Browne forced to call time
Top Queensland jockey Damian Browne has been forced to retire due to ill health. The New Zealand-born jockey hasn't ridden since January when he became unwell before the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast.
Browne, who moved to Australia 15 years ago, has ridden 16 Group 1 winners during his career and enjoyed an outstanding association with the Robert Heathcote-trained Buffering (Mossman).
Filly off to Brisbane
The G1 Australian Oaks runner-up Scarlet Dream (Sebring) will head to the Queensland winter carnival.
Trainer Mark Newnham said a start in the G2 The Roses at Doomben on May 18 would be the filly’s next outing with Blake Shinn to retain the ride.
"All going well she will run in the Oaks then and then possibly the Derby," Newnham said.
Payne a stable to follow
Patrick Payne’s stable is in good form and the Plumpton trainer looks to have a strong chance of extending his record at Warrnambool on Wednesday. Husson Eagle (Husson {Arg}) will resume in the Listed Midfield Group Wangoom H. and the 7-year-old has three wins and three placings from eight first-up appearances.
Mr Marathon Man (GB) (So You Think {NZ}) is an interesting runner for Michael Moroney, making his Australian debut. He is a Listed winner and Group placed in France and, while he may be better over more ground, he too is fresh.
Old favourite back
Rosemont Stud’s Anthony Mithen is looking forward to the return of five-time Group 1 winner Volkstok’n’barrell (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
“He came back from Singapore and has had a really good break,” he said. “We decided to send him to Danny O’Brien, who’s doing a great job for us with Iconoclasm.
“He can work in a beach environment, similar to Ruakaka, where Donna Logan did such a great job with him. Hopefully we can get another preparation or two out of him.”
Volkstok'n'barrell
Veteran fronting up again
Music Magnate (NZ) (Written Tycoon) will kick off his third Queensland winter carnival campaign at the Gold Coast where Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker will run the veteran sprinter in the Listed Australian Turf Club Trophy, formerly the Prime Minister's Cup.
Music Magnate hasn’t won for 16 months, but showed Baker he still had something to offer when a luckless ninth in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick last time out.
Green light for Ascot
New Zealand-trained sprinter Enzo’s Lad (Testa Rossa) will press on to Royal Ascot, despite tailing the field home in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin.
“We were a bit disappointed with the horse’s run, but we just think he is not suited to that way around said Matthew Pitman, who prepares the gelding with his father Michael.
“We’ll press on to Royal Ascot. Dad is travelling over with the horse and he is going to go over and stay with Sir Mark Todd.”
Enzo's Lad
Big field for Oaks
A capacity field has accepted for Saturday’s G1 Australasian Oaks with the Hawkes Racing-trained Amangiri (All Too Hard) firming to $4 Oaks favouritism on Tuesday and has drawn barrier two.
Starting alongside her will be the David Brideoake-trained Princess Jenni (High Chaparral {Ire}), who has won her past two starts in Melbourne.
Princess Jenni
Everest slot sold
The GPI Racing slot for the 2019 running of The Everest has been sold, subject to the completion of a contract of sale. Vendor Greg Ingham has exercised his right to accept an offer prior to the original closing time on April 30 at 5pm of expressions of interest.
He has entered into a Heads of Agreement with a proposed purchaser and an announcement on who will be the final slot holder for this year’s The Everest will be made once the legal process is completed.
