Helios Express wins G3 Sha Tin Vase
The favourite Helios Express (Toronado {Ire}) won the G3 Sha Tin Vase on Saturday for jockey Hugh Bowman and trainer John Size. A dual Listed winner in 2024, Helios Express is one of 43 stakes winners for Toronado (Ire).
G3 Lion Rock Trophy won by Pray For Mir
Trainer Cody Mo won the G3 Lion Rock Trophy with 4-year-old gelding Pray For Mir (Justify {USA}) from Chancheng Glory (USA) (Mor Spirit {USA}) and Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner). Pray For Mir becomes stakes winner number 45 for Justify (USA).
TTR will do a full Hong Kong review in the next issue.
Madiyya heads to Matriarch
Lindsay Park trained 3-year-old filly Madiyya (NZ) (Super Seth) will try to copy her half-sister Zayydani (NZ) (Savabeel) and win the G2 Matriarch Stakes in the spring after she made it three wins in succession at Caulfield on Saturday. “We know the family very well, and she's very well bred,” Ben Hayes said.
“I think the way she won today, she was strong throughout the line with everything right. Maybe next prep (we'll get to 2000 metres), but she is a physically not very big horse. So she's done a great job this preparation. She's picked up great prize money. She's gone through the grades, and she'll have a well-deserved break now.
“I think it was a good move, not going to Queensland, looking at the weather right now, the heavy track, and now we put her away and we've got a really nice horse for the spring and we can maybe target a race (the Matriarch) that Zayydani won.”
Both Madiyya and Zayydani are out of winning mare Raqqaya (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}) who also produced Group 1 winner and sire Grunt (NZ) and is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Ocean Park (NZ).
Russian Revolution gelding wins on debut
At Pinjarra on Saturday, Chris and Michael Gangemi-trained 2-year-old gelding Rostislav (Russian Revolution) won on debut. An $85,000 purchase from Willow Dale Farm’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft by his trainers, he is the second foal of Penang (NZ) (I Am Invincible) who was a winner over 900 metres and is out of a full sister to Group 3 winner Hidden Warrior (Hidden Dragon).
Better Than Ready juvenile wins at Toowoomba
Jack Bruce-trained 2-year-old rig Earn To Burn (Better Than Ready) bounced back from a poor run in the G2 Spirit Of Boom Stakes to win at Toowoomba on Saturday. Purchased by his trainer from the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale for $7,000 from Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Earn To Burn is the third winner for Magic Albert mare Malionga.
Private Eye sibling wins at Rosehill
Trainer Joe Pride has a nice 3-year-old gelding in King’s Secret (Shalaa {Ire}) who made it two wins from his last three starts and a maiden city win at Rosehill on Saturday. He also placed in his first two starts in the spring. “He travelled sweetly a couple of horses back from the lead and he's really starting to get more professional with every run,” winning jockey Andrew Adkins said.
“He switched right on today, showed good speed, travelled the whole way and when I asked for him, there was plenty there. He showed a good turn of foot so that's nice to know that he can handle a wet track like that. It's opens more doors going forward.”
A half-brother to Pride-trained Group 1 winner Private Eye (Al Maher) who has won $11.9 million, King’s Secret was a $100,000 purchase by Proven Thoroughbreds and Pride Racing from Goodwood Farm’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft. They are out of Confidential Queen (Shamardal {USA}) whose 2-year-old filly Confidentiality (Shalaa {Ire}) passed in last year at the sales.
King's Secret as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
“She's been a really good mare (Confidential Queen) to our stable,” Pride said. “The first one I got was a horse called Royal Witness, he won $400,000, Private Eye speaks for himself and now King's Secret is doing everything right and looks to have a bright future. I just sent their sister Confidentiality to the paddock after a couple of trials and I really like her too.”
Big Swinger wins under pressure
Charlotte Littlefield-trained 3-year-old gelding Big Swinger (Trapeze Artist) had to work to overcome troubles and win at Caulfield on Saturday. “Wow. About a hundred (metres) to go, we were in all sorts,” stable representative Julian Hay said.
“We were going to run an unlucky fifth, it takes a good horse to do that. He likes going pretty quick this horse and they just weren't going quick enough for him, but to get out like that and to really fly was a really thrilling win. He's the best horse we've ever trained, I think. He's got that much ability. It's scary at track work, what sort of times he can run.”
While July’s Listed Creswick Stakes is tempting, he will probably spell ahead of the spring. “Charlotte's leaning towards giving him a break. He's still very soft boned. He's got a very long barrel. He's a long horse, and he's just not there yet. So we've got him here today, he's won well. But I think she's keen to give him a little break and attack the late spring.”
Around the nation: Saturday’s other moments
With three meetings abandoned, there remained 16 meetings across Australia. At Kembla Grange, jockey Chad Lever rode a treble on 3-year-old gelding Charleroi (Dundeel {NZ}), who is out of $1.2 million broodmare purchase and Listed winner Meuse (Snitzel), as well as Equilibrist (Trapeze Artist) and 3-year-old gelding Homeric (Brutal {NZ}).
Zousain sired a double at Ipswich with 3-year-olds Zou Big Boy and Whomsonever. At Toowoomba, apprentice Kelsey Lenton rode a treble. At Hawker in South Australia, Sebring’s Django Express won, while there were also two winners on the card out of Sebring mares being Hebrings Cash (Headwater) and Doctor Robert (NZ) (Proisir). Apprentice Polly Brewster rode a treble on the five race card.
Juvenile gelding Golden Horizon (Sebring Sun) won at his second start to open the card at Morphettville.
Fever sends Highvol to spelling paddock
Nick Ryan-trained Listed winner Highvol (Microphone) won’t be running in the G1 JJ Atkins Plate after he had a spiked temperature prior to boarding his flight north. “He just got real crook. He was supposed to fly on Tuesday, but just spiked a temp and we tried to get him right, but we made the decision yesterday (Friday) to send him out,” Ryan told racing.com.
“He’ll have a nice spell and then we’ll put him on a Caulfield Guineas path.”
Injured jockey update: Olivia East
Apprentice Olivia East was transported to hospital with a suspected fractured collarbone after her mount, Shannon Roughan-trained I Am Geronimo (I Am Invincible), sustained a fatal injury at Werribee. TTR’s thoughts are with the connections of the horse, and we hope East heals quickly.
Apprentice stays unbeaten on Exceedance filly
Apprentice Liam Kauri has had two rides on 3-year-old filly Tristar (NZ) (Exceedance) for two wins, adding to his record on Saturday for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. She has now won four of her eight starts. “It was a good tough and strong win, aided by a very good ride,” O’Sullivan said.
“Let’s give him (Kauri) plenty of credit and three kilograms off her back was a big assist. I said to Liam she looked like she would lob where she did at the start and it all panned out beautifully for her. … We may even have a roll of the dice and have a look at the (Listed) fillies and mares race at Tauranga.”
Aberdeen Cup for Cavanough pair
Sunday’s Aberdeen Cup will feature two runners from the Brett Cavanough stable being Two Ya Got (No Nay Never {USA}) and Indifference (Kermadec {NZ}). “Two Ya Got is rock hard fit and loves a wet track,” Cavanough told racingnsw.com.au.
“He won the Town Plate at Wellington on the heavy four starts ago and has finished second in two of his three runs since then. He’s up in the weights which is the main concern, but he gets conditions to suit and that gives him a good chance.”
Derby redemption for Croix Du Nord
Despite losing his unbeaten tag to Museum Mile (Jpn) (Leontes {}) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), Croix Du Nord (Jpn) still carries the burden of favouritism in Sunday's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).
Never tested at the 2400 metre trip, the son of Kitasan Black (Jpn) and the Cape Cross (Ire) mare Rising Cross (GB) went three-for three in his juvenile season and put an exclamation point on his career thus far in the G1 Hopeful Stakes, defeating Giovanni (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}). The Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt will leave from stall 13 in the 18-horse field under Yuichi Kitamura.
Croix Du Nord (Jpn) | Image courtesy of Japan Racing Association
Trainer Takashi Saito said of the Sunday Racing silks-bearer, “He ran into interference in the Satsuki Sho, but picked up the pace and made up for it. He's definitely ready and looks better and more filled out than he did for the Satsuki Sho. This has been our goal from his debut and I've given him a rotation that works with this distance. Tokyo is no problem and with Kitasan Black as his sire, I think he can handle it.”
First winner for shuttle sire Palace Pier
Given he was such an important horse for the Gosdens, it was fitting that the stable would provide Kingman (GB)'s Dalham Hall resident Palace Pier (GB) with his first winner at Haydock on Friday evening. Godolphin's homebred colt Morris Dancer (Ire), who had been seventh in a hot Newbury maiden a fortnight earlier, was sent off the 7-4 favourite for the card's seven-furlong novice and after being patiently ridden by Robert Havlin was produced to overhaul Havana Gold (Ire)'s Gold Dawn (GB) approaching the final furlong and score by one and one-fourt lengths.
Lord Allen delays start date at BHA
Lord Charles Allen, who was announced as the new chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in November, will not start in his new role on June 2 as originally planned. A statement from the BHA on Friday confirmed that Lord Allen will delay taking over at the helm as he wished to continue to meet all stakeholders to “better inform his vision”.
The statement read, “Since Lord Allen was named as the new chair of the BHA last November he has engaged in an extensive round of meetings with stakeholders to develop a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the issues facing the sport. The BHA can today confirm that Lord Allen will not now start on June 2 as he wishes to continue meeting stakeholders to better inform his vision for the sport and he looks forward to starting his new role once these have concluded.”
