Group 1 banter ahead of Memsie
Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) have formed an incredible rivalry over the past 12 months and will go head to head in Saturday's G1 Memsie S. at Caulfield. “It's a great rivalry, that's what makes racing so good,” Mr Brightside’s jockey Craig Williams told racing.com.
Mr Brightside (NZ) (black cap) defeats Pride Of Jenni in a close finish in the G1 CF Orr S. | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“(Declan Bates)'s got an amazing horse that he partners and gets the best out of and I've got an amazing horse in Mr Brightside. We will be working on our strengths and hopefully try and find her weakness.”
McDonald sticks with Gatsby’s for San Domenico
There was something about the way Gatsby’s (Snitzel) treated his rivals in his first-up win that told Champion jockey James McDonald he might be a special colt, and he’s sticking with him for Saturday’s G3 San Domenico S. at Rosehill. “He was brilliant, he’s just come back really well. He put the writing on the wall, it’s really good to see,” McDonald told racingnsw.com.au.
James McDonald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The way he put them away was pretty good, wasn’t it. I’m very happy with Gatsby’s and it’ll take a good horse to beat him.” Gatsby’s has won two of his three starts including a last start win in the Listed The Rosebud S.
Storm Boy to resume in San Domenico
Co-trainer Adrian Bott thinks Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) will improve after his first up run in Saturday’s G3 San Domenico S. at Rosehill. “It’s a nice draw for him, it’s going to be a tactical race but no doubt we’ll be looking to utilise the draw and utilise his speed,” Bott told racingnsw.com.au.
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“There’s still some nice improvement for him to keep taking this preparation. He’s going to be better suited the deeper he goes into the campaign and when we see him over further. At the same time this is a nice kick off point and most importantly it helps lay the right foundations for the path ahead.” Storm Boy won four of his six starts at two including the G2 Skyline S. and R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Maher’s Growing Empire to resume at Caulfield
Ciaron Maher trained 3-year-old colt Growing Empire (Zoustar) will resume in Saturday's G3 McNeil S. at Caulfield. “Certainly, he was a brilliant 2-year-old, and I think he's made the step as a 3-year-old,” Maher told racing.com.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“And I'm really looking forward to stepping him out on Saturday. I hope he wins and then he can go to the Poseidon, the Danehill and the Coolmore.” Growing Empire won two of his three starts at two including the G3 SAJC Breeders’ S.
Coolmore buys into Espionage
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 3-year-old colt Espionage (Zoustar) has had a change of ownership with Coolmore and several partners buying into the colt who is being aimed at the G1 Coolmore Stud S. He trials on Friday.
Espionage | Image courtesy of Sportpix
First winner for Cliff’s Edge
Bombora Downs stallion Cliff’s Edge sired his first winner on Thursday when 3-year-old filly Escarpa won on debut at Bendigo for trainer Greg Eurell and jockey Craig Williams. A half-sister to stakes placed winner Prowling (Wolf Cry), Escarpa is out of city winning mare Great Dame (Danerich).
Treble for Craig Williams at Bendigo
Jockey Craig Williams rode a treble at Bendigo on Thursday aboard 3-year-old filly Escarpa (Cliff’s Edge), Nearing Liberty (Impending) and Lindsay Park trained Extreme Virtue (Extreme Choice).
Craig Williams | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Around the nation: Thursday’s 3-year-old winners
At Thursday’s Newcastle meeting there were three 3-year-old winners. John O'Shea and Tom Charlton trained filly Snow In May (The Autumn Sun) kept her unbeaten record with her second career win from as many starts. Michael Freedman trained Spirit Of Wealth (Capitalist) won on debut for a Darby Racing syndicate, while he also trained Last Command (Tassort) to win the last on the card to take his record to two wins from four starts.
At Northam, All Grunt (Grunt {NZ}) won on debut for trainer Tiarnna Noske. The gelding was a $50,000 purchase from Cornerstone Farm at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale by TB Racing. Matt Kropp trained filly Sun Worshipper (Sun City) took her record to two wins from four starts at Rockhampton, having previously won at the same track as a 2-year-old.
Herbert Park steps up in group company
Talented mare Herbert Park (Toronado {Ire}) will continue her unbeaten campaign when she steps up into G3 Cockram S. at Caulfield on Saturday. “Depending on acceptances, it looks very strong, so you know she needs to improve again, but with the right soft conditions I’m confident she will run well,” trainer Tony Noonan told racing.com.
“They might be a bit sharp, but she has fitness on her side and she’s a talented mare. She has the ability to sit forward and then she’s got a nice kick.” Herbert Park has won three in succession and has a career tally of four wins from seven starts.
Wallace has another top filly
Trainer Jim Wallace will line-up unraced 3-year-old filly Merkel (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas on Saturday. “I have said several times that she is similar to what Pennyweka was at the same stage, only with a little bit more speed,” Wallace told Loveracing.nz.
Jim Wallace with his family | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
“That gives some encouragement, but it took Pennyweka a little while to win a race, but when she did, she made up for it. I think she has got a bit more than average ability and you have got to start somewhere and this may be the place.” The long-term aim is the G1 New Zealand Oaks.
Vale Lucia Valentina
Elsdon Park are saddened to report the passing of triple Group 1 winning mare Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) on Wednesday. “Lucia Valentina has a special place in our hearts. She was named after our daughter and enabled us to enjoy some phenomenal family events,” Lib Petagna told Loveracing.nz on Thursday.
The late Lucia Valentina (NZ) with her 2022 filly foal by I Am Invincible | Image courtesy of Elsdon Park
“The whole family really got behind her and we had a lot of thrills with her. When you have a horse like Lucia, you bring people into racing that aren’t naturally interested, and they get a real buzz out of it. This is what she enabled for us with our friends and family.” She is the dam of three foals to race, the best being Group 1-placed winner Luella Cristina (Snitzel) who is owned by Elsdon Park.
Racing Queensland boss talks about threat of illegal gaming
Racing Queensland chief executive Jason Scott has warned over-regulation and taxation of wagering threatens the viability of the sport. “Illegal markets are growing, why are people going to illegal markets?” Scott asked at the Asian Racing Conference.
“Yes, they use crypto, but the reason is most customers are conscious of return and because the illegal markets are able to offer a greater return through less take-outs, less taxes et cetera they can grow. … We're competing with restaurants, we're competing with theme parks and we're competing with every single part of a country's ecosystem so from that manner, wagering needs to be fun. It needs to be innovative and it most certainly needs to be slightly different to what it is and if we don't change we die.”
Wong being mentored by Purton ahead of Hong Kong season
Jockey Britney Wong is working hard for the upcoming Hong Kong season, where she will be the first female rider in seven years. “I actually don’t think words can explain my excitement because this is a very huge opportunity for me,” Wong told scmp.com.
Britney Wong | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I’ve been working very hard to get (a licence), so I’m very pleased that the club has given me the opportunity. I’ve had lots of help from people at the jockey school and Zac (Purton) also came over to share his thoughts with me on Tuesday. His preparation is very thorough and he covers everything. I think that’s a big thing to learn from.”
Updated welfare guidelines for sale horses
Updated guidelines for the preparation and sale of thoroughbred breeding and young stock at public auction were published Wednesday by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA), Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA), Goffs, Tattersalls and the Federation of Bloodstock Agents, ahead of the forthcoming yearling sales season.
“The British and Irish thoroughbred breeding industries remain committed to advocating and promoting the highest standards of care and well-being for our horses through guidance and education,” said Claire Sheppard, Chief Executive of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. “These updated guidelines reflect the developments in technology to allow routine tasks to be more efficient, bio-secure and facilitate a greater level of traceability.
£350k Tasleet colt tops Goffs UK
When Moyfinn Stud's Paul Giles sold a Galileo Gold (GB) colt (Lot 318) for £68,000 (AU$131,000) during the second day of the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale, it was said to be the most money he'd ever received for a horse in his life. So, what was Giles thinking just a short time later when his three-parts brother to last week's G2 Gimcrack S. winner Cool Hoof Luke (GB) sold to Amanda Skiffington for £350,000 (AU$680,000), the third highest price in the sale's history.
“That sort of money was what I dreamed of, it's not what I expected - you have to pinch yourself a bit,” the County Meath native summed up. “I've been in horses all of my life in one way or another and I've never had anything like that. As a matter of fact, the price I got for the other horse before was the biggest price I'd ever got in my life.”
With 27 horses selling for £100,000 (AU$193,000) or more, the demand for the top bracket horses at Goffs remained strong. However, an 82 per cent clearance rate followed by an 8 per cent dip in the aggregate to £14,972,500 (AU$29million) illustrated the difficulties at the middle to lower tiers. The average also fell by 14 per cent to £39,610 (AU$76,700) and the median by the same percentage to £30,000 (AU$58,000).
Parx closes turf track after safety concerns
Under pressure from HISA and the local horsemen's group, Parx management has closed down its turf course after a horse broke down on the grass in the August 24 Parx Dash S. The horse, Causes Trouble (USA) (Creative Cause {USA}), is co-owned by John Fanelli and was making his 33rd career start.
“It's always been known as a bad course, but if I knew it was that bad, I never would have put my horse on that surface,” Fanelli said. “I was really upset about the condition of the course and when I saw it myself, I was in shock.”
