Southside thrilled with Supernova field
Southside Racing chief executive Neil Bainbridge is thrilled with the depth of quality in the field for Saturday’s Supernova slot race at Pakenham. “It's a great field, it's got a lot of depth, it's very even and there's a lot of quality at the top,” Bainbridge told racing.com.
Neil Bainbridge | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We're delighted Private Eye is going to run in the Ladbrokes slot; he's a 114-rater, he's won nearly $13 million and he's a Group 1 winner. Here To Shock, last year's winner, is a Group 1 winner, as well. Arkansaw Kid ran second in The Meteorite the other week and finished second behind Here To Shock in the Supernova last year.
“And then you have Pinstriped, who is another Group 1 winner. He is one of two runners for 'EJ' (Jusufovic), who also has Proved; she has won six of seven and runs in the Southside slot. We're thrilled; it's tremendous to get that calibre of horse and what a great card it will be with the Ladbrokes Pakenham Cup, as well.”
Wyong Magic Millions 2YO for Seeiaye
Wednesday’s R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic will see trainer Peter Snowden’s debut winner Seeiaye (Russian Revolution) aim to qualify for the main R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast. “He's come through his first run well, I'm really happy with him,” Snowden told racing.com.
Peter Snowden | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“We'll tackle the race at Wyong on Wednesday then hopefully press on to the Gold Coast.”
Orchestral retired
Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained dual Group 1 winner Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) has been retired. “Unfortunately, she had an atrial fibrillation in the race and her heart hasn’t come back to a normal rhythm,” Wellwood told Loveracing.nz.
“That counts her out as being a racing prospect, so she has been officially retired and is going to be a mum. She has been a wonderful mare. When you look back through her record you pinch yourself that you are involved with a horse like her.”
Orchestral won five in succession at three including the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO, the G1 New Zealand Derby and G1 Vinery Stakes. She returned at four to win the Listed Aotearoa Classic and was several time Group 1-placed.
Orchestral (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“The Karaka Millions was very exciting, that is probably when she announced herself. To be able to win a Derby with Roger was a dream come true. I joked with him when we first started training together that he needed to teach me how to win a Derby and I remember when he came down the stairs after the Derby he said, ‘job done’.
“To win a Group 1 in Australia too just capped it off, she really showed her class. She is certainly one out of the box and you feel very privileged to be involved with a horse like her. It has been a dream run and although it is gutting to not have another season with her, we look forward to the Litt family hopefully breeding some superstars from her.
“We have unfortunately missed this (breeding) season. She will have a nice break for 10 or 11 months and look for a boyfriend in the new season.”
Gimcrack Stakes winner Shiki to trial ahead of Magic Millions
G3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}) will trial on Tuesday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott ahead of her R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic campaign. “She's come back really well and heads to the trials on Tuesday,” Sean Driver, of Kurrinda Bloodstock, told racing.com.
Shiki | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She will race on Saturday-week in the 1000-metre 2YO Plate at Randwick, then go to The Pearl (1100 metres) on the Gold Coast on the night of the 3YO Sunlight Slot race (January 10), and then she'll back-up a week later (in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic).
“It's been terrific. She had two weeks off back at our farm in the Hunter Valley. Her coat was only about 20 per cent there on Gimcrack Day. She was probably the worst-looking horse in the yard. We thought that if she could win that, she might be quite good, because she didn't look ready to win, physically.”
Sabaj to target The Ingham
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained last start Listed Cranbourne Cup winner Sabaj (Manhattan Rain) will head to Sydney for the G2 The Ingham on Saturday. “To be honest, immediately post-race we were in two minds whether to push on or not, but the following morning Mick (Price) was in the stable and he was delighted with what he saw,” Kent told racingandsports.com.au.
Michael Kent Jnr and Mick Price | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The horse ate very well overnight, he wasn't too tucked up and whilst he ran a track record, we think the horse coped really well with the run. There was no travelling involved being at Cranbourne, that probably helped a bit, and for a lighter-framed horse he looks good in the body.
“He had a week out at my farm, at Kingshaven, where he had some time on the grass, we did some dressage work with him just to put some condition back on…I think he's in the zone, he feels great.” Previously the G2 Villiers Stakes, the race was renamed in 2022 to honour the Ingham brothers of Woodlands Stud.
Can Black Run make it four in Pakenham Cup?
Trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald believe their much improved import Black Run (Fr) (Nathaniel {Ire}) can make it four wins in succession in Saturday’s Listed Pakenham Cup. “I'm not sure what else is going there, so he might be a little bit out of the handicap, but I think 2500 will be ideal and he's a very genuine horse,” Annabel Archibald told racingandsports.com.au.
Will Johnson and Annabel Archibald | Image courtesy of Annabel Neasham Racing
“Ryan Houston will stick with him. He's been riding out of his skin and seems to have a nice affinity with this horse.”
McMurray ready for second Sydney stint
Jockey Jace McMurray will begin his second stint in Sydney when he rides Daphnes (Street Boss {USA}) for Michael Freedman at Wyong on Wednesday. “It was always my intention after the spring carnival to come back down,” McMurray told racingnsw.com.au.
Jace McMurray | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
“I hit a bit of a flat spot coming into the spring, it was always going to be hard even if I was riding a lot of winners with the Everest Carnival coming up. Michael came up with the idea to go to his satellite stable to get the confidence up and to keep improving knowing the claim was going to come down a bit.
“This week I’m trying to get my name back out there for the weeks ahead.”
Metro treble for Voorham
On Saturday at Morphettville, jockey Teagan Voorham rode a treble on Chris Beig-trained Teardrop Rotation (D’Argento), Sarah Rutten-trained Eventually (Helmet), and Peter and Belinda Blanch-trained Hysterical Lady (Sir Prancealot {Ire}). “It’s been a great day,” Voorham told racingsa.com.au about her first metro treble.
“We obviously had a very impressive win first-up at Oakbank,” trainer Chris Bieg said of Teardrop Rotation.
“Leading into the Adelaide Guineas on the Friday morning, she took fright (and got loose). She ended up doing close to 15 laps of the track, going through rail after rail. It was like a demolition derby; it was horrific, like a scene from a movie. She had significant wounds to three of her four legs, one requiring serious surgery.
“To see her come back and do that is very satisfying. We think she’s got a hell of a future. I’m excited about the autumn carnival for this horse.” Teardrop Rotation has won three in succession since that injury.
Campionessa's full sister heads to Group 2
Mapperley Stud’s full sister to Group 1 winner Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), 3-year-old filly Stella Ma Bella (NZ) will be aimed at the G2 Eight Carat Classic after winning on Saturday. “She’s a better physical type than Campionessa, she’s more forward as a younger horse and showing that. She’s got a real physical presence about her, she’s a ripper,” Davison told Loveracing.nz on Monday.
“She will go to the 3-year-old filly’s race at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, that’s the plan at this stage. I only had 10 per cent of Campionessa so it’s nice to own 100 per cent of a nice horse, Te Akau did a great job with her and they’re doing it again with Stella Ma Bella.”
Campionessa went to The Autumn Sun this spring. “She went over to The Autumn Sun, she’s positive and back here on the farm now,” Davison said.
“We wanted to breed Oaks types out of her and he’s had another huge spring, so I think we’ve made the right call. There was a lot of discussion about it to maybe get a bit more speed, Campionessa needed time and distance, but we decided to stick to our knitting. I think everyone can get a bit carried away about injecting speed, New Zealand is known for producing those Oaks type fillies so we’ve gone to a stallion we think can deliver that.”
First Group 1 for Rooke
Jockey George Rooke missed his first Group 1 two weeks ago when Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes) missed by a tiny margin in the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas, but got redemption on Saturday when the finish went in his favour in the G1 Mufasa Stakes on Provence (NZ) (Savabeel). “It was very nerve-racking because two weeks before I learnt my lesson,” Rooke told Loveracing.nz on Monday.
“It was very close that day and I thought I had won, and I was devastated (when I didn’t). The camera not working wasn’t ideal for a Group 1 race (on Saturday), they said the software seemed to fail. It was a painful wait, but we got the right result.
“It was my first Group 1, so I am over the moon. It has always been a lifetime goal for me. It is what we do it for and why we get up at the crack of dawn.
“I had two stakes winners in England, it is just very competitive and hard to get on the good horses. Over here there is a bit more opportunity and I have put in the hard work, and the trainers and owners have always supported me since I have been here. It is just nice to get that Group 1, the one everyone wants.”
MyRacehorse USA launch charity auction
MyRacehorse's inaugural “12 Days of Giving”, a holiday auction supporting Thoroughbred aftercare, will kick off December 8 and continue through December 19, according to a MyRacehorse release.
The auction features memorabilia, unique experiences, and one-of-a-kind items, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the MyRacehorse Transition Fund.
“Thoroughbreds give us everything they have, and they ask for so little in return,” said Michael Behrens, Founder and CEO of MyRacehorse. “Our responsibility is not just to celebrate the wins but to take care of the horses who make them possible. The 12 Days of Giving is a reminder of what makes this community special. When owners, fans, partners, trainers, and friends come together, we can shape brighter futures for every horse we touch. That is the heart of MyRacehorse, and it is why this initiative means so much to us.”
Through the Transition Fund and Retail With a Purpose, MyRacehorse provides the resources, assistance, and support needed to help retired racehorses begin life beyond the track.
