Eustace nails first treble at Sha Tin
Sunday’s Sha Tin was a historic one for trainer David Eustace who grabbed his first treble in Hong Kong with Regency Happy Star (Lonhro), Good Luck Babe (Delago Deluxe), and outsider Sea Sapphire (Husson {Arg}). “It’s very exciting. I thought we were coming here with a strong team and probably our first three runners proved that, with two winners and a second (with Dazzling Fit),” Eustace told scmp.com.
David Eustace | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“(Sea Sapphire) is a nice surprise. They’ve all raced well and consistently, so it’s very pleasing. (Regency Happy Star) has had a terrific season – he’s just gaining confidence and relaxing very well now in his races.”
Royal Patronage heads to Hong Kong
Co-trainer Adrian Bott says Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will likely to go straight to the Champions Mile at Sha Tin on April 27. “We could, potentially, look at the All Aged Stakes next week but it is most likely he will go to the Mile race in Hong Kong,” Bott told racenet.com.au.
Royal Patronage (Fr) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“All going well, he will be my first international runner. He was very brave in the Doncaster Mile and I think he looks well placed in the Hong Kong race. It will be interesting to see how the field takes shape.”
Gower looking to beat history
The G1 South Australia Derby hasn’t been won by a local trainer since 2014 and trainer Stuart Gower thinks his 3-year-old gelding Darknconfidential (Cosmic Force) can beat history. “Port Adelaide Guineas next, then the Chairmans, if he's going well enough, we'll go towards the Derby,” Gower told racing.com.
“He's pulled up well, hopefully he will progress to the SA Derby during the Adelaide Carnival. He's shown so much ability, being a late-November foal he's taken a while to mature, but he's coming together now and he's turned into a lovely horse.”
Headwall secures Quokka slot
Matt Smith-trained Headwall (Dream Ahead {USA}) will run for Unibet/Chief Racing in the Quokka on April 26. “We have been speaking to the Unibet-Chief Racing slot holders since his unlucky second in the Newmarket,” Smith told racenet.com.au.
Matt Smith | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“The owners and I are really looking forward to heading west for The Quokka after what he produced in Saturday's TJ. The horse is flying at the moment and his run on Saturday at Group 1 weight-for-age level when not getting clear until late in the straight shows he can compete at that level. We believe we have the right horse peaking at the right time for The Quokka. We are looking forward to being a part of it all.”
Team Williams ready for The Quokka
Trainers Grant and Alana Williams think they have the horses to beat Overpass (Vancouver) in this year’s The Quokka with Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}). “Obviously, we’ve all looked at Overpass and we’re under no illusions, he’s the horse to beat, but all we can do is worry about our own horse,” Grant Williams told racingwa.com.au.
Western Empire (NZ) | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“After the Winterbottom, Larns (Alana) and I sat down and worked out how we can change a few things, have him sharper in that sort of distance. He’s not that far off, he’s come out and won the Gold Rush. I’m really happy with the big fella, he’s going good. His first up runs are great, normally.”
I Am Me out of the Quokka
Racing WA announced on Monday that I Am Me (I Am Invincible) won’t be running in the Quokka, and that slot holder Sportsbet will announce a new runner soon.
Around the nation: Monday’s highlights
With three meetings on Monday, it was at Donald that 3-year-old gelding From A Distance (Needs Further) won on debut. Apprentice jockey Siena Grima rode a double at Tuncurry on 3-year-old filly Battle Reign (Invader) and Roman Rebel (Caravaggio {USA}).
Osaka Hai record for Bellagio Opera
Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) earned a slice of history at Hanshin on Sunday as the 5-year-old became the first back-to-back winner of the G1 Osaka Hai, blitzing his 14 rivals in a time of 1:56.20–a new course record for the 2000-metre distance to boot. Trained by Hiroyuki Uemura, Bellagio Opera was a narrow winner of last year's Osaka Hai.
“As always, he broke remarkably,” Yokoyama said of Bellagio Opera, who became only the second dual winner of the Osaka Hai after Sunrise Pegasus (Jpn), who was successful in 2002 and 2005. “I expected a fast pace, but being able to sit in an ideal position and the horse finding his rhythm were definitely the key factors in today's win. Just as last year, I'm full of gratitude. Although the horse hasn't been able to show his true form since last year's victory, I'm hoping that this will mark a new start for him and that he'll be able to demonstrate that he still has a lot of potential.”
Bellagio Opera is one of three winners from four runners out of the winning Harbinger (GB) mare Air Routine (Jpn), a half-sister to the G3 Hakodate Kinen hero Air Anthem (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S) and the G2 Spring Stakes third Satono Helios (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}).
Lope De Vega colt wins Group 3
Let go at 8-1 for Sunday's G3 Prix la Force at ParisLongchamp despite his trainer Andre Fabre holding the record of eight successes in the Prix du Jockey Club trial, Godolphin's Cualificar (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) emerged front and centre to extend that tally.
“Today was the test to see if he could do well at this level,” Godolphin's Louise Benard said. “He has changed a lot from two to three, but we knew that because he was immature and had lots of room for improvement. He will certainly stay further, he is in the Prix du Jockey Club and in the Grand Prix de Paris so we will see which route Mr Fabre wants to take.”
A half-brother to G3 Jebel Ali Mile winner Swing Vote (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), his dam Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) is a full-sister to Shogun (Ire) who was placed in the G2 Futurity Stakes, G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and G3 Craven Stakes before becoming a champion in Bahrain.
Graffard just keeps on winning in France
Sunday's G2 Prix d'Harcourt was won by Wathnan Racing's progressive Map Of Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who delivered in style to provide the red-hot Francis-Henri Graffard stable with a ParisLongchamp four-timer. On ground lively for the time of year, Map Of Stars produced a stunning final three-furlong split of 32.55 with two sub-11-second furlongs marking him out as a genuine group 1 contender for the demanding term ahead.
“I think we have seen a real good one today,” Graffard said. “The way he went after that horse in front and the way he quickened is the sign of a top one. He also proved that he is maturing mentally and that is essential. We will follow the program and bring him back for the G1 Prix Ganay.”
Map Of Stars is the second foal out of the four-time Group-winning G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Bateel (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), whose 3-year-old filly Tajlina (GB) (Kingman {GB}) captured last week's G3 Prix Penelope and is a live Classic contender.
