Daily News Wrap

New stakes winner for Wrote in Lowland

Trainer Chad Ormsby gained a new Group winner when Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) won the G2 Lowland S. in New Zealand on Friday.

“We were expecting and hoping that she’d put in a good performance today,” Ormsby, who also shares in the ownership along with four others, told loveracing.nz.

“Her work had gone to another level recently, so the signs were pretty good. She went out there today and showed that she’s starting to put things together. She enjoyed a lovely run and had the favourite outside her. They were on level terms there for a while in the straight, but then she just found that little bit more with her fresher legs. It was great to see.”

Pulchritudinous has shortened into $10 for the G1 New Zealand Oaks next Saturday.

“What we do with her now is all going to depend on how she comes through this,” he said.

“I’m obviously in Melbourne for the next few days, so I’ll run my eye over her on Monday or Tuesday once I’m back. She’s nominated for the Oaks, and it could be a great race to target with her, but it just depends on how she comes through this and whether she’s ready to go again on that tight turnaround.”

Bred by Tony Rider, Pulchritudinous was sold by Milan Park to Riverrock Farm for NZ$30,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

She has won two of her six starts with earnings over NZ$101,000. Her sire, Highview Stud stallion Wrote (Ire) is a son of High Chaparral (Ire) and now has three stakes winners with his oldest crop now five.

Hot weather confirms earlier start for Flemington

With the temperature forecast to hit 39 degrees by mid-afternoon on Saturday, Racing Victoria confirmed on Friday that the eight-race meeting at Flemington will now commence at 10.45am and conclude at 2.30pm.

“The decision to start early has been made in the interests of horse and participant welfare, with RV’s racing in hot weather policy to be enacted,” RV said in a statement.

Moonee Valley’s night meeting will also finish earlier, while Edenhope will now start at 10.29am on Saturday, with the last to be run at 2.11pm, while Sunday's Echuca Cup meeting will begin at 10.45am and finish at 2.30pm.

Rodney Schick appointed to NZTR board

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Members’ Council has appointed Rodney Schick as a director of NZTR’s Board, effective immediately. He takes the position left vacant since July 2023, when current TAB NZ General Manager Commercial, Jason Fleming, resigned.

“What really drew me to take up this position is that it’s my life's work and I’m incredibly passionate about it,” Schick told loveracing.nz.

“I understand all aspects of the industry, I’ve done most things in this world other than being a horse trainer or jockey. I have spent a long time both racing and breeding horses and I understand the fundamentals of what makes this industry tick.”

Schick has run Windsor Park Stud for more than 20 years with his wife Gina.

“Now really is the time to be involved,” he said.

“With the entry of Entain, we have the opportunity to make a difference and this, coupled with some of the legislation that was brought in through Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, enables us to be able to make some significant changes, working collaboratively with them and New Zealand’s racing clubs. I’m thoroughly looking forward to beginning my tenure, working alongside the current NZTR board and management to make a significant impact on our industry.”

First foal of Group 1-placed Sezanne remains unbeaten

Trainer Brett Cavanough’s 3-year-old filly Joiselle (Snitzel) made it two from two at Dubbo on Friday. The first live foal for G1 Flight S. Second-placed Sezanne (More Than Ready {USA}), Joiselle is bred and raced by Greenwich Stud.

Sezanne is a half-sister to Listed winner Grace and Harmony (Sebring) with both being out of Group 2 winner Champagne Harmony (Choisir).

New 2-year-old winner for Rothesay

Queensland sire Rothesay had a new 2-year-old winner at Rockhampton on Friday when Electric Brae scored on debut for trainer John Wigginton.

Wiggington purchased the filly as a yearling from Kenmore Lodge for $40,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Standing at Lyndhurst Stud, Rothesay now has 56 2-year-old winners in his stud career with seven stakes winners across all ages.

3-year-old filly Whitsunday Session (Whittington) also scored on debut at the same meeting for trainer Clinton Taylor.

McArdle hopes for Cheers in Sires on Saturday

Trainer John McArdle is hoping Cheers (Sepoy) can win him a second G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. on Saturday.

“I was really happy with his run and the way he's come through it from the other week at Pakenham,” McArdle told Racing.com.

“He seems to be heading the right way. He's quite raw, he's a little bit of a surprise to us. When he first started working, he was a nice horse, but we didn't think he'd run as a 2-year-old and then we started trialling him up and every time we asked him to take the next step, he did.”

Cheers ran fourth on debut and is rated at $51 by punters. McArdle won the Sires’ in 2005 with Danger Looms (Dangerous).

Ad Astra tightens for Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic

Trainer Michael Hickmott’s 2-year-old filly Ad Astra (Tassort) has shortened into $2 for the $200,000 Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic, South Australia’s richest race for 2-year-olds, on Saturday. Second in the Listed Cinderella S. on debut, Ad Astra will be having just her second start.

“We identified this filly really early days as having well above-average ability,” Hickmott told Racenet.com.au.

“She's come through (her debut) well, she had a nice piece of work at Murray Bridge on the course proper on Tuesday and I think she's come on from the run. She's bright, she's well, she's healthy and this is the race that we've targeted her at for the whole preparation. She's going to go there in good order. I expect her to be in the first half of the field early and be strong through the line.”

Purchased by Hickmott with Andrew Campbell Bloodstock for $160,000 from Kingstar Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Ad Astra is by first-season sire Tassort, who left his fifth first-crop winner today at Newcastle on Thursday with Last Command.

NZ Group 1 winner gets The All-Star Mile wildcard

New Zealand trainer Robbie Patterson was shocked to discover his Group 1 winner Puntura (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) had been given The All-Star Mile wildcard on Friday.

“It was a bit of a shock,” Patterson told Racing.com.

“I rang the owner and told him he better organise it and he is booked on the plane on Sunday to head over. I am rapt because I am getting these stayers around me and I have been eyeing races over there in the lower grades, so it will be a good eye-opener for me and a good learning experience. We are realistic about it (The All-Star Mile), we are going to be racing the best in Australasia, but it is just a great thrill to be invited and have the opportunity.”

Puntura won the G1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham in January and was to run in Saturday’s G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand S. but will be scratched now for a trip over the ditch. He has a record of 11 wins from 34 starts and earnings over NZ$600,000.

“This (ASM) will be his swansong for the season. I was going to put him out after Otaki because he was a bit disappointing, but he was running around like an idiot. I thought he is a weight-for-age horse, so he is not going to get many chances, so we might as well have a go at the Bonecrusher, he has points for that (summer bonus) series. But this opportunity has now come up.”

Ambassador for Adelaide Pony Races announced as Jamie Kah

Jockey Jamie Kah has been announced as an ambassador for the National Pony Racing Series race day in Adelaide. She will arrive at Morphettville early on Sunday, the day before Adelaide Cup Day which will feature the final round of heats for the inaugural National Pony Racing Series.

“Once you join Pony Club, you sort of start knowing all the Pony Clubs around the area and start making more friends and more connections,” Kah told TIC.

“That’s how I got into racing as well — a girl in Pony Club introduced me to the racing stable.”

11-time Group 1 winner Kah joined the One Tree Hill Pony Club at two years old and at the age of 10, she began riding at Mount Pleasant Pony Club.

The series is a partnership between Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC) and Pony Club Australia.

Conlan wins father’s race again

Trainer Tom Conlan has won the Frank Conlan Memorial H. for the second time when Atlantic Spirit (Frosted {USA}) won the race at Kyneton on Thursday. Frank Conlan died in 2019 and son Tom took over the team, winning the Frank Conlan Memorial H. for the first time in 2022 with Zipitup (Sports Edition).

“He (Dad) was unbelievable, he taught me unbelievable things, what to do with them and thinking outside the box,” Conlan told Racing.com.

“It’s pretty special – it’s more than just a (Benchmark) 58 on a Thursday at Kyneton, that’s for sure … everyone’s here. (Jockey) Alana (King)’s a great friend, she does a lot of work for me in the mornings when I need her with the gallops, she’s always there to help me, so it's great to do it with her.”

3-year-old filly Atlantic Spirit took her record to two wins from 11 starts with earnings over $107,000. She was sold by Supreme Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Gold Yearling Sale for $150,000 to B Hall, Intel Racing, and 888 Racing.

Pair of QTIS Jewel runners for young trainer

Trainer Joshua King, who took over the stables of Steve Tregea a couple of years ago, has a runner in each of the QTIS Jewel races on Saturday. Highbar (Spieth) runs in the 3YO Jewel and Time To Cry (Spirit of Boom) in the 2YO Jewel.

“It has been really good – we have seemed to find a nice horse each year,” King told Racingqueensland.com.au.

“We had Argyle Lane last year and we now have Highbar and Time To Cry.”

Highbar has won three of his five starts.

“He is coming along as a really nice horse,” King said. “He is showing everything and doing everything right. He has always shown a lot from day one, he is a very chilled horse and not much worries him, he does not get fired up very often.”

Time To Cry won on debut then ran sixth in the Prelude at her last start. “She is a promising 2-year-old,” King said.

“She was a bit unlucky last time and she did not really handle the track as it was a little bit wet and an unknown. Hopefully she should be competitive down at the Gold Coast.”

Aztec Ruler returns for tilt at Bunbury Stakes

Trainer Stefan Vahala has always believed Aztec Ruler (Universal Ruler) is stakes class and thinks Saturday’s Listed Bunbury S. is the place to prove it.

“He had a few rough days after his last run, a bit sore and sorry, but is jumping out of his skin now,” Vahala told rwwa.com.au.

“We cuddled him as much as we could and he’s jumping out of his skin. I’m expecting him to be at his top. I think he’ll run a really good race for us from that barrier. Hopefully he lives up to expectations.”

Aztec Ruler has won five of his 11 starts but was caught up in traffic at his last start in the Listed Pinjarra Classic finishing a career worst ninth. He has earnings over $431,000 and was a $40,000 purchase by Vahala Thoroughbreds from Quanah Park at the 2021 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

Revised race times for Murray Bridge on Friday

Racing South Australia announced revised race times for Friday’s Murray Bridge meeting due to forecast hot weather. The new times are: Race 1 – 9.25am, Race 2 – 9.55am, Race 3 – 10.25am, Race 4 – 10.55am, Race 5 – 11.25am, Race 6 – 11.55am, Race 7 – 12.27pm, Race 8 – 1.07pm, Race 9 – 1.37pm (local).

Racing Queensland announces date changes

The meetings scheduled for the Sunshine Coast on Friday, March 15, and Sunday, March 17 will be moved to allow the Sunshine Coast Turf Club to finish renovations of their turf surface.

Friday, March 15 will be transferred to Caloundra’s Polytrack; and Sunday, March 17 has been transferred to Lockyer Valley Turf Club at Gatton. There are some program changes which trainers should note on the Racing Queensland website.

Settlement over Justify Derby finalised

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) has been ordered to pay US$300,000 (AU$451,500) to Mick Ruis, the owner of 2018 G1 Santa Anita Derby runner-up Bolt D'Oro (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), and to order a redistribution for the US$1 million (AU$1.5 million) purse to reflect that.

The race winner, Justify (USA), gained enough points to enter the G1 Kentucky Derby and went on to be a Triple Crown winner. It wasn’t until 15 months later that the New York Times revealed that Justify had tested positive for scopolamine after he won the Santa Anita Derby, and that the result had been kept hidden from the public.

“We have settled our monetary claims against the CHRB, which now has the additional duty to recover and redistribute the purse to the rightful owners including our client,” attorney Carlo Fisco told TDN on Thursday night.

“It was never about the money. I'm hoping we can all move on and put the actions in 2018 of a few bad actors behind us. It's all been settled save for the purse redistribution.”

Bidding opens for Fasig Digital

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 105 entries for its March Digital Sale, which may be viewed at digital.fasigtipton.com. Bidding is now open and will close Tuesday, Mar. 12, beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

Daddysruby (USA) (Frac Daddy {USA}) (Lot 1), winner of the GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26, headlines the sale's catalogue. Her La Brea win capped an outstanding 3-year-old season in which she won five of six starts on her way to career earnings of US$364,014.

“Consignors have supported our March Digital Sale with another strong group of entries,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales. “We are particularly excited to offer our first current Grade I winner on the platform in Daddysruby. At just four years old, she has a lot of racing opportunities still ahead of her.”