Daily News Wrap

8 min read

Redzel on the improve

Redzel (Snitzel) is still on track for the defence of The TAB Everest despite being scratched from The G2 Shorts on Saturday.

Redzel knocked himself in his box overnight on Friday and missed his penultimate lead in to The Everest after pulling up with soreness.

While further blood tests will be conducted to give the 6-year-old the all clear, co-trainer Paul Snowden said Redzel has made a strong recovery.

"He's carrying on like a two-year-old this morning, so we're pretty happy with where he's at," he told RSN.

“Tomorrow we’ll put the saddle on back and carry on as normal,’’ he said.

Snowden said that the G2 Premier S. on September 29 was still the most likely next step for Redzel ahead of his defence of The Everest on October 13.

Redzel

Latrobe headed to Melbourne

Owner Lloyd Williams has confirmed Irish Derby winner Latrobe (ire) (Camelot {GB}) will head to the Melbourne Cup after finishing second in the G1 Irish St Leger on Sunday.

Latrobe, trained by last year's Melbourne Cup winner Joseph O'Brien, was beaten by 2.75l by Flag of Honour (Ire) (Gailileo {Ire}) and Williams confirmed that he would now come to Australia for the Flemington feature.

Williams is looking for three successive winners, and seven overall, in the world's richest handicap after Rekindling (GB) (High Chapparal {Ire) won last year's race off a very similar campaign.

Flag of Honour's trainer Aidan O'Brien said that the Melbourne Cup was still a possibility for his horse, but that the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup was a more likely next destination.

Latrobe has 52kg in the Melbourne Cup while flag of Honour has 51kg.

Viddora still trying for Everest

A strong trial win has put G1 winning mare Viddora (I am Invincible) firmly on the radar for the final spot in the field for The TAB Everest.

Viddora is headed towards the G1 Moir S. at Moonee Valley on September 28 and warmed-up with an easy trial win at Cranbourne on Monday.

Trainer Lloyd Kennewell is still hopeful of a call from Max Whitby or Neil Werrett, who have the final slot in the $13 million sprint on October 13.

"She just cruised around and idled up the straight and quickened up the last furlong and she looked to be doing it very comfortably," Kennewell told Racing.com after the trail win.

"We are on track for the Moir Stakes on Friday week and then the Manikato is a [month] after that."

"Obviously there is one Everest slot left and stranger things have happened so we'll just stick to our plan and if she happens to run really well in the Moir then I'm sure things will get talked about."

Meanwhile, the horse who ran second to her in the trial, the David Vandyke trained Asharani (I am Invincible) is back on a G1 Thousand Guineas path after a mis-hap at her previous start at Doomben.

"We're here to run in the Thousand Guineas Prelude in two weeks from yesterday and this filly was under a ban so she had to trial before she raced so we thought she'd have a spin around here the Melbourne way of going and she passed that test so we’re looking forward to the prelude," Vandyke said.

Ring fits for Waterford Bloodstock

Leading New Zealand-based bloodstock agency Waterford Bloodstock has appointed Cameron Ring to join the company.

Ring, who has most recently worked with Cambridge Stud, has worked at some of New Zealand's most successful stud farms as well as agents in Australasia, including Paul Willets, Paul Moroney and Damon Gabbedy.

“We are thrilled with the applications we received from all over the world to join Waterford,” Waterford Bloodstock founder, Michael Wallace said.

“Cameron is exactly the type of person we feel can excel in this position and the industry. We look forward to welcoming him into the team."

Waikato backing Karaka

Waikato Stud is backing New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2019 National Yearling Sale at Karaka with all its got.

The powerhouse Matamata farm, who has been the top vendor for the last five years, will not be selling at any Australian auctions.

Its 108 strong draft will be 100 per cent Karaka bound, a decision that stud principal Mark Chittick believes is recognition of the vital importance of the sale to the local breeding industry.

“We all need our national sale to be strong each year and hopefully this decision will help play its part as a cornerstone of that success,” he said.

“We have enjoyed some wonderful moments in the past and last year we produced our biggest draft with 85 individuals at the sale."

“This year we will start with 108 although a few may drop away before the sale starts but I expect we will have around the 100 mark. Included amongst the draft are a number of fillies from our most successful families so we expect the demand to be there for those individuals."

“I guess there is some nervousness with all of your eggs in one basket but we have real confidence that the product we have to offer will suit the needs of the wide array of buyers that come to the sale each year.”

Busking, Snitzel honoured at TBNSW Awards

Happy Clapper's dam Busking (Encosta De Lago) was awarded the G1 Goldmine NSW Champion Broodmare of The Year at the Thoroughbred Breeders NSW Awards on Saturday.

Busking is the not only the dam of the triple G1 winner Happy Clapper, but also of 2018 G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. winner Not A Single Cent.

Breeder Michael Thomas bought the mare for $13,000 in foal to Teofilo, the resultant foal being the $6.3 million earner Happy Clapper.

Willow Park’s Jade Rossington accepted the award on Thomas' behalf.

In other awards the Ranvet NSW Small Breeder Of The Year was awarded to Mary Jane Basson who bred Queensland Derby winner Dark Dream (All American), the Horsepower NSW Champion First Season Sire was won by Widden Stud’s Zoustar and the award for Champion NSW Sire of Two-Year-Olds went to Arrowfield's Snitzel, who also collected the award for HQ Insurance NSW Champion Sire.

Happy Clapper

Saxon Warrior And Alpha Centauri Retired

Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) have each been retired from racing after finishing second in their respective Group 1s at Leopardstown on Saturday.

“When we looked at him this morning his tendon wasn’t in a good place. There’s a tear in there and it’s a big pity," Aidan O'Brien said about Saxon Warrior.

The Niarchos Family’s Alpha Centauri proved the standout filly of her generation, winning five Group 1 races, before finishing second to Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in Saturday’s G1 Matron S.

“She had a chip in her right front fetlock, which you could see her feeling in the closing stages yesterday. It’s not a catastrophic injury and hopefully she can enjoy a successful career as a broodmare," stated the owners’ racing manager Alan Cooper.

Flag of Honour Wins Irish Classic

Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) won the G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger at The Curragh on Sunday.

"We’re delighted with him and it’s great credit to the lads at home,” expressed trainer Aidan O’Brien after claiming his second Classic of the weekend.

Quorto Looks The Real Deal

Godolphin’s homebred Quorto (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) added to his lofty reputation by capturing the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh.

“He’s a typical Dubawi and we went through that stage from the Superlative to here where he went a little bit quiet on us and needed all of that time," commented Charlie Appleby.

"I’ve probably got the most experience with Dubawis–they go through that patch, but in the last 10 days he’s really come back to where he was."

Commanding Performance By Havana Grey

Lining up as favourite for Sunday’s G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five S. over The Curragh’s five panels, Havana Grey (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) won with authority.

“He deserved this as he’s been so consistent, he’s turned up to every gig and is still only three. There is plenty of interest in him to go to stud so we’ll have to sit down with the owners and see what we do," said winning trainer Karl Burke.

Another Group 1 Winner For Scat Daddy

Finally given favouritism in a prestige race, Skitter Scatter (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) fully justified that position as she delivered more of the same magic in Sunday’s G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh.

La Pelosa Adds To Godolphin's Day

La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) made all the running late as she swept to victory in Sunday’s GI Natlama S. at Woodbine. Making her North American debut for Godolphin, the filly gave the ‘Boys in Blue’ its third Group 1/Grade I on Sunday, following wins in Ireland and France.