O’Brien unconcerned

Danny O’Brien remained unfazed after his G1 Cox Plate contender Russian Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) drew wide in gate 15 for Saturday’s challenge.

"It can be the most over-rated and silliest discussion in racing as how do you know what a bad barrier is," O'Brien told Racing.com.

"Vow And Declare won the G1 Melbourne Cup from barrier 21 last year. It turned out to be a great advantage as we rolled forward and ended up giving ourselves a great chance to win the race.”

The Roger Charlton-trained Aspetar (Fr) (Al Kazeem {GB}) drew favourably in barrier two while last-start G1 Caulfield S. winner Arcadia Queen (Pierro) drew eight, one outside Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

Zahra keeps plum ride

Mark Zahra will retain the ride on Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in the G1 Melbourne Cup with James McDonald to partner stablemate Finche (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

McDonald has been the Chris Waller-trained mare's regular partner in Sydney, but due to COVID-19 restrictions he has missed her past two starts in Victoria.

Zahra stepped in to win the G1 Turnbull S. and the G1 Caulfield Cup on Verry Elleegant and the stable decided it unwise to break up the winning combination ahead of the Flemington two-miler.

Finche finished fifth in the Caulfield Cup and Waller said he had done well since the race, but confirmed Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) would bypass the Melbourne Cup after she was unplaced at Caulfield on Saturday.

Glowing report

Fellow trainer Patrick Payne gave Jamie Richards the thumbs up after partnering Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) in a track gallop at The Valley on Tuesday morning.

Payne answered the call to work the G1 Cox Plate hope from brother-in-law and the mare’s regular rider Kerrin McEvoy, who is in quarantine in Melbourne following his arrival from Sydney.

"Under the family act, I was happy to help Kerrin out," Payne told Racing.com. "She's great. All the main things are really good with her. She had a good look at the grandstand the first time around then she worked quite lovely.

"By herself she was quite casual and didn't do a lot of work, but all the main things are right. Her action's really good, she is really clean-winded and she pulled up lovely after the gallop.”

Probabeel was victorious last time out in the G1 Epsom H. and has drawn barrier two for Saturday’s Cox Plate.

Buckhurst connections shocked

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Irish Buckhurst (Ire) (Australia {GB}) has been made a controversial first emergency by the Moonee Valley Racing Club committee for the G1 Cox Plate.

Part-owner Nick Williams said he found the decision extraordinary and could not understand the reasoning of the committee.

Buckhurst had beaten home Master Of Wine (Ger) (Maxios {GB}) in the G1 Caulfield Cup, but the latter has been given a berth.

Williams also queried the selection on RSN radio of 3-year-old colt Grandslam (Myboycharlie {Ire}), who has yet to win a stakes race.

Ghaiyyath to Kildangan

Four-time Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) has been retired from racing after exhibiting muscle soreness. He will stand at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in Ireland next year.

“Ghaiyyath has had a fantastic career winning nine of his 13 races,” said Charlie Appleby. “His high-class cruising speed and relentless style of galloping was a joy to watch and as I have said before, this year he came together both physically and mentally and looked the finished article. He was an outstanding part of the Moulton Paddocks team and I know that his numerous top-level successes gave our principal, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, a great deal of pleasure.”

Joe Osborne, Managing Director of Godolphin in Ireland, said, “Ghaiyyath is a great addition to our roster: his superior ability as a racehorse combined with his looks and his pedigree will make him a sought-after option for breeders. We are delighted he will be standing at Kildangan Stud next season.”

Humidor ready

Reinvigorated galloper Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}) has been given the tick of approval from jockey Craig Williams ahead of Saturday’s G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

Williams partnered the 8-year-old gelding at Tuesday’s Breakfast with the Best at Moonee Valley and was thrilled with the workout.

“He is ready for Saturday’s race,” he said. “Basically, I was a passenger on his back this morning. I tried to control his work as Chris (Waller, trainer) and the stable foreman in Melbourne, Jo, asked me to do, but he was sheer determined to get out there and strut his stuff.

“He really stretched my limits of energy. I just love the way he is going, it gives me confidence and I can smile.”

Golden Horde retired

This year’s G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) has been retired from racing after suffering a tendon injury. Stud plans have not yet been decided.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to train some top-class sprinters, most recently Harry Angel, but Golden Horde had all the physical attributes to maintain his progress, plus a wonderful temperament,” said Clive Cox.

“He danced every dance, no matter what the course or ground, and was a model of consistency at the highest level. We will all miss having him around, and I hope he will be of interest for the next chapter in his life but greatly look forward to handling his progeny.”

Wooded to Bouquetot

Group 1 winner Wooded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has been retired and will stand at Haras de Bouquetot in France next year. A fee for the winner of the 2020 G1 Prix de l’Abbaye will be announced later.

“Wooded stood out from the day he arrived for his good looks and ability and he was very sound, never missing a day’s work,” said trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. “In the G3 Prix Texanita he announced himself as a potential superstar and we were confident he would go close in the Commonwealth Cup.

“The difficulties of travelling this year made it impossible for him to run. As a racehorse he had so many qualities, class, courage and speed and he fully deserved his Group 1 win this year.”

Stay Thirsty sale-topper

With numbers predictably down against a backdrop of pandemic and economic uncertainties, a total of 166 yearlings grossed US$3,735,700 (AU$5.3 million) during the Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale held Monday at Los Alamitos Race Course.

The average of US$22,504 (AU$31,950) was down 15.9 per cent from last year’s inaugural Fasig California Yearling sale and the median dropped 30.0 per cent to US$10,000 (AU$14,197).

“Statistically it was in line with what we’ve seen at the Kentucky sales and the Ocala sales,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said at the close of business Monday evening. “I thought, all in all, the storm was weathered better for this sale than I would have anticipated coming in.”

Naseer Fasihuddin and his wife Zahra Madiha went to a sale-topping US$200,000 (AU$284,000) to acquire Hip 79, a son of Stay Thirsty (USA) out of multiple stakes winner My Fiona (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}).

He was bred by Terry Lovingier and consigned by his Lovacres Ranch where Stay Thirsty stands at Lovacres for US$10,000 (AU$14,197).

King on market

High class 3-year-old colt English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) is to be offered for sale as a wildcard at next week’s Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale. He will be catalogued as Lot 1153A and will be offered on October 28.

Trained by Ed Walker for owner Bjorn Nielsen, he was a fast finishing fifth in the G1 English Derby and was a previous winner of the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial.

“I genuinely believe English King is the best horse I have ever trained and I will be very sorry to see him sold,” Walker said.

“He is an outstanding prospect for the future having only raced six times and has all the credentials to attract potential buyers from throughout the world.”

Helsinki to bypass Te Rapa

The Peter and Dawn Williams-trained Helsinki (NZ) (Savabeel) is on a less conventional path to the G1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton Park next month.

The South Auckland trainers have elected to bypass the 3-year-old features at Te Rapa this weekend in favour of a maiden at Matamata on Wednesday.

“I don’t think she is hard enough for them this Saturday. She will still carry on to the 1000 Guineas, we will just take a different path,” Peter Williams said.

Helsinki is owned by Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer of Barneswood Farm and Williams said they are keen to have the filly compete in the race they sponsor.

“The owners are quite keen to go there, but the horse comes first,” Williams said. “She will probably have another run somewhere before the 1000 Guineas.”