British Bookies Install Fields and Miss as Equal Cup Faves

Thursday, 17 October 2002 00:00

British bookmakers William Hill have installed Fields Of Omagh and Magical Miss as the 4-1 joint-favourites for Saturday's Caulfield Cup with the Godolphin owned Beekeeper as a 6-1 chance.

Also, Breeders Cup prices will be available from Thursday morning after the announcement of the pre-entries.

CAULFIELD CUP: 4-1 Fields Of Omagh, Magical Miss, 11-2 Northerly, 6-1 Beekeeper, 9-1 Pentastic, Republic Lass, 14-1 Dash For Cash, 16-1 Rain Gauge, Universal Prince, 20-1 Helene Vitality, 25-1 Distinctly Secret, Prized Gem, The Second Mortgage, 40-1 Tully Thunder, 50-1 Maguire, 66-1 Freemason, Kaapstad Way, 100-1 Sandmason (Reserves: 66-1 Hey Pronto, 100-1 Hail, 150-1 Grey Song)

MELBOURNE CUP: 7-1 Pugin, Vinnie Roe, 8-1 Magical Miss, 12-1 Hatha Anna, Pentastic, 14-1 Beekeeper, Distinctly Secret, Republic Lass, Universal Prince, 16-1 Rain Gauge, 20-1 Helene Vitality, Prized Gem. (Others Upon Request)

Media Release - William Hill

Cooksley Granted Singapore Permit

Monday, 30 September 2002 00:00

Jockey Grant Cooksley has been granted a six-month local permit by the Club to ride at Kranji from 1 October 2002 to 31 March 2003. The Kiwi ace is sponsored jointly by trainers Mohd Yusof and Anthony Riley.

Jockey Cooksley, 42 is no stranger to local racegoers having ridden here on many stints. He is best remembered for sweeping the 2001 Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge series aboard Bocelli to win the Patrons’ Bowl, Derby Trial and the Emirates Singapore Derby. He also partnered St Kentigern to victory in the Kranji Sprint and captured the Kranji Mile astride Smart Bet.

Jockey Cooksley is currently in 14^th spot in the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership and has been one of the leading riders in both New Zealand and Australia. He has also ridden in England, Dubai, Hong Kong, Macau and the MRA circuit.

Among his 1,900 career wins were 46 Group 1 winners including the New Zealand Oaks, New Zealand Cup, New Zealand Derby, Auckland Cup, Adelaide Cup, Sydney Cup and many others. Jockey Cooksley goes to scale at 53kg.

The Club has also granted Japanese Manabu Kurachi a three-month local permit to ride freelance at Kranji from 1 October to 31 December 2002.

Jockey Kurachi is currently licensed by the National Association of Racing in Japan and is primarily based at Nagoya Racecourse.

The 32-year-old Japanese rider has 15 years of experience in the saddle and has ridden more than 500 winners.

Jockey Kurachi is currently in 9^th position in the Nagoya Jockeys’ Premiership with 39 winners. Last year, he finished 10^th in the championship with 58 wins. He goes to scale at 52kg

Media Release - Singapore Turf Club

Frankel Has High Hopes for Final Destination

Friday, 11 October 2002 00:00

While travelling through the United States en route from the Tattersall’s Houghton Yearling Sales in England, Matamata bloodstock consultant Paul Moroney received a glowing report on Final Destination from American trainer Bobby Frankel.

“Bobby told me that she’s really starting to fire and is only about two weeks away from a race,” said Moroney. “He’s rapt with her progress lately and is confident that she will
make the grade.”

The O'Reilly four-year-old was sold last autumn after winning the Gr.1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas and Bayer Classic for trainers Wayne and Vanessa Hillis and owner Ted Van Beurden. Knee problems which were to prove inconsequential hindered her early progress, but Moroney agrees with Frankel that the delay may have been a blessing.

“Happyanunoit took time to acclimatise when she went up there and this filly has been given her chance too,” he said.

Under Frankel’s guidance, Happyanunoit became one of the best mares in the United States, adding six races, including three at Group 1 level, and nearly $US1.5 million to her excellent two-year-old record.

Now seven years old, she goes up for auction carrying a service to Giant’s Causeway at next month’s Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale.

Media Release - TNZ

Pugin In, Jardine's Out for Melbourne Cup

Wednesday, 18 September 2002 00:00

While Pugin has entered quarantine for a trip to Australia to contest the Melbourne Cup in November, one of the other expected European challengers will not be making the trip.

The recent Goodwood Cup winner Jardine's Lookout will stay in Europe after disappointing connections when he ran out of a place late last week.

Trainer Alan Jarvis said after the race the gelding would definitely not be travelling to Australia to contest this year's two mile feature, but he could be a chance next year.

Meanwhile, bookmakers reacted swfitly to the news that Godolphin had purchased the Irish St Leger runner up (to Vinnie Roe) Pugin.

That galloper's price was slashed from 50/1 to about 16/1 with most bookmakers in Australia.

Pugin has joined stablemates Grandera, Hatha Anna, Atlantis Prince and Beekeeper by entering quarantine early this week. The Godolphin team is expected to leave for Australia on September 30.

Significant Moves in Breeders' Cup Markets

Tuesday, 08 October 2002 00:00

After an action packed weekend of racing from around the globe there have been several changes to the Breeders Cup markets.

The Arc 1-2-3 head the Turf betting, Marienbard has been cut from 12-1 to 4-1, sitting in joint second favourite position with High Chaparral. Sulamani is now 7-2 (from 5-1) favourite.

The Shadwell Turf Mile at Keenland has influenced the Mile betting with winner Landseer now 6-1 from 16-1 and second Touch of the Blues 12-1 from 20-1.

MELBOURNE CUP: 7-1 Pugin, Vinnie Roe, 8-1 Magical Miss (from 7-1), 12-1 Hatha Anna, Pentastic (from 14-1), 14-1 Beekeeper, Distinctly Secret, Republic Lass, Universal Prince (from 12-1), 16-1 Rain Gauge, 20-1 Helene Vitality (from 25-1), Prized Gem. (Others Upon Request)

BREEDERS CUP CLASSIC: 5-1 Medaglia D'oro, War Emblem, 7-1 Evening Attire, 8-1 Came Home, 10-1 Lido Palace, 12-1 Harlans Holiday, Hawk Wing, Macho Uno, Pleasantly Perfect, Repent, 14-1 Nayef, 16-1 E Dubai, Momentum (from 12-1), Tenpins. (Others Upon Request)

BREEDERS CUP TURF: 7-2 Sulamani (from 5-1), 4-1 High Chaparral (from 9-2), Marienbard (from 12-1), 7-1 Denon, Golan (from 8-1), 8-1 Ballingarry, With Anticipation, 14-1 Mubtaker, The Tin Man, 16-1 Super Quercus, Zindabad. (Others Upon Request)

BREEDERS CUP MILE: 5-4 Rock of Gibraltar, 6-1 Landseer (from 16-1), 7-1 Beat Hollow (from 6-1), 8-1 Domedriver, Forbidden Apple, 12-1 Touch of the Blues (from 20-1), 14-1 Good Journey, Irish Prize, 20-1 Bach, Night Patrol, Noverre, Redattore, 25-1 Decarchy, Del Mar Show. (Others Upon Application)

Media Release - William Hill

Vinnie Not Certain Cup Runner

Wednesday, 18 September 2002 00:00

Despite winning the Group One Irish St Leger on the weekend, the Melbourne Cup favourite Vinnie Roe is still not a confirmed runner in Australia's richest race.

His trainer Dermot Weld, who is the only international trainer to win the race with Vintage Crop, feels his charge is terribly weighted in comparison to his St Leger runner-up Pugin.

Pugin, who was purchased by the powerful Godolphin operation moments after his second in the St Leger, will get a five and a half kilogram pull in the weights over the early favourite.

"Jim Sheridan (joint owner) agreed with me that having to give Pugin 12lb in Australia would be a mammoth task," Weld told Racing Post.

Weld added that he felt that handicapper James Bowler had erred in his weights which were released prior to the weekend.

"It appears to us that the Australian handicapper has been far too lenient on Pugin. In my opinion, he should be favourite for the Melbourne Cup," he said.

Vinnie Roe's less fancied stablemate Media Puzzle ran well to place over the weekend and he has also entered quarantine for a possible Australian trip.

"I was very pleased with Media Puzzle's run on Sunday. It was his first attempt over two miles and he ran a big race to be beaten half a length and the same by two very useful handicappers, giving both of them weight."

"He is in quarantine with Vinnie Roe and we will decide later in the week whether one or both will travel to Melbourne."

Jeune King Prawn Takes Hong Kong Feature

Tuesday, 01 October 2002 00:00

King Prawns were on everybody's lips again on National Day in Hong Kong as Jeune King Prawn captured the featured HK$2 million National Day Cup (Premier Class-1400m) to emulate his vaunted stable companion Fairy King Prawn's record-breaking win in the same event 12 months ago.

And while it wasn't quite a case of deja vu, the old firm of owners Mr & Mrs Philip Lau Sak-hong, trainer Ivan Allan and jockey Weichong Marwing served notice that they will remain one of the most important combinations in Hong Kong racing this season.

Jeune King Prawn held sway over several of today's rivals last season in the Champion's Mile (HKGr.1-1600m) and this success, his fourth from four starts over the Sha Tin 1400m, further underlined his star quality in Hong Kong's miler category.

With Man Of Honour and Citizen Kane cutting out the early running, Jeune King Prawn was settled out three-wide and two lengths off the pace, while the fancied Smart Winner enjoyed the run of the race on the fence.

At the top of the straight the pacesetters gave way once Marwing pressed the button on "Jeune" to quickly establish a break of a couple of lengths back to the pursuers with 200m to race. Try as Smart Winner might, he never quite looked like reeling in the 2/1 favourite that crossed the line with half a length to spare.

Dr More kept on well to take third place narrowly from Super Molly, who stayed on strongly from off the pace despite meeting significant trouble in running. The time clocked on a track rated "Good to Firm" was 1 min 21.9 secs.

Enjoying his sixth success on this son of Danehill, Marwing later remarked: "I wasn't worried that he raced on the outside of them. He's better out there than being caught on the inner. He relaxed, he was always travelling easily and, when I asked him, he quickened up really well. He'll come on from this so we've got plenty more to look forward to."

Media Release - HKJC

Go Roe - Vinnie Wins St Leger

Sunday, 15 September 2002 00:00

Vinnie Roe put the perfect finishing touch on his Melbourne Cup preparation on Saturday when recording his second consecutive victory in the Irish St Leger at The Curragh.

Dermot Weld's classy Australian-bound challenger was always cruising in the mile-and-three-quarter Group I contest, powering clear to win cosily by a length and a half from pacemaker Pugin and Ballydoyle colt Ballingarry.

The first two are set to renew rivalry next in the Melbourne Cup, after Godolphin purchased Pugin for an undisclosed sum after the race in order to strengthen their hand for the Flemington feature.

Vinnie Roe, sent off a 4-5 chance, always looked the winner as he cruised up to challenge from two furlongs out.

Weld, who sent out the four-year-old to win both the French and Irish St Legers last year, said after the race:"This is a very brave horse, one of the toughest I have trained and he goes into quarantine tomorrow (Sunday) for the Melbourne Cup.

"This horse has the steel to compete in the Melbourne Cup and he is younger than Vintage Crop was going there. But attempting to win again in Australia is a tough assignment as this fellow has top weight,"

Vinnie Roe is owned in partnership by expat Kiwi Michael Watt, who owns about 30 horses worldwide and recently purchased crack Australian hurdler Zabenz.

Weld added: “Vinnie Roe is a very straightforward type of horse. He is as tough and genuine as any horse I've trained and he doesn't know what it means to quit.”

In winning his second St Leger, Vinnie Roe was emulating Vintage Crop, who won the Melbourne Cup on his next start for Weld in 1993.

Pugin, fourth in last year's Irish Derby and the winner of a Listed contest on his latest start, will be 12lb better off when he meets Vinnie Roe on the first Tuesday in November.

Bred to stay all day, being by the high-class staying sire Darshaan out of a Nashwan mare, Pugin delighted connections with his performance today, only his third start this season after he pulled a muscle on his season debut in the spring.

Trainer John Oxx, said: "We thought he was back to the kind of form that saw him finish fourth in last year's
Budweiser Derby. He has run a super race, but Vinnie Roe has that little extra turn of foot".

Media Release - TNZ

Gatt Lands Double in Macau

Monday, 30 September 2002 00:00

Leading South Australian rider Paul Gatt not only landed his first winner but scored a double in Macau yesterday afternoon.

Gatt left South Australia just over three weeks ago to take up a three-month contact in the new racing season. He has ridden a number of placings but was delighted to land a winning double at the twilight meeting on Sunday evening.

"I had been riding pretty well and had a second and four thirds, but it was a relief to break through for a win," Gatt said. "The racing is really competitive here so it will be a big help to have a couple of wins on the board."

Gatt scored on 35/1 shot Speeding Penalty over 1000m on turf for trainer W. T. Lai, before bringing up a double later in the evening on Golden Two – the 35/10 favourite – for top trainer Gary Moore.

"It rained all weekend and the turf race was on a bog track," Gatt said. "I had the box seat on Speeding Penalty and despite being a long shot he ended up winning by almost five lengths.

"Later in the night on the sand track I led all the way on Golden Two."

Gatt said the winning double would be a big boost to his chances of riding in the $HK600,000 Autumn Trophy (1500m) in a months time.

"Over here it’s very important to get a winner early on," Gatt said. "I’ve been around the mark before my double so hopefully I can get on a bit of a roll. It would be nice to be able to ride in some of the feature races so early on."

Gatt is riding as a freelance jockey and attends trackwork five or six times each week.

"It’s a real eye-opener and nothing like home, but it’s been a great experience so far."

Media Release - Jason Hickson (TRSA)

Vinnie's Cup Chances on the Line in Irish St Leger

Saturday, 14 September 2002 00:00

Vinnie Roe will today (Saturday) bid to enhance his Melbourne Cup claims when he attempts to win back-to-back Irish St Leger at The Curragh.

The Dermot Weld-trained four-year-old will have a stern test in the Group I contest, with Irish Oaks heroine Margarula, Irish Derby third Ballingarry and Group I winner Millenary all making the lineup.

Only four horses have won the Irish St Leger twice – Oscar Schindler, Kayf Tara and Vintage Crop, who won the Flemington feature for Weld in 1993.

Weld, who sent out Vinnie Roe to finish a close second in the Ascot Gold Cup (2 1/2 miles) before winning a Listed event on his last start, said: “Vinnie Roe is in excellent form, his preparation has gone very well and I'm hoping for another big run from him.

“He has won on all types of ground and seems very adaptable but he does seem to really appreciate some cut so I'm just hoping it doesn't prove too firm.

Media Release - TNZ