Group 1 target for exciting Snitzel colt Bittercreek
Trainers Leon and Troy Corstens confirmed on Sunday that exciting G2 Spirit of Boom Classic winning 2-year-old colt Bittercreek (Snitzel) will head to the G1 JJ Atkins S. next.
“Very happy with yesterday. He has come through the run super well, and he’ll take a stack from it,” co-trainer Troy Corstens told Racing.com.
Troy Corstens | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He only had the one trial going into it, so there’s plenty left to come. He’ll now run in the $1 million Sires Produce in two weeks, and then onto the JJ Atkins”.
Bittercreek was placed at his first two starts prior to Saturday’s win and was a $375,000 purchase by Malua Bloodstock and Baystone Farm from Arrowfield Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Angel Capital to push on to Sires
Trainer Clinton McDonald will push on with 2-year-old colt Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) towards the G2 Sires’ Produce S. despite his fifth placing in Saturday’s G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic.
“He didn’t handle the ground that’s for sure, he was slipping and sliding Jamie (Kah) said,” McDonald told Racing.com on Sunday.
Clinton McDonald | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“With the barrier we had to go back further than what we wanted to. We haven’t lost any faith in him … 1200 metres second-up on a tight track and it being wet, we aren’t panicking and will head towards the Sires.
“The weather forecast for the next 10 days looks really good up here as we’ve had a lot of rain lately. Back onto a dry track, that’s when I think we will see the real horse.”
Warmonger ready for Derby tilt
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s 3-year-old gelding Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) will fly north for the G1 Queensland Derby this week.
“We'll put him on the plane and send him up for the Derby,” Price told Racing.com.
“I was in two minds … he'll be a nice staying four-year-old but just having a good look at him over the last few days he looks beautiful, so off he goes to have a crack at Eagle Farm.” Warmonger ran second last start to Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun) in the G1 South Australian Derby and was a Listed winner back in the spring.
Warmonger (NZ) (outside) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I think J. Kah will ride him … mile-and-a-half, that's him. He's settling now without the blinkers, I just need to draw a barrier and get someone on him who might give him a rub out of the gates and if he's travelling midfield or no further back, he can win a mile-and-a-half Derby no problem.”
Price/Kent’s Hezashocka hoping for rain
Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) won the Listed Gosford Gold Cup last start on a heavy Newcastle track and will head north for the Q22.
Hezashocka (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Well, he's definitely going to the mile-and-a-half races up there … assume the Q22,” co-trainer Mick Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, told Racing.com on Sunday.
“[We'll] use the Doomben Cup as his gallop into the Premier's Cup seven days later. The Premier's Cup is where you'll see him at his best in a mile and-a-half.”
New juvenile winner for Brutal
Kris Lees and Craig Williams combined to win the juvenile Sacred Elixir race at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday with 2-year-old colt Brutal Bowler (Brutal {NZ}) who won by 2.8l. The colt was having his second start and became the sixth individual winner for Brutal (NZ) in his first season.
Sold by Newhaven Park at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $240,000 to Lees Racing and Bahen Bloodstock, Brutal Bowler is the third winner from as many to race for city winning Listed-placed Refer (Fastnet Rock).
Cult hero Dubai Moon wins over hurdles
Iron galloper Dubai Moon (Pride Of Dubai) has gained a big fandom after winning several races in succession on the flat over staying distances, and on Sunday at Casterton he won his first hurdle race.
“He loved it out there, he just got out in front and did his own thing, he jumped really well,” jockey Aaron Lynch told Racing.com.
“Made a little boo at one, but we got through it no worries, he just picked himself up and kept bowling along. I had to choose between Affluential and him at the start of the season, and I chose him, so that’s where I think he’s at, so hopefully he can keep going on now. Frankie knew me when I was a little kid, so there’s a little connection there … it’s good to get winners for Frankie and his family.”
Dubai Moon has won eight of his 52 starts with a further 14 placings and earnings over $240,000. Back in January and February he won four in succession in a 13-day period and since then has had eight more starts including Sunday’s win. He has placed over hurdles twice in the last couple of months.
Treble for Dabernig at Casterton
Sunday’s meeting at Casterton was a cracking one for Warrnambool-based trainer Tom Dabernig who won three races including the Casterton Cup with Picaroon (Fiorente {Ire}). “I’m absolutely delighted for Richard White, he owns her 100 per cent and bred her,” Dabernig told Racing.com.
“Obviously, it was a highlight winning the country trainer’s race at Flemington over Cup week, but this preparation she’s just struggled to find her form. But I just thought, ‘well, she’s a Fiorente that’s never ran beyond a mile,’ so we stepped her up to this cup distance today, and it’s great to see her do it.”
Dabernig won Race 6 with 3-year-old filly British Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}), race seven with Calico Jack (Merchant Navy) and Race 8 was the Cup.
Wilde gets treble at Casterton
Trainer Symon Wilde won three races at Casterton on Sunday with Freddy The Eagle (Free Eagle {Ire}), 3-year-old gelding Darts Daly (Squamosa), and the Two Rivers Steeplechase with Elvison (Elvstroem).
Symon Wilde
Different spring plan for Mr Brightside
Team Hayes will skip the G2 PB Lawrence S. with Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) this spring, despite the galloper having won it in 2023 and 2022, and head directly into the G1 Memsie S.
“I think we'll go first-up Memsie this year,” Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will and JD, told Racing.com on Sunday.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The Lawrence will just come up that little bit quick and that extra two weeks will be very good for him. He's done really well in the paddock; we're looking forward to building him up for the spring.”
Peter and Dawn Williams announce retirement from training
New Zealand trainers Peter and Dawn Williams have announced their retirement from training. “I am 70 next month and I felt it was time to move on,” Peter Williams said.
“I think it is a younger person’s game and we have got in and supported these younger ones. Next month it has been 50 years since I have had a (trainer’s) license, and Dawn came onboard in the eighties. We have been doing it a long time.”
Peter and Dawn Williams | Image courtesy of Race Images
The Loveracing.nz website only goes back to the 1988/89 season and shows 993 wins in New Zealand since then. “Dad was a horse trainer, and I went into partnership with him in 1975,” he said. “We went on for two or three years, and when I married Dawn, we took over the stables.”
“Sea Swift won the (G1) Auckland Cup in 1988 and I think she still holds the track record today. It was the richest sporting event in New Zealand at the time and was worth $500,000. Winning that set us up because not only did we train her, but we also had a third share in her as well. That set us up to buy a 100-acre farm in Ashburton just off the town boundary. We set it up as a training establishment – it had its own track and starting gates. We trained a lot of winners from there.”
“We have been very lucky to have been given some good horses to train, we have had good owners and a lot of good people have worked for us over the years.”
Royal Ascot bound Cowardofthecounty purchased by American interests
Trainer Joseph O’Brien’s Royal Ascot-bound 2-year-old colt Cowardofthecounty (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), who was a winner on debut, has been snapped up by Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables and other American-based partners.
“We were really happy with Cowardofthecounty's debut. He was working like a really smart colt, and it was nice to see him go and do it on the track. The form of the race has worked out really well and he will go straight to the Coventry," said O'Brien.
“Really excited to have Mrs Banke, Mr (Tracy) Farmer and Mr (John) Oxley in the ownership group. He is our first horse for Stonestreet and Mr Farmer and obviously we've had success with Mr Oxley in the past. Hopefully it is a long-lasting partnership and Cowardofthecounty can be a special colt for us this season.”
Unbeaten Fast Tracker bought by Wathnan
Guy Heald homebred 3-year-old colt Fast Tracker (GB) (Churchill {Ire}), who is two-for-two after taking the Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly at the beginning of the month, has been sold to Wathnan Racing, Jour de Galop reported.
“He was very impressive during his last race and is on an upward trajectory,” agent Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock told the French publication. “Guy Heald is a commercial breeder and has been a true gentleman during this process. Finding this type of Classic prospect is difficult.”
Fast Tracker holds nominations for the G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, and the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
