Zoustar mare set for Group 1
Trainer Phillip Stokes will run last start Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes-winning 4-year-old mare Zaszou (Zoustar) in Saturday’s G1 Tatt’s Tiara. “She went in first-up and we thought she was a little bit underdone, she hadn't raced for a little while and she probably surprised us a little bit,” Stokes told racing.com.
“She's taken good improvement. She worked well again this morning, so I'd like to think she's an each-way chance. We don't have to do much with her, we just keep her nice and fresh and she's gone to a new level this prep.
Phillip Stokes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We had this race targeted when she had her start in Sydney when Craig Williams rode her. We thought the 1400 metres would be ideal and that's the race we've targeted and we're nearly there. She came through her last start well. She's settled in really well at the Gold Coast. The girl I've got there has been doing a great job with her and Nozi Tomizawa did her last gallop this morning and he was rapt with her.”
Abounding ready for Tatt’s Tiara
Trainer Robert Heathcote hopes his mare Abounding (Rich Enuff) can draw well for Saturday’s G1 Tatt’s Tiara and overcome a run of bad luck, as she has drawn double figure barriers in her last seven starts. “I’ve had my worst year of bad barriers in my entire career since I first started training in 1997,” Heathcote told racingqueensland.com.au.
Abounding | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“The best run of Abounding’s career was in last year’s Tatt’s Tiara when she ran fourth from barrier 16 and the winner Bella Nipotina went on to win The Everest in Sydney. Since then, she has never drawn a decent barrier and none were inside double figures. She’s been racing well but she just needs some luck with a decent barrier as her draws have forced the way we’ve had to ride her.”
Racecaller caught in conflict
Sydney race caller Darren Flindell has been grounded in Dohar as a result of the conflict between Israel and Iran. “We were out having dinner and it was just after 7.30pm when we noticed the first missiles,” Flindell told racenet.com.au on Monday.
“We decided to get back to our hotel quickly and stay here just in case there were road closures or something like that. The attacks lasted about 15 minutes. We felt safe enough because we knew the missiles were being aimed at the US military base which is about 40km out of Doha. But you start to worry where all the debris is going to land because the missiles were being fired so close to the city.”
Darren Flindell
Flindell was on his way to the Irish Derby meeting at the Curragh. “I did get a travel warning from the Australian Government on Saturday morning about flying to the Middle East before I called the races at Randwick. But we decided to take our flight to Qatar on Saturday night hoping everything would be okay. We are due to fly out of Doha for Ireland in the morning and although we don't have any notification our flight has been cancelled yet, we will have to see what happens in the morning.”
Double century possible for Gollan
Trainer Tony Gollan is looking at a possible double ton for the season as he sits on 183 winners Australia wide with six weeks to go. He won the G1 Doomben Cup recently with Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) who will be aimed at the spring. “He stays in the paddock for three weeks, you work him out of the paddock for the next two, similar to when we got him back from Hong Kong,” Gollan told racing.com.
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He was only off a three-run prep in the winter, so he went out in good nick and we'll kick him off in the Memsie now at the end of August. We'll probably trial him down there (in Victoria), like I did last spring with him. We'll get him ready as much as we can here, make our way down there and give him a jump-out or a trial at Cranbourne on the Monday week prior to the Memsie and that will be enough to kick his prep off and off we go.”
Getafix drops back in class for Wednesday
Coming off a last start mid-field effort in the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas, John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Getafix (Calyx {GB}) runs at Kensington on Wednesday. “He’s definitely got well above average potential, he’s just not the most consistent horse looking at his racing record. Whether he’s still getting there in developing remains to be seen,” Charlton told racingnsw.com.au.
“He’s a big horse so weight doesn’t worry us too much, especially since he’s a horse with a good bit of class to him. We like the draw and he can definitely bounce back. He just wants a nice tempo, to be buried away and come with one crack at them late.”
Doyle’s Divo wins at Wyong
Nathan Doyle-trained 2-year-old gelding Divo (Capitalist) won at Wyong on Tuesday. He was having his second start, having run second on debut. A $100,000 purchased by Calibre Racing and his trainer from Kingstar Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Divo is the second winner for winning mare Demand Attention (Starspangledbanner), a daughter of the great Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}).
Maurice double topped up by protest win
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 2-year-old colt Champagne Hero (Maurice {Jpn}) won the third race at Wyong on a protest over Sara Ryan-trained 2-year-old filly Sapling (Anders). Maurice (Jpn) had a double at the meeting with Champagne Hero’s stablemate 4-year-old gelding Mostro also winning.
Fourth on debut, Champagne Hero was purchased by his trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $600,000 from Rosemont Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. He is a full brother to stakes placed Killiako and his dam is Listed winner Soft Sand (Dansili {GB}).
Maurice wasn’t the only sire to have a double on Tuesday as Magnus sired a double at Ballarat with 4-year-olds Max Rock and Flux.
Vale Ian Giffin
Racing NSW announced the death of Wellington Race Club volunteer Ian Giffin. “It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Ian Giffin, a true stalwart of country racing, who passed away on Friday after a battle with illness,” the Club statement said.
“For over four decades Ian dedicated himself to Wellington Race Club serving in a range of leadership roles including Treasurer and Secretary/Manager – a position he held for 14 years. Ian's commitment to the Club was unwavering and his impact immeasurable.
“Ian was the driving force behind the growth and prestige of the Wellington Boot and through Ian's vision and persistence, he helped elevate the race to a feature event in the Central and Western District, securing its status and increasing prizemoney and recognition year after year.
Ian Giffin | Image courtesy of Wellington Race Club
“But Ian’s contributions extended far beyond racing - he was the 'go-to' figure for virtually every event held at the Wellington Racetrack – from the annual Wellington Show to dog and poultry exhibitions – always giving his time voluntarily and without fuss. Whether it was lending a hand, unlocking gates or co-ordinating logistics, “Giff” was always there, quietly making things happen.
“In recognition of his outstanding service to the industry, Ian was a proud and deserving recipient of the 2016 Simon Nivison Special Achievement Award – an honour that reflected the high regard in which he was held. Ian Giffin was more than a racing administrator – he was an icon of the Central and Western region, a community leader, and a friend to many. His passing is a significant loss, but his legacy will long endure in Wellington and the wider racing family.”
Final Siren set for Beaufine
Trainer Rebecca Bayliss has the Listed Beaufine Stakes as a target for 4-year-old gelding Final Siren (I’m All The Talk) after he won a trial on Monday. “I was really, really pleased with him. He came back from his break really well and I was happy with the way he spelled. We were nearly going to go one after the Bunbury Stakes and I galloped him after, but I thought we needed to tip him out,” Bayliss told racingwa.com.au.
“I think we made the right call because if you go that one more and it takes forever to get over it. This time he’s come back nicely, obviously we know he can do it, but you have to have them right, don’t you. The plan is to go and tackle the Beaufine Stakes and after that we’ll wait and see how he gets through it.”
Spiritus has Derby targets
Wednesday’s debutant juvenile Spiritus (NZ) (Ancient Spirit {Ger}) will be the first runner for his first season sire in New Zealand’s North Island, and his trainer Chad Ormsby is looking at a Derby as a long term plan. “He’s my first (Ancient Spirit) in training and he’s been an absolute gem, such a nice horse to work with,” Ormsby told Loveracing.nz.
Chad Ormsby | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
“We were looking to get a run under his belt before he goes out for a spell because I believe this horse has a big future. I’m not expecting too much on Wednesday in his first start, but he’s been very professional in his trials and he’s a horse that will get up over 2400 metres and two miles in the future. We’ve got him down as a Derby horse in the making, so we’re working back from there.”
He will likely end up in Australia at some point. “Some friends of ours purchased him from the South Island, and he’s come to be broken in and pre-trained. He’s done really well, and his future racing will likely be in Australia.”
Orman picks best ride for Wednesday
Queensland jockey James Orman has selected Supreme Agility (Brz) (Setembro Chove {Brz}) as the best of his eight rides at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. “I’ve had a bit of a run of seconds which is annoying. They’re getting their chances, so that’s all you can do,” Orman told scmp.com. He has had eight wins, 15 seconds and 11 thirds in his time in Hong Kong.
James Orman | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I want to get to 10 wins before the end of the season if I can. Hopefully something can bob up for me on Wednesday night.” Supreme Agility was sixth last start.
Rain needed for Irish Derby run by Lazy Griff
Connections of Derby runner-up Lazy Griff (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}) will make a late decision regarding his participation in Sunday's Irish equivalent, with his attempt to go one place better hinging on how much rain falls at the Curragh in the coming days.
Trained by Charlie Johnston, 50/1 shot Lazy Griff provided his Middleham Park Racing owners with a huge thrill when finishing second at Epsom, faring best of the rest behind Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}) for the second consecutive start after they also filled the first two places in the previous month's G3 Chester Vase.
“It was good, good to firm this morning and we're in the same situation as applied at Epsom – we don't want to run him on fast ground,” Middleham Park Racing's Mike Prince said.
“We'll keep him in at the forfeit stage (on Tuesday) and then play it by ear. I've seen some forecasts suggest plenty of rain midweek, but others saying only two to three millimetres. All we can do is keep him in and keep monitoring – it keeps changing every time I look.
“It will probably be the Grand Prix de Paris if he doesn't run. It's the German Derby next week or the Grand Prix the week after. Those are the options and France is more likely than Germany currently. He doesn't have to leave until Friday so we don't have to decide until declarations.”
Curragh to honour Kevin Prendergast
The Curragh Racecourse, with their sponsor Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai, will honour the late Kevin Prendergast by running the International Stakes in memory of the legendary trainer. The Group 3 contest takes place this Saturday, the second day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, and will be titled “The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai International Stakes in honour of Kevin Prendergast.”
Prendergast, who died last week at the age of 92, trained on the Curragh for over 60 years, with his big-race victories at the track including consecutive editions of the International Stakes with Mustameet (USA) in 2006 and Decado (Ire) in 2007.
