Daily News | 17th October 2018

• NEW Written By Wins Gr3 Blue Sapphire Stakes

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018

  	Mrgn.	Runners
  	-	1. Written By (2) News J: Jordan Childs T: G M Begg W: 57 kgs S: Written Tycoon D: Yau Chin
  	1.3L	2. Encryption (4) News J: Craig Williams T: James Cummings W: 57 kgs S: Lonhro D: Guelph
  	4.1L	4. Tony Nicconi (3) News J: L Nolen T: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig W: 57 kgs S: Nicconi D: Wickham
  	4.2L	3. Performer (5) News J: K Mc Evoy T: C J Waller W: 57 kgs S: Exceed And Excel D: Gavroche

  At Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne, Woodside Park's Gr2-winning stallion Written Tycoon (Iglesias-Party Miss, by Kenmare) added a Group race success when 3YO Australian-bred colt Written By (Written Tycoon-Yau Chin, by Tobougg) showed his class when scoring a comfortable 1.25 length win in the $350,000 Gr3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) for 3YOs, defeating Encryption & Tony Nicconi. Written By, whose female line traces to No Finer, the dam of multiple stakes winners including Gr1 Australian Guineas winner and outstanding Waikato Stud sire Pins, advanced his record to 6 wins (including the Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes, Gr3 Blue Diamond Prelude for colts & geldings & Gr3 Pago Pago Stakes) from 7 starts for $1,706,500 in earnings. Bred by Hall of Fame trainer Neville Begg, Written By was retained to race after he was passed in shy of his reserve at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He races in the familiar Begg family colours of black, white and red that were carried to Gr1 glory by former stable stars Bonanova and Monopolize. Trainer Grahame Begg said he would now head to the stallion-making Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on 3 November. "He will have a jump-out up the straight at Flemington on Friday week and he will be spot-on for the Coolmore," Begg told racing.com.

• NEW I Am A Star Wins Gr3 Ladies' Day Vase

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018

  	Mrgn.	Runners
  	-	1. I Am A Star (12) News J: B Melham T: S P Nichols W: 58 kgs S: I Am Invincible D: Star Band
  	0.5L	5. Kenedna (8) News J: Damian Lane T: D K Weir W: 55 kgs S: Not A Single Doubt D: Miss Dodwell
  	0.6L	2. Oregon's Day (9) News J: D Oliver T: M G Price W: 58 kgs S: Domesday D: Oregon Seal
  	0.7L	9. Temple Of Bel (3) News J: L Currie T: Tony McEvoy W: 55 kgs S: Bel Esprit D: Sadiya

  At Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne, Yarraman Park's Gr3-winning stallion I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit-Cannarelle, by Canny Lad) added a Group race success when 5YO Australian-bred mare I Am A Star (I Am Invincible-Star Band, by Dixieland Band) was allowed to dictate the tempo of the race to suit herself before kicking strongly to claim the $150,000 Gr3 Ladies' Day Vase (1600m) for 4YO+ mares, defeating Kenedna & Oregon's Day. I Am A Star advanced her record to 10 wins (including the Gr1 Myer Classic, Gr2 Stocks Stakes, Gr2 Stocks Stakes, Gr2 Sunline Stakes, Gr2 Kewney Stakes, Gr3 Quezette Stakes & Gr3 SAJC National Stakes) and 5 placings (including the Gr1 MRC Thousand Guineas, Gr2 Moonee Valley Fillies' Classic & Gr2 Rubiton Stakes) from 26 starts for $1,542,700 in earnings. Originally purchased for NZ$12,000 at the 2014 NZB Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale, nicely pedigreed I Am A Star was subsequently sold for $40,000 to James Harron Bloodstock at the 2015 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the draft of Broadwater Thoroughbreds (now Bhima).

• NEW Brave Song Wins Listed Village Stakes

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018

  	Mrgn.	Runners
  	-	8. Brave Song (1) News J: J B Mc Donald T: P & P Snowden W: 55 kgs S: Your Song D: Brave Choice
  	0.4L	12. Addictive Nature (5) News J: Damian Lane T: D K Weir W: 54 kgs S: Savabeel D: Generous Nature
  	0.5L	6. So Si Bon (10) News J: Regan Bayliss T: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig W: 56.5 kgs S: So You Think D: Black Minx
  	1.2L	5. Snitzkraft (12) News J: John Allen T: D K Weir W: 56.5 kgs S: Snitzel D: Power O'Raylee

  At Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne, Widden Stud's Gr1-winning stallion Your Song (Fastnet Rock-Zembu, by Fuji Kiseki) added a Listed race success when 4YO Australian-bred gelding Brave Song (Your Song-Brave Choice, by Dr Fong) opened his stakes account when scoring a narrow win in a driving finish in the $120,000 Listed Village Stakes (1200m) for 3YO+, defeating Addictive Nature & So Si Bon. Purchased by Triple Crown Syndications & Snowden Racing for $67,500 at the 2016 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Brave Song improved his record to 5 wins and 4 placings (including the Gr3 Eskimo Prince Stakes & Gr3 Aurie's Star Handicap) from 13 starts for $340,720 in earnings.

• NEW Caulfield Cup Barrier Draw

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  

  The final field has been declared and the barrier draw conducted for the 141st running of the $5 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday. The world's richest mile-and-a-half handicap has attracted a capacity field of 18 plus two emergencies. There is a new favourite for the Caulfield Cup following Wednesday morning's barrier draw with the Darren Weir-trained Kings Will Dream firming into $5 after drawing perfectly in barrier six. Kings Will Dream has displaced the Chris Waller-trained Youngstar as the market elect. Last season's Queensland Oaks winner, who was last seen storming home for second behind her superstar stable-mate Winx in the Gr1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, drifted slightly to $5.50 after coming up with barrier ten. The Aidan O'Brien-trained The Cliffsofmoher also saw his price firm from $7 into $6.50 after drawing favourably in barrier three. All other runners are available at double-figure odds, headed by Victoria Derby winner Ace High (barrier 8) at $11 and Homesman (barrier 4) at $12.

• NEW Rewarding All Too Hard Pinhook

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  Victorian vendor Ryan Arnel struck gold on Monday with an All Too Hard colt that made $260,000 at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale. The colt had been pinhooked for $100,000 at this year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and Arnel was confident he would be popular at the Riverside Stables.  “He was on the radar with lots of agents ringing me after he breezed at Cranbourne in 10.77s.  He’s well put together with a beautiful action and there’s plenty of black-type on the page.” Catalogued as Lot 95, the All Too Hard – Kamarla Rose (Nadeem) colt was equal second on the leader-board after being purchased by Hong Kong trainer Chris So. Arnel operates Stonehouse Thoroughbreds on 300-acres south-west of Bendigo in Victoria's Goldfields.  “Melbourne Premier was a soft sale in many respects this year,” Arnel said. “But I thought he was worth every penny of $100,000.” Boost Juice founder Jeff Allis bred the colt by using Vinery sire All Too Hard over a sister to Golden Pendant Gr3 winner Sharnee Rose. “The Ready2Race was a good Sale.  We entered four and sold them all,” Arnel said shortly before flying back home on Monday night.  “Our other All Too Hard colt from Quintessential (Queensland Oaks Gr.1) was knocked down to Gerald Ryan for $115,000. I like All Too Hard and my mare Highleigh is due to be covered by him this week.  She’s a winning half-sister to Danleigh and foaled a Starspangledbanner colt last month.” A third All Too Hard to change hands on Monday was the half-brother to Gr3 winner Ana Royale targeted by Scone Bloodstock for $150,000.  He will be trained by Gary Moore who prepares All Too Hard’s Flemington stakes winner All Too Huiying. Four-times Gr1-winning Champion 3YO All Too Hard is already the sire of 17 individual stakes-performed horses with progeny earnings of over $7 million, and stands the 2018 season at Vinery for $33,000.

• Waller Happy With Winx

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  Champion mare Winx has pleased trainer Chris Waller in a gallop at Moonee Valley ahead of her historic Cox Plate bid on Saturday week. The world's best racehorse stepped out at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning as she prepares to become the only horse in Australian racing history to win four Cox Plates. She currently shares the record of three Cox Plates with fellow champion galloper Kingston Town. "Winx travelled to Moonee Valley this morning to have a routine gallop with Hugh Bowman aboard," Waller said in a statement on his website. "Winx worked over 1200 metres at three-quarter pace and then breezed up over the final 400 where she went through her gears nicely and was full of running at the completion of her work." Waller added: "Hugh Bowman was very complimentary of how she felt and he was extremely pleased with where she is at leading into the Cox Plate." Winx is scheduled to work at the traditional Breakfast with the Best trackwork session at Moonee Valley next Tuesday.

  

  Winx (image: Mark Gatt)

• Breeze Up Form Matches Quality NZB Catalogue

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  NZB’s Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups came to a close on Tuesday with the final 201 two-year-olds breezing down the Te Rapa straight. Tuesday's track conditions started as a Slow 7 and during the day was upgraded to a Dead 6. New Zealand’s Champion Sire Savabeel was to the fore with his progeny breezing in quick times across the board. Ohukia Lodge produced the quickest time of the day, and overall, when their Savabeel colt (Lot 127) clocked a time of 10.07. He was paired with another Savabeel colt (Lot 180) who posted a similar time of 10.09. Kilgravin Lodge came out in quick succession with a Savabeel colt out of stakes-winning mare Marveen. Catalogued as Lot 125, he breezed in at a time of 10.28 while the Pins gelding (Lot 352) who partnered him posted a similar time of 10.29. Continuing the trend, Phoenix Park paired a Savabeel colt (Lot 148) with a Reliable Man colt (Lot 304) who both breezed in smart times. Lot 148, who is a three-quarter brother to stakes winner Chambord, stopped the clock at 10.49 while Lot 304 was slightly quicker at 10.45. Another sire with his first crop of two-year-olds who impressed on the track was Deep Field with Riversley Park consigning a colt at Lot 203 to breeze in a time of 10.46. He was paired with a Better Than Ready gelding (Lot 404) who breezed in a very close time of 10.47. "I’ve been very impressed by the overall high-quality of the horses that have breezed up over the past two days," commented NZB’s International Bloodstock Manager John Cameron. "This Sale has continued to produce outstanding horses over the years and with the high-quality catalogue for this year’s Sale we can expect this tradition to continue. History tells us that there are Group One horses in the stalls." NZB’s Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds will take place on 21 & 22 November at Karaka. Click here to view the catalogue.

• Lazy Ace Primed for Cup

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  Randwick trainer David Payne says high class stayer Ace High is ready to run a bold race in Saturday's Gr1 Caulfield Cup (2400m). That is despite Ace High (High Chaparral-Come Sunday, by Redoute's Choice) failing to impress Damien Oliver when the champion jockey gave the dual Gr1 winner his first look at the Caulfield track on Tuesday morning. "Damien got off him and said 'Lazy bugger hey' and I said 'Yep, that's him'," Payne told Sky Sports Radio. "Once you put the blinkers on him and he gets to the races, that's when he wakes up. I said 'Don't worry about it Ollie, he will put himself in the race and he'll be right there'". Payne added: "We know the horse. He doesn't work at home. He's never won a gallop. It doesn't concern me, he's very well. On Saturday the blinkers will go on and he will be a different horse." Ace High goes into the Caulfield Cup in good form after scoring a  stylish 2 length win in the Gr2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick three weeks ago. "He was impressive, it was very dominant," Payne said. "I can't fault him. He's looking a picture, he's as good as gold." TAB have installed Ace High as an $11 chance for the Caulfield Cup.

  

  Ace High (image: Steve Hart)

• Pierata Melbourne Bound

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  The connections of smart sprinter Pierata (Pierro-November Flight, by Flying Spur) will pay the late entry fee of $55,000 to run in the Gr1 Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on 10 November, reports racing.com. The Greg Hickman-trained 4YO firmed into equal $8 second favourite for the $1 million sprint feature after his impressive win in last Saturday's Gr3 Sydney Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. "$55,000 is a lot of money but it will seem cheap if he can win the race," Hickman said. "I think we will just make a hit-and-run mission to Melbourne. He will probably come down on the Wednesday night before the race and then leave early Sunday morning." Hickman added: "I think he will suit racing down the straight at Flemington."

  

  Pierata (image: Steve Hart)

• Valuable Youngster to Makes Stakes Debut

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  Co-trainer Michael Hawkes says he is excited about what the future holds for valuable colt Diplomatico who will make his stakes debut in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The 3YO son of Snitzel showed why he has always been held in high regard by connections when he resumed with a thumping 4.3 length win over 1300m at Kensington on 1 October. A $1.7 million purchase by George Moore Bloodstock at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Arrowfield Stud, Diplomatico is expected to achieve great things on the track but Hawkes says the talented youngster won't be rushed. "We are not getting ahead of ourselves, it's just one race at a time," Hawkes told Sky Sports Radio. "Obviously he has a lot of ability and hopefully he will end up in the better races down the track, but we will wait and see how he performs when he steps up to stakes grade on the weekend." Hawkes added: "It will all depend on Saturday, how he goes and what he does, but he is a good winning chance." Diplomatico is out of the Anabaa mare Top Cuban and is a half-brother to Gr3 BTC Classic winner Havana (Starcraft). This is also the family of Gr1 US Beldame Stakes winner Weber City Miss, the dam of dual Gr1 winning US sire Slew City Slew.

• Unorthodox Derby Path for Botti

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  Talented Kiwi 3YO Botti will continue his march towards next month's Victoria Derby when he runs in a Benchmark 70 over 2050m at Moe on Thursday. By Melbourne Cup placed stallion Jakkalberry, Botti is out of the Generous mare Lioness and is a half-brother to 2010 Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer. Botti has had one previous start in Australia when winning at Geelong earlier this month, but he must continue to collect more prize money if he is to have any chance of emulating his brother in the blue-riband at Flemington on 3 November. "We might go to Moe with Botti because he is right down on the minimum prize money for the VRC Derby and we've just got to get a bit of money in the bank," co-trainer Murray Baker told NZ Racing Desk. "We're very happy with him. He's a dead-set staying horse and he will get his chance if he gets into the longer race." Baker added: "He is by Jakkalberry who ran third in the Melbourne Cup and won the American St Leger and he's a three-quarter brother to Lion Tamer who won the VRC Derby, so he should stay like a mother-in-law. He's not as fast as Lion Tamer but he might be a bit more of a stayer."

• Vale Zariz

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  Kooringal Stud has announced that dual Gr2 winning sprinter Zariz (Mukaddamah-Divine Dash, by Tolomeo) passed away suddenly on Sunday from suspected heart failure. He was 21. Zariz's best progeny included Gr1 South Australian Derby winner Lazer Sharp, 9-time stakes winning sprinter Riziz, and dual Gr3 winning Dubbo sprinter Shiraz.

  It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kooringal resident stallion Zariz. pic.twitter.com/9IEMd99xjU — Kooringal Stud (@KooringalStud) October 15, 2018

• Colt Out of Australian Mare Fetches $750K

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  A colt by Kingman out of the Australian-bred mare Reem topped the opening day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when selling for 750,000 guineas to champion trainer John Gosden. Bred by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Reem is by Galileo out of the Danehill mare Al Afreet and hails from the family of champion European 2YO & 3YO and 5-time Gr1 winner Rodrigo De Triano. This is the potent Galileo x Danehill cross that has produced the likes of the mighty Frankel. Consigned by Adrian and Philippa O'Brien's Hazelwood Bloodstock at Exning near Newmarket, the colt's purchase price is the second highest ever achieved at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. "That was unbelievable," said Adrian O'Brien. "I was not sure what he would make. We decided to let the market find his value. He has been very popular in the run-up to today, and a lot of the main players were interested - it was just a matter of whether they followed him into the ring - which thank god they did!"

  

  Kingman x Reem colt (image: Tattersalls)

• Darley Announce 2019 US Fees

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  Darley has announced its 2019 fees for its North American Jonabell Farm-based roster which will be headed by Medaglia d'Oro at US$200,000. This year has seen Medaglia d'Oro enjoy fantastic returns in the sales ring. He has sired an astounding eight seven-figure yearlings, including three of the top four at Saratoga and an additional five at Keeneland September. Only Northern Dancer and Storm Cat have ever sired more in a single year. Darren Fox, Sales Manager at Darley in America, said: "How can you not be impressed with Medaglia d'Oro? Whether it's on the track or in the sales ring, he's simply delivering on all fronts. As far as our young stallions go, we are extremely impressed with the first foals by Frosted and Nyquist. From what we've seen, the quality runs very deep and we are eagerly awaiting their weanlings going through the sales ring in a couple of weeks." Darley's North American roster is:
  • Medaglia d'Oro - $200,000
  • Street Sense - $50,000
  • Frosted - $50,000
  • Bernardini - $50,000
  • Nyquist - $40,000
  • Hard Spun - $40,000
  • Street Boss $20,000
  • Astern - $15,000
  • Animal Kingdom - $15,000
  • Midshipman - $8,500

• No Cox Plate for The Autumn Sun

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  Connections have confirmed that emerging superstar colt The Autumn Sun will not contest the Cox Plate and instead will be spelled to prepare for the autumn. "Following consultation with the owners of The Autumn Sun, it has been decided that he will be spelled and will not race on during the spring carnival of 2018," trainer Chris Waller said in a statement on his website. "No firm plans have been discussed in relation to his program for next year, however it will be our goal to ensure he is racing in elite company and ensuring his talent as a more mature colt is showcased to all racing fans." Waller added: "The Autumn Sun is an incredibly exciting colt and I am very proud of his achievements in his short career to date. I do understand that there was a level of expectation to see him race again this spring, however my job is to ensure we see the best of what The Autumn Sun has to offer with longevity our primary concern when considering his immediate future." The Autumn Sun is owned by Hermitage Thoroughbreds and Arrowfield Stud, who purchased the stallion rights to the 3YO in the week leading up to his exceptional win in the Gr1 Caulfield Guineas last Saturday. Purchased for $700,000 by his trainer Chris Waller & Hermitage Thoroughbreds at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Arrowfield Stud, The Autumn Sun is by Redoute's Choice out of the unraced Galileo mare Azmiyna, a half-sister to the Aga Khan's ill-fated multiple Gr1 winner and former Brighthill Farm shuttler Azamour (Night Shift-Asmara, by Lear Fan). The Autumn Sun has hitherto won 5 of his 6 starts, including three Group 1s (namely the Caulfield Guineas, Golden Rose & JJ Atkins Plate), for $2,321,521 in earnings. It is the record of a horse blessed with very rare talent and stamps him as the second best horse in Australia behind his illustrious stable-mate Winx.

  

  The Autumn Sun (image: Mark Gatt)

• Yucatan Withdrawal Unfortunate: Williams

  Wednesday, 17th October 2018
  Nick Williams says Yucatan will not race again until the Melbourne Cup. Speaking on Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday morning, Williams explained the stable's decision to withdraw Yucatan from Saturday's Caulfield Cup and why he is unlikely to be seen again until the first Tuesday in November. "It was an unfortunate set of circumstances yesterday [Monday] for anyone that dived into the All-In markets. But I would offer a word of warning, they are ridiculous  to bet into at any time, they are there for the bookmakers really," Williams said. "Our job is to worry about the horse and yesterday morning Aidan and dad decided it was a certain runner but by the time Aidan had had a chance to sleep on it, and dad had a chance to reconsider, they reconvened last night and decided it probably wasn't in the best interests of the horse." Williams added: "I know he was impressive but no matter which way you look at it he had a very tough run on Saturday...it was a very firm track...you need to give them a proper period of time to recover. I think he will go straight to the Melbourne Cup. That is Aidan's view at the moment." Yucatan remains the $8 TAB favourite for the $7.3 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday, 6 November.