World Pool for spring features
The World Pool is set to feature again at this year's Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne. The World Pool will operate on selected races on Makybe Diva S. Day and on the full program on Victoria Derby Day from Flemington, as well as on the Caulfield Cup itself in October.
In Sydney, the World Pool will operate on selected races from Randwick on Everest Day, including the G1 King Charles III S.
Verry Elleegant brother wins again
Trainer John Leek was emotional after Verry Elleegant's (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) full brother Affluential (NZ) provided him with what he described as the best moment of his training career with his tough win in the Grand National Hurdle at Sandown-Lakeside on Sunday.
“When the other horse came to him, I thought, 'Oh God,' but he had something left in the locker,” Leek said. “He does switch off a bit, he doesn’t stop trying, but he doesn’t try as hard when he hits the front.”
Affluential has now won all four of his jumping starts and has a record of seven wins from 21 starts (with his seven wins coming in his last eight starts).
Inglis bonus maiden race moved
Inglis announced on Sunday, “Trainers please note the next $100k #InglisXtraBonus Maiden which was initially scheduled for next Sunday’s meeting at the Sunshine Coast has been brought forward one day and will now be contested on Saturday, August 10. Nominations for that meeting close 11am tomorrow.” Art’s Alive (Snitzel) won the inaugural bonus race.
Four for Brisbourne at Wodonga
Trainer Ben Brisbourne saddled up four winners at Wodonga on Sunday. They were Bernay (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Tallingas Prince (Inference), Sheer Lunacy (Puissance de Lune {Ire}), and At The Mint (Danerich).
Treble for Heywood at Forbes
Jockey Nick Heywood rode a treble at Forbes on Sunday aboard Miss Jennifer (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), Stockholm (Bull Point) and the Forbes Cup (Big Dance eligibility) on Osman (American Pharoah {USA)}).
Stern Idol back to back wins in Crisp
Stern Idol (Ire) (Raven’s Pass {USA}) made it successive Crisp Steeplechase wins with another commanding performance to win by ten lengths. “Maybe he’s worth a crack at the National and just let him do his own thing,” Pateman told racing.com, referring to the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat on August 25.
“It’s up to the handicapper though as he would need a realistic weight.” Stern Idol has won 12 of his 29 starts.
Group 1 targets for Lovelycut
Trainer Reece Goodwin will aim 3-year-old filly Lovelycut (Ilovethiscity) at the G1 Thousand Guineas. “It certainly helps me that it's now in November because she only ran two weeks ago so we can give her a short break, bring her right back and be ready to fire later on in the spring,” Goodwin told racenet.com.au.
“At this stage we've got three runs mapped out to get to a Thousand Guineas. She will probably run in the Gothic S. at Caulfield and that is two weeks into the Vanity, if she goes really well, which is a Group 2 during Cup week. Or there's a Listed race at Flemington, also on Cup week, over 1400 metres. That would set her up for the Thousand Guineas if we thought a mile was up her alley or if she's good enough.” Lovelycut won two of her three starts at two.
Darwin Cup aims for brave jockey
Courageous Darwin jockey Sonja Logan won Saturday’s feature at Darwin on Early Crow (Kuroshio) and rides Starspangled Baby (Starspangledbanner) in Monday’s Darwin Cup. A year ago, Logan was assaulted outside her home and has spent most of the last twelve months recovering from her injuries.
“The last 12 months has been a bit of a shitshow for me, so for that horse to come out and win, I was like ‘how did that happen'?” Logan told Racenet. “I don't cry very often, but this time it just hit me. This (Palmerston Sprint) should have been my race last year.
“I was due to ride him in the Palmerston Sprint last year, but then I got assaulted and lost the ride. I had done all the work on the horse and it was a bit hard to watch on from the sidelines when he won, even though I was happy for everyone involved.”
“I would absolutely love to win the Cup, although I do think Bear Story will be very hard to beat,” Logan said of her Monday’s Darwin Cup. “My mare's lead-up runs haven't been the greatest but at her last start she ran third and it wasn't a disappointing run. She just hasn't had that sprint in her legs the same way she did in Victoria but if she rediscovers that, she will be right in it.”
Mishani trainer discharged from hospital
Recently retired trainer Les Ross, aka ‘Mishani man', has been discharged a week after a four-hour operation to have his prostate removed. “I was absolutely terrified before I went into hospital, I should have had the operation a while ago, but I was so scared that I kept putting it off,” Ross told racenet.com.au.
“It turned out that I probably had nothing to worry about. I've had a few ordinary days, but I'm better today than I was yesterday. I've had a good recovery, so far, and the medical specialists have really been looking after me. They seem quite confident that I will be okay.
Les Ross
“I will have to go back in six months' time to get my PSA (a blood test to screen for prostate cancer) done and we will see what happens then.” He has no plans to return to training in the next 12 months and his foreman Donna Stanbridge has now taken over as trainer for the ‘Mishani' team.
Winning starts for Sharrock
Two promising additions to Allan Sharrock’s stable made a winning start to their campaigns at Hawera on Sunday, in the form of Street Gossip (So You Think {NZ}) and Confetti (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}). Listed winner Street Gossip was purchased by Dianne McDonald at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale for $185,000 and was previously trained by Joe Pride.
Street Gossip | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
“(Confetti) did a great job, I’ve always respected Peter Williams throughout my career and he passed this horse onto me with his retirement,” Sharrock told Loveracing.nz about Confetti. “He said to me that it would win first-up and he’s a very good judge, so I’m happy to have her in the stable and happy to have another one for Waikato Stud.”
All the way win for Arthur’s Ride in G1 Whitney
Glassman Racing's Arthur's Ride (USA) (Tapit {USA}) was well-backed at odds of 6-1 in Saturday's G1 Whitney S. at the Spa despite the presence of G1 Met Mile winner National Treasure (Quality Road {USA) and other proven handicap horses. Making his stakes debut on top of everything else in the Breeders' Cup Classic 'Win and You're In' event, Arthur's Ride was intent on the lead, set a searching gallop and proved not for catching.
“There were a couple of good horses in there - nice field,” trainer Bill Mott said. “I mean, first time in Grade 1 company, you couldn't be happier. … It is a very important race. It is a Grade 1 and probably one of the top two or three races that they run in Saratoga - it is really nice. I am really glad for the Glassmans.
“We are going to run in hopefully one more stake here at the end of the meet. If he is good come November, hopefully we will be lucky enough to run in the Breeders' Cup. We were thinking to use the Whitney as a prep for the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.”
Arthur's Ride is the second Whitney winner for Gainesway's inimitable Tapit, following 2016 victor Frosted (USA). With 105 graded winners from his 166 black-type winners, there aren't too many major races in the US not touched by Tapit in some way.
The Whitney winner also is the second Grade 1 offspring out of Points of Grace (USA) (Point Given {USA}), Canada's champion grass mare of 2009. Her daughter Victory to Victory (USA) (Exchange Rate {USA}) won the 2016 G1 Natalma S. en-route to Champion 2-year-old filly honours in Canada that year. The mare has also produced Alittleloveandluck (USA) (Arrogate {USA}), winner of the 2022 Ginger Brew S. at Gulfstream.
G1 Test S. won by Ways And Means
Klaravich Stables' 3-year-old filly Ways And Means (USA) (Practical Joke {USA}) looked like a winner every step of the way with a comfortable victory as the 3-5 favorite in Saturday's G1 Test S. at Saratoga.
“We always knew she was a true Grade 1 horse and has had some bad luck along the way,” winning trainer Chad Brown said. “I'm really interested in working backwards from the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. She's going to have to face older horses in that race, but she showed today that she does good with good spacing between her races. She runs so fast and hard. I don't think she needs to run much between now and then. Maybe one start.”
Ways And Means becomes the third North American Grade 1 winner for Practical Joke and 10th worldwide. Ways And Means is the third Graded winner from her dam, Strong Incentive (Can) (Warrior's Reward {USA}), who is also responsible for Klaravich's Graded winner Highly Motivated (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) and Grade 1 victress Surge Capacity (USA) (Flintshire {GB}).
Saratoga races moved due to weather
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) moved Saturday's G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational (Race 7) and the G2 Troy S. (Race 10) due to heavy overnight rainfall and will shift the races to Saturday, August 10, the track said in a release Saturday morning.
Clement Hirsch winner makes it two
Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}), who was coming off wins in the G1 Apple Blossom H. and G2 Santa Margarita S., made it three-straight in winning the G1 Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar for the second year in a row. She earned a 'Win and You're In' fees-paid berth to the G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff, which will be contested over this same surface in three months.
She has now won 10 of her 18 starts including three at Group 1 level.
Term Of Endearment wins G2 Lillie Langtry S.
Henry de Bromhead trained Term Of Endearment (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) accounted for Night Sparkle (Ire) (Postponed {Ire}) and River Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in May's G3 Bronte Cup at York and doubled up in game fashion to lead home a repeat trifecta in Saturday's G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. at Goodwood.
“It is my first runner here, we've had a lovely time, we've been well looked after and we're having a great day,” said trainer Henry de Bromhead. “I am not sure I ever go anywhere with confidence, but Term Of Endearment had won a couple of Group 3s, so it seemed like the natural progression. … All options are open, she's in the G1 Irish St Leger and I think there is a nice race at York, so we'll see.”
