Sherry suspended for a month
Jockey Tom Sherry has been given a 1 month suspension for the ride on Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon) in Saturday’s G3 Up & Coming Stakes which resulted in Tyreek (Snitzel) and jockey Dylan Gibbons being pushed through the running rail. Gibbons was up and walking after the incident and Tyreek was taken to Randwick Equine Hospital where he was unfortunately unable to be saved.
Tom Sherry | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Sherry will be out from September 7 to October 8. Tommy Berry will miss riding from September 7 to September 20 for careless riding on Raging Force (Cosmic Force) in the G3 San Domenico, causing interference to Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
Sprint path for Lady Shenandoah
Trainer Chris Waller will open Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel)’s 4-year-old account in Saturday’s G3 Concorde Stakes at Randwick as she heads towards the G1 The Everest. “We are going down the sprinting route with Lady Shenandoah,” Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth told racenet.com.au.
Lady Shenandoah | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“She was awesome over the 1200 metres last preparation getting past Lady Of Camelot who was already race fit which only added further strength to that first-up win. Her trials have been good and although 1000 metres might be short and sharp, she's an absolute ‘aeroplane'. She keeps herself pretty sharp and she has always had an explosive turn of foot.”
Dual nominations for Arabian Summer
Co-trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy have nominated their good mare Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}) for both the G1 AJ Moir Stakes in Melbourne and the G3 Concorde Stakes in Sydney for this Saturday. “For her to win a Group 1 it’s got to be soft ground. I’ve got her in the Concorde as well, so she’ll run where the ground’s the softest,” Tony McEvoy told racing.com.
“I’d rather not travel her until her coat comes, but I’m not going to run her on firm. She was quite sharp in a jump-out the other day at Flemington. She looks a bit wintery still, she’s been slow with her coat this time, so she’s not going to present brilliantly. And the old adage is, if they don’t look well, they don’t run to their best, but she is going well.
Tony McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“All the data we’re getting off her is excellent. Her lungs are good, she’s recovering well, the only thing is her coat is not through yet but that’s the case for a lot of horses down south at the moment.”
Niance to resume in AJ Moir
Trainer Grahame Begg’s mare Niance (NZ) (Swiss Ace) will resume in Saturday’s G1 AJ Moir Stakes against a hot field of sprinters. “Obviously it’s not going to be an easy race, being a Group 1 race,” Begg told racing.com.
“She’s got to take that next step, but we’re up for the challenge. She’s had two jump-outs and a trial leading into it, so it’s brought her right up to the mark. She’s going into a Group 1 race so you want to be on top of your mark. It’s very hard for horses going first-up into a Group 1, even though it’s only 1000 metres, but we just wanted her to be prepped right up for the race and ready to go.”
Pericles to resume in Tramway
Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) will have his first start for new trainer Bjorn Baker in Saturday’s G2 Tramway Stakes. “I'm very lucky to get a horse like him. He is the best credentialled horse I have received as a readymade racehorse and it's exciting from that point of view,” Baker told racingandsports.com.au.
Bjorn Baker | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He is obviously a really nice horse and I'm looking forward to him getting underway in the Tramway. It's not going to be an easy race. The set weights and penalties probably works into his favour a little bit.”
Lady In Pink retired
A stable accident has resulted in Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained Group 2-winning mare Lady In Pink (Pariah) being retired. “Unfortunately, she just decided to kick out in the wash bay a couple of weeks ago and just fractured a hock there, so she's been retired and she'll head to stud now, which is very disappointing,” Larkin told racing.com.
“She was a mare that we held in very high regard, she's a mare that we thought could be a Group 1 horse in the future, only turning five now and still improving. It's unfortunate but these things happen in racing, I'm sure she'll produce some good talent on the track, she was a good horse herself.”
First win for new Nichols/Black partnership
Trainers Shane Nichols and Hayden Black enjoyed their first partnership victory on Sunday with 3-year-old filly Brash Lass (Brazen Beau) at Seymour. “It means the world. I’m so thankful to Shane for the opportunity. He’s really backed me and put faith in me, so I’m over the moon,” Black told racing.com.
Hollymount Stud own the filly who was having her third start, and she becomes the first winner for stakes-placed Zarpoya (Sebring).
Proven sires Shamus Award and Super Seth also added 3-year-old winners at Seymour with Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained filly Lathain (Shamus Award) winning on debut and Grahame Begg-trained filly Ruska Roma (Super Seth) winning at her second start.
Double for Super Seth
Super Seth enjoyed a pair of winners on Sunday with the aforementioned Ruska Roma winning at Seymour.
Super Seth | Standing at Waikato Stud
Finemore Thoroughbreds and partners-owned 3-year-old gelding Strongside won at Wyong for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton. He was having his second start and was sold by Bhima Stud for $80,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to O’Shea and James Bester Bloodstock. Strongside is a full brother to Group 1 winner Linebacker.
I Am Invincible debutant winner
At Wyong, debutant 3-year-old colt Transgress (I Am Invincible) romped home to a 1.47l victory for trainer Michael Freedman. Sold by Yarraman Park Stud for $650,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to his trainer and Michael Wallace Bloodstock, Transgress is the second winner for stakes-placed Overstep (Exceed And Excel).
Ole Kirk adds winner number 18
Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk added winner number 18 when 3-year-old gelding Billund won at his second start for trainers Team Hawkes at Wyong on Sunday.
Billund was sold by Vinery Stud at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $130,000 to Diamond Park, and was on-sold by Sullivan Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $260,000 to Hawkes Racing and St Simon Thoroughbreds. He is the second foal of Ducale (I Am Invincible) who is a winning full sister to Group 3 winner Nettuno.
Half to Benedetta is a debutant winner for King’s Legacy
At Wyong on Sunday, Bjorn Baker-trained 3-year-old colt Whatalegacy (King’s Legacy) won on debut to become winner number 12 for his second season sire. Purchased by Baker and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) for $160,000 from Mill Park Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft, Whatalegacy is half-brother to Group 1 winner Benedetta (Hellbent) and both are out of Group 2-placed Whatalovelyday (Domesday).
Another one for Snitzel as damsire
Wayne Walters-trained 3-year-old filly Noubentekh (Astern) won at Casterton on Sunday at her second start. She is out of Snitzel mare Taken Everything, whose only other foal is the winning 4-year-old gelding and stablemate First Return (Foxwedge).
Debutant winner for Spirit Of Boom
Spirit Of Boom enjoyed a debutant winner when Pat Webster-trained 3-year-old gelding Seams Logical won at Warwick on Sunday. Sold by Rosari Farm as a weanling for $120,000 to Blade Racing, Seams Logical was on-sold via Robyn Wise’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $85,000 to Livistona Grazing Company.
He is the fourth winner from as many to race for Seam Ripper (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Sugar Boom (Spirit Of Boom).
Dream beginning in Sheep Hills Cup
On Saturday, jockey Jade Smith made the perfect beginning to her riding career winning the Sheep Hills Cup at Warracknabeal on Spylark (NZ) (Niagara). “I was okay crossing the line, it was nice to have those few minutes with her just to breathe,” Smith told racing.com.
“Then coming back into the mounting yard with all my friends and family and teachers, it was very emotional.” Smith is the daughter of Stawell-based Dane and Heidi Smith.
Ka Ying Rising wins another trial
Reigning Hong Kong Horse Of The Year Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) blazed to victory in a trial at Sha Tin, clocking 56.45 for the 1000 metres to win by 2l for jockey Zac Purton. “It was a pleasure to watch, so fluent and his action was perfect, and the most important thing is mentally he’s more mature this year,” trainer David Hayes told scmp.com.
“Last year, if you watched the trials, he was jumpy and out of his skin a bit – too fresh. This year he’s walking around like you’d want him to walk around. He was, of course, under strict instructions not to win by more than a length, and I think he broke that! To run that time with his eyes shut is pretty impressive.
“I think he’s a more mature horse now so he’s always going to be heavier than last year, but his racing weight was between 1135lb and 1,140lb, and today he was at 1,160lb, so he’s a bit above his weight.” Ka Ying Rising will resume on Hong Kong’s opening day, September 7.
Shuttle sire Palace Pier adds Group 3 winner
After a rare three-way head-bob at the culmination of Saturday's G3 Solario Stakes at Sandown, Paul and Clare Rooney were celebrating as the 2-1 favourite 2-year-old colt A Bit Of Spirit (Ire) (Palace Pier {GB}) prevailed by the smallest of margins. Locked in a tussle to the line with Oceans Four (Zoustar) and Humidity (Ulysses), the son of Darley's red-hot first-crop sire who had been second in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes and Listed Stonehenge Stakes was ultimately inches in front where it counts. Two nose margins told the tale, with Godolphin's Pacific Avenue (Dubawi) only worried out of it very late and ending up just a neck behind Humidity in fourth.
“He's got remarkable courage and really digs deep,” the winning trainer Clive Cox said of the 75,000gns (AU$160,000) Tattersalls Somerville graduate, who had led from the outset, had looked beaten as Pacific Avenue passed him in the final furlong and who could only be called the winner when the photo was shared. “We had no idea if he would cope with conditions this easy and certainly we haven't seen any ground like this all summer, but he's all heart and so tough and I'm very pleased.”
“Now we know he handles the ground, we can plot accordingly and he's got all the options wide-open,” he added. “He's well entered and he's in the Royal Lodge, but I'm not sure if we would prefer to stay at seven furlongs and he's in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in France and all those races. I'm delighted for the owners, who have been big supporters and it's nice for them to have a horse like this for the big stage.”
Century of stakes winners for Kingman
Stepping up off a debut sixth behind Composing to win at Leopardstown last month, Philip Antonacci's 2-year-old filly Queen Of Hawaii (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) continued the progression to take Saturday's G3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes at The Curragh. Sent off the 100-30 second favourite for the mile contest, registered as the Flame of Tara, the Joseph O'Brien-trained €250,000 (AU$446,000) Goffs Orby Book 1 purchase swamped Moments Of Joy (Justify) approaching the final furlong en route to a 2.25l success.
“She was very well bought by Philip Antonacci at Goffs and won her maiden well. We thought she was a smart filly and you come here to find out,” the winning trainer said. “She looks very smart and you'd have to be excited about her. She went through the line strong and Dylan (Browne McMonagle) said that she always feels like there is more in the locker.”
“I'd imagine that she'll either go for the Goffs Million or Fillies Mile in Newmarket,” he added. “We could also look at the Moyglare. When she won her maiden at a mile, we were looking at coming back to seven and having a look at the Goffs Million. We'll see how she pulls up and discuss it with Philip and see. She'll be heading for a Group 1 if it's not the Million.”
Queen Of Hawaii, who becomes the 100th stakes winner for her sire, is out of the Listed-placed Hibiscus (Galileo) who was responsible for the stable's G3 Derby Trial and G3 Ballysax second Up And Under (Lope De Vega).
Ryan Moore out for season with fractured femur
Jockey Ryan Moore is set to miss the rest of the current campaign after Aidan O'Brien revealed that he has suffered a leg fracture.
Wayne Lordan takes over the Curragh rides on Saturday, with the trainer explaining, “Ryan had been struggling with his right leg since after the Irish Derby. They initially thought it might have been muscles or ligaments, but he had a scan yesterday and they found a fracture in his femur.”
“Obviously, he has no choice but to give it time and that's the way it will be,” he added. “I don't know how long he will be, whether he'll be one, two or three months but Ryan will know when it's right and will get it scanned regularly to see if it is healing, so we'll go from there.”
Four G2 Del Mar Handicaps for Belardo gelding
The effort that goes into winning one race–at any level–is tremendous. Winning the same Graded race four years in a row? That's the stuff of Hollywood. And yet veteran Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) showed once again why he is the G2 Del Mar Handicap's leading man Saturday, winning for the fourth consecutive year and earning a 'Win and You're In' berth to the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf over this course on November 1.
Three in a row for Motorious
East Coast shipper Reef Runner (The Big Beast) crossed the wire narrowly first in Saturday's G3 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar, but was disqualified and placed second, as Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) was elevated to the victory, completing a three-peat in the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint over the same course and distance on November 1. It was the 7-year-old gelding's third consecutive win in the race.
Wimbledon Hawkeye wins Nashville Derby
The Gredley Family's Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko) made what appeared to be a winning, sweeping move past the quarter pole of Saturday's G3 Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs, but he was seriously tested in the final furlong by Triple Crown alum Burnham Square (Liam's Map) and dug deep in the final stages to hold that stiff challenge by a head.
“The horse is improving,” said winning trainer James Owen, who was also starting a horse in America for the first time. “He's not the biggest, but he's getting stronger all the time, and he's a very consistent horse. I'm privileged to train him. I haven't been training long. It's my third season training and to win this prize is unreal.”
