Collett chasing further Millions at Wyong

Jason Collett will look to recreate last year’s Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1100m) success when he teams with Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) in Wednesday’s $200,000 feature. Collett won the race 12 months ago aboard O’ Ole (Ole Kirk), who later claimed the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1100m) on the Gold Coast, albeit with Tommy Berry in the saddle. Collett is now set to reunite with Paradoxium, whom he partnered on debut for a fourth placing in the Breeders’ Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) on October 4. “He has got a lot of class about him, a lot of speed, it's just a case of harnessing it,” the rider said. “I like him. He has come back better, a bit more furnished from that first preparation and first run.” The colt has impressed with two trial victories and Collett admits he would welcome a performance that compels him to stay with the youngster on the Gold Coast. Paradoxium, a $400,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, is among eight runners in a race that has historically served as a strong lead-up to the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Bjorn Baker trains two in the race with Paradoxium being joined by Masvingo, a Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) third-placegetter who will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy. The 2YO Classic is one of two Magic Millions features at Wyong on Wednesday, alongside the $150,000 Wyong 3&4YO Stakes (1200m), where Collett will again partner O’ Ole. No horse has won both Wyong Magic Millions races, but Collett believes O’ Ole can bounce back after a disappointing run in the Red Roses Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Flemington. “She was a bit above herself the day she resumed in Melbourne but she had a trial the other day and went really well,” he said.

Rey Magnerio primed for Gold Rush test

Assistant trainer Reid Balfour believes there has never been a better opportunity to explore Rey Magnerio’s (Magnus) potential over longer distances, with the gelding set to contest the $1.5 million Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday. Balfour, who is in Perth with the Robbie Griffiths-trained gelding, believes the decision to take another tilt in Western Australia was influenced by Rey Magnerio’s strong third placing in last month’s Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m). “Probably 12 months ago you wouldn't have tried it with him, but we'll try and add another string to his bow and test him at the 1400 metres,” Balfour said. “He ran terrific the other day in the Winterbottom and seems to have pulled up great, we're really happy with him. I think he'll relax early then he'll have his usual sprint late. It's the perfect time to try on good ground. He's really thrived since he's been here. He thinks he's on a working holiday, he's so relaxed here, even more relaxed than at home.”

Lindsay Park aiming for Supernova repeat

After going one-two in last year’s inaugural running of The Supernova (1400m), the Hayes brothers will chase the riches on offer at Pakenham on Saturday once again. Here To Shock (Shocking) and Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel), will once again take line-up in the race having filled the first two places 12 months ago and they will be joined by stablemate Roll On High (Shamus Award) who finished fifth in the race last year when trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. “We're excited,” Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will and JD, said. “It's not often you get to have three horses in a big race like this, especially a $1 million race like The Supernova and I think they are three genuine chances. Here To Shock returned from a successful New Zealand campaign, highlighted by a Group 1 win, before breaking a winless streak with a strong 1400-metre success at Caulfield on November 29. “His win the other day was up there with some of his better wins, I thought,” Hayes said. “It was a great ride by Mark [Zahra], and he was strong through the line. It was the blowout he needed before we go back and hopefully defend our title.” Arkansaw Kid lines up off a second placing in The Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne on November 22. “He ran into one last start that is in very good form,” Hayes said. “We freshened going into that race and probably just peaked on our fitness late, but still to run second and run a very good race like he did, we're very happy with him. Going up to 1400 metres will be good and he wasn't beaten far in this race last year.” Roll On High has raced four times since her switch to Lindsay Park, without adding to her tally of three wins. “She ran super over Cup week and then got beaten just over a length over the mile, which she's been tried a lot at, and it sees her out,” Hayes said. “Dropping back to 1400 metres, rock hard fit, a touch unlucky in the race last year for another stable, I think she's a genuine top four chance.”

Maher confident Tajawal can deliver at Ipswich

Declan Maher believes a Class 2 race at Ipswich on Wednesday presents the right opportunity for Tajawal (Frankel) to add an important victory to his growing Queensland operation - despite the less than ideal wide draw. “He ran really well first-up, and the second-up he probably had a bit of second-up syndrome, maybe came back to the races a week too soon,” Maher said. “He's bounced through that run well and the step up in trip seems right up his alley. It's just that he's drawn 12 of 12, that's the only sticky thing.” Maher relocated from Victoria to Queensland in June, having previously run his brother Ciaron’s Ballarat stable while training a small team of his own, largely jumpers, including Great Western Steeplechase winner Nelson (Frankel) in 2023. Now based on the Gold Coast, he is steadily building his new operation. “I've got 14 in the barn now. It's slow steps, but we're starting to get a handle on things and it's progressing nicely,” he said. “Nathan Bennett and Phil Wells from Bennett Racing have been good supporters of me, Cam Bennett from Flying Start Syndications, I've got a couple with him as well. If you can get support from guys like those with big numbers of horses it's always good.”

Shiki shines in Randwick heat

Brilliant Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) winner Shiki (Too Darn Hot) tightened her hold on favouritism for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) with a dazzling trial victory at Randwick on Tuesday morning.

Having her second trial this preparation, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly broke well from an outside gate and immediately took control for Tim Clark. She extended effortlessly at the top of the straight and surged clear to score by 4.9 lengths, clocking 49.93 for 850 metres.

It was a Tulloch Lodge trifecta, with Caloocan Beauty (Justify) second and Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) filly Home Invasion another 3.6 lengths back in third.

Lone Piper (I Am Invincible), an unraced homebred for Sir Owen Glenn, closed well late to finish fourth. She is a daughter of blue-hen mare Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock), the dam of Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), stakes winners Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar) and Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) and last-start debut winner Lancelot Du Lac (Flying Artie).

Riverstone Lodge will offer Shiki’s half-sister by Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale as Lot 405.

The next heat saw Norman’s Cay – another daughter of Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) – run a slightly quicker (49.76s) 850 metres when defeating Emerald Isle (Exceed And Excel) by 0.4 lengths, with Miss Chanel (Tagaloa) another length back in third.

Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton for owner-breeder Finemore, the unraced Norman’s Cay is the second foal out of the stakes-winning juvenile Westport (Not A Single Doubt).

The Waterhouse-Bott team earlier produced Knightsbridge (Farnan), who was having his first trial since his debut fifth in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (Listed, 1000m), and he scored by a half-length over Yulong colt Sky Deck (Written Tycoon).

Another standout winner was Central Europe, a well-related Frankel (Galileo) colt making his first public appearance for Chris Waller. The $750,000 Inglis Easter graduate tracked the speed for Zac Lloyd and lengthened impressively when asked to score by 0.3 lengths over Purgatorio (Hellbent).

Central Europe is the sixth foal out of 2014 European Champion 2YO Filly Tiggy Wiggy (Kodiac), the dam of three winners, including the Group 1-placed Year Of The Tiger (Galileo), while her half-sister is the dam of recent Group 1 scorer Maranoa Charlie (Wootton Bassett).

Tiggy Wiggy’s latest yearling colt by St Mark’s Basilica (Siyouni) will be offered at Magic Millions as Lot 905.

Bates injured at trials

Declan Bates is facing an extended period on the sidelines after a fall during the Ballarat jump-outs on Monday left him with multiple injuries. Bates was transported to hospital complaining of back pain, and subsequent scans revealed fractures to his pelvis and sacrum, along with a possible fracture to the T4 vertebra. It is understood that, at this stage, surgery will not be required.

Hamilton Abandoned

Tuesday’s meeting scheduled to take place at Hamilton was abandoned after a burst water pipe left a section of the track unsuitable for racing. Racing Victoria (RV) confirmed racecourse staff discovered significant surface water around the 300-metre mark prior to 7am. Trainers were notified shortly before 7.30am that an inspection by RV Stewards would take place at 8am. Following that inspection, the stewards deemed the affected area unsafe, with the meeting officially abandoned at 8am. Trainers impacted by the cancellation can nominate as normal for the Saturday meetings at Stawell and Healesville until 12pm on Wednesday, and as extended entries for the Friday meetings at Geelong and Cranbourne until 4pm. RV’s racing operations team will review the program to assess whether further adjustments are required. RV and the club will also determine the steps needed to repair the pipe and ensure the track is ready for its next scheduled meeting on January 6.

La Dorada primed for weekend return

Group 1 winner La Dorada (Super Seth) will step out for the first time this season when she resumes at Te Rapa on Saturday, with Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson hoping a return home can spark the star filly back to her best after a luckless Melbourne spring. La Dorada was a standout juvenile last term, winning four of her five starts including the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), and was crowned New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old. Her only defeat came when runner-up in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m). Connections elected to test her across the Tasman this spring, but she went unplaced in two runs, finishing down the track in both the Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) and Scarborough Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m). “Her first-up run was against the older horses, and it was a pretty tough field, but second-up it was a set weights three-year-old fillies race and she disappointed in that, so we just pulled the plug,” Walker said. “Some fillies don’t come up in the spring, so hopefully in the summer and autumn she regains her form.” La Dorada has since returned to New Zealand and has been pleasing the stable. “We are happy with her,” Walker said. “She resumes on Saturday at Te Rapa.” She will contest the three-year-old 1200-metre handicap under stable apprentice Hayley Hassman. She will carry a bit of weight so we will claim off her with Hayley, who is going very well.”

Strong squad for Te Akau at Te Rapa

Mark Walker is pleased by the early signs from Golden Pulse (Tivaci), the two-year-old half-brother to La Dorada, after the colt made a sharp winning debut over 1147 metres at Geelong last week for Yulong. “He was pretty professional,” Walker said. “He can get a bit colty but he was certainly good.” Walker will take a strong team to Te Rapa on Saturday, headlined by Group 1 performers Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) and Qali Al Farrasha (Almanzor). Captured By Love was withdrawn from last weekend’s Mufhasa Classic (Gr 1, 1600m) at Trentham. “She was a bit off in the feed bin and we thought we would wait a week and go to Te Rapa on Saturday to either the J Swap Sprint or Cal Isuzu,” Walker said. “She was better over the weekend and seems back to her old self.” Should she line up in the Cal Isuzu, Captured By Love will clash with stablemate Qali Al Farrasha, who was an impressive last-start winner of the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m). “Qali Al Farrasha is in the Cal Isuzu and she should run well,” Walker said. “It was a really nice win in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’.”

Kiwi pair strengthen Busuttin and Young team

Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have secured two promising New Zealand three-year-olds, Rising Star (Complacent) and Shoma (Contributer), to bolster their team. Two-win filly Rising Star, previously trained by Tim and Margaret Carter, heads to Australia after an impressive Tauranga victory and will now race for Seymour Bloodstock, with her original trainers remaining in the ownership. “I thought she had a really nice turn of foot,” Busuttin said. “She was very impressive at Tauranga and she put them away very quickly in that race.” Busuttin said the filly has “plenty of options” and may be freshened for a suitable Adelaide three-year-old fillies race. “As a two-win horse, she can go through the grades… hopefully she turns into a black type horse,” he said. Also joining the stable is Shoma, a gelding who finished third in the New Zealand 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) on a heavy track. “He’s run third in a Group 1 and while he is still a maiden, he's got reasonable form and any Group 1 form is good form,” Busuttin said.

HK: Romantic Warrior ‘oozing confidence’ ahead of Cup date

Champion jockey James McDonald said Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) is “brimming with confidence” as he bids for an unprecedented fourth Hong Kong Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) victory at Sha Tin on Sunday. McDonald partnered the seven-year-old in a searching turf gallop on Tuesday, working with stablemate Romantic Thor (Justify) over 1200 metres in 1m 16.9s, closing in 22.3 seconds for the final 400 metres. “He is prepping up lovely,” McDonald said. “He breezed home well. He is stretching well and he definitely hasn’t declined.” Romantic Warrior underwent a fetlock surgery which kept him sidelined for 232 days, his comeback marked by a commanding win in last month’s Jockey Club Cup (Gr 2, 2000m). McDonald will also reunite with Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) in the Hong Kong Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) following the pair's Group 2 success last month. “He was superb that day… I feel he got a lot of confidence out of that race,” McDonald said. “He is full of confidence and he is going to need to be because it’s a very tough field.” McDonald believes Galaxy Patch has Group 1 quality but concedes his back-running style makes life difficult in elite company. “He needs a lot of luck in a race but he’s going the right way,” he said, highlighting Voyage Bubble (Deep Field), Soul Rush (Rulership) and emerging star My Wish (Flying Artie) as major threats.

HK: Ka Ying Rising in great shape as he limbers up for 16 straight

Zac Purton believes sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) has taken another important step towards Sunday’s Hong Kong Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m) after producing a composed hit-out at Sha Tin on Tuesday. The gelding will chase a 16th consecutive victory, aiming to equal Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro) and move within one of Silent Witness’ (El Moxie) all-time Hong Kong record. “He was a lot more relaxed this morning,” Purton said. “For once he actually trotted around the ring. Normally he wants to hack and play up, but he went around nicely, and did the same on the track.” Ka Ying Rising clocked 23.2 seconds for 400 metres, with Purton noting a marked difference from his sharper grass gallop last week. “Now that he’s had the blow-out, he’s chilled and he’s a different horse this week, which is good,” he said. Purton, Hong Kong’s all-time leading jockey with 1,923 wins, has partnered some of the jurisdiction’s most iconic champions, including Beauty Generation (Road To Rock), but said Ka Ying Rising sits above them all. “I’ve been very lucky, and to think the best one has come along now,” he said. “He’s such a lovely horse to work with, you’ve got to pinch yourself. He’s just a gem. It’s another race and we’re trying to win it. He’s built up a good record and hopefully we can keep it that way.” Barrier draws remain Purton’s only concern after recent wide gates. “I’d like to draw lower than higher. He hasn’t had the best run with barriers, so he’s due a good one,” he said. Ka Ying Rising won last year’s edition from gate 11, and most recently overcame gate ten to dominate the Jockey Club Sprint (Gr 2, 1200m) by two and three-quarter lengths.

HK: Docklands primed for improved showing in Mile

Harry Eustace is hopeful Docklands (Massaat) can build on his experience and deliver a stronger performance when he contests the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday. Docklands, who earned his first top-level victory in the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Royal Ascot in June, will look to improve on last year’s 12th placing in the Hong Kong Mile. His most recent run saw him finish ninth in the Mile Championship (Gr 1, 1600m) at Kyoto on November 23. “He ran his race,” Eustace said. “We were drawn 16 of 18, got too far back, but he came home well. When I looked at the result again, the winner won by a couple of lengths but we weren't far away from actually being involved with the rest. I think with a better draw, we'd have been among them. So, we're very happy and it was a brilliant experience.” Eustace believes Docklands is in a stronger place this season after a demanding campaign last year. “Last year was maybe a messy second half of the year for him because we were tilting towards the Cox [Plate] over 2040 metres,” he said. “He ran well in the Queen Anne, then City Of Troy's Juddmonte International, then the Cox Plate, took on Via Sistina again in the Champion Stakes, then went back to a sharp mile in Hong Kong. I feel this year versus last year, he's a better horse and more consistent and competitive at the top level. I hope it's stood him in good stead for travelling again. If we could get an OK draw, I think he could show up a bit better than he did last year, that's for sure.”

HK: Giavellotto bids for back-to-back Vase wins

Marco Botti is optimistic Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman) can deliver a second consecutive victory in the Hong Kong Vase (Gr 1, 2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, with the stayer set to reunite with Andrea Atzeni. The six-year-old caused a minor upset in last year’s Vase when defeating Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai) by two and a half lengths under Oisin Murphy, but Botti has turned again to Atzeni – now Hong Kong-based – after the pair combined for a brave fourth in October’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m). “Last year was great. We went with no big expectations and when he won it was a great result for us,” the trainer said. “This year is probably a slightly better race in terms of quality. Andrea Atzeni is going to ride him and now we just hope everything goes well and he gets a decent draw. The draw is important at Sha Tin.” Owned by Scuderia La Tesa and Vaibhav Shah, Giavellotto has raced sparingly since last year’s Vase, contesting the Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr 1, 2400m) and Coronation Cup (Gr 1, 1m 4f) before a mid-year freshen. A decisive win in the September Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 4f) over Kalpana (Study Of Man) set him up for his Arc performance and the defence of his Hong Kong title. “It’s important to keep them fresh, as Hong Kong is late in the season. It’s been a light campaign and I feel he’s still fresh for this race,” Botti added.

HK: Ryan Moore joins International Jockey’s Championship line-up

Ryan Moore will line up for the 19th time in 20 years in Wednesday night’s International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley, the champion rider having made a timely recovery from a stress fracture of the femur that sidelined him earlier in the spring. Moore, a two-time IJC winner and four-time World’s Best Jockey, resumed race riding with a Lingfield double last week and was in upbeat spirits at Sha Tin on Tuesday after riding in a barrier trial for John Size. “Everyone wants to ride here, and why wouldn’t you want to be part of it?” Moore said. “The racing is high quality, competitive and very well run. It’s the best this sport has to offer.” Moore appears particularly well-placed with Corleone (Dundeel) from gate two in the second leg and Storming Dragon (Star Turn) from barrier four in the third leg. He will also partner Winning Champion (Alabama Express) from gate six in the opening heat and Triumphant More (Star Turn) from gate ten in the last. Moore will again take centre stage at Sunday’s HKIR, securing top-level rides in three of the four Group 1 features. He reunites with Coolmore stars The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars) and Los Angeles (Camelot) in the Mile and Vase respectively, while in the Hong Kong Sprint he partners Satono Reve (Lord Kanaloa) for Noriyuki Hori.

23 for St Mark’s Basilica

Sassicaia (2 c ex Bellajeu by Montjeu) provided Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Siyouni) with his 23rd individual winner when he made a winning debut over the extended mile at Wolverhampton on Monday. Trained by Owen Burrows, the colt beat favourite Tewkesbury (Ghaiyyath) by a neck with Double Combo (Dubawi) another length and a quarter away. An €80,000 purchase out of Book 1 at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, Sassicaia is the fourth foal out of the Listed-placed winner Bellajeu (Montjeu). St Mark’s Basilica is standing at Coolmore Australia for a fee of $38,500 (inc GST).