Oaks runner-up heads to Queensland
Trainer Greg Hickman confirmed on Sunday morning that his G1 Australasian Oaks runner-up Private Legacy (The Autumn Sun) will skip the G1 South Australian Derby and head directly to the Queensland carnival. “When you set them for those races and they run a great race like she did you have to be happy,” Hickman told Racing.com.
Private Legacy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“When you’ve been in the game as long as I have you know it’s all a part of it, I've been beaten closer than that before! She’ll come home and go to Queensland. We’re going to have a go at the Queensland Oaks. There isn’t a lot of time really between now and then so we will give her some TLC and she’ll head up for a lead-in run.”
Saxon Warrior gets another juvenile winner
Trainer Patrick Payne’s 2-year-old gelding Signor Bill (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) put on a galloping lesson in the first at Ballarat on Sunday, winning by 5l from the beautifully bred 2-year-old gelding Bancory Bay (Fastnet Rock) and 2-year-old gelding Royal Victory (The Autumn Sun).
Owned by Ollie Tait and Jill Nivison, Signor Bill ran second in both his first two starts, and now has a record of one win and two seconds from three starts. From Saxon Warrior’s second Australian crop, the son of Deep Impact (Jpn) has also sired the Listed juvenile winner Archaic Smile this season.
Munz thrilled with resignation of Jones
Victorian Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association chairman Jonathan Munz said it was "ridiculous" that Jones, who had been in the role for 21 months, was in his $800,000-a-year job for so long. “Jones and his team were completely out of their depth and, apart from fundamental management errors, were seen as pushing a misconceived radical strategy parading as innovation,” Munz said told Racenet.
“They were trying to change things that did not need changing, while ignoring and getting the basics wrong. This alarmed industry investors and participants and caused controversy. Jones' departure is a big win for racing.”
The Archer stays home
Rockhampton trainer Ricky Vale’s 6-year-old gelding Namazu (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) won Sunday’s $775,000 The Archer slot race at Rockhampton to keep the prizemoney local. Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Lavish Empire (Spieth {NZ}) was second, and Les Ross’s Mishani Sniper (Your Song) was third.
Namazu took his record to 13 wins from 40 starts with earnings over $1 million. His dam is G1 Blue Diamond winner Earthquake (Exceed And Excel) who has left four winners from five runners with three stakes horses; Listed placed winner Namazu, Group 2-placed winner Sumatra (Lonhro), and 2-year-old filly Trembles (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who ran third in the Listed Without Fear S. at her only start to date.
Chairman’s Sprint Prize won by Invincible Sage
Invincible Sage (Thronum) gave his sire his first stakes winner in speculator fashion when winning Hong Kong’s G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize on Sunday evening. Fourth in the betting, Invincible Sage prevented California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) from winning three Group 1 races in succession with California Spangle finishing second.
Thronum is a son of Snitzel who has had only 40 runners from his small crops to date for 23 winners, led by Invincible Sage who took his record to seven wins from 19 starts. Winner of three 2-year-old races in succession in Australia and stakes placed at home, prior to being exported to Hong Kong, Invincible Sage originally raced as Thron Bone. His dam is a city winning full sister to Group 2 winner Diamond Tathagata (Hinchinbrook) and a half-sister to the Listed winner Ancestry (The Brothers War {USA}).
Purton wins third Champions Mile in boilover
With Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) sent out as $1.50 favourite, jockey Zac Purton’s mount Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner) was rated a $12 chance by punters. He led all the way to win by 1.5l with the favourite a disappointing fourth. Red Lion (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) was second and Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) was third.
The win gave Purton his third win in the race. Beauty Eternal has now won nine of his 17 starts for trainer John Size, and he has done all his racing in Hong Kong. Originally offered by Fernrigg Farm at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, he was purchased by John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) for $90,000.
Romantic Warrior can do no wrong with third QEII Cup
Jockey James McDonald barely found enough cover for Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) during the middle of the race, then hooked out wide to charge home to win the G1 QEII Cup from Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and North Bridge (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}).
“He was beaten at the 600 (metres) and he just finds a way. I didn’t have one thing go my way and he’s pulled out a run like that. Incredible,” said McDonald.
Romantic Warrior | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Romantic Warrior has now won four Group 1 races in succession; the G1 WS Cox Plate, the G1 G1 Hong Kong Cup, G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup, and now the G1 QEII Cup. Romantic Warrior won this same race in 2023 and 2022. His record is now 14 wins from 19 starts.
No Australian trained horses creates warning
Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has warned Australia that the lack of Australian-trained horses competing at their international meetings might affect future World Pool deals. “Life is never a one-way street,” Engelbrecht-Bresges told Racing.com.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges
“We would like to see more Australian horses here because it is not that we use this as our tool, but one of the reasons for justification we gave to our government is that it should enhance our international race meetings, and therefore when Hong Kong horses go overseas and overseas horses come over here, it makes the whole meeting a little bit more interesting.”
Small returns from brain surgery in time for Warrnambool
Jumps jockey Braidon Small will have two rides at Warrnambool on Tuesday, returning to the saddle after multiple brain surgeries and bouts of chemotherapy to fight a tumour that halted his career in May last year. “I wanted to be back quicker but the doctors had to give me the all-clear and all that sort of thing,” Small told Racenet.com.au.
“I definitely wanted to be back before the May Carnival. They were always confident I'd make it back but it was a question of when I'd get back. I've been doing everything the doctors have been asking me to do and jump through all the hoops that needed to be jumped through. Now we're here.”
He rides Simon Ryan-trained Arassem (Dundeel {NZ}) and Aaron Purcell-trained Wilewink (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) on Tuesday.
Trainer Frew given 10-month ban for alcohol
South Australian trainer Jordan Frew has been banned for 10-months after blowing over the legal blood alcohol limit while handling a horse on race day. “I was charged with failing a sub section of Australian Racing Rule AR137 - the charge relates to me handling one of my two runners in the final event last Saturday then immediately being asked to accompany stewards to provide a breath sample which I failed,” Frew’s statement read.
“I assure all owners that all of our horses are being well cared for and we are working to minimise any delay. I am at fault, and I have accepted this. I am embarrassed that my personal matters affect what was a record-breaking season for my business, our staff and you, our wonderful connections.
“I will use the time to work on elements of my life that I need to and to draw up a future plan that allows me to repay the faith shown by connections.”
The full South Australian steward’s report will be released in a few days.
Aussie Uncorked wins Group 3 in USA
Trainer Phil D'Amato won Saturday’s G3 Royal Heroine S on turf with Uncorked (Pierro). “When Frankie (Dettori) asked her, she responded,” said Julie Witt, assistant to D'Amato. “She is an Australian-bred and they are known for their sprinter/milers down there and they have a heck of a turn of foot.”
Uncorked
Second to (at the time, future) G1 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn (Rebel Dane) in her second start, Uncorked won once in seven starts in Australia before heading to the USA. Her full career record is now four wins from 17 starts.
Dubawi hits 271 stakes winners
The Dermot Weld-trained Ezeliya (Fr) supplied her legendary sire, Dubawi (Ire) with his 271st stakes winner when she swooped late to register a career high in the G3 Irish Stallions Farms EBF Salsabil S. at Navan.
“I thought she would run a big race and she did,” Weld said. “Better ground will suit her better. It is a lovely family, a good, tough family and I think she will get a mile-and-a-half. She is a Group 1 filly and there's lots to look forward to. She is in both (G1 Oaks and G1 Irish Oaks) and we will review it and see. We will see how she progresses during the week and make a decision in two weeks time.”
The regally bred Ezeliya is the second foal from Eziyra (Ire), a daughter of Teofilo (Ire), who was crowned the Champion Older Female in Ireland in 2018. She won six races, including the G2 Blandford S. and the G3 Ballyroan S. Additionally, Eziyra was placed in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and the G1 Hong Kong Vase.
Ezeliya descends from the family of the G1 Gold Cup victress Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}). Eziyra has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Siyouni (Fr).
First Group 1 for Hishida in Tenno Sho (Spring)
The G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) was won by 6-year-old entire T O Royal (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) on Sunday at place. "I’m too happy, I don’t even know how to describe this feeling. … 20 years ago, I came here to watch this race with my family and that was when I decided I wanted to become a jockey," winning jockey Yuji Hishida told HorseRacing_JPN's X account.
"My dad was in the stands today and I’m glad I was able to win my first G1 in front of him.”
T O Royal had won a Group 3 and a Group 2 in his two starts leading into Sunday's race, which was his first Group 1 win.
Kentucky Derby favourite draws out wide
Churchill Downs hosted the draw ceremony for next weekend's G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Kentucky Oaks during its opening night card on Saturday. Favourite Fierceness (USA) (City of Light {USA}) drew 17. “We just need to break cleanly like he did in the Florida Derby, and I think he has enough talent to put himself in the right spot,” Todd Pletcher said.
Fierceness (USA) | Image courtesy of the Kentucky Derby
With a 14 fillies lining up for the Oaks, Godolphin's Tarifa (USA) (Bernardini {USA}) drew post 8 and was established the 7-2 morning-line favourite for Friday's Classic for the fillies.
Stewart’s buying spree continues
South African Horse of the Year Princess Calla (SAf) (Flower Alley {USA}) has been purchased by John Stewart of Resolute Farm from Mario Ferreira, Stewart announced on X Saturday morning. Ferreira and trainer Sean Tarry had sent the five-time South African Group 1 winner to America in early March for a crack at the Breeders' Cup.
“We have finalized our international deal and I'm so excited to announce that we have acquired 2023 South African Horse of the Year Princess Calla in a private sale,” Steward said. Winner of 12 of her 28 starts, the 5-year-old mare’s wins include the 2024 G1 Majorca S., 2023 G1 Champions Cup, 2023 Garden Province S., 2023 South African Fillies Sprint S., and 2022 G1 Empress Club S.
Kitasan Black sibling heads towards Classics
A narrow victory in Saturday’s G2 Tokyo Hai Aoba Sho put 3-year-old colt Sugar Kun (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) into Derby (G1 Tokyo Yushun) contention. “While Kitasan Black is an irreplaceable champion, this horse has only debuted in February and has shown such remarkable performances in just a few months,” said jockey Yutaka Take.
“I sense growth with each race. Today, he settled well and showed a good response when asked to accelerate. Winning and securing the right to run in the Derby is exciting.” Sugar Kun is a half-brother to seven-time Group 1 winner Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) who left dual Horse of the Year and six-time Group 1 winner Equinox (Jpn) in his first crop.
Valentine Candy nets four stakes wins at Oaklawn meet
Trainer Steve Asmussen’s 3-year-old colt Valentine Candy (USA) (Justify {USA}) won the Bachelor S.to net his fourth stakes win during the Oaklawn meeting this year. He had previously won the Listed Advent S at two, then the Listed Ozark S and Listed Animal Kingdom S at three.
His record is now five wins from nine starts.
