Daily News Wrap

Ceasar Cipher tops Inglis Digital sale

The 3-year-old gelding Ceasar Cipher (Encryption) topped the Inglis Digital February Sale at $140,000 purchased by A Value Consulting’s Alan Lee. Offered by Godolphin, he is a half-brother to Listed winners Handfast (Street Cry {Ire}) and Rusambo (Elusive Quality {USA}) and three other stakes placed winners. A winner of debut in September, he has had four starts since then for three placings.

“To achieve such a strong result for Caesar Cipher at $140,000 is a clear testament to the strong and consistent demand for quality horses,’’ Godolphin’s Racing and Bloodstock Manager Jason Walsh told inglis.com.au.

“We see many repeat buyers for Godolphin horses, knowing they are a proven formula and we thank them for their continued support. These results illustrates our confidence in Inglis Digital as an efficient and high-performing marketplace for our tried horses. We’re proud to see our horses do well, and it’s been satisfying to watch the continued success of those who choose to buy from Godolphin.”

With a gross of $4,951,509 from 403 lots sold, the average for the sale was $12,287. There were five lots which sold for six figures; unnamed 2-year-old colt by Hello Youmzain (Fr) from Fearless Choice (Lonhro) made $135,000, Vintage Strike (USA) (Smart Strike {Can}) (in foal to Ozzmosis) sold for $130,000, the Group 2 placed 3-year-old gelding Shangri La Express (Alabama Express) made $105,000 and lightly raced 3-year-old filly Fun Fashion (Snitzel) sold for $105,000.

NZB weanling sale date announced

New Zealand Bloodstock announced that their annual National Weanling Sale would be held on June 26 this year. For the first time, the sale will be held on the same day as the National Standardbred Weanling Sale. “Both industries are in great shape at the moment, and the positivity from stakes increases and new initiatives across both codes is encouraging. It’s certainly given domestic buyers more confidence which was seen with the Kiwi spend up at both respective yearling sales recently,” NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook said in a press release.

“Since we have taken over selling standardbreds, we have seen more and more people involved across both industries, essentially cross-coding more. While the sales are still separate, there will be a bigger attendance and atmosphere on the grounds. Both thoroughbred and standardbred vendors have been positive about holding the weanling sales on the same date. From a logistical and operational perspective, it just makes sense to hold both sales on the same day at Karaka.”

McNeil lucky after jump out accident

Jockey Jye McNeil was sent for scans after a horse flipped on him at the jump outs on Wednesday. “He was a little sore but went to the ambulance and was walking fine and has gone to get x-rays as a precaution,” manager Reece Murphy told racing.com.

“He said his leg was a bit sore, but he was obviously able to walk and he thinks he'll be fine. As long as there's no breaks, he should be ok and be able to push on.” He didn’t ride at Sandown on Wednesday but hopes to be back for the weekend.

McDonald’s Guineas favourite

Trainer Clinton McDonald has had a rough few months and hopes G1 Australian Guineas favourite Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) can provide some much needed good news. “A lot of mixed emotions at the moment just trying to process it all, all you can do is keep pushing forward and keep doing the job at hand,” McDonald told racing.com, referring to the death of his mother Margaret, as well as the family dog Rosco, and 2024 G1 Blue Diamond winner Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}).

“(Angel Capital) just seems to be a lot more mature mentally and physically this time in and coping with the workload. We've set him up beautifully for the autumn, we feel he's a horse that's going to keep getting better with time. I think he's going to be cherry ripe come Australian Guineas Day.”

The Chase announced as new sponsor of Surround Stakes

The Australian Turf Club announced The Chase as a new sponsor of the G1 Surround Stakes. “The Chase is proud to contribute to the industry through the G1 The Chase Surround Stakes, continuing a long-standing relationship our group has with the ATC,” The Chase’s Mike Smith told racingnsw.com.au.

“The Chase Surround Stakes is a highly-coveted Group 1 event for fillies and we are thrilled to have a well-established breeding and racing operation in The Chase as partners for the first time,” Australian Turf Club Head Of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani said.

“For a century the TAB Verry Elleegant Stakes has been won by our greatest champions and again on Saturday we see the very best weight for age horses in Australia clash. Saturday begins eight consecutive weeks of Group 1 racing along with two more pivotal qualifying races for the Group 1 $5 million TAB Golden Slipper.’’

Ceolwulf big improver into G1 Verry Elleegant

Trainer Joe Pride was pleased with Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ})’s run in the G2 Apollo Stakes and says he’s the big improver heading into Saturday’s G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes. “There’s clearly not that much between them and I would think my horse being a 4-year-old is open to a bit more improvement but time will tell,” Pride told racingnsw.com.au.

“He’s a dual Group 1 winner over a mile so you’d have to say it’s going to favour him but it probably also favours Chris’s other mare (Via Sistina) too. Probably not Fangirl as much. I’d like it if (Via Sistina) wasn’t there but this is what it’s all about having good horses compete against others. I would expect those two to fight out the finish.”

Lady Shenandoah the one to beat

Trainer Chris Waller thinks another 3-year-old filly is going to have to vastly improve to beat Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) in Saturday’s G1 Surround Stakes. “She’s our number one seed, she was dominant as she was in the spring and it’ll be hard for the others to beat her. She’s filled out and strengthened up, she’s going the right way for a 3-year-old filly,” Waller told racingnsw.com.au.

Waller has four other fillies running in the Surround. “There will be some improvement in the others. Amelita was good first-up and got through the line well, Declichy Boulevard was good from an awkward draw and Lazzura was also good so if they appreciate the 1400m then maybe they can beat Lady Shenandoah but she’s the benchmark. Movin Out is a work in progress which is good, she’s run third in a Group 1 race so there’s a lot of room for improvement.”

Autumn Glow saved for another day

Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) will not run in the G1 Surround Stakes. “She did everything we asked her to do, she had a good blow after her trial on Monday and trialled brilliantly and to me she was ready to run well but how would her recovery have been after the race,” trainer Chris Waller told racenet.com.au.

“I think it would have been a classic example of, yes, she ran a terrific race first-up but what about the rest of the prep so we just didn't want to take the risk. Saturday is not her grand final, that's probably as a 4 or 5-year-old if we look after her.”

Unbeaten Rivellino for Skyline

Trainer Kris Lees will get a good line on unbeaten juvenile colt Rivellino (Too Darn Hot {GB}) after Saturday’s G2 Skyline Stakes. “He has come on well since the Millennium and feels like he should be suited now stepping up to the 1200 metres,” Lees told racenet.com.au.

“I am pretty happy with him. It doesn't always stand up the Millennium form, being a restricted race, but I think it's the right year to give him his opportunity. They seem to be all taking their turn at the moment and there is no standout 2-year-old. We will all know where he sits on Saturday. I think he will run well.”

Royal Insignia heads to Guineas

Trainer Grahame Begg will take exciting 3-year-old colt Royal Insignia (Written Tycoon) to the G1 Australian Guineas on Saturday. “He'll be in it (Australian Guineas) right up to his ears,” Begg told racenet.com.au.

“We were so happy with him (going into the CS Hayes) and he hasn't lost anything. His wheels just spin (on wet tracks) … he's hopeless, we took him to Pakenham (first start) and he got beaten on a heavy track. Craig (Williams) said he was gone at the 1000m (in the CS Hayes) … to his (Royal Insignia) credit ran seventh. It was a deteriorating track, a (Soft) 7 and everyone tells you it was an (Heavy) 8.”

Kheir and Coolmore team up for Kiwi

Australian owner Aziz “Ozzie” Kheir has teamed up with Coolmore to run 3-year-old colt Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) in Kheir’s NZB Kiwi slot. “It is a huge coup for the race, and it is great to be partnering up with good friends in Coolmore and their partners,” Kheir told Loveracing.nz.

“We have done a lot of trade and business together in the past and have had some good success with Sir Dragonet when winning the Cox Plate and we had Yes Yes Yes win The Everest, and let’s hope we can win The Kiwi with Public Attention in its inaugural year.

“I am looking forward to it and I think he is the right horse for the race. It is great for the race itself to have Coolmore involved and having a stable like Price and Kent Jnr involved, and I think he is a genuine winning chance. We won’t be there to just fill the numbers, which is one of the concerns when you buy a slot.”

Damask Rose wins trial

Te Akau Racing’s 3-year-old filly Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) won a trial on Wednesday as preparation for the NZB Kiwi in ten days. “It was good to see her trial like that 10 days’ out (from the NZB Kiwi),” co-trainer Sam Bergerson told Loveracing.nz.

“We wanted to give her a hit-out without doing too much. She doesn’t take a lot of work, but she is ticking over nicely, and I couldn’t be happier with her. Craig (Grylls, jockey) was very complimentary, and she seems to have pulled up well, so it’s onwards and upwards. We think she races better on the fresher side, and we have kept the blinkers up our sleeve for raceday.”

Vale Bub Baker

Racing Queensland announced on Wednesday that North Queensland trainer Bub Baker died on Saturday aged 75. “Bub was a man of many talents - not only was he an excellent horseman and rider, but he could also shoe a horse, drive a semi, weld a fence and catch a fish,” son Michael Baker told racingqueensland.com.au.

“His enthusiastic storytelling, his self-deprecating humour and loyalty ensured that he became a true friend to many in racing as well as during his employment at Cluden Park, Beef City Toowoomba and the Townsville City Council.”

“Bub was a truly unique racing character, a true horseman in every sense of the word,” Michael Charge said.

“By his own admission, he was as far from an academic as you could get, but his knowledge, love and passion for the thoroughbred was second to none. Whilst Bub could be stubborn and tough, he was also fiercely loyal, hardworking and determined. His racing success especially with young or troubled horses was renowned and he was never one to lose the training or education battle with any thoroughbred.”

Amelia’s Jewel resumes on Saturday

Trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald will line up Group 1 winning mare Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) in Saturday’s G2 Guy Walter Stakes as she resumes chasing a return to form. “She looks fantastic and hasn’t really missed a beat,” Archibald told racingwa.com.au.

“Two good trials and everyone is very happy with her. She’s moving really well and from our point of view we’re really happy with her. We’re certainly expecting a good first-up run on Saturday.

“There are so many options for her. There’s an abundance, but potentially the Coolmore. There’s a Doncaster Prelude, the Doncaster, everything is open at this stage. We just want to get the first one out of the road and go from there.”

Bidding war over PointsBet

PointsBet announced on Wednesday morning that Mixi, a betting operation in Japan, had agreed to term to buy PointsBet, however, the situation was made complex when Betr joined the fray. “Betr made the approach to the board of PointsBet in recent days offering either $1.14 a share cash or a share-based offer that combined with savings would be valued at $1.55 a share. PointsBet shareholders would be given the choice to take their entire offer in cash,” reported The Australian.

J-Mac responds to Romantic Warrior criticism

After running second in the G1 Saudi Cup on Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), James McDonald’s ride, where he went five wide early, was criticised by Wayne Hawkes on SEN's Giddy Up program. “You've got to take whatever Wayne says with a pinch of salt,” McDonald told SEN on Wednesday.

“It was a bit like a dust bowl (on the inside), so to speak, a lot of stuff flying everywhere. I thought it wasn't the right place to be, so I got him into clear air and let him fly through the gears. He did it beautifully … just gutted to be defeated.”

Ryan case headed to court

After mediation failed on Wednesday, the sexual assault case against trainer Gerald Ryan will head to a Victorian Supreme Court civil trial. Former jockey Jamie Evans is suing Ryan over historical sexual assault allegations, including an allegation that after he was headbutted by a horse, he fell asleep in a car, waking up to find Ryan performing a sex act on him. Ryan has previously denied the claim, and a police investigation in 2009 found no evidence.

Evan is also suing the Victoria Racing Club, who were responsible for all racing in the state at the time. The mediation remains confidential and none of the parties involved can comment publicly until the case is closed.

Teetan to ride Brahms in Cup

Jockey Karis Teetan will ride 4-year-old gelding Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in Sunday’s Classic Cup. “Before the last run, it was hard to book a jockey for him but luckily we’ve got Karis on him. Hopefully we get a better draw and he can run well,” trainer Pierre Ng told scmp.com.

G1 Epsom Derby entries revealed

As the entries for the Betfred Derby were announced on Tuesday, Aidan O'Brien has admitted that it would be no surprise to see another of his colts take a major step forward this spring to rival current favourite The Lion In Winter (Ire), a son of the 2009 Derby winner Sea The Stars (Ire).

“Being realistic, The Lion In Winter won his maiden very nicely and then went and won a Group 3 at York (Acomb Stakes). They were two very good runs but obviously he was meant to go to the Dewhurst but didn't make it,” O’Brien said. “He's had a good long winter off and is back cantering again. Is he the number one? Who knows?”

O’Brien has won the Derby a record 10 times, including in the last two seasons with Auguste Rodin (Ire) and City Of Troy (USA), continued, “That's what makes the Derby and the Classics so intriguing and we can't wait for when the trials start to see what's going to happen and what way horses have progressed and how much they've learned. Some horses mature differently physically and mentally and, to be honest, that's what makes us all dream around this time of year.”

Ninety colts have been entered for the Epsom Classic on June 7, 31 of which are trained in Ireland, with another two from America and one from France.

New Irish series announced in Pat Smullen’s honour

The 18-race Smullen Series, targeting middle-distance 2- and 3-year-olds, was announced by the Irish European Breeders' Fund (Irish EBF) on Tuesday evening. Alongside that announcement, a record €3.1 million (AU$5.1 million) will be contributed by the Irish EBF to Ireland's overall prize-money in 2025. The Irish EBF is Irish racing's largest sponsor and it is funded by Irish stallion farms. In addition, there are prize-money commitments of €150,000 (AU$248,000) to Irish EBF named races in the UK and for retired racehorses through Treo Eile, bringing the overall 2025 prize-money sponsorship amount to €3.25 million (AU$5.39 million).

250k juvenile colt tops Fasig-Tipton Digital

A 2-year-old colt by freshman sire Yaupon (USA) attracted the top bid of US$250,000 (AU$395,000) during the Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale which concluded Tuesday evening. A total of 157 horses sold during the online auction for a gross of US$4,965,400 (AU$7.8 million), an average of US$31,626 (AU$50,000) and a clearance rate of nearly 80 per cent.

Tattersalls Craven catalogue released

Tattersalls has released the catalogue for the Craven Breeze-Up Sale, of which dual Group 1 winner Vandeek (GB), Champion Two-Year-Old Native Trail (GB) and more recently G1 Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) are alumni. The sale is set to take place between Monday 14 and Wednesday 16 April.

A total of 182 juveniles have been catalogued for the Craven Breeze-Up Sale, which features progeny by top-class sires like Dubawi (Ire), Blue Point (Ire), Kingman (GB), Mehmas (Ire), Too Darn Hot (GB), Wootton Bassett (GB), Havana Grey (Ire) and more.

South African yearling catalogue released

A total of 346 lots have been catalogued for the Bloodstock South Africa National Yearling Sale on April 10 and 11.

Set for the TBA Complex in Germiston and beginning at 10 a.m. each day, the sale sees the majority of South Africa's top stud farms represented. Yearlings are by such sires as Gimmethegreenlight, Master Of My Fate (Saf), One World (Saf), Querari (Ger), Rafeef, Trippi (USA), Vercingetorix (Saf) and What A Winter (Saf), as well as Harry Angel (Ire) and Lucky Vega (Ire), who stand outside of South Africa.

There are also several Grade 1-winning mares with offspring represented in the sale, including Alboran Sea (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) with a colt by Hawwaam (Saf); a colt by What A Winter out of Nightingale (Saf) (Silvano {Ger}); Ash Cloud (Saf) (Black Minnaloushe {USA})'s Futura (Saf) colt; Orchid Island (Saf) (Silvano {Ger})'s Rafeef filly is set to sell; Gimmethegreenlight and Pine Princess (Saf) (Captain Al {Saf})'s filly will be offered; and River Jetez (Saf) (Jet Master {Saf}) has a colt that will visit the ring.