Winx delivers Snitzel colt
Champion mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) has safely delivered her second foal, a colt by Snitzel. Winx's part-owner Peter Tighe told racenet.com.au that it was unlikely Winx would be covered by a stallion this season, given how late in the season her foal is.
James McDonald wins World’s Best Jockey
Jockey James McDonald celebrated winning the 2024 Longines World’s Best Jockey Award for the second time with a double at Sha Tin on Sunday. He led the challenge by 10 points from Ryan Moore who needed to win the final race, the G1 Japan Cup, to beat McDonald, but with Moore and Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) finishing in eighth, McDonald took out the title.
“It’s a huge honour and it’s just reflective of all the good horses I’ve ridden. I could almost name it the Romantic Warrior Award, to be honest with you, because he was such a huge contributor,” McDonald told Loveracing.nz.
James McDonald | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He’s obviously a world champion in his own right, so you have to be part of those sort of horses, the Via Sistinas of the world, so those two horses (Romantic Warrior and Via Sistina) were huge contributors and it’s a huge honour. I’m very proud of my year.”
Second Group 1 on cards for Neasham/Archibald
Fresh from Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready) taking out the G1 Railway S. on Saturday, the Annabel Neasham-Rob Archibald team will run Lady Laguna (Overshare) in the G1 Winterbottom S. “She’s good and has had a couple of nice pieces of work,” Archibald told racingwa.com.au.
Lady Laguna | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“I can’t fault her and hopefully she can bounce back after she was obviously disappointing down the straight in Melbourne. She’s going to have to be at her very best and Overpass is also in good order. She’ll have to be right at her top, but she should run a big race.”
Big field being compiled for Tasmania’s biggest sprint
Tasmania’s premier sprint race, the Listed Newmarket, will run on Wednesday night in Launceston with 14 runners led by First Accused (Turffontein), recently named the Ladbrokes Tasmania Horse of the Year for the 2023/24 season.
“His work has been really good. We’ve had the blinkers on him and had a gallop, and we’re happy with that. He went to an arena the other day, and he’s done some arena work and a bit of show jumping, and he is very well,” trainer Glenn Stevenson told tasracing.com.au.
Hoysted team ready for Wednesday’s rescheduled stakes races
Two Listed races highlighted the beginning of the Brisbane run of the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival and with the meeting originally set for last Saturday will run on Wednesday at Doomben and trainer Matthew Hoysted will run Appin Girl (Capitalist) and Party For Two (Sidestep) in the Listed Tattersall's Classic. “The forecast is looking good and hopefully we will get to a Soft 5 or a 6 at worst,” Hoysted told racingqueensland.com.au.
Matthew Hoysted | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I think it is going to be perfect for both of those girls as they don't like it too wet. Appin Girl definitely prefers to be on top of the ground. I think they’re both classy mares and Appin Girl has that x-factor about her and Party For Two doesn't know how to run a bad race.”
Rich Magic Millions target for Our Kobison
Trainer Angela Davies is looking to qualify Our Kobison (Kobayashi) for the rich Magic Millions Snippets when he runs in Saturday's Listed Starlight S. at Rosehill Gardens. From there, he’ll head to Queensland for the Listed Falvelon. “If he can win the Falvelon, he goes into the Magic Millions Snippets,” Davies told racenet.com.au.
“Because he is a Queensland homebred, if he mapped to win it they will let him in. It's very tempting so that could be the path if it all pans out.
Our Kobison | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“The idea when we put him away (was) to avoid all the The Everest and Group 1 horses. Hopefully he is well placed. We gave him three weeks in the paddock and brought him back with just the one trial. He has maintained his residual fitness but he just freshened up.” He has won six of his 12 starts.
Sandown Guineas for horses on the up
Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams believes the G2 Sandown Guineas is for horses on the up, like his 3-year-old gelding Cachink (So You Think {NZ}). “It's been a bit of a race that you can target with a horse on the way up,” Williams told racenet.com.au of the horse who has won his last two in succession.
“I'll be fairly confident he'll find a length or two with the shades on. We've held off putting them on because he's been learning his craft a little bit, but I just think he's one that can improve with the blinkers on. He's just so relaxed through the race; he just touches the bridle. He's like that to ride at home, but when he had the blinkers on, he was picking up the bridle a bit more and was a bit a bit more focused. We just thought, if there's a horse that needed blinkers, it would be him.”
Stewart’s Goliath investment to continue
John Stewart will expand his Resolute Racing team in Australia from the few he has in work now to up to 40 horses. “I don't do anything by a small scale so I would expect and like to see us with 30-40 horses racing in Australia within the next 18-24 months,” Stewart told racing.com.
John Stewart | Image courtesy of Keeneland
“Some of that will be some transplants coming out of Europe or North America. Australian racing fans just love racing and love everything about it. The model with the syndicates really gives the fans a chance to own a piece of the horse and be a part of it and I am really an advocate of that. We see it as the next significant base of our operations.”
Stewards clear Muramasa for Zipping Classic
Racing Victoria stewards have cleared Muramasa (Deep Impact {Jpn}) for the G2 Zipping Classic on Saturday. “In accordance with the conditions of the Melbourne Cup, Muramasa underwent a compulsory CT scan of his distal limbs on Monday, 28 October,” an RV statement read.
“Reports received from an expert panel of internationally renowned equine surgeons and diagnostic imaging specialists, who reviewed Muramasa's CT scan results, indicated that the gelding was at heightened risk of injury at that time. As a result, RV stewards ordered the withdrawal of Muramasa from the Melbourne Cup.
Muramasa | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Muramasa underwent a PET scan on 7 November, 2024, with these results also reviewed by the same panel of veterinary specialists. They determined that the horse was suitable to train and race with ongoing monitoring.
“Muramasa completed a satisfactory jumpout on Monday, 18 November. Provided the stable produces a satisfactory veterinary report and Muramasa passes the on-course pre-race veterinary inspection on Saturday, the gelding will be passed fit to race.”
Favourites for Messara and Gavranich
Arrowfield Stud trainers Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich and jockey Aaron Bullock will combine with three favourites at Tamworth on Tuesday, being unraced Triti (Castelvecchio), Peninsula (Snitzel), and Florino (Mikki Isle {Jpn}).
“(Triti) will definitely be improved by the run. He’s had a good grounding for his debut with three recent trials and four trials in total. I think he’ll be competitive and perform well but he may just need the run under his belt before he shows his best,” Messara told racingnsw.com.au.
Thoroughly Schooled proves successful
Racing NSW, in partnership with Training Services NSW, Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association and TAFE NSW at Scone, have delivered the fifth instalment of the five-day course ‘Thoroughly Schooled’ with 12 students completing the course.
“This program provides an immersive career and industry exposure opportunity within the local community and incorporates critical employability skills,” Stu Rich, Executive Officer for NSW TRB Training Ltd, told racingnsw.com.au.
“A future delivery of the program at Scone in 2025 will be under our Registered Training Organisation (Team Thoroughbred NSW Training Academy). The five-day program provides an extensive building block for successful transition into employment into the industry and incorporates practical skill sets including a four-hour work observation on a stud farm and racings stables.”
Around The Nation: Monday’s washouts
With two of the three meetings to be held on Monday being abandoned due to weather, that left just Grafton in NSW and apprentice Siena Grima enjoyed a treble, winning the last three on the card with Silver Canvas (NZ) (Natural Destiny), Three Graces (Sebring) and Maximum Vortex (Kuroshio).
Horsepower to add to Happy Valley record
Trainer Frankie Lor has high hopes that Horsepower (Harry Angel {Ire}) can extend his winning streak when he steps out at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. “I think he’s improved after his last run. This horse is a bit strong in the mornings, but after the race, he was a little bit better,” Lor told scmp.com.
Frankie Lor | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“That’s why 1000 metres at Happy Valley should suit him – the pace should be fast. If he runs well again, maybe he’ll go up in class.” Unplaced in two black-type starts at two, Horsepower won his only two starts at three in Australia when called Fire Follower. He won his Hong Kong debut at the end of October to take his record to three wins from five starts. His dam is Group 2 winner Romneya (Red Ransom {USA}).
New stakes winner for Lookin At Lucky
Looking to snag the first Graded stakes score of her career, Mrs. Astor (USA) (Lookin At Lucky {USA}) kicked home strongest of all in the G3 Red Carpet S. at Del Mar Sunday afternoon. “I think we got a little lucky with Brendan's (Walsh) horse getting into a little bit of trouble but (Cheminaud) saw that and kicked on, which I think was the right thing to do. I thought Vincent (Cheminaud) gave her a fantastic ride,” said trainer Jonathan Thomas.
Out of a placed half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Biofuel (USA) (Stormin Fever {USA}) and Canadian Champion 2-year-old Filly Tu Endie Wei (USA) (Johar {USA}), Mrs. Astor is the first winner and the first to claim black-type in Casual (USA) (Creative Cause {USA})'s broodmare career. Of the two to reach racing age, the 3-year-old younger half-brother Revelatory (USA)(Munnings {USA}) is unplaced.
