McDonald set for Hong Kong stint
James McDonald is set to join the Hong Kong riding ranks for a short-term stint, beginning on Thursday, November 23 and concluding on Monday, January 1.
McDonald has had success in the jurisdiction most notably through the Danny Shum-trained Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who McDonald recently partnered to a landmark victory in the G1 Cox Plate in Australia.
Schiller eyes The Hunter after suspension quashed
Jockey Tyler Schiller has successfully had a careless riding suspension overturned, allowing him to partner Coal Crusher (Turffontein) in The Hunter at Newcastle on Saturday.
Tyler Schiller | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Schiller, represented by lawyer Wayne Pasterfield, successfully argued that he adequately reacted to correct Straight Acer (Headwater) in the $10 million Golden Eagle on November 4. His mount shifted in, with the subsequent chain reaction severely hampering Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}), in an incident that left Damian Lane saying, “Glad I came back in the jockeys' room alive” in the immediate aftermath.
Gleeson hopes for low barrier
Te Akau Racing’s Melbourne foreman, Ben Gleeson is hopeful Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) will receive a single-digit barrier for her tilt at Saturday’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S.
“The key to Skew Wiff is drawing a soft barrier,” Gleeson told Racenet.
“We saw in that win last week, when she has to work and not get a pull into it, she’s not very versatile. She has to be snookered up behind horses and allowed to have the last crack at them.
“When Skew Wiff won the Tarzino, she had cover and when the gap comes, she has a really good sprint on her. We want to keep that held up our sleeve.”
Craig Williams will partner the daughter of Savabeel in the Sir Rupert Clarke on Saturday.
No Sir Rupert Clarke for Noches
Last Saturday’s G1 Champions Sprint placegetter Buenos Noches (Supido) will not contest this weekend’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield.
Trainer Matthew Smith confirmed on Tuesday morning the son of Supido would not take his place, and despite being allocated as the 58kg topweight it was not the defining factor in not running.
Buenos Noches | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“Buenos Noches is not running, he just hasn’t come through last Saturday’s run the way I would have liked, so we’ll just wait now, get him back to Sydney and get him ready for the autumn,” Smith told RSN.
“He's not running, he just hasn't come through the run the way I would have liked, so we'll just wait now, get him back to Sydney and get him ready for the autumn,” Smith said.
“It’s all about trying to get that Group 1 on the board with him and I think the Lightning and the Newmarket are good races for him, so we’ll give it another shot and see how we go.”
Kah and Tuvalu to combine in Perth
Jamie Kah has been engaged to partner Lindsey Smith’s Group 1 winner Tuvalu (Kermadec {NZ}) in Perth. Smith shared that the gelding would line up in the G1 Railway S., the G1 Northerly S. and possibly the Gold Rush.
Despite not winning Tuvalu had a nice spring preparation finishing second in the G1 Might And Power S. behind Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) and Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) in the G2 Crystal Mile. The gelding will travel to Sydney on Sunday and then fly from there to Perth on Monday.
Claidheamh Mor ready to fire
Pakenham-based trainer Gemma Rielly will prepare her Coleraine Cup victor Claidheamh Mor (Dundeel {NZ}) for a tilt at Saturday’s rich Country Cup Final. The $500,000 race will be held over 2000 metres and has Rielly confident of a bold showing.
“Claidheamh Mor is really good,” Rielly told Racing.com.
Claidheamh Mor | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Maktoob is going to be hard to beat - there’s going to be some horses that are hard to beat, but it maps really well for Claidheamh Mor in this race.
“He’ll be weighted really well, and he comes into it on a good program. Some of them are going to have to back up, as they’ve tried to squeeze their horses into these Country Cups in the last sort of hours, so he maps really well and he’s coming into it on fresh legs.
“Win, lose or draw, he’ll have a good support crew at Caulfield.”
Ayrton back to his best?
Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr is confident Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) is back to his best heading into Saturday’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S.
The 6-year-old won the Listed Weekend Hussler S. in his return to racing and then was unplaced in the G2 The Damien Oliver.
“Ayrton had to go back from a wide gate last start. We thought it was a terrific preparation run for the Sir Rupert Clarke,” Kent Jnr told Racing.com.
“The old boy is back, I reckon. Ayrton is unbeaten at Caulfield and you’ve got to forget his last preparation. He deserves a Group 1.”
Ben Melham has been engaged to ride Ayrton on Saturday.
Bowman update
The Hong Kong Jockey Club have confirmed that Hugh Bowman will be out of the saddle for up to eight weeks after being involved in a fall last Saturday at Sha Tin.
Hugh Bowman | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“The club’s chief medical officer has assessed jockey, Hugh Bowman, and advised that Bowman has fractured his right scapula and three vertebrae and is expected to be unfit to resume riding for a period of six to eight weeks,” the statement from the HKJC read.
Bentley pleads guilty
English-born hoop Harry Bentley has been suspended for two months and fined HK$300,000 (AU$60,000) by stewards from the Hong Kong Jockey Club for improper conduct.
Bentley was stood down on Friday, November 3 as the Hong Kong Jockey Club investigated a ‘potential disciplinary matter.’
However, the details around the potential breach was not disclosed to the public until the matter was finalised on Monday evening that saw Bentley plead guilty too, “misconduct, improper conduct or inappropriate behaviour.”
Bentley reportedly had inappropriate communications and provided information about horses he had ridden in trackwork, barrier trials and races to “persons who were not registered owners or nominators of such horses,” using a private mobile they had given him. Bentley also agreed to “accept payment from a person who was not the nominator of a horse in relation to a race he had ridden in.”
In a statement from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, chief steward, Marc Van Gestel said, “Harry Bentley’s guilty plea, the nature and circumstances of the breach, including that the evidence established that Mr Bentley did not receive payment, of the offence and his unblemished record in relation to similar offences all came into account.”
Skybird looks around Caulfield
Ballarat-based trainer Mitch Freedman travelled to Caulfield on Tuesday morning to give his G1 Thousand Guineas runner Skybird (Exosphere) a look around the course.
The filly, ridden by her regular partner Beau Mertens, sat off her workmate, ridden by Freedman, before under light riding shaded her partner on the line.
“I was really happy with Skybird, she just sat off her workmate, joined in up the straight and she seemed to quicken really well and take it all in,” Freedman told RSN.
Skybird | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Beau (Mertens) was happy, so she ticked the boxes this morning. We’re not out at Caulfield to test them, just give them a look around, stretch their legs and let them enjoy it.
“Skybird had a little victory near the line, she stuck her head in front, so she should be feeling good about herself after that.”
Numerian sets eyes on Perth prize
Classy import Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) will be one of the headline acts of the upcoming Pinnacles carnival in Western Australia. The Annabel Neasham-trained gelding will attempt to capture both the G1 Northerly S. and G2 Perth Cup as part of his campaign. Also scheduled to make the trip over are Roots (Press Statement), who will compete in the G1 Railway S., and Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) who will attempt the Railway-Northerly double, last completed by Sniper’s Bullet (Bite The Bullet {USA}) in 2009.
World Pool moment of the year finalists announced
Amongst a year of top-quality action, four victories have stood tall as finalists for the World Pool ‘Moment of the Year’ for 2023. The final four now move to a public vote, which is open until November 27, affords the winning groom a VIP trip to Hong Kong for either Hong Kong Derby Day or Champions Day in 2024. The finalists are:
Ozzmosis pictured with his groom Olivea Staveley after winning the G1 Coolmore Stud S. | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
- Tomohiro Kusunoki, groom of Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), winner of the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on March 25.
- Paige Harrison, groom of Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), winner of the G1 Commonwealth Cup on June 23.
- Raj Rasiah, groom of Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), winner of the G1 Goodwood Cup on August 1.
- Olivea Staveley, groom of Ozzmosis (Zoustar), winner of the Coolmore Stud S. on November 4.
Auguste Rodin to stay in training
It may be November, but Aidan O'Brien has already whet the appetite for next season by announcing that dual Derby and Breeders' Cup winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will stay in training as a 4-year-old.
Auguste Rodin capped off a brilliant campaign with a sensational success in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita under an inspired Ryan Moore just over a week ago.
It was viewed by many as the perfect swansong by the coveted son of Deep Impact (Jpn) but, when Auguste Rodin did not feature on the list of stallion fees published by Coolmore recently, tongues were sent wagging.
Indeed, O'Brien confirmed on Monday morning that Auguste Rodin's stallion duties will be put on hold for another year, and agreed that the colt was up there with the most exciting older horses ever to stay in training at Ballydoyle.
O'Brien told TDN Europe, “We're obviously delighted. The lads had to see that he came back okay from the Breeders' Cup and then they made their decision. It's brilliant for us all, really.”
Auguste Rodin has won seven of his 10 starts. Along with his Derby triumphs at Epsom and the Curragh, he also landed the prestigious G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown. All told, Auguste Rodin's Group 1 tally stands at five with promise of more to come.
Asked if it was fair to describe Auguste Rodin as one of the most exciting older horses to stay in training at Ballydoyle, O'Brien added, “I think that's right. This is a unique, once-off horse and the lads are very conscious of that. They love racing and, as I said, he's only a once-off and there won't ever be another one like Auguste Rodin. He's very exciting with a view towards next year.”
Tally-Ho introduces Good Guess – Mehmas to stand at €50,000
Tally-Ho Stud has announced that new recruit Good Guess (GB) will stand at €17,500 (AU$29,300) in 2024 while Mehmas (Ire) has been dropped to a fee of €50,000 (AU83,800).
The stud's flagbearer Kodiac GB), the sire of Good Guess, has also had his fee relaxed to €35,000 (AU$58,700) for 2024.
A statement published on Monday read, “We are delighted to announce that G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Good Guess will stand his first season in 2024 at a fee of €17,500.
Mehmas (Ire) | Standing at Tally-Ho Stud
“A 420,000gns yearling from the family of Classic-winning miler Russian Rhythm, Good Guess retires as the winner of four races highlighted by this season's G1 Prix Jean Prat, in which he defeated Group 1 performers such as Chaldean, Hi Royal and Meditate.
“Good Guess is the first Group 1-winning son of Kodiac to stud in Britain and Ireland and shares his sire with successful sons such as Ardad, Coulsty, Kodi Bear and Prince Or Lir, all of whom have been represented by G1 performers in the past two seasons.”
It continued, “Kodiac himself will stand for €35,000. Now the sire of close to 200 stakes performers, Kodiac enjoyed another excellent year on the track highlighted by the Group 1 achievements of Good Guess in addition to Relief Rally, his fourth winner of the G2 Lowther Stakes, G2 Minstrel Stakes winner Zarinsk, and the exciting G3 Killavullan Stakes winner Atlantic Coast.”
Fee increase for Golden Horn
Overbury Stud has released the fees for its flat roster, with Ardad (Ire) remaining at £12,500 (AU$24,000) in 2024 while the fee for Golden Horn (GB) has been increased to £10,000 (AU$19,200) on the back of a season in which he was represented by the G2 Queen's Vase winner Gregory (GB) and G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup winner Trawlerman (GB).
Golden Horn, who covered 173 mares this spring, stood his first season at Overbury Stud in 2023, having moved from Dalham Hall Stud after his purchase by Jayne McGivern. His fellow new recruit was Caturra (Ire), a son of Mehmas (Ire), who has been cut to £5000 (AU$9600).
Simon Sweeting, manager of Overbury Stud, said, “We are very lucky to have such popular stallions who are achieving plenty and yet have even more to look forward to. Ardad's young stock from his excellent 2022 book of mares includes many quite outstanding individuals, and so many breeders have bred back to him to get more of the same. These big books he's had really do stand him in great stead. Meanwhile, Golden Horn has had a really tremendous year: nine Stakes winners, five at Group level – he's outperforming many stallions at far higher fees.”
The fees for Overbury's other stallions, Jack Hobbs (GB), Frontiersman (GB) and Schiaparelli (Ger), will be set later in the year.
