Lindsay Park chasing 11th Australian Cup
Across all the different trainers who have operated under the Lindsay Park banner through its history, they’ve won 10 G1 Australian Cups. The Hayes brothers will attempt to make it 11 on Saturday with G2 Perth Cup winner Apulia (Fiorente {Ire}).
“It’s going to be a strong competitive race, and we are seriously considering a bit of headgear on him – he hasn’t worn blinkers for a while,” co-trainer Ben Hayes told racing.com.
Apulia | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“That might be the extra couple of lengths we need to catch Birdman. I thought he ran very well behind him (when second at Caulfield). Birdman had an easier run in transit, and we had to go wide. He is there to peak and he loves Flemington. The horse is absolutely flying. It’s been a good race for us over the years.”
Baraqiel future uncertain after William Reid injury
Group 1-winning sprinter Baraqiel (Snitzel)’s racing future is in doubt after he sustained an injury in Saturday’s G1 William Reid Stakes.
“He fractured his sesamoid. He’s quite sore, as you would be with a broken leg, but he’s not too bad. It’s on the back of his pastern, so we’ve got him as comfortable as possible,” co-trainer Troy Corstens told racing.com.
Baraqiel | Image courtesy of the Image Is Everything
“He’ll go in for surgery to have it cleaned up. He’s got to have the surgery, no matter what. We get the surgery done, then see how he comes through it. We’ll probably make a decision in eight weeks, something like that.
“He was going so well. I reckon it happened at the 200-metre mark, so he’s done a good job to finish where he did.” The 7-year-old gelding finished fifth in the race. Baraqiel missed most of his three and 4-year-old seasons with injury, but has now won eight of his 15 starts and over $1.5 million.
Belle Cheval set for Vinery
Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker would rather be rising in trip towards the 2000 metres with Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) as she heads to the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes on Saturday. She’s up against last start G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) who is trained by Chris Waller.
“We know that horse really well from New Zealand and they are coming back from 2400 to 2000, I'd rather be probably going 1500 to 2000,” Walker told racingandsports.com.au.
Belle Cheval | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“But she has got very good New Zealand form, that's for sure. You don't know until you go to Australia how the New Zealand form is going to measure up, but Belle Cheval's run in The NZB Kiwi was really good. She is at 2000 metres for the first time, but she's by Savabeel and most of them get that sort of distance. You don't know until you try but at least as a 3-year-old she should be able to manage it.”
Trainers fined over Formestane case
Racing Victoria concluded the long running Formestane case, fining trainers Smiley Chan, Julius Sandhu, and Amy and Ash Yargi $4000 each, of which $2000 was suspended for 12 months. Due to previous records, the Mark and Levi Kavanagh training partnership and trainer Symon Wilde received $6000 fines, with half suspended for 12 months.
Trainers Lloyd Kennewell, Patrick Payne and Tom Dabernig are awaiting their outcomes in the matter.
Toronado’s 50th in the Listed Pinjarra Cup
Sunday’s Listed Pinjarra Cup was won by Grant and Alana Williams-trained Royal Toronado (Toronado {Ire}). Ridden by William Pike, the 5-year-old gelding won by 2.5 lengths. It was his first black type win and took his record to seven victories in total with earnings over $420,000.
A $100,000 purchase by his trainers from Amelia Park’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft, Royal Toronado becomes the 50th stakes winner for his sire. One of four winners from as many to race for Harada Queen (Haradasun) who won on debut and placed at her only other start.
Godolphin jockey arrives in Queensland
English jockey Charlie Bennett has arrived in Queensland and rode at Dalby on Saturday. Formerly a jockey for Godolphin in Dubai, he plans to stay here.
“I've always had Australia in my mind and this year I thought I just need to do it. It's worked out good because I know fellow jockey Fred Larson and I am good friends with Fred. Everything's just sort of aligned for me to come at this time,” Bennett told racingqueensland.com.au.
“I've just booked a one-way ticket to be here, hopefully this is where we stay as I've no intention to leave and just kick on really. I know a few people that have come before and there seems to be a lot of opportunities here.
“I've ridden in quite a few different places internationally and you always learn different things when you go to these different places. There's always things to pick up from the way every jurisdiction seems to do things differently and I just thought that would be a different angle of riding to come out here.”
Birchip silo art recognises 1948 Melbourne Cup
St Arnaud-based artist Kyle Torney has painted the 1948 G1 Melbourne Cup won by Rimfire (Enfield {Ire}) as silo art.
“This is hugely significant (to regional Victoria), particularly to Birchip,” Mr Torney told abc.net.au.
The Cup was the first to be decided in a photo finish with Rimfire coming out on top of the mare Dark Marne (The Marne). Rimfire was ridden by 15-year-old hoop Ray Neville who hailed from the town of Birchip. “The photo was on the mantelpiece. The cup sat on the mantelpiece. When (the Melbourne Cup) came around each year, we'd take (the memorabilia) to primary school, off to show-and-tell,” Neville’s daughter Rose said.
“The silo art has proved around the district to be very valuable for tourism, and to have one in Birchip enhances the opportunities and experiences people have,” Buloke Shire Mayor Graeme Milne said.
First city win for Lacy
Dual-licensed Stephanie Lacy celebrated her first city winner as a trainer at Morphettville on Saturday with $600 buy City Pro (NZ) (Proisir).
“This is next level. I bought him online, he was another $600 purchase that no one wanted,” Lacy told saracing.com.au on Monday.
“He’s been hard work! We’ve had to teach him everything. He’s only going to get better the older he gets. He’s still got no idea what he’s doing, we call him Spud, he’s as dense as a potato. One of his better qualities is he’s always been a fighter.
“I think he’ll end up a nice miler. If we can get him out to the mile and aim for races like the Murray Bridge Gold Cup that would mean the world to Gabe (her partner, part-owner and Murray Bridge track manager).”
Trainer Garret Lynch and apprentice jockey Tala Hutchinson won five of the six races at Streaky Bay’s non-TAB meeting on Saturday, only missing in the Cup where Lynch-trained runners were second and third to Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained Shakespeare (NZ) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) who won the Cup for the second successive year.
Lor philosophical after Derby placings
Trainer Frankie Lor ran second and third in Sunday’s Listed Hong Kong Derby with Numbers (NZ) (Tivaci) and Stormy Grove (Toronado {Ire}).
“The draw was awkward, so Numbers had to use more in the early stages. You can see the time was quick, so maybe if he had a better draw he could have had an easier time earlier on and set his own pace,” Lor told scmp.com.
Frankie Lor | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He’s still run a very good race and he kept rolling the whole way. Maybe later on we’ll go over 2400 metres – the distance doesn’t matter for him. I’m still thinking about targets but everything is still open at the moment.”
Labwah’s big challenge in Dubai
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Labwah (Charlatan) will face some considerable obstacles when she enters the gate for Saturday's G2 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse. Not only will she attempt to become just the second of her sex, after Khawlah in 2011, to beat the boys in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points race, she will also have to see off an always-deep challenge from Japan, whose runners have taken out the last four runnings.
While the filly's Lexington-area breeder Calvin Crain wasn't prepared to make any bold predictions, he knows she's got a puncher's chance if everything falls just right. “You gotta be in it to win it!” he said.
The 64-year-old Crain has been partners in St. Simon Place with his son Shane and Tommy Wente since about 2012, but he is listed as the sole breeder for Labwah. “Me and my son are kind of in the shadows and Tommy's more of the face because he's more hands-on,” Crain said. “I own a sod farm (Kentucky Turf Company) and my time is pretty tied up with that. St. Simon has probably 35 to 40 mares. And then I have a couple of my own and I've got a couple with my son.”
