Derby/Eclipse double for City Of Troy
City Of Troy (USA) (Justify {USA}) showed grit to win Saturday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, getting the unique British double done as he ultimately satisfied the abundant odds-on takers. “I thought he'd win better than that–I thought he'd probably beat them by ten lengths to be honest with you and I wouldn't be surprised if he does it next time,” jockey Ryan Moore said. “The ground is slower than he wants, and I got it wrong–I took him up the middle, but he wanted go to the fence–and I never really got it out of him until I really had to, so I think there's a lot more in there.”
His trainer praised Coolmore for sending City Of Troy around in unsuitable conditions. “All fairness to the Lads - 15 years ago they would have taken the horse out, but they enjoy their racing so much now and wanted to run him. It would have been easy to take him out and it was a long discussion before we ran,” said Aidan O’Brien.
“He is a beautiful, good-ground horse and a real fast-ground mover so he has won today despite the ground. It was proper soft ground today, softer than when he won the Dewhurst last season–it was tough, specialist ground. I'd imagine the Lads will now look at the Juddmonte or Irish Champion Stakes before America. He could finish up in the Breeders' Cup Classic–that is what he is bred to be.”
Monash for Bedggood’s sprinter Mornington Glory
Trainer Gavin Bedggood will run Mornington Glory (Shalaa {Ire}) in the G3 Sir John Monash S. at Caulfield on Saturday. “We started pretty low last time and he worked through the grades, but he doesn’t get that luxury this time around. This looks like a nice off-season stakes race to be kicking him off,” Bedggood told Racing.com.
Morning Glory will be aimed at “races like the Carlyon, the Heath, the Schillaci, the McEwen. We’ll poke around the fringes while the better sprinters will be going for the Moir and the Manikato.”
Update on Burke
Jockey Lauren Burke sustained a back fracture and concussion in Saturday’s fall. “Scans confirm Lauren Burke has a compressed fracture in her lower back and concussion. Should be discharged today (Sunday),” the Victorian Jockeys’ Association said in an update.
Lauren Burke | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Aquafire adds another juvenile winner for Headwater
Trainer Stephen Farley’s 2-year-old gelding Aquafire (Headwater) won at Grafton on Sunday at his third raceday start. He becomes the 13th 2-year-old winner for his sire this season.
Super One nabs juvenile winner
The other 2-year-old race at Grafton on Sunday was won by Warren Dean-trained South Boambee (Super One) who was having his second start.
Gollan plans Rockhampton bonus attempt
Tony Gollan will send a big team to the two-day Rockhampton carnival, declaring his intentions to land the lucrative trainers' bonus again. “We are sending a big team north,” Gollan told racenet.com.au.
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“It's no secret there is a trainers' bonus incentive for the most winners over the two days, so we will have runners in a lot of the races, probably not multiple runners, but most of the races. Being a country Queenslander myself, I love supporting this carnival and country racing as a whole.” The carnival is on Friday and Saturday.
Port Augusta latest meeting cancelled due to weather
Racing SA stewards reported on Sunday, “Racing SA wishes to advise that the Port Augusta meeting scheduled for Sunday, July 7, 2024 has been postponed due to the state of the track following heavy overnight rain.”
Twain wins on debut
Royally bred 3-year-old Twain (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) impressed when winning on debut at Tauranga on Sunday for trainer John Bell. “If he didn’t do that, I’m a bad judge. I definitely expected that from him today,” Bell said.
Twain (NZ) | Image courtesy of Megan Liefting (Race Images)
“Triston (Moodley) was most impressed with him as has anyone else that has ridden him. He has a few issues and my team at home have done a huge amount of work looking after him and they deserve this win, putting him on the tracks that suit him in his work.”
He is the second winner for Group 1 winner Fleur De Lune (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
Thrilling day for Nishizuka
Northern apprentice jockey Joe Nishizuka rode a double at Tauranga on Sunday but not before falling early on the card. “It was just an unlucky situation, my greenness didn’t help when Wiremu (Pinn) made a decision and I wasn’t quick enough to react, so I just clipped heels which was unfortunate,” Nishizuka told Loveracing.nz about the fall from Ride Sally Ride (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}).
Joe Nishizuka | Image courtesy Megan Liefting (Race Images)
He won on Verdi’s Opera (NZ) (Verdi {NZ}) and Mister Pucci (NZ) (Puccini {NZ}) who deadheated with Drop Of Something (NZ) (Telperion) in the last.
Pateman returns to winners circle
Jockey Steve Pateman returned to the winners circle on Sunday at Warrnambool aboard Ciaron Maher-trained Alakahan (Ire) (Motivator {GB}) only three rides after returning from suspension. Pateman and his wife Jess were disqualified for 11 months in June last year on an historic cobalt charge they had been fighting against for five years.
“It’s good to have that feeling again,” Pateman told Racing.com. He worked several jobs outside the industry in the last year including rubbish bin collection. “We are just lucky that nothing really bad happened to us, but we had the support of the racing industry.”
Lui wins to take Hong Kong title fight back to one
Francis Lui had the only winner on Saturday night at Sha Tin for the premiership title fighters with Pierre Ng retaining the lead at 67/66 wins. “It’s good to get one,” Lui told scmp.com after the win by 3-year-old gelding King Miles (Exceed and Excel).
Francis Lui | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He’s an honest horse and he just keeps improving. I hope in the off-season he can improve a little bit more. I think he can go to the Classic series, he’s just very honest.”
G1 Belmont Derby won by Trikari
In a sit-sprint race that turned out to be a tactical affair, Trikari (USA) (Oscar Performance {USA}), sat handy to a sluggish pace, engaged long-time leader White Palomino (USA) (Kitten's Joy {USA}) at the furlong grounds and just held off a late re-rally from the pace-advantaged front-runner to take Saturday's G1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at Aqueduct.
“I think it would help him if they went on a little bit,” said trainer Graham Motion. “At one point, right in front of us here, I thought Johnny (Velazquez) might choose to go on, but he made the right call, forcing Flavien to go on. That is what he wanted to do, settle off the pace.”
Trikari is the first Group 1 winner for his sire who also won the G1 Belmont Derby. Graham Motion trained Trikari's dam to four wins and earnings of better than $267,000, including the G3 Herecomesthebride S. at Gulfstream Park.
G1 Belmont Oaks won by Godolphin’s Cinderella's Dream
Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), who lost her undefeated record when beaten just over 4l into seventh in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 5, atoned for that defeat in no uncertain terms, flashing home powerfully through the final furlong to take out Saturday's G1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational S. at Aqueduct.
“She ran a creditable race in the 1000 Guineas really, on ground that probably might not have suited her either,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “Her training has gone well and she's been based in Saratoga. She came in yesterday and the team were very happy with her preparation going into it. The plan was always to drop in and ride the race that we rode and off the turn, all we just needed was the splits. Once she leveled off there and accelerated, we were pretty confident.”
Cinderella's Dream is the lone starter and winner out of Espadrille (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) a daughter of High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), successful at Group 3-level in Britain, third in the G1 Investec Epsom Oaks in 2009 and multiple Group 2-placed in France.
G1 Durban July won by Oriental Charm
3-year-old colt Oriental Charm (SAf) (Vercingetorix {SAf}) claimed victory in the 128th edition of the G1 Durban July giving trainer Brett Crawford secured his second consecutive win in the race. “He looked absolutely amazing and he’s just been a horse that’s progressed with each and every run. I couldn’t be happier to Greg, Gina and Leon … they’re stalwarts in the game and nothing better than to win for them. So well deserved,” Crawford told Gold Circle.
Owned by Greg Bortz, Leon Ellman, and Gina Goldsmith, with JP van der Merwe in the saddle, Oriental Charm took an early lead and maintained it against all comers. He took his record to four wins from 10 starts.
G1 Garden Province S. won by Humdinger
Saturday’s G1 Garden Province S. in South Africa was won by 5-year-old mare Humdinger (SAf) (What A Winter {SAf}). “All your life, you want to own horses like this … they try every time they run,” trainer Mike de Kock told Gold Circle.
“I was always a bit suspect of the mile, to be honest, but I think we witnessed mastery today from Strydom … the ‘old dog’ has still got it a little bit! It was a super ride and a great result. The other filly was a little disappointing and we will address that, but right now we will savour the moment”. Humdinger took her record to eight wins from 33 starts and was her first win at Group 1 level.
