Maher happy with Enthaar
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher believes that there is no reason to be concerned by news that star filly Enthaar (Written Tycoon) is showing signs of lameness in her near off fore.
Racing Victoria veterinary inspections confirmed this morning that the highly rated juvenile along with Dosh (Rich Enuff) and Marine One (Capitalist) will be re-inspected Friday morning.
Enthaar
"She worked this morning and was moving lovely. We trotted her up and as far as I'm concerned, she is moving no different to normal," Maher told Racing.com.
"She is always a bit shuffley. She's fairly immature, still growing a lot. She galloped this morning and maybe it was from that.”
Premier Sale set for all clear
Inglis is expecting its upcoming Melbourne Premier Sale to progress as scheduled, with Victoria now out of lockdown and borders starting to open up.
Victoria emerged out of a five-day lockdown on Wednesday and with the Premier Sale at Oaklands Junction not due to start until Sunday, February 28, there is a good chance that COVID-19 restrictions could be further relaxed by that time, with 'COVID normal' set to resume in Melbourne on Friday, February 26, barring any more outbreaks.
As it stands, even under the current restrictions the three-day Sale could progress pretty much as normal, with some minor changes around occupancy of the sales ring, and the use of masks when inside.
Inglis will provide further updates as it receives advice from Victorian health authorities in the lead-up to the Sale.
Four Moves Ahead out of Silver Slipper
Trainer John Sargent has confirmed leading 2-year-old prospect Four Moves Ahead (Snitzel) has slight swelling to a knee and is out of Saturday's G2 Silver Slipper S. at Rosehill.
Sargent said the filly has been treated and he was hopeful of her being right for the G2 Sweet Embrace on February 27.
Four Moves Ahead | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Kiss And Make Up gets first winner
Aquis' Kiss And Make Up has become the 22nd freshman sire in Australia this season to register a winner.
The Steven Phelps-trained General Phelps gave the son of More Than Ready (USA) his breakthrough win, prevailing in the Year of the Ox 2YO H. at Grafton on Thursday over 1006 metres.
General Phelps proved too strong for race favourite Buck Pharoah (American Pharoah {USA}) to win by 0.5l, with Baronial (Dream Ahead {USA}) in third.
Bred in a partnership by Phelps and Aquis, he is the fourth winner from Rose General (General Nediym), who won seven races.
Kiss And Make Up
Hanseatic ready for return
Co-trainer Sam Freedman is expecting former boom colt Hanseatic (Street Boss {USA}) to perform first-up in Saturday’s G1 Oakleigh Plate.
Freedman believes that the extended layoff from a bleed in last October’s G3 Blue Sapphire S. has allowed his galloper to develop into his frame.
“He’s fit and ready and this is his target race for this preparation,” Freedman said.
“He’s got no weight on his back (50kg) and he’s shown that he loves the Caulfield 1100 metres.”
Hanseatic
Gimmie Par sent to paddock
Trainer Peter Moody has confirmed that exciting debutante Gimmie Par (Not A Single Doubt) will head to the paddock, after producing an eye-catching performance behind G1 Blue Diamond hopeful Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}) at Flemington last Saturday.
Moody was delighted by his filly’s second-placed effort but stated that she lacks the maturity required to compete as an autumn 2-year-old at the highest level.
"It was very pleasing to see her hit the line like that but disappointing not to win obviously,” Moody said on his podcast Moody On The Mic.
“First and foremost, she's now stakes placed and she'll come back and kick off in a little maiden somewhere and then we'll work toward a race like the Thousand Guineas and God give her strength and hope she's good enough."
Richards not ruling out Australian return
Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards has confirmed that star mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) is still on track for a tilt at the back end of the Australian autumn carnival, despite failing to fire in last Saturday’s G1 Herbie Dyke S.
Richards stated that the 13-time Group 1 winner had come through her unplaced effort in good order and is on track to bounce back in the G1 New Zealand Bonecrusher S. at Ellerslie next month.
Melody Belle (NZ)
“That has been the plan all the way through, to try and get this record for the Group 1s and then come across and enhance her value a bit more with some more Group 1s and Group races in Australia,” Richards said.
“The back-end of Sydney and Brisbane has some appeal. A race like the Doomben Cup could be right up her alley.”
Probabeel primed
Trainer Jamie Richards is expecting Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) to rise to the occasion in Saturday’s G1 Futurity S. at Caulfield.
Richards described the 1400 metre feature as a true indication as to where the dominant last start G3 Bellmaine S. winner sits in The All-Star mile calculations.
Probabeel (NZ)
“It’s a great field and a great dress rehearsal for three weeks’ time in The All-Star Mile. There is nowhere to hide. This is her first decent crack over the shorter trips at weight-for-age. She ran in the Cox Plate before that and has won an Epsom, under the handicap conditions, so this is a big step-up for her.
“She is a Group 1 winner in the spring in Sydney, so I would say that is good enough form, but when you are against the likes of Arcadia Queen, Behemoth, and Ole Kirk, who is a real hot-shot 3-year-old, you can’t go in too confident.”
Goffs to hold March Online Sale
Following on from the Goffs UK Online January Sale, which sold horses for up to £300,000 (AU$536,110) in the timed online format, Goffs will host a new Online March Sale on March 24 in the same fashion. The Sale will largely focus on horses in training but will also be open to breeding stock, and entries can be made through the Goffs UK website.
Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “The Goffs Online platform has proved a key addition to our service over the last year with close to €8 million (AU$12.4 million) worth of business being conducted via the medium. Last month's January Sale was very well-supported and clearly illustrated the growing appetite for online sales in the current climate as it produced the three highest prices achieved by any online sale in the UK and Ireland in 2021, so illustrating its ability to sell elite bloodstock with three six-figure lots and a £300,000 (AU$536,110) top price.
“Vendors have expressed plenty of positive feedback selling through Goffs Online as it can bring significant savings with a lower entry fee of only £195 + VAT (AU$349), no travel and Sale staffing costs as well as an assurance that the Sale will take place regardless of the COVID restrictions at the time. Buyers have also voiced positive sentiments, in particular that with all lots sold with a veterinary certificate, which buyers can vet against following the Sale, there is an extra level of security which provides confidence when bidding on horses.
“We have proven that Goffs Online provides a strong marketplace for horses-in-training in particular and that will be our focus for the new March Sale. Like the online January Sale, the catalogue will only be available to view on the Goffs Online website, it will not be printed, and it will be released on Friday, March 12.”
