THE PETLEY REPORT (AUGUST12 TO AUGUST 14)

By Jack Petley | Friday, August 14, 2020

Much to watch at Randwick this weekend and Race 3 sees the return to racing of the boom Team Hawkes galloper Masked Crusader, winner of 3 from 4 and predicted to hold his own against the best class as the season progresses … and one won’t get rich backing the Tommy Berry mount. With most agencies he sits around $1.55 to $1.55. The next best in the market … and, also a mare of class … is Godolphin's Varda, the mount of James McDonald, who is shooting for her fourth win on end so she will be a tough rival for the boom horse.
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There is much interest in the Spring Preview with Danzdanzdance (with McDonald up), the O'Sullivan-Scott stayer Sir Charles, stabled with John Thompson, and Rondinella, the former James-Wellwood mare now with John O'Shea. Of the three Danzdanzdanbce is best in the market at $6.50 with Rondinella, who trialled well recently in Sydney, at $17 and Sir Charles Road, at long odds, $51. Favourite for the event is Man of Peace, a winner of the last two and with the help tomorrow of a 3 kg claim taking the weight down to a luxurious 55kgs.
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Also on the card, the Up and Coming with James McDonald's mount North Pacific, a Brazen Beau colt with Team Hawkes and a dashing winner when resuming, the favourite at $2.30 ahead of $4.0 Smart Image, a Smart Missile colt and winner of two from two for Team Snowden, and Yardstick at $4.60. Good odds on offer for the Maher-Eustace trained colt Holyfield, He sits at $12 but Maher, in quarantine in Sydney at present, said in the press the colt is "over the odds." He said the colt has come back stronger and more mentally prepared for the spring."
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Taikomochi is the favourite for the Premiers Cup at $3.40 up with Adam Hyeronimus up … and noting that the Racing NSW stewards will pass judgement on those betting offences next week.
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Two interesting winners during the week. Sublime Diva, by Brazen Beau from Makybe Diva won at Sale and Bucharest, by Deep Impact from Miss Finland, scored at Newcastle.
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Nash Rawiller has lodged appeal against the severity of his suspension of seven days after the running of the Missile Stakes, which he won on Eduardo. Damian Lane was suspended for eight meetings for over-use of the whip on his mount Cracksman at Sandown on Wednesday. He was also fined $200. Simon Zahra fined $2000 for Covid testing breach.
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This is one major hurdle has been taken down for Kiwi trainers as they look towards Australia and the massive money on offer … a handful of trainers, the NZ Racing Desk reports, have received travel exemptions for their staff to fly into Australia. First to be given the news was Tony Pike, head of the Trainers Association, and immediately he announced flights for two of his staff to head to Sydney and into quarantine.
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Star Kiwi four-year-old Catalyst showed he is on the right track for his Sydney campaign with a rousing trial’s win at Taupo. He sat on the leader Aretha and then strode away in the final stages, easing down by just under 2 lengths. Trainer Clayton Chipperfield said that was encouraging going forward for Australia. Said Chipperfield, "He is a lot stronger in his action and he is mentally stronger as well. In trackwork he gets on the bit and works under me whereas last time he just plodded around. He is a lot more switched on."
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Catalyst is due to fly out on September 14 and will have his first Sydney run in the Shorts on the 19th. And a big run in that is certain to have Everest slot holders looking closely at the Kiwi. And for his prep in Sydney he will be in the care of Tony Pike's staff members Chris McNab and Matthew Ward who are soon to leave Auckland for quarantine in Sydney with of course Pike's star sprinter The Bostonian to be under their care too.
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One Kiwi star who won't be in Sydney this sporing is that dashing NZ Oaks winner of last season, Jennifer Eccles. Trainer Shaune Ritchie said earlier this week that he won't look at Sydney but instead will have his mare tackle majors at the Hawkes Bay meeting at Hastings, including the Windsor Park and the Livamol… but he said that he could stage a hit and run raid with the mare into Melbourne for the Cox Plate or the Mackinnon Stakes. "I feel for her at this stage she would be best on a hit and run campaign," he said.
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A strong field has been carded for the Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield this weekend including the smart West Australian galloper Regal Power, winner of the All Star Mile last season. William Pike will be on hand for the mount who opened at a solid $5 but will meet some stiff opposition including Chris Waller's Kings Will Dream, Cascadian and Savatiano for Godolphin and Regal Power's stablemate Arcadia Queen, who will be ridden by Damian Lane.
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The racing industry is mourning the passing of one of the legends of horse racing in NSW, Mr Gowan Williams, who died earlier in the week at the age of 79. "He represented what's great in our industry as he was a person who put his heart and soul into racing and never sought any reward or acknowledgement," said Racing NSW chief, Peter V'Landys.
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Now this is the long shot winner one would wish to back. At Leopardstown in Ireland yesterday He Knows No Fear scored in a maiden race at odds of 300 to 1. Before that win, the longest priced winner in Ireland was Killahara Castle at 200-1 in 2017.
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Further news out of Europe, Ghaiyyath is one of 14 entries for the Juddmonte International at York. His trainer, Charlie Appleby said his charge has thrived since he beat Enable and he rates him as the "best middle-distance horse" he has trained. He won the 2018 Derby with Masar but rates this stayer higher. "He is the finished article." said the top trainer. In the field will be runners from the Aidan O'Brien yard including last year’s winner, Japan, that good mare Magical, Magic Wand and Anthony Van Dyke.
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An eye-catching winner at Taupo was the three-year-old Aegon for the powerful Baker-Forsman Cambridge yard. The son of Sacred Falls gave his rivals a good start off the home bend, but he powered home for a big win and has had his odds slashed for the Victoria Derby. Said Andrew Forsman, "The win did surprise us as he drew wide and it was his first start, but he certainly has Derby potential.”
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In light of Levels 2 and 3 being put back in place in New Zealand earlier this week, Taupo was held behind closed doors and so too will the Waverley meeting on Friday. The Whangarei meeting will now be run on August 16. Trainers based in the Auckland Super City area may work their horses under level 3 protocols, worrying times again.