Winx in foal
Connections of Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) have confirmed the Champion mare to be successfully in foal to Coolmore Stud’s Pierro.
The news came on the same day the grandstand named in her honour was officially unveiled at Randwick.
Winx was in the latter stages of her first pregnancy when she lost her foal, a filly by I Am Invincible, in October last year and as a result wasn’t covered in 2020.
First for Invader
Aquis Farm stallion Invader notched his first winner via the debut victory of Sweet Invader at Townsville on Thursday.
The Kevin Hansen-trained filly was sent around as a commanding favourite but missed the start by 3l before storming home to nail Go Getaboy (Startum Star) on the line under the urging of Justin Stanley.
The G1 ATC Sires’ Produce S.-winning son of Snitzel, whose first crop yearlings sold for up to $550,000, has eleven offspring catalogued for the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and 22 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Schofield’s Hong Kong tenure to conclude early
Chad Schofield will ride his last race in Hong Kong on Sunday after receiving approval to have his licence to ride in the jurisdiction withdrawn on Wednesday.
Schofield was expected to continue riding in the Asian racing mecca until the Hong Kong International meeting on December 12 but will now head back to Australia where he is expected to resume race riding in Sydney.
Azzopardi on the board
Former WA-based jockey Chloe Azzopardi has kickstarted her association with the Leon and Troy Corstens camp in style, saluting aboard Gateaux (Pierro) at Wangaratta at just her sixth race ride in Victoria.
Azzopardi, who was lured across the Nullarbor by the Malua Racing operation after struggling for opportunities in Perth gifted Gateaux a superb ride to score by 1.8l in the 1400 metre maiden.
Chloe Azzopardi aboard Gateaux winning the Killawarra Kennels and Cattery Mdn Plate at Wangaratta
“I’ve been riding a long time now, racing on and off for the past eight years. I came out of my time last year, so I thought I’d give Melbourne a shot,” Azzopardi told Racing.com.
“I wasn’t riding as much as I’d like to at home and I'm willing to ride wherever, whenever, so I’m hoping some good opportunities come.”
Ranting back on track
Troy Corstens believes talented entire Ranting (Zoustar) to be back on track ahead of his fourth-up tilt at Saturday’s David Bourke Memorial H. at Pakenham.
The Rupert Legh-owned 4-year-old hasn’t won since beating Hanseatic and Anders in last year’s G3 Blue Sapphire S. at Caulfield but is building towards another success, according to Corstens.
"He just sort of lost his way a little bit, we had a few niggling little back issues with him towards the end of his 3-year-old career,” Corstens told Racing.com.
“We've always had a really good opinion of him, and I think we've got him back and right now."
Twinkling set to star
Lindsey Smith expects former New Zealand-based galloper In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) to showcase his staying prowess in Saturday’s Listed Pakenham Cup.
The 6-year-old gelding is nearing peak fitness after two pleasing runs for Smith on Cranbourne Cup Day and in the Listed Ballarat Cup.
In A Twinkling | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
"From a good gate, he'll roll close to the lead and if no one wants to lead, he might even lead, the 2500 metres is a good race for him but on December 18 there's a 2600 metre BM100 (at Flemington),” Smith told RSN.
"I reckon the next run he will be even better but let's hope he wins the Pakenham Cup and gets out-weighted in the Flemington race.”
Summer Cup on the cards
Exciting French-import Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}) could be aimed towards the G3 Summer Cup on Boxing Day if he can back up his brilliant Australian debut victory at Newcastle in Saturday’s Cabra Bowls H. at Rosehill.
Peter Snowden, who trains the Francis and Christine Cook-owned 5-year-old in partnership with his son Paul, said Huetor's emergence has been a ‘pleasant surprise’.
“The Summer Cup is a possibility for Huetor but he has to run really well at Rosehill as we only intend to give him two or three starts this preparation then turn him out and give him a crack in the autumn,” Snowden told Racenet.
“He has really come on well since that run and there is more upside for him. The 2000 metres should be ideal for him, as is the three-week gap between Newcastle and Rosehill.”
Railway awaits Entriviere
Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) is building towards a return in the G1 Sistema Railway at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day after a successful three-start spring campaign in Sydney which resulted in a first-up victory in the G2 Sheraco S.
The Te Akau-owned mare is set to trial at Rotorua on December 13 before partaking in an exhibition gallop, according to trainer Jamie Richards.
Entriviere (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“She just had a couple of weeks out. She maintained quite a bit of residual fitness from that Australian preparation, but we wanted to pull up stumps nice and early to give her the chance to get back for this,” Richards said.
“She will then stay here (New Zealand) for the (G1) Telegraph and the (G1) BCD Group Sprint at Te Rapa and then we will make a plan from there.”
Moore named world’s best jockey
Ryan Moore has been crowned the 2021 Longines World’s Best Jockey with 112 points after winning six qualifying races from the world’s top 100 Group or Grade 1s aboard five different horses in four separate countries.
Second in the standings was William Buick with 104 points while James McDonald finished in third position on 96 points.
