Mile entry keeps options open

Crack colt The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) is among a number of nominations from Chris Waller’s champion stable for the inaugural running of the $5 million All-Star Mile.

“He has been entered to ensure the options for connections are left open,” Waller said in a statement.

“Having now furnished into a mature autumn 3-year-old, I am incredibly excited to see this colt return and follow on from the exhilaration and excitement he has provided racing fans in his short career to date.

“While the All-Star Mile is not yet guaranteed to feature on his programme, he has been entered to ensure that the public have the opportunity to vote without the door being closed on a possible start in this year’s inaugural event.”

Other updates from Waller Racing:

Winx (Street Cry {IRE}) wasn’t among Waller’s All-Star Mile entries.

Ancient Spirit (GER) (Invincible Spirit {IRE}): “He has recently been imported to Australia under the new ownership of Yulong Investments. This lightly-raced son of Invincible Spirit was arguably the best 3-year-old of the season in Germany, taking out the Group 2 2000 Guineas in May and then followed that up with a victory in the Group 2 Oettingen-Renne, both over the 1600 metre distance.”

D'Argento (So You Think {NZ}): “He has returned bigger and stronger than ever ahead of his autumn campaign and what a sight it would be to see him on the big Flemington track. He has speed, he has strength, he has class and my aim is to get him to Flemington where I feel he can prove himself as one of the best milers in the country.”

Shillelagh (NZ) (Savabeel): “She continues to prove herself as one of the best mares in Australia and her track and distance record speaks for itself. She is a proven top-class miler in Australia and she has proven she is in career-best form this season.”

Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock): “One of racing's emerging stars, Unforgotten returned from a dominant G1 ATC Oaks win last season to record a Group 2 win and Group I placing over 1600 metres in the spring. Unforgotten boasts an exciting racing style and possesses a very sharp turn of foot which would see her incredibly well suited to Flemington.”

Tom Melbourne (IRE) (Dylan Thomas {IRE}): “The people's champion and despite not having broken through for a victory since March 2016, I am sure the public would love to see a spot in the race for Tom. In the past two seasons, he boasts placings in the four feature mile events in Australia.”

Kaonic (NZ) (Savabeel): An underrated galloper who started to deliver what he had been promising with performances during the spring. He recorded three wins from five runs last preparation which culminated in a strong win at Listed level over 1800 metres at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.”

Godolphin targets autumn prizes

Godolphin's 2-year-old army is building toward the autumn features with trainer James Cummings confirming highly-rated juveniles Tassort (Brazen Beau) and Athiri (Lonhro) would step out at the trials in the coming weeks.

Tassort booked himself a spot at the top of G1 Golden Slipper S. markets with an effortless 5.3l win in the Golden Gift S. at Rosehill in November, while the filly Athiri was a dominant winner of a 2-year-old handicap at the same track a week later.

“Athiri and Tassort are a few weeks away from a trial,” Cummings told Sky Thoroughbred Central. “We haven’t exactly settled on a trial date yet, but they are in full swing with their preps and I'm really happy with the way that they are coming along.”

Godolphin claimed the first 2-year-old feature of 2019 when Exhilarates (Snitzel) stormed home from last to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic last Saturday and Cummings said the filly was having a short break before a tilt at further riches in the autumn.

“Our Magic Millions heroine has gone for a little break at Agnes Banks and she's picking a bit of grass. We won’t give her too long out and she’ll be back into the swing of it at Crown Lodge very shortly.”

Cummings was pleased with the trial of Amercement (Lonhro) in the opening 2-year-old heat at Rosehill on Tuesday morning. She was fourth on debut in the G3 Gimcrack S. and will be given a chance to break her maiden in an easier race at Newcastle on January 26 first-up this campaign.

“Amercement is a lovely Lonhro filly. She is a bit behind on strength compared to some of the others, but one thing she was able to do is run fourth in a Gimcrack after being knocked over at the start which we were impressed with,” he said.

Godolphin his having an excellent season with its 2-year-olds and Cummings said there was still plenty of quality yet to hit the race track.

“We bought a good little team of sale yearlings and we have only really taken the wraps of one of them (Exhilarates) and she was pretty capable at the races.”

Magic Millions Racehorse sale

Group 3 winning Godolphin import Spectroscope (USA) (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}) has a new home after local buyer Tosh Murphy paid $230,000 for the 6-year-old at the Gold Coast Racehorse Sale.

A winner of four of his 25 starts, including the 2017 Doncaster Prelude, Spectroscope started his career in France before coming to Australia in 2017, winning back-to-back races.

But while he has been stakes-placed several times, he has failed to win since and was one of 24 horses up for sale on Tuesday.

G3 Spring S. winner Astoria (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) sold for $145,000 to Jack Pakis, while Lava (Reset), a 3-year-old who debuted with a third at Cranbourne last Friday, was sold for $115,000 to Edwards Cummings, the brother of his former trainer James.

Other Godolphin horses to sell included Beau Geste (Street Cry {Ire}) and Hemsted (Exceed and Excel), who both went for $100,000 to Te Akau Racing and Roy Sergi respectively. There were 41 horses in total sold.

Earlier, Book 3 wrapped up the Magic Millions Yearling Sale with $20,000 the top price paid for Lot 1132, by Better Than Ready out of Magic Square (Choistar) and Lott 1134.

All in all, 19 yearlings were sold in Book 3 with seven passed in.

Bosson booked for top fancy

Opie Bosson has been confirmed as the rider of the Karaka Millions pre-post favourite Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel).

The last-start winner is one of five in the race for trainer Jamie Richards with Te Akau bidding for a third straight title after Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) was successful in 2017 and Avantage (Fastnet Rock) claimed the crown last year.

Leading Sydney-based jockey James McDonald will be back in his homeland and will partner Group 2 winner Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) for Richards while Matthew Cameron is on Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}.

Debut winner Louis Luck (Dissident) will have the services of Shafiq Rusof and Jonathan Riddell and will ride stakes performer Challa (Dissident).

First NH foal for Astern

The first Northern Hemisphere foal by Astern (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) has arrived.

Bred by Jack Sims of McKenzie Bloodstock, a filly was born at Lyn Burleson's Burleson Farm in Kentucky and is out of Tribal Rule (USA) mare Desperate Chick (USA).

She is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner and producer Native Bombshell (USA) (War Front {USA}).

Astern shuttles from Darley's Kelvinside Farm in New South Wales and is standing this year at Darley's Jonabell farm near Lexington for US$15,000.

He is the highest-rated son of leading stallion Medaglia d'Oro , who also stands at Darley.

Astern earned a Timeform rating of 126 when winning the G1 Golden Rose S and his rating is the highest for any son of Medaglia d'Oro in either Hemisphere.

“We were already delighted with the early preview we received with Astern's first Australian foals last fall and if this first foal is any indication we will be very pleased with his crop here as well,” Darley Nominations Manager Darren Fox said..

Raced by Godolphin, Astern won the G2 Slipper S. and the G3 Kindergarten S as a 2-year-old.

The following season he claimed the G2 Run To The Rose along with the Golden Rose and finished runner-up in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.

Guineas target for colt

The well-bred More Sundays (Fastnet Rock) will open a campaign at Sandown on Wednesday which connections hope will take them all the way to the G1 Australian Guineas.

A son of the eight-time Group One winner More Joyous (More Than Ready {USA}), he began his career with a debut win at Geelong and then went to Sydney, but G1 Golden Rose hopes were dashed after he was unplaced at Randwick.

More Sundays will resume in the Le Pine Funerals Handicap against his own age group.

“I think he's a very promising young horse. He's quite classy,” co- trainer David Hayes said.

“I thought his win at Geelong was good and his trial in Sydney after that was outstanding. Then what happened was he went shin sore.

“We are hoping he is a Guineas horse. His trials have been good and I think he'll run a good race.”

Melbourne move confirmed

Leading South Australian jockey Jamie Kah’s departure from the state has been confirmed.

Kah, who had a stint in Melbourne as an apprentice, has been booked for four rides at Thursday's Geelong meeting.

“The move to Victoria has always been on the agenda for Jamie,” her manager Nick Pinkerton told RSN927.

“She has had a stellar three or four seasons now and she's closing in on 500 winners over the last three and-a-half seasons and she just feels the time is right.

“She had a cracker December, riding 19 winners during the month, and on the back of three Group 1 placings last year she is keen to get that maiden Group 1 under her belt.

“She just felt a move to Melbourne would be something that would position her best to make that happen.

“Like any professional athlete, Jamie is keen to test herself at the top level. The deeper riding ranks and the professionalism of Victorian racing is definitely something Jamie feels offers her upside and she's keen to get amongst it and see what she can do.”

Group 1 aspirations for Supera

Supera (NZ) (Savabeel), a grand-daughter of the great Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}), is being set for bigger targets.

Prepared by Ken and Bev Kelso and Mark Donoghue, her last-start G3 Anniversary H. victory was the fifth of her ten start-career for breeder-owner Sir Peter Vela.

“She’s always shown us a fair bit, right from day one,” Ken Kelso said. “Temperament has always been an issue with her, but she is gradually improving.

“She has always had that x-factor and it is nice that she is putting it all together and hopefully it is upwards from here.”

Kelso indicated the G1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic at Otaki in February would be the mare’s primary aim.

“She’ll have a week off and I think it is 40 days to Otaki,” Kelso said. “That policy of keeping her fresh and going a mile seems to be working with her and eventually she will get over ground.

“We will go to Otaki and then the logical target after that is the G1 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Te Aroha. She’s got a terrific turn of foot and I think she can only get stronger.”