Chris Waller star Verry Elleegant to make early spring solo appearance
Racing will regain its elegant theme with a special exhibition at Royal Randwick by one of the spring’s biggest players as she prepares for a shot at the major staying races this year.
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Verry Elleegant is set to add her star power to the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes meeting at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Chris Waller will make application for Verry Elleegant to have an exhibition gallop between races as part of her preparation for a new season comeback in the Group 1 Winx Stakes at Randwick on August 22.
“She has come through her (first barrier) trial really well,“ Waller said. “She will probably have an exhibition gallop (on Saturday) if the track is OK to gallop on, then go first up into the Winx Stakes.”
Verry Elleegant, winner of the Tancred Stakes and runner-up in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes during the autumn carnival, is among the favourites for all the major staying races this spring — The Metropolitan, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
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Waller has another of his Cups contenders, Shared Ambition, nominated for Saturday’s Spring Preview Handicap, while he has two possible starters for the Up And Coming Stakes, Sauvestre and Oscar Zulu.
There 13 entries for the Up And Coming including Team Hawkes’s promising colt North Pacific, Holyfield, Conceited, Bravado and unbeaten duo Smart Image and Yardstick.
The Hawkes stable has also nominated boom sprinter Masked Crusader for the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1100m).
Masked Crusader has won three of his four starts, all in restricted grade, but is so highly rated he is at $15 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting for the $15 million The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on October 17.
OUTSTANDING HORSEMAN BRINGS UP THE CENTURY
Frank Lewis, the former leading Randwick trainer, turns 100 years old on Wednesday.
An outstanding horseman, Lewis never had more than about 10 horses in work but trained some outstanding gallopers during his career, most notably Lord Fury, who led all the way under Ray Selkrig to win the 1961 Melbourne Cup.
He also prepared brilliant sprinter Gold Brose (1992 Silver Slipper), Grenoble (1958 Doncaster Handicap) and Beau Babylon, who ended the legendary sprinter Vain’s unbeaten run in the 1969 AJC Sires Produce Stakes.
Lewis retired from training after the 2000 Sydney autumn carnival. He did suffer a stroke last year and is in an inner-city nursing home.
“Frank Lewis has been an icon of Sydney racing for decades, he certainly made his mark as a trainer and his 100th birthday is a wonderful milestone,’’ said Richard Callander, chief executive of the NSW Trainers Association.
EDUARDO NOT LOCKED IN FOR THE EVEREST
Joe Pride, trainer of Missile Stakes winner Eduardo, still hasn’t got the phone call he was hoping from an Everest slot-holder — but he’s not surprised.
Pride believes it is still “a bit early” for most of the slot-holders to lock in their selections for the $15 million The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on October 17 but made a compelling case for Eduardo to gain a start in the world’s richest turf race.
“This is a very unique year and everyone is being patient,’’ the trainer told Big Sports Breakfast Weekend on Sunday morning.
“But I have trained a lot of good sprinters over the years and Eduardo is right up there with them, he is a very smart horse.
“I’m going to give Eduardo a bit of a break now as it is seven weeks until The Shorts.
“I think that is the perfect lead-up race for him and then he can go straight to The Everest if we are fortunate to get a start.’’
Eduardo has won his only two starts since joining the Pride stable and he was impressive leading most of the way to win the Missile Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday.
“He beat a very good horse in Flit yesterday who handles wet tracks and goes extra well fresh.
“It’s rare that you find a horse like Eduardo who has so much speed with so much heart and determination as well.
“This horse would not let anyone down if he was in The Everest, he’s that good a sprinter.’’
Pride is hopeful of getting two runners into The Everest with stable star Fasika preparing to return to racing in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill on September 12.
“When Fasika returns in the Sheraco, she will show she is back in really good form and could also earn her spot in The Everest,’’ the trainer said.
“She had a trial last Friday and was just jogging along beside them. She is a very good mare and her best preparations are going to be this spring and autumn.
“I would be very surprised if she couldn’t win Group 1 races in that time. She is really exciting, she has amazing cruising speed and we are yet to see the best of her.’’
Eduardo has firmed to $26 with Fasika at $34 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting for The Everest.
Horse of the Year elect Nature Strip is a dominant favourite at $3 ahead of Classique Legend at $9. They are the only two horses selected for The Everest at this stage.
Bivouac is also at $9 and is favoured to be Godophin’s choice for their Everest slot.
STEWARDS ORDER RAWILLER TO SEE SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST
Racing NSW stewards have run out of patience with Nash Rawiller ordering the champion jockey to attend three sessions with a sports psychologist after he was again suspended for careless riding and whip offences last Saturday.
Rawiller was outed until September 1 after incurring his eighth careless riding suspension in 12 months following his win on Eduardo. Stewards also found he used the whip 10 times before the 100m when scoring on Desert Path, his sixth whip riding offence in the same period.
Perhaps Rawiller is just trying too hard but it is unusual for stewards to order a jockey of his experience and ability to attend sports psychology sessions.
ALLIGATOR BLOOD EYES EVEREST?
Alligator Blood is on The Everest trail after impressing with an easy barrier trial win between races at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
“I liked the way he went about his business and this will do his confidence the world of good after his last start defeat in the All Star Mil which was a bit traumatic,’’ trainer David Vandyke said.
“They ran a minute for 1000m on a slow track so it was a solid trial. He will have another trial on the 25th of August and then resume at Doomben on September 12.’’
Vandyke said he will finalise Alligator Blood’s race preparation after the four-year-old’s comeback run at Doomben but he is leaning to a Sydney campaign with The Everest and Golden Eagle the likely targets.
OAKS WINNER IN CAULFIELD CUP MIX
ATC Australian Oaks winner Colette is back in the Caulfield Cup mix.
Godolphin trainer James Cummings wouldn’t say if the doubt on international stayers racing in Melbourne this spring due to the global pandemic has prompted the change of plan after early indications from the stable was that the mare was going to have only a light spring campaign.
But Cummings is understandably keeping all options open with Colette who is among a number of spring carnival hopefuls competing at the Royal Randwick barrier trials on Tuesday morning.
“We haven’t shut the door on anything yet,’’ Cummings said. “We will nominate Colette for the appropriate races, we have kept her in the Cox Plate, for example.
“But we have got to keep our feet on the ground with Oaks winners returning (as four-year-olds) as their records collectively aren’t amazing. We will be very much guided by her.
“Colette is looking a bit tougher and we are pleased with her at this stage. She will just breeze through her paces in the trial, she is not there to get too excited.’’
Cummings, who prepared promising mare Tailleur to win at Rosehill and stable favourite Home Of The Brave to claim the Aurie’s Star at Flemington last Saturday, also has multiple Group 1 winner Avilius and classy Cascadian trialling on Tuesday.
The star-studded trial session kicks off with Golden Slipper winner Farnan, Golden Eagle winner Kolding, top Kiwi mare Probabeel and boom duo Mamaragan and Opacity clashing in the opening heat.
Brandenburg, Con Te Partiro, Prague, Quackerjack and Sweet Deal take on Colette and Cascadian in the second trial before Avilius goes up against Splintex, Shout The Bar, Positive Peace and See You Soon in heat three.
Group 1 winners Dreamforce and Fierce Impact are in the fourth trial against Melbourne Cup hopeful Carif and former Irish galloper I Am Superman.
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have a talent-laden stable of three-year-olds including dual Group 1 winner King’s Legacy, Dame Giselle, Aim and Bartley entered for the trials.
The emerging Brad Widdup-trained Adelong is in the final trial of the 21-heat session.
MORE FANS FOR THE GENTLEMAN
Gentleman Max won’t be competing in Sydney during the spring carnival but his fan base continues to grow after the cult hero of Riverina racing scored his 16th career win at his 123rd start at Wagga Wagga on Sunday.
The Trevor Sutherland-trained Gentleman Max revelled in the heavy 10 track conditions to hold off stablemate Willy White Socks, who was having “only” his 96th race start.
ROSEHILL SNAPSHOT : WITH RON DUFFICY
RUN OF THE DAY
Spring is definitely in the air when you get performances like Anders, Tailleur and Eduardo. Out of this trio it had to be the young 3yo Anders that stole the show. If he can stretch his acceleration and speed out to 1200m they are surely cooking with gas.
FORGET THEY RAN
Heart Of The Oak was a query first-up on a heavy track but punters still rallied because it appeared she would get a cosy on pace run in the lead. Considering they went out harder than expected I think we can be a little forgiving and give her another chance on firmer footing.
THE BLACK BOOK
Sixgun bombed the start in the Rosebud and was out of play before catching the eye late.
If Mark Newnham can get his head in order he appears to have the talent when he steps up a little in distance.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Nash Rawiller’s aggression certainly went a long way towards his winning double but unfortunately he broke the rules doing so. With that in mind, James McDonald was pretty to watch on the improving New King and gets the nod.
NSW RACING: THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday: Port Macquarie
Tuesday: Gosford, Quirindi
Wednesday: Warwick Farm
Thursday: Newcastle
Friday: Goulburn, Muswellbrook
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Kembla Grange, Casino, Narrandera, Parkes
Sunday: Moruya, Narromine
MORE NEWS:
Raceday focus: Best bets and inside mail for Goulburn and Muswellbrook
Anders likely to run in Melbourne during the spring after stunning win at Rosehill
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