Daily News Wrap

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Angland family to benefit

A nomination to four-time Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) for the 2019 Australian breeding season will open the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, with all proceeds going to injured jockey Tye Angland.

Angland rode Trapeze Artist to Group 1 successes in the Golden Rose, TJ Smith S. and All Aged S.

The nomination to Trapeze Artist, who will stand at Widden Stud, will be offered as Lot 1 at Riverside Stables on the evening of Friday, May 3.

Tye Angland aboard Trapeze Artist

In line with Widden’s standard terms, a free return will be offered should the mare be in foal at 45 days but fail to produce a live foal.

Angland was injured in a race fall at Sha Tin in November last year and has since been declared a quadriplegic.

Trapeze Artist's owner Bert Vieira hoped his gesture would assist the Angland family financially in what is a challenging time.

“Erin, myself and our three children are extremely appreciative of the kind gesture from the Vieira Family,’’ Angland said. “I hold Trapeze Artist in the highest regard as the most talented horse I rode during my riding career.

Sydney best option

Connections of Land Of Plenty (Stratum) took a long-term view when they decided to bring the horse to Sydney, rather than pursue a start in the inaugural All-Star Mile.

"We aborted the All-Star Mile. Even if he got a run, he probably wasn't certain of going there as he's still a stallion and I don't think that race is going to serve his CV too well," co-trainer Paul Snowden said.

"It's not a Listed race or anything to put on his card, so he needs to stick to some Group racing to try to build that (stallion) profile.

"The owners were in good support of that. I'm very happy with him. He's got 59 kilos but he's used to carrying weights and he's definitely the class horse in that race."

Snowden said the horse had settled in well since arriving in Sydney three weeks ago to prepare for Saturday's G2 Hyland Race Colours Ajax S.

Land Of Plenty

3YO's ready to give it a shake

Lindsay Park are quietly confident of their chances in the All-Star Mile with 3-year-olds Hawkshot (Fiorente {Ire}) and Amphitrite (Sebring).

They were both placed in the G1 Australian Guineas last start and co-trainer Tom Dabernig said the pair were in great shape for Saturday.

"Where their ceiling is or where they end up, it's hard to know, but on their proven form at the moment we're lucky to have them in the team.

"Hawkshot, in his early races was a bit erratic but his racing manners have improved a lot.

"When he won for us at Caulfield in the Autumn S. we thought we'd just let him stride and not fight him. In that more forward role he seems to be a lot more tractable.

"Amphitrite's form is fantastic. Apart from the Oaks last year, I don't think she has ever run a bad race.”

Amphitrite

Le Romain in Mile hunt

Multiple Group 1 winner Le Romain (Hard Spun {USA}) has gained a spot in the All-Star Mile.

He got his chance following Friday morning’s decision by Racing Victoria veterinary stewards to withdraw Foundry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), after a day earlier identifying lameness in the 9-year-old’s near-side leg.

RV vets have pave passed both Material Man (Vital Equine {Fr}) and Urban Ruler (Street Boss {USA}) fit to run, although both horses will be rechecked on race day.

Le Romain was the first emergency for the race and Dwayne Dun n has been booked to ride the Kris Lees-trained contender.

Le Romain

Radical move at Santa Anita

The use of race day medication, including Lasix, has been banned at Santa Anita Park in southern California following the death of another horse, the 22nd since Boxing Day.

Santa Anita is the first race track in the United States to carry out such restrictions in an effort to restore public confidence.

Track officials did not say they had pinpointed the cause of the deaths, but drugs were among the factors under examination. Track conditions and colder and rainier weather than usual have also been under inspection.

Santa Anita is owned by the Stronach Group and they have imposed similar rules at Golden Gate Fields.

Pondering new fee

Better Than Ready’s service for 2019 will be announced after the Magic Millions March Sale.

The Lyndhurst Stud stallion, who stood last spring at $9900, set a record for a Queensland sire when he had four runners in the Magic Millions Classic in January.

He will go even better than that with five runners in Saturday's $500,000 2YO Aquis Jewel at the Gold Coast, equalling a record for a Queensland-based sire in a 2-year-old race.

Better Than Ready has had 12 individual winners of 17 races from his first crop.

Stud manager Jeff Kruger said the farm was obviously thrilled with the efforts of Better Than Ready.

"He has 49 listed for next week's Magic Millions March sale and he has been selling well at the other major Australian yearling sales.”

Better Than Ready

New training partnership

A new Queensland training partnership has been announced with Robert Heathcote and fellow Eagle Farm horseman Chris Anderson to join forces from May 1.

They said it would give them a chance to maintain a high performance level and at the same time be able to spend more time with their families.

Heathcote has trained more than 1200 winners, including 10 at Group 1 level, in his two decades as a trainer.

"This should benefit us both and more importantly benefit our clients," Heathcote said.

Anderson began training with a small team eight years ago and has steadily built up his team and has been training for some of Queensland and Australia's biggest owners, including Think Big Stud.

"I can't think of anyone better than Robbie to be in partnership with. He has national and international experience and to be able to draw on his knowledge in invaluable," Anderson said.

Shooting for the stars

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is chasing a sizeable cheque for his connections on the All-Star undercard.

The Go Racing Rock Star Syndicate-owned Starrybeel (NZ) (Savabeel) will run in the Grand Final Classic and Marsh is confident heading into the race despite an unplaced performance last start at Matamata.

“The track was wet and it was a mile, he really does like a good track,” Marsh said.

“He didn’t get all favours, but I wasn’t worried about it. Back on a good track and over ground, he’s ready.

“He has travelled over really well. He travelled over on Wednesday afternoon. He went over a bit later because we weren’t 100 percent sure of whether he was going to get into the race or not.

Marsh doesn’t have any set plans after Saturday with Starrybeel, but he is likely to have a few more runs in Victoria.

Cowboy saddling up in Victoria

Progressive 4-year-old Rhinestone Cowboy (Teofilo {Ire}) will continue his career in Victoria under the care of emerging trainer Joe Waldron.

He won three of his five starts for Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and finished runner-up last time out.

The gelding was scratched from last Saturday’s Ellerslie meeting due to the downgrade in track conditions on account of heavy rain and arrived at Waldron’s Mornington stable this week.

“Rhinestone Cowboy arrived late on Wednesday night and he came in good order,” said Waldron, who had previously been the travelling foreman for the Baker-Forsman stable before training in his own right at Te Awamutu.

“He will probably be rated 73 here so we’ve got to aim to get his rating up a little bit, but ultimately the goal would be to get him into the Andrew Ramsden at the end of May.”