THE PETLEY REPORT: QUEENSLAND DERBY HOPES GO ON THE LINE AT ROSEHILL

By Jack Petley | Friday, May 21, 2021

Cambridge three-year-old Daqiansweet Junior is in line for the Queensland Derby but, before that, he will have to show his trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman that he is ready for that task at Rosehill tomorrow. He runs in the De Bortili Wines Handicap over 2000metres and is not fancied in the market at $19 and is $34 for the Derby, $34. Said Andrew Forsman: “We think he will have to run in the top two to warrant going to the Derby. We think he is good enough but he has been up for a good time. He is working well and may have been that soft track which tripped him up last time." The son of Sweet Orange won twice in March in NZ and finished 3rd in the Manawatu Classic. Kiwi Rory Hutchings has the mount with the favourite being Maranoa, at $3.50 for the Bott-Waterhouse yard ahead of the Waller galloper, Green Flash, $5.50.

The Kiwi mare Polly Grey runs for Chris Waller in the Lord Mayors Cup and she is solid in the market at $6.50 with Bjorn Baker's Parry Sound at $3.90 and the one to beat with Rachael King up.

Trainer Kim Waugh has been fined some $14,000 with jockey Serg Lisnyy outed for six months. Both were charged over Lysnyy’s use of spurs on Tarsus which resulted in the horse sustaining lacerations.

While I reported yesterday that Explosive Jack and company were being floated to Brisbane because of a transport hitch I see that the trainer of Gytrash, Gordon Richards, says that he wants the matter resolved as he would not be sending his star north on a float from Adelaide. He is due to pay a late entrance fee for the Kingsford Smith Cup, due on Monday, but may call the trip off. There are some 20 odd horses booked for a flight out of Melbourne on Tuesday, but that will depend on a Queensland Health decision.

I see that Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson will re-unite with the Mike Moroney mare Tofane in the BRC Spring at Eagle Farm tomorrow. The last time he rode the daughter of Ocean Park was when the pair were successful in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. The mare has had one run since a good break and Moroney says this run tomorrow will likely decide her future, but Moroney is confident she will keep racing for a good time. "If I was to guess now, I would say she will run on next season. But that decision will be made after the race," he said, adding he would like to try her over more ground.

Trainer Jamie Richards has his star mare Melody Belle having her last start in the Doomben Cup tomorrow and on the home front he has some of the leading contenders for the Waikato Hurdle with Bak Da Master, a warm favourite in the race at $2.30 after a stylish win in the Waikato Hurdle preview two weeks back. "He will run well," said Richards. "He just loves jumping. I would say he will go forward and lead as he loves rolling along in front."

It has been a great month for Timaru trainer, Bruce Tapper. Earlier in the month he celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary and on his home track, Timaru, yesterday he brought up his 50th win as a trainer courtesy of Paramount Prince … and to make the day all the more memorable winning with Global Star and having So Natural and Manhattan Flame quinella another 1200 metre event." I haven't trained three in a day before, so that is great," he said.

I note that the Victorian Jockey’s Association have backed the move by Racing Victoria to stand down riders for 12 days if they suffer concussion. This was increased from seven to 12 days and the Association are supportive of the move.

I note that Racing NSW have announced changes to the conditions of the Kosciuszko for Randwick in October. To be eligible for the next big race, horses need to be in the care of an eligible country trainer as at midnight, May 17 … and horses that contest the event must stay in the care of an eligible trainer for a minimum of 12 months following the race. And finally horses contesting the race must also have at least one NSW race start under the care of the eligible trainer prior to the race.

Overseas buyers have been after that boom young galloper with trainer, David Vandyke, Orbisyn, by Rich Enuff but he says his owner is not interested even though the offers have, I gather, been in the seven figure range.