Daily News Wrap

5 min read

$8m race to be staged in Sydney next spring

Racing NSW is set to confirm a new $8 million race in the coming days, with suggestions it will be held on the same day as the G1 Cox Plate.

Sydney's daily newspapers ran with the story on Monday morning, but were light on detail, only to say the race will be run the week after The Everest next year, with a distance somewhere between 1200m and 1600m.

Racing NSW's board ratified the concept last Thursday and an official announcement of the full details of the race would be made on Wednesday.

It would be the second richest race in Australia behind The Everest, which was worth $13 million this year, but ahead of the Melbourne Cup.

Racing Victoria recently announced that Flemington would host a $5m race called the All Star Mile next March.

Winx wins global award

Superstar mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) has been named the most popular horse by online voters from more than 60 countries.

The Secretariat Vox Populi Award, created by Penny Chenery, celebrates the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resonates with the general public.

Winx's astonishing 28-race unbeaten streak culminated in her fourth consecutive victory in the 2018 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, her seventh win of the year.

Winx and connections with four Cox Plates

Winx's connections will receive the Vox Populi on January 12 at Santa Anita Park.

"Racing certainly offered many historical and heartwarming stories in 2018," Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Penny Chenery, said.

"And once again, the 'Voice of the People' spoke very clearly. The fact that both the American public and voters abroad were not limited by international borders is a wonderful testament to the growth of the award and the winner's global appeal."

"Winx represents everything Mum envisioned when she created this award and reaffirms her notion that a beloved horse will captivate fans and draw interest to the sport no matter where they race."

Oliver eyes G1 double

Damien Oliver will remain in Perth to ride G1 Mackinnon S. winner Trap For Fools (Poet's Voice {GB}) in the G1 Kingston Town S. at Ascot on Saturday.

Oliver, who won the G1 Winterbottom S. aboard Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible) last Saturday was set to return to Melbourne to ride in this weekend's Pakenham Cup, but was offered the ride on Trap For Fools by trainer Jarrod McLean.

Damien Oliver

The final field of 15 for the final Group 1 of 2018 was declared on Monday with Trap For Fools joined by fellow last start Group 1 winner Galaxy Star (Redoute's Choice) as well as 13 others.

Darren Weir has two horses engaged, Iconoclasm (Toorak Toff) and Holy Snow (Fastnet Rock) while Chris Waller has Mister Sea Wolf (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}) in the race.

Galaxy Star, the last star Railway S. winner will be ridden by Chris Parnham, while stablemate and favourite Arcadia Queen (Pierro) will be ridden by William Pike.

Owner Bob Peters also has Perfect Reflection (Redoute's Choice), which will be ridden by Peter Hall, and Star Exhibit (Statue of Liberty {USA}), which Jarrad Noske will ride.

The barrier draw will be held at 7pm AEDT on Tuesday,

Pure Elation to miss autumn

Talented 3-year-old filly Pure Elation (I Am Invincible) will miss the autumn according to her co-trainer Peter Snowden.

A last-start winner of the G2 Furious S., Pure Elation, who is raced by Go Bloodstock, missed the rest of the spring with bone chips.

Snowden told Racenet her recovery was taking longer than anticipated and that she would be aimed at a return next spring,

“She’s had three months out but is still a long way off coming back,” Snowden said. “If she gets back it will hopefully be some time next spring.”

Peter Snowden

Pakenham goal for Big Mike

Our Big Mike (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}) will head to the Listed Pakenham Cup, having finished third at his two Australian runs.

Emily Farr, stable representative for trainer Craig Phelan, said the 2500m event will be Our Big Mike's last run in Australia.

“At Moonee Valley he was very good. He was tough and brave as always,” she said. “The Pakenham Cup is a little bit further. Hopefully he’ll just stride along in front and they might not be able to pick him up this time."

“He seems to have come through the race on Saturday very well. He loves it over here which is great. He’s a good traveler and is very happy.”

A winner of six of his 23 starts, Our Big Mike's previous crack at stakes company was in the G1 Livamol Classic at Hastings back in October.

Levin Classic on Crown Prosecutor's radar

Stephen Marsh will freshen up the G3 Lucia Valentina Wellington S. winner Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia D'oro {USA}) and head him towards the G1 Levin Classic at Trentham next month.

A winner of one of his four starts, Crown Prosecutor, a $50,000 Melbourne Premier Sale buy for Bruce Perry, has made substantial improvement through his first campaign.

Crown Prosecutor was a $50,000 Melbourne Premier Sale purchase

“He’s going to have seven to 10 days out in the paddock, then we will take him down for the Levin Classic and we’ll have to assess where we’re at after that,” Marsh said.

“What we do to get him there is undecided, but that’s definitely where we want to be. He seems to have come through the race well.”