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King backs Bruce’s Oaks hope
Trainer Jack Bruce will saddle his first Group 1 runner when Highgrove Rose (King’s Legacy) lines up in Saturday’s Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2200m) at Eagle Farm, with jockey Rachel King hoping to help deliver a memorable result. Bruce, a former racing manager for Bjorn Baker before establishing his own stable, has carefully targeted the Oaks with the filly, who enters the race off a strong preparation that includes a win over 1900 metres on the Gold Coast Polytrack and a runner-up finish against older horses over 2200 metres at Doomben. “It’s Jack’s first Group 1 runner and he is pretty smart, he wouldn’t have aimed any up unless they could run well, so I’d say he has been waiting,” King said. “The pressure is on because Jim Clarke bought it, Jack trains it, it’s like a family event. If she runs well, Bjorn will be quite proud of all his ‘kids’.” King partnered Highgrove Rose in a pair of Listed juvenile races during last year’s Brisbane winter carnival and said the filly always gave the impression she would excel over longer distances. “She felt like that kind of horse 12 months ago, that she would get up over a trip, and she has done that,” she said. “Jack looks like he’s done a super job aiming her towards this race. He hasn’t asked her too many big questions, apart from that one race where she stood up and ran really well.” King believes the filly’s experience at staying trips will prove valuable in Saturday’s feature. “It is a Group 1, so it’s a big step up, but distance-wise, she has had a good grounding coming into the race,” she said. “As much as making sure they’re going to stay, you want to make sure they’re going to relax. They’ve really got to know to put their head down, and do the right thing to be strong at the end of an Oaks.”
Kearney strikes gold with Cripps
Ballarat trainer Patrick Kearney celebrated the biggest win of his career when Cripps (Magnus) claimed the Golden Topaz (1200m) at Swan Hill on Friday, overcoming a troubled week to land the $175,000 feature. Named after dual Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps, the four-year-old gelding fought on strongly under Jett Stanley to defeat the Ciaron Maher-trained Fancify (Niagara) by 0.4 lengths, with Steel Move (Blue Point) a further 1.2 lengths away in third. Kearney revealed after the race that Cripps battled soundness issues throughout the week and was no certainty to make it to the races. “I have had the worst week of my life with this horse,” Kearney said. “He couldn’t walk on Monday. The whole team at home has just done an absolute fantastic job; my farrier Shane is amazing and my vet Matt is incredible. I’ve been up all night nearly every night this week with this horse just trying to get him right.” Stanley, who completed a race-to-race double on the card, praised Cripps’ toughness after doing work early in the run. “He did have to do a little bit of work early, they went a hard tempo and everyone was coming from last to catch us,” Stanley said. “He was the last man standing and he out-toughed them.”
Begg seeks black type with Biologics
Promising filly Biologics (I Am Invincible) will have another opportunity to prove herself down the Flemington straight when she contests Saturday’s VRC Community Race Day Sprint (1200m). Trainer Grahame Begg has identified the Creswick Sprint Series Final (Listed, 1200m) on July 4 as a potential black-type target for the daughter of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), who resumed with an impressive victory at Werribee last month. A $700,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase, Biologics won on debut at Pakenham before an interrupted spring campaign yielded just two starts, including an unplaced effort in the Cap D’Antibes Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Flemington. “She’s had one go up the straight previously, and obviously she failed, but she wasn’t right last preparation and hence she had the couple of runs and then we pulled the pin,” Begg said. “It was a weak race at Werribee, but she did it well, ticking the box, winning another race, and then we move forward.” Begg scratched Biologics from a midweek Sandown assignment in favour of Saturday’s race and believes a strong performance could earn her a shot at valuable black type. “If she can run well on Saturday, we’d be looking at the Creswick Final as that’s on in a month’s time and it could be an important race for Jonathan Munz to get some black type on the filly,” he said. The race has proven a successful pathway for Begg and owner Jonathan Munz before, with Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) winning the 2022 Creswick Sprint Series Final before progressing to multiple Group 2 victories.
Scratchings boost Cumani’s Flemington hand
Trainer Matt Cumani will saddle two runners in Saturday’s Melbourne Cup Tour Trophy (2000m) at Flemington after scratchings elevated Think Your Amazing (So You Think) into the field. The withdrawal of early favourite Decalogue (Extreme Choice) has also seen stablemate Brave Danza (Brave Smash) assume favouritism for the $150,000 three-year-old feature as he chases consecutive victories at headquarters. Brave Danza was impressive over the course and distance on May 16 and has now finished in the top three at eight of his ten starts. The gelding rises five kilograms to 59 kilograms and will jump from the outside barrier, but Cumani remains confident he can again measure up. “Obviously he’s paid the price handicap wise, but even with the increase in weight I would say he will still be very competitive,” Cumani said. Cumani was equally pleased to gain a start for Think Your Amazing, who has not raced since finishing a narrow second over 2238 metres at Werribee in April. “He’s had a little let-up just to try and prolong his three-year-old season a little bit so that we can try and get to the Mahogany Series Final,” Cumani said. “But he would probably need the run on Saturday.” Think Your Amazing has won one of his three starts – a 2000m maiden at Geelong – and will be ridden by Eoin Walsh. Brave Danza, meanwhile, will again be partnered by apprentice Luke Cartwright as he looks to add to his last-start Flemington victory.
Kaleo looks to extend Johnstone’s hot streak
Promising gelding Kaleo (Churchill) will benefit from the three-kilogram claim of in-form apprentice Jabez Johnstone when he lines up in Saturday’s Play On, For Neale (1600m) at Flemington. The Tasmanian apprentice has made an immediate impact since joining the Ciaron Maher stable on a three-month loan, riding four winners since Sunday, including a double at Sandown on Wednesday. Johnstone partnered Kaleo when the gelding finished second to stablemate Siriusly Hot (Too Darn Hot) over 1600 metres at Sandown last start and will retain the ride this weekend. “We think this is his trip, for now, especially with the claim and the soft ground too at Flemington, we think it’s a nice race for him,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said. “He’s a lot more straight forward now. He used to have a think about it a bit last prep, but now as a gelding, he’s just a racehorse. We feel it’s a good opportunity for him to pick up a Saturday race.” A winner at Caulfield as a two-year-old, Kaleo was tested in stronger company during the spring and has returned this preparation with consecutive runner-up finishes. Turnbull said Johnstone’s ability to utilise his full claim while remaining a strong rider was proving a valuable asset to the stable. “When you can take three kilos off, and you’re of his stature as a rider, being left-handed, it’s an asset,” he said. “All those little factors add up and I’m sure he will be an asset to the stable over winter.” Saturday’s race is a heat of the Silver Bowl Series, with Kaleo already qualified for the final at Flemington on July 4 courtesy of his last-start placing.
Big Red Tequila primed for Randwick return
Promising mare Big Red Tequila (Shamus Award) will launch her latest campaign at Randwick on Saturday with trainer Joe Pride confident she can continue her rise through the grades. The four-year-old resumes in the Cornerstone Risk Group Handicap (1000m) after winning three of her four starts during the summer and boasts an unbeaten record at the distance. “She’s a nice mare who has come back really well,” Pride said. “She has trialled up well and the 1000 [metres] fresh will be perfect for her. She won over 1000 first-up last time, and she will take a power of beating.” A daughter of Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) winner Shamus Award (Snitzel), Big Red Tequila has been patiently handled by Pride, making her debut as a late three-year-old before steadily working her way through the grades. With Sam Clipperton retaining the ride from barrier three, Pride believes the mare has the talent to eventually earn a shot at stakes company. “I’d expect her to eventually,” he said. Pride will also be represented by Dear Jewel (Snitzel), who has not finished further back than fourth in six runs this preparation and was last seen finishing third behind Saturday’s rival Prima Bella (Per Incanto) at Randwick. “She’s honest and reliable. This is the top of her grade, as in she probably can’t progress past this, but she is fit and well, she has drawn well and she will run a cheeky race,” Pride said. Andrew Adkins has the mount on Dear Jewel from gate two.
Baker juvenile on target at Rosehill trials
Friday’s Rosehill barrier trials showcased promising unraced Juveniles, with six heats highlighting future contenders by Zoustar (Northern Meteor), I Am Invincible, D’Argento (So You Think) and first-season sire Acrobat (Fastnet Rock). I Am Invincible filly Kotor impressed with a 5.6-length win for Rachel King. The $850,000 Inglis Easter purchase is a full-sister to Doveton Stakes (Listed, 1200m) winner Garza Blanca and half-sister to two more black-type performers. Acrobat colt Stormin’ remained unbeaten at trials, leading throughout to score by 0.8 lengths over Internal Affairs (Home Affairs) and Defensemen (Wootton Bassett). Stormin’ is the third foal of metro-winning Written Tycoon (Iglesia) mare Wooshka. Zoustar colt Midnight Charter, an $675,000 Inglis Easter purchase, bounced back from a poor first trial to lead and win by 1.2 lengths. He is a half-brother to Group-winning fillies Tenley (Medaglia D’Oro) and Biscayne Bay (Sebring), from the family of Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Vancouver (Medaglia D’Oro). The Bjorn Baker-trained grey filly D’Unicorn (D’Argento) also caught the eye, running level with experienced filly Tigroni (Tiger Of Malay) at her first public trial. The $105,000 Magic Millions Book 2 purchase is the first foal of Cosmology, a Deep Field (Northern Meteor) granddaughter of Group 1 winner La Baraka (Euclase). Additional winners included Predation (Capitalist) and Light River (Pierata), rounding out an impressive morning of juvenile trials.