Via Sistina to defend Cox Plate crown
Yulong announced on Sunday that they will set Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) for another tilt at the G1 Cox Plate. “It’s a long way off, but, if she’s racing well, we’d certainly consider having another shot at hopefully a Cox Plate,” Yulong Investment’s general manager Vin Cox told racing.com. on Sunday morning.
Via Sistina (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’s certainly not over-raced and it has has been proven this year the older mares are competing in elite races and performing exceptionally well.” Via Sistina has been sent for a spell and won’t be going to Hong Kong.
Lane sticks with Lovelycut for Guineas
Jockey Damian Lane will stick with Reece Goodwin-trained Lovelycut (Ilovethiscity) for Saturday’s G1 1000 Guineas. “We were still very happy with her in The Vanity as she was posted wide early. She got in for probably a furlong and then she was the first exposed coming into the straight on a pretty windy day; especially early on the program and we thought that had an effect on where she finished,” Goodwin told racing.com.
“We’ll be taking on the horses who finished around us, who had better runs, and we think we can turn the tables as long as we get a nice favourable draw and a good run in transit. If she can, she will run a bold race.
Lovelycut | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Damian Lane was on the same page. He was very pleased and thought she had done a really good job, and on the line, she was coming back at the place getters. She was only second-up, so she was certainly open to more improvement.” Lovelycut ran fourth in the G3 Vanity S. last start.
Maher’s trio for G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S.
Trainer Ciaron Maher will line up Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon), Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) in Saturday’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. Another Wil missed the G1 Champions Sprint with a slightly elevated temperature. “It went as quickly as it came, but if he ran it would have been an end-of-preparation run,” Maher told racing.com.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Southport Tycoon won the G1 Manikato S. in Melbourne earlier this spring, and was third in the Sydney S., then ninth in the Golden Eagle at his most recent start. “He’s a good horse. Put a line through that last run as he got too far back.”
McDonald selects Castelvecchio filly for Guineas
James McDonald has elected to ride Chris Waller-trained Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) for Saturday’s G1 1000 Guineas. “She's super. She's really, really good. She's just improving with every start, she's maturing,” McDonald told racing.com.
Aeliana (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She's going to Caulfield for the first time, so that's always a question mark, I suppose. The mile is right up her alley. Zeitung is there - she's got to run a mile - and my filly has already done it. I think I'm on the right filly.” Aeliana comes into the Guineas off a last start G3 Carbine Club win.
Sydney Carnival wraps up with records
The Australian Turf Club announced on Sunday that their carnival had been a great success with record crowd for The Everest. “The 2024 Sydney Everest Carnival has grown and broken new ground in establishing the Sydney Spring as one of the world’s best racing events,” Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani told racingnsw.com.au.
“TAB Everest Day at Royal Randwick was sold out days in advance and continues to attract new and young fans to the track, creating an electric atmosphere and unrivalled raceday experience. Group 1 status being given to the TAB Everest has solidified its place as the world’s best sprint along with being the world’s richest race on turf. We have seen increased interest from international stables in the UK, France and Japan as the James Squire Golden Eagle grows as a unique and world-class race.”
Rosehill branch for Price/Kent
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have added 16 boxes at Rosehill to their training business. “We are aiming to fill them with the right horses. It’s a fantastic place to train and we are really looking forward to it,” Price told racing.com.
Mick Price | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
They will have Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) run in Saturday’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. “She was very good in that race. She was very competitive and I expect if she draws a gate, she’ll do the same in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. She was out a long time and she needs racing. She worked well on Saturday.”
Antino preparing for Hong Kong trip
Trainer Tony Gollan will make a decision on whether Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) will go to Hong Kong later in the week. “We'll vaccinate tomorrow. He's had his first one the Monday after the Toorak, he's got to have his second one tomorrow. We'll do that, we'll go down to the farm down at Mornington where we send him to and give him until Friday down there and bring him back,” Gollan told racing.com on Sunday.
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“We'll have a bit of a chat during the week but it's very much on the radar.” He is entered for the G1 Hong Kong Mile. He won the G1 Toorak H. two starts ago, then was second to Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) on Saturday in the G1 Champions Mile.
Without A Fight returns and will head to Hong Kong
Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) will join Antino (NZ) on the flight to Hong Kong after running third in the G1 Champions S. on Saturday in his first run in a year. “We thought that's how he'd run. He just felt the pinch late, a brutally run 2000 metres, we knew that was the case and you need that race fitness to get closer,” co-trainer Anthony Freedman told racing.com.
Without A Fight (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Mark said he felt great, his determination is still there and he'll run very well in Hong Kong, I would have thought.” He is entered for the G1 Hong Kong Vase.
Around The Nation: Sunday’s highlights
Sunday saw seven meetings around Australia. Brett Robb-trained 3-year-old gelding Truth I Fear (Astern) won on debut at Warren. Cliff’s Edge continued his stellar start with his fourth winner from only six runners when Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained 3-year-old gelding Verona Rupes (Cliff’s Edge) won at Ararat. At the Sunshine Coast, Matthew Hoysted-trained 3-year-old filly Break Free (Capitalist) won on debut.
Briasa targets The Hunter
Trainers Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes will target their emerging sprinter, Briasa (Smart Missile), at Saturday's The Hunter. “It doesn't look like much is going to the race (Hunter) but they are always still hard races to win. Briasa deserves a crack after his win last start. Tyler Schiller will ride him,” Michael Hawkes told racenet.com.au.
Michael Hawkes | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Briasa won his first four in succession, before an unlucky fourth placing, and then a last start win in Sydney.
New Zealand juvenile winner for Microphone
Juvenile filly Abbakiss (Microphone) gave Bryce Newman plenty to look forward to with a professional victory at Tauherenikau on Sunday. “She went really well today, Kavish rode her super and has ridden her in most of her work,” Newman told Loveracing.nz. In second was short favourite Carsolio (Bivouac) with Hello My Dear (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) in third.
“She only had the one trial, so she was still quite green at Otaki, but Kavish said she was brilliant today, she behaved and did everything right. She’s a beautiful type of filly, she’s got a bit of scope and length to her which is encouraging. I don’t think she’s an out-and-out 2-year-old, so that’s quite exciting going forward.”
Abbakiss | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
Abbakiss was a NZ$60,000 purchase by Raumai Bloodstock from the Carlaw Park draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, and is ninth winner for second season sire Microphone and the first winner from his second crop. She is the third foal and third winner for Arabian Gift (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is from the family of Classic winner and sire Golan (Ire).
“She looks like a real athlete, which will influence our decisions going forward. We think she’s going to be a lovely 3-year-old, she’s got so much leg underneath her so we’re not going to make any plans at this stage. We’ll sit on the fence for the next couple of weeks, we may possibly make a plan on going north, but that’s not the be all and end all. We’ll put her first, we want some longevity out of her as well. It’s all very well if you’ve got lots and lots of them, but we’ve only got a couple of 2-year-old’s, so we are just really happy to have one up and going early.”
Rockhampton-trained Hell being set for group race
Nick Walsh-trained Hell (Hellbent) has won four in succession and now gets a crack at Group class. “Everyone loves him, it's fun bringing him to town,” Walsh told racenet.com.au of the Rockhampton based 4-year-old gelding.
“We're going to see what we do when we get him home, but we were thinking of something like the George Moore at the end of the month. He was nominated for the Keith Noud on Saturday, but we wanted to let him win his way up there. Small fish are sweet sometimes, so we will look at the George Moore if everything is okay.” He has won six of his 13 starts.
Double for Poon at Sha Tin on his birthday
Jockey Matthew Poon celebrated his 31st birthday in style with a double at Sha Tin on Saturday aboard 3-year-old gelding Ka Ying Attack (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Green N White (Smart Missile). “I’m very happy, I got some birthday luck today,” Poon told scmp.com.
“I was three deep the whole way on Ka Ying Attack, no cover, so I think it was pretty much the horse. He had improved mentally and physically since his first start. I think he will improve again from this run.” Ka Ying Attack ran fourth on debut and this was his second start.
Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale Book 3 increases 20 per cent on last year
The two-session Book 3 section of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock concluded Saturday, producing double-digit increases in average and median compared to its 2023 counterpart. Keeneland sold 499 horses through the ring during Book 3 for a gross of US$37,747,000 (AU$56 million). The section's average was US$75,645 (AU$114,800) - up 20.98 per cent from last year's Book 3 - and the median was US$60,000 (AU$91,000), an increase of 20 per cent from a year ago.
Bill Betz made the highest bid of Saturday's session, going to US$280,000 (AU$426,000) to acquire Dreams are Made (USA) (Tapit {USA}) (Hip 1799) in the name of his Avocet Bloodstock. Emirates Park purchased Mangrove (USA) (Tapit {USA}) for US$165,000 (AU$251,000).
Hip 1505 - Mangrove (USA) sold to Emirates Park | Image courtesy of Keeneland
Woodbine abandoned after two fatalities
The final two races on Saturday's live racing program at Woodbine outside of Toronto, including the G3 Autumn S., were cancelled “in the best interest of equine safety,” according to a release from Woodbine Entertainment Group. The decision was taken following consultation with the local Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, the Jockeys' Guild and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
The track successfully staged two of the three Graded events carded for Saturday, the G3 Maple Leaf S. won by Elysian Field (Can) (Hard Spun {USA}) and the G3 Bessarabian S. won by Storm Cast (Can) (Mitole {USA}). The Autumn S. will not be re-drawn and will take place next Saturday, November 16.
During the Bessarabian S. Owen's Tour Guide (Can) (Tourist {USA}) sustained an injury and was euthanised. Jockey Jose Campos was uninjured. It was the second fatality of the day after Social Dancer (Can (Society’s Chairman {Can}) was euthanised after race two with jockey David Moran reported as being 'okay' afterwards.
Tattersalls donation to Retraining of Racehorses
Tattersalls has donated £50,000 (AU$98,000) to the Retraining of Racehorses charity for the calendar year 2024. Having supported the RoR as sole sponsor of their popular Showing Series for thoroughbreds since its inception in 2015, the £50,000 Tattersalls contribution reflects a commitment to the Showing Series, but also to the wider work of the ROR whose strategy published earlier this year has been widely praised within the racing and breeding industry.
Commenting on the donation, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Tattersalls has been the proud sponsor of the Retraining of Racehorses Showing Series for many years now and the series has always provided wonderful opportunities for thoroughbreds to showcase their versatility and prowess at all levels in the show ring, and show just how much enjoyment they can bring to all those involved with them. We hope that our increased commitment to such an important charity will enable the Showing Series to continue to flourish while also supporting wider RoR initiatives designed to ensure the welfare of former racehorses and increasing awareness of the important role played by RoR. We are delighted that this series has given so many people a reason to enjoy thoroughbred horses outside the traditional sphere of racing.”
Varian added to Godolphin trainers
Roger Varian will join British-based trainers Charlie Appleby, Saeed bin Suroor, John and Thady Gosden and Simon and Ed Crisford on the Godolphin roster for 2025. The news was revealed by the Racing Post on Saturday that Varian would receive four yearlings on behalf of Godolphin ahead of the new season.
The support comes as a timely boost for Varian, who lost high profile owners Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and Amo Racing this year.
