Daily News | 8th April 2020

• NEW Soft Track "No Concern" for Danon Premium

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  After Japanese raider Kluger chased home Winx in her third consecutive Gr1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) last year, it’s only natural that fellow Japanese raider Danon Premium is among the most talked about challengers for this year’s Sydney weight-for-age contest. But, according to many form students, that’s where the comparisons stop as Kluger wouldn’t get within cooee of Danon Premium whose formlines are around Almond Eye and Lys Gracieux. Any concerns about wet weather, and a consequent soft/heavy track, in the lead-up to Saturday’s race have been shrugged off by connections of the son of ill-fated champion sire Deep Impact. According to racingnsw.com.au, Danon Premium (see beow, green cap) is officially yet to race on anything other than good to firm, however Teruhiko Saruhashi, trackwork rider and assistant trainer to Mitsumasa Nakauchida, advised via a translator, “It’s not a massive concern at this point for a soft track. He has run well and won in Japan on rain affected tracks. Of course if you were going to ask which we would prefer, yes we would like a drier or firmer track.” Danon Premium is the outright $3.80 favourite.

• NEW A Glimmer of Hope for 2020 Royal Ascot

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  Following the widely reported news that both the UK’s May’s Guineas festival and June’s Epsom Derby meeting are facing inevitable delayed schedules, there is a glimmer of hope that the time-honoured Royal Ascot meeting will proceed. The bad news is that even if it does, it will be behind closed doors where top hats and tails and haute coutere (see below for last year’s suggested styles) will be conspicuous by their absence. According to theguardian.com, following the Royal Ascot announcement, spokesman Nick Smith batted away any negative talk about racing without any crowds for the first time in the track’s deep history. “A lot of these races need to be run if we can. We are a racecourse, that is our raison d’etre.” Smith insisted Ascot’s staff are upbeat at the opportunity to race at all should it proceed, saying, “At least we have the aspiration to run the races and deliver something for the industry. The mood is pretty positive, actually.” As to the inevitable question mark over purses, he acknowledged, “There will clearly be a material impact on prize money. That’s the reality for, I think, all races that are going to be run this year. That’s the landscape we’ll have to operate in. But it is better, I’m sure, to run the Pattern races for the good of the breed and the breeding industry, for TV and betting, than not to run the races at all. We’ll do our best but material prize money reductions will be inevitable.”

• History Made At Inglis Easter Yearling Sale

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  One of the most monumental days in Inglis’ very long history saw three yearlings realise $1 million or more in the first ever Easter Sale void of horses and people. With Coronavirus-enforced restrictions meaning the sale had to take on a virtual format, buyers logged in from around the world to ensure they did not miss out on the best yearlings the southern hemisphere has to offer. The Day 1 equal top lots were a Zoustar x Solar Charged colt (lot 212) from Widden Stud purchased by Hawkes Racing and a So You Think x Pinocchio colt from Tyreel Stud (lot 134) which sold to Boniface Ho’s Legend Racing – who also races the colt’s half brother Classique Legend. The pair both sold for $1.1m – see further individual information in items further down.

  

• 2020 Inglis Easter Day 1: Average $306,957

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  At the end of Day 1 of the 2020 sale, the Easter average sat at $306,957 with a median of $250,000. “It’s been one of the most extraordinary days on the job for me as Managing Director, to oversee Day 1 of an Easter Sale with no horses and no people, it’s certainly something out of the box,’ Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said. “Our website traffic figures have been quite phenomenal – we have had people watching our Sale Day Live coverage from 99 different countries on six continents around the world and buyers coming from all across the globe as well, as well as almost 150,000 visitors to the website today alone.” Webster noted, “That side of things has been very satisfying because our vendors put in a tremendous amount of work under arguably some of the most challenging conditions of their lives and to be able to even conduct a sale under the circumstances for them has been a great team effort. Looking back on it, it’s been a very good start to a sale under very challenging conditions for everybody in our industry.” To make an offer on any Passed In lot from today, CLICK HERE. Lots 258-514 have been catalogued for the second and final day of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, which begins online at inglis.com.au on Wednesday at 10am.

• Widden Sells $1.1 million Zoustar Colt

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  Widden Stud's in-demand stallion Zoustar has an obvious affinity with Charge Forward mare Solar Charged, the son of Northern Meteor having sired two Group winners out of her. Although Sisstar is an exciting Group class sprinter in her own right, full-sister Sunlight is something pretty special having being crowned Champion 3YO Filly in Australia off the back of winning three leading Gr1 sprints that followed a 2YO season where she won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and also placed in the Gr1 Golden Slipper. Provided with an opportunity to buy a full-brother to the duo at 2020 Inglis Easter, buyers were all over Lot 212, with Team Hawkes winning out at a session-topping $1.1 million, also shared by Lot 134.

• Tyreel Sells $1.1 million So You Think Colt

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  In a period of life where there are few certainties, it seemed an almost given that Hong Kong would have the last say on the So You Think-Pinocchio colt at 2020’s opening session of the Inglis Easter Sale. The striking grey, Lot 134, is a half-brother to one of Hong Kong’s hottest commodities in Aethero (Sebring), the John Moore-trained record-breaking sprinter. If that’s not enough, their other half-brother Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) is one of Australia’s best sprinters who is owned by Hong Kong’s Boniface Ho. Pinocchio is a full-sister to 5-time Gr1 winner Racing To Win and a half-sister to Gr3 winner Purrealist. The result through the virtual sales ring was a relaxed loose-walking colt plenty of people wanted, but Ho's Legend Racing wanted him most, outlaying $1.1 million.

• $1 Million Not Enough for Winx Relation

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  A much admired colt closely related to multiple champion mare Winx was the subject of a key bidding duel on Day 1 of the 2020 Inglis Easter Sale, which is being staged at Riverside Stables for the first time without horses present. When the bidding stopped at $1 million the I Am Invincible colt looked certain to be the first seven figure sale of the session, however vendor Bhima Thoroughbreds – selling as agent – turned the offer down. The BOBS-eligible colt is out of Miss Atom Bomb, an unraced Encosta de Lago half-sister to the incomparable Winx and also to Gr3 winner El Divino. Miss Atom Bomb’s first foal, Nuclear Blitz, is a 1000m winner who just missed out on placing in the Listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington last season.

  

  Lot 65, the I Am Invincible-Miss Atom Bomb colt (pic: inglis.com.au)

• An Even Million for Srikandi Yearling

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  The highest priced filly on Day 1 of the 2020 Inglis Easter Sale was sold by Kitchwin Hills as agent for $1 million. Lot 223, one of ten I Am Invincible progeny to command between $450,000 to $1 million, the yearling is the second foal of the highly respected performer Srikandi. By Darley's champion sire Dubawi, Srikandi's record is imposing: 9 wins including four at Group level that numbered the Gr1 Stradbroke Handicap and Gr1 Tattersalls Tiara among them. Added to that were another 3 placings, including the Gr1 Stradbroke and Gr1 Manikato Stakes – all from just 15 starts! Her first foal, a Snitzel filly called Heroess, looks promising. Following in the footsteps of today's popular filly, Srikandi's second, is another filly, this time by US Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

• $600k Knocked Back for Loving Gaby Sister

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  One of the expected highlight lots on Day 1 of the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale has been passed in. Bidding for Lot 49, a Sebring half-sister to uber-talented 3YO filly Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible), stopped at $600,000, a figure which would have topped the sale to that point, however vendor Kia Ora Stud who, with Alan Bell, sold their high profile dam Maastricht at last year’s The Chairman’s Sale for over $2 million, believe she is worth more than that and declined the offer. If she turns out to be anywhere as good as Loving Gaby, winner of $2.28 million from victories in the Gr1 William Reid Stakes and Gr1 Manikato Stakes in addition to another five Gr1 placings, then their reticence to sell will be justified.

• I Am Invincible Filly First Past $500,000

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  On the opening day of the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, a filly by Yarraman Park Stud stallion I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit-Cannarelle, by Canny Lad) was knocked for $520,000 to the bid of bloodstock Andrew Williams. From the family of high-priced broodmare Virage de Fortune, winner of the QTC Gr1 Sires Produce Stakes and Gr1 Australia Stakes at The Valley, the August yearling’s winning Redoute’s Choice dam Lorna May was placed in the Listed Canberra Guineas and is a half-sister to Listed Keith Nolan Stakes winner Slapstick. The resulting filly (pictured) offered by Yarraman Park carries a double cross of breed influence Canny Lad.

  

  $520,000 I Am Invincible-Lorna May filly (pic: inglis.com.au)

• Nettoyer Searchng For Further Gr1 Success

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  Last weekend's Gr1 Doncaster Handicap heroine Nettoyer (Sebring) will have the chance to back up her scintilating performance. Trainer Wendy Roche has accepted with the underrated 6YO mare for the Gr1 Coolmore Legacy Stakes on Day 2 of The Championships at Royal Randwick (1600m). Although she has drawn favourably, Nettoyer is likely to find her next assignment a totally different kettle of fish after carrying a 51.5kg feather-weight to victory uner Jamie Innes. On Saturday, where she'll be piloted by Glen Boss, Nettoyer will be one of a stellar mares to lump 57kg, the only exception – and she's a big exception – being sensational 3YO filly Funstar who has the services of James McDonald and is weighted on 54.5kg. The latter is sticking to the shorter distance instead of tackling the Gr1 Oaks (2400m) after failing to run out the 2000m in the Gr1 Vinery Stud Stakes.

• Warwick Farm Double Play for Petagna

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is looking forward to lining up a pair of runners for New Zealand owner Lib Petagna at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. According to NZ Racing Desk, promising 3YO Savabeel filly Sorrentina will have her first start for the stable in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1200m).  Sorrentina was a stakes performer in New Zealand for former trainer Stephen Marsh after placing on debut in the Listed The O'Leary's Fillies Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui. She went on to win over 1300m on a Heavy10 surface at Ellerslie and finished unplaced in the Gr3 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m). Meanwhile, dual New Zealand stakes winner Peaceful will have her second run for the stable in the Ranvet Salkavite Handicap (1200m) and Lees is expecting an improved performance from her debut run in Australia. Peaceful won the Listed Futurity Stakes (1400m) and Listed The O'Leary's Fillies Stakes (1200m) for former trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, and Lees is hoping both Peaceful and Sorrentina can work their way to stakes level in Australia "We are hoping to get them to stakes level here," he said. "That will certainly help enhance their value down the track. They are on the right path, but they still have a way to go."

• Melbourne Cup Winner $17 for Queen Elizabeth

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare has been priced at $17 after acceptances and barriers were released on Tuesday for Saturday’s Gr1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Worth $2 million after The Championships prizemoney was reduced by half, the draw for the prestigious 2000m weight-for-age event was kind to the Danny O’Brien-trained son of Declaration of War who finds himself in the middle half of the 13-horse final field. Japan’s Danon Premium is slowly edging his way towards outright favouritism – just a few ticks ahead of UK raider Addeybb at $4.00. Also well found are Te Akau Shark ($5.00), Verry Elleegant ($6.00) and Master of Wine ($9.00) in an exciting race renewal that sees Melody Belle at a barely believable $13. The past three runnings of the Queen Elizabeth all fell to champion Winx.

  

  Vow and Declare is on the seventh line of betting (pic: Steve Hart)

• Miss Sharapova A Shrewd Investment

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  Doubtland (Not a Single Doubt-Miss Sharapova) stamped himself as a colt with a very bright future after toying with his rivals in the Gr3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick last Saturday. The unbeaten $1.1 million Inglis Easter purchase by Orbis Bloodstock is out of Gr1-performed Miss Sharapova (Ustinov) who was trained by Ken and Bev Kelso in New Zealand. “We paid $8,000 for her as a yearling at Karaka,” Ken Kelso told NZ Racing Desk. “She was by Ustinov, who was quite unfashionable at the time. Her younger half-sister is Australian Gr2 winner Villa Verde, who was Gr1-placed placed, so that alone enhanced her value. We sold her through Dean Hawthorne (bloodstock agent) to Arrowfield Stud and Jonathan Munz. Dean put a price to us which we were quite happy to take.” Miss Sharapova’s first foal was the Listed winner Pretty Fast, a full-sister to Doubtland and also a high-priced yearling. In fact, Miss Sharapova’s progeny have been sales ring stars to date, with her first four yearlings making A$650,000 (Pretty Fast, by Not A Single Doubt), A$320,000 (Newstead, by Not A Single Doubt), A$900,000 (unnamed Snitzel colt) and A$1.1 million (Doubtland, by Not A Single Doubt). From the family of Rory’s Jester and Ha Ha, Miss Sharapova also has a Shalaa yearling filly and a Snitzel weanling colt. She was served last year by Dundeel.

  

  Quality producer Miss Sharapova (pic: Trish Dunell)

• Chau Returning to Ride in Hong Kong

  Wednesday, 8th April 2020
  Apprentice jockey Jerry Chau will return from South Australia to Hong Kong after being granted permission to ride by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). Chau, who arrived in SA in early 2019 and has ridden 62 winners this season, will ride in Hong Kong – pending a satisfactory mandatory medical examination – until the end of the 2019/20 season. The HKJC Licensing Committee said Chau’s licence to ride would commence “on a date to be fixed”. The Committee said in a statement: “It is anticipated that Apprentice Chau will commence riding in races at the conclusion of a mandatory period of isolation upon his return to Hong Kong from Australia in the coming days. Chau was indentured to the local training team of Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas and has ridden in a handful of Black Type events during his successful South Australian stay.