Daily News Wrap

5 min read

Time to nominate

Entries are now open for the Magic Millions National Sale series.

"We are delighted to again present vendors with the opportunity to nominate for one of the world's leading bloodstock auctions," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said.

"Not only is the National Sale the peak sale of its type in the Southern Hemisphere year after year, it is the biggest and best because it delivers the perfect vehicle for all participants to sell and purchase bloodstock across every level."

"Our competitive commission rates allow us the opportunity to attract the largest buying bench possible and to market the sale to a global audience."

Entries for the weanlings, yearlings, race fillies and broodmares close on March 15. Entries for racehorses close on May 27.

Debut win prompted plan

Trainer Lloyd Kennewell first started thinking of a G1 Lightning S. for Jedastar (I Am Invincible) after the filly won over the straight 1000 metre course at Flemington on New Year's Day.

The plan was confirmed shortly after the filly ran second in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield three weeks ago.

"She's in really good order and I couldn't be happier with where she's at," Kennewell said.

"Obviously it's a big task ahead for a 2-year-old filly, but if you could pick a year you wanted to be in it, I think it would be this year.

"We're happy to face that challenge and think outside the box. It's what you'll get from me as a trainer and I think my owners and clients are very comfortable with where we are at, what we are achieving and what we're doing.

"I think if she can run top three it enhances her value as a broodmare immensely."

Travel benefits Dreamforce

Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock) resumes in Saturday's G3 Southern Cross S. and trainer John Thompson says Dreamforce appears to have thrived with the experience of his first interstate trip in November when he won the G3 Chatham S. at Flemington.

"He has done very well since he's come back so I've got to say - and I don't know yet until he races - but the early signs are good," Thompson said.

"It's probably a bit short of his best distance on Saturday but he's won first-up before over 1100 so you never know."

Dreamforce holds nominations for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile and the All-Star Mile with Thompson keen to keep his options open.

Dreamforce

Cup hope on track

The lightly-raced German import Schabau (Ger) (Pastorious {Ger}) has his second Victorian start at Flemington with a long-term return planned for the G1 Melbourne Cup.

Trained by Robert Hickmott, Schabau made a winning introduction to Australian racing on the course on New Year’s Day.

Schabau

Hickmott scratched Schabau from a race at Caulfield two weeks ago, erring on the side of caution when the horse suffered a minor muscle strain in his hip region, which the trainer said was rectified in 48 hours.

"There's a lot of upside with him and I'm looking forward to Saturday," he said. "I think he's in the mould of a Melbourne Cup horse. He's got a great lung capacity.

"The Bart Cummings will be the race we set him for next spring and hopefully we can get into the Cup that way.”

The winner of The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington in the spring earns a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup.

Test for 3YO

Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra will find out where Age Of Chivalry (NZ) (Mr Remarkable) fits into the 3-year-old equation after Saturday’s G3 CS Hayes S. at Flemington.

His opposition includes G1 Victoria Derby winner Extra Brut (Domesday), G2 Sandown Guineas winner Ringerdingding (Sebring) and G3 Carbine Club S. winner Rainier (Lonhro).

"He's a horse on the rise," Zahra said. "The 1400 metres is what he wants and the ten-day back-up suits.

"It was nearly a month in between runs when he won at Sandown last time and he just overdid it a bit.

"I think he's got the ability, it's just whether he's ready for something like this against more seasoned horses."

If Act Of Chivalry performs well, Zahra said the team would like to push towards the Group 2 Alister Clark S. at Moonee Valley on March 15.

Guineas target for Arturo

Trainer Roydon Bergerson couldn’t hide his delight following the debut victory of 3-year-old gelding Arturo (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) at Wanganui on Friday.

“He was probably ready to go to the trials and not the races, but it was a small field so we threw him in,” Bergerson said. “He will just improve massively. He is a really nice horse and he has got a big future.

“We will probably have another run and then look at the G2 Wellington Guineas with him.

“He has got the ability. He is untapped really. He has got a great brain and he looks after himself.”

Blue makes a point

G1 King's Stand Stakes winner Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) has scored a decisive win over Faatinah (Nicconi) at Meydan to cement his place in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night and give trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick a treble at the meeting in Dubai.

All three winners were short-priced favourites, with Poetic Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Art Du Val (GB) (No Nay Never {USA}) giving the Godolphin team the opportunity to make big plans for the future.

Back-to-back victories in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot is the ultimate aim for Blue Point, who had no trouble dealing with his opposition in the G2 Meydan Sprint as he returned to action for the first time since finishing third in the G1 Nunthorpe S. at York in August.

"He'll head straight to the Al Quoz now and hopefully go for the King's Stand again," Appleby said.

The Sheikh Hamdan-owned Faatinah has had a win, a third and a second during his second trip to Dubai.