Supera signs off season in style

Supera's (NZ) (Savabeel) win in the G2 Travis S. at Te Rapa has co-trainer Ken Kelso dreaming of bigger things in the spring after she rounded off her campaign with an authoritative success.

Kelso, who trains with wife Bev and Mark Donoghue was delighted with the ease of Supera's win and is looking to bigger races later in the year with the much-improved 4-year-old mare.

“She’s very special," he said. “She’s going to go out now."

“She’s come a long way, so she can have a nice break. She won’t be out too long and we’ll bring her back and set her for something through the spring."

“We’ve had a lot of good mares over the years and she is right up there with them.”

Bred by Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd, Supera is out of Sopra Tutto (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}), who herself is the daughter of Melbourne Cup heroine Ethereal (Rhythm {USA}).

Kooweerup claims black-type heads to paddock

Ciaron Maher has confirmed unbeaten filly Kooweerup (More Than Ready {USA}) will be set aside until the spring after making it two wins from as many runs in the Listed Terry Howe Printing Breeders' S. at Morphettville.

Kooweerup, who was a debut winner at Sandown earlier this month, put on an impressive display at just her second start, settling last before rounding up the field and charging clear to win by 1.8l.

Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, said the daughter of Group 1 winner Allez Wonder (Redoute's Choice), had done her job for her 2-year-old season and would be aimed at further stakes success in the spring.

Third stakes winner for Better Than Ready

A brilliant ride from James Orman secured Jagged Edge a narrow victory in the Listed Dalrello S., giving first-season sire Better Than Ready his third stakes winner for the season.

Having just his second start after winning at Sunshine Coast on debut, Jagged Edge, trained by Sutart Kendrick, jumped from barrier 11, but Orman got him one off the rail and off a fast pace, he swept home over the top of the early leaders and then held off a late challenge by the favourite Deep Sea (Deep Field) to win by 0.1l.

"I was lucky they went fast, so I slotted in one off the fence and that's what won the race," Orman said afterwards. "He keeps improving this horse."

It's another feather in the cap for Lyndhurst's Stud's Better Than Ready, who has had 16 winners and now also leads the first-season stallions in terms of stakes winners with three.

Jagged Edge was a $46,000 buy for Darby Racing and joins Dan Baroness (Statue of Liberty {USA}) as black-type winning progeny from the dam Weekend Surprise (Rubiton).

Frank chance at G1

Adam Trinder is considering having a shot at the G1 Roberts Sangster S. with in-form mare Twitchy Frank (Choisir) after her win in the VOBIS Gold Distaff at Caulfield.

Having already secured stakes success in the G3 Vamos S. in Tasmania earlier this year, Trinder said he would consider the seven-day back-up for the 4-year-old, who is likely to head to the breeding barn in the spring.

"She holds an entry for the Sangster on Saturday in Adelaide which may be a possibility, although I probably would've liked to see her a bit sharper today to really head in that direction," he said.

"We might just give her a really quiet week off the pony and have a throw at the stumps in a Group 1."

Viddora clear, Mr Stunning out

Viddora (I Am Invincible) has been cleared to take her place in Sunday's G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize after overcoming an injury scare.

The dual Group 1 winning Australian mare had injured her hind leg kicking out earlier in the week but has made a remarkable recovery and has been cleared by Hong Kong Jockey Club Stewards to take her place in the feature race.

One of her rivals, Mr Stunning (Exceed Snd Excel) has been withdrawn from the race after he was reported to be lame in his fright front leg.

Mr Stunning was to be ridden by ex-pat Australian Zac Purton.

Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}) remains a clear pre-post favourite for the Chairman's Sprint Prize.

Derby prospects emerge

Mr Quickie (Shamus Award) and Declarationofheart (Declaration of War {USA}) put their credentials forward for the upcoming G1 SA Derby by both overcoming trouble to win at Caulfield and Morphettville respectively.

Stepping up to 2000m for the first time, Mr Quickie recorded his eighth win from 11 starts, taking out the $250,000 Hygain VOBIS Gold Heath by 1.5l. Jockey Ben Allen found himself in a near hopeless position at the 400m mark, but managed to work his way into the clear and the talented Mr Quickie did the rest.

It was a very similar victory for Declarationofheart, who looked in all sorts of bother in the G3 Chairman's S. at Morphettville. Clayton Douglas somehow found his way through and with class on his side, the 3-year-old scooted through a gap to win by 1.1l.

The pair will now likely clash in the $500,000 TAB SA Derby on May 11.

Jockey critical after picnic fall

Three jockeys were seriously injured in a fall at the Tomingley Cup picnic meeting near Dubbo on Saturday.

Ricky Blewitt, Michael Gray and Michael Hackett were all dislodged in the Think Water Outwest / J D McGaw Memorial Class 2 Trophy Handicap (800m).

Hackett was airlifted to Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition with head injuries while Blewitt was also flown to Westmead Hospital with abdominal and spinal injuries.

Gray is in Dubbo hospital and is suspected to have fractured his collarbone in the fall, which forced the abandonment of the meeting.

Casse stays strong for Into Mischief colt

After being the underbidder on several horses earlier in the week, Justin Casse refused to go home without the sale-topping Into Mischief (USA) colt, lot 1165, as he signed the $1.3 million slip st OBS April.

“You will find out who it is for soon enough, but hopefully we are talking about the horse again a year from now,” said Casse, who signed as Team Casse. “I had to have him. He was my pick of the sale really. He just happened to be at the end. We kept getting beat up pretty well all week. I think we have been underbidder five times more than we have gotten anything.”

Maverick Racing paid $500,000 for lot 1178, a son of American Pharoah (USA), consigned by Niall Brennan Stables. “He’s by American Pharoah, obviously a Triple Crown winner, and we lost Pioneerof the Nile (USA) during the season. He has the pedigree to be a future stallion," commented Winstar's Sean Tugel who signed the ticket.