Showmanship sidelined

Talented WA galloper Showmanship (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) will play no further part in this year's spring carnival after sustaining a tendon injury and owner Bob Peters said he doesn't know how serious the injury is.

"Every tendon is bad," Peters told Racing.com. "It's a bit of a different one. One tendon is a lot thicker than the other one.

"I haven't experienced one of these before. I've had longitudinal ones and plenty of tears, but they are hard to measure these ones."

Walker secures Willoughby ride

Michael Walker has been booked to ride the Go Bloodstock-owned European import Dashing Willoughby (GB) (Nathaniel {IIre}) in this year’s G1 Melbourne Cup.

“Upon discussing a suitable jockey with Sir Owen, Mick and Janice Mariscotti and Andrew Balding, it became clear we wanted a Victorian-based jockey with good Cup experience who would suit Dashing Willoughby’s racing style,” Go Bloodstock’s Steve O Connor said.

“We wanted someone we could trust who was as motivated as ever. Michael ticked all these boxes and we cannot wait for Michael to get his first sit on Dashing when he arrives in a little over two weeks.”

Back on track

After jumping-out at Caulfield on Tuesday, Grahame Begg says his Cups contender Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) is back on track despite missing a run last weekend.

The 4-year-old is set to contest a 1700 metre handicap at Caulfield next Saturday but the trainer is unsure where he will grafter that.

"Everything is good, he's on track," Begg told Racing.com.

"His blood picture is fine, so he was right to go to the jump-outs. So he's back on track.

"(Where we go after Caulfield) is open ended at the moment. He has got plenty of options, races like the Cranbourne Cup, those sort of races are on offering.

"He could even be a quick back-up into the Turnbull, so who knows?"

Naturalism test

Archie Alexander will step out two of his stayers in Saturday’s G3 Naturalism S. at Caulfield.

Haky (Ire) (Muhtathir {GB}) is likely to head towards the G3 The Bart Cummings in order to gain a spot in the G1 Melbourne Cup, while Gallic Chieftain (Fr) (Tamayuz {GB}) is likely to be aimed at the G1 The Metropolitan after finishing second in the race last year.

“Really happy with them,” Alexander said of the pair.

“I guess Haky would be our main hopes (this spring), if he can run really well at the weekend then he goes into the Bart Cummings, where he needs to win and then he’s in the Cup if he can get that.

“We might head up north with Gallic Chieftain to The Metrop where he was second last year.”

Perth return

Veteren gelding Gailo Chop (Fr) (Deportivo {GB}) is set to travel to WA again this year, trainer Matthew Williams has confirmed.

The 10-year-old will be aimed at the G1 Railway S. and the G1 Kingston Town Classic, a race in which he finished second last year.

“Last year we only took him over for one run and he performed really well, the class suited him better too,” Williams told Racing.com.

“This year he’ll definitely head over for longer and also run in the Railway.

“I thought his run first-up in the Makybe Diva was okay, it was all over for him after he missed the start and he ended up three wide and he can’t run those sharp sectionals like some of the others.

“He’ll join Harbour Views in the Underwood and I think he’ll show he’s still got a bit left in the old boy, it was disappointing that he didn’t really get his chance first-up but he has a great second-up record too and I’m looking forward to what he can do if it goes his way.”

Finalists confirmed

Four finalists for this year’s NSW Champion Horse of the Year have been confirmed, headed by star sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi).

The other three contenders include multiple Group 1-winning mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), Fierce Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and British raider Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}).

“This year the shortlist of finalists, which are arrived at using a points system, will then be judged by a panel of industry participants,” NSWROA CEO Jane Henning said.

“A tally of their votes will determine the winners, which will be announced on the night of the awards.”

High hopes for Catalyst

Trainer Clayton Chipperfield is getting used to training his stable star Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) remotely.

The Te Awamutu galloper is in Sydney preparing to run first-up in the G2 The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday, while his trainer is stranded in New Zealand due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“It will be great to see him back out there again and to try and improve on his last run in Australia,” Chipperfield said. “All the reports from the boys, Chris McNab and Matthew Ward, over in Sydney are that he couldn’t be better.

“I’d love to be over there, but I couldn’t have a better pair of guys looking after him. The horse has got a big task ahead of him on Saturday, but we will know where he is at.”

Jockey Glen Boss partnered Catalyst in a gallop on the Randwick course proper on Tuesday morning and gave Chipperfield the tick of approval ahead of Saturday.

“He is a little excited and he was happy with the improvement from his first ride on him 10 days ago,” Chipperfield said. “We’re in good shape for a nice showing on Saturday.”

O’Brien confirms spring contenders

Champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien will send six horses to enter quarantine in preparation for this year’s Spring Carnival.

Racing Victoria General Manager of International Operations, Paul Bloodworth, confirmed on Tuesday that those horses include last year’s G1 Mackinnon S. winner Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Melbourne Cup top weight Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Tiger Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) and Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

"Aidan has advised that these horses are going into quarantine on Wednesday morning, so that's the first step because you can't come to Melbourne unless you do your two weeks' quarantine in Ireland," Bloodworth told RSN927.

"They have in the past put more horses into quarantine than have actually come into Melbourne so I'm not trying to put a dampener on things here but that's just the slight thing we have to wait for to see who they bring.

"But I think it's a very good indication because of the circumstances of this year, around getting here all the work they've done to get their staff here."

Tavi Mac primed for Tarzino

New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock had a golden run in the G1 Tarzino Trophy a few years ago, winning three on-end, and he is hoping he can add a fourth to his mantlepiece after Saturday.

Sharrock’s first victory in the race came in 2014 with I Do (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) and he followed that with victories in the 2015 and 2016 editions with Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel).

He will contest this year’s race with pocket rocket Tavi Mac, who while small in stature has proved to have an iron willpower, evidenced by his brave runner-up performance in the G2 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa earlier this month.

“It exceeded my expectations, but he is that sort of horse,” Sharrock said. “He has got a bit of a following and is one of those genuine little fellas that doesn’t want to give in. He would make a great halfback for the All Blacks, this fella.”

Kiwi Ida thriving

Kiwi Ida (Squamosa) is in fine fettle heading into Saturday’s G1 Tarzino Trophy with the John and Karen Parsons-trained mare staying in the Waikato after her fresh-up sixth placing in the G2 Foxbridge Plate.

The multiple Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed sprinter has been installed a NZ$14 chance for Saturday’s contest and gets to her preferred 1400 metre distance.

“She was pretty brave given she was fresh-up and she never got closer than four-wide to the fence,” Parsons said of the mare’s Foxbridge Plate run. “We have been based with Sarah Broughton near Mystery Creek and she is just marvelous.

“The horses look absolutely fantastic. She rides them for me, and she looks after them if I go home. She does a wonderful job.”

Honor A. P. retired

The G1 Santa Anita Derby winner, Honor A. P. (USA) (Honor Code {USA}) has been retired following a fourth-place finish in the G1 Kentucky Derby during which he suffered an injury, according to trainer John Shirreffs.

He is scheduled to arrive at Lane’s End Farm Wednesday afternoon to take up stud duties.

“Honor A. P. is a horse with an immense talent,” said Shirreffs. “He was so forward and precocious that he broke his maiden second time out by over five lengths going two turns.

“Honor A. P. showed brilliance as a 2-year-old from the first time I saw him train and replicated it as a 3-year-old defeating the future Kentucky Derby winner.

“He ran a super race in the Derby and we later found that he came out of the race with an injury, so all things considered, what he accomplished was something special.”