Maastricht and Symi join Chairman's Sale

Owner Alan Bell has entered Maastricht (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), the dam of highly-touted 2-year-old Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) as a wildcard at the upcoming Inglis Chairman's Sale, along with the impeccably bred filly Symi (Fastnet Rock).

Maastricht and Symi adds further interest to a very strong Chairman's Sale to be held on Friday May 3 at the Riverside Stables and will be offered by Newgate Farm.

Loving Gaby, a $500,000 Easter buy for Phoenix Thoroughbreds, has certainly enhanced the profile of her dam in recent months, debuting with a fast-finishing win in the G3 Chairman's S. at Caulfield.

She was then sixth in the G1 Blue Diamond S. before finishing strongly for fourth in the G1 Golden Slipper S. She holds an entry for Saturday's G1 Inglis Sires' at Randwick.

Her dam Maastricht, stakes-placed on multiple occasions, and in foal to I Am Invincible with what would be a full sibling, is likely to be in high demand.

“Maastricht was the most expensive yearling from the first crop of Mastercraftsman, which goes to show what presence she had in the sales ring," Bell said.

Symi, a winner of one of her 11 starts, is a full-sister to G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Catchy.

“It must also be remembered that Symi was a $700,000 yearling before Catchy had even won a Stakes race, which tells you the calibre of physical type she was," Bell said.

“Both fillies were absolute stand out yearlings when they were bought - pearls of their respective years."

“They both had great scale, muscle, movement, scope and so much quality, which will stand with them for the rest of their lives."

“My strong belief is strong sales yearlings breed strong sales yearlings, which is already in evidence with Maastricht and I expect the same will prove true of Symi.”

Wildcard entries for the Chairman's Sale remain open until April 22.

Viddora set for Hong Kong

Australian racing fans may have seen the last of Viddora (I Am Invincible) with trainer Lloyd Kennewell confirming the 6-year-old would contest the G1 Chairman's Sprint on April 28 in Hong Kong.

Current quarantine regulations mean Viddora would be unable to return to Australia for six months after entering Hong Kong via Dubai, where she finished fourth in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Saturday.

That doesn't bother Kennewell who said Viddora would either head to England or be sold after she leaves Hong Kong.

“Obviously we can’t go back to Australia so we’ll push on as planned to go to Hong Kong and then we’ll work out what we’re doing after that," Kennewell told the South China Morning Post.

“She’ll either go to England [for Royal Ascot] or be sold as a broodmare.”

Kennewell was pleased with the dual Group 1 winner pulled up from her first international start.

“She pulled up really well, I’m really happy with her,” Kennewell said. “Everything has gone well and we’re hoping everything will roll along nicely and she will progress to Hong Kong in good order."

Lightweight jockeys line-up for Doncaster

Lindsay Park has opted for an inexperienced trio of riders for its contenders in Saturday's G1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick.

Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire)) and Fundamentalist (Not A Single Doubt) are guaranteed a start in the $3m race, with co-trainer David Hayes confirming to Racing.com that the former will be ridden by Jye McNeil, while Ben Thompson will ride the latter.

So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}) is still a chance to scrape into the final field of 20 plus emergencies and should he do so, will be ridden by apprentice Lachie King, who has never ridden in a Group 1 race.

The final field for the Doncaster will be confirmed on Tuesday morning.

Lindsay Park will also be represented in Saturday's four Group 1 races by Vega Magic (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the TJ Smith S.

Bowditch on Karrakatta fancy

Group 1 winning jockey Joe Bowditch has been confirmed as the new rider of Beethoven (Helmet) in the G2 Karrakatta Plate at Ascot this Saturday.

Bowditch picked up the ride with regular stable jockey Clint Johnston-Porter unavailable after failing to be cleared by his specialist after his fall in the Bunbury Cup.

“I was obviously disappointed for Clint when I heard he’d be unavailable this weekend,” trainer Daniel Morton told Racing.com. “Once we knew he was out we had to go to plan B.

“I came up with a shortlist and Joe was obviously on that due to meeting him in South Australia and him riding here before with Viddora.”

Bowditch quickly snapped up the ride after watching Beethoven’s win in the Listed Perth S. last month.

Grand day for Grangewilliam

Grangewilliam Stud principal Mark Corcoran experienced one of his biggest moments in racing at the weekend when Verry Elleegant (NZ) secured Group 1 glory in the Vinery Stud S. at Rosehill.

Corcoran stands her sire Zed (NZ) at his Waitotara property, near Wanganui, and he said the win was made even sweeter given Verry Elleegant’s close association with the farm.

“It doesn’t get any better than a Group 1,” Corcoran said. “This win was pretty special for the farm because Verry Elleegant was bred and raised here on the farm.”

It was the second Group 1 success for Zed, who also sired Saturday’s G2 Awapuni Gold Cup winner Jacsksstar (NZ), after the victory of Survived (NZ) in in the 2013 Makfi Challenge S.

Zed served 81 mares last season, an increase from 49 the year prior, and Corcoran is buoyed by the support his stallion has been getting.

“He just keeps leaving winners,” Corcoran said. “He is a syndicated horse so he is getting that backing. I think every one of his shareholders used their nominations last year, so that helps his numbers.”

Hands on approach

Trainer Jamie Richards will be at Randwick to watch Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) work ahead of her tilt at the G1 Sires’ Produce S. on Saturday.

She finished sixth in the G3 Magic Night S. at Rosehill on a heavy track last month and connections are hoping for improved footing for the Listed Karaka Million winner.

“She works on Tuesday morning on the grass at Randwick,” Richards said. “We are happy with her and looking forward to hopefully seeing a little bit of drying in Sydney this week.

“I think the step up to 1400 metres will really suit her.”

Allan awaiting specialist’s report

Injured rider Tony Allan will have a better idea of a possible return to race riding after a specialist appointment on April 15.

The G1 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey suffered a broken arm in a fall at New Plymouth on December 6 and since undergoing surgery he has been making steady recovery.

‘’I’ve been going to the gym and doing my exercises and physio, as well as some time in the pool,’’ Allan said. ‘’It’s all to help with the stiffness in my shoulder, but it’s improving.

‘’I’ve got to go back to the surgeon on April 15 and I’ll know more after that. I don’t want to rush it, but I’m looking forward to riding again.’’

Manton and Manners on the mic during The Championships

Racecallers Anthony Manton and Mitch Manners will get their chance to be heard during the upcoming The Championships, with each given races to call at Randwick over the next two weeks.

Gundagai-raised Manton will call the Country Cup Final on Saturday, while Manners will get the chance to call the Provincial Championships on April 13.

“The country has always been home to me and I am passionate about country racing, the horses, the people, the places, the stories," Manton said. "To be given the opportunity to call the Country Cup Final at Randwick on a big feature day is an absolute career highlight and I am looking forward to bringing a little part of the country to the city. It’s very special for me.”

Manners is equally as thrilled to be given the chance on what is a huge raceday.

“I have been part of the provincial circuit for many years and it’s a thrill to call the climax of the provincials being the final, on one of the biggest race days of the year in Australia," he said. "it’s my second time to call the Provincial Final at Randwick and again extremely exciting for me.”