Daily News Wrap

Magic March catalogue released

The catalogue for the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale has been released with 427 select lots go under the hammer over two days, March 21 and 22.

The Sale has been the source of stars such as Buffering (Mossman), Spirit Of Boom, Winning Rupert and Apache Chase (Better Than Ready).

The 2022 catalogue features yearlings by some of Australia’s leading sires, including Queensland based stars such as Spirit Of Boom (30 lots), Better Than Ready (46) and Rothesay (20) as well as emerging stallions such as The Mission, Performer, Invader, Heroic Valour and Encryption.

Contrasting draws for Waller’s stable stars

Chris Waller’s star mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) and his boom filly Espiona (Extreme Choice) have received contrasting draws for their respective first-up assignments at Randwick on Saturday.

Verry Elleegant, a winner of 10 Group 1s, has drawn barrier one of 14 in the G2 Apollo S. while the Star Thoroughbreds-owned Espiona will be required to overcome barrier 12 of 15 when she steps out for her third career start in the G2 Light Fingers S.

Waller will also saddle up Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) in the Apollo S. and the classy Ingham Racing-owned Fangirl (Sebring) in the Light Fingers S., with the duo both drawing favourably in barrier five.

Vale Jack Styring OAM

Iconic broadcaster and highly regarded industry participant Jack Styring OAM passed away on Wednesday morning aged 92.

Styring, whose career spanned more than 60 years, called seven G1 Melbourne Cups, a staggering 60 Gunbower Cups from 1952 to 2010 while also participating in the industry as a journalist, studmaster, breeder and owner.

“On behalf of the Victorian racing industry, I would like to extend our heartfelt prayers and condolences to Jack’s family and friends following the sad news of his passing today,” Racing Victoria’s Chief Executive, Giles Thompson, said.

“Jack dedicated his life to racing and is an icon within the sport, entertaining the crowds at our racetracks for over six decades with his colourful commentary.

“Jack was a man of outstanding character; a much-loved member of the Victorian racing community and he will be greatly missed by everyone that had the pleasure of meeting him in person or listening to his countless race calls.”

Parker chasing Apollo glory

Kerry Parker fronts up at Randwick on Saturday with Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}) as one of the leading G2 Apollo S. contenders and the Kembla Grange-based horseman is confident his stable star can announce himself as one of the autumn carnival’s headline acts.

The dual Group 1-winning trainer is confident Think It Over can maintain the level he reached last year when winning the G1 George Ryder S. in the autumn and four Group races in the spring.

“As much as he’s proven to be competitive with these good horses now it’s a matter of whether we can actually beat them,’’ Parker told Racing NSW.

“I think this preparation there’s no hiding. He doesn’t know who Verry Elleegant is, so he’ll turn up and just do his job.”

Moody filly salutes at Sandown

Forbidden City (I Am Invincible) walked the walk at Sandown on Wednesday after trainer Peter Moody all but declared the filly ahead of her resumption in a maiden plate.

The lightly raced Trelawney Stud-owned 3-year-old, who rounded out last preparation with a fifth-placing in the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington proved that she’s destined for bigger and better things when cruising to an 8l victory over 1300 metres.

Lightsaber to shine bright

Peter Moody knows a thing or two about winning a G1 CF Orr S., and he believes talented colt Lightsaber (Zoustar) is capable of joining former stable stars Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}), Moment Of Change (Barely A Moment) and Dissident on the Caulfield feature's honour role.

The Blueblood Thoroughbreds-owned 3-year-old, who finished fourth behind Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) in last spring’s G1 Caulfield Guineas, has returned in good order finishing 3.5l fourth behind boom mare Marabi (I Am Invincible) in last month’s G2 Australia S. at Moonee Valley.

Moody said Lightsaber will relish the weight-for-age conditions of the CF Orr and is capable of measuring up against high-class opposition, such as Behemoth (All Too Hard) and Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).

"He loves the track, the trip and a firm deck. So, we're hoping that all comes together on Saturday,” Moody told RSN.

“His work yesterday suggests he's really on song and give a good account of himself at weight for age on Saturday."

Tofane on track for swansong campaign

Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) will be out to add a fourth Group 1 to an enviable resume when she kicks off her final racing campaign in Saturday’s G1 CF Orr S. at Caulfield.

The Rupert Legh-owned mare has pleased trainer Michael Moroney in her two recent jump-outs and hasn’t shown the Flemington-based horseman any signs of slowing down.

“This time in she has had two jump-outs coming off a slightly longer break. It is new ground for me, but she looks bright and well and her jump-outs have been par for the course with her,” Moroney said.

“She was fresh and went terrific in her first jump-out and was a little bit more dourer in her second one. That is her, so she is doing things as per normal.”

Victorem seeking stakes success

Johno Benner expects his underrated mare Victorem (NZ) (Shooting To Win) to relish a rain affected surface when she steps out in pursuit of a maiden black-type success in Friday’s Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Hastings.

Victorem hasn’t won since saluting at Woodville last October but hasn’t been further back than fourth in five starts since, with a fourth placing in G2 Cal Isuzu S. at Te Rapa.

“She’s drawn nicely, and it looks like a nice opportunity for her to get some black type,” Benner said.

“She’s ultra-consistent but has just been hanging out for a bit of moisture in the ground and she will get that in this race.”

Robust start to bumper Goffs February Sale

It was a robust start to the Goffs February Sale with Lot 99, a 2-year-old son of Teofilo (Ire) from the draft of Shadwell’s Derrinstown Stud, bringing top billing for flat horses when knocked down to Clare Manning’s Boherguy Stud for €135,000 (AU$215,000).

Extended to three days, with around 600 horses set to sell, it is hard to make comparisons to COVID-impacted sales of previous years, however, a healthy median of €10,000 (AU$16,000), an average of €20,235 (AU$32,000), with a gross of €2,124,700 (AU$3.4 million) from 105 horses sold at a clearance rate of 64 per cent should be considered a solid start.

AQPS 4-year-old hurdler, Invincible Power (Fr) (Great Pretender {Ire}) topped the opening day of selling when secured by Irish-based racing syndicate All About Sunday for €150,000 (AU$239,000).

Strong Start to Fasig February

The two-day Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale got off to a strong start Tuesday with 15 six-figure horses, topped by the US$450,000 (AU$629,000) racing and broodmare prospect Bodhicitta (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

The yearling market was especially strong Tuesday with youngsters accounting for half of the top 10 lots, led by a US$260,000 (AU$363,000) colt by City Of Light (USA).

A total of 198 horses changed hands on Tuesday for a gross of US$6,598,800 (AU$9.2 million). The average was US$33,327 (AU$47,000) and the median was US$14,500 (AU$20,000). There were 38 horses led from the ring unsold for a buy-back rate of 16 per cent.

During the equivalent session in 2021, 207 thoroughbreds brought US$3,956,330 (AU$5.52 million) with an average of US$19,113 (AU$26,000) and a median of US$8000 (AU$11,000).

Mishriff on track for Saudi Cup defence

Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) is on song ahead of his title defence in the G1 Saudi Cup which is to be held at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack on February 26.

Thady Gosden, who trains Mishriff in partnership with his father John, said the Prince Faisal-owned galloper has trained on since finishing fourth in the G1 Champion S. at Ascot on October 16.

“He’s a year older and a little bigger, but he’s been training well up to the race so far so let’s hope it continues,” Thady Gosden told TDN Europe.

“We’ll get the Saudi hurdle out of the way and then there are two possible races on World Cup night, the Sheema Classic and the (G1 Dubai) World Cup itself and I’m sure Prince Faisal will know which he’d like to go for.”

Jordan Fishman sentenced to prison

Jordan Fishman, who pled guilty to one count of drug adulteration and the misbranding of performance-enhancing drugs, was sentenced to 15 months in prison on Tuesday, plus one year of supervised release.

The 63-year-old Massachusetts-based man with a doctoral degree in cancer-related toxicology admitted to a judge that he mixed formulas that sometimes included steroids and shipped them in unlabelled vials to Florida-based veterinarian Seth Fishman, who allegedly sold them to racetrack clients.