G1 Blue Diamond winner Hayasugi dies
Clinton McDonald trained 3-year-old filly Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}) has been euthanised. She had surgery on her hind foot in October but recently deteriorated and the hard decision was made on Thursday afternoon. “The ownership group is devastated by this difficult decision but is very proud of her achievements both on and off the field,” Clinton McDonald Racing wrote in a statement.
“She demonstrated her electric turn of foot and perseverance toward the finishing post, and she was undoubtedly among the best of all juveniles for the 2023/24 season. She exhibited the best temperament and was as adorable as her ownership group. We are sure Hayasugi will be fondly remembered by the racing world for her clean sweep of the 2024 Blue Diamond S. series.
Hayasugi with her strapper and Jamie Kah after winning the G1 Blue Diamond S. | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We would like to thank the veterinary team, led by Dr. Massimo Deli-Rocchili for their efforts in trying to save her, as well as all the other professionals who provided us with invaluable options during her valiant struggle for survival. Hayasugi's anticipated journey was tragically cut short, but her legacy and fighting spirit will live on among us forever.”
Winner of all three Blue Diamond races – the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (f), G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (f) and G1 Blue Diamond S. – from six starts at two last season, Hayasugi resumed at three with a second in the G1 AJ Moir S. She had earnings over $1.7 million.
Shinn makes statement on jump out issue
Jockey Blake Shinn published a statement on the jump out pay dispute. “The Victorian Jockeys’ Association (VJA) demands an immediate resolution,” Shinn said in a press release.
“Jockeys dedicate their time, skills and risk their safety to support these vital preparations for racing, yet their contributions continue to go unrecognised in this area. We call on the relevant stakeholders to step up and engage meaningfully. Delays and silence only deepen frustrations and undermine the trust of those at the heart of this industry.
Blake Shinn | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Accountability is not optional – it’s a responsibility and it’s time for those in decision-making positions to take it seriously. A fair and timely outcome is essential. The VJA will not stop advocating until our jockeys receive the respect and recognition they deserve. Let’s move forward – together – with fairness and transparency.”
Lady Of Camelot ready for Magic Millions Sunlight
Co-trainer Adrian Bott is pleased with G1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) ahead of Saturday’s Sunlight. “We sent Lady Of Camelot to the Gold Coast earlier this week and she arrived there in really good shape,” Bott told racenet.com.au.
“She's obviously turning around off the spring carnival but if she reproduces the form she showed during the spring, she should run very well.”
Zouclaire’s challenge ahead of Magic Millions 2YO
Zouclaire (Zousain) is currently a $21 chance in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 11 and is the $2.80 favourite to take out Saturday's Gold Pearl. “Had you told me four months ago that she would have been running up here on the Gold Coast, I would have said you were an idiot,” co-trainer Troy Corstens told racenet.com.au.
“You look at her, and she is quite big and she doesn't look like a precocious running 2-year-old who would be ready for the Magic Millions. But she has just bounced through everything so well and she has handled everything we have thrown at her. I would have liked to have just run this filly in the big one (Magic Millions 2YO Classic), but we are touch and go if we are going to get a run, so we will run her on Saturday and just confirm that we can get in.
Zouclaire (orange and black cap) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We don't want to fire her up, but we think the winkers might just help her concentrate a little bit more. I haven't had her going flat out with winkers on, but if they can help her one little bit then it is job done.”
Lofty Thoughts debuts in Geelong Diamond
With eight of the nine runners in Saturday’s Geelong Diamond on debut, trainer Julius Sandhu has high hopes for 2-year-old colt Lofty Thoughts (Snitzel). “I suppose the difference is Lofty Strike was really casual and very professional but this guy is a lot more raw and has a lot to learn,” jockey Jamie Mott told racenet.com.au who rode Lofty Strike to win the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude.
Julius Sandhu | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“They are two beautiful-looking horses. When you see him on Saturday, you'll see Lofty Thoughts is a magnificent looking animal. I think he's a bit bigger than Lofty Strike.”
Seven figure yearling to debut on Saturday
Trainer John Hawkes said Devil Night (Extreme Choice) won't back up in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic even if he wins his debut race at Royal Randwick on Saturday. “Devil Night won his barrier trial and he's a nice horse,” Hawkes told racenet.com.au.
Devil Night as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“But he's drawn out wide which is not ideal. He's still learning his craft and he's an expensive horse so we have to be careful when we run him.” A $1.4 million purchase for Highway Farm at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Kingstar Farm, Devil Night will race in the Yulong colours. He is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Our Playboy (Sebring).
Around The Nation: Thursday’s highlights
Thursday had four meetings across Australia. At Muswellbrook, 3-year-old filly So Be Inspired (So You Think {NZ}) won on debut, while at Kilcoy, 3-year-old filly Besmara (Capitalit) won on debut. Jockey Georgina Cartwright rode a treble at Kilcoy aboard Cool Panels (Adelaide {Ire}), Grandeur Rose (Domesday), and Eye Wanted (Wanted).
Two trainers fined over Furosemide at trials
Racing NSW Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the analysts’ finding of Furosemide in two horses at the Newcastle trials on October 22. Angela Davies was fined $1250 for Braven (Heroic Valour) and Adam Duggan was fined $2250 for Peak (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Miss Joelene set for The Wave
Trainer Kelly Schweida will set 4-year-old mare Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution) for the Magic Millions Subzero after The Wave at the Gold Coast on Saturday. “I would have loved to have Jimmy (Orman) back on her again as he knows her so well,” Schweida told racingqueensland.com.au, however Orman is still recovering from a finger injury.
“I think she’s probably more of a stayer nowadays but 1800 metres will suit her. She’s better if ridden quiet and I’m sure she’ll run a big race again. Her run in the Queensland Oaks was great but she’ll need to race well on Saturday to go for the Subzero.”
Racing Queensland advise calendar updates
Racing Queensland advises that there have been changes made to the Brisbane Racing Club race schedule following the deferment of the proposed track drainage project at Doomben. Six meetings are affected from January 22 to March 1.
Tasmanian Guineas on Friday night
The Tasmanian Summer Racing Festival continues on Friday in Hobart with the Listed $125,000 Ladbrokes Tasmanian Guineas the feature of the afternoon. Second favourite is Go Jeanie (Frosted {USA}). “Obviously, it’s a little bit of a query; she is bred to get a mile; her dam and sire both did. We are pretty confident she will, but her run in the Trophy wasn’t a whole lot to go on,” trainer Liandra Gray said.
“She just doesn’t really let down on those really hard tracks. The 3YO Cup when we had all that rain and there was a bit of give in the track she was enormous, so I was really happy with that run, but then they reckoned the track was extremely hard again Trophy night, so hopefully there’s a little bit of give in it this week.”
Group 1 target for Poetic Champion
After a strong win on New Year’s Day, 3-year-old colt Poetic Champion (NZ) (Super Seth) will be set for the G1 Auckland Railway S. “He is a really electric horse fresh, he is unbeaten now fresh-up,” trainer Tony Pike told Loveracing.nz.
“We really wanted to keep his races spaced towards Karaka Millions night, hence we took on the older horses. It was a good effort from a 3-year-old against the older horses at this time of year especially.
Poetic Champion (NZ) | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
“The Railway looks like it is going to come up a pretty strong field. I will have a talk with Jonathan and the team at GSA and we will decide what we want to do in the next week or so. He (Munz) hasn’t raced a horse in New Zealand for a fair while. This bloke couldn’t be sold at the sales, he got passed in, so lucky he left him here and he has done Super Seth proud. It is really good that Jonathan has supported the New Zealand industry and hopefully he keeps a few more here.”
Winkers for Piggyback on Saturday
The Ciaron Maher stable will add winkers to Piggyback (Trapeze Artist) for Saturday to improve her form. “We like to leave the gear off them first-up unless we feel it’s necessary. We’re putting the headgear back on and she goes up a touch in trip. We’ve kept her fairly fresh because she is fairly light but she is a clean winded horse. I’d like to see some improvement,” assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord told racingnsw.com.au.
Johann Gerard-Dubord | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It probably was a little bit disappointing (first-up), even though she wants ground and is better when she can be a bit closer in the run we would have liked to see her find the line a bit better.”
New juvenile winner for Embellish
Thursday’s Wairarapa meeting saw 2-year-old gelding In The Air (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) win over 1000 metres for trainer Roydon Bergerson. A NZ$27,500 purchase by Chris Rutten Bloodstock (BAFNZ) at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale from Wentwood Grange, who will offer his yearling full brother as Lot 728 in 2025.
Rich Strike to stand in Pennsylvania
After on-again, off-again attempts to bring Rich Strike (USA) (Keen Ice {USA}) back to the races, owner Rick Dawson has decided to retire the 2022 G1 Kentucky Derby winner. Dawson revealed the news in a Facebook post on New Year's Eve.
“I have entered into a P&S Agreement to stand Richie as stallion at Mountain Springs Farm in Palmyra PA w/ owner Rich Miller,” he wrote. “A final contract should be executed very soon & Richie will ship shortly thereafter. I personally plan to support Richie with several quality mares each season. GO RICHIE & OFFSPRING!!”
Mountain Springs Farm is located in Palmyra, Pennsylvania. “I was approached about him weeks ago and we just kept discussing it,” Rich Miller said. “It looks like there's quite a bit of interest coming from out of state. But the breeding program here in Pennsylvania is excellent and that's probably why they decided to come here. They approached me and I must have watched the Derby 20 times. I still can't figure out how he got from last to first. What a run. What a race.”
