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Satono Aladdin unable to shuttle

Breeders will be denied access to Deep Impact's Group One winning son Satono Aladdin, who will be unable to shuttle to Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand this season.

Strenuous efforts to secure passage for shuttling Japanese stallions to travel together to Australasia have been foiled due to the worldwide disruption to flights since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

Rich Hill Stud's John Thompson was keen to see Satono Aladdin, the winner of the Gr.1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m), return to the Waikato for his third season at stud but always knew travel was going to be a major hurdle to clear in this unique year.

"It's down to the reduction in flights all around the world and air freight is at an absolute premium and they (Shadai) contacted all the major airlines that fly into Japan, but there are no freight space for two stallions and grooms," Thompson said.

"It's worldwide and that's just the way things are at the moment. All parties have been trying for some time to hopefully make it happen, but cost effectively it just can't be done."

Thompson was still looking on the bright side and the drawing power of its quartet of residents.

"From our perspective it's quite disappointing, but we have got four nice stallions here – two proven ones in Shocking and Proisir and two exciting ones in Vadamos and Ace High," he said.

"It's not the end of the world and we will have some lovely yearlings by Satono Aladdin to sell next year at Karaka."

The travel issue for stallions coming from Japan could also be a potential issue for Japanese racehorses targeting feature events in Melbourne during spring, with grooms unable to travel with horses from Japan at present, a hurdle that would need to be overcome quickly if Japanese raiders are to be a factor.
 

McDonald taking patient approach with Flying Agent

Trainer Amy McDonald is keeping a lid on the hype surrounding impressive maiden steeplechase winner Flying Agent .

The Kiwi import romped home by 17 lengths at Warrnambool on Sunday but the Ballarat horsewoman is keen to take the Raise The Flag seven-year-old through the grades.

"It's so easy to get carried away but when you pull all of the sparkles back, it was just a maiden," McDonald told RSN 927.

"We will go through the grades and then see where we fit in towards the end of the season."

Prepared in New Zealand by Brian and Shane Anderton, Flying Agent won two of his 14 starts before transferring across the Tasman.

McDonald's husband, jumps jockey Lee Horner, suggested McDonald enquire about Flying Agent who is a half-brother to top chaser Spying On You.

"I rang Brian and Shane and they gave my number to the owners and the owners rang me and the rest is history," McDonald said.

"From the minute he arrived I have absolutely loved him. He was just a scrawny Kiwi Raise The Flag. There was never much of him and Brian Anderton said he used to feed him as much as he can, but he never gets any bigger, which is totally fine."

Flying Agent will now head to a benchmark 120 Steeplechase (3200m) at Pakenham on July 19. 

"It is too easy to get carried away and there is no harm trying to go through the grades," McDonald said. "I really like him so I don't want to rush anything."