Via Sistina heads to Melbourne
With Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) to miss the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes on Saturday due to a minor bout of colic, fellow Yulong-owned mare Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) will head to the Group 1 contest rather than stay in Sydney to avoid a clash. “Via Sistina will not trial this morning and will instead race in the Makybe Diva Stakes this Saturday at Flemington,” trainer Chris Waller said in a press release.
Via Sistina (Ire) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“She galloped well this morning and I am happy with her fitness levels. James McDonald will take the ride and Aeliana will be ridden by Damian Lane.”
Wodeton and State Visit ready for Run To The Rose
Coolmore-owned 3-year-old colts Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and State Visit (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will run in Saturday’s G2 Run To The Rose. “I know we say it every year but I think it's a vintage crop of 3-year-olds coming back in Sydney. It's really exciting,” John Kennedy, racing manager for Coolmore, told racenet.com.au.
Wodeton | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“We saw Wodeton came back in his first run of the preparation in good order and we knew that he was heading for a grand final so he wasn't over prepared that day. He will improve with each run and we're looking forward to what he can do not just this Saturday, but also in the Golden Rose.
“State Visit came into the fold late in his 2-year-old season and showed he was up to the best of his generation. He has come back in good order and he is in line to have a nice spring campaign. They are being aimed at the Golden Rose.”
Williamson joins Metrics Equine
Metrics Equine announced the addition of Scott Williamson to its international team. “Scott will evaluate cardio potential, mechanical efficiency, and compatibility with other bloodlines and physical types for yearlings, 2-year-olds in training, and breeding stock in America, Australia, and New Zealand,” said the press release.
Previously at Widden Stud, Williamson has extensive experience in England and Australia at farms such as Yulong, Edinglassie, Coolmore and Darley. “These elite operations have elevated Scott’s extensive skill set in mating and stallion selection, farm development and planning, and as a leading conditioner of quality bloodstock for the commercial sales market.”
Treasurethe Moment home from vets
Trainer Matt Laurie was relieved to have Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) home from the vets after a mild bout of colic on Monday. “She is comfortable, she is happy. I think we are lucky,” Laurie told racing.com.
Treasurethe Moment | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“There were just a few little signs there. We obviously didn’t want to take any chances. I’d be suggesting maybe the Feehan at The Valley over a mile and then work it out from there. We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves.”
Pimlico set for Inglis Bonus
Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting gives John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained 3-year-old colt Pimlico (Extreme Choice) a shot at an Inglis Bonus when he resumes. He was third on debut at two. “The penny is still dropping with him,” Charlton told racingnsw.com.au.
Tom Charlton and John O'Shea | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He’s not the finished product yet but he’s a talented horse and one that could progress well with racing and experience under his belt. It’s going to be a decent race, it’s the start of spring and it’s a $130,000 maiden for some of them.” He was purchased by Rosemont Stud, John O’Shea Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $1.2 million from Newgate Farm’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft.
Central Coast to resume at Canterbury
Coolmore-owned 3-year-old colt Central Coast (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will resume at Canterbury on Wednesday, rather than head directly into stakes company. “This is a nice kick-off point for him. If he'd had a run under his belt, we would have been tilting him towards the Run To The Rose but we just want to do the right thing by the horse and see how he comes through this race and build on that” John Kennedy, racing manager for Coolmore, told racenet.com.au.
Central Coast | Image courtesy of Coolmore
Trained by Chris Waller, he was a winner at two at his second start, and is a son of Champion Filly Sunlight (Zoustar). “He was very unlucky first time out to come up against Autumn Boy them he cemented our opinion of him at his second start. He was impressive winning around Canterbury. He was always going to be a horse that was going to show us more as 3-year-old than a 2-year-old. What we saw at two was a bonus.”
Big numbers for Off The Track carnival
Over 380 former racehorses will attend this weekend’s inaugural Off The Track Carnival at Boneo Park including Hartnell, Santa Ana Lane and Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment (Ire). “We are excited to launch the Off The Track Carnival and have been overwhelmed by the response from the equestrian community, with over 380 retired racehorses far exceeding our expectations in year one,” Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison told racing.com.
Aaron Morrison | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
“This exciting new event reaffirms our commitment to life after racing and the incredible turnout provides a clear demonstration of what thoroughbred racehorses have to offer on or off the track. It is so important that we continue to highlight the unique versatility of thoroughbreds and their growing appeal within the equestrian community. This event provides the perfect platform to do so, whilst acknowledging and rewarding those who provide the horses with meaningful post racing careers.”
Kanga to be re-elected as Chair
Chair John Kanga, Allison Saville and Frank Pollio will be re-elected unopposed at the annual general meeting of Melbourne Racing Club on September 25. “I congratulate my colleagues Alison Saville and Frank Pollio on joining me in re-election to the executive committee,” Kanga said in a statement.
John Kanga | Image courtesy of Melbourne Racing Club
“Their experience and deep commitment to the club have been instrumental in driving our recent successes, and I look forward to building on that momentum together. I warmly welcome new MAG members David Gambell and Sally Jarvis alongside the reappointment of Stephen Foster and Stephen Conley. Their combined skills, insights and passion for racing will help strengthen our engagement with members and the community, particularly in Mornington.”
Spirit Of Boom filly wins on debut at Grafton
Trainer Matt Dunn unveiled 3-year-old filly Celebrity Torque (Spirit Of Boom) at Grafton on Tuesday where she won in a tight contest over 1000 metres. The $100,000 purchase by Dunn and Neil Jenkinson (FBAA) was offered by Widden Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Celebrity Torque is the first foal of winning mare Shorthand (Written Tycoon) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Twist Tops (Beneteau).
Magic Speed makes it two at Queanbeyan
On Tuesday, Paul Facoory-trained 3-year-old filly Magic Speed (Bon Hoffa) made short work of her outing, winning over 900 metres by 2.3l to record her second win from three starts. The only winner from three foals for Miss Mafassa (Botswana) who hasn’t been covered since Magic Speed was born. Miss Mafassa won four races.
Nordic Invader joins winner’s circle at Townsville
Stephen Massingham-trained 3-year-old gelding Nordic Invader (Invader) won Tuesday’s QTIS event at Townsville by 0.73l. Sold by Kitchwin Hills as a weanling for $1500, he was taken to the Capricornia Yearling Sale by Lucas Bloodstock who sold him for $12,000 to Victorian Queensland Project.
His dam, unraced Reina Danzante (More Than Ready {USA}), has three winners from as many to race, and has a yearling colt by Ellsberg.
Yulong purchase Gewan
Impressive Acomb Stakes winner Gewan (GB) will line up in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster on September 13 in the colours of Yuesheng Zhang after the Yulong boss struck a deal for the unbeaten son of Night Of Thunder (Ire) who could one day end up at the powerful outfit's Ace Stud.
Gewan's new connections are eying a potential tilt at the G1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, for which the colt is as short as 8-1.
Paul Curran, bloodstock and racing manager at Ace Stud, commented, “The plan is for Gewan to run in the Champagne Stakes and, obviously, we will reassess after Doncaster but the plan would be to go for the Dewhurst at Newmarket. We have done our homework on him and like him a lot. He fits exactly what we are looking for and is a very exciting horse for the future.”
Tattersalls Online launches yearling sale
Tattersalls Online is set to stage its inaugural Yearling Session as part of the Tattersalls Online November Sale on November 18-19.
Open to all yearlings, the session has been designed to provide an affordable and accessible route for vendors looking to sell their yearlings. It will also be available to any lot which goes unsold or is withdrawn from any Tattersalls yearling sale held this autumn.
Katherine Sheridan | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Tattersalls Online sales manager Katherine Sheridan said, “The introduction of a dedicated yearling session to the Tattersalls Online November Sale is a natural progression of the continued development of our online sales. We are committed to providing accessible and affordable opportunities to vendors to showcase their yearlings to a truly global audience.
“Our proven and trusted platform has already demonstrated its capacity to deliver significant results and we are confident the inaugural yearling session will build on these successes whilst further enhancing the breadth and depth of the Tattersalls sales portfolio.”
Classic winner to be offered at Arc sale
Classic winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) and multiple Group 2 scorer Sibayan (Fr) (Blame {USA}) headline the initial entries for the Arqana Arc Sale, which will be held at Saint-Cloud Racecourse on Saturday, October 4.
Marhaba Ya Sanafi, who won the 2023 edition of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, is set to go through the ring as Lot 50. The Andreas Schutz trainee also won last year's Prix Bertrand du Breuil, while his best efforts this season include a runner-up finish in the latest running of that Group 3 contest.
