Freedman’s trio of runners for Robert Sangster
Anthony and Sam Freedman have a trio of runners for Saturday’s G1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville, being Point Barrow (Blue Point {Ire}), Ameena (Tassort) and Inkaruna (I Am Invincible).
“Shoals won this race a little while ago, probably had a better CV than a Point Barrow, but a similar sort of racing style – she got back and swooped down the middle,” Sam Freedman told racenet.com.au.
Anthony and Sam Freedman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She's coming in with the strongest form. I think (because of) circumstances in the Oakleigh Plate, you didn't see her there at her best. Since then, obviously she was a great winner the other day – maybe it wasn't a great field, maybe she got the right run throughout – but still (you've got to win it).
“Inkaruna was disappointing last start. Down on the worst part of the track, she blew the start, it didn't go to plan. She will bounce back. Ameena, she's going in fresh. She ran brilliant in the race last year fresh – she should have nearly won (when a neck-length second behind Charm Stone) – so I think all the fillies and mares deserve their shot.”
Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot heads to Brisbane
G1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) will have two runs in Brisbane before heading to Royal Ascot.
“We have planned those two runs in Brisbane before we cement everything in for Royal Ascot,” co-trainer Adrian Bott told racingandsports.com.au.
Lady Of Camelot | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“So, we need everything to go right for us to that point but she is ready to go. Her two trials have been good, her fitness levels are improving every day and she won't need to trial again before the Victory Stakes.”
Confesara ready for SA Oaks
Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will run Confesara (Toronado {Ire}) in Saturday’s G1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville.
“She ran second to another one of ours, a good open (class) sprinter, and they ran a very quick time, so her trial was good and it will improve her,” James told racingandsports.com.au.
“She's another filly that lacked a bit of luck at times during the season, but she's a highly-talented filly. We always thought she was up to an Australian trip but we sat at home and took things quietly and her form dictated that we're on the right path.”
Four for Maher in St Leger
Ciaron Maher hopes to have a team of four line up in Saturday’s St Leger at Flemington. Awesome Artist (Trapeze Artist), Noble Falcon (NZ) (Proisir) and Intervened (Kermadec {NZ}) will join Listed Tasmanian Derby winner Dad And Dave (NZ) (Time Test {GB}).
“We feel… all horses are going to relish the trip,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull told racingandsports.com.au.
Jack Turnbull | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“They're all going to furnish and they're going to learn with racing. They're just raw young horses that are bred to stay and they'll continue to learn and mature as they get older.”
Looker heads to Taree for trio of rides
Second on the NSW Jockey’s Championship, Ben Looker will head to Taree on Tuesday for a trio of rides, led by short priced favourite Redzero (Red Henno).
“Jake's one of my main supporters and I do a lot of riding for him and we've had a lot of success over the years,” Looker told racenet.com.au of Redzero’s trainer Jake Hull.
“He's a great trainer. He is always presenting his horses well and they always race well and this one is no different.”
Artie’s Magic (Flying Artie) and well-bred Eddie’s Charm (Rubuck) round out the trio. “She’s nicely bred, she’s a half to Silver Shadow winner Ameena, and she does have ability. It has taken her a while to out it altogether but her last five runs have been really good.”
Treble for Crowther on Saturday
Jockey Kayla Crowther rode a treble at Morphettville on Saturday, including the Listed Nitschke Stakes on 3-year-old filly Rohesia (Hanseatic) for the Hayes brothers.
“Lucky to be riding for the Hayes boys, their horses are primed, she was a sit and steer job in the end,” Crowther told racingsa.com.au.
“She produced a really nice turn of foot late. She’s a lovely filly, she may even get a little further.” Her other two wins were on Brand Her Bold (Highland Reel {Ire}) and Clarence (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), both trained by Will Clarken.
Wieland to begin his training career
Neil Wieland will have his first runner on Tuesday in Townsville with Perovic (Pierro).
“I’ve transferred five horses I have an ownership in from Dad and Perovic will be my first runner,” Neil Wieland told racingqueensland.com.au.
“I’ve managed numerous battery companies in Cairns over the past 25 years and with two kids to look after it will still be my main job. I’m at the track every morning around 5am, so I’ll still help Dad who has around 20 horses on his books. Dad isn’t getting any younger and he might scale down a bit in the coming years, so I thought now was the right time to start training.
“I bought Perovic this time last year and he’s done well but he never had a high enough rating to get into the big Cup races here last year. But his rating is a lot higher now, so hopefully he can make it to the Townsville Cup then the Cairns Cup.”
Lovcen smashes record in G1 Satsuki Sho
Last year's G1 Hopeful Stakes hero Lovcen (World Premiere) took the G1 Satsuki Sho field pillar-to-post and set a new record of 1:56.50 in the process for the 2000 metres over firm turf on Sunday. The Forest Racing runner brought up a Japanese Guineas double for jockey Kohei Matsuyama, who'd won the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) aboard Star Anise (Drefong) last Sunday.
“We had a good draw and we knew that when it comes to Nakayama's turf and with the experience from last year, we'd have a better chance if we ran near the front,” said Matsuyama. “To be honest, I wasn't thinking of setting the pace but the colt broke really well and we went with the flow. He showed amazing speed and to break the record also proves how much stamina he has - he's such a strong and versatile colt.”
Second-crop sire World Premiere, who stands at Yushun Stallion Station, has sired five winners from 20 runners to date. Lovcen is his first stakes winner.
His dam, the Giant's Causeway mare Songwriting, sold for US$290,000 (AU$405,000) as a Keeneland September yearling, and bloomed into an US$800,000 (AU$1.1 million) Fasig-Tipton the Florida Sale juvenile when purchased by Katsumi Yoshida. In Japan, she placed twice in eight starts and is currently the dam of seven foals, five to race with five winners.
Vale Colin Berry
Renowned New Zealand racing photographer Colin Berry has died in Christchurch at age 89.
“He had a special affinity for Addington and Riccarton and he continued to work well beyond what could be called retirement age,” his son and successor Ajay Berry told Loveracing.nz.
“He had a special goal to cover 60 New Zealand (Trotting) Cups, and when he did so in 2016, then it was time to hang up his camera. To begin with my father ran the photo-finish camera. That enabled him to also do preliminary shots of horses, for which he found a ready market with owners and the like.
“That’s what led to him becoming a full time racing photographer, establishing himself as a freelancer under the name Colin Berry Photography, which in time became known as Race Images Christchurch.”
Champions Day raiders arrive in Hong Kong
Most of the international raiders for Hong Kong’s Champions Day arrived in the region on Sunday night, including Docklands, Royal Champion, Sosie and Comanche Brave. Three Group 1 winners, Masquerade Ball, Jantar Mantar and Satono Reve, headline the Japanese team for the race day.
“We are very excited for next week,” Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges told scmp.com.
“Masquerade Ball on 128 is the highest-rated horse we have ever had coming from overseas. He is the real deal. This will probably be the stiffest test for Romantic Warrior on turf he faces.”
Zanthos to France over English Guineas
G2 Rockfel Stakes heroine Zanthos (Sioux Nation) will skip the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 3 in favour of a start in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches on May 10, according to co-trainer Ed Crisford.
Crisford said, “I think she'll go straight to France. We're thinking France more than Newmarket, just because the mile at Newmarket does take some getting and I think France will suit her well.
“Obviously we've had cool weather, it hasn't quite hit proper spring yet and a lot of the fillies are just taking their time to come. She's one of them, but she's getting there and we just felt she needed a little bit longer.”
Unbeaten Wootton Bassett filly adds Listed win
Yann Barberot trainee Lapotheose (Wootton Bassett) enjoyed market confidence heading postward for Sunday's Listed Prix Caravelle and followed up earlier victories at Angers and Toulouse with a narrow verdict back at the latter venue.
Positioned several lengths off the clear leader in third until easing closer on the home turn, the 19-10 favourite and G2 Prix Saint-Alary entry was shaken up to launch her bid with 300 metres remaining and came under a late drive to deny the persistent Hatanka Fal (Hathal) by a head for a black-type breakthrough.
The winner, who becomes the 78th stakes winner for her late sire, is a full sister to G2 Golden Fleece Stakes winner Atomic Jones.
