Treasurethe Moment getting better
Trainer Matt Laurie thinks Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) is still improving ahead of Saturday’s G1 Australian Oaks. “I think she has been so good on top of the ground, it's obviously her and our preferred surface,” Laurie told racenet.com.au.
“I think we could see her go a lot better with the right conditions which I think we will get. She had a nice gallop on Wednesday and a bit of work on Sunday, a bit of evens, and then the gallop on Wednesday which we were happy with. It's all systems go.” The dual Group 1 winner has won her past seven in succession.
Treasurethe Moment | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“To have her not only win the Wakeful and Oaks but a handful of races leading up to it and to continue on that upward trajectory and achieve that result and then have a holiday, come back in the way she has, you don't see that very often. She is a high class filly and we are so happy to have her in the stable. She is a gem and if she could pull off the Oaks double, it would be incredible.”
Oaks winner ready for double
New Zealand’s star 3-year-old filly Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) won the G1 New Zealand Oaks and now has her sights set on Saturday’s G1 Australian Oaks. “She has had a long prep, but obviously a very successful preparation,” new trainer Chris Waller told Loveracing.nz.
“Robbie Patterson has done an amazing job with her, not just to win the Group 1, but to get her on that path and be the best filly in New Zealand. It’s an honour to be taking over from Robbie. Since being here, she has settled in really well. She is eating well and has put on weight and adapted well to Sydney.
Leica Lucy (NZ) | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
“It’s her (Leica Lucy) first run right-handed, but on the track she seems fine, she is getting used to it. We have got James McDonald aboard, a good draw (1) and what looks to be a very good edition of the Oaks with Treasurethe Moment being the pin-up girl for Australia. New Zealand’s pin-up girl and Australia’s pin-up girl are ready to clash.”
Autumn Glow potentially aimed at All-Aged
Unbeaten 3-year-old filly Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) runs in Saturday’s G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint and may end up in the G1 All-Aged Stakes if she runs to form. “It is likely she will be nominated for the All-Aged but we want to get through Saturday first and then make a decision,” co-owner John Messara told racenet.com.au.
“I'm not taking anything for granted. This is a tough race for her, she's up against some very good 3-year-olds. The last time I was in this position was before the Flight Stakes so I am not counting my chickens before they hatch.”
Autumn Glow | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The sale topper at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale was purchased by Arrowfield and Hermitage Thoroughbreds from Silverdale Farm for $1.8 million and is unbeaten in four starts including a last start Listed Darby Munro Stakes win.
Vale Allan Fitzgerald
The Riverina jockey who became a trainer Allan Fitzgerald has died from cancer aged 62. “He was the number one jockey for the Freyers for a decade or two,” friend and fellow Wangaratta-based trainer John Ledger told racing.com.
“He rode hundreds of winners, multiple Albury Cup winners, Wagga Cups, Town Plates. He has a lightweight jockey who was a very good judge, he could have rode in the city. He was what you'd describe at his peak as 'cocky jockey' full of confidence, but rode with that same confidence.
“He had been running the farm and doing all the work sheets but hadn't been getting to the track as often as he wanted to. He was very jovial bloke, never negative. Just a hell of a nice bloke and grateful person.” Fitzgerald and his wife Jen have four children: Allan, Emily, John and Michael.
Waller hopes to race Via Sistina in spring
Trainer Chris Waller will sign off on a great season with Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) in Saturday’s G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and is hoping to set her for next spring. “Her future I think would be like all horses at her level,” Waller told racing.com.
Via Sistina (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It's all about one prep at a time. Finish the prep and reassess. My gut feel is that we will get through to the spring. It's a tough race. We know where she sits in Australia but there are some worthy contenders there from overseas. It's just so hard to weigh up even Dubai Honour's form. Whether he has been running over 2400 metres for a reason, or whether he is still going to be as sharp. Then, there's the Japanese form. It makes it tricky. But it's good we are talking about good horses coming up against each other. It's going to be an exciting race.”
If she wins, Via Sistina will join Chris Waller’s mighty mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) as the only other horse to win seven Group 1 races in a single season in Australia.
Magic Millions appoint new HK representative
Magic Millions announced on Friday that Thomas Yeung will be their new Hong Kong representative. “I'm honoured to be joining the Magic Millions team in this exciting new role,” Yeung said.
“Having worked in the Hong Kong racing industry for over two decades, I’m passionate about supporting local trainers and owners and helping them discover the world-class opportunities Magic Millions has to offer. I look forward to strengthening existing relationships and building new ones as I proudly represent Magic Millions in Hong Kong.”
Farnan double at Rosehill trials
First season sire on fire Farnan enjoyed a trial win double at Rosehill Gardens on Friday morning; the Peter Snowden-trained gelding Johnny swept home late to deny Dashing Windfall (D’Argento) by 0.26l, and in the next heat, the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained colt Iniesta did all the hard work out wide before displaying an impressive turn of foot to clinch a 0.75l win over Nazwah (Capitalist).
Both Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduates, Iniesta is the third foal from six-time winner Nieta (Nicconi), who also placed in the G2 The Shorts, and Johnny is the first foal from Amuri (Zoustar), a half-sister to G3 Chairman’s Stakes winner Thurlow (Sebring) and Listed winner Three Kings (Sebring).
Sydney Cup runners vet results
All the G1 Sydney Cup runners have passed Racing NSW’s pre-race veterinary checks by Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Carly Garling, except Valiant King (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) and Zarir (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) who will be reinspected on Saturday morning. “Dr Garling has advised that Valiant King was initially found to have an issue with its near fore foot which improved with the application of ¾ plates in front. Dr Garling also advised that Zarir was found to be mildly lame in the off-hind leg.” Both are trained by Chris Waller.
Queensland ATA get temporary reprieve
Recently resigned CEO Cameron Partington will return to the Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers Association until a replacement is found. “Basically because of mine and Tony's respect and passion for the industry, and more for our trainers, we couldn't leave them high and dry,” Partington told racenet.com.au.
“We don't want to leave the trainers in the lurch so we said we'll hang in there in the short-term until we find a suitable replacement. It's important for someone to keep the ATA in a strong position because we need to keep working and ensure its business as usual.”
Two slots remain open in The Quokka
With two slots still available in The Quokka, trainer Luke Fernie hopes Bravo Centurion (National Defense {GB}) can find a place after Saturday’s G3 Roma Cup. “We’ve put the visors on him tomorrow to sharpen him up a little bit,” Fernie told racingwa.com.au
“Going forward we will try and find the fence as often as we can. I’d be very surprised if he didn’t find the rail tomorrow. Something would have gone drastically wrong if he didn’t.”
Bravo Centurion | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Te Akau’s juvenile domination to continue
Te Akau Racing have dominated 2-year-old racing in New Zealand, and have two runners in Saturday’s Listed Welcome Stakes with Best Rose (Maurice {Jpn}) and Queen’s Evidence (NZ) (King’s Legacy). “They have travelled down well, they’ve done everything right down there and we’re very lucky to have that base with Hunter (Durrant) and the team, they do a fantastic job,” said co-trainer Sam Bergerson.
“Hopefully these two can run well on Saturday, then potentially go on to the Listed race in a couple of weeks before spelling them. If they are good enough, it sets them up well for those Guineas races as 3-year-olds.”
Unbeaten Saraqael takes on Cornucopia
Dual licence holder Warwick Satherley has only three in work, and one is unbeaten juvenile gelding Saraqael (Flying Artie) who has won all his three starts to date. “I liked the scope of him at the sales and he was a nice cut of a colt and had a good temperament,” Satherley said of the $8000 purchase at the Cornucopia Yearling Sale.
“At the time I didn’t know that much about his breeding. We’ve raced him sparingly with this race in mind and it’s the race we want to win. I was suspended when he won last time and Ryan did a good job filling in.” He is back on board for Saturday.
Second winner for Cool Aza Beel
Savabeel’s first season sire and Group 1 winner Cool Aza Beel (NZ) sired his second winner when 2-year-old gelding Gable won at Geelong. He also has stakes-placed Cobra Club and Cool Archie. Fifth on debut in the Listed Valley Pearl Stakes, Gable won by 0.75l for trainers Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin.
Sold by Newhaven Farm for $50,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Gable was purchased by Baystone Farm who set him for the Inglis Ready To Race Sale but withdrew him. He is the fifth foal and third winner for Herstory (Commands), a city winner of three races.
Around the nation: Friday’s highlights
Friday was busy with eight meetings across Australia. At Port Macquarie, Tassort sired a double with a pair of 3-year-olds being Moroccan Thunder and Cashaway Gold. At Cranbourne’s night meeting 3-year-old gelding No Fooling (Alabama Express) won on debut.
Trainers Tony and Maddysen Sears won the opening race at the Gold Coast’s night meeting with 2-year-old gelding Red Code (Encryption) who was on debut. At Launceston’s night meeting, the first was won by Barry Campbell-trained 2-year-old filly Bright Night (Needs Further) who is raced by Armidale Stud.
Full review undertaken at Gosford
After two meetings were abandoned at the newly renovated Gosford track, Racing NSW undertook a review on Friday. “Following the abandonment of Thursday’s race meeting at Gosford after Race 2 due to a horse slipping past the post, a full review of the track has been undertaken,” said a Racing NSW press release.
“A similar incident occurred at the meeting held on 27 March, albeit in a different section of the track, raising concern among stakeholders and within the broader racing industry. New tracks can present management challenges due to the evolving profile of the sub-turf layers. In this case, it is believed that a hard ‘crust’ layer has developed at the top of the profile, preventing horses from gaining adequate traction in certain areas.
“The proposed remediation plan includes the application of a 5mm topdressing of drainage sand, followed by the use of a soil aggravator - a machine designed to penetrate the track to a depth of up to 100mm and vibrate the soil profile. This minimally invasive process is expected to promote growth and improve safety conditions without damaging the turf.
“A further set of jump-outs is scheduled for Thursday 17 April, and, pending a positive outcome, racing is expected to resume on ANZAC Day and for The Coast Raceday. … The track has already hosted two successful race meetings and three sets of jump-outs without issue, involving over 300 horse movements.”
California Spangle retired
Hong Kong’s triple Group 1 winner California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) has been retired. The winner of 13 of his 34 starts and won the G1 Hong Kong Mile, G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, and the G1 Meydan Al Quoz Sprint (in track record time). “He was a superstar from the very beginning. It was fun training him because there was a lot of happiness and excitement with him,” trainer Tony Cruz told scmp.com.
California Spangle (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He was a record-breaker right from the start in Griffin races at 1000 metres (and) 1200 metres. Then he broke the track record for 1200 metres in Dubai as well. He was such an easy horse to train, too. You could do anything with him. He was a very exciting horse. No matter how fast you wanted to go, he could give it to you.
“Now, it’s the end of the road for him, we’ll keep him healthy and, if he’s allowed to, he can then go to Living Legends in Australia. For the Liang family and myself, he’s had an amazing career.” With earnings of US$3,192,900, HK$77,489,550 (AU$17.1 million), he is one of eight Group 1 winners for Starspangledbanner.
Half-brother to Palace Pier tops Dubai Sale at AED500,000
The Dubai Horses in Training Sale was topped by four-time winner Castle Way (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) on Wednesday.
The bay, a half-brother to Group 1 winner and first-season sire Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}), sold to Abubaker Kadoura for AED500,000 (AU$220,000). A winner of the G3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes in the colours of Godolphin for trainer Charlie Appleby, the 5-year-old gelding is out of Beach Frolic (GB) (Nayef {USA}). He was a 425,000gns (AU$936,000) acquisition by Godolphin out of the Highclere Stud draft during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2021.
Castle Way (GB) | Image courtesy of Godolphin
Second on the buyers' sheet was the Frankel (GB) gelding Kalidasa (GB), who went the way of Paul Ebbs for AED400,000 (AU$177,000). A winner in five starts, the 4-year-old gelding was originally a 2.8 million gns (AU$6.2 million) yearling out of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale. Out of the Watership Down Stud draft, the March foal was out of Group 3 winner and G1 Prix de l'Opera runner-up So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). He was also sold by Godolphin.
More than 700 students attend Career Day at Coolmore Ireland
The inaugural Coolmore Careers Day, in association with Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School, took place in the Fethard Town Park on Thursday, April 10. Students also had the opportunity to visit Coolmore and see the stallion yard at first hand, along with mares and foals in their paddocks.
More than 700 students from 15 post-primary schools across County Tipperary availed of the opportunity to attend the Careers Day, dedicated to bloodstock, farming, tourism, hospitality and associated sectors.
Tom Lynch, farm manager, Coolmore, added, "Each year Coolmore employs numerous apprentices and graduates who cut their teeth working with some of the best in the industry. We wanted to showcase to these students the array of opportunities they have on their doorstep. "We'd love to see this event growing from strength to strength, as a showcase for the much broader farming and bloodstock sector."
