Munce pair drawn badly for Tatt’s Tiara
Chris and Corey Munce-trained pair of Gerringong (Blue Point {Ire}) and Poster Girl (Alabama Express) have drawn out wide for Saturday’s G1 Tatt’s Tiara. “Both of them haven’t drawn well, but 1400 metres at Eagle Farm can be a bit forgiving,” Corey Munce told racingqueensland.com.au.
“They’ll need some luck from their draws with Gerringong in 13 and Poster Girl in barrier 15. Gerringong’s run in the Dane Ripper (second) was very impressive on a track we didn’t know how she’d handle.” Poster Girl ran fourth in the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes last start and the winner, She’s Got Pizzazz (Zoustar) isn’t running on Saturday.
Rain to suit Touristic in Cup
Forecast rain for the weekend will suit Peter Snowden-trained Touristic (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Listed W J McKell Cup at Rosehill. “I would like to see the track a little wetter, but they are forecasting a few showers on Saturday. A five, six or seven is perfect for him,” Snowden told racingandsports.com.au.
Touristic (GB) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He can turn this around on Saturday, no problem. He loves racing, and he's in really good shape. We've learned from that (last start). It's all about riding him the right way. Ride him to his strengths, and he'll run really well.”
AgriFutures research update evening
Thoroughbred industry participants are invited to join AgriFutures in Scone for an update into their research projects. Hosted at Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association on Randwick Way in Scone, the evening is on July 29 at 5.30pm.
Topics will be: Yearling endoscopy and links to racetrack performance – Josie Hardwick, Murdoch University; Heat stress, ageing and stallion fertility – Zamira Gibb, The University of Newcastle; Early pregnancy loss: is a gene involved? – Zamira Gibb, The University of Newcastle; and Causes of mid–late term pregnancy loss in mares – Joan Carrick, Equine Specialist Consulting.
Last start winner Jarrito to continue
Bjorn Baker-trained 3-year-old filly Jarrito (I Am Invincible) is a last start winner and heads to Rosehill on Saturday. She has won two of her four starts and is a daughter of Group 1 winner Spright (Hinchinbrook). She’s a filly we’ve always had a lot of time for and her last win was very good,” Baker told racingnsw.com.au.
Jarrito | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“I thought it was a great ride, it worked out well, and she has that tactical speed. I have no doubt she will be better for that as well so I’m looking forward to Saturday.”
Eurell’s juvenile ready for hot debut
At Caulfield on Saturday, trainer Greg Eurell will debut 2-year-old filly Lucky Brook (Lucky Vega {Ire}). “I've got a lot of time for her. I think she's a very smart filly,” Eurell told racenet.com.au.
“They have got to do it when the pressure's right on but, certainly at the moment, she looks above average. If she can do it at the races then, she's certainly going to be very competitive. Basically, the idea is that if she performs well, we'll get a little bit of a guide on where she's at. We'll try and map out something a little strong going forward into the spring.”
Asfoora has a few targets before coming home
Asfoora (Flying Artie) is booked to enter quarantine on July 31, but trainer Henry Dwyer will likely run her a couple more times before that at Sandown and then into the G2 King George Stakes at Goodwood. “She ran really well (at Ascot) and just blew out a bit late so you’d think she might have a peak run still in her,” Dwyer told racing.com.
Asfoora | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We can’t leave for home until after she quarantines, so she’s really fit and well and those two races would certainly be suitable for her. I suppose if she was to win one or both of them, we could delay her return and fit in the Nunthorpe Stakes.” The G1 Nunthorpe Stakes is on August 21.
Juvenile winner for Shalaa
Mitchell Freedman-trained 2-year-old gelding Sharaz (Shalaa {Ire}) won on debut at Bendigo on Thursday. He was bought by his trainer for $100,000 from Armidale Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft.
Sharaz is the first winner for stakes placed Derasa (Squamosa) who is a half-sister to dual Listed winner Newhart (Fighting Sun).
Juvenile winner for Russian Revolution
At Ipswich on Thursday, Richard Laming-trained 2-year-old filly Elevating (Russian Revolution) won over 1350 metres, having placed at her prior start. Owned by Gerry Harvey, she is a half-sister to stakes placed Improvement (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and is one of eight winners from as many to race for her winning dam Upgrading (Encosta De Lago).
Russian Revolution had a double at the meeting with Bolshevic Road who celebrated his third career victory.
Manhattan Rain gets 2-year-old winner
Manhattan Rain celebrated a juvenile winner at Northam on Thursday when Daniel Morton-trained 2-year-old gelding Manhattan Rhythm won at his fourth start. Morton Racing bought him for $16,000 from Ruby Racing and Breeding’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft.
He is the second winner for Rhyming Versus (Poet’s Voice {GB}) who is a full sister to Listed winner My Country.
Mo treble gives him best season
Trainer Cody Mo is in his third season as a trainer in Hong Kong and took his seasonal tally to a career best 45 with a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday. His winners were Jumbo Treasure (Written Tycoon), Meowth (Showtime) and Flying Fortune (NZ) (Sweynesse). “I’m very happy with the three wins,” Mo told scmp.com.
Caspar Fownes extended his trainers’ championship lead to five over second-placed Danny Shum with the victory of Sky Cap (Capitalist). “It’s getting crucial at this stage. I’m very happy for the owners, they’re one of my biggest supporters, the whole family. They’re the most beautiful people to train for – they let me do my job and never hassle me. I’m so happy to get the win for them and on top of that, to get the first win bonus, which is great,” Fownes said.
De Seyssel explains Arc decision
The question of whether geldings should be allowed to run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe has been the subject of debate for some time, and on Monday, the board of France Galop voted overwhelmingly but not unanimously to invoke a rule change from next year.
The reasoning behind what has been described as a “landmark decision” is three-pronged, according to France Galop's vice president Arnaud de Seyssel.
He told TDN, “First of all, if I look backwards, we have been asking these questions ourselves over the last two years, and there was a lot of dialogue with the board, dialogue with the different entities, associations, and a lot of formal and informal discussions about the subject.
“I would say there are three reasons. The first one is clearly to open the race to the best horses, and basically, some geldings are obviously near the top of the list. We could have taken this decision two years ago, but we didn't want to do it under the pressure of Calandagan or Goliath or whatever. We really wanted to have discussions and hear the views of everyone.”
De Seyssel ventured that the second reason is to bring the Arc into line with some of the best middle-distance races in the world, such as the Japan Cup, the Breeders' Cup Turf, and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, all of which have been won by geldings in recent years – namely Calandagan, Rebel's Romance, Ethical Diamond and Goliath.
“The key question was also, 'Is the Arc a stallion-maker?' And when you look back a bit, you look at the stallions who sired the best horses in the last 10 or 15 years, there are only two big stallions, Sea The Stars and Golden Horn, who are the triumphs. But you look at Wootton Bassett, you look at the other key sires, and they didn't win the Arc.
“We believe that opening the competition to all horses was a little bit more fair, and is a way we can measure the true rating of the different horses,” said de Seyssel.
“For us, the [stallion-making race] is obviously for three-year-olds in the spring with the Prix du Jockey Club. So it was quite obvious to us that we have to move on and try to re-become one of the best races in the world by the rating.
“On top of that, the big majority of the board members were favourable to the decision, not that there was unanimity. So that's the reason why we decided to move forward.”
BHA lifts equine flu restrictions
The British Horseracing Authority has lifted restrictions on the Shropshire stable of Mel and Phil Rowley following the confirmed case of equine flu at a yard adjacent to their premises. The horse arrived from the Goffs Arkle Sale in Kildare in early June, subsequently developing symptoms and being diagnosed with the infection.
“Our thanks again to trainers for your continued efforts, and in particular to those who purchased or received horses from the Goffs Arkle Sale for your support as we traced and determined the level of risk,” a statement read.
“Fortunately, through these actions and prompt engagement we were able to quickly identify those yards at higher risk of exposure and take targeted action. This included withdrawing a small number of intended runners and testing others to make sure they were free of the virus before travelling to the racecourse.
“We would also like to confirm that, through this process, we have been able to lift the restrictions placed on Mel and Phil Rowley's yard in Shropshire. Again, we are very grateful for their proactive assistance, which has helped avoid what could potentially have been a much bigger and less manageable outbreak.”
Lope De Vega's Rebel Moon wins Group 3
Coming into Wednesday's G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Jannah Rose Stakes the least experienced with the most to prove, the sponsors' Rebel Moon (Lope De Vega) took the leap forward to add serious ballast to Joseph O'Brien's team of fillies.
Representing one of the most in-form stables in Europe, the 500,000gns (AU$1 million) Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase who had scored over nine furlongs on debut at Gowran in April waited behind Ballydoyle's Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Cameo (Wootton Bassett) and the Naas Oaks Trial winner Caught U Sleeping (Cotai Glory) throughout the early stages.
Rebel Moon's dam Purely Priceless (Galileo) had already produced four stakes performers including the dual Listed winner Alzire (Shamardal) and the King Edward VII and Prix Guillaume d'Ornano-placed Tasman Bay (Le Havre). Out of the four-times Group 1-winning Irish Oaks heroine and European champion Peeping Fawn (Danehill), she is a half to the multiple Group 1-placed September (Deep Impact) from the excellent family of Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy), Casino Drive (Mineshaft) and Jazil (Seeking The Gold).
Breeding right in Victor Ludorum for sale
The catalogue for the Tattersalls Online July Sale features 90 lots. Divided between 74 horses in- and out- of training, six broodmares, five point-to-pointers, three stores, one yearling and a breeding right in Victor Ludorum (lot 90), the sale will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30 and end at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1.
Victor Ludorum is the sire of four stakes horses, including the group-placed duo Commander's Intent and Victoire Magique.
Major South African Stud sold
Klawervlei Stud has been acquired by businessman and leading racehorse owner Laurence Wernars, announced Vermaak Equine. A full dispersal of Klawervlei's existing bloodstock numbering approximately 160 head, among them stallions, mares, and weanlings, will be held at the stud on Monday, August 10.
Crowned South African Champion Breeder six times, Klawervlei has been run by the Koster family for 45 years. South African standouts Captain Al, his son One World, fellow stallion Vercingetorix, exported champion filly Carry On Alice (Captain Al), crack sprinter Shea Shea (National Emblem) and G1 Durban July hero and freshman stallion Kommetdieding (Elusive Fort) are just a handful of the many talented runners hailing from the property.
Wernars said in a statement, “We are purchasing a beautifully equipped farm with its assets and equipment, not the existing bloodstock. The improvements made to Klawervlei over the years–the dams, paddocks and infrastructure–required enormous investment and simply could not be replicated today.
“We currently have 54 mares spread around the country and most of them will be relocated to Klawervlei. We hold stallion shares in many of the leading Cape-based sires, so our mares will be kept busy. Aside from that, Klawervlei will remain a luxury boarding facility and the broodmares owned by outside clients will be staying on. The farm is spacious and can easily accommodate 120 mares.”
