3 minute read

Spring Carnival News in brief - Tosen Stardom; Extreme Choice; Seaburge; Sir Isaac Newton; Rangipo; Don’t Doubt Mamma.

• JAPANESE import Tosen Stardom will not be seen again until next year due to a leg infection that requires surgery.

Trainer Darren Weir has had issues with Tosen Stardom since he was injured on a float trip to Sydney last month.

Weir planned to start Tosen Stardom in the George Main Stakes but the classy import cut his leg on the float during the trip to Sydney.

He had returned to work and was being set for the Toorak Handicap on October 8 before he picked up an infection. Weir is now hoping Tosen Stardom can return to work in time for an autumn campaign.

• OUTSTANDING three-year-old Extreme Choice will have his first look at the famous Flemington straight when he contests an 800m jump-out on Friday.

The star colt has had all his five starts to date at Caulfield, Rosehill and Moonee Valley, winning four times.

His wins include Caulfield’s G1 Blue Diamond Stakes and the G1 Moir Stakes at his latest start at Moonee Valley when he beat a crack field of older sprinters in his first 3YO start on September 30.

Extreme Choice reverts to his own age for his next start in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 29 with his Caulfield trainer Mick Price anxious to see how he adapts to the straight course.

"Extreme Choice will trial down the straight over 800 metres," Price said. "He has progressed well since his win at Moonee Valley and I am really happy with him."

• HONG Kong-based jockey Chad Schofield has been booked to ride the three-year-old Seaburge for the Lindsay Park stable in the G1 Longines Mile at Flemington on Saturday week.

Co-trainer David Hayes said Seaburge had been switched from a Victoria Derby preparation to target the shorter Longines Mile against older horses.

The Hayes stable won the Longines Mile, then run as the Emirates Stakes, with All American when he was a three-year-old in 2009.

Seaburge, narrowly beaten by Divine Prophet at his latest start in the G1 Caulfield Guineas, has been ridden exclusively by Mark Zahra in each of his eight career starts to date but requires a new rider due to the light weight he will carry in the Longines Mile.

• THE Aidan O’Brien-trained stayer Sir Isaac Newtown will stay in Australia and be trained for an autumn carnival campaign.

Part-owned by Lloyd Williams, Sir Isaac Newton has been spelled after finishing seventh in last Saturday’s Caulfield Cup at his first Australian start.

The son of Galileo, who brought a European record price when he was sold as a yearling, will be transferred to Williams’ private trainer Robert Hickmott.

• NEW Zealand Derby winner Rangipo will return home after an unsuccessful Australian campaign.

Rangipo has disappointed in Brisbane and Melbourne since he crossed the Tasman after landing the NZ Derby at Ellerslie in March.

Trainer Tony Pike took Rangipo to Brisbane in May but abandoned his winter campaign after he finished ninth in the G3 Fred Best Classic at Doomben.

He has raced twice in Melbourne recently without making an impression, finish 11th in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and 10th in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m).

Pike will keep him in work with the aim of starting him in next month's G2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m).

• THE Tony McEvoy-trained mare Don’t Doubt Mamma will bypass the G3 Tesio Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday and head straight to the G1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday week.

Trainer Tony McEvoy said the dual G2 winner, a last start winner of the G2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley, would not be suited by a seven day back up from the Tesio Stakes to the Myer Classic.

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