C.F. Orr Stakes (Group 1)

THE Per Incanto gelding Jimmysstar recorded Ciaron Maher’s 60th Group 1 success, when he landed the C.F. Orr Stakes over 1,400 metres at Caulfield on Saturday. The Everest third placed-getter three starts back was well into the red at the jump.

With Ethan Brown up and four-wide on the bend and into clear air, the seven-horse field was compact, but Jimmysstar was a class above. Too strong, he cruised away to post a one-length win over the Harry Angel colt Angel Capital as another Per Incanto, Evaporate took third.

“I think he had his breakout Group 1 here at Caulfield, and his record is near impeccable here, and it is just fitting,” said Maher. “He’s a ripper. I was so confident over the last couple of weeks.

“I know he’d had a few runs in big races, but we only keep him fresh enough to run at six (furlongs). He’s earned a breather now. It’ll all probably be centred around The Everest next year, I’d imagine. I’ve been partners with the TAB the last couple of years, so hopefully we can partner up again.”

Jimmysstar was third in this year’s Everest before putting together consecutive wins, with this, his third Group 1 win.

Irish ex-pats Tom Sherry and Martin Harley continue winning sprees

TOM Sherry, landed another metropolitan win at Newcastle on Saturday, building on the treble he rode at Rosehill the Saturday before. Successful on the Peter Snowden-trained Maid Of Moolah, Tommy Sherry is in the middle of a purple patch having ridden eight winners from 25 rides from November 8th to 17th.

“I had good rides today, but that doesn’t always go to plan, does it?” said Sherry after his Rosehill treble. “When it does go to plan, it is exciting. Enjoy today. I’m thankful for all the support.” Another Irishman in a purple patch is Martin Harley.

Between November 4th and November 9th, Harley rode seven straight winners, all for the father and son training team of Chris and Corey Munce.

“I was happy to just get to seven for the week, because I was messing with Muncey last night,” reflected Harley. “I said ‘Frankie did it in a day, it took me a week to do it’. I was winding them up, but it’s nice to get to seven.”

From 21 rides, from October 15th to November 15th, Harley has ridden 10 winners from 21 rides.

“I need to be doing something. Rather than going to the gym, I get my cardio work in there,” said Harley, revealing that forklift driving two days a week for a construction company has helped his success.

“I reckon the last eight or nine months, I’ve been riding way better than before because now I don’t have time to think about things. I love horses, but it’s a nice break-up from riding.”

New Zealand

Romanoff battles hard for Guineas success

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 53rd New Zealand 2000 Guineas (Group 1)

A FREAK hailstorm that left Riccarton Park blanketed in ice and causing a 40-minute delay, was not enough to deny Romanoff a hard fought win in the 53rd Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

Trained by Pam Gerard with Brazilian Bruno Queiroz in the saddle, Romanoff sat just off the pace in the heavy 8 conditions before toughing out a hard fought finish with Affirmative Action, denying the Yes Yes Yes gelding by a short half-head that even course broadcaster Matt Cross called incorrectly. Where Cross was accurate was that Pam Gerard trained the quinella. Third was the 100/1 shot Shoma by Contributer.

“I don’t know if I can handle this any more, it’s just too much,” said Gerard. “They’re both really nice horses, and I think their class has shown today. There is no question that I was really worried about the track, and I still don’t think they liked it one bit, but on a wet day Romanoff had the edge, although I honestly thought the other horse had got up.

“My staff at home are just amazing. So much goes into getting here, and it is hard on a day when you get a hailstorm, and after all the work that has gone in, you think, ‘Bloody hell’. But we managed to get away with it.”

Aboard the Belardo gelding was the godson of Joao Moreira who was a two-time Champion Jockey in Brazil before arriving in New Zealand after riding in Singapore. “I just had one dream, which was a Group 1 here (in New Zealand) as I have 16 in Brazil and today I am very glad,” said Queiroz. “Thank you to God, along with the connections of this horse, for the big opportunity. It was so close, but I’m so glad as I thought I had won as he fought so hard the last 100 metres.” Romanoff was purchased out of the 2024 Karaka Book 2 catalogue for NZ$75,000 by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman.

Ready-To-Run sale hits new record

NEW Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready-To-Run sale, held over two sessions, has hit new heights, posting a record aggregate of NZ$41,407,500 from 265 lots sold, a record median of $100,000 and a record average of $156,255. The clearance rate of 75 per cent is consistent with the past four sales.

“It’s quite remarkable, another record-breaking sale,” said NZB’s bloodstock sales manager Kane Jones. “Just a magical number hitting that $41m in turnover. This sale has gone from strength to strength in the last five years. The horses breezed phenomenally, and the type of horses that are brought to this sale improves year on year. It’s just a credit to the vendors, who continue to support this sale and make it what it is.”

The top lot for the sale was lot 374, a colt by Zoustar, who was purchased by Mr Yeung Kin Man for the Hong Kong market at $825,000. Future Hong Kong trainer James Cummings landed the next most expensive, spending $775,000 on lot 371, a Written Tycoon colt, one of nine horses to sell in excess of $400,000.

Mr Yeung was the leading buyer spending $3,570,000 on 16 lots, whilst Riversley Park was the leading vendor selling 34 for an aggregate of $6,525,000. “It’s a great thing they’ve got going on there with the mainland Chinese racing horses in Hong Kong. They’re sourcing them here and racing them there, because obviously the money in Hong Kong is unbelievable,” remarked Riversley Park’s Sam Beatson.