Rachel King becomes first female jockey to win Japanese Group 1
Australian jockey Rachel King is the first woman jockey to win a Group 1 race in Japan. She won the G1 February Stakes on Sunday night aboard 5-year-old entire Costa Nova (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}).
“Very proud to be the first female (to win a JRA G1), but also very proud to win a JRA G1 as a jockey – and not just as a female jockey,” King told @HorseRacing_JPN
“Big thanks to Japan and all the supporters for welcoming me here.”
Trained by Tetsuya Kimura for owner Katsumi Yoshida, Costa Nova came into the race off a last start Group 3 win and now has seven wins from ten starts. He becomes the 11th Group 1 winner for Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), whose sons Tagaloa and Panthalassa (Jpn) stand in Australia.
Costa Nova is out of Colorful Blossom (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) whose 3-year-old colt Feiern Kranz (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) was Group 2 placed at two last year. Colorful Blossom is a winning half-sister to Listed winner Piilani Highway (Jpn) (Silver Deputy {Can}), out of G1 Hollywood Park Milady Handicap-placed Listed winner Tropical Blossom (USA) (Thunder Gulch {Jpn}).
Ka Ying Rising and Voyage Bubble on top again
Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) made it a hat trick of Group 1 wins when winning the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on Sunday at Sha Tin, while the G1 Gold Cup in Hong Kong was won by Voyage Bubble (Deep Field).
TTR will have extensive coverage in our Hong Kong feature on Tuesday.
Snowdome backs up to win Listed Pinjarra Classic
Last start winner of the Listed Cyril Flower Stakes, Snowdome (Rommel) backed it up with a second successive Listed win in Sunday’s Listed Pinjarra Classic. The 5-year-old gelding, trained by Neville Parnham, now has nine wins from 25 starts and earnings over $950,000.
Winner of the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes at two, Snowdome was bought by his trainer from Mogumber Park’s 2021 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft. His dam, Snow Pixie (Snitzel), was a superior broodmare who sadly only had three foals. Snowdowe, his Listed winning full sister Pixie Chix, and 4-year-old gelding Snow Prince (Safeguard) who was second in the R-Listed Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic.
Lloyd suspended on boom day
Jockey Zac Lloyd walked away from Rosehill on Saturday with five winners, but also with a suspension after Racing NSW stewards found he was found guilty of careless riding on Step Aside (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).
He will miss five meetings from this Wednesday to next, including the Group 1 meeting on Saturday.
The Map retired
South Australian mare The Map (Alpine Eagle) has been retired after a disappointing performance in the G3 Lord Reims Stakes on Saturday. “She was below par yesterday and we made a decision on course yesterday that we would retire her,” co-trainer Will Clarken told racing.com.
The Map | Image courtesy of Racing SA
“Oopy rang me this morning and said she’s pulled up quite rough too, so the decision was made and we’ll stick by it. It’s been a huge ride and there was a bit of emotion there yesterday with the boys – we went out the back at Morphettville underneath the grandstand and had a drink to toast her. There were a few tears from some of those burly blokes.”
The Map won nine of her 35 starts and over $870,000 including the G3 SAJC Queen Elizabeth II Cup and Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes which qualified her for the G1 Melbourne Cup. Sold by Armidale Stud at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $35,000 to co-trainer Oopy MacGillivray, she is one of three winners for her dam This Moment (Savoire Vivre {GB}) who is a city winning full sister to Listed winner Iggimacool. Clarken said The Map will be sold at one of the upcoming broodmare auctions.
Listed Detonator Stakes won by Antique Miss
The good season for 5-year-old mare Antique Miss (Domesday) continued on Saturday with a 0.2l win in the Listed Detonator Stakes at Ascot. Trained by Michael Grantham, she won the G3 La Trice Classic three starts prior and now has seven wins from 29 starts with earnings over $475,000 for owner Peters Investments.
Her dam, Listed winner Antique Belle (Redoute’s Choice) has an unraced 2-year-old filly Boutique Belle (Pierro).
Traffic Warden heads to Newmarket
Trainer James Cummings is pleased with 3-year-old colt Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}) and will progress to the G1 Newmarket Handicap. “Traffic Warden pulled up bouncing after the Lightning,” Cummings told racing.com.
“The horse was game in defeat, it was not a race for the 3-year-olds as it was expected to be on the day. The three 3-year-old colts are all very good horses, but it was a race for the mares in the end.”
Savaglee to be ridden by Dee in Guineas
Jockey Michael Dee is aiming for a third G1 Australian Guineas in five years when he rides Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) on Saturday at Flemington. “Excited to get on,” Dee told racenet.com.au.
Michael Dee | Image courtesy of The Image is Everything
“The horse has got a good chance and he hasn't done much wrong. It was a good run against the older horses the other day.” Savaglee was third last start in the G1 BCD Waikato Sprint.
Surround Stakes for Autumn Glow after a trial on Monday
Chris Waller will trial unbeaten 3-year-old filly Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) on Monday as they head towards the G1 Surround Stakes.
“If she trials exceptionally well and pulls up without blowing I would be keen to run her,” Waller told racenet.com.au.
“I don't have a Plan B. It is all about the Surround Stakes. If she is 100 per cent she will run but if she is not ready to run in the Surround Stakes and beat Lady Shenandoah then we probably won't run her. She is a very good horse, doing everything right but she only had her first trial about 9-10 days ago.”
Point And Shoot for Guineas
It’s a big step up for Bjorn Baker-trained Point And Shoot (Blue Point {Ire}) but he’ll be heading to Melbourne for the G1 Australian Guineas next. “I’m looking forward to getting down there,” Baker told racing.com.
Point And Shoot | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“His last couple of runs have definitely been exciting. He’s a horse that has always shown a lot, so he deserves his chance. I think he’s a show. I am yet to confirm but I think Damian Lane is likely to ride.” The winner of three races has won his last two in succession in Sydney but he is yet to contest black type in his nine starts.
Sunchyme wins Final slot
Trainers Keith Dryden and Libby Snowden grabbed a slot in the County Championships Final when 5-year-old mare Sunchyme (Zoustar) won Sunday’s South East Country Championships at Nowra. “Under normal circumstances we probably would have scratched. Alysha gave her a top ride, she’s a strong rider,” Dryden told racingnsw.com.au.
“Just looking at her there with the eye there’s improvement. We’ll take the cheque today, have a couple of days off, and I’ll think about it next week. She’ll probably have a couple of weeks off, we’ll make our decisions after we see how she pulls up."
Danielle Seib trained 4-year-old gelding Cable Express (Cable Bay {Ire}) also qualified by running second.
Second winner for Anders at Sunshine Coast
Stylish Joker, a 2-year-old gelding trained by Joe Gleeson, became the second winner for first season sire Anders when winning at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. A $4,500 purchase from Widden Stud at the Inglis Digital March 2024 Sale, Stylish Joker was having his third start.
He is the first foal of Pretty ‘n’ Perfect (Trusting) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Global Thinking (So You Think {NZ}) from the family of dual Group 1 winner Love Dance (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}).
Strasbourg juvenile wins at Ballarat
Trainers Michael Moroney and Glen Thompson won the first at Ballarat with 2-year-old filly Eeteedee (Strasbourg) who was on debut for owners Kariba Racing. Not sold at auction, the filly is the first winner from the second crop of Strasbourg, who has eight winners in total led by Group 3 winner Colmar.
Eeteedee is the third winner for five-race winner Black Booty (Commands) who has a yearling filly by Star Witness. Black Booty is a daughter of stakes placed winner of seven Crimson Gem (Monde Bleu {GB}).
Around the Nation: Sunday’s highlights
Sunday enjoyed six meetings with Moe in Victoria abandoned due to weather conditions. Michael Freedman trained 3-year-old gelding Gone To Cape York (Street Boss {USA}) won on debut at Nowra.
At Ballarat, 3-year-old filly World’s My Oyster (Charge Forward) won on debut, while 3-year-old filly Mrs Artie (Tassort) made it four wins from six starts. In South Australia, at Balaklava, 3-year-old filly Endless Forevers (Shamus Award) won on debut, while over in WA, at Pinjarra, 3-year-old gelding Urquharts Bluff (Sessions) won on debut.
Kentucky Derby points for California Burrito
California Burrito (USA) (Army {USA}) is the newest player on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, earning 20 points with a gate-to-wire win in Saturday night's John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park.
Poker Face dies in training
Group 1-placed Poker Face (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) died in a training accident in Dubai earlier this week, owner Edward Ware announced on X. The 6-year-old gelding had won the G2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan in January, and finished 4.5l behind Saturday's $20-million G1 Saudi Cup second Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Jebel Hatta there on Jan 24. He was trained by the father-son training duo of Simon and Ed Crisford.
TPoker Face | Image courtesy of Marl Hill House Stud
“Terrible news yesterday that the magnificent, brave and talented Poker Face passed away after an accident in training in Dubai,” Ware posted. “He was being prepared for Super Saturday.”
