Daily News | 22nd September 2017

• Magic Millions 2YOs in Training Sale Breeze-Up Schedule

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  The 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale will take place on Tuesday 10th & Wednesday 11th October. Already some 28 graduates of last year's sale have been winners for their connections headlined by the Gr1 JJ Atkins Stakes winner Capital Gain – a $50,000 purchase. With 293 lots catalogued, breeze-ups have been scheduled across three states in the lead up to the auction giving prospective buyers a chance to see each lot gallop on a similar surface. Click here for the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale catalogue. The breeze-up schedule is:
  • Fri 22 September - Seymour Racing Club, VIC (to be streamed live from 9am AEST);
  • Mon 25 September - Gold Coast Turf Club, QLD (to be streamed live from 9.30am AEST);
  • Tue 26 September - Warwick Farm, NSW (to be streamed live from 9am AEST); and
  • Mon 9 October - Gold Coast Turf Club, QLD (to be streamed live from 10am AEDT).

• Maher Bullish About Merchant Navy

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  Ciaron Maher has provided the last word on boom Victorian colt Merchant Navy ahead of tomorrow's $1 million Gr1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens. Unbeaten in four career outings after resuming with a narrow but decisive win in the Gr3 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on 2 September, Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock-Legally Bay, by Snippets) is third favourite for the Golden Rose at $8 with TAB behind Menari ($2) and Pariah ($6). "I'm pretty happy with Merchant Navy. His preparation has gone very smoothly and his work on Tuesday was sharp and he seems to have come through it nicely," Maher told Melbourne's Radio Sport National yesterday. "Hughie Bowman galloped him on the course proper on Tuesday and gave him a good report, so I think everything is pointing to him running right up to his best." Maher said he expected Merchant Navy to have no problems handling the clockwise direction, adding that Menari was the horse he feared most. "I brought him up to Sydney as a 2YO. He didn't actually race but he had the experience and I think that will hold him in good stead," Maher explained. "I think Menari is the horse to beat. He's been targeted at the race and he is a big, strong impressive 3YO."

  

• Close Up Keeping Triple Crown Dream Alive

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  Cambridge trainer Shelley Hale is hopeful that Close Up can take another step towards becoming the first horse to win the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown when he contests the Gr1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings tomorrow, reports NZ Racing Desk. The 8YO gelding claimed the opening leg of the series when scoring a surprise win in the Gr1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on 2 September after only gaining a start on the morning of the race when the connections of Stolen Dance decided to scratch in reaction to the heavy track. Hale said her and the other owners would seriously consider paying the late entry fee for the third leg – the Gr1 Livamol Classic (2040m) 7 October – were Close Up to salute on Saturday. "We'd definitely have a look," Hale said. "At nominations time, I thought 1600m might see him out, but if he runs a strong mile on Saturday, we'll definitely consider the last leg. It all depends on how he's hitting the line on Saturday." Hale added: "He's in pretty good nick. He seems to be every bit as good going into this one as he was before the Tarzino Trophy." Only champions Starcraft and Seachange have contested the third leg of the Triple Crown having won the first two legs, with Starcraft beaten by Balmuse in 2004, and Seachange finishing third in 2006 and fourth in 2007.

• Classic Hopes for Classy Aloisia

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  Meanwhile, Merchant Navy's highly regarded stable-mate Aloisia will embark upon a Classic campaign when she resumes in the 3YO fillies set weights and penalties race over 1400m at Caulfield tomorrow. Speaking to Melbourne's Radio Sport National yesterday, trainer Ciaron Maher confirmed that Aloisia's primary spring targets are the Gr1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on 14 October and the Gr1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on 9 November. The New Zealand-bred daughter of Azamour, who is owned by OTI Racing, showed earlier this year that she had the potential to develop into a genuine Group One filly when finishing runner-up in the Gr1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Doomben in the winter. "I've got a lot of time for her. She is just a real bonny no frills filly. She has a beautiful action and is really clean winded," Maher said. "We took her up to Queensland and she was super, was only narrowly beaten. She's not the biggest horse but she does have a big stride and that's why we are kicking her off on Saturday over 1400 metres. She will then go second-up into the Thousand Guineas and will probably progress onto the Oaks." Maher said Aloisia would obviously improve as she stepped up in distance, but sounded quite bullish when asked about her winning prospects on Saturday. "She has prepared really well. She spelled in Queensland and then came down to Sydney and trialled there behind Jukebox and Super Cash and looked in great order," he said. "She will improve on whatever she does on Saturday but she is certainly a high quality filly."

• Astoria to Handle Class Rise

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  Godolphin trainer James Cummings expects beautifully related colt Astoria (Medaglia d'Oro-Segue, by Ad Valorem) to give a bold account of himself in tomorrow's Gr3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens. An eye-catching last-start winner of the Gr3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle when storming home from last on the turn, Cummings is hoping Astoria can once again step up on Saturday to put himself in the picture for the Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on 7 October. "He produced a really good, strong, surging win at Newcastle. He's come through it really well and he needs racing to keep bringing him on," Cummings told Godolphin.com. "When I looked him over on Tuesday morning I was delighted with the way he appeared and I think he's ready to produce again this weekend." Cummings added: "Importantly, it's going to set him up with a strong foundation for races like the Spring Champion Stakes." By Darley shuttler Medaglia d'Oro, Astoria is a direct descendent of legendary blue hen Eight Carat.

• Indicative Odds For All Black Type Racing

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  Following last weekend's Gr1 race odds BETA testing, this weekend's feature races will all include indicative fixed Win & Place odds – wherever they are available. While all odds are close to being live, potential feed delays, plus the need to refresh the page for latest updates, mean that they are only meant to provide context to feature racing's potential outcomes. We hope that you enjoy their inclusion, provided courtesy of bookmaker.com.au. An example image from tomorrow's Gr1 Golden Rose is below. Clicking on any odds will take readers to bookmaker.com.au where live odds can be accessed. The Form button provides a drop down menu of AAP Megaform form comment and key statistics, while the News button generates a pop-up with up to 40 Daily News items (latest first) relating to just that runner who is highlighted in yellow every time he/she is mentioned.

  

• Weekend Black Type Feature Schedule

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  Headlined by the $1 million Gr1 Golden Rose for 3YOs in Sydney, and the second leg of the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown series at Hastings, the Gr1 Windsor Park Plate, there are 13 stakes races across Australia and New Zealand this weekend (none in Singapore or Hong Kong). First run in 1978 as the Peter Pan Stakes, the inaugural running of the race under its current moniker the Golden Rose was in 2005 when the Crown Lodge-owned 3YO Paratroopers saluted in the race. The prestige of the race has grown significantly during its relatively brief history, so much so that it is now regarded as one of the premier 3YO features on the Australian racing calendar. A perusal of its honour roll explains why with past winners including Kingston Town (1979), Sir Dapper (1983), Brave Warrior (1994), Fairway (1999), Magic Albert (2001), Forensics (2008), Epaulette (2012), Zoustar (2014), and Godolphin colts Exosphere (2015) and Astern (2016) landing the two most recent renewals. This year the potentially outstanding Menari – nicknamed Menari the Ferrari due to his powerful engine and stunning good looks – is undoubtedly the horse to beat off the back of two brilliant lead-up wins in the Gr2 The Run To The Rose (1200m) and Listed Rosebud (1100m). The Gerald Ryan-trained colt is a dominant $2 favourite with bookmaker.com.au, with Pariah ($6) and boom Victorian colt Merchant Navy ($8) his nearest market rivals. Brought to you by International Animal Health Products, below in AET order are Saturday's and Sunday's scheduled stakes races incorporating integrated fields, form, indicative odds and runner news:

  Saturday

  • 12:50pm: Gr3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) Rosehill Gardens
  • 1:16pm: Gr3 Hawke's Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) Hastings
  • 1:34pm: New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) Riccarton
  • 2:25pm: Gr1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) Hastings
  • 2:35pm: Gr2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) Rosehill Gardens
  • 2:55pm: Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) Caulfield
  • 3:15pm: Gr3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) Rosehill Gardens
  • 3:35pm: Gr3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) Caulfield
  • 3:55pm: Gr1 Golden Rose (1400m) Rosehill Gardens
  • 4:15pm: Gr3 Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes (1200m) Caulfield
  • 4:35pm: Gr2 Golden Pendant (1400m) Rosehill Gardens

  Sunday

  • 1:35pm: Listed Karaka Classic (1600m) Pukekohe
  • 6:20pm: Listed Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) Kalgoorlie

  

• SAT 12:50pm: Gr3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) Rosehill Gardens

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• 1:16pm: Gr3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) Hastings

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• 1:34pm: New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) Riccarton

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• 2:25pm: Gr1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) Hastings

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• 2:35pm: Gr2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) Rosehill Gardens

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• 2:55pm: Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) Caulfield

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• 3:15pm: Gr3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) Rosehill Gardens

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• 3:35pm: Gr3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) Caulfield

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• 3:55pm: Gr1 Golden Rose (1400m) Rosehill Gardens

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• 4:15pm: Gr3 Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes (1200m) Caulfield

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• 4:35pm: Gr2 Golden Pendant (1400m) Rosehill Gardens

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• SUN 1:35pm: Listed Karaka Classic (1600m) Pukekohe

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• 6:20pm: Listed Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) Kalgoorlie

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  

• Record Stallion Noms for 2017 VOBIS Sires

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  With little more than 18 months until the running of the inaugural $1 million VOBIS Sires two-year-old race, a record number of stallions have been nominated to the scheme. “These record numbers are a further vote of confidence in the future of the Victorian breeding industry,” James O’Brien, President of Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria said. Racing Victoria’s Executive General Manager Racing, Greg Carpenter, said he was buoyed by the excellent numbers nominated to the VOBIS Sires program. “These record nominations illustrate the incredible value of the VOBIS Sires program, and the importance of providing lucrative returns to owners and breeders,” Carpenter said. “I am extremely excited to see the inaugural running of the $1 million VOBIS Sires two-year-old in 2019 and the $500,000 three-year-old in 2020, and believe that the success of these races will pave the platform for further interest in the program beyond 2020.” Click here to view information about the scheme and the 2017 nominated stallions.

• Track Key for Gr1 Mare

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  A start at Riccarton tomorrow remains in the balance for Group One winner La Diosa, reports NZ Racing Desk. The 4YO, who became the first Group One winner for champion racehorse So You Think when landing the Gr1 New Zealand 1,000 Guineas in November, will resume in the Canterbury Westland Racing Owners' Association Open (1200m) if conditions improve. "She's very well and we're happy, but the big query is whether we start if it's heavy," co-trainer Mandy Brown said. "We'd prefer the track to come back a bit for her. There are other options and we're in no hurry." La Diosa's primary spring target is the Gr2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile (1600m) on 15 November.

• Russian Revolution Thriving Ahead of Moir

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  Co-trainer Paul Snowden has provided an update on top sprinter Russian Revolution who will have his next start in the Gr1 Moir Stakes (1100m) at the Mooney Valley night meeting on Friday, 29 September. Russian Revolution (Snitzel-Ballet d'Amour, by Stravinsky), a winner of the Gr1 Galaxy in the autumn, signalled he was on target for a lucrative spring campaign when resuming with an impressive win Gr2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on 9 September. Speaking to Sky Sports Radio yesterday, Snowden said the 4YO worked strongly at the Valley yesterday morning. "He's in very good order," Snowden said. "Today [Thursday] was his main piece of work leading into Friday week. He worked extremely strongly on his own. He was very sharp, ran good time and he's on track for the Moir." Snowden mentioned that the inaugural $10 million The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on 14 October was also still on the agenda. "I think a lot will depend on what he does on Friday night," he said. "If he happened to win the Moir then that would give him two Group Ones next to his name and that might generate more interest [from slot holders]."

  

  Russian Revolution (image: Mark Gatt)

• Records Tumble at Tattersalls Ireland

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  Numerous records were broken during the two-day Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale which ended on Wednesday. Over the two days of trade (19-20 September), gross sales reached €11,451,000 at an average price of €28,556 and median of €23,000 representing increases of 12, 14 and 21 per cent respectively compared with 2016. The results are the best in the sale's history. The sale topper was a colt by Showcasing out of the Invincible Spirit mare Starfly (Lot 219) which sold for a sale record of €230,000. Consigned by Ballyphilip Stud, the colt was purchased by Michael O'Hagan, acting on behalf of Grovendale Advisory Services. "He's a real athlete," said O'Hagan. "We thought he was one of the nicest horses in the sale. Trainer Clive Cox picked him out individually, and he will be going into training with Clive on behalf of a client." Managing Director Roger Casey praised the success of the sale commenting: "Strong, frenetic and vibrant are just some of the terms that begin to encapsulate the description of the trade witnessed here at Tattersalls Ireland over the last two days and there has been an array of positives to acknowledge at what is the continuously progressive September Yearling Sale; the highest price for a yearling on record at Tattersalls Ireland of €230,000, major increases in the aggregate 12 per cent, median 21 per cent and average 14 per cent and an impressive clearance rate of 90 per cent." He continued: "This year's catalogue, despite a decrease in the number of lots, has produced the highest turnover on record and likewise the highest average and median on record…[the] results speak for themselves."

• Keeneland Sept Day-8: Review

  Friday, 22nd September 2017
  A filly from the first crop of Hill 'n' Dale Farm stallion Atreides (Medaglia d'Oro) emerged as the top seller during Wednesday's ninth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Kentucky. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, the half-sister to Graded stakes-placed winners Moe Candy and Holy Candy sold for US$175,000 to Martin Anthony. Keeneland sold 266 yearlings on Wednesday for US$8,839,600 at an average of US$33,232 and a median of US$25,000. Cumulatively, 2,006 yearlings have grossed US$297,708,600 at an average of US$148,409 and a median of US$85,000 over the first eight days of trade.