THE PETLEY REPORT: TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES AS STAR HORSES TRY TO HEAD TO BRISBANE FOR THE CARNIVAL

By Jack Petley | Thursday, May 20, 2021

Boom Victoria three-year-old Aryton and star Derby candidate Explosive Jack are in the middle of a lengthy road trip to Brisbane after their chartered flight on Tuesday was cancelled because of Queensland Health advising the shippers that cargo on the flight would need to be quarantined for 14 days. It seems the Health Department had an issue with the flight originating in Hong Kong and a chance of cross contamination between crew and grooms. Chris Calthorpe, boss of Air Transport Company, told the NZ racing Desk that he tried to explain that his firm is under strict conditions with Cathay Pacific and that they all get Covid tests within 48 hours. He said he has been using Cathay Pacific for the past four weeks to fly horses to Toowoomba. Persan and Lets Karaka Deel were also booked on the plane with those two and Explosive Jack in the Maher-Eustace yard. Calthorpe says he has some 50 odd horses booked to head north next Tuesday including his own filly Media Award, the Australasian Oaks winner in Adelaide who is being aimed at the Queensland Oaks.

Meantime a rider has yet to be named for Aryton’s proposed bid for the Stradbroke Handicap. Beforehand, the star three-year-old runs in the Fred Best and Jamie Kah will be on hand, but Kah can't make the weight for the Stradbroke and there is every indication that the in-form Sydney rider Rachael King will get the nod. But Price did say that those plans will depend on how the colt handles his arduous road travel. "If he travels poorly then that will be an issue," said the top Victorian trainer.

Meantime Sydney trainer David Pfieffer has been outed for nine months, reduced from 12 because of his pleading guilty, to substituting a urine sample. I gather he has only a handful of days to send his horses in his yard elsewhere.

There is a big field carded for this weekend in the Lord Mayor’s Cup with the Bjorn Baker trained Parry Sound, the mount of Rachael King, the early favourite at $4.60 ahead of the NZ owned mare Polly Grey at $5 (Tom Berry), then $6 Grey Lion, $8 Wu Gok, the stablemate of Polly Grey, and $9 Looks Like Elvis.

The first race meeting in NZ on a synthetic track was held at Cambridge yesterday with the first event won by Sam Weatherley on a galloper, Champagne Princess, trained by his Dad, Darryn. Afterwards Darryn Weatherley was "over the moon" regarding the win. "This is one record no one will take off me," he told an enthusiastic crowd." I am absolutely stoked and also for owner Pam Brindley who has been a great supporter of ours." Droves of supporters flocked to the meeting and Weatherley said the vibe was electric.

Stephen Marsh claimed two wins on the track, with Fiscal Fun, a daughter of Zacinto, and Taupo Missy. "It was a thrill to get winners on our home track," said Marsh, who has enjoyed a big season.

Group 1 performer King of Comedy is to join Novara Park's stallion line up this spring. Luigi Muollo, the Farm's chief, said he has been on the lookout for a son of the champion sire Kingman and King of Comedy ticked “all boxes" … pedigree, racetrack performances and commercial appeal. Kingman stands at a massive $290,000, and the fee has been set at $7000 for the new sire and he will stand alongside Staphanos and Sweynesse. Kingman is the best son of Invincible Spirit, sire of the top Australian sire I am Invincible and he has already sired four Gr1 winners with his progeny just five.

That was an impressive win by the colt The Congo at Randwick yesterday and the win may have gained him a trip north for the Sires Produce and the JJ Atkins. The impressive looking son of star sire Snitzel is with the powerful Bott-Waterhouse yard and they have a small but select team for the carnival including Converge.

Big meeting for Joao Moreira at Happy Valley yesterday. The Brazilian booted home five winners and, with 15 meetings to go, he has a handy lead over Aussie Zac Purton, 128 over 110. Purton won the first yesterday but then had to relinquish his mounts with a back complaint. He is hopeful all will be well for his ride on the top galloper Exultant in the Champions Charter Cup at Sha Tin on May 23. "I have had this issue before," said the ace from Australia." It doesn't happen regularly. We are athletes, sportsman, and from time to time it happens. Normally it is a time thing, it can take from three to 10 days to recover."

John Size went three wins ahead of Casper Fownes. Size now has 62 wins to his credit for the season and his rival, 59 with Danny Shum next at 56, then Lor and Lui at 55.