Monthly Archives: January 2012

So easy for Black Caviar

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World Champion Sprinter Black Caviar (5 m Bel Esprit – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) was untroubled to make it 17 straight wins in the $200,000 Gr 2 Essendon Mazda Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Starting the $1.05 favourite, Black Caviar gave Luke Nolen an armchair ride, racing in second place before sweeping up to Zedi Knight (Zeditave) on the home turn and then coming away to score by 4-3/4 lengths with her stablemate Doubtful Jack (Not A Single Doubt) a further 4-1/2 lengths away third in the time of 1:09.44 Р0.15 seconds outside the course record held by Miss Andretti.

“It’s great to see her back,” Moody said,¬†confirming Black Caviar’s next start would be in the Group One C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield on February 11, her first attempt at 1400 metres.¬†”Her attitude is good, her action is terrific so hopefully it’s the start of a wonderful six months.”

Plans are to take the five-year-old daughter of Bel Esprit to England for the Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot and the July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket, after the Orr, the Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and maybe one other run here.

“There’s a race for her every Saturday on the eastern seaboard of Australia and most parts of the world for the next six months,” Moody said.”But we are going to sit down next Friday with the owners and have a meeting and that will tell us a bit more and get everyone’s gut feeling.

“But I’m just pleased to enjoy tonight and have her back on track.”

Upsets in Patinack Blue Diamond Previews

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The wo legs of the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Previews resulted in upset wins at Caulfield but there can be no doubting the ability of both winners. The Travelling Man (Mossman) led all the way to win the colts division with the favourite Cambiaso in fourth place and Malasun (Red Ransom) dashed clear in the straight to win the fillies division with the $1.70 favourite Sweet Little Lies weakening into fourth after leading to the turn.

The Travelling Man (2 c Mossman – Gypsy Jewels, by Jade Robbery) gave jockey Ben Melham an armchair ride. “He was a little bit lost out there in front today. I didn’t really want to lead but he began pretty brilliantly and got there under his own steam.¬†He had it steady enough for the first 600 but he let rip with a good sectional.”

Mossman

Mossman

Trainer Matt¬†Laurie purchased the winner at last year’s New Zealand Select Sale at Karaka for $NZ80,000. “Some people have said to me, ‘why did you go to New Zealand and buy a Mossman?’ but at the end of the day, he was a cracking type,” Laurie said.¬†”He was $80,000 and it looks like money well spent.”

Malasun (2 f Red Ransom – Malapert, by Encosta de Lago) also sold for $80,000 as a yearling, the BC3-owned filly selling at the Inglis Premier Sale in Melbourne and she recouped $60,000 of that when proving too good for Members Joy (Hussonet) and Sabie (Exceed And Excel), sprinting clear in the straight.

“She’s very quick but there was good speed there today and a couple of quality fillies she was chasing,” jockey Damien Oliver said. “She did a good job to run them down.¬†We didn’t know how she would go in behind them but today, it wasn’t a problem and she chased them well.”

Trainer Mick Price took a fancy to Malasun at the sale, as did BC3, but when advised by BC3′s Bill Vlahos they they strongly fancied the filly also, Price stepped back and allowed BC3 to purchase.

Price is in New Zealand for the Karaka Yearling Sale and stable representative Luke Wilkinson said Malasun was “90 percent” certain to progress to the Group I $1 million Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) without another run.

Trifecta for Darley sires in Zeditave Stakes

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Darley stallions dominated Thursday’s Listed Zeditave Stakes (1200m) after sires from the worldwide breeding giant produced the trifecta in the Caulfield feature.

Exceed And Excel (Danehill – Patrona, by Lomond) three-year-old Instinction (Exceed And Excel – De Lago Mist, by Encosta De Lago) earned his second successive Stakes win after the Mick Price-trained colt made the most of a perfect run to beat Specter (Nadeem – Woman In White, by Daylami).

Adelaide-trained three-year-old Petman (Lonhro – Gift Bouquet, by King’s High) completed the Darley trifecta by holding on for third after leading for most of the $100,000 race.

Price’s stable representative Mick Nolan said the stable has decided to aim Instinction at the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in March.

“He has had a few little issues in his life,” Nolan said. “The horse will improve, this time last year we had him in a Blue Diamond Prelude and we had a fair opinion of the horse.

“This time in he has been 100 percent so I can’t see why he won’t go from here. That’s (Australian Guineas) where we’re heading. I can’t see why he wouldn’t.”

Southern too speedy in racetrack return

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Southern Speed (Southern Image – Golden Eagle, by Zabeel) has hit the ground running in her autumn preparation after producing a terrific first-up performance to win the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

The Caulfield Cup winner is on the path towards the Group 1 BMW (2400m) later in the autumn but her high rating did her little favours after she was asked to carry 60kg in her return to racing on Australia Day.

The daughter of former shuttle stallion Southern Image (Halo’s Image – Pleasant Dixie, by Dixieland Band) is the sire’s only southern hemisphere stakes winner but continued to represent him with distinction.

Southern Speed raced in the second half of the field before coming with a well-timed run to beat Shout Out Loud (Ne Coupez Pas – Hit Your Kick, by Serheed) and Danzylum (Danzero – Political Asylum, by Plush).

“She looked great and I expected her to be running on strongly,” Leon Macdonald, who trains Southern Speed in partnership with Andrew Gluyas, said.

“You always doubt whether they can win over 1400 metres first-up when they’re a staying horse but she really showed her class.”

Southern Speed’s two-year-old half-sister by Artie Schiller (El Prado – Hidden Light, by Sadler’s Wells) has yet to debut while Golden Eagle (Zabeel – Rising Eagle, by Danehill) foaled a sister to the three-time Stakes winner in 2010.

French sire gets first Aussie stakes winner

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French-based sire Whipper (Miesque’s Son – Myth To Reality, Sadler’s Wells) earned his first Australian stakes winner when the Chris Waller-trained Wazn (Whipper – New Story, by Dynaformer) claimed the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm.

A heavy track left a field of eight for the $100,000 race. The John O’Shea-trained Legsman (Pins – Snobbish, by Centaine) led the field for most of the journey before Wazn gained the upper hand with 50 metres to run.

Wazn prevailed over Yulalona (Dubai Destination – Klamath Falls, by Storm Cat) while Legsman held third despite making an unsuccessful 800-metre bid for victory.

Waller said Glyn Schofield’s intelligent ride provided the impetus for Wazn’s win.

“Legsman stretched them out and the gaps were getting bigger as they got closer to home,” Waller told TVN.¬† “He got the gap and showed a good turn of foot and then staved them off over the last 100 metres.”

“He got a bit tired over the last 100 metres but he was entitled to. I’m sure it won’t be his last win over this distance.”

Waller said he would aim the five-year-old stallion at stakes races during the Brisbane winter carnival.

Whipper stands at Haras du Mezeray at Ticheville.

Visitors draw for Aussies in Karaka Million

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The Australian visitors have been drawn wide for this Sunday’s Listed $NZ1 million Karaka Million at Ellerslie.¬†The John Sadler-trained Sell In May came up with gate 11 in the field of 14 plus two emergencies, while Anthony Freedman’s hope Ockham’s Razor drew 13.

Sell In May is a daughter of Starcraft that has won her only start impressively at Flemingtonton while Ockham’s Razor, a son of Rich Hill Stud stallion Any Suggestion, finished a good second to boom filly Sweet Little Lies at his only start.

Worth $NZ1 million ($A780,00) the Karaka Million (1200m) is¬†restricted to graduates of the 2011 National Yearling Sales Series and is¬†New Zealand’s richest race.

Australian jockeys are well represented with Craig Williams to partner Ockham’s Razor as he looks to continue his stellar big race form while Ben Melham will ride Sell In May.¬†Fellow Victorian-based hoop Damien Oliver has picked up the mount on Mai Guru while Sydney’s Corey Brown and Hugh Bowman will also travel across the Tasman to partner Green Wings and Silk Pins respectively.

The Karaka Million is restricted to graduates of the 2011 National Yearling Sales Series.

Aus-bred wins Singapore Gr 3

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Australian-bred Tenzing scored his first major success in Singapore when he took out the Group 3 $200,000 Fortune Bowl over 2000m at Kranji on Tuesday evening. Lucky to avoid interference during the race, Tenzing, ridden by Danny Beasley, scored a last stride win over Mitre Peak by a short head with Fatkid three lengths away third.

Beasley had Tenzing at the tail of the field as the field settled down and stayed there to the home turn. Into the straight and Anandan asked Mitre Peak for his effort and passing the 200m mark he had opened up a two length lead with Tenzing out towards the centre of the track entering a serious challenge.

Tenzing continued to whittle away the margin and on the line he put in a big bound to land the Group 3 prize with Fatkid, who had copped some of the backwash when Smoking Joe broke down, running on gamely at the finish.

Tenzing (7)

Tenzing (7)

For trainer Cliff Brown it was his third “black type” success following on from his win in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby with Clint and Zac Influence in the Group 3 Proinn Construct Stakes last year.

Tenzing had been sent to Singapore by his Australian connections to contest last year’s Derby but failed to complete the course following a bleeding attack which saw the gelding sent for a “big spell”. “Not a lot has gone right for him this time in,” said Brown. “He ran into a wet track at his first run back and then he’s had no luck at his last two starts. He’s a horse that has needed to get out to a trip and onto the bigger track on the turf.

‚ÄúWe were probably a bit fortunate to win as the field was opened up when that horse broke down and luckily we were able to miss all the interference. It‚Äôs a great result for the whole stable.”

Tenzing, a five-year-old by Catbird from the Shirley Heights mare Pinnacle, had two wins in Australia before heading to Singapore where his record now stands at four wins from 13 starts and more than $250,000 in prizemoney for the Tarnpirr and Network Stables.

Hussonet Colt tops Classic Sale at $140,000

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A colt by Hussonet (USA) topped the 2012 Inglis Classic Sale at $140,000 when sold to Mauro Poletti on Tuesday. Offered by Arrowfield Stud the colt is a brother to stakes-placed Red Dress Marley and a half-brother to this season’s stakes-placed two-year-old Snitzerland, a colt by Snitzel.

Hussonet - Monte Rosa colt

Hussonet - Monte Rosa colt

Other highlights on Tuesday were provided by a Dubawi (Ire) filly from Greta’s Yarn that made $105,000 for Emirates Park when secured by Inglis as agent, NZ and a Charge Forward colt from Lady of Choice that made the same amount for Huntworth Stud when purchased by Victorian trainer ¬†Robbie Laing.

Matthew Smith selected this seasons Gr1 VRC Myer Classic winner Hurtle Myrtle from the first crop of Dane Shadow at the 2009 Classic Sale for $55,000 and the Warwick Farm trainer was back at Newmarket yesterday purchasing fillies from the first crop of Astronomer Royal (Lot 471) and Myboycharlie (Lot 525) for $65,000 and $56,000 respectively.

Anthony Cummings has had much success buying from Classic, such as Inglis Banner & Inglis Nursery winner Diamond Earth, and the Randwick conditioner picked up her close relation from the draft of Golden Grove for $62,000 today a colt by Danehill Dancer from La Madeline (Lot 485) .

The final sale figures are down on 2011. The aggregate for the 424 lots that sold totalled $12,804,727, down on the $13,342,000 in 2011 with the average price of $30,200 down 10% on 2011′s $33,509. The sale median finished at $24,000 compared to $25,000 in 2011.

First foal for Rachel Alexandra

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Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro – Lotta Kim, by Roar), 2009 USA Horse of the Year, produced her first foal on January 22 with a colt by two-time USA Horse of the Year Curlin .

The bay colt was born at 2:40 p.m. EST on Stonestreet Farm Kentucky and has a white star, bearing a striking resemblance to his mother according to Stonestreet Farm manager Gary Megibben.¬†”Rachel is a natural mother, and took to the colt immediately,” he said.

“I am thrilled with the good news of Rachel’s safe delivery and health of the handsome colt that resembles her,” owner Barbara Banke said in a statement released by Jackson Family Wines. “For me and my children, this colt represents Jess‚Äô dream ‚Äì to raise and race the best. Co-owner Hal McCormick and I look forward to watching him develop and are excited to see him carry the Stonestreet silks as his Mom and Dad did before him.‚Äù

Rachel Alexandra became the first filly in 85 years to win the Gr 1 Preakness and the first filly to ever win the Gr 1 Woodward Stakes.

Rachel Alexandra is to be bred to Bernardini (USA) in 2012.