Regal Award has claims on Sir Rupert Clarke
Co-trainer Tommy Stokes believes Regal Award (Ole Kirk) can win Saturday’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
“I think it's his best chance to win a Group 1 this prep. His trial form has been good. Both trials have been super and he'll go into Saturday pretty cherry ripe,” Stokes told racenet.com.au.
“He's maturing but our riders, and Lachie Neindorf, have started to get along with him more. Instead of trying to put the handbrake on and trying to get him to relax, they go with him more and let him flow. That's how he races his best.
Regal Award | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“The drier the better. I think he can get 1600 metres. He needs to do everything right to get the trip but I think he's got a good lung capacity. We've definitely got the Toorak (Handicap) on the radar but, depending on how he went, we've also got the Silver Eagle and Golden Eagle as well so there's plenty of options for a horse like him.”
Pork barons charged with fraud
Racehorse owners and pork producers Darren Gary Wilson and Cameron Ronald Wilson have been charged with fraud. There are multiple charges each including receiving and possessing tainted property, destroying records, fraud, making false declarations and fraudulent omission of entry in record.
According to abc.net.au, a joint investigation involving the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission, the New South Wales Police Anti-Money Laundering Unit and the New South Wales Crime Commission found over $10 million in sales records off the books and allegations they moved $30 million in cash between New South Wales and Queensland between 2017 and 2026.
Under their banner Wilrace, they have raced horses such as King Of Pop (Farnan), Listed winner and Group 1-placed Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution) and young sire The Odyssey.
The Next Episode improves at jump out
Ciaron Maher-trained $2.8 million colt The Next Episode (Snitzel) had a jump out at Cranbourne on Monday morning, running second to stable star Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
“He was very good this morning. Jimmysstar is very slick,” Maher told racing.com.
The Next Episode | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I was disappointed with his last trial. He just didn’t look like he was there. We were thinking of kicking off in the (G3) Poseidon Stakes (held at Flemington on Saturday), but we thought we would push that back a little to the (G2) Danehill Stakes (at Flemington on October 3).
“He trialled very well (today), and Mark (Zahra) said he gave him a good feel. I think he's back on track.” The Next Episode won three of his five starts at two including the Listed Dalrello Stakes.
Aeliana decision is draw dependant
Trainer Chris Waller is keeping his options open for Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio). She’ll either run in Sydney’s 7 Stakes or Melbourne’s G1 Underwood Stakes, depending on the barrier draw.
“We're going to accept for the Underwood and the 7 Stakes, and then make a decision,” Waller told racingandsports.com.au.
Aeliana (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“I'm happy to give her one more run at home to make sure everything is perfect and then probably join up in Melbourne for the Turnbull (Stakes). If she was drawing an even gate in both places, she will probably stay in Sydney. If she draws better in Melbourne in the Underwood, she'll go to the Underwood.”
Seven for the 7 Stakes
The presence of Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) has kept the nominations for Saturday’s 7 Stakes to just seven. Authorities have extended the deadline for nominations until 11am on Tuesday.
“We have decided to keep her in Sydney rather than have a trip to Melbourne and back,” Waller told racingandsports.com.au of Autumn Glow’s plans.
Autumn Glow | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We will give her a light spring. She will go to the King Charles and hopefully the Champions Mile.”
Ceolwulf not scared of Autumn Glow
Trainer Joe Pride will send Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) out against Autumn Glow on Saturday as an information gathering outing.
“If we can get close to Autumn Glow on Saturday in what is likely to be a slowly run race, then I would be inclined to take her on again in the King Charles (III Stakes) where there will be a more genuine tempo,” Pride told racingandsports.com.au.
“To get to the King Charles again, then I'd be looking to run him in the Epsom. He's won the last two King Charles after contesting the Epsom, and he did win the Epsom two years ago. The alternative plan is to go to the Hill Stakes at Rosehill a week after the Epsom and then it is two weeks to the Cox Plate.”
Tom Kitten to bounce back to form in Clarke
Group 1 winner Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) was unimpressive when resuming in the G1 Memsie, but his trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman think he can bounce back in Saturday’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
“We felt he wasn’t up to Sheza Alibi, Sir Delius and the like, so rather than running a credible third, fourth or fifth, we thought we’d have a crack at the Rupert Clarke,” Sam Freedman told racing.com.
Tom Kitten | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He’ll have a big weight, but I think good speed will suit. First-up, he didn’t really have a run, he sort of followed them around and stretched his legs a little bit late, so he’s still got some freshness in him. A big field will suit, he’ll run well.”
Baker’s hopes for Green Spaces
Bjorn Baker-trained 4-year-old entire Green Spaces (Street Boss {USA}) has punters speculating on whether the Godolphin owned G1 Australian Derby winner can help Baker win a Melbourne Cup.
“I’d love to win a Melbourne Cup. My father won every cup – the Sydney Cup, Brisbane Cup, Wellington Cup, New Zealand Cup, Auckland Cup and Caulfield Cup,” Baker told racing.com.
“He was second in the Melbourne Cup and (had) two fourths and two fifths but never won it.” Murray Baker was second in the Cup with The Phantom (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}). Could Green Spaces be the one? Maybe but first he has some other targets.
“He’ll probably go to the Kingston Town and the blinkers will go on and then we’ll go from there. The Cox Plate (run seven days after the Caulfield Cup), we may have to consider it, but the Caulfield Cup is the initial plan. He’s definitely a big chance in the Caulfield Cup. He’s going to be well suited. The thing about him he’s got a fairly flexible racing pattern. He’s sound and he handles all tracks so regardless of what we encounter, I think we’ll be pretty well set up.”
Three-quarter sibling to Autumn Glow arrives
Trainer Andrew Ryan and his brother Steve have welcomed a three-quarter sister to Horse Of The Year Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun). The filly, by The Autumn Sun from Autumn Glow’s half-sister unraced Protea (Vancouver) was born at Newhaven Park Stud.
“She's a lovely filly,” Andrew Ryan told racenet.com.au.
“She's got good straight legs which is something that they don't always have when they come out. The Autumn Suns are good fillies – Autumn Glow's a good filly – so we were quite happy with that. Everyone wants a colt but it's not like the fillies are no good. She is seemingly, from what we have seen on the shots that Newhaven sent us, a lovely, correct filly.”
New winner for Tiger Of Malay
Second season sire Tiger Of Malay added his 11th winner when Scott Singleton-trained 3-year-old gelding Tigrios won at Tamworth on Monday. He was having his second start, having placed on debut at Scone. Shaky Bloodstock and Pinhook Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased him for $24,000 from Bowness Stud’s Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale draft.
He is the second foal and first winner for Just In The Clear (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) who won twice in New Zealand.
Extreme Turbo wins on debut
Matt Laurie-trained 3-year-old gelding Extreme Turbo (Pinatubo {Ire}) won on debut at Hamilton on Monday. He is the third foal and third winner for Extreme Bliss (Al Maher) who is a city winner of five races and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Thomas Court (Commands).
Puissance De Lune (Ire) sired a double at the meeting with debutant winner High Falls and Cute Girl who took her record to two wins from six starts.
Eustace has strong team for Happy Valley
Trainer David Eustace will bring a strong team of four runners to Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting in Hong Kong.
“For me, it’s still only my third season and getting that depth of horses throughout the whole season takes a bit of time,” Eustace told scmp.com.
David Eustace | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I’ve got that little bit more depth this time around. I haven’t got loads of early runners, but instead of getting runs for grounding in Hong Kong, they’ve got that grounding and with a bit of luck, we can have a few more winners early on.
“I think we’ve got quite a nice team, so we’re hopeful we can build again on last season which we were able to do from season one to two.” He had a winner on the opening day with Light Years Glory (Ire) (Advertise {GB}).
Repole and agent Jacob West part ways
With rumours swirling around the Keeneland grounds, major owner Mike Repole announced via X he and agent Jacob West will no longer be working together. West has often signed for Repole Stable purchases at sales and has been part of Repole's bloodstock team for a number of years.
Included among the horses West has bought for Repole are 2022 champion 2-year-old colt Forte (Violence) and multiple Grade 1 winner Mindframe (Constitution), the latter of which stands at Claiborne Farm, where West currently serves as Stallion Seasons and Bloodstock Manager.
“Mike has been and will be an integral part of my life and my career,” said West Sunday when reached by TDN. “This isn't anything that's negative or drama-related. There are things I've got to focus on in my career moving forward that deserve 100% of my time and that's what I'm going to do. But I've worked for Mike for the last 14 years and we've had nothing but success.
“I've failed way more times than I've been successful for Mike and he's never once pointed the finger at me. He has always supported me in everything I've done and he's been like a father figure to me for the last 14 years. He got me started in a lot of different ways in this business and it's something I can't thank him enough for.
“The biggest framed photo I have in my house is the photo the TDN published last year of Mike holding my son and looking at the pedigrees. This isn't a messy breakup or divorce. There's nothing like that with me. Mike said it best, I'm no longer a part of Repole Stables, but I'll always be a part of the Repole family. That's how it is with him and me. He'll always be a part of my family.”
State Of Rest filly wins Tattersalls race
TDN Rising Stars had annexed all of Saturday's leading juvenile contests at Leopardstown and Doncaster, and the elevated cast continued in similar vein when Jaber Abdullah's G2 Lowther runner-up Star Of State (State Of Rest) outclassed a bumper field under Ryan Moore in Sunday's €316,500 (AU$512,000) Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes at the Curragh.
Tanking forward to race in a close-up third before easing into second at halfway, the 1-5 favourite quickened for control approaching the final furlong and was ridden clear in the latter stages to easily overpower 200-1 outsider Fine Line (Sioux Nation) by an impressive 2.25 lengths.
Star Of State, half to a yearling filly by Bayside Boy, is the sixth of seven foals and one of three winners out of the dual Group 2-placed G3 Sweet Solera Stakes victrix Nations Alexander (Dark Angel).
