Waller filly to take on Derby
Trainer Chris Waller will back up last start Listed St Leger winning 3-year-old filly Ahuriri (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) in Saturday’s G1 South Australian Derby.
“Fillies get 2kg off the boys and as we know, some of the girls are the best,” Waller told Racing.com.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It was a dominant display in the St Leger, it was our first St Leger.” The Listed St Leger over 2800 metres was ran on April 25. The only other filly in the race is Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun) who ran third in the G1 Australasian Oaks last start.
Proven stayer ready for Derby
Co-trainers Carol and David Feek’s 3-year-old gelding Gold Wolf (NZ) (Tivaci) is one of only two horses in Saturday’s G1 South Australian Derby proven over the 2400-metre trip.
“We're very happy with him,” Carol Feek told Racenet.com.au.
“Each race he takes good experience from, he definitely had his hardest race to date last start. It'll be interesting to see whether he takes education from that and if he's a little more battle-hardened going into the Derby – which he will need to be.”
Gold Wolf (NZ) (red cap)
The other horse with 2400-metre form is Antrim Coast (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) who ran second last start to Gold Wolf, and previously ran second to Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G1 New Zealand Derby.
Top SA jockey gets Derby ride
South Australia's leading jockey this season, Jake Toeroek, will ride Tulsa King (Kermadec {NZ}) for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr in Saturday's G1 South Australian Derby.
Jake Toeroek | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It is a great opportunity for such a strong yard, who have a habit of winning our Group 1s,” Toeroek told Racing.com.
“His run on Saturday in the Chairman's when fourth to Bold Soul was full of merit.”
Pareto ready for Listed Dalrello S
Trainer David McColm reckons he might have unearthed his best ever horse with 2-year-old gelding Pareto (Pierata) who won on debut last weekend and will run in Saturday’s Listed Dalrello S.
“They had a $200,000 reserve on him which was out of our reach, I didn't want to go to that type of money, but he ended up getting passed in,” McColm told Racenet.com.au of Pareto’s purchase for $160,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Telemon Thoroughbreds draft.
“I said to (fellow co-owner Don Wardlaw) that Far Too Easy had done wonderful things for us, so we decided to go the extra mile. He is a really nice horse, the other day when he won, he obviously won well, but this is a step up from there.”
The pair also own Far Too Easy (All Too Hard) who had been set for this year’s G1 Stradbroke H., but is recovering from a bout of acute colitis which will see him sidelined for some time.
Snow In May gives The Autumn Sun a juvenile winner
On Thursday at Wagga Wagga, trainer John O’Shea’s 2-year-old filly Snow In May (The Autumn Sun) won on debut for jockey Tyler Schiller by 1.3l.
Snow In May was a $150,000 purchase by John O’Shea Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Attunga Stud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She is the first foal of Kirkham 2YO Plate winner and Group 2-placed See You Soon (Siyouni {Fr}), a locally born daughter of Siyouni and French dual Group 3 winner Soneva (USA) (Cherokee Run {USA}).
Guineas to determine Kintyre’s Queensland plans
Trainer Gary Portelli will use Saturday’s G2 Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm to determine the future plans for 3-year-old gelding Kintyre (Hallowed Crown).
“I’m not sure if he’ll run 2400 metres and I doubt he’s really a mile and a half horse,” Portelli told Racingqueensland.com.au.
Gary Portelli
“He’ll head to the Rough Habit Plate after the Queensland Guineas and if he runs well there we’ll make a decision then about the Queensland Derby.” Kintyre won the G3 Frank Packer Plate last start in a protest.
Acedrod wins 2-year-old race for Heroic Valour
Trainer Craig Smith’s 2-year-old gelding Acedrod (Heroic Valour) won on Thursday at Rockhampton at his second start, having run third on debut at the same track two weeks prior.
Group 1-winning juvenile Heroic Valour stands at Raheen Stud in Queensland.
Clerk of the Course joins race, not once but twice
In the first on the card at Warrnambool on Thursday, the Clerk of the Course attempted to catch a riderless horse in the home straight while the race was in its final furlong. Social media blew up over the incident with some calling it ‘incredible’ and others ‘dangerous’.
Not to be content with being the main character on the day, the Clerk repeated the effort in the Grand Annual with many shaking their heads at the interference to the actual racehorses.
Racing Victoria stewards and the Victorian Jockeys' Association will meet during the week to review the two controversial incidents.
Grand Annual effort for Darry Horner Jnr
Jumps jockey Darry Horner Jnr won his first Grand Annual Steeplechase on Symon Wilde trained Count Zero (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) by the narrow margin of 0.15l after the 5500-metre contest. Horner Jnr took a year away from riding to work as a builder.
“I went off building for 12 months, but racing's a bug and you can't get rid of it,” Horner Jnr told Racing.com.
“Every time I knew the boys were out racing and I was hammering nails, it hurt. I finally came to my senses and Eric Musgrove got me to come to my senses. Now I've won a Grand Annual and a Jericho, so I can't believe it.”
Jumps jockey blows over the limit
Jumps jockey Ross O'Sullivan has been outed for a month after failing a breathalyser test at Warrnambool on Thursday. Under the rules of racing, jockeys must return a breath test reading of under 0.02 per cent. O'Sullivan pleaded guilty to the charge and his suspension will expire at midnight on June 2.
His mount for race one, Resolutions (Reset), was scratched.
Bathurst Racing seeking four directors
Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing Ltd. (BTR) and Racing NSW are seeking applications for up to four Independent Directors, for terms up to four years.
The Independent Director positions are selected by Racing NSW on the recommendations of a Selection Panel, having regard to the skills and experience that will augment, bolster or complement the skills and experience of the sitting Elected Directors.
Applications close Thursday May 16.
Last start juvenile winner set for Hawkesbury
Saturday’s meeting at Hawkesbury will see David Payne-trained 2-year-old filly Trafalgar Square (Churchill {Ire}) have a crack at two wins in succession.
“I think she’s going to be above average, she could be in the decent fillies races once she gets up to the mile (at three),” Payne told racingnsw.com.au.
David Payne
“That’s always been our hope and she’s shown that she’s got it so far. She’s had two viruses, that’s why you haven’t seen the best of her.”
Trafalgar Square is a winner from four start and ran sixth in the Golden Gift on debut back in November.
Great jockey shuffle for Goodwood
Jockey Jamie Kah gets an opportunity in next Saturday’s G1 Goodwood Handicap aboard Benedetta (Hellbent) after Daniel Stackhouse decided to ride Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}), who was made available by Damian Lane electing to ride Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}).
Ben Melham gets to ride What You Need (Supido) after regular rider Craig Williams decided to stick with Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), while local jockey Todd Pannell has secured the ride on Vilana (Hallowed Crown) for the James Cummings stable.
Can Bustling be beaten in the WA Sires?
Trainer Russell Stewart believes the 2kg difference will help his 2-year-old filly Golden Kathleen (Leonardo Da Hinchi) beat hot favourite Bustling (Frosted {USA}) in Saturday’s G3 WA Sires’ Produce S.
“My word I can, my word,” Stewart said to The Races WA.
“Her last two 600 metres have been as good as his (Bustling) if not better. And she’s had traffic problems, red lights and more traffic problems. He’s been in the clear running his last 600 metres as he likes.”
Wednesday Group winners in the UK
Wednesday’s meeting at Ascot was billed as the Royal Ascot trials day, and it didn’t disappoint with three stakes races. The G3 Pavillon S. (also known as the Commonwealth Cup Trial S.) was won by 3-year-old colt Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}).
“I think he got a little bit frightened as a juvenile, so we've worked and worked and he had some precious turnout up until Christmas at home, and I'm just pleased the plan has come off,” trainer Clive Cox told Racingpost.com.
The G3 Sagaro S. was won by Andrew Balding-trained Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and the Listed Paradise S was won by Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Quddwah (GB) (Kingman {GB}).
Guineas Sale day one topped by Kingman filly
Wednesday provided a taste of what might be to come at the Tattersalls Guineas Sale when a Kingman (GB) filly from the John Dance dispersal sold for 130,000gns (AU$270,000) to Alex Elliott and Billy Jackson-Stops on behalf of powerful owners Valmont and Michael Blencowe.
Over 50 horses connected to Dance's Coverdale Stud and Titanium Racing Club will be auctioned at this week's Guineas Sale. Dance, the well-known owner whose finest days in the sport came courtesy of six-time Group 1 winner Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), was arrested almost a year ago and is involved in an ongoing Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) investigation into allegations of fraud and money laundering involving his company WealthTek LLP.
Of the 72 horses offered, 66 were sold, representing a 92 per cent clearance rate. The turnover sat at 968,500gns (AU$1.9 million) while the median was 12,000gns (AU$25,000) and the average 14,674gns (AU$29,000).
