Daily News Wrap

Home Affairs busiest stallion with 225 mares

While the 2024 covering data for each individual stallion has been live on the Stud Book website all season, the official statistics were released on Monday.

Home Affairs was the busiest stallion with 225 mares covered, up from fifth in 2023 when he covered 189 mares.

Four other stallions all had book sizes greater than 200 mares, being Alabama Express (223), Shinzo (218), Tassort (218) and Zousain (218).

TTR AusNZ used five-year data to analyse the market share of the major stallion farms.

Kiwi changes; Dealt With out, Zormella in

NZB Kiwi slot holders Kerri Spence Bloodstock and Clotworthy Racing were forced to make a change on Monday with trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood scratching Dealt With (NZ) (Ace High) after he pulled up sore from track work. “He has galloped on Saturday and we haven’t completely gotten to the bottom of exactly what happened. At this stage we are thinking he has probably pulled a muscle high up in a hind limb,” Wellwood told thekiwi.com.au.

“The vets are going to come for further diagnostics. We don’t think it is going to be a major long-term, but it is something that means we are unable to get to the race.”

Stablemate Zormella (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) will run in his place. “Fortunately, we had a filly (Zormella) we had just missed out on another slot with. She looks high quality and we are very lucky that the slot holders have chosen us. There were a number of options they were going through and have clearly decided that filly fits the bill. It is bittersweet to have another one in there.”

Angel Capital moves to Waller stable

Yulong announced on Monday that 3-year-old colt Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) will move to trainer Chris Waller. The colt was scratched from the G1 Australian Guineas after a scope found mucus in his throat.

“I wish Yulong all the best with Angel Capital and I've got no doubt in my mind that he's a Group 1 winner in the making,” former trainer Clinton McDonald said.

“It's unfortunate what occurred on Saturday, I was extremely confident he would win his Group 1 in the (Australian) Guineas, so it will come as no surprise if he wins a Group 1 race, whether that be this preparation or if he returns as a 4-year-old in the spring and makes a big statement.

“He is the type of horse who I believed could be freshened up and aimed at a race like the William Reid, a Goodwood in Adelaide or a Group 1 in Sydney.”

Feroce's half-sister tops Gavelhouse

The latest Gavelhouse auction closed on Monday with recent G1 Australian Guineas winner Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth)’s half-sister Calliope (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) topping the sale at NZ$130,000 to “Francisw”.

The winner of one of her three starts has a yearling colt and a filly foal by Preferment (NZ) and she had been served by Super Seth but unfortunately missed. Both she and Feroce are half-siblings to the Listed winner Siracusa (NZ) (Sebring) and their dam is a half-sister to Group 1 winner De Beers. This is the Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) family.

The second top lot was Ouch (NZ) (Pins) sold for NZ$50,000 and the remaining 53 lots made NZ$20,000 or less.

Royal Ascot on the cards for Joliestar

If Joliestar (Zoustar) runs well in the G1 Newmarket Handicap on Saturday, a trip to Royal Ascot might be on the cards. “It's on everybody's list to do and it creates such a profile for a horse,” trainer Chris Waller told racenet.com.au who won at Royal Ascot with Nature Strip (Nicconi).

“Obviously Australian sprinters are so good, so we want to try and find as many as we can that can go and then pick out one or two that realistically can win. It's not just bringing her down to run for the Newmarket, it's for the years ahead too, next year's Newmarket, the (Champions) Sprint in Cup week, a few other options. She just needed that little bit of a change of luck and it certainly opens up a lot of doors.”

Swiftfalcon on song to beat Broadsiding

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes believes Swiftfalcon (Exceedance) can beat Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in Saturday’s G1 Randwick Guineas. “It was a ridiculous run (in the G2 Hobartville Stakes) and had he been where the winner was, he would have blown them away,” Hawkes told racenet.com.au.

“I am to rave about times but in that instance, it was just ridiculous. It shows you he is a quality horse but even barriers, they do they kill you because it's the difference between winning and losing. Even when he got to 2000 metres last prep, he had no hope in Group 1 and had to go too far back even last Saturday, I know Broadsiding jumped and went forward but if he drew a gate he would have been two pairs closer.

“He doesn't necessarily have to be leading or right up there but if he is closer, that's the difference so he is on target for the Guineas and going good.” Swiftfalcon ran the last 600 metres in the Hobartville in 32.88s.

Pride Of Jenni returns in a jump-out

After spending three months with a mandatory EPIH spell, Horse of the Year Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) showed she is back with a strong 5l jump-out win on Monday at Cranbourne. “She'd been training up quite well and it's always good to see them come back like that,” trainer Ciaron Maher told racenet.com.au.

“It was no surprise she'd been pleasing us at home and she wears her heart on her sleeve, they're are always going to look impressive in a trial aren't they? That was her strongest piece of work, and she'll do another trial, I'll have a chat to Tony, but certainly the mare’s race during the autumn carnival would be a likely target I'd say.

“I'll have a chat to Tony (Ottbre) and see how he's feeling. There's options she could kick off in beforehand but I'd say that's most likely her target.”

Maher also confirmed the resignation of Ciaron Maher Racing’s CEO Ben Sellenger. “He was good for the stable and onto the next chapter,” Maher said. Credit Officer Sam Cavanough has been appointed as the interim CEO.

Knight’s Choice sustains a minor injury

Trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon announced on Monday that their G1 Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice) would miss the G1 All-Star Mile after sustaining a minor injury to his fetlock. He will need a few weeks off.

Around the Nation: Monday’s highlights

Monday had four meetings. At Bathurst, 3-year-old colt So Magnificent (So You Think {NZ}) took his record to two wins from three starts. At Port Macquarie, 3-year-old filly Miss Capitale (Capitalist) won on debut.

Southside wagering up

Southside Racing, formerly Cranbourne Turf Club and Pakenham Racing Club, announced a $400 million wagering turnover for the first six months of their existence. The figures are up five per cent on last year, and 11 per cent higher than budgeted. “The industry and community have rallied behind Southside Racing and the results speak for themselves,” CEO Neil Bainbridge told racenet.com.au.

“We are committed to innovating, growing and delivering a world-class racing experience while playing a significant role in shaping the future of Victorian thoroughbred racing. Our main aim is to grow racing in the Southeast and attract new customers and participants to our sport. The support we have seen from the community and industry has been incredible and we are just getting started.”

No second-up syndrome for Ryan's pair

Trainer Blake Ryan thinks his two runners at Kembla Grange on Tuesday won’t have second-up syndrome. “I am confident they will both run well and hopeful at least one of them will get the job done,” Ryan told racingnsw.com.au of Love The Cube (Rubick) and Strawberry Impact (Pierata).

“They are two good chances and both seem to have trained on well since their first-up runs. They look like the logical races for them to go to after their first-up runs.”

Pony-sized Queenslander aiming for four in a row

Mimmy’s Secret (Encryption) is aiming for a fourth straight win at Rockhampton on Tuesday. Trained by Rockhampton trainer Kevin Miller, the 3-year-old filly has won three of her seven starts, with all three wins coming in her past three starts. “She’s going great but I’ve had to be careful placing her as she’s a December foal and she’s barely 15 hands,” Miller told racingqueensland.com.au.

“The good thing with her is she’s getting more seasoned with every run. I went to the sales and Bob asked me to ring him as soon as she came into the ring to be sold. She was very small but Bob said to buy her as there was something he just liked about her. I had her legs x-rayed and they came back good so I took her home.” She cost $8000 at the Capricornia Yearling Sale and has earned over $83,000.

“She’s paid up for the big Capricornia Yearling Sale race but we’ll take our time and go race by race and see where she ends up. She’ll go for a short break soon and we’ll aim her for more QTIS races. I don’t think she’s up to a Brisbane trip just yet as she needs to improve more. For the time being, we’ll just take small steps with her.”

Pat Smullen Fund work continues

Jockey Pat Smullen died in 2020 and the Pat Smullen Pancreatic Cancer Fund does vital fundraising for cancer research, largely through the annual charity race day run in the jockey's name at the Curragh, which was launched in 2021. “Our aim is to make it to a million this year,” says Smullen's widow Frances Crowley.

“Every year for the past few years, we've tried a few different things. But we have the charity race that worked really well and we're starting to put out a call now for people to think about if they'd maybe like to do it. And we have the Curragh to Curragh cycle ride, which is 100 kilometres, and actually it's a really feel-good occasion as well.

“A lot of the riders in the charity race have ridden in memory of somebody or for somebody, and Pat usually organises a bit of nice weather for us as well.”

From an original idea by Smullen's oncologist Ray McDermott, in 2024 Professor Grainne O'Kane was appointed to the Pat Smullen Chair in Pancreatic Cancer at University College Dublin (UCD). Described by Crowley as “scarily impressive”, O'Kane is already making an impact in this role.

“Just to see it making such a big difference is humbling,” says Crowley. “With patience and time, Grainne is really able to work on trials, on bringing trials to Ireland. I do think it's going to make a huge difference to pancreatic cancer. It gathers its own momentum through her, and it does more even than what the Pat Smullen Fund can achieve. She puts things in motion and we get investment from other places with that, and it brings more trials to Ireland. It's amazing really, and I think Pat just wanted it to go directly to the people who knew what to do with it, straight to the medical profession.”

Crowley says that the focus has been placed on the genetic aspect of the disease and in trying to establish which people may be more predisposed to being afflicted by pancreatic cancer.

“There's never going to be a big cure, we're never going to stop it,” she says. “But, certainly with pancreatic cancer, if you catch it early you have a better chance of treating it.

“If you can reach that group of people and you're giving them help with screening, it actually could do a huge amount that way, by catching it early so that these people don't get into a life-threatening situation.”

Clearly, the regular updates on the progress being made in the trials has not only a galvanising effect on fundraising efforts, but offers some solace to the Smullen family, as does the ongoing response from their many friends in racing.

“The racing community has been amazing,” Crowley says. “They are the people who have supported us, and that's where all the money is coming from at the end of the day. The Breeze-up Consignors Association sponsored the charity race last year because a lot of their families had been touched by cancer. People have been so good.”

American challengers for Dubai World Cup on track

With less than five weeks remaining to Dubai World Cup night at the sprawling Meydan Racecourse on April 5, the American challenge for the US$12million (AU$19.3 million) main event is coming together, with at least two US-based middle distance gallopers targeting the 2000-metre contest.

Wathnan Racing's Hit Show (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}) has come out of his distant third place effort to Locked (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}) in Saturday's G1 Santa Anita Handicap in good order and connections have accepted an invitation to the World Cup, Case Clay, Wathnan's US advisor, confirmed on Sunday.

Rattle N Roll (USA) (Connect {USA}) remains in Riyadh following his running-on fifth behind the World Cup-bound Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and likely G1 Dubai Turf favourite Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the February 22 G1 Saudi Cup. Trainer Ken McPeek confirmed that the World Cup is squarely the plan, pending an official invitation from the Dubai Racing Club.

“He came out of the race super, we haven't been officially invited,” McPeek said. “This horse has never had the chance to run 10 furlongs. He was going to get excluded from the Kentucky Derby, so didn't get to run there, and then got excluded in the Classic and that race would have set up for him.”