Storm Boy’s success justifies Triple Crown dream
Off the strength of his performance in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday, the world is at the hooves of Storm Boy (Justify {USA}), with co-trainer Adrian Bott confirming the hope that the exciting colt can contest the Triple Crown over the autumn in Sydney.
“He pulled up super so will have a quick freshen up and then head towards the Slipper,” Bott told Racenet.
Storm Boy | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“It was pleasing to see him win in such good fashion but he was always going to be on that path. It's the (G1 Golden) Slipper in mind and the Triple Crown with him but that's where we are at the moment.”
The other half of the powerful partnership, Gai Waterhouse, is no stranger to Triple Crown glory, having achieved it in 2012 with Pierro and 2004 with Dance Hero, the latter of who also won the Magic Millions feature along the way.
Newgate takes leading vendor as clearance rates increase post-sale
Newgate Farm have wrestled the leading vendor title off Segenhoe Stud in the days following the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with a post-sale result pushing their gross to the top of the leaderboard.
Having finished on $16,615,000 in gross at the conclusion of Book 1 on Saturday, they now sit on $16,815,000, enough to unseat Segenhoe on $16,665,000 for top spot.
The Book 1 clearance rate now rests at 87.55 per cent, an increase from 85.84 per cent from the conclusion of selling on Saturday night, while the Book 2 clearance rate has risen from 75 per cent to 76.25 per cent.
Half-brother to Jewel to debut at Rosehill
Trainer Annabel Neasham will debut a very well-related colt at Rosehill on Saturday, when Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) competes in the opening race of the program.
The half-brother to Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}), who was an electric 2-year-old, winning the G2 Karrakatta Plate in Perth, has improved sharply throughout his barrier trials, culminating in a second-placed finish in a 1030-metre heat on January 11.
Jockey Josh Parr will be given the reins for the first run of his career, where he will jump from barrier 10 of 16.
Bosustow is rated a $13 chance to achieve a winning debut.
Talented sprinter switches seaboards
Veteran galloper Indian Pacific (Zoustar) will call Victoria home as he moves into the twilight of his career, switching stables from Neville Parnham in Western Australia to the boxes of respected horseman Nick Ryan.
Twice a winner at Listed level in WA, Indian Pacific was runner-up in the 2021 G1 Newmarket H., arguably his best performance in his career. An earner of a shade under $650,000 in prizemoney, he has some big targets across the coming months, according to Ryan.
Indian Pacific | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“He’s an older horse but he trialled really well the other day (January 12) at Werribee, he’ll run in the (Listed) WJ Adams S. next Friday at Caulfield on Australia Day,” Ryan told RSN.
Anthony and Sam Freedman take on another promising import
Fresh off partnering with Anthony and Sam Freedman to taste success in the G1 Caulfield Cup and the G1 Melbourne Cup courtesy of Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum has sent another talented European stayer to the duo, with Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) set to relocate to Australia for a spring campaign.
Most recognisable for his win in the Listed Wolferton S. at Royal Ascot, the 6-year-old gelding arrives in Australia with four wins from 13 career starts to date.
“(Royal Champion) is still up there, so he'll fly out soonish, I’d say. The plan is to obviously have him out here and working along through the winter,” co-trainer Sam Freedman told Racing.com.
“There’s going to be some really suitable 2000-metre races for him over the course of the spring, so we’ll see where he fits in, but he’s going to arrive with a pretty high rating, so hopefully he can feature in some big ones.”
Moody wishes to win William Reid
Top trainer Peter Moody has another light year of racing planned for stable star I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel), but is eyeing off a Moonee Valley raid to win the G1 William Reid S. in late March.
“He’ll have only three or four runs before The Everest. He won’t be ready until late March and the William Reid could be a kick-off race for him,” Moody, who trains in partnership with Katherine Coleman, told Racing.com
Katherine Coleman and Peter Moody | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He’s back under saddle. He’s enjoying himself. It’s early stages and I’m happy with where he’s at.
“He won’t be ready until March and the William Reid S. is the earliest race he could be ready for.”
‘Relaxed’ gelding looks to maintain picket fence
The in-form Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock yard are enjoying the exploits of their cool customer Ray Magnerio (Magnus), who will tackle a BM84 H. over 1200 metres at Flemington on Saturday as he attempts to build his undefeated streak to four.
Speaking to Punters, de Kock told of the 4-year-old's relaxed attitude to life, saying, “If you see him on raceday, you get worried that he’s sick because he's so quiet but he's just so relaxed.
“He’s such a laid-back character, nothing fazes him and he's pretty happy in work.
“Another win or two, we might start looking at bigger races. We're just going to get Saturday out of the way and look at it after that.”
Easthope hoping sky is the limit for talented gelding
Trainer Jeremy Easthope has always had faith in his stable star, the Listed Aquanita S. winner Upper Limits (Exosphere), who will need to handle a step up in class to take on the Celebration Of Life Day Trophy at Ascot on Saturday.
According to Easthope, while missing a start last Saturday as a result of the abandonment of the Ascot program due to extreme heat isn’t ideal, but he is still forward enough to put in a strong performance.
Upper Limits | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“In a perfect world he would’ve started last week then jump in(to) this grade,” Easthope told The Races WA.
“It’s only a little doubt I’ve got going into Saturday, but he’s a naturally fit horse.
“His gallop on Monday was a little harder than usual and his work this morning was good.
“I’m wrapped with how he’s going.”
Geran bullish on Ballina Cup hope
Trainer Corey Geran will make a trip south from his home in Toowoomba to race his gritty gelding Without Revenge (GB) (Muhaar {GB}) in the Ballina Cup on Friday.
Geran, who trains in partnership with his mother Kylie, has plenty of confidence in his horse, who has twice-placed at Listed level.
“This horse is quality, just so genuine, the odds have been ridiculous with his consistency and Listed form - $201 at Randwick and ran fourth then $21 when runner-up twice to Acquitted. The form says he’s real good horse.”
“He’s won at 2000 metres on-pace, he's race fit with a good barrier and the distance is right. He’ll settle into his pattern, just roll and sustain it.”
There are still doubts over the meeting going ahead, with Racing NSW advising a track gallop at 6.30am on Friday morning will determine its suitability to race.
Burke reaches key milestone
Apprentice jockey Lauren Burke notched up a career milestone on Thursday at Stony Creek, notching her fifth career winner on Abaddon (Fighting Sun) for Dean Krongold.
Apprentice jockey Lauren Burke notching her fifth career winner on Abaddon | Image courtesy of Country Racing
The victory reduces the promising rider’s apprentice claim from four kilograms to three in country races.
Burke needed just 50 race rides to notch up the milestone, which was headlined by a double at Wangaratta on January 11.
Dwyer’s Butterfly plan set to hatch at Flemington
Trainer Henry Dwyer has had to demonstrate plenty of patience with Irish Butterfly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) along the journey, but he believes the 8-year-old is primed to strike in the second race at Flemington on Saturday.
“It’s a nice drop back in grade to a benchmark race this time and Celine Gaudray rides him well,” Dwyer told Racing And Sports.
Henry Dwyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He needed it (the run) first-up over 2000 metres and then ran well when dropped back in trip at Warrnambool.
“He was one-paced there, but now up to 2500 metres, he should be fit enough this time.”
Plumptre embraces arrival of Holymanz
Talented 4-year-old gelding Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) has returned to his birth country to chase the riches on offer next Saturday at Ellerslie, where he will line up in the Aotearoa Classic.
According to Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre, he’s taken the trip in his stride, and if he can stand up and be counted against the likes of Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), a lucrative target back in Australia could await.
“He got here this (Thursday) morning and travelled well and he’s a pretty laid-back fellow, he’s the right horse to travel,” Plumptre told loveracing.nz
“The question really is whether he’s up to the very elite level that Legarto is going to bring to that race.
“He’ll race in Ciaron (Maher) and David’s (Eustace) name because he will probably go back there as soon as he’s run and if he finishes top three, we’d probably think about The All-Star Mile with him.”
South Africa’s star to write a new story at stud
One of the finest horses to grace the continent of Africa in recent years, Charles Dickens (SAf), will commence a new chapter of his life, with the brilliant chestnut retired to stand at Drakenstein Stud in South Africa.
Bred and raced by the same stud that he will now stand at, Charles Dickens enjoyed a stellar racetrack career, winning 10 races, including the G1 Cape Guineas, the G1 King’s Plate and the G1 Gold Challenge S., as well as being crowned Champion 3-Year-Old Colt and Champion Miler in South Africa in the 2022/23 season.
Charles Dickens (SAf) | Image courtesy of World Horse Racing
“Retiring Charles Dickens was a very hard decision to make. I would have loved to have seen him race until the end of the season, he would undoubtedly have won a few more big races but he has nothing left to prove,” Drakenstein’s Gaynor Rupert told TDN Europe.
“It is in the interest of the horse and of the shareholders that after much consultation, we decided to retire him and give him plenty of time off before the start of the breeding season.”
