Can you really What's On Stakes races: Randwick - Chipping make it pay Norton Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m), Surround backing Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), Guy Walter Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m), Sweet Embrace Stakes Winx? (Gr 2, 1200m), Skyline Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m), Liverpool City Cup (Gr 3, 1300m) Steve Moran Page 11 - Flemington - Australian Guineas (Gr 1, Saturday, March 2, 2019 1600m), Blamey Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m), Frances Tressady Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m), Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (Gr 3, 1400m), Bob Hoysted Stakes (Listed, Te Akau hoping to 1000m), Roy Higgins Quality (Listed, 2600m), 3AW 693 News Talk Sport Stakes (Listed, 1000m) - Doomben - Members’ continue strong Cup (Listed, 1600m) - Morphettville - Lord Reims Stakes (Gr 3, 2600m), Cinderella Stakes (Listed, 1050m) - Ascot - Lex Piper affinity with Derby Stakes (Listed, 1600m), Ascot 1,000 In A Twinkling and Prise De Fer shoot for Group 1 glory at Ellerslie Guineas (Listed, 1800m) - Ellerslie - New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m), Waikato Stud Plate (Gr 3, 1200m), McKee Family Sunline Vase (Gr 3, 2100m), Fasttrack Stakes (Listed, 1300m) - Wingatui - NZB Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1400m) Morning Briefing Extra Brut to show his class in the Guineas Michael Walker is expecting Extra Brut In A Twinkling TE AKAU (Domesday) to run well in the Australian Guineas De Dance (Roc De Cambes) in a thrilling finish (Gr 1, 1600m) today, with the jockey saying he By Chris Humpleby last year. was far from disappointed with the colt’s last- e Akau Racing principal David Ellis That reverse came six years after Te Akau start tenth in the C S Hayes (Gr 3, 1400m) last boasts a strong affinity with recent representative Rock ‘N’ Pop (Fastnet Rock) month. The three-year-old won the Victoria runnings of the New Zealand Derby finished runner-up in the 2012 renewal and the Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) when trained by Darren (Gr 1, 2400m) and he is hopeful the now-Waikato Stud resident is the sire of this Weir and has since been moved to Ciaron Maher T‘thriving’ duo of In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) year’s favourite, the Tony Pike-trained Surely and David Eustace after Weir was handed a four- and Prise De Fer (Savabeel) can bolster that Sacred, who won the Avondale Guineas (Gr 2, year suspension from the sport. "The other day record when they line up in the NZ$1,000,000 2100m) last month. he ran super but he was only getting to his top feature at Ellerslie this afternoon. Jamie Richards saddled In A Twinkling and gear as the race was over," Walker said. "He'll The colours of Te Akau were carried to Prise De Fer to finish second and fifth respectively be out the back and looking to come out wide success by subsequent Rosehill Guineas (Gr in that contest, with the former racing close to the and I think he's going to run terrific and show 1, 2000m) winner Gingernuts (Iffraaj) in 2017, speed before battling on stoutly in the closing everyone what a top class colt he is. The feel he's while Mongolianconqueror (Ocean Park) stages, while the latter caught the eye when given me every time I've sat on him is he's a very succumbed by the narrowest of margins to Vin finishing with a flourish. Continued on page 2>> classy colt." Morning Briefing page 4 | 1 | Brought to you by Te Akau hoping to continue strong affinity with Derby << Continued from page 1 Four of the last five Avondale Guineas winners have subsequently landed the New Zealand Derby but when asked by ANZ Bloodstock News if he believes the form can be reversed today, Ellis was comprehensive in his reply. “Oh, definitely,” he said. “I think we had no luck in running in the Avondale Guineas. In A Twinkling had to do a lot of work during the race and I thought [the result] was a down to the run of the race. “Both horses have been working really well – they are happy and BEST OF thriving and they’ve been hitting out well. We’re happy to have two live chances.” Surely Sacred heads the market at $3.60 ahead of the Stephen LUCK Marsh-trained Vernanme (O’Reilly) at $5. In A Twinkling is a $7.50 chance, while Prise De Fer is chalked up on the fourth line of the To the Magic Millions graduates betting at $13. running in today’s group races In A Twinkling will be partnered for the first time by Glen Boss, with RANDWICK (ATC) BLAMEY STKS GR2 the duo drawing barrier six, while Prise De Fer is the mount of stable Cool Chap ...........Coolmore Stud CHIPPING NORTON STKS jockey Opie Boisson and they will break from stall nine. GR1 SHAFTESBURY AVENUE HCP Ellis, however, has issued those punters who expect his contenders to Winx ..................Coolmore Stud GR3 Sircconi ..... Lyndhurst Stud Farm finish in market order with some food for thought. SURROUND STKS GR1 Man of His Word ..........Patinack “Opie Boisson, my stable jockey, had the choice of which two he Fundamentalist ............ Holbrook Farm T’breds wanted to ride and he chose Prise De Fer,” Ellis said. “It’s been quite Madam Rogue .......Widden Stud FURPHY STKS GR3 freakish over the years - he doesn’t make many mistakes and normally Symi...................Coolmore Stud Shoko ................ Fig Tree T’breds Smart As You Think ..... Coolmore rides the right one. SKYLINE STKS GR2 Stud “Glen Boss was at the Matamata track on Thursday morning and he Rome ................. Bhima T’breds La Tigeresa........... Rothwell Park rode In A Twinkling to get a feel for him. He was really happy. SWEET EMBRACE STKS MORPHETTVILLE “There wouldn’t be much to split them.” GR2 (SAJC) Giselle Anne ....... Arrowfield Stud Both In A Twinkling and Prise De Fer were purchased from the Still Single ................Vinery Stud LORD REIMS STKS GR3 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 2017, with Ellis Let it Pour .......... Turangga Farm Sylpheed ................Raheen Stud parting with NZ$250,000 for the former from the Curraghmore GUY WALTER STKS GR2 ELLERSLIE (NZ) draft, while he went to NZ$100,000 for the latter, who was offered by Eckstein ...................Vinery Stud Dyslexic ..............Newgate Farm SUNLINE VASE GR3 Trelawney Stud. Rubira ...................Attunga Stud In A Twinkling has won one of his nine starts and finished fourth in the LIVERPOOL CITY CUP GR3 Snippets Land ........Raheen Stud TURFFONTEIN (STH New Zealand 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) during his first preparation, Ever Loyal ...........Newgate Farm AFRICA) while Prise De Fer is a sole winner from five starts, and Ellis is confident You Make Me Smile.....Rapisarda HAWAII STKS GR2 the best is yet to come from both horses. FLEMINGTON (VRC) Infamous Fox ..........Glastonbury “In A Twinkling is a particularly good-doing gelding that needs a bit of Farms AUSTRALIAN GUINEAS GR1 racing to peak,” Ellis continued. The Inevitable .. Cornerstone Stud ACACIA HCP GR3 “He’s from a staying family – his mother won over 2600 metres – and Performer.......... Newhaven Park High Seas Beauty .......Segenhoe Stud Australia I think he’s a horse who will just keep improving. Adana ............... Arrowfield Stud Amphitrite .............Goldin Farms “The trip probably wouldn’t suit Prise De Fer on breeding, but the way Mystic Journey ..... Armidale Stud he has raced you think it would. “I think he’s going to be a really nice Cup horse next year. He’s got huge improvement in him.” When asked to compare this year’s contenders with his previous representatives, Ellis was balanced in his judgement. “I don’t think it’s a vintage field,” he said. “It’s always hard to judge from season to season. By going on and winning the Rosehill Guineas, Gingernuts confirmed he was a pretty good horse, but they’re certainly right up there with Mongolianconqueror.” A field of 21 runners has been assembled for this year’s New Zealand www.magicmillions.com.au Derby with the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Amano (Reliable Man) a late scratching. Continued on page 2>> | 2 | Brought to you by MALUKA THOROUGHBREDS Morning Briefing | sponsored by Westbury Stud | 4 | Saturday, March 2, 2019 takes her first opportunity against the boys in Karaka Million 3YO Classic (RL, 1600m) winner Australia three-year-old company tomorrow so that will Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock). Mystic Journey ready be interesting. We hope she's good enough. I for Guineas challenge think she is.” Hayes happy with trio Adam Trinder is confident Mystic Journey Senior trainer David Hayes has said he is confident (Needs Further) can hand him his first Group Strong Guineas team his three Guineas runners can put in strong 1 when the filly takes her chance in the for Lindsay Park performances in the Group 1 at Flemington this Australian Guineas at Flemington today. "It's Amphitrite (Sebring), another former Darren afternoon. "Amphitrite probably deserves to be really exciting," Trinder said. "Fortunately I Weir inmate, will also take her chance in the favourite with the barrier (five)," Hayes said. "But haven't really felt or received any pressure Australian Guineas at Flemington today. The I don't think the outside barrier for Hawkshot is a leading into it, so I'm just enjoying the ride. three-year-old filly, who is now trained by disadvantage because he's a horse who tends to “We bypassed the Group 1 in the spring Lindsay Park, will be looking to add a second over-race. Mark Zahra was keen that he drew out because as a spring filly I just felt it was a Group 1 to her CV having won the Thousand rather than in so he didn't have to push and hold his little bit early for her.