Bostonian ready for Railway challenge

Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) is primed for his tilt at Tuesday's G1 Sistema Railway.

The 4-year-old, winner of the G3 Sunshine Coast Guineas in June, hasn’t been seen in a race since winning the Listed Counties Bowl at Pukekohe in November, but trainer Tony Pike has kept him working, including a gallop on Saturday morning.

“He had his final gallop on Saturday morning and worked extremely well,” Pike said. “He’s a horse that goes best when on the fresh side so we have deliberately just kept him ticking over since that Pukekohe run."

“He’s had a gallop between races at Te Rapa plus we took him up to Ellerslie for a gallop there so his fitness is good."

Bostonian will be looking to upset Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), who resumes in the race having won Group 1 races at her past two starts.

However, while the mare has drawn the second outside barrier, Bostonian has come up with the ideal draw in barrier 5.

“Luck has fallen in our favour with a good barrier draw while his main opponents have all drawn wide," Pike said.

“I would hope he can find a sit somewhere in the first five or six with plenty of speed on, then it will be up to him at the business end.”

Murphy cleared of break from fall

Brisbane apprentice Jackson Murphy was cleared of serious injury after falling on Granny Red Shoes (Not A Single Doubt) in the G3 Vo Rogue Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.

Murphy was dislodged around the 650m mark of the race and was taken to hospital with an injured hand.

He was released on Sunday after x-rays found no break in his hand but he did have issues with ligaments in his right thumb.

"He has stood down from riding at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. We will just have to play it by ear to see if he can take his rides at Beaudesert on Tuesday and Doomben on Wednesday," trainer Chris Anderson said.

"We will probably make a decision on Monday afternoon."

25 nommed for All-Star Mile for Lindsay Park

Lindsay Park has nominated 25 horses for March's All-Star Mile, including Group 1 winning sprinting pair Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}) and Vega Magic (Lope De Vega {Ire}.

Also nominated is G1 Australian Cup winner Harlem (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), multiple Group 1 placegetter Fundamentalist (Not A Single Doubt) as well as enigmatic galloper So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}).

Among several internationally-bred runners for David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig is Muntahaa (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), who finished ninth in the Melbourne Cup under the care of John Gosden before transferring to Lindsay Park.

Three-year-olds More Sundays (Fastnet Rock), Qafila (Not A Single Doubt), Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock), Mickey Blue Eyes (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}), Sikorsky (Pierro) and Good 'n' Fast (Sebring) are also entered.

Price backs Weir's track concern

Leading trainer Darren Weir has received substantial backing in his calls for a revision of the track watering policy put in place in Victoria.

On Saturday, Weir questioned why tracks weren't more heavily watered in summer and suggested that it was becoming a horse welfare issue after his star 3-year-old Native Soldier (Sepoy) pulled up sore from his win at Caulfield on Boxing Day.

Caulfield trainer Mick Price said that he backed Weir's suggestion that change was needed.

“The policy itself is flawed,” he told Racing.com. “What is the obsession with running on a Good 4 that is often upgraded to a Good 3 and many times is even firmer than that."

“The curators have a gun to their heads having to stick to ‘the policy’, who says this policy is even correct?”

“We’re the ones that see the horses in the days afterwards, it’s a welfare problem."

“Let’s find out the wagering figures and see if there is a monumental difference when a meeting starts in the soft range, these are the questions we need answered."

“We don’t need to follow other states, let’s review the current policy and work out a system that works well for us here in Victoria,” he said.

Sword Of Osman return date set

Trainer Jamie Richards has earmarked a race at Ellerslie on January 13 as the comeback for Group 1 winner Sword of Osman (NZ) (Savabeel).

The talented 3-year-old has not been seen since being unplaced in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last month and Richards confirmed he would be kept to a sprinting preparation this campaign.

“He’s probably more of a sprinter and he’ll resume in the three-year-old 1200m on January 13 at Ellerslie,” Richards said.

“He will then go on to the Mongolian Khan Trophy (G3, 1200m) on Karaka Million night and all going well he could then progress to the weight-for-age sprint (G1 BCD Group Sprint, 1400m) on February 9 at Te Rapa.

“He seems to be coming up well and Opie was happy with the exhibition gallop, so we look forward to seeing him back in action because he’s a pretty smart galloper at best."

Hong Kong first for Zoustar

The incredible success of Zoustar's first crop has made an international splash with the Widden stallion getting his first Hong Kong winner at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Dancing Fighter made a winning debut for Casper Fownes over 1200m, prevailing by a neck under Zac Purton as a well-supported favourite.

Owned by local celebrity Aaron Kwok, he was a $375,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Kulani Park draft for Aquis/McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Blue Sky Bloodstock having been previously sold for $100,000 as a weanling.

"It's great for a guy like Aaron to be involved. He has had success with me before but he loves his racing and it's awesome to see everyone buzzing," said Fownes,

"We'll let Dancing Fighter develop further but he'll be alright next season."

Zoustar has made a spectacular start to his career at stud with three of his first crop filling the first three placings in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. at Flemington.