2005 July | Australia Melbourne Cup 2008 and Racing News

Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman was has suspended by Racing NSW Stewards yesterday at Gosford for careless riding.

Bowman, who has been in red-hot form recently, pleaded guilty to the Careless Riding charge and was suspended from August 8 until August 13.

Bowman forced a passage aboard the partnered the Alan Scorce-trained, Private Certifier who won the St Patricks’s Parish East Gosford C2 Handicap 1600 metres when insufficiently clear of Monte Abbey.

Monte Abbey’s jockey, apprentice Kanichero Fujii fired in a protest which was unsuccessful but Bowman had to answer the careless riding charge.

The Sir Michael Stoute six-year-old Distinction will be making his second trip to Melbourne after holding on to win the Lady O Goodwood Cup run over 3200 metres by a half length as an 11/4 favourite. Ridden by Michael Kinane, the son of Danehill held Golden Quest in the run to the line with Millenary back in third.

Kinane said after the win, “I knew he would stay the distance but late on he pulled it out and in the last five strides he found a bit extra to win,”

“Distinction is a real Melbourne Cup horse. He ran well in the race last year, finishing sixth after coming from a long way back, and I would love to ride him out there.

“I know my way around Flemington and you need a horse that travels. This fellow fits the bill, and he’d have one hell of a chance.”

Harry Herbert the racing manager of Highclere Thoroughbreds, which races Distinction said, “It is simply unbelievable. He is such a brave horse, but, while Mick did the right thing in kicking three furlongs out, it was a long time out in front.

“He is brave, strong and has proved that he goes on any ground. Distinction is so versatile, he showed that he can handle the firm when runner-up in the Ascot Gold Cup, and now he has done it in the soft.”

Last year’s Eclipse Award winner for top male turf horse Kitten’s Joy made a successful return to the track after an eight month injury layoff by scoring a comfortable one-length win in Monday’s $274,000 Firecracker Breeders Cup Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs.

The four-year-old Kentucky-bred son of El Prado (Ire) trained by Dale Romans for Ken and Sarah Ramsey improved his record to nine wins from 13 starts and boosted his career earnings to $1,875,791.

Jockey Edgar Prado who was aboard Kitten’s Joy when they won the Virginia Derby (gr. IIIT) at Centennial a year ago had the 3-to-5 favorite traveling sweetly on the inside behind the pacesetting Parker Run. As the field turned for home, Prado asked Kittens Joy for an effort and he quickly put the issue beyond doubt, racing away to score softly.

Old Forester ran on for second place ahead of America Alive’s while Parker Run held on for fourth followed by Senor Swinger and Mighty Military.

Romans said Kitten’s Joy would have his next start in the Arlington Million (gr. IT) at Arlington Park on Aug. 13.

The 5/2 race favourite Azamour smashed the mile-and-a-half track record at Newbury when he won the King George stakes by a length and a quarter from 50/1 outsider Norse Dancer. Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Bago was a further short-head away in third.

The four-year-old owned by the Aga Khan settled last with Mick Kinane in the saddle. The Melbourne Cup winning jockey bidded his time before storming to the lead at the 300 metre mark.

Azamour is now likely to head to the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes and a clash with Epsom Derby winner Motivator before heading to the Arc on September 10.

The Luca Cumani trained AJC Derby winner Starcraft will undergo a second scan to determine the extent of a pelvic injury sustained in the Group I Corale-Eclipse Stakes .

The five-year-old finished sixth of seven runners behind the Aidan O’Brien trained Oratorio at Sandown underwent an exploratory scan last Friday.

Cumani said, “The scan last Friday was positive but another scan is needed in a week’s time to help with our diagnosis.”

Starcraft, who finished third at his UK debut behind Valixir and Rakti in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot at York is expected to be on the sidelines for at least two months.

The Luca Cumani trained AJC Derby winner Starcraft will undergo a second scan to determine the extent of a pelvic injury sustained in the Group I Corale-Eclipse Stakes .

The five-year-old finished sixth of seven runners behind the Aidan O’Brien trained Oratorio at Sandown underwent an exploratory scan last Friday.

Cumani said, “The scan last Friday was positive but another scan is needed in a week’s time to help with our diagnosis.”

Starcraft, who finished third at his UK debut behind Valixir and Rakti in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot at York is expected to be on the sidelines for at least two months.

Group 1 jockey Glen Boss returned to race riding in Australia after an Asian sojourn with a double at the Canterbury meeting yesterday.

Boss scored in the opening event aboard the Joseph Pride trained two-year-old filly Regal Cheer in the A Royale Handicap before guiding the Tim Martin trained three-year-old Cezanne between runners for an eye-catching victory in the Coolmore Hcp in the third event.

The dual Melbourne Cup winning jockey took his 2004/05 season tally to 40 wins.

Pearson was disqualified by Racing NSW stewards for not permitting the Gai Waterhouse trained No Penalty to run on its merits when second at Rosehill on October 30.

Pearson was subsequently handed a 10 month disqualification . Should Pearson comply with conditions set out by Racing NSW, he can resume riding in trials and trackwork from August 10th.

Hong Kong based jockey Brett Prebble has picked up the mount on the Danny O’Brien trained Leone Chiara in Saturday’s Listed Monash Stakes over 1100 metres at Caulfield.

Leone Chiara scored an impressive first up win on her racetrack return when she defeated Saturday’s winner Bennetts Green by 2-1/4 lengths over 1000 metres at Flemington.

The Monash is shaping up as a quality sprint race with last year’s winner Super Elegant and Caulfield track specialist Regal Roller headlining a field which includes Bennetts Green, Bomber Bill, Dea, Dilly Dally, Final Express, Gladiada, Holding, Lord Of Lauriston, Our Quivira, Red Hot Mama, and Wildly.

Meanwhile, Sydney Jockey Hugh Bowman has been booked to ride the Bob Thomsen trained Media this spring. Bowman was aboard the Golden Slipper placegetter in her debut win when taking out the Gimcrack Stakes but was replaced by Hong Kong based Shane Dye in the Slipper.

The Tim Martin trained Stormhill will be set for an assault on the Melbourne Spring Carnival after the three year old son of Danehill produced an all the way win to claim the XXXX Gold Grafton Cup yesterday.

Ridden by Melbourne Cup winning jockey Chris Munce, Stormhill broke the course record after being taken to the front before reaching the winning post for the first time.

Munce said, “He had to do a bit of work early. But he dropped the bit and pricked his ears at the winning post. I knew he’d be hard to beat from there.”

Precise Timing ran on to place second while another Sydney visitor Dancing Daggers came from well back for third for a well beaten third.

Stormhill finished fourth in the Queensland Derby after attempting to lead all the way, trainer Tim Martin said after the win, “We’ll back off him and take him to Melbourne.”

Meanwhile, Racing NSW stewards have announced the hearing into the positive drug test to cocaine from the Gai Waterhouse-trained Love You Honey will commence on Monday July 25.