Time To Reign dominates star-studded trial

Gary Portelli's rising 3-year-old Time To Reign (Time For War) dominated a star-studded trial at Warwick Farm on Friday.

The G2 Silver Slipper S. winner won the trial, which contained Group 1 winners Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), Nakeeta Jane (So You Think {NZ}), Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), Shraaoh (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Patrick Erin (NZ) (Gallant Guru), by 6.3l.

"I was happy enough with that," Portelli told reporters afterwards. "You’d be disappointed if he didn’t do that having his second trial against a field mostly made up of middle distance, staying types having their first trial."

"We’re in a good place heading to The Rosebud (on August 10)."

Vegadaze (Lope de Vega {Ire}) finished second ahead of Nakeeta Jane in third. Unforgotten finished fourth, with Verry Elleegant sixth, Patrick Erin seventh and Shraaoh eighth.

Inglis suing the Australian Turf Club

Inglis has launched Supreme Court action against the Australian Turf Club claiming it was unaware a portion of land sold to them at Warwick Farm for Riverside Stables was used as a dumping ground.

The estimated cost of removing the waste, around 30,000 cubic metres, is estimated at $20 million. It is believed to contain general waste, running rail, grandstand seats and signage.

It is also claimed that Warwick Farm management had an unofficial agreement with a waste disposal operator to empty garbage, on part of the site later sold to Inglis.

Subzero fights on

Legendary racehorse Subzero (Kala Dancer {GB}) continues to receive treatment at the Bendigo Equine Hospital.

The hospital released a statement on Friday afternoon saying the 30-year-old continues his treatment after complications from a colic attack last weekend, followed by kidney issues.

He had a rough start to the day but has improved throughout the morning with ongoing treatment and a visit from the Salisbury family. We are in awe of the relationship and interaction between Graham and Subbie; as soon as Graham and family arrived Subbie pricked his ears up and is now eating whilst being hand-fed by Graham," the statement said.

"We are very much aware of both Subbie’s age and the depth of affection for him from both Graham and his family and the wider community. Our role as veterinarians is to always be mindful of the best interests of the horse and ensure he is comfortable whilst he is being treated. These are also the express wishes of Graham and his family."

"He’s not out of the woods yet; but at the moment he continues to try hard. He wants to give it a go; so we will continue to try and help him."

Eckstein ready for farewell

Eckstein (I Am Invincible) is primed to go out on a winning note when she makes her farewell appearance at Rosehill.

The mare was purchased by Coolmore for $750,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Broodmare Sale and will be served in the spring by Justify (USA).

“Obviously, Eckstein is the class horse in the race being Group 1 placed,” said trainer Chris Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth. “She’s off the back of a strong win when she had to do it pretty tough so we’re confident we can go on and try to win again.”

The stable also has Seaway (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) in the line-up.

“He’ll improve a lot coming off a heavy track back onto the soft. We thought he was a wet tracker, but the truth of the matter is he doesn’t handle those heavy 8, 9 or 10s.”

Deep Field nomination reaches $57,000 for charity

Meredith Park secured a nomination to Deep Field this season for $57,000 as part of a charity auction for bloodstock agent Brad O'Hare.

The auction was held at an ATC function to raise money for O'Hare, who is battling pancreatic cancer.

The Deep Field syndicate offered the nomination to the rising star stallion, who will stand for $44,000 in 2019 and Meredith Park, based in the southern highlands of NSW was the winning bidder.

Fundamentalist flies in jumpout

Fundamentalist (Not A Single Doubt) outshone Group 1 winners Vega Magic (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Oohood (I Am Invincible) in a Flemington jumpout on Friday.

Vega Magic, who is likely headed to the G3 Aurie's Star Hcp at Flemington on August 10, led until halfway and was eased to finish fifth of the six runners but was only beaten two lengths.

It was the other Lindsay Park runner, Fundamentalist, the multiple Group 1 placegetter, who finished on to win, beating the Danny O’Brien-trained Absolute Flirt (Stratum), with Oohood in third.

Begg stays at home with Romancer

Grahame Begg is confident he has pulled the right rein with the decision to keep Romancer (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The 5-year-old was also nominated for Saturday's Listed Winter Challenge at Rosehill, but a wet forecast in Melbourne saw him opt for the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap instead.

"The weather prediction was for the rain here and that's what he relishes, getting soft ground," Begg said.

It will be Romancer's fourth start for Begg having run second at stakes level in the Winter Championship at Flemington last start.

"He is going well," Begg said. "We've obviously changed his environment. He's being trained out of Pinecliff and we don't work him hard."

"He does relish soft tracks, which is one thing, and I really believe a mile (1600m) is right at the top of his distance range."

"He's had three weeks break between runs," he said. "We don't have to do a lot of work with him. We just keep him ticking over."

Big day looms for Chipperfield

Trainer Clayton Chipperfield is aiming for his first stakes success with London Bound (NZ) (Proisir) in the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder S. at Otaki on Saturday.

Chipperfield is happy with how the filly has backed up from her debut seven-length win at Te Rapa.

"It was a huge win. We've always held a high opinion of her - I've thought she's on par with (promising stablemate) Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) - but to win like she did, I wasn't really expecting that," Chipperfield said.

"I said to Martin (Dalgleish - owner) she was worthy of a crack at black-type after that. Her mum died last year so if we can get black-type on Saturday, she's got it forever and we're hoping she's good enough to do that."

"I'd be rapt if she could run in the first three so she can get that black-type but I wouldn't be surprised if she won. She pulled up 100 percent from her Te Rapa win and I galloped her Tuesday morning on a sticky course proper and she loved it."

Chipperfield also has the leading chance in the RSA Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m) at Rotorua with Obsessive (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}}.

Victorian trainers sentenced over cobalt

Victorian trainer Matthew Leek has been warned off for nine months, commencing next March after he was sentenced over a cobalt charge.

The Leek-trained Champagne Kisses (Onemorenomore) returned an elevated cobalt reading at Pakenham on March 3, 2016 and the trainer pleaded guilty to a charge under AR 178 but not guilty under AR 175(h)(ii), which was in relation to the administration of a prohibited substance.

The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board found the charge of AR 175(h)(ii) proven last month and RAD Board chairman Judge John Bowman imposed a penalty of nine months starting from March 10, 2020, which is the end of Leek's existing ban.

Trainer Trevor Andrews was given a six-month suspension for the same offence for Coppola's (High Chaparral {Ire}) elevated reading.