Lane, Walker suspended
Damian Lane is set to miss the ride on boom sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi {Aus}) in next week's G2 Mitty's McEwen S after being suspended for 10 meetings for his G1 winning ride on Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}).
Lane was found guilty of careless riding aboard Humidor having shifted out on the eventual winning in the straight.
He was given the choice of stariting his suspension after the Moonee Valley meeting, but that would mean missing the ride on Humidor in the G1 Makybe Diva S on September 15.
Connections of Nature Strip have already announced the sprinter will be ridden by Mark Zahra next week in what looms as a key audition for a spot in The Everest.
Michael Walker enjoyed a G2 double at Randwick, but also copped a ten-day ban for his ride on Comin' Through (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in winning the G2 Tramway S. Walker will miss next week's racing and return on Thursday September 13.
Winx tunes up with jumpout win
Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) enjoyed a comfortable victory in a specially convened four-horse jumpout at Randwick on Saturday.
Hugh Bowman gave the superstar mare a very quiet time early, well off the early pace set for stablemate The Autumn Sun (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). But after sitting last, Bowman asked her for an effort over the final 200m and she sprinted clear to win by over a length from Patrick Erin (NZ) (Gallant Guru {Aus}).
"I was really pleased. Her behaviour in the barriers was great," Bowman said after the jumpout.
"She's come since her first up run and we're looking forward to two weeks' time now."
Winx is headed to the Colgate Optic White Stakes (George Main) S. on September 15 as she looks to stretch her winning streak to 27. She continues to please trainer Chris Waller.
"A trial today simulates a very easy race. She will be right for two weeks' time," he said. "I'm looking at her body language every day and she's wanting to do it - she's enjoying it."
German buys headed to Australia
Five yearlings from Friday’s BBAG yearling sale in Baden-Baden, Germany are headed Down Under, with agent Justin Bahen active at the one-day auction on behalf of the Hong Kong-based Orbis Bloodstock. Bahen spent €365,000 on five colts, sons of Soldier Hollow (GB), Thewayyouare (USA), Muhtathir (GB), Pastorius (Ger) and Sea The Moon (Ger).
"It's very hard to secure stayers as horses in training, it's become so competitive,” said Bahen. “These horses head into quarantine and then will have plenty of time to acclimatise in Australia. They are all 3-year-old types who should be progressive."
Figures took a dip at Germany’s premier yearling sale. The average and median were each down 11.5% at €38,644 and €39,000, respectively, while the clearance rate was just 63%. The joint top lots at €280,000 were a filly by Sea The Stars (Ire) and a colt by Siyouni (Fr) bought by Blandford Bloodstock and Godolphin, respectively.
Weir celebrates rare dead heat
Australia's leading trainer Darren Weir has achieved most things in racing but on Saturday, he tasted a first when two of his mares dead-heated in the Hockingstuart Hcp over 1400m at Caulfield.
Stablemates Mrs Gardenia (Rip Van Winkel {Ire}) and Bellaria (Magnus {Aus}) could not be separated by the judges in a blanket finish.
"It is a first," Weir said post race. "Good way to keep the owners happy I suppose. Both horses ran great and it’s nice to get a win for both of them."
Weir said Mrs Gardenia was destined to step up into stakes company over further distance this campaign, while Bellaria was also a chance to be aimed at blacktype races, with the likelihood she would be headed to the breeding barn after this campaign.
Derby destination for Furooq
Regally-bred Furooq (Frankel {GB}) will head towards the feature 3-year-old races in Melbourne off his impressive victory in a BM70 3yo race at Morphettville.
Furooq, trained by Tony McEvoy, surged clear to win at only his fourth start by nearly two lengths over the 1250m, a distance which was expected to be well short of where he will be best suited.
Assistant trainer Calvin McEvoy confirmed races like the Caulfield Guineas and Victoria Derby were on the agenda.
"We always thought he was going to be a really nice staying three-year-old. What he did as a 2-year-old was very good and to see him attack the line like that was outstanding," McEvoy said post-race.
Furooq was bred by Sheikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and is out the G1 winning mare Rostova, who travelled to the UK to go to Frankel in the 2015 season. She was brought by Tim Stakemire on behalf of the Sheikh for $850,000 in 2015.
Shark swoops to victory
The patient approach with the well-related 4-year-old Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle {IRE}) has been rewarded.
Off the scene since finishing fourth in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, the chestnut produced a sizzling performance on his return at Hastings on Saturday for an impressive victory.
“He relaxed nicely in the early stages and when he let down it was exciting,” trainer Jamie Richards said. “He’s a very good horse.
“The owners have been very patient. He’s had a few issues, but he’s over them now as an older horse.”
Out of the Group 2 winner Bak Da Chief (Chief Bearheart {USA}), Te Akau Shark is from the family of the G1 Easter H., winner Ponderosa Miss (High Chaparral {USA}) and was a $230,000 Ready to Run Sale purchase out of Lyndhurst Farm’s draft.
“He was an expensive horse, but they’re going to get their money back,” Richards said. “He’ll be back here in five weeks’ time for the open 1400 metre event.”
First winning strike
Debutante Loose Canyon (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) made the perfect start to her career at Ruakaka on Saturday.
Off the back of two trial wins, the 3-year-old wound up strongly in the final stages to beat fellow first-starter Maison Roxanne (NZ) (Snitzel), who hails from the family of Ethereal (Rhythm {USA}) in a driving finish.
Trained by Stephen Marsh, Loose Cannon was purchased out of Curraghmore’s Premier Sale draft to Karaka last year for $150,000 by Albert Bposma’s Go Racing syndication company.
The filly is a daughter of Head Enfilade (Mr Henrysee {USA}), who is a half-sister to the Listed Mornington Cup winner Dance Sculptor (Rancho Ruler).
