Latest Magic Millions order released
Racing Queensland have released the latest order of entry for the R.Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and R.Listed Magic Million Guineas. Ninja (Farnan) is the big mover on the Guineas table, up into third, from Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) and O’ Ole (Ole Kirk).
Zip Lock (Hellbent) heads the juvenile entry from Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) with Lumbini (Russian Revolution) and Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in third and fourth. Saturday’s winner Warwoven (Sword Of State) now sits in fifth ahead of Unit Five (Supido).
Underdog set for Sunlight slot race
Chris Anderson-trained 3-year-old filly Get Ready Lass (Better Than Ready) will run in Mike Sherrin, of Sheralee Estates, slot in the $3 million Sunlight. “I feel that because Chris Anderson is a smaller stable that she's one that probably slips under the punters' guard,” Brisbane Racing Club chairman Richard Morrison told racenet.com.au about the filly he has a share in.
“Foreign Press is one horse that's right in the market and we've beaten it a couple of times fair and square. Hopefully she races better than a 15-1 shot but we're really confident that she will.”
Get Ready Lass | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
She was purchased for $60,000 from Alexia Fraser Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale by her trainer and Vardy Bloodstock. “She's probably just a little unassuming as a racehorse,” Anderson said.
“I'm not saying she should've won a couple more but she's been pretty stiff in some races if you look at her form and people probably haven't tweaked on to that. When she ran second to Swordplay, I think people thought ‘hang on, she can be a real contender'.”
Hedged set for Standish
Trainer Gavin Bedggood will step last start Listed winner Hedged (Capitalist) up to 1400 metres in Saturday’s G3 Standish Stakes. “I’ve been mad keen to try him at seven furlongs all preparation,” Bedgood told racing.com.
Hedged | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The Christmas Stakes got him ballot exemption for an Oakleigh Plate and if he can win the Standish, he’ll be ballot exempt for a Newmarket. But I think over 1400 metres around somewhere like Caulfield, early in the autumn, running into horses that might not quite be fit... If it was the right race, I’d be really keen to try him. I reckon he could be dominant at that distance range.”
Nadal’s attempt depends on the weather
Ciaron Maher-trained Nadal (Xtravagant {NZ}) will rely on the weather forecast before a final decision on if he’ll run in Saturday’s G3 Standish Stakes. “It's an option, six furlongs down the straight (appeals), but it's more weather-dependent,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull told racingandsports.com.au.
Jack Turnbull | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“If the ground was to be like today (Good 3), you'd probably wait. We'd love a drop of rain and we're under no pressure, because he could really just keep poking along through autumn and through winter even. He's being prepped for it, but whether or not we do go, we'll have to see.
“He was good (when second in the Listed Christmas Stakes), he just got back and had to run through a bit of traffic, but the winner was pretty impressive. It was much better. He's probably at his peak for fitness, now we've just got maintain that and hold his action.
“He went out last prep for knee issues, so it's a matter of us just holding that balance, which we have. He's been fine at the moment, but to run him on a fast track would probably be a chance to undo him.”
Singapore champion still looking to break through
It’s a tough ask for an older galloper to move jurisdictions and maintain form, but trainer Dan Meagher thinks his former Singapore Champion Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec {NZ}) can win the G3 Standish Stakes on Saturday to record his first Australian victory. “I think he probably needed that run the other day over 1400 metres,” Meagher told racing.com.
Dan Meagher | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He's just done so super here, his body weight probably was just a touch heavy going into that. Now he's had that run, he's really tightened up and looks like the old Kosi.
“He had a nice, easy, good, old-fashioned Singapore trial the other day where he just sat out the back and worked home with Luke Nolen on. He'll have a quiet week this week and he'll go into that race really fresh and really well. The weights aren't perfect for him because he's carrying the top-weight obviously but he's going into it as well as I've had him since I've been back.”
Sandown postponed until Thursday
With temperatures in Victoria expected to reach 41 on Wednesday, the meeting at Sandown has been moved to Thursday. “The decision has been made in the interests of horse and participant welfare, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) predicting temperatures to reach 41 degrees in Melbourne on Wednesday afternoon before dropping to 31 degrees on Thursday,” a Racing Victoria statement said.
“The Sandown Lakeside meeting will remain a twilight fixture with the first race scheduled for 4pm and the last at 7.30pm, with 30-minute intervals in between.”
Oakbank moved to Friday
Racing South Australia announced on Monday that Oakbank’s Wednesday meeting would move to Friday due to forecast high temperatures. “Due to the extreme heat forecast for Oakbank and the greater metropolitan area, the Wednesday 7 January meeting has been rescheduled for Friday 9 January as a twilight meeting. Race 1 at 3:20pm - Race 7 at 6:59pm,” said a statement.
“We appreciate your understanding as we ensure the welfare of our equine and human athletes and participants.”
Apprentice Jade Smith makes good start
With 11 winners since her debut in August, apprentice jockey Jade Smith is thrilled with her start. “It's been better than I could've ever dreamed of - I've wanted to do this forever. I first tried out for the program when I was 15 and didn't get in and that was hard on me, but it just drove me to be a lot better when I came back the next year,” Smith told racing.com.
“Thankfully I got in my second year and then it took a few months to get my trials sorted and get me race riding, but it's been better than I could've hoped for.” She won at her debut on Spylark (NZ) (Niagara) in the Sheep Hills Cup at Warracknabeal for her father Dane Smith, who trains Spylark and works as a barrier attendant.
“I've got nine wins left on that (three-kilo claim), so I'll just try chip away at that. Hopefully towards winter and towards the end of the year, I can start getting into the mid-weeks, start to build my race-riding and just improve.”
Big Dance ticket goes to Alottosay
Brian Adams-trained 4-year-old mare Alottosay (Press Statement) grabbed a Big Dance entry in winning Monday’s Moruya Cup. She took her record to four wins from 11 starts with earnings over $100,000.
Her dam, Green Aventurine (Dubai Destination {USA}) hasn’t been served since Alottosay was foaled and has one other winner Vereeva (Plus {USA}) who also raced on Monday running third in race five on the card. Green Aventurine won eight of her 66 starts, and this is a branch of the Bentley Biscuit (Peintre Celebre {USA}) family.
Eclipse Award finalists announced in America
Track stars such as Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) are among the finalists for the 2025 Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards, recognizing excellence through the past year in Thoroughbred racing, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) said via a Sunday press release.
Winners in 17 horse and human categories will be announced on FanDuel TV, and other outlets, during the 55th Annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards, presented by John Deere, The Jockey Club and the NTRA, on Thursday, January 22 at 7:30pm ET. The evening will culminate with the announcement of the 2025 Horse of the Year.
Of the 240 eligible voters represented by the NTRA, consisting of racetrack racing officials and Equibase field personnel, the National Turf Writers & Broadcasters and Daily Racing Form, 221 (92%) took part in the voting. Finalists were determined in each category by voters' top three selections, using a 10-5-1 point basis. Eclipse Award winners are determined solely by first-place votes.
Rutten has another Karaka Million contender
Roydon Bergerson-trained Sweetest Thing (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) will be another R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO contender for Chris Rutten, who won the race with Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City) in 2014 and has five other placings in the race. “I am really happy with her,” Bergerson told Loveracing.nz of the last start second in the Listed Wellesley Stakes.
“Wiremu (Pinn, jockey) said she just got a bit lost coming across the crossing, but she hit the line strong and has pulled up well. She has always shown a lot of ability. She is a beautiful filly and will make a lovely 3-year-old. I don’t know what the future plans hold but we will see how she does this week.
“It was quite surprising when Chris picked her out, I said ‘the mare won over 2600 metres Chris and you are trying to buy her for the Karaka Million?’ He is a great judge.”
