Unbeaten Verona Rose wins G3 Kembla Classic
Impressive in remaining unbeaten, Gary Portelli trained 3-year-old filly Verona Rose (Castelvecchio) won the G3 Kembla Grange Classic on Friday by 0.2l. She has won all her three starts, and was ridden by jockey Kerrin McEvoy for her first black type victory. In second was the John Sargent trained 3-year-old filly Inevitable Truth (Fastnet Rock) with the Joseph Pride trained 3-year-old filly Brigidine Gal (Al Maher) in third with only 0.4l covering the trifecta.
Verona Rose was purchased by Portelli Racing for $40,000 from Arrowfield Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft. She becomes the fourth stakes winner from Castelvecchio’s first crop.
She is the second winner for imported winning mare Minamya (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) who has unraced 2-year-old filly Pure Melody (Maurice {Jpn}) and a colt foal by Hitotsu. Minamya is a daughter of G3 Chantilly Prix de Royaumont winner Minatlya (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) who also produced Listed winner Mila (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Minatlya is a full sister to Australian triple Group 1 winner Manighar (Fr).
Cambridge Stud announce new GM
On Friday, Cambridge Stud announced Ben Tappenden as their new General Manager who comes from Whitsbury Manor Stud in England. “Cambridge Stud is a New Zealand treasure with an illustrious heritage,” he said.
“I am excited and privileged to become a part of this iconic nursery’s family and future under the ownership of Brendan and Jo Lindsay. I would also like to mention my undying gratitude to the team at Whitsbury Manor Stud.
"Ed Harper, along with Rick Williams at The Oaks Stud, have allowed me to grow and develop as a manager over the last 18 years. I'm looking forward to returning home and being immersed in the New Zealand industry once again, getting to know the team, the bloodstock, and reacquainting myself with owners and breeders."
Flood Zone's dam highlights Fasig-Tipton Digital catalogue
A total of 122 horses of all ages have been catalogued for the Fasig-Tipton Digital March Sale, which closes on Tuesday, March 18. One of the highlights of the catalogue could be hip 14, the 15-year-old mare Curls For Girls (USA) (Curlin {USA}), whose son Flood Zone (USA) (Frosted {USA}) upset in the G3 Gotham Stakes in his first start for Wathnan Racing and is slated to make his next appearance in the G2 UAE Derby on Apr 5.
Flood Zone | Image courtesy of Sarah Andrew
Elite Sales offers Laulne (Fr) (Starspangledbanner), Hip 18, as a racing/broodmare prospect, the bay mare won the 2023 G3 Prix Eclipse in France, the Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita last season and was most recently third in the Listed Wishing Well Stakes on February 22.
Coeur Volante compared to Tofane
Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) could give the late Mike Moroney a final farewell in Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. “Mike wasn't well, but he had such a high opinion of this mare that he wanted to be there on track for the Mannerism,” part-owner Rupert Legh told racenet.com.au
“Coeur Volante won the Mannerism impressively and that was the last race meeting that Mike was at. When he was there that day, I thought it was a good sign that she would win. Mike has always had a big opinion of this mare, he always thought that she was a Group 1 winner in waiting. He is never too far wrong, unless there is an injury or something which is out of his control.
Coeur Volante (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“In the early days, we thought she could be another Tofane. Tofane won four Group Ones, so Coeur Volante has a fair way to go to be in that sort of category. But we believe she has got the same ability. What Tofane had was a mad desire to win, she was such a fierce competitor, and I think this girl is no different.”
Belle well treated in handicap for Coolmore Classic
Trainer Danny O’Brien thinks Grinzinger Belle (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) is well placed under handicap conditions in Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Classic. “She's well-treated with the handicaps in the Coolmore,” O'Brien told racing.com.
Grinzinger Belle (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She meets some of the mares in that race a lot better for the last couple of times she has met them. She probably just overdid it a bit first-up. She just set sectionals that were just not sustainable. She's come through that run well and we'd expect her to run well.”
Canning Downs dispersal sale
On Friday, Inglis Digital announced that an unreserved Canning Downs dispersal will feature in the Inglis Digital March (Late) Online Sale. “After 107 years of the Barnes family breeding thoroughbreds off Canning Downs in Queensland, a decision has been made to wind down the business,” said the press release.
“Unfortunately John (Barnes)’s sons just don’t have that level of interest in breeding and you need to be emotionally invested, it’s not just something you dabble in,” co-owner Joy Mackay said.
“It’s a big thing to face up to but at some stage the decision had to be made. There is never the perfect time but it is for us and we decided it’s better to just make the call, rather than phase things out slowly. John and I will keep some interest in racing, we have some horses that we still race because we love it. We hope these lovely mares have had a really good start in their careers and we will get immense pleasure out of future winners from these families.”
Pair of Godolphin colts in Pago Pago
Trainer James Cummings has a pair of juvenile colts, Comedy (Snitzel) and Barbarossa (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in Saturday’s G3 Pago Pago Stakes. “(Comedy) is feeling very well, he’s on the brink of already being in the Golden Slipper. So I’ve got that to think about, but if we are content to run him he’s ready to run a big race. He wasn’t suited by the slow pace last start in the Skyline,” Cummings told godolphin.com.
James Cummings | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Barbarossa is also in a maiden at the provincials (Gosford). He’s been improving all the time, with three runs he’s running better and better. With his big pedigree and frame, it’s of no surprise to us. He just continues to put in blistering gallops. He could be the big improver and perhaps I don’t want to see that wasted in a maiden. If he’s going to be a trophy horse for Godolphin, he might be justified in getting his opportunity to do so on the bigger stage at Rosehill.”
Lindsay Park’s Showdown quartet
Trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes will have four runners in Saturday’s The Showdown with Killiana (Brazen Beau), Miss Celine (Magnus), Winmar (Written Tycoon), and Rohesia (Hanseatic). “Nothing went right for (Miss Celine) in the Blue Diamond,” Ben Hayes told racenet.com.au.
“She had the hardest run in the race. She's drawn a better barrier here so she should get a nice run and three weeks between runs will suit. She seems well and the only poor run this preparation was in the Diamond so hopefully she can bounce back.”
Trio in Showdown for Godolphin
James Cummings feels the $1 million VOBIS Showdown is a test for his trio of runners, who are all by Frosted (USA), being Chergui, Cloisters, and Cryoseims. “I sent our three VOBIS Showdown runners to Caulfield on Tuesday, and they were not there to lick stamps. They came away with good gallops under their belts and one of them might have worked a little too well,” Cummings told godolphin.com.
Frosted (USA) | Standing at Darley
“They pulled up as good as they galloped and they arrive into the $1 million race in good spirits, beautiful and sound. One comes off a last-start win, one coming out of a harder race, and one with the blinkers going on after being placed in a maiden but with the pedigree of a horse who is entitled to improve. We’ve got a mixture of form, but the boys are happy with targeting the Showdown with them ready to run the best races of their preps.”
Harness trainer has a Showdown runner
Harness trainer Karlene Tindale only took out her gallops licence recently and will run 2-year-old filly Nostra Bella (Nostradamus) in Saturday’s The Showdown. “Two years ago I would have never envisaged I’d have taken my licence out and taking a lovely filly like this for a $1 million – it’s a bit incredible,” Tindale told racing.com.
“We are in the big league we know, with a filly we bred ourselves and it’s a big pipe dream but we can always dream. She was broken in in the cart the same (as the pacers) and she loved it. I don’t know if that’s made her nice and strong and bulky.
“We had no other thoroughbreds to work her with so she’s done it all on her own. We’ve been in the dark but we know you need to be fit but it’s been an eye opener and a real lesson. We had to learn the times as they are different to the pacers and we think we are getting there.”
Around the nation: Friday’s highlights
Summer is still going strong with three night meetings on Friday and four day meetings across Australia. Farnan’s 3-year-old half-sister Cordina (I Am Invincible) won on debut at Kilmore, and at the same meeting jockey Luke Currie rode a treble on 3-year-old gelding Pat’s Bro (So You Think {NZ}), 3-year-old filly Justadaze (Justify {USA}), and Coco Jen (Tosen Stardom {Jpn}).
At Muswellbrook, 3-year-old gelding Warrior For Peace (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) won on debut.
Waitak drops down a grade to Group 2
Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have only run Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) in Group 1 company this year until Saturday’s G2 Japan Trophy at Tauranga. “He’s been hitting the line hard in Group 1 company lately, and he ran the mile out strongly in that WFA Classic at Ellerslie last time,” Scott told Loveracing.nz.
Waitak (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“Now we think it might be the right time to get him away from that top-league opposition that he’s been up against all season, hopefully to build up a little bit of confidence. His work on Tuesday was as good as it’s ever been. Ryan Elliot is going to ride him on Saturday. We might try to get him into a slightly more prominent position. His problem has been that he’s got so far out of his ground and has just been leaving himself with too much to do.”
Ducasse set for Group 2 second up
Trainer Michael Freedman will set Ducasse (Trapeze Artist) for the G1 Doncaster Handicap if he performs in Saturday’s G2 Ajax Stakes. “You probably treat everything a bit differently,” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au of the decision to geld the horse.
Ducasse | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He’s probably come back a bit of an improved article, obviously going to Saturday’s race is a big jump in grade but I’m happy with him. They can take a fairly significant leap in improvement so I wouldn’t read too much into his second-up record. Three weeks between his first and second-up run this time around and 1400 metres to 1500 metres is a nice step up for him.”
Listed Hong Kong Derby field announced
Wednesday’s Happy Valley winner Beauty Alliance (Starcraft {NZ}) and the improving Lo Rider (GB) (Harzand {Ire}) have made the Listed Hong Kong Derby field which was announced on Friday morning. The headline acts are Classic Cup winner Rubylot (Rubick), Classic Mile hero My Wish (Flying Artie) and Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}).
“At the end of the day, I think if Mondial made his way into the race, he would have improved on his Classic Cup run and run well, but he needed to show us a little bit more in his first-up run,” Greg Carpenter, the Jockey Club’s head of racing product, told scmp.com.
“The case for Beauty Alliance was compelling after Wednesday night. He ran really well and beat a very good field with a lot of last-start winners in it, so there was depth and quality.
“Lo Rider lost his position before the turn and ran really well last start, almost snatching third. The other supporting argument behind Lo Rider was that he was narrowly beaten by Steps Ahead at his previous run and Steps Ahead came out and ran really well in the Classic Cup.”
The Derby runs on March 23.
Retired racehorse injures trainer Jusufovic
Trainer Enver Jusufovic is the sole owner, breeder and trainer of Mixxit (Sioux Nation {USA}) in Saturday’s Country Mile Series Final on Caulfield, and he’s hoping a win will go some way to easing the pain of his badly torn hamstring. He was tending 15-year-old retired racehorse Lord Ore (Quest For Fame {GB}) when the horse spun around injuring Jusufovic. “The legs aren't what they used to be. I flung forward and felt my hamstring pop on my right leg, my good leg,” Jusufovic told racenet.com.au.
“I love my horses and I love not only racing but the breeding side of it as well. It's like they're paying me back for the faith I've had in them, not only in mum but in them as well, it's extremely gratifying. I look after them and feed them every day but they're not happy being caught sometimes when you need to treat them for an ailment.
Enver Jusufovic | Image courtesy of Enver Jusufovic Racing
“Lord Ore, half-brother to Vongole, was a good horse, he won $100,000 back in the day, but he's about 15 now. He was always a s–t head even when he was in the stable.
On Mixxit, “Certainly I don't know what the ceiling is with him. A real nonchalant character, a lovely big horse, 17 hands, we can ride him from behind, we can ride him forward … he's quite adept.”
Light Horse celebrated in WA
This year’s Wagin Woolorama featured the inaugural Australian Light Horse Have A Go Day thanks to a grant from Racing WA. “The presence of the Light Horse at the Woolorama is always a highlight for attendees, with many stopping to share stories about their own connections to horses or military history,” Organiser Carmen Bairstow told racingwa.com.au.
“It’s an incredibly moving experience, and we’re grateful to Racing WA for the grant, which allowed us to cover the cost for troopers and participants, as well as purchasing the rosettes and rugs to recognise our volunteers and remounts.”
Forever Young tops World Thoroughbred Rankings
Japan's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) anchors the first edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings with a mark of 128. The Yoshito Yahagi trainee closed to take the G1 Saudi Cup by a neck over the 127-rated Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). The latter had earlier won the G1 Jebel Hatta this year.
Forever Young | Image courtesy of Horse Photos
Continuing the Hong Kong theme, star sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) is a co-third in the rankings alongside GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes winner White Abarrio (USA) (Race Day {USA}), as both are at 124. Both the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup and G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup have gone to the Kiwi-bred speedster. Next on rankings at 123 is GI Santa Anita Handicap hero Locked (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}), who was second to White Abarrio in the Pegasus.
US$3 million Gun Runner colt breaks record in Ocala
For the third straight year, Saudi businessman Amr Zedan made the highest bid at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, going to an OBS record US$3 million (AU$4.77 million) to acquire a colt by Gun Runner (USA) during a vibrant final session of the auction Thursday. The sale-topping colt brought the number of horses to sell for seven figures during the three-day auction to seven, up from four a year ago, and a record for the March sale.
“I thought it was a great sale. A fun three days,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “From the day after the under-tack show, there has been a ton of activity on the grounds. You could really feel the juice in the air. It felt like it was going to be a good sale. And it certainly came to pass that way.”
Gun Runner (USA) | Standing at Three Chimneys Farm
A total of 432 juveniles sold during the March sale for a gross of US$65,815,500 (AU$104.5 million). The average was US$152,351 (AU$242,000) –up 2.3 per cent from the end-of-session figures at the 2024 sale–and the median was US$70,000 (AU$111,000), a decline of 6.7 per cent from a year ago.
Longtime Ocala horseman Eddie Woods, who is expected to offer just one more OBS consignment next month, sent the record $3 million colt through the ring Thursday. “Eddie has been a big part of OBS for a number of years now,” Wojciechowski said.
“Not only is he one of our top consignors, but he is also a member of our board. And he's been instrumental in the growth and the evolution of the 2-year-olds in training sales. That was very gratifying to see–you'd like to see anybody have a $3-million horse, but it was kind of special to see him go out like that.”
The previous record for a horse sold at OBS was the US$2.45 million (AU$3.9 million) paid by agent John Moynihan on behalf of Coolmore for a Tiznow (USA) colt at the April sale in 2017.
Frankie Dettori files for bankruptcy
Frankie Dettori has been forced to file for bankruptcy after failing to reach an agreement with His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over a long-running tax avoidance case. The Italian released a statement to confirm this latest development on Thursday.
“For the last six-months, my advisors have been working with HMRC in an attempt to find a solution to my financial situation,” the statement read. “Regretfully, I will be filing for bankruptcy.
Frankie Dettori | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I am saddened and embarrassed by this outcome and would advise others to take a stronger rein over their financial matters. Bankruptcy is a major decision and its consequences will affect me for many years. I am relieved to be drawing a line on this long-term matter, which enables me to reset and focus on my international riding career.”
Dettori's name first came up in a legal battle with HMRC over his anonymity after using a “tax avoidance scheme” in December of 2024. His career voluntarily ended in Britain in October of 2023 and, instead of retiring, he moved to California to continue riding.
Arqana breeze up catalogue released
The catalogue for the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale, which takes place between 8 and 10 May, has been released and features the progeny of world-class stallions Justify (USA), Wootton Bassett (GB), Lope De Vega (Ire), Sea The Stars (Ire), Dubawi (Ire) and more.
A total of 192 2-year-olds feature in the sale that was headed last year by recent UAE 2,000 Guineas hero Ruling Court (USA) (Justify {USA}), who was sold by Norman Williamson's Oak Tree Farm to Godolphin for €2.3 million (AU$3.9 million).
Wreath Of Snow tops South Africa yearling sale
A son of Vercingetorix (SAf) already named Wreath Of Snow (SAf) topped the first session of the Cape Racing Sales Premier Yearling Sale on Thursday when selling for R9 million (AU$780,000) to Greg Bortz. Vercingetorix's offspring filled the top five spots.
Consigned by Drakenstein Stud, Lot 85 is out of Snowdance (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}), a winner of both the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas and G1 Majorca Stakes. Already the dam of G1 Cape Guineas hero Snow Pilot (SAf) (Lancaster Bomber {USA}), the mare is out of Grade 3 winner Spring Lilac (SAf) (Joshua Dancer {USA}). Snowdance is a full- or half-sister to a trio of stakes winners.
Wreath Of Snow (Saf) | Image courtesy of Cape Racing Sales
Part of Vercingetorix's leading quintet, Lot 96 was the highest priced filly at R4.1 million (AU$356,000). Offered by Klawervlei Stud, the bay is out of the G1 Allan Robertson Championship heroine The Secret Is Out (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}).
Through the first day's trade, 137 lots sold from 149 (92 per cent) offered for a gross of R104,350,000 (AU$9 million). The average was R761,679 (AU$66,000) and the median was R500,000 (AU$43,000).
