Waller distances himself from letter
Trainer Chris Waller has written a letter to Racing Minister David Harris distancing himself from the Save Rosehill letter to the same minister, which was signed by 27 industry participants, allegedly including Waller, according to the Australian Financial Review. The Save Rosehill website did not include a list of names. “I wish to make it absolutely clear I did not sign any such letter, nor do I support the sentiment it implies. In fact, my views are quite the opposite,” Waller’s current letter contents are being reported by racenet.com.au.
“My greatest concern is that any proposed changes could destabilise the current moment and leave Racing NSW vulnerable at a time when all sports are facing significant challenges.”
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
The letter does discuss the sale of Rosehill, stating, “While I understand the potential of this helping alleviate the housing shortage in Sydney, I question whether it will truly result in affordable housing. More importantly, I question how a comparable track to Rosehill can be rebuilt without losing its critical metropolitan footprint.”
Favourite draws well for G1 Kentucky Derby
Journalism (USA) (Curlin {USA}) was tabbed as the 3-1 morning-line favourite after drawing in a good spot in post position eight for next Saturday's 151st running of the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Regular rider Umberto Rispoli will be at the controls.
The GI Santa Anita Derby winner, an US$825,000 (AU$1.3 million) Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling graduate, is campaigned in partnership by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Robert LaPenta and Lessees Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor. He is trained by Michael McCarthy.
“No complaints,” McCarthy said at the draw. “With a horse like him, he gives you a lot of confidence. I really wouldn't have mattered where he had drawn.”
Godolphin homebred Sovereignty (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}), runner-up in the GI Curlin Florida Derby for Hall of Famer Bill Mott, will exit from post 18. He is the second-choice on the morning-line at 5-1. Sandman (USA) (Tapit {USA}) drew one to the inside of that rival and is the third-choice on the morning-line at 6-1. The GI Arkansas Derby winner and US$1.2 million (AU$1.9 million) OBS March breezer is owned in partnership by D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables and is trained by Mark Casse.
The speedy Bob Baffert-trained duo of champion 2-year-old colt Citizen Bull (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) and Rodriguez (USA) (Authentic {USA}) both drew inside posts. Citizen Bull will exit from the rail while GII Wood Memorial S. winner Rodriguez will break from post four. American Pharoah (USA) with Luxor Café (USA) and Publisher (USA), Curlin (USA) with Grande (USA) and Journalism (USA), and Into Mischief (USA) with Citizen Bull (USA) and Sovereignty (USA) will each be represented by two runners.
Rescheduled ANZAC Mile won by Khafre
Moved from ANZAC Day after Awapuni was abandoned, the Listed ANZAC Mile was won on Sunday at Wanganui by 5-year-old gelding Khafre (American Pharoah {USA}). The Ralph Manning-trained gelding led most of the way for jockey Jasmine Fawcett, holding on to win by 0.3l from Fall For Cindy (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). “He’s gotten better with age, Ralph Manning has done a great job with him as he was a little bit naughty in his younger days. Now, he’s like riding a schoolmaster,” said Fawcett.
Khafre winning the Listed ANZAC Mile | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
The win was his second Listed win this season, having won the Listed Matamata Cup in the spring, and took his career to seven wins from 28 starts with earnings over NZ$240,000. Purchased by his trainer for NZ$155,000 from Phoenix Park at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Khafre is one of two winners for La Dama (High Chaparral {Ire}), a half-sister to G1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner La Bella Diosa (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}), Group 3 winner Solid Billing (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and Listed winner and Group 1-placed Thy (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Wagga carnival to provide some guide to Brisbane
Last year’s Listed Wagga Gold Cup winner Fawkner Park (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) went on to run third in the G1 Doomben Cup and win the G2 The Q22. The two day carnival starts on Thursday. “Without a doubt, competitive racing is always a highlight of our carnival with many of the horses that compete across the two days going on to win more races at a higher level,” Jason Ferrario, Murrumbidgee Turf Club’s CEO, told racingnsw.com.au.
“The near $1 million prizemoney on offer is very attractive and is a wonderful carrot to dangle at owners and trainers. Last year's carnival was a raging success with many attendees hailing the event to be best we’ve staged – there were 9500 in attendance on Gold Cup Day and 3000 on Town Plate Day and we had a record number of marquees and record bar sales.
“All marquees have been booked out again and hospitality sold out very quickly. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are poured into the local economy with accommodation being sold out months in advance.”
Wonder Boy heads to Queensland Guineas
Trainer Jerome Hunter has set Wonder Boy (Cosmic Force) for the G2 Queensland Guineas after he won the Bendigo Guineas last start. “He finally got some black type because he was always knocking on the door,” Hunter told racing.com.
Wonder Boy | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
“Unfortunately, he can’t handle the wet. We missed the Australian Guineas, so this is kind of like Plan B. He is aimed for the Queensland Guineas, and we’ll just see what we do after that with him. He’s pulled up really well (from his Bendigo win) and he’s travelled up excellent (to Sydney).
“He came up with Magarten and we’ve just spent a week up at Rosehill. He’ll leave on Wednesday night and race next Saturday.”
No plans yet for Legacy
Trainer Robbie Griffith isn’t sure which path to take with Saturday’s Group 3-winning juvenile colt Legacy Bound (Ole Kirk). “We haven’t got any plans yet, we want to let him come home and just see how he is,” Griffiths told racing.com on Sunday morning.
“It’s his first racing campaign, so discussions will be had, do we just give him a little break now and just get him ready for the Golden Rose into the Caulfield Guineas, or whilst he’s up and about do we take him up to Queensland for the (BRC) Sires’ into the JJ Atkins?
“They’re the discussions we’ll have, but nothing is in concrete yet. The good thing is when you’re discussing races like that, it’s a good discussion to have.”
Vivid Sun wins on debut
Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman unearthed an exciting 2-year-old filly on Sunday at Ballarat with a 2.25l debut win for Vivid Sun (The Autumn Sun). “She’s a horse we actually bought for most of the Autumn Angel crew last year in the Sydney Easter Sale and she’s been doing everything very easy at home,” syndicator Wylie Dalziel said.
“Moods said it’s a bonus if she wins today, so we’ll take the win. She’ll probably go to the paddock, and we’ll bring her back and we’ve got a nice spring 3-year-old.” Dalziel Racing and Moody Racing purchased Vivid Sun for $200,000 from Arrowfield Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft, and she is the fourth winner from as many to race for Rainbow Song (Jpn) (Zenno Rob Roy {Jpn}) who is a half-sister to G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) winner Rainbow Line (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}).
Debutant juvenile winner in New Zealand
Despite missing the start in her debut race, 2-year-old filly Silver Salute (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) flew home to win on Sunday for trainer Chrissy Bambry. “She is pretty quick, and the whole way along, everyone that has had something to do with her has thought a lot of her,” Bambry said.
“She’s got a lot of growing and maturing to do, so whatever she did today, she was going to benefit from. The plan was to have a good experience and hopefully be running through the line strongly, then head to the paddock and come back for some nice spring 3-year-old races.
Silver Salute (NZ) winning the Egan Racing 2-year-old | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
The third foal of unraced The Grey Lady (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), Silver Salute was purchased by her trainer for NZ$80,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale from Woburn Farm. It is the family of Listed Geelong Classic winner Confrontational (Redoute’s Choice).
Around the nation: Sunday’s highlights
With Port Augusta abandoned in South Australia, there were seven other meetings across Australia. At Seymour, 3-year-old gelding Caleana (Calyx {GB}) won on debut and so did 3-year-old gelding You’re Two Vain (Magnus). Donna Grisedale-trained 3-year-old filly Seymour Stars (Cosmic Force) stayed unbeaten with her second win at Port Macquarie.
Port Macquarie also saw 2-year-old gelding What A Rush (Zousain) win at his third start for trainer Neil Godbolt, coming with jockey Benjamin Osmond for a 1.08l victory. A $4000 weanling purchase, he was on-sold as a yearling via Inglis Digital for $1500 to his trainer.
At Toowoomba, 2-year-old gelding Brave Jet (Brave Smash {Jpn}) won at his second start having placed on debut at Dalby. Purchased by Fenwick Farm for $4000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, he is out of Champagne Jet (Jet Spur). Townsville was the location for the first win of 2-year-old gelding Whiskey River (Invader) who had placed on debut. He was a $26,000 purchase by trainer Clinton Taylor from KBL Thoroughbreds’ Capricornia Sale draft.
At Hobart, 3-year-old gelding Royal Dispatch (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) made it two from two, and the same meeting apprentice jockey Jackson Radley rode a treble.
Jenni decision after Monday gallop
A decision on the next step for Horse Of The Year Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) will be determined after she works on Monday. “We’ll know more after her gallop, but she’s likely to jump-out the week after,” Ciaron Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull told racing.com.
Pride Of Jenni | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She had a course proper gallop on Tuesday at Cranbourne and went really well. Everything’s positive. She had about nine days off at (owner) Tony Ottobre’s farm after the last run just to reset and it’s a nice time between (runs). Her main aim is the Doomben Cup, 2000 metres, Group 1 and after that we will have to see.”
More funding need to finish Munro film
Director David Waddington hopes a matinee screening of Darby McCarthy documentary ‘In a Life Time' will assist with gaining more funding. “This is not the final version of Darby's story,” Waddington told racenet.com.au.
“I'm calling it a biopic. We've still got re-enactments that we need to shoot and we need funding to do that. The time frame (to finish the film) has gone out the window so many times. It's so demoralising, I can tell you. It's all the people that are involved and put in their time and effort – actors, technicians, whatever – and it's been a very difficult road to be on.
“We haven't got any money from Queensland in the production, except for Racing Queensland who were the first cab off the rank. The reason the screening is happening at Cunnamulla is because Darby was born there and rode his first winner as a jockey at age 10 at Thargomindah, which is up the track a bit. I'm hoping something comes from this (in terms of funding for the film) because it's such a positive story.
“I've been making films my whole life and this particular film is all about becoming something from nothing which Darby did. He was an incredible human being.”
Champion Stayer Kyprios resumes with win
While visually making heavy weather of bringing up a third renewal of Navan's Listed Vintage Crop Stakes on Saturday, Ballydoyle's stayer supreme Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is back and at this point still in command of this sphere. “Kyprios just does what he has to do and Ryan was very happy with him, so we're delighted,” Aidan O'Brien said.
“The plan will be to go back to Leopardstown (for the Saval Beg Stakes) and then the Gold Cup. He is just totally relaxed, he's in second gear all the time and he's very classy. Ryan rides him great and he has a big team around him. He's a remarkable horse, he's as enthusiastic as he ever was, he was like that as a 2-year-old as well and his demeanour hasn't changed. It is pure, raw ability with him.”
Salsabil Stakes to Australia filly
Relishing a mix of an easy lead and aggressive home-straight tactics in Navan's G3 Salsabil Stakes, 3-year-old filly Wemightakedlongway (Ire) (Australia {GB}) led at every step to dominate this Classic trial. Fifth taking on the colts in Leopardstown's G3 Ballysax Stakes over this 10-furlong trip earlier this month, the 15-2 shot who races for E S Racing and Joseph O'Brien was able to saunter along for Dylan Browne McMonagle before being the pedal was pushed to the floor three out. Catalina Delcarpio (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who was asked too much of a question and wound up 2.75l away in second. Ballydoyle's second-string Island Hopping (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) wound up 3.75l away in third.
“Wemightakedlongway is a good filly and I thought her last run finishing behind Delacroix was really good for a first run back,” O'Brien said. “We were looking at going to Chester but, when the drop of rain came, decided to come here and she has won impressively. The G1 Pretty Polly is the race we are really building towards–she is out of a No Nay Never mare, so she just wouldn't be guaranteed to go a mile and four furlongs. We will see whether we look at Epsom or whether we look at something else before the Pretty Polly.”
Upset in Royal Heroine
In a surprising turn of events where none of the betting favourites finished better than seventh, Public Assembly (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}) gathered the rest and led home a pair of double-digit choices to score her first black-type in the G3 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita.
Co-Owner Bing Bush of Abbondanza Racing said, “Phil and his barn have done a wonderful job with her. After she won her last race, we were kind of thinking that she might want to go a little bit longer, but Phil said, 'You know what? I think a mile will suit her just great.' We thought we would give it a try and my gosh, I think she can go the distance and get a mile. I just can't believe it I am so excited.”
Public Assembly is by the late great More Than Ready, who was a worldwide phenomenon as a stallion with champions on both hemispheres and 232 stakes winners. His prowess extended beyond just being a sire, but he's also counted as a sire of sires and leading broodmare sire.
New sale topper for Horses of Racing Age Sale at Keeneland
Listed Excelsior Stakes-placed Masmak (USA) (Vino Rosso {USA}), consigned by ELiTE as agent, was sold for US$375,000 (AU$587,000) after the conclusion of the Keeneland April Selected Horses of Racing Age sale, and is officially the auction topper, Keeneland announced on Saturday afternoon.
Changing hands to Cromwell Bloodstock, the chestnut is out of stakes placed Nite In Rome (USA) (Harlan's Holiday {USA}), making him a half-brother to stakes winners Three Technique (USA) (Mr Speaker {USA}) and Stan the Man (USA) (Broken Vow {USA}).
