Two for Dubious
The Lee Freedman-trained Sambuca provided his Kitchwin Hills-based first-season sire Dubious with his second winner on Sunday at the Sunshine Coast. Sambuca was having his second start after finishing unplaced at Eagle Farm. On Sunday, ridden by Boris Thornton, he won from Step Along (Sidestep) and Barnacus (Star Witness).
Sambuca is the sixth foal from the Lonhro mare Licorice Stick, who won three races. She is the dam of the Listed winner Je Suis Belle (Bel Esprit). Licorice Stick has a yearling full sister to Sambuca and was served by Stronger last spring.
The colt was a $180,000 purchase by Lee Freedman from the draft of Kenmore Lodge at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Can Lady Of Camelot sparkle in the Blue Diamond?
Highly promising filly Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) will be Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s number one seed in the G1 Blue Diamond S. on Saturday, no easy feat given the embarrassment of juvenile riches the pair have at their disposal.
“Now we will come to Melbourne and take on the colts there and see how we go. She’s fast and she’s tough. She has a lot going for her,” Waterhouse told Racing.com.
Gai Waterhouse | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’s the fastest filly in Sydney and it will be interesting to see how the colts down there stack up against her. The colts in Sydney are superior to the fillies.
“She’s my best filly. Adam (Hyeronimus) rode her in trackwork on Saturday in the Melbourne direction and she was magical.”
Pendragon readies for Australian campaign
Trainer Mike Moroney will see how his star Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) has acclimated to life in Australia, when he participates in a jump-out at Werribee on Monday.
“He’s been here a good 10 days or so and he’s settled in well,” Moroney told Racing And Sports.
Mike Moroney | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He’s had a couple of gallops and he’ll head to the jump-outs on Monday and then on to the (Australian) Guineas.
“It’s an 1100-metre jump-out, so he doesn’t need to do a lot, and that will be a solid hitout for him.”
Begg ready to get Passive Aggressive
After failing to get in foal, star mare Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) has returned to the stables of trainer Grahame Begg, and is poised for an autumn campaign entailing a shot at Sydney riches.
“She’s coming up for the Challenge S.,” Begg told Racing And Sports.
Grahame Begg | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’s really good. She trialled really well last week, she was in Imperatriz’s jump-out.
“She went to stud and didn't get in foal, but now she's back into it.”
Next stop Futurity for Brightside
On Sunday, Lindsay Park confirmed their five-time Group 1 winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will take his place in Saturday’s G1 Futurity S. at Caulfield.
“He’ll do a piece of work early this week and if we are happy, which I am 99 per cent sure we will be, he’ll be heading towards the Futurity,” co-trainer Ben Hayes told Racing.com.
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“All is on track. We’re very happy with Mr Brightside. He came through the race with no problems at all, and he’s been bucking in his paddock and feeling good.”
McEvoys set to run two in the Diamond
Ballarat-based trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy are set to be represented by two runners in Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond S. - Dublin Down (Exceedance) and Rue De Royale (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Calvin and Tony McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Dublin Down hasn’t raced since an impressive victory in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate in November, while Rue De Royale was placed in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium behind Fully Lit (Hellbent).
Gambit out to show who’s King
Peter Snowden, who trains the exciting colt King’s Gambit (I Am Invincible) in partnership with his son, Paul Snowden, believes the 3-year-old is capable of showing his true ability in Saturday’s G1 Oakleigh Plate.
“The best part about King’s Gambit is that no one has seen the best of him yet,” Snowden told Racing.com.
Peter and Paul Snowden | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He beat the Coolmore winner Ozzmosis in Sydney and beat him quite comfortably, but unfortunately, we got a temperature a day before that race in Melbourne which was bad luck for that team. On Saturday, he gets his chance to redeem himself.
“I think the Oakleigh Plate is the right race for him. Over 1100 metres at Caulfield, he won the Debutant S. there. It’s a high-pressure race. There’s plenty of speed and he likes fast-run races.”
Traffic Warden to fly flag for Godolphin
Godolphin’s Head Trainer James Cummings is confident Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}) is poised to peak in Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond S.
“We deliberately brought him down to Melbourne last year (Caulfield win in December) to tackle a 2-year-old race back in trip to 1000 metres second-up and that was after chasing home the very impressive Storm Boy at Rosehill,” Cummings told Racing.com.
Traffic Warden | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Traffic Warden already has that Caulfield experience and second-up he looks well suited. I watched him gallop on Saturday morning in Sydney and he’s still getting it right. That’s why I feel like we haven’t seen the best of him yet.”
Coolmore's Sierra Leone is the real deal
Sierra Leone (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}), the US$2.3-million ($3,527,905) Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale-topper from 2022, took Saturday's GII Risen Star S. in impressive fashion for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Brook T. Smith and Peter M. Brant.
“The blinkers really helped him focus today. He broke alertly and we hoped going into this race there would be more speed. He got a comfortable trip up the backside and relaxed for me. When he took the lead in the stretch, I could feel beneath me he is only going to want to go longer after this. You always keep dreaming of the big races like the Derby and horses like this help you keep the dream alive," said jockey Tyler Gaffalione.
Rebel’s Romance leaves rivals in Doha dust
Godolphin's globetrotting Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) entered Saturday's G3 H.H. The Amir Trophy as one of three Group 1 winners in the field of 11, yet still had something to prove.
Winless since causing a mild surprise in the 2022 G1 Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, the homebred failed – for a variety of reasons – in two tries in America last summer, but hinted at a return to his best with an eye-catching victory at Kempton in December. He was a somewhat unexpected entry for this newly upgraded race, but his class was on full display as he dispatched of the best field ever assembled in Qatar with complete authority.
Rebel's Romance is one of two potential starters on Dubai World Cup night for his stakes-placed dam Minidress (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}) whose exciting son Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) took out this year's G1 Jebel Hatta, customarily a pointer to the G1 Dubai Turf.
Tarifa unleashes powerful finish
Godolphin homebred Tarifa (USA) (Bernardini {USA}) unleashed a powerful stretch drive to beat Intricate (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}) in the G2 Rachel Alexandra S. at Fair Grounds.
Tarifa is from the unraced Awesome Again (Can) mare Kite Beach (USA). The well-related mare is from the family of the North American Champion Tiznow (USA) and the G1 Preakness S. victor Oxbow (USA).
Halina’s Forte new stakes winner for Mitole
Halina’s Forte (USA), a daughter of the Spendthrift Farm-based Mitole (USA), was an impressive maiden winner and took the jump to stakes Grade to win the Ruthless S. at Aqueduct. The filly is the third stakes winner from the first crop of Mitole. Halina’s Forte is from the Listed winner Lunarlady (USA) (Yes It’s True {USA}).
