Daily News Wrap

The Everest on repeat

Last year’s G1 The Everest was won by Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) from Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) and this year looks like going the same way after Tempted won Saturday’s G2 Premiere Stakes.

“Her target is in three weeks’ time and that’s when we bump into Ka Ying Rising. He’s a freak of nature and he looks fantastic, but I’m rapt with Tempted,” trainer Ciaron Maher told racing.com on Sunday.

“We know she faces an enormous task in The Everest, but it is a race and if he’s not quite at his best, we have a chance. He is another level and his best (effort) will win.

“That turn of foot she’s got is pretty special, we already know that. She started $1.60 for a reason, and she did what everyone expected her to do, which I’m thrilled about. I’m confident she is going to present in the best-possible shape.”

Well Written to push on to Golden Eagle

Dual Group 1 winner Well Written (Written Tycoon) pulled up with the thumps after finishing sixth in the G1 Epsom Handicap on Saturday but trainer Stephen Marsh will push on to the G1 Golden Eagle.

“I’ve never actually had a horse with the thumps before, but about half an hour later she was good,” Marsh told Loveracing.nz on Sunday.

“She was a little bit stressed, a little bit overheated; it was quite muggy, but even an hour later she seemed really good and today she’s great. I’m very happy with the way she looks and we’re certainly pushing on to the Golden Eagle.

“The track wasn’t bad but it got quite rough in the straight. She came out a bit abruptly and she got pushed around quite a lot. I just think a whole lot of things worked against her – it was also a month between runs. Nothing quite worked out for us. But she certainly didn’t disgrace herself by any stretch of the imagination, and though there were some good horses in front of her, there were also some bloody good horses behind her.”

Flemington’s maintenance bill worth every cent

When 60mm of rain fell on Flemington before the G1 Turnbull meeting, it was good long term maintenance that saved the day and the wagering income.

“It's certainly paid for itself a million times over and it's worth every cent that we spend on maintenance and renovations through the year,” track manager Liam O'Keeffe told racenet.com.au.

“We're very lucky to be able to have this surface but it does take a lot of work to maintain it now it's 21 years old. But, with the renovations that we do throughout the year and the maintenance, it's certainly holding its head above water.” The track will undergo a significant rehabilitation in late-2027.

“That (resurfacing) will remove all that organic matter that sits on top of the sand profile. During normal renovations we do twice a year, that removes five or 10 per cent of it. But when we resurface, we'll remove about 80 per cent of it.

“To get to the drainage sand, the water has to pass through about 105mm of organic matter. When we resurface the track, we'll remove about 70mm of that and leave 30 for a bit of cushion.”

Grafterburners measures up for Sydney Stakes

Trainer Kelly Schweida was thrilled with the fourth-placing of Grafterburners (Graff) in Saturday’s G2 Premiere Stakes and will press on to the Sydney Stakes.

“I think Tempted is the best sprinter in Australia,” Schweida told racenet.com.au.

“When you're racing that class of horse and he's sort of competing well, you have to be happy. He's mixing it with the goodies and right where we want him. It would have been a lot better if we'd have run third. But no, I thought the run was good. He hit that flat spot second-up, but he's starting to tighten up, looks good and pulled up good.”

Half Yours heads back to the Caulfield Cup

Last year’s G1 Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}) will head back there after running fifth in Saturday’s G1 Turnbull Stakes.

“They were a bit sharp for him at the 2000 metres,” co-trainer Calvin McEvoy told racenet.com.au.

“I think the run has probably shown the Caulfield Cup is his race, I think he would've needed to finish first or second in this over 2000 metres to be going toward Cox Plate. Without it being confirmed, we're leaning towards the Caulfield Cup… it's a bit of a drop (in weight) from today and (2400 metres) is what he needs. If we could get a soft track there, it would be great.”

Regular rider Jamie Melham is booked for Blue Door (Stay Inside) in The Everest on the same day, so Half Yours will be ridden by Mark Zahra. The last horse to win back to back Caulfield Cups was Rising Fast (NZ) (Alonzo {GB}) in 1954 and 1955.

Flying For Fun likely for Melbourne

Trainer Bryce Heys will probably take last start G2 The Shorts runner Flying For Fun (Spieth {NZ}) to Melbourne for Saturday’s G2 Schillaci Stakes.

“I don't want to go to 1200 yet with her. I'm not scared to do it, but she's very explosive early in her 'prep' and I just wanted to keep her at 1000 or 1100, especially for her second-up run,” Heys told racingandsports.com.au.

“I'm probably forced to go to Melbourne and three weeks between runs is ideal, so she'll probably run in the Schillaci. I feel we've got a good handle on her in terms of when she really excels, and when we've kept her short at her first couple of runs, it has set her up well for 1200 at the end of her prep.”

Tontonan Stakes winner heads to G1 Toorak

Last start Listed Tontonan Stakes winner Welcometotheshow (Showtime) could be trainer Tyler Donald-Aitken’s first Group 1 runner if he runs in Saturday’s G1 Toorak Handicap.

“He'll get in on the minimum, still a couple of points out of handicap, but you can't really argue with 52 (kilos),” Donaldson-Aitken told racingandsports.com.au.

“We've always liked him. It was lucky that he was passed in as a Ready To Run horse from our draft and we were able to train him, and he's become what he is. He always keeps stepping up and as you lift the bar, he keeps stepping up to it and coming to Saturday, it's another big step up again, so we'll see how he goes.

“He's good over a mile, and the goal for this preparation, ultimately, is to get him out over 2000 (metres).”

Debut winner for Wild Ruler

Second season sire Wild Ruler celebrated his 22nd winner when John Dunn and Krystal Bishop-trained 3-year-old gelding Only One Ruler won on debut at Port Lincoln on Sunday. Cornerstone Stud sold him for $50,000 to Aaron Bain Racing at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

He is the first foal of Fu Ni (Adelaide {Ire}) who is a stakes-placed daughter of Group 1 winner Demerger (Saithor {USA}).

Brutal debutant winner

At Toowoomba’s Saturday night meeting, Adam Campton-trained 3-year-old filly Happyaziam (Brutal {NZ}) won on debut. Sold by Raheen Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale she was bought by Rob Luck Bloodstock and Campton Racing for $85,000.

She is one of four winners from four to race for Glengal (Zoustar) who is an unraced half-sister to Group 3 winner Adebisi (Shovhog).

Yankee Rose adds another winner in Japan

Dual Group 1 winner Yankee Rose (All American) added her fifth winner in Japan when 2-year-old colt Danon Dax (Jpn) (Saturnalia {Jpn}) won his maiden at his second start.

Headlining her winners is four-time Group 1 winner Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) while her 3-year-old filly Coney Island (Jpn) (Contrail {Jpn}) has won twice so far.

Hidden Force back in distance to score at Group 3 level

Reinvented as a sprinter on Saturday, Godolphin's exciting Hidden Force (Frankel) turned up at Ascot to beat some proven members of the category in the G3 John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes.

Not seen since finishing third as the 11-10 favourite for the Craven Stakes at Newmarket in April, the blueblood who had previously captured the European Road To The Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes at Kempton had undergone wind surgery and was a drifter before this six-furlong contest for which he started at 6-1.

“He's not bred for this, but he had no trouble with it,” jockey Billy Loughnane said. “He has travelled very easily in his races over a mile and over seven and he doesn't lack gears, his work had been very good at home and I expected him to go very close but it was more of a comeback run so I let him enjoy it early.”

Thought Process qualifies for Breeders’ Cup

Looking to make it a perfect five-for-five at the Great Race Place, Thought Process (Collected) hit the ground running from pole position in Saturday's G2 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita and made every pole a winning one in the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland on October 31.

“When I saw those fractions, I thought this was really within our wheelhouse,” trainer Phil D'Amato said. “Kudos to Hector Berrios for doing a great job and this filly she loves this turf course here. I think all those things combined helped get us a nice win.”

And now, Thought Process is in line for a second appearance on championship weekend, having finished a pacesetting ninth to Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) as the 9-2 second betting choice in the 2024 Juvenile Fillies Turf.

First graded winner for Jackie’s Warrior

Freshman sire Jackie's Warrior (by Maclean's Music) got his first Graded stakes winner Saturday as his son Let Em Know upset the G2 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont, a 'Win and You're In' race for the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on October 30.

“Turf racing is such a trip-dependent kind of race, and I think that inside post last time is really kind of what kept him from at least being a little better than he showed in that race,” said winning trainer Whit Beckman.

“I think he's much more talented than that race reflected. I was a little nervous on the outside post for this, because he hasn't broken really fast in some of his previous starts, but he really got out well and obviously in his [fourth] start, he's figuring it out. Edgard [Zayas] gave him the perfect trip around. I couldn't have been happier with the way he ran. This horse, when he gets to the front, he fights. You can see he's one of those that knows where he's at and knows how to keep it.”

Franco’s four at Belmont Park

It's a good day to be Manny Franco as Good to be King (War Front) gave the jockey a fourth win on Saturday's Belmont Park card in the G3 Futurity Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' race for the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

“Thought he ran really well,” said winning trainer Rusty Arnold. “I haven't talked to Manny (Franco) yet, but the race was kind of difficult to watch (on TV from Keeneland). The one horse (No. 1, My Kid's Said No) got so far in front, you couldn't tell what was going to happen, but I was very happy with the way he finished and happy to get the win. Hopefully, he can move on to the next one.”