Waller stars all set for Monday
Shifting Friday’s trials to Monday will have no impact on Chris Waller’s Group 1 stars.
“Everything that was nominated to race Friday will trial Monday. We're well ahead of schedule so missing a few days is not a problem,” Waller told racingandsports.com.au.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Top mares Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) and Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio), G1 Rosehill Guineas winner Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) and import Barnavara (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) will all feature.
New winner for Extreme Warrior
Trainer Ebony Turner is excited about debutant winning 2-year-old filly Glamour Extreme (Extreme Warrior) who became the fourth winner for her first season sire on Sunday at Oamaru.
“She is a cool wee horse. I am proud of what she has done and how fast those wee legs can go,” Turner said.
Glamour Extreme | Image courtesy of Tayler Strong (Race Images)
“Off that run I am pretty confident that she will give them a wee shake at stakes level. There are a lot of nice 3-year-old races coming up and I am not against having a nudge at the Guineas.”
Twin Hills Stud sold her for $6000 at the Inglis Great Southern Sale to Kerri Spence Bloodstock. She is the third winner for Pure Glamour (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) who is a city winning half-sister to Group 1 winner Elite Belle (Canny Lad), Group 2 winner Mississippi Delta (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Listed winner Battle Empire (Second Empire {Ire}).
Pride stars back on Tuesday
Warwick Farm trials on Tuesday will see Joe Pride’s Group 1 pair Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Attica (Lonhro) begin their spring campaigns.
“I couldn't be happier with Ceolwulf. He's working beautifully. He had the three months off to let his feet grow out with no shoes on and you can just see the difference in his trackwork now,” Pride told racenet.com.au. He will have three trials before the G1 Winx Stakes.
Joe Pride | Image courtesy of Inglis
“The time away has done him the world of good. His last trial would be eight days out from the Winx at Randwick. From there we'll just see what everyone else is doing but obviously going to the King Charles and trying to win it for the third straight year is there. And with the Cox Plate being at Flemington this year that becomes an option as well. Just really looking forward to getting him back to the races as a starting point.”
Napoleonic set for Missile
John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained 3-year-old colt Napoleonic (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will trial on Monday ahead of a spring resumption in the G2 Missile Stakes.
“He will work towards a Missile Stakes at this stage,” Charlton told racingandsports.com.au.
Napoleonic | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He had a freshen up after Queensland then came back and spelled in Sydney. His run in the (Doomben) 10,000 was excellent and then he didn't quite follow it through in the Kingsford-Smith. He travelled like he was going to run very well, so maybe the 1300 just tested him that day second-up off a big performance first-up. We'll give some thought to keeping him to the sprints.”
Empire Rose target for Concord Connie
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield is setting rising 4-year-old mare Concord Connie (Contributer {Ire}) at the G1 Empire Rose Stakes this spring.
“She's probably just a touch ahead of schedule so we've probably got a bit of time to sit back and relax a little bit, just take her through gently and not rush her,” Littlefield told racingandsports.com.au.
“She had four-and-a-half or five weeks out and she wasn't a horse that loved being out in the paddock. She actually loves and thrives off the attention of being in the stable and human interaction. She's a unique horse and we enjoy having her back in, that's for sure. We'll kick-off in a benchmark race first-up in mid to late September, possibly at Mornington as around that time there is very little benchmark racing in town, so hopefully she can kick-off in a winning way.
“We need to raise those points and providing she has come back well from there we will plot a path to something like the Empire Rose. She obviously goes well at Flemington.” She has won three of her four starts, two of them at Flemington.
Bivouac adds another juvenile winner
Leading second season sire Bivouac added another juvenile winner when Brad Widdup-trained 2-year-old colt Viva Macaco won by 1.75 lengths at Hawkesbury on Sunday. He ran second at the same track on his debut last start.
Twin Hills Stud sold Viva Macaco to George Moore Bloodstock for $375,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. He is the third foal and third winner for Something Silver (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) who won six times and is a half-sister to stakes-placed Ariaz (Charge Forward).
Cool Aza Beel adds juvenile winner
Second season sire Cool Aza Beel (NZ) celebrated a new juvenile winner when Adrian Corboy-trained 2-year-old colt No Friends won at Seymour on Sunday. Polaris Bloodstock bought him for $25,000 from Newhaven Park Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft.
No Friends is the second winner for unraced Gesture (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) is from the family of Listed winner Mystic Power (Not A Single Doubt).
New juvenile winner for Trapeze Artist
At Hawkesbury on Sunday, Matthew Smith-trained 2-year-old filly Zunesha (Trapeze Artist) won by 2.7 lengths at her third start, having placed in her first two starts. She was sold by Widden Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $300,000 to Mystery Downs.
She is the first foal of Zou Island (Zoustar) who is a winning half-sister to Listed winner So You Win (So You Think {NZ}).
Exceedance adds juvenile winner
At Seymour on Sunday, Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr)-trained 2-year-old gelding Dustee (Exceedance) won his maiden. His trainers purchased him for $70,000 from Vinery Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Dustee is the second foal and second winner for Miss Dusty (NZ) (Reliable Man [GB}) who is a winning half-sister to stakes-placed Nova Swiss (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
Juvenile winner for Pierata
At Toowoomba on Saturday night, Pierata added a juvenile winner when Pat Webster-trained 2-year-old gelding Touch Base won by over four lengths. Second on debut, the Burgs Racing-owned gelding was a $6000 purchase at the Capricornia Yearling Sale. Touch Base is the first foal of winning mare Making Contact (Sooboog).
Spirit Of Boom had a double at the meeting with Lady Willpower and Thundering Soul.
Needs Further treble at Hobart
Tasmanian sire Needs Further sired a treble at Hobart on Sunday. Siggy Carr-trained 3-year-old gelding John Of Jane won on debut in the first. Stuart Gandy-trained 4-year-old mare Southern Auroras won by 2.5 lengths to record her second career victory.
In the last on the card Patrick Dargan-trained gelding Miles ‘n’ Miles took his record to four wins. The Kevin Sharkie Sires’ Produce was won by 2-year-old gelding Valley Star (Widden Star) who has won two of his four starts.
Monroe Walk stays unbeaten
In Japan, 3-year-old filly Monroe Walk (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) made it three from three and will likely to be set for the G1 Shuka Sho. She is one of two winners out of G1 MRC Thousand Guineas winner Amphitrite (Sebring).
Journalism returns in style in Grade 2
After facing just about every top horse in the country in his career, 4-year-old colt Journalism (Curlin) looked to be assigned his simplest task since he was a maiden in Saturday's G2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. However, anyone who was thrilled by how he inexplicably overcame trouble in his G1 Preakness Stakes win last year will remember he has a flair for the dramatic.
In what should have been a relatively straightforward win, Journalism had to do it by overcoming a terrible start. He appeared to anticipate the break and charge the gate, causing the assistant starter to hold tight just as the latch sprung. Journalism was instantly disadvantaged, leaving the stalls a good five or six lengths behind the others.
From there, it was simply a procession as Journalism flicked his ears back and forth, holding off a hard-trying Shea Brennan (Tough Sunday) for the three-quarter length win as Iron Man Cal (Collected) nabbed third, another 2.25 lengths back, in his first dirt try.
Trainer Michael McCarthy said, “His class won out.”
Celeron wins G2 Railway Stakes
New Morning Syndicate's 2-year-old colt Celeron (Mohaather) was down the field in Royal Ascot's Listed Windsor Castle Stakes last month and bounced back in style to register a clear-cut win in Saturday's G2 GAIN Railway Stakes at the Curragh.
“[The late] John Fleming was a massive supporter of our yard, and me from a young age, and none of this would have been possible without him,” reflected Michael O'Callaghan. “He kept me going through thick and thin and this is for him. Any day you can get Oisin (Murphy) is a bonus and he gave him a great ride. I was a little bit worried about the trip today.
“He won his maiden over six furlongs and six furlongs looks like his minimum now, but when this horse steps up to seven furlongs, or even a mile, we'll see the best of him. Oisin said today it was only because of his class he got through. He found the pace mid-race a little bit hot, but he said the horse has plenty of class and took plenty of pulling up. His next race will be over seven furlongs and he could be a horse to go a mile next May.”
Positioned off the tempo in a detached third through the initial stages, the 7-2 second favourite came under pressure soon after halfway and was ridden clear once quickening smartly for his challenge entering the final furlong to securer a career high by an impressive three lengths from G2 Norfolk Stakes also-ran Tribeca (Blue Point).
Celeron, who becomes the second pattern-race and fourth stakes scorer for his sire, is the latest of three foals and one of two winners from as many runners produced by Listed Premio Carlo Chiesa victrix Fataliste (Siyouni), herself a half-sister to dual G3 Premio Tudini placegetter Traditional Chic (Ad Valorem).
Cy Fair adds G3 Coronation Cup
G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner 3-year-old filly Cy Fair (Not This Time) captured Saturday's GIII Coronation Cup Stakes at Saratoga.
“I think all things equal, she is the best 3-year-old filly turf sprinter out there,” said winning trainer George Weaver. “I know it's not a big category in the [United] States, but she is a pretty special horse. We're very proud of her.”
As they leveled off in the lane, Sapphire Beach (Ire) (No Nay Never) clung to the lead until Cy Fair angled off the rail, accelerated effortlessly, and went right on by to win by 2.5 lengths in little more than a hand ride. Sapphire Beach outclassed Cadenza (Charlatan) by another 4.75 lengths for second.
