Vale Scandinavia

Broodmare gem Scandinavia (Snippets), who left an indelible mark on Australian racing, has died at the age of 25.

She was a Group 2 winner and a Group 1 placegetter and at stud she produced four stakes winners, including the G1 Galaxy H. and successful sire Magnus and G2 Schillaci S. winner and sire Wilander.

Scandinavia is also the grand-dam of the unbeaten champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and the multiple Group 1 winner and leading sire All Too Hard.

She also features in the pedigrees of current stakes-winning 2-year-olds Hanseatic (Street Boss {USA}) and Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon).

Scandinavia, whose final foal Viking Warrior (Fastnet Rock) is currently racing in Hong Kong, lived out her final years at Victoria’s Dorrington Farm, owned by her breeder Rob Crabtree.

Champagne lot

Quality race mare Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt) is the latest star addition to the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Trained by Bjorn Baker, she won four races including the G2 Breeders’ Classic and the G3 Gold Coast Guineas. She was also placed four times at Group 1 level.

She will be offered during the Broodmare Sale, which runs from July 20-24.

Huge offer

The connections of Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) have refused an offer of more than $3 million from Hong Kong for the 3-year-old.

Managing owner Rupert Legh confirmed the massive offer, but indicated that the Team Hawkes-trained Masked Crusader would now be spelled ahead of the spring.

“The offer was a little bit more than $3 million, it’s not only his owners who think the world of him, but everyone else does too,” Legh told Racenet. “We may regret knocking it back, but I don’t think we will.

“When you have got a horse like this and you look at the sprinting ranks out there at the moment, they are all retiring, and you have got races coming up like The Everest, the TJ, Darley Sprint Classic, Newmarket, all these sort of races. "

Not guilty pleas

Leading jockey Ben Melham will plead not guilty to betting charges he is facing with his partner Karlie Dales following a hearing at the Victorian Racing Tribunal.

Racing Victoria stewards laid seven charges against Melham last month into alleged betting activities over a six-month period, which included giving false or misleading evidence during an interview.

The VRT heard on Tuesday that Melham and Dales would submit an outline of evidence by June 30.

White Robe fees

White Robe Lodge has announced the 2020 service fees for its three resident stallions with Raise The Flag (USA) heading the roster at NZ$6000 + GST.

“We acknowledge that given the current climate times certainly aren’t easy for breeders and feel that our service fees reflect this,” stud manager Wayne Stewart said.

“At White Robe Lodge we are committed to supporting our industry and on reflection are very proud of our stallions' achievements to date.”

Ghibellines will stand at NZ$5000 + GST alongside Gallant Guru at NZ$2000 + GST.

White Robe Lodge is also offering a 10 per cent discount to breeders for two or more mares booked to one stallion.

Moroney looking at Everest

Last start G1 All Aged S. heroine Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) has made a real impression on Michael Moroney, who is eyeing a possible tilt at The Everest at Randwick in the spring.

“We are just waiting for them to confirm prizemoney for The Everest,” Moroney said. “We might attack that, which does change a lot what you do in the spring.

“On the fresh side she would be competitive in an Everest and from then on she probably wants to go up to a mile.

“We were even contemplating that if there wasn’t an Everest then we could give her a prep in the lead-up to the G1 Cox Plate.

“She is one of those mares that you can put anywhere and she has got the ability to be competitive at most distances I would think, now that she is starting to relax.”

Stradbroke still target

Trainer Jenny Graham is continuing on a path to the G1 Stradbroke H. with Victorem (I Am Invincible) following an incident-free trial at Doomben on Tuesday.

Stewards had ordered the sprinter to trial after he bucked soon after the start in the G3 BRC Sprint.

The plan for Victorem is to step out in the G2 Victory S. on Saturday as a lead-in to the Stradbroke a fortnight later.

Rodd ready

Jockey Michael Rodd has been cleared by Racing Victoria to return to the saddle on Saturday.

The G1 Melbourne Cup-winning rider finished his time in quarantine on Sunday and two subsequent COVID-19 checks have given him the green light.

Rodd spent five years riding in Singapore, but with racing there in shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, he joined fellow jockeys Daniel Moor and Patrick Moloney in returning to Melbourne.

Futures under consideration

Stablemates Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Lyre (Lonhro) have been spelled following their G1 The Goodwood performances.

The former finished sixth in the feature sprint at Morphettville while Lyre rushed home for third and both of their futures will be mulled over while they are enjoying time out.

"Santa ran below expectations, but the track did play against him on the weekend," said trainer Anthony Freedman’s son Sam via Racing.com. "He is sound and well and is going off for a good break and certainly has not been retired just yet.

"Lyre did a super job without winning in Adelaide, running two Group 1 placings, and now we wait and see whether we get the green light to go again with her or if she heads off to the breeding barn."

Group 1 start on line

Wild Ruler (Snitzel) will have the opportunity at Eagle Farm this weekend to prove himself worthy of a shot at the season’s final 2-year-old feature.

He will run in the G2 Champagne Classic and a bold showing from the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt will earn him a berth in the G1 JJ Atkins S. a fortnight later.

Wild Ruler has won one of his two starts and has been a trial winner since he finished runner-up to Macroura (Snitzel), who has since won again to retain her unbeaten record.