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Keys aims for pre-sale Group 1 with Lempicka
Connections of Lempicka (Rich Enuff) are taking inspiration from last year’s runner-up Another Award (Shamus Award) ahead of the five-year-old mare’s run in Saturday’s Robert Sangster Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m). Lempicka, who is out of a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner In Her Time (Time Thief), will be offered for sale at next month’s Chairman’s Sale in Sydney on May 9. She will line up at Morphettville as one of the outsiders, just as Another Award did prior to her $1.2 million Inglis Digital sale. “You know she’s going to give 100 per cent each time and I just felt we owed it to her to give her a crack at one of these good races,” Kasey Keys, who trains Lempicka in partnership with her father Ken, said. “It’ll be hard for me to part with her, we’ve seen everything with her, and it will definitely be a special moment at the sales anyway.” Lempicka’s only taste of Group 1 racing came in this year’s Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1400m), when she enjoyed little luck to finish 14th of 15, but was beaten less than four lengths.
Wonderful Tonight set for Australian bow
Sam Mynott’s stable flag bearer Wonderful Tonight (I Am Invincible) will become her trainer’s first runner in Australia when the five-year-old takes her chance in Saturday’s Sangster Stakes. Racing in her native New Zealand as Imwonderfultonight, the mare provided Mynott with a first stakes success when taking out the City Of Napier Sprint (Listed, 1200m) at Otaki earlier this month. “It was great to tick that off,” Mynott said. “She came through it really well. She was bouncing around after the race like she hadn’t even had a run, which gave us a bit more confidence in heading over to Adelaide. We had the Queensland Winter Carnival in-mind and we only looked towards Adelaide after Otaki. While she was up and going we thought it could be a good time to go over. She arrived [in Melbourne] last Wednesday and is at Andrew Forsman’s Flemington barn at the moment. She has settled in really well. She has been eating up as soon as she got there, she is really happy.”
Bold Bastille eyes lucrative Showdown victory
Success in The Showdown (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday will see Bold Bastille (Brazen Beau) top the $1 million mark in prize-money. The Lindsay Park-trained filly won the $500,000 Inglis Banner (RL, 1000m) on debut at Moonee Valley and the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m) at Bendigo at her most recent start. Added to that Bold Bastille has twice been successful at Listed level at Flemington and Caulfield and her campaign will come to a close after she runs in $1 million The Showdown. One blemish on Bold Bastille’s record was her sixth placing in the Blue Diamond Prelude (Gr 2, 1100m) at Caulfield in February when first-up as Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes tried to get the filly to the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m). Connections felt the filly was good enough to head to those races, but a set-back early in the campaign forced them onto the back foot. “It was shocking timing, that’s all it was,” Ben Hayes said of the setback. “She was great, working well, but then she got a little sickness, and her bloods weren’t right for about two weeks. In hindsight, we did the right thing, backed-off, but then we tried to get her up to hopefully get her to the Blue Diamond because we thought she was a genuine chance.”
Lake ready for big week
Toby Lake is preparing for a big week with $3,250 purchase The Cast Off (Pariah) set to run in the VRC St Leger (Listed, 2800m) at Flemington on Thursday before another bargain buy, Linkvue (Overshare), who cost $15,000, takes his place in Saturday’s Showdown at Caulfield. With six winners to his name in his short career, Lake is hoping to jump a few rungs all at once this week, but said he is up for the challenge. “It’s a massive week coming up for our young stable and I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to do … we haven’t even been going 12 months,” the Bendigo-based trainer told Racing.com. “It just shows what we can do with the right calibre of horse I suppose.” Linkvue finished runner-up to Bold Bastille in the VOBIS Gold Rush and the trainer believes his youngster has a chance of reversing the placings this weekend. “He has definitely improved and has bounced through the run,” Lake said.
Blinkers and distance to suit Dunbelievin’
The Ciaron Maher stable is expecting a step up in distance and the addition of blinkers to be the recipe of success for Dunbelievin’ (Dundeel) when the gelding takes his chance in the VRC St Leger. Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull, who runs the Cranbourne stable, concedes Dunbelievin’ is racing below his best but also believes the gelding is an out-and-out stayer. Dunbelievin’ started his career in Sydney and won a maiden at Wyong before making his way down to Melbourne, finishing third over 1800 metres at Caulfield on February 3. He was then stepped up in class for the Autumn Classic (Gr 2, 1800m) finishing last, again at Caulfield, before returning to Sydney to run in the Tulloch Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) at Rosehill, again finishing down the track. Turnbull said following the Tulloch Stakes, the St Leger came on the radar. “Off the back of the Tulloch Stakes we looked at this race,” Turnbull said. “He’s just a genuine stayer and while form suggests that he is not going that good, we believe he’s a proper stayer and wants a trip which is rare in Australia. We’re taking him on trust now that he’s out beyond 2400 metres as he hasn’t raced beyond 2000 metres, and we’ve put the blinkers back on. He’s there to be an improved performer.”
Maputo set for Derby audition
Harris Walker and Pat Carey will see how Maputo (Crowded House) runs in the VRC St Leger before deciding if the gelding pushes on to next month’s South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m). Despite having raced just four times, Maputo has already displayed good staying ability, breaking his maiden over 2000 metres at Pakenham two runs ago as a $41 chance. And despite looking in trouble around the bend at his most recent start, Maputo flattened out to hit the line superbly in the Galilee Series Final (Listed, 2400m) at Caulfield, just over four lengths behind the winner Gold Wolf (Tivaci). With these runs under his belt, Walker is excited to see what the progressive three-year-old can do with an extra two furlongs and on a much bigger track. “He got a little bit lost between runners there at Caulfield, but once he got into clean running, he savaged the line,” he told Racing.com. “He really earmarked himself as a horse that would one, enjoy Flemington, and two, enjoy the 2800 metres. Physically, he’s always been quite mature, but mentally he just lacked a bit of race-day experience. In each run, he’s shown progression, especially after his maiden win. He’s really come on from there, he’s quite professional now – he does his work, he knows what he’s doing and he really savages that line.”
Thompson keen to test Impunity’s staying prowess
John Thompson is keen to test Impunity’s (Dundeel) staying credentials when the gelding takes a notable step up in distance in the VRC St Leger. In his nine starts to date, Impunity is yet to race at beyond 1890 metres but Thompson said he had been considering the St Leger for some time for Impunity, although his form had to warrant a start. “His future is going to be over this type of distance and he’s a nice stayer in the making,” Thompson told Racing.com. At his last start Impunity broke his maiden status when he was successful in a 1850-metre maiden at Newcastle, his fifth run this preparation. “There’s a big jump in distance but that’s what he’s going to be looking for going forward,” Thompson said. “He’s an immature type horse, but he’s a nice stayer in the making.”
Plans undecided for City Of Lights
City Of Lights (Deep Impact), a half-sister to Winx (Street Cry), will have her next start this week, but whether it is at Randwick’s Kensington track or Rosehill is yet to be decided. The emerging mare has been paid up for the Anzac Day Cup (1800m) on Thursday and the Matt Behrmann Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill two days later, both races offering similar prize-money. As of lunchtime on Wednesday, Joe Pride was still weighing up which way to go and his decision will impact markets with City Of Lights a $3.40 favourite for the Kensington feature. “I’m not wiping it out. She has to carry a bigger weight from a worse barrier, but it’s good prize-money,” the trainer said of the Anzac Day Cup. “I’ve got a lot of time for her and I’m looking forward to running her again, I’m just not sure where it’s going to be yet. But wherever it is, she is going to be hard to beat.”
Campbell ‘testing the waters’ with Hoax
Barry Campbell will make one of his sporadic raids on the mainland when the undefeated two-year-old filly Hoax (Saxon Warrior) takes on a strong field in the Anzac Day Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Flemington. “We’re testing the water. The two races she’s won haven’t been strong, but her times have been good and last time she ran quicker than the open handicap,” the trainer told Racing.com. “She’s a big filly, 16 hands plus, who is still learning her craft. We can work out where she fits in by running at Flemington.” Hoax made a winning debut over 1120 metres at Launceston on March 6 before taking out a handicap over 1100 metres at Hobart on March 24 by 2.5 lengths.
Well-bred My Xanadu scores at Geelong
My Xanadu (Fastnet Rock) made a winning start to her career when taking out a maiden over 1212 metres at Geelong on Wednesday. Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, the three-year-old is out of Moody’s 2011 Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2008m) winner Lights Of Heaven (Zabeel). Sent off a $5 chance, My Xanadu raced prominently under Linda Meech before running out a comfortable 0.5 length winner from the more experienced Idhana (I Am Invincible). “I think she knew she had it won and she was just coasting – if something had come, I was hoping it wasn’t coming quickly, because she might not have seen them, but she went really well,” said the winning rider. A half-sister to the SAJC Oaklands Plate (Listed, 1400m) winner He’s Heaven (Zoustar), My Xanadu is the fifth winner from as many to race for Lights Of Heaven. A So You Think (High Chaparral) foal from Lights Of Heaven died after birth last spring, and she missed to Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) last season.
Inglis Challenge on the cards for Shall Be
Shall Be (Shalaa) will target the $200,000 Inglis Challenge (1100m) at Scone on May 17 after getting off the mark at the second time of asking in a 900-metre maiden at Newcastle on Wednesday. Trained by Mark Minervini, Shall Be made all the running to defeat Aged Care (Brutal) by 0.8 lengths. “He will go to Scone, a fit, well-educated horse, and 1100 metres will be no worry. It will take something smart to beat him,” said the winning trainer. After failing to meet his reserve at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Shall Be was then purchased for $8,000 by Minervini Racing/GB Bloodstock when offered by Willow Park Stud at the 2023 Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale. He is the fourth winner out of the Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) mare Belle De Jeu, who won four times in New Zealand. A half-sister to Sweet Embrace Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) winner and Golden Rose (Gr 2, 1400m) runner-up Stripper (Danehill Dancer), Belle De Jeu has a yearling colt by Exceedance (Exceed And Excel), which was a $2,750 purchase for Wendy Robb when offered on Inglis Digital. Belle De Jeu was not covered last spring, having foaled an Exceedance colt on October 26.
Hunter tips bright future for Sioux Spirit
Lining up off the back of two successes in jump-outs, Sioux Spirit (Sioux Nation) made a winning start to her racing career when taking out an 1112-metre maiden at Geelong on Wednesday. Trained by Jerome Hunter, the three-year-old filly drew clear to win by 1.3 lengths from The Carillo (Lord Of The Sky), who was finishing second for the fourth consecutive time. “She has a bright future. We will see how she pulls up, but she is rising four and had one start, so it’s not like she’s been around the world,” the winning trainer said. Purchased by Graeme Gathercole’s Rich River Pty Ltd for $52,500 from the Balius Farm draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Showcase Session, Sioux Spirit is the fifth winner from seven to race out of the multiple-winning Invincible Spirit (Green Desert) mare, Big Spirit. Big Spirit has a two-year-old Toronado (High Chaparral) colt named Noble Tarzan. Ciaron Maher Bloodstock bought that colt’s sister for $130,000, at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, when consigned by Meredith Park. After slipping in 2022, Big Spirit was again covered by Toronado last spring.
Williams pays tribute to Dean Holland
Champion jockey Craig Williams has paid tribute to Dean Holland on the 12-month anniversary of his tragic death. Racing remembered Holland at Geelong on Wednesday with the first race on the card named in his honour. Holland died following in a race fall at Donald on April 24 last year. After his win on Sioux Spirit, Williams said: “Dean Holland was well-respected, well-loved, he was great to have around. He was very competitive and a multiple Group 1-winning jockey. It’s fantastic recognition that the VRC, all the racing clubs, Racing Victoria, Geelong today have recognised his contribution. All of my fellow riders all wanted to win today’s race and say their words. He is not forgotten.”
Asfoora leaves for Europe
Dual Group 2 winner Asfoora (Flying Artie) has left trainer Henry Dwyer’s Ballarat base and will now make the journey over to Newmarket to begin preparations for an overseas campaign. The five-year-old daughter of Flying Artie (Artie Schiller), who was last seen running fourth in The Galaxy (Gr 1, 1100m), will be based with Amy Murphy and begin her four-run UK stint in the Temple Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Haydock Park on May 25. Asfoora will then head to Royal Ascot where she will contest the King Charles III Stakes (Gr 1, 5f), then head to the King George Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Goodwood before ending with the Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at York on August 24.
Weir not guilty on corruption charges
Three charges against Darren Weir relating to corrupting the outcome of a race have been dismissed following a VRT hearing. Weir had previously pleaded guilty to seven charges relating to animal cruelty over the use of a jigger on three racehorses at his Warrnambool stables in 2018 but not guilty to the three corruption charges. Weir’s co-accused Jarrod McLean and Tyson Kermond were also found not guilty of the three corruption related charges. Judge John Bowman said the three person VRT Tribunal believed the specifics of the charges were not proven by Racing Victoria’s representatives during a lengthy VRT hearing last month. “The bottom line is we are not satisfied comfortably or otherwise that charges one, two, and three have been made out,” Bowman said. “Particularly we are not comfortably satisfied that the required component of ‘likely to affect the outcome of any race’ has been proven.” In handing down his decision, Bowman highlighted the evidence given by equine scientist Dr Andrew McLean [no relation to Jarrod] who was questioned at length during the hearing and admitted to not being an expert in racing. “We are not particularly impressed with the evidence of Dr McLean, firstly, whilst he may be qualified in various aspects in relation to animal welfare, his knowledge of and experience with racehorses and racing is limited,” Bowman said. The case will continue next week with the VRT to reconvene with a directions hearing to advise on a date for penalty submissions. Reacting to the outcome, Racing Victoria said in a statement: “RV stewards will now take the time to review the VRT’s written judgement in detail when published and carefully consider their options noting the significance of the case. RV stewards will commence the preparation of penalty submissions for the seven serious offence charges that each of Mr Weir, Mr McLean and Mr Kermond plead to or were found guilty of by the VRT. RV stewards’ submissions will reflect the gravity of the offending and seek commensurate penalties for Mr Weir, Mr McLean and Mr Kermond related to the use of a jigger, acts of cruelty to horses, and improper or dishonourable conduct.”
Ramdhani to replace Ross at ATC
Nevesh Ramdhani is heading back to the Australian Turf Club to fill the role vacated by the Hong Kong-bound James Ross. The ATC announced on Wednesday that Ramdhani, who previously worked for the club for 12 years before relocating to the Gold Coast in 2022, had been appointed as the new head of racing and wagering. He will replace Ross, who has accepted a senior role with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. ATC chief executive Matt Galanos said the club was delighted to welcome Ramdhani back to the fold and felt his experience and contacts would be invaluable. “We are very pleased to be able to fill this critical role in Sydney racing with a person of the skills and experience of Nevesh,” Galanos said. “This role involves, not only the oversight of track management at each of our racecourses, but also the racing and wagering department of the Australian Turf Club.” Ramdhani was a highly respected track manager at Randwick from 2010 to 2019 before being promoted to the position of general manager of Racecourses. In 2022, he was poached by the Gold Coast Turf Club to oversee a major redevelopment of its track. Ramdhani will begin his new role with the ATC on May 22.