Daily News Wrap

Capitalist’s big weekend

Newgate Farm’s Capitalist enjoyed a massive day on Saturday with nine winners around Australia, including the G3 Magic Night win by Memo, and a treble at Gosford. Saturday evening’s Sha Tin meeting suffered through a rain delay in the middle of proceedings and it was Sunlight Power (Capitalist) who made everything shine again, with a barnstorming victory.

“He got a good gate (one) and a decent tempo and he enjoyed it. The horse doesn’t mind the track conditions, which are on the slow side, and it was a very good finish, which surprised me a little bit,” said trainer Ricky Yiu.

“As soon as he’s under pressure, he still wants to lay in, but he’s making good progress. There’s still a bit of improvement in him. He’s full of energy and he tries hard.” He will be aimed at the G2 Chairman’s Trophy on March 30.

Capitalist added a 10th winner in Australia for the weekend with Enterprise Legend, who won at Coonamble on Sunday.

Vale Dr Bill Ewen

On Sunday, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing announced the sad sudden death of Dr Bill Ewen, who died on Tuesday, aged 68, followed a period of poor health. “After completing his secondary education at King’s College, Bill was accepted for both the Auckland and Otago University medical schools, as well as Massey University. I suspect his parents would have preferred him to become a doctor, but his love of animals won over and while he did qualify as a doctor, it was as a veterinarian,” his wife Jane told Loveracing.nz.

Fellow veterinarian Dr Paul Fraser spoke thoughtfully. “Bill was one of those guys who was always seeking knowledge and involvement, not just as a vet, but also fully immersing himself in so many aspects of racing as an owner and breeder and as an administrator.

“He had this passion for sport, just about every sport. With all respect I have to say that with Bill’s passing, the world has lost one of its greatest sports observers. Amongst his veterinary colleagues he was so popular, a really good guy, who will be missed.”

Ewen’s funeral service is scheduled for 11am this Thursday at the All Saints Anglican Church in Matamata.

Bluff Knoll won by Rope Them In

Western Australia’s richest country race, $400,000 The Bluff Knoll, is run over 1099 metres, being the same height as the mountain it is named after. The slot race was won by Steve Wolfe-trained 4-year-old gelding Rope Them In (Playing God), who was the second favourite and ridden by Shaun McGruddy. He took out the rich prize by 1.06l from David Harrison-trained 5-year-old mare Devine Belief (Playing God) with Karen Kersley-trained 6-year-old gelding Norich (Demerit) in third.

A Group 3 winner in November, Rope Them In took his record to eight wins from 18 starts with earnings just under $1 million. A $60,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale from Willaview Park by Commercial Bloodstock Services (FBAA), Rope Them In is out of city winner Lead Rope (Real Jester) who has produced four other winners.

Waterhouse using traditional path for Slipper

Gai Waterhouse has seven G1 Golden Slippers and she’s aiming for number eight with North England (Farnan) and Bellazaine (Zousain). “It’s the horse that’s had the spring preparation, had a spell and come back in the new year, and have a couple of runs then into the Slipper that’s best-placed to perform,” Waterhouse told racing.com on Sunday.

“You don’t want to have them bustled to get there and our pair haven’t been bustled. They talk about the Blue Diamond form, but, tell me the Blue Diamond winners that have come and won the Slipper? You can count them on one hand. It’s a hard thing to do. Lady Of Camelot went so close last year, but she couldn’t do it, and that shows how hard it is.

“The Black Opal, it’s just had the one Slipper winner. The best form line seems to be keeping the horses fresh and timing their runs into the race and that’s how we’ve approached it.

“Everything (Bellazaine) has beaten comes out and wins. The form around her is nothing short of outstanding. She’s a beautiful filly, we trialled her last week, just nine days after she’d raced, and I love a horse having a trial going into the Slipper. You don’t want to take the gas out of them.”

Ryan Alexiou pair for Slipper

Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou have a pair of runners in the G1 Golden Slipper with G3 Black Opal Stakes winner King Of Pop (Farnan) and Saturday’s G3 Pago Pago Stakes winner Skyhook (Written Tycoon). “It's not ideal backing up, but it has been done before and (Skyhook) is on his home track,” Ryan told racenet.com.au.

“He didn't have a float trip on Saturday, leaving here at 11.30am and was back home in his box at 2.15pm. The run doesn't appear to have taken too much out of him; he's nice and bright. He ate enough feed on Saturday night, he didn't clean the bin but that was to be expected. He did eat a lot of hay and was quite bright and well on Sunday morning.”

King Of Thunder on Derby trail

A strong win at Rosehill on Saturday has 3-year-old gelding King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci) on track for the G1 Australian Derby. “It is a race we have traditionally used over the years in the lead-up to the Derby, and it has provided a good guide,” co-trainer John O’Shea told Loveracing.nz.

“The fact that this bloke has been able to win with a decent weight for a 3-year-old is very, very encouraging second-up. He is a genuine stayer. He will head to the Tulloch next and all going well into the Derby. It is extremely pleasing for our team and the ownership group.”

Benedetta for William Reid

Trainer Jason Warren will run Benedetta (Hellbent) in Friday’s G1 William Reid Stakes but is yet to decide on a jockey. “She’s worked there once, as we were thinking of taking there before, we were thinking about racing her in this race two years ago,” Warren told racing.com.

“She probably doesn’t need it, but I am going to take her there (to Moonee Valley) on Tuesday for another look to stretch the legs. I am confident we have the right horse.”

“If she wins the William Reid, and does it well, it’s pretty hard not to go to the TJ. Smith. The other option is to freshen for the Sangster. Or you put her on a plane and go to England, but I think I’d like a little bit more prize money first before we worry about England.”

Stretan Angel to test Valley

Another galloper to have a test run around Moonee Valley on Tuesday is Phillip Stokes-trained Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}). “She’s going to gallop there on Tuesday, and we’ll make up our minds, depending on how she goes,” Stokes told racing.com.

“I am not sure (if she’ll handle The Valley). She’s very good down the straight, we know that. I didn’t want to go to Sydney. I didn’t think she was that comfortable up there (in last spring’s Silver Eagle), and there aren’t any other options for her, so it looks like The Valley, but we’ll see.”

Around the nation: Sunday’s highlights

On Sunday, Australia enjoyed seven race meetings with Victoria’s Yarra Valley abandoned. Jockey Kody Nestor rode a treble at Coonamble in NSW, including on 3-year-old gelding Tainui (Astern), who was having his third start.

At Swan Hill, 3-year-old gelding Ziggy Starcraft (Starcraft {NZ}) won on debut, and 3-year-olds won six of the eight races on the card. At Port Lincoln, jockey Ben Price rode a treble.

No race declared at Toowoomba

Late on Saturday night, the lights went out during race six at Toowoomba’s night meeting and apprentice jockey Cobi Vitler worried for his safety. “I think I found it worse than everyone else in the race because I had tinted goggles on and I couldn't see anything,” Vitler told racenet.com.au on Sunday.

“I had horses inside me, outside me and in front of me. I was probably in the worst spot to be honest. I had no idea if I was about to take a heel or what was going on. It was good there were only five of us in the race and we're all pretty experienced. If they had been some younger apprentices or first-timers going around then it probably wouldn't have been so well managed.”

The race was declared a non-event and the rest of the meeting abandoned. “The generators supplied the track safety lights, that part did its job,” Toowoomba Turf Club CEO Grant Sheather said.

“You wouldn't want to race in those conditions but it's enough to pull a horse up or whatever. It's a safety mechanism. It's good it was a small race field. We've got all the contingencies in place but it was just one of those things unfortunately. The stewards weren't quite sure that everyone had an opportunity to compete fairly so they made it a non-race which I think was the right decision.” The lights are expected to be fixed by Monday.

Graham keen for more helicopter rides

Jockey Cejay Graham had a massive day on Saturday, riding four winners at two tracks from 12 rides, including the QTIS Jewel 2YO on Grafterburners (Graff). “I couldn't have asked for a better day, it was unreal,” Graham told racenet.com.au on Sunday.

“I've had a nice sleep-in but we'll quickly get ready for the races today (on the Sunshine Coast) and do it all again. (The helicopter) was unbelievable. I didn't think I'd ever get the opportunity to do something like that. It definitely felt surreal and it was really great of the club to do that because if it didn't, I wouldn't have been able to fulfil my rides at Eagle Farm and on the Gold Coast.

“It was a great experience. I was taking lots of videos and sending them to family and friends. It was a very beautiful view up there and just a different way to get to the races in style. I'd definitely put my hand up to do it again.”

Two more chances for Country Championships wildcards

This week contains two chances for wildcards for the $1 million Country Championships Final being held at Royal Randwick on April 5. Scone Race Club is home to Friday’s Northern Wildcard and two days later Goulburn District Race Club will stage the Southern Wildcard, both over 1400 metres. “Our Showcase race day features almost $400,000 in prizemoney across the card,” Goulburn’s CEO Robyn Fife told racingnsw.com.au.

“In the corresponding race last year Goulburn was able to cheer home one if its own when Danielle Seib’s Associate won the Southern Wildcard. Being part of the Country Championships series is an important milestone for our club and 2025 will be the third year we have partnered with Racing NSW to deliver the Southern Wildcard.

“We’ll also be running the Fred Cooper Cup recognising a legend that gave decades of dedicated service to our Club with roles such as President, Director and was known as the ‘Lord of the Lawnmower’. Fred was also awarded the first ever Racing NSW Simon Nivison Special Achievement Award for service to Country Racing.”

Treble for Bowman at Sha Tin

Jockey Hugh Bowman rode a treble at Sha Tin on Saturday aboard Sunlight Power (Capitalist), John Size’s Crossborderpegasus (Rich Enuff) and the Caspar Fownes-trained Monarch County (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). “(Crossborderpegasus) is an exciting horse, he’s got plenty of points in hand. He does have that tendency to lay in, which he needs to overcome as he goes up in the rating points, but we won’t be too critical of him at his second run in a race,” Bowman told scmp.com.

Bowman is now second on the jockey’s premiership, 36 behind Zac Purton and 15 clear of third placed Brenton Avdulla.

Irish flat season starts on Sunday

The Irish Flat season kicks off at the Curragh on Sunday and boy are we ready for it. The opening two-year-old maiden has been won by some top-notchers down through the years, including Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who went on to bag a breakthrough Group 1 success for the Amo Racing team.

There is no shortage of intriguing runners in this year's race, with first-season sires Space Blues (Ire), Lucky Vega (Ire), Ubettabelieveit (Ire) and Supremacy (Ire) represented by their first Irish runners in the 5f contest.

Goffs series expands to UK

Graduates of the Goffs Orby Sale are eligible to win €1 million (AU$1.7 million) in bonuses across the UK and Ireland during the 2025 Flat Season. The announcement marks an expansion of the Goffs Two Million Series to the UK.

Bonuses of €50,000 (AU$86,000) will be paid to the winning connections of 10 juvenile contests in Ireland and 10 in the UK as part of the Goffs Two Million Series. The list of nominated races is now available to view here on the Goffs website. The Goffs Two Million Series is open to 2-year-olds that were catalogued in the 2024 Orby Sale Books 1 and 2, and declared eligible by payment of the qualification fee.

Kentucky Oaks points for Fondly

Despite having started just once before, Fondly (USA) (Upstart {USA}) once again put it all together to claim the Virginia Oaks, and her 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. “It was only her second start, and we knew she could get the distance, but I didn't want to use her energy early if I didn't have to,” said winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr.

“Last time she missed the break a little bit, but today she broke good, put me in a good position, and when the horse inside started to show speed, I let her go and stuck second. Down the stretch she kept coming all the way to the wire. My filly stepped up today.”

With her 50 points here, Fondly jumps to the top echelon of the Kentucky Oaks point list, currently tied in fourth with Queen Azteca (USA).