Melbourne Cup field inspection updates
Racing Victoria announced on Thursday evening that 17 of the 29 horses that remain in contention for the G1 Melbourne Cup were inspected by vets. The following 16 horses were inspected and passed suitable on their first pre-race physical examination: Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock), Circle of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}), Fancy Man (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai), Francesco Guardi (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Land Legend (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), Maharajaan (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}), Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}), Mostly Cloudy (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}), Okita Soushi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), Saint George (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}), Sharp ‘n’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), Valiant King (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) and Zardozi (Kingman {GB}).
Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will be reinspected on Friday as will the remaining horses. A second pre-race veterinary inspection of all horses in the final field will be conducted by a panel of RV veterinarians on Monday.
Growing Empire has coped with travel
Trainer Ciaron Maher is pleased with the way Growing Empire (Zoustar) has coped with travelling to Sydney and back to Victoria ahead of Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. “He's come through The Everest in great fashion. He's travelled back. Mark (Zahra) rode him the other day and was very happy with him,” Maher told racing.com.
Growing Empire | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Rachel King’s busy weekend
Jockey Rachel King will ride unbeaten colt Satono Carnaval (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) for renowned Japanese trainer Noriyuki Hori in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Friday (Saturday AEST) and then jump on a plane to Melbourne for Tuesday’s G1 Melbourne Cup to ride The Map (Alpine Eagle).
“It's pretty special to be competing at these two big meetings so close together,” King told Racing.com from the United States.
Rachel King | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I didn't realise until it came out in the media that I was the first Australian as well to be riding at the Breeders' Cup. I guess it is probably a difficult time of year for Aussies, being during the Spring Carnival, but it definitely was an experience that I couldn't pass up.
“It's already been a great experience; I've been here for a few days and I'm looking forward to Friday and then getting back to Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup. It's a unique kind of trip, I guess, combining those two races together but one I'm looking forward to.”
Lazzat owner Nurlan Bizakov ready for Saturday
Nurlan Bizakov, oil baron and owner of unbeaten Group 1 winner Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), is keen to travel his gelding. “Lazzat is a gelding so hopefully we can enjoy our journey with him,” Bizakov told racenet.com.au. “Maybe on our way home to France, we could stop over in Hong Kong but we will see what happens.
“Hong Kong is an option in December and the Saudi meeting in February. It's a good horse to have at the moment but at the moment it is what is his optimum trip because he has won over 1500 metres and 1400 metres as well as 1300 metres.” Hesmonds Stud, as part of his breeding business Sumbe, and owns Group 1 winner Charyn trained by Roger Varian and has spoken to bloodstock agent Will Johnson about setting up an arm here.
“I will need a few trainers here and maybe before the end of next season I will have a few horses in training in Australia. Will used to be assistant manager to Roger Varian so I have known him for almost 10 years now so fingers crossed. With the prizemoney, it's a country you have to have horses. It's not easy to get here but I am enjoying every minute being here.”
Kheir tribute to McKenna in Melbourne Cup
Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will run in Tuesday’s G1 Melbourne Cup with a special striped royal blue and lime green cap in honour of the galloper's late, great co-owner Col McKenna. “As an ownership group we thought it would be a fitting gesture to an amazing person that has given so much to so many people within and outside of racing,” part owner Ozzie Kheir told racenet.com.au.
“Unfortunately I didn't get to spend as much time with Col as others within the (ownership) group, but all my interactions with him were always fun and interesting and I had massive respect for him as a person.
The late Colin McKenna | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“With Ciaron Maher training Interpretation, and with Col in the ownership group, it would be an amazing result if this horse was able to salute on Tuesday and hopefully bring some joy to Col's family and loved ones.” Interpretation will be re-examined by vets on Friday after not passing an initial physical inspection on Thursday.
McDonald chasing Group 1 hattrick on Saturday
Jockey James McDonald has a strong trio of rides on Saturday with Switzerland (Snitzel) in the G1 Coolmore Stud S., King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci) in the G1 Victoria Derby and Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G1 Empire Rose S. “Switzerland's win in the Roman Consul S. last start was the race he needed,” McDonald told racenet.com.au.
James McDonald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“King Of Thunder goes very well and I thought he was super last week (third in The Vase at The Valley). He will stay all day and I would love to win the Derby for John (O'Shea) and Tom (Charlton).”
Pride hopes Lekvarte can upset Empire Rose
Trainer Joe Pride is hoping he can cause an upset with his mare Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}). “It's not a coincidence all three (of her Group 3 wins) have been at a mile,” Pride told Racing.com.
Lekvarte (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“That's her distance. It is a step up, but I feel like she's never been better and it's definitely worth a go. She's a very honest mare and she never runs a bad race. I've taken her to Queensland a few times and she hasn't enjoyed that, but I think Flemington would suit her and she's a true miler. I think it's worth giving her a shot at a Group 1.” She won the G3 Angst S. at her last start.
Egan hoping for redemption in G3 Carbine Club S.
Jockey Billy Egan is hoping Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) can provide some redemption in Saturday’s G3 Carbine Club S. after a narrow defeat in the G1 Caulfield Guineas last start. “Still getting over it,” Egan told racenet.com.au.
Billy Egan | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“It was a really good run, we drew two and we box seated, we had a lot of favours also go our way, which helped get him so close in the end. I must've had my eyes closed (head down riding him out) the last 50m so when I looked up we passed the finishing post and I was ahead, I actually thought we might've won.”
Bella Nipotina on target for more prizemoney
Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) became the first mare to win the G1 The Everest two weeks ago, and gave Ciaron Maher his first winner of the $20 million sprint, and a win in the $3 million Russell Balding S. on Saturday will put her second among the top prizemoney earners in Australia.
“She’s a 7-year-old and she’s never been in the form she’s been in the last 12 months,” jockey Craig Williams told racingnsw.com.au.
Bella Nipotina, winner of the 2024 G1 The Everest in October | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“Most horses, most people, most things, don’t get bigger and stronger and better but she has at that age. She’s phenomenal, a credit to Ciaron Maher and his stable and the owners for allowing Ciaron to do what he needed to do with her. I’ve never been more confident riding her. We can have all the plans and preparation but she was right on for the Everest, she just did everything so well. If she was a football player you’d say she was in the zone.”
Portelli’s pair for Golden Eagle
Trainer Gary Portelli has two Golden Slippers on his CV and he has two good chances in Saturday’s Golden Eagle with Encap (Capitalist) and Kintyre (Hallowed Crown). “I’m just thrilled for my owners,” Portelli told racingnsw.com.au.
“I bought Encap for $200,000 and put a syndicate together and here we are running in a $10 million race. You don’t even want to dream about that stuff, you just hope you can win a race somewhere. We’ve got a half to Fireburn, who means so much to us as well, in the race. It’s not a dream, you can’t dream that big.”
Gary Portelli | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Encap ran fourth in the $1million Alan Brown S. last start, while Kintyre was also fourth in the city class race last start.
Around The Nation: Thursday’s highlights
Thursday saw five meetings across Australia with two in NSW. At Wyong, 3-year-old filly Phenom (Zoustar) made it two in succession with a win for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. She was unplaced at her only start at two.
At Kilcoy in Queensland, 3-year-old gelding Inazuma Boy (Kobayashi) won when resuming this season. At two he ran second on debut then won his second start.
Karma to have Group 3 go on Sunday
Trainer Caspar Fownes is confident Karma (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) can handle the step up in class for Sunday’s G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse. “I think he’s a chance,” Fownes told scmp.com. “He’ll run well. There are a few nice horses in there – you have a Derby winner and everything – so it’s a solid enough race.”
Winner of three of his last four starts, Karma has done all his racing in Hong Kong.
Fownes moves into second with treble
A treble on Wednesday night at Happy Valley has lifted trainer Caspar Fownes into second on the trainer’s premiership in Hong Kong. “Hong Kong is tough, so tough, but it’s great ending up with three. Cherish the night and look forward to the next meeting,” Fownes told scmp.com.
Caspar Fownes | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
He won with Capital Legend (Capitalist), Sugar Sugar (Star Turn) and Daring Pursuit (Shooting To Win).
Invincible Spirit retired from stud duties
The Irish National Stud announced on Thursday that Invincible Spirit (Ire) will be retired active service at the age of 27. Winner of the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup, the same race Danehill (USA) won, Invincible Spirit has sired 152 stakes winners, including Australian Group 1 winner Yosei.
His most prolific winner at the highest level is the fabulous Moonlight Cloud (GB) who won six Group 1 races, between 1300 metres and 1600 metres, and came very close to landing a Group 1 victory over six furlongs when failing by only a head to overhaul Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) in the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2012, a year in which her sire finished third in the General Sires' Table of Great Britain and Ireland, beaten only by Galileo and Montjeu.
Invincible Spirit (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Irish National Stud
He is best known as a sire of sires led by Australian Champion Sire I Am Invincible with 109 stakes winners. Kingman (GB) is his leading sire in Europe with 89 stakes winners. Other successful sons include Lawman (39), Charm Spirit (19), Territories (17), and Shalaa (17).
Invincible Spirit has been a key component of Europe's stallion ranks for years, during which time he has been a great friend to many breeders as well as a true stalwart for the Irish National Stud. A further boon of his popularity was that it encouraged Tally-Ho Stud to take a chance on his younger three-parts brother Kodiac (Ire) (Danehill (USA)) in 2007, despite that horse never having won a black-type race. Like his sibling, Kodiac has turned out to be a wonderful stallion.
Flightline share tops Keeneland Championship Sale
A stallion share (2.5 per cent fractional interest) in undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year and G1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Flightline (USA) brought US$2.5 million (AU$3.8 million) from Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm to top the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale held in Del Mar's paddock Wednesday evening.
A stallion share in G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint 7-5 morning-line favorite Cogburn (USA) (Not This Time {USA}) (Hip 5) brought US$475,000 (AU$723,000) from Richard and Connie Snyder. Cogburn set a North American-record time for 5.5 furlongs (0:59.80) while capturing the GI Jaipur S. at Saratoga. He will be retired to WinStar Farm and Widden Stud at the end of the year for the 2025 breeding season.
A total of five head brought US$4.325 million (AU$6.5 million), good for an average of US$865,000 (AU$1.3 million) and a median of US$475,000 (AU$723,000). “The idea was a simple one behind this (Keeneland Championship Sale) and that was to have a party with a sale, and not a sale with a party,” said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. “That was really the intention and I think we are thrilled with the results. Anytime you introduce something new, it can take a little while for people to register what we are doing, and it was great that so many people came out who were willing to give it a shot.”
Metropolitan retires to stud
This year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr) will begin his stallion career at Haras d'Etreham next season, the stud announced on Wednesday. He will stand for a fee of €15,000 (AU$25,000), with a small number of shares available in the son of Zarak (Fr).
“Metropolitan has always been an exceptional horse, with a rare presence,” said trainer Mario Baratti. “He is strong, compact, and boasts an excellent acceleration. From the beginning of his career in Deauville at two, until the Jacques le Marois, he continually demonstrated his incredible ability. It has been a memorable experience to train him and we wish him great success in his new career as a stallion.”
Etreham's Nicolas de Chambure said, “Metropolitan is a top-class stallion prospect and we are enthusiastic about his arrival at the stud for 2025. We have nothing but praise for him–he is a magnificent horse with a faultless physique. His pedigree represents a real asset for breeding because as a descendant of Dubawi, Storm Cat and Sharpen Up, he is exempt of the bloodlines of Danzig and Sadler's Wells and can be crossed with a multitude of mares.”
