Sprinting duo ready to travel

Connections of Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {IRE}) and Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) are keen to showcase their talents ion the international sprinting stage.

The high-class pair were inoculated on Sunday in the hope quarantine restrictions are relaxed in time for the international meeting at Sha Tin in December.

At present, the Australian government has not approved travel home from Hong Kong because of the movement of horses between Sha Tin and the Conghua Training Centre on mainland China.

Australian horses racing in Hong Kong have to spend six months in another country before they can return.

“It if it doesn’t work out with Hong Kong, so be it. But it means he has also been vaccinated for a possible trip to Royal Ascot,” Trapeze Artist’s trainer Gerald Ryan said.

Trapeze Artist has won three times at Group 1 level in the Golden Rose S., the TJ Smith S., and the All Aged S. He finished runner-up on Saturday in The Everest on an unsuitably heavy track.

The Melbourne carnival has been ruled out for both the 4-year-old and Santa Ana Lane, who has Group 1 wins in the Goodwood H., and the Stradbroke H., on his CV.

He too failed to cope with the heavy ground at Randwick when sixth in Saturday’s The Everest.

Moreira back with Size

Joao Moreira is returning to Hong Kong to resume a successful association with trainer John Size.

Earlier this year, the Brazilian was initially given a short-term licence to ride in Japan until October 28 by the Japanese Racing Association, but failed a written exam on the history of Japanese racing to prolong his time there.

Moreira was an immediate hit when he moved from Singapore to Sha Tin in October 2013, capturing nearly every major race since and has won three jockeys’ premierships.

During his first stint in Hong Kong, Size was his biggest supporter and he confirmed Moreira will again be his stable rider with approval from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Penalty for Irish stayer

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Yucatan (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}) has been given a 2.5kg penalty for the G1 Melbourne Cup. He will miss the Caulfield Cup.

He was re-handicapped following a commanding staying performance to claim the G2 Herbert Power S., at Caulfield on Saturday.

The penalty moves Yucatan to 54.5kg in the Cup weights and 24th in the ballot for the rich 3200 metre handicap at Flemington on November 6 ,which has a field limit of 24.

Cut lays Cross Counter low

Charlie Appleby’s G1 Melbourne Cup contender Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {IRE}) has suffered a set-back.

He has sustained a cut to his leg which has required veterinary attention and the horse will miss at least a couple of days work.

“It is annoying, but the Cup is over three weeks away and there is time for him to be ready, provided his recovery is as we expect,” Appleby said on the Godolphin website.

“He will be box-rested for two days, the vets will have another look, and then we will assess everything after that.”

Cross Counter, a Northern Hemisphere 3-year-old, has won four of his seven starts and was at $13 for the Cup on Monday.

The stable won the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S., with Jungle Book (IRE) (Iffraaj {GB}) last month, but things haven’t gone so well since.

Emotionless (IRE) (Shamardal {USA}) is to undergo bone scans to determine his suitability for Saturday's G1 Caulfield Cup after pulling up lame from a gallop.

He has been restricted to light walking duties since last Saturday week.

Another of Appleby's Melbourne Cup hopes Hamada (GB) (Cape Cross {IRE}) had to be humanely euthanised on Saturday after he fractured a hind leg during a gallop at Werribee.

Racing days over

Five-time Group 1 winner Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars) has been retired in the wake of his failure in Saturday’s Toorak H., at Caulfield.

The Darren Weir-trained 8-year-old has been unplaced in six starts this preparation and was reported to have pulled up lame after finishing last in the Toorak.

Black Heart Bart, who began his career in Western Australia, won 16 of his 53 starts and earned just shy of $4 million.

Cup hopes still alive

John Wheeler still has G1 Melbourne Cup aspirations for Pentathlon (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), who finished ninth in last year’s Flemington feature.

“I’m confident he’s close to his best and I’m toying with the idea of going to the Moonee Valley Gold Cup then on to the Lexus, like we did last year,” the New Plymouth trainer said.

“I haven’t given up hope that he can sneak into the Melbourne Cup.”

Pentathlon finished sixth in the Egmont Cup on Saturday in just his second start since he finished runner-up in the G3 New Zealand Cup in November.

“He’s a robust horse and, even though he’d done a lot of work and is very fit, he’s not race fit,” Wheeler said.

“If I’m happy with him he can go over next Sunday or the following Wednesday. The New Zealand Cup is still another option, but he’ll probably go to Aussie.

“I’ve got another option for him if he doesn’t get in the Melbourne Cup. He can go for the Jericho Cup.”

The Jericho Cup will be run for the first time this year at Warrnambool on December 2. Run over the extreme distance of 4600 metres, it is open Australian and New Zealand-bred horses with the runners to be ridden by highweight and jumps jockeys.