Derby for Accidental Bid
Northern Hemisphere born 3-year-old colt Accidental Bid (GB) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) is six months younger than his local counterparts, but he’s on track for the G1 South Australian Derby. Widden Stud sire Russian Camelot (Ire) achieved the feat in 2020. “Buying a (northern hemisphere) 2-year-old, we’ve been trying to do it for years but with no luck,” Australian Bloodstock director Jamie Lovett told racing.com.
Jamie Lovett | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’ve been trying to get an Adelaide or Queensland Derby horse in a similar way to Russian Camelot a few years ago. If you get the right one, they will just be better than them (locals) because they are superior stayers to our horses.
“We’ve tried for a long time with no real success, but this bloke was one that we thought if he could hit the ground running – and you need to so as to make it to these derbies - he could get there.
“He didn’t give us a great deal of confidence going into his first run last month. He got the sweet run in behind them and won but I was still a bit guarded and then it was hard not to get excited when you saw what he did over 2000 metres.” He has won his last two starts in succession.
New winner for Home Affairs
Leading First Season Sire Home Affairs added winner number seven when Cassandra Schmidt-trained 2-year-old filly Home Siren won on debut at Port Macquarie on Sunday. Sold by Morningside at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $55,000 to Cartown Bloodstock, she was pinhooked through Eureka Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft where Darren Blair paid $150,000 for her.
Home Siren is a half-sister to G3 WA Gimcrack Stakes winner Siren Assault (Rich Enuff) out of Rebel Assault (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}).
Oaks the plan for Domeland filly
Domeland’s consistent 3-year-old filly Probability Theory (Microphone) heads to Kensington on Monday ahead of a G1 Queensland Oaks campaign. “It was a convincing win (last start), she is a filly who wants further, which we knew, so to do it at that distance was very good,” trainer Nacim Dilmi told racingnsw.com.au.
Nacim Dilmi | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“I know 1400m (on Saturday) probably would have been the right step for her but 1300m on a bigger track than Gosford, I thought the race was more suitable for her. I’d like to give her another good run and give her every chance to win again. After that we can step her up in distance again.”
New stakes winner for Playing God
At Ascot on Saturday night, Playing God added his 27th stakes winner when 5-year-old mare Rissoles won the Listed Sheila Gwynne Classic. Trained by Luke Fernie, she took her record to six wins from 18 starts with earnings over $350,000.
Rissoles was sold by Rangeview Stud at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $85,000 to Peter and Luke Fernie and John Chalmers Bloodstock (FBAA). She’s the first live foal of Snitzel mare Snitz ‘n’ Giggles, who is a winning half-sister to Listed winner Acromantula (Written Tycoon). She became the 52nd stakes winner for Snitzel as a damsire.
Decision pending on Gridlock debut
Trainer Michael Freedman will make a decision on Monday morning over debuting 2-year-old gelding Gridlock (Home Affairs) in Sydney on Monday, or Queensland next week. “He’d need to be able to come in a few gates there with the Kenso and 2-year-olds it’s a tricky track at the best of times,” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au.
Michael Freedman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“If we don’t run I’ll throw him in the entries for the Dalrello next Saturday because he’s the kind of horse I’d like to campaign up there. I like him. I sent one up to Queensland (Berzelius) that won first-up and I think they are similar types.” He is the fourth foal of Group 1-placed Fundamentalist (Not A Single Doubt) whose 3-year-old gelding Fermoy (Zoustar) is Group 2-placed.
Big field for Monday’s juvenile race at Kensington
The 2-year-old race at Kensington on Monday features the debut outing of Chris Waller-trained NZ$2.4 million yearling Miss Black Betty (NZ) (Savabeel). She is a full sister to Group 1 winner Orchestral (NZ). Up against her is fellow debutant Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained $1.6 million yearling Moscatel (Snitzel) who is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Eneeza (Exceed And Excel).
Bjorn Baker-trained King Of The Nile (I Am Invincible), who cost $800,000, also makes his debut in the race. “He’s a nice horse, obviously an expensive yearling, and I think he’s trialled really well,” Baker told racingnsw.com.au.
“Even though he hasn’t won a trial he’s a horse we do have a big opinion of, I think with gate three we’ll have to be more positive and take the risk out. We’ve kept him up to the mark since his last trial which I thought was good.”
Stewards declare no false start at Toowoomba
On Saturday night, Drums Of War (American Pharoah {USA}) appeared to get a false start at Toowoomba, but Racing Queensland stewards declared him to have had no advantage and he was able to keep his win. “Correct weight was delayed to allow Stewards to review the start of the race,” the stewards report said.
“After viewing the official footage, Stewards found that just prior to the start being affected, Drums Of War lunged forward, contacting its front gates, which opened marginally earlier prior to the gates of other runners.
“After consideration of AR204(2), which deals with a horse obtaining an unfair advantage, Stewards were of the view that any advantage obtained was only a head margin when the gates of other runners commenced to open and it was not unfair. Therefore, Drums Of War was declared starter and correct weight given.”
All Too Hard juvenile leads double
At Narromine on Sunday, All Too Hard sired a double led by Brett Robb-trained 2-year-old filly Rubelin who was coming off a mid-field effort in the Wellington Boot. She is the third foal of Invincible Thunder (I Am Invincible) who won twice in her own career.
The Vinery Stud sire doubled up in the next with Melissa Harrison-trained Strassman who made it two wins in succession. His trainer purchased him for $4250 from Magic Millions Digital in January this year. The 4-year-old gelding has since earned over $40,000 in five starts for Harrison.
Renegade is the Kentucky Derby favourite and draws one
Renegade (Into Mischief), a spectacular, come-from-behind winner for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in the GI Arkansas Derby, was tabbed as the 4-1 morning-line favourite despite drawing the rail in a field of 20 set for next Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides.
Renegade, a US$975,000 (AU$1.4 million) Keeneland September yearling purchase, is campaigned in partnership by Repole Stable and breeders Robert and Lawana Low. Pletcher has won the Kentucky Derby twice with Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017). The last horse to win the Kentucky Derby from post one was Ferdinand in 1986.
“I wouldn't trade places with anyone heading into this Kentucky Derby,” Mike Repole posted on X. “I'll take Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr., and the best horse in the race Renegade from the 1 post every time. Is it ideal??? No. But I'll take the 1 post over 15-20 post all day with Renegade's closing style and explosive late kick.”
Co-second choices on the morning line at 6-1 are Wathnan Racing's GI Curlin Florida Derby winner Commandment (Into Mischief) (post six) and Spendthrift Farm's daylight GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner Further Ado (Gun Runner) (post 18). Both are trained by Brad Cox, who will also saddle GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Fulleffort (Liam's Map) (post 20) (20-1). Cox won the 2021 Kentucky Derby with Mandaloun following the medication disqualification of Medina Spirit.
First group winner for Contrail
Japanese Triple Crown hero Contrail sired his first group winner when Going To Sky punched his ticked for the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) with a three-quarter length win in the G2 Aoba Sho on Saturday.
Stepping up to 2400 metres for the first time, the son of the stakes-winning Tapit mare Goin To The Window was sent off at 7-1. Relaxed under Yuka Take, the colt continued to track the leaders from eighth with 1800 metres reached in 1:48.80. Spinning off the bend well off the fence, he split horses willingly inside the quarter pole and cruised to the front through 2000 metres in 2:00.50. Striding home professionally from there, he fended off Tidal Lock (Maurice), who made a race of it, and Going To Sky held firm at the line.
Favoured Black Olympia (Kitasan Black), out of G1 Victoria Oaks heroine Pinot (Pierro), was third, another 2.5 lengths behind.
“I thought he was a very good horse, and I really wanted to secure a Derby spot here, so I'm relieved,” said Take to Net Keiba. “From a wide barrier and considering he's not the quickest out, I was hoping to settle around midfield, but we ended up in a better position than expected. He quickened well when I asked, and he kept finding to the line. It was a very good performance.
“To produce that kind of performance over the same distance and in a good time is very encouraging. I'm looking forward to the big one. He'll probably head to the [May 31] Derby next, and I'm excited for it.”
Single Red heads to Queensland
Andrew Forsman-trained G1 New Zealand Oaks-placed Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh) won on Saturday at Te Rapa to book her trip to the Queensland carnival. “She had to do a little bit more than we thought, especially in that first furlong or so, and was potentially soft very late, but I think that shows there is good improvement there,” assistant trainer Joe Walker told Loveracing.nz.
“She has got a bit of class, she has shown enough right from the start, and hopefully it is on to some nice Queensland targets now. There is a fillies series there, so on the 9th of May there is an 1800m race at the Gold Coast (Listed Gold Coast Bracelet), two weeks later into The Roses and two weeks later into the Oaks.
“All going well, we would love to get her to all three, but it is certainly initially the first two.”
Targets for Forever Young announced
Japanese and American champion Forever Young will target either the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on dirt in September or the G1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on turf that same month, according to connections.
Depending on which path the son of Real Steel takes, his long-term goal is either an attempt to win the GI Breeders' Cup Classic for a second time and become the second dual winner after Tiznow, or take in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in early October. No Japanese horse has ever won the Arc, although several have come close. If he stays on dirt, Forever Young could renew his rivalry with his Dubai World Cup conqueror Magnitude (Not This Time) at Keeneland in the Classic.
Reyes gets win 1000 in USA
Jockey Leonel Reyes notched his 1000th victory in North America on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the 40-year-old native of Venezuela guided Papa Golf (Hard Spun) into the winner's circle following a textbook ride in the fifth race, according to a press release from 1/ST Racing on Saturday.
Reyes, who ventured to Gulfstream Park in 2016 after winning two national riding championships in Venezuela, was just three wins away from the 1000-win milestone Nov. 2, when he was sidelined with an open fracture of his left ankle sustained in a racing accident.
“I feel great. You know it's hard to come back from the accident, but I feel great,” Reyes said. “I'm so happy. It's been a lot of work, but this is worth it.”
