From Guest House to Wolf Gap
Roll The Dice Racing are still buzzing after selling their G1 Golden Slipper-winning colt Guest House (Home Affairs) to Coolmore and will run Wolf Gap (Palace Pier {GB}) in Saturday’s G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes.
“It’s an exciting time for the business,” Roll The Dice Racing director, Steve Travaglia, told racing.com.
Wolf Gap | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“They don’t come around very often, but you need these things just to underline what you’re doing and knowing that you’re going to the sales and you’re buying the right horses. It doesn’t always work out, for one reason or another, and you need a lot of luck. It does give us the confidence to know that we’re doing the right thing.
“Two Group 1s in a fortnight would be something else, it would be awesome.”
Jimmysstar in doubt for TJ Smith
Ciaron Maher’s star sprinter Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is in doubt for the upcoming G1 TJ Smith Stakes after running seventh in the G1 William Reid Stakes last start.
“I’ll just want to see how he is,” Maher told racing.com.
Jimmysstar (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’ll have a look at him tomorrow morning and watch him work and then we have to make a call. He travelled up to Sydney and had a canter this morning. We’ll see how he works – he doesn’t have to do a lot obviously as his fitness is pretty good, so he’ll just have a tick-over – but yeah, it (last start) was a bit of a head scratcher.
“There were clods. He had black eyes and he had stuff down his throat. So, does that make all that much difference? The winner might have had been hit by clods also and so I don’t really like making excuses.”
Vale Albert Stapleford
Provincial Racing NSW reported that Gosford trainer Albert Stapleford died aged 95.
“Stapleford trained for more than seven decades and prepared 501 winners. Fittingly, his last winner was at his home track (Dissenter) on February 2, 2023,” said the press release.
“Stapleford decided not to renew his licence at the end of the 2022-23 racing season, and was feted by Gosford Race Club to mark his retirement and acknowledge his magnificent contribution to the industry.
“They had a commemorative racebook printed, and presented him with a montage of photos and stories. Born in Phar Lap’s year (1930), Stapleford grew up at Millfield, near Cessnock in the Lower Hunter Valley.
“After a brief stint as an apprentice jockey in Sydney, he returned home and started his training career at 17 years of age, winning with his first starter Renmark at Muswellbrook. Provincial Racing NSW extends its deepest sympathies to Albert’s family and friends on the passing of a remarkable man.”
Amongst his career highlights, Stapleford trained stallion Magic Albert, the sire of Group 1 winners Albert The Fat, Magic Cape (NZ), and Ilovethiscity.
Eltrum can stay unbeaten
Theresa Bateup thinks her 3-year-old gelding Eltrum (Anders) can make it two from two on Monday at the Sapphire Coast.
“It was basically like a track gallop there for him first up,” Bateup told racenet.com.au of his debut win.
“He has still got a lot of improvement to come in him. He is still very raw and learning his craft. So obviously having won his maiden on debut, he is straight up in grade so that could bring him undone a little bit, going from a five-horse field where he drew one and found the fence and got all the favours.
“Now he has got to step up in grade but I do think he has got more wins in him, he has still got a little bit of racecraft to learn.”
Double for Wootton Bassett at Sale
On Sunday at Sale, Wootton Bassett (GB) celebrated a double with a pair of 3-year-olds. Danny O’Brien-trained filly Alleviate won her maiden by 2.25 lengths. Owned by Ultra Horse Syndicate, she was having her second start. Alleviate is one of three winners for G1 Otaki Maori WFA Stakes victrix Culminate (NZ) (Elnamdim {USA}).
Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained filly Boomeroo won her maiden. She was sold by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $500,000 to Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) and Catalyst Stable. Boomeroo is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Naranco (GB) (Kingman {GB}).
Easter road trip anyone?
Two NSW outback meetings will run over Easter to satisfy the urge of anyone who wants to escape the city and go on a road trip. On Saturday April 4, Lightning Ridge will hold its annual race meeting, following on from the Good Friday rodeo the day prior.
“Our races on Saturday are huge and there’s also opal fossicking activities on the Sunday,” Anna Wilson from Lightning Ridge Race Club told racingnsw.com.au.
“It’s the start of our community’s tourist season and the races attract between 1500 and 2000 punters. Our small committee has completed a lot of work to prepare the track and facilities for what should be a fantastic raceday. The Opal Bracelet has been made and designed by our local Lost Sea Opal store and is ready for the winner of the Lost Sea Opals Maiden Plate. We look forward to seeing everyone trackside at Lightning Ridge races on Easter Saturday.”
On Easter Sunday a quick 300 km drive takes you to Bourke. “Back O’ Bourke Picnic Race Club hosts its much anticipated picnic meeting on Easter Sunday, that is widely recognised as Bourke’s largest annual event,” said Sarah Barton, the Club’s Secretary/Manager.
“Our races are a cornerstone of the Back O’ Bourke Easter Festival that draws locals and visitors together for a full weekend of family friendly activities. The broader festival program includes events such as a colour run, rugby matches and an Easter egg hunt, ensuring there is something for all ages across the Easter weekend.”
Orman has big opinion of Capitalist 3-year-old
Jockey James Orman rides Mark Newnham-trained 3-year-old gelding Ever Luck (Capitalist) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
“Dropping back to 1000 metres with blinkers going on, cheek pieces coming off – it looks to be good for him. Last start in a strong Class Three race he looked a little bit lost so the blinkers have gone on,” Orman told scmp.com.
“He’s drawn out where he needs to be, he’s obviously a really nice horse. What you saw him do on debut was pretty extraordinary and he’s been racing pretty consistently since. He’s been jumping out well down the back straight there at Sha Tin, so I’m looking forward to him. He’s taken a little bit to put it all together, but he’s a nice horse and he seems to be doing everything right.”
Guineas hopeful King’s Trail puts up his hand
One of Charlie Appleby's quartet of 2000 Guineas entries, King's Trail (Sea The Stars) put his hand up for consideration with a smooth win in Saturday's conditions event at Kempton.
Off the mark over the same course and mile trip on debut in December, the 4-7 favourite was positioned off the early speed by Billy Loughnane and when given the command brushed aside the similarly unexposed Conclave (Sioux Nation) to score by a length.
This race used to hold Listed status when it was the Easter Stakes, a recognised 2000 Guineas trial, and was won two years ago by the stable's subsequent Newmarket Classic hero Notable Speech (Dubawi).
Japan wins UAE Derby for fifth year in a row
For the fifth year running, a horse trained in Japan has proven too good in the G2 UAE Derby, as Wonder Dean (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}) went to front-running Six Speed (Not This Time) at midstretch and edged away for a solid victory, to collect 100 points on the European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Winning trainer Daisuke Takayanagi indicated it was Churchill or bust for Wonder Dean.
“This is my first international success so I feel amazing. I was truly impressed by his performance. I was confident beforehand as I thought the extra distance would definitely help, and that Meydan would suit him.
“I was expecting the leader Six Speed to stop a lot earlier than he did and so I was a bit worried, but I always thought he would get there. We will go directly to America from here.”
Record crowd for Arkansas Derby, Renegade dazzles
In the 90th running of the G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on Saturday a record 73,000 people watched an invader named Renegade (Into Mischief) take his portion of a US$1.5 million (AU$2.2 million) purse and the 100 Kentucky Derby points for his war chest, which puts him in second overall with 125.
After the race, Mike Repole told TDN that, “They (the Lows) bred the horse and Jake (Jacob) West helps them out, he helps me out. They've been incredible people. We have the same trainer in Todd Pletcher. They've had success and own the mare, plus they own the family. I mean it was my horse, but I told them if they want to buy 25 percent, they could. But I also told them that if they wanted to buy 50 percent, they could do that too. It's been a great partnership and was a big day for all of us.”
Wathnan’s Commandment wins thrilling Florida Derby
Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief) came with a late surge to nail The Puma (Essential Quality) by a nose in a heart-stopping renewal of Saturday's G1 Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park,
“A little too close for comfort, but he pulled through,” winning trainer Brad Cox said. “I thought at three-eighths (jockey Flavien Prat) kind of had to show him the way, asked him a little bit, he responded well, didn't seem like there was a tremendous amount of pace on. Obviously, last going into the last turn, he was able to finish up well.”
He heads to the G1 Kentucky Derby in five weeks.
