Cornerstone cuts fees

Cornerstone Stud has reduced its 2020 service fees by 25 per cent while, due to the current economic conditions, World Of Trouble (USA) will not be shuttling to the farm this year.

“Although I’ve an unwaivering belief in World Of Trouble’s credentials, speed and sire line, I just felt that the South Australian industry was not in a position to throw its collective weight behind a $22,000 dual Group 1-winning sprinter and consequently we will review our position in 2021,” Sam Hayes said.

Proven Group 1 producer Sir Prancealot (Ire) will stand at $9900 (in GST) while Valentia will be offered at $5500 (inc GST). The roster is completed by Ambidexter, who will stand at $4400 (inc GST).

Annabel knows the drill

Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace heeded the advice of Annabel Neasham, who runs their Sydney stable, to win their first Listed Scone Cup courtesy of Dr Drill (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

“We had our first runner in the Cup last year and it came stone cold last so I said to Ciaron we’ve got to find something faster to come up this time,” Neasham said.

Dr Drill fitted the bill perfectly and he was angled out of the trail 200 metres from home by rider Keagan Latham to finish off strongly to beat the favourite Phaistos (Helmet).

“We were quite confident this would be his sort of race and it was a beautiful ride from Keagan. I said to cuddle him and he’s got a really good turn of foot," Neasham said. "He was a mile and a-half horse back in Europe and Ciaron has done a great job to put the speed back into his legs.”

Well-bred colt wins

The only foal out of the former top-class race mare May’s Dream (New Approach {Ire}) made his first trial a successful one at Randwick on Friday morning.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Jimmy’s Dream (Not A Single Doubt) won his 742 metre heat in the hands of Tim Clark.

The youngster failed to reach his $150,000 reserve at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where he was offered by Newhaven Park, who has remained in the ownership of the colt.

Jimmy’s Dream’s dam May’s Dream won four races, including the G1 Schweppes Oaks, and she is a daughter of the G1 South Australian Oaks winner and G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up She’s Archie (Archway {Ire}).

Pressure on Ranier

James Cummings will rely on Ranier (Lonhro) to continue Godolphin’s recent domination of the Listed TAB Luskin Star S.

The stable won the race in 2018 with Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}) and last year with Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}).

Ranier comes into Saturday’s race at Rosehill in fine form following a victory at Randwick last month to open his current campaign.

Aquis buys into colt

Talented 2-year-old Wisdom Of Water (Headwater) will race for new ownership in Saturday’s G3 TAB Ken Russell Classic at the Gold Coast.

Aquis has bought into the colt and will race the Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained juvenile with Golden East Horse.

The winner of two of his four starts, including a runaway last-start success, Wisdom Of Water will confirm his place in the upcoming G1 JJ Atkins S. with another bold showing on Saturday.

Cup start on line

Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) will be out to secure a golden ticket into the G1 Melbourne Cup when she runs in the Listed Andrew Ramsden S. at Flemington on Saturday.

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained 4-year-old will contest the 2800 metre race, with the winner receiving a ballot exemption for the Cup, off the back of success in the Listed Port Adelaide Cup.

“It was a fantastic win,” Kent Jnr said. “I don’t think it was a strong race class-wise, but she did display a good staying performance, which is really important for us to see.

“The way she was three-wide early and still stayed on really strongly at the finish gives us confidence that she will stay the trip on Saturday.

“The race lacks a bit of depth on Saturday, but there are two or three to beat there that are classier than what she faced last time.”

Collett back in action

Jockey Alysha Collett is happy to be back in the saddle and will ride on Sunday at Queanbeyan in New South Wales.

Collett had been in Singapore, where she is licensed to ride until the end of the year, when racing was shut-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She joined fellow riders Michael Rodd, Patrick Moloney and Daniel Moor in making a move to Australia.

“When we went into isolation (in Singapore) for the month the numbers weren’t that high daily but it came to two weeks of isolation and they were getting about a thousand cases daily,” Collett said. “So they decided to put another month on the isolation, maybe two. It was hard for us jockeys to be sitting in a condo not doing anything.”

Collett completed the mandatory two weeks isolation on arrival in Sydney and had a negative COVID-19 test before returning to riding work on Wednesday.

“I haven’t ridden in New Zealand in the past two years and after riding in Singapore I had always wanted to come to Sydney to ride,” she said. “You are always putting new challenges on yourself to improve as a jockey and I thought that coming here could be better for my future.”

June 1 restart

The British Horseracing Authority is working its plans for a return of racing off a June 1 resumption date.

Under that plan, Newcastle will re-open proceedings with an eight-race card on its all-weather course on June 1 with Newcastle again and Kempton each staging eight races the following day.

In major movements, the G1 Coronation Cup will be moved to Friday, June 5 at Newmarket and will be staged alongside the G3 Brigadier Gerard, G3 Abernant S. and Listed Paradise S. Lingfield also races on June 5 and will host its Oaks and Derby trials.

Inspection protocols

Tattersalls and Goffs have agreed to a set of safety protocols to be utilised on farms during upcoming yearlings inspections, the two sales companies announced in a joint statement on Thursday.

These inspections will begin on May 18, as a phased return of outdoor workers will then be allowed by the British and Irish governments as the coronavirus restrictions ease. These safety protocols will be closely followed by both companies’ inspection teams and comply with all government guidance related to social distancing, hand sanitation, and the wearing of appropriate PPE gear to ensure the safety and welfare of vendors, their staff and the sales company personnel.

Woodbine to open

Woodbine has been given approval to race without spectators as part of Stage 1 of the Ontario government’s framework to gradually reopen the Province. Stage 1 is scheduled to start May 19.

“This is great news for the sport of horse racing and the tens of thousands of people it employs throughout the Province,” said Jim Lawson, Chief Executive Officer of Woodbine Entertainment.

“I would also like to thank the entire horse racing community for their patience, understanding and commitment in following health guidelines during this time. In doing so, it has put the entire industry in the position to resume live horse racing in the coming weeks.”