Currie return

Luke Currie will return to the races for the first time since February with a strong book of rides at Caulfield on Saturday.

The multiple Group 1-winning jockey will partner Game Keeper (Fastnet Rock) in the Listed Heatherlie S., Lyre (Lonhro) in the G3 The Heath 1100 S. and Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau) in the G3 Cockram S.

"They're a couple of nice rides," Currie told Racing.com.

"I feel good. I had a couple of rides (on Thursday) that are scratched, so I would have thought I'd have a couple of spins before Saturday.

"But I feel really well and whether it's this week or next week, I don't think I could feel much better without getting back to the races.

"First meeting back, people want to see you ride but I have built a good relationship with both Tony and Calvin (McEvoy) and Anthony and Sam (Freedman) and they're horses I have won on before so I know the horses really well.

"All three of them I'm looking forward to riding. They're probably the three of the main horses that I was looking forward to riding over the spring last season.

"Hopefully they can all put their hand up and win a decent race this spring.”

Godolphin attack

Godolphin will saddle two runners in Saturday’s G1 Memsie S. and head trainer James Cummings is particularly bullish about the chances of imported gelding Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).

Cascadian finished 2.45l behind fellow Godolphin Memsie runner Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G2 PB Lawrence S. and Cummings thinks the 6-year-old has benefitted from that run.

"He's ready to attack," Cummings said.

"He's enjoyed having the freshness knocked out of him by his first-up run and he's confirmed that by the sensible and easy way he's gone about his training since.”

Trial win

G1 Robert Sangstar S. winner Bella Vella (Commands) had her first major spring hitout on Thursday, winning a 1000 metre trial at Morphettville by 0.75l.

The Will Clarken-trained mare will resume in the G2 McEwen S. at The Valley prior to her first Group 1 assignment of the spring, the G1 Moir S. at The Valley on September 25.

Impressive debut

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) made the perfect start to her career on Wednesday, winning a 1200 metre maiden at Mornington.

The 3-year-old filly was ridden by Damien Oliver and settled midfield with cover before being shaken up around the turned and scooting past her rivals.

“That was fantastic. You couldn’t have asked for a better debut,” Kent Jnr said.

“She was a little bit keen early, there wasn’t much tempo, but to do what she did vindicates what we think of her.”

By Reliable Man (GB) and out of a Tavistock (NZ) mare, Annavisto is bred to get out over much further than 1200 metres and shortened into $15 on TAB for the G1 Thousand Guineas.

“She’s a gorgeous type, she’s got so much scope,” Kent Jnr said.

“She’s bred to get an Oaks trip this filly, but she’s got a bit of speed, which she needs.

“We’ve got a circle around the Guineas first, but we’ll see how far she gets being her first preparation.”

Cambridge stallions on show

Cambridge Stud will showcase their two stallions on Sunday ahead of the 2020 breeding season.

The online stallion parade will be hosted from 2.30pm NZST by chief executive Henry Plumptre and head of nominations Scott Calder and be shown on the farm’s Facebook and YouTube channel.

The first foals of Embellish (NZ), the first Group 1-winning son of Savabeel to stand at stud, have impressed breeders to date.

Champion European 3-year-old Almanzor (Fr) has returned to Cambridge Stud for his third Southern Hemisphere season and will stand at $30,000 + GST this year.

Sydney expansion

Ciaron Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, has revealed plans to expand the Sydney arm of his business and said he is hoping to replicate the set-up he has in Victoria.

Maher had hoped to initiate his expansion plans last year but they were put on the backburner when the opportunity arose to acquire the former Ballarat stables of banned trainer Darren Weir.

"That took a bit of organising but now that is all running smoothly so the focus is Sydney and expanding," Maher said.

"I've always wanted to set it up as two individual stables, not a satellite stable, and that's what we aim to do."

Maher said they would look to mirror the set-up they have in Victoria, which includes pre-training facilities and farms, as well as increasing their stable numbers.

"I want to set up my own systems, farms, pre-training facilities and replicate what we have (in Victoria)," Maher said.

"On-course stabling is like hens' teeth in Sydney, for whatever reason I'm not sure, but I will be looking to obtain some more boxes as well."

Award for Nature Strip

Nature Strip (Nicconi) was officially crowned Victorian Horse of the Year on Wednesday night, and became the fourth consecutive horse trained by Chris Waller to win the award after Winx’s (Street Cry {Ire}) victories from 2017-2019.

“It’s a great privilege, what a horse,” Waller told Racing.com.

“I’ve been lucky enough to be training a few good ones over the past few years but this horse certainly takes it to a new level the way he races. He gets the people talking and wow how consistent he’s been over the past year and it’s been a privilege to be a part of his success.”

11th Scobie for Ollie

Damien Oliver won his 11th Scobie Breasley Medal on Wednesday night, further cementing himself as Victoria’s premier jockey.

Voted by a panel of Racing Victoria Stewards, Oliver polled 61 votes. Dwayne Dunn came in second polling 51 votes while Craig Williams was third on 43.

The 48-year-old first won the award in 1996 and said he was delighted to have secured it again.

“It was a long time ago I can barely remember it but I can remember winning an award in honour of such a legend like Scobie and sharing some great times with him," Oliver told Racing.com at the virtual awards ceremony.

“I’m still really excited and thrilled to be still winning one so late in my career.

“(My season) it was pretty consistent and I was really thrilled with the highlights in the spring with Miami Bound and winning the Derby as well for some good friends and people I’ve had success with for a long period of time.”

O’Brien on top

Following a standout season highlighted by taking out the G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 VRC Oaks, Danny O’Brien secured the Fred Hoysted Medal, awarded to the most outstanding Victorian trainer of 2019/20.

“It is a team effort we’ve got a fantastic group of people working horses at Flemington, Barwon Heads and now Geelong every day," O'Brien said.

“We’ve got some brilliant people working with the horses and also some brilliant people working in the business, particularly my general manager Matt Harrington and my assistant trainer Ben Gleeson as well as all the other people that are getting up every day and making sure we can train as many winners as possible.”

Rising star Ryan

Young Caulfield trainer Nick Ryan was recognised as one of the most up and coming Victorian trainers among the ranks as he took out the 2019/20 Colin Alderson Rising Star Award on Wednesday night.

“I was lucky enough to ride for Colin Alderson and Cindy and to win this award is a great thrill," Ryan said.

“It’s been a bit of a breakout season, I'm lucky to have some good stock around me and the team is flying.

“I’ve got to thank my staff and all my owners, we’ve done it with a very small stable we’ve got 14 boxes at Caulfield and we pride ourselves on quality over quantity.”

Brighthill Farm stallion parade

Brighthill Farm will be hosting a stallion parade this Saturday, 29 August at 11am NZST, parading their three stallions Dalghar (Fr), Eminent (Ire) and Preferment (NZ).

Level 2 requirements will be adhered to, so those attending are asked to check-in using the COVID-19 Tracker or sign in on arrival and maintain social distancing.

Those unable to make the parade are able to make an appointment to see the stallions at any time.

For more information, please contact Nick King on +64 27 441 6442.

Spending spree

Ted Voute spent a total of 650,000 gns (AU$1,186,361) to secure four horses, including the overall top three lots, on Day 3 of the Tattersalls August Sale on Wednesday.

Bidding online, Voute purchased Walkinthesand (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) for 220,000 gns (AU$401,538), To Nathaniel (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) for 185,000 gns (AU$337,657) and Tell Me All (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for 180,000 gns (AU$328,531). Kasbaan (GB) (Dansili {GB}) rounded out his purchases, selling for 65,000 gns (AU$118,636).

"They've been bought for a new stud company called Najd Stud Limited, which is based in Riyadh," said Voute. "They were looking for horses who can run in the King's Cup series. As soon as the next flight is available the horses will be shipping out to that part of the world.”

Overall, the three day sale finished with a total aggregate of 8,430,400 gns (AU$15,386,924), an average of 16,530 gns (AU$30,170) and a median of 9000 gns (AU$16,427). 510 of the 561 lots offered changed hands, making a healthy clearance rate of 91 per cent.