Betting suspended on The Everest
On Sunday night, the TAB suspended betting on the G1 The Everest. SEN reported that Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) is uninjured, but rumours were hot all day and the betting markets showed some unusual patterns.
Ka Ying Rising is due to gallop at Canterbury on Monday morning.
Listed Seymour Cup won by Dwyer’s import
Fresh from winning a Group 1 in France with Asfoora (Flying Artie), trainer Henry Dwyer won Sunday’s Listed Seymour Cup with imported purchased Cote Atlantique (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). The 5-year-old gelding was a Listed winner in France in October 2024 prior to going through the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale where Dwyer and Hurworth Bloodstock purchased him for 340,000 gns (AU$723,000).
“We thought he was going to have a tough early preparation because he was going to be running in good races against good horses and we thought this’d be his first chance to win a race for the prep,” Dwyer told racing.com.
“Everyone’s a genius in hindsight, I suppose, but we did say the Seymour Cup was his main target for the short term and then probably the Sale Cup after that and then maybe a break, come back for the autumn. I reckon he’ll be a really good lightweight chance in some good races in Sydney in the autumn. He’s a nice horse.”
The win was his first in Australia, from four starts, and he has four wins from 13 starts in total. His dam, Liwa Palace (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is a Group 3-placed winner over 1900 metres and has a Blue Point (Ire) yearling colt.
Back in trip to suit Tempted in Everest
Trainer Ciaron Maher believes the timing and distance is perfect for 3-year-old filly Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) in the G1 The Everest this coming weekend. “Craig (Williams) went and sat on her the other day for a good strong piece of work. She’s in a good spot,” Maher told racing.com.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of Inglis
“I think the way he’s riding is an important piece of the puzzle. He seems to be winning on anything. You see it all the time with jockeys or any sportsman. Their confidence is up and they win more often than not, and he’s certainly in that spot at the moment.
“She’s probably had a pretty good prep for it as well. She’s had that 1400-metre run (Golden Rose) and comes back to the 1200 metres after three weeks and I like that.”
Waller’s trio ready for Ka Ying Rising challenge
Trainer Chris Waller thinks home ground advantage will be the reason his trio of runners in The Everest can topple Hong Kong Horse Of The Year Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}). “He’s obviously a great horse but it’s just horses for courses,” Waller told racing.com.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“We’ve got three (runners) on our home track in our own backyard. It’s like us going to Hong Kong - you’re on the back foot. At home, he’s an absolute superstar but he’s got different track conditions (to deal with). I hope he’s in the finish because it would be a great story. I want him to do well and if he wins the race, that’s great.”
Waller’s runners are Joliestar (Zoustar), Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) and Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}). “I think Joliestar’s a better horse than when she ran in the race last year. She was slow away and took time to muster speed, then very strong through the line, but you see her now, she’s confident to jump and be comfortable.
“(Lady Shenandoah) didn’t thrive down here in her first serious trip away. I think you might be surprised as there’ll be a bit of support for her.”
Will Globe pay up for the Cox Plate?
With a substantial late entry fee, co-trainer Mick Price is contemplating the notion of paying up for the G1 WS Cox Plate with Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Stakes winner Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). “It’s a $200,000 pay up, they pay $100,000 down to eighth and it would be a small field,” Price told racing.com.
“I’m not sure when I have to make that pay up, but if he has a good seven to 10 days, why wouldn’t you? He only just got beaten at Moonee Valley in a 1500-metre race there. I think those big horses, once they get to 2000 metres around there, they handle it better than a bustling little 1500-metre race. I’ve got no troubles about him getting around Moonee Valley. If the horse is physically well, it’s a handball in.”
Blinkers on for Ceolwulf in King Charles III
Trainer Joe Pride will add blinkers to Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) for Saturday’s G1 King Charles III Stakes at Randwick. “I’ve kept a gear change up my sleeve for a fair while with this horse with a set of blinkers and they’ll go on this Saturday,” Pride told racingnsw.com.au.
Ceolwulf (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“I think they will help him but I’d love to get a wet track as well. He’s been racing well throughout the preparation without winning. I’d love to get a bit of a soft track, there’s potentially some stormy weather around Friday so I’ll be cheering for that.
“I think he’s had the preparation to win the race but if he doesn’t get that (edge off) they are slick. It’s hard to compare his Epsom runs, I’m not going to say his Epsom run was better this year than last year but he did carry top weight on what was a moderate speed for what he requires. He should get a nice fast run race and I think he’ll be in the finish.”
Win or bust for Jenni
Ahead of Saturday’s G1 King Charles III Stakes, trainer Ciaron Maher believes his star mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) has a racing style that is win or lose. “She’s in great order. Her two runs up there (Sydney) have been great. Her run up there last year (King Charles III Stakes) was fantastic. The time before was when she won the Queen Elizabeth,” Maher told racing.com.
Pride Of Jenni | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I think she is (in the same form). I was a bit dubious first-up because she was a bit heavier than she’d ever been, but she ran just as good. Seems to be in that similar sort of spot. Things have to go right and Queensland wasn’t as smooth as what I would have liked. There is no in between. You are either fighting out the finish or you are at the back. That’s how those sort of horses are. But she’s in a good spot.”
Star Turn filly wins on debut
On Sunday at Queanbeyan, Gregory McFarlane-trained 3-year-old filly Salma’s Star (Star Turn) won on debut by half a length. Her trainer purchased her from the Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale for $16,000 through the Sledmere Stud draft. One of eight winners for Hollywell (Refuse To Bend {Ire}), and her second-last foal, Salma’s Star’s younger brother is a 2-year-old colt by Harry Angel (Ire).
Doubles for Smart Missile and Rubick
At Cairns on Sunday, Smart Missile and Rubick both enjoyed a double, meaning they sired four of the seven winners on the card between them. Smart Missile’s pair were maiden winner Combat Crusader and Targeted who was enjoying his third career win.
Rubick, who was exported to China via New Zealand earlier this year, sired It’s Been A Trek who made it two wins in succession, and Ruby Chicks who took her record to five victories.
Debut win for Swift Force
With Launceston’s Friday night meeting moved to Sunday due to wild winds, John Keys trained 3-year-old filly Swift Force (Magnus) enjoyed the delay galloping to an impressive 4.5 length victory on debut.
Sold by Macleay Thoroughbred Stud at the Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale for $30,000 and bought by Keys, Swift Force is the first foal of Fast And Ready (More Than Ready {USA}) who has a Stratosphere yearling filly.
Three in succession for Geegees Missile
Stakes placed at two, 3-year-old filly Geegees Missile (Wordsmith) made in three in a row at Launceston on Sunday for trainer Stuart Gandy with a 2.25 length romp. She is a full sister to Tasmania Horse Of The Year in 2024/25 Geegees Mistruth who was a dual Group 3 winner at three and a dual Listed winner at two.
Antino backs it up in Queensland
At the Queensland Thoroughbred Awards on Sunday, Tony Gollan-trained Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) won his second consecutive Horse of the Year title. “As a proud Queenslander, it is fantastic to see our local stars light up the track both at home and on the national stage,” Racing Minister Tim Mander told racingqueensland.com.au.
“The Sportsbet Queensland Thoroughbred Awards is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the achievements of both human and equine participants in our sport. Congratulations to all winners, and also those who were nominated, as we celebrate another remarkable year of thoroughbred racing in Queensland.”
Tony Gollan won his 12th consecutive Jim Atkins Trainer of the Year Award and was inducted into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame. Angela Jones won the George Moore Queensland Jockey of the Year, and Emily Lang was named the Ken Russell Queensland Apprentice of the Year.
Chris and Corey Munce-trained Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) was crowned the 2-Year-Old Horse Of The Year and David Vandyke-trained Philia (All Too Hard) claimed 3-Year-Old Horse Of The Year.
Twain wins G3 Sweynesse Stakes
Trainer John Bell gained great satisfaction from the breakthrough stakes victory of 5-year-old gelding Twain (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in Sunday’s G3 Sweynesse Stakes at Rotorua. “It’s great for myself, the owners and the guys working with me in the stables, it’s pretty gratifying for the team,” Bell said.
“A lot of work has gone into him, he’s had a few issues that we’ve worked around successfully so it’s a nice result. He was absolutely brilliant today and Vinnie Colgan rode him superbly, it was a true, professional ride. He rode him exactly to plan and the horse responded, Twain is an amazing athlete and both rider and horse deserved the win.”
He become stakes winner 35 for Per Incanto (USA), and was passed in at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
Hanseatic filly wins again in New Zealand
Resuming at three, Australian 3-year-old filly Lubeck (Hanseatic) took her record to two wins from three starts, having been a debutant winner at two, with a win at Rotorua on Sunday for trainer Stephen Marsh.
Sold by Kilgravin Lodge at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale to Brewers Bloodstock for NZ$60,000, she is one of 10 winners for second season sire Hanseatic.
Sale topper achieved after the sale at Ocala
A bay daughter of Into Mischief has sold post-sale for US$275,000 (AU$419,000) to top the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company October Yearling Sale, the company announced on Saturday. Initially a US$290,000 (AU$442,000) RNA through the ring during the October 8 session, the filly went Tami Bobo's way from the Glen Hill Farm consignment who also bred her from their mare, stakes winner Compelled (War Front).
With the post-sale result, the Into Mischief filly becomes the highest priced horse sold at this year's October Yearling Sale, topping the US$240,000 (AU$366,000) brought by Christophe Nouvellet on behalf of Dream With Me Florida for a filly by Mo Donegal.
Arqana Autumn catalogue released
The Group 1-placed G3 Prix des Chenes hero Misunderstood (Hello Youmzain) (lot 372) is one of the highlights of Arqana's Autumn Sale catalogue which was revealed on Saturday.
The sale is responsible for top-level graduates under both codes, and in addition to Misunderstood, will also offer group winners Midak (Footstepsinthesand) (Lot 374) and Roshvar (Siyouni) (Lot 375).
