Godolphin’s Zeitung strong preparation for Guineas
Zeitung (Exceed And Excel) galloped at Caulfield on Tuesday as preparation for Saturday’s G1 Thousand Guineas. “She didn’t have to do much, it was more to have a look around Caulfield and from what I saw and Jamie’s feedback – we’re very pleased,” Godolphin’s Melbourne foreperson Nacim Dilmi told racing.com.
Zeitung | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’s very fit at her peak right now. She hasn’t shown us that she’s had enough yet, grand final this Saturday and then she’ll go for a well-deserved break. The Flemington big track was very helpful, she was held up for a little while, she showed a big turn of foot and she was strong late to indicate the mile wouldn’t be an issue.” She won the G3 Vanity S. at her most recent start.
Blinkers for Bittercreek
Team Corstens and Larkin will put blinkers on 3-year-old colt Bittercreek (Snitzel) for Saturday’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. “He worked really sharp with the visors on. We’re probably going to change a few little things on Saturday with a light weight, we just thought with the visors rather than the blinkers he’d see them coming and give a hell of a fight late,” Larkin told racing.com.
“He got things wrong at the start (of the Coolmore), he went to put his head over the side barrier next to him as the gates open. It just had him on the back foot and got a long way out of our ground, in races like that you can’t give those good horses a start.” Bittercreek ran eighth in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. last start.
Yulong’s big spring to continue with Kimochi
Sydney trainer Gary Portelli thinks Yulong owned 4-year-old mare Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) can win Saturday’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. The mare was purchased earlier this year by Yulong for $2.2 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Kimochi | Image courtesy of Inglis
“At this stage, we are looking to go around in the Sir Rupert Clarke and Craig Williams is booked to ride her. We’ll just see how she draws on Wednesday and then take it from there. She’s not far off them that’s for sure. She ran a good fourth in the Manikato, fourth in the Silver Eagle and then last start we probably raced a bit keen up to the mile (when seventh in the group 1 Empire Rose). She’s been a bit keen this prep so back to 1400 metres should be her right distance.”
Let’s Fly leaps up in class for Guineas
Richard and Will Freedman will take Let’s Fly (Flying Artie) from a maiden win at Kembla Grange straight into the G1 Thousand Guineas. “I think even he was a little bit taken and was like ‘this might not be the roughest 30/1 shot we’ve come across’,” co-trainer Will Freedman said after she galloped at Caulfield on Tuesday.
“She has come on again from her maiden win even though she was fourth up, the penny has started to drop with her. I was a little worried coming to Melbourne she would either go one way or the other, she’d either say I am cooked or I can handle this.” She is a winner from four starts.
Baker plans Perth trip for star sprinters
Trainer Bjorn Baker will take Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Overpass (Vancouver) to Perth for the summer. “Belclare will go over there and has done really well her past two starts. I think she will be well suited over there and her best form is over the mile so looking forward to getting her there,” Baker told racenet.com.au.
Bjorn Baker | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Overpass finished eighth in the G1 Champions Sprint, but Baker isn’t bothered. “He pulled up fine. It just wasn't his day on Saturday in the Champions Sprint but we will get him back to Perth. We know he goes so well there.”
Appeals date set for international jockeys
International jockeys Cieren Fallon and Antonio Orani will have to wait until November 26 to have their appeals heard for the fines and suspensions that acquired during the Golden Eagle.
“The (stewards') hearings are similar to here but at the end they ask if you are guilty or not guilty. Yes, I am guilty of interference but the punishment is way too large – it's ridiculous, it's horrendous and I think it's a bit stupid,” Fallon told racingpost.com. He was given a $100,000 fine and a month-long ban.
Around The Nation: Tuesday’s highlights
There were three race meetings held on Tuesday around Australia. At Mornington, Anthony and Sam Freedman trained import Catani Gardens (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) won at his first Australian start. Tony Noonan trained 3-year-old filly Acheter (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) won on debut.
In NSW, at Hawkesbury, 3-year-old gelding Sarrismo (I Am Invincible) won on debut, while 3-year-old filly Rantan (I Am Invincible) gave their sire a double in winning for the second time from six starts. Team Hawkes won with 3-year-old gelding Apex (Exceedance) who was having his first start at three, after only one start at two where he was third to now Group 1 winner Private Life (Written Tycoon).
Scholfield injured at Hawkesbury
Racing NSW stewards reported that “Chad Schofield was dislodged from his mount during a preliminary prior to the running of Race 6 at Hawkesbury today. He is experiencing discomfort to his right wrist and has been stood down.”
Light Infantry Man set for Perth’s G1 Railway S.
Ciaron Maher trained Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) will run in Saturday week’s G1 Railway S. “We’ve been thinking about it for some time,” stable representative Jack Turnbull told racingwa.com.au.
“It works in pretty well with horses that want fast ground and keep running on into the season. He was gifted a beautiful ride, and it worked out. His start prior he nearly fell. Blake (Shinn) got off and said ‘if he got clear running, he would’ve run into a placing’. It was good to see him put two together.” He won the Listed Chester Manifold S. last start.
Last season’s top Tassie juvenile to resume on Wednesday
Trainer Siggy Carr won the Goodwood Handicap on Saturday with Thespian Waters (Headwater) and on Wednesday her 3-year-old filly Ms Tasmania (Magnus) will resume. Ms Tasmania won two of her three starts at two and looked like one of the better juveniles in the state that season.
“She’s super. She was absolutely spot on to race last Tuesday, but I didn’t want to gut her with 59kg as we’ve got quite a long preparation set out for her. We had this race picked out as a backup, it’s a nice race to kick her off in. She has drawn barrier one, but there’s plenty of speed, which is going to be perfect for her, and I expect her to run super. I wouldn’t draw a line through her racing in Hobart but I’m so confident taking her back to Launceston because I know she enjoys it there,” Carr told tasracing.com.au.
Rematch on Sunday for Hong Kong sprinters
Trainer Ricky Yiu is confident Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) can reverse the form with Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) when they meet again Sunday’s G2 Jockey Club Mile. “It was a really good effort on his last start,” Yiu told scmp.com.
“For his first run of the season, it was tremendous. I’m looking forward to Sunday. James will ride him and I think it’s likely he will turn the tables on Galaxy Patch.”
Keeneland surpasses 2023 with two days to go
Showing continued overall strength through the middle of the market, Keeneland's seventh day of the November Sale extended the upward trend that it had shown through much of the first six days of selling. At the conclusion of Monday's session, gross sales (through the ring) reached US$181,460,500 (AU$276 million), surpassing last year's gross of US$176.5 million (AU$270 million) for the entire nine-day run.
At the conclusion of the Book 5 opener, a total of 283 horses, including post sales, generated US$8,571,600 (AU$13.1 million). Average for the group increased to US$30,448 (AU$46,500), up 17 per cent from 2023, while median rose 21 per cent to US$23,000 (AU$35,000).
Economics sees Baaeed’s fee drop for 2025
Baaeed (GB), the top-class six-time Group 1 winner whose first foals are set to hit the European market in the coming weeks, will head the Shadwell stallion roster for 2025 at £65,000 (AU$127,000). That represents a drop from the £80,000 (AU$157,000) that Baaeed stood for in 2023 and 2024 as Shadwell acknowledged an “unpredictable climate” facing breeders in a statement released on Monday.
Stephen Collins, Shadwell's European Bloodstock Manager, commented, “Baaeed retired with an official rating of 135 after six brilliant Group 1 wins, since then he has been supported by the world's leading breeders with two exceptional books of mares.”
Nathaniel gets small rise for 2025
Newsells Park Stud has released its stud fees for next season, with Classic sire Nathaniel (Ire) receiving an increase to £20,000 (AU$39,000) and last year's Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Isaac Shelby (GB) being introduced at £7,000 (AU$13,700).
Perhaps best known as the sire of the dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and triple King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Enable (GB), in addition to the Derby hero Desert Crown (GB), Nathaniel has enjoyed another successful year on the racecourse in 2024, headed by the exploits of his Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me (GB), who will be offered for sale during the Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
“I don't know what more I can say about Nathaniel,” said Julian Dollar, Newsells Park Stud's general manager. “With You Got To Me an impressive winner of the Irish Oaks this year, he delivers new Group 1 winners and Classic winners on an annual basis, but at a fraction of the fee of his peers.
“When one considers that only three stallions have produced the winners of the English, Irish and French Oaks this century and that the other two were Deep Impact and Galileo, you appreciate the company Nathaniel keeps. Only two other active stallions have sired the winners of the Epsom Derby and Oaks, Frankel (£350,000) and Sea The Stars (€250,000), so you can't help but see what incredible value he offers breeders who dream of breeding a Classic winner, but at an affordable fee.”
Shaquille heads Dullingham Park Stud’s 2025 fees
Dullingham Park Stud's roster for 2025 is headed by European Champion Sprinter and dual Group 1 winner Shaquille, who remains unchanged at £15,000 (AU$29,000).
Dullingham Park's Ollie Fowlston commented, “Shaquille covered a very good book of mares in his first season and we are extremely excited to see his first foals on the ground. If they look anything like him then the breeders will be delighted. He was such an exceptional talent on the track and luckily for us is the standout sprinter over the past few years so will stick in everyone's mind. We supported him very strongly and with some very high quality mares.”
Kalpana’s dam added to Sceptre Sale
Zero Gravity (GB) (Dansili {GB}), the dam of this year's G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes winner Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), has been added to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale as a wildcard and will be offered as Lot 1485A during the Sceptre Sessions on Monday, December 2.
She will be offered in foal to Chaldean (GB) by Ed Player's Whatton Manor Stud, who also consigned her Too Darn Hot (GB) filly at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale where she was purchased by Shadwell Estates for 425,000gns (AU$873,000).
