Shiki still on for Magic Millions 2YO Classic
Co-trainer Adrian Bott isn’t too worried about Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB})’s fourth placing on Saturday and will still head towards the R.Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic. “I haven't lost faith off the back of (Saturday),” Bott told racingandsports.com.au.
“I think she is the right horse to take up there. The benefit is she's qualified, so we were under no pressure, and it was a nice starting point for her. She is a very fast filly and has always been that way. I just want to see her harness her speed, which she can do.
Shiki | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She was in need of that run, and we've got a few things to work on which we're aware of. A different race set-up for her will be beneficial because she can be adaptable.”
Gracie’s Rain heads to Black Pearl
Trainer Mick Huglin will run Gracie’s Rain (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) in the Listed Black Pearl Stakes for fillies and mares at Geelong on January 3 after her victory on Saturday. “She’s obviously getting up in the rating points now, so she’ll go to that Black Pearl race at Geelong in two weeks,” Huglin told racing.com.
“That will be that box that we can try to tick off, and I think the good thing about yesterday was it was the first time in that grade of horse that I’ve been confident she has run out the 1200 metres strongly.
“I just wanted to get through yesterday before we started really locking things in. I think the Mystic Journey, the 1200m mares race (in Tasmania), that will be the race after Geelong. But she’s definitely earned her crack at it.”
Tavi Time chasing second Summer Cup
Kris Lees-trained Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) will attempt to win back-to-back G3 Summer Cups on Boxing Day. “Last year he came through different races leading into the Summer Cup and while he was placing in those lead-up runs, I'm not sure he was going as well as he is this year,” Lees told racenet.com.au.
“In saying that he will need to be going better because he's going to get more weight this year. The way he closed off in The Ingham points to him relishing the 2000 metres.”
Kris Lees | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Apprentices dominate Caulfield card
Seven of the 10 races on Saturday at Caulfield were won by apprentices with doubles going to Jackson Radley, Luke Cartwright and Logan Bates. Hannah Edgley was the seventh winner. “She rides terrific, Hannah,” Shawn Mathrick said about her win on Celsius Star (Zoustar).
“She doesn’t get many goes in town, but I said to her ‘today’s our day’. So, I’m rapt for her.”
Grills looking for hat trick at Tamworth
Trainer Sue Grills will run three horses at Tamworth on Monday including debutant winner Cosmic Bling (Cosmic Force). “He is a very nice horse Cosmic Bling. He is one of the best-looking horses you would ever see,” Grills told racenet.com.au.
“Everyone that looks at him says ‘wow', that's a nice horse'. He's got a beautiful head on him and looks really intelligent. I really like him. It's hard to win the maiden and then the Class 1 straight away but he'll improve heaps on that win.”
Grills other two runners are Night Fighter (Smart Missile) and Rufus Atticus (The Autumn Sun). “He has desperately wanted a mile. He ran a great race last start so hopefully he should be a good each-way chance.”
Prague adds a new winner at Sale
Before the meeting at Sale was abandoned due to surface water, second season sire Prague added winner number five when Danny O’Brien-trained 3-year-old gelding Rogue Warrior won the first on the card. Five of the eight races were run before the meeting was abandoned.
He was having his fourth start, and was a $50,000 purchase by Superstar Racing from Kia Ora Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft. He is out of Group 2 winner War Heroine (USA) (Lonhro) who has a Captivant yearling colt being sold at the upcoming Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Golden Eagle possibility for Do Or Do Not
Trainer Andrew Noblet might get a Golden Eagle runner after Seymour Bloodstock founders Darren Thomas and Mark Pilkington bought Do Or Do Not (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}) from English trainer Jamie Osborne. “It was my first trip to Meydan- it's an amazing facility,” Noblet told racenet.com.au of a recent trip to view the horse.
“I'm pleased to have learnt about the horses temperament first hand. He looks an uncomplicated and professional style of horse. I suspect if he wins the UAE Guineas the boys will be tempted to leave him with Jamie, if not I will aim him at the $10m Golden Eagle in October.” The G3 UAE Guineas is in late January.
Wagga’s Christmas Eve to celebrate Ryder
Wednesday’s Christmas Eve race meeting at Wagga promises to be a good time for the crowd. “We’ll have live entertainment to keep patrons rocking along between races and being the evening before Christmas, it will be a great way to kick start the Christmas break!” Murrumbidgee Turf Club’s CEO, Jason Ferrario told racingnsw.com.au.
“We usually draw a good crowd with heaps of workers getting off early and heading down to the track. There are also giveaways, kids’ lawn games and drink specials with hospitality packages available.
Jason Ferrario | Image courtesy of The Daily Adviser
“The Christmas Eve meeting not only features the much-loved Ted Ryder Cup, but also a $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus Series available in the [$50,000] Super Maiden Handicap (1000m). This is part of the $5 million Inglis Xtra Bonus Series with a possible $100,000 bonus to the winner of the race should they be fully paid up for the Inglis Race Series.
“And Christmas will come early for winning connections with a total of $122,000 going their way if eligible. The Murrumbidgee Turf Club Ted Ryder Cup is our feature summer race and a $40,000 Open Handicap over 1600m being run for the 32nd time. The winner is exempt from ballot for the 2026 Wagga Gold Cup – that’s a golden ticket into the MTC’s feature $200,000 race next May.
“Ted was a doyen of country racing journalists and racecallers and was the long-time Sports Editor at the Wagga Daily Advertiser newspaper. Ted called races at Wagga for more than three decades and described 30-plus Wagga Gold Cups.”
Zoustar’s Regal Gem shooting for three in a row
Frankie Lor will stretch Regal Gem (Zoustar) out to a mile on Tuesday at Happy Valley as the gelding shoots for three wins in a row. “There were no Class Two 1200 metre races in the programme, so we need to try 1,650m,” Lor told scmp.com.
“I have put the hood on to help him relax. I think the pace should be good with some fast horses in the race. Derek (Leung) is suspended, so I’ve put Zac (Purton) on. If he can relax in the early stages, I think he can run the mile.”
Chip Honcho earns Kentucky Derby points
Sent off as the 39-10 third choice in a field of six for Saturday's Gun Runner Stakes at the Fair Grounds, Leland Ackerley Racing LLC's Chip Honcho (Connect) prompted the early pace and kept plugging away down the long stretch to be up on the wire and earn 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
“I had him in good position to the outside after I got him to settle,” said winning rider Paco Lopez. “He really started setting down a nice run at the quarter pole, and I thought we could go get the leader. My horse gave everything he had.”
The 18th stakes winner for his Lane's End-based stallion, whose son Rattle N Roll was victorious in the Tinsel Stakes at Oaklawn earlier Saturday, Chip Honcho is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to fellow stakes winner Whiskey And Rye (Maclean's Music).
