No panic in Thunderstruck camp
Despite having saluted just once from his past 13 starts, connections of two-time Group 1 winner I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) believe there’s no cause for concern.
The 5-year-old, who’s most recent victory was last year’s G1 Makybe Diva S. (1600 metres) at Flemington - seven starts ago - kicked off his autumn campaign with a fourth in the G1 CF Orr S. (1400 metres), then finished third in Saturday’s G1 Futurity S. (1400 metres). On both occasions, the gelding has loomed to win, before peaking on his run.
“Nothing changes, we’re still on course,” Mick Kent Jnr, who trains I'm Thunderstruck in partnership with Mick Price, told News Corp.
I'm Thunderstruck (NZ) at Keast Park Beach | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s three weeks into The All-Star Mile then off to Sydney.
“He’s never won at weight-for-age level over 1400 metres before, let alone second-up in a small tactical field.
“His best go is pace on over a mile or 2000 metres like he had in the Cox Plate.
"The sit-sprint nature of these races doesn’t suit him, he likes to wind up.”
Pericles won’t back up on Saturday
Impressive G2 Autumn Classic winner, the James Cummings-trained Pericles (Street Boss {USA}), won’t race this Saturday.
The G1 Australian Guineas (1600 metres) at Flemington and G1 Randwick Guineas (1600 metres) at Randwick were both options for the gelded son of Street Boss (USA), however, Godolphin have opted to step him up in trip, rather than drop back to a mile.
“We won't back him up. We will look further down the line. He’s come out of the race terrific, but we are going to keep him on that (staying) path,” Godolphin Australia Managing Director, Vin Cox, said.
"The (G2) Alister Clark (S., 2040 metres on March 18) is certainly a consideration, as is the (G1) Rosehill Guineas (2000 metres on the same day), but I don't think we’ll step outside our age group.”
Unlucky Diamond runner could tackle another Group 1
One of many hard-luck tales in Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond S. was South Australian visitor Dubenenko (Russian Revolution), who finished sixth, but arguably should have run in the top-three.
Trainer Chris Bieg has licked his wounds and is now mulling his options for the filly.
Dubenenko | Image courtesy of Racing SA
“She’s really good. She was back in Adelaide (on Sunday) and was on the water-walker this (Monday) morning. She’s done everything right, she’s bright and happy,” Bieg told News Corp.
“We’ll give her a really quiet week and by Saturday we’ll make a decision whether or not we push on to the VRC Sires’ Produce over 1400 metres. It looks right up her alley.”
Berry ban takes another turn
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission has launched an investigation into Zaid Miller, the punter embroiled in Tommy Berry’s one-year ban served this January, looking into pictures allegedly emerging of Miller in attendance at the Magic Millions raceday earlier this year, whilst he was banned from racetracks.
Berry was banned for “accepting or agreeing to accept a consideration” from bets placed by Miller, which were found to have been paid into his mother’s bank account.
Miller was banned for 15 months on four charges, and was added to the NSW disqualification list. After Berry secured a stay of proceedings to ride at the Gold Coast in January, he’s since revoked them and isn’t riding until his appeal is heard on Wednesday.
“QRIC stewards are aware of the allegation that New South Wales disqualified person, Zaid Miller attended the Gold Coast Magic Millions Race Day on Wednesday, 18 January without the permission of the stewards,” a QRIC spokesman told News Corp.
Kah dreams of Royal Ascot glory
Superstar jockey Jamie Kah was an interested onlooker at Royal Ascot last year, but it could be a different story in 2023.
Kah is in line to partner brilliant filly Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) in England in June and she admits she has allowed herself to dare to dream.
“They were mentioning it, but it doesn’t really hit until you win the race," Kah told Racing.com.
“Now hopefully it’s going to be a reality.
Jamie Kah aboard Coolangatta in their G1 Black Caviar Lightning S. victory | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I always would love to ride at Royal Ascot and this would be a great way to go over there and have a bit of a holiday in between.
“It’s definitely on the bucket list to tick off a winner at Royal Ascot and just to ride there.
“I went there and watched Nature Strip win and the crowd and atmosphere was an amazing feeling, so hopefully this time I am on the other side of the fence.”
Pennyweka primed for Lowland Stakes
Satono Aladdin (Jpn) 3-year-old Pennyweka (NZ) is in fine order ahead of her assault on Wednesday’s G2 Lowland S. (2100 metres), according to her trainer, co-breeder and part-owner, Jim Wallce.
Pennyweka has shown plenty of promise in her seven starts to date, including placing in the G3 Wellington S. (1600 metres) and the G3 Desert Gold S. (1600 metres) at Trentham last month.
Wallace said all the signs are positive in the lead-up to the midweek feature.
Pennyweka (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images (Palmerston North)
“I couldn’t be happier with her. She looks terrific and her work has been good. She is doing well, I just hope that she is good enough,” Wallace commented.
“She has had a bit of time between runs but there was just nothing suitable for her. She is a clean-winded filly and I have been happy with her, she hasn’t needed another run.
“This is her first time over a bit of ground and I am looking forward to that.”
Instructor ruled out of Slipper
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s The Instructor (Russian Revolution) has been sent for a spell according to his co-trainer, and will not contest the G1 Golden Slipper S. After leading until the 100-metre mark in Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond S., the 2-year-old colt faded to finish eighth.
“He'll go to the paddock today (Monday), he's done a fabulous job,” Gai Waterhouse told RSN927.
“He was maybe at the end of his preparation and just stepping up to Group 1, he wasn't quite ready for it. He hasn't lost any admirers.”
Melbourne Cup qualifying program amended
Racing Victoria (RV) and the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) have amended two qualifying races for the G1 Melbourne Cup, after consulting with trainers.
Elevated to a Melbourne Cup ballot exempt race this year, the Listed Roy Higgins - a $500,000 set weights and penalties race at Flemington on Saturday, March 25 - will remain at 2600 metres, not the 2800 metres it had been earmarked for.
The Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800 metres), a $500,000 race at Flemington on Saturday, May 13, will see a change in eligibility conditions. Previously restricted to 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds, it will now be open to 3-year-olds and over.
Five-year-olds and over will carry 58.5kg, 4-year-olds 58kg and 3-year-olds 54kg, with fillies and mares allowed 2kg and Northern Hemisphere 3-year-olds 3kg.
Harsh new penalties for track invaders
Tougher penalties have been introduced to punish track invaders at every Victorian racecourse.
The new provisions passed State Parliament last Thursday and will apply to every race meeting, as well as official trials, from August 31.
Punishments will include fines of up to $11,095 for entering a track during a race or trial.
Racing Minister, Anthony Carbines, believes the changes are a welcome addition.
“These provisions will ensure that race meetings in Victoria are afforded the same protections from stupid and dangerous behaviour as other major events,” he said.
“Fortunately, we haven’t seen a lot of incidents at race meetings but even one is too many given the risks involved, and that’s why we've acted to protect the safety and welfare of racing animals, participants, staff and patrons.”
Vicky Leonard joins TBNSW Board
Thoroughbred Breeders’ New South Wales (TBNSW) has announced the addition of Vicky Leonard as a new director on the TBNSW board.
Via the ‘Kick Up For Racing’ initiative, a project designed and rolled out by Kick Collective, of which she is managing director, Leonard is leading the charge with innovation towards educating the general public with the real facts of the racing and breeding industry.
Leonard, who is a co-owner and managing director of this publication and joins its current board members: President,Hamish Esplin; Vice-President, Paddy Power; Treasurer, Olly Tait; as well as fellow directors Peter Orton, Vin Cox and Trish Egan.
Vicky Leonard
TBNSW President, Hamish Esplin, welcomed Vicky’s appointment, saying: “A popular and respected media marketer and regular racegoer, Vicky is a very personable and highly professional individual and will add enormously to the current board’s skill-set.”
“I’m honoured to be appointed to the Board and hope that my experience in marketing and media can assist in developing initiatives already undertaken by the Association,” Leonard said.
Morphettville development progresses
The South Australian Jockey Club (SAJC) have announced that Villawood Properties and Hostplus will facilitate the $350-million project at Morphettville Racecourse which will see 7.5 hectares of re-zoned land between the track’s hometurn and Anzac Highway transformed into townhouses, apartments and a community plaza including restaurants, supermarkets and retails spaces plus new offices for the SAJC.
"This partnership, and the funds generated through the redevelopment, will help us build on Morphettville's proud legacy and provide the foundations for a thriving club for our current and future members,” SAJC chairman Bob Holton said.
Works are to begin in the middle of 2024.
More Baffert horses moved to Yakteen Barn
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, four more possible G1 Kentucky Derby starters made the move Sunday from the Bob Baffert barn to the stable of Tim Yakteen. The four are possible Derby favourite Arabian Knight (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}), National Treasure (USA) (Quality Road {USA}), Fort Bragg (USA) (Tapit {USA}) and Mr. Fisk (USA) (Arrogate {USA}).
They join Arabian Lion (USA) (Justify {USA}), Carmel Road (USA) (Quality Road {USA}), Hejazi (USA) (Bernardini {USA}) and Reincarnate (USA) (Good Magic {USA}) who landed in the Yakteen barn earlier this month. Reincarnate finished a troubled third in Saturday’s G2 Rebel S. for Yakteen, Baffert’s former assistant.
In addition, Fort Warren (USA) (Curlin {USA}) was sent from Baffert’s stable to Brittany Russell and Harlocap (USA) (Justify {USA}), who broke his maiden for Baffert, ran for Steve Asmussen when sixth in the G2 Risen Star S.
Bob Baffert | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
Because of a suspension put in place by Churchill Downs, Baffert is not eligible to enter horses in the Derby and any horse still in his barn after Tuesday will not be eligible to accrue points for the Derby.
“I was trying to set up as smooth a transition as I could for the horses and the owners and still allow them to get Derby points,” Baffert told the Times. “It’s hard on the grooms that have been working with the horses for a year or so. We've all been around these horses and in some cases we found them (at the sales). Our whole program is based on 3-year-olds and the Kentucky Derby. It’s tough to give them up. We thought we had a good chance to get an injunction, but we didn’t. So, we’ve got to move forward, we’ve got to move on.”
