O’Shea excited about Linebacker in Champagne
Trainer John O’Shea skipped the G1 Golden Slipper with 2-year-old colt Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) with the long-term aim of the G1 Champagne S., and now the colt gets his chance on Saturday at Randwick.
“He's always been a nice horse for us and we’ve always thought quite highly of him,” O’Shea told Racingnsw.com.au.
Linebacker (NZ) (yellow cap) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He was very good (last start) and we thought he gave himself every chance to make a nice horse. The form around him all round has been very good.” Linebacker is unbeaten in two starts including a last start win in the G3 TL Baillieu H.
Broadsiding can turn tables on Linebacker
Godolphin’s James Cummings believes Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) can best Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth), who beat him last start, in Saturday’s G1 Champagne S. because Broadsiding already has winning form over a mile.
“I liked a slow build-up for Broadsiding to hit a new career peak in the Fernhill, he raced away from them in his first attempt at 1600 metres like a seasoned pro,” Cummings told Racingnsw.com.au.
Broadsiding | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“That bodes well for him for a crack at the Champagne S., he just relished the 1600 metres and recovered nicely from the race (Fernhill).”
Broadsiding won the Listed Fernhill S at his last start, taking his record to one win from four starts, and was third behind Linebacker over 1400 metres in the G3 TL Baillieu H.
Magic Time peaking for All Aged
Trainer Grahame Begg has set Magic Time (Hellbent) for this Saturday’s G1 All Aged S. and has the mare peaking at the right time.
“She was beaten just over 2l in the Newmarket and didn’t get any cover, and raced a bit fresh,” Begg told Racingnsw.com.au.
Magic Time | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Unfortunately the one gate was probably detrimental to her chances in the TJ Smith, it was the worst part of the track on the inside. She was always going to be peaking third-up so we think that’s the case.”
Magic Time has won five of her 10 starts including the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. in the spring with earnings over $1.2 million.
Private Eye to bounce back in All Aged
Trainer Joe Pride believes Private Eye (Al Maher) is ready to show his best in Saturday’s G1 All Aged S.
“I like the fact he’s gone 1000 metres, 1000 metres, 1100 metres and then into 1400 metres. I think that’s fine. He's had the right prep to run his best possible 1400 metres,” Pride told racingnsw.com.au.
Joe Pride | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He can bounce back off, I’m not even going to call them average performances, some disappointing results. If he turns up with his A-game they won’t see which way he goes.”
Private Eye ran second in the G1 Lightning S. to Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) first-up this autumn, then was sixth in the G2 Challenge S., then 11th in the G1 Galaxy H. last start.
Price/Kent win four in succession at Pakenham
The evening meeting on Thursday night began in fine fashion for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable, winning four races in succession. They won race 3,4,5 and 6 with Angland (NZ) (Ace High), Sure (So You Think {NZ}), Tishman (Dundeel {NZ}), and The Big Heist (NZ) (Vanbrugh).
Dundeel 3-year-old ready to step into Listed class
Trainer Andrew Noblet will aim 3-year-old gelding Easy Dun (Dundeel {NZ}) at the Brisbane winter carnival after Saturday’s Listed Daybreak Lover Plate at Eagle Farm.
“The only thing that could maybe cost him is maybe the racing inexperience, but on raw ability, he is right up there,” Noblet told Racing.com.
Noblet plans to progress to the Queensland Guineas in a fortnight and then the Rough Habit S. as part of a three-run campaign which will see the gelding stretch out to 2000 metres. Easy Dun won on debut then ran second in the Listed Morphettville Guineas behind Air Assault (Justify {USA}).
Stewards Inquiry after wrong distance run at Tuncurry
Racing NSW stewards have opened an inquiry after a race at Tuncurry was started over a wrong distance on Thursday. The race was scheduled to run over 1205 metres but actually ran over 1305 metres.
“I'm working through the process with the stewards at Tuncurry,” Racing NSW chief steward Steve Railton told Racenet.com.au.
“Being on a heavy track the extremely slow time didn't prompt them to identify there was an issue immediately after the race and correct weight was given, all bets were paid out.
“The stewards have got to give consideration under Australian Rule (AR) 201 whether the race should be declared void or they use their discretion to allow the result to stand.”
The race was won by Cool Duke (Frosted {USA}).
Hell makes it two in succession
3-year-old gelding Hell (Hellbent) was impressive in winning race 10 at Rockhampton on Thursday to win his second race in succession.
Apprentice Bull to return this weekend
After three months off with a broken ankle, apprentice Tatum Bull is set to make her racing return on Saturday at Mornington.
“It's hard as always returning from injury, it's hard even to get going again and get consistent rides and hopefully I can get some winners,” Bull told Racing.com.
Tatum Bull | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Since starting her apprenticeship in late 2019, Bull has recorded 113 victories and can ride at 50kg.
Investigate a strong group chance for Dundeel
Up-and-coming staying prospect Investigate (Dundeel {NZ}) heads into Saturday’s G3 Championship S. at Ellerslie off the back of a strong second in the G3 Manawatu Classic.
“He’s always suggested he’s a really genuine staying 3-year-old and he got squeezed up late and was strong through the line at Wellington,” trainer Tony Pike told Loveracing.nz.
“It looks a similar race for him on Saturday and this will probably be his last run. He’s come a long way in a short time, so I’d suggest he’ll go out and come back next season.”
Unbeaten Press Link ready for Daybreak
Unbeaten 3-year-old gelding Press Link (Press Statement) will step up into this Saturday’s Listed Daybreak Lover S. at Eagle Farm.
“This will be his acid test as he’s taking on very good horses against his own age,” trainer Robert Heathcote told Racingqueensland.com.au.
Rob Heathcote
Press Link has won all his three starts to date.
Group 1 aims for Wilson
Queensland trainer Marcus Wilson has only 14 in work on the Gold Coast but two will be set for Group 1 races this winter. Captain Fenkel (Kermadec {NZ}) will target the G1 Queensland Derby and 2-year-old colt Heavenly Impact (Harry Angel {Ire}) is being aimed at the G1 JJ Atkins, both at Eagle Farm, in June.
“He’s got a stout pedigree and is out of a Savabeel mare so he should stay,” Wilson said of Captain Fenkel who has won two of his four starts. Heavenly Impact ran second at his only start to date.
Easter hopefuls for Richardson and Norvall
Matamata trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall have two quality stakes chances at Ellerslie on Saturday with Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Channel Surfer (NZ) (Derryn) tackling the G3 Easter H.
“Snazzytavi and Channel Surfer are both lovely horses and both are good chances. We just like to have horses in a big race,” Richardson told Loveracing.nz.
Graham Richardson | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“Without confirming it with Cambridge stud, she (Snazzytavi) is getting to a stage where she will probably need a rest soon and she will look at the Cups races next season.”
Million guineas for last crop Galileo colt at Craven breeze-ups
Lot 112, a colt by Galileo (Ire) became the third-highest breeze-up horse sold at public auction in Europe at 1,000,000gns (AU$2.1 million) on Wednesday on the second day of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale. He was purchased by Anthony Stroud as agent for Godolophin. Bought by Kavanagh's Glending Stables for 125,000gns (AU$254,000) from The Castlebridge Consignment at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale, the colt is from the last crop of Galileo.
Godolphin also purchased a Blue Point (Ire) colt (lot 147) for 800,000gns (AU$1.7 million) and a Kingman (GB) colt (lot 150) for the same price, meaning they purchased the top three lots in the sale.
Of the 147 lots offered, 106 were sold at a clearance rate of 72 per cent (down 4 per cent on last year). The aggregate was down 5 per cent to 14,584,500gns (AU$29.64 million) while the median stayed the same at 80,000gns (AU$162,600) and the average climbed 13 per cent to 137,590gns (AU$279,700).
US$1.9million top lot on day two of Ocala breeze-ups
The second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training was led by a Tiz The Law (USA) filly who sold for US$1.9 million (AU$2.9 million) to Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Michael Lund Petersen.
Halfway through the four-day auction, the average of US$143,298 (AU$222,400) is up 9.6 per cent from the same point a year ago and the median of US$80,000 (AU$124,100) is up 14.3 per cent.
Dubawi one-two in the G3 Nell Gwyn
Wednesday's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket was won by Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Pretty Crystal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) from Dance Sequence (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
“These Dubawis get better with age – I think this is the first one I've been sent - and she had a good go at it and put her head down there,” said trainer Richard Fahey.
“I'm probably going to regret not putting her in the Guineas, but it's tough when they get beaten two or three times. I wouldn't say there is no chance of supplementing her, as it's tough to find a race with a Group 3 penalty, but it may be the (G2) German Guineas, that springs to mind - I'll speak to connections.”
