Daily News Wrap

Giga Kick on song for TJ tilt

Reigning The Everest champion Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) is in great shape ahead of next week’s G1 TJ Smith S., according to trainer Clayton Douglas.

Following his enormous first-up run in the G2 Challenge S., Giga Kick won a jump-out at Mornington on Wednesday, clocking 55.99s for the 900-metre journey.

“I felt there was nice improvement there as well, so going to the 1200 metres second-up is definitely up our alley,” Douglas told Racing.com.

“Hopefully, he can begin away cleanly, I don't think there was anything in that first-up, just it was a bit of bad luck from those two horses bumping into him.

“It was a super run, obviously the sectionals were there to be seen with the fastest last 600, 400 and 200 metres of the day and he was really solid through the line.”

Zac Purton will replace the injured Craig Williams in the $3 million sprint at Randwick on April 1.

Artorius has run his last race in Australia

Dual Group 1 winner Artorius won’t race again in Australia.

The son of Flying Artie will return to Royal Ascot in June to contest the G1 Platinum Jubilee S.

Following his UK campaign, Artorius will return to Australia to begin his stud career at Newgate Farm.

Co-trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman said via a statement that Artorius was “now in the paddock enjoying a short break before we begin preparations towards Royal Ascot”.

“We would like to thank and congratulate all the people behind the scenes in the stable as well as his owners on Artorius’ career to date,” they said.

“We are sure he will do us all proud abroad again.”

Artorius won the G1 Blue Diamond S. in 2023 and the Canterbury S. earlier this month.

Maher hopes Bella will bounce back at happy hunting ground

Ciaron Maher hopes a return to The Valley will bring out the best in star mare Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), who contests the G1 William Reid S. on Friday night.

The 5-year-old, who won the G1 Manikato S. and was runner-up to stablemate Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) in the G1 Moir S., both at The Valley, finished 12th, beaten 9.35l in the G1 Newmarket H. last time out.

“She travels well, deep into her races and she has a sharp turn of foot which seems to help her ping off the bend,” Maher, who trains alongside David Eustace, said.

“I couldn't have been happier with her first-up and being on that firmer track… whether she just thought about it next time round.”

Meanwhile, stablemate and Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), will back up in Saturday’s G1 Tancred S. after his unplaced run in the G1 Ranvet S.

Maher said: “I was hoping there would be a bit more rain about in Sydney, which is something you don’t normally have to worry about at this time of year, but a shower of rain would definitely help him.”

James hopes Prowess is up to acid test

Cambridge-based trainer Roger James admits he’s unsure if the New Zealand form will hold up in Saturday’s G1 Vinery Stud S. at Randwick.

James and co-trainer Robert Wellwood will send out Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) - a last-start winner of the G1 Bonecrusher NZ S. at Pukekohe - in the $600,000 contest.

“We haven't touched that territory and we're going to find out a lot,” James said.

“There looks to be some good fillies around and we’re going to take another step up but she’s done nothing to disappoint at home at this stage.

“She’s a good filly.”

The filly will jump from gate four under Mark Zahra.

Campionessa fails to secure Australian Cup start

Mark Walker’s disappointment at Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) failing to make the field for Saturday’s G1 Australian Cup at Flemington was palpable on Wednesday.

The Te Akau Racing head trainer admitted he was struggling to process news that Campionessa was left stranded as the second ballot for the weight-for-age feature, having spoken to Racing Victoria officials earlier in the week and receiving assurances she would secure a run.

The Group 2 victress has finished second in Group 1 weight-for-age races at her last two starts.

“In recent years they haven’t had a full field but with the rail out eight metres, they can only run 16, whereas every other year they can run 18 with the rail in. I’m just still trying to process it,” Walker said.

“The Racing Victoria guys can’t believe it themselves. Just with the prizemoney and the way they scale it and with New Zealand prizemoney so low, it’s meant she’s missed out.

“We just didn't expect it. Racing Victoria didn’t expect it. They’re gutted as well because she’s an in-form horse and should be in the race.”

Howley has faith in Virtuous Circle

Kyneton-based trainer Liam Howley is confident lightly raced 3-year-old Virtuous Circle (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) won’t disgrace himself in Saturday’s G1 Australian Cup.

The Group 2 runner-up is one of two 3-year-olds in the race, with Bank Maur (Maurice {Jpn}) set to back up from his win in last week’s G2 Alister Clark S. at The Valley

“I couldn’t be happier, he is fit and well and ready to go. It will be three weeks between runs, I am looking forward to it,” Howley said.

“There is genuine improvement in him. I think we didn’t get a fair crack at it (last start), his last 150 metres was clearly his best 150 metres, and the way he came through it suggests he is certainly looking for the 2000 metres.

“I am keen to see him on the big track.”

Blaike McDougall will ride the two-time winner, who will break from barrier two.

Illation ready to return

Promising So You Think (NZ) entire Illation will line up at Flemington on Saturday.

The 4-year-old, who was last seen contesting the G1 Memsie S. in August last year, runs in a 1400-metre handicap.

The Mick Price and Mick Kent Jnr-trained galloper underwent throat surgery after his Memsie flop.

“He’s had three jump-outs, he’ll get the minimum (54kg) so Mark Zahra can’t stick; Blaike McDougall will get the ride on him,” Kent Jnr told Racing.com.

“He’s done everything right, he’s clean-winded, he’s sound, he’s fit; hopefully we see the Illation of old.”

Exhibition gallop for Nature Strip

Three-time G1 TJ Smith S. champion Nature Strip (Nicconi) was put through his paces in-between races at Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday, with James McDonald partnering the superstar in an exhibition gallop.

The 8-year-old worked over 1000 metres, dashing home his final 600 metres in 33.84s.

Nature Strip will attempt to win the TJ Smith S. for the fourth time in succession on April 1.

Full field for William Reid

Friday night’s G1 William Reid S. at The Valley has a full field of 14 runners, including one 3-year-old, after Jason Warren accepted with Benedetta (Hellbent).

A last-start winner of the Inglis Sprint, Benedetta will look to emulate the deeds of her sire, who won the race in 2018, if she takes her place in the field.

Benedetta would also become the third 3-year-old filly to win the race in the past five years, Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) in 2020 and Sunlight (Zoustar) in 2019.

Benedetta is also an acceptance for Saturday’s Listed Sunlight Classic at Flemington.

Treble for Zac Lloyd

Talented apprentice Zac Lloyd logged a city treble at Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday.

Lloyd got off the mark aboard Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) in Race 1, made it a double when patrtnering Airman (I Am Invincible) to victory in Race 4, before notching the treble on Luvoir (Deep Field) in Race 6.

McEvoy confident about Cleveland

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy took his first sit on the Sydney Cup favourite on Wednesday morning, the Joseph O’Brien visitor Cleveland (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), and reported back on a horse fit and well. Cleveland may take his place in this Saturday’s G1 Tancred S. before heading into The Championships.

“He came out here pretty fit so they are just out here doing routine work,” McEvoy said. “He’s a nice, strong horse with a good attitude and good action. He’s got a nice tank there, which has been built up over previous seasons in Ireland. He gave me a nice feel and he’s moving really well.”

Five-year-old Cleveland is lightly raced with just eight runs to his name. He was a maiden winner two years ago at the Curragh and has been since second at Group 3 level at Leopardstown.

Fireburn ready to win?

Last season’s Golden Slipper winner Fireburn (Rubick) is yet to win a race as a 3-year-old, but her trainer Gary Portelli has said that she’ll have her best opportunity this weekend when she lines up in the G1 Vinery Stud S. at Rosehill Gardens. A combination of a better gate, possible rain and a step-up in distance may all work in her favour.

“Over 2000 metres there’s no reason why she can’t be in that sweet spot,” Portelli told journalist Ray Hickson. “More than likely, she’s going to be close to the first quarter of the field and I’m sure she’ll run the distance. Just a softish track will be alright.”

Fireburn was a last-start fourth in the G2 Phar Lap S. a fortnight ago, with luckless runs in both the G1 Surround S. and G2 Light Fingers S. before that.

Trix Of The Trade gets into The Quokka

The 4-year-old gelding Trix Of The Trade (Trade Fair {GB}), trained at Ascot by Colin Webster, is the latest horse to secure a slot in the $4 million The Quokka next month. The horse was a winner in November of the G1 Railway S. in Western Australia, and enjoyed a four-race winning streak last season, three of which were at stakes level.

Trix Of The Trade will join Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}), Bella Nipotina and Shades Of Rose (Rubick) as confirmed The Quokka starters, and he will take the slot of The Chief Racing Syndicate.

“He is a super horse and we are proud to be partnering with Bill and Pat Robinson (the horse’s owners),” said Peter Scott, manager of The Chief Racing Syndicate. “To have a horse in our slot of the calibre of Trix Of The Trade is exciting, and he has an excellent chance of winning.”

Aegon for HK Champions’ Mile

Trainer Andrew Forsman is sending his frequent flyer Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) to Hong Kong next month for the G1 Champions’ Mile at Sha Tin on April 30. Connections will bypass another crack at an Australian feature race.

“We were going to run him in the Doncaster Mile, but when Hong Kong came up we accepted that,” Forsman told NZ Racing Desk. “It’s probably going to be a small field, which will suit him, with a few likely to run away from Golden Sixty.”

The Australian-bred Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) has won the last two editions of the Champions’ Mile. Five-year-old Aegon has run his last three races in Australia and was ninth last weekend in The All-Star Mile.

Dual hand for Stephen Marsh in Breeders’ Stakes

Kiwi trainer Stephen Marsh will have two horses in this Saturday’s G3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Riccarton. They are the 4-year-old mares Divine Sava (NZ) (Savabeel) and Miss Ella (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), the pair running a tidy quinella at Wingatui earlier this month.

“They’ve had a quiet sort of time since Wingatui,” Marsh told NZ Racing Desk. “The mile at Riccarton really is ideal. There could be a bit of rain there and that should suit them both.”

Champions Day attracts strong entries from Australia

A host of Australian-based horses have been entered for next month’s Champions Day features at Sha Tin.

Giga Kick (Scissor Kick), Lofty Strike (Snitzel) and Nature Strip (Nicconi) are among those enetered for the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

In the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Hinged (Worthy Cause), Emissary (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Williamsburg (Snitzel), Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) and Laws Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) feature among the entries.

And the G1 Champions Mile sees entries held by the likes of Hinged, Zaaki, Laws Of Indices and My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Racing SA expands support of Equestrian Festival

Racing SA has extended and expanded its sponsorship of the Adelaide Equestrian Festival, formerly known as the Australian International 3 Day Event. The event is being held in April this year for the first time ahead of four consecutive weeks of Group 1 racing in Adelaide.

“It’s a chance to build relationships with key equine stakeholders, to stimulate demand for retired thoroughbreds and showcase what we are doing with our career and welfare programs,” said Nick Bawden, Racing SA’s general manager of operations. “We are taking our sponsorship to the next level with a new three-year deal, and supporting an event which features participants who love horses but may not have much exposure to the racing industry.”

The Adelaide Equestrian Festival runs from April 20-23 at the Eastern Parklands, Adelaide.

Good Magic colt makes US$2 million

A colt by the American sire Good Magic (USA) lit up the sale ring at the 2023 OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale on Tuesday, fetching US$2 million (AU$2.9 million), a record-equalling price. The winning bid came from Bob Baffert, matching the price paid for Chestertown (USA) (Tapit {USA}) at this sale in 2019, and the final buyer was Amr Zedan.

Hip 546 was consigned by Torie and Jimbo Gladwell’s Top Line Sales, the Gladwells having purchased the colt as a yearling last year for US$190,000 (AU$285,000). He had clocked 9⅗ seconds last week in the breeze-up sessions.

Gun Runner colt tops Dubai Breeze-Up Sale

A colt from the third crop of Gun Runner (USA) topped the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale on Tuesday, selling to Stephen Hillen for prominent owner Dr Jim Hay for €543,210 (AU$875,000). Hillen also secured the second-most expensive lot of the sale, a Justify (USA) half-brother to stakes-winner Fog Of War (USA) (War Front {USA}).

A total of 63 horses were offered during the sale, which took place in the parade ring at Meydan Racecourse. Of these, 42 were sold for an 18.2 per cent decrease on aggregate compared to last year’s inaugural sale. The clearance rate of 67 per cent was also significantly down on last year’s figure of 80 per cent.

“The second renewal of the Dubai Breeze-Up in association with Goffs was another sale of vibrant sales ring action,” said Goffs' Henry Beeby. “Whilst the clearance rate was slightly down on last year, the average and particularly the median has grown considerably which demonstrated that the quality was selling extremely well.”