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Western Australia s COVID-19 scare has potentially thrown the autumn campaigns of All-Star Mile contenders Arcadia Queen and Regal Power into disarray, with both gallopers unable to trial as planned at Belmont on Monday.
The discovery a security guard had returned a positive COVID-19 test resulted in protocols being put into place in Perth on Sunday, forcing Monday s trials to be cancelled along with the closure of Perth s public training tracks.
Owner Bob Peters said on Monday the cancelled trial could impact on the autumn preparations of Arcadia Queen and Regal Power, especially as the training tracks were also closed as a response to the COVID-19 positive.
Blue Diamond question for dominant Sandown winner Artorius
Blue Diamond question for dominant Sandown winner Artorius by Brad Waters Artorius was far too good for his rivals Image: Getty
Artorius firmed in Blue Diamond betting after his brilliant Sandown win but the promising youngster is far from certain of tackling next month s $1.5 million event.
Artorius firmed from $51 to $15 in the Blue Diamond market after cruising to a 4½ length win in the Ladbrokes Switch Handicap (1300m) at only his second start.
Co-trainer Sam Freedman and jockey Mark Zahra agreed Artorius might be better suited to races over 1400m and further rather than the 1200m of the Blue Diamond.
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Trainer Lindsey Smith is hoping that his in-form galloper Riding The Wave can round out his summer campaign with a win in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m).
Smith believes Riding The Wave will be suited by the step-up to 1400m at Flemington on Saturday.
The former Kiwi has had four starts for Smith for an Australian debut fourth for him at Bendigo which was followed by a victory at Ballarat.
Riding The Wave has then had two starts at Flemington over 1200m for a second and then a narrow win at Flemington last start in a Benchmark 78 over 1200m.
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With a choice Kiwi pedigree, she is something of a product of the past, but Tralee Rose stamped herself a stayer of the future following her seven-length blitz in Saturday’s Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington.
By Tavistock out of Zabeel mare Star Of Tralee, the four-year-old mare is to be set upon an autumn path that will earn her credits towards next spring’s Melbourne Cup with races such as the Adelaide Cup and Andrew Ramsden in her sights in the first half of 2021.
Then, well as trainer Symon Wilde said, Who knows? I’d be going to the Ramsden because clearly she’s better than an off-season staying horse and I’d be delighted if we could get her in (Melbourne Cup) because I know the graph is going up with her and by next spring she should be nearly at her peak, Wilde said.
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Enver Jusufovic is trying something different with stable favourite Neighbourhood as both trainer and horse chase a maiden Stakes win in Friday’s Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
The Group 3 feature only recently came onto the radar for the talented five-year-old, who was set to be aimed at black-type mares races during Tasmania’s Summer Carnival.
But so slick was her piece of work earlier in the week that Jusufovic decided give Neighbourhood her chance in what, on Wednesday, turned out to be a race of only seven rivals.
The daughter of Street Boss has been freshened since gallant performances in the Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes (1200m) and the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m), with Jusufovic cautiously optimistic she can produce another of her trademark first-up runs on Friday.