Plan to woo King Charles III to Melbourne Cup
VRC chairman Neil Wilson and wife Stephanie spent time with King Charles III and Queen Camilla on day one of the Royal Ascot carnival in a bid to get them to attend the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Additionally Ascot chairman and His Majesty's Representative Sir Francis Brooke and Wilson signed the "sister" track agreement on Tuesday. “We are pleased to continue the official partnership between the Victoria Racing Club and Ascot,” Wilson told racenet.com.au. “First signed in 2006, our international alliance has contributed to the successful evolution of thoroughbred racing as a truly global sport.”
Luncies will have to break weight record in Ipswich Cup
Trainer Kris Lees is hoping to buck the trend this year with imported stayer Luncies (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) who has been given 60kgs for Saturday’s Listed Ipswich Cup. “He’s got a big weight but he carries it well and I’m not worried about the race’s history. History is meant to be broken,” Lees told Racingqueensland.com.au.
Luncies | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The last three Ipswich Cup winners, Regal Lion (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}), Smart Meteor (Smart Missile) and Happy Go Plucky (Pluck {USA}) have all carried light weights with 54kgs while 14 other winners since 2000 have carried the minimum.
Since the race was first run in 1935, Sydney Cup winner Sharply (Edwardsii {Ire}) holds the weight-carrying record at 58.5kgs when he was successful in 1961.
Milestone for Allen family
Jockey Ben Allen added his first city winner for his trainer father John at Sandown on Wednesday aboard Go To Hollywood (Alpine Eagle). “I've only ever ridden a handful of winners for Dad and this is my first city winner. It's his first city winner in quite a while, so it's special,” Allen told racing.com.
Winner of two of his last three starts, Go To Hollywood has three career wins from eight starts. Allen rode a double at Sandown with his other winner being Gottabesavvy (NZ) (Savabeel).
Juvenile winner for Brutal
The first at Balaklava on Wednesday went to debutant 2-year-old gelding Big Brute (Brutal {NZ}) for trainer Chris Bieg and jockey Felicity Atkinson. Brutal now has eight first crop winners.
Big Brute was an $11,000 yearling purchase by his trainer from Newgate Farm at Inglis Digital November Sale and is the fourth foal and second winner for city winner Tree Of Jesse (Street Cry {Ire}) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Related (Elusive Quality {USA}).
Singing Star wins again
Wyong trainer Damien Lane’s 2-year-old filly Singing Star (Star Turn) took her record to two wins from three starts with a win at Dubbo on Wednesday. All her starts, the other being a second, have been at Dubbo.
Trainer charged with failing to treat a horse
Licensed trainer Anthony Cranston has been charged by racing Victoria Stewards for failing to treat an injured horse. The unnamed 2-year-old filly by Vino Rosso (USA) was eventually euthanised.
The charges issued against Cranston under Australian Rule (AR) 231(1)(b)(iii) and AR 231(1)(b)(ii) (in the alternative) will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.
Lloyd to give Eurozone a confidence booster
Trainer Ron Leemon has called upon Zac Lloyd in a bid to help Euromaster (Eurozone) score a confidence boosting win at Kembla Grange on Thursday. “His father Jeff used to ride for me so that's how we got Zac,” Leemon told Racingnsw.com.au.
Zac Lloyd | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“The girl (Leeshelle Small) who rode him last start is going to be a very good rider but she just doesn't have the strength to pick it up and lift it now. We are not claiming so we will have to carry the weight but if luck is on our side we will get there. Weight will be the biggest burden.”
Guineas for Williams More Than Ready filly
Co-trainer Grant Williams thinks Petrouchka (More Than Ready {USA}) can add valuable black type to her page when she tackles Saturday’s Listed Belmont Guineas. “She’s a really nice filly,” Williams said to The Races WA.
“We brought her in for the Oaks and Derby, but in the end went shin sore. We had to put her away again, but all in all that’s probably been a blessing.”
Casino Prince mare has a crack at Listed race
Cliff Goss will chase a hometown feature in the Listed Tauranga Classic on Saturday with his consistent mare Casino Princess (NZ) (Casino Prince). The last start winner has won four times and placed four times from 10 starts.
Casino Princess (NZ) (outside) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“She begins really fast and I want her to race handy, because the track is going to be pretty gluey and I don’t think there will be many horses coming from the back. We just hope she can hang on from there,” Goss told Loveracing.nz.
“She just loves the heavy ground, she won her first start on that type of track at Tauranga by about seven lengths. That was only a maiden and this is a different class, but being really heavy won’t worry her.”
Brown’s pair ready for stakes assignment
Trainer Shane Brown’s pair of Sanibel (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) and Shelbyrock’n (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) will run in Saturday’s Listed Tauranga Classic. “The bookies will probably have them quite long in the market, but I’m really happy with them and they will both cop the heavy track,” Brown told Loveracing.nz.
Sanibel won this race back in 2022. “Her form right-handed is good and she also ran fourth in the Auckland Breeders’ (Gr.2, 1400m) in November on a track that was a little bit good for her. I don’t see why she won’t be a good chance.”
King to ride OTI’s Highland Bling on Thursday
Jockey Rachel King will ride OTI’s 3-year-old gelding Highland Bling (Ire) (Highland Reel {Ire}) at Royal Ascot on Thursday in the King George V S. as well as Yulong owned 3-year-old filly Strutting (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Sandringham S. on Friday.
Rachel King | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Highland Bling won on debut and has had two starts since for trainer Jessica Harrington, while Strutting is trained by John and Thady Gosden and was a winner as a 2-year-old.
OTI plan to send Royal Ascot runner up to Cox Plate
OTI’s Terry Henderson will send Docklands (GB) (Masaat {Ire}) to the G1 WS Cox Plate after he ran second at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. “Naturally we are very happy with the run of Docklands and it now confirms that he is a realistic chance to come across to Australia in the spring," Henderson told racenet.com.au.
“Obviously, would like to heads towards the Cox Plate if it seemed the best race for him and follow up with a race at Flemington.” Docklands ran second in the G1 Queen Anne S. over a mile behind Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and now has a record of three wins and five placings from 10 starts
Livestream available for Welfare Summit
The 11th Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation's Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, which is scheduled for June 25 in the Longship Room at Kroger Field and will be livestreamed at bit.ly/wsslivestream and facebook.com/USJockeyClub, will feature information gleaned from the Equine Injury Database and recent reforms which can be predictive as to future safety initiatives.
The summit is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, visit bit.ly/wss2024reg.
