Treasurethe Moment on song for Cox Plate
Despite running second to Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in the G2 Feehan Stakes, the G1 Cox Plate remains the key target for Matt Laurie-trained Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express). “I was pretty disappointed at the time; I don’t like losing any race,” Laurie told SEN’s Giddy Up.
“I was more hopeful that Pride Of Jenni wasn’t back at her best. Going in, a month between runs with a setback, wasn’t ideal. Maybe that might have made the difference. I was very happy with Treasure, she’s clearly run really well, but Ciaron’s got Jenni going very well.
Pride Of Jenni | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
“Treasurethe Moment’s sectionals were very good. Everything from the half-mile onwards was quicker than Jenni. She just gets that start on you and you’ve just got to be really mindful that you’re not taking your horse out of its comfort zone trying to win one race. You want to win every one of them, of course, but you’ve still got to make sure she comes through it well on the other side and carries on to more Group 1s.
“I just think another run is probably warranted, then we go into a Cox Plate satisfied, provided she runs well in the Might And Power.”
Baraqiel to spell after jarring up
Trainers Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin announced on Monday afternoon that Group 1 winner Baraqiel (Snitzel) would spell after jarring up when second in the G1 Manikato Stakes on Friday night. “He’s actually jarred up a little after Friday night, so we’re going to give him a little break,” Troy Corstens told racing.com.
Baraqiel | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“All scans are x-rays are good, which is the important thing, but he’s just pulled up a little bit sore. When he came around the corner, his action changed, and he wasn’t quite the same horse, I knew straight away something was up. He’s still going to the beach at the moment, but we're just going to do the right thing by the horse, he comes first always.”
The break means he will miss The Everest, ending speculation that he might be selected by one of the remaining slot holders yet to announce their runner. “It’s nothing serious – he’ll just be out for three or four weeks, and then we’ll be getting him ready for hopefully a big autumn.”
Godolphin dreams big for Beiwacht
Godolphin’s CEO Andy Makiv has big goals for G1 Golden Rose winner Beiwacht (Bivouac) who reminds him of his sire. “Funnily enough, he is very much like his father,” Makiv told racing.com.
“When he properly turns up, like he properly turns up. I’m sure you remember the days when Bivouac turned up and absolutely belted fields. If we can get some consistency out of him, and he is a horse that loves the Flemington straight, then he could be a really exciting horse for us, going forward.”
Beiwacht | Image courtesy of Sportpix
The Everest is unlikely with the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes on Makiv’s mind. “The straight then becomes quite a paramount thing for the autumn, and then maybe even a paramount thing to head to Royal Ascot.
“There are a series of things in play if he can go and be the colt we can dream he can be.”
Vinrock to progress to Caulfield Guineas
Trainer Matt Laurie will put Vinrock (I Am Invincible)’s poor run in the G2 Stutt Stakes on Friday night behind him and progress on to the G1 Caulfield Guineas. “That was a disaster and set the tone for the night, unfortunately,” Laurie told racing.com.
Vinrock | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We wanted to sit outside the lead. His strength is free-rolling and increasing (the tempo). He’s not an off-the-speed and let rip-type horse. We know his pattern, it was just unfortunate he put his head down right as the barriers opened; there was really not much (jockey) Mark (Zahra) could do from that point on.
“He was a little bit sore after the race, but the next day, we trotted him up with our vets and he was perfectly fine. He was very bright and well this morning; it appeared as though he didn’t even go around, the way he was carrying on. We’ll just have to put a line through it and move on.”
Applications open for Racing Victoria board
Expressions of interest are open for the two vacant non-executive director positions on the Racing Victoria (RV) board. Run by the Victorian Government, who select eight of the nine positions on the board, applications close on October 19.
“Expertise in government relations and strategic communications will be highly regarded, as well as having enthusiasm for the long-term success of Victorian thoroughbred racing," the expression of interest read.
Eagle Farm passes jump out test on Monday
Eagle Farm has passed an important test on Monday, successfully holding jump outs. “We had jumpouts at Eagle Farm this morning to return back to normality after the construction,” Queensland chief steward Josh Adams told racenet.com.au.
“It has been ticked off with jockeys no longer needing to go and ‘sight' the home turn pre-race, although we will continue the process with early season 2-year-olds.”
The construction that caused horses to spook and a sight screen added to the track is now finished. The last of the major scaffolding came down last Wednesday and only a 10 metre section of screen will remain.
Taylor’s double on debut
A wonderful achievement flew under the radar this weekend with Rockhampton’s Alisha Taylor took three horses to Mackay on Saturday. The trio were her first runners as a trainer, and she came home with a winning double when Rideau (I Am Invincible) and Pepperdine (Pierro) scored. Her other runner Cryptology (Encryption) finished third.
“It was very surreal. They are three horses that I have had a lot to do with over the time,” Taylor told racingqueensland.com.au on Monday.
“Pepperdine – Jared (Wehlow) trained him – and I used to do all his trackwork on him and Rideau was one of my favourite horses when Jared had him. And, Cryptology, I educated him as a young horse. It was really good to take those three horses that I had a lot to do with to the races on my first day.
“They all rewarded me and it felt very good. I did go to the races thinking each horse had found their right race and thought they were good chances. I was quite nervous going there for the first time, hoping I had it all right and it all worked out pretty good.”
Stung wins on debut at Kilmore
Dundeel (NZ) 3-year-old filly Stung won on debut on Monday at Kilmore for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes by 1.5 lengths. Not offered at auction, Stung is a half-sister to Listed Mornington Cup winner Aktau (Teofilo {Ire}).
Her dam, Group 2-placed Rare Ransom (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) ran fourth in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. She has a 2-year-old colt by Grunt (NZ) and a yearling colt by Alabama Express.
Two other 3-year-olds won at the meeting, gelding Materazzi (I Am Immortal) and filly Grand Omaha (Omaha Beach {USA}) who is a daughter of Group 1 winner Grand Journey (Good Journey {USA}).
Bunbury’s pair of 3-year-old winners
At Bunbury on Monday, two 3-year-olds greeted the judge. Luke Fernie-trained filly Excess Baggage (Exceedance) was having her third start. She was sold by Vinery Stud at the Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale for $22,000 to K Doak.
Peters Investments-owned gelding Holler Nuff (Justify {USA}) was also having his third start, and is trained by Michael Grantham. His dam, Sentimental Gift (Al Maher), is a city winning full sister to Listed winner Sentimental Hero.
Family affair for McLeod’s Guineas winner
Magic Carpet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn})’s victory in Saturday’s G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas was a big win for Jenna McLeod and her husband, TTR writer Dane McLeod. “The original mare was bought by my great-great-grandfather in 1957 at the Trentham sales,” Jenna McLeod told Loveracing.nz.
Magic Carpet | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“My grandfather, Gerald Shand, has raced and bred a number of this family and my parents, Phil and Jackie (Rogers), have raced a number of this family, and now myself and Dane, my husband, are racing and breeding from a number of the family as well.
“It is really neat and the horses have done really well over the years. That has made us feel confident about continuing. We do it for the love of it – we love breeding and racing horses. It is the side hobby away from the dairy farm, all of us are involved in the dairy farm.”
The breeding partnership sold him through Carlaw Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for NZ$320,000 to trainer Stephen Marsh and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock.
Graffard’s Group 1 haul continues
One of Francis-Henri Graffard's clutch of top-class geldings, Sibayan (Fr) (Blame {USA}) delivered more Group 1 glory to the stable in Sunday's Preis von Europa at Cologne.
Sent off the 2-5 favourite for the 12-furlong feature, having mastered a pair of Group 2 tests in ParisLongchamp's Prix Maurice de Nieuil and the Grand Prix de Deauville, the Aga Khan Studs homebred was made to wait patiently by Mickael Barzalona throughout the early stages.
Swooping powerfully inside the final furlong, he surged to the line to record a 2.5-length success. “On paper he was the best horse in the race and it was a bit messy early,” Barzalona said of the winner, who is in next week's Arqana Arc Sale. “Once I got in my own rhythm he picked up very well.”
Sibayan is the second foal out of the Listed Prix Joubert and Listed Derby du Languedoc winner Sirrin (Sea The Stars), a daughter of the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Sindirana (Kalanisi).
NZTR announce three key appointments
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing have announced three key appointments. Mitch Lamb is the new General Manager – Racing, Zac Reynolds has been appointed General Manager - Brand Experience, and Charlotte Mills has been appointed Racing Consultant. “These appointments follow a rigorous search - both here in New Zealand and internationally - to ensure we have the right people in the right roles,” said NZTR Chief Executive Officer, Matt Ballesty, in a press release.
“Our industry needs bold decisions and a relentless focus on engaging participants, challenging the status quo, and growing our fan base. These leaders bring world-class expertise, proven results, and a passion for racing that will help secure the future of New Zealand Thoroughbred racing.”
Atzeni to ride in Arc
Group 1 winner Giavellotto will be ridden by Hong Kong-based jockey Andrea Atzeni in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 5. “He is a horse I've known from back home and I won a Group 2 on him,” Atzeni told scmp.com.
“I've ridden him a few times and it looks like he's going to race on good ground, which is why they've taken the chance. By chance we race on the Saturday (in Hong Kong), so I'm able to be there for the Sunday, so it has worked out perfectly.
Giavellotto | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“It's a quick turnaround but it's fine, we're all used to it. I'll ride here Saturday, get on the plane and arrive in Paris really early in the morning on Sunday, so it really is perfect.
“He is a good horse, he was very impressive here in the (Hong Kong) Vase and he won the September Stakes the other day at Kempton, beating Kalpana, who is well fancied for the Arc.”
Imagination gives connections Breeders’ Cup dreams
Imagination (Into Mischief) showed an electric turn-of-foot in the lane to overhaul the defending champion and claim his automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup by way of the G2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes. “We freshened him up. He needed a freshening,” said trainer Bob Baffert.
“We gave him a lot of time. He looks beautiful, he has filled out and his work was just sensational the other day. I just thought, 'you know what, I am just going to run him in the Sprint'. There is not a race for him for another three weeks, but this will set him up. He's always been a good horse. He's a little quirky but that is his thing.”
Imagination is the fourth runner in his family to garner black-type and the second in a row to claim it at the elite-level behind his full sister Occult. The eldest siblings of the foursome were a pair of stakes winners named Exulting (Tapit) and his full sister Magical. Their dam Magical Feeling (Empire Maker) was also placed at the Grade 1 level as a third-place finisher in the G1 Humana Distaff during her time on the track.
