Listed Kalgoorlie Cup headlines four for Pike
Grant and Alana Williams trained Starry Heights (Star Turn) took his Listed Boulder Cup-winning form into Saturday’s Listed Kalgoorlie Cup, winning the 2300-metre feature to cap off an amazing day for jockey William Pike who rode four winners on the card.
Starry Heights has now won two stakes races in succession and took his record to nine wins from 19 starts with earnings over $450,000. A $35,000 purchase by his trainers at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale from Ruby Racing and Breeding, he is one of nine stakes winners for his sire.
The first foal of unraced mare Highly Illustrious (High Chaparral {Ire}), Starry Heights descends from the family of G1 Queensland Oaks winner Miss Danehill (Danehill {USA}).
Pike’s other winners were on Secret Attraction (NZ) (Savabeel), Full Of Merit (Demerit) and Laquetta’s Gift (Sooboog).
Busuttin and Young win Paris Lane Stakes
Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young added the Listed Paris Lane S. to their resume on Saturday at Flemington with a solid training effort when their 7-year-old gelding Uncle Bryn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) won by 1.5l from Plenty Of Ammo (Rebel Raider) with Comrade Rosa (Capitalist) in third.
Uncle Bryn was having his second start after a year off and had run 12th of 15 first-up in the Listed Sofitel H. last start.
“It's hard when they’re older horses. They've been off the scene a long time. Even walking around the yard today, he was so relaxed. He's all dappled up (and) he looks super. We just really love this horse. When you get a horse back from injury, it's just extremely rewarding. It's fantastic to see him up like that,” said Young.
The Group 3 winner of over $900,000 will likely head to the Sale Cup next. He won three of his five starts in England, and has been here since 2022, taking his record to eight wins from 24 starts.
Lane to miss Caulfield Cup after suspension
Flemington’s meeting saw jockey Damian Lane given a 10-meeting careless riding suspension that will see him miss Caulfield Cup Day. Stewards found him guilty of mid-range careless riding when he crossed the field shortly after the start to lead on Danny O’Brien-trained 2-year-old Rumble Town (Microphone) in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. Rumble Town finished seventh.
Milnes treble puts her on top in Adelaide
Rochelle Milnes soared to the top of the Adelaide jockeys' premiership with a treble at Morphettville on Saturday. She won on Sixteen Reasons (Jukebox), who became the 100th win for the Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea training partnership, Cararada (Caravaggio {USA}), and Santastico (Santos).
Rochelle Milnes | Image courtesy of Country Racing SA
Treble for Jake Duffy at Gunbower
The Gunbower meeting in Victoria was a successful one for jockey Jake Duffy who rode a treble on Japanese Whisper (Bon Hoffa), Dissalto (Dissident), and The Ballet Dancer (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop).
The Gunbower Cup was won by Gwenda Johnstone trained Cadazio (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) ridden by Nathan Punch.
Treble for Small at Armidale
Apprentice jockey Leeshelle Small rode of treble at Armidale, in the first three races on the card, on Saturday aboard Another Gift (Sooboog), Sippity Sip (Office Bearer), and Waydie (Headwater).
Grace opens kiwi account in Egmont Cup
Visiting Australian jockey Harry Grace recorded his first win in New Zealand with a dominant performance by Sacred Pearl (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) in Saturday’s Egmont Cup at Hawera. “It’s fantastic to get a win in New Zealand, and this horse has done it in very good fashion,” Grace told Loveracing.nz.
“We had a lovely run. They rocked along a bit quicker than I was expecting, but she was travelling well all the way. I was able to just keep her on the bridle and then go when I wanted to go. It worked out well for her.”
She took her record to 43 starts for six wins, 13 placings and earnings over NZ$190,000.
Godolphin takes out sponsored Group 1
It was a Godolphin homebred filly by a Darley stallion to take the GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes on Keeneland's Opening Day on Friday. GI Spinaway Stakes winner Immersive (USA) (Nyquist {USA}) carried her strong form to Kentucky from Saratoga and will now head to Del Mar a two-time Grade I winner while still undefeated into the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
The Alcidiades form is hard to ignore when it gets to the Breeders' Cup. Last year's winner Candied (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}) wound up third while the 2022 winner, Wonder Wheel (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}), also took victory in the Juvenile Fillies en route to being named Champion 2-year-old filly. Juju's Map (USA) (Liam's Map {USA}) also hit the Breeders' Cup board in third after taking the Alcibiades in 2021.
“We thought she was very good,” said winning trainer Brad Cox. “I want to start by thanking Sheikh Mohammed (owner of Godolphin) and the whole Godolphin team. She stamped herself as a very good filly from Day 1 when she arrived here at Keeneland in the spring. It's a big win for her. She always acted like she would carry her talent around two turns. I want to thank (jockey) Manny Franco for being aggressive and putting her in the race. She finished up well. Looking at the race, it felt like there were a lot of fillies who would want to do the same thing (stay close to the early pace), based on the pace figures. You can't take speed out of a horse, and she broke and (Manny) did a good job tracking the leaders and she finished up well.”
Nyquist continues his strong year for Darley with a total of 26 stakes winners and four Grade I winners just this year. Out of a winning Bernardini (USA) mare, Immersive is out of a daughter of Dubai Escapade (USA), a Grade 1 winner purchased by Godolphin for US$2,000,000 (AU$2.94million) as a 2-year-old in 2004. There is no shortage of big prices in the pedigree as third dam Sassy Pants (USA) joined the Hill 'n' Dale Bloodstock roster for US$4.5m (AU$6.6million) at Keeneland November in 2006 after producing the likes of Grade 1 winner Madcap Escapade (USA) (Hennessy {USA}) (a US$3.1m (AU$4.6million) FTKNOV grad) who is in turn responsible for Grade 1 winner Mi Sueno (USA) (Pulpit {USA}) who sold to Katsumi Yoshida for US$1.9m (AU$2.8million) at FTKNOV in 2013.
Fierceness brother adds Group 3
It will be a family affair at Del Mar. His older brother, Fierceness (USA), may be looking to claim divisional honours on the dirt in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic next month while 2-year-old Mentee (USA) (City of Light {USA}) is taking a different route to the seaside oval, booking his slot in the gate for the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint with a win in Friday's GIII Futurity Stakes at Aqueduct.
“Some of the City of Lights handle the grass and we thought he (Mentee) had good action that would maybe take to it,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “We breezed him on it and it looked like he really enjoyed it. We felt the timing and the distance of this race suited him well and it put us in a position to do about anything from here. I think a lot of options open up.”
Regarding his colt's next start, Pletcher noted that both the Juvenile Turf Sprint and the Juvenile Turf would be in play. Mentee is the tenth stakes winner for City of Light and the second graded stakes winner produced by Mike Repole's Nonna Bella (USA) (Stay Thirsty {USA}) in as many years when counting the exploits of champion 2-year-old colt Fierceness. The mare herself is a winning half-sister to GI Wood Memorial Stakes winner and sire Outwork (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}).
Sale-topping Grade 1 winner Arabian Knight stud deal announced
Grade 1 winner Arabian Knight (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) will stand at Hill 'n' Dale next season for a fee of US$30,000 Live Foal, the farm announced Friday. A sales-topping US$2.3 million (AU$3.4million) purchase from the 2022 Ocala Breeders' April 2-Year-Old Sale, Arabian Knight won last year's GI Pacific Classic at only his fourth start.
“He showed his brilliance from day one of the 2-year-old sale where he was a man amongst boys,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “We knew he was special from the moment we saw him. He has what I love in a horse: beautiful conformation and brilliance.”
Big Rock announced for French stud
Group 1 winner Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) will stand at Haras de Grandcamp beginning in 2025, Jour de Galop reported on Friday. A fee for the 2023 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. victor will be announced in due course. An earner of $1.78 million from 15 starts to date, Big Rock is slated to run in the G1 Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp on October 6.
First stakes winner for Arizona
Castle Hyde Stud's resident Arizona (Ire) (by No Nay Never {USA}) was off the mark with his first stakes winner as his son Right And True (Ire) captured the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Star Appeal Stakes at Dundalk on Friday evening.
“He could maybe start off in a Guineas Trial,” Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong said. “If he comes through it well, he could put himself in the mix for the Breeders' Cup. We'll see where he fits in with the rest of the team. He came on nicely from Listowel and it is great to see that he is starting to deliver the promise that he showed at the start of the year.”
First stakes winner for King Of Change
Starfield Stud's first-crop sire King Of Change (GB) (by Farhh {GB}) has a black-type winner after his daughter Lady With The Lamp (Ire) caused a 66-1 upset in Friday's Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Legacy Stakes at Dundalk.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained €14,000 (AU$22,500) Goffs Orby Book 2 purchase was held up towards the back early by jockey Declan McDonogh. Arriving wide in a frantic finish, the daughter of the Godolphin cast-off Caring Touch (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}) from the family of Fortify (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) gained the edge close home to prevail by a head from Revoke (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}). “I just said to the part-owner there 'Listed only in name really',” McDonogh said. “It was a really strong pace and I couldn't go early but as soon as she straightened up, I had loads of horse. She came home well the last day, but she has got a very willing attitude.”
Goffs Orby book 2 ends on a high
Galbertstown Stables boss Pa Doyle described trade at Goffs this week as “very strong for the nice horses” after selling a Sioux Nation (USA) half-brother to Diego Ventura (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) to Tally-Ho Stud for €135,000 (AU$217,000).
That was the highest price paid on Friday as the curtain came down on Book 2 where a 72 per cent clearance rate (down 3 per cent on last year) was posted. The turnover for 322 sold was down 18 per cent to €6,603,800 (AU$10.6million) while the average fell by 8 per cent to €20,509 (AU$32,900) and the median by 14 per cent to €15,000 (AU$24,000).
As is clearly illustrated in the numbers, the demand is for the top tier horses. Below that level, things get a little trickier. Tally-Ho boss Tony O'Callaghan has seen his share of market trends and reiterated that trade was strong if you had the right horse. For those in the lower brackets, they struggled.
