Lady Of Camelot injured by stingray
G1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon)’s campaign has come to an end after she was injured by a stingray while swimming on Tuesday morning. “We will assess the extent of the wound, it was due to the proximity to her joints that we wanted to be really cautious,” co-trainer Adrian Bott told racenet.com.au.
“We wanted to properly treat her, so there was no risk of infection. We took her to the local vet hospital there this morning, it's not a significant wound but it's where it's located that is an issue. It will probably come down to a decision for (owner) Sir Owen Glenn as to what he would like to do with her in the future.”
She won’t be travelling to Royal Ascot and her scratching from Saturday’s G1 Doomben 10,000 allows Beadman (Snitzel) to take his place in the field.
Beadman could get J-Mac for Doomben
Having snuck into the G1 Doomben 10,000 field, Peter Snowden-trained 3-year-old colt Beadman (Snitzel) is likely to have the services of James McDonald. “I'm really happy with how Beadman has come through that race and at this stage we are keen to run in him in the 10,000,” Snowden told racingandsports.com.au.
Beadman | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“The plan is for James McDonald to be on Beadman as his other ride (Napoleonic) is behind him (second emergency). Beadman has always been a colt with a lot of talent and I think this is his chance to win a Group 1 although it is a very good race. He handles all track conditions but it would be too his advantage if we happened to get any rain.”
Racing Victoria axes new chief veterinarian
Racing Victoria have removed new Chief Veterinary Officer Glenn Robertson-Smith just one day after announcing his appointment to the position, following revelations reported on betsy.com.au that he left a serious of voicemails in 2018 threatening to kill former Melbourne Racing Club executive Jake Norton.
Police subsequently charged the vet of ‘’using a carriage service to menace or harass’’ and he was sentenced to a diversion order, avoiding a criminal conviction.
Racing Victoria confirmed his termination to betsy.com.au on Tuesday afternoon. It is believed that core staff, including Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison, were unaware of the incident prior to Robertson-Smith's appointment.
Racing NSW integrity officer resigns
Racing NSW Head of Integrity Michael Cleaver resigned for personal reasons this week, reported betsy.com.au. Formerly with the NSW Police, Cleaver has been in the role for two years.
Payline can upset 10,000
Co-trainer Corey Munce believes Payline (Shooting To Win) can upset the strong G1 Doomben 10,000 field as long as it doesn’t rain. “That was always in the back of my mind but I've got no doubt in the world he's going better this prep,” Munce told racenet.com.au.
Payline | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He's probably going better than ever and his two runs this prep have been above what we've expected. I think this is going to be his year and I hope it's at Doomben. He's well fit now. He's probably in the best order I've ever seen him in and I can say that with confidence.”
Overpass ready for Ascot
While Lady Of Camelot and Generosity won’t be flying to Ascot, Overpass (Vancouver) is still on track. “At his best he’s very good and he’s been up against so many good sprinters,” Baker told racing.com.
“You talk about Ka Ying Rising, Joliestar in the TJ Smith recently, and he’s had a fair few battles with Nature Strip. Unfortunately, he didn’t quite get the better of him, but he’s been up against the best for what seems like years now. It’s (the Royal Ascot trip) sort of always been in the back of our minds and it’s sort of now or never. I think as a 7-year-old, his experience — he’s got a lot of frequent-flyer points around Australia — so hopefully he travels well there.”
A 5% share in Overpass is Lot 133 on the current Inglis Digital Sale which closes on Wednesday.
Belmont Park returns on Saturday
A new-look Belmont Park will be unveiled on Saturday following a $8 million renovation. “The experience now at Belmont will better reflect what everyone should expect from a metropolitan race club,” Perth Racing Chief Executive Officer James Oldring told racingwa.com.au.
“I’m hoping these renovations completely redefine Belmont’s reputation as a venue, not only for racing, but also for entertainment. I’m extremely proud of the team for delivering what was originally proposed as a three-year project within about a six-month period.
“It has been a huge undertaking to turn it around in the time that they have, but I’m really looking forward to seeing the reaction from members and patrons when they come to Belmont and see what a day at the races now looks like.”
Attendances in Perth are rising with a record crowd of 8200 at The Quokka, up 30% on the previous year, and a 21% increase in food and beverage sales during the Perth summer carnival.
Title Fighter wants a second Straight Six
Last year’s Listed Straight Six victor Title Fighter (Lean Mean Machine) is back for another attempt this year. “He obviously won the race last year and it's been a bit of a plan to keep him on a similar program this time,” trainer Clayton Douglas told racingandsports.com.au.
“These three runs have all be planned since the start of his campaign. He was good first-up, was good again last week behind a nice horse and hopefully he can get the job done third-up. We won't have to do much with him this week after his run on that heavy track last time. He had a nice enough blow after the race on that heavy ground, so he should take plenty of improvement from it.”
Third-up the key for Mafia
Front running 5-year-old gelding Mafia (Written Tycoon) will be fitter for his last two runs when he steps out at Kensington on Wednesday for trainers Mitchell Beer and George Carpenter. “It’s hard with those horses that are one dimensional, that jump and go forward and they blow out and you think ‘that’s disappointing’,” Beer told racingnsw.com.au.
“You can gallop him and jump him out until you’re blue in the face but he takes those runs to get back to match day fitness. He’s a big burly horse, he took a two or three runs for him to hit his best for us last preparation. I thought in his last run he just felt the pinch 50m-100m from home so he’ll be spot on.”
Perspiration heads to mainland
After winning a trial on Tuesday, John Keys-trained 4-year-old gelding Perspiration (Too Darn Hot {GB}) will travel to the mainland to join stablemate Swift Force (Magnus). Last start Caulfield winner Swift Force will be aimed at the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes on May 30 and Perspiration will run on the same card. “He settled well because they went so hard up front, it was almost like a race,” retired Hall of Fame jockey and part-owner Stephen Maskiell said of Perspiration’s hit out.
“He needed a good hit-out because he’ll head to Caulfield first-up, and he got that today.”
Perspiration | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Hong Kong battle to continue on Wednesday
Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting will see the battle for the Trainer’s Premiership continue with David Hayes lining up four last-start winners in an attempt to close the gap to Mark Newnham. Only eight winners separate the top trainers with Newnham on 52 wins, Caspar Fownes (51), Danny Shum (51), Hayes, Francis Lui (46) and John Size on 44.
“We’ve had a couple of quiet meetings so it would be nice to have some winners – we’ve been a bit unlucky with a couple of seconds and thirds of late,” Hayes told scmp.com. “We’ve got plenty of in-form horses, so fingers crossed.”
O’Brien talks about Derby horses
With just a few pieces of the jigsaw still to be slotted into place this week at York, the Epsom picture has emerged a little more clearly over the past week or so through some key Derby and Oaks trials at Chester, Lingfield and Leopardstown. Most have been dominated by Aidan O'Brien, including a clean sweep of the five stakes races on the Roodee.
O'Brien has in his stable 16 of the 41 remaining entries for the Derby. “At the moment, we are looking at the horse that won the Chester Vase, Benvenuto Cellini, for Epsom. We are also looking at the horse that ran yesterday, Pierre Bonnard, for Epsom,” O’Brien told TDN.
“Constitution River could possibly go to France – it's not written in stone. The two horses that went to France for their trials (Montreal and Hawk Mountain), the plan with both of them was definitely to go to France. Those two went to Chantilly around the track and everything.
Aidan O'Brien | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“Constitution River went to Chester knowing that he could be an Epsom or a French horse. And we were happy that it was a mile and a quarter, just in case he was going to go to France. The only thing is, if he goes to France, he's only gone left-handed so far – he hasn't gone right-handed yet.
“We think the horse that ran yesterday (Pierre Bonnard) is going to step up again. He's going to get a mile and a half and could get further. The horse that won the Vase, Benvenuto Cellini, we think he's a mile-and-a-half horse that wouldn't be going any further and he could come back to a mile and a quarter. Pierre Bonnard would have no problem going up to a mile and six (furlongs).
“Constitution River is one of those mile-and-a-quarter horses that could get a mile and a half, but you couldn't be sure. If you were riding him over a mile and a half, you'd be riding him a bit patiently. But he's a lot of speed and a lot of class.
“Benvenuto Cellini has speed and class as well. He has a big open stride and looks like a horse that you would be surprised if he didn't get a mile and a half, but at the same time, you would be surprised if he gets much further.
“Epsom is the ultimate test in every way. It tests them mentally, physically, left, right. There's no second Epsom anywhere in the world, the test it is. They have to get the trip – they have to go down on the track and then come back on the track. It's a very tough, unique place and that is why the Derby is what it is. It engages the whole thoroughbred breed and tests them in every way.
“There is nowhere to hide in the Derby. You have to have pace, ability, you have to stay and you have to be like concrete mentally. All the things are tested.”
He continues, “What was the best Derby winner we ever had? I would say it was Galileo. And he proved to be probably one of the greatest stallions ever. That's what Epsom does. It's very tough, but you will get the blood that you really want going forward.”
Incredibolt heads to Preakness
The sixth-place finisher in the GI Kentucky Derby will be heading to Maryland this week as trainer Riley Mott revealed that Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) will be entered into the GI Preakness Stakes.
“The horse is doing extremely well,” Mott said by phone from Louisville Monday afternoon. “He came out of the Derby in good shape, and we have been clocking the field of (Preakness) horses and we thought it would be the right opportunity to try the horse back.”
He also added that Incredibolt would train at Churchill Tuesday morning before making the 10-hour van ride to Laurel Park. His expected arrival is early Wednesday morning. Regular rider Jaime Torres, who won the 2024 running aboard Seize the Grey, will retain the mount for the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
Blue Point filly makes history for Repole in Italy
Easy Pisa (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) became the first horse to carry the orange-and-blue colours of prominent owner Mike Repole in Italy when validating short-odds favouritism in the Premio Walter Dainotto, a 1200-metre event for debutantes at the San Siro in Milan on Sunday, May 10.
“Obviously, my heritage is from Italy. My daughter's name is Gioia Mia, which means my joy in Italian,” said Repole on Monday. “It's where my father's family was from. My mom was born there, and her brother still lives there. We go almost every June and it was special. Doing business with Endo and Cristina is great. I never had a trainer I could speak Italian to.”
