Smart first-up effort
All Saints’ Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) looks set for a lucrative spring following a gallant first-up victory at Randwick.
The lightly-raced 4-year-old had won two previous races on good ground and she coped admirably with her first test on a heavily rain-affected track to land the Everest Carnival On Sale H.
Placed in the G3 Kembla Grange Classic in the autumn, All Saints’ Eve settled third under James McDonald before angling into the clear near the turn and finished tenaciously down the outside to run down Vitesse (Snitzel).
“I’ve been very, very happy with her and she’s given every indication that she has made significant improvement and should be in for a nice spring,” trainer John O’Shea said. “I think her optimum trip will be a mile.”
Raced by breeders Waikato Stud and Rosemont Stud with O’Shea’s wife Isabelle, All Saints’ Eve is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel).
First for Artist
The first foal of Trapeze Artist has been safely delivered at Widden Stud.
The colt was bred by Bert Viera, who raced the four-time Group 1-winning stallion, and is out of the Brazen Beau mare She’s Brazen.
The dam is a daughter of the G3 Mannerism S. winner Hi Belle (Clangalang) and also featuring on the pedigree page is the G1 Makfi Challenge S. winner I Do (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) and the G1 Queensland Derby winner Court Ruler (NZ) (Viking Ruler).
Trainer far from upset
Jason Coyle didn’t share punters lack of confidence in Twice As Special (Testa Rossa) in the Ranvet H. at Randwick, but the Warwick Farm trainer was proved right when she won at better than 21 to one.
“I expected her to race well. She’s only lightly-framed and I was hoping she would get through the track with no weight on her back,” he said.
With apprentice Louise Day claiming 3kg, Twice As Special came with an undeniable finish to lower the colours of the warm favourite Torun (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Double for Vadamos
Vadamos (Fr) has marked his return to Rich Hill Stud with a winning 2-year-old double in England.
He arrived at the Waikato farm on Friday evening and overnight his daughter Ballintoy Harbour (Ire) was successful at Pontefract and son Balavad (Ire) won at Lingfield while Messidor (Ire) was runner-up on debut at Leopardstown.
The Group 1-winning Vadamos has now produced five juvenile winners in Europe.
The son of Monsun (Ger) arrived in terrific order at Rich Hill on Friday evening from his Irish base at Tally Ho Stud. “He’s looking really good and we’re thrilled to have such a high quality stallion back again,” John Thompson said.
Phoenix reportedly banned
Phoenix Thoroughbreds and the Phoenix Ladies’ Syndicate have been allegedly banned from running horses in France, Racing Post reported late on Friday. France Galop has not confirmed the ban.
Phoenix Thoroughbreds has been shrouded in controversy since last November when its founder and Chief Executive Officer Amer Abdulaziz Salman was named in a US federal court trial as being involved in a money-laundering operation.
Abdulaziz was also accused of stealing money from sham cryptocurrency OneCoin, which he purportedly helped to run. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Phoenix announced earlier this week that it would cease racing horses in the UK on its own volition. Should France Galop confirm the ban, it would be the first national governing body to take action against Phoenix.
Rae at the double
Ruakaka trainer Kenny Rae enjoyed a successful day at Riccarton on Saturday when two of his three-horse team that he had brought south from his far north base took out feature events.
After earlier upsetting pundits with Zoltan (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), who defeated red-hot favourite Matchmaker (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) in a 3-year-old contest, Rae nabbed the big prize on the day with underrated galloper Major Tom (NZ) (Red Giant {USA}) who held out all challengers to land the G3 Winning Edge Presentations 123rd Winter Cup.
It was the first stakes victory for Major Tom, who has now won 11 races and over NZ$200,000 in prizemoney.
“We planned this two months ago so it’s nice to make it work,” Rae said. “He is a quality horse who had a track to suit and got a beautiful ride from Sam Weatherley. He was 110 per cent for today and he raced like it.”
Great House tops sale
Tattersalls’s second online sale came to a close on Friday after two days of bidding with the Donnacha O’Brien-trained 4-year-old colt Great House (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) topping trade with a bid of £175,000 (AU$317,687) from Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.
Previously campaigned by the Coolmore partners, Great House made a belated debut when second in a Gowran Park maiden on June 17 and he got off the mark over 2400 metres at Limerick 12 days later. He now looks likely to continue his career in Australia.
“This was only the second Tattersalls Online Sale and the feedback has been extremely positive. The international participation was particularly encouraging with three of the five purchases set to continue their racing careers abroad in Australia, Hong Kong and the US,” Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said.
Country House to Darby Dan
Reigning GI Kentucky Derby winner Country House (USA) (Lookin At Lucky {USA}) has been secured for stud duty by John Phillips’s Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.
Country House will stand at an introductory fee in 2021 of US$7500 (AU$10,400).
“We are excited to stand Country House and to provide breeders the opportunity to breed to a Kentucky Derby winner,” Darby Dan Farm’s Stallion Director Ryan Norton said.
“There is a lot to like about Country House, hailing from the influential Smart Strike sire line, and we encourage breeders to come out to the farm and see him.”
