Humidor heads Cup handicaps

Three-time Group 1 winner Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {IRE}) is the topweight with 58kg in both the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup.

Humidor contested both races last year, finishing fifth in the Caulfield Cup and 19th in the Melbourne Cup and will defend his G1 Makybe Diva S., at Flemington on Saturday.

European contenders, Best Solution (IRE) (Kodiac {GB}) from Godolphin and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Lancaster Bomber (USA) (War Front {USA}) are next in the Cups’ handicaps with 57.5kg.

The Darren Weir-trained Kings Will Dream (IRE) (Casamento {IRE}), a stablemate of Humidor, is the TAB's ruling favourite for both races, will carry 53kg.

Last year's Victoria Derby winner Ace High (High Chaparral {IRE}) is the highest weighted 4-year-old in the Cups with 55kg.

The O'Brien-trained Kew Gardens (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}), who is the favourite for Saturday's G1 St Leger at Doncaster, has 53kg for the Melbourne Cup. Aidan's son Joseph O'Brien, who trained Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {IRE}) to win the 2017 Melbourne Cup, will pin his hopes this year on Irish Derby winner Latrobe (IRE) (Camelot {GB}) who has 52kg.

Group I winner’s trainer suspended

The trainer of The Everest contender In Her Time (Time Thief) will be without a licence from next week. Newcastle trainer Ben Smith will be suspended following an unexpected visit from stewards on Tuesday.

A Racing New South Wales report said the raid was prompted by advice of two sample irregularities from his horses.

A number of unlabelled and/or unregistered and/or unidentifiable substances were seized by the stewards and investigators obtained from the stable, vehicle and residence.

“All substances have been dispatched to the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory for analysis,” the stewards’ report said.

“In addition, Mr Smith’s mobile telephone and laptop computer were confiscated for the purposes of forensic imaging.”

Smith didn’t enter a plea to charges of refusing to provide evidence on who provided him with the substances found, but pleaded guilty to providing false evidence to stewards during the inspection. Stewards deferred the start of the ban until September 18, which allows his Group I-winning filly El Dorado Dreaming (Ilovethiscity) to resume for him in Saturday’s G2 Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick.

Stable star In Her Time, winner of the G1 The Galaxy last season, is due to open her The Everest campaign in the G2 Premiere Stakes at Randwick seven days later.

Zousain’s condition monitored

The G1 Golden Rose S., preparation of Zousain (Zoustar) has suffered a setback with the colt suffering from an elevated temperature.

His condition has been reported to Racing New South Wales and the 3-year-old is being treated with antibiotics.

Results of a blood test on Friday will decide if he is healthy enough to gallop on Saturday to further his preparation for the Rosehill feature on September 22.

Zousain won twice last season, including the G2 Moet & Chandon Classic, and finished second in the G1 JJ Atkins. He ran fourth in the G2 The Run To The Rose when recently resuming.

Carnival contender set for take off

Melbourne spring carnival hopeful Charles Road (Myboycharlie {IRE}) will depart for Australia on Sunday.

“All going well, he’ll run in the Naturalism S., at Caulfield the following Saturday,” said Andrew Scott, who trains the stayer with Lance O’Sullivan.

“His form is going to decide which way we go with him, but he has come back a stronger horse this time.”

Charles Road, who races as Sir Charles Road across the Tasman, won the G2 Chairman’s Quality on his last visit in the autumn and finished third in the G1 Sydney Cup. The G1 Melbourne Cup is the major spring target.

The five-year-old has quickly found winning form on his current preparation having won an open 1600 metre handicap at Hastings in his second start.

A $NZ$90,000 Karaka purchase for owner David Archer, Charles Road is out of Giant Mystique (Giant’s Causeway {IRE}) who is a half-sister to the former Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

Smart Queensland trial winners

Better Than Ready (More Than Ready {USA}) produced two promising 2-year-old trials winners in Queensland on Tuesday.

The Chris Waller-trained Soldati was untroubled to claim his 900 metre heat at the Gold Coast while Tom Dougall’s Arnwood was successful over 870 metres at Toowoomba in the hands of former New Zealand apprentice Rebecca Goldsbury.

Soldati was ridden by Glen Colless and they sat outside the leader to the turn before taking control and wasn’t unduly pressured to win. A $47,500 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Sale purchase, he is out of the triple winner Magic Model (Choisir).

Arnwood is the first foal of Miss Bam (Red Dazzler) while another recent trial winner Secondofmay is also the first foal of Vegas Luck (Break The Vault).

Another sire with his first runners this season is Rubick (Encosta de Lago) and his daughter Andrassy Avenue won at Tuesday’s Wodonga trials for David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig. She is out of Budapest (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Tapildo (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}).

Inglis breeze up sessions

The first of Inglis’ three breeze up sessions in Australia and New Zealand will open this week ahead of the 2018 Ready2Race Sale on Monday, October 15.

On Friday, a total of 64 2-year-olds will stretch their legs on the Cranbourne course proper from 11am.

Attention then moves across the Tasman to Taupo on Monday, with a breeze up session for the New Zealand juveniles entered for the sale.

The action then moves on to Warwick Farm, when it hosts more than 100 breeze ups from 10am on Friday, September 21.

Tea Rose hopeful in town

The Stephen Marsh-trained Santa Catarina (NZ) (Savabeel) has safely arrived at John Sargent’s Randwick stable ahead of her Australian debut in Saturday’s Gr.2 Tea Rose S., at Randwick.

The Stephen Marsh-trained daughter of Savabeel (Zabeel {NZ})was a last-start runner-up at Taupo when resuming over 1100m and boasts a Listed victory over that distance at Te Rapa in May.

“If she can get the right draw and take a good position, she will get her chance,” Marsh said. “She will improve again with the run, but this will tell us exactly where we are with her.”

“If she runs well, she will carry on to the Flight Stakes in two weeks’ time and win, lose or draw in that she will come home.”

Marsh said the 3-year-old filly was likely to have a brief spring campaign in Sydney, a tactic used successfully with Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), who later returned in the autumn to win the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m).

Santa Catarina has won two of her four starts, one at Listed level last season, for breeder-owner Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock. She is from the family of the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Atlante (Fastnet Rock).

McGrath takes ATC reins

Matthew McGrath has been elected the new Chairman of the Australian Turf Club with Julia Ritchie as his Vice-Chair. Their appointments are effective immediately

The ATC board held a special meeting on Tuesday after Laurie Macri recently announced his retirement as chairman, although he remains as a Director.

“It is a great honour to be elected by the board to continue the outstanding work Laurie has led as Chairman over recent years,” McGrath said.

“Laurie has served with great distinction as a director and chairman and his announcement last week selflessly recognised the need for the next stage of succession planning for the future of the club and Sydney racing.

“He has made the club's core strategy our racing program and we look forward to continuing to make Sydney racing at least the equal of anywhere in the world.”