Zoustar looks to have have run his last race in Australia after being scratched from the T.J. Smith Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. Widden Stud boss Antony Thompson said Sydney's wet weather had conspired against the $18 million Northern Meteor colt, which won the Golden Rose and the Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring. "The Royal Sovereign [Stakes] is there next week but if it is wet there is no real need to go there," Thompson said on Saturday. "We will sit down with [trainer] Chris [Waller] on Monday, and he is already looking at a program for England. We want to get over there and give him a run to get ready for Royal Ascot and the July Cup." The only Australian raider to have a run before Royal Ascot in the past was Starspangledbanner, which ran fifth in the Duke Of York Stakes, a group 2 at York in the second week of May. Waller will have to consider quarantine requirements to see if that race may be a bit early for Zoustar.
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WILLIAMS MAKES AMENDS
Craig Williams wanted the ride back on Politeness so badly it was the first thing he said when he came after being runner-up on Anatina in The Galaxy two weeks ago. “Maybe that will get me the ride on Politeness,” he quipped at owner Phil Sly and trainer Robert Smerdon that day. “He had the ride straight after that but Robert wanted to make him sweat,” Sly said after Politeness came from last to win the P.J. Bell Stakes. Williams lived up to his side of the bargain with a cold ride on the filly, which could head to the group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide in a fortnight or come back to Randwick for the Carr Stakes on the same day. Smerdon recalled a late-night call from Williams on Galaxy day. “I had banned him after the Manifold [Stakes] because he rode her against my instructions. I wasn’t going to be dumb and dumber but I got home from Sydney after The Galaxy and was watching the football at 9.55 and it was him about this race,” Smerdon said. “He got it right and rode her right today.”
TEAM CUMMINGS' COLT IMPRESSES
It seemed apt that a partnership of the old and new in Bart and James Cummings provided the first winner on the opening day of The Championships. Hallowed Crown was the first winner on the traditional Derby day program, which has been given a new lease of life. He got through the heavy going best to win the Kindergarten Stakes and will head to the Claret Stakes at Hawkesbury next month. “That has been a good horses’ race and will think he is up to better races,” James Cummings said. “We aimed at this race and even though he looks like a horse that will keep getting better over further, quality goes a long way. He was able to show a good amount of bottom today and got through the going and more importantly just wanted to attack the line.”
REQUEST GRANTED
Glyn Schofield asked that a $300 fine he copped for not making the weight for his first ride of the day be donated to the newly established Nathan Berry Fund in memory of his late son-in-law. Schofield partnered Boban in an early morning track gallop at Rosehill on Saturday, but couldn't reach the 54 kilograms to ride Casino Dancer in the Carbine Club Stakes. His son Chad took the reins and chased home Gypsy Diamond on Casino Dancer in the group 3 event. Stewards sanctioned Schofield before he asked that the money be used to help fund research into Norse syndrome, the rare condition that claimed Berry. "I'm sure [Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys] wouldn't mind donating the money to the fund," chief steward Ray Murrihy said. Schofield said he had no concerns about Boban's condition before the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes after trainer Chris Waller held him out of the Doncaster Mile because of the heavy track. "We just need a bit of sunshine," Schofield said. "Chris is training him, so there's no worries for me. He's in the right hands, so why should I be worrying? If he's happy, I'm happy."
O'SHEA HAPPY WITH BIG WET
It might be the last thing The Championships need, but John O'Shea won't mind one iota if it rains all week again in Sydney. Despite missing a start in the Doncaster Mile, a race O'Shea thought his filly could be competitive in, Gypsy Diamond will have her shot at a group 1 in the Queen Of The Turf. The filly will get significant weight relief from Chris Waller's star mares Red Tracer and Catkins. "I think she goes much better at Randwick and she drops back to weight-for-age," O'Shea said after his filly powered to victory in the Carbine Club Stakes. "She's carried above weight-for-age today and that will give her confidence. If we get ground like this next week it won't be a problem. She's a talented filly and I thought she would have acquitted herself very well in the Doncaster.”
