Daily News Wrap

Merry Christmas and thank you

TTR would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and give a special shout out to all the stable and farm staff who will be working over the holiday period to keep everyone’s horses healthy and safe.

Thank you.

Magic Millions 2YO Classic latest order of entry

The latest order of entry for the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic has been released. Icarian Dream (Blue Point {Ire}) now leads from O’ Ole (Ole Kirk) with Vein Girl (Blue Point {Ire}) leap-frogging into third with a win in The Debut.

Magic Millions Guineas latest order of entry

The latest order of entry for the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas has been released. Snitzel pair of Snitzanova and Bittercreek lead the entries from Amazing Eagle (Capitalist).

Saturday win will catapult Dontdoubthelady

Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor hopes to win on Saturday at Eagle Farm with 2-year-old filly Dontdoubthelady (Dubious) to earn enough prizemoney to make the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic field. “It crossed my mind to go (to the G3 BJ McLachlan) again this year with this filly, I just thought the spacing between the runs suited her a bit better to run this weekend instead,” Taylor told racenet.com.au of the decision to run on Saturday.

“There is the option of the Gold Coast (the Gold Pearl) the following week, but she will likely go around on Saturday.” Last year, his runner Astapor (Tassort) was on track for the Magic Millions but failed to qualify after a poor run in the McLachlan.

Persian Caviar wins on debut

Persian Caviar (Written Tycoon) became the first of Black Caviar (Bel Esprit)’s foals to win on debut on Monday. The 3-year-old filly, trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, dashed away for a 2.5l win ridden by jockey Patrick Moloney at Wangaratta. “It goes without saying that Lukey Nolen, I wouldn't have had this opportunity if it wasn't for him falling on ill times. I hope Lukey's kicking back – I'm getting the fruits of his hard work – and having a beer,” Moloney told racenet.com.au. Luke Nolen is currently recovering from fractured ribs and a broken nose.

“It was a nice win. There's no pressure riding for Mr Moody and his team and Kat (Katherine Coleman), he (Moody) just said ‘I wouldn't be taking her to the races if she's not good enough to rock up at Wangaratta and win a maiden'.

“He just said ride her wherever she's happy… she sat behind the stablemate and (was) an ultimate professional. She gave me the best ride around going to the gates and you can see butter wouldn't melt in her mouth afterwards, so pretty straight forward from my point of view.”

Black Caviar now has five winners from six runners. Her best-performed offspring, Invincible Caviar (I Am Invincible) with four wins, died in 2023 from a suspected heart attack.

Vow And Declare retired

After reporting on Sunday that no decision had been made over Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA})’s future, it was announced by trainer Danny O’Brien on Monday that the G1 Melbourne Cup winner would be retired.

“He has taken us on a once-in-a-lifetime journey that we will be forever grateful for, but the highlight for me will be the fact that he is retiring 100 per cent sound and will have a fabulous life post racing,” Managing Owner Geoff Corrigan said.

“Winning the Melbourne Cup is what we all aspire to and it is a moment that I will cherish forever,” O’Brien said. “Every year there are less and less in the Cup that have been bred here, which is why Cups like his, and this year’s as well, underline what is so great about the race and our industry.

“I am proud of the horse and the job my team has done with Vow. To have him performing at the highest level as 3-year-old all the way through to winning in track record time this past winter in Queensland is a testament to their dedication and commitment.”

Forecast heat for Boxing Day

Racing Victoria has rescheduled the Boxing Day meeting at Nhill to Sunday and pushed races forward at Caulfield Heath and Drouin due to a forecast of over 40 degrees.

“Following an updated forecast received from the BOM this afternoon, the following changes have been made. In consultation with the Club, the meeting scheduled at Nhill will be rescheduled to Sunday, 29 December due to the forecast and fires in the region. Fields for the meeting will remain unchanged from those that were released earlier today, and revised race times will be published tomorrow morning,” said a Racing Victoria statement.

“The Caulfield Heath and Drouin meetings will proceed on Boxing Day, however the race times have been brought forward to avoid the hottest part of the day.”

Michael Freedman fined for sample irregularities

Racing NSW have fined trainer Michael Freedman $9000 in relation to “trendione, trenbolone and epitrenbolone being detected in a urine sample taken from Spirit of Wealth after winning the 3YO Benchmark 68 H. at the Warwick Farm race meeting on 25 September 2024.”

The product was administered to the filly within the veterinary guidelines, however was still present on race day. “Stewards were unable to conclusively determine the reasons for the prohibited substances being detected but having regard to the evidence were satisfied that such finding was not due to the administration of an anabolic steroid and was most likely due to the ingestion of an altrenogest containing substance.”

The initial fine of $12,000 was reduced to $9000 due to Freedman’s good record keeping and guilty plea. Spirit Of Wealth (Capitalist) was disqualified and the new winner of that race is Concordia Wind (Justify {USA}).

Hutchings to ride on Boxing Day

Jockey Rory Hutchings has picked up rides in each of the three Group races on Thursday, including course-proven Group 1 winner El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) in the G1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic. He won his first Group 1 on Soriano (NZ) (Savabeel) in the 2014 edition. “That was the greatest day I’ve had on a racecourse for sure, I was apprenticed to Rogey and he trained her,” Hutchings told Loveracing.nz.

“Obviously with the increase in prizemoney, I saw a good opportunity here and thought I would come back and have a go for a few months. It’s really good, probably in the last 12 months it’s gotten the boost that it really needed. New Zealand is a jurisdiction that’s always had the promise and I think we’re finally going to see that potential come to fruition now.

“I’ll just spend Wednesday with my family, I don’t think I’ve been home for Christmas for about seven years, so that will be good. My little sister has just had a baby a couple of weeks ago, so it’ll be nice to spend time with them.”

He will also ride Customized (Capitalist) in the G2 Auckland Guineas and Real Class (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) in the G2 Eight Carat Classic.

Boxing Day for Matscot

Co-trainer Sharon Robertson’s Matscot (NZ) (Haradasun) will take on the G1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day. Her last runner on Boxing Day was Delbrae (Thunder Gulch {USA}) in the G1 New Zealand S. sixteen years ago. “We travelled up from Canterbury then and Vinnie (Colgan) rode him, I think he got fourth. He’s about 24 now, still happy and he’s got a lovely home,” Robertson told Loveracing.nz.

“(Matscot)’s looking for 2000 metres now, which he will get here, and we’ll have Vinnie back on him. He will fly out today (Monday). Hopefully everything goes to plan on Thursday. I think he can be right there.”

He ran ninth in the G1 Captain Cook S. last start and was previously placed in the G3 TAB Mile and G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate this spring. All up, he has seven wins from 31 starts and earnings over NZ$400,000.

Lees has strong pair for Summer Cup

Trainer Kris Lees will have a two-pronged attack in Thursday's G3 Summer Cup at Royal Randwick with Rustic Steel (Deep Field) and Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). “We have always toyed with the idea of 2000 metres for Rustic Steel,” Lees told racenet.com.au.

“He is ultra-consistent and fit and well. He gets in okay at the weights (59kg) so we are happy to give him his chance. I think we should have been in the placings the other day (in The Ingham) with more luck.”

“Tavi Time, we just want to get him in a race where he is down in the weights. He has carried a big weight most of this preparation and was narrowly beaten over 1800 metres as a 3-year-old. We went amiss after that and had a little issue but we were thinking he could get to a Derby. Whether he is a genuine 2000-metre horse, we are happy to give him his chance why he is fit.”

Triple attack on Christmas for Dabernig

Trainer Tom Dabernig has three runners in the Listed Christmas S. at Caulfield Heath on Boxing Day with Ashford Street (Moshe), Romantic Choice (Toronado {Ire}), and Fickle (I Am Invincible). “They've both (Fickle and Romantic Choice) won their last two starts in town. They're both winners there (Caulfield Heath), all three of ours sit up on the pace so that might be a bit interesting, I'm sure there'll be other in the race in a similar place (vying for the front),” Dabernig told racenet.com.au.

“Down on the minimum (weight on Thursday) we'll try for a little black type. He's (Ashford Street) quite a good Caulfield horse … we trialled him at Camperdown and he won his trial, which was more of a spin around to get his fitness up.”

Around The Nation: Monday’s highlights

Monday saw four meetings around Australia. At Mackay jockey Ashley Butler rode a treble on Release Le Missile (Smart Missile), Imagine That (Dream Ahead {USA}), and Bencoolen (Written Tycoon). There is one meeting on Christmas Eve at Wagga, and then nothing until Boxing Day.

The Inflictor looking for another wild card

Hobby trainer Craig Cousins hopes The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) can claim another fairytale result to win a wildcard entry into the Magic Millions QTIS feature at the Gold Coast next month. He won The Gateway to grab a wildcard entry into the G1 Stradbroke H. and a win on Thursday will gain him a wildcard into the $1.5 million Magic Millions QTIS race on January 11.

“The Stradbroke is a fair way off but it’s my intention to have a go at the Stradbroke with him at this stage,” Cousins told racingqueensland.com.au.

“But, I’m a realist and if he doesn’t look like he will measure up to the grade then we can sell his Stradbroke slot to someone else. If he wins this race on Thursday, he’ll run in the Magic Millions QTIS race and if he doesn’t he’ll spell.”

Christmas Handicap for Volcanic Express

Trainer David Jolly might back up Volcanic Express (Hualalai) into the Listed Christmas H. after his win on Saturday. “He’s a big talent. I’d like to lift his rating up,” Jolly told racingsa.com.au.

“I might put in a cheeky nomination for the Christmas H. next week. It might cost him a couple of wins but I am keen to lift his rating for the autumn. I think he’s a horse who is a handicap sprinter, the McKay or the John Hawkes S., an 1100-metre with a quick tempo, but there is a bit of water to go under the bridge yet.” His sire is a city winning half-brother to Vinery Stud’s newest announcement Hawaii Five Oh.

Summer Scorcher for Norich

Following three straight Ascot wins over 1200 metres in the past two months, Norich (Demerit) has without doubt established himself as a genuine racehorse for trainer Karen Kersley. “I think we really need to look at the Summer Scorcher,” Kersley told racingwa.com.au.

“I just think we would be mad if we didn’t. The way he’s going, he’s hit a purple-patch and you just have to act on it. As long as he’s pulled up alright and he’s happy, that’s where we go.” The Summer Scorcher is on New Year’s Day.

Jockey charged over ride

Jockey Jason Maskiell has been issued with a running and handling charge after Racing Victoria concluded an inquiry into his ride aboard My Schieller Wood (Artie Schiller {USA}) at Seymour last month. “During the Race, Maskiell allegedly failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure that My Schieller Wood was given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible place in the field.”

The charges will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be determined.

Group 1 target for Repole filly

Repole Stable's Accuracy (USA) (Arrogate {USA}), who romped to a 15l maiden score at Santa Anita on October 19 and added a 7.25l optional claimer win at Del Mar on November 29, will tackle stakes company for the first time in Thursday's G1 La Brea S. at Santa Anita. “She's had two very good races back-to-back,” trainer Michael McCarthy said.

“Cutting back to seven-eighths is maybe a little bit of a question mark. She's also drawn inside with speed all around her. Hopefully she'll bounce away from there and Umberto does what he sees fit.”

Of the decision to target the La Brea, McCarthy said, “It's a Grade 1 and straight 3-year-olds. It's something where you have to give her a shot.”