Melbourne Cup-bound Ivanhowe makes Australian debut

DUAL Group 1 winner Ivanhowe is ready to make its Australian debut under the name “Our Ivanhowe”.

The Melbourne Cup-bound German import has been nominated for the $150,000 Group 3 RA Lee Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday.

Co-trainer Lee Freedman, who trains in partnership with his brother Anthony, has used a patient approach towards the five-year-old, but he is happy with the import’s progress.

“He took a little while to acclimatise when he first got here, but we just took him quietly and left him alone,” Freedman said.

“In the past few weeks he has thrived and I’m pretty happy with where he is at .”

Our Ivanhowe finished third in a barrier trial at Cranbourne, beaten less than a length behind Tallat on April 27.

The son of Soldier Hollow last ran in November, where it finished sixth of 18 runners in the Group 1 Cup, and has subsequently been given top weight (60kg) in its Australian debut.

“Damien [Oliver] has ridden him in both his trials and is very keen to stay with him,” Freedman said.

“With an eye to the spring he is the sort of horse that can be competitive in better races, so it will be important for him to get a feel of him under race conditions.”

Rain is forecast for Adelaide this Saturday, but that shouldn’t worry the five-win entire.

“He has won three times on tracks rated good and hasn’t missed a place in his three races on soft so I’m not too worried if there is any rain,” he added.

Our Ivanhowe is currently the $2.60 favourite at Sportsbet.com.au, but will carry 3.5kg more than Gris Caro ($17).

Trust In A Gust on verge of retirement

Multiple Group 1 winner Trust In A Gust will miss the and its racing future is yet to be decided.

The -trained runner won the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Group 1 Toorak Handicap which made it a stallion prospect with Swettenham Stud, buying the four-year-old to stand in the 2015 season.

Weir had planned to race Trust In A Gust in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and then the , but it suffered leg lacerations when boarding a flight to Brisbane for last Saturday’s BTC Cup.

Swettenham Stud boss Adam Sangster said that connections have shelved Brisbane carnival plans for Trust In A Gust, but had not officially retired the son of Keep The Faith.

“In the best interests of the horse we will not be continuing with this campaign,” Sangster said.

It has been withdrawn from all Brisbane carnival markets, but CrownBet are still offering $34 for Trust In A Gust to win the 2015 Cox Plate in October.

Champion jockey secures ride for Brisbane Group 1’s

Champion Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton has secured the ride aboard Sacred Star in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and the Stradbroke Handicap.

Purton has been engaged to ride the New Zealand galloper, for trainer Tony Pike, despite its minor set back in last week’s BTC Cup.

The Group 1 winner was found to have a stone bruise which forced its scratching from the race which was eventually won by Hot Snitzel.

Pike said that Sacred Star was capable of overcoming the issue without it causing major interference in the lead-up to the $650,000 Doomben 10,000 on Saturday week.

“We’ve been working on his feet all weekend and they are pretty much 95 percent right now,” Pike said.

Sacred Star will be forced to race in the Group 1 feature where Sportsbet.com.au have installed it as a $13 chance.

“He was a fit, forward horse when he came over so he won’t lose much fitness and he always goes well fresh,” Pike said.

“Hopefully he will be ready to gallop by Thursday or Friday and then he will have a good hit out at Doomben next Tuesday and run in the 10,000.”

Purton has an affiliation with Sacred Star’s owners after winning the 2014 and George Main Stakes aboard the now retired Sacred Falls.

Smerdon pair warming up for Group 1 attack

A soft trial was given to both Shamal Wind and Under The Louvre in preparation for their upcoming Group 1 tasks for trainer Robert Smerdon.

Shamal Wind finished seventh under a hold in the trial at Cranbourne and looks set for its overseas campaign to Royal Ascot in June.

The winner will travel to England for the King Stand Stakes over 1000 metres at Royal Ascot on June 16 and Smerdon was pleased with its effort.

“She was here for a day out,” Smerdon said. “I didn’t want her fully extended.

“I’m pretty happy with where she’s at. The track is testing but to do what she did was pleasing, we didn’t want to overdo things.

“She’ll have another trial before she goes to the UK.”

The lightly-framed mare will leave Australia in June 2 and will join the Newmarket Stables on June 4.

“The idea is to have her fit and ready to go when she gets on the plane,” Smerdon said.

“She’s got a great constitution and she makes my job easier, she’s pretty bombproof.”

The Kings Stand Stakes will be Shamal Wind’s last before mating to a stallion in England before returning to Australia.

Punters can bet on its final race with WilliamHill.com.au, where it is paying $7 to win, third in the betting behind top Irish sprinter Sole Power ($5) and fellow Australian top liner at $6.

Stablemate Under The Louvre is our pick to pick up a Group 1 win this winter and it kicks off in Saturday’s Group 1 Goodwood Handicap at Morphettville.

“He was just having a blowout, we didn’t want to be too tough on him this close to a race,” Smerdon said.

“The Goodwood will be a month between runs and he performs well off that.”

Under The Louvre’s regular rider Nicholas Hall is sidelined by a wrist injury so Mark Zahra will take over the riding duties.

“He’s only had one ride on him and won the Hareeba at Mornington so he knows the horse.”

Hucklebuck is the current favourite for the Goodwood this Saturday, but has eased in the market after opening at $4.60.

The Phillip Stokes-trained runner now sits at $5 and support has come for both Black Heart Bart ($5 into $4.40) and Under The Louvre at $9 with Sportsbet.com.au.

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