Lion's Roar triumphs in Wyong Cup
Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) stormed home in Friday’s Listed Wyong Cup for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, winning by 0.57l for jockey Jason Collett from the Kris Lees-trained Luncies (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) with the Chris Waller-trained Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}) in third.
A NZ$65,000 purchase by Champion Thoroughbreds from Wellfield Lodge’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft, Lion’s Roar took his record to six wins and 10 placings from 36 starts with earnings over $2.3 million. He won the 2021 G1 Randwick Guineas at three and is one of nine stakes winners for his sire.
His dam, Minnaleo (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe {USA}) won four races in New Zealand and is a daughter of Group 1 winner The Mighty Lions (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}) who also produced Group 3 winner Vaquera (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Blue Diamond winner ready for Moir S.
Trainer Clinton McDonald is set to unleash his two young guns, Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}) and Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}), at The Valley on Saturday. Blue Diamond heroine Hayasugi will take on the older horses in the G1 Moir S. as she tries to become the fourth 3-year-old filly to win the 1000-metre dash this century.
“We feel that she'll run super, I think she'll be very hard to beat," McDonald told racing.com. “I think she's a great chance but we're looking forward to Saturday just to see all those good horses come back and see where they sit in the pecking order.”
Angel Capital resumes in the Listed McKenzie S. “He's going terrific, worked very well Tuesday morning at Cranbourne. He's a horse we think's got terrific ability, everyone that rides him gives the same report. From that barrier, he'll probably just be ridden quietly and allowed to attack the line.”
Big Saturday for Waikato Stud
Saturday is shaping up to be an exciting afternoon for Waikato Stud, whose colours will be carried by key Group 1 contenders on both sides of the Tasman. Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) returns to Hastings to defend her title in the G1 Tarzino Trophy and I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) runs in the G1 Moir S. at The Valley.
“It’s a day that we’ve really been looking forward to,” Waikato Stud Principal Mark Chittick told Loveracing.nz. “To have runners in our colours in Group 1 races in both New Zealand and Australia, we’re very excited.”
Cooksley looks for Group 1 training win
Grant Cooksley won the G1 Tarzino Trophy as a jockey seven years ago aboard the Shelley Hale-trained Close Up (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}), who is retired at Cooksley's property, and on Saturday he will vie to capture the Hastings feature as a trainer with Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}). “The track pulled him up a little bit there,” Cooksley, who trains with Bruce Wallace, told Loveracing.nz about Sacred Satono’s last start effort on a Heavy track.
Grant Cooksley
“He has improved and he has got a good draw (3), so at least he will get a nice run.”
Manaal back to set weights for Furious
Manaal (Tassort) gave the winner Ameena (Tassort) 3kg in the Silver Shadow two weeks ago and was narrowly beaten into third but Freedman hopes with that run and the switch to set weights things are more in her favour. “It was a tight finish among three or four of them,” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au.
“I think second-up, like she was in the autumn into the Sweet Embrace, with that run under her belt it’s hopefully a slightly better set up for her. Back to set weights makes a bit of difference and she goes into the race in good nick.” Freedman said whether he continues along the Princess Series route, to the Tea Rose and Flight S., or deviates to something else in some way will be decided after Saturday.
Bold goal for Shinn this season
No jockey in Australia has ridden more winners so far this season than Blake Shinn and there are a few good reasons for that. At 36, Shinn is in his prime as a world-class rider but, that aside, he is striving to fully test himself across the entire 12 months of the season with an ambitious goal now urging him to even greater heights.
Blake Shinn | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We've set 200 (winners in a season),” Shinn told racing.com on Friday. “That was the target I would love to aim at and that gives me a focus point to stay driven right through the season. I am obviously not thinking about the goal and the number of winners daily. I am just riding week-to-week but having that end goal and something to chase is keeping me really driven.” He rode 144 winners last season and won his third Scobie Breasley Medal.
Inglis Digital catalogue announced
Breeding prospects, a lifetime breeding right in exciting young sire Pierata and nine Chris Waller-trained racehorses including recent Rosehill winner Robusto (Churchill {Ire}) headline another strong catalogue for the Inglis Digital September (Early) Online Sale.
In total the September (Early) catalogue consists of 379 lots – 227 racehorses (114 race fillies), 79 broodmares, 57 racehorse shares, 11 yearlings and 5 unraced stock.
Around the Nation: 3-year-old winners on Friday
Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained 3-year-old colt Yoshinobu (Written Tycoon) won the first at Wyong on Friday at only his second start. The meeting was bookended by 3-year-olds with the Bjorn Baker-trained Hezdarnhottoo (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) winning the last on the card to take his record to two wins from four starts.
At Mornington, Winnasedge (Cliff’s Edge) won on debut for trainer Nick Ryan to become the second winner for his sire who has had only four starters to date. Training trio Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin’s 3-year-old gelding Close To Midnight (I Am Invincible) won on debut at the same meeting.
In Canberra, Xceptional Fella (Xtravagant {NZ}) won on debut for trainer Matthew Kelley.
Alabama ready for Gold Trail
Ken and Bev Kelso will attempt to add another Hastings trophy to their collection when Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) steps out as favourite in Saturday’s G3 Gold Trail S. “I’ve been very happy with the way she’s started her 3-year-old preparation,” Ken Kelso told Loveracing.nz.
Alabama Lass | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright Race Images
“She trialled up well at Te Rapa in early August, then won quite impressively first-up at Taupo. She’s come through the Taupo run in good shape. I thought she worked particularly well on the course proper at Matamata on Tuesday morning. We’re all systems go for Saturday. As long as she travels down to Hastings well, she should be in the right sort of order to put her best foot forward.”
Magnificent Andy to resume in Farnley S
Saturday’s Listed Farnley S. is the starting point for classy gelding, Magnificent Andy (Magnus) and jockey Brad Parnham says he won’t be surprised if he comes back a winner. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if he won, but he is carrying a lot of weight compared to a horse like Triple Jay, who is in great form,” Parnham said on Tabradio.
“It’s going to be tough for him, this is just a first step for him with plans to go over to Melbourne after this. We’re looking from him to run a good race, but if he came out and won, it wouldn’t surprise me. He’s been a good horse and won The Joey first up last prep. He’s got the ability there and carrying that weight is going to be a little bit tough for him, hopefully he can run on.”
Lui not setting Champion target for upcoming Hong Kong season
John Size is the only trainer to win back-to-back Hong Kong trainer’s premierships in the past 25 years, and reigning champion Francis Lui is certainly not setting any bold targets ahead of the start of the 2024-25 season on Sunday. “It was so exciting, that last day, and I’m very happy to get the championship, but now it just feels the same as the start of any season,” Lui told scmp.com.
Francis Lui | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Heartland retired to Winstar
One-for-one 3-year-old colt Heartland (USA) (Justify {USA}) has been retired from racing and will stand at WinStar in 2025. His introductory fee will be US$10,000 (AU$14,800). “One might ask, 'Why stand a maiden winner?',” said WinStar President, CEO, and Racing Manager Elliott Walden.
“Well, he looks the part, he's by Justify, and he's a half-brother to Classic Empire. It makes perfect sense to us because we know what we had. He has all the credentials – pedigree, elite ability, and looks. We felt he had the ability of a Grade 1 winner.”
Bred by CHC Inc. in Kentucky, Heartland hammered for US$525,000 (AU$780,000) at Keeneland September in 2022 and raced for CHC Inc., Siena Farm, and WinStar Farm. He made his lone start at the 2023 Del Mar summer meet, getting 5.5 furlongs in 1:03.20. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90 for the effort, which was the fastest time at the distance for a 2-year-old at either Del Mar or Saratoga in 2023, according to WinStar.
Irish trainer gets 10 month ban
John 'Shark' Hanlon, the trainer of last year's G1 King George VI Chase winner Hewick (Ire) (Virtual {GB}), has had his licence withdrawn for a period of 10 months and received a fine of €2000 (AU$3300) for “acting in a manner prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct, or good reputation of the sport”, it was announced by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) on Thursday.
The IHRB is said to have initiated an investigation on Sunday, June 16 after images appeared on social media which showed the carcass of a deceased horse being transported on an open trailer drawn by a horsebox belonging to Hanlon.
“Although there had been some attempts by Mr Hanlon to conceal the carcass from public view by covering it with a tarpaulin prior to departure from the paddock, these had failed completely by the time the box and trailer combination reached Paulstown, County Kilkenny at around 5pm, such that the carcass was completely uncovered and fully visible to members of the public,” said the IHRB in a press release.
Keen-Hawkins makes injury progress
Lauren Keen-Hawkins, an amateur jockey who sustained a serious head injury in a fall at Worcester earlier this month, has been moved out of intensive care. Hospitalised in Birmingham, the winning rider and member of Kim Bailey's team, was visited by Bailey's assistant Mat Nicholls this week.
“Lauren has been moved out of ICU and into a ward and although still not fully conscious, she does seem to recognise voices and mentioned the odd words. She is improving and although she has a long way to go, the signs are positive. I must say again how wonderful the Injured Jockeys Fund and their team have been to Lauren's family. Their support has been brilliant and hugely appreciated.”
