Innes to ride Karaka Million favourite

Karaka Million favourite Wolverine has a new rider with Leith Innes to replace the injured Danielle Johnson on the daughter of Tivaci in the million-dollar feature at Ellerslie on January 22. 

Prepared by Roydon Bergerson, Wolverine is undefeated in three starts including a promoted victory in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day after being impeded by first-past-the-post Pacific Dragon. 

Johnson rode the filly to success in both the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa and the Eclipse Stakes, but sustained a broken leg when falling from Gold Watch later on the Ellerslie card. 

Bergerson said both Leith Innes and Lisa Allpress, who rode the filly to win on debut, had been in consideration for the ride, with the former getting the nod to ride Wolverine, who is partially owned by Australian Bloodstock who bought into the filly after her maiden success.  

“It was a good effort last weekend,” Bergerson said. “She was taken out a fair way (by the runner up) and probably about five strides from the post she was pushed off her leading leg and onto the wrong one. She lost all the momentum and Danielle thought she still had a lot to offer. 

“The filly has been down at Chris Rutten’s farm (part-owner) for the last three days. She arrives back in the stables this afternoon (Wednesday).

“We are doing exactly what we did after the Wakefield at Te Rapa. We brought her home and put her in the paddock for three days to let her get her head down and relax with a bit of sun on her back.

Bergerson believes the experience racing at Ellerslie will hold Wolverine in good stead heading towards the Karaka Million 2YO, where the filly is a $2.80 favourite ahead of Pacific Dragon ($6) and Grace 'n' Grey ($6). 

Western Empire sidelined

Leviathan owner Bob Peters has revealed emerging superstar Western Empire won’t be seen again this season after injury curtailed any autumn plans.

The four-year-old shot into stardom last year when winning six consecutive races, highlighted by the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in November.

The New Zealand bred son of Iffraaj finished runner-up to Grant and Alana Williams-traind stablemate Regal Power in the Gr.1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) after a torrid run, and has subsequently been sidelined with back and joint issues. 

“He’s had a small arthroscope in behind the fetlock joint,” Peters said.

“The joint came up a bit after the race (Kingston Town Classic), it could’ve happened in the race – who knows.

“It’s not a problem, it’s been done, and the chip’s been taken out, his back was also damaged in the race, and he’s had some treatment for that which he seems to be responding to, I think he’s over that.

“We’ll give him a good spell and see him next season sometime. He’s pretty good.”

A Victorian spring campaign now seems the obvious next stop for Western Empire.

“There’s not much here for him (here in Western Australia) once they get up to the rating he is now, there’s only probably two races a year,” Peters said.