Daily News Wrap

NSW Trainers Association letter to members

The NSW Trainers Association sent a letter to members on Friday regarding the changes to Racing NSW’s trainer’s licence policy.

“The NSWTA Chairman Richard Pegum made immediate contact with Racing NSW as soon as we were made aware of what the governing body was requesting and the ramifications it may have on your businesses and your ability to operate safely,” said the letter.

“Our Board headed by Richard Pegum will continue discussions with Racing NSW to find a way forward where trainers and the industry are protected. … We invite members/trainers to share their concerns with NSWTA for a coordinated discussion. As it is only early May we have time to work through the requirements and hopefully find a better solution for you all.”

Extreme Choice share headlines Inglis Digital

Heading into the breeding season, Inglis Digital’s latest catalogue includes a share in one of the world’s hottest young stallion Extreme Choice, as well as two breeding rights in leading first season sire Bivouac.

Another highlight is Summer Surf (Big Brown {USA}), a half-sister to G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Farnan whose first crop are doing well on the track this season. A winner on the track, Summer Surf is in foal to Toronado (Ire) and has produced city winner Hokusai (Brave Smash Jpn}) with her first foal.

Sghirripa can overcome outside draw for Goodwood

Trainer Shane Oxlade, who trains in partnership with daughter Cassie, thinks Sghirripa (Lonhro) can overcome the outside draw in Saturday’s G1 Goodwood Handicap. “I can’t change the barrier, I would have liked to have drawn the middle, but I couldn’t be happier with the horse,” Oxlade told racingsa.com.au.

“It may end up similar to last year. We went back, there wasn’t a heap of speed in the race, and he got beaten a bit over two and a half lengths. I can see a similar compact race this year. Giga Kick is drawn inside us. I don’t imagine he’d want to go too far back, but with that weight, he can probably go where he wants. We just want our bloke to jump well and then make a decision.”

Stradbroke target for Guineas runner Spicy Martini

If Spicy Martini (Justify {USA}) runs well in Saturday’s G3 Gold Coast Guineas, she’ll be aimed at the G1 Stradbroke Handicap by trainers Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean. “That's always been our goal (the Stradbroke) but we'll take it race by race,” Edmonds told racenet.com.au.

“Even if she gets beaten on the weekend we'll monitor the run, get the form done and see if it's worthwhile heading that way or we don't. I think she'd be well weighted in a Stradbroke. If you look at Stefi Magnetica's form from last year, she was only placed in a Group 1 (Surround Stakes) and got a start. This filly has won two stakes races now and she's got enough prizemoney so hopefully everything maps out OK.”

Eliyass to resume in Hollindale

Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have high hopes for import Eliyass (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) who resuming in Saturday’s G2 Hollindale Stakes. “He made great progression for us early, but the goalposts changed a bit with him at the back end of the (spring) carnival,” Bott told racenet.com.au.

“From the progression he was making relatively quickly, his form tapered off and he had come to the end of it. So we gave him a good break and one of the main reasons we skipped autumn is that we went one or two more runs deeper into the (spring) campaign than originally planned.

“There are some nice races for him in Queensland and this carnival is also proven as a spring springboard. I see him as a horse who has got Melbourne Cup potential, I am sure he could see out the trip. We will learn more through Queensland and again through the early part of the spring. We will use Queensland as a good guide before locking in what his spring targets are.”

Sunrays set for G3 Ken Russell Stakes

Kelly Schweida-trained 2-year-old filly Sunrays (Hellbent) will benefit from missing a trip to Sydney earlier in the season when she runs in Saturday’s G3 Ken Russell Stakes. “She’s done a terrific job so far to win her three starts and she’s going well,” Schweida told racingqueensland.com.au.

“She had a couple of weeks out in the paddock after her last win and she’s had a jump-out to prepare for this. Unfortunately, she’s drawn a bad gate (12) which makes it a lot harder.” On the trip to Sydney, Schweida said, “We thought about the Sweet Embrace for her but there wasn’t enough time to send her down and come back for the winter.”

Coast then Oaks for You Wahng

Trainer Kris Lees is bullish about the chances of 3-year-old filly You Wahng (So You Think {NZ}) in Saturday’s The Coast at Gosford, who heads to the G1 Queensland Oaks next. “This is like a $500,000 barrier trial that she could win or run well in,” Lees told racenet.com.au.

“If we get more rain then You Wahng is right in this race. She's freshened up nicely since the Oaks at Randwick and after she runs in The Coast, she will go two weeks into The Roses and then the Queensland Oaks. She might be on an Oaks preparation but I do think she will be competitive on Saturday.”

Queensland on the cards for Sequista

Co-trainer Stirling Alexiou will aim 2-year-old filly Sequista (D’Argento) at the Brisbane carnival if she runs well at Gosford on Saturday. “She’s always shown us good ability, and I don’t think a stakes class win is far away for her,” Alexiou told racingnsw.com.au.

“It’s never ideal with a filly giving the boys weight any time but she looks a nice progressive filly. If we see what we want to see she will probably find her way to Queensland.” She was fourth last start in the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes.

Market loves Prince Tycoon on debut

Juvenile colt Prince Tycoon (Written Tycoon) is short in the market for his debut run at Caulfield on Saturday, but co-trainer Trent Bussuttin isn’t so certain. “He's sharp, he's had two jumpouts,” Busuttin told racing.com.

“He's certainly got ability, no question, but he's a long way from the finished article. It's always hard to win a Saturday metropolitan race at your first start. I see he's come up pretty short in the market, I hope they're right and he's got the ability to be hard to beat but they're never easy to win first-up.

“I'll go in looking forward to it but not with the massive amount of confidence the market seems to have.”

Gallo Nero returns in smart trial win

Third in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January, juvenile Gallo Nero (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was back at the trials on Friday morning with a smart victory in his Rosehill Gardens heat. The Hawkes Racing-trained colt swept home in the last furlong to beat Young Mister Grace (Anders) by 0.78l.

A $370,000 purchase for his trainers from Gleinbeigh Farm, Gallo Nero is the first foal from a winning daughter of Group-winning South African mare Sweet Sanette (SAf) (Jallad {USA}).

Group pair for Wexford Stables

Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have two runners in Saturday’s G3 Rotorua Stakes being last year’s winner Karman Line (NZ) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and Tomodachi (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}). “We were so pleased with (Tomodachi)’s performance (at Trentham), she got her first piece of black-type which is always a good milestone,” Scott told Loveracing.nz.

“It was a fair trip away but she’s come through it really well, she’s had a good bit of time to recover and steps up to the 1400 metres. We’ve seen her handle the soft ground in the past and we’re hoping she relaxes well and finishes strong. If she does things right in the run, it’s going to take her a long way in being competitive.”

TAB Racing Club to debut juvenile filly

Trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray will debut 2-year-old filly Transcend (So You Think {NZ}) on Saturday for the TAB Racing Club. “It’s a privilege for Colm and I to train a horse in those TAB Racing Club colours. It’s great for our stable’s profile,” Ritchie told Loveracing.nz.

“She’s always shown us exceptional ability and we think she might be up to a 1000 Guineas in the spring. That’s the reason for the big trip away. If she is indeed up to going down to Christchurch, there aren’t many tracks that mirror Riccarton as well as Trentham does. We think one run will be more than enough for her in this campaign. Being by So You Think, we believe she’ll handle a mile as a 3-year-old. We can’t wait to see what she can do next season.”

Invincible Shield aiming for four

Jockey Lyle Hewitson thinks Invincible Shield (I Am Invincible) can make it four in a row on Sunday. “I was supposed to ride him the second time he ran but unfortunately I was suspended and then missed the boat, so I struggled to get on him,” Hewitson told scmp.com.

“He impressed me from day one. I always thought he was a Class One horse and that there was scope for improvement later on as well. It’s getting harder now that he’s racked up the rating points and I’m probably getting on at the toughest stage.

“It’s a nice race but he’ll handle himself well and he will perform – hopefully he can continue his winning ways but it’s getting more difficult. Every time, except first time out, he’s had a perfect scenario with the race shape and draws. He does have a nice draw in five and it could work out for him again, but we’re going to have to be on our game to win a race like this.”

Only horse to beat Ka Ying Rising runs on Sunday

Wunderbar (Rich Enuff), the only horse to beat Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), will attempt to help trainer John Size make history on Sunday. Size has trained 1,599 winners in Hong Kong. “Very early on in his career I trialled him at Conghua. It’ll be good to be on him for the first time on race day and he’s drawn well (in barrier three),” jockey Brenton Avdulla told scmp.com.

“He’s probably found one of the hottest Class Twos of the season but I’m looking forward to riding him. He had those couple of runs where little things were against him and he probably didn’t perform to his best and John started again with him. He seems like he’s trialled OK, so you’ve got to respect the master taking him back to the races.”

Illinois completes dominant carnival for O’Brien

There wasn't a great deal left for Aidan O'Brien to achieve at Chester's marquee May Festival, but Thursday saw him register another historic feat as he completed an unprecedented clean sweep of the opening two day's black-type events. Already responsible for the winners of the G3 Chester Vase, Listed Cheshire Oaks and Listed Dee Stakes, all ridden by Ryan Moore, he was able to fulfil the quota with Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Ormonde Stakes.

A half-brother to German champion Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) registered five wins at the highest level, proving her Arc victory was no fluke with success in the following year's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The dam Danedrop (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) also produced Galileo's G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Stakes winner Broadway (Ire) and Venice Beach (Ire), who took the G3 Chester Vase at this meeting and like his latest full-sibling placed in the Grand Prix de Paris.

Record 12th Dee Stakes for O’Brien

Aidan O'Brien trainee Mount Kilimanjaro (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) needed every yard of Thursday's Listed Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes and continued the Ballydoyle maestro's dominance of this year's Chester Cup meeting with a seventh win in eight renewals, and a record-breaking 12th overall, in the extended 10-furlong contest.

“It was a great ride by Ryan and he was very patient,” said Paul Smith. “I think the pace was very honest, Ryan didn't panic and the horse quickened up well and showed a nice attitude. As we've always said, they learn so much here and it's almost like they have two races in one. He'll come forward again from this, so we're delighted with him. I think he'll go for a Derby of some sorts, either Epsom or the French Derby was mentioned as well. There's options for him and we'll just see how the trials go and juggle them and see where they all go.”

Destructive tops Tattersalls Online

Destructive (USA), a three-time winner, topped the Tattersalls Online May Sale which concluded on Thursday. Sold as lot 21, the 4-year-old son of More Than Ready (USA) made 76,000gns (AU$165,000) on the bid of Deva Racing Dubai from the draft of Fitzroy House.

“We are delighted to have purchased Destructive online today,” said Deva Racing's Ryan Tongue of the gelding, who had finished fourth in the Listed Al Bastakiya at Meydan this winter. “He won three of his last four starts and is on a mark of 97, which is perfect for a Dubai campaign. He will head to dual champion trainer Bhupat Seemar who does an excellent job with these types. He stays a mile and could be a future G2 Godolphin Mile horse. I love that he already has experience in Dubai where he ran very well at three. There will be lots of options for him over there.”

Drexel Hill half-sister in Inglis USA Digital Sale

Consigned by Paramount Sales, Regaled (USA) (Mohaymen {USA})–a 4-year-old filly who recently finished second by a neck in the Heavenly Cause Stakes at Laurel Park Apr. 12–will be offered in the Inglis Digital USA May Sale, which is scheduled for Friday, May 23 through Wednesday, May 28, according to a press release from the online auction company.

Bred by Chris Baccari and owned by Brittnee Caballero, Regaled is a half-sister to GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up Drexel Hill (USA) (Bolt d'Oro {USA}). Herself a three-time winner, Regaled was third in the G3 Delaware Oaks.