Hellbent sires a double
The Yarraman Park Stud-based Hellbent sired a double on Saturday. At Rockhampton, it was the Tony Gollan-trained Blue Spinel who took out the Claude Green Memorial Class 1 H. with apprentice Angela Jones aboard, the 3-year-old filly made it back-to-back wins by 1.86l from Peggie Boom (Spirit Of Boom). Blue Spinel was bred and co-owned by J M Collins.
Hellbent | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Hellbent’s second winner came courtesy of the Benjamin Smith-trained Liangelo at Newcastle, who saluted in a maiden with Robyn Freeman in the saddle from Tender Streak (Zoustar).
Liangelo was a $100,000 yearling purchase by ML Racing from the draft of Davali Thoroughbreds at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Hellbent will stand the 2023 breeding season for $38,500 (inc GST).
Gibbons outrides claim
Rising star apprentice Dylan Gibbons had a landmark Saturday at Randwick. Gibbons rode his 80th city winner to outride his claim aboard the Bjorn Baker-trained Battleton (Zoustar) in Race 5.
Dylan Gibbons | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Battleton was the third of four winners for Gibbons, who also partnered the Wayne Wilkes-trained Chase My Crown (Hallowed Crown) in Race 2 and the Adam Duggan-trained Diamond Diesel (Mossman) in Race 4 and took out the feature the Listed Winter S. on Ucalledit (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) for Kris Lees.
Russian sires the trifecta
On Saturday, the flying Russian Revolution sired the first three across the line in the Vale Ray Selkrig H. at Randwick.
The progressive Michael Freedman-trained Insurrection took out the race, who made it back-to-back victories at Randwick, the 3-year-old gelding was followed by his paternal siblings Brudenell and Secret Revolution in second and third.
Gaudray and Hefel ride doubles
The battle for the Melbourne apprentice title for the 2022/23 season continued on Saturday when Carleen Hefel and Celine Gaudray rode doubles at Caulfield.
Hefel, who is three wins ahead of Gaudray, took out the G3 Sir John Monash S. on the Peter Moody-trained Sigh (No Nay Never {USA}), then partnered the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Flash Flood (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the last. Gaudray, not to be outdone, rode the Julius Sandhu-trained Thorin (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) and the James Cummings-trained Kin (Impending).
Maloney lands a double
The in-form Ryan Maloney rode a double at Doomben on Saturday before relocating to Sydney for the spring carnival.
Ryan Maloney | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Maloney, who is set to embark on the harbour city and ride his first meeting on July 29, partnered with the Tony Gollan-trained Count Da Beans (Spill The Beans) in Race 5 and then rode the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Blaze A Trail (Criterion {NZ}) in Race 6.
Yendall falls foul of stewards
Victorian-based jockey Dean Yendall returned to riding after a holiday in Bali but ultimately fell foul of Racing Victoria stewards and was found guilty of careless riding on Saturday.
Stewards imposed a 10-meeting ban on Yendall, due to begin on Monday, July 10 and end on Monday, July 21.
Dean Yendall | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Yendall won aboard the Paul Preusker-trained Torranzino (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) and was found to cause interference to the unplaced Sir Juggernaut (Flying Artie) and Makalu (Redoute’s Choice) when riding the galloper.
Half-brother to Bustler wins again
The Trevor Andrews-trained A Lot Of Good Men (A Lot {USA}) brought up his third career victory from six starts to win on Saturday at Belmont.
The 2-year-old colt was ridden by Paul Harvey and won by 0.35l from Skytalker (I’m All The Talk) and Odinaka, also a son of A Lot (USA).
A Lot Of Good Men is a half-brother to the Group 3-winning Bustler (Playing God).
The colt was a $42,500 yearling purchase by Trevor Andews from the draft of Mungrup at the 2022 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
A Lot will stand the 2023 breeding season at Phil and Lindy Ibbotson's Westbury Park in Western Australia for $9350 (inc GST).
Tough as old boots, Shamedy wins again
The Graeme Green-trained 2-year-old gelding Shamedy (Better Than Ready) scored his fourth career victory from 10 starts at Rockhampton on Saturday.
The gelding was ridden by Les Tilley and won by 1.32l from In Evidence (Nicconi) and Gold Revolution (Russian Revolution), further away in third in the 1200-metre event.
Shamedy has won over $100,000 in prizemoney. The juvenile is the third foal from the Shamardal (USA) mare Ehtifaal.
Shamedy was a $90,000 yearling purchase by Green Racing from the draft of Newhaven Park at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Better Than Ready will stand the 2023 breeding season at Lyndhurst Stud Farm for $27,500 (inc GST).
Master Jamie defends Rockhampton Cup title
It was a Saturday to remember for trainer Grahame Green and jockey Les Tilley. Green and Tilley combined in the opening event at Callaghan Park, Rockhampton, with the 2-year-old Shamedy (Better Than Ready).
They combined again in the feature with Master Jamie (Poet’s Voice {GB}), who defended his title in the Rockhampton Cup. It was the 18th victory for the 6-year-old gelding, purchased for just $10,000 by Ron and Bev White and Maureen Olive from the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
Green also trained Top Spy (Top Echelon), who took out the Capricorn Guineas.
Blueblooded Diabelli wins at Newcastle
It took five starts for the James Cummings-trained and Godolphin-owned Diabelli (Fastnet Rock) to put it all together, but the 2-year-old gelding scored comfortably at Newcastle over 1300 metres on Saturday.
Diabelli was partnered by Christian Reith and won by 1.06l from Andronicus (I Am Invincible) and Outkandy (Outreach), further away in third.
The gelding is the second foal from the unraced Dubawi (Ire) mare Wedding Veil (Ire). She is a daughter of Gossamer (GB) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) who was the Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in Ireland in 2002, by winning the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and the G1 Fillies Mile at Ascot.
Sandhu’s Caulfield double
The Cranbourne-based trainer Julius Sandhu enjoyed a Saturday double at Caulfield. Sandhu sent out Thorin (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) in Race 2, partnered by the inform Celine Gaudray, the 5-year-old gelding scored by 1.5l.
Julius Sandhu | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sandhu then saddled up the 6-year-old gelding Ulysses (Dawn Approach {Ire}), who, with Tatum Bull aboard, narrowly won Race 6.
Chindit bought by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, will remain in training prior to Indian stud career
Three-time Group winner Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has been purchased by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, and will remain with trainer Richard Hannon for a European campaign prior to a stallion career in India. The former Michael Pescod-owned runner will stand at Poonawalla Stud Farms upon retirement. The news was first reported by the Racing Post.
A winner of the G2 Champagne S. at two, the G3 Greenham S. at three and the G2 Summer Mile S. in 2022, the 5-year-old has also been placed twice in the G1 Lockinge S., including a second-place effort in May.
“We are pleased to announce our brilliant, seven-time winning miler Chindit, has been bought by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla,” Hannon said on Twitter. “He'll remain in training with us for the foreseeable (future) and looks to have a future stallion career in India. We wish his new connections the best of luck with him.”
Coronation runner-up Remarquee purchased by Wathnan Racing
Group 3 winner Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}) has been purchased privately by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. She has been entered in his Wathnan Racing colours for Newmarket's G1 Falmouth S. later this month.
Owned through her first four starts by Julian Richmond-Watson, the 3-year-old daughter of Listed winner and dual Group 3-placed Regardez (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) won her first racecourse appearance at Salisbury at two and the G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury this spring. Unplaced in the G1 1000 Guineas, the Lawn Stud-bred rebounded to run second in the G1 Coronation S., just a length behind Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) at Royal Ascot.
Earlier Wathnan purchases include G3 Greenham S. winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains second Isaac Shelby (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), as well as Royal Ascot winners Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), who won the G2 Queen's Vase, and G1 Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Champion Wonder Wheel retired, to sell at Fasig-Tipton November
Wonder Wheel (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) the 2022 champion 2-year-old filly, has been retired after finishing eighth in the July 1 G3 Selene S. at Woodbine, reports Jon Green, the general manager of the owner, D.J. Stables. She will be sold this fall at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale.
After clinching an Eclipse Award with her win in the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Wonder Wheel struggled this year, going 0-for-4. In the Selene, she was beaten over 20l
“Wonder Wheel has been battling a couple of minor issues since her 2-year-old year,” Green said. “She had bone bruising and a minor ankle injury. We gave her some time off and did a little procedure on her ankle to take care of a flake. Unfortunately, because she is a 17-hand beast, she continued to have some bone bruising and the same ankle has been an issue. This week, we decided that because she would need some time before we could run her again that we'd pull the plug on her racing career. She's been so valuable to us as a race horse. She's a champion and a two-time Grade I winner. She's too valuable a horse to continue to run her when she's not 100 per cent.”
“Normally, when you campaign a horse of Wonder Wheel's calibre you're always looking at what will be their next race,” Green said. “You are constantly looking forward. With her, I actually had the opportunity to enjoy watching her run and not worrying about what's next. It really was a thrill, especially the first five races of her career. It was nothing like I had felt before and we have campaigned other Grade I winners and champions like Jaywalk.”
Green said that Wonder Wheel was always a favorite because she was named by his mother Lois. Lois Green passed away in May at the age of 84.
“The reason why Wonder Wheel is so special to me is that my mom, who recently passed, named Wonder Wheel,” he said. “Normally, we don't get too emotional about horses and try to treat it as a business. But Wonder Wheel will always be near and dear to my heart because my mom named her.”
Wonder Wheel won four of eight career starts
