Daily News Wrap

3 min read

Rowley Mile success for Waller import

Irish import Mister Sea Wolf (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}) has claimed back-to-back Listed successes with a win in the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury on Thursday.

Now in his second campaign for Chris Waller, the seven-year-old has thrived since getting the blinkers on his past two starts, winning the Winter Challenge at Rosehill in July before his latest success.

A possible tilt at the G1 Epsom now awaits Mister Sea Wolf, who was brought by Guy Mulcaster after winning five races in Ireland earlier in his career.

Mister Sea Wolf ran over the top of Flow (Street Cry {Ire}) late to claim the win, with Alward (Ire) (Aqlaam {GB}) third in a good return from a spell.

Vega Magic on track for Memsie defence

The Everest-bound Vega Magic (Lope De Vega {Ire}) continued his preparation towards his next start in the G1 Memsie S with a solid workout at Lindsay Park on Thursday.

Co-trainer Tom Dabernig told RSN that the six-year-old, who won the Memsie S last year before running second in The Everest, worked over six furlongs, coming home his final 200m in 11.4 seconds.

Dabernig said Vega Magic was right on target for the Memsie on September 1 and would have one more piece of strong work on Monday.

"He was impressive in winning it last year and has got an undefeated record at Caulfield. We couldn't be any happier with him at this stage."

Cross Counter on Cup mission

The Charlie Appleby-trained Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {IRE}) has booked his passage to Australia.

His last-start runner-up finish behind stablemate Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {IRE}) in the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York following his victory in the G3 Gordon Stakes has confirmed his place in the Godolphin travelling party.

“Really, it couldn't have worked out any better. Old Persian can head on to the St Leger now and Cross Counter can do what we always expected him to do and go to Melbourne for the Cup,” Appleby said.

“I think we have a nice team going down to Australia, but it just depends how well they travel.”

The 3-year-old (southern hemisphere 4YO) Cross Counter has won four of his seven starts up to 2200 metres.

Sheikh Fahad's new high

Qatar Racing's Sheik Fahad al Thani says the success of Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) in the G1 Juddmonte International at York surpasses the win of Dunaden in the 2011 Melbourne Cup as his favourite racing moment.

Roaring Lion, trained by John Gosden and ridden by former Australian-based jockey Oisin Murphy comprehensively won the battle with Poet's Word (Ire) (Port's Voice {GB}) by over three lengths in the much-anticipated race to stamp himself as the best middle-distance horse in Europe

"This is the best race I've ever witnessed, better than Dunaden and that says a lot for me," Sheik Fahad said.

Cox Plate-bound Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was among the beaten brigade, finishing fifth after sitting on the early pace, while the Lloyd Williams-owned Latrobe (Ire) {Camelot {GB}) was seventh.

Te Aroha new venue

Due to heavy rain and prevailing track conditions at Te Rapa, Saturday’s Pakuranga meeting has been transferred to Te Aroha.

After discussions with stakeholders and New Zealand Jumps Inc, the Bridges Insurance Pakuranga Hunt Cup will now be run over 4200m as there is no appropriate start point at or near the 4800 metre, the original distance, mark at the new venue.

All hurdle races will be run over about 3100 metres, the maiden steeplechase will be run over about 3500 metres. All scratchings have been reinstated.