Champion result

The maiden victory of the John Sadler-trained 3-year-old Manhattan Spector (NZ) at Ballarat on Sunday provided his Group 1-winning sire Pure Champion (Ire) with his first winner.

Ridden by Regan Bayliss, Manhattan Spector sat outside the leader throughout and out-toughed his rivals over 1500 metres, having placed at his previous outing at Werribee.

Pure Champion retired to Mike and Barbara Cooney’s Willow Glen Stud in Waimate in 2015 and Manhattan Spector is one of 15 foals from his first crop.

“Pure Champion has a number of exciting trial performers, which includes Celebre, an impressive trial winner for John Bell,” Barbara Cooney said.

“Willow Glen Stud is offering several yearlings by Pure Champion at the 2020 NZB South Island Sale which will be conducted through the Gavelhouse Plus platform at the beginning of June. Among our draft is an attractive full sister to Manhattan Spector, so we were delighted to see him win so well.”

Derby date set

The American Triple Crown is among a never-ending string of sporting fixtures that have been upended as a result of the current coronavirus pandemic.

Churchill Downs addressed the issue first, announcing that the 2020 renewal of the GI Kentucky Derby will be run on September 5, while the Maryland Jockey Club followed, announcing the GI Preakness S. would also be rescheduled.

An official date has yet to be announced for the Triple Crown’s second jewel despite reports of an October running. NYRA has yet to confirm a date for the GI Belmont S., originally slated for June 6.

Stradbroke dream

Stuart Kendrick is hoping for a case of first time lucky with Tambo’s Mate (Mossman) in the G1 Stradbroke H.

The Kendrick-trained sprinter earned automatic entry to the feature with his last-start success in the G3 BRC Sprint at Doomben.

He has prepared several Group 1 placegetters, but has yet to break through at the highest level and Tambo’s Mate will be his first Stradbroke runner.

Group 1 opportunity

South Australian apprentice Lachlan Neindorf will have his first Group 1 ride when he combines with Zoutori (Zoustar) in Saturday’s The Goodwood at Morphettville.

"I'm happy to be sitting third on the premiership and riding winners," Neindorf told Racing.com. "I've been getting some great opportunities and I'm grateful that I now have the opportunity to ride for a successful Melbourne stable in a Group 1."

Zoutori is trained by Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra and a last-start failure aside, he has been in good form with a runner-up finish in the G1 Oakleigh Plate and a fourth in the G1 Newmarket.

Smart purchase

Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa is delighted with import Supergiant (NZ) (Red Giant {USA}), who was narrowly beaten when second in the Listed Doomben Guineas.

“I have been watching Chris Waller’s success and a lot of other stables bringing horses over from New Zealand and I did a little bit of homework and tried to find someone that we could work with,” Costa said.

“I got a pretty good push about bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo and I got in contact. Supergiant was actually the first horse that Phill put forth to me. I received an email and you never really want to jump into the first one, but I liked his trial and he was priced affordably at $70,000.

“It was always going to be a little bit of a punt for owners given he is by a sire in Red Giant that is not that well known in Australia, but on the back of his trial and reasonable price, we probably could have sold him five times over.”

RV praised

High-profile owner Nick Williams is rich in his praise for Racing Victoria's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I really tip my lid to Giles Thompson and all his team at Racing Victoria," Williams told racing.com.

"From time to time I've had my criticisms with some of the things they've done, but I'm absolutely thrilled with what they've managed to do.

"They've just done an absolutely amazing job keeping racing going and it's a total credit to them. You couldn't ask for it to be handled better."

Apprentice on move

Apprentice Louise Day will move to the Sydney metropolitan riding zone in order to capitalise on her 3kg claim in town.

Day has been riding in the Northern zone for jockeys, which came into place as part of new coronavirus protocols and forces NSW hoops to ride in specific areas.

After discussions with employer Kris Lees, Day made the decision to make the switch into the metropolitan zone heading into the winter.

“I was just starting to get some more rides in town before the coronavirus happened and at this stage of my apprenticeship I thought it was a bit of a step back to stay riding up there when I could be in town,” she told Racenet.