McDonald still three clear in Sydney premiership
Jockeys James McDonald and Nash Rawiller had a winner each at Kensington on Wednesday with McDonald maintaining his three win advantage in the Sydney Jockey’s title.
James McDonald.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing as the pair clashed in the steward’s room over Rawiller's victory aboard Little Cointreau (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}). Little Cointreau made contact with McDonald’s mount Nanshe (Astern) who finished third, but after reviewing the tapes, he withdrew the protest.
Racing NSW stewards later found neither McDonald nor Rawiller were to blame.
Dead heat boosts Ellerton recovery
Flemington trainer Mathew Ellerton who is making good progress in rehabilitation after a recent stroke enjoyed a win on Wednesday at Sandown with Nodachi (No Nay Never {USA}) who deadheated with Lake Vostok (Russian Revolution).
“It means a lot, the team at home has been amazing, stepped up, for us to keep going,” Leah Ellerton told racenet.com.au.
“He's in rehab, he's doing really well, having lots of physio. He's walking, talking, his face is back to normal, he's trying to interfere a little bit, not that we need him doing that, it's a good sign he is trying to get back into what he loves to do.”
First city winner for Archard
Echuca trainer Rhys Archard celebrated his first city winner with Boltsaver (Bolt d’Oro {USA}) at Sandown on Wednesday. “I got a bit excited up in the grandstands,” Archard told racenet.com.au.
“One of my dad's biggest owners, Fred Borg, bred him then Fred passed away and all his stock got put online. My sister bought him and gave him to my father then my father passed away last year and so I got him. To have my first city winner, and my sister own it … terrific.”
Saturday’s Bylerley S. Politely Dun short for Derby
Danny O'Brien-trained Politely Dun (Dundeel {NZ}) is on the equal second in the betting at $11 in the TAB's early G1 Victoria Derby market, behind the season's star juvenile Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}). Politely Dun will run in Saturday’s Byerley S.
“It's a bit hard to believe as he's only been to the races twice and he's a big, gangly, staying 3-year-old,” O'Brien told racing.com.
Danny O'Brien
“He ran well at his two starts and it looks like the 1800 metres is going to suit him even better and he'll keep improving out of his race starts. He's in a very suitable race on Saturday and with natural improvement from his first two runs, he should be really hard to beat.”
Treble for Schofield at Kensington
Jockey Chad Schofield rode a treble at Kensington on Wednesday aboard 2-year-old colt Clear Proof (Justify {USA}), It’s a Knockout (Dundeel {NZ}) and Bundeena (Spirit Of Boom).
Everest ambitions for Climbing Star
The spring campaign for Group 1 winner Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) will kick off on September 27 in the G1 Manikato S. “We might even be a bit ambitious and look for an Everest slot,” trainer Phillip Stokes told racing.com.
Climbing Star (NZ) | Image courtesy of Atkins Photography
Racing Queensland celebrate NAIDOC
This weekend’s running of The Hayden will form part of the Queensland racing industry’s celebrations of NAIDOC Week 2024. Three showcase races will also be held as part of the industry’s commitment to strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Racing Queensland is proud to celebrate NAIDOC Week, which was held from July 7 to 14.
Brisbane Racing Club CEO resigns
Brisbane Racing Club CEO Tony Partridge has resigned according to a report by racenet.com.au.
Vale Ken Chilby
Racing NSW has been informed of the passing of former trainer Ken Chilby at the age of 101. Mr Chilby was a trainer at Canterbury Racecourse and is the father-in-law of current Warwick Farm trainer Ron Leemon. “I was studying to be a teacher and was foreman to Ken for 10 years prior to taking out my own licence in 1977,” Leemon told racingnsw.com.au.
Chilby won the 1973 G1 Victoria Oaks and 1974 G1 Queensland Oaks with Bonnybel (NZ) (Faux Tirage {GB}).
Peters has a Queen for Belmont
Leading owner-breeder Bob Peters is warming to the prospect of 3-year-old filly Antique Queen (Pierro) winning Saturday’s Listed Belmont Classic at odds. She’s coming along very well,” Peters said on Tabradio.
“She was a bit unlucky in that race last start where she missed the start. I think if she hadn’t missed the start she might have been in the placings. We’re hoping she can do the same thing again, but not miss the start.” Antique Queen is a winner from seven starts and ran fourth in the Listed Belmont Oaks last start.
Getafix has been fixed for Saturday
Co-trainer Tom Charlton thinks Getafix (Calyx {GB}) will flourish for Saturday’s run at Rosehill now that’s he’s been gelded. “He was always quite energetic and showed signs of coltiness in both his starts so we decided to geld him, which has shown a big improvement,” Charlton told racingnsw.com.au.
Getafix as a yearling | Image couresy of Magic Millions
“It was a really strong Todman and I think it came a bit too quick for him and we decided to pull the pin. Hopefully he might end up in that grade one day. He’s a really big, strong, scopey, horse and he’s going to continue to improve and progress as he gets older. What he did as an early 2-year-old was more than we could have expected when we bought him. If he can shape with promise and be in the first three or four he will definitely build on that.”
Wyndspelle moves to Wyndholm Park
Group 1 winner Wyndspelle (NZ) will move to Wyndholm Park for the 2024 season after the closure of Cornwall Park Stud. He will stand at a fee of $6,600 inc GST.
Wyndspelle (NZ) | Standing at Wyndholm Park
“We’re absolutely delighted to have him now under the care of Kim and his expert team at Wyndholm Park,” said managing owner Jen Campin.
Gallant Star set for The Kosciuszko
Dubbo trainer Brett Robb has set Gallant Star (Zoustar) for The Kosciuszko and will give him only one lead-up run. “I’m relying on what Gallant Star has done so far when it comes to getting a start in The Kosciuszko,” Robb told racingnsw.com.au.
“He’d go to the sprint at Dubbo without a trial and after that I believe second-up over 1200 metres at Randwick would really suit him.”
Ellerslie ready to run again
Ellerslie’s newly developed StrathAyr track passed its first test on Monday since remedial work was undertaken following several slips on the surface earlier this year. Six horses galloped on the surface on Monday under leading jockeys Warren Kennedy and Craig Grylls, and Auckland Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Paul Wilcox was pleased to hear their positive feedback following their work.
Ellerslie
“We conducted a trial of horses over our surface (on Monday) and we are very delighted to report that all went well,” Wilcox told Loveracing.nz on Wednesday. “We had senior jockeys Craig Grylls and Warren Kennedy, and they were both complimentary of the track. We have still got a body of work to do before our return to racing, but at this stage we are really happy and the feedback from the jockeys was just as good.”
Hawkes Bay for debutant juvenile
Matamata trainer Glenn Old will head to Thursday’s Hawke’s Bay meeting with in-form Kaimai Queen (NZ) (Atlante) and promising 2-year-old Thankgoditsfriday (NZ) (Divine Prophet), who has trialled well ahead of her debut. “I’ve only had the two runs with her and she looks super,” Old told Loveracing.nz about Kaimai Queen.
“Both her trials have been good, she missed the jump in the first one and got back and ran on well,” Old said of Thankgoditsfriday. “We then took her to Waipa and she jumped and led and did it easy enough, they came to her and she knuckled down. She’s improved all the way through and we’re very hopeful of a good run if she clears the gates well.”
Ballylinch purchase Look De Vega majority
A majority interest in Qatar Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega (Fr) has been purchased by Ballylinch Stud in association with Al Shaqab Racing.
A son of Ballylinch sire Lope De Vega (Ire), Look De Vega is as short as 4-1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and will continue his racing career in the colours of Al Shaqab Racing. He will retire to Ballylinch at the end of his racing career to stand alongside his world-famous sire.
Eighteen for G1 Irish Oaks
Ribblesdale Stakes runner-up Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) has been supplemented by owners Elwick Stud for the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday, along with course winner Hanalia (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to make a field of 18.
“We just thought with the Ribblesdale form being so strong and the winner of the Ribblesdale being favourite for the Irish Oaks, we may as well take our chance,” said stud manager Gary Moore. “There's only a couple of Oaks you want to win. This is one of them and you're able to take on three-year-olds rather than waiting to take on older fillies in the Yorkshire Oaks next time.”
O’Brien dominates St Leger entries
Aidan O'Brien dominates the entries for the G1 Betfred St Leger, which takes place at Doncaster on Saturday, September 14.
Aidan O'Brien
Of the 25 entries, O'Brien is responsible for no fewer than 14 of them, headed by G1 Irish Derby hero Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and the unbeaten Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
