Racing Lift-out
Class mare returned to her Cambridge owner and will likely be mated
An injury suffered at a Hastings jump out a couple of weeks ago has ended the racing career of class mare Savvy Dreams.
Talented Hastings-trained mare Savvy Dreams has run her last race. The Savabeel mare suffered tendon damage to one of her forelegs when finishing third in a 1000m jumpout at Hastings on July 20 and a scan revealed a hole in one area of the tendon and a stretch in another.
Savvy Dreams has been returned to Cambridge owner Tony Rider’s Milan Park Stud and is now likely to be mated later this year.
“It is devastating news for all concerned,” said co-trainer Guy Lowry, who prepared the mare in partnership with Grant Cullen.
It would be at least another 12 months before any real pressure could be put on the leg again and there was no guarantee she could stand another racing preparation.
“She would be at least a 6-year-old before she could race again and, being a Group 1 placegetter, she is too valuable as a broodmare to take any risks with,” he said.
Savvy Dreams only had 14 starts for two wins, a second, two thirds and four fourths.
She finished a game third behind Bonneval and Devise in last year’s Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham and recorded Group 1 fourth placings in the South Australian Derby (2500m) in Adelaide, the Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham and Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.
Timely return to form
Locally Sauced, part-owned by Hastings woman Irene Downey and her son Josh, returned to winning form after a nine month absence with a dominant performance at Timaru last Friday.
The 6-year-old Iffraaj gelding led throughout in an $11,000 Rating 85 race over 2100m and never looked like being headed.
Promising apprentice Jasmine Fawcett rated him perfectly in front, setting a moderate pace in the early and middle stages before applying pressure just before the home turn.
Locally Sauced was still full of running when he straightened for the run home and raced right away from five rivals to score by 6-1/4 lengths.
It was Locally Sauced’s sixth win but his first since a Rating 85 over 2100m at Ashburton in October.
At that stage he was being touted as a prime candidate for the New Zealand Cup but he failed to see out the 3200m distance of that race, finishing 10th out of 12.
Locally Sauced is trained by Waiuku couple Grant and Tana Shaw, who have made a number of successful trips to the South Island with their horses in recent years.
HB awards night
This year’s annual Hawke’s Bay & Poverty Bay Racing Awards function will be held on Friday, August 31.
This is the night before the first day of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival and is sure to attract plenty of interest.
Hosted by the Hawke’s BayPoverty Bay Owners and Breeders Associations, in conjunction with Hawke’s Bay Racing, will be held in the Cheval Rooms at the Hastings racecourse from 6.30pm. Tickets are $85/head.
For further inquiries phone Gayle Richardson (06) 873-4545 or email gayle@hawkesbayracing.co.nz
Comeback trail
Group 1 winner Wait A Sec is back in light training as he continues his rehabilitation from a tendon injury suffered preparing for a tilt at this season’s Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m).
The Guy Lowry and Grant Cullentrained Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) winner has pleased connections with his progress, which could see him return to racing next year, perhaps for the Group 3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) in January, a race he won this year.
“He suffered a tendon injury after he won at Wairoa, but he’s rehabilitated well and the leg is looking good. His scans have been encouraging,” Lowry said. “He’s trotting five minutes a day on the treadmill and we’d expect him to be racing around anniversary time next year.”
Stakes mission for Express
New Plymouth-trained filly London Express will be out to start the new season the way she ended her 2017-18 campaign.
The daughter of Shamexpress, part-owned by Havelock North’s Tess Castles, took her record to two wins and two placings from four starts when coming with a strong finish to win the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui on June 2 before being sent out for a brief spell.
She is now being set for a return to racing in the Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui on September 8.
“She’s done well with her break and she’s on track for Wanganui,” trainer Allan Sharrock said.
“I really like her and she’ll be looking to get a mile in the spring. She’ll follow the Filly of the Year series.”
Placegetter disqualified
Wildflower has been stripped of her third placing in the Group1 Auckland Cup (3200m) in March this year.
Following the Ellerslie feature, the mare returned an elevated reading to cobalt, which was in a supplement that her trainers, Graham Richardson and Gavin Parker, administered in accordance with veterinary advice.
The Matamata trainers pleaded guilty to the rule breach and were fined $6000 by the Racing Integrity Unit.
As a result of Wildflower’s disqualification, Alinko Prince was promoted to third place in the Auckland Cup.
Justify retired
Justify, the 13th winner of America’s famed Triple Crown, has been retired to stud.
The undefeated son of ill-fated US sire Scat Daddy was bought at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale for the China Horse Club & Maverick Racing for US$500,000 by their buying team that consists of Cambridge bloodstock agent Michael Wallace, the China Horse Club’s racing and bloodstock manager, along with Mick Flanagan and Tom Ryan of SF Bloodstock.
“Justify had some filling in his ankle, and he is just not responding quick enough for a fall campaign,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “We all wanted to see Justify run again, but ultimately it is my responsibility to make sure he is perfect. Without 60-90 days, I can’t be definite.”
The 3-year-old, who won four Group 1 races and nearly US$3.8 million in stakes, could join the stallion ranks of global giant Coolmore Stud.
Jockeys’ fees increased
New Zealand riding fees will increase by 1.1 per cent in the new season.
An agreement between NZTR and the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association links any increase in the riding fee to the Consumers Price Index (CPI).
The new fee will be $145.23, excluding GST, for flat races, up from $143.65, and $197.10 for jumping races.
The trials fees for flat races will be $41.49 for apprentices and $62.24 for senior riders.
Zy’s win for injured mate
Former Cambridge apprentice Zy Nor Azman dedicated his win on the Bruce Marsh-trained Mings Man at Kranji last Friday to his injured colleague Hairi Marzuki.
“I dedicate this win to Hairi,” Nor Azman said. “He’s still in hospital, but he’s a fighter and I wish him a quick recovery.”
Marzuki, who rode 19 winners when apprenticed to Stephen Marsh in Cambridge before transferring to Marsh’s father in Singapore, is in the Intensive Care Unit at Singapore hospital after suffering a brain trauma in a race fall a couple of weeks ago.
According to the latest Singapore report, he is conscious and communicates through writing notes.