McGuire joins Annabel Neasham Racing
Annabel Neasham has appointed Brian McGuire as her Operations and Bloodstock Manager ahead of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Neasham said: “Brian and I have worked together in various roles over the past number of years. Brian is extemeley well regarded in the industry and I am delighted he’s come on board. We work well together, have enjoyed a great deal of success together, I trust him, and he will be a great asset to the operation going forward.”
McGuire held previous roles as Ciaron Maher’s Client Relations and Bloodstock Manager before taking up the role of Bloodstock and Racing Manager for Aquis Farm.
Of the appointment, McGuire said: “I’m really excited to be reuniting with Annabel. It is no surprise to see Annabel get off to a flying start in her training career. I am very grateful for the opportunity the Fung family and everyone at Aquis Farm provided me, they have been very supportive in this change. I know Annabel well and I am looking forward to being a part of her success in the future.”
Ciaron Maher, Annabel Neashem and Brian McGuire
Standish entries extended
With just eight horses entered for Friday’s G3 Standish H., nominations have been extended until 10am AEDT on Tuesday.
Danny O’Brien has entered G2 Caulfield Sprint winner Graff (Star Witness), while Amy and Ash Yargi will consider running I’m Telling Ya (Reward For Effort) in the Group 3 feature instead of Summer Twilight Series H.
"We'll have a good look at both races," co-trainer Ash Yargi told Racing.com. "Obviously, it draws you in that there's only low number of nominations for the Standish. He could be a little bit closer in the run which is a good result for him as well.
"We'll work out ahead of Wednesday which way we do go but we do think the horse has a good win in him and that race could be a perfect race for him."
Jenni no certainty for Perth
Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) is no certainty to take her place in the G2 Perth Cup at Ascot on Saturday, with trainer David Brideoake saying her spot on the plane is reliant on another horse’s withdrawal.
"We’ll get confirmation on Wednesday evening and no one will be any of the wiser until then," Brideoake told Racing.com. "If there is a full plane, we have no hope of getting there.”
Brideoake believes the Perth feature over 2400 metres is an ideal target for the mare with the Listed Bagot H. at Flemington another option.
"We are in it with a good shot with that weight under those conditions," Brideoake said. "If we entered for the Bagot (Handicap at Flemington on Friday), we’d be carrying a lot of weight so I’m not sure what we’ll do if she can’t make it.
"We can only sit and wait. I thought she would get well in and is the perfect distance for her but it’s a shot at the stumps I suppose."
Princess Jenni (NZ)
Icebath aiming for All-Star riches
Brad Widdup is eyeing more riches for Golden Eagle runner-up Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and has entered the mare for the $5 million All-Star Mile.
“It is a big-money race so we have to keep our options open,” Widdup told Racenet.
“I am meeting with the owners next week to map out our plans but we want to get some black type and she will be on a Coolmore path but you have to keep your options open for sure.
“She only had about three weeks out in the paddock but put on 27kgs and we are really happy with her.”
Gallant Boy wins Timaru Cup
Gallant Boy (NZ) (Gallant Guru) continued his purple patch of form with a gritty effort to take out the Listed Timaru Cup on Monday.
The 10-year-old gelding gave his rivals weight and a beating as he lumped 60kgs to victory in a performance that generated generous applause from the large crowd assembled at the Phar Lap raceway for the meeting.
Prepared at Wingatui by Brian and Shane Anderton, Gallant Boy was having his 72nd career start and third attempt at the race off the back of a summer campaign that had yielded a win and two runner-up finishes from three starts.
Co-trainer Shane Anderton was quick to pay tribute to his charge who has been a model of consistency throughout his career.
“There’s just something about him, as every time he goes out there, he gives 110 per cent,” he said. “You couldn’t fault his form and he had probably run second a couple of times when he should have won, but he’s always having to give them weight which can slow the best of them down.
“It’s hard to find horses like him and he’s going to take a bit of replacing when we finally retire him.”
Gallant Boy (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
Derby contenders step out
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable added another likely candidate to their G1 New Zealand Derby assault in March, when Frontman (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) made a winning debut at Rotorua on Monday.
Backed into a prohibitive NZ$1.90 for the maiden 1400-metre contest, the 3-year-old never gave his multitude of supporters a moment’s worry as he led comfortably from an inside draw before kicking clear early in the run home.
Co-trainer Andrew Forsman was keen to see his charge perform under race day conditions and was delighted with the performance.
“He’s always looked like a horse with a bit of quality, so it was nice to see him do that first time out,” Forsman said.
“He improved a lot after his trial and up to race day tempo over a 1400 metres was a good test for him on debut, which he handled nicely.
“Opie (Bosson, jockey) said he was still quite green, so there is plenty of scope for development, but it was nice to see him lob in front and then quicken when he had to.”
Frontman (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
Chrono Genesis on time in Arima Kinen
The fans’ selection proved spot on in Sunday’s G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama, with 3-2 favourite Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) snapping up her third Group 1 by 0.3l. The field is selected by fan poll, and Sunday Racing’s mare defeated Salacia (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), with that foe a neck in front of Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), second on the morning line. Group 1 winner Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) ran fourth, another 2.5l back.
Well back in midpack passing the winning post for the first time as Babbitt (Jpn) (Nakayama Festa {Jpn}) led, the grey filly started to advance during the backstretch run. Still well off the fence, Chrono Genesis continued to make inroads towards the vanguard and was within a length of new leader Fierement close home, before matching strides with that foe and asserting for a narrow victory.
Salacia also showed good late dash to nip Fierement for second. In her final race, Lucky Lilac plugged on to take fourth. Blast Onepiece (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) went amiss on the back stretch and did not finish the race.
“All I wanted was her to be relaxed and her break wasn’t that bad, she was in hand and ran in the same rhythm as before,” said pilot Yuichi Kitamura. “Yesterday and today, I was in 2500-metre races here at Nakayama which enabled me to get warmed up with a good idea of how I wanted her to run. We haven’t faced the two Triple Crown winners yet, but I hope she performs well and stays in the spotlight next season.”
