Minor setback sees new Guineas path for Epimeles
A minor setback for Epimeles (Dundeel {NZ}) saw him miss Saturday’s HDF McNeil S. and co-trainer Trent Busuttin said he return next Saturday in the Listed McKenzie S. at The Valley. “You’ll see him (gallop) at The Valley on Tuesday and then he’ll go into the McKenzie,” Busuttin told racing.com.
“He was supposed to race today (Saturday) but he just had a tiny, tiny thing and we decided not to race him. We took him to the Cranbourne track and he had a good solid gallop with Uncle Bryn this morning. He worked up super.” Epimeles was unbeaten in two starts at two, including winning the Listed Anzac Day S.
Stewards overrule vet to scratch Skybird
Racing Victoria stewards have overruled a veterinary call to allow Skybird (Exosphere) to run at Caulfield on Saturday with stewards ultimately ordering the mare’s withdrawal from the Group 3 Cockram S.
“Skybird was fractious in the gates as she was being loaded and she became cast for a momentary time,” acting chairman of stewards Corie Waller told racing.com.
“The vet had a quick look and passed her fit however, based on the evidence looking at the film – which the vet was not 100 per cent privy to – it was pretty obvious that she shouldn’t take her place in the field based on the position she was in and how fractious she was.
“What happens around the gates and what the vet sees is very, very quick. They are not able to see 100 per cent of what happens as they might be in a different position. They might not have seen the incident, whereas we had the inside steward Mr Hitchcock, looking at the film. He could replay through exactly what has happened and be able to watch it over a number of times to make a better assessment of whether the horse should take its place in the field.”
Bargain buy gives trainer his first city winner
On Saturday at Doomben, trainer Shannon Manwarring won his first city race with 4-year-old mare Credit Controller (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), a horse he maxed out his credit card to buy online for $4000. “I have been training about three years,” Manwarring said.
“I was going to take her to Sydney for a Highway race, but it is a bit expensive to send them all the way there. I was giggling when we were driving up to Brisbane when she was $101, her work has been so good. I had to max out my credit card to buy her, $4000, I had some mates saying they would buy into her. You don't need to have much on them at those odds, I had enough on her, that's for sure.”
When he bought Credit Controller, she’d had four starts for two different trainers with no form. Now she has three wins from 17 starts with earnings over $100,000 and was purchased by Manwarring at the 2024 Inglis Digital January Sale.
Kembla Grange: 3-year-old winners
Saturday’s Kembla Grange meeting saw four nice 3-year-olds win. Richard and Will Freedman trained filly Pleasure Artist (Trapeze Artist) won at only her second raceday start under jockey Andrew Atkins who made it a double with John O'Shea and Tom Charlton trained gelding King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci).
Peter Snowden trained colt Embassy (I Am Invincible) broke through after three stakes placed outings at two, while O’Shea and Charlton trained Komodo Dragon (Hellbent) rounded out the 3-year-old winners on the card.
Around the nation: 3-year-old winners
At Warracknabeal, Tony and Calvin McEvoy trained 3-year-old filly Tochka (Russian Revolution) won on debut for a MyRacehorse syndicate.
At Morphettville, Phillip Stokes trained 3-year-old filly Duchess Of Sussex (Hellbent) won for jockey Lachlan Neindorf, while over at Belmont, trainer Simon Miller’s filly Madhi Girl (Winning Rupert) took her record to two wins from five starts.
Across the eight day meetings in Queensland, there were three 3-year-old winners: Ready To Schipp (Better Than Ready), Odinson (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), and Invading Jilly (Invader).
Listed hope for Sunday
Hellavadancer (Hellbent) will attempt to snare a Listed victory when the Kris Lees trained 5-year-old lines up in Sunday’s Listed Mona Lisa S. at Wyong. “She’s a mare in form and is a winner at Wyong over the distance. She looks well placed,” jockey Joshua Parr told racingnsw.com.au.
“She won a couple at Eagle Farm last campaign, and since resuming from a spell she’s been in great form." She is a last start winner who has a career record of six wins from 26 starts.
Long drive not deterrent for Prophet’s Pride in Moree Cup
Trainer Matthew Kelley is undeterred by the 750km drive from his Canberra stables to Sunday’s Mooree Cup. “The program was suitable for the type of horses I have, especially the horses that are borderline open company,” Kelley told racingnsw.com.au.
“So, I thought what else do I have in the stable that are in the same position and there’s a couple there that the races are really suitable for. If you’re taking four there it’s worth taking a couple of days out of your week to go for that type of prizemoney.” He will run Prophet’s Pride (Divine Prophet) in the Cup, and the rest of his team heading on the trip are Spinosaurus (Zoustar), Mariner’s Dream (Merchant Navy), and Puerto Rico (Dream Ahead {USA}).
Winter warhorse provides apprentice with first winner
Winter warhorse Verry Flash (Zed) recorded the 14th win of his career in Saturday’s Wanganui Insurance Brokers, and in the process, he provided an unforgettable moment for his 22-year-old jockey Amber Riddell. “I’m just so happy to get this win, because it’s taken a couple of weeks,” Riddell, a daughter of Group 1-winning jockey Jonathan Riddell and former jockey and trainer Trina Marshall, told Loveracing.nz
“I’m so glad to get it, and especially on Flash, who’s one of my favourite horses in the (Kevin Myers) stable. It’s extra special that the first win came on one of Kevin’s horses. I can’t thank him enough for giving me a go and taking me on as his apprentice.” Verry Flash is a full brother to Horse of the Year Verry Elleegant (NZ) and has 14 wins from 71 starts highlighted by the 2022 Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup.
Godolphin breaks record at BBAG sale
Godolphin repeated their feat of five years ago when signing for the €850,000 (AU$1.4million) top lot at Friday's BBAG September Yearling Sale, surpassing the previous record fee of €820,000 (AU$1.34million) they paid for a Sea The Stars (Ire) filly in 2019.
Named Del Maro (Ger), he too has a Classic pedigree fully befitting of the highest-priced horse in the sale's history. A son of the 2000 Guineas and Derby winner Camelot (GB), Del Maro was offered by Gestut Brummerhof and is out of their homebred Preis der Diana scorer Diamanta (Ger) (Maxios {GB}), a half-sister to the Listed winner and Group 2 Oleander-Rennen third Diamantis (Ger) (Golden Horn {GB}). His second dam is the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin runner-up Diamantgottin (Ger) (Fantastic Light).
Of the 210 lots offered, 153 sold at a clearance rate of 73%, down 2% on last year. The average also fell by 2% to €48,552 (AU$79,400), while the median was consistent with 12 months ago at €48,745 (AU$79,600). The aggregate spend was €7,428,500 (AU$12million), down 8% on last year's figure.
Machu Uno dies of old age
Stronach Stables's Macho Uno (USA), Eclipse Award-winning Champion Juvenile and whose progeny include G1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man (USA), was euthanized at the age of 26 due to liver complications at his home at Adena South Aug. 30, according to a Friday press release from 1/ST Racing.
At stud, he had 51 stakes winners over 17 crops including five at Grade 1 level, prior to being pensioned to Adena South in 2020.
