UNBEATEN in three starts in Melbourne, the now Chris Waller-trained Shared Ambition will be given the chance to progress to Group 1 level over the autumn.
“He looks a very promising horse,” said Waller after the Irish-bred Born To Sea gelding trialled at Warwick Farm on Tuesday.
“I could probably start him off over shorter but I had to choose between 1,400 metres the next week or the 1,600.
“I think we will go 1,600 then to the (1,900 metre Listed) Parramatta Cup (February 22nd) and if he won that we would have to look at the (2,000 metre Group 1) Ranvet (March 21st) with him.
“He is not a weight-for-age horse yet so we shouldn’t even be thinking like that but that is why I want to get him started early.”
Shared Ambition won at Killarney and Down Royal for Co Cork trainer John Murphy before being sold to Waller.
Avantage classy in the Telegraph
THE 2018 Karaka Million 2YO winner Avantage has franked her early brilliance, winning her first Group 1 as an older horse by taking out last Saturday’s Telegraph Handicap at Trentham.
Trained by Jamie Richards for Te Akau Racing, the Fastnet Rock four-year-old mare, a NZ$210,000 Karaka Premier yearling, broke from the outside gate to take up a spot midfield with cover, three off the fence in the 1,200 metre sprint.
Angled wide on the bend, Avantage produced a classy turn of foot to gun down a brave Enzo’s Lad, the winner of the previous two editions of the Telegraph, the pair putting three lengths into the remainder of the 13-horse field.
“Jamie and the whole team had her spot on for today,” said jockey Opie Bosson. “I had no plan really as Jamie had said ‘Just don’t be last’. I ended up getting quite a nice run with cover, although she wobbled around a bit over the junction. It didn’t matter though as she always had them covered. She’s a little sweetheart.”
Breaking through NZ$1 million in stakes, Avantage has now won eight of her 14 starts. “She’s all class and is just a real racehorse,” said Richards. “She’s so strong, built like a colt and is incredibly hard to handle.
“We’ll go home now and have a think about what’s next but we would like to go back to Australia and try and show her off over there as we have a bit of unfinished business from the spring.”
Avantage had two starts in Sydney winning a Group 3 and placing in a Group 2.
McKays mighty in the Mile
THE Mitigator made it a family affair in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham last Saturday, delivering a maiden Group 1 win to jockey Shaun McKay, riding for his father Peter McKay.
“This is awesome,” said the 23-year-old. “I’m speechless and over the moon. To win a Group 1 race has been a dream, and to do it for my family is even better. Dad’s an awesome trainer, and it means a lot to win a Group 1 race for him.”
The win was the third in the race for Peter McKay who had watched The Mitigator run last in the Zabeel Classic just three weeks earlier. “I’m thrilled for Shaun,” said Peter.
“It was a very good ride today on a good horse. When he had a look over his shoulder, I thought he must have been pretty confident, but it’s a long way down that straight. It’s great for Shaun, and also my wife Kim, who’s there every morning and puts a lot of work in. It’s a real family unit and, on days like this, all of that work we do pays off.” By Master Of Design, The Mitigator won by a nose from Iffraaj horse Wyndspelle and the Savabeel mare Yearn.
Oisin Orr gets off the mark in Doomben
OISIN Orr, riding Mantelli for Chris Waller, won his first metropolitan race in Australia at Doomben last Saturday.
Arriving in November and on loan to Chris Waller for three months following the recommendation of Dermot Weld, the two-time champion apprentice has won six races and placed five times for Waller from 28 starts, having also picked up a few rides for other trainers.
“It is nice to add a winner in Brisbane,” said Orr.
“For one thing, it is certainly warmer here than in Ireland at the moment. I have about three weeks left in Australia, so hopefully I will get a few more wins.”
NEW Zealand Bloodstock’s 2020 Premier Yearling sale at Karaka begins on Sunday and can be followed at nzb.co.nz. Last year’s edition averaged NZ$137,437 with a median of $100,000 for 489 sold of 635 offered. The sale is preceded by the Karaka Million twilight meeting at Ellerslie today [Saturday].
Coolmore will be represented in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic over 1,600 metres as managing owners of the Fastnet Rock colt Conqueror, a NZ$1 million yearling from the Curraghmore draft sold to the bid of agent Mark Pilkington.