Verry Elleegant moved to French trainer Graffard
Superstar mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) will be transferred to leading French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, her owners announced on Wednesday.
Trainer Chris Waller - who saddled the mare to all 11 of her Group 1 victories - announced the change of trainer on his social media platforms on Friday night.
In a statement, Verry Elleegant's owners, headlined by Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir, said to campaign in Europe properly, the horse would have to be trained abroad.
Verry Elleegant (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
"We know she is a world-class stayer who needs 2400 metres plus to show her true ability, but we expect her be weighted out of the Cups and as such there are limited options for her domestically. After much deliberation we came to the realisation that if we want to campaign her in Europe, we need to do it properly and send her to be trained and prepared in the Northern Hemisphere," their statement read.
"As such we wish to advise that Verry Elleegant will be transferred to the care of leading French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and trained out of the world-class facilities at Chantilly.
"Although transportation arrangements are still being finalised, she will finish her spell next week and subject to flight availability will fly out anytime from that point forward. Bringing her to Europe early opens up a number of new possibilities, one of which is running in the Arc, however we will just keep an open mind on her program until deeper in her preparation with Francis."
Francis-Henri Graffard | Image courtesy of Godolphin Flying Start
Waller added: "It has been an honour to have trained Verry Elleegant for a major part of her career. She has given us so many great thrills over a number of years and we are very proud of her.
"My team around Australia are all responsible for her success and longevity which I thank them for and wish the owners all the very best in her Northern Hemisphere race campaign."
Graffard, who has won nine top-level races, added: "I'm conscious I'll be standing on the shoulders of a giant taking Verry Elleegant on from Chris Waller, who has done an impeccable job with her.
"Chantilly is the most beautiful place in the world to train racehorses and this is a wonderful opportunity for Australian fans to discover this jewel."
Yulong lock in Eduardo for The Everest
Dual Group 1 winner Eduardo (Host {Chi}) has been secured by slotholder Yulong Investments as its runner for the 2022 edition of The Everest.
Troy Stephens, the Racing, Sales and Nominations Manager for Yulong, said that an agreement had been reached with the connections of Eduardo and trainer Joe Pride to run the gelding in the $15 million race at Randwick on October 15.
Eduardo | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“As he’s consistently proven to be one of the best sprinters in Australia, we were keen to get Eduardo locked in early,” said Stephens.
“He’s currently spelling in Queensland and will follow a traditional lead-up path to the race, so that gives us confidence he’ll get the right preparation to succeed.”
Yulong Investments took out the second running of The Everest with Redzel (Snitzel) and hope that another seasoned professional can deliver the same result.
“We know the standard of performance that Eduardo can deliver on his day and can’t wait to see him step out this Spring,” said Stephens.
Troy Stephens | Image courtesy of Yulong
Pride revealed that Eduardo would kick off his campaign in the G3 Concorde S. on September 3, before heading to the G2 The Shorts then into the world’s highest rated sprint event.
“We are delighted that he has secured a berth for The Everest nice and early, which will allow us to focus on the best preparation possible for success.”
Riverdene Stud release fees
Riverdene Stud have announced the fees for their three-strong roster which is headed by Dissident who will stand for an unchanged fee of $6600 (inc GST).
Dissident is represented by 174 three stakes winners and they are spearheaded by three stakes winners, including Group 2 scorer Yes Baby Yes.
Dissident | Standing at Riverdene Stud
Dissident will be joined once again by Sizzling and he will also stand for an unchanged fee of $6600 (inc GST).
Riverdene’s roster is completed by Va Pensiero who will stand for $2ca200 (inc GST), the same fee as the 2021 season.
Cambridge Stud set offer draft on Gavelhouse Plus Sale Live
Cambridge Stud have a select draft of 10 mares plus a share in Ocean Park (NZ) now live on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding set to end at 7pm NZST on May 20.
“At Cambridge Stud we have a business plan to breed off 150 mares. With a large racing team, we have mares retiring to stud every year, so we have to make room for them. This creates great opportunity for breeders to tap into commercial bloodlines,” Cambridge Stud Sales and Nominations representative Cameron Ring said.
“The majority of the mares are young and in foal to commercial stallions. Highlights include an unraced daughter of champion race filly Katie Lee by Almanzor and a mare in foal to Almanzor.
Almanzor (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
“We will continue to support gavelhouse.com’s fortnightly sales throughout the year but having our stand-alone sale for the better-quality stock makes sense to us.”
Other covering sires represented in the catalogue include Ocean Park (NZ), Reliable Man (GB), Ribchester (Ire) and Embellish (NZ).
Inspections are welcome by appointment with the in-foal mares based in Cambridge while the off the track fillies are located at the Karaka property.
Jungle Magnate connections fear Alegron and Detonator Jack
Co-trainer Mick Price has said Jungle Magnate (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) will have his work cut out if he is to win the G1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville on Saturday, believing Alegron (Teofilo {Ire}) and Detonator Jack (Jakkalberry {Ire}) will be hard to beat.
Jungle Magnate was last seen winning the G3 Chairman’s S. and he part of a two-pronged attack on the Group 1 for Price and his training partner Mick Kent Jnr, who will also run Son Of Emperor (So You Think {NZ}) in the 2400-metre race.
“He’s (Jungle Magnate) good,” told Price Racing.com “I’ve allowed two trips over there, so he came back, needed a couple of quiet days, but he’s bounced back really well, his work is good.
“The race was put on for him in the Chairman’s, which you would think he’ll get 2500 metre no problem, and if you look back to last spring when he was a bit more immature, he ran in the (Moonee Valley)
“Then he was just on the way down in the spring of his VRC Derby, so I think he’s pretty cherry (ripe) but the problem is, you’ve probably got a couple of horses that have got better form than him; Alegron and Detonator Jack obviously, they’re the ones which really should show up.”
Entriviere homes in on Doomben 10,000
Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) will attempt to add a G1 Doomben 10,000 to her record when she lines up in the Group 1 at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The Te Akau-raced and Mark Walker-trained mare will be attempting to snare her second victory at elite-level having landed the G1 Railway S. at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
Entriviere (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
"After her run at Te Rapa, we felt there were a couple of races in New Zealand but if we could get an (Australian) Group 1 on her CV it would add a lot to her value," Walker said.
"This was the logical race to try to target.
"Everything was going according to plan until the barrier draw came out, but with the weather forecast, you never know, it might be the best part of the track to be in."
Freedmans chase third Ramsden win
Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}) will attempt to continue the successful run of the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable in Listed Andrew Ramsden S. at Flemington on Saturday.
Since the 2800-metre race offered the winner a ballot exemption into the G1 Melbourne Cup, the Freedman stable has won two of the three times it has been staged.
Warning | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Steel Prince (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) scored for Anthony in 2019 before Sam joined his father in a training partnership the following year, claiming last year's contest with Realm Of Flowers (So You Think {NZ}).
"To be honest, there's not a hell of a lot around for him and the weight structure suits him," said the Freedman’s Racing Manager Brad Taylor
"It's a great prize-money race and to be fair to it, it's not the strongest edition. We remembered it was a small field last year, so we threw in a nomination again."
Taylor said that if the rain continued to fall in Queensland the Group 1-winning son of Declaration Of War (USA) could be aimed at The Q22.
Stradbroke audition for resurgent Andermatt
The James Cummings-trained Andermatt (Snitzel) will be looking to cement his G1 Stradbroke H. claims when he tackles Saturday's Listed Luskin Star S. at Scone.
If he can, it will open the door to a start in next month's Group 1 at Eagle Farm and longer term, could put him in contention for Godolphin's Everest slot.
"The Stradbroke would loom up and look very enticing for a horse coming through his grades so fast," Cummings said.
Andermatt | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
"You can see the races I have been interested in running him in in the past and some of the opposition he met as a 2-year-old and the promise he was showing there.
"He is really putting it together now in great style.
"As long as he can get in a good rhythm and relax in the 1300 and still be as effective, that will be something of a challenge for the horse, but I think it's certainly worthy of trying him at this stage."
Size creates history with 1400th Hong Kong victory
John Size became only the second trainer in Hong Kong to prepare 1,400 winners after teaming with Joao Moreira and Seizing The Moment (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
The feat means he joins Australian compatriot and all-time wins record-holder John Moore (1735 wins) as the only trainers to saddle 1400 or more winners in the jurisdiction.
"That's good, I'm very happy with my training career. I'm very pleased with that number, it's very nice. I suppose I better keep working and see if I can win another race," the 11-time champion trainer said.
"I've been here a long time, that's probably what it means – it took a while to get there. It's always gratifying to reach a new number and I'm always so grateful for all the help I've received since I've been here and I'm very happy with my training career in Hong Kong.
"I've been fortunate enough to have some really nice horses."
Oaks winner Secret Oath given Preakness target
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed Wednesday that G1 Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath (USA) (Arrogate {USA}) will become the latest filly to take on males in the GI Preakness S., which will be run on May 21 at Pimlico.
"We agonise over it,” Lukas said at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning. "She's gone back to the track, and she was very sharp out there today. I don't see anything about her that would change our decision right now [regarding the Preakness]. She's training well. She's bright. She's sharp and out there playing.”
“Let's put it this way: The Derby horses pretty much all had a hard race. Her race was not hard on her."
The race will also feature a rematch between the G1 Kentucky Derby quinella, with shock winner Rich Strike (USA) (Keen Ice {USA}) and runner-up Epicenter (USA) (Not This Time {USA}) also confirmed to take their place in the second leg of the US Triple Crown.
