August, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

New Anglo-Australian Partnership For Rodrigo Diaz

British-based Quantum Leap Racing has teamed up with Australian Bloodstock in the 4-year-old Rodrigo Diaz (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) with the aim of sending the 96-rated stayer to the Melbourne Cup.

The winner of four of his 10 starts for David Simcock, Rodrigo Diaz was a 55,000gns Tattersalls December Yearling Sale purchase by Jeremy Brummitt, an agent with a good track record in buying European yearlings for the Australian market. The gelding will now race in a 50-50 partnership between the two syndicates.

Quantum Leap Racing, which was established by Eamonn O'Connor with Brummitt as bloodstock consultant, has horses in training in the UK, France and Australia, and focuses particularly on buying yearlings with middle-distance and staying pedigrees. The syndicate has already enjoyed success in Australia this year with another Tattersalls yearling purchase, Wyclif (GB) (Archipenko), winner of the listed Port Adelaide Cup in May.

Australian Bloodstock also has a dual Australian and European focus and enjoyed Melbourne Cup glory in 2014 with the European-bred Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). The syndicate has also won the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis in Munich with the David Menuisier-trained Danceteria (Fr) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}).

Unlike Wyclif, who is now trained at Flemington by Danny O'Brien, Rodrigo Diaz will not have a one-way ticket to Australia. He will be campaigned in Melbourne later this year before returning to the UK.

Quantum Leap Racing's Eamonn O'Connor said, “At a time when there is increasing concern about British racing becoming a nursery for the rest of the world, we are pleased to announce this innovative deal, allowing our syndicate to retain a 50% share of Rodrigo Diaz. The intention is to go to Melbourne, where the Racing Carnival is among the best in the world, before returning to the UK to target northern hemisphere Cup races in 2022. We hope Rodrigo Diaz can provide plenty of thrills for both our current syndicate owners and our new partners in both hemispheres.”

He continued, “We are delighted to have done this deal with Australian Bloodstock. Jamie Lovett and Luke Murrell clearly share our enthusiasm for the horse and, having considerable experience in travelling European horses to Australia, his team's experience will be invaluable. This is especially so in a year where many Europeans have decided that the hurdles in getting to the Cup are insurmountable.”

Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock added, “We have long held a good opinion of Rodrigo Diaz and we feel he is the ideal type for the Lexus Melbourne Cup. We have a very high regard for his trainer David Simcock and his regular rider Jamie Spencer.

“The idea of racing in partnership with a progressive syndicate like Quantum Leap Racing who have a similar passion to race horses on the international stage really appealed to us.”

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Last Chance To Bid In Cancer Charity Auction

Covid has put a stop to the Hurling for Cancer charity hurling match organised by Jim Bolger and Davy Russell for the second year, so instead they are hosting an online auction to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society. The auction closes on Tuesday, Aug. 10 at 9 p.m. on what would have been the match day.

Featuring on the list of auction items are yard visits with many of Ireland's leading trainers, including Johnny Murtagh, Tracey Collins, Ger Lyons, Henry de Bromhead and Conor O'Dwyer. The auction also offers chances to bid on a VIP trip to Longines Irish Champions Weekend, luxury overnight stays at Lyrath Estate Hotel and Mount Juliet, a coursewalk with Davy Russell, and a boat trip on the Shannon with the inimitable Ronnie O'Leary.

The full list of auction items can be viewed at www.galabid.com/hurlingforcancer.

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Zoffarelli Wins La Jolla Handicap Via Disqualification In U.S. Debut

Red Baron's Barn or Rancho Temescal's Zoffarelli, in from England just a week earlier and unable to even get a work in over the Del Mar track, didn't let that stop him as he ran well and survived a bumping match through the stretch to be declared the winner of the $150,500 La Jolla Handicap Sunday at the seaside track north of San Diego, Calif.

The bay gelding by Zoffany actually was second across the wire just a nose behind Yuesheng Zhang's Sword Zorro and just a head in front of Double L. Racing or Baffert's Hudson Ridge in a furious finish. But the track's stewards reviewed film of the contentious stretch run where all three horses went through a series of bumps and came to the conclusion that Sword Zorro should be disqualified and placed third and the other two horses each moved up one placing.

The winning time on the 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.27.

Drayden Van Dyke rode the winner for trainer Jeff Mullins. The owners are the father and son team of Jed and Tim Cohen.

Zoffarelli returned $17.80, $6.00 and $3.80 across the board. Hudson Ridge paid $3.40 and $2.40, while Sword Zorro returned $3.60 to show.

Zoffarelli, who last raced June 30 at Bath in England, earned $90,000 for his victory moving his bankroll up to $110,325. He had won a race and was second five times in seven starts in England as a 2- and 3-year-old.

The track's Pick 6 Single Ticket Jackpot Wager proved too elusive for the 12th straight racing day meaning there will be a whopping carryover of $1,127,460 going into the return of racing Thursday. First post for the eight-race card will be 2 p.m.

Post-race quotes:

DRAYDEN VAN DYKE (Zoffarelli, winner) – “If I don't get banged that last time, I'm going to go on by and win it on my own. But he (Sword Zorro) kept constantly drifting out and out. It was the right call. I knew this horse was going to run big today. I did my homework. I was over at the barn with Jeff (trainer Mullins) the other morning watching this horse's races in England. The owners (Red Baron's Barn or Rancho Temescal) know what they're doing when they go over to Europe and buy one. They got another good one here.”

JEFF MULLINS, (Zoffarelli, winner) – “I've only had him for eight days. No works. They worked him before he came and we just kept him happy. I wasn't that confident (during the inquiry). I've been on the wrong side of them a lot before. It (elevation to first) looked legitimate, but you never know. (Any similar off-the-plane stakes wins?) River Boyne (2018 La Jolla Handicap).”

FRACTIONS: :23.38 :47.16 1:11.55 1:36.20 1:4227

The stakes win was the first of the meeting for rider Van Dyke and his first in the La Jolla Handicap. He now has 34 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was the first of the meeting for trainer Mullins but his second in the La Jolla Handicap (River Boyne, 2018). He now has 21 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The winning owners are Red Baron's Barn (Jed Cohen of Encino, Calif.) and Rancho Temecal (Tim Cohen of Piru, Calif.).

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Russell Brings Wondrwherecraigis To Saratoga In Search Of First Stakes Win

Four-time winner Wondrwherecraigis will attempt to secure his first career stakes score in Friday's eighth running of the $120,000 Tale of the Cat at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Trained by Brittany Russell, Wondrwherecraigis enters the six-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up who have not won a graded race in 2021 from a 5 3/4-length optional claiming score on July 18 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

The 4-year-old dark bay or brown son of Munnings, who garnered a 102 Beyer Speed Figure in his most recent effort, returns to stakes company on the NYRA circuit after being disqualified from second to third in the Gold Fever in July 2020 at Belmont Park ahead of finishing fourth behind three next-out winners in the Grade 2 Amsterdam last August at Saratoga.

Wondrwherecraigis is owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables.

“It was a big race. He's doing really well,” said Russell. “We figured we would take a look. It looks like the race will set up for him, so we're shipping him up and giving him a chance.”

Jockey Sheldon Russell will ride from post 5.

Trainer Ray Handal will saddle last-out stakes winner Foolish Ghost, who defeated his New York-bred counterparts in the John Morrissey on July 29. The son of Mineshaft was claimed by Handal and owner Ken Russell and Richard Newman Racing last August and has since won four times for his current trainer.

“He's doing well,” Handal said. “There aren't too many sprints for him in the northeast area. On his best day, he can run with some of the good ones, so we'll see.”

Jockey Joel Rosario retains the mount from post 6.

Daniel Alonso's Wind of Change arrives at the Tale of the Cat off a sharp win in the Mr. Prospector on May 29 at Monmouth Park for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. The Brazilian-bred Forestry bay seeks his sixth stakes victory, which include four triumphs at such level in his native land.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride from post 4.

My Boy Tate will seek a sixth stakes victory for Little Red Feather Racing and trainer, breeder, and co-owner Michelle Nevin. The 7-year-old son of Boys At Tosconova was second in the 2018 and 2020 Tale of the Cat.

Breaking from post 1, My Boy Tate will be ridden by Manny Franco.

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Multiple stakes-winner Bon Raison [post 3, Jorge Vargas, Jr.] seeks a non-consecutive win in the Tale of the Cat, previously scoring in 2019. Trained by Jack Sisterson, Bon Raison brags the highest bankroll in the field with $685,874.

Completing the field is David Bernsen's Shashashakemeup [post 2, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], a four-time winner for trainer Peter Walder.

The Tale of the Cat is carded as Race 9 on Friday's 10-race program at Saratoga Race Course. First post is 1:05 p.m. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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