Sunday, October 14, 2018

The Autumn Sun in Spring

  •      The huge Caulfield Guineas day was one of the most exciting days of racing in recent times even without the mighty WINX. We saw a superstar colt win the Guineas in The Autumn Sun and an awesome filly Amphitrite drop from the clouds to score in the Thousand Guineas. While in Sydney it was the Everest and a crowd of forty thousand witnessed the awesome Snitzel gelding Redzel win for the second year. While another Snitzel, the entire, Trapeze Artist finished runner up. 
  • Amphitrite and Sebring -- The Flying Start Syndications filly Amphitrite rocketed home to win the Thousand Guineas after favorite Smart Melody and Thrillstar set a solid pace. This Sebring filly just keeps producing and it would not surprise me if she wins another group one this Spring. I must congratulate caller Matt Hill on some epic calling Saturday and this race was one of his best ! When i spoke to Cameron Bennett from Flying Start Syndications he said, " the Sebrings were targets at the sales for him as they continually produce good earners for his clients. Well Done to all.
  • Benbatl and Dubawi -- There were plenty of internationals having their lead up runs for the big ones on Saturday. In the Ladbrokes ( Caulfield ) Stakes, Benbatl produced a courageous win after looking as though the other Godolphin horse Blair House was going to run him down. A great ride by Pat Cosgrove for the Saeed Bin Suroor stable as he box seated in the run and this probably was the difference in the end. Never the less I was impressed with the fight of the Dubawi gelding and he could well present some danger to the Queen in the Cox Plate. In the Schillaci Stakes the win of Ball of Muscle gave the stallion, Dubawi a double for the day as he continued his awesome form for the Joe Pride stable with Craig Williams riding in great form .
  •   The Autumn Sun -- We may well have witnessed a superstar on Saturday in the Caulfield Guineas as the The Autumn Sun was planted three deep the trip and then had the audacity to kick clear in the straight to win by 5 lengths. Jockey James Mcdonald was blown away by the performance saying this horse is something special. Arrowfield Stud is believed to have paid 20 million dollars for a fifty per cent share early last week and after Saturdays win they say he is now valued at fifty million.
  • Redzel and the Everest --  The Triple Crown Syndications owned Redzel scored his second Everest at Randwick with an all the way win on the heavy track. After a setback early this preparation, the Snowden camp got him back on track and jockey Kerrin Mcevoy rode a good race, from the front. What a record he has now 14 wins from 28 starts and over $15 million in prizemoney . Such a trier ! 
  • Yucatan and Galileo   -- Yucatan exploded away with the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes. The win was an eye catcher for the up coming cups as he was eased right down on the line by James Mcdonald for the Aiden O'brien camp. He is by the all conquering stallion Galileo and it could easily be O'brien/ William's, Melbourne Cup again, after this run. The 7 year old gelding Big Blue won the St Leger at Randwick and is also by Galileo and has now won three in a row. The sire of the great Frankel is certainly making his presence felt here in the Southern Hemisphere as well. Interesting The Autumn Sun is out of the Galileo mare, Azminya 
  • Not A Single Doubt and Pierro -- I wanted to quickly mention the wins of Tristan de Angel at Randwick for Matt Dunn and 4 year old mare, Winter Bride for Toby Edmunds both are by Not A Single Doubt. Who is a Redoute's Stallion who continually gets good types.  It was so good to see some trainers from up north collect a bit of prizemoney as well. The Winter Bride certainly knows how to fight. Sunlight   kept her super record going with her 7th win from 10 starts in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes group 3 for the Tony Mcevoy camp.While there was a double for Pierro at Randwick with the win of  I Like It Easy. The 3 year old filly scored in the Reginald Allen Quality and was followed by another victory to the talented Pierata in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes over 1200m with Tommy Berry riding.

     

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Winx and Invincibella

       The group racing at both Flemington and Randwick stepped up a notch over the weekend with the headline act of course being the wonder mare Winx. The amazing daughter of Street Cry delivered again putting in a memorable performance coming from well back in the field on the turn to record her 28th victory in a row beating her stablemate Youngstar in the Turnbull Stakes. The other group one was the Spring Championship Stakes in Sydney and the Smart Missile filly, Maid of Heaven gave Rachel King her first group one of her career. She finished doggedly to grab Aromaya on the post in the heavy conditions.  

 Rachel King First Group One -- At Randwick early in the day we saw an easy win to the Not A Single Doubt gelding, Doubt Defying who recorded his seventh win of his career with an in form, Tim Clarke, in the saddle. He is trained in Queensland by Steven O'dea and it is interesting to note that his half sister also trained by O'dea, Sesar won the group 2 Roman Consul over 1200m later in the day. Sesar is by Sebring and both out of the Street Cry, mare Sarthemore. The heavy conditions would definately of suited.
Maid of Heaven -- The Smart Missile filly Maid of Heaven gave Rachel King her first group one success of her career in the Spring Champion Stakes. The heavy track had improved by the end of the day but the middle of the track was still the place to be and the Mark Newhnam trained filly wore down Aramayo to score on the line. 
 Winx and Bowman -- The Group one Turnbull Stakes was to be a memorable one for the people who made their way to Flemington as the awesome Winx showed why she is the best in the world with an amazing turn of foot to run her opposition down in the last 100 metres of the race. After being stuck on the rails most of the way a cool Hugh Bowman had to wait for a passage to present itself and when it did she exploded to grab her stablemate the High Chaparral mare, Youngstar on the post to record her 28th win in a row.

Invincibles at Flemington -- First it was the four year old mare, Eckstein who has always shown so much but has been such a nightmare to train who won the listed Paris Lane Stakes over 1400 ridden by Kerrin Mcevoy early in the day then in the final race on the card. Winx's friend, Invincibella made it a double for the I Am Invincibles in the 1400m Blazer Stakes when Hugh Bowman took advantage of  Savatiano misfortune as the mare from the Cummings stable got bottled up, Hugh shot his mount clear. The Chris Waller trained Invincibella has now won 1.4 million in prizemoney and is out of the Galileo mare, Abscond.
 I Am Excited -- In the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes we saw I Am Excited storm home down the outside to snatch victory on the line. The four year old mare is trained by David Pfieffer and ridden by Kerrin Mcevoy. She is by Snitzel out of the General Nedyim mare, Lady Beckworth. I must say this spring the Snitzel's have been a bit quiet but never under estimate them.  
Avilius and Flemington --  In the group two Bart Cummings it was a battle royale between the legendary stables of Cummings and Hayes with the James Cummings trained, Avilius getting the bob to win the race named in James grandfathers honour but not without dramas as Michael Walker rider of the runner up Jaameh for the Hayes camp lodged a protest. It was dismissed and the Godolphin's Avilius qualifies for the Melbourne Cup.  
Sebrings -- In the group 2 Edward Manifold it was good to see Cameron Bennett's Flying Starts Syndicate salute with their filly Amphitrite who burst clear halfway down the straight to score a convincing win for the Weir/Williams combo.The Sebring filly is out of the Redoutes Choice mare, Ocean Dream.Ocen Dream is a half to great galloper Marble Halls.


Sunday, September 30, 2018

The Invincibles Weekend of Justice

      There were three group ones at Randwick on saturday and one at Caulfield Sunday. This followed the well deserved win of the I Am Invincible mare Viddora in the group one Moir Stakes on Friday night after last years unlucky defeat. Finally the bob of the head goes to another I Am Invincible, Oohood in the Flight Stakes.  While the Everest contenders put their speed on show in the group two Premier Stakes with Redzel setting the speed and never really settling. This left it open for the strong finishers and there is no better than Santa Ana Lane who zipped up along the inside, to score from stablemate Shoals.

  • Hartnell and the Epsom -- In the Epsom we saw another group one go to the old war horse Hartnell as the top weight finished hard down the outside with Hugh Bowman riding for the James Cummings stable to defeat a fighting Dargento who burst through and looked like the winner. The eight year old set a new track record for the mile, today. He has run so well against the champion mare Winx and it was a bit of justice to see him put another major to his name. 

  • In the group one Flight Stakes we saw justice prevail again after the best maiden in Australia, Oohood  finally got that head down in a three way tussel. Tim Clarke is such an underated jockey and got the job done for a happy Tony Mcevoy. She defeated another I Am Invincible filly for the Waller camp Fiesta.  This made two group ones for the I Am Invincible clan after the Moir win by Viddora. The Metropolitin went to the NZers when Patrick Erin won for the Chris Waller camp after a couple of unlucky defeats for the stable earlier in the day.   
  • I Am Invincible -- The breed continue to produce group one winners and if the first two year olds of the season are anything to go by there is more to come. In the Gimcrack Stakes the Snowden trained Catch Me with jockey Kerrin Mcevoy win the fillies while in the Colts it was the Not A Single Doubt colt Dubious, victorious over the I Am Invincible, Covert Ops. The High Chaparral entire, Ace High returned to the winners circle after nearly twelve months with a good win in the Group 2 Hill Stakes. The four year old has a great chance down in the weights in the cups this year. 
  • Smart Melody and Native Soldier -- The three year old Guinea preludes and group one Underwood were run on Sunday due to the AFL grand final. The Kris Lees filly Smart Melody was a strong winner of the Thousand Guineas Prelude keeping her unbeaten record, winning for the fifth time. She was tiring late but still a strong win as was Native Soldier in the Colts prelude.The Sepoy colt was given a gem of ride by young Ben Allen and trainer D.Weir was all praise. He is out of that talented mare Belong to Many. In the group one Underwood we saw the Williams camp successful with Homesman as he took a sit and shot clear on turning and fought hard, to the line, for victory. Darren Weir capped a good day off in the last with the win of the Camelot gelding, Furrion. The solid victory over the 1700m trip gave Darren five for the day.  
  •  On the small Morphetville card we saw Jamie Kah ride another treble. While Holy Command got the job done in the BM 70 for the Mick Price stable over the 1400m. The Smart Missile gelding was ridden by Dom Tourneur. Modulate won the BM82 which gives him four wins this preperation. He did it with ease for jockey Paul Gatt and keeps the great season going for the Ambidexters.

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Power of Redoutes Choice


         The king of the Australian Breeding industry over the past dozen years is still producing the elite thoroughbreds as his son The Autumn Sun takes out the Group One Golden Rose at Rosehill. While all across the country his sons and daughters offspring produce class gallopers.At Caulfield the second group one of the Australian racing weekend was won by the international visitor and winner of the Alquoz Sprint in Dubai. The Charlie Appleby trained Jungle Cat who showed a great will to win for jockey James Doyle to record his first Australian winner.
  • The Autumn Sun -- This brilliant son of Redoutes Choice got everyones attention a fortnight ago when he was knocked over twice and just failed to keep his unbeaten record in tact.Yesterday Kerrin Mcevoy stayed out of trouble on him and had him last coming around the turn and pulling him to the open spaces to make his run and gee, did he let down, storming home to record his second group one victory in sensational fashion. The three year colt from the Waller stable. I believe, could be our new champion if he continues to race into his fourth year. Group ones are at his mercy. 
  • Written By and Caulfield -- The Autumn Sun maybe our new staying star but the number one, two year old sprint seed Written By has also returned in epic form as a three year old and yesterday, recorded yet another win. The Written Tycoon colt trained by Graham Begg and ridden by Jordy Childs just held on for his fifth victory from six starts. Redoutes Choice may have produced a superstar in The Autumn Sun in Sydney but many winners on the Caulfield card have his DNA like the gelding, Spending To Win for the Snowden camp who saluted in the 1100m handicap race. He is by Redoutes all conquering stallion son, Snitzel while the race following was won by the Tasmanian Mystic Journey who is by Needs Further another son who stands in the apple isle.The group three How Now Stakes was won by Winter Bride who is by Not A Single Doubt and you guessed it, is a son of Redoutes. It was a well deserved win for the Queensland trainer Toby Edmonds and ex Victorian jockey, Ryan Maloney. The mare has now won 7 of 15 starts. 
  • Nights Watch and Jungle Cat -- A couple of winners that were not connected to the champion stallion were Nights Watch who won the Group 3 Naturalism to qualify for the Caulfield Cup . Jockey Damian Lane riding for the Weir stable ended up on the outside rail but was able to grab Rising Red on the line both gallopers are by the stallion Redwood. The International traveller Jungle Cat for the Charlie Appleby/James Doyle combination collected the second group one of the day, in the Rupert Clarke Stakes as the seven year old wore down Dollar for Dollar to give James his first Australian winner. 
  • Tim Clarke and Rosehill -- Jockey Tim Clarke scored a treble at Rosehill saturday with firstly a win in the group three Gloaming Stakes on the promising Waterhouse/Bott young staying three year old High Chapparal colt, Thinkin Big. He won with his ears pricked by four lengths in the 1800m race. Later in the day he had wins on Shumookh again for the Waterhouse team in the group 2 Golden Pendant and in the second last on Tip Top.  Another two winners worth mentioning on the day were by the Sebrings. Hugh Bowman rode Seeblume to victory in the second on the card and the Sebring mare,Miss Admirality broke her maiden status winning the group 3 Colin Stephens Quality for the Mick Price stable. 
  • Georgina Cartwright and Adelaide -- It was another double for Georgina in Adelaide on Saturday as she road the first winner of the day With a Bit of Dash and then saluted on the Statue of Liberty gelding Fill the Flute. It was a great front running ride as she kicked clear on straightening to win easily. Interestingly he is out of the Redoutes mare, Dom Perion who also produced the winner of the first at Caulfield, Extra Brut. Raquel Clarke continued her good association with the Rebel Raiders as she won on Wasabi Bob. The listed Wylie Hcp was won by the Weir/ Coffey combo with that honest, I Am Invincible entire, Holy Blade. I'm also wanting to make a quick mention of the Victorian country meeting at Tatura and the treble for the Smart Missile clan. First it was the 3 year old filly Disenchanted for the Brent Stanley team who won by a huge six length margin. Then in the 1100m benchmark 64 went to Millie the Missile and this was followed by another ridden by Nikita. The Greg Eurell trained Fuse
Redoutes Choice 

Monday, September 17, 2018

Winning Runs of Smart Melody and Winx

        The weekends racing had so many highlights in both states with Winx on the top of the tree at Randwick over the promising stayer Avilius . While in Victoria we saw so much new talent rise to the top with Brutal,Grunt and Smart Melody all continuing on their winning ways. I think the win of the day other than the queens victory would have to go to Grunt. He was dominant in the group one Makybe Diva Stakes and now looks likely to take on Winx in the Cox Plate at the Valley. 


  • Winx and Avilius -- The Street Cry mare powered her way to victory in the George Main Stakes over 1600m and if they had gone 2000m, the margin would have been any ones guess because boy did she look strong over the last 150m of the race. How are they going to beat her if she maintains  fitness through the spring. She looks like she has an extra gear or two left up her sleeve which should see her make it 29 in a row by the end of the carnival.   
  • Ball of Muscle -- After being successful in the group 3 Heath in Victoria, trainer Joseph Pride decided to give the eight year old a crack at the group 2 Shorts at Randwick . A smart move as with the late withdrawal of the number one seed Redzel it left an open race and the ever consistent old bloke landed another good race for connections.  Siege of Quebec trained by Waterhouse/Bott team backed up after his disappointing performance last week in the Theo Marks to record a narrow victory in the group three Bill Ritchie Stakes over an unlucky Pierata . Avilius -- The new addition to the James Cummings camp is the French stayer, Avilius by Pivotal and he put himself up for calculations this spring with a good win in the group 3 Kingston Town Stakes over 2000m. He was ridden by Glyn Schofield and has now won three from three in this country and is now a three dollar favorite for the Metropolitan Hcp .  
Trekking -- This four year old gelding by Street Cry is trained by James Cummings for the Godolphin team and always puts in an honest performance and Saturday it was good enough to take out the last race of the day with Kerrin Mcevoy in the saddle. He is out of the Redoutes Choice mare, Outdoor. 

  •   Smart Melody and Miss Fabulous -- Two Kris Lees fillies on fire ! The first is a Smart Missile filly who recorded a very convincing win down the straight in the Cap D''Antibes Stakes. This now has Smart Melody four from four and heading for a start in the Guineas. Brenton Avdulla came down from Sydney to ride and when he give her a nudge 150m out. There was enormous excelleration. Kris Lees said after the race." Whether she's too brilliant to step out to a mile, we'll see. At least now she's been down the straight, so if we feel she can't run a mile after the Prelude, we can come back to Flemington." Miss Fabulass is another filly with a great pedigree in the Kris Lees stable being by Frankel out of the top Redoutes Choice mare Samantha Miss. She won like a real up and comer finishing strong along the inside for jockey Kerrin Mcevoy in the group 2 Tea Rose.
  • Flemington and O'reilly -- The O'reilly entire Grunt secured victory in the group one Makybe Diva over 1600m in authoritative fashion and as long as he is kept racing could easily win more at the top echelon. The Mick Price trained and Damian Oliver ridden four year old is now looking to take on the Queen, in the Cox Plate. He now has won five of eight and $1.2 million dollars in prizemoney. Brutal -- He found himself in the lead and facing the breeze at Flemington over 1400m on Saturday and really had to fight hard for victory but gee it was the sign of a good horse as he dug deep after being headed to score. The three year old colt is another O'reilly stallion prospect but trained by the Hawkes team this time. He is unbeaten in three starts to date. I Am A Star -- This little mare is all heart and added the group two Let's Elope Stakes over 1400m to her resume with a gutsy win. The Shane Nichols trained mare was almost sent to the breeding barn after having feet problem in the Autumn. Shane said, it was all left up to the way she was feeling after her early runs this preparation and she has hit form so her being a mum will have to wait another twelve months.

Monday, September 10, 2018

Nicconi and the Zoustars


      The weekends racing was mostly one of upsets with the heavy track at Rosehill in Sydney taking its toll. Trapeze Artist with his 61 kgs got bogged down chasing Home of the Brave while The Autumn Sun looked very unlucky as some great tactical riding by James Mcdonald on Tarka did a number on Kerrin Mcevoy. In Melbourne the track record of Nature Strip at the Valley was the talking point as he was used up early by Mark Zahra to hold the lead and just held off a strong finish by Houtzen. The 1200m of the Everest appears that it may be too far for the star Weir sprinter although Darren Weir has a differing opinion. He believes he will get the trip.  
  • Lean Mean Machine and Zoustar -- The Zoustar"s keep performing and Lean Mean Machine could be their new headline act as he glided across the heavy conditions winding his way between his rivals to score an easy victory in the group 2 Run to the Rose. While in the Stan Fox the talented son of Redoutes Choice, Autumn Sun had a luckless run when Tarka and James Mcdonald stole the show over the 1500m. It was definately the ride of the day as james pushed the highly promising The Autumn Sun back into the pocket on turning before making a winning break to nose out Dealmaker. Tarka is by All Too Hard out of a Galileo mare called Gayica. Another group two on the card was the Sheraco Stakes and was won by Invincibella who is also out of the Galileo mare in Abscond by I Am Invincible. The mare has now won over 1.25 million dollars in prizemoney for the Chris Waller stable. She was ridden well by Hugh Bowman to gain victory on the heavy track.
  • Nature Strip -- The Nicconi gelding is certainly putting a case forward for an Everest start and in the 1000m Group 2 Mcewan stakes on saturday he was ridden out of the gates to hold the lead and inside position. He was challenged late by the filly, Houtzen but just held on and in doing so broke the track record with a time of 56.95 seconds.
  • Moonee Valley and Land of Plenty -- In the listed Chandler Mcleod Stakes Land of Plenty was another winner for the Weir/ Zahra combination as he came with his customary late burst to secure victory. In his earlier years the Startum gelding found it hard to win but since changing to the Darren Weir stables he has started to get the job done. Tavirun ridden by Linda Meech caused an upset in the third race when Linda took the Tavistock gelding straight to the front for the Bussutin and Young team.The Group One Caulfield Guineas over 1600m now looms as a genuine target after Saturday's 1Print Handicap over the 1500m The team had success with Tavago in the 2016 Group One Australian Derby another son of  Tavistock, and are still keeping the Victoria Derby 2500m in mind for Tavirun.
  • Adelaide -- In the 100,000 dollar Morphetville Guineas in Adelaide Chris Symons teamed with Darren Weir with the filly, Fiera Vista to record an easy win over the 1600m journey. She is by Exceed and Excel out of the Encosta mare. Empress Jade. In the BM 75 the 4yo mare Fancy Rumble scored her fifth win in convincing style. She loves the 1000m to 1100m trips and was ridden by Liam Riordan . The Exceed and Excel stallion, Reward For Effort always produces winners on most race days especially over the shorter trips and are not early winners so usually dont reach their full potential until their 3 and 4 years of age.   

  • In Form Jockeys -- James Mcdonald gets the ride of the day on Tarka with him and Hugh Bowman getting doubles at Rosehill. At Moonee Valley it was a double to Mark Zahra for the Weir camp. While in Adelaide Dean Yendall scored a double for them as well. Jockeys continuing to get winners are Kayla Crowther, Jarrod Lorenzini,Jake Duffy, Linda Meech and Jordan Childs.

Sunday, September 2, 2018

Memsie Win For Humidor


    The Memsie Stakes at Caulfield is the Spring opener in Melbourne and boy it didnt let anyone down, producing an awesome race. It was last years Cox Plate runner up who was successful due to a great ride by Damian Lane. Earlier in the day we saw a super win by the Sepoy colt, Native Soldier. When he led the field for the Mcneil Stakes and kicked away on straightening for an easy win.While highlights in Sydney were the group 2 Tramway win of Unforgotten and the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes won by another from the Chris Waller stable who had a huge day, in Comin Through, getting the chocolates.

  • Darren Weir and Humidor -- While the Waller camp were dominating in Sydney it was the Weir camp in Melbourne. In the group one Memsie Stakes there was a blanket finish with the once wayward, Humidor finding a pathway along the rails to steal victory on the line. After Vega Magic had kicked clear in the straight, a wall of challenges appeared including an unlucky Kementari, who was forced to race three wide the trip and a fast finishing Kings Will Dream who had to change course while Humidor got the dream run to score.  
  •   Some of the other Darren Weir trained horses which saluted on Saturday were Native Soldier,Nights Watch, Bellaria, Mrs Gardenia and High Church. Native Soldier the winner of the group 3 Mcneil Stakes is by Sepoy and the style of his win had a lot of his dad in it. He sped over from the outside barrier setting up a good tempo and then booted clear for a very easy win. Jockey, Damian Lane had an epic day and he was aboard Night's Watch over the 1400m when he won easily to give the Weir camp yet another promising horse for the Spring. Damian is the jockey to follow this spring ! The one that got away from Darren Weir was the group 3 Heath as the Sydneysider Ball of Muscle showed awesome speed too burn his opposition off and although Voodoo Lad came rocketing home over the 1100m it was never in doubt for the eight year old, trained by Joseph Pride.
  • Fastnet Rock and Comin Through -- The Tramway Stakes over 1400 saw the Fastnet Rock gelding, Comin Through continue Chris Waller's great day with jockey Michael Walker riding hard. He was able to hold off an unlucky Dixie Blossoms who fired in a unsuccessful protest. There are talks about the camp targeting the Japan Cup with him. The win of Unforgotten in the Group 2 1600m Chelmsford Stakes gave the Waller /Fastnet Rock combo a double at Randwick . The four year old mare now has 6 wins from 11 starts and halfway down the straight was in a tight spot with Hugh Bowman having to wait for an opening but when it came there was a lot of power in the engine and she exploded clear , for an easy win. A group one this spring is not beyond this mare and the runner up Ace High finished strongly to put the writing on the wall for the staying group ones this season.
  • Redzel --The win of Redzel was an omninous sign for other Everest contenders as the Snitzel gelding scored an effortless win, in the Group 3 Concord Stakes. While the Snitzel clan recorded a double with the win of Goodfella for the Bjorn Baker team. The I Am Invincible filly, Pure Elation added the group 2 Furious Stakes to her resume and also made it an extra good day for the Snowden team and Michael Walker, both securing a double. The filly now has three wins from six starts. In Adelaide we saw the High Chaparral gelding,Answer My Friend make it three in a row in his customary way by leading and kicking strongly on straightening to win the 1400m, Listed Penny Edition. There were a total of five winners by Sepoy in all states with wins to Lightz at Hawkesbury and True Pride at Grafton. Checkout Sepoy Here