TUESDAY RACING NEWS

Momentum is building towards the VRC’s Super Saturday meeting, with fields for the Newmarket Handicap, Australian Cup and Australia Guineas to be declared on Wednesday. Lloyd Williams today paid $41,250 for last start Group 2 winner Linton to run in the race, ensuring that the $5.50 second favourite takes his place in the field. Like Williams’ former outstanding galloper Reset, Linton will be running in the Guineas at just his fourth start in a race. The other key runner in that race is Peter Moody’s filly Set For Fame. Some punters may take note of the fact that she ran identical time to Denman first up on the same day, then considerably faster second up over 1400m at Caulfield, also on the same day. The other advantage the filly has is that she is equally effective on speed or ridden off the pace. Denman remains the solid $1.50 favourite however.

The Australian Cup looks an exceptionally open race, but unfortunately that is more the result of a lack of quality than an abundance of it. Heart Of Dreams, beaten as a short priced favourite last time at Caulfield, is equal favourite with Melbourne Cup winner Shocking. David Hayes has a strong hand in the race, with Our Aqaleem, Extra Zero, and Zagreb all certain to line up in the race. Launceston Cup winner Growl and imported galloper Changingoftheguard are also possibilities at this stage. There are 16 gallopers at $21 or under, so there is little value to be found in early markets, although I think if you like Heart Of Dreams he is probably worth backing now at $8 as opposed to on the day.

Of the three Group 1 races on the day, the Newmarket Handicap looks to be the pick. All Silent is currently favourite at $4.50, but given the foot problems he has experienced in the lead up to the race and the fact he has to come back from an overseas trip, something many top gallopers have been unable to do. Starspangledbanner will be having his final Australian run in the race and is presently at $7.50 following his Oakleigh Plate win. A lot of interest will surround the great galloper El Segundo who will be running with just 56.5Kg. He has run some terrific races first up down the straight before, albeit without winning. However, he is 8YO now and age catches up with all of us.

For racegoers attending the track on the day, one of the highlights will be an appearance from racing icon Takeover Target. He will be parading in the mounting yard before the Newmarket Handicap before leading out the field, and he will be situated in the stalls throughout the day. Following Saturday he will be retired to the Living Legends farm at Oaklands Junction near Melbourne Airport.

Glamour colt Manhattan Rain will not be seen in the Australian Guineas after owner Muzaffar Yaseen, in consultation with trainer Gai Waterhouse, made the decision to retire him after a tremendously disappointing effort in the Hobartville Stakes last Saturday.

By Encosta De Lago out of Shantha’s Choice, which makes him a half brother to the great stallion Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain won the Skyline Stakes at two, before finishing third in the Slipper to Phelan Ready on a wet track, after which he won the Sires Produce Stakes. He only had a limited spring campaign, but again demonstrated his class by running third in the Caulfield Guineas and finishing second in the Cox Plate.

In the autumn, he appeared to have his mind on other things and was retired to stud before he did any more damage to his reputation. Manhattan Rain is sure to be popular with breeders as his pedigree really has everything that you could want. He will stand at Arrowfield Stud in NSW alongside his illustrious half brother. His stud fee is yet to be announced.

Notorious chaff bandit Von Costa De Hero has also been retired to stud. Another son of Encosta De Lago, he is out of the top sprinting mare Piavonic. Von Costa De Hero won the VRC Sires Produce Stakes at two before being beaten a nose in the Slipper, but he managed only that one win for his career, and probably did considerable damage to his stud value as the result of some inglorious performances.

Sky Channel has announced that the first of its new channels, Sky Racing2, will go live on March 30. Available on Channel 520 through Foxtel, there does not appear to be, at this stage, substantial difference from the existing Sky Channel offering. A further channel, Sky Racing World, will be launched in May, although this seems to be only a clone of TVN but with extra international racing product.