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Manaal ready for Slipper task

Michael Freedman believes his young filly Manaal (Tassort) will be able to hold her own when she takes on a star-studded collection of colts in Saturday’s $5 million Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) at Rosehill. Manaal has won two of her three starts, including a last-start win in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m), and while wary of the boys, Freedman is happy with the progression she has made since that March 2 event. “She’s great, she has come on since that win and I’m going to try to prove everyone wrong – that the fillies are better than the colts,” the trainer said. “I think the filly that ran second in the Blue Diamond [Lady Of Camelot], who trialled the other day, looked super impressive and the Blue Diamond winner [Hayasugi] looked pretty impressive. Manaal has experience against Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), having finished second to her in the Widden Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) on February 3, which was her (Manaal) first start since her debut win in the Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) in September. Tommy Berry has been aboard for all three of Manaal’s starts, but with the three-time Slipper winner committed to Espionage (Zoustar), Freedman has called on Jason Collett for the ride. “He’s already had a sit on her and he’ll come and give her a gallop on Tuesday. I couldn’t be happier,” Freedman said.

 

Slipper off the table for Bold Bastille 

Bold Bastille (Brazen Beau) will miss the Golden Slipper with connections of the filly electing to campaign her closer to home for the remainder of her two-year-old career. Part-owner Ozzie Kheir said on Monday morning that the Lindsay Park-trained youngster will not travel interstate this season, with connections eyeing a spring campaign that would mirror that of former star sprinting filly Coolangatta (Written Tycoon). “We won’t be going to the Slipper,” Kheir told Racing.com. “I spoke to the stable yesterday and our preference at the moment is to keep her in Victoria. There’s a 1000-metre race in Bendigo worth $250,000 in a couple of weeks then there’s the Showdown at Caulfield about three weeks later worth $1 million. Then, we’ll put her out and hopefully she’s good enough to go to a Moir and, if so, we’ll do a Coolangatta 2.0.”

 

Veight chases elusive Group 1 win in George Ryder

Dual Guineas runner-up Veight (Grunt) is set to take on the older horses at Rosehill on Saturday in the George Ryder Stakes (Gr 1, 1500m). The three-year-old colt has snared two Group 2 wins and a Group 3 victory in his ten starts to date, but a Group 1 has eluded him so far, although he went close when finishing second in both the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) in the spring and in the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington at his most recent start. “He’s come out of the Guineas incredibly well,” co-trainer Calvin McEvoy said. “He’s a lovely sound horse, he’s handling his racing as good as you’d hope and we were proud of his efforts in the Guineas. We were a bit flat to get beaten again, he’s run second in both Guineas, which shows he’s a really quality colt but he needs to win a major race.” McEvoy, who trains Grunt in partnership with his father Tony, said they considered a number of immediate options for Veight after the Australian Guineas, including features in either Adelaide or Brisbane, before deciding on the weight-for-age George Ryder. “It’s probably the strongest of all of the options but we feel he’s fit and well and the three weeks in between runs and the 1500 metres at Rosehill is something that will suit him,” McEvoy said. “We want to get him to a Golden Eagle in the spring so it will be a look at the track and trip of that race.”

 

Overpass stars in Rosehill trial

Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Overpass (Vancouver) finished in front of a host of big names when taking out a 900-metre trial at Rosehill on Monday. The Bjorn Baker-trained five-year-old posted a time of 54.34 seconds as he defeated Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) third Zou Tiger (Zoustar) by 0.5 lengths with last year’s Golden Slipper hero Shinzo (Snitzel) a further 0.43 lengths away in third. Also taking part in the heat were fellow Group 1 winners  Joliestar (Zoustar) and Atishu (Savabeel), who finished fifth and sixth respectively. 

 

Group 1 aspirant Another Wil warms up

Progressive four-year-old Another Wil (Street Boss) made an immediate impact in Sydney when cruising to victory under Jamie Kah in a trial at Rosehill. The winner of all three of his starts so far this year was sent to Sydney last week by his trainer Ciaron Maher in an attempt to qualify for next month’s Doncaster Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m). Kah allowed Another Wil to find his feet early in the 1030-metre trial, settling in behind the speed set by smart three-year-old Butch Cassidy (Written Tycoon) and she barely moved in the concluding stages as her mount scored by 0.21 lengths. Another Wil will next chase a ballot-free run in the Doncaster through the Doncaster Prelude (Gr 3, 1500m) at Rosehill on March 30.

 

Linebacker impresses

Another juvenile to impress at Monday’s Rosehill trials was the John O’Shea-trained Linebacker (Super Seth). Having made a winning debut on the track in a 1300-metre contest at Hawkesbury last month, the colt cruised home on Monday under Kerrin McEvoy, beating Althoff (Written Tycoon) by an easy 3.2 lengths. Bred by Johnathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock, Linebacker was a NZ$160,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for John O’Shea Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Haunui Farm draft. He is the third foal, and first winner, out of the unraced Oasis Dream (Green Desert) mare Garden of Swans.

 

Amelia’s Jewel pleases Miller

Group 1 winner Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni) started her preparation for a tilt at The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on April 20 by finishing second in a trial over 1000 metres at Ascot on Monday morning. The Simon Miller-trained four-year-old, who was having her first official public appearance since finishing 11th in last year’s Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill, finished off her heat strongly under Patrick Carbery to close down the pace-setting Bopping Blue (Magnus). Owner-breeder Peter Walsh told The Races WA: “Patrick reported she felt absolutely excellent. He just allowed her to find her feet and hit the line. She blew quite a bit but felt magnificent. Patty was very, very happy with her. She’s got a bit to go yet and her grand final is still four weeks away.” Amelia’s Jewel is set to return to competitive action when she attempts to defend her Roma Cup (Gr 3, 1100m) crown at Ascot on April 6. 

   

More Group 1 glory awaits for Pride Of Jenni

All-Star Mile (1600m) winner Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) will step up in distance for her next start with connections eyeing a tilt at the Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) at Flemington on March 30. The six-year-old has raced beyond 1600 metres just once in her career, finishing eighth in last year’s JRA Plate (Gr 3, 2000m) at Randwick on heavy ground when beaten by 8.27 lengths after setting up a sizeable lead. “I thought on Saturday she looked like if Dec [Bates, rider] had have asked her to come back a fraction, she would have and I think she is relaxing a little bit more each time she goes around,” the six-time winner’s trainer Ciaron Maher told Racing.com. “I think it’s the right time to take on the ten furlongs … it is a question if she goes the 2000 metres, she’s gone there once and was on a back-up and is clearly in better form now.”

 

Two for O’Brien in Australian Cup

Danny O’Brien is planning on launching a two-pronged assault on the Australian Cup with both Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War) and stablemate Young Werther (Tavistock) pencilled in for the Flemington contest. “He only just got beaten the other day,” the trainer told Racing.com of Peter Young Stakes (Gr 2, 1800m) runner-up Vow And Declare. “He was ahead before and after the line and Campionessa had her head down on it. We decided after the Peter Young to go straight to the Australian Cup and it should set up well for him as he’s in really good order as he’s had five weeks between runs. That was a terrific first-up run. The horse needs Flemington and he’ll get to the Australian Cup in great shape.” Young Werther will line up having taken out the Australian Cup Prelude (1800m) on his most recent start and O’Brien said of the six-year-old: “2000 metres at Flemington is his favoured course and distance.” 

 

Owners to vote on Mr Brightside rider

The owners of Mr Brightside (Bullbars) will vote on whether or not Craig Williams keeps the ride on the six-year-old with members of the group unhappy about the ride he gave the gelding when finishing second in Saturday’s All-Star Mile. Co-trainer Ben Hayes, who admitted to being frustrated and disappointed post-race on Saturday after Mr Brightside drifted back towards the tail of the field and was unable to run down the leader, said that, on reflection, he was not against retaining Wiliams for the ride in two weeks in the Australian Cup at Flemington. “It’s got to be decided over the next week,” Hayes told Racing.com. “There will be a vote with the ownership group as there are divided opinions. I’ve had a think about it and I’d be relaxed if he [Williams] stays on. After talking to a lot of people, I was probably just in the moment on Saturday, but he made the decision that he thought was best and unfortunately it didn’t work out.”

 

Leading jockeys back Williams over ASM ride

Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200)-winning riders James McDonald and Mark Zahra, as well as retired great Damien Oliver, have all publicly shown their support for Craig Williams after his tactics on Mr Brightside in Saturday’s All-Star Mile (1600m) were questioned. “I don’t think he did anything wrong, to be fair,” McDonald told RSN927. “I thought he played the percentages – he rode it, probably, how the race looked to be unfolding. It looked a very strong tempo, and he took his chance by getting a bit of cover and swooping late. It didn’t work out, but how was he to know?” Zahra also offered his perspective on how the race unfolded, having partnered the fifth-placed Munhamek (Dark Angel) in the contest. “Willo gave it a great ride, he gave it every chance he could. He rode the horse I think as fast as you could – that was about as close as you could be, because there was a bit of a charge to the first bend,” Zahra also told RSN927. “When you draw out like that, you’ve got to make a decision, so, he found the spot – I was actually following him. He ran well, Mr Brightside. If he drew well, you might have been able to settle closer – I don’t think he beats her [Pride Of Jenni]. That’s a very tough call on Willo. He rides the horse great, wins every start – that’d be harsh, I feel.” Also in agreement was Oliver, who told Racing.com: “From a jockey’s perspective, Craig did the right thing. Craig was a bit dictated by the barrier, I felt. He drew one from the outside, the two horses inside him that went forward. If he was to push forward as well, I would’ve thought he probably would’ve been three deep with no cover. I’ve no doubt, if he had drawn better, he would’ve liked to have been a length or two closer in the run to Pride Of Jenni, but he was a bit dictated to by the gate.”

 

Share in Imperatriz up for grabs

Four lucky punters will get the chance to own one of the world’s best sprinters through the Ladbrokes Racing Club, when they become part-owners of Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) when she takes her chance in the William Reid Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) on Saturday at The Valley. The once-in-a-lifetime experience comes via a partnership between Te Akau Racing and Entain. “The Ladbrokes Racing Club is a brilliant initiative, igniting excitement among the next generation of owners,” Te Akau’s David Ellis said. “It’s innovative and dynamic, giving people a rare chance to taste the thrill of ownership up close and very personal. Te Akau Racing could not be prouder to provide this unparalleled experience on one of the biggest days of the year at The Valley.”

 

Weir enters cruelty pleas

Darren Weir has pleaded guilty to seven of ten charges relating to the use of a jigger on three of his former racehorses in a Victorian Racing Tribunal hearing that got underway on Monday. Ian Hill KC, representing Weir, entered not guilty pleas to charges one, two and three, relating to conduct that corrupts the outcome of a race, but guilty pleas for welfare charges four to nine. A guilty plea was also entered for charge ten, which is related to engaging in action that is dishonourable or improper in connection with racing. The hearing, which will continue on Tuesday, is not expected to last the allotted five days.

 

Kempsey called off

Monday’s meeting at Kempsey was called off after the second race after a delegation of stewards and riders deemed the track unsuitable for racing with continual rain causing visibility issues.

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