Overdue victory

Amish Boy (Star Witness) has opened his winning account with success in the Magic Millions Adelaide Classic at Morphettville.

"He thoroughly deserved that as he had been unlucky not to have won a race," co-trainer David Eustace said. "We thought he was good enough to go and run in the Magic Millions in January, but he didn't quite get there.

"Full credit to the staff for keeping him happy and healthy. He'll definitely get further. Whether he goes up to Sydney and we consider something like the Sires' or go a rung below, we can work that out."

A son of Sheeznodoubt (Not A Single Doubt), Amish Boy was purchased for $300,000 at the Gold Coast where he was offered by Widden Stud.

Immediate stakes return

The well-named filly Bebeautiful (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) provided her new Australian owners with an early return with victory in Sunday’s Listed Prix Rose de Mai over 1900 metres at Deauville.

Closely related to the globetrotting international champion Gordon Lord Byron (Ire) (Byron {GB}), Bebeautiful has won her last three starts on the bounce and also placed in both of her 2-year-old starts last season.

Astute Bloodstock’s Louis Le Metayer put together a partnership to purchase the imposing black filly two days before her latest win.

“Prominent owner Brae Sokolski came to France last summer and gave me an order for a good filly so I am thrilled that Bebeautiful could deliver this result for us,” Le Metayer said.

The partnership also includes boutique farms Lustre Lodge, Robrick Lodge as well as Harlem’s (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) part- owners John, Ros and Jono Andrews, and owners Manoj Wanzare, Paul Tomsic and Richard Mews.

Bebeautiful, who is related to the dual Group 1 winner Barney Roy (GB) (Excellebration {Ire}), will now join Chris Waller’s stable.

Support for Kolding

Suspension will cost Glen Boss the All-Star Mile ride on Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), but is confident he will be a top chance if he finds his best form.

Kolding was one of the favourites for the $5 million race before dropping down the order after his fifth in the Futurity S.

"I won't be there and that is one that is going to kill me," Boss said. "I'm sitting on the side-lines next week and my horse Kolding is going around in the All-Star Mile.

"If he gets it right, he wins the race. It is as simple as that. He is a very, very good gelding. Nobody will be cheering harder than me because I really love being on that horse's back.”

Strong hand

Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote is eyeing off a rich double at the Gold Coast with Rothfire (Rothesay) and Guntantes (Rothesay).

The unbeaten Rothfire will start the short-priced favourite in the 2YO The Jewel on Saturday while Guntantes runs in the The Jewel for 3-year-olds.

Heathcote confirmed Rothfire would not back up in the G1 Golden Slipper S. at Rosehill a week after Saturday.

"I have always made it clear The Jewel was his target this time in. I am now thinking about races like the G1 Coolmore Stud S. for him in the spring," Heathcote said.

NZB catalogue online

New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2020 South Island Sale catalogue is now online with catalogues to arrive in mid-March.

To be held at Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch, the one-day session features a selection of yearlings offered on Friday, April 17 with selling to begin at 12pm NZDT.

All yearlings purchased at this year’s South Island Sale are eligible to be nominated for the lucrative Karaka Million Series, which comprises of two $1 million races – the Karaka Million 2YO and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic - in addition to the $100,000 Collinson Forex Karaka Cup.

Graduates of the sale have laid claim to 18 stakes wins since the start of the 2016/2017 season, including five Group victories.

Trainers hoping for another boilover

Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen know how to shock punters, especially at Trentham, and they are hoping they can do it again on Saturday.

The Hastings training partners will be represented in the G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks by the lightly-tried Unlaced (NZ) (Niagara), who has recorded two wins, two seconds and a last-start stakes placing in her five starts.

“It would be nice to rock them again. It’s a big ask for her and we’re hopeful. I guess that’s all you can be against some of the top fillies, but she has been set for the race for a long time and we’re happy with her so we’ll line her up,” Lowry said.

Lowry and Cullen have joined forces for three Group 1 wins and two of those have been at Trentham in the G1 Telegraph with 8-1 chance Irish Fling (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and really stung punters with 80-1 winner Adventador (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous).

Before going into partnership with Lowry, Cullen left punters reeling when he prepared Miss Bailey (NZ) (Kings Island {Ire}) to win the 1999 G1 Wellington Cup at 140-1.

McGillivray outed

Queensland jockey Matt McGillivray has been suspended for four weeks after being found guilty of reckless riding at the Sunshine Coast.

The ban was McGillivray's fourth suspension in three weeks and his second in two days.

Stewards found McGillivray had moved out aboard favourite Winning Shot (Shooting To Win) at the 450 metre mark in a benchmark race on Sunday.

McGillivray will be able to ride at Saturday's rich Gold Coast meeting featuring the $500,000 2YO The Jewel and the $300,000 The Jewel for 3-year-olds.