Islington Lass enjoys step up in distance for G3 Manawatu Cup
Trainer Allan Sharrock stepped 7-year-old mare Islington Lass (NZ) (Proisir) into the middle distance for the first time and she rewarded him with the G3 Manawatu Cup on Saturday. “I got a bit of a thrill out of that one going from a mile to 2300m,” Sharrock said.
“She is a very good mare and an outstanding ride. She is the quickest with a sprint in that field and he was conservative in the run, saved all the ground and got to the right place in the straight. I don’t know where to next, but I know she won’t get two miles so we will just have to see.” Islington Lass took her record to eight wins from 16 starts with earnings over NZ$249,000, and she was a Listed winner last season.
One of 20 stakes winners from Champion Sire Proisir, Islington Lass is a full sister to Group 3-placed winner Alhambra Lad and is out of winning mare Miss Relentless (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}) who is a half-sister to G1 NZ Oaks winner Boundless (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}).
Listed Pakenham Cup a father/son affair
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stayer Goldman (NZ) (Verdi {NZ}) allowed jockey Beau Mertens to join his late father Peter on the Pakenham Cup honour roll.
“It's unbelievable. Many years later, you can get the job done. But it's always good picking off races that Dad won, and obviously when he was still with us, we used to get winners and I used to judge if he had won one or if I had won one. Most of the time, he'd always have one up on me. So it's always good to tick off some races that he's had some great success in,” Beau Mertens said.
Goldman was previously a Listed winner in March 2023, and took his record to six wins from 18 starts with earnings over $630,000. He is the only stakes winner, from 28 named foals, for his sire who is a son of Zabeel (NZ). Goldman is the last foal of Goldsmith (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Gator (Quest For Fame {GB}).
Cannonball returns to form in Listed Falvelon Stakes
With six runners in the Listed Falvelon S., trainer Tony Gollan was a decent shot at winning but hadn’t expected $41 outsider Cannonball (Capitalist) to the be one. Ridden by Martin Harley, Cannonball won by 0.09l from Melissa Kelly trained Oughton (More Than Ready {USA}) with Cannonball’s stablemate King Kapa (Capitalist) in third.
“(Owner) James Harron rang me about Cannonball a little while ago and wanted to see if I would take him if they gelded him to get him into some form. They wanted to get him to the Magic Millions Sprint, if they thought enough of him to get him to Royal Ascot, I thought we should be able to get him to the Gold Coast,” said Gollan.
“When James sent him to me, I asked him how wet can it be and still run him, he said ‘Good 4', so he clearly likes good ground. I was pleased to see how the Gold Coast raced (on Friday night), some of our horses raced really well and will relish it.” Gollan’s other runners finished third, fifth, seventh, eighth, and last.
Cannonball was a Listed winner at two and the Group 3 winner at three, before he embarked on an ambitious Royal Ascot campaign in our winter of 2023. He hasn’t won since returning. A $975,000 yearling purchase by Harron from Newgate Farm, he is a full brother to Group 3 winner Marine One. He took his record to four wins from 16 starts with earnings over $570,000.
Emotional VOBIS Gold Bullion win for Littlefield
Pakenham trainer Charlotte Littlefield enjoyed an emotional win by 4-year-old gelding Modown (Toronado {Ire}) in the VOBIS Gold Bullion at her home track on Saturday. A combined 25 per cent share – two 10 per cent holdings and a five – were offered for sale last month on Inglis Digital as part of the Halo Racing dispersal following the death of the late Colin McKenna.
“It's a real shame that Col's not here. Col McKenna was a big part of this horse, the reason why we didn't sell him to Hong Kong, and getting Col involved brought another few really good owners into the stable and a few lucky owners have come on board now and taken those shares over,” Littlefield said.
“They're tickled pink today because this horse has well and truly delivered and pretty much won that and more in one race.” Modown is out of Uncle Mo (USA) mare Miss Mo, which added to the emotion, given that Uncle Mo died this week. Modown took his record to three wins from 14 starts and earnings over $340,000.
Rapt heads to Magic Millions The Wave
Trainer Jason Deamer will send 4-year-old mare Rapt (More Than Ready {USA}) to Queensland for the Magic Millions The Wave after a strong win at Randwick on Saturday. “She has won here today and she had to do that so she is a Magic Millions horse and may have a crack at The Wave,” Deamer said.
“She is not overly big but she is all heart and has a good little motor in there.”
Unbeaten Arriving Home heads to MM Guineas
Trainer Bjorn Baker will send unbeaten 3-year-old filly Arriving Home (I Am Invincible) north to the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas after she won at Randwick on Saturday. “She has done a great job,” Baker said.
“I thought she was over the odds first-up and she got a lovely run here today. It was a great ride by Kerrin McEvoy. There is a little bit of mixed emotions because Midnight Dynamite is a really good horse too. He had to do a lot more work and is very game. He just keeps improving but it's a great result.” Arriving Home has won both her starts, and stablemate Midnight Dynamite (Pierata) was second by 0.13l.
King’s horse Gilded Water remains unbeaten in Australia
The King's racing manager, John Warren, was trackside to watch Gilded Water (GB) (Fastnet Rock) scoring his second win from as many starts in Australia. “We are very excited about his prospects which is really nice for the King,” Warren said of the Ciaron Maher-trained galloper.
“I think the King wanted to be connected with Australia and this horse does that job for us. So many racing people are fanatics here and I think it is lovely for the King to have that connection.”
Around The Nation: Saturday’s other highlights
At Randwick, 3-year-old filly Churchill’s Choice (Churchill {Ire}) made it three from three with a good win. Jockey Daniel Stackhouse rode a treble at Pakenham on Supernova winner Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking), 3-year-old gelding Sweethearted (Brave Smash {Jpn}), and Deakin (Fr) (Australia {GB}) who will be set for the Adelaide Cup.
Apprentice jockey Shayleigh Ingelse rode a treble at Dubbo on Autumn Song (The Autumn Sun) whose three career wins have come in his last three starts, Platinum Warrior (Pariah), and 3-year-old gelding Charlie Magic (Magna Grecia {Ire}).
At Wyong, impressively bred 3-year-old filly O’Invincible (Snitzel) made it two from two, and she is the second foal of Group 1 winner Viddora (I Am Invincible). She was the middle leg of a treble for jockey Keagan Latham with the other two being Llewellyn (Mendelssohn {USA}), and Renatta (I Am Invincible). At Narrogin in WA, 3-year-old filly Weather Queen (Universal Ruler) won on debut.
Do Deuce retired
Champion and Classic winner Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) has sustained a right foreleg injury and has been retired. The news was reported by Idol Horse on Friday. The bay was due to defend his title in the G1 Arima Kinen on Sunday before beginning his stallion career next year at Shadai Stallion Station.
Do Deuce (Jpn) | Image courtesy of Japan Racing Association
“Any other accident could have happened to him, we decided to scratch from the Arima Kinen,” Tomomichi told Netkeiba of his charge, who was the fan favourite in the Arima Kinen. “I apologize to all the fans.” A retirement ceremony for Do Deuce, to be held after the Arima Kinen, was cancelled.
Record broken in G2 Al Rashidiya
Already a Grade I winner of the Manhattan S. in the U.S. and the G1 Jebel Hatta over this course earlier this year, Godolphin homebred Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) set a new course record when defending his title in the G2 Al Rashidiya at Meydan on Friday. A winner of the Jebel Hatta in January, the half-brother to multiple top-level winner and two-time Breeders' Cup Turf hero Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was fourth in the G1 Dubai Turf in March prior to taking the Manhattan in June.
Measured Time is one of 35 Group 1 winners for Juddmonte sire Frankel and his stakes placed dam Minidress (GB) is a daughter of Short Skirt (Diktat {GB}) who enjoyed her biggest days in the sun when winning the Musidora S. and St. Simon S., both Group 3. She was also runner-up in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and third in the G1 Oaks at Epsom.
Surprise winner in G2 Al Maktoum
Facing some stiff competition, the lightly raced Meshtri (USA) (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}) prevailed in the G2 Al Maktoum in the colours of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Friday. A winner here over this trip when unveiled in November of 2023, he finished his 3-year-old season with a second-place run at Jebel Ali that December. Fourth at handicap level returned to this track this November, he defeated Friday's Listed The Entisar scorer Walk Of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile on Nov. 22. This was his first triumph at group level.
The winner is one of 183 black-type winners for Darley sire Medaglia d'Oro (USA). Meshtri is the second foal of the dual Listed Correction S. heroine Clothes Fall Off (USA) (Daaher {USA}), who was placed in two editions of the GII Barbara Fritchie S. Tequilas Dayjur (USA) (Dayjur {USA}), the granddam of Meshtri, was a listed winner and placed second in the GIII Chicago Handicap. Besides Clothes Fall Off, she produced the stakes-placed pair of One Last Shot (USA) (Any Given Saturday {USA}) and Strawberry Tequila (USA) (Daaher {USA}), who was second in the GIII Arlington Matron Stakes.
USA scheme to boost foal crop
The USA Jockey Club has rolled out a new pilot project, the Mare Incentive Program, that waives registration fees for certain 2026 foals of mares that meet certain criteria in order to assist breeders with their mating plans, the organization said in a press release early Friday.
James L. Gagliano | Image courtesy of The Jockey Club
“The Jockey Club is waiving registration fees for any 2026 foals of mares that are listed and that are introduced or returned to the breeding population in 2025 in an effort to stimulate interest in this group that appear to have left production,” said James L. Gagliano, president and COO, The Jockey Club. “We believe the complimentary software tool developed by TJC Innovations that prepares the report of these mares provides an invaluable asset for breeders as they consider potential matings.”
Irish prizemoney to increase
Prize-money for Listed and Group 3 races will return to pre-Covid levels in 2025 as Horse Racing Ireland announced details of the budget for the new year on Friday. The total prize-money budget for 2025 is €70.9m, up €1m on the overall prize-money that will be paid out in 2024. Suzanne Eade, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said, “Resources have been allocated in budget 2025 to deliver against the three key goals as outlined in HRI's strategic plan and its aim to protect, strengthen and sustain our global leading industry.
“In order to provide consistent and responsible care of our people, horses and our environment there has been targeted and enhanced expenditure across equuip, integrity, welfare, and sustainability in both activity and capital related costs. Inspiring and attracting future participation both nationally and internationally has been addressed through continued support of the IRE Incentive Scheme for breeders, marketing and communication campaigns targeting engagement, growing interest in our sport coupled with a further focus on attracting racegoers to Flat racing, as well as continued investment into technology.”
Suzanne Eade
She added, “Our third goal is to nurture success at all levels throughout the industry. Budget 2025 has significant capital investment set aside for the first phase of our dedicated people campus which sees HRI and the Irish Injured Jockeys develop a high-performance unit and rehabilitation facilities to support the mental and physical wellbeing of industry participants.
“Further investment into our racecourse facilities including the Tipperary all-weather development is also priority for 2025. HRI have consulted with key stakeholders in determining both prize money strategy and funding the handicap band changes for 2025 including optimising the impact of racecourse contributions to prize money. These changes are seen as crucial to the attraction of inward investment into Irish racing, the widening of the ownership base, and the retention of both owners and horses.”
