Trainer-jockey Wynne wins Listed Gore Guineas
Dual licence holder Samantha Wynne won the Listed Gore Guineas with exciting 3-year-old filly Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), who now has four wins in succession including two stakes wins in a row after winning the Listed Otago Breeders Stakes last start.
"She blew me away to be honest, I knew she had improved at home, but you don’t know until you get them here. She’s really starting to switch on now, she didn’t know what she was doing before but now she’s getting the hang of it,” Wynne told Loveracing.nz.
“They made it hard for me, keeping me three-wide early on and we had to do a bit of work, but when we were turning in, she felt amazing. I’m so grateful to have a horse like her in the stable. She was definitely toey today, but she’s getting to know what it’s all about, a new track and new surroundings. She’s taken it well and I’ll look after her, making sure she gets to the next race in good order.
“I’d just like to thank the owner for the opportunity and all the staff at home, I couldn’t do it without them.” Purchased for NZ$15,000 by C Wightman from Valachi Downs at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale, Pivotal Ten is out of Lady Woodcote (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), an unraced full sister to G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp winner Maarek (GB).
Wynne also rode and trained Kellanzor (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) to win the second on the card.
Samantha Wynne and Pivotal Ten (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images South
London’s Image wins Listed WA Breeders’ Classic
Ryan Hill trained 3-year-old filly London’s Image (Headwater) won Sunday’s Listed Western Australia Breeders’ Classic over 1200 metres by 0.77l from Ron’s Finalflutter (Written Tycoon) who survived a protest from fourth placed Golden Kathleen (Leonardo De Hinchi) to retain second place. Third went to Glasgow Lass (Alabama Express).
London’s Image, a $20,000 purchase by her trainer at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale from Holbrook Thoroughbreds, was a last start winner and had previously won the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes in November. She took her record to five wins from 14 starts with earnings over $405,000.
One of eight stakes winners for Headwater, she is out of Listed Belmont Oaks winner New Image (More Than Ready {USA}), who is a full sister to G1 Kingston Town Classic winner Perfect Reflection, and G3 La Trice Classic winner Ideal Image, and a half-sister to Listed Belmont Classic winner Elusive Image (Elusive Quality {USA}).
Vale Bittercreek
Exciting 3-year-old colt Bittercreek (Snitzel) has died in a paddock accident. Malua Racing confirmed he sustained a broken shoulder and was unable to be saved. “It’s never easy when you lose a horse. Makes it worse when they have so much character and ability,” the stable’s Instagram post read.
“Affectionately known around the stable as Buttercream, because of his cool attitude… you will be missed by us all Bittercreek!”
A $375,000 purchase by Malua Racing and Baystone Farm from Arrowfield Stud’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Bittercreek was passed in by Baystone Farm at the Magic Millions 2YO Sale.
Third on debut in the Listed Talindert Stakes, Bittercreek won the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic at his third start and was second to Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the G1 JJ Atkins Stakes. This season at three, he won the G3 Red Anchor Stakes and placed in the G2 Sandown Guineas. He had two wins from 11 starts and earnings over $688,000.
Bittercreek | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Caulfield to reopen on Saturday
The Melbourne Racing Club are hoping to have council approval to re-open Caulfield for Saturday’s racing after a mammoth effort to clean up the fire ravaged Norman Robinson Stand. “The fire on January 7 presented significant challenges, particularly with damage to the Norman Robinson Grandstand,” MRC Chair John Kanga told racenet.com.au.
“However, through the incredible efforts of our Melbourne Racing Club team, alongside the Victorian Government, Glen Eira council and our restoration crews, we are proud to bring racing back to Caulfield.
“Whilst the Norman Robinson Grandstand will not be in use due to fire damage, we have introduced quality temporary installations on the lawns, offering excellent viewing areas, vibrant bars, and a fantastic atmosphere for our members and guests. We are committed to delivering a great race day experience despite the challenges.”
Pinstriped primed for CF Orr Stakes
Trainer Enver Jusufovic will give Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) a jump out on Monday ahead of Saturday’s run in the G1 CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield. “He'll have his third trial on Monday and hopefully he pulls up well. His fitness levels are good and he normally performs well early in the prep, so we'll know more on Monday,” Jusufovic told racenet.com.au.
“He had residual fitness from the spring as well. You got to have them pretty fit for the Group 1s. Early in the prep I like to have him as forward as I can (fitness edge on) on other horses maybe going deeper in the autumn, I want to have him fairly ready like I did in the Memsie.
“He's capable (of winning another Group 1) I thought I had him spot on in the Makybe Diva, the conditions were perfect for him and he had a back spasm in the race, that set him back.”
Pinstriped | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Far Too Easy heads to Stradbroke
Far Too Easy (All Too Hard)’s autumn campaign will be configured as part of a plan for the G1 Stradbroke Handicap is hatched. “His disappointing run at Newcastle can be probably attributed to a few things, about a week after a stone bruise blew out on his back foot,” Murwillumbah trainer David McColm told racenet.com.au about his disappointing run in The Hunter.
“He wasn't lame when he went to that race but it may have been brewing and the vets said it is probably not the only reason, but it could have been a contributing factor. Also, I think the two big trips away in a preparation he didn't really handle and so we won't be doing that again.
“I'd love to get him into the Stradbroke and that's where we will aim for. That's the race we have thought for a while would suit him down to the ground. This year, we will head in that direction. We all know that we need a few things to go our way. If he could race in a Stradbroke and get a little bit of a soft track, with a bit of cushioning, he grows a leg. That's what we have got to hope for.” Far Too Easy has earnings over $2.3 million from his nine wins.
Far Too Easy | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Around the Nation: Sunday’s highlights
There were eight meetings around Australia on Sunday, not including Benalla which was abandoned due to track conditions after two races were run. At Sale, 3-year-old colt Parliamentary (Capitalist) won on debut. Snitzel sired a double at the Tweed River meeting with 3-year-old filly Insinuate who is a half-sister to Yes Yes Yes, and Superstitious.
At Bunbury, 3-year-old gelding Smooth Chino (Maschino) made it two from two with a nice win, while at Mount Gambier, 3-year-old gelding Walloper (Alabama Express) won on debut.
Launceston’s Magic Millions meeting was a good one for Needs Further, whose 3-year-old filly Lady Galadriel won on debut while 4-year-old gelding Durazzo made it three in succession when he won the Magic Millions Tasmania 3YO & 4YO Classic.
Bonus target for Gore Cup winner
The Gore Cup on Sunday was won by Centaine Spittles trained In Vegas (NZ) (Telperion). “I was expecting this from her today, she didn’t have any excuses and that was her at her best. She’s more than capable of showing this, but she’s a mare with a few body problems and I was pretty sure I had her right,” Spittles told Loveracing.nz.
The Gore Cup was the first of the Southern Cups Bonus Series races, which culminates in a NZ$50,000 bonus for the horse earning the highest amount of points across five events. The series will continue with the Invercargill Cup on February 15, a race that may feature In Vegas.
“It (the series) has been a goal in the back of our minds without being set, we’ll get her home first and then decide whether we go back down to Invercargill,” Spittles said.
In Vegas (NZ) and Akshay Balloo - Image courtesy of Race Images South
USA Champion 2-Year-Old Colt returns with win
Recently crowned Eclipse champion Citizen Bull (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}), who cemented his 2-year-old championship with a win in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November, opened his sophomore campaign in similar fashion with a commanding victory in the G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. The 4-5 favourite, facing just four rivals, led home a one-two-three finish for trainer Bob Baffert and gave the Hall of Fame trainer his seventh straight win in the Lewis and his 13th overall victory in the race named for the late owner.
“The champ is back,” Baffert said from the winner's circle. “The 'Bull' looked good coming down (the stretch). It's funny, you see him and you don't realise that he has those gears. He won't show you that in the morning, but he does have gears.”
Stud announced for Laws Of Indices
Group 1 winner Laws Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) has returned home to Ireland and will stand at Kiltown Stud this year.
Best known for landing the G1 Prix Jean Prat when in the care of Curragh-based trainer Ken Condon, Laws Of Indices showed high-class form as a juvenile, beating Lucky Vega (Ire) in the G2 Railway Stakes.
He had spent the latter years of his career in Australia, the majority of which was spent with trainer Annabel Neasham, for whom he ran creditably in several Group 1 races.
Martin Walsh of Kiltown Stud commented, “I was struck as to how good-looking and correct he is. Laws Of Indices has excellent conformation and is a lovely size–he's over 16.1hh on the stick. He's a Group 1 winner and was the champion of his generation in France. He's everything you would want in a stallion. He was tough, genuine and sound on the racetrack and in time will let down into a lovely stallion.”
