Daily News Wrap

Giga Kick encounters setback

Star sprinter Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) could be sidelined for the autumn, as he continues to recover from a muscle injury sustained in the early part of the spring.

The Clayton Douglas-trained two-time Group 1 winner was slated to kick off his campaign in the G1 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington on February 17, but those plans have been shelved.

“Unfortunately, it’s just taking a bit longer than we would’ve liked,” Douglas said.

“We had some scans done the other day and it just hadn’t really healed how we thought it might have, he’ll have another couple of scans in a couple of weeks and we will know a bit more then.

“The early part of the autumn is definitely out of contention at this stage.

“We’ll take a fairly conservative approach this autumn with him. We haven’t made any plans we’ll just wait until he is 100 per cent ready to roll.”

RV needs to look at racing ecosystem, says MVRC boss

Michael Browell, CEO at the Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC), believes Racing Victoria (RV) needs to look at the “ecosystem” of Victorian racing, including the number of race meetings held in the state and prizemoney.

He also said Victoria’s prizemoney pool needs to reflect wagering and revenue, noting wagering has softened on the back of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“I think there’s a good opportunity now as we finish up this current long-term wagering partnership with Tabcorp through the joint venture, to have a look at the racing model here in Victoria,” Browell told Racing.com.

“The volume of race meetings, the number of races, the prizemoney model, how we distribute that, the relationships back with the clubs, the media landscape’s different here than what it is in other states.

“There’s a whole ecosystem that plays into the Victorian racing model. There’s a lot of interested stakeholders there that want the right outcome. And I think now’s a good opportunity to perhaps rebalance all of that as we move into the new arrangement in August 2024.”

Maher/Eustace with three in Inglis Nursery

Melbourne Cup-winning trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will tackle Saturday’s R. Listed Inglis Nursery at Randwick with three runners.

Maher/Eustace will have debut winner Deep Joy (Deep Field), Sacred Fort (Tassort), who placed third in the same race, and the G3 Maribyrnong Plate placegetter Odinson (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).

John Sargent will run first-starter Tokyo Lady (Tassort) - a $50,000 buy for Tricolours Racing & Syndications from the Cannon Hayes Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale (Highway Session).

“She is a natural 2-year-old. She’s not very big, but we’ll run her and she should do well,” the Randwick-based trainer told Racing And Sports.

A field of 15 is set to face the starter.

The Ingham draws capacity field

One of the last opportunities to pick up a feature race victory in 2023 has garnered plenty of interest, with 24 acceptors for the 2023 running of the G2 The Ingham S.

Last-start winners Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}), King Magnus (Magnus), Attractable (I Am Invincible), Charterhouse (GB) (Charming Thought {GB}) and Phearson (Exosphere) headline a 20-horse field, competing for a share in $2 million in prizemoney.

First emergency Williamsburg (Snitzel) is sweating on a start after his narrow defeat at Rosehill on Saturday.

Dwyer eyes Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic

Trainer Henry Dwyer is confident his talented juvenile Macocha (NZ) is a strong chance to improve her record to two wins from as many starts on Saturday. The Street Boss (USA) filly, who scored on debut at Ballarat last month, will again line up on her home track, this time in the $250,000 Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic.

“She’s in great order, she’s come through it (her debut) well and I look forward to seeing where she measures up against those other ones,” Dwyer told Racing.com.

“She’s a nice filly, we’ve always liked her.

“Her pedigree is good and she is a beautiful filly.”

Unite And Conquer on the board

It was a perfect start for first-season sire Unite And Conquer, the son of Hinchinbrook siring a winner with his first runner, with What A Doozy scoring at Ipswich.

Given a patient steer in the small field by comeback jockey Michael Rodd, the 2-year-old filly was able to grab Rhumb Line (Zousain) and repel a late challenge from odds-on favourite Moet At Midnight (The Mission) to win for Sunshine Coast-based trainer Liam Birchley.

Unite And Conquer managed just three starts in his career, winning the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. and the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong Classic, before injury derailed a promising career.

Changes to layout of Moonee Valley imminent, Cox Plate to Cranbourne?

The iconic Moonee Valley Racecourse will be forever changed as part of the upcoming redevelopment, which will almost double the length of the current home straight.

Numerous changes are planned for the overall layout of the circuit, with the home straight increasing in length from 173 metres to 317 metres. The circumference will decrease from 1800 metres down to around 1700 metres, while the track will widen from 24 metres to 27 metres, permitting 16-horse fields in the future, including the G1 WS Cox Plate.

One factor that still needs to be determined is where key races, including the Cox Plate, will be run for a period of 18 months from November 2025.

Moonee Valley Racing Club CEO Michael Browell has not ruled out the weight-for-age championship of Australia being run interstate, or at Cranbourne, due to the Cranbourne Turf Club’s shared sponsorship by wagering giant Ladbrokes.

Northerly barrier draw creates need for early speed

The three horses that had been pencilled in as likely speed influences in the G1 Northerly S. have enjoyed mixed results in the barrier draw held on Tuesday afternoon, with the trio being well-separated.

Race favourite Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) has drawn barrier 11 of 16, as the 9-year-old strikes an ideal race to attempt to claim a Group race in a fourth Australian state.

Damien Oliver’s final Group 1 mount, Zoumon (Zoustar) has been dealt a blow, drawing barrier 15, meaning the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stayer will have to carve across the face of the field to find his preferred on-pace position.

Gallery: three horses that had been pencilled in as likely speed influences in the G1 Northerly S.

Local speed demon Marocchino (Maschino) has drawn much more favourably in barrier three, with veteran jockey Jason Whiting to partner the 7-year-old for the 28th time.

It was also a mixed result for the 3-year-olds, Zipaway (Playing God) has drawn awkwardly in barrier 14, while A Lot Of Good Men (A Lot {USA}) will jump from barrier eight.

Magnus duo take aim at Coastal Classic

The late Magnus will likely have two representatives in the inaugural running of The Coastal Classic at Geelong on January 6.

Worth $300,000, the 1700-metre contest will be run under handicap conditions, and will feature a number of in-form horses, owing to the ‘golden ticket’ races offered in the preceding weeks.

As a result, both Just Folk (Magnus) and King Magnus (Magnus) are expected to line up in the inaugural running of the race, owing to their victories in the G3 Eclipse S. and G3 Kevin Heffernan S. respectively.

Two more entrants will be determined this weekend, with the VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade at Ballarat on Saturday and the Werribee Cup on Sunday also guaranteeing the winners automatic entry to The Coastal Classic.

Te Akau up to the Challenge at Trentham

Co-trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergeson bring a strong two-pronged attack to the G2 Wakeful Challenge S. at Trentham on Saturday, including an expensive filly by Written Tycoon.

Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) was sent around a $1.50 favourite on debut and won accordingly, breaking her maiden at Tauherenikau by 1.75l. Opie Bossom picks up the ride, and Bergeson is excited about the promising juvenile.

“Captured By Love is a really nice filly we paid plenty of money for and she is developing into a beautiful filly,” Bergeson told racingnews.co.nz.

All Too Hard filly Dream Of The Moon is the second weapon in the Te Akau arsenal, having impressively won over 1000 metres at Riccarton in mid-November.

“Dream Of The Moon has been based down in Christchurch and we gave her a quiet break following her impressive last-start victory,” Bergeson said.

Satono Aladdin with strong representation in the Bonecrusher

Satono Aladdin (Jpn) takes a strong hand into the G3 NZ Bonecrusher S. at Pukekohe on Saturday, having sired the two publicly fancied runners in the race.

Matamata-based trainer Danica Guy will saddle up Lupo Solitario (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}), who was last seen running second in the G2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial S. Beating all but star gelding Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}). Able to settle close to the pace, the gelding has drawn well, jumping from barrier three.

Stephen Marsh will step his colt Takeshi (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) significantly up in grade for his third career start, having been defeated in BM65 H. company at Pukekohe back on November 25.

Plenty Of Ammo continues winning ways

Symon Wilde looks to have another promising mare in his care, with Plenty Of Ammo (Rebel Raider) storming away under Jordan Childs to record a commanding victory at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday.

Sent forward by Childs, the 5-year-old mare, having her fourth career start made light work of her rivals at BM64 H. level, recording a margin of 4.25l on Royal Fox (Foxwedge) in second.

Plenty Of Ammo broke her maiden at start number two at Warrnambool in September, and has been successful in successive BM64 H. races, winning by 4.75l at Ballarat on November 23.

Japan Cup hero Vela Azul retired

Winner of the 2022 G1 Japan Cup, Vela Azul (Jpn) (Eishin Flash {Jpn}) has been retired, after veterinary checks on the 6-year-old revealed flexor tendonitis in the left front leg.

The talented stayer raced 27 times, most recently in the 2023 running of the Japan Cup, a race in which he finished 7th, 9l adrift of Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}).

Also victorious in the G2 Kyoto Daishoten, the son of Eishin Flash (Jpn) will commence stud duties at Yushun Stallion Station.