Listed Wayne Wilson Stakes consolation win for Pier
Trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley were left wondering what might have been as their 5-year-old gelding Pier (NZ) (Proisir) missed a start in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap only to win the Listed Wayne Wilson Stakes on the undercard by 3l. Second place went to Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Sibaaq (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Tony Gollan-trained Tenzing (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) was third. “I truly believe he would have been a force to be reckoned with in the Straddie, but maybe next year,” Darren Weatherly said.
“I would like to spell him here for a month then have a crack at the first Group 1 in New Zealand and then hopefully to Melbourne in the spring.” Pier, a Group 1 winner at three in New Zealand, has five wins from 13 starts and earnings over $550,000.
So You Think’s Opportunistic wins Listed Raconteur Stakes
Coming into the Listed Raconteur Stakes off a debut win, Peters Investments-owned 3-year-old gelding Opportunistic (So You Think {NZ}) kept his unbeaten record intact while making his second win his first at black type level. Trained by Michael Grantham, he won by 0.25l from Stephen Miller-trained Elite Missile (Smart Missile) with Grant and Alana Williams-trained Storyville (Overshare) more than 2l away in third.
Purchased by John Chalmers Bloodstock (FBAA) from Lynward Park Stud’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft for $200,000, Opportunistic becomes stakes winner number 63 for So You Think (NZ). He is the second winner for I’m Feeling Lucky (Bletchley Park {Ire}) who was a wonderfully tough race mare, winning 11 times including the G3 La Trice Classic, and she is a half-sister to three stakes winners Utgard Loki (Frost Giant {USA}), Baronova (Fiorente {Ire}) and Petrouchka (More Than Ready {USA}).
Second Listed ATC Winter Cup for Sir Lucan
Winner of the Listed ATC Winter Cup of 2024, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) made it a second successive win in the race on Saturday. The stable quinellaed the race with Bear On The Loose (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), with Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Hopeful (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) in third.
“It was a good win. I had to use him to get to the spot I wanted and I got there and after that it was just a matter of keeping him in a rhythm, keeping him relaxed. He can sprint once he has a soft, economical run but he had to do it early and he's had to carry 57kg today in this race so he's done a good job and he was tough late,” jockey Adam Hyeronimus said.
Winner of five of his 30 starts and over $650,000, Sir Lucan is the first horse to win successive Winter Cups since Royal Bark (Royal Empire {Fr}) in 1962 and 1963.
Treble for Nock at Rosehill
Apprentice jockey Braith Nock brought up his century for the season with a treble at Rosehill on Saturday. He won on Matthew Dale-trained Super Norwest (Rich Enuff) and the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained pair of Don’t Forget Jack (Headwater) and Mickey’s Medal (Brave Smash {Jpn}).
Of his 100 wins this season, two have been in Queensland, and the rest in NSW, with 33 in the city, and he is two behind Ash Morgan in the NSW jockey’s premiership and nine in front on the apprentice’s table. “It's in reach, definitely,” Nock said.
Braith Nock | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“I've got a week's suspension coming up soon (he is back next Saturday) which gives that away a bit. Ash is getting a few good opportunities so it's going to be hard to run him down. But the apprentices title is looking good. We will try to keep the momentum rolling into next Saturday.”
Winner 13 for Ole Kirk
First season sire Ole Kirk added winner number 13 at the Gold Coast on Saturday when 2-year-old colt Triple Malt won on debut for trainer Bevan Laming. Purchased by his trainer for $55,000 from Baramul Stud’s Magic Millions 2-year-old Sale, Triple Malt is the fourth winner out of Amaliehaven (More Than Ready {USA}).
Treble for Lindsay Park at Sandown
Capping of a huge day for Lindsay Park, who won the G1 Stradbroke with War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}), the stable also nabbed a treble at Sandown with 2-year-old gelding Hello Romeo (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Stylish (Lonhro), and Aztec State (Pierro).
“Today was a terrific effort. We like to thank Yulong for being so patient. We’ve had to be patient waiting for him. We’ve been building him up and waiting to produce him when he's right,” co-trainer Will Hayes said of Aztec State who hadn’t raced since winning in June 2024.
Bayou Music wins at Bendigo
James Cummings-trained 2-year-old colt Bayou Music (Street Boss {USA}) won at Bendigo at his third start, having previously placed in both his first two starts. A homebred for Godolphin, he is a half-brother to stakes placed Chenier (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) who raced in Hong Kong as Enrich Delight, and his dam Zydeco (Zabeel {NZ}) won the G2 Wakeful Stakes and was second in the G1 Victoria Oaks.
Little Brose relative wins at Murray Bridge
At Murray Bridge on Saturday, 2-year-old colt Matahga (NZ) (Tivaci) won at his second start for trainer Phillip Stokes, having run second on debut. Purchased by his trainer from Waikato Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for NZ$80,000, Matahga is the first foal of Mohegan Star (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) who is a half-sister to G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner and recently retired colt Little Brose (NZ).
Treble for Rommel at Bunbury
Proven Commands son Rommel sired a treble in the first three races at Bunbury on Saturday, led by consistent 2-year-old gelding Baby Pearl. Placed in his first two starts, Baby Pearl won for trainer Colin Webster. The homebred is the first winner for Pearl Of The Plain (Jet Spur).
Rommel’s other winners were 3-year-old filly Desert Whisper and Master Tactician.
Around the nation: Saturday’s moments
Encryption sired a double at Rockhampton with Crimson Decipher and Outback Bandit. At Darwin, jockey Adam Nicholls won four of the six race card and apprentice Hannah Le Blanc won the other two races.
Treble for Proisir at Te Rapa
Gavin Sharrock-prepared Soldier Boy (NZ) (Proisir) lead a treble for his sire at Te Rapa on Saturday. “That was great today as he has always been a good horse but as he has got older, he has got a few more quirks and can be a little cantankerous at times,” Sharrock said.
“He is back to form and when he is like that he stays that way. He can have a freshen up now and maybe take a shot at the Opunake Cup next month as he has won twice over 1400 metres. He is really versatile as he ran fourth in a New Zealand Derby and won the Marton Cup over 2200 metres and has that winning 1400 metres form so anything is possible with him.”
Proisir’s other two winners were Timetoplaythegame (NZ) and Procella (NZ).
Trackwork accident injures jockey
An accident in trackwork at Pakenham on Saturday morning resulted in jockey Tianni Chapman being airlifted to hospital. She has suffered three fractured ribs and a punctured lung. She completed her apprenticeship this week, indentured to Peter Gelagotis.
McDonald to ride for Wathnan at Ascot
James McDonald has been recruited by Wathnan Racing to carry their colours during the first three days of Royal Ascot.
The star rider will be utilised on an as-needed basis besides first-call jockey James Doyle, with William Buick and Colin Keane also in the mix. McDonald will have the call on Yulong's Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes on opening day.
James McDonald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown said, “We're going to have a good-sized team with multiple entries in certain races. William Buick helps us when he can but obviously his availability is limited and when talking to the team, we decided we needed to have somebody in position who might be able to help us.
“A lot of the top guys here have got their own commitments and we heard with interest that James McDonald is coming over to ride Carl Spackler, so we reached out to him and he's going to be here Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before flying home for a wedding at the weekend.”
Steel tariffs could impact Belmont project
The massive-scaled, US$455 million (AU$701 million) rebuild of Belmont Park that is on target to be finished by September 2026 is thus far unaffected by skyrocketing tariffs on steel and aluminium, although New York Racing Association (NYRA) executives told the New York State Franchise Oversight Board (FOB) during a Friday meeting they are being vigilant about monitoring the situation.
“The steel is being fabricated in the United States,” Rob Surace, NYRA's director of capital projects, said at the June 13 meeting. “We're aware of the tariffs. We are trying to track (materials) as best as we can. It's difficult, because (the materials are) coming from different places. So we're monitoring it, but there's no real concern at this point yet.”
