Bonneval Given Green Light for Cup
Friday, 20th October 2017
Star Kiwi mare Bonneval has been cleared to run in tomorrow's Gr1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) after passing a Racing Victoria vet inspection yesterday afternoon, reports racing.com. The Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained second favourite had been in doubt for the $3 million staying feature after being rated 'one out of five' lame on Wednesday. However, chief steward Terry Bailey said her condition had improved sufficiently to warrant a start. "We had two vets check Bonneval on Thursday afternoon and she has been cleared to run," Bailey said. "She was trotted up at Flemington where she is staying and our vets also inspected scans of her suspensory ligaments that had been provided by Murray Baker's stable vet." Bailey added: "In our opinion her condition has improved in the past 24 hours and we are satisfied she is fit to start." The decision will be vindication for Baker who always maintained that Bonneval was fit and ready to take her place in the race.
Bonneval (image: Mark Gatt)
Lane Has Faith in Humidor
Friday, 20th October 2017
Jockey Damian Lane believes Humidor (Teofilo-Zalika, by Zabeel) can provide him with the biggest win of his career in tomorrow's Gr1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), reports Sky Racing. Lane knows the Darren Weir-trained Humidor well having partnered him to Gr1 glory in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) two starts ago. He says the 5YOs performance when 3rd [beaten 7 lengths] behind Winx in the Gr1 Turnbull Stakes was better than it looked and that he is now ready to step out over more ground. "When Winx let go he was left out of his comfort zone and from where he was I thought he probably ran the best as he could," Lane said. "I thought he closed the race off well and ran like a horse probably looking for the 2400 metres." Lane continued: "He's come through his Turnbull run really well and he's drawn a good gate [7] which always helps. I'm very excited. The Caulfield Cup is the Caulfield Cup. There's a lot of great chances…but if he gets the right run I'm sure he can run really well." Humidor is currently the $8 second favourite for the Caulfield Cup behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained Johannes Vermeer at $4.20.
Humidor (image: Mark Gatt)
Single Gaze Ready for Biggest Test
Friday, 20th October 2017
Jockey Kathy O'Hara is confident that Single Gaze (Not a Single Doubt-Redaluca's Gaze, by Intergaze) will have no problem running out a strong 2400 metres in tomorrow's Gr1 Caulfield Cup despite never being tested over the journey, reports Sky Racing. The only time Single Gaze competed over 12 furlongs was in the 2016 Australian Oaks as a 3YO when she dislodged O'Hara shortly after the start. However, she has proven very affective over a mile-and-a-quarter winning the Gr1 Vinery Stud Stakes at three and also landing the Gr2 PJ O'Shea Stakes over 2200 metres in Brisbane during the winter. "I think she'll be all right with the journey," O'Hara said. "Her prep has been faultless. She's gotten miles in her legs and everything has gone to plan so far." O'Hara added: "She's only got to go another furlong which I think she'll have no trouble with. She feels like she'll just go all day." O'Hara's only other ride in a Caulfield Cup was aboard Wild Iris in 2005 when she was unplaced by Railings. "It's been a long time, over 10 years. I'm really, really excited and she's a genuine each-way chance," she said. "Single Gaze is on song and I'm looking forward to it." Single Gaze is currently at $34 fixed odds with TAB.
Count Da Vinci Wins Moe Cup
Friday, 20th October 2017
Tasmanian stayer Count Da Vinci is likely to be aimed at a race over the Melbourne Cup carnival after winning the Moe Cup (2050m) yesterday. Trained by Scott Brunton, last season's Gr3 Hobart Cup (2400m) winner started favourite off the back of some encouraging early spring form, including a third behind Theanswermyfriend in the Listed Sofitel (1400m) at Flemington on 1 October. Firming into odds of $3.30, the 7YO didn't let his supporters or stable down leading throughout for a strong 1.25 length win over Pacodali and Tarquin in the $150,000 event. Brunton indicated he had a nice race picked out for Count da Vinci over the carnival. "That's absolutely fantastic. He was spot on today," Brunton told racing.com. "Long term I think a race like the Sydney Cup [Gr1] would really suit him. He's a good horse and getting better." Brunton added: "I don't make decisions on race day. I will work something out tomorrow…but there are a couple of nice options in the pipeline." Count Da Vinci improved his record to 8 wins and 10 placings from 30 starts for $342,390 in earnings.Top Colt Ready for Late Reappearance
Friday, 20th October 2017
Talented 3YO Property will make a belated spring return when he resumes in the Gr2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) in Melbourne tomorrow. The Robert Smerdon prepared Property (Starcraft-Opalize, by Anabaa) stamped himself as one of the better juveniles in training last season, winning the Gr3 Blue Diamond Prelude before rounding out his 2YO campaign with a dashing win in the Gr3 Kindergarten Stakes on day one of The Championships in Sydney. However, the gelding has had his spring comeback delayed due to injury. "He had a long spell because of a tibial stress fracture in a hind leg," Smerdon told racenet. "They heal well and they do well but he needed time and that meant he came on the scene later." Smerdon added: "His trials and jump-outs have been terrific, really good. If he runs well enough, he'll go to the Coolmore but if he doesn't, he'll go to a 1000m race down the straight during the carnival." The stallion-making Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on 4 November.Ready To Run Breeze Ups Available Online
Friday, 20th October 2017
Breeze Up videos for New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2017 Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs are now available to view online. 393 youngsters breezed over 200m into gustily winds down the home straight at Te Rapa racecourse earlier this week. The overall quality of horses that breezed up emulates a strong catalogue on type set to be offered at Karaka on 22 & 23 November. Graduates of the sale have won 19 Group 1 races and 110 stakes race in the last five seasons alone. This year’s catalogue has attracted 437 two-year-olds with a cross-section of the very best sires throughout Australasia represented and 14 exciting freshman sires. Highlights include:
- 51 siblings to stakes winners including siblings to Group 1 winners Adventador, Savaria, Sofia Rosa, Magic Cape, Zabrasive, Able One, Kawi, Lankan Rupee, Brambles, King Mufhasa, and Silent Achiever.
- The progeny of 31 stakes winners including Group 1-winning dams Champagne and Quintessential.
- 38 horses nominated for the Karaka Million Series, six fillies nominated for the Pearl Series, 128 horses that are BOBS eligible, 19 Super VOBIS nominated horses and one QTIS eligible horse.
Click here to view high definition video of breeze ups. Click here to view catalogue.
Weekend Black Type Feature Schedule
Friday, 20th October 2017
Headlined by the running of the world's richest mile-and-a-half handicap, the $3.15 million Gr1 Caulfield Cup in Melbourne, and the rescheduled final leg of the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown series, the Gr1 Livamol Classic at Hastings, there are 21 stakes races across Australia and New Zealand this weekend. There are also two stakes races apiece in Singapore and Hong Kong. Part of the Grand Slam of Australian racing, the time-honoured Caulfield Cup boasts an honour roll that includes some of the greatest names of the Australian turf including Rising Fast (1954/55), Tulloch (1957), Tobin Bronze (1967), Ming Dynasty (1977/80), Tristarc (1985), Let's Elope (1991), Mannerism (1992), Doriemus (1995), Might And Power (1997), Ethereal (2001), and Northerly (2002). This year, the $4.20 TAB fixed odds favourite is the Irish stayer Johannes Vermeer following his eye-catching second in last weekend's Gr1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m). Next is the Darren Weir-trained Humidor at $8, while New Zealand Horse of the Year Bonneval and Gr3 The Bart Cummings winner Amelie's Star share the third line of betting at $8.50. All other runner are at double figure odds, headed by Harlem at $10 and Jon Snow and Ventura Storm at $11. Brought to you by International Animal Health Products, below in AEDT order are Saturday's, Sunday's and Monday's scheduled stakes races incorporating integrated fields, form, indicative odds and runner news:
Friday
- 5:40pm: Listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup (1600m) Murray Bridge
Saturday
- 12:40pm: Gr3 Barneswood Farm Stakes 3YO (1400m) Ashburton
- 12:50pm: Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m) Caulfield
- 12:59pm: Listed Jakkalberry Classic (1950m) Arawa Park
- 1:25pm: Gr3 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m) Caulfield
- 2:00pm: Gr3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) Caulfield
- 2:10pm: Gr3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) Arawa Park
- 2:20pm: Listed City Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m) Royal Randwick
- 2:35pm: Gr3 Coongy Cup (2000m) Caulfield
- 3:10pm: Gr3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) Caulfield
- 3:30pm: Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) Royal Randwick
- 3:45pm: Gr2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) Caulfield
- 4:10pm: Gr3 Nivison (1200m) Royal Randwick
- 4:30pm: Gr1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) Caulfield
- 5:10pm: Gr2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) Caulfield
- 5:45pm: Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) Caulfield
- 7:55pm: Gr3 Northerly Stakes (1400m) Ascot
Sunday
- 1:46pm: Gr3 Spring Sprint (1400m) Hastings
- 2:56pm: Gr1 Livamol Classic (2000m) Hastings
- 4:15pm: Listed Godolphin Seymour Cup (1600m) Seymour
- 6:55pm: Gr3 El Dorado Classic (2200m) Singapore
- 7:10pm: Gr2 Premier Bowl (1200m) Hong Kong
- 7:40pm: Gr2 Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) Hong Kong
- 8:05pm: Gr1 Raffles Cup (1800m) Singapore
Monday
- 1:42pm: Gr2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) Te Rapa
Friday 5:40pm: Listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup (1600m) Murray Bridge
Friday, 20th October 2017
Saturday 12:50pm: Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m) Caulfield
Friday, 20th October 2017
12:59pm: Listed Jakkalberry Classic (1950m) Arawa Park
Friday, 20th October 2017
1:25pm: Gr3 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m) Caulfield
Friday, 20th October 2017
2:00pm: Gr3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) Caulfield
Friday, 20th October 2017
2:10pm: Gr3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) Arawa Park
Friday, 20th October 2017
2:20pm: Listed City Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m) Royal Randwick
Friday, 20th October 2017
2:35pm: Gr3 Coongy Cup (2000m) Caulfield
Friday, 20th October 2017
3:10pm: Gr3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) Caulfield
Friday, 20th October 2017
3:30pm: Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) Royal Randwick
Friday, 20th October 2017
3:45pm: Gr2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) Caulfield
Friday, 20th October 2017
4:10pm: Gr3 Nivison (1200m) Royal Randwick
Friday, 20th October 2017
4:30pm: Gr1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) Caulfield
Friday, 20th October 2017
5:10pm: Gr2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) Caulfield
Friday, 20th October 2017
5:45pm: Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) Caulfield
Friday, 20th October 2017
7:55pm: Gr3 Northerly Stakes (1400m) Ascot
Friday, 20th October 2017
Sunday 1:46pm: Gr3 Spring Sprint (1400m) Hastings
Friday, 20th October 2017
2:56pm: Gr1 Livamol Classic (2000m) Hastings
Friday, 20th October 2017
4:15pm: Listed Godolphin Seymour Cup (1600m) Seymour
Friday, 20th October 2017
6:55pm: Gr3 El Dorado Classic (2200m) Singapore
Friday, 20th October 2017
7:10pm: Gr2 Premier Bowl (1200m) Hong Kong
Friday, 20th October 2017
7:40pm: Gr2 Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) Hong Kong
Friday, 20th October 2017
8:05pm: Gr1 Raffles Cup (1800m) Singapore
Friday, 20th October 2017
Monday 1:42pm: Gr2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) Te Rapa
Friday, 20th October 2017
Chocolate Holic Thriving at Home
Friday, 20th October 2017
Smart West Australian galloper Chocolate Holic will make his return to Perth racing in tomorrow's Gr3 Northerly Stakes (1400m) at Ascot. After a fruitless four-start Melbourne campaign under the care of Darren Weir, the dual stakes winner returned to Grant and Alana Williams' Karnup stable following his last-start fifth behind Theanswermyfriend in the Listed Sofitel Handicap (1400m) at Flemington. "He's enjoyed being in familiar surroundings and can't be faulted," Alana Williams told the West Australian. "Since a brief let-up, he's worked well and is ready to start on Saturday. Then a decision will be made on what races he tackles." Chocolate Holic holds summer entries in the $1 million Gr1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on 25 November and the $1 million Gr1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at the same venue a fortnight later.Sensei Out To Teach Filly Lesson
Friday, 20th October 2017
Michael Pitman says he will be thrilled if Sensei (Dream Ahead-Schiaparelli, by Woodman) can finish second to exciting Northland filly Prom Queen in tomorrow's Gr3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton, reports NZ Racing Desk. However, that's not to say the Christchurch trainer is resigned to defeat. Pitman, who will be represented by Sensei and Savvy Coup in the 3YO feature, believes the former poses a real danger to Prom Queen if the $1.60 market elect is off her game. "I wasn't originally planning to run in this one, but he's so well in himself and with the dry track and the way that field has shaped up, I thought it was worth putting him in," said Pitman, who trains in partnership with his son Matthew. "We're very happy with the horse. I'd be chuffed if he could run second to Prom Queen. I really don't think there will be any problem with her stepping up to 1400m, but if there is any chink on her armour he'll be ready to pounce. I think the step up to 1400m will really suit him." Sensei, who is a half-brother to Gr2 Queensland Guineas winner and sire Rothsay from the Jesmond Lass family of Golden Slipper winner Canny Lad, has won 2 of his 7 starts to date and boasts a placing behind Prom Queen in last season's Listed Welcome Stakes at Riccarton.Australian Sires Premiership Update
Friday, 20th October 2017
After eleven weeks of the 2017-18 racing season, Arrowfield Stud's incumbent Champion Australian Sire Snitzel has established an enormous lead at the top of the national sires' leader board with progeny earnings already in excess of $10 million. Thanks in large part to Redzel's brilliant win in last weekend's inaugural $10 million The Everest, Snitzel's early dominance makes him well placed to claim consecutive championships. Holding down second position is his Arrowfiled barn-mate Not A Single Doubt with $3.6 million in earnings, while Coolmore's former champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock rounds out the top three with $3.1 million. According to arion.co.nz, the Top 10 ranked stallions in Australia (as of 19 October) are:
- Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) - $10,351,433
- Not a Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice) - $3,649,289
- Fastnet Rock (Danehill) - $3,102,858
- Lope de Vega (Shamardal) - $3,037,049
- Street Cry (Machiavellian) - $2,636,210
- High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells) - $2,631,444
- I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) - $2,490,513
- Teofilo (Galileo) - $1,961,652
- Sebring (More Than Ready) - $1,778,235
- Written Tycoon (Iglesia) - $1,775,314
Impressive Winner for Animal Kingdom
Friday, 20th October 2017
Arrowfield shuttler Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux–Dalicia, by Acatenango) looks to have a smart prospect on his hands in the form of unbeaten juvenile filly Grace And Dignity (ex Precision Farming, by Smart Strike). Trained by Catherine Day Phillips, Grace And Dignity made it two wins from as many starts in a six furlong claiming race at Woodbine on Wednesday when destroying her rivals by 5.25 lengths in a slick time of 1:08.77. The win boosted Grace and Dignity's earnings to US$70,895. Animal Kingdom, a winner of the Kentucky Derby & Dubai World Cup, completed his fourth northern hemisphere season at Darley America earlier this year before returning to Arrowfield where he is currently standing at a fee of $27,500 inc. GST. Among Animal Kingdom's best progeny to date are Gr2 Woodbine Summer Classic winner Untamed Domain, and Listed winners Sunny Skies and Continental Divide. He has also been represented by Group-placed Australian 3YO Lord Cecil who was placed in the Gr3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic in May.