Regal Power’s glittering career comes to an end
The ever-consistent Regal Power (Pierro) has had time called on his career, with the 8-year-old running his last race in the Listed Bagot H. at Flemington on January 1.
The winner of the 2020 iteration of The All-Star Mile, as well as the G1 Railway S. and G1 Kingston Town Classic (now Northerly S.) in his home state of Western Australia.
Owner-breeder Bob Peters paid tribute to his talented galloper, holding him amongst the best of the horses to race in his famous cerise and white.
Regal Power | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“He kept putting his hand up and showed glimpses of his old form, but he was ready to retire,” Peters told TABradio.
“I would have liked to have sent him out as a winner of a big race.”
Alongside his two Group 1 victories, Regal Power won the G2 WATC Derby, the G2 Ted Van Heemst S. (twice), the Listed Lex Piper S. and the Listed Melvista S.
Asfoora ready to rip
Henry Dwyer’s exciting speedster Asfoora (Flying Artie) signalled she’s on track for a return to racing when she took out a 900-metre jump-out at Great Western in Victoria on Tuesday. The daughter of Flying Artie is scheduled to return in the G2 Rubition S. at Caulfield on February 10, before a possible tilt at Royal Ascot in June.
“The G1 Oakleigh Plate is the target but hopefully she can win the Rubition, but if she doesn’t there’s plenty more improvement to come,” Dwyer told Racing.com.
“If she won the Oakleigh Plate we wouldn’t bother with the G1 The Galaxy, but if she ran a good race without winning then we’d look at it. A victory in the Oakleigh Plate would see her head to the United Kingdom mid-to-late March and maybe have a run before Royal Ascot.”
Pendragon to target Guineas
Mike Moroney’s promising 3-year-old Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) will head to Australia to target the G1 Australian Guineas in March. The gelding was unlucky in the NZ$1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO nearly slipping on the shifty Ellerslie surface according to Moroney.
“Pendragon was like many that lost his footing,” he told Racing.com.
“If you watch the replay turning for home, he almost fell and Mark (Zahra) thought he was going to drop right out when it happened, but he picked himself right up and fought on bravely. He’s a pretty talented horse and he’s going stronger and has learnt the racing craft, I am sure he’s going to be up to competing in the Australian Guineas.”
Thunderstruck brother wins on debut
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Primal Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) made a winning debut at Benalla on Tuesday. The 3-year-old gelding, ridden by Thomas Stockdale, won narrowly from Grisbi’s Pal (Palentino) and Qubella (Rubick). Primal Spirit is a half-brother to the late I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking), who was trained by Price and Kent Jnr won two Group 1 races and the Golden Eagle as a 4-year-old.
Primal Spirit was a $240,000 purchase by Mick Price Racing and Breeding and Ace Bloodstock when offered by Yarraman Park Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
Forgotten stayer still has lofty targets
One-time G1 Melbourne Cup fancy Loft (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) hasn’t raced in almost 18 months, but the talented stayer took a significant step forward at Geelong on Tuesday.
The gelding finished third in his 1200-metre heat, and according to co-trainer JD Hayes, he is ticking on nicely to tackle races in his preferred distance range.
“Really happy with that (trial, he) showed enough speed for a horse whose minimum distance he's won over is 2800 metres,” Hayes told Racing.com.
“He’s very much still building in the right direction and he was very clean in the wind and didn’t look like he wanted to stop past the line either, so a big pass mark.
“He’s going to take a little bit to blow the cobwebs out, he’s been off the racing scene for a while there, it’s going to be well short of his distance.
“He looks to hopefully end up in Sydney in the Sydney Cup."
Oakfield Wallaby looks to score successive city wins
Newcastle-based trainer Kris Lees may have a pragmatic view towards Oakfield Wallaby (Dissident), but holds confidence the 4-year-old mare can string her fifth consecutive victory together at Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday.
“We’ve got to try and place her where she’s best suited,” Lees said.
“She doesn’t show us much at home so it's hard to get too enthusiastic but she brings it to the races.
“We gave her plenty of time to get over her first up run but two weeks is suitable for her now.
“We'll just give her the chance to go through the grades steadily which she's done very well.”
Dubai off the table for Star Patrol
Plans for trainer Clinton McDonald to travel his sprinter Star Patrol (Starspangledbanner) have been scuppered, with the 5-year-old gelding not pleasing the horseman with his recent work.
“I wasn’t 100 per cent happy with him, so we’ve elected to give him a little break and let everything settle down,” McDonald told Racing.com.
Star Patrol | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“There’s nothing untoward with him other than he didn't spell well and that affected how he returned to work as it didn't really gel.
“In a nutshell, he wasn’t quite at his best, so I’m going to give him a break and when he’s ready he can return to work. I’ll be guided by the horse.”
Ayrton back in the Group 1 frame
The mercurial Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) has forced his way back into the Group 1 racing landscape, with the gelding now being aimed at the G1 CF Orr S. at Caulfield.
“He just loves Caulfield, I don’t know what it is, Caulfield, Ayrton and Jamie Kah is a good recipe,” co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr told Racing.com.
“We had him a bit fresh to be fair and wasn’t totally wound up, so there’s improvement to come off that break in Perth.
“We are going to nominate him for the CF Orr, he’s not as good as Mr Brightside or Alligator Blood of course but why wouldn’t you have a look at that race, he loves that course and distance.”
Brad Taylor takes up new role
Respected industry professional Brad Taylor will return home to New Zealand, taking up a role as the General Manager of Racing at RACE, the body that operates Awapuni and Trentham racecourses.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity, it is going to be a good challenge,” Taylor told Loveracing.nz. “New Zealand racing is going the right way at the moment with the recent announcements and prizemoney increases, and this is the next stage of my career.
“I have been the racing manager for Anthony and Sam Freedman for a number of years now and enjoyed great success. I have got no interest in training, and administration is where I always wanted to go.
“When this opportunity presented itself, it was a good opportunity to get home and be closer to family. We have a young family that is growing up quickly. We have got two kids, Pippa was four yesterday (Monday) and Luke is two, so it will be nice to get them home and settled in before Pippa starts school next year.”
Bustler eyes Victorian riches
Neville Parnham has lofty goals for the G1 Railway S. champion Bustler (Playing God), with plans to take the talented 4-year-old gelding east.
TABradio reported on Tuesday that the plan is to commence a campaign on the eastern seaboard in the G1 Futurity S. at weight-for-age over 1400 metres.
Bustler | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
The announcement comes off the back of a solid trial at Lark Hill on Monday, where he finished second to the exciting 3-year-old Live To Tell (Territories {Ire}).
Rebel to tackle Waikato Guineas
The promising Renegade Rebel (NZ) (El Roca) will tackle Wednesday’s G2 Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa as he prepares for a tilt at the G1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on March 2.
Renegade Rebel was successful in the Listed Gingernuts Salver last start and has his trainer Cody Cole excited over his staying future.
“He’s flying, but I just think that two-and a-half weeks between runs might not suit him that well at Te Rapa but four-and a-half weeks leading into the Derby will,” Cole told Loveracing.nz.
“He has continued to step up and keep improving and after the Guineas he won’t run again until the Derby, I think that will be the ideal build-up for a horse like him.”
Hayes looking on the Brightside
Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) was withdrawn from a planned trial at Geelong on Tuesday morning but his co-trainer Ben Hayes said there was no issue with the star galloper.
“Mr Brightsdie is all good, there are no injuries,” Hayes told Racing.com.
“We just had a change of plan, and we’ll trial on Friday instead. We were discussing it and we thought Friday just fitted better in his preparation. Mr Brightside worked at Flemington this morning (Tuesday) and he’ll trial there on Friday.”
Bellmaine on the cards for Wrote To Arataki
The Matthew Williams-trained Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) will look to claim back-to-back victories in Saturday’s G3 Bellmaine S. on Saturday at Caulfield before a potential preparation around Group 1 races.
“We think she’s heading in the right direction for another good preparation,” Williams told Punters.
Wrote To Arataki (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“To get her up winning a Group 2 race was terrific, we own a bit of her as well, from a breeding point of view it puts a bit of value on her. We might try her in the Sunline S. but we’d like to have another crack at one of those Group 1 races where she can get in really light in the weights.”
Newgrange eyes Dubai World Cup
Newgrange (USA) (Violence {USA}) was doing well the morning after successfully defending his title in Saturday's G2 San Pasqual S. and becoming racing's newest millionaire, according to his trainer, Phil D'Amato.
A trip to the Middle East could be in the near future. D'Amato said it's possible they take a shot in the GI Dubai World Cup on March 30 at Meydan Racecourse.
Tom Rudd rejoins Tattersalls Ireland
After an 18-month stint at Limerick Racecourse as General Manager, Tom Rudd has been reappointed to the Tattersalls Ireland bloodstock department, announced the auction house via a press release on Monday.
A 20-year veteran of the company prior to his departure for Limerick, Rudd also rode for the late Michael O'Brien until 2002 and counts victory in the 1999 Irish Grand National to his career tally as a jockey.
Tom Rudd | Image courtesy of Limerick Racecourse
On the reappointment, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said, “Tom rejoining could not have been timelier, with the Andy and Gemma Brown Dispersal Sale scheduled for next Monday (February 5). We also have nominations for the 50th Derby Sale closing on Friday (February 2), and Tom will form an integral part of the inspection team tasked with putting together our National Hunt and Flat sales catalogues later in the year.”
