Barman on a warning

Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}) could be making his final appearance in the G2 Zipping Classic at Sandown on Saturday.

He finished near the rear of the field in the G1 Melbourne Cup last time out and trainer Chris Waller said the Group 1 winner will need to perform well to continue his career on the track.

“He has come through his run in the Melbourne Cup without any issues and he has spent a few days at the beach and seems to be nice and fresh and is moving well,” Waller said.

“James McDonald rides, who did win on the horse a couple of years ago. He has drawn well and should get a nice run and hopefully we see him get back to his best form to justify continuing on with him.

“He has been a great horse to the stable and we don’t want to see him going around if he is no longer competitive, so Saturday will be an important race for us.”

Distance test for Vengeur Masque

The G1 Melbourne Cup didn’t answer the question of the stamina depths of Vengeur Masque (IRE) (Monsun {GER}) but Saturday’s Listed Sandown Cup will.

“His run in the Melbourne Cup was inconclusive because of the wet track which he doesn't handle,” trainer Mike Moroney said.

“We're thinking he may not get two miles. He obviously runs out 2600 metres all right, but whether he runs any further, it's inconclusive.

“He's up and racing, fit, so we might as well find out.

“We know he's got his share of weight and weight over that trip can sometimes stop them, but when you look at the opposition it evens itself out."

Vengeur Masque’s performance over 3200 metres at Sandown will determine the rest of his campaign.

“He's lightly raced and this will be telling us whether we keep him at two mile races or drop him back to a mile and a half,” Moroney said.

“There's thought of going to New Zealand for the Wellington Cup. There's races in Sydney like the Chairman's and there's the Brisbane Cup around the mile and a half.

“There's plenty of options, we've just got to work out where to put him.”

Defending champ ready to go

Gary Hennessy is hoping a similar programme to last year will result in further G2 Gartshore Tauranga S. success on Saturday for Ocean Emperor (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

The Matamata trainer produced the entire for victory over 1400 metres at Awapuni last time out and he is quietly confident again.

“It was an excellent win,” Hennessy said. “He showed an explosive turn of foot and was carrying topweight against some good horses.

“We’ve just had him ticking over. I used Awapuni last year as a stepping stone into this race and that was only a rating 82 and he did it in similar fashion, although it was over 1500m.

“This time he has gone into an open class race carrying more than weight-for-age, so it was a really good effort and he did it with ease.

“If he gets a run in the straight we’ll see what he can do, he can really explode onto the scene.

“We have prepared well and that is all you can do, so we just need some luck in the running and see how it pans out from there.”

Ocean Emperor is on a path toward the G1 Captain Cook S. at Trentham next month where Hennessy hopes he can break through for his first victory at elite level.

“All going well, he’ll go down to the Captain Cook and that will be his main objective this year.”

Zoustar to stand for £25,000 at Tweenhills

Zoustar will stand the Northern Hemisphere breeding season at Tweenhills Stud in England for £25,000. “The much anticipated arrival of Zoustar offers European breeders the chance to breed to a true record breaker," commented David Redvers. "He is recognised as one of the most exciting young stallions in the world and with a limited book and a strong syndicate supporting the horse breeders will need to move very fast if they wish to secure a nomination.”

Recently crowned Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier 3YO colt Roaring Lion (USA) will enter stud at £40,000. While Charm Spirit (Ire), who shuttles to Windsor Park Stud, will return to Tweenhills at £17,500.

Vale Harry McCloud

Well travelled G1 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Harry McCloud has passed away.

As a teenager, he guided longshot Colonus (Portofino {GB}) to a seven-length victory in 1942 and rode in eight successive editions of the Flemington feature, also finishing runner-up in 1944 aboard Peter (Peter Pan).

Born in South Africa, he also rode in Singapore, India and Mauritius, and in Perth he struck up a fierce rivalry with another Cup winner John Miller, although they later became firm friends.

At 94, McCloud had been the oldest living jockey to have won the Melbourne Cup.

Success for All American

Geisel Park Stud stallion All American (Red Ransom {USA}) was represented by a winning double at Ruakaka on Friday off the back of success the previous day.

T he Richard Collett-trained stablemates Mercy Hill and Tiger Silk won a Rating 65 handicap and a maiden sprint respectively while the Ralph Manning-prepared Korakonui won for the third time in her career in a Rating 65 staying event at Awapuni on Thursday.

All American raced for Lindsay Park and Arrowfield Stud and won his first stakes race as a Christmas 2-year-old at Moonee Valley.

He was runner-up in the G1 Blue Diamond and then won the G3 Skyline S. before an unlucky fifth in the G1 Golden Slipper S.

All American subsequently defeated So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral {IRE}) in the G1 Emirates S.

The Western Australian-based stallion’s two best representatives have been the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce S. and G1 Spring Champion S. winner Yankee Dream and the G1 Queensland Derby winner Dark Dream.

Sherrif rules in Northland Cup

As expected, the highly-regarded staying prospect Sherrif (NZ) (High Chaparral {IRE}) returned to his best form with victory in Friday’s Dargaville Racing Club’s Northland Cup.

Last season’s G3 Manawatu Classic winner relished the return to a middle distance to justify his hot favouritism and win for the third time in his nine-start career.

“He relaxed nicely and pricked his ears at the end,” co-trainer Robert Wellwood said.

“He had to pop out three wide quite early so he didn’t have any back luck and we got the result. It’s onward and upward now.

“It was good to get his confidence up and see him racing kindly over a trip. He’s going to get better with time so we’ll get him home, see how he pulls up and then make a plan.”

Bred and raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Sherrif is out of the Group 1 performer Danehill (USA) mare J’Adane (NZ) and is a half-brother to stablemate and G3 Trentham S. winner Von Tunzelman (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).