Danielle Johnson To Ride Sofia Rosa

Sunday, 04 September 2016 08:46

New Zealand jockey Danielle Johnson will get another chance to win a Group One race on Sofia Rosa when she replaces the suspended Michael Walker in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Johnson was denied the NZ Oaks when Mark Hills on Fanatic successfully protested against her with the margin a nose.

Hugh Bowman rode the Stephen Marsh-trained mare to win the Australian Oaks in Sydney in April.

Sofia Rosa

The Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday will be Sofia Rosa's second start in Australia since her Oaks win with the mare 10th in the Memsie Stakes after playing up in the barrier and being checked in the first half of the race.

With the exception of the NZ Oaks, Johnson has a perfect record on Sofia Rosa with three wins from three rides including two at Group level.

As an apprentice, Johnson spent time in Sydney as the winner of the Chris Waller Scholarship which the trainer sponsors in conjunction with the Auckland Racing Club.

She also rode in the jockeys' Origin series in Brisbane last summer.

Walker was outed for careless riding at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Cox Plate Now Spring Goal For Awesome Rock

Saturday, 03 September 2016 08:31

Awesome Rock has earned himself a shot at the Cox Plate with an impressive win in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley.

As the winner of Saturday's Group Two race, Awesome Rock gains an automatic start in next month's weight-for-age championship.

Ridden by Stephen Baster, Awesome Rock ($31) scored a two length win from Real Love ($41) with Set Square ($20) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.

Troy Corstens says Saturday's victory will force a rethink of plans.

"We've had him in the Cox Plate all the way through but he needed to do something like that for us to take the next step and have a real crack at it," Corstens said.

"The goalposts have changed a little. We were thinking of the Mackinnon (Emirates) Stakes but we'll probably shift it back and have a crack at the Cox Plate now.

"We've got a golden ticket now."

Corstens said Awesome Rock has continued to show improvement with each preparation, adding that he was first past the post in the Australian Cup before losing the race on protest.

"He's been so immature," Corstens said.

"He's gone from being a boy to becoming a man.

"Now that he's done something like that he can now show what he's got."

Awesome Rock provided Baster with one of his greatest moments when first past the post in the Australian Cup.

Twenty minutes later came his greatest heartache.

But Baster said the galloper had now taken another step after having concerns following his gallop with stablemate Mr Individual at Moonee Valley on Tuesday.

He said Awesome Rock's first-up run, when 10th in the PB Lawrence Stakes on August 13, may have taken more out of him than first thought.

Baster noted Awesome Rock travelled strongly throughout the race after the Corstens team didn't do a lot of work with him following Tuesday's gallop.

"There wasn't a lot of room there and he toed me into it, but that's what good horses can do," Baster said.

"I'm really excited by him going forward."

Luke Nolen, rider of third placed Set Square, said the mare was progressing nicely.

Fourth-placed Tosen Stardom's rider John Allen said the Japanese galloper ran a promising race.

"He just had no luck, he just got boxed in," Allen said.

"From the 600 (metres) he was struggling to get a run but he hit the line super."

Quality Trial Between Races At Doomben

Sunday, 04 September 2016 08:46

Star sprinter Buffering will have some quality opposition in a barrier trial with Group One-winning mare Miss Cover Girl among his rivals.

The 1050m trial will be run between races at Doomben on Wednesday with the hit-out to confirm whether Buffering heads to Melbourne for the Moir Stakes.

Miss Cover Girl, winner of the Tattersall's Tiara, will be given a strong work-out with trainer Kelly Schweida keen to take her to Sydney for the Group Two Shorts 10 days later.

"If she races well in The Shorts we will then press on to the Premiere Stakes a fortnight later," Schweida said.

"If she races well in that we will push on to Melbourne for races like the Myer Classic.

"But she will need to be going well for that to happen."

Damian Browne rode Miss Cover Girl in the Tatt's Tiara but will be required for Buffering in Wednesday's trial.

However, Browne will be offered the chance to ride Mss Cover Girl in Sydney.

"Damian doesn't like to travel all that much but it will be up to him," Schweida said.

The Schweida-trained three-year-old Oink will head to Sydney midweek for the Group One Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

"A Sydney reporter rang me and asked if we were looking for 1400 metres and I said no we were looking at a share of $1 million prize money," Schweida said.

"They pay good money back to about 10th and I don't think Oink will be out of place."

Fellow trainer Robert Heathcote is looking for Buffering to have a solid hit-out in preparation for the Group One Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 30.

"I want him to have a sound-out. I don't want a trial where three or four of them lob along and then stretch out in the final 200 metres," Heathcote said.

He hopes there will be seven or eight runners in the trial and is willing to provide three of his own horses if needed.

Hartnell Wins Chelmsford Stakes In A Walk

Saturday, 03 September 2016 08:31

Racegoers might have been disappointed by the absence of Winx in the Chelmsford Stakes, but Hartnell has made up for it with a stunning display in the Group Two feature.

After connections opted not to run the champion mare on Saturday's heavy track, Godolphin's Hartnell assumed favouritism at $2.05 and gave his supporter no cause for concern.

With Storm The Stars and three-year-old Prized Icon heading the six-horse field, James McDonald stalked the pair to the turn.

And as he went past them in the straight, McDonald had plenty of time to look back just to see if any others could muster a challenge.

They could not, and the margin was 7-3/4 lengths to Grand Marshal ($21) with Storm The Stars ($9.50) another short half head third.

As easy as the win was, McDonald wasn't getting too carried away.

"I think Winx would have come out on top, but this horse is going really well," McDonald said.

"I was really rapt with his first hard run and he's built on that.

"I thought I was on Dundeel again in the Derby. He's pretty good."

McDonald won the 2013 Australian Derby on (It's A) Dundeel by a widening six lengths.

The first hard run for Hartnell this campaign was a second to Winx in the Warwick Stakes (1400m) and he appreciated the extra 200m of the Chelmsford.

Although Hartnell was immediately tightened in Cox Plate markets, trainer John O'Shea indicated Sydney would be his spring focus.

"The Metropolitan has always been his aim but there are a few options," he said.

"The plan has always been to run him in Hill Stakes with a view to going to the Metrop.

"The idea is to keep him in Sydney because he likes to get his toe in the ground and he is more likely to get a softer track in Sydney than Melbourne."

The winner of the 2015 BMW (2400m), Hartnell had an indifferent spring and was hurt in the autumn when he banged a hock.

"It was a great team effort to get him back," O'Shea said.

"He had a lot of things go his way today but we'll take it when it comes because there are plenty of days when it doesn't."

There were few hard-luck stories from the beaten brigade although Kathy O'Hara said the second favourite Prized Icon ($3.80) raced keenly early and didn't finish the race off.

Tarzino On Front Foot For Makybe Diva

Sunday, 04 September 2016 08:46

Tarzino has not put a foot wrong in the lead-up to the Makybe Diva Stakes despite a raceday vet's report he was lame after his last start.

Trainer Mick Price remains puzzled by the vet's assessment the four-year-old was lame in his off hind leg after the Memsie Stakes.

The dual Group One winner finished eighth in his first-up run in the Memsie at Caulfield on August 27.

Price said Tarzino appeared fine in the hours after the race and he had no concerns when he inspected the four-year-old the following morning.

He said Tarzino had continued his preparation for Saturday's Makybe Diva Stakes without any hint of a problem.

"We couldn't find anything," Price said.

"You can have two vets look at the same horse and not necessarily have the same opinion and especially with hind quarter lameness.

"The hind quarter is a big area and they only have to put in the odd abnormal stride and you can come up with that diagnosis, which I can understand.

"We looked at him at 5.30 and again at six o'clock that night and again at 8 o'clock the next morning and he was all fine.

"He hasn't missed a beat since.

"I haven't got a query on him."

Michael Dee rode Tarzino in a 1200m-gallop at Caulfield on Saturday morning and Price said the horses would have another hit-out at Caulfield on Tuesday morning.

And Price is happy to see Tarzino back at Flemington on Saturday.

"He loves Flemington and I think you'll see him run well," Price said.

"So long as he's hitting the line, like he did at Caulfield, I'll be happy."

Tarzino won last year's Victoria Derby at Flemington and returned in the autumn to run a close second in the Australian Guineas at the same track when second-up from a spell.

He took the Rosehill Guineas in Sydney before his fourth to Tavago in the ATC Australian Derby.

With 54kg in the Caulfield Cup, Tarzino currently heads the betting for that race in October at $13 and shares the second line at $21 for the Melbourne Cup.

Foxplay Powers Away In Group 2 Furious

Saturday, 03 September 2016 08:31

On the day where Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman were supposed to take centre stage with Winx, Foxplay's Furious Stakes win has eased their frustrations.

Waller scratched Winx from the Chelmsford Stakes on Saturday morning due to the heavy Randwick track.

The jockey-trainer combination then teamed up for High Mist's unlucky second in the Ming Dynasty Quality and had two other seconds after So Willie was the unplaced favourite in Saturday's opening race.

Foxplay winning the Group Two Furious Stakes at Randwick

Foxplay was able to stem the tide as she kicked away to win the Group Two Furious, putting herself in the frame for the Group One Flight Stakes at Randwick on October 1.

Sent out an $8.50 chance, Foxplay swept past leader Bacarella ($14) while Global Glamour, the $5 equal favourite, was strong late to finish third.

"To reel in the leader I thought was a very big effort," Waller said.

Waller is yet to make a decision on when the stable's star three-year-old filly Omei Sword will race next, but says Foxplay is heading for the Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick on September 17.

"It always helps when you've got good chances and you've got a bit of depth to your stable," Waller said.

"Will Omei Sword beat Foxplay? All those things you take into consideration."

The TAB shortened Foxplay from $31 to $15 for the Thousand Guineas, while Global Glamour firmed from $21 to $15.

Bowman said he was confident Foxplay's determination would help her as she stepped up in class.

"I got a nice run from the draw and she showed her tenacious qualities over the last 100 metres," Bowman said.

Waller's other runner Awoke finished ninth, with jockey Brenton Avdulla questioning whether she handled the wet track.

Omei Sword Not Certain For Golden Rose

Sunday, 04 September 2016 08:46

Omei Sword is not a certain starter in the Golden Rose but stablemate Winx could make a guest appearance at the Rosehill meeting.

Winx missed Saturday's Chelmsford Stakes because of the heavy Randwick track and trainer Chris Waller has flagged a race day outing on Saturday to vary her routine ahead of the George Main stakes a week later.

Omei Sword has firmed to $4.60 second favouritism behind Astern for the $1 million Golden Rose but Waller has not committed her to a start.

"The Flight Stakes has always been the aim for Omei Sword and I think it's the perfect race for her," Waller said.

"We'll see where she fits in the Golden Rose but if I have a slight leaning it's towards waiting another week for the Tea Rose Stakes and then into the Flight."

Omei Sword was an impressive winner of the Silver Shadow Stakes, her first start as a three-year-old.

She could have formidable opposition in the Tea Rose Stakes from her stablemate Foxplay who began her three-year-old campaign with victory in Saturday's Furious Stakes.

Foxplay firmed to $15 to win the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield the week after the Flight Stakes and Waller has yet to decide whether the fillies will be kept apart.

The trainer has no concerns about Winx missing the Chelmsford Stakes, won in the absence of the champion mare by Hartnell.

"We always had her preparation planned so there was the contingency to miss a race," he said.

"I will nominate her for a barrier trial on Friday or if I think she needs a day out we will go to the races.

"Depending on the weather I will ask if she can gallop between races at Rosehill.

"Her first-up win in the Warwick Stakes showed me she was where I wanted her to be and it's just a matter of keeping her happy.

"She is fit and doesn't need a lot of work from now on leading to the Cox Plate."

Felines Flies To Win The Concorde Stakes

Saturday, 03 September 2016 08:31

Felines has lived up to her part of the bargain with a Group Three win and now all her trainer has to do is persuade her owner to keep her racing.

Gerry Harvey has her earmarked for the broodmare barn but Kris Lees hopes her Concorde Stakes win on Saturday will help sway him otherwise.

A short-course specialist, Felines has won seven races over 1000m, four at Randwick including the Concorde.

"There's not enough of these races for her," Lees said.

"I just hope Gerry doesn't send her to stud because she's still got some good racing left.

"The key to getting her to win this race was the 1000 metres at Randwick."

Felines ($8.50) raced up on the pace set by Brisbane visitor Hidden Pearl ($3.60).

She got to the lead a little sooner than Jason Collett had planned but fought back when challenged by Federal ($8) to keep him at bay by 1-1/2 lengths.

"I could hear something was coming," Collett said.

"I didn't quite know who it was, but she gave a really good kick.

"I half thought I'd got there a bit soon but to her credit her kick was strong and it was enough in the end."

Hidden Pearl weakened to fifth, while favourite Japonisme ($2.45) finished sixth after never looking a winning hope.

If he can convince Harvey to forestall motherhood, Lees will try to find a suitable sprint in Melbourne during the spring.

Derryn On Target For Golden Rose

Sunday, 04 September 2016 08:46

Derryn will fly the flag for the Lindsay Park team in the Golden Rose and co-trainer Tom Dabernig expects the colt to be all the better for his previous Sydney experience.

An impressive winner at Caulfield at the end of July, Derryn was nabbed late by Divine Prophet in the Up And Coming Stakes at Randwick last month.

The colt was forced to race out of his comfort zone from barrier seven of nine and Dabernig is counting on a better gate to help his cause.

"I thought it was a good run last start. We sat outside the leader (Thronum) and we put that horse away but the winner came from back and grabbed us late," Dabernig said.

"I think he'll be better for having that run, and when he won at Caulfield we rode him under no pressure and he flew late.

"So hopefully we can get a draw where we can let him find his feet a bit more. I think we rode him a bit out of his pattern last time.

"I'm sure it's going to be really hard race but I think he's a good chance."

Godolphin's Astern holds $4.40 favouritism over Omei Sword ($4.60) but the latter is not a certain starter.

The Hawkes Racing-trained Divine Prophet is at $6 with Derryn and Yankee Rose sharing the next line at $11.

Dabernig, who trains in partnership with David and Ben Hayes, said Derryn had gone back to the Lindsay Park farm in Victoria after his Sydney run.

"We brought him back to the farm at Euroa because he had three weeks between runs, and he's great," Dabernig said.

"He's a pretty straightforward horse to train and he's had the benefit of that run up there now."

Dabernig said the colt was would travel back to Sydney during the week.

The Lindsay Park team will be well-represented at Flemington on Saturday with their runners to include Rising Romance and He Or She in the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).

Timely Group Two Wins For Godolphin Duo

Saturday, 03 September 2016 08:31

With chief executive John Ferguson at the races, Godolphin landed a Group Two double at Randwick.

Ferguson, who is also Godolphin founder Sheikh Mohammed's racing manager, was in Sydney on Saturday to see Hauraki win the Tramway Stakes after Hartnell dominated the Chelmsford Stakes.

After racing near the tail of the field, jockey James McDonald brought Hauraki ($13) to the outside and he let down strongly to defeat Le Romain ($4.40) with the favourite Dibayani ($4) third.

Ferguson said trainer John O'Shea had always held Hauraki in high regard.

"He's done very well today and hopefully he can go for a Group One weight-for-age and then win the Epsom," Ferguson said.

The five-year-old has been placed at Group One level in the ATC Australian Derby, Chipping Norton Stakes, Ranvet Stakes and Doomben Cup.

McDonald rode both winners and Ferguson was full of praise for Godolphin's No.1 Australian jockey.

"James is riding out of his skin," Ferguson said.

"James came to Europe in our summer and he really performed like the world-class rider he is."

Happy Clapper finished fifth in the Tramway and trainer Pat Webster was happy with his return to racing.

"I'm happy with Clapper," Webster said.

Ferguson was also delighted with Hartnell, who smashed his rivals following champion mare Winx's scratching from the Chelmsford.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to bits with him," Ferguson said.

"He raced in England earlier in his career. Now he's come over here and he's just got a massive future."