Daily News | 20th August 2019

• Gold Coast Raid Snares Positive Track Riders

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  A Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Integrity Investigations Team (IIT) track work operation at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Monday morning has resulted in five track riders testing positive in preliminary testing for prohibited substances. The operation involved the testing of 52 people including track work riders and jockeys. IIT staff also identified four people who were unlicensed to ride. One licensed racing industry participant failed to provide a sample for testing and was stood down immediately and another participant who returned a preliminary positive test for cannabis was also stood down and both will appear at soon to be scheduled Steward's inquiries. Two licensed riders returned preliminary positive tests for opiates and two more returned positive tests for Benzodiazepine. All preliminary tests will be sent to a laboratory for confirmation. The trainers who have employed unlicensed track riders will also be referred to the Stewards. Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said no notice testing could occur at any time and participants should ensure they are free of prohibited substances for the safety of animals and other participants.

• Significant Turn Out for Aquis Vic Open Day

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  Aquis Farm has reported that its debut Victorian Stallion parade, held at its recently set up farm at Seymour, was a a resounding success. Despite inclement weather conditions, the stud welcomed over 300 local breeders and clients to view exciting first-season sires Lean Mean Machine and Siege Of Quebec, and Aquis CEO Shane McGrath reaffirmed their commitment to the Victorian Breeding industry and the decision to extend the stud in the south. "If the support we experienced by those who attended the parade is anything to go by, then our decision to set up our local farm at Seymour is clearly the right one," he stated. "We've carefully selected two outstanding stallion prospects which we felt would suit the local industry and we've been overwhelmed by the support that both [stallions] have received… Lean Mean Machine has appealed from the day he was announced, while Siege Of Quebec, who finished his career with an excellent third in the Gr1 All Aged Stakes is a stunningly conformed individual and once breeders have inspected him, they're suitably impressed." The Aquis parades will continue this weekend in the Hunter Valley where Aquis' six-strong NSW team will be headlined by dual Gr1-winning sprinter Brave Smash and the Gr2 Skyline Stakes-winning juvenile Santos. Friday's parades start at 9.30am and 3.00pm, whilst both Saturday's and Sunday's parades start at 8.30am.

  

  Brave Smash will be paraded this weekend in NSW (pic: Mark Gatt)

• Pearce Bros Prepare To Send Spice East

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  Smart WA sprinter Essential Spice (Gingerbread Man-Falls County, by Soldier's Tale) recorded an impressive third straight win for trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce on Saturday, bolting home from last over 1000m at Belmont Park, and in doing so earned her place in their Melbourne Spring Carnival draft, due to fly over in September. "If she stays in Perth, there aren't as many options for her," Ben Pearce told The West Australian. "I think she's definitely up to it. She's running good sectionals and Dan reckons her work last Tuesday was the best he's seen at our stable for years." The Karnup-based brothers will set up base temporarily at Jason Warren's Mornington stables, with a view to making the trip a regular assault. "We'll dip our toes in the water and if it works, we can look at doing each Spring and Autumn carnival," Pearce said. 4YO Essential Spice will join Angelic Ruler, Vital Silver and Pushin' Shapes in the Pearces' interstate team.

• The Oaks Stud Implements A Change of Tack

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  Dick Karreman, owner of Cambridge's prodigious producer The Oaks Stud, is testing a change of tack with some emerging youngsters, turning down a 7-figure offer for a trio of 3YO geldings by Oaks stallion Darci Brahma (DB). "Dick said he just wants to have some fun racing good horses," Rick Williams, The Oaks Stud's General Manager told NZ Racing Desk. "These three geldings we kept are showing what the best horses we've had in the past have shown me. I know they are all up to competing in stakes races then we'll find out how good they are." Catalyst (DB-Evana, by Entrepreneur), Double Impact (DB-Double Image, by Stravinsky) and Darci's Tune (DB-So Lyrical, by Pivotal) trained by Clayton Chipperfield, Brendon Hawtin and Ballarat-based Patrick Payne respectively, have all been impressive in their pre-racing campaigns; Catalyst followed three trial wins with a 5.5-length maiden victory at New Plymouth in May and is being set for the Listed El Roca–Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings on August 31. Double Impact, unbeaten in two trials, will debut at Taupo on Wednesday in over 1100m, and Darci's Tune earned his place in the Oaks Stud Australian team with a smart second when trialling at Te Teko in June. "We've got five horses in Australia at the moment and we'll be looking to send more," Williams said. "Dick has stuck loyal to New Zealand racing, but there needs to be some major changes in the next 12 months. New Zealand racing can't carry on like it is."

  

  Dick Karreman's silks will be carried by a trio of exciting geldings (pic: theoaksstud.co.nz)

• Nakeeta Jane Likely Out For the Spring

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  Trainer Mark Newnham’s superb mare, Nakeeta Jane (So You Think-Lustre Lady, by Flying Spur) is unlikely to play a role in the Spring Carnivals, reports racenet.com.au. Set to have a her first start of the new season in Saturday’s Gr3 Show County Quality at Randwick, her name was missing when nominations were posted, with Newnham confirming: “She pulled up sore after galloping on the course proper this morning at Warwick Farm and we are still waiting on a report from the X-ray to her fetlock but I would say more than likely she is out for the spring.” He added, “We will talk with the owners and decide whether she has a go next autumn or goes to stud. We will find out but we will be more likely swayed by what the vet report says." Nakeeta Jane, who been trialling strongly, was hugely prominent as a 3YO last season, winning the Gr1 Surround Stakes and placing in both the Gr1 Flight Stakes and against the colts in the Gr1 Randwick Guineas.

• Graff’s 2019 The Everest Claim Still Possible

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  Powerful 4YO entire Graff was one of last year’s fancies for The Everest where he represented slot-holder Max Whitby, and while he didn’t win, his fifth placing puts him right up there as one of the best 1200m sprinters in the country. At this point, still without a slot suitor for 2019’s renewal of the world’s richest turf sprint, Graff put his credentials out for all to see when a dashing trial winner at Newcastle on Monday morning over 900m. Clocking 55.55 sec, with a 34.26 sec last 600m sectional, the son of Star Witness was 1.5-lengths clear of his Kris Lees stablemate In Her Time who already holds a slot for The Everest. He’ll get a chance to draw the spotlight back when he contests the Gr3 Concorde Stakes in early September.

  

  Graff was superb in his trial heat (pic: Steve Hart)

• Catalogue Released for MM 2YOs In Training Sale

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  The quality packed catalogue for Australia's best producing breeze-up style auction, the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale, is now online. To be held at the Gold Coast Sales Complex on October 14 and 15, the sale features 269 exciting prospects (plus supplementaries) with buyers looking to secure their next stakes-winning star. "This is a 2YO sale with proven stakes results for buyers," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "From the last seven editions of the sale 54 stakes-performers have emerged." Recent graduates of the sale include recent Australian carnival stars Tyzone and Victorem, stakes-winning filly Krone and Singapore stars Top Knight, Lim's Lightning and this season's Aushorse Golden Horseshoe Series star Rocket Star. In a boost for buyers 186 lots are BOBS Eligible, 61 are nominated to the Magic Millions Race Series, 12 are nominated for the Golden Slipper, 11 for the Blue Diamond Stakes and 32 lots are QTIS Fully Paid. Some 24 lots are Super VOBIS Nominated. Youngsters will breeze at one of four sessions across three states in the lead up to the auction giving prospective buyers a great chance to see each lot gallop on a similar surface; all breeze-up sessions will be streamed live via the Magic Millions website and all completed breeze footage will be online soon thereafter. The catalogue for the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale is now available for download via the Equineline iPad app and can also be viewed online by clicking here.

  

  MM 2YOs In Training graduate Krone (pic: Steve Hart)

• 2019 Ready2Race Catalogue Released

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  The 2019 renewal of the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, to be held at Riverside Stables on Tuesday October 22, has attracted a strong catalogue of 191 2YOs. The catalogue, which is now available online, features juveniles by leading stallions such as I Am Invincible, Zoustar, Not A Single Doubt, Written Tycoon, Dundeel, Medaglia d’Oro, More Than Ready, Hinchinbrook, Nicconi, So You Think, Starcraft, Tavistock, Spirit Of Boom, Deep Field, Rubick, Shooting To Win, Better Than Ready, Brazen Beau and Holy Roman Emperor amongst others. Of the entries, 129 are BOBS-eligible and 27 are VOBIS-nominated, while a number are entered for the Inglis Race Series – those that are not, are still eligible to pay up – as well as the G1 Golden Slipper and the G1 Blue Diamond. “We really are delighted with how the catalogue has come together, with it featuring offerings from a number of the very best horsepeople in Australia and New Zealand who are experts in the development and management of young racing stock” said Inglis’ General Manager of Bloodstock Sales, Sebastian Hutch. Inglis is again teaming up with Racing NSW, with the Ready2Race Sale to take place three days after the running of the $14m The Everest at Royal Randwick. Hard copies of the Inglis Ready2Race catalogue will be available within the next fortnight.

• 2019 Inglis Ready2Race Key Lots

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  Among the 2019 Inglis Ready2Race catalogue released on Monday (see above general information), some key lots include:
  • Proisir x Miss Zapper – A half-brother to last season’s dual G1 winning 2YO Yourdeel by high-class miler Proisir.
  • I Am Invincible x Fashion – This colt is out of a stakes-performed Encosta de Lago mare.
  • Reliable Man x Quality Dream – A full-brother to stakes-winning, Gr1-placed miler Hypnos.
  • Hallowed Crown x Gladwell – This colt is a half-brother to Hong Kong rising star Buddies, a multiple winner last season.
  • Medaglia d’Oro x Plausible – Closely related to The Everest contender Classique Legend and Hong Kong promising star Aethero.
  • Stratum x Ausbred Friend – This colt is out of a half-sister to multiple Gr1-winning Hong Kong superstar Able Friend (see below).

• Marmelo Melbourne Cup Hopes Boosted

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  Last year’s Gr1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Marmelo (Duke of Marmalade-Capriolla, by In The Wings) has enhanced his prospects of successfully competing in 2019’s renewal with an emphatic victory in France’s Gr2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m). Easing out turning for home under Christophe Soumillon at Deauville, Marmelo soon hit the front in the long straight, and outstayed his rivals with a lovely, languid action. Runner-up in this race last year after winning it in 2017, it’s clearly a course and distance the 6YO entire loves, with Press Association reporting Hugh Morrisson saying, "It was a perfect, nice run. He won it a bit cosily - and it's off to Melbourne now, I hope. He's broken two track records, so ground doesn't matter. He's a very good horse."

• Temperature Forces Houtzen Change of Plan

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  High class sprinting mare Houtzen, who finished a gallant second to European speedster Battaash in the recent King George Stakes at Goodwood will no longer run in Friday’s Gr1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York. AAP reports that owner Aquis Farm, who had planned to pay a late entry fee for Friday, has had to change tack after the Magic Millions 2YO Classic-winning daughter of I Am Invincible had an elevated temperature. Using their twitter account, Aquis revealed that Houtzen will now head, instead, to Ireland’s Gr1 Flying Five at the Curragh next month where, based on her most recent rousing finish, she should prove very competitive.

  

  Houtzen is heading to Ireland (pic: Mark Gatt)

• Godolphin Snaps Up Arqana Top Lot

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  With Godolphin’s stocks soaring in both hemispheres, the blue army has made a large investment at Deauville’s 2019 Arqana August Yearling sale in France. Going to €1.625 million, Godolphin secured a filly by Darley sire Dubawi. Consigned by Ecurie de Monceaux, the yearling is out of Listed-winning Dansili mare Prudenzia, and is thus a half-sibling to Gr1 Irish Oaks winner Chicquita, as well as Gr2 winner Magic Wand, whose recent runner-up in the Gr1 Arlington International became her incredible (and frustrating for connections) sixth second placing at Gr1 level. It’s also the family of dual English and Irish Oaks winner Alexandrova.

• Dubawi Mare Wins Gr1 Prix Jean Romanet

  Tuesday, 20th August 2019
  Meanwhile, Darley’s superb stallion Dubawi, by the brilliant but ill-fated champion Dubai Millennium) celebrated another top-flight Gr1 triumph when his 5YO daughter Coronet (Dubawi-Approach, by Darshaan) became yet another Gr1 success for jockey Frankie Dettori. Riding in the most splendid form of his career, Dettori bounced back from a runner-up finish in the Gr1 Prix Morny a race earlier (see below report) to guide favourite Coronet to success in the Gr1 Prix Jean Romanet (2000m). Defeating 4YO mare With You and 6YO mare Red Tea, Coronet’s latest top tier win boosted a record that already included a Gr1 success in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud. The valuable future broodmare is a half-sister to three-time Gr1-placed Group winner Midas Touch, from the immediate family of dual Gr1-winning stallion Aussie Rules. Trainer John Gosden intimated that her final race start ahead of a breeding career could be October’s Gr1 British Chamion Fillies & Mares at Ascot.