Post Impressionist won’t run in Sydney Cup
Post Impressionist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) ran poorly in the G1 Tancred S. and has been sent out for a spell rather than run in Saturday’s G1 Sydney Cup. Owner Lloyd Williams blamed himself for backing the horse up after he won the G3 NE Manion Cup so well the week prior.
He said he “should have known better,” according to racenet.com.au.
Petula gains Sky Racing slot in The Quokka
Exciting 3-year-old filly Petula (Nicconi) has been selected by Sky Racing as their slot representative for The Quokka. “We're thrilled to have secured Petula for our The Quokka slot,” Tabcorp Chief Operating Officer, Paul Carew told Racenet.com.au.
“At Sky Racing, we have the benefit of using insights of Australia's leading form analysts, and we love promoting local horses. Petula's potential is truly untapped and we can't wait to see her take on this competitive field.”
Petula has won four of her nine starts including the Listed Bunbury Breeders’ Classic, and is trained by Simon Miller who will also have Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) in the race.
Battle of the Bush on cards for Jester
King Jester (Hallowed Crown) will prepare for the Battle of the Bush when he runs at Cairns on Tuesday. “I’m hoping to get him ready for the Battle Of The Bush Final in Brisbane but he needs to have five runs in the country and he’s only had a couple so far,” trainer Rodney Miller told Racingqueensland.com.au.
Rodney Miller | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
King Jester has reignited his career by winning three of his past four starts after a 19-month form slump, and now has nine wins from 29 starts.
Ballina races transferred to Grafton
After receiving 173mm of rain in the last few days, the Ballina track isn’t suitable for racing, so Tuesday’s meeting has been transferred to Grafton. Racing NSW advises trainers to check the race conditions as a few races will need to have small changes in distances.
Grafton is currently rated a Heavy 8 with the rail placed 7 metres out from the 1200 metres to the winning post and out 5.5 metres the remainder.
Cliff House wins Gundagai Cup
The Gundagai Cup at Wagga Riverside on Monday was won by short favourite Cliff House (Starcraft {NZ}) for trainer Tim Donnelly. The 5-year-old gelding paid just $1.55, and took his record to seven wins from fourteen starts with earnings over $155,000.
Pair of winning debutants at Echuca
Trained by Mr Smiley Chan for owners J W Price and C L Barker, Howdy (Speith {NZ}) won on debut at Echuca on Monday over 1200 metres. A $20,000 purchase by John Price Racing from Evergreen Stud at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Howdy is the second foal and second winner for Exceed and Excel mare Heroine.
Howdy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Strat (Stratosphere) won the third race on the card for the same trainer with the ownership group including Howdy’s owners B J Waterfall and B N Adams. The 3-year-old gelding was purchased by John Price Racing for $22,000 at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale from BK Baker.
Namoi River seeking maiden win at Kembla Grange
With Rachel King booked for 3-year-old gelding Namoi River (Headwater), trainer Gregory Hickman thinks his horse can go on with it at Kembla Grange on Tuesday. “With Rachel on and from the good gate, I think he gets his chance,” Hickman told racingnsw.com.au.
“With time he is getting better and he appreciated the drop in grade at Bathurst last time out when he hit the line pretty well to finish second.”
Double for Siggy Carr at Hobart
Jockey Siggy Carr rode a double at Hobart on Sunday aboard trainer John Blacker’s 4-year-old entire Let’s Messaround (Lucas Cranach {GER}) and trainer Jessie Bazan’s 4-year-old mare Fear The Sting (Gold Standard).
“She’s had a throat operation, so she has done a really good job. We knew the speed was still there; we were just hoping she would get to show us her ability today,” Bazan told tasracing.com.au.
What A Prince takes out Geraldton Cup
Trainer Barry Newnham’s plan for 5-year-old gelding What A Prince (All Too Hard) worked perfectly when he won Sunday’s Geraldton Cup. “I don’t think anyone has seen the best of him,” Newnham told rwwa.com.au.
Two starts ago, What A Prince ran second over 1200 metres, then jumped up to the 2100 metres of the April Geraldton Gold Cup (second) before winning Sunday’s Gold Cup over the same trip.
“I don’t think anybody has tried this (backing a sprinter up into the Cup) and I said two months ago he was a stayer. I was told by a lot of people I couldn’t win the race so there you go.”
What A Prince has won 7 of his 31 starts with another 14 placings for earnings over $220,000.
Stellenboch wins Oka Sho
Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) was an authoritative winner of Sunday's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) at Hanshin Racecourse, the first leg of the Japanese Triple Tiara, with previously unbeaten Champion Japanese two-year-old filly in 2023 Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in second.
It was a third victory in the Oka Sho for trainer Sakae Kunieda and the first for jockey Joao Moreira. “She went up front a little bit too early and I was worried she couldn't sustain her speed all the way to the end but, as with all good horses, she has proved to be capable and has given me my second Group 1 win in Japan which will be in my heart forever,” Moreira told TDN Europe.
Cruz wins 1500th race in Hong Kong with Group 2
The G2 Chairman’s Trophy on Sunday at Sha Tin gave trainer Tony Cruz his 1500th winner in the region, thanks to Beauty Joy (Sebring). “I was born and raised here. My Dad (Johnny) was a jockey. I was meant to be part of this racing game – to be a jockey and a trainer,” Cruz told Racenet.com.au.
“The Hong Kong Jockey Club is one of the best places to train horses in the world. It's an achievement in any trainer's lifetime to make 1500 winners.” Beauty Joy will head to the G1 Champions Mile on April 28. He now has 10 wins from 33 starts.
Guineas preparation for Ballydoyle pair
Ballydoyle's season cranked up a gear at Leopardstown on Sunday as the No Nay Never pair Battle Cry (Ire) and Samuel Colt (Ire) completed a one-two in the G3 Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” S.
Of the winner, trainer Aiden O’Brien said, “He'd prefer better ground and looks like he'll get a mile. It's tough out there and you have to get home there today. He could be a horse for the French or the Irish Guineas.”
Harry Angel filly stays unbeaten in Group 3 win
3-year-old filly A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) stayed unbeaten in winning the G3 Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” S. at Leopardstown on Sunday. The Paddy Twomey-trained €40,000 Tatts Ireland September bargain took her record to three from three.
“I think she's a good filly and I'd hoped she would do something like that,” Twomey told TDN Europe. “I haven't run her since she won the second time last year as she just grew and I wanted to give her the time. I'm glad I did and she's trained well all winter. I was looking forward to coming here today, although the heavy ground was a concern as her form was on good ground. She's uncomplicated and she's tough.”
World’s best sprinter Lucky Sweynesse out with injury
Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) will be out for at least four months after sustaining a fracture in the G2 Sprint Cup. “He has a fracture in his fetlock. When he turned into the straight, he stumbled and I think it happened then,” trainer Manfred Man told scmp.com.
Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Lucky Sweynesse will undergo surgery and hopefully will be back for next season. He has won 16 of his 24 races and is rated the best sprinter in the world.
Technical issue reduces turnover in Hong Kong
Punters couldn’t log into their accounts for the first two races of the World Pool event on Saturday, negatively affecting turnover. “It was an issue which was very technical,” CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges told scmp.com. “There was an issue with one of the account processors and it took a lot longer to resolve than is normally the case. It should not happen, but we will definitely strengthen processes.”
Saturday’s 12-race product from Randwick and Turffontein turnover was HK$390.9 million, down from the HK$436.5 million wagered the previous weekend on Melbourne, Sydney and Dubai.
