Pembrey jockey still to be decided
Trainer Tony Gollan and owner Kia Ora Stud are likely to pay up the late fee for the G1 Golden Slipper with 2-year-old filly Pembrey (Prague), but a jockey is yet to be decided.
“Arguably she could be a little tighter in the market,” Gollan told racenet.com.au.
Pembrey | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“She ran a better last 600 metres than Warwoven (on Saturday) and just slightly slower overall. I don't think there's much between a lot of them. The barrier draw is going to be so important on Tuesday.
“I know we say that every year with the Slipper but gee, it's going to be important you'd think this year (with no standout 2-year-old) and obviously we'll see what the weather does later in the week. If the weather does turn and plays its part, that wouldn't bother me either.” She became the first stakes winner for second season sire Prague when winning the G3 Magic Night Stakes on Saturday.
“I think there is more improvement for sure. She definitely floated a lot (on Saturday) when she got to the front. They were just racing a little bit off the fence and she was just floating around a little bit. James (McDonald) said her ears were forward and back so there's still a lot more to go.
“When she got on to that fresh leg for that last half-furlong, I thought she was really good through the line. She's definitely still learning and she should be – she's a veteran of three starts.”
Hayes duo borderline to make Slipper field
The Hayes brothers have a nervous wait this week to see if their pair of fillies Medicinal (Brazen Beau) and Gin Twist (Home Affairs) will make the G1 Golden Slipper field.
“It’s quite surprising as both our fillies are stakes winners and they are struggling to get into the field, which is insane,” Ben Hayes told racing.com.
“We’ll see where Medicinal ends up but I think we’ll need a new plan for Gin Twist (winner of the Listed Festival Stakes). She might run a week later in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes down the straight.
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Eveyrthing
“We have a very high opinion of her (Medicinal). The win the other day was very good, and I believe she ran the fastest last 200 of the meeting on Newmarket day. I know it was a 1000-metre race, but it is still a very good effort for a 2-year-old. She has already shown she can win over further than 1000 – she won by four-and-a-half lengths at Ballarat (over 1100 metres) – and I think there is more improvement to come.
“We’ve always liked her. We’ve always thought she is pretty good. She got a bit wrong on debut, but she’s improved out of sight since and into the Slipper fourth-up is a pretty good recipe if we can get there. She rated just behind Hard Kick, so fingers crossed.”
Jigsaw could back up into William Reid
After winning his fifth race in succession on Saturday, Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) might be backed up into the G1 William Reid Stakes on Saturday by trainer Cindy Alderson.
“I’ve got a few days, so I won’t make a decision today,” Alderson told racing.com.
Jigsaw | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s in really good order; he’s eaten all his feed, he’s as bright as a button and his weight is the same as when he ran in The Meteorite. He seems to be in great order.
“It’s not normal for him to back-up that quickly, but if he was to tick every box this week it would certainly be something to consider. I’d love to see him around Caulfield again in the sort of form he was in yesterday, that was probably one of his best wins; with 61kg, to run that time with the rail out 9 metres, I thought it was a really, really strong win.”
Evaporate to George Ryder
Co-trainer Ben Hayes will send Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) to Sydney for the G1 George Ryder Stakes to take on unbeaten mare Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun).
“He’s come though the run well,” Hayes told racing.com.
Evaporate (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Very, very happy with him. It will be a hot race, but it will let us know where we are at. Then he’ll probably head to the Doncaster with 54.5 (kgs). He towed the field to (Pride Of) Jenni and Tom Kitten sat off him and just got him late. But I loved the way he kept kicking. He’s a Group 1 horse but he just hasn’t done it yet.”
Neindorf closing in on Mott
Jockey Lachlan Neindorf’s Saturday took him to 70 wins, six behind Victorian premiership leader Jamie Mott.
“To be honest, I am sort of coming around to thinking like that a little bit,” Neindorf told racing.com.
Lachlan Neindorf | Image courtesy of racing Photos
“It’s funny, as when I first came over here at the start of the season, myself my manager and my great mate and form man James Jordan we were setting a few goals in place and we sort of thought if we could pick off a couple of people this season in the premiership we’d be happy. I never thought I’d be sitting here in the position that I am. You never take it for granted and always grateful.
“Still, I’ve got a lot to learn so it’s good to set fresh goals and I think my main recent goal was to get to 100 winners for the season and that would be very fulfilling if I could achieve that, so we will work on that over the next couple of months and see if we can wear down Jamie Mott, who is also riding in fantastic form.”
Moody pair for Guineas next
Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman will likely bring stablemates Victorious Spirit (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) and Bingi (Snitzel) to Sydney for the G1 Rosehill Guineas on Saturday, although both will also be nominated for Caulfield’s G2 Alister Clark Stakes.
“I think they can both run well and I want to give them a spin that way before the (ATC) Derby if they happen to be good enough,” Moody told racing.com.
‘’Bingi was the one that was really strong through the line. He’s a big, heavy colt who needs a few runs before he hits his straps.”
Considered’s Country Championship chance
Trainer Matt Dunn will run Considered (So You Think {NZ}) in the $1m Country Championships Final at Randwick next month after the 4-year-old mare made it six wins in succession at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
“She's a proper racehorse,” Dunn told racenet.com.au.
“What she lacks in stature, she makes up for with her willingness to win. We came here thinking dropping her back to 1200 metres might work against us. It was a nice pipe opener for the $1m Country Championships Final in a few weeks' time.
“She's tiny, she'd have to be the smallest horse in our stable. But they come in all shapes and sizes.”
Aberdeen Flyer breaks maiden in Listed race
Sean and Jake Casey-trained 3-year-old gelding Aberdeen Flyer (Astern) won his maiden in style when victorious in the Listed JC Roberts Stakes over 1800 metres at Ascot on Saturday evening. He becomes the 19th stakes winner for Astern, having been stakes placed in his previous two starts.
It was a result for eastern state stallions as coming home in second was Sentimental Legend (Brutal {NZ}) with The Crimson Pirate (Trapeze Artist) in third. Withdrawn as a yearling, Aberdeen Flyer is the first foal of winning mare Templates (Teofilo {Ire}).
Juvenile winner for Exceedance
At Dubbo on Sunday, Terry Croft-trained 2-year-old filly I’m A Beaut (Exceedance) won by four lengths on debut. Her trainer purchased her for $12,000 from Langdale Park’s Inglis May Yearling Sale draft.
I’m A Beaut is the final foal for winning mare Katisam (Lonhro) who has also produced Listed winner Nothinglikemore (Husson {Arg}).
Anders juvenile filly wins on debut
At Grafton on Sunday, Matt Dunn-trained 2-year-old filly Why Wait (Anders) won on debut. She was sold by Telemon Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $140,000 to Matt Dunn and Neil Jenkinson Bloodstock (FBAA).
Why Wait is a half-sister to stakes placed Hold The Line (Your Song), out of winning mare Why’re You Waiting (More Than Ready {USA}). Anders also had a winner at Swan Hill with 3-year-old filly Bimbala.
New winner for Ole Kirk
Reigning Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk added his 39th winner when 3-year-old filly Divine Empress won at Yarra Valley on Sunday for trainer Jason Warren. Purchased by Grand Syndicates and John Price Bloodstock for $60,000, she was sold by Widden Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Divine Empress is the second foal and second winner for Natanya (Pierro) who is a winning daughter of dual Group 2 winner and G1 George Main Stakes-placed Shania Dane (Danehill {USA}).
Interstate double for Tassort
Newgate Farm's Tassort enjoyed an interstate double on Sunday courtesy of 4-year-old Sir Herridah and 3-year-old Somebody Told Me. Retained to race by his breeders, Sir Herridah broke through at Dubbo at the third time of asking for Scott Singleton, having produced two thirds in his first two starts. He is the third winner for his four-time winning dam In Hindsight (Nicconi), from the family of Group 3-winning sire Perast.
At Swan Hill, Somebody Told Me was securing his second win in five starts for John Salanitri. First a $150,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale graduate from Emirates Park, Somebody Told Me was a $300,000 Inglis Ready2Race Sale purchase for Damiano Bloodstock and Salanitri Racing from Riversley Park. He is the third winner for five-time winner Sweet And Vicious (Ferocity), a half-sister to the dam of R. Listed Super Bonus Classique winner Successor (NZ) (Bahhare {USA}).
Asfoora on song for another Royal Ascot challenge
Europe’s Champion Sprinter of 2025 Asfoora (Flying Artie) is already in England as she prepares for a third crack at the Royal Ascot carnival.
“She is at the pre-trainer's at Newmarket and she'll be heading back to the stable in the next week or two,” trainer Henry Dwyer told racenet.com.au.
Asfoora | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She's in good order, everything's good and she'll be kicking off her preparation in early May at this stage. She'll kick off in a Listed race on her home track at Newmarket. I think it's called the Palace House Stakes but it's set weights and penalties so she gets in very well at the weights.”
Albury Racing’s big carnival
Albury Racing Club have already put up the sold out tag for five of their corporate areas for their two day carnival on Thursday and Friday.
“It’s Albury’s biggest social event with elite racing, excellent fashions and superb hospitality attracting thousands of visitors from outside the region. Already five of our hospitality areas – The Elms, Trackside Marquee, The View, Corporate Boxes and the Grandstand Terrace – are sold out,” Albury Racing Club’s CEO, Steve Hetherton told racingnsw.com.au.
“Anyone wanting to attend can just head to our website as there’s plenty of other options. The crowd pouring in through the gates will be entertained by some of our street performers which adds to the carnival atmosphere. We’re also running buses to and from the Cup with different drop off locations all over Albury, and TAB will be running some promotions and activations on the day.”
Vale Gary Biszantz
Gary Biszantz, who bought his first Thoroughbred for US$400 (AU$572) at age 21 in 1956 and was still active in the sport nearly 70 years later, passed away Saturday afternoon after an accidental fall, according to Mike Owens, long-time manager of his Cobra Farm. Owens added that Biszantz's wife, Betty, and six daughters were all with him at the time. Biszantz was 91.
Biszantz established Cobra Farm in the 90s, selling it last year after enjoying 480 winners, 32 in stakes and four at Grade 1 level, and twice went down the Derby trail, first with Cobra King and later with Old Trieste. Among his leadership roles in the sport were four terms as chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). He was also a member of The Jockey Club and was involved in the NTRA Racing Integrity and Drug Testing Task Force. In addition, Biszantz founded Tranquility Farm (the Harry A. Biszantz Memorial Center) in California, a facility dedicated to aftercare.
Alongside his Thoroughbred ventures, Biszantz was instrumental in Cobra Golf, which manufactures high-end golf equipment. In 1996, Biszantz sold Cobra Golf to American Brands for US$756 million (AU$1.08 billion).
In remembrance of Biszantz, John Fulton shared: “A lot of people in the industry know how close Gary and I have been over the last 50 years. He was a man ahead of his time in the industry and was probably one of the most misunderstood. He loved to say, 'I might have been wrong but I've never been confused.' He made statements with such authority that one wouldn't think there was any need to disagree but the chance to debate was just what he wanted. If one could come up with some good points against what he was saying he might end up changing his mind and say, 'You know, you are right. I never looked at it that way.' He taught me a lot about life and how to live it. I'll miss him dearly.”
