Love to conquer All
Forbidden Love (All Too Hard) will be out to put her name in The Everest conversations when she chases a fourth Group 1 victory in Saturday’s G1 All Aged S. at Randwick.
The star mare’s trainer Michael Freedman is of the belief that his star mare will prove most effective over sprinting trips despite finishing a brave fourth in the G1 Doncaster H.
Forbidden Love | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“I think her fourth-placing in the Doncaster proved to me she probably doesn’t quite get a strong mile. Perhaps she has too much brilliance for the mile and her best distances are from 1200 metres to 1500 metres,” Freedman told Racenet.
“I still have in the back of my mind to keep her fresh and look at a race like The Everest. I don’t think The Everest is beyond her if she strikes a track that has some give in it.’’
Fitness the fear
Cliff Brown fears a lack of match fitness may see The Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) fail to get the job done in Friday’s inaugural running of The Country Discovery at Sale.
The 5-year-old gelding hasn't raced since almost falling in the G1 Lightning S. in February. He was subsequently scratched from last month's G1 William Reid S. due to a minor foot issue.
"The one thing he does lack is match fitness because if you look at it, he really hasn't had a hitout since the Moir (S)., as he went to The Everest and didn't handle the track and he then went to the Lightning and got knocked over,” Brown told Racing.com.
“But he seems really good at the moment. He had a trial last week, which was really nice, he galloped well yesterday, so we're pleased with him.”
Adelaide an option
Barb Raider (Rebel Raider) is likely to progress towards the G1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville on April 30, despite finishing 11.9l behind victress Nimalee (So You Think {NZ}) in last Saturday’s G1 Queen of the Turf S.
Trainer Jerome Hunter said Barb Raider has come through the fillies and mares' feature in good order despite ‘pulling a shoe off’ and not handling the testing Randwick conditions.
Barb Raider | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"The run certainly didn't flatten her, she had a bit in reserve and I don't think she wanted to stretch out. She licked the bin clean on Saturday night, was really bright in the eye and got back to Mornington on Monday morning and all reports are that she was bucking her brands off in the paddock,” Hunter told Racing.com.
"We'll look at the Australasian Oaks and I'll assess her this week to see if we're still going towards that race.”
Pride eying off Queensland carnival
Joe Pride has his sights set on the upcoming Queensland carnival with Private Eye (Al Maher) after the Group 1-winning gelding showcased his class with a runaway trial victory at Warwick Farm this week.
The Proven Thoroughbreds-owned gelding failed to get through the Heavy Randwick conditions when finishing second-last in the G1 Doncaster H. but will now contest the Listed Tails S. at Doomben on April 23.
“I’ve just got to get him on a decent track. He just didn’t enjoy the very Heavy track at Randwick last week,” Pride told Racenet.
Morrison goes out on his own
Michael Costa’s Racing Manager and Assistant Trainer Michael Morrison has announced he will begin training in his own right on the Gold Coast, effective immediately.
The young horseman, who has worked alongside the Dubai-bound Costa for the past five years, will start with 20-30 horses in work before hoping to expand within the Queensland racing industry.
Michael Morrison | Image courtesy of Michael Costa Racing
“Having been a part of this great industry for well over 10 years now, it’s been a dream of mine since the start to become a trainer with my own team of horses and to compete at the highest level,” Morrison said.
“Over the last 12 months I’ve been heavily involved with day-to-day fitness planning for all the horses as well as race programming and jockey selection, so I really feel I’ve ticked all the boxes and I’m ready to operate at a high level right from the very start.”
Brooklyn ready to Hustle
Friday’s inaugural The Country Discovery at Sale is shaping up to be the ‘perfect’ race for Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner).
The Jason Warren and Dean Krongold-trained mare, who is set to be partnered by Damien Oliver, will carry just 56.5kgs in the 1100 metre Handicap, 4.5kg less than top-weight Savatoxl (Kuroshio).
"It looks a nice race for her that's for sure, it's the right distance for her,” Warren told Racing.com.
"She just had a maintenance trial at Traralgon, so we just needed that to keep her up to the mark and I'm really happy with how she's going.”
Hayes holds Hong Kong hopes
JD Hayes has touted the possibility of taking Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) to Hong Kong for December’s International Races following what is shaping up to be a big spring carnival for the G1 Doncaster H. hero.
Hayes, who trains Mr Brightside in partnership with his brother Ben, said their stable star is likely to resume in August’s G2 PB Lawrence S. before plotting towards either the G1 Cox Plate or G1 Caulfield Cup via the G1 Turnbull S. and, or, the G1 Underwood S.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We really foresee him having a big 12 to 18 months and this is an opportune time to get his head down in grass and hit the reset button,” Hayes told SENTrack.
“We will be dictated to by how well we go in the spring, but that opens up the option of a possible Hong Kong trip.”
Rawiller to appeal ban
Nash Rawiller has lodged an appeal against his two-week ban, but not against a $40,000 fine incurred for excessive whip use when partnering Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}) to victory in last Saturday’s G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick.
The star hoop pleaded guilty to using the whip eight times before the 100-metre mark and a total of 20 strikes.
As it stands Rawiller’s suspension begins on Sunday, April 17 and will end on Sunday, May 1.
Dragon to chance Group 1 hand
Talented mare Dragon Queen (NZ) (Sweynesse) will be given her chance against the best in the country in Saturday’s G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Te Rapa.
The field for New Zealand’s final Group 1 race of the 2021/22 season is shaping up to be a strong one, with the Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained Dragon Queen set to take on Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}), Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) and Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}).
Dragon Queen (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“Obviously, it’s a bit of a step up, but it’s getting near the end of the season so it’s worth a crack,” Gerard said.
“The weight-for-age conditions are a bit of an issue; she’s only a small thing, not a big-framed mare, and she’s only a 4-year-old, so it’s never easy for them.
“While there’s some nice horses in there, but she’s not too far off them I feel.”
