International plans for Sir Delius
If Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) can win the G1 Cox Plate this spring, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable plan to take him to Hong Kong or Japan.
“I feel that 2400 metres is his best distance. We just haven't had a chance to get him up to that distance again as his main targets in Australia are 2000-metre races,” Bott told racingandsports.com.au.
Sir Delius (GB) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“If he is going well enough in the spring this might be the opportunity to get him out to 2400 metres in either Japan or Hong Kong. The timing and everything works well for Sir Delius as travelling overseas in late November or December is better climate-wise. But our main focus for now is the Cox Plate – that's the race we are concentrating on with this horse.
“He will have the same preparation as before, three trials then the Makybe Diva into the Turnbull and then the Cox Plate. The three weeks between runs each time works well for this horse. After the Cox Plate, we could look at the Champion Stakes at Flemington and then possibly take him overseas.”
Angel Capital set for return in Missile
Trainer Chris Waller will likely resume Yulong-owned Group 2 winner Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) in Saturday’s G2 Missile Stakes.
“Angel Capital will run next week in the Missile, then he can go second up into a Group 1. The Memsie or the Winx Stakes,” Waller told racingandsports.com.au.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He's well suited at the set weights and penalties, where the others probably aren't, and he's got a bit more speed. (A horse like) Autumn Glow gets too much weight. He's come back well. Mentally he's great. There's no reason why he can't keep going for another year.”
Bred To Win returns to the screen
Caroline Searcy’s thoroughbred breeding industry TV program Bred To Win returns on Monday night at 7.30pm on Sky Thoroughbred Central ahead of the spring breeding season.
This spring season Searcy will profile exciting new sires such as Darley’s two dual Group 1 winners, Tentryris and Observer, proven sire but new to Australia Coolmore’s Super Seth, two new stallions Libertad and Coleman at Blue Gum Farm, stunning grey European star Charyn (Ire) at Cambridge Stud, Blue Diamond winner Little Brose alongside his sire Per Incanto (USA) at Little Avondale, Vinrock at Yulong, and Reserve Bank at Evergreen Stud.
Orman given permission to ride
The Hong Kong Jockey Club have given jockey James Orman permission to ride in Queensland during the season break.
“The last time I came back to Australia, there was a six-week break, and I was a little bit heavy when I went back to Hong Kong,” Orman told racenet.com.au.
James Orman | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“This time, I want to be at my absolute best for the first Hong Kong meeting back. I'm not used to having six weeks off, so I'm keen to ride at a few Queensland meetings, keep fit and keep my weight down. It will be good to ride for some of the trainers I used to ride for in Brisbane.
“To finish in the top 10 in the jockeys' premiership was a big thing for me. I had a goal of 30 winners for the season and I got 32, so I was very happy with that.”
Coffs Harbour Cup almost sold out
Only a few general admission tickets remain for Friday’s Coffs Harbour Cup meeting.
“Tickets to all our hospitality areas have been snapped up and the only tickets remaining are online general admission, as there will be no gate sales on raceday,” Damien Toose, CHRC’s Manager, told racingnsw.com.au.
“Besides the excitement on the track, one of the highlights is the Park Beach Plaza Fashions on the Field which is always a huge attraction and has at least four competitive style categories. Of course, we have some amazing hospitality areas that were quickly sold out including the Toormina Palms Lawn Party, Brookvale Union Racing Retreat and the Spare Chef Luncheon.
“However, if people just want to come and enjoy the day after buying tickets online, there is plenty of space available for the public, complete with food, bar, TAB and bookmakers aplenty.
“With the Cup on a Friday, it’s a great way to start the weekend for the local community plus it presents an opportunity for those from out of town to spend a few days in and around Coffs enjoying the sights and beauty of the area.”
Superior Style seeks to keep unbeaten tag
It took a while for 4-year-old mare Superior Style (Exceed And Excel) to make the racetrack but she opened her account in mid-July with a debut win. She runs at Goulburn on Monday attempting to make it two from two for trainer Anthony Warren and part-owner B2B Thoroughbreds.
“It's always a bit harder second up but her work’s been really strong since that win and she's a very athletic horse,” Warren told racingnsw.com.au.
“I was involved in her pre-training before she went to the Price / Kent (Jnr) yard. But after they weren't happy with the horse, I said not to give up on her and was happy to have her come back. She's a half-sister to Aim, who was a Magic Millions Guineas winner a few years back. She is progressive and this race probably looks like it will be a similarly run contest to last start.”
Stern Idol to retire to Living Legends
He might not have won his final race in Sunday’s Crisp Steeplechase, but legendary jumper Stern Idol (Ire) (Raven’s Pass {USA}) will retire to Living Legends after running fourth at his final start.
“First thing, he got around safely and you could see he was a little bit tired on the jumps,” owner-breeder Gerry Ryan told racenet.com.au.
“The joy of seeing him as a foal in Ireland, I saw him race in France… been a fairy tale story, it's all about the journey and it's been a wonderful journey.” Stern Idol retires with 18 wins from 44 starts and earnings over $1 million. He won the Crisp Steeplechase three times, the Mosstrooper three times, the Brierly Steeplechase twice, as well as four other Steeplechases.
Home Affairs keeps on siring winners
Recently crowned Champion First Season Sire Home Affairs added his 21st winner when 3-year-old filly Coco Affair came off two city placings to win her maiden at Wyong at her third start. Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, she was purchased by her trainers along with James Bester Bloodstock for $260,000 from Mill Park Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Coco Affair is a half-sister to Group 3-placed Written Swoosh (Written Tycoon) and their dam, Cocoa Doll (More Than Ready {USA}) is a city winning half-sister to stakes winning full siblings Away Game (Snitzel) and Modern Wonder.
Well-bred colt wins at Wyong
Champion Sire I Am Invincible celebrated an early spring 3-year-old winner at Wyong on Sunday with Chris Waller-trained colt Steel Will who bolted home by over six lengths to win his maiden at his third start for owner-breeder Go Bloodstock.
He is a half-brother to G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner September Run (Exceed And Excel) and Group 3 winner Steel City (Merchant Navy). Another half-brother stakes placed Steel Strike (Exceed And Excel) was a winner on Saturday at Rosehill.
New winner for Portland Sky
Second season sire Portland Sky added a new winner on Sunday when Keith Dryden and Libby Snowden-trained 3-year-old gelding Restless Spirit won at Forbes by a length over 1300 metres. He becomes the fourth winner for the Group 1-winning son of Deep Field.
Restless Spirit was purchased by Laurel Oak Bloodstock (FBAA) for $90,000 from Widden Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. He is the second foal and second winner for Hollaback Girl (Your Song) who is a winning half-sister to stakes-placed pair of She’s Our Star (Star Witness) and Amish Boy (Star Witness).
Your Song, as well as being the damsire of Restless Spirit, sired a double at the meeting with 3-year-old colt Colly Blue and Atmospheric Rock who took his record to five wins.
Debut winner for Pierata
At the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, Chris and Corey Munce-trained 3-year-old filly Mynemesis (Pierata) debuted with a 1.3-length victory. Owned by Cathy Munce, Mynemesis became the second winner for Winning Fashions (Mossman) who won twice during her own career.
Crocetti on target for spring
Group 1 winner Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}), trained by Danny Walker and Arron Tata, won a trial at Ruakaka on Saturday as he progresses towards spring targets.
“He’s had a good spell and is coming back in the right order I hope,” Walker told Loveracing.nz.
“He’s been in for about two and a half months doing a lot of slow work and has been looked after. That (the trial) will bring him on nicely. It hasn’t been that wintery so far but it would be nice if the weather was good as it is hard to imagine the way Te Rapa will be as it has been so wet lately, but it is in the lap of the gods. The Proisir Plate at Ellerslie is more logically the go.”
Dual Group 1 winner First Five trials well
Trainer David Greene was pleased with the fourth placing of dual Group 1 winner First Five (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) behind Crocetti at the trials on Saturday.
“He’s done everything really well and what we’ve asked of him at this stage, so we thought it was a good opportunity to take him up the highway and stretch his legs, and blow off few cobwebs for him,” Greene told Loveracing.nz.
First Five | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“Originally you probably don’t think you’ll get the track (to suit), but we haven’t had the rainfall this winter that we’d normally get. He’s not a definite for that race (G2 Foxbridge), so if you’re punting the earlies and it rains on Friday, don’t be ringing me up and saying you have to run it.
“That would be a nice springboard because he does take a run or two to be at peak form, then he can space himself out from there and hold that space.”
Crowley retires from saddle
Champion Jockey Jim Crowley, a title he earned in 2016, has announced his retirement from riding after recovering poorly from his injuries sustained during a fall at York in September. He is in the process of obtaining his training licence.
Crowley told the Press Association, “I've had an amazing career and to come from jumping and then go on to do as well as I did on the Flat was amazing. I partnered some great horses and it gave me days I could only dream of.
“I never imagined this happening when I came from jumping and I was fortunate to ride all over the world and for some of the best trainers in the world. It's been a great career, it's just unfortunate that after my accident at York my body couldn't get back to the level I want to be to race ride again.
“It's nice to announce the retirement at Goodwood. It's my home track and I've had so many good days here and it's nice to finish here.”
Supercharger adds to DeVaux’s amazing year
The Cherie DeVaux tour made a stop in Virginia Saturday. Saddling Supercharger (Constitution) for his stakes debut in the G2 Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Downs, this year's G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Belmont Stakes-winning trainer cheered the C R K Stable runner to a come-from-behind win.
“There seemed to be a lot of speed signed on,” DeVaux said after the race. “That doesn't always materialize. But he also got out of the gate better this race and had better tactical position than he usually has.
“Saratoga races are always really tough. We were looking at the (G2 National Museum of Racing) Hall of Fame Stakes on August 7, as my father-in-law, John Shirreffs, is being inducted. But the mile is just a bit too short for him, so made more sense (to be here).”
O’Brien wins Goodwood leading trainer
Joseph O'Brien secured his first Qatar Goodwood Festival training title on Saturday, sending out four winners from just 11 runners. Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle rode all four of O'Brien's winners.
The G3 Gordon Stakes went to the barn's Enceladus (Sea The Stars) on Thursday. Defiantly (Kameko) and Galen (Gleneagles) scored in the Goodwood Handicap and Bentinck Conditions Stakes, respectively on July 31. Rounding out the foursome was Goodie Two Shoes (Fastnet Rock), who struck in Saturday's G2 Lillie Langtry Stakes.
Earning his seventh leading rider award with five wins–one better than Browne McMonagle and James Doyle–was Ryan Moore. Two of his five victories occurred at the highest level, with Moore scooping the G1 Goodwood Cup on Scandinavia (Justify) and the G1 Nassau Stakes on Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica). He also accrued a tally in the G2 Richmond Stakes aboard Man's Best Friend (No Nay Never), as well as a brace of handicaps aboard Crimson Spirit (Harry Angel) and Hopewell Rock (New Bay).
A total of seven horses carried the blue-and-gold silks of leading owners Wathnan Racing to the winner's circle during the Goodwood Festival. The Golden Mile and Stewards' Cup–both feature handicaps–went to Archivist (Dubawi) and Evening Saigon (Harry Angel), respectively. Flora Of Bermuda (Dark Angel) claimed the G3 Oak Tree Stakes, and Wild Blossom (Mehmas) was successful in the Alice Keppel Fillies Conditions Stakes. The remaining winners–Exclusive Code (Blue Point), Silver Lake (Night Of Thunder), and Hopewell Rock (New Bay)–all took handicaps.
