First Group 1 winner for Admire Mars
Arrowfield shuttle stallion Admire Mars (Jpn) scored his first Group 1 winner when 3-year-old filly Embroidery (Jpn) won Sunday’s G1 Hanshin Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas). Ridden by Joao Moreira, she won in 1.33.1 over the mile journey, and is now four wins from six starts.
She won the G3 Hai Queen Cup last start and is trained by Kazutomo Mori for Silk Racing. Champion 2YO Colt in Japan Admire Mars was a Group 1 winner at two and three. He has two stakes winners in Japan from his first crop who are currently 3-year-olds, and his oldest crop in Australia are juveniles.
Embroidery is the second foal of Listed Hanshin Wasurenagusa Sho winner Rottenmeier (Jpn) (Kurofune {Jpn}), whose dam Adelheid (Jpn) (Agnes Tachyon {Jpn}) is spectacularly well bred, being a daughter of Champion 2YO Filly in Japan in 1995 Biwa Heidi (Jpn) (Caerleon {USA}), dam of six stakes winners led by Horse of the Year in Japan in 2010 Buena Vista (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}), and Champion 2YO Filly in Japan in 2011 Joie De Vivre (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
Champagne for Ryan’s Spectacular
Trainer Sara Ryan will run 2-year-old colt Is It Spectacular (Dundeel {NZ}) in Saturday’s G1 Champagne Stakes as a lead up for the G1 JJ Atkins Plate. “The goal would be to go to the Champagne because it looks like it is going to have lower numbers than it might usually have,” Ryan told racenet.com.au.
Is It Spectacular | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“We will go there. I absolutely love this horse. The JJ Atkins will be the main goal with him and this has probably come up a little bit sooner than I would like but we will give it a go.” He is a winner from two starts.
Magic Time form perfect for All-Aged repeat
Trainer Grahame Begg thinks the run of Magic Time (Hellbent) in the G1 TJ Smith was a mirror of her run last year heading into victory in the G1 All-Aged Stakes. “It was rinse and repeat,” Begg said of the mare’s past two TJ Smith Stakes runs.
“It was almost the same margin she got beaten last year and she drew barrier one. It was exactly the same scenario. I’m very happy with the way she has come through the race, so I’m looking forward to next week. It’s going to be a very good field once again.”
Lane suspended for Oaks win
Jockey Damian Lane was handed a two-week suspension and fined $10,000 for a whip offence aboard Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) in Saturday’s G1 Australian Oaks. It was his second offence in as many weeks.
Damian Lane | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
He chose to start the suspension immediately which allows him to ride at Hong Kong’s Champions Day. Tommy Berry was also given a six-meeting suspension for careless riding on Athabascan (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) in the G1 Sydney Cup. “It's school holidays so if you can get me back as soon as you can that would be great,” Berry reportedly told Stewards, according to racenet.com.au.
Anzac or Adelaide for Legacy
Trainer Robbie Griffiths will nominate 2-year-old gelding Legacy Bound (Ole Kirk) for the Listed Anzac Day Stakes in 10 days after he won at Ballarat on debut last Wednesday. “He'll (also) be nominated in Adelaide the next day (in the G3 Breeders' Stakes) but we're pretty keen on staying home and going to Flemington because Ole Kirk was terrific at 1600 metres when he won the Guineas, so he's got the genetics to be a really nice miler,” Griffiths told racing.com.
Robbie Griffiths | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“So I think that's a natural progression to go to Flemington over the 1400 metres. If all goes well at home that would be a nice stepping stone for him.”
Return trip to Adelaide for Petit Artiste
Trainer Amy Yargi is contemplating a return trip to Adelaide for Listed Without Fear Stakes-winning 2-year-old filly Petit Artiste (Earthlight {Ire}). “We are really proud of our horse and of our achievement. Paying $15,000 for a yearling and turning her into a stakes-winning 2-year-old is something we are exceptionally proud of,” Yargi told racing.com.
“We’ll see how she pulls up first, but potentially may head back over to Adelaide. There is a couple of other G3 options for her. She ate up last night and is currently enroute back to Mornington.”
Feroce set for Golden Eagle
Trainer Dom Sutton will set G1 Australian Guineas winner Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) for next spring’s Golden Eagle. “He went to the paddock last week. He's going to have a really nice break and try to get some good weather before it turns against us in Victoria,” Sutton told racing.com.
Feroce (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“His grand target will be the Golden Eagle (in the spring). I'll keep him at a mile for his spring 4-year-old campaign and there's a few nice races on the calendar for him.”
New winner for Hello Youmzain
Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain (Fr) enjoyed his fifth Southern Hemisphere winner when Darryn and Briar Weatherley-trained Bulgari (NZ) won on debut on Sunday at Te Rapa.
Sold by Jamieson Park for NZ$220,000 to Weatherley Bloodstock at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Bulgari is the fourth foal and second winner for Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes-placed O’Naturelle (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), a daughter of G2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes winner Naturo (NZ) (Postponed {USA}), making O'Naturelle a half-sister to La Vitesse (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), the dam of Group 1 winner Pier (NZ) (Proisir) and Group 3 winner Maria Farina (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}).
Midnight Edition set for redemption after victory
A win on Sunday at Te Rapa has 3-year-old gelding Midnight Edition (NZ) (Wrote {Ire})’s trainer Bruce Wallbank setting him for Group class redemption in the upcoming G3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes on April 27. “He’s a very good horse, people don’t realise how good he is,” Wallbank told Loveracing.nz.
Midnight Edition (NZ) (red cap) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“We’re setting him for the Group 3 and that’s what we want to win. He’s had one gallop since his last race so that’s not too bad is it? We always give him a week or 10 days off, but he’s tightened up now and they’ll know he’s in the race next week. (After the Breeders), he’ll be turned out for six weeks, then look out for him next year.”
Darn Hot Lady resumes with win
Second in The Debut on debut, Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean-trained 2-year-old filly Darn Hot Lady (Too Darn Hot {GB}) resumed with a win on Sunday at the Sunshine Coast. Ridden by Kyle Wilson-Taylor, she won by 2l. Purchased by Toby Edmonds for $140,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Eureka Stud, she has earnings over $100,000 for her two raceday starts.
From the second crop of Too Darn Hot (GB) who returns for 2025, she is one of three winners for Lightfeet Lady (Lion Heart {USA}) who won 11 races and is from the family of Group 1 winner Rebel Raider (Reset).
Russian Revolution quinella at Wagga Wagga
The first race at Murrumbidgee on Sunday was for 2-year-olds and was quinelled by Russian Revolution pair gelding Deekaygeebee and filly Cherry Jubilee with Judith’s Revenge (Brutal {NZ}) in third. Craig Widdison-trained Deekaygeebee won by 1.9l for jockey Nick Souquet.
Purchased at the Capricornia Yearling Sale for $25,000 from Stewart Park Stud, Deekaygeebee was having his second start. He is the first foal of winning mare Dip Dye (Sebring).
Capitalist filly wins at Terang
Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) won the first at Terang with 2-year-old filly All Pink (Capitalist) who had run fourth on debut last start. Ridden by Dean Yendell, she stormed to an impressive 4.75l victory. Purchased from Fernrigg Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $100,000 by Roll The Dice Racing and Rogers Bloodstock, All Pink is out of Metza (Jet Spur) who is a winning half-sister to Group 1 winner Linton (Galileo {Ire}).
Antino heads to Doomben Cup
Trainer Tony Gollan isn’t worried about running Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) against Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in the G1 Doomben Cup on May 24. “He's used to running against Pride Of Jenni,” Gollan told racenet.com.au.
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“At her best she's a very talented mare. We ran against her quite a lot last spring. He sort of enjoys races where she builds that pressure. There was no real negative for me hearing that she's coming up here (to Queensland). She's a welcome addition to our carnival. Fortunately our bloke is used to racing against her but some horses who aren't might find it a bit more difficult.”
Racing Queensland resolves KOTM issue
After a review into the five wet weather scratchings from the King Of The Mountain race, Racing Queensland has decided to allocate last-place money to slot holder Mike Sherrin. “RQ has agreed to pay the last-place prizemoney ($10,000) which Mike has accepted and is satisfied with the outcome,” RQ's acting chief executive Lachlan Murray told racenet.com.au on Sunday.
“RQ has undertaken a review of the King Of The Mountain and identified a number of improvements to slot races going forward, one of which is entitling slot holders to last-place prizemoney if their horse is scratched for a reason other than having a veterinary certificate.”
Sherrin’s choice Boston Rocks (Hellbent) was scratched without a veterinary certificate, due to the downgraded track, leaving Sherrin without the option to replace him with another runner.
Singapore Derby winner to run on Good Friday
The Country Discovery at Echuca on Good Friday will feature 2023 Listed Singapore Derby winner Golden Monkey (Star Turn). “I have been really happy with his couple of jumpouts and we will run him in the Country Discovery on Good Friday,” trainer Tim Fitzsimmons told racing.com.
“It will probably be too short for him over 1000 metres, but it's a nice stepping point and then we will plot out some races. The Wagga Town Plate will be a nice race for him as well.” Golden Monkey had five starts in Australia for three placings as a young horse, before heading to Singapore where he has won eight times, four times at Listed level.
Albury Cup new date to suit Bianco Vilano
Albury trainer Ron Stubbs will have nine runners at the rescheduled Albury Cup day on Thursday, led by Cup runner Bianco Vilano (Foxwedge). “He travelled well in the run then finished very strongly to win that race,” Stubbs told racingnsw.com.au of his last start.
“This will be his first go beyond that distance over the 2000 metres of the Cup, but he travelled well and looks like he’ll handle the extra distance although there’s always the question mark.”
Southern Alps winner aimed at black type next
On a busy Saturday, the second running of the Southern Alps Challenge occurred at Riccarton. The NZ$350,000 event was established last season by Entain and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and is restricted to trainers who operate a stable in the South Island. This year’s victor was Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Third Decree (NZ) (War Decree {USA}. “She’s always had a performance like that in her,” Matthew Pitman told Loveracing.nz on Sunday.
Third Decree (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ajay Berry (Race Images South)
“She’s placed at Group 3 and Listed level and won quite a lot of races, but until now she’d just never quite managed to get over the hurdle of winning a big one. It was really good to see her do that in a $350,000 race. … a race like the Great Easter Stakes back here in a couple of weeks might be right up her alley. We’d love to pick up a black-type win with her.”
Five horse incident in Dubai
Racing at Abu Dhabi was abandoned after an incident involving five horses in the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship, the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) announced on Saturday afternoon. The race was the seventh of eight on the program and won by Stormy Ocean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) with Sam Hitchcott aboard for trainer Ahmad bin Harmash.
The incident occurred near the 900 metre mark, with five jockeys being unseated from their mounts. Jockeys Tadhg O'Shea, Richard Mullen and Qais Al Busaidi were sent to the hospital to be evaluated, while Silvestre de Sousa and Marcelino Rodrigues, were cleared of any serious injury. Sense Of Wisdom (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), the mount of O'Shea, was euthanised.
Afterward, stewards conducted a track inspection with a representative of the ADTC, paying particular attention to the track at the 900 metres. The eighth and final race on the card was abandoned after they concluded their inspection.
