Ka Ying Rising wins trial in Hong Kong
David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) was an easy trial winner in the mud at Sha Tin on Friday. “He was on the best part of the track, being on the rail, it was the fast lane but he was a bit ring rusty,” jockey Zac Purton told racenet.com.au.
“He can only get better and it will bring him on because he had a very big blow after the gallop.”
Profoundly headlines Inglis Digital
G1 Australian Oaks runner-up Profoundly (Farnan) and a share in Australia’s 2024/25 Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk are two of the stand out lots in the current Inglis Digital sale that closes next Wednesday. Ole Kirk is officially fully booked for the 2026 breeding season at a service fee of $110,000 inc GST, so the share allows a breeder to get a mare into his book.
In total the August (Late) Sale consists of 340 lots – 160 racehorses (95 race fillies), 79 broodmares, 71 racehorse shares, 20 yearlings, 9 unraced stock and 1 stallion share.
Amazing Journey bought by Maher
Amazing Journey (Starspangledbanner) has been bought to race for Ciaron Maher in Australia. Formerly trained by Jamie Osborne, his target is the $10 million Golden Eagle on October 31.
Owned by Gallagher Bloodstock for his victory in the £150,000 (AU$286,000) Moet and Chandon International at Ascot in July, the 3-year-old gelding was sold privately afterward. He is traveling to enter quarantine at Harry Charlton's yard, and will travel Down Under with Charlton's G1 Melbourne Cup chance Wine Dark Sea (Ulysses).
Osborne told the Press Association: “Will Bourne completed the deal acting for Ciaron Maher and the new connections have the idea of taking him Down Under to aim at the race that Lake Forest (No Nay Never) won for William Haggas two years ago.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It is a 4-year-olds only seven-furlong race and while Amazing Journey would have a little bit to go to match Lake Forest he is improving fast.”
He added, “That is part of the job and it gives us immense satisfaction to be able to buy a thirty grand yearling and sell it on for a significant sum. When this happens it is very much a success, so I'm pleased for Pat Gallagher who now gets a period of 'free' racing.”
Amazing Journey will become a Southern Hemisphere 4-year-old on arrival to Australia, with the Melbourne Spring Carnival at Randwick in Sydney kicking off their season.
Gringotts on track for third Big Dance
Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) might not be the headline act in the G1 Winx Stakes on Saturday but he resumes in good condition on the way to a third Big Dance. “As you can tell by his trials he’s very well. He always looks very well and is no different this time. He had a good base up at the beach,” assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord told racingnsw.com.au.
“We asked him for a bit in his second trial, there was still a bit of condition on him, and he will naturally improve. Obviously he’s facing two very good mares but he’s good fresh and 1400m suits and he’s got a good draw. If you forget the two mares you want to be top four or top five and we’d be really happy.”
Gringotts | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
ATC build TAB Clubhouse for The Everest
The Australian Turf Club are building TAB Clubhouse as they head towards a potentially sold out The Everest day. The 1000 person capacity premium hospitality venue will be situated next to the winning post. “This is just the beginning. TAB Clubhouse is more than a new venue, it’s a statement about where we’re heading,” ATC CEO Steve McMahon told racingnsw.com.au.
“As the TAB Everest continues to grow, we’ll keep investing in new precincts, new experiences and new ways to bring more people closer to the action at Royal Randwick.”
Apocalyptic on song for Toy Show Quality
Group 1-winning mare Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) will run in Saturday’s G3 Toy Show Quality and trainer Michael Freedman is pleased with her. “We were dealing with a few little niggles in the autumn which was eventually why we pulled the pin after the second run,” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au.
“She was well below what I think she’s capable of. With a good spell under the belt and a nice steady build up hopefully she has that behind her and we can see the best of her. Her two trials have been pleasing so hopefully we can see her bring that trial form to the races.”
Apocalyptic | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Long surgery for Tourneur
Jockey Dominic Tourneur has undergone a ten-hour surgery to fix a broken arm after falling at Strathalbyn on Wednesday. “He had an old plate in his wrist, the bone had grown over it. They had to chisel away at that, get the screws out, get that plate out and insert the new one,” Tourneur's manager Andrew Northridge told racenet.com.au.
“He's going to have a long recovery, we're hoping everything gets back to functioning properly. It's going to be a long road ahead, but he's a tough cookie. It could've been worse. Apart from that, he got out of it all right.”
Why Wait stays unbeaten
Matt Dunn-trained 3-year-old filly Why Wait (Anders) stayed unbeaten on Friday when victorious at the Tweed River Jockey Club’s meeting. She is now two from two. Matt Dunn and Neil Jenkinson (FBAA) bought her for $140,000 from Telemon Thoroughbreds Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is a half-sister to Listed-placed Hold The Line (Your Song).
Wootton Bassett colt wins impressively
Lindsay Park-trained 3-year-old colt Whimsy Smile (Wootton Bassett {GB}) won his maiden at Murtoa on Friday after placing in his last two runs. He bolted home over 1200 metres by four lengths. The half-brother to Listed-placed Maybe The Best (I Am Invincible) is out of stakes placed Lorna May (Redoute’s Choice).
At the same meeting, 3-year-old gelding Rhyme Dust (Vancouver) won on debut for trainer Nick Ryan.
Double for Cool Aza Beel at Gold Coast
On Friday, Cool Aza Beel (NZ) sired a double at the Gold Coast. Chris and Corey Munce-trained Sequel won by nearly seven lengths to claim her third career victory for owner Emmanuel Bloodstock.
Stablemate 3-year-old filly I’m Not Here won on debut. She is the third winner for unraced Camena (USA) (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) who is a half-sister to dual Listed winner Laurie’s Rocket (USA) (Bluegrass Cat {USA}) and Listed winner Greeley’s Rocket (USA) (Mr Greeley {USA}).
Cool Aza Beel also had a winner at Canberra with Deeply, while Cool Aza Beel’s farm-mate Xtravagant had a 3-year-old winner at Canberra with Xceptional Spirit.
Home advantage for First Five
David Greene-trained dual Group 1 winner First Five (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) will resume in Saturday’s G2 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa. “The track is looking like it is coming back a bit, so it gives some of those better track horses enough encouragement to put their hat in the ring, and it is a smart field,” Greene told Loveracing.nz.
“The firmer the better for him, and that is clearly shown in his form. All his work at home backs that up as well. I am hoping we might see that (track rating) move from a (Soft)7 to a (Soft)6, which would be a plus. We will definitely be running at those (track conditions) and just hoping for the best. He definitely won’t start on a Heavy, 7 is the worse we would start him on.”
First Five | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Lara Antipova to push on
Despite her first career defeat when resuming in the G3 Quezette Stakes, trainer Mark Walker will push on with Group 1 winner Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution). “She had to carry 59 kilos, and she is not the biggest of fillies, and she didn’t get many favours in the running either,” Walker told Loveracing.nz.
“She seems fine. She scoped with Grade 2 mucus after the race, which was unusual because she scoped clean on the Tuesday after her gallop. We will go to a new race called the Mike Moroney on the 12th of September, and it’s against the colts and geldings at set weights and penalties, but she will carry 57.5kg because she gets that two-kilo filly allowance. If she went really well, she will go to the Bill Stutts Stakes, and that’s when she gets back to set weights racing, which will help.”
Seize The Day on Guineas pathway
Trainer Mark Walker is pleased with Group 1 winner Seize The Day ahead of his Guineas campaign. “He kicks off next Saturday at Caulfield in the McNeill,” Walker told Loveracing.nz.
“Because he is a Group 1 winner, he will have to carry the Group 1 penalty, so he gets 59kg. It isn’t ideal, but it is the right race to start him off in. Then it is three weeks to the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and it is set weights and penalties, so he will have to carry the 59kg there as well. And then it is the Caulfield Guineas on October 10, so it’s three weeks in between runs, which is nice.”
Seize The Day | Image courtesy of Race Images
Half-sister to Forte added to Keeneland
A pair of yearlings–a colt by Yaupon and a filly by Tapit–have been supplemented to Book 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Added to the auction's opening day Sept. 14 is hip 184, a son of Yaupon out of Dame Iris (Medaglia d'Oro). The mare is a half-sister to multiple group winner Spanish Mission (Noble Mission) and the yearling is consigned by Hunter Valley Farm. Supplemented to the second session is hip 377, a daughter of Tapit consigned by Gainesway. Out of multiple stakes winner Queen Caroline (Blame), the filly is a half-sister to champion and multiple Grade I winner Forte (Violence).
With these supplements, a total of 4,642 horses have been catalouged to the September sale, which runs 12 sessions through Sept. 26.
Stallion shares added to AKTEM sale
Five stallion shares and a breeding right have been added to the Aktem Stallion Online Sale, set for September 25. The catalogue already features the stallions Golden Horde, Taj Mahal, Van Beethoven and Dave.
One share each is available in stakes sire Armor, based at Haras de Bouquetot, Haras de Colleville's group sire Goken, and Haras du Hoguenet's Jigme, who has his first juveniles. Haras de Beaumont's duo of Puchkine, who welcomed his first foals this term, and current juvenile sire Sealiway round out the five stallions with shares on offer. The final new lot is a breeding right in dual-purpose sire Latrobe, who is based at Haras de la Tuilerie.
