Sidestep's service fee rises to $22,000

Kiamichi's win in the G1 Golden Slipper S. has seen the service fee for her sire Sidestep jump to $22,000 (inc GST) this season.

The son of Exceed and Excel has stood his first season at Telemon Thoroughbreds in Queensland for $7700 last year but the success of the Godolphin filly from his first crop is likely to see his demand skyrocket this season.

He remains in Queensland under the agreement struck by Telemon and Darley but for a significantly higher fee.

“We’ve been absolutely inundated with support for Sidestep since Saturday, and we want to be able to give our clients certainty regarding their mating plans for 2019. The reaction has been great,” Telemon General Manager Joe Heather said.

“It is wonderful to see the success of the horse and what he has done in such a short period of time and we’re really excited about the season ahead and the quality of mares he will attract,” he said.

Telemon owner Dan Fletcher said it was important to find the right price point for the stallion, who is entering his fifth season at stud having spent his first three years at Darley's Kelvinside property.

"We felt it was important to strike a middle ground between the horse’s newfound standing whilst recognising the need to keep him at an attainable level following a relatively tough period for local breeders," he said.

“It’s such a privilege to be involved with Darley. We share a fairly no-nonsense philosophy, and to be able to offer this horse at a fee where he remains exceptional value is a huge result for Queensland."

“We’re so excited about the upcoming season. Sidestep’s first Queensland foals are on the way and he’ll attract his best and biggest book of mares. We can’t wait to get to work.”

Kennewell pleased with Viddora

Trainer Lloyd Kennewell couldn't be happier with Viddora (I Am Invincible) ahead of Saturday's G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.

The 6-year-old mare, a two-time Group 1 winner in Australia, is one of three Australian-trained horses in the race, joined by Brave Smash (Jpn) (Tosen Phantom {Jpn}) and Illustrious Lad (I Am Invincible).

Kennewell said her preparation for the 1200m race had been close to perfect.

"She's a very good horse to travel, she's been on the plane a few times in Australia and she does everything right," Kennewell said.

"Her work (on Tuesday) was exactly what we wanted from her, she was out there just to stride up the straight and from the half mile get a little bit quicker into even time and basically we just wanted to run down the last 300m and make sure she found the line."

"Her last 100m was enormous, she scooted along very well and I don't think anyone missed her."

"I'm quietly confident that she'll run extremely well on Saturday night."

Waller calls on Teetan

In-form Hong Kong-based jockey Karis Teetan will ride one of the Chris Waller's leading chances in the G1 The Star Doncaster Mile during the upcoming The Championships. The leading trainer's business manager Liam Prior has booked Teetan, who is currently second in the Hong Kong premiership behind runaway leader Zac Purton.

"We've got a great depth of riders in Australia but given the Doncaster this year looks being run as a genuine handicap and a lot of our horses are down in the weights, we have decided bring out Karis Teetan from Hong Kong," Prior told Sky Sports Radio.

"It can be hard to get a leading Sydney rider, the likes of Hugh Bowman, James McDonald and Blake Shinn, to ride under 54.5kg. When you are getting around the 51 and 50kg, it does make it hard and there are plenty of runners at that weight. (Karis) walks around at 51 and he can ride 49 comfortably."

Waller has the two Oaks winners from last year, Unforgotten and Youngstar at 51.5kg, Noire at 50.5kg, Theanswermyfriend at 52kg, Life Less Ordinary (Ire) 51.5kg, I Am Serious at 50kg, Verry Elleegant (NZ) at 49kg and Mister Sea Wolf (Ire) and Tom Melbourne (Ire) both at 51kg.

Those nine horses are all currently in the top 42 in terms of the ballot order for the famous mile handicap at Randwick. Prior also has Teetan booked for Waller runners in the G3 PJ Bell S. and G3 Carbine Club S.

Teetan has had a brilliant season in Hong Kong with 63 winners including the G1 Hong Kong Sprint aboard Mr Stunning (Exceed and Excel) in December.

"It's always great to have a rider that rides on the international stage." Prior said. "He's ridden in South Africa, Japan and Hong Kong now and he sits second on the premiership there. He's obviously a rider with plenty of confidence at the moment."

"He's come from an underprivileged background and his father worked him hard to get him across to the apprentice school in South Africa. Watching him as his career has progressed, he has really emerged as one of the world's leading riders. Certainly in Hong Kong. he is making every post a winner."

Cardinal ready for Avilius challenge

Trainer Kris Lees knows that in-form stayer Red Cardinal (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) has his work cut out beating Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in Saturday's G1 Kia Tancred S. but says the 7-year-old couldn't be in any better order.

Avilius, coming off his first Group 1 win in last Saturday's Ranvet S. is understandably a short-price favourite for the Tancred S. but Red Cardinal is aiming for a hat-trick of wins having notched victories in the Listed Paramatta Cup and G3 Sky High S at his past two runs.

"He’s going really well,” Lees told Racenet. “He had a good break before he came to us and is relishing life at the moment."

“He came here highly-regarded for the (Melbourne) Cup two years ago but ever since he got here he’d been plagued by firm tracks before this preparation and with cut in the ground he’s showing what he’s capable of."

“From the day he arrived here the boys (Australian Bloodstock) have told me he’s a two-miler so a 2400m weight-for-age race and a genuine rain-affected track won’t bother him."

“How does he line up against Avilius? I don’t know but I’ve got a fit and happy horse going into Saturday that is going to appreciate the extra distance and the soft ground."

“He has to run well, he’s going too well.”

Vega Magic nears return

Vega Magic (Lope de Vega {Ire}) will trial at Randwick on Friday as he looks to make a racetrack return in the G1 TJ Smith S. on April 13.

The 6-year-old hasn't been seen since running 12th in the Everest last October, but co-trainer David Hayes told Racing.com that the dual Group 1 winner was making steady progress to his comeback on the second day of The Championships.

"He had to have an easy couple of months after The Everest as he tore a tendon sheath," Hayes confirmed. "He did a heap of rehab and here we are, we're ready to go again."

"He trialled up the straight behind the Newmarket winner (Sunlight) and he trialled really well. He's had a really nice, slow build-up. He hasn't been rushed."

"If he gets through the trial, he'll go to the T.J. unless it's a very heavy track. If he came through the T.J. he'll go to the All Aged Stakes."

Bavella ready for dry Sires'

A predicted run of fine weather should play into the hands of Bavella (Snitzel) headed into Saturday’s G1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni.

Trainer Lance Noble said the filly, a winner of her first two starts before struggling on wet ground at her past two runs, was ready to put her best foot forward on Saturday.

“She has done really well and we are happy with her,” Noble said. “Those two wet tracks with the Matamata Breeders’ and Sistema just weren’t to our liking so we are hoping for better track conditions down at Awapuni."

“I think she would handle a little bit of rain but I think on a better track you will see her really quicken. That might bring those three that have finished in front of her back to her a little bit. She wasn’t far away at Ellerslie but I think to see her best we do need good ground.”

Bavella was bred and is owned by Cambridge Stud's Brendan and Jo Lindsay and is out of Zonza (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who was a stakes winner over 1600m.

“I think that on a good track 1400m should be okay," Noble said. "If it got too wet it might make it a bit testing for her.”

Late change to Donald

Victoria's Thursday meeting at Ararat has been transferred to Donald after a water main burst at the western Victorian track.

Racing Victoria confirmed the change at around 3pm on Wednesday after an issue forced a late change.

"The meeting has been transferred owing to a burst water main in the home straight which was detected today. A subsequent inspection by RV Stewards found that the track is unsuitable for racing," a statement said.

RV also advised that the meeting scheduled at Ballarat next Tuesday will be transferred to Bendigo to allow works to be undertaken on the construction of the new Ballarat synthetic track which is scheduled to open in May.