Auguste Rodin to retire after G1 Japan Cup
The dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) will make one final appearance in the Japan Cup on November 24 before retiring to stand at Coolmore Stud in Ireland. The 4-year-old son of Japan's breed-shaping stallion Deep Impact (Jpn) has won at the highest level in each of his seasons in training.
“Auguste Rodin is an exceptional racehorse and stallion prospect with the blend of class, speed and pedigree that only the best possess,” said Coolmore's MV Magnier.
Auguste Rodin (Ire) | Image courtesy of Racingfotos.com
“He is a very special horse for us, and I truly believe he ranks up there with the best middle-distance racehorses and sires that we have stood here before him like Sadler's Wells, Galileo, Montjeu, Caerleon and Camelot. Physically, he fills the eye so well as he has extra quality and movement, so I can't wait to see his first crop in Ballydoyle in 2028. We are going to do all we can to give him the best possible opportunity to follow in his illustrious predecessors' footsteps.”
Auguste Rodin has won eight of his 15 starts including six wins at Group 1 level.
Kiwi Group 1 moved after meeting abandoned
Matamata is set to host the G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate for the second time in three years after a slippery track forced the abandonment of Saturday’s race meeting at Hastings. “The Hastings track had a full renovation earlier in the year and was in absolutely beautiful condition for the first day of the carnival, so this has probably come out of the blue a little bit,” New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s chief operating officer Darin Balcombe told Loveracing.nz.
“From what we can see, there was 1mm to 3mm of rain yesterday afternoon, which is probably the worst thing that could have happened, and it’s obviously just formed a bit of a slippery layer on top. We can’t say for sure until we have a full review of what’s happened, but that appears to be what the issue is. It’s a situation we desperately need to avoid. It’s very frustrating and we’ve got to make sure that things like this don’t happen.”
The remainder of Saturday’s abandoned meeting has been rescheduled to be run at Matamata on Wednesday. That includes the G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate and the G2 AHD Hawke’s Bay Guineas. Both of those feature races were also relocated to Matamata in 2022, when severe weather forced a complete washout of the Arrowfield meeting originally scheduled for Hastings.
“We looked at the possibility of coming back on Sunday and rescheduling the Woodville meeting, but at this stage we wouldn’t be comfortable that we could turn the track around, make sure it’s safe and get that testing in before sending the riders back out there.”
Broadsiding leads treble for J-Mac at Rosehill
Jockey James McDonald added another treble at Rosehill on Saturday with the win in the G1 Golden Rose on boom 3-year-old colt Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) for trainer James Cummings. His other two winners were Chris Waller-trained 4-year-old mare Firestorm (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) and Marc Conners-trained 6-year-old gelding Willaidow (Shamus Award).
James McDonald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Inglis Digital purchase makes quick profit
Trainer Stephen Theodore purchased Sacred Kenshi (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) earlier this month for $16,000 on Inglis Digital and a win at Morphettville on Saturday earned his connections $27,300.
“I identified him on Inglis Digital earlier this month, bought him and syndicated him,” Theodore told Racing.com. “He was a last start winner and when he came over, he just looked amazing and I didn't know how I was going to improve him. I sent him up the hill for three weeks and he worked with Savsonic, who is airborne. For a horse we paid $16,000 for, we're pretty chuffed and he's paid for himself already.”
Treble for Cavanough at Longreach
Trainer Brett Cavanough won half the card at Longreach with Harbour Gold (Star Witness), The Hangar Cat (Duporth) and Shaggy Rogers (Jukebox).
Treble for Huxtable at Mackay
Jockey Justin Huxtable enjoyed a treble at Mackay on Saturday aboard Private Cheetah (Pierro), Sir Rocket (Smart Missile) and Hellish (Hellbent).
Around the Nation: 3-year-old winners
Outside of the main races, there were several interesting 3-year-old winners on Saturday.
Away from Rosehill in NSW, Kembla Grange saw two 3-year-olds win on the card. Brad Widdup trained Tenbury Wells (Fastnet Rock) won his second in succession. John Thompson trained Lugarno (Rubick) won for jockey Alysha Collett. At Jerilderie, Qaraar (Tassort) won the first on the card for trainer Ross Purcell.
David Jolly-trained filly Nextonixs (Tassort) won the first at Morphettville by 1.5l for jockey Rochelle Milnes at her second start. She becomes the 13th winner for second-season sire Tassort who enjoyed a double for the day.
In WA, at Belmont, trainer Daniel Morton’s gelding True Apostle (Playing God) took his record to two wins from five starts with an 0.9l win with jockey Lucy Fiore.
Queensland’s Saturday enjoyed eight meetings with gelding Prominent Lad (Better Than Ready), gelding Hella Fast (Hellbent) and filly Bengal Diamond (Flying Artie) all winning at Eagle Farm. Pope Cody (Showtime) won the Toowoomba Guineas for trainer and part owner Cameron H Richardson to take the 3-year-old colt’s record to three wins from five starts. French Wish (Yes Yes Yes) won at Gladstone to become her sire’s ninth winner.
ITBA announce new committee
It was today announced that the ITBA Next Generation have updated their committee for 2024/25 as they prepare to kick off their calendar of events for the new season. Ross O'Mahony of Tattersalls Ireland steps up to the role of chair and Luke Bleahen of Lakefield Farm will be vice chair.
The rest of the committee will comprise of Aoife Boland (Goffs, Piercetown Stud), Luke Coen (Tattersalls Ireland, Q-Cross Stables), Jack Fitzgerald (UCD Vet Student), Sarah Gayer (ALEH), Timmy Love (Coolderry Farm), Paul Moloney (Irish National Stud), Brigitte Murphy (Tally-Ho Stud), Edmond Ryan (Weir View Stud), Niall Scott (Coolmore Stud) and Conor Wixted (Goffs).
The interns for 2025/25 have also been named, with Emma Hunter, Ciara Russell, Dana Jones and Emma Dillon all having started their placements this month.
Ocala October Yearlings supplementals announced
The Supplemental Catalogue for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2024 October Yearling Sale is now available via the OBS website and in printed form at the sales grounds. Forty-eight horses have been supplemented bringing the total to 583 horses.
There are two sessions, set for Tuesday, October 8th and Wednesday, October 9th. Hip No.'s 1-266 plus supplements 267-288 will be offered on Tuesday and Hip No's 301-569 plus supplements 570-595 will be sold on Wednesday. Both sessions will begin at 11.30am (local).
