breednet.com.au

Import nominated for Flemington with ultimate gear change

Darryl Sherer - Monday July 31

One of the leading fancies for last year's Melbourne Cup has been nominated for races at Flemington on Saturday with a significant gear change.

Advertisement
Bondi Beach galloping at Werribee last year. Photo: Darryl Sherer

At 106, the Robert Hickmott-trained Bondi Beach is the highest-rated horse among the 272 current nominations for the meeting and is now a gelding.

The son of Galileo is one of five Robert Hickmott-trained runners including Sydney Cup winner Gallante and Herbert Power Stakes winner Amralah nominated for the 2000m and 1600m races.

Bondi Beach was one of four horses in the colours of Lloyd Williams in last year's Melbourne Cup when trained by Aidan O'Brien, finishing 13th as an entire behind Almandin as a $13 chance with Gallante finishing 20th.

Amralah was favourite for the 2015 Melbourne Cup following his three length defeat of Excess Knowledge in the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield however, was withdrawn on the eve of the race over fears a medication administered to the import which contained a prohibited substance had not cleared its system in time for the race.

A rising eight-year-old, Amralah has not raced since the win at Caulfield in October 2015, suffering a leg injury when being prepared for the 2016 autumn carnival.

Hickmott has also nominated Aloft and Our Century for the same 1600m and 2000m races on Saturday.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cork Wins Tauranga Classic
After hard-luck stories in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m) in both of the last two winters, Cork made amends in style on Saturday with a $22 upset in the fillies and mares’ feature.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 21
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tassie Derby Winner Strikes Form at Flemington
Four-year-old Bold Soul returned to winning ways at Flemington, where he again emphasised his depths of stamina, repelling the challenge of Goldenstatewarrior and Muktamil under apprentice jockey Thomas Prebble.
Peltzer 2YO Impressive at Flemington
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Peltzer has only had a handful of runners from his first crop so far, but he appears to have a winner that might be well above average in progressive gelding Buccleuch.
Promising Flemington Winner for El Roca
Progressive three-year-old Stop The Rock continued his climb through the grades when the Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained gelding ran out a solid winner of the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Headley Grange Gives Exosphere 11th Stakes Winner
A model of consistency with 17 top four placed finishes from 18 starts, Joe Pride’s 4yo Exosphere gelding Headley Grange stepped up to black type race for the first time with instant success, winning the $200,000 Listed ATC Civic Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Four in a Row for Kiwi Bred 3YO Taken
Three-year-old gelding Taken is proving quite the money spinner for connections, with a victory in Saturday’s Rod Johnson Handicap (1620m) at Flemington the fourth in succession for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper.
Second Time Lucky As Flash Ahh Wins Ipswich Cup
Having finished third in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) back in 2021, rising 10yo Lucas Cranach (GER) gelding Flash Aah was back for another attempt on Saturday, winning the staying feature as part of the Troy Pascoe yard.
Godolphin’s Kin Wins Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic
After recording her first black type victory during last year’s spring carnival, the James Cummings trained Kin has produced three quality black type efforts during the Queensland carnival, resulting in a thoroughly deserving victory in Saturday's $160,000 Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) at Ipswich.
Second Stakes Success For More Than Ready’s Oughton
The well-travelled Oughton (More Than Ready) added Saturday’s $200,000 Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) to his previous success in the Listed Tattersall's Recognition Stakes, off the back of a tendon injury which put an end to his stint in Hong Kong.