Fifty Stars in Ajax

THE Irish-bred Sea The Stars horse Fifty Stars has booked himself a start in the A$3 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile following a smart win in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes over 1,500 metres at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trained by David and Ben Hayes, and Tom Dabernig, Fifty Stars was a 110,000 guineas purchase by John Foote from Airlie Stud at the 2016 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

“He’s naturally a fit horse and if he pulls up well we will look at going to the Doncaster for him,” said Dabernig. “That would be the logical plan. Now that he is out to that distance range, he is building a really good record.” Fifty Stars is out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Swizzle Stick and has now won eight of his 12 starts.

Conners highlights racing’s pressures

THE announcement of Heath Conners retirement as a racehorse trainer highlights the dilemma of modern day racing in Australia. The 45-year-old Connors, the son of Clarry with whom he experienced the highest of highs including four Golden Slipper wins, has slowly been overwhelmed by a sport, in his case in Victoria, that races six days a week with multiple meetings on most days.

“The pressures are always getting harder,” said Connors. “We got away from Monday races, so we think, ‘well that’s great, we’re going to have no races on a Monday’, but then we have two meetings on a Wednesday – a twilight and a day meeting – then we have two on a Thursday, including a Thursday night, two meetings on a Friday, one a Friday night, two on a Saturday and two on a Sunday.

“I have three beautiful kids, I want to watch them grow up over the next 15 years. It’s the most important time of their life and I want to know at the end of the day that I have done the right thing. If I didn’t love the horses I would have gone a long time ago.”

Connors last city runner was Villa Sarchi who, poetically, won the final race at Flemington on Saturday.

Trapeze Artist nomination for injured Angland

A NOMINATION to the four-time Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist for the 2019 Australian breeding season will open the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on May 3rd with all proceeds going to injured jockey Tye Angland.Angland who rode the Gerald Ryan-trained Trapeze Artist in three of his Group 1 wins was sadly injured in a fall at Sha Tin in November and has left him a quadriplegic.

“Erin, myself and our three children are extremely appreciative of the kind gesture from the Vieira family,” said Angland.

“I hold Trapeze Artist in the highest regard as the most talented horse I rode during my riding career.”

Race plans for

Eminent’s debut

EMINENT, winner of the 2017 Craven Stakes and fourth in Derby won by Wings Of Eagles, will have his first start for eventing legend Mark Todd at Rosehill today.

His owner New Zealand Bloodstock principal Sir Peter Vela, who has had eventing horses with Todd, approached him to take charge of the European Group 2-winning son of Frankel.

Eminent will make his Australian debut in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes and, all going well, progress on to the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

The five-year-old made his last race day appearance for Martyn Meade in August, 2018, when fifth in the Group 3 Glorious Stakes at Goodwood.

Messara to receive Award of Merit

ARROWFIELD boss John Messara has been recognised for his lifelong contribution to thoroughbred racing by Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities and will be awarded their Order Of Merit in Sydney at the running of the A$4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes on 11th April.

Involved in racing for over 30 years Messara launched the career of Danehill in Australia.

He now stands his sire-son Redoute’s Choice and grandson Snitzel, all three of whom are multiple champion sires.