Maher hunts first Doncaster with six runners
Much has been written about Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) leapfrogging his way into the G1 Doncaster H. with an impressive win on Saturday. He is one of six chances for trainer Ciaron Maher to nab his first Doncaster with the trainer confirming that G1 Australian Guineas winner Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) will run with just 49kg.
“(Jamie Kah) trialled Southport (Tycoon) during the week and said he felt super, and they don’t trial much better than that,” Maher told Racing.com.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
His other runners are likely to be last year’s third placegetter Nugget (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), Semana (Winning Rupert) and the in-form lightweight Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}).
Third Stawell Cup for Meech
Jockey Linda Meech won her third Stawell Cup on Sunday aboard 6-year-old gelding Toogoodfortoorak (Toorak Toff). “It’s my third, but I’ve been ripped off twice, because one was at Donald and the other was in Covid… it’s really lovely,” Meech told Racing.com.
“All credit to Matt, he’s got this horse really flying.” Trained by Matt Laurie, Toogoodfortoorak took his record to seven wins from 22 starts with earnings over $260,000.
Meech’s other Stawell Cup wins were in 2020 on Sentamentalist (Written Tycoon) and in 2014 (at Donald) on Compound (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Top three chance for Litt’s Choice
Trainer Richard Litt thinks his 4-year-old gelding Romeo’s Choice (Choistar) is a top three chance in the James Squire Handicap over 1400 metres at Warwick Farm on Monday. He is stepping up in grade, but drops 2.5kg on his last start.
“There’s a few nice horses in this race and he’s stepping up in grade but he drops quite nicely in weight. He’s a sure top-three chance, that’s the sort of horse he is. You can go to the races and you’re not so nervous, he seems to always put in. Regan (Bayliss) really likes him and gets along with him well,” Litt told Racingnsw.com.au.
Richard Litt | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Romeo’s Choice has won three and placed 13 times in his 24 starts for earnings over $190,000. He is the best winner for his sire who is a Listed winning son of Choisir that has only had 38 runners.
Double for Louise Day at Nowra
Jockey Louise Day won two of the first three races at Nowra on Sunday.
She won Matthew Dale-trained Occhiata (Flying Artie) in race two, then followed it up with a win on Natalie Jarvis-trained Sartorini Sun (Choisir) in race three.
Mudgee trebles for Morgan and Nork
Jockey Ashley Morgan won the first three races at Mudgee on Sunday. She won race 1 on 3-year-old filly Lonhro’s Queen (Lonhro) for Goree Stud and trainer Cameron Crockett, race 2 on 3-year-old filly Up To Mischief (Written Tycoon) for trainer Ciaron Maher and owner Dynamic Syndications, and race 3 on 3-year-old filly O’So Demanding (Written Tycoon) for trainer Bjorn Baker.
Up To Mischief remains unbeaten with Sunday’s win taking her record to two from two.
Jockey Braith Nock then took over winning race 4 on 3-year-old gelding Water Lad (Headwater) and race 5 on Weave That Web (Pierro), before taking out the last on My Mate Kate (Your Song) to make it three.
Between the two jockeys, they rode six of the seven winners on the card.
Brisbane trainer baffled by stewards decision
Despite winning by over a length at Beaudesert on Saturday, trainer David Murphy’s 3-year-old filly Beachside Babe (Sidestep) was demoted to second. Stewarts deemed that Murphy’s horse had caused interference to Tony Gollan-trained Quade (Sidestep), who was second past the post, at the 300-metre and made the decision to reverse the placings.
“It was bizarre because there is only one camera there at Beaudesert, so you can't even see what is going on really, I don't know how they can come to the conclusion they did,” Murphy told Racenet.com.au.
“Even if Andrew (Spinks) did come in a little bit, which I'm not actually sure he did, the only reason Gollan's horse did what it did was because it was going no good, he couldn't go around them, he tried taking a short cut where there wasn't much room. My horse was eased up, she could have won by two-and-a-half (lengths).”
Beachside Babe now has a record of two wins and three placings from five starts with earnings over $76,000, but a win would’ve added a further $22,000. A $3250 weanling purchase from Newhaven Park’s Inglis Digital June Sale draft by Mallory Swindale, Beachside Babe is raced by Swindale with R Grimsey and F Grimsey.
Newnham named as dual-site trainer
In a boon for trainer Mark Newnham, the Hong Kong Jockey Club have granted him a dual-site licence. Trainers based solely at Sha Tin have a stable cap of 60 horses, whereas those with dual-site Sha Tin/Conghua operations have a maximum of 70, however they must win more races to be able to keep the licence.
“It’s a great facility and it gives a really good avenue for horses, especially mid-preparation and between runs,” Newnham told scmp.com. “Our first horses went there on Friday and I’ve been up there to visit. I think it’s a fantastic addition to my training. It will be a really good avenue for my horses. Plus, the way I’m going to look to use it will only improve results.”
Mark Newnham | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Newnham currently has 51 horses on his books. Manfred Man and Cody Mo have also been granted dual-site licences. As at the end of March, there are 339 horses stabled at Conghua with 15 other trainers also holding dual-site licences.
Easy has Royal Ascot claims
3-year-old filly Easy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) won the Listed Cork S. over 1200 metres on Saturday for trainer Andrew Slattery and jockey Andy Slattery (son of Andrew). “If I have a Group 1 horse, this is it,” the winning trainer told Racingpost.com.
“We have nothing at home that can get her off the bridle. I think she will improve a lot for this. Hopefully, we are heading for a Group 1 at Royal Ascot. She will stay at five or six furlongs. She has so much pace and talent. I don't know which trip she's best at as I don't have a horse at home that can work her. She could go for the two Group 1 sprints at Ascot.”
Easy was a winner on debut at two, then ran mid-field in a Listed race. This was her first run this season.
Seven Godolphin runners arrive at Kentucky
Trainer Charlie Appleby has sent seven Godolphin-owned horses to Kentucky for the upcoming Derby meeting. “They all went for a hack around the training track,” head traveling lad Chris Connett told Bloodhorse.com on Saturday.
Stakes-placed Musical Act (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will run on the opening-day G3 Transylvania S. on April 5, and 2022 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel) will open her 2024 season in the G2 Shakertown S. for turf sprinters on April 6.
Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) will run in the G1 Maker's Mark Mile on April 12. Group 2 winner English Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who has three wins in four starts, is being aimed at the G1 Jenny Wiley S. on April 13. Both Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Bold Act (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) will run in the G2 Elkhorn S. on April 20.
Gun Runner colt wins Ghostzapper
The G3 Ghostzapper S. on Saturday was won by Il Miracolo (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}). The 4-year-old entire now has four wins from 19 starts, and had won a Group 3 as a 3-year-old last year.
Bred by Willow Oaks Stable, Il Miracolo was a US$70,000 (AU$107,000) purchase by Eduardo Soto of Alexandres at the Ocala Breeders' June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age in 2022. He is the third graded winner of 2024 for Gun Runner (USA), who stands for US$250,000 (AU$384,000) at Three Chimneys Farm.
Gun Runner has one yearling entered in the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Justify officially disqualified from Santa Anita Derby
Triple Crown winner Justify (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) won the 2018 Santa Anita Derby, but later tested positive for scopolamine, and now the long-running court case might finally be at an end with the boom colt being officially disqualified by stewards and the prizemoney to be redistributed by the end of April.
According to DRF, a board of California stewards issued a ruling on Saturday ordering Justify's ownership to relinquish the US$585,000 (AU$898,000) first-place prizemoney. Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith must also return their portion of the purse. The money must be forfeited by April 29, with all trophies also returned.
Justify (USA) | Standing at Coolmore
Now a successful sire, Justify will also see his race record adjusted from six for six to five wins from six starts. During his racing career, Justify was owned by a partnership consisting China Horse Club International Ltd., Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, and Winstar Farm.
