No Champagne for Anamoe
Trainer James Cummings has confirmed Godolphin’s star colt Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) will not be running in the G1 Champagne S. next Saturday.
Cummings has informed Racing New South Wales that the top-class youngster will be sent for a spell.
Anamoe has won three of his seven starts this season, including an outstanding victory in the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce S. He also won the G2 Todman S. and the Listed Merson Cooper S., second in the G1 Golden Slipper S. and third in the G1 Blue Diamond S.
Anamoe | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Fasika to race on
Talented mare Fasika (So You Think {NZ}) heeded a warning at Randwick and produced the goods to win the G2 TAB Sapphire S.
Trainer Joseph Pride would have called time on the 5-year-old’s career of she didn’t perform to her best and she responded to defeat Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
“I’m just happy she’s back and I would have retired her if she hadn’t won. I’m just happy she’s back,” he said. “She’s got good improvement in her and she’s a great competitor.”
Fasika | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Plan reaps a reward
A long-term plan hatched by trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou was perfectly executed at Randwick where Ellsberg (Spill The Beans) romped to a first-up victory.
The 3-year-old returned from a break to lead all the way and coast home to victory in the Listed Bisley Workwear South Pacific Classic.
“Ever since he went out after his last preparation we had this race pencilled in. He had two trials and a nice jump-out and he was as fit as we could get him first-up,” Alexiou said.
Pedigree to fore
The well-related Sisstar (Zoustar) produced a dominant performance to add to her record at Caulfield.
She was keen in the lead and had enough in reserve to land the Listed Widden Victoria Bel Esprit S. and will now be given the opportunity to add a Group 1 victory to her CV and emulate her sister Sunlight, who won three at the top level.
“She can be quite a tough ride and you just have to go with her. I think she has earned her chance to go off to the Robert Sangster S. now,” co-trainer Calvin McEvoy said.
Lethal combination
Trainer Kris Lees and Australian Bloodstock successfully combined in the Polytrack Provincial Championships Final to score with Cristal Breeze (Ire) (Gale Force Ten {GB}).
Improved by his resuming run for third, the 5-year-old came from off the pace with a well-timed finish in Hugh Bowman’s hands to down the favourite Pandano (Dundeel {NZ}).
“It’s rare when you set a plan from last winter when we decided to target this race. He got a lovely run and got there at the finish,” Lees said.
Filly prevails
Progressive filly Ripper Rita (Street Boss {USA}) earned her connections a major pay day when she narrowly came out on top in The VOBIS Sires’ Guineas at Caulfield.
“It was a big effort and full credit to the filly. She drew poorly and was trapped wide and kept digging in,” trainer Greg Eurell said.
Ripper Rita was making the sixth appearance of her career and her gallant performance earned her owners a handsome $250,000 cheque.
First black-type trophy
Matamata visitor Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) put a disappointing last-start performance behind her when she produced a powerful closing burst to take out the Listed Power Turf Sprint at Hastings.
It was the first stakes victory for the Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained 4-year-old after she went within a nose of achieving that goal two starts ago when narrowly defeated in the Listed Lightning H. at Trentham.
Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
“She has had some immaturity problems but has come right with age and some time on her side,” co-trainer Pam Gerard said. “We were having trouble working her as she kept going shinny after her races.
“We had to nurse her along in those early starts, but as she has matured, she has gotten better and better. She is a very honest mare who puts in 100 per cent every time she steps out.”
Stablemates bound for Brisbane
The Hermitage-raced pair of multiple Group 2 winner Dragon Leap (Pierro) and Group 3 winner Spring Heat (More Than Ready {USA}) are building toward Brisbane campaigns.
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained representatives furthered their preparations with exhibition gallops at Te Rapa on Saturday.
“They both worked well and a race like the G1 Stradbroke H. might suit Dragon Leap. It’s a big ask, but we believe in the horse and think he’s up to it,” O’Sullivan said.
Spring Heat will be set for fillies and mares’ races during the Queensland carnival.
Queensland targets
A Queensland campaign has been confirmed for top-flight winner Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who was a last-start third in the G1 New Zealand S.
Trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, Tiptronic will make his first appearance in the G2 Hollindale S. at the Gold Coast on May 8.
“He’s a very good horse and has always been underrated. He deserves a crack at some good races over there,” Richardson said.
Emotional win
There was definitely a catch in the voice of co-trainer Shaun Phelan as he described just what the victory of stable favourite Big Mike (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}) means to his family after he led all the way to win the Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup.
He has been a flag bearer for Phelan and his father Craig’s boutique training operation, having now won 12 of his 45 starts and more than NZ$500,000 in prizemoney.
Big Mike (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
Included in that tally is a victory in the 2018 Listed Pakenham Cup, a highlight for the Phelan’s who also co-own the gelding. However, there has been plenty of heartache for all concerned in trying to get Big Mike back to his best after a somewhat disappointing spring campaign in Melbourne last year.
“It’s been a long haul getting him right after Melbourne. It’s pretty amazing and pretty emotional to be honest. He’s part of the family and has taken us to places you couldn’t imagine.”
All roads lead to Arc
Dual Group 1-winning mare Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) is likely to have a later start to her 4-year-old campaign, with all roads leading to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, according to trainer David Menuisier.
“She's back in training, she's been back in about four or five weeks now, but we are just going to take our time with her,” Menuisier said.
“She's not the kind of filly you can stop and start with. The classic French way to prepare for the Arc is to have a spring campaign, then a summer break and come back for the autumn, but once you get going with her, she really doesn't understand the summer break.
“The idea would be to have four or five races in consecutive months leading up to the Arc, so we don't want to run too early and because of that, I don't really have any strong plans.”
