The Daily Wrap

4 min read

Pierata on Group 1 path

Gifted 4-year-old Pierata (Pierro) will make his next appearance in the G1 Sprint Classic at Flemington.

The entire wasn’t originally nominated for the event, but connections have confirmed they will pay a $55,000 late entry.

Victory in the event would go a long way to Pierata securing his future at stud.

He won the G3 Vo Rogue Plate last season and finished runner-up in the G1 Randwick Guineas before returning this preparation to win the G3 Sydney S., at Randwick last time out.

A $160,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, Pierata is a half-brother to the G3 Skyline S., winner Ashokan (More Than Ready {USA}) with their dam the G3 Millie Fox S., winner November Flight (Flying Spur).

Her grandmother is the G1 Golden Slipper S., winner Century Miss (Century).

A likely Sprint Classic rival for Pierata to overcome is the multiple Group 1 winner Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}).

He hasn't raced since a disappointing trip to England where he was unplaced in both the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot and in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket.

Kooringal mourning loss of Zariz

Kooringal Stud has announced the sudden passing of resident stallion Zariz (Mukkadameh {USA}) of suspected heart failure on Sunday.

“Zariz covered two mares the previous day and was in wonderful condition, so his death has come as a great shock to us all,” farm principal Stuart Lamont said.

Trained by Gerald Ryan, Zariz won seven races including the G2 San Domenico S., the G2 Up and Coming S., the G3 BTC Sprint and the Listed Heritage S.

At stud, Zariz has so far produced more than 300 winners of 986 races and his progeny have earned in excess of $18 million to date.

His best representatives have been the G1 South Australian Derby winner Lazer Sharp and the Group 3 winners Shiraz, Riziz and Zaratone.

Chasing easier route to Derby

Co-trainer Murray Baker is likely to take the softer option with Botti (NZ) (Jakkalberry {IRE}) to chase down a berth in the G1 VRC Derby.

“We might go to Moe with Botti because he is right down on the minimum prizemoney for the VRC Derby and we’ve just got to get a bit of money in the bank,” he said.

“We’re very happy with him. He’s a dead-set staying horse and he will get his chance if he gets into the longer race.

“He is by Jakkalberry, who ran third in the Melbourne Cup and won the American St Leger, and he’s a three-quarter brother to Lion Tamer who won the VRC Derby, so he should stay like a mother-in-law.”

Botti, who is nominated for Saturday’s G3 Caulfield Classic, will be ridden at Moe by Damian Lane, who guided the 3-year-old to a last-start win at Geelong.

Lane will also be re-united with stablemate Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Cup. He previously reined him to victory in the G1 ATC Derby and in the G2 Tulloch S.

Any rain would boost the prospects of Jon Snow, who as third in the G1 Makybe Diva S., before an unplaced run in the G1 Turnbull S.

Shadow bridges gap to next class

High-priced Inglis Ready2Race graduate Shadow Bridge (War) made an early breakthrough at Newcastle on Tuesday.

Trained by Mark Newnham and ridden by Tim Clark, the 3-year-old was successful over 900 metres at his second appearance.

Shadow Bridge was originally purchased by Carinya Park for $155,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and subsequently sold to Hong Kong’s Sweetbriar Equine for $420,000 at the 2-year-old sale.

He is a half-brother to three winners, including the Group 2 performer Cliff Hanger (Canford Cliffs {IRE}), and is out of Crevasse (Snowland).

It is the family of the G2 Edward Manifold S., winner and G1 VRC Oaks runner-up Bring Me Roses (High Chaparral {IRE}) and the G3 Bobbie Lewis H., winner Face Value (Red Ransom {USA}), who finished second in the G1 Caulfield Guineas.

Rain causing havoc

Wednesday’s Doomben fixture has fallen foul of the Queensland weather.

It is the seventh meeting to be abandoned in a week following continued rain in Brisbane on Tuesday made it an inevitable decision to call the races off.

Doomben track manager Jim Roberts walked the racecourse with stewards on Tuesday morning and said most of the track was soaked.

It has had nearly 150mm of rain up to midday on Tuesday and 100mm since Saturday's race meeting was abandoned.

Roberts said if the rain eased as predicted, the track should dry quickly and racing could be possible on Saturday.