MRC defends Caulfield track

The Melbourne Racing Club has defended its track management as 'perfect' in the lead-up to Blue Diamond S. Day on Saturday but will conduct a review into the dominance of on-pace runners on the day.

The track became a major talking point after the feature meeting which saw three Group 1 races run, with those near the fence and on pace seemingly at a distinct advantage,

Jake Norton, Executive Director – Racing and Membership at the MRC, said the club was keen to analyse a number of factors in particular in light of the way the track raced.

“We have data around soil moisture and things like that and, as far as preparation for the track is concerned, we couldn’t have asked for a better week,” Norton told Racing.com.

“The amount of rain we had over the last week was around 40mm, 60mm in the last eight days, so from a track management perspective, it was perfect.

“We moved the rail out three metres from the last meeting on CF Orr S. Day, so all the ground was perfect across the track. As far as our preparation was concerned we couldn’t have been happier.

“In terms of the race patterns and race results, I’d like to see the times, the splits, the wind direction, things like that which often play a significant role in results and the way races are run here at Caulfield.”

Kementari's comeback builds

G1 Randwick Guineas winner Kementari (Lonhro) is nearing a return to the track and could be set to trial this week.

Kementari has been gelded after proving infertile at stud and the 5-year-old is working towards a possible racetrack return in April.

Trainer James Cummings told Racenet that the son of Lonhro is relishing his return to stable life and is down to trial on Tuesday at Rosehill.

"He looks like he's got the eye of the tiger," Cummings said. "He's like a yearling, he is bouncing around, he's got his tail in the air and he is feeling good about his gallops.

"But we have got our feet on the ground and we will only saddle him up in a race when he's ready.

"He has completed the necessary preliminaries to get this far (to trial) and perhaps around about April you might be seeing him back at the races."

Slipper Quest still on target

Chris Waller is confident Global Quest (More Than Ready {USA}) can continue to improve towards a start in the G1 Golden Slipper S. after his second consecutive defeat on Saturday.

The Aquis-owned colt was comprehensively beaten by Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) in the G2 Silver Slipper S. on Saturday, having been runner-up to Prague (Redoute's Choice) in the G3 Canonbury S. before that.

But Waller feels the colt continues to make improvement and he won't hesitate in extending his campaign to the G2 Todman S. on March 7.

“My only concern is if he is ready to do it now,” Waller said.

“Since he has won the Breeders' Plate he has grown and developed into a much bigger horse.

“I am beginning to think he might be our top seed for the Golden Rose more than a Golden Slipper but we all know how much pressure the Golden Slipper brings.

“A tough 1200 metres, I think you will see this horse really lift."

Premier Preview to air on Monday night

Sky Thoroughbred Central will broadcast the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale Preview on Monday night at 8pm.

The sale in recent years has produced some outstanding graduates, including unbeaten champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), while there have been seven graduates win Group 1 races in the past 12 months.

The preview will highlight Blue Gum Farm's draft, including the first Victorian conceived offspring by Golden Slipper-producing sire Manhattan Rain, Sun Stud's first yearlings by dual Group 1 winner Palentino, Michael Christian's first Premier yearling draft from his Longwood Thoroughbred Farm and a look at the highlight of Springmount Thoroughbreds draft, the half-sister to Mystic Journey (Needs Further).

The program will be repeated on Sky Thoroughbred Central throughout the week ahead of the sale.

Success fuels success at Te Akau

After another phenomenally successful weekend, it is little wonder Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis is not having any trouble selling his latest yearling purchases.

Te Akau's head trainer Jamie Richards prepared the quinella in both the G1 Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic at Otaki and the G3 Waikato Stud Slipper on Saturday, continuing a remarkable season.

Ellis outlaid over NZ$9 million during this year’s yearling sales on both sides of the Tasman, and that on-track success is driving more and more interest in the Te Akau syndicates.

“Each year when I go to the sales and buy and syndicate the horses we select, we have to have the results that we got on Saturday to point to, otherwise we simply can’t do what we want to do," he said.

“People have to have a level of confidence when they are investing in horses that they have the potential to win races, not just any race but the biggest races there are.

“This year has been very successful in getting our syndicates together and we have just a handful of places left in the last five horses that aren’t fully sold yet."

Ellis paid tribute to his entire team, especially his wife Karyn, who manages the syndicate aspect of the business.

“This is where my wife Karyn excels and is such a wonderful asset for our business. She really is a marvel with the owners and the way she manages the syndicates and I just can’t thank her enough," he said.

“It is also the beauty of our model that we offer horses across such a wide spectrum so there is something for everyone. You can spend a few thousand or a few hundred thousand and there will be a horse and a place for you at Te Akau."

Levante ready for next level

Matamata trainer Ken Kelso is keen to test out in-form 3-year-old Levante (NZ) (Proisir) in the G2 Wellington Guineas at Trentham on March 14.

Levante got through the wet conditions on her home track on Saturday to make it four consecutive wins and Kelso and his wife Bev are eager to see her at a higher level.

“That track was a bit of a concern but we needed to run her if we were going to press on to Wellington,” he said.

Kelso believes Trentham will be the best place to test the filly against the better members of her age group.

“It is the logical step to take with her, to try and get some black type,” he said.

“We’ve always thought the big, roomy track at Trentham would suit her so we gave her the soft option at home and a three-week gap to Wellington rather than taking on a race like the Mufhasa S. at Ellerslie next weekend.

“I think her breeding suggests she will get over further later on, maybe a mile and then further.

“She relaxes well in her races and her mother won over 2400 metres and although you never know (whether they will truly stay), you would think she will get further.”

Whiteley outed over stewards spray

Queensland jockey Chris Whiteley has been suspended for a month for inappropriate behaviour towards stewards.

Whiteley was called before a stewards' hearing into a minor whip infringement at the Rockhampton meeting on February 9, and he was found to have used several profanities towards the stewards who were officiating at the meeting.

He was banned from riding in races for four weeks, with two weeks of the penalty suspended for a period of two years provided there was no breach of a similar rule in that time.

The suspension began on Sunday and will expire at midnight on March 7.

Top US jockeys on sidelines

Leading US-based jockeys Jose Ortiz and Luca Panici will both be sidelined for several weeks.

Ortiz fractured his wrist Saturday after being unseated by Atone (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) in the post parade at Gulfstream Park. He climbed back aboard and rode the race, but was off his mounts the rest of the day. He will be forced to miss the call aboard Tacitus (USA) (Tapit (USA}) in the US$20 million (AU$30,211,560) Saudi Cup on February 29.

Panici fractured his collarbone Friday afternoon when he was thrown from Terrible Tara (USA) (Revolutionary {USA}) after she hit the rail. He will be forced to miss rides on G3 Sam F. Davis S. winner Sole Volante (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}) in the G2 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby March on 7 and his stablemate Ete Indian (USA) (Summer Front {USA}) in the G2 Fountain of Youth S. next week. Florent Geroux will replace Panici on both Patrick Biancone trainees.

French King superior in Doha

Locally owned, but French-based French King (GB) (French Fifteen {Fr}) was given a perfect ride from the front by Olivier Peslier and proved not for catching, successfully defending his title in the US$1 million (AU$1.5 million) HH The Amir Trophy at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Doha.

American import Standard Deviation (USA) (Curlin {USA}) rallied from midpack to be an excellent second, while Pedro Cara (Fr) (Pedro The Great {USA}) backed up his last-out Qatar Derby success with a running-on third-place effort.

French King’s stakes-winning dam is a half-sister to Military Law (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a Listed winner in the UAE who recently completed a Dubawi 1-2 behind dirt debutant Benbatl (GB) in Round 2 of the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan. Marina Piccola (Ire) (Halling {USA}) is the dam of French King’s 2-year-old full-brother Mutabahi (Fr).