Widden Stud's Newmarket Handicap winner, General Nediym had his first two-year-old winner of the new season on Saturday when Paprika won the Fitton Insurance Hopeful Plate (1003m) at Toowoomba.

Paprika held a six-and-a-half length margin over her nearest rival Swift Sands (Dubai Destination - Quite Astute by Danske) with Brujita (Danehill Dancer - Subtle Difference by Senor Pete) another half-length away in third.

Paprika is a chestnut, like her sire, and is out of the maiden winning Marauding mare, Honi.  She was purchased by the Lake View Stud Pty Limited Syndicate from the draft of Furlong Stud in the second session of the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where they gave $75,000 for her.

General Nediym has the book full sign up on his stable door at Widden this spring.

August 24th, 2008

A field of 11 fillies faced the starter in the Listed William Crocket Stakes (Arrow Training Services Plate) at Moonee Valley on Saturday with this year’s Magic Millions heroine Augusta Proud leading them on to the track. However, in the end it was the under-rated General Nediym filly Taameer who staved off her rivals to take her record to second black type success after a tough on-pace effort. 

Behind the barriers Taameer must have given her owners' Shadwell Stud cause for concern as she reared up and landed on the rump of the clerk of the courses pony and then she turned in a fabulous rendition of the Hokey Pokey spinning to the left and then to the right. 

It was enough to stop punters from backing her - thinking she could be off her game.

How very wrong that thinking was proved. With Craig Williams in the saddle she began brilliantly as did Augusta Proud and Tempest Tost. Williams drove Taameer up along the rail to keep Augusta Proud out three deep in the slower ground and was galloping strongly rounding the home turn with Augusta Proud still there as Romneya got into the clear behind them. 

Romneya (Red Ransom - Mannington by Danehill) finished off nicely but could not quite peg back Taameer, who fought back gamely to win by a short neck. Augusta Proud (More Than Ready - Kadasha by Langfuhr), held on for third another short head away.

Taameer won last seasons Listed Walter Brown stakes in Adelaide before her autumn spell. A good type of bay/brown filly she showed that she should be respected this spring.

Trained at Flemington by David Hayes, who told TVN's Bruce Clark, “She races a lot better than she works and they can sneak up on you when they’re like that,”

“She’s grown a lot and has taken a big step in going from an Adelaide stakes success to winning a race like this.”

Hayes indicated Taameer would be kept to the sprinting races for fillies of which there are many during the spring with the Group Two MVRC Champagne Stakes at Moonee Valley in a month as a likely target.

Taameer was a $100,000 purchase from the draft of Trelawney Stud at the 2007 NZB Premier Yearling Sale and is a half-sister to Xaardante, Kepola and Hurricane Road being from the Danehill mare Pedante from the family of New Zealand Oaks winner She’s Country.

General Nediym stands at Widden Stud this spring and has the book full sign up on his stable door - no wonder when he continues to produce winners in the mould of Taameer.

July 27th, 2008

Although it was Hiskens Steeple Chase day at Moonee Valley on Saturday a day that the club promote as the Cox Plate day for the jumpers the card also featured six flat races and top jockey Steve King issued a timely reminder to owners' and trainers that he's not lost any of his touch with a first class ride on Tranquility Base in the second race of the day.

King missed last spring with a broken leg and having his first ride after a month long family holiday he gave Troy Portelli plenty to smile about as he controlled the six-furlong sprint on the daughter of General Nediym to give her another 'kill'.

Tranquility Base had the run of the race travelling second throughout and just on the point of the turn King asked her for an effort and she accelerated strongly to win by a length, taking her record to two wins and two placings from eight starts with prizemoney of more than $120,000.

So easy was her victory she had her ears pricked and hardly raised a sweat.  

Having her second run back from a spell, Portelli had turned her out in fantastic order.  Tranquility Base has shown she has a bit of class with a stakes placing behind subsequent Group One winner Absolut Glam and Portelli is looking for stakes success from the progressive chestnut in the new season.

Raced by John Valmorbida, Tranquility Base is a half-sister to three other winners being from the Rubiton mare Ruby Dream, and comes from a renowned family nurtured by Kingston Park Stud with Group One winners such as Rose of Kingston, Spirit of Kingston, Kingston Rule and Coup de Grace all featuring in her pedigree.

May 19th, 2008

This week STALLIONS looks at the deeds of General Nediym. 

The continued success of the Australian bred General Nediym seems certain to continue thanks to his 21st black type winner, Kert.

At Flemington on Saturday, Kert was headed 250m from the post - he showed his courage to fight back after being delivered a ‘knock out’ blow to most - get the upper hand on his rival and pull away from him at the finish!

When the chestnut gelding trotted back to the birdcage although he was dog tired – it was easy to see that he was as happy as his connections - his ears were pricked, he had won after all. 

In chalking up his second career win from five starts, Kert took his earnings past $70,000, a good return on his sale price as he was purchased by his part-owner Kingsley Peach at the 2007 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling sale for $50,000.

It’s encouraging that General Nediym’s progeny are following in his mould as he competed at the top level of competition as a juvenile recording wins in the Magic Millions 2YO classic and the Group 2 STC Todman Slipper Trial. He rounded off his juvenile season when fourth in the Group I Golden Slipper behind Guineas.

General Nediym was nick-named ‘the General’ which he is still fondly known, and he was at his brilliant best during his classic season recording heart stopping wins in the Group I VRC Newmarket Hcp and Lightning Stakes. 

He strung four wins in a row during the spring on the back of his tough two-year-old season when he took out the Group 2 AJC San Domenico Stakes, Up and Coming Stakes, STC Listed Heritage Stakes and Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes. Kert, must have some of ‘the General’s’ best qualities.

After that quartet of victories General Nediym was sent to Victoria to compete in the Group I Caulfield Guineas. A ‘marked’ horse by his rivals he ran the race of his life when third, less than a length, behind Encounter and Schubert. 

After his Newmarket success in the autumn General Nediym won the Group 2 BTC Carlton Cup and finished third behind the Doomben specialist Chief de Beers in the Group I Doomben 10000.

General Nediym wound up his racing career as a four-year-old with placing's in the Group 2 AJC Expressway Stakes and Apollo Stakes and a win in the Magic Millions Cup. He retired with 13 wins from a 21 start resume and more than $2million in earnings.

A handsome 16hh thirteen-year-old, General Nediym, has had 60 yearlings go through the auction sale ring so far this year where they have achieved a healthy average of $114,333. A bay filly out of Ends Meet is the top seller after being knocked down to Laird Racing at the Magic Millions sale for $380,000.

Underlining General Nediym’s successful season to date is his 12 individual juvenile winners with earnings of $824,292.

Along with Kert’s (ex Brocco’s Delight by Brocco) VRC Gibson Carmichael Stakes-LR victory his other two-year-old stakes winners are Sidereus (ex Hootenanny by Best Western), STC Pago Pago Stakes-Gr 2; Delta Girl (ex Etoile Centieme by Danasinga), AJC Widden Stakes-LR and Taameer (ex Pedante by Danehill), SAJC Walter Brown Stakes-LR. 

Daddys Little Girl (ex Dangero by Danske) and Nato (ex True Seduction by Bellotto) round out his seasonal juvenile record with black type placings. 

Overall this season General Nediym has had 85 individual winners from 233 runners with more than $2.9million in seasonal earnings.

General Nediym calls Widden Stud home again this spring.

May 18th, 2008

General Nediym has been enjoying an amazing run with his two-year-olds this season and posted his fifth individual two year-old stakes-winner on Saturday when Kert took out the Listed VRC Gibson Carmichael Stakes at Flemington.

Trained at Stawell by Terry O’Sullivan, Kert improved off a last start fourth to Gold in Dubai in the Listed MRC Blue Sapphire Stakes, after turning in a sound effort at the strong Warrnambool meeting on May 1st.

Kert was able to get away well from barrier 11 to race on the pace and Brian Park was able to move up three wide as he rounded the home turn.  Mio Roiale then raced up beside him. 

Both Mio Roiale and Kert got away from the pack and at the 250m, Kert who was closest to the inside running rail got his head in front of Mio Roiale at this point and he continued to fight hard as Mio Roiale challenged.  The good looking chestnut began to pull away from his main rival near the post and scored by three-quarters-of-a-length.  

Mio Roiale (Tale of the Cat - Royal Season by Royal Academy) was three-and-three-quarter lengths clear of third placegetter Darrange (Grandera - Diamonds And Dust by Charnwood Forest).  

Darrange had made a short dash at the 300m but from then on battled over the final stages while The Moon Day (Val Royal - Hot Love by Desert Sun) raced a bit keenly but was well back in fourth place.

The win by Kert was his second and he showed that he has plenty of the right stuff to make the grade as a very good racehorse - producing a bold performance to claim the stakes event.

Kert was purchased by part-owner Kingsley Peach for $50,000 from the draft of Baramul Stud at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale in Adelaide, he is the fourth living foal of the imported mare Brocco’s Delight (USA), a half-sister to US Group One winner Mercedes Won and also to the dam of New Zealand Oaks winner She’s Country.

General Nediym clicks well with this family as he has another two year-old stakes-winner in Taameer who is from the same female family.

General Nediym is based at Widden Stud in New South Wales and is the leading sire of individual two year-old winners this season with 12 to his credit, five of them stakes-winners with Kert and Taameer joined by Sidereus, Siennas Fury and Delta Girl.

April 13th, 2008

Promising General Nediym juvenile Sidereus booked his place in the field for next Saturday's Group One Golden Slipper with a gutsy win in the Group Two Darley Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Prepared at Randwick by Anthony Cummings, Sidereus rider Larry Cassidy was able to make full use of barrier one to land in just behind the early speed set by the newcomer Brawled who set a solid tempo.  Cornering well Cassidy was able to angle away from the rail to go around Brawled and take up the challenge and then he showed a solid will to win over the concluding stages to hold off a late challenge from Over the Wicket. 

Trained at Randwick by Anthony Cummings, the chestnut colt, could have a gear change into blinkers or winkers for the group one feature, with Cummings telling TVN's Bruce Clark, "barriers win races." 

"He's paid the penalties in recent starts for bad barriers - it was a nice change today."

"It was a great ride and he got the money, I'm very pleased about that."

Sidereus went into the stakes event off four good runs including two in Victoria, when he collected a stakes placing in the Listed Schweppes Plate (1000m) behind Penny Banger down the Flemington straight course.  His most recent effort when a close up fourth to Slipper favourite All American (Red Ransom) in the Skyline Stakes at Randwick, March 29th.

"It's a bit of an odd year this year. I don't think there's a standout in the Slipper. It looks an open race."

"This guy has a good future," Cummings added. "He's a worthy stakes winner."

"He has a good turn of foot. He's a very robust sort of fellow, a good natured colt."

Cummings said he had no doubt the colt will be able to handle the seven day back up to the Slipper.

"It will be a breeze for him," he noted.

At the post Sidereus held a long head margin over Over the Wicket (Over - Golf Circuit by Groucho), with Dubai To Sydney (Dubai Destination - Sydney's Quest by Quest For Fame) doing best of the rest to claim third another length-and-a-half away.

Cummings went to $210,000 to buy Sidereus at last year's Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast from the draft of Gerry Harvey's Baramul Stud.  

The colt is the first runner for the lightly raced and three-year-old placed Best Western mare Hootenanny.  

Hootenanny in turn is from a Sir Tristram three quarter sister to Kaapstad and the dams of stakes including Bonanova, Fraternity, Telesto and Court of Jewels.  It's the family that has produced the Group One winning siblings Octagonal, Marquise, Diamond Lover and Mouawad.

Sidereus is the third stakes-winning juvenile for Widden Stud based sire General Nediym this season joining Siennas Fury and Delta Girl.

Twenty minutes after Sidereus gave General Nediym his 18th stakes winner, Lilian Evelyn (ex Monterosso by Dehere), stepped out for her second career start and got her autumn preparation off to a great start with a solid win over the colts in the opening race on the Moonee Valley card.

Ridden by Steve Baster, the chestnut filly, was caught wide settling towards the rear as Al's Best Mate pushed forward to hold the rail from the race favourite Cascade.  As the pressure went on there were plenty of chances as the field came around the turn, with Lilian Evelyn moving up to challenge Benjamin Josh and Cascade. 

Lilian Evelyn showed fighting qualities to hold on and win by a short neck from Outdo (Excced And Excel - Galway lass by Rhythm) who ran on well from back in the field.  Cascade (Visount - Gradual by Strategic) stuck to her guns for third another neck away.

Lilian Evelyn is out of the stakes placed Dehere mare Monterosso a half-sister to the stakes winning Fluoro (by Rory's Jester).

General Nediym has five yearlings on offer at the forthcoming Inglis select sale (April 20 - 24) and four in the classic session (April 27-29).

February 24th, 2008

General Nediym continued his recent run of winners when adding a new stakes-winner to his tally in Adelaide on Saturday when the brilliantly fast three year-old Victory Chant led all the way to win the Listed SAJC Redelva Stakes over 1000 metres.

The speedy chestnut jumped swiftly from barrier 11 and dominated the race kicking on well to win by the best part of a length over Almost Cheval (Bianconi (USA) and Danedina (Danehill Dancer (IRE) .

Victory Chant has won both runs since resuming from a spell of 22 weeks and since his gelding operation he's added another two wins to his record this time around.  With three wins and two placings from eight starts his prizemoney is just under a $100,000.

Trained in South Australia by the very popular Leon MacDonald, Victory Chant was regarded as one of the top juveniles in Adelaide last season after winning his debut by seven lengths on December 23 2006.  With a placing in the Group Three MRC Blue Diamond Prelude behind Shrewd Rhythm and Zizou, Victory Chant has always had the ability.

A $340,000 buy for Macdonald in the 2006 Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale he made headlines being the top lot of the sale.  Bred in partnership by Toorak Park and Mill Park Stud, Victory Chant is the first foal of the metropolitan winning Marscay mare Classic Status, a daughter of stakes-winner Twitter and half-sister to this season’s Group One winning three year-old filly Serious Speed (by Royal Academy).

Victory Chant becomes the 17th stakes-winner for General Nediym, who is enjoying a great season and has large entries in upcoming sales including with 15 yearlings on offer at the Inglis Premier (March 2-6) another 45 for Magic Millions (March 24 - April 2nd) and five for Inglis Easter select (April 20-24th).

February 17th, 2008

A couple of gritty fillies in Delta Girl and Stripper staged a dog fight in the Listed Widden Stakes at Randwick on Saturday and victory went to Delta Girl when she came back from defeat to win the black-type event.

Ridden by South African, Jeff Lloyd, Delta Girl a $380,000 purchase from the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale at Karaka by Graeme Rogerson, responded very well when pooped the question by Lloyd to break her maiden status in the black type event.  The rider of the runner-up, Stripper (Danehill Dancer - Miss Charmer by Zabeel), had been the winner of Sydney's first two-year-old race this season back in December, Larry Cassidy, decided against lodging a protest after viewing the stewards' head-on film.

The two fillies although not as brilliant as the Listed Canonbury Stakes winner Sebring (More Than Ready - Purespeed by Flying Spur), neither shirked her task with a short head separating the duo when the judge called a halt.

Rogerson doesn't think Delta Girl will need to improve much to warrant an assault on the Golden Slipper.

Delta Girl became the latest stakes-winning juvenile for her sire General Nediym when she claimed the Widden Stakes over 1000 metres. 

Bred and offered for sale by Waikato Stud, Delta Girl was the most expensive filly sired by General Nediym to be sold in 2007 and is the third foal of the Danasinga mare Etolie Centieme, a half-sister to Group One placed Ambitious and a daughter of stakes-winner Starcent.

It’s a family well known in Australia as Starcent is a full sister to Professionelle, the dam of Group Two winners Sportsman and Prisoner of Love, plus stakes-winner King of Prussia and this season’s metropolitan winning juvenile Soho Secret.

Delta Girl becomes the 16th stakes-winner for top class sire General Nediym who has a great drafts of yearlings to be offered at the sales in coming months with 15 for Inglis Premier, 45 for Magic Millions and five for Inglis Easter.

October 3rd, 2005

At Flemington on Saturday the opening race on the card was for the new seasons two-year-olds the listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes  over the new distance of 1000m, increased a 100m from previous years.

While the youngster's were showing a few pre-race nerves, the owners' of I Got Chills must have had more than others as the filly had been backed from 14-1 in to 4-1 favourite.  

Ridden by Rhys McLeod, I Got Chills settled behind pacemaker Raelene and inside the 400 metres, McLeod slapped her down the shoulder and she was clear by a number of lengths in two or three bounds.  I Got Chills (ex Tidfish by Imperial Prince) easily beats her rivals by 4-1/2 lengths with Bingham (Distant Music - Western Cent by Best Western) home next.   

Accurate Gun (Rubiton - Floral Emblem) came in next for third, 1-1/2 lengths away. 

In recording her debut victory I Got Chills stopped the clock at 56.48 seconds, a time only good racehorses record, so add her name to your black book!

August 7th, 2005

General Nediym's son Ra Sun promised plenty as a young horse when he won the Group 2 Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington at his second start in the spring of 2002, but he has not won since until Saturday at Caulfield.

On a heavy track the now five-year-old delivered on that early promise for his new owners with a come-from-behind victory in the Premium Class package Handicap (1100m).

Ra Sun (Red Sundae by Sovereign Red) beat race favourite Maduro (Jugah - My Madonna by Prego) by a 1-1/4 lengths with Bunreba (Al Hareb - Bundify by Meticulous) another two lengths away in third.

July 19th, 2005

The well fancied General Conclusion didn't let his supporters down with a easy win in The Irish Are Coming 6th August Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday. 

Trained in Victoria by Tony Vasil, General Conclusion (ex Naring Lodge Lass by Khozaam) had been placed in last four starts in Victoria up to 1400m in soft ground.  A very fit horse stepped out and General Conclusion had 3-1/4 lengths on Royal Ida (Star Pyramul - Star of Ida by Paint the Stars) with long neck back to Bellanto (Bellotto - Antonelli by Pride of Century) in third.

In clocking up his fourth win from 13-starts, General Conclusion will benefit from the soft kill.  He will be well placed by Vasil during the winter months. 

June 20th, 2005

Queensland jockey Tony Pattillo was basking in the limelight following his feature race treble at the Ipswich Cup meeting on Saturday.

Pattillo made headlines when he rode Spuruson to victory in the Group Two Grand Prix Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 4, picking up the ride after stewards refused to let Larry Cassidy replace an ailing Steven King at a half kilo overweight.

Pattillo partnered Au Chocolat (ex Cut a Dash by Whiskey Road) in the Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) timing his run to perfection to get up in the shadow of the post nosing out Kind Spirits (Nedym - Dallaq by At Talaq) with Charmview (Royal Academy - Staremma by Famous Star) a long head away in a thrilling finish. 

April 18th, 2005

The horse Caulfield trainer Peter Moody could not find owners for is now giving him much enjoyment, the lightly raced and promising three-year-old Garth (General Nediym – Filnova by Luskin Star) on Saturday winning his fourth race from just five starts.

Thought highly enough of by the stable to be debuted (after two trial victories) in the C.S Hayes Stakes-Gr.3 last September, the good looking but green chestnut ran last of six but far from disgraced beaten just over three lengths.

A month later dropping back to maiden company, Garth proved nearly five lengths too good for his rivals at Hamilton before a spell. Reappearing at Moonee Valley four months later he took out a Class 1 event by a length.

Stepping up to Class 3 company at his next start at Pakenham, Garth was again successful before a freshen up and a trip north to Queensland.

Making his Brisbane debut at Eagle Farm, Garth was sent out favourite over 1200m and after jumping well from an inside gate he was always in control.

Settling well in front for Scott Seamer, the promising colt found plenty when challenged over the final stages and a crack at black type does not look far away with Moody mentioning the Doomben Classic, the Gold Coast Guineas and the Queensland Guineas as options.

A $90,000 Magic Millions graduate, Garth was one of three winners in three days for his dual Gr.1 winning sprinting sire General Nediym. To date the sire of 59 individual winners, he was represented in the winners circle by Lady Migaloo at Bendigo on Friday and by Regimental Star at Tatura on Sunday.

Garth is one of six winners produced by the unraced Luskin Star mare Filnova, also dam of the stakes placed Novanediym (a ¾ sister to Garth) and the recent city winning two-year-old Nova Star (by Iglesia).

Filnova – who was served last year by Iglesia, is a half sister to the Champagne Classic-Gr.3 winner Dolce Veloce and her dam Grace Dancer is a full sister to the UK Listed winner Miss Beaulieu (dam of another Listed winner in Miss Corniche).

January 6th, 2005

Talented mare Au Chocolat justified a difficult decision by trainer Rex Lipp to miss a Magic Millions Cup start when she won the listed Silk Stocking Hcp (1400m) at the Gold Coast on Wednesday.

Responding to a magnificent ride by Zac Purton, Au Chocolat (General Nediym - Cut a Dash by Whiskey Road) grabbed Star Folly (Canny Lad – Star of Danehill by Danehill ) in the final stages to win by a long neck with Wombalano Belle (Marwina – Via Jan by Jan Murray) a desperately unlucky third a length away.

Au Chocolat was eligible for Saturday's $400,000 Magic Millions Cup (1400m) but Lipp decided against a start in that race when the mare was beaten at Toowoomba on December 27.

"Even though the Magic Millions Cup is worth a bit more money I've got no regrets about missing that race, this race has black type enhancing her residual value," Lipp said.

Lipp was also pleased Purton was able to ride Au Chocolat after recently serving a one-month suspension.

"Every time this mare has been going well Zac has been suspended and I was really pleased he was able to ride her today," he said.

The Canny Lad mare, Star Folly burst clear at the top of the straight but was having her first start at 1400m and felt the pinch in the final stages with Au Chocolat staying close to the rail to claim victory.

December 20th, 2004

Classy sprinter Gallieni (General Nediym - Trendy Press by Northfields) was back to his best with a soft win over 1200m at Canterbury on Thursday night.

Sent out a 3-1 favourite in the $23,000 Transitional, the Gerald Ryan trained four-year-old had not raced since a second to Devil at Doomben on October 30 but he still proved 1.3 lengths too good for his rivals under the steadier of 60.5kg.

Conceding runner-up Zarouk 6.5kg, Gallieni recorded the seventh win of his 14 start career, taking his prizemoney tally to just short of $150,000.

A horse who has always shown a great deal of natural ability, Gallieni was a 5.8 length winner of a Hawkesbury maiden in August last year. Gradually making his way through the classes, he won his first city race at Canterbury in April.

Subsequently campaigned in Queensland, he was a 4.8 length winner over Drunken Joker and Sky Cuddle of the BTC Classic-Gr.3.

A horse who Gerald Ryan says "races best fresh," Gallieni will now head back to Queensland to contest the Magic Millions Cup - a race which his sire General Nediym won in 1999.

One of the General’s seven stakes winners, Gallieni is one of eight winners produced by his dam Trendy Press, also dam of the metropolitan winners Perpetual Harmony, All The Rage and Star Reporter. She is also grandam of the stakes placed gallopers Abyssinian and Cruise Missile.  Line-bred 4mx3m to Northern Dancer, Gallieni also boasts duplications of the fine stallions Precipitation, Hyperion, Tulyar and Tom Fool.

Gallieni was part of a winning Thursday double for General Nediym whose three-year-old son Refuse To Bend (out of the Pasakos mare Pasakos' Lady) broke his maiden in fine style at Kyneton. 

Kicking clear at the top of the straight to win the 1200m event by over three lengths, the John McArdle trained gelding was having only his third start.

October 24th, 2004

At NCF Doomben on Saturday, Ruggles bounced back to winning form in the DBC Roofing Handicap (1110m).

Ridden by Mitchell Rice, Ruggles (ex Carina by Rory's Jester) prevailed in a home straight duel with Naderoz (Danzero - Willow Flight by Alquoz) to score by three-quarters-of-a-length with Difficult (Sequalo - Bemiafilli by What A Guest) a long neck away third.

September 19th, 2004

In Queensland at Eagle Farm, the four-year-old chestnut daughter of General Nediym, Ruggles powered home in the Gunsynd Handicap (1000m).

A versatile sprinter, Ruggles (ex Carina by Rory's Jester) has been in good form and had to much in reserve to easily claim Temple Spirit ( Special Dane - Temple Top by Semipalatinks) by 1-1/4 lengths with another 1-3/4 lengths back to Autumn Showers (Autumn Dew - Remember Josie by Grand Chaudiere) in third. 

August 27th, 2004

Helen Page made a triumphant homecoming to Sydney, sending Doonan out to claim the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

The former Warwick Farm trainer has been based at the Gold Coast for the past seven years but was confident she had the right type of horse to measure up to Saturday's feature.

On the advice of Jim Byrne, Page added blinkers to Doonan's gear giving the three-year-old the confidence to take the run between horses inside the last 50m.

Lieutenant jumped to the lead from stablemate Brannigan (Flying Spur - Thespian by Zeditave) rounding the turn and looked to have a winning break at the 200m.  

Doonan, who had been travelling midfield, got off the fence and burst through the pack to beat Al Maher (Danehill - Show Dancing by Don't Say Halo) by a short head with a half-neck to the gallant Lieutenant (Danehill Dancer - Sovereign Countess by Sovereign Red).

Doonan was bred by former top jockey Mick Dittman and he was purchased by Page at the 2003 Magic Millions January Yearling Sale for $30,000 from the Derry Park draft.  His dam Carnlough (by First Norman) is a half-sister to Castletown the winner of three Wellington Cups. 

August 15th, 2004

The Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington often signals the early intention of spring hopefuls, many a major cups or weight for age winner has commenced his or her campaign in this $100k open event. The horses to follow during the carnival are not always the winners but often those running on strongly to fill the placings or finishing just behind the prizemoney earners. 

However this year’s event, held yesterday, was different in that the standout performance was obviously that of the winner General Bayton by Widden Stud’s emerging young sire talent General Nediym. The 4YO chestnut gelding gave a sustained display of speed, dropping his rivals at the 400m mark before being eased down to win with plenty in hand. He is sure to make a considerable impact in the feature sprints, enhancing his already superb record of five wins and four placings from ten lifetime starts.

General Bayton’s dam Imperial Chariot is an unraced half-sister to the dam of Suzy Grey a Gr2 winner of $670,300. Imperial Chariot has produced five winners from five foals to race, with General Bayton more than likely to convert his stakes placing into a stakes win in the coming weeks. If he can do so he will become General Nediym’s 7th stakes winner from just 74 runners, a fine record by any measure.

General Bayton is inbred 6f x 6m to Alycidon and 5f x 6m to Never Say Die, both staying influences, but like General Nediym himself and the best of his progeny, such as Regimental Gal, General Bayton’s strong suit is clearly speed.

August 2nd, 2004

July 11th, 2004

At Flemington on Winter Championship Final Day, one of the stars on the day was General Nediym's son General Bayton who scored an easy win in the Hanan Displays Handicap (1200m) on Saturday.

General Bayton (ex Imperial Chariot by Imperial Baron) jumped way from barrier six and headed towards the outside rail, with Malcolm Pay up they took control of the race.  General Bayton ran away from the Womby Queen (Soviet Lad - Rare Draw by Aurealis) to score an easy 3-1/4 length win. Fine Omens (Aliocha - Bona Omina by Raami) was three-quarters-of-a-length back in third.

In claiming his fourth victory from seven starts General Bayton took his earnings past $96,000.