Zaaki saved for Underwood
Trainer Annabel Neasham has made the call to scratch Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) from a Group 1 assignment in Sydney and head to Melbourne with the gelding.
Zaaki was scratched from Saturday's G1 George Main S. on Friday afternoon and instead the gelding will attempt to defend his crown in the G1 Underwood S. at Sandown on Sunday week.
In scratching Zaaki from the George Main, Neasham said the gelding would benefit from an extra week after running first-up on a significantly wet track.
"Zaaki will wait a week and line up in the Underwood at Sandown, with the team feeling he will benefit from an extra week after having a Heavy track first-up," Neasham said in a statement.
"We have made the call today to ensure he can gallop in the morning in preparation for next weekend."
First Group win for Durston
The Chris Waller-trained Durston (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) followed up his recent victory in the Listed Wyong Cup with a victory in the G3 Newcastle Cup on Friday.
The 7-year-old gelding easily added a first Group race to his victory when he defeated Carif (So You Think {NZ}) by 3.5l.
Durston (GB) strides clear to win the G3 Newcastle Cup | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
"He's a really nice horse and put the writing on the wall at Wyong. He was glowing at his work on Tuesday,” said winning jockey James McDonald.
"I was excited to ride him today because I thought he would be hard to beat.
"He has a great turn of foot. Barrier one is sometimes a blessing as you don't have too many options and take what's in front of you."
Wild Chap hands Toronado his 27th stakes winner
Swettenham Stud-based sire Toronado (Ire) chalked up his 27th stakes winner on Friday as his son Wild Chap won the G3 Cameron H. at Newcastle on Friday.
Trained by Brett Lazzarini, the 6-year-old gelding defeated Luncies (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) by 0.2l. Character (Teofilo {Ire}) was a further 0.8l away in third.
Wild Chap wins the G3 Cameron H. at Newcastle | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The gelding was purchased for $80,000 by Greg McFarlane Racing and Feale Park at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale in 2018 and he is out of the Listed-winning mare Pipkin (Gallo Di Ferro {USA}), who also produced stakes-placed mare Nipperkin (Artie Schiller {USA}).
Toronado is standing for a fee of $88,000 (inc GST).
Fourteenth winner for Harry Angel
Darley shuttler Harry Angel (Ire) sired his 14th first-crop winner on Thursday as the David Simcock-trained Harry Brown (GB) ran out a ready winner at Chelmsford.
The 2-year-old gelding defeated Radio Goo Goo (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) by 0.5l, while Noah David (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) was another 1l away in third.
Harry Angel - whose first Southern Hemisphere-bred runners hit the tracks this season - is standing at Darley’s Kelvinside base for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).
Saffron Beach to Tatts December
Dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) is to be offered at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale which takes place from November 28 to December 1.
Trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam to win the Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket last season, Saffron Beach doubled her Group 1 tally when landing the Prix Rothschild at Deauville this year and she will highlight the new Sceptre Session at Tattersalls on Tuesday, November 29.
Redzoust breaks his maiden
Zoustar looks to have another exciting 3-year-old amongst his 2019 crop as his son Redzoust showed his potential when he broke his maiden at Ballarat-Synthetic on Friday.
Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, the colt was purchased by his trainers and Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $510,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021.
Redzoust is out of winning Star Witness mare Red Velvet Swing and she is herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner Stratum Star as well as dual Group 3 winner Prague.
Stella Splendida another star for Zoustar?
Meanwhile, across the Tasman, Zoustar was represented by another impressive 3-year-old this time in the shape of filly Stella Splendida (NZ), who broke her maiden at Taupo.
Trained by Mark Walker and owned by Te Akau, the filly scooted away to beat Metrical (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) by 1.5l, while Sorghaghtani (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) was another 0.1l in third.
Stella Splendida was bought by David Ellis for NZ$800,000 at the 2021 edition of Book 1 of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale from the Pencarrow draft and she is out of Group 3-winning and Group 1-placed mare Scintillula (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Scintillula has produced two further winners including the Group 2-placed filly Butter Chicken (NZ) (Savabeel).
Makalu breaks through
Makalu - a 3-year-old colt from the final crop of the late Arrowfield Stud stallion Redoute’s Choice - broke through for his first career victory at the third time of asking when he landed Race 3 at Newcastle on Friday.
Trained by Annabel Neasham, the colt finished with a flourish to defeat Summons (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) by 0.8l, while Cut On A Dime (So You Think {NZ}) was another 0.1l back in third.
Makalu breaks his maiden at Newcastle | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The colt was snapped up by Tony Fung Investments and Phoenix Thoroughbreds from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021 and he is out of the Listed-placed Northern Meteor mare Mount Zero.
Redoute’s Choice died in 20219, aged 22.
Stablemates set to clash in Guineas Prelude
Co-trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are preparing to launch a two-pronged attack on the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on Saturday, with the partnership preparing to saddle Proscenium Arch (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}) and Bonheur (I Am Invincible) in the Group 2.
"She (Proscenium Arch) was a little bit new around The Valley but she also had a little look at a person on the inside of the track," Young said.
"We've put a set of shades on her. We put them on her on Saturday and she worked up super and then she had a gallop with Bonheur on Tuesday.
"Bonheur probably just had the little better of her, but we left the shades off.
"There's not much between them and they both have nice gates, so they should get their chance."
Mazu out to enhance The Everest credentials
The G2 The Shorts has been billed as a mini The Everest and the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) will be hoping he can measure up to his rivals when he tackles the Group 2 at Randwick on Saturday.
“He has got a way to go until his grand final, but you've got to meet these horses," Peter Snowden said.
Mazu | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“You're going to meet them every start now so there is no dodging them and we'll have him ready.
“If he finishes within two or three lengths of them, I'll be happy with that because he's got a good bit of improvement in him. But he needs to be competitive and to do that, he needs to be finishing within the first two or three lengths.”
Chain Of Lightning set for Group 1 audition
The Peter Moody-trained Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) will put her unbeaten record on the line when she tackles the G3 How Now S. at Caulfield on Saturday.
Should she extend her unbeaten run to six, the daughter of Fighting Sun could advance to the G1 Empire Rose S. later on in the spring.
"If she wins another one, we'll really have to think about lifting the bar and see where we can head with her," Moody told Racing.com.
"I think she's got the scope to run a mile, so maybe this one (How Now) and then one of those sevens (furlongs) at Caulfield during Cup Week and then onto maybe the Empire Rose. She did a nice piece of work this morning and it was every bit as good as it had been leading to her last couple of wins so looking forward to Saturday."
Kemalpasa to bounce back?
Having produced a lacklustre display to finish 12th of 13 runners in the G1 William Reid S. on his final start last season, Kemalpasa (Magnus) will look to get his career back on track when he lines up in the Listed W H Wylie H. at Morphettville on Saturday.
"Yeah, look, he's good, he's had a good layoff," Richard Jolly, who trains in partnership with his daughter Chantelle, told Racing.com.
"Basically, after his last run we couldn't find much wrong with him, he's always had feet troubles and he just needed a good break on his feet, so we gave him a good, long spell and brought him up relatively slowly.
"He's a sound horse but over the duration we've just had a bit of feet trouble with him here and there, other than that as long as he's willing to do it, which it seems he is, we're happy."
Mr News sold to Hong Kong
Unbeaten 4-year-old gelding Mr News (Xtravagant {NZ}) has been sold to Hong Kong, his trainer Nick Ryan revealed on Friday.
Mr News
The deal was finalised on Friday for the highly promising son of Xtravagant (NZ) won on debut at Echuca before a 6l demolition of his rivals at Bendigo in late August at his second start.
"He was a very talented horse from day one, we had a big opinion of him and I am sure he will do well," Ryan said.
