Save Our MRC rip into Caulfield renovations
In a Saturday press release, the Save Our MRC group believe the new mounting yard at Caulfield is “one of the lightning rod issues that has prompted the new Save Our MRC group, led by Committee member John Kanga, to bring an unprecedented board spill motion at the Melbourne Racing Club to remove 6 committee members.”
One of the members of the Lindsay Park training team, JD Hayes, said: “The MRC has got everything completely wrong. Apart from wrecking the race day event and atmosphere, the position of the new mounting yard has already caused terrible logistical problems, as it is just too far away and takes too long to get to and from.
Sam Freedman was also quoted by Save Our MRC saying, “The new mounting yard is poorly designed and positioned and we have lost the connection to the members and fans. The race day atmosphere has been ruined. They need to pivot and return to the original mounting yard.”
James McDonald injured, then returns in sensational style
After a fall in the first at Randwick, jockey James McDonald was stood down for race two with a sore ankle. Sadly, Smashing Eagle (Shalaa {Ire}) died in the fall with a suspected heart attack. Our condolences to connections.
McDonald was back for the third race of the day and later won the G2 Silver Shadow S. on Ameena (Tassort) and the G3 Show County on Joliestar (Zoustar).
James McDonald racing away to victory on Joliestar in the G3 Show County at Randwick | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Emotional win for Medatsu at Randwick
Medatsu (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) won the Jersey Day Andrew Wisemantel H. at Randwick on Saturday wearing the colours of the Jersey Day charity. The charity concept has been inspired by the tragic story of 13-year-old Nathan Gremmo who died when crossing the road in 2015. In their grief, Nathan's family acknowledged his generous spirit and donated his organs which were used to save six lives – five young adults and a baby.
“It's great to see, not just racing, but the whole country – the Prime Minister was in a jersey last year on Jersey Day. It's raising awareness of organ donation. It might be the end of one person's life but it's such an important thing for other people,” trainer Chris Waller said.
Medatsu will be aimed at the G1 The Metropolitan. “We will sneak our way towards perhaps a Metropolitan. He's a very progressive horse. I was a little bit concerned whether 1600 metres might have been a bit short for him today, but he showed great acceleration and he can step up in distance now. For (owner) Tony Muollo and myself, it's a pretty special race, so we will try to get there with him.”
Treble for Jason Collett at Randwick
Jockey Jason Collett enjoyed a treble of winners at Randwick, winning the G3 Toy Show on Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) as well as winning aboard the Danny Williams-trained Atmospheric Rock (Your Song) in Race 3 and then in Race 10 aboard the Matthew Smith-trained World Alliance (Rubick).
Treble for William Pike at Belmont
Jockey William Pike rode a treble at Belmont on Saturday aboard 3-year-old gelding Mean Machine (Maschino) in Race 1, Russian Sniper (Snippetson) in Race 6 and Sensessional (Sessions) in Race 9.
William Pike aboard Mean Machine | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Around the nation: 3-year-old winners
Trained by the Hayes brothers, Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) improved his record to two wins from six starts with a victory at The Valley on Saturday. In New South Wales, Savoldi (Pride Of Dubai) made a successful debut for trainer John Thompson at Newcastle, where Yabby Pump (Castelvecchio) and Canpikapony (Zousain) also secured wins.
Chris Meagher-trained 3-year-old filly Tessatori (Territories {Ire}) took her record to two wins from six starts with a win at Doomben, while elsewhere across Queensland, other 3-year-old winners were Watch This One (Super One), and Gotta Hero (Heroic Valour).
At Belmont, Mean Machine (Maschino) won for trainer Darren McAuliffe.
G1 Nunthorpe won by Bradsell who was returning from injury
Victorious Racing's 2023 G1 King's Stand S. hero Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) on an enforced sabbatical for 329 days after registering that career high, added to his comeback win in this month's Listed Prix du Cercle with a dominant performance in Friday's G1 Nunthorpe S. at York.
“We were getting him ready for Dubai in the spring, but he fractured a fetlock in February and it's been an amazing route back for him,” explained trainer Archie Watson. “I know the vets like to stay behind the scenes, but they really have done a phenomenal job with this horse. We still can't believe a horse like this was buyable for £50,000 (AU$97,000). That is expensive for us and I know people see us as a big yard, but we have very few six-figure horses and for us to compete at this sort of level by buying horses at a lower level, it means a lot. He won the Coventry and he's a King's Stand winner. Now he's a Nunthorpe winner and I hope he can keep doing more.”
Bradsell's catalogue page is light on black-type with his Listed Radley S.-winning dam Russian Punch (GB) (Archipenko {USA}) the only individual of note under the first four dams.
Asfoora fourth, to skip Breeders Cup
Brilliant mare Asfoora (Flying Artie) was beaten by 1.4l and only narrowly missed the placings when fourth in Friday’s G1 Nunthorpe S., after settling in what was believed to be the inferior side of the course.
“I thought her last 50 metres was pretty plain anyway,” Dwyer told racing.com. “She probably hasn’t gone forward from where she was last time obviously, so it’s hard to progress if you haven’t got a genuine excuse, which we won’t know for a couple of days.
“She was there to run second or at least third. Whether she’s reached her peak or she’s on the way down or she didn’t like the track?
“I wouldn’t be thinking we would be going to the Breeders' Cup. I’d be thinking if there was an option we might go to Ireland for the Flying Five. But if anything comes out of it and we aren’t happy with her she’ll be going home for sure.”
G1 Personal Ensign creates another millionaire
Meet racing's newest millionaire. Raging Sea (USA) (Curlin {USA}), closing in an all-out stretch drive, just got up to nail pacesetter Idiomatic (USA) (Curlin {USA}) in the shadow of the wire to win Friday's G1 Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga.
“She (Raging Sea) had been training really well and the race set up for her,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “It was her day today, and she ran down a real Champion. I'm just so proud of her, so happy for Mr. John Clay, who bred this horse and actually RNA'd her as a yearling. He believed in her, sent her in to us, and she's really had a great career. Very rarely has she disappointed us. It's easy to be patient when you have a good owner like John. We rested her this winter, we brought her back and she's one of those horses that's just constantly improved–her pedigree would say she would. Obviously, we saw the best of her today.”
She will head to the G1 Spinster S. at Keeneland on October 6 next. In winning her first Group 1, she took her record to six wins from 11 starts with earnings over US$1 million (AU$1.47 million).
Vauban re-ignites excitement for another Melbourne Cup tilt
Irish star Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) has reignited Melbourne Cup redemption plans for trainer Willie Mullins and American owner Rich Ricci with victory in the G2 Lonsdale Cup on Friday. “I think the plan must be to go there now,” Ricci told local reporters.
“That was our intention all season. We said we'd work back from the Melbourne Cup. He was very good today and he was ready to rock. Will (Buick) said he got to the front a bit too soon and idled a bit in front but I wanted to see him run to the line because I had niggling doubts about the trip.”
“We learned a lot (Melbourne Cup last year). We did things differently from before when we had always gone down on the second shipment and had always run later. I said to Willie let's start with Melbourne. Instead of having a horse we think might go, let's say we are going to take him and have him tell us that he's not able to go. Work back from that.”
Cool Hoof Luke wins G2 Gimcrack S.
Fourth in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry Stakes and third over seven furlongs in the G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood, John Wallinger's 2-year-old colt Cool Hoof Luke (GB) (Advertise {GB}) showed that speed is his game by taking Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. at York. Trained by Andrew Balding, he now has two wins from four starts.
“He's a big 2-year-old–you look at him and you think he's going to be a better 3-year-old, we weren't sure about the trip as he's bred to be a sprinter and looks like a seven-furlong horse,” Anna Lisa Balding said. “I think we were a bit disappointed at Goodwood, but he came back and won the right one today.”
Keeneland to offer first Flash Sale since 2021
Keeneland will offer an August Flash Sale featuring the 'Black Forza Collection' which will include Harlee Honey (USA) (Harlan's Holiday {USA}), the dam of G2 Richmond Stakes winner Black Forza (USA) (Complexity {USA}) as well as his 4-year-old half-sister Ocean Honey (USA) (West Coast {USA}).
Online bidding will begin Monday, August 26 at noon (local) and will close at 3pm (local) on Thursday, August 29. It is the first Keeneland Flash Sale since 2021.
