Zouna ready for JJ Atkins
Brisbane’s Lawrie Mayfield-Smith will be out to join his famous brothers, Brian and Noel, as a Group 1-winning trainer in the G1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm on Saturday with Zouna (Zousain).
“The distance won’t worry him and his father, Zousain, ran in this race and just got beaten and he’s very stoutly bred on the dam’s side,” Mayfield-Smith told Racingqueensland.com.au.
“His last run was very good as he got off balance on the turn when another horse came out. Adin (Thompson) said it didn’t cost him the race, but he should have finished closer. Broadsiding won the Fernhill and Champagne S. in Sydney and that’s a good indicator he’s going to make a good 3-year-old.”
Winner of two of his five starts, Zouna ran second to Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) last start in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce S. Mayfield-Smith previously trained Freedom Road (Semipalatinsk) to finish third in the JJ Atkins in 1997.
Murphy expects Asfoora to improve for Ascot
Jockey Oisin Murphy is expecting improvement from Asfoora (Flying Artie) in the G1 King Charles III S. (previously King’s Stand S.) at Royal Ascot. “I thought Asfoora's run was very good at Haydock,” Murphy told Racing.com.
Asfoora | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The ground was quite tiring and Henry expected her to improve from the race, so with all that in mind, she wasn't beaten far. I hope she can come forward for her next start at Ascot. The Australian sprinters have a very good record at Ascot … and Asfoora has a good profile, plenty of decent form. It's probably a year where there isn't a standout older European sprinter, it's quite competitive without there being a star, so I'm certainly looking forward to riding her.”
Preusker trio ready for Stradbroke day
Paul Preusker is confident in landing a Queensland blow on Saturday with a trio of chances contesting feature races at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke H. Day. He has Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) in the G1 Stradbroke H., Poison Chalice (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Listed Wayne Wilson, and last year’s Ballarat Cup winner Captain Envious (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G2 Brisbane Cup.
Paul Preusker and Listed Ballarat Cup winner Captain Envious | Imge courtesy of Racing Photos
“He’s a terrific horse, I've got a lot of faith in him, still putting him together he’s a wildcard and he’s still got to mature up in the head,” Preusker told Racing.com about Poison Chalice.
Queensland’s Eyeliner S. target for Fancify
A trip to Queensland for the Listed Eyeliner S. is on the agenda for South Australian galloper Fancify (NZ) (Niagara) after her win at Flemington. “She will fly up for the Eyeliner on Tuesday,” trainer Michael Hickmott told Loveracing.nz. The mare was previously owned by Kiwi breeder Trish Dunell and recently purchased by Imperial Racing.
Michael Hickmott | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
"(Brother) Rob and I were talking about heading up and he's got Beltoro potentially going. Imperial Racing are the sponsor of the Eyeliner Stakes, so it's been a well thought out plan.” Fancify took her record to five wins from 10 starts with earnings over $240,000.
Gold Rush winner adds Swan Hill Cup win
Sunday’s Swan Hill Cup was won by Nick Ryan-trained Munhamek (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for jockey Jamie Mott to take his record to 11 wins from 60 starts. Earlier this season, he won the G3 Gold Rush and he now has earnings over $2.3 million.
At the same meeting, jockey John Allen rode a treble on 3-year-old colt Revalene (Russian Revolution), Phair Plan (American Pharoah {USA}), and Khor (NZ) (Savabeel).
Two country cups in succession for Picaroon
Trainer Tom Dabernig’s 6-year-old mare Picaroon (Fiorente {Ire}) made it two Country Cups in succession when winning Sunday’s Apsley Cup at Edenhope. She won the Casterton Cup at her previous start and now has a record of eight wins and four placings from 27 starts.
Four for Blacker at Hobart on Sunday
Sunday’s Hobart meeting saw trainer John Blacker win four races with Twinkledust (Real Impact {Jpn}), Alpine Affair (Alpine Eagle), 3-year-old filly Press For Boom (Press Statement), and Zewinna (Tough Speed {USA}).
Juvenile Bonfire Spark wins again for Under The Louvre
Beaudesert trainer Olivia Cairns’ 2-year-old filly Bonfire Spark (Under The Louvre) took her record to two wins from four starts with a strong 1.3l win on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. Julieta (Menari) was second while well-bred colt Fitzpatrick (Snitzel) was third.
Under The Louvre stands at Grandview Stud in Queensland and has three winners from his current crop of juveniles, which is his fourth crop.
Winter Cup target for Spencer
A trip south to contest the G3 Winter Cup at Riccarton in August could potentially be on the cards for Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) after he won on Saturday although he almost lost the race by shying before the winning post, nearly unseating jockey Lisa Allpress. “He is a quirky fella and he can shy. I wasn’t expecting that at the winning post,” Allpress told Loveracing.nz.
Spencer (blue cap) winning at Otaki on Saturday | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
“He is doing it so easy, I think he just lost concentration. … I think a race like the Winter Cup (would suit him). He needs to step up a bit more, but he has won over the mile before, so maybe he can get there.” Now the winner of two in a row, Spencer has won four of his 12 starts.
Carston almost wins the whole card at Timaru on Sunday
Riccarton-based trainer Andrew Carston won the first race at Timaru on Sunday with Lippy (NZ) (Tivaci) and trained second placed Domperion (NZ) (Telperion) in the second before the meeting was abandoned for safety reasons. “I never complain as safety comes first and I 100 per cent support the decision taken by officials,” Carston told Loveracing.nz.
“It was quite clear the horse slipped and while you feel for everyone concerned, no-one should be put in danger when this sort of thing happens. I guess the most disappointing aspect was this was likely to be the last decent track we get as winter hits.”
Andrew Carston | Image courtesy of Race Images South
Race two was won by Thee Auld Minx (Charm Spirit {Ire}) trained by Stephen Marsh. Afterwards, jockey Niranjan Parmar reported his mount, Uget What You Give (NZ) (Churchill {Ire}), had lost its footing in behind around the 1000 metres. Uget What You Give finished mid-field in sixth. After a track inspection revealed slip marks at that point on the track, which had been affected by intermittent rain during the morning, stipendiary stewards ordered an abandonment of the meeting.
150 group wins for Lemaire
Jockey Christophe Lemaire made it 150 Japanese group successes on Sunday when 4-year-old colt Lebensstil (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) won the G3 Epsom Cup over 1800m.
Lebensstil took his record to four wins from nine starts and this was his second group win, having previously won the G2 Asahi Hai Saint Lite Kinen last season. Real Steel (Jpn) shuttled to Australia for one season in 2019 and has three stakes winners from his first three crops in Japan.
Rainy winner in G3 Hakodate Sprint
Japan’s other group race on Sunday, the G3 Hakodate Sprint, was won by 5-year-old entire Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) under jockey Suguru Hamanaka for trainer Noriyuki Hori.
A last start Listed winner, Satono Reve has now won six of his eight starts with his other two being a second and a Group 3-fourth placing. In rainy conditions, Satono Reve ran out the 1200 metres in 1:08.4.
The Winnabe remains unbeaten with Hong Kong win
Exciting 3-year-old gelding The Winnabe (Caravaggio {USA}) took his record to two from two with a strong win at Sha Tin on Saturday night and was part of a double for trainer John Size and jockey Hugh Bowman. “He’s a lovely horse and I think this horse is going to run a little bit further,” Size told scmp.com. Size also won with Noble Win (Deep Field) and Bowman also won on Enjoy Golf (Pariah).
Treble for Purton at Sha Tin
Champion jockey Zac Purton picked up another treble at Sha Tin on Saturday night, headlined by the fifth straight win of Copartner Prance (Epaulette). “It was another good effort,” Purton told scmp.com.
“He began really well which helped – it was very fast mid-race – and I just waited for the right time, but he was good to the line. He just seems to keep doing enough.” The win also levelled the trainer’s premiership with Francis Lui and Pierre Ng now on 61 wins each.
Lack of prizemoney at Royal Ascot an issue for Ward
USA trainer Wesley Ward has won 12 races at Royal Ascot in the last 15 years but is finding it harder to convince his owners to make the trip given the relative prizemoney between America and England. “It's very expensive to get them over there and I don't want to be bringing over horses I'm not confident are going to run well,” Ward told Racingpost.com.
“There's been a lot of owners of mine over the years that have wanted to go over and have this experience, but it's very hard to win at Royal Ascot. … The money we run for at Ascot wouldn't be even the equivalent of a maiden race in the States.”
Debut winner heads to online sale
Recent 5l Saint-Cloud maiden winner 3-year-old filly Golden Belle (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}) will be offered in the next Auctav Flash Sale on June 14. “She has recently shown great improvement in training. Her win was very promising. She has all the qualities to be a good flat race filly over long distance and to transition to National Hunt if that is what her future connections wish,” said trainer Mathieu Brasme.
Golden Belle (Fr) | Image courtesy of Auctav
Record turnover for Belmont meeting at Saratoga
Saturday's blockbuster Belmont Stakes Day card, highlighted by Dornoch's victory in the 156th running of the GI $2-million Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets, generated all-sources handle of US$125,748,941 (AU$190.6 million), a New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) record for a non-Triple Crown year.
The 2024 all-sources handle figure is an increase of more than 6.3 per cent over the previous non-Triple Crown record of US$118,283,455 (AU$179 million), which was set in 2023.
Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux’s pedigree dominates maiden race
In a quirky coincidence, the maiden race for 3-year-olds at Kyoto on Sunday was won by the full brother to G1 WS Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), who is named Evolving, and in second was the first foal of Lys Gracieux, a colt named Schwertlilie (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}).
