Cosentino is the Polytrack Champion
Sunday’s NZ$100,000 Polytrack Championship was won by Stephen and Kevin Gray-trained 4-year-old gelding Cosentino (NZ) (El Roca) who has won two of his three starts on the surface. “At the 600, I was (thinking) christ, steady up Bruno (Queiroz). But, the idea was to go forward, and that was pretty impressive,” Stephen Gray told Loveracing.nz.
“I’ve had great experience overseas in poly racing and you’ve got to keep them fresh and sharp, then take them on. That was the plan today, and he was either going to get the 1400 or run second or third.
Cosentino (NZ) | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
“I’m an advocate for poly racing, not just because I’m having winners on it, but also because the track is running well, they’re winning from behind, and winning in front. Having a $100,000 race on this track is awesome. It’s a great result.” Cosentino has won four of his eights starts and over NZ$96,000.
He is the first foal of Magico (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) who has a 2-year-old colt by Armory (Ire). Magico is a winning half-sister to Group 2 winner Miss Appleton (NZ) (Align).
ATC recruiting UK runners for spring
Goodwood Group 3 winner Seagulls Eleven (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) is one of several horses being recruited by the Australian Turf Club for this spring. “There has certainly been a lot of interest in Australian racing with horses from multiple yards interested in coming down,” Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani told racenet.com.au from Goodwood overnight.
Nevesh Ramdhani | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Seagulls Eleven is one, Charlie Fellowes has a horse called Luther that ran at Saratoga on Friday and he's interested and of course William Haggas has a few potential horses.” Seagulls Eleven is named after the Brighton Hove Albion soccer club’s nickname The Seagulls and his ownership includes several players from the club.
“(Seagulls Eleven) has taken us all around the world and I don't think we're done yet. The Golden Eagle in Sydney has already been mentioned and why not? It's a $10 million race. Where can you say that in England?” trainer Hugo Palmer said after the win.
Bred To Win returns to screen
Caroline Searcy’s Bred To Win returns this Monday night profiling new and proven stallions heading into the Spring of 2025 and promoting the thoroughbred breeding industry in Australia and around the world. Monday's episode features Too Darn Hot (GB) and Farnan.
Watch Bred To Win this Monday night August 4 at 7.30pm eastern on Sky Thoroughbred Central, Channel 528, with a full replay featured in TTR AusNZ later in the week.
Shinn to ride in Monday’s Darwin Cup
Trainer Peter Robl asked his friend Victorian jockey Blake Shinn to ride Hadouken (Real Impact {Jpn}) in Monday’s Darwin Cup. “To Blake's credit, he said ‘yes' straight away,” Robl told racenet.com.au.
Blake Shinn | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I had him booked before the 1300 metres (two starts back), I said he was going really good … then I said he'll go to the Chief Minister's, which he'll win, I didn't know if he would. I just said that, as you do!” Hadouken won the race last year, ridden by Tyler Schiller, when Shinn couldn’t make the weight.
“This is an important meeting for him and Hadouken to go back-to-back,” Shinn said. “When he asked I was definitely more than happy to (go to Darwin) for him. I haven't ridden a winner (for Robl) since he's been up there (Gold Coast) but watched his stable closely and he's going terrific.
“He's a great horseman and understands what sort of horse you need to take up there (Darwin).”
Linebacker to trial on Tuesday
Trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton will trial several of their stable stars on Tuesday including Group 1 winner Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth). “All the horses raced consistently throughout each period of the season. There wasn't a lull period for us and they raced well through the carnivals,” Charlton told racingandsports.com.au.
Linebacker | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We had three Group 1 winners over a range of distances. A sprint, a mile and also a Derby where we ran one-two. They were also all in different states so that's a credit to the staff and the processes of what goes into preparing those sort of horses for those races. We've had lots of winners and our strike rate has been solid. We can only hope to keep building the quality.
“If you were to pick the classiest horse, (Linebacker) had an excellent latter stage of his autumn preparation. His run in the Doncaster was without luck but still huge in the circumstances.”
Maher’s spring stayers ready to resume
Ciaron Maher will run several of his spring stayers in Saturday’s Travis Harrison Cup at Moonee Valley. He used this pathway last season with G1 Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) who ran fifth, and has Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire) (Anodin {Ire}), Relentless Voyager (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and Flamin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) in this year. Sayedaty Sadaty and Relentless Voyager will head to the Archer after that to try and get a ballot free entry into the G1 Melbourne Cup.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“(Sayedaty Sadaty) is probably ready for 2400 metres, but Craig (Williams) felt he could go one more over 2000 metres as he still has the speed in his legs. We are cautious of stepping him out to 2400 metres earlier than we had to,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.
Three Crisp steeplechases for Stern Idol
Stern Idol (Ire) (Raven’s Pass {USA}) won his third Crisp steeplechase on Sunday by an impressive 15l for jockey Stephen Parnham, but no plans have been made on whether he’ll try to make it three in the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat on August 17. “Everyone is going to ask about Ballarat, but he's had a great prep, so I'll leave that up to the team,” Pateman said.
“Today was actually another gallop. It's crazy to say, but he felt the best he ever has today, and he looked amazing, so a shout out to the Ballarat crew. They just had him on today and he absolutely galloped.”
Olive’s new season 3-year-old Triptolemus wins
Trainer Nick Olive’s 3-year-old gelding Triptolemus (Artie Schiller {USA}) won at his second start at Forbes on Sunday by an impressive 2.75l. He’s the third winner from as many to race for Ameliorate (Commands), a half-sister to stakes-placed Pelethronius (Artie Schiller {USA}).
Statement Of Truth wins at Sunshine Coast
Placed twice in two starts at two, Paul Shailer-trained 3-year-old gelding Statement Of Truth (Press Statement) won his maiden at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. He is the only foal of Valle Di Lei (Headwater).
Lillie Langtry won by Waardah
Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's 3-year-old filly Waardah (Ire) (Postponed {Ire}), a G1 Yorkshire Oaks entry, notched a black-type breakthrough at Goodwood in June and revisited the Sussex Downs venue to claim a career high with a battling victory in Saturday's 14-furlong G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes.
“Callum (Rodriguez) said Waardah switched off great and, in hindsight, he probably got there a little bit too soon,” explained Owen Burrows. “She is inexperienced, but very honest, and we are still learning about her. When the runner-up came to her, I thought she was going to get outstayed, but in the last half-furlong she was going away again. She will have no trouble going back to a mile-and-a-half, so she is an exciting filly.
"She's always shown up well at home, so it was no surprise she won first time up, even though it was only a four-runner race. She was a bit keen at home, that's why I ran her over a mile first time, I just needed to get that buzz out of her. She is in the Yorkshire Oaks, although I think it is important that she gets a little bit of juice in the ground. We will see how she comes out of this, but I think Ascot at the end of the year for the (G1 British Champions) Fillies and Mares would be right up her street. We were patient with her last year. With her pedigree, we knew that we were going to be going distances. I think she can only get better as the year goes on, and even next year.”
Wagering record smashed on Whitney Day
Saturday's 13-race Whitney Day program at Saratoga Race Course generated record wagering handle of US$49,651,341 (AU$75.8 million), officials at the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) reported at the close of business. The figure represents a 22.7% increase over the prior Whitney Day record of US$40,461,888 (AU$61.9 million), which was established in 2022.
Saratoga's paid attendance Saturday was 42,316, with on-track handle of US$8,551,067 (AU$13.2 million).
Hey Nay Nay wins Tyro Stakes
A debut winner for John Sadler out at Santa Anita in gate-to-wire fashion on June 1, Hey Nay Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) shipped in from California to Monmouth Park and outclassed this field from the first jump to take the Tyro Stakes. A rocket from the gate, the 1-5 favourite was in charge of the tempo from the start and played catch me if you can with this field who was run off their feet.
“This is a mature 2-year-old,” said Sadler. “I didn't want to keep him in the barn and I thought he had the personality to ship cross country so we landed on this spot. We originally talked about laying second (before Monster scratched) and then when that horse scratched I thought he would probably be in front the way he was. Even winning as easily as he did I thought he got more experience out of this. He looked straighter and stronger in his second start compared to his first, so he showed improvement to me. It was a good race for him. This horse I'm hoping ends up in the Breeders' Cup.”
