Daily News Wrap

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Coolmore nominations charity auction

To assist with easing the crisis faced by farmers during the current drought in New South Wales, Coolmore Australia will donate a nomination to three of its most exciting young stallions – So You Think, Pierro and Rubick.

Bids will close on Wednesday August 29 at 5pm. The highest bids will be published daily at Coolmore.com/farms/Australia and via Coolmore Australia social media accounts.

In order to respond to the crisis, payment will be required immediately and will go to the Rural Aid and Buy A Bale charities. Terms and conditions are published on Coolmore.com/farms/Australia.

All bids must be entered by email to tmoore@coolmore.com.au

Stallion (Sire) 2018 fee (inc. GST):

SO YOU THINK (High Chaparral) $44,000

PIERRO (Lonhro) $88,000

RUBICK (Encosta de Lago) $17,600

Kate Grimwade appointed to Carbine Lodge

Kate Grimwade has returned to Australia to take up the role as Godolphin's assistant trainer at Carbine Lodge at Flemington.

Grimwade has been working as Godolphin's pre-training manager based at Newmarket but comes to Australia with plenty of experience with the Australian racing industry.

She previously worked as Racing Manager for Gai Waterhouse and also as Yearling Manager for Godolphin in Australia before returning to the UK in 2010.

“To have someone of her experience and skill at our stable in Melbourne is enormous for our team,” head trainer in Australia James Cummings said.

Grimwade has already begun her work at Carbine Lodge with Reg Fleming returning to his position as Senior Foreman.

Chautauqua faces strong trial

Chris Waller's three star three-year-olds will add plenty more intrigue to Chautauqua's barrier trial between races at Rosehill on Saturday.

The trial, to be held between races 3 and 4, will determine the racing future of the champion sprinter Chautauqua (Encosta De Lago {Aus}), who needs to jump from the barrier in order to be any chance of making from a racetrack comeback.

But there will be plenty of interest in Waller's trio The Autumn Sun (Redoute's Choice {Aus)}, Zousain (Zoustar {Aus}) and Lean Mean Machine (Zoustar {Aus}).

The Autumn Sun, winner of the G1 JJ Atkins S, is currently favourite for the Golden Rose, the Caulfield Guineas and the Victoria Derby.

Waller's Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}) is also entered along with Godolphin's Tally (Street Cry {Ire}) and Ron Quinton's Dixie Blossoms (Street Sense {USA}).

Aquis, Muswellbrook Race Club, TAB dig deep for local farmers

The Aquis-sponsored country TAB meeting at Muswellbrook NSW on Tuesday was devoted to aiding drought-stricken farmers of the Hunter Valley NSW through the Lion’s Club’s alignment with Need for Feed, a Lion’s Project.

Aquis partnered with racing and media identity Richard Callander at the meet, with Aquis providing Callander $2,500 to punt on each race.

Callander raised $6,800 through his punting, while Glen Munsie and the TAB committed to $13,200 to take the total to $20,000.

Dwyer's late charge for Guineas

Such has been the improvement by his filly Alexandra Dreaming (Written Tycoon {Aus}), that trainer Henry Dwyer threw in a late nomination for the Thousand Guineas.

It now seems money well spent after the filly's strong win at a long price at her first start in a particularly deep maiden over 1200m at Sandown on Wednesday.

Alexandra Dreaming sat outside the well-bred Sequitur (So You Think {NZ}), the full sister to G1 winner Inference, and powered clear, and seems set for some big targets this spring, including the G1 fillies feature at Caulfield on October 13.

She is out of stakeswinning mare Umaquest, who has already produced Group 3 winner Yattarna (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Alexandra Dreaming. Bred at Kambula Stud in South Australia, Alexandra Dreaming was sold for $100,000 as a weanling and then at the Melbourne Premier Sale for $175,000.

Melbourne beckons bonny mare

Quality mare Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) will head offshore in the near future following a trial outing at Taupo on Wednesday.

Last season’s G1 Underwood S. winner finished fourth in her 1100 metre heat and a performance got the seal of approval from co-trainer Andrew Forsman.

“It was a truly run trial and she just knocked up a bit. We’re happy with the way she’s coming up and we’ll get her on a plane to Melbourne in the next week or so,” he said.

Stablemate Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), who resumes in Saturday week’s G1 Tarzino Trophy, finished a bold second in the trial behind Gift Of Power (NZ) (Power {GB}), who enjoyed the lighter weight. “Jon Snow’s a bit more forward than the mare, he was good,” Forsman said.

The second of the open heats was won by Ocean Emperor (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) from Scott Base (NZ) (Dalghar {FR}), who are both Tarzino-bound and each nominated for the G1 Cox Plate.

“It was a good trial and he’s going into the Group 1 fit and ready,” Ocean Emperor’s rider Shaun McKay said. “He’s got a lot of ability and he’s going to be a good chance.”

Black type-winning fillies shine

Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) and Santa Catarina (NZ) (Savabeel) opened their campaigns in good fashion on Wednesday at Taupo where their class was evident.

The former, last season’s G2 Wakefield Challenge S. winner held sway at the post, but not by much from Santa Catarina.

“She’s been off the scene for nine months with a few niggling maturity issues and she’s coming up well,” said Xpression’s co-trainer Guy Lowry, who added the G3 Gold Trail Stakes was an obvious early target.

Santa Catarina’s conditioner Stephen Marsh said his filly would derive great benefit from the outing.

Bostonian trying to keep it in the family

Emerging sprinter Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) will be attempting to emulate the deeds of an esteemed relative when he returns to the track.

He went through the Queensland winter carnival unbeaten, culminating in success in the G3 Sunshine Coast Guineas, and is now back in Tony Pike’s Cambridge stable.

The domestic summer programme for Bostonian, who raced as The Bostonian in Australia, will include all the Group 1 short course features. “He’ll probably have one run before the Railway and then the Telegraph and the BCD Sprint at Te Rapa,” Pike said.

The son of the multiple Group 1 winner and former New Zealand Horse of the Year Jimmy Choux is from a family that breeder-owner David Archer has enjoyed outstanding success with. Bostonian is out of Keepa Cheval (NZ) (Keeper), who is a half-sister to (King) Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).

In the Archer colours, he won 20 races with half of those at the top level including two editions of the Telegraph and Waikato Draught Sprint (now the BCD Sprint). In Australia, he was successful in the Futurity S., and the Toorak Handicap.

Schofield in HK colours

Chad Schofield has been selected to represent Hong Kong in the World All-Star Jockeys competition in Japan.

Featuring 14 riders, the competition will be held over four races at Sapporo this weekend, two apiece on Saturday and on Sunday.

“It's a big honour to represent Hong Kong. I'm pretty chuffed that I've been invited and I'm really looking forward to it,” the expatriate Australian jockey said.

Schofield, 24, won the G1 Cox Plate on Shamus Award in 2013 and regularly returns to Australia for carnivals.