Vale Gold Guru
Mill Park Stud announced the passing of 30-year-old gelding Gold Guru (Geiger Counter {USA}) on Tuesday.
The winner of eight of his 43 starts won an incredible $2.4 million (before prizemoney rose to the current levels). He won the G2 SAJC Breeders’ Stakes at two, and at three won the G1 Australian Guineas, G1 Australian Derby and G1 Ranvet Stakes. He was rated the Champion 3YO in Australia in 1997-98. One of six Group 1 winners for his sire, he is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Gallant Guru (Montjeu {Ire}), and to the dam of Group 3 winner Gamblin’ Guru (New Approach {Ire}) whose half-sister Group 2 placed Glam Guru (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) is the dam of this season’s G1 Victoria Derby winner Goldrush Guru (American Pharoah {USA}).
Moroney thinks Plymouth can run second in Guineas
Co-trainer Mike Moroney thinks former charge Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) will win Saturday’s G1 Australian Guineas but thinks his runner Plymouth (The Autumn Sun) will form the quinella. Savaglee is now trained by Pam Gerard who took over Moroney’s New Zealand stable when he fell ill last year.
“(Savaglee) is a very smart horse and I think he'll be here to run really well.”
Big ask for Sepals in Guineas
Trainer Cliff Brown knows Saturday’s G1 Australian Guineas is a big step for Sepals (Calyx {GB}). “I thought he was definitely Saturday city grade and from there it would be a bonus. This is all in his first preparation too so eventually there will come a time where he's had enough so we've got to be a bit wary of that,” Brown told racenet.com.au. The winner of three of his four starts won the G3 CS Hayes Stakes last start.
Sepals | Image courtesy of The Image is Everything
“He's a nice horse but everything was perfect for him the other day. Maybe he liked the track better and he was fitter than the others. He's got to improve. … He's the nicest, kindest, quietest horse you could ever come across and there's not a bad bone in his body. He just does his work and he's just really happy with life.”
Sutton to have two Guineas runners
Up-and-coming trainer Dominic Sutton will have two runners in Saturday’s G1 Australian Guineas with Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) and Detroit City (Toronado {Ire}). “We'll accept with both,” Sutton told racing.com.
“Detroit City will be touch and go whether he makes the field, he's probably likely going to be an emergency, but the plan is to try to run both of them.”
Mistruth aimed at mainland
Trainer Stuart Gandy’s 3-year-old filly Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith) will head back to the mainland after Wednesday's G3 Vamos Stakes at Launceston. “I think she's proved her future racing is probably in the Group races, so there's no doubt she'll be heading back to the mainland to find a suitable race over there,” Gandy told racing.com.
“She's come through her last win in the Mystic Journey in super order, steps up to the 1400m, been working super, had no setbacks - so we're super happy with her. Drawn well, she should get a lovely run and let's hope she can go back-to-back (in group races).”
Yachiyo interesting runner in Final on Thursday
The Future Stars Final over 1400 metres at Pakenham on Thursday night features the imported mare Yachiyo (Jpn) (Epiphaniea {Jpn}), trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. “She is a beautiful mare and I think mile, 1800, 2000 metres, you'll see a really nice horse,” Price told racing.com.
Yachiyo (Jpn) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“But it is a $300,000 final and we are trying to win it and she's hard fit and I just have to have her fresh enough and the big Pakenham track will suit. She should go super.
She is a good mare, we've been patient with her and the owners have been patient with her Northern Hemisphere-bred, she is six months behind. She went through a period where she was a little bit racy in the head but now she has got full bloom condition on her, her brain is good. I am not saying she couldn't win if she gets the right run in the race … but I am looking forward to her going over further.” Yachiyo is the granddaughter of Group 1 winner Mosheen (Fastnet Rock) who has spent her broodmare career in Japan.
Around the Nation: Tuesday’s highlights
Tuesday gave racing fans four meetings to watch. At Kembla Grange, two 3-year-old fillies won their second race in succession Bremel (Capitalist) and Duck Egg Blue (I Am Invincible), while 3-year-old filly Amreekiyah (Justify {USA}) won on debut. Capitalist enjoyed a double on course with the wins of Bremel and Full Metal Jacket.
Schofield decision goes to court
Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) is seeking a review by the Supreme Court on the decision by the Racing Appeals Panel to allow Chad Schofield to ride at the rescheduled Magic Millions meeting despite a suspension. His original 13-meeting suspension was to begin after the Magic Millions meeting, and so with the change of dates (due to a downpour), his suspension was shifted by the Stewards.
Chad Schofield | Image courtesy of The Image is Everything
QRIC didn’t comment on the case which will be heard in Queensland Supreme Court on Wednesday.
Derby for Casino Prince gelding
Toowoomba trainer William Kropp will set 3-year-old gelding Prince Levi (Casino Prince) for the G1 Queensland Derby if he wins at Doomben on Wednesday. “Prince Levi was very unlucky not to get the job done against Savour The Dream,” Kropp told racingqueensland.com.au.
Toowoomba trainer William Kropp with Prince Levi | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
“It took a while for him to get out and while Laming’s horse was very good the way he won, he did have a lovely run. If Prince Levi is as good as we think he should be up to these horses at carnival time. If he runs well enough he’ll probably have a short ease up after one more run and take the traditional route to the Queensland Derby via the Rough Habit Plate.”
Olympic swimmer guest at Port Lincoln Cup
Olympic gold medallist Kyle Chalmers will be a guest at the Port Lincoln Cup meeting on Saturday. “I love every opportunity I get to return home and I can’t wait to take Inge to the races and enjoy one of the best days on the social calendar in Port Lincoln,” Chalmers told racingsa.com.au.
“I have great respect for the jockeys who are probably the only athletes who get up earlier than swimmers. The Port Lincoln Racing Club is an important part of the local community and it’s exciting that the Carnival is back and attracting not only locals, but visitors from around the country who get to experience this beautiful part of the world.”
Newcastle to host next Mates Together
The next Racing Mates BBQ ‘Get-Together’ will be held at the Newcastle Jockey Club Race Meeting on Friday, March 7. “We are pleased to be hosting our first Racing Mates event for 2025 at Newcastle,” Racing Mates ambassador, Pat Webster told racingnsw.com.au.
In foal Malt Time to retire after Saturday
Group 1 mare Malt Time (Adelaide {Ire}) will have one last start on Saturday before retirement. Bred by Nearco Stud, Malt Time has been raced by Bill and Carrie Borrie and trained by Shaun and Emma Clotworthy. “She will back up for her final race on Saturday. It’s a great stake and we are keen to get here there,” Shaun Clotworthy told Loveracing.nz.
Malt Time | Image courtesy of Therese Davis Race Images
“She has been very consistent, has tried her heart out, and has been a little unlucky not to have won a Group 1. She is still competitive but is starting to get on a bit in years and is in-foal to Hello Youmzain.” Malt Time has won seven of her 29 starts and over NZ$500,000 and was twice Group 1 placed.
Pure Grunt heads to Launceston Cup
Trainers Kent and Kasey Keys are thrilled with Pure Grunt (Grunt {NZ}) ahead of Wednesday’s G3 Launceston Cup. “I think it's always important with these sort of horses that he does continue on as a potentially decent horse and he gets into this race with only 54kg,” Kent Keys told racenet.com.au.
“I thought that while he was a young horse on the way up, it might be a good opportunity to give him a trip away and a crack at something like this. It's better than waiting until they've done everything they can and they're weighted up to his best.”
Oaks contender trials well
Trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray sent their G1 NZ Oaks contender Eye Candy (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) to the trials on Tuesday where she ran second. “She’s quite a big, round sort of a filly that holds plenty of condition. In fact, in the early days, I didn’t think she had much ability but she was just carrying too much weight,” Ritchie told Loveracing.nz.
Eye Candy (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
“That was a trainer error for sure. She’s gotten herself fit and raced into form, but we’ve found that we just can’t do enough at the training track with her. She’s certainly one of the first to the buffet, that’s for sure, and from that perspective, we elected to have the trial today.
“She’s been a good leader, when she won her race she led and was only run down late by Hinekaha last start, which is nice company. She’s shown her best from the front, but she can’t always lead, so we wanted to take a trail today which Kevin did on her. He popped off the fence late and she had a nice little blow, which is what we were expecting from her. Trailing will give us a little bit more ammunition going forward if we need it.”
Saudi Cup top five World Pool results
Total turnover on Saturday's G1 Saudi Cup through World Pool bet types amounted to HK$62.6 million (AU$12.7 million), the fourth highest total of all World Pool races since it first entered operation in 2019.
That list is headed by the 2023 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes won by Khaadem (Ire)–for which total turnover reached HK$66.2 million (AU$13.4 million)–ahead of the 2022 G1 Derby won by Desert Crown (GB) (HK$66.1 million/AU$13.4 million) and the 2022 G1 Coronation Stakes won by Inspiral (GB) (HK$64.1 million/AU$12.9 million).
The amount staked on this year's Saudi Cup, in which Japanese challenger Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) came out on top at the expense of Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), also represented a 38 per cent increase on last year's total.
Goodwood shifts two group races
Goodwood Racecourse has made changes to its 2025 schedule that will see two of the highlight Group races move from the traditional Saturday slot to Sunday of the August Bank Holiday fixture at the Sussex track (22 to 24 August).
Goodwood Racecourse | Image courtesy of Goodwood
The Group 3 Prestige Stakes and Group 2 Celebration Mile are two of Goodwood's pinnacle contests outside of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Both headline races will be staged on Sunday of the August Bank Holiday fixture for the first time, in a bid to spread the weekend's top-class racing action at Britain's premier courses.
NTRA praise HISA and improved safety outcome
Assessing the data amassed by the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority for the 2024 season, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Tom Rooney weighed in on the progress made in racing-related fatal injuries since HISA entered the picture. For the first time since the data has been tracked and recorded, the rate fell below 1.00 per 1000 starts for the 2024 calendar year.
Tom Rooney | Image courtesy of National Thoroughbred Racing Association
“HISA has been a clear game changer for Thoroughbred racing and its programs are working,” said Tom Rooney, NTRA President and CEO. “It is important to not lose sight of progress in the pursuit of perfection but we have made tremendous strides toward increasing the safety and welfare of our horses and jockeys. This would not have been possible without the collaboration from all industry stakeholders as we all work together to keep moving the sport forward.
“On behalf of all of our member organizations, we commend Lisa Lazarus and her team on their work to date, while recognizing that there is still much to do together. We also want to thank the leadership in Washington that came together to help pass the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act that created HISA in 2020. The results from 2024 reinforce their decision to support that legislation and they also show how important it is for us to continue to support HISA and its mission.”
