Group 1 autumn targets for Cranbourne Cup winner
Saturday’s Listed Cranbourne Cup winner Sabaj (Manhattan Rain) will be set for the G1 Doncaster Handicap over the same mile distance in the autumn by trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. “I would put a circle around the Doncaster, if I can,” Price said.
“I don't think he's bottomed out, so if I spell him now I'll have a lovely horse in the autumn, which is very close. We've got the autumn here in front of us with this horse if we want. This is sort of a brand new horse. He's perfectly sound, feet, knees, fetlock, lovely. He's lightly raced, with good ability. If we treat him right we can have a lovely horse in the autumn and we can chase a good race.”
Sabaj won by three-quarters of a length from Robbie Griffiths-trained Enxuto (Lean Mean Machine) with Ciaron Maher-trained Hollymanz (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) in third. The lightly raced 4-year-old gelding has won five of his eight starts, and was placed in the G2 Tobin Bronze Stakes last season. He becomes stakes winner 21 for Manhattan Rain who relocated to West Australia a few seasons ago.
Now the winner of $550,000, Sabaj is the second foal of Bouzy (Uncle Mo {USA}) who has a 3-year-old, a yearling, and a foal all by Peltzer.
Catch The Glory wins The Warra
Trainer Jason Coyle almost scratched Catch The Glory (Zousain) from Saturday’s The Warra at Kembla Grange due to the worsening conditions, but kept her in and she won by 0.3 lengths from Joe Pride-trained The Black Cloud (Shamus Award) with local trainers Mitchell Beer & George Carpenter collecting third thanks to Sunrise (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). “At 7.28am this morning I was close to scratching her and saving her for the Starlight (over 1100m at Rosehill next week) which was the original plan,” Coyle said.
“Then I was concerned driving down here with the rain and when the track started to chop up and was downgraded I was worried she wouldn't be able to close off like I know she can. I thought about scratching her again during the meeting and then looked and saw that Peter (Snowden) had beaten me to it (with race favourite Zealously) so I decided to leave her in. I'm not sure if I pulled the right rein or not but she won and she's now a stakes winner so it's all worked out.”
Unfortunately for Catch The Glory’s connections, she isn’t an official stakes winner as The Warra is yet to be ratified by the Asian Pattern Committee, so it is not officially recognised as black type. The $170,000 pay cheque for the winner is some compensation, as the 4-year-old mare took her earnings over $470,000 for her five wins. She was purchased by Coyle from Bhima Thoroughbreds’ 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Treble for Alpine Eagle on Friday night
At Launceston on Friday night, local stallion Alpine Eagle sired a treble starting with 3-year-old gelding Wolf Junior who won his maiden. Stakes placed 3-year-old filly Crack The Shutters won the 3-year-old cup and made it three wins in succession to stay unbeaten this time in. The treble came with 5-year-old mare Alisent who won her second career victory.
Needs Further had a double with Lovin’ Bev, while it was the favourite Durazzo who won the Listed Newmarket Handicap. Durazzo took his career to nine wins, and it was his second Listed victory. He has earnings over $420,000 and was a $97,500 purchase by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock (FBAA) from Armidale Stud’s 2022 Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale.
Sire doubles on Saturday
Manhattan Rain had a double with Cranbourne Cup winner Sabaj and Meteorite winner Jigsaw. At Adaminaby, Epaulette sired a double with Rager and Epaullo Creed. At Gympie, Daunting Lad sired a double with Braidwood Prince and Daunting Instinct.
Qali Al Farrasha picks up a well-deserved Group 2
Few could deny the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained mare Qali Al Farrasha (Almanzor {Fr}) a stakes victory, and she finally secured her breakthrough at Group level in the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.
The ultra-consistent mare has been competing at the top level throughout her career and thoroughly earned the right to see her name in bold type. She had previously placed in several elite-level events, including the G1 New Zealand Oaks, G1 New Zealand Stakes, G1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic and G1 Thorndon Mile.
Given a sweet run by jockey Wiremu Pinn, Qali Al Farrasha quickened clear and bolted away to defeat dual Group 1 winner Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) by just under two lengths. Jaarfi (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) filled the minor placing.
Ardalio picks up another Group 3
The Stephen Marsh-trained Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan) added another stakes victory to her record with a strong win in the G3 Counties Bowl over 1100 metres at Pukekohe, ridden confidently by Kozzi Asano.
Twain (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was brave in second, finishing 1.5 lengths adrift after being slightly hampered late, while Midnight Edition (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) closed well for third despite not having much go her way.
It was only Ardalio’s second run this preparation after finishing fourth at Te Rapa over 1200 metres in late September. As a 3-year-old, she captured both the G3 Almanzor Trophy on Karaka Millions night and the G3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes.
Her Counties Bowl triumph also completed a stakes double on the day for Waikato Stud’s Ardrossan, following De Armas’ (NZ) victory in the Listed Challenge Stakes earlier on the card.
Final Return claims the Counties Cup
A brave ride by apprentice jockey Elen Nicholas saw Final Return (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) claim the G3 Counties Cup, producing a daring move after being three lengths off the back of the field at around the 1600-metre mark. Nicholas angled wide and swept around the entire field to sit outside the leader.
It proved decisive, as the Reliable Man (GB) filly held on in a blanket finish to defeat the rank outsider Rosetown Princess (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) in second, with Aftermath (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) running a solid third.
Final Return is the seventh live foal out of the four-time winner and Group 1-placed Zabeel (NZ) mare Final Return (NZ), who has produced six individual winners.
Ka Ying Rising improved ahead of Sunday’s mission
Jockey Zac Purton has issued a warning to rivals; Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) has improved on arriving home in Hong Kong after winning the G1 The Everest. “He seems to be bouncing around, he feels good within himself and it looks as though the trip, if anything, has helped him develop as a horse,” Purton told scmp.com.
Ka Ying Rising (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
He runs in Sunday’s G2 Jockey Club Sprint at Sha Tin. “Physically he just seems to look better all the time and mentally he seems to keep improving as well, so I’m looking forward to having him back. The trials would have brought him back to Earth a little bit. I haven’t been on him since the trial, but I’ve seen him at the track and he’s ready to go back to the races. He’s just happy to be back in Hong Kong, which is a good thing.”
Four wildcards added to Arqana December
Four additional wildcards, including G1 Preis der Diana second Spanish Eyes (Zarak), have been added to the Arqana Vente d'Elevage on December 6-9.
Consigned as lot 248f, the mare was also placed in the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes and the GII Beverly D. Stakes. She is a sister to group winner Sirjan (Zarak) and is also from the family of three-time Group 1 winner Sosie (Sea The Stars).
Lot 248g is G3 Prix Fille de l'Air second Salmarak (Zarak). The 5-year-old is from the family of Arc hero Peintre Celebre. In foal to Zarak is Ithaque (Oasis Dream) (lot 248h), who is out of the Listed winner Eyeful (Muhtathir). Rounding out the quartet is Birdcall (Night Of Thunder), who is unbeaten in two starts. Set to sell as lot 248i, the juvenile won by four lengths on debut in October and then switched to the all-weather and won again. She is rated 92 and is kin to Group 1 winners Dream Of Dreams (Dream Ahead), Airwave (Air Express), Churchill, and Clemmie (Galileo).
Jockey Club Racecourse appoint Mark Spincer as CEO
Mark Spincer will become the new chief executive officer of Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR). He will replace Charlie Boss, who is leaving at the end of the year and will report to JCR group chief executive Jim Mullen. However, a formal start date for Spincer has not been set.
Formerly from Arena Racing Company (ARC), Spincer was managing director of the racing division there since January of 2020. He was also formerly group operations director and executive director of Newcastle and Doncaster Racecourses.
Mark Spincer | Image courtesy of Jockey Club Racecourses
Mullen said, “Mark is a superb operator with 25 years of experience in the hospitality and leisure sectors and knows the racing industry inside out. This role requires an operational leader with an unwavering focus on customer experience and a track record of delivering racing and live music events across multiple sites.
“I'm excited to work with Mark to help get the best out of our highly motivated and brilliant teams across our portfolio of racecourses.”
Golden Shaheen for Book’em Danno
It's been a long time since anyone has seen the New Jersey-bred star Book'em Danno (USA) (Bucchero {USA}). He hasn't run since winning the GI Forego Stakes at Saratoga on August 23. There were rumblings that he would run in the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland, but he sat that one out. He also did not run in the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he likely would have been the favourite. Passing on an appearance at the World Championships is something that could cost him some Eclipse Award votes.
The 4-year-old is currently in Ocala and his connections want him to have a break of about two-and-a-half months before returning him to training. They do not yet have any definite plans yet for the 2026 season, but it appears that a trip to Dubai is where he might kick off his campaign.
“We have no definite plans as to where to go,” said Jay Briscione, who heads the Atlantic Six ownership group. “I have had conversations with the people in Saudi Arabia and we have nominated him for two races there, including the [G3] Riyadh Dirt Sprint. There's more of a chance that he will go in the [Mar. 28 running of the G1] Dubai Golden Shaheen.”
