Daily News | 28th July 2017

• Jump-Out for Guineas Winner

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  Australian Guineas winner Hey Doc will continue his spring preparation with an 800m jump-out at Flemington this morning, reports AAP. The rising 4YO hasn't raced since finishing sixth behind Vega Magic in the Gr1 Goodwood in Adelaide on 20 May. Trainer Tony McEvoy said the high class gelding was likely to make his seasonal reappearance in the Gr3 Aurie's Star (1200m) at Flemington on 12 August. "He's not going to be tested in the jump-out at all but I just wanted to familiarise him again with the Flemington straight because I'm considering running him in the Aurie's Star," McEvoy said. "The Aurie's Star into the Memsie [Gr1] into the Makybe Diva Stakes [Gr1] is the early little program provided the horse tells me he's going well enough."

  

  Hey Doc (image: Mark Gatt)

• Royal Symphony Pleases McEvoy

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  Meanwhile, boom 2YO colt Royal Symphony (Domesday-Naturalist, by Palace Music) has had his first gallop since winning the Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington on 8 July, reports AAP. Royal Symphony, who hails from the family of three-time Gr1 winner Naturalism, is unbeaten in three starts and is being aimed at the $1 million Gr1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield racecourse on 14 October. "He was as excited doing it as I was watching him," trainer Tony McEvoy said of Royal Symphony's canter yesterday morning. McEvoy is considering the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington on 16 September as Royal Symphony's first spring reappearance. "It's not in concrete but I thought the Exford Plate would be a good kick-off and then we've got the Bill Stutt Stakes if we want in between and then the Guineas," he said.

• NZB Extends Sponsorship of Spring Features

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  New Zealand Bloodstock has signed a two-year deal with the Melbourne Racing Club to continue its title sponsorship of the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes, the New Zealand Bloodstock Spring WFA Championship, and the Group 3 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes. NZB has sponsored the Memsie Stakes since 2010. The prestigious 1400m race, which will be run at Caulfield on 2 September, was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2014, making it the first Group 1 race of the Australian season. The exciting growth of the race continues in 2017 with prize money increased to $1 million. The Memsie Stakes honour roll includes some of the greatest horses ever to grace the Australasian turf, such as Sunline (NZ), So You Think (NZ), Phar Lap (NZ), Rising Fast (NZ), Manikato, Galilee, Makybe Diva and Ajax. The NZB Spring WFA Championship has proven to be a popular initiative in its six years of existence, this year offering almost $3 million in prize money across a four-race Series with the Championship winner receiving trophies to the value of $15,000. Commencing with the $200,000 Group 2 Back to Caulfield P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on August 19, the Championship was won last year by Black Heart Bart, with previous winners including Atlantic Jewel, Ocean Park (NZ), and Lights Of Heaven (NZ). The $150,000 Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m), to be held at Caulfield on October 21 this year, has a special significance for NZB. The race is named in honour of champion mare Ethereal (NZ), the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner who was bred and raced by NZB and Pencarrow Stud's Sir Peter and the late Philip Vela. The 2016 Ethereal Stakes had a fitting result, won by Karaka graduate Eleonora (NZ), a granddaughter of Ethereal.

• Sun Stud VIC Stallion Parade 18 August

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  The Sun Stud Victorian stallion parade, industry expo and open day will be held on Friday, 18th August from 12pm to 4pm at 56 Mt Eliza Rd, Kerrie. The stallion parade is scheduled to commence at 1pm. Sun Stud's premier line-up of Victorian stallions will feature exciting dual Group One winning freshman sire Palentino, proven Group One producing sire Magnus, unbeaten 2YO Fighting Sun, Melbourne Cup hero Fiorente, Black Caviar's full brother Moshe, speed sensation Squamosa, and the stakes winning sprinter Ready For Victory. Bryan Martin will be the master of ceremonies for the must attend event, which will include fantastic food, local wines, live acoustic entertainment and thoroughbred industry exhibition stalls. RSVP via email at info@sunstud.com.au.

  

  Palentino (image: Sun Stud)

• Frost Warming to Ryder Stakes Hope

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  Buoyed by another breathtaking feature jumps win by Sea King in Australia last weekend, Rachael Frost is turning her focus to domestic stakes success at her home track at Otaki tomorrow, reports NZ Racing Desk. Frost is a part owner of the Patrick Payne-trained Sea King, a resounding winner of last Sunday's Brendan Dreschler Hurdle at Ballarat, and prepares promising filly Kate Louise, a contender for the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds. In three starts, Kate Louise (Swiss Ace) has twice finished runner-up and in between was sixth in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui after getting too far back in the running. "If it was another 200m the other day, she would have been a hell of a lot closer. I'm not saying she would have beaten the winner, but she was hitting the line strongly," Frost said. "This is a big step up, but even if she could finish third or fourth it's black-type which makes her more valuable as a broodmare later on. She handles it wet so that might just be her edge."

  

• Australia & New Zealand Weekend Stakes Schedule

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  Headlined by the Gr3 Bletchingly Stakes in Melbourne, there are six stakes races scheduled across Australia and New Zealand on this final weekend of the 2016/17 racing season, all run on Saturday. Run under weight-for-age conditions, the Bletchingly Stakes was first run in 1994 when Poetic King claimed top honours. A perusal of the history of the Bletchingly shows it has produced numerous future Group One winners, including inaugural winner Poetic King (1994), Remember You (1995 & 96), Rubitano (2002), Apache cat (2007), Shoot Out (2010), Mid Summer Music (2011), and Smokin Joey (2015). This year the $3.60 Tab favourite is the Mick Kent-trained Supido, slightly ahead of former world's best sprinter Lankan Rupee, who has been the subject of strong support firming from $6.50 into $4.50 in the last 48 hours. Brought to you by International Animal Health Products, below in AET order are Saturday's scheduled stakes races incorporating integrated fields, form and runner news:
  • 12:41pm: Listed Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m) Arawa Park
  • 12:59pm: Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) Otaki
  • 3:20pm: Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) Rosehill Gardens
  • 4:20pm: Gr3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) Caulfield
  • 4:28pm: Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) Morphettville
  • 6:30pm: Listed H.G. Bolton Sprint (1200m) Belmont

  

• 12:41pm: Listed Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m) Arawa Park

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  

• 12:59pm: Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) Otaki

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  

• 3:20pm: Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) Rosehill Gardens

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  

• 4:20pm: Gr3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) Caulfield

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  

• 4:28pm: Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) Morphettville

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  

• 6:30pm: Listed HG Bolton Sprint (1200m) Belmont

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  

• Nominations Announced for NSW Racing Awards

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  New South Wales Racehorse Owners Association (NSWROA) yesterday announced nominations for the annual NSW 'Racing's Night of Champions' awards to be held at Royal Randwick on Thursday, 17 August. Click here to view the full list of nominations. For more information visit the NSWROA website at www.nswroa.com.au.

• Page Tipping Bright Future for All Too Hard 2YO

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  Trainer Helen Page is normally a reserved spender at yearling sales but promising youngster Too Easy Bro is an exception to her rule, reports Racing Queensland Webnews. Page paid $200,000 for the son of Vinery's 4-time Gr1 winning stallion All Too Hard at the 2016 Magic Millions Yearling sales and so far, connections are reaping the benefits of her investment. Page has a big opinion of the 2YO who scored an easy win on debut at the Gold Coast on 1 July. He will bid to maintain his perfect record in the QTIS Two-Year-old Handicap (1050m) at Doomben tomorrow. "I've tried to start him in town a few times now but he kept drawing bad so we had to scratch," Page said. "He's got a good draw [barrier 2] this time so he should be competitive. I don't normally go that high at sales but I've got very good clients." Page said Too Easy Bro's long-term target is the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) in January. "He's still green but he has a lot of raw ability and he'll get better with racing," Page said. "His breeders tell me the All Too Hard's get better up to 1600m but while he's showing me speed I'll keep him to the shorter trips." Too Easy Bro is out of the Gr2 Manifold Stakes & Gr1 Golden Rose-placed mare Ashanti, making him a half-brother to Gr2 Theo Marks Stakes winner Riva De Lago.

• So You Think Juvenile Crunched For Sydney Opener

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  Despite taking on a field of quality fellow late season 2YOs in tomorrow's opening race at Rosehill Gardens, the Chris Waller-trained colt D'Argento has met with sustained support to back up his debut win at Newcastle a fortnight ago. Bookmakers have reported a deluge of support for the son of boom stallion and former champion racehorse So You Think since markets first opened, and D'Argento is now a pronounced even money favourite. Campaigned by Star Thoroughbreds, who purchased him for $135,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, the grey juvenile is expected to relish the step up to 1500m in what some bookies are describing as a significant plunge.

  

• No Increase in Sydney Track & Stable Fees

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  The Australian Turf Club will not increase track or stable fees for Sydney trainers in the new racing season in a further move to help keep training costs down for thoroughbred owners. The 2017/18 season will be the third in succession that track fees have not been changed, and means all fees charged by the ATC for use of metropolitan tracks and stables are generally just 10 per cent of average daily metropolitan trainers fees. Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager of Racing James Heddo said the move was designed to encourage an increase in horse ownership. "The ATC has introduced a range of new benefits for owners in recent months including an Owners Benefits Card in conjunction with the NSWROA, which offers a range of extra benefits and activities for the more than 10,000 owners who have a starter on Sydney tracks each year, including free entry to all ATC metropolitan meetings," Mr Heddo said. "The decision to not increase fees in the 2017/18 season further demonstrates our commitment to keeping ownership costs at a sustainable level."

• Australian Sires Premiership Update

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  With just four days remaining of the 2016-17 racing season, Arrowfield Stud's champion elect stallion Snitzel has extended his advantage at the top of the national sires' leader board with all-time record progeny earnings of $15.9 million. Occupying second position is Darley's deceased shuttler & Gr1 Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry with $14.2 million, while Coolmore's former champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock rounds out the top three with $12.8 million. According to arion.co.nz, the top 10 ranked stallions in Australia (as of 27 July) are:
  1. Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) - $15,948,137
  2. Street Cry (Machiavellian) - $14,264,796
  3. Fastnet Rock (Danehill) - $12,854,065
  4. I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) - $12,080,713
  5. Not a Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice) - $11,659,814
  6. Sebring (More Than Ready) - $10,458,689
  7. High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells) - $10,208,257
  8. Written Tycoon (Iglesia) - $7,622,370
  9. Choisir (Danehill Dancer) - $7,487,489
  10. Stratum (Redoute's Choice) - $7,484,931

• Frankel Colt With Australian Link Wins Debut

  Friday, 28th July 2017
  A beautifully bred Frankel colt with close blood ties to a Melbourne Cup winner made a winning debut at Sandown in the UK on Wednesday, reports Thoroughbred Daily News. Two-year-old Red Mist, whose dam is a half-sister to Melbourne Cup winner and Sun Stud stallion Fiorente (Monsun), looked a horse of some quality when scoring a narrow but decisive win in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes over 1400 metres. "He is a lovely horse to look forward to for the future. I was hoping to win, but on that ground first time out I was prepared for him to be beaten and at least run a good race. He's always been the most straightforward horse you could imagine at home, so easy to deal with," trainer Simon Crisford said. "I think he'll step forward from that quite considerably, but whether it's a conditions race next or a novice I don't know. He has the right sort of pedigree and constitution to go into better races and another race would help enormously." Red Mist is out the dual stakes-placed mare Red Dune (Red Ransom), who was purchased by John Ferguson for €1,050,000 at the 2006 Goffs Million Sale courtesy of her exemplary Ballymacoll Stud bloodlines. Red Dune, herself, is out of Desert Beauty, the mother of Fiorente's dam Desert Bloom. Both are descendants of Ballymacoll blue hen Hellenic, dam of 4-time Gr1 winner Islington and fellow top-class performers Greek Dance and Mountain High.

  

  Red Mist is out of Fiorente's half-sister (pic: Mark Gatt)