What's On Stakes Races: Ascot (WA) - Ted Van Heemst Stakes (registered as C B Cox Stakes) (Listed, 2100m). Awapuni (NZ) - Saturday 23 December 2017 @anz_news Manawatu Challenge Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m), Manawatu Cup (Gr 3, 2100m) Metropolitan meetings: Warwick Farm (NSW), Moonee Valley (VIC), Ascot (WA) Race meetings: Bathurst (NSW), Newcastle (NSW), Kyneton (VIC), Gold Coast (QLD), Mackay (QLD), Toowoomba (QLD), Gawler (SA), Awapuni (NZ), Te Rapa (NZ) International meetings: Sha Tin (HK) up to 2100 metres for the first time in today’s Pounamu WESTERN RACEPIX $400,000 Group Two following that strong- finishing effort. The son of Authorized (Montjeu) will face POUNAMU AIMING just seven rivals this afternoon, including the rapidly progressive, multiple stakes winner Trap For Fools (Poet’s Voice), who is set to back FOR LUCRATIVE up today having made all in the A.T.A. Stakes (Listed, 2200m) on Wednesday. ASCOT DOUBLE The presence of the Lindsey Smith-trained Group One winner up in trip front-runner Trap For Fools is a relief to Muchea- based Mathews, with Pounamu performing so for Ted Van Heemst test effectively off a strong pace at his last start. “The small field is a concern and whether By Jack Keene trained Pounamu (Authorized) will bid to land he stays is something you don’t know, but he a lucrative, big-race double in the Ted Van is bred to be a stayer, being by Authorized,” aving claimed some notable Heemst Stakes (Gr 2, 2100m) at Ascot today. Mathews told ANZ Bloodstock News. scalps in the Kingston Town The six-year-old came from off the pace to “The horse that raced on Wednesday (Trap Classic (Gr 1, 1800m) at his register a decisive victory in the Kingston Town For Fools) is a natural front-runner so there should Hlast start, the Alan Mathews- Classic on 9 December, and he is stepped be an honest tempo.” Continued on page 2>> ENTRIES CLOSE Sale Opens January 24 JANUARY 26 January Online Sale ENTER NOW Featuring broodmares, yearlings and racing stock. inglisdigital.com | 1 | Pounamu aiming for lucrative Ascot double | 2 | Saturday 23 December 2017 << Continued from page 1 Pounamu has had just three starts at “He has promised this a few times and progressed, but when you turn 2000 metres in his career, most recently finishing third in the Strickland the screws on him and really ask the question, he runs the same sort of Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m) in July, and he is yet to race beyond that distance race. in 37 career outings. “Whether his best is behind him, we are going to find out.” While the step up in trip poses something of a concern for Mathews, Durrant also saddles two runners in the earlier on the card in the he could not be happier with the gelding’s progress since his run in the Starstruck Classic (Listed, 1600m), with the in-form mares Celebrity Kingston Town Classic a fortnight ago. Dream (Thorn Park) and First Affair (Saxon) due to race from barriers “We are very happy with him. He galloped last Saturday morning and four and seven respectively in the eight-runner race. the jockey and I thought he had improved a little bit, if that’s possible,” Celebrity Dream took out the Jungle Dawn Classic (Listed, 1400m) at Mathews said. her last start, but her trainer harbours concerns over the step-up to 1600 “We haven’t had any problems in his prep and I’m happy with where metres today. we are at. The jockey rode him well (in the Kingston Town Classic), he “She has got to run the trip out strong, her last start wasn’t a true settled well and the horse seems to be realising the potential we always representation of a 1400 metre race, it was very steadily run and was thought he had.” basically run like a 1200,” he said. Among Pounamu’s rivals is the Adam Durrant-trained Zarantz “It was probably more suitable to her than any horse in the race so she (Choisir), with the Listed-winning seven-year-old bidding to leave his last has got to get the mile. I am confident that she will, and I think she has got start fifth in the Towton Cup (Listed, 2200m) behind him. a little bit of a class edge on most of her rivals.” The gelding was transferred to Karnup-based Durrant from Grant and In contrast, Durrant expects First Affair to be hitting the line strongly Alana Williams earlier this preparation, and the trainer has been pleased and is already eyeing a tilt at the La Trice Classic (Gr 3, 1800m) at Ascot with the gelding in the lead up to the Ted Van Heemst Stakes. on New Year’s Day with the five-year-old mare. “His runs have been really good, I have been pleased with him in his “She is in great form and it was a really good win last start,” Durrant two runs for us,” Durrant told TAB Radio. said. “He has continued to come on and he has put on some condition and “I can see her finishing the race off very hard and hopefully pick up a he looks really well in himself. bit of black type before we go to the 1800 on New Year’s Day.” AS A NEW ERA BEGINS GROUP 1 SUCCESS CONTINUES. HISTORIC FIRST SALE AT RIVERSIDE STABLES RECORD CATALOGUE OF 800 YEARLINGS Classic Yearling Sale 10 - 13 February 2018 Riverside Stables, Sydney CATALOGUE NOW AVAILABLE inglis.com.au | 2 | Morning Briefing | sponsored by Westbury Stud | 3 | Saturday 23 December 2017 morning brief a yearling today, a champion tomorrow @anz_news the Valley for him as there can be a little bit of agreed to ride her and it will be interesting to Australia give in it." get his opinion after the race." Kent confident Oncidium Ruler can return to form Yamazaki chasing Bargain buy Holdin' My The Michael Kent-trained Oncidium Ruler MM riches Own eyes MM start (Strategic) will look to improve on two recent The unraced Yamazaki (Real Saga) will make Holdin’ My Own (Spirit Of Boom) will also seek a placings in country cups when he lines up her debut in the Magic Million QTIS Two-Year- starting berth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in the Bertocchi Christmas Masterpiece Old Handicap (900m) at the Gold Coast today when she takes her chance in the first heat of the Handicap (2500m) at Moonee Valley today. in an attempt to make the Magic Millions 2YO QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap (900m) at the Gold The gelding landed a 2000 metre race at the Classic (RL, 1200m) field at the same track on Coast today. The filly was purchased by her trainer Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) carnival then 13 January. Yamazaki was impressive when Les Ross for $20,000 at the Magic Millions Gold subsequently ran in the Ballarat Cup (Listed, winning a trial at Doomben on 12 December Coast Yearling Sale in March from the Eureka Stud 2200m) and the Pakenham Cup (Listed, and ran a fast time for the morning. "It was a draft and already has shown a affiliation with the Gold 2500m) where he finished second and third nice trial but as they say races are something Coast, winning her last start at the track. "She will respectively. "We felt we didn't win the race totally different. At least she will get a look at have to run first or second on Saturday or we are in a we wanted to win so we're going to give this a the Gold Coast track with the Magic Millions bit of trouble," Ross said. "But she did a good job last go," Kent said. "It's a $120,000 race and I like in mind," Anderson said. "Brad Stewart has time and she has race experience at the Gold Coast." CLASSIC GOLDEN SLIPPER QUINELLA HISTORIC FIRST SALE AT RIVERSIDE STABLES RECORD CATALOGUE OF 800 YEARLINGS Classic Yearling Sale 10 - 13 February 2018 Riverside Stables, Sydney CATALOGUE NOW AVAILABLE inglis.com.au She Will Reign, Frolic @anz_news | 3 | anzbloodstocknews.com Morning Briefing | sponsored by Westbury Stud | 4 | Saturday 23 December 2017 Amanaat eyes sixth to race. Waller has introduced treadmill for horses with issues as they don't have to straight win sessions into the gelding’s training regime work fast but get the same benefit from it. He's Amanaat (Per Incanto) will chase a sixth straight and also changed his diet in the hope that it in really good order. He's probably sounder now win when he takes his chance in a Benchmark will reinvigorate his career. The five-year-old than before he did his most recent knee chips 90 (1200m) at the Gold Coast today. Amanaat has another opportunity to end his losing so the operation has obviously been a success.” has had only six starts for trainer Ben Currie streak in Saturday's December Handicap since being bought cheaply in Victoria, winning (1400m) at Warwick Farm, but Waller is Williams hopes five and finishing an unlucky second in the hopeful rather than confident. "He's certainly Demonstrate can other. "Things didn't go right at his first start for the class horse of the race, but he's not the recapture form us at the Sunshine Coast. He really should be form horse," Waller said. "He's trained off and Trainer Jason Williams is hoping new acquisition six from six for us," Currie said. "Even with the lost interest." Demonstrate (New Approach) can snap a three kilogram claim last start at Doomben he losing streak that stretches back to November had 58 kilograms.