Stern test for Sir Dragonet
Reigning G1 Cox Plate champion Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) will have to be at his peak to add Saturday’s G1 Ranvet S. to his collection.
“I think it’s probably the best 10 furlong race you’re going to see in Australia unless you get the same field in a couple of weeks in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. and that’s where a majority will be heading,” co-trainer David Eustace told Racing.com
Sir Dragonet (Ire)
“It’s a world-class event and they’re the sort of races you want to be running in, so hopefully he’s up to it.
“His condition has really come on with the extra week of work. We’ve been able to give him two really strong gallops, his fitness is good and we feel he’ll come on with the step up in trip.
“It doesn’t want to be forgotten that his best is over 2000 metres.”
Exhibition gallop
Top mare Arcadia Queen (Pierro) will be given a clockwise exhibition gallop between races three and four at Bendigo on Saturday.
The three-time Group 1 winner was to have run in Saturday’s G1 George Ryder S., but owner Bob Peters didn’t want to start her on a wet track.
On Wednesday, Peters told Racing.com that Arcadia Queen would run next in the G2 Emancipation S. and then the G1 Coolmore Legacy on April 17.
Probabeel in Sydney
Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) has settled into her new environment in Sydney following her unplaced run in The All-Star Mile where her chances were scuppered by an unsuitable wet track.
Probabeel (NZ)
She spent a couple of days in the paddock before transferring to John Thompson's stables at Randwick where she will build up toward another major target.
Probabeel is pencilled in to trial at Randwick on April 8 in preparation for the G1 Coolmore Legacy S. on April 17.
Addeybb to face check
Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) will have to pass a veterinary examination on race morning before he has the opportunity to defend his G1 Ranvet S. title at Rosehill.
Addeybb (Ire)
After completing light work on Friday morning, Racing NSW General Manager of Veterinary Services Toby Keonig found the chestnut to be 1/5 lame in the near fore foot.
The William Haggas stable advised stewards it was due to Addeybb being recently plated as he has showed similar tendencies in the past and was confident he would be 100 per cent fit to race.
Stay away from filly
Jockey Ryan Maloney will be telling the barrier attendants to steer clear of the Tony Gollan-trained Isotope (Deep Field) in the nicest possible way before the Listed Darby Munro S. at Rosehill.
“The only real trick to Isotope is just totally leaving her alone in the barriers so she jumps cleanly,” Maloney told Racenet.
“You just have to let her bounce around, you don’t think she will jump but I can tell you she jumps a lot cleaner if you just let her do what she wants to do.
“The first instinct of the barrier attendants is to go up to her to get her to calm down, but she resents it. A couple of times in Brisbane I have had to tell them to stand back, they were actually taken aback by it, but I apologised later and told them the story.”
Colette ready for Ranvet
Colette (Hallowed Crown) is in tip-top order for the G1 Ranvet S. at Rosehill.
“The extra week and the rain have given us the opportunity to run Colette on a track that should suit her admirably,” trainer James Cummings said.
“We’d expected a much softer track last start and under the circumstances, she ran well.”
Colette
Colette won the G2 Apollo S. when resuming and the finished runner-up in the G1 Chipping Norton S. and was fourth last time out in the G3 Sky High S.
“She’s had time to recover from that run and her Heavy track form speaks for itself,” Cummings said. “The G1 Sydney Cup remains her goal and this race fits in nicely with that program.”
Adelaide looking good
A smart jump-out at Flemington on Friday morning has firmed up travel plans to Adelaide for stakes winner Shelby Cobra (Toronado {Ire}).
“He had a little bit of setback. He knocked the outside of his hock on the gates and it was sore for a bit so we had to back-off until that came right hence we had to miss Sydney,” trainer Michael Moroney told Racing.com.
Shelby Cobra
“We had some of those good 3-year-olds sprints there in mind, but he’s not going to be ready in time so we’ll probably head toward Adelaide for races like the Euclase (Tobin Bronze S.) and the Goodwood.”
The G2 Tobin Bronze S. at Morphettville is on the program and the G1 Goodwood a fortnight later.
Open for bidding
Another Inglis Digital catalogue is live and open for bidding with 312 lots finalised for the March (Late) online auction.
The catalogue is made up of 125 racehorses (60 race fillies), 118 broodmares (55 in foal, as well as five 3-in-1 packages), 48 yearlings, 11 shares, six weanlings and three stallions.
The March (Late) Sale comes off the back of an extraordinary Inglis Digital March (Early) online auction, which grossed $4.4 million.
The final countdown of bidding begins from 3pm on Wednesday, March 31.
Australia on cards
The G3 Wellington Cup and Listed New Zealand St Leger winner Waisake (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) has gone for a well-deserved break with trainer Allan Sharrock considering a future trip across the Tasman.
“I have got to have a meeting with the syndicate. I wouldn’t put it (Australian campaign) off the desk, but we have just got to give him a couple of months off and then plan some targets,” he said.
“With COVID-19 and the border potentially opening up again (with Australia), it could make it a bit easier.”
Prizemoney structure changed
The pay-out structure of prizemoney in Britain has undergone a restructure with placed horses in non-pattern races to receive a larger share.
Second place horses will receive roughly half of the prizemoney allocated to the winner, with the third and fourth-placed horses getting half of the sum gained by the next best finisher. An additional £7.5-million (AU$14.8 million) will be provided to placed owners in non-pattern races.
“Prizemoney is a huge, long-term challenge for owners and racing and these changes are being made following feedback and consultation with owners,” Racehorse Owners’ Association Chief Executive, Charlie Liverton, said. “With the impact of COVID on racing, the ROA are working hard with industry colleagues to retain and attract owners and improving prizemoney distribution is a key part of that.
Changing of guard
Brian Kavanagh, the first Chief Executive Officer of Horse Racing Ireland appointed in 2001, will conclude his term with the organization at the end of his contract in September.
HRI, the commercial semi-state body responsible for the overall governance, development, promotion and administration of thoroughbred racing in Ireland, will begin a recruitment campaign on Friday for the role of CEO.
“I would like to thank Brian Kavanagh for 20 years of incredible service and deep commitment to Horse Racing Ireland and to the industry in Ireland,” Horse Racing Ireland Chairman, Nicky Hartery, said.
