Prebble and Doyle suspended
Brett Prebble and James Doyle have both received suspensions out of Saturday's Group 1 meeting at Caulfield.
Prebble was outed for 20 meetings for improper riding aboard Cross Legend (Sebring) in the Aquis Jim Moloney S.
The experienced hoop, who only recently returned to riding in Australia, will begin his suspension on October 1, which will allow him to ride Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Bubbles (Sebring) in the G1 Sprinters Stakes in Japan next Sunday.
Prebble also rode three 2-year-old trial winners for Gerald Ryan last Monday and is likely to get the pick of the rides in next Saturday's Breeders' Plate at Randwick.
Doyle, who collected his first Group 1 in Australia in the Sir Rupert Clarke S. aboard Jungle Cat (Iffraaj {GB}) was suspended for seven meetings for his ride on Folkswood (Exceed and Excel) in the G3 MRC Foundation Cup.
Thinking Derby with Thinkin' Big
Thinkin' Big (High Chaparral {Ire}) will step up to Group 1 company at his next two starts after his emphatic win in the G3 Gloaming S. at Rosehill.
The G1 Spring Champion S and the G1 Victoria Derby are firmly on Thinkin' Big's agenda after his 2.5l win off an eight-week break over 1900m.
"He’ll back up in two weeks, go to the Spring Champion and then we’ll head down to the Derby in Victoria,” Co-trainer Adrian Bott said.
"Obviously he is a very professional colt and a really exciting horse for us going forward. I think there is definitely improvement in him.”
Thinkin' Big is one of two 3-year-olds nominated for the Melbourne Cup and Gai Waterhouse said post-race, that she wouldn’t rule out also progressing the colt to that race.
Youngstar to clash with Winx
Chris Waller has confirmed his Caulfield Cup bound mare Youngstar (High Chaparral) will head towards her target through the Turnbull S. at Flemington on October 6.
Youngstar was a little unlucky in being beaten into third in the G2 Schweppes Shannon S, on Saturday, just over half a length from the winner, stablemate Noire (Foxwedge).
But Waller was very happy with the run, and feels she is right on target for the $5 million 2400m handicap on October 20.
“I thought she was brilliant. I thought it was the run of a winner. She is obviously looking for further," he said.
“Down the inside, I think it is hard to get mobile. With clear running I think she goes close to winning the race.”
“She’ll have one more run, probably in the Turnbull against Winx and then to the Caulfield Cup.”
Clark's backs Shumookh's G1 credentials
Fresh from guiding Shumookh (Dream Ahead {USA}) to a valuable victory in the G2 Golden Pendant, jockey Tim Clark was pushing her case as a genuine Group 1 quality mare.
Shumookh's win may have been narrow but Clark is looking forward to sticking with her, with a view to the G1 Myer Classic at Flemington.
“(The Myer Classic) looks like an ideal target. She beat some really good mares today and some mares that have been competitive in that sort of race. I’m sure Gai and Adrian will map out a plan of where to go next but I’ll be going with her,” he said.
“She’s lightly raced, obviously very well bred. She’s going to be very good to Emirates Park with a Group 2 next to her name. They’ve won some big races, these colours here, and I’m sure they’re happy to get a Group 2 next to her names as well.”
Vale Postponed
Westbury Stud stalwart Postponed (USA) was laid to rest at the Karaka nursery on Friday.
“The son of Summer Squall had been in excellent fettle until recently, when he contracted an issue which compromised his health, leaving us with no option but to do the humane thing,” the farm said.
Postponed began his career at David and Masey Benjamin’s Fayette Park Stud before he relocated to Westbury in 2009.
He sired the Group 1 winners Consensus, Dorabella, Pasta Post and Wait A Sec, Group 2 winners Postmans Daughter and Naturo and the Group 3 winners Mr O’Ceirin and Duckworth Lewis.
A Group 2 winner in the United States, Postponed has produced 251 winners and 14 individual stakes winners of more than $18 million.
Regal effort from filly
Princess Amelie (Snitzel) flew the fillies’ flag with pride when she downed a number of G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas contenders at Hastings on Saturday.
The only female in a competitive line-up, she sat in the trail and once into the clear she finished strongly to win the Rageese @ Windsor Park Stud 1200 for the perfect start to her 3-year-old season.
“We put the hood on her in her work in the last two or three weeks and she’s improved lengths,” trainer Lisa Latta said.
“We’ve sat and waited for a decent track for her. She’s quite a big filly and she holds a nomination for the 1000 Guineas, but there are a lot of options for her.”
Rider Jonathan Parkes was suitably impressed and expected her to be competitive in Group features.
“We had a nice gate and a sweet trip and when we got the split she flew through it,” he said.
“She’s only going to improve and she’ll be up to all those premier meetings.”
Princess Amelie was bought out of Little Avondale Stud’s Ready to Run Sale draft for $300,000 by Latta on behalf of long-time stable client Lincoln Farms.
The filly is a daughter of the G2 Furious S., winner Just Dancing (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), who is a daughter of the former champion 2-year-old and multiple Group 1 winner Ballroom Babe (NZ) (Citidancer {IRE}).
Extra reward for winning jockey
A lengthy wait to taste victory as an owner ended at Hastings on Saturday for Shaun McKay.
He rode Amarula (Alamosa NZ) to victory in the Redshaw Memorial H., and now races the former G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas winner with his parents Peter and Kim.
“He wanted to buy into him as a yearling, but he couldn’t – jockeys can own but apprentices can’t so he’s had to wait until now,” Peter McKay said.
The fully-fledged jockey had Amarula in his customary role on the pace and the gelding showed his fighting qualities in the straight by getting the better of the pacemaker Indecision (NZ) (Per Incanto), who was in receipt of seven kilos.
“He jumped well and sat outside the leader and he’s very tough from there,” Shaun McKay said.
“He’s definitely the stable pet and every time he wins it’s a big thrill.”
