Rustic Steel triumphs in Scone Cup
Rustic Steel (Deep Field) has earned himself a start in the $2 million The Big Dance at Randwick on November 1 when he ran out a brave winner of the Listed Scone Cup on Friday.
A winner of six of his previous starts, the Kris Lees-trained Rustic Steel defeated Dr Drill (GB) (Dansili {GB}) by 0.5l, while Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) was a further 0.3l adrift in third.
"He had to pull out all stops and he was tough all the way to the line," Lees - who was enjoying his first win in the race - told Sky Thoroughbred Central. "He's a real racehorse and it's a pleasure to win for Ron and Judy (Wanless) and a nice race like the Scone Cup is terrific."
Rustic Steel | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Lees said Rustic Steel was now likely to head for a break to be trained for November's The Big Dance.
"It's a great concept," Lees said. "He'll measure up well and we've got to come up with a plan to get him there."
In winning the Listed contest, Rustic Steel provided Newgate’s Deep Field with his 14th stakes winner.
Invader chalks up sixth winner
Aquis Farm-based first-season sire Invader chalked up his sixth first-crop winner on Friday when the David Phiffer-trained Vegas Raider made a winning debut in the Inglis 2YO Challenge at Scone.
The 2-year-old gelding stayed on bravely to beat River Danzka (Headwater) by 0.4l while Invest In Love (Capitalist) was a further 0.2l further away in third.
Pfieffer teamed up with Blake Armstrong of Strong Bloodstock – with advice from Ollie Koolman - to secure Vegas Raider for $38,000 from last year’s Inglis HTBA May Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Fairview Park Stud.
Vegas Rider | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Danny Molloy-bred Vegas Raider was originally purchased by Mark Egge for $8000 at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale graduate from Middlebrook Valley Lodge draft.
“We like the horse, we thought he could run a bold race but it’s bloody tough to do what he did and I’m so proud of him,’’ the elated trainer said.
“It’s great to team up with Strong Bloodstock, they’re an up-and-coming syndicator who love their racing and have a great eye for a yearling so it’s a huge thrill to be able to win this race for them so early in their time.’’
Friday’s win was the second consecutive year Pfieffer has trained the winner of the Inglis Challenge, following the success of Artero (Flying Artie) 12 months ago.
Original owners to sell Verry Elleegant share
Following Thursday’s shock announcement that star mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) will be transferred from Chris Waller’s stable to French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, the breeder and original owners of the nine-time Group 1 winner have said they intend to sell their 20 per cent share in the mare.
“We’re not happy and we will be looking to sell out of the mare unfortunately,” co-owner Nick Bishara told Racing.com on Friday. “The Ellee syndicate was never in favour of going to Europe, basically on the back of what Chris (Waller) felt - that she’s probably got one more prep in her and to go half way around the world might be a risk if she doesn’t come up.
Verry Elleegant (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“The 80 per cent of the syndicate wanted to go but the 20 per cent (Ellee) of the syndicate didn’t want to go. “Don (Goodwin) bred her and we originally had her. We wanted to put the horse first. Chris Waller is a Hall Of Fame trainer and we were happy to go with what he thought.”
Bishara said the 20 per cent of the mare owned by the Ellee syndicate would be offered first to the current owners of Verry Elleegant.
“She’s not a great traveller,” he continued. “Even from Sydney to Melbourne she’s not fantastic so we just think the risk is too much. “We are disappointed but also grateful for such a wonderful ride with a lot of people associated with her and of course, the Waller team who have done a fantastic job. Chris always puts his horses first and we’ve always been guided by him and I would have left everything in his hands but that’s not the way it’s turned out.”
Brooklyn Park Stud to stand Squamosa
Squamosa will stand at Brooklyn Park Stud in 2022 for a fee of $3,300 (inc GST).
The son of Not A Single Doubt will stand alongside the stud’s other recent acquisition in Holler at the Tasmanian-based farm.
Squamosa is the sire of 82 winners in total and they are headed by dual Group 2 scorer Kiwi Ida and stakes winner Order Of Command.
Clipperton hopes to snap unlucky Group 1 run
Jockey Sam Clipperton has not landed a Group 1 race since his victory on English (Encosta De Lago) in the G1 All Aged S. in 2016 and he will be hoping to snap that losing streak when he jumps on board Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) in the G1 Doomben 10,000 at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The jockey, who has ridden in Hong Kong and Japan, has run 14 second placings at Group 1 level since his last win on English, but came very close these season when finishing an agonising second aboard Best Of Bordeaux (Snitzel) in the G1 Golden Slipper S.
“Fourteen, it’s painful but at the same time it’s not that bad because they have all had their chance, all those seconds and I haven’t ridden a favourite, they have all been odds,” Clipperton told Racenet.
Sam Clipperton | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“I was in Hong Kong for almost three years since then and then back in Sydney for about two-and-a-half years. I ran second in the Hong Kong Mile, the Hong Kong Sprint, the Chairman’s Sprint and the Champions Mile, which were all good paydays but it is something that has been building since.
“They still pay the bills but you can’t help but think ‘what if six of those hit the back of the net?’ I could have had no placegetters so it’s not all bad, but I think we’re due.”
Gollan confident Capital Tower has star quality
Tony Gollan is confident Capital Tower (Capitalist) can preserve his unbeaten record when he takes his chance in the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
A winner of all three of his career starts, Capital Tower will seek a first stakes win when he tackles the 1200-metre race.
"Ability-wise, I don't think we know how good he is yet because he's never really shown us," Gollan told Racing.com. "He'll give us a feel of where we think he's at but, under race conditions, I think we've only seen him just do enough to win.
"I think you'll see the best version of him this weekend if he can let go at Eagle Farm if he has at his previous tracks.
"All his best stuff has been on better ground rather than wetter ground, so I was really nervous with him if we were going to go to Doomben on the really wet track, so moving over to Eagle Farm is a massive plus for him and it gives us a look at this track too as we've obviously got aspirations to go to the Sires' and the J.J. Atkins, so it'll certainly tell us how he lets go on this surface.
"From the minute he started winning, we've always had this carnival and this 2-year-old Triple Crown in mind for him, so this is the first part of the puzzle on Saturday."
Saint Tropez tackles South Australian Derby
Saint Tropez (Not A Single Doubt) will be tested over 2500 metres for the first time when he lines up in the G1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville on Saturday.
While trainer Lloyd Kennewell didn’t always have the gelding down as a stayer, an encouraging third in the Chairman’s Stakes over 2000 metres has given the Cranbourne no reason not to test the gelding in Group 1 company.
“Once we started stretching him out we knew he had a pretty good tank,” Kennewell told Racing.com. “The more we do with him we can’t get to the bottom of him.
Saint Tropez | Image courtesy of Kennewell Racing
“We think he’s a pretty good each-way chance in this sort of race.
“Obviously, there are a couple of topliners Ciaron Maher’s (Detonator Jack) and James Cummings (Alegron) who clearly look the two stand-outs. For mine we are right there on the last rung.”
Point Nepean set for the hat-trick
The Robert Hickmott-trained import Point Nepean (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) will attempt to complete a hat-trick of wins on Saturday when he takes his place in the Listed Andrew Ramsden S. at Flemington.
Raced by the Williams Family, the son of Camelot (GB) goes into the Listed race off the back of a pair of wins at Bendigo and Caulfield.
"He ran well last time; he probably didn't have many favours in the run for the style of horse he is," owner Nick Williams told Racing.com.
Point Nepean (Ire) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"He seems to have come forward from then, bit of time between runs would have done him good, step up in trip should be a plus. We think he'll run well.
"He's a good type, he's by Camelot out of a Galileo mare, he's got fantastic lung capacity, a beautiful action, he's got a few things going for him. There's no question he's going to be a good stayer in time but whether that's in the spring, not sure, but these stayers, they don't just present themselves, you've got to make them and he's showing all the right signs."
Desert Crown races to Derby favouritism
Following his easy victory in the G2 Dante S. at York on Thursday, Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is now favourite to provide trainer Sir Michael Stoute with an astonishing sixth win in the G1 Derby next month.
The 3-three-year colt showed his class when scooting away from the field to post an impressive 3.3l victory over Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), while the Aidan O’Brien-trained Bluegrass (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) stayed on well to finish third.
"He had that hold up and he was only really ready for a race now so I'm very pleased, he was very smooth," Sir Michael Stoute told Racing TV. "His temperament isn't a problem, he's a very relaxed horse.
"I like the Dante, it's a good trial, a good test. He's got further to go at Epsom, but I'd be very hopeful it wouldn't be a problem.
"What he showed me there was very encouraging. Other than Workforce all my Dante horses had had a previous race early in the season so that was very encouraging. I was excited watching the race, but now I'm calm."
Stoute’s first G1 Derby win came in 1981 when Shergar took out the Group 1 by a breathtaking 10 lengths, a record that has still never been bettered. This year, the trainer will be looking to chalk up his sixth win in the time-honoured Classic and a first since Workforce’s triumph in 2010.
Rich Strike to swerve Preakness
Rich Strike (USA) (Keen Ice {USA}), who sensationally upended last Saturday's G1 Kentucky Derby as the 80-1 longest shot in the field of 20, will bypass the Grade 1 Preakness S. at Pimlico on May 21 owner Rick Dawson revealed on Thursday.
“Our original plan for Rich Strike was contingent on the Kentucky Derby–should we not run in the Derby, we would point toward the Preakness, should we run in the Derby, subject to the race outcome and the condition of our horse, we would give him more recovery time and rest and run in the Belmont or another race and stay on course to run with five or six weeks' rest between races,” Dawson said in a statement.
“Obviously, with our tremendous effort and win in the Derby, it's very, very tempting to alter our course and run in the Preakness at Pimlico, which would be a great honour for all our group, however, after much discussion and consideration with my trainer Eric Reed and a few others, we are going to stay with our plan of 'what's best for Ritchie is what's best for our group,' and pass on running in the Preakness, and point toward the Belmont in approximately five weeks.”
