Racing
No penalty for Hyeronimus over Chelmsford ride
A look at some of the other angles from the Theo Marks Stakes program at Rosehill.
Hyeronimus cleared over Vauban ride
Adam Hyeronimus has been cleared over his ride on Vauban in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick after Racing NSW stewards found there was insufficient evidence to justify any charge.
The jockey had been questioned about his decision making in the middle stages when Tim Clark on stablemate Sir Delius was able to slot into the one-out, one-back position behind Robusto.
Stewards also took evidence from Clark and the horses' co-trainer Adrian Bott, along with examining betting activity on the race which revealed no integrity concerns.
Chief stipe Tom Moxon told Hyeronimus at Rosehill on Saturday that he had no case to answer as given the manner in which Vauban closed off his race they couldn't be satisfied the horse would have finished better than his third placing.
Moxon also stated that while they felt Sir Delius was advantaged by being able to slot into a trailing position behind Robusto, there was no evidence to indicate Hyeronimus had acted deliberately.
However, Hyeronimus was reminded to be aware of how rides had "the potential to be perceived as providing advantage to another horse", adding that while stewards never suggested there was any 'team riding 'involved, some people viewing the race could have arrived at that opinion.
"Looking at the race you could easily form the view that there was team riding," Moxon said.
"As a former steward always said, 'it doesn't just have to be right, it has to look right'."
Northam invites 'Kosi' interest in Nova
Scone trainer Rod Northam was adamant Saturday's Highway Handicap winner Nova Centauri wouldn't be out of place in the $2 million The Kosciuszko and would happily redirect her there if offered the final slot.
While Northam has one eye on next year's Country Championships with the mare, he believes Nova Centauri is more than capable of featuring at the business end of a Kosciuszko (1200m).
"I think she could be a Country Championships horse next year," Northam said.
"But if someone rang me for The Kosciuszko, I would definitely run her.
"She's in good form, has never run a bad race. She would put her hand up and give it a shake."
Saturday's Highway Handicap (1400m) gave Nova Centauri her third win from seven starts and Northam said an inside draw aided her cause, allowing her to settle handier to the speed.
"We have had to ride her a bit quiet her last two starts but from her good barrier today I was confident she would be up a bit closer," he said.
Nova Centauri ($5.50) scored by three-quarters of a length over Show Ém Howl ($6.50) with leader Pony Soprano ($6.50) holding third another short head away.
Juja Kibo bounces back to best
Ciaron Maher will consider the Group 1 Metropolitan as a possible goal for emerging stayer Juja Kibo after he made it three wins from his past four starts in the Petaluma Handicap (2400m) at Rosehill.
The only blot to the five-year-old's copybook came at Randwick two starts ago when he got too far out of his ground on a heavy 10 track and finished midfield, however, able to settle much closer to the speed on Saturday the $2.90 favourite proved a class above his rivals.
While Juja Kibo kicked off his current campaign in May, his runs have been spaced and Maher believes the import is only just starting to hit his straps.
"He has just started to blossom. His coat has just come out between his last run and this run," Maher said.
"It was a good win today. He had a decent weight and was quite dominant.
"Whether the 'Metrop' comes too quickly, or something like that, down in the weights but we will see where his rating gets to."
The Metropolitan (2400m) is at Randwick in three weeks.
Eagle an option for back-in-form Manaal
Michael Freedman's unwavering belief in Manaal has been rewarded at Rosehill with the mare finding her best form to break a 12-month winning drought in the Sheraco Stakes (1200m).
A Group 1-winning two-year-old, Manaal's last victory had been in the Furious Stakes (1200m) in September 2024, but Freedman said she had been cruelled by wide draws during the autumn then didn't relish Caulfield when midfield in the Cockram Stakes first-up.
"Last preparation she just had wretched luck with barriers. She drew off the track I don't know how many times and she was running well without much luck," Freedman said.
"When we skipped the race on the heavy track the other day at Randwick and went down to Caulfield, she didn't really like Caulfield that much. (Jockey) Damian Lane rang me later that night and said, 'I wouldn't be too hard on her'.
"I was always a little bit concerned carrying the 58 (kilos) against a couple of good mares today but she is a terrific mare."
Freedman said there were a plethora of options for Manaal during the spring including The Invitation (1400m) and the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m).
"We just pick our way a little bit from here and see but I'm really heartened by the fact I can see she is back in really good form," he said.
Quote of the Day: "I got her mobile and probably hit the front early enough but she's a star in the making, which we already know." – Jockey Kerrin McEvoy after winning the Theo Marks Stakes on Autumn Glow.
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