Manikato a target for Splintex

The G1 Manikato S. is set to be a spring target for the Mark Newnham-trained Splintex (Snitzel).

The G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint winner could yet come onto the radar of an Everest slotholder, but Newnham told Racenet, he believes Splintex would be suited to the Moonee Valley feature.

“He has got the right sort of racing style for Moonee Valley - he has got good gate speed and he can absorb a bit of pressure,” Newnham said.

"We will probably have a Melbourne spring program with him – I reckon he is a chance in a race like the Manikato.

“I will give him a whirl around The Valley, probably in the McEwen or the Moir and just see how he gets around there.

“He has always been immature but he has strengthened up really well."

Splintex's brother Sixgun was an impressive winner for Newnham and breeder/owner Geoff Grimish on Wednesday.

Waikato Stud's successful weanling parade

Waikato Stud conducted a parade of its 18-strong draft for the New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling Sale as the auction takes place on the gavelhouse.com platform.

The online auction opened on Thursday and runs until June 21 and Waikato Stud had plenty of interest when it conducted its parade on Saturday, something it will repeat on Tuesday and Thursday.

“We had about twenty odd people for Saturday which was really good as we put the day together at reasonably short notice," Waikato Stud Principal Mark Chittick said.

“Everybody that was there were genuine horse people looking to buy and we would expect the same this week.

“We will have our weanlings parading from 10am NZST on the two days this week as well as showing our five stallions from 9:30am NZST, which is something we didn’t do on Saturday.

“These eighteen weanlings are ones that we would usually take on through to the Yearling Sale at Karaka ourselves but circumstances have meant we won’t be able to do so this year,” he said.

Rubick 2-year-old shines at Ballarat

Leading second-season stallion Rubick secured a fourth second-crop winner in impressive fashion with Peggy Selene showing the benefit of race experience to win a 2-year-old race at Ballarat.

Having her fourth start, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained filly shot clear in the straight to win by 3.25l under jockey Jye McNeil.

She completed a good weekend for Rubick's second crop after One Shy Ruby became just the second of them to place at stakes level with her second in the Listed Dalrello S. at Eagle Farm.

Rubick is assured of winning the title as the leading second-season sire in Australia this season with nearly $10.4 million in prizemoney from his progeny, headed by The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes.

Another impressive win from No Nay Never filly

No Nay Never (USA) has his first multiple winner in Australia thanks to the super impressive success of Never Talk at Muswellbrook on Sunday.

Having her second start, Never Talk made it two wins from two, steaming clear to win by 4.7l for trainer Kris Lees and jockey Jeff Penza.

She had broken her maiden at Tamworth late last month and improved again to win with authority on Sunday, stamping herself as a horse to follow from the former Coolmore shuttler's first Australian crop.

Need I Say More has been a dual winner in New Zealand, including a Group 3 success, while the other Australian-bred winner for No Nay Never has been Cordyceps Miracle.

Opening date set for TABs in Victoria as owners decision looms

PubTabs and TABs will reopen in Victoria later this month.

The state government has confirmed that from Monday, June 22 standalone TAB agencies will open in line with rules on retail businesses, while TABs in pubs will also be permitted to open, but must observe density and patron limits that apply to those venues.

From June 22, pubs and clubs will be able to host up to 50 patrons with no requirement to purchase a meal with your drink.

The changes also could pave the way for owners to return to tracks in Victoria.

“Over the next week, we’ll work with our racing codes, clubs and DHHS to get owners back on to racetracks,” Racing Minister Martin Pakula said.

“It will be permitted under directions from June 22 and will commence once racing authorities and clubs have settled protocols to ensure a COVIDSafe environment for participants.”

Racing in Victoria has been conducted without attendees since March 14 under strict biosecurity protocol.

Golden aims with Rubisaki

The $7.5 million Golden Eagle will be on the agenda of Rubisaki (Rubick).

Trainer Patrick Payne said the filly has put on 20-30kg in her break and will space her spring runs, with two starts into her main target on October 31.

"We are thinking Cockram, Silver Eagle and then the Golden Eagle and The Everest has been mentioned but that's a long way off," Payne told Racenet.

"We are not panicking about The Everest this year because she can always go to it next year if her form is good enough."