Allpress injury update
Jockey Lisa Allpress is facing an extended period of recovery after a back injury sustained in a fall at Riccarton on Wednesday. “She is in Christchurch Hospital, and she has just got out of surgery,” husband Karl told Loveracing.nz.
“She broke a vertebra in the lower back, and rods and screws have been put in there. The operation went well, but at this stage it will be a long road to recovery. In true Lisa fashion, she is pretty tough, and she can beat the odds most of the time. I will get down to Christchurch as soon as I can, but she is in the right place anyway.”
Lisa Allpress | Image courtesy of Nicole Troost
“We have had a week from hell because my dad passed away and then this happens. Next Wednesday we were heading off to Japan for the World Jockeys’ Series. She works really hard to try and get these international invitations, and she has been lucky to get a few over the years. She has got a really good relationship with the JRA (Japan Racing Authority), and she has got a big fan base over there, so we were really looking forward to it.”
Schwarz heading towards Group 1 campaign
Trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton’s exciting 4-year-old colt Schwarz (Zoustar) will get his chance at a Group 1 if he runs up to expectations at Randwick on Saturday in the G2 Missile S. “If he can run well it does set him up well for a race at the top level,” Charlton told Racingnsw.com.au.
Schwarz | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s got improvement going forward, his pet trip might end up being 1400 metres but it’s a winnable race and we’d expect him to be very competitive. He enjoys getting into a rhythm, I think he’s better favoured being out there and being able to do that as you saw him do in the barrier trial the other day. James (McDonald) knows him well, there does look a bit of speed inside him so we’ll just have to see it unfold.” The Group 3 winner has won three of his seven starts and is the $2.20 TAB favourite.
Air Assault resumes on Saturday
Air Assault (Justify {USA}) will resume in Saturday's G3 Behemoth S. at Morphettville. “We probably still haven't worked out what his best trip is,” trainer Andrew Gluyas told racing.com.
“Going into the Derby we thought he probably wasn't going to be able to run that distance out strongly because that was the case during the spring last year when he ran in the VRC Derby. But his effort was very game, and he ran the 2500 metres out strongly, only going down by a small margin after leading the entire way.
Andrew Gluyas | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We thought we might have to restrict him to races between 1400 and 2000 metres going forward, but I think that Derby performance has left things a bit more open for him.”
Dancing Alone being aimed at black type
Trainer Bryce Heys hopes a decision to miss the autumn with smart mare Dancing Alone (I Am Invincible) will give her the best chance to snare a valuable black type win this season, and she will resume on Saturday at Randwick. “She’ll be better for having the run but it’s a matter of getting her through the first-up run,” Heys told racingnsw.com.au.
Bryce Heys | Image courtesy of Inglis
“Timing wise this is the race I really wanted to start her in. I want her to do things right. I want her ridden in a conservative manner so we can get her through the run, and hopefully she’s black type worthy.” Dancing Alone has won six of her eight starts and ran third in the G3 Furphy Sprint at her last start in November 2023.
Belmont for Morton’s pair
Top trainer Dan Morton will use a two-pronged attack in an attempt to win his first Listed Belmont Newmarket at Belmont on Saturday with Saloon Bar (Sessions) and Weaponson (Oratorio). “Saloon Bar was good the other day (Bolton Sprint),” Morton told Racing WA.
Dan Morton | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“He makes hard work of it; you literally ride him out the whole way and then he really finishes. But he has come on good and strips fitter. I think he will show up.”
Three for Ben Looker at Moree
Jockey Ben Looker rode a treble at Moree on Thursday aboard Invincible Red (Divine Prophet), Leica Model (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), and Calamity Fox (Foxwedge). Calamity Fox had to survive a protest to retain the win.
Winx sister wins again
Wings Of Desire (Pride Of Dubai), the half-sister to Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), made it two from two at Newcastle on Thursday for trainer Michael Freedman. She was ridden by Tommy Berry and won by 0.94l over 1250 metres.
Omen win for Federer
Federer (Dundeel {NZ}), out of Group 1 winner Jameka (Myboycharlie {Ire}), won on debut on Roger Federer's birthday at Ballarat on Thursday. “It doesn’t get much better than that. He’s a bit of a lad, quite strong, but he settled well, and as soon as I picked him up, it felt like he had heaps of gears there,” said jockey Ben Allen.
Jameka has had two runners for two winners and has an unraced 3-year-old full sister to Federer named Miss Alexia, and a 2-year-old filly Adira River (Ghaiyyath {Ire}).
Change of trainer for I Am Caviar
Tony Gollan will train I Am Caviar (I Am Invincible), who was previously been trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman for two wins. “I'm still getting to know him. He's been in my pre-training system, and he will enter the stables soon,” Gollan told racing.com about the son of Black Caviar (Bel Esprit).
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“He's a short-coupled horse who carries a bit of weight, so my job is to trim him down. His owners felt it would be better getting him up here and into the right short-course races. We won't be shooting for the stars with him.”
Makybe Diva’s last foal to debut
The 10th and final foal out of three-time Melbourne Cup legend Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}) is set to mark the end of an era when Terrifictonka (More Than Ready {USA}) debuts at Kembla Grange on Saturday. “You treat them all the same but when Tony said 'Would you like to give her a try'? I thought 'My god, one out of her (Makybe Diva) would be terrific' because she was a Champion, what she did was incredible,” trainer Clarry Conners told racing.com.
“But she's been a work in progress. She's coming along okay, and I think there's a win in her. She's a stayer for sure, I have just been trying to find a nice kick-off race for her.”
Heart Of Gold dominates synthetic race
The NZ$100,000 TAB 2000 was tailor-made for a horse like Heart Of Gold (NZ) (Niagara), and the Sam Mynott-trained gelding simply dominated the feature at Cambridge Synthetic on Thursday. He took his record to seven wins, all on synthetic, from 26 starts with earnings over NZ$141,000.
“It was brilliant, we’ve been setting him for this race for the last couple of months and I was pretty happy with him coming into today,” Mynott told Loveracing.nz. “We thought we had him pretty spot on and he’s broken the track record, so he’s definitely run well.
Sam Mynott | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
“I think it’s an amazing incentive by Entain to put these races on, when otherwise would you get to race for $100,000 at Cambridge? There are horses that would never get a chance to run for that kind of stake, but here we are today and it’s great.”
Former Sydney galloper ready to take on Mackay Cup
All-round Townsville horseman Terry McGovern is hopeful a stable newcomer of his will be competitive in Saturday's Mackay Cup with Andalus (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) who he bought for $40,000 in an online sale two months ago. “I was looking for a horse that we could chase the country Cups up here in the hope of qualifying for the Country Cup Challenge Final in Brisbane later in the year so that's why he's had two starts so far on country tracks,” McGovern told racingqueensland.com.au.
Andalus won over $300,000 for his former owners and ran second in the 2023 G1 NZ Derby.
All Blacks owned runner ready to win
All Blacks Damian McKenzie and Jordie Barrett will be cheering on their promising mare My Chablis (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) at Friday’s Awapuni meeting ahead of their clash with Argentina in Wellington on Saturday evening. “She was bought privately out of the paddock at Archer Park, Dylan Johnson sourced her,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.
My Chablis (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“He’s a bloodstock agent who works with us and he found her and liked her breeding, so we bought her. We’d had a little bit to do with Damian and he was keen to take a little bite of the horse, so we got him and Jordie in. We formed a syndicate with Martin Bradley, Dave Kneebone and Kevin O’Brien, who raced El Roca, and a few new owners.” My Chablis has won two of her four starts and comes into this off a last start second.
Another good start for Te Akau
Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton barn was instrumental in their premiership defence last season, adding 64 victories to their 169-win haul, and their southern base have kicked of the new term in similar fashion with a treble at Riccarton on Wednesday.
Sam Bergerson | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“It was great to start the season off yesterday down in Christchurch,” co-trainer Sam Bergerson told Loveracing.nz on Thursday. “We would have loved to have won the Winter Cup but just missed the bob. The team at Christchurch have had a fantastic season and they kicked that off again there on Wednesday with three really good winners. Hunter (Durrant, Riccarton stable foreman) and the team down there do a fantastic job, we are very lucky.”
British prizemoney boost for 2025
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has published its fixture list for 2025, which, with 1460 fixtures throughout the year, sees a reduction of eight meetings from those scheduled for 2024.
Premier Raceday's will receive an extra 10 per cent in prizemoney for next year, which is the second of a two-year trial launched in January 2024 in a bid to “enhance the quality and competitiveness of British racing, increase customer engagement and improve the financial returns to those who own, train and run their horses here in Britain” as part of the BHA's long-term strategy.
“Having increased the minimum prize-money criteria for Premier Raceday's, we did expect to see a contraction in the overall number, but while some meetings have returned to core status, others have met the new thresholds. Hopefully this extra prizemoney will be welcome news, as will the strengthened offering on a Sunday,” said the BHA's director of racing Richard Wayman.
Tropical storm potentially impacts Derby
With heavy rain associated with Tropical Storm Debby forecast to impact Saratoga Springs on Friday and Saturday, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will add the G1 FanDuel Fourstardave H. and GI Saratoga Derby Invitational as contingency races for Sunday, August 11, the track said in a press release.
G1 Arlington Million to move to Sunday
Colonial Downs Racetrack has pushed its Festival of Racing, which includes the G1 Arlington Million, back a day after it was originally scheduled for Saturday, August 10, the track said in a release.
The decision to switch the card to Sunday, Aug. 11 was made after confirmation from weather experts that heavy rain caused by Tropical Storm Debby would hit the Tidewater by the end of the week.
Metropolitan to stand with Almanzor
A majority share in French 2000 Guineas hero Metropolitan's (Fr) stallion rights has been purchased by Haras d'Etreham, the stud announced on Wednesday. The 3-year-old will stand alongside Almanzor (Fr), City Light (Fr), Hello Youmzain (Fr), Onesto (Ire), Persian King (Ire), and Victor Ludorum (GB) upon retirement.
“We are delighted to be associated with the future stallion career of this horse with a very interesting profile and to ensure his retirement in France. In addition to his flawless conformation, Metropolitan is a son of Zarak who is extremely successful at stud. His outcross pedigree represents another major asset for the French stallion ranks and a real opportunity for breeders to widen their choice of crosses. In only five outings, he has already demonstrated his precocity, speed and quality at the highest level, and he undoubtedly still has plenty of margin for improvement,” said Haras d'Etreham's Nicolas de Chambure.
Tattersalls Book 1 catalogue released
A galaxy of well-bred potential stars featured in the release of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 catalogue on Wednesday, headed by the Frankel (GB) sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista (GB), which had already been announced last week.
The Book 1 catalogue boats 21 yearlings by Dubawi (Ire), 25 Frankels, 26 by Kingman (GB), 29 by Lope De Vega (Ire) while fellow top-notchers Sea The Stars (Ire) [22], Siyouni (Fr) [10] and Wootton Bassett (GB) [23] are similarly well-represented.
Rouget and Reynier to join forces
Jean-Claude Rouget, one of the most successful trainers in French racing history, is set to join forces with Jerome Reynier. The news was reported by Jour de Galop.
The four-time champion trainer in France announced back in May that he had been suffering from exhaustion and was set to follow doctor's advice by taking a three-week break from training.
It has not been confirmed whether joining forces with Marseille-based Reynier, one of the most progressive trainers in Europe, is linked to Rouget's health.
