Horsing Around: 28/9 - 4/10

Climbing Everest: Rothfire Replacement Runner Registered

Everest slot holders mIrunners were quick out of the blocks to announce they were selecting Joe Pride trained Eduardo as there pick for the Everest.

mIRunners were left without a runner in the race after Queensland sprint sensation Rothfire was injured during Saturdays Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill. The selection of Eduardo, a recent acquisition for the Pride Stable will now compete for $15m prize money on October 17th.

The son of Host was previously trained by Sarah Zschoke in Victoria however after an unwanted 7 race winless streak the ownership group made the switch to Joe Pride where the horse has been in rejuvenated form.

Eduardo snapped the losing streak immediately on appearance at Rosehill and has subsequently gone on to claim the Group 2 Missile stakes as well as finishing second in the Shorts this Saturday.

The Pride runner had already been subject of some heavy betting activity earlier in the month with one punter laying a $10k bet on Eduardo at $34.

Selection is the first time that Joe Pride will saddle up a runner for the richest race on turf and it will also be a first crack for jockey Rachel King who with pilot Eduardo.

If Anyone Can: Queensland Cult Hero Takes Aim At The Epsom

Queensland racings favourite son the Candy Man is set to make his second venture into the Harbour City to tackle the Epsom Handicap and chase G1 success.

The Candy Man, after coming through a life threatening injury in 2016 when he got a head collar tangled with a stable door, is currently residing with Peter and Paul Snowden and trainer Barry Baldwin was very excited to see his stable champ go out on Saturday:

“I thought his last run was good and I’ve got a tape from Hugh Bowman who rode him in the Cameron where he says they sprinted too well for him but he got going late and he thought it was a good run,” Baldwin said.

“The horse also lost his front shoe in the run which can’t have helped.

“I really do miss him around the stables as he is our life, he gets thoroughly spoiled.

“He is spoiled for a reason, that day he hurt himself we had three hours to decide whether to spend $26,000 on a horse that wasn’t insured to save him, and there was no guarantee he would race again.

“That $26,000 turned into about $60,000 as there were other operations as well.”

He is sure he is up to winning a big race in Sydney.

“Go back and have a look at last year’s Epsom - he was five-wide the entire way and he got beaten seven lengths when he really should have got beaten by a lot further given the run he had,” Baldwin says.

“When COVID came he had a full two months in the paddock and I think that was just the sort of break he needed.

“I know he will be very competitive in the Epsom.”

If anyone can, the Candy Man can: https://twitter.com/SkyRacingAU/status/1299559013374255104?s=20

Cup Watch: 94 Noms For Melbourne Cup

A huge field still needs to be whittled down as 94 acceptors are still vying for Melbourne Cup spots.

12 International raiders make up the 94 with 82 runners from home grown talent. Key contenders will be looking towards this weeks Bart Cummings and the Lexus in coming weeks as they attempt to make the 24 lining up on the first Tuesday in November.

Melbourne Cup favourite Russian Camelot (7th) is safely in the top 24 in the ballot order at while Tiger Moth travelling with the Aiden O’Brien stable is 10th after receiving a penalty for his recent Group 3 win in Ireland.

Many runners are beginning to run out of time with the likes of highly touted stayer Schabau still 54th in order of acceptance. William Pike had already committed to pairing with the horse back in August and it now looks as though a rush is on to make the 24.

The total acceptances for the $8m race are at an all time high despite the current global pandemic despite international numbers being down slightly year on year.

All eyes will be on the Turnbull Stakes this weekend for reducing the number of entrants with people taking a keen look at Suprise Baby who finished 5th last year in the Cup with a very impressive sprint.

Big Steps: 2 Female Jockeys To Take Apprenticeships In Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has made another statement with regard to women in the country following the confirmation that two female jockeys have joined as apprentices for the upcoming season.

A team of seven international jockeys, including New Zealand’s own Lisa Allpress, became the first women to race in the country during the Jockeys' Challenge in February, the day before the $20 million Saudi Cup.

The first race of the points-based competition, which also featured male riders including Frankie Dettori and will take place again next year, was won by Allpress making history as the first female to win a race in the Kingdom.

Prince Bandar bin Khalid al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA), said: "The Jockeys' Challenge was a big hit in Saudi Arabia. To have the first race of the jockeys' championship won by a female jockey was very special to us.

"I'm happy to report we've had three or four female trainers who have taken their licences, and for the first time ever we have two lady jockeys who are now apprentices and working with trainers.

"For all the ladies who were here last year, they really need to feel proud as they've inspired generations and we can see the results within the first year.

"I hope in the not too distant future we can see these ladies develop into professional jockeys who can compete at a regional level as well as a national level."

All Change: Libertini Tears Up Everest Form With Blistering Run

Anthony Cummings trained Libertini returned to racing with a bang on Saturday taking out the Premiere Stakes at Randwick and snapping up one of the final Everest spaces in the process.

Having her first run since March where she tackled the Newmarket, Libertini under the ride of Regan Bayless, powered clear in the final 100m to beat Classique legend easily to win the Group 2.

Trainer Anthony Cummings said she was a more mature galloper this time in.

"She is now a more mature article altogether. Last preparation wasn’t that flash, and a few issues came out of that, but we gave her the time, and time nearly beat us again," Cummings said.

As a result of the race bookies were quick off the mark to update prices for the Everest market with the 4yo moving from $34 in betting down to $6.

With such a dive in betting we also saw Nature Strip, who flopped on the day moving from $3.50 out to $8 in betting.

Ride Of The Week: Enthaar Lives Up To Hype In The Gimcrack

Maher and Eustace trained Enthaar lived up to the hype a recent trial created as the two year old boom horse toyed with a strong Group 3 field at Randwick to take out the $160,000 prize money.

Having been back into a $1.60 at the jump a lot was invested on the horse both for the race as well as punters with one eye on the Golden Slipper.

If she is to go on and win the Slipper she will become the first horse in history to have won the Gimcrack first.

During the race however she demonstrated the credentials as to why she could be the first horse to do just that. She travelled wide without cover, careered clear in the straight to win by a comfortable three-lengths margin, recording a fast 57.06s despite being eased down inside the final 100m.

James McDonald was clearly excited by the run in a race interview citing he just tested her in the straight.

“I didn’t get anywhere near the bottom of her, she’s very exciting,’’ McDonald said. “It felt as good as it looked to be honest. She’s just a dream to ride.’’

Bad Beat: Cumani Trained Runner Grasps Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory

Some horror scenes for punters at Kyneton on Sunday as $9 shot Prince Romany threw away a certain victory on the home bend leaving backers of the horse livid.

The son of Americain was having his second start for the Cumani stable having recently finish 6th of 11 on his debut at Echuca.

Prince Romany jumped well and was seemingly controlling the race well from the front in the 1875m maiden race. Well placed to push forward and take out the race, the final bend saw Romany push out wide off the bend and head for the middle.

The shift allowed second favourite Wise Dragon to take up the lead and there was little jockey Fred Kersley could do to stop it. Kersley did manage to steady up the runner and what was more disparaging for punters is that the runner knuckled down and finished just 0.75l of the winner.

It would have been a certain victory for Matt Cumani’s runner seeing the shift cost him a 2l lead. If he can correct that form however he’ll be one to watch in the future as both Wise Dragon and Prince Romany 7 lengths clear of 3rd.

See the shift on the link below:

https://twitter.com/Racing/status/1312609781706752000?s=20

Making A Mark: Frankel Sires Group 1 Winner Down Under

Mirage Dancer winning the Metrop on Saturday marked a significant moment in the stock of Stallion and super horse Fankel after his son gave him his first Group 1 win in Australian racing.

Having sired winners in the UK and Japan already, Mirage Dancer beating Mugatoo in the Metrop was his first winner down under and could have been the first of a hat trick of wins on the day after Finche narrowly missed out in Victoria and Hungry Heart finished second in the flight stakes.

On the racetrack, Frankel was without peer remaining unbeaten from 14 starts, including 10 at Group 1 level, to earn the highest Timeform rating of all time.

The Young and Busuttin trained runner made the decision to run Mirage Dancer in Sydney because he prefers the track direction:

“We thought ‘Group 1, Sydney, he goes on that leg’ and it’s $700,000 so we thought ‘why not’,’’ Young said. “Nash (Rawiller) just gave him a peach of a ride and he had a nice draw for a change. It’s amazing.”

“We thought the Turnbull would have been a bit stronger and we just thought that we wanted to chase that Group 1. He’s a Frankel stallion and he’s now a Group 1 winner in Australia. We were just mindful of that, trying to get a Group 1 on the way through to the Caulfield Cup.”

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