History on Zougotcha’s side for Coolmore
Zougotcha (Zoustar) has been saddled with 57kg for the G1 Coolmore Classic on Saturday but history is on her side with three recent winners carrying that to victory. They are Krone (Eurozone) in 2021, Daysee Doom (Domesday) in 2018 and Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in 2014, while Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) has the mare’s weight carrying record of 60kg in 2002.
“The form is good from her first-up run with the horse that finished second winning the Group 1 on Saturday,” Charlie Duckworth, Raing Manager and Assitant Trainer at Chris Waller Racing, told Racingnsw.com.au.
Zougotcha | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“She’s absolutely flying. She’s come back bigger, better, and stronger this time in and she’s going to take a bit of beating but 57kg in a Group 1 handicap is a lot of weight.”
Winner of the G2 Millie Fox S. at her most recent start, Zougotcha has won six of her 13 starts with earnings over $1.1million. She was purchased by Chris Waller and Guy Mulcaster Bloodstock from Widden Stud for $500,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She is a full sister to Listed winner Persuader, and a half-sister to Listed winner The Actuary (Sebring).
Superconstellation makes history
The first winner on the new Caulfield Heath track was Superconstellation (Squamosa) who won the first race on Wednesday afternoon. Trained by Enver Jusofovic and ridden by Ben Allen, the 3-year-old gelding closed late to win the race by 0.2l. Superconstellation defied the expectation that the track would favour on-pace runners by coming through the pack to win.
“(The track) raced really well - I was in two minds, thinking we might be too far back and it might just suit the leaders,” Allen told Racing.com. “But it was good to see it didn't, it was a bunched finish and every horse got their chance.”
Moroney to unveil Kingman import on Saturday
Trainer Mike Moroney will run his 5-year-old import Mathletic (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) in Saturday’s Listed Bel Esprit S. Formerly with Andre Fabre in France, Mathletic won two of his six starts in France and was Group 3 placed. “Looks a really nice horse,” Moroney told Racing.com.
“He's bringing really good form and probably different sort of form - mile form - we haven't bought that many of those, we've bought mainly horses with staying form. He's got 1400 to 1800-metre form and he's that sort of horse I think.
“I'd expect it to be too short for him, but it's a nice starting point, we're in the Doncaster, we've stayed on that and we'll see how we go.”
Living Legends gets two new horses
Lindsay Park announced on Wednesday that fan favourite So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}) will be joining Living Legends. “So Si is just the sweetest and most intelligent boy. He will just love going places and being adored by his many fans. It has been an honour to work with him and we look forward to visiting him at Living Legends,” re-trainer Lisa McMaster said. So Si Bon spent time with McMaster after his racing retirement, but his joints weren’t up to the rigours of the showring, hence the move to Living Legends. So Si Bon won nine of his 95 starts with earnings over $2.3 million.
On Tuesday, Living Legends announced that five-time Group 1 winner Lankan Rupee (Redoute’s Choice) would be joining them too.
Sir Dreamalot aimed at Karrakatta Plate
Sir Dreamalot (A Lot {USA}) demolished a field of 2-year-olds on Saturday winning by over 4l and now his trainer Joshua Krispyn has decided to change plans and aim him at the G2 Karrakatta Plate in a month. “I was going to tip him out after his second start,” Krispyn told The Races WA.
“But, he’s always shown ability and been working with some good horses and holding his own. I haven’t been able to see it on the track because he hasn’t had the luck. He ran the quickest last 600 metres of the entire meeting on Saturday. The times don’t lie and it’s a good effort for a horse having its third start.
“Brad (Parnham) stood up on him before the line. I can’t believe how well he’s pulled up; he’ll probably go to the Supremacy. He has to have an easy week and then build into it next week. If he does well in the Supremacy and can measure up, you have to think about the Karrakatta. Someone has backed him so they must think I’m going there. He was about $30 on Saturday and a week before that a 150 to 1.”
Sir Dreamalot is a winner from three starts and is from the third crop of A Lot (USA).
Big increases for two Breeders’ Cup races
The Breeders’ Cup announced on Tuesday that two of their races will get US$1million (AU$1.51million) increases next year. The G1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will increase US$7 million (AU$10.59million), while the purse of the G1 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf will increase US$5 million (AU$7.56million).
“These purse increases reflect a key mission of the Breeders' Cup World Championships: to attract the best-of-the-best from around the world to compete in a spectacular international showcase,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. “We are proud that the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and Longines Breeders' Cup Turf continually rank among the top races in the world and these purse increases demonstrate our Board of Directors' commitment to further enhancing the international stature of the World Championships.”
The total prizemoney pool for the two-day Breeders’ Cup meeting is now US$33million (AU$49.92million).
US$1.2 million colt headlines Day 1 of Ocala 2-year-olds
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale had a solid first day with the top lot being Lot 173, a Tapit (USA) colt who was purchased for US$1.2 million (AU$1.8million) by the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds and D. J. Stables. Sold by Tom McCrocklin, the colt was part of the Lothenbach Stables Dispersal. Aside from the Tapit colt, the first day of the sale was difficult for vendors with the average price falling 11 per cent on last year to US$137,132 (AU$207,000).
Hip 173, a son of Tapit (USA), brings $1.2 million at OBS March | Image courtesy of Photos by Z
“It's hard to compare day to days after the first day, but I thought it was pretty on line with last year overall. The buying bench was pretty varied,” OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said.
“There were a lot of different people buying horses. I felt like we have good horses spread out through the entire catalogue. We obviously had some highlights today and I think we will continue to have highlights over the next two days.”
Law Professor tops Fasig Digital
The Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale closed on Tuesday evening with 66 horses sold for US$2,011,200 ($3,0417,58). The catalogue featured horses of racing age, breeding stock, and yearlings. Law Professor (USA) (Constitution {USA}), a 6-year-old horse of racing age, sold for US$230,000 ($347,854) to JTH Racing to top the sale.
“It was a very solid sale,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales. “It was a workmanlike sale. Six horses brought six figures or more and the market was very fair.”
