), at black-type company in Adelaide.
“There’s not a heap of options in the next few weeks so she might even back up, or she might go to Adelaide, it depends how much weight she loses because she does suck up quite quickly,” said Frost.
Mislead and connections | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
The 3-year-old filly has won two races, both her last two starts, from nine starts in total with earnings over $260,000.
Imperatriz to focus on Newmarket
Te Akau Racing announced on Friday that their star sprinting mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) would stay in Melbourne and target the G1 Newmarket H. next.
“I think if anything she's probably come on from the Lightning Stakes,” trainer Mark Walker told Racenet.
“She can carry the weight.”
Imperatriz is likely to be given top weight of 58kg, however, she has won back in New Zealand carrying 59kg.
Apprentice Reynolds shows progress
South Australian apprentice jockey Chelsey Reynolds has opened her eyes but remains in intensive care. The jockey was injured in a training accident on February 13 and was flown to Flinders Medical Centre where she was placed in an induced coma.
“Chelsey remains in intensive care at the Flinders Medical Centre where she is being treated for a serious head injury,” Racing SA said in a statement.
Chelsey Reynolds | Image courtesy of Racing SA
“Her sedation levels are being reduced and she is opening her eyes but not yet responding. Chelsey's family have told us that her recovery is going to be long and slow, but that she will continue to have all the care and love she needs. They have also asked us again to thank the community for all their messages of support and that their privacy continues to be respected during this tough time.”
Expensive Reluctance wins
Trainer Michael Freedman’s 3-year-old gelding Reluctance (Not A Single Doubt) won at Goulburn over 900 metres at his second start. The $560,000 yearling is a son of Group 3 winner London Lolly (Charge Forward), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Chautauqua (Encosta De Lago). Both London Lolly and Chautauqua are out of Group 1 winner Lovely Jubly (Lion Hunter). Reluctance was sold by Edinburgh Park at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
