Awesome Rock wins 1:24
Horse Racing: Highlights from Flemmington.
Champion broodmare Circles Of Gold dies aged 25
ONE of Australia’s greatest broodmares Circles Of Gold has died at Segenhoe Stud at the age of 25.
As a racehorse Circles Of Gold was top class, winning the ATC Oaks and finishing second in a Caulfield Cup but it was as a broodmare that she proved to be in a class of her own.
Her best horses were the multiple Group 1 winners Elvstroem and Haradasun, who both also won on the international stage.
Circles Of Gold is also the granddam of star international galloper Highland Reel, who won the Breeders Cup Turf last Sunday, and also Idaho, who was placed in the English and Irish Derbies.
Mahuta injury
DARREN Weir revealed on Wednesday that Mahuta’s disappointing spring could be attributed to a stress fracture in the pelvis. Weir, speaking on RSN, said they had found a hot spot in the pelvis area, after Mahuta had an MRI scan.
Weir also said he wouldn’t try Palentino again over 2000m after he failed in the Emirates Stakes. He said he had tried him over 2000m twice and it hadn’t worked.
Express delivery
TWO stalwarts of the Victorian racing scene, Tom Hughes Jnr and Darren Gauci, combined to win at Bendigo on Wednesday with Atlanta Express. Hughes, who is still at Flemington, said he only had six horses in work but was looking for more.
Sad news from Bendigo, when Kylie Vella’s promising sprinter Zurprising was euthanased after he broke down in the straight in the final race when he looked certain to win.
Walker’s warning
MICHAEL Walker has advised punters to forgive the failure of Kiwi star Kawi, who finished fourth in the Lee Steere Stakes at Ascot last Saturday.
Walker said Kawi had melted in the heat but he was confident he’ll bounce back and be a major factor in the Railway Stakes on Saturday week at Ascot.
Secret mission
MORNINGTON trainer Sam Pritchard-Gordon has decided to tackle the Sandown Guineas instead of the Twilight Glow Stakes with his filly Soviet Secret.
Pritchard-Gordon said the Sandown Guineas wasn’t a strong race and Soviet Secret’s work at Mornington last Monday also persuaded him to go down this path.
He also believes she will be better suited over 1600m than 1400m.