Full House Expected At Werribee For Spring

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 20:04

Racing Victoria's international scout Leigh Jordon is expecting the house full sign to be posted at the Werribee quarantine centre for the spring carnival.

Jordon says the two quarantine stables can house 24 horses, eight in one barn and 16 in the other.

The first lot of international horses, which will be the larger of two shipments, go into quarantine on Thursday in the UK and are due into Melbourne on October 1.

The second load is due two weeks later.

Already locked away for a trip for the Melbourne Cup is $15 favourite Wicklow Brave following his win in the Irish St Leger at The Curragh on Sunday.

Jordon says Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby could send out as many as six horses in the first shipment.

He said Scottish was being aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and Tryster the Cox Plate and hopefully the Emirates (Mackinnon) Stakes.

Besides Scottish, Godolphin has Francis Of Assissi, Oceanographer, Second Wave and Qewy entered in the Melbourne Cup in Appleby's care.

"Besides Scottish they've got four other stayers that they want to target at races like the Geelong Cup, Moonee Valley Cup and Bendigo Cup," Jordon said.

"They've looked at it and thought there's all this prize money on offer for handy stayers.

"They could sneak into the Melbourne Cup with a penalty, but might not, but it's still the prize money that is attractive."

Jordon says fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is likely to return while Andreas Wohler, who won the 2014 Melbourne Cup with Protectionist, is coming to run Articus in the Caulfield Cup and Red Cardinal in the Melbourne Cup.

He said the second shipment would contain Ebor winner Heartbreak City and Japanese raider Curren Mirotic.

"Between six and nine would be a nice number for the Melbourne Cup," Jordon said.

"For the Caulfield Cup there could be between two and four, depending on what Aidan (O'Brien) brings and up to three in the Cox Plate, again depending on what Aidan does.

"We're still waiting for Vadamos to commit for the Cox Plate.

"Hopefully we'll find out soon."

VRC Oaks Hope Just Victoria To Make Debut

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 20:04

Lawyer-turned-horse trainer Cheryl Roberts is used to working with Chris Waller's superstars but now she might have a Group One contender of her own.

Just Victoria will make her debut in a 1400m maiden handicap at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and Roberts hopes she can go all the way to VRC Oaks at Flemington on November 3.

The filly was a $30,000 yearling selected by her husband, prominent vet Tim Roberts, who focuses on type when choosing horses.

Roberts has three horses in work under her name and pre-trains a further 40 for Waller at the couple's Boynton Park farm on the NSW south coast.

Waller-trained stars including Zoustar, Boban, Hawkspur and champion mare Winx have spent time at the property.

"We had Winx as a two-year-old before she had won a race," Roberts said.

"They start off, I get them going nicely and then they go off to bigger pastures.

"Having said that, I'd rather not have the responsibility once they turn into super Group horses."

Waller's wife Stephanie is a part-owner of Just Victoria and also has a share in the Roberts-trained Divajeu who ran in last year's Gimcrack Stakes.

"We've had a long-standing relationship with Chris since he started off with six horses," Roberts said.

"He's very kindly given me some support as well and Stephanie's come on board."

Roberts has had a handful of runners since taking her licence out almost two years ago.

She trained Chuchoter to wins at Benalla and Goulburn last year and intends to maintain a small but high-quality team led by Just Victoria.

"If she's not good enough for the Victorian Oaks then she's not good enough for me," Roberts said.

"I don't have time to potter around in the provincials because I'm just so busy working on Chris's main horses."

While Just Victoria is an unknown quantity ahead of her debut the trainer has high hopes for the Magic Albert filly.

"I've put a lot of groundwork into her," Roberts said.

"She's had quite a few months to get fit. She's hard and she's ready to go, I just hope she's fast enough."

Roberts' journey to training horses started in the 1970s when she and her husband moved to South Africa.

There she combined running his vet practice with working with thoroughbreds.

"I did quite a bit of pre-training over there and I subsequently found out it's in my blood," Roberts said.

"I come from a long line of horse people."

After they returned to Australia she studied law and worked in a leading Sydney firm before returning to her true passion.

"I'm back doing what I always loved doing - and I hate paperwork," Roberts said.

Bacarella Trying For Tea Rose Turnaround

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 20:04

While gallant in defeat after leading during the Furious Stakes, cover could be the key to Bacarella's bid to turn the tables on Foxplay in the Tea Rose Stakes.

The Gary Moore-trained Bacarella took up the running at her last start in the Group Two Furious Stakes at Randwick but was no match for the Chris Waller-trained Foxplay, who pulled away to win by 1-3/4 lengths.

It was the second time in two starts a Waller-trained filly has had Bacarella's measure after she fell victim to the powerful finish of Omei Sword who romped in to win the Silver Shadow by 3-1/4 lengths.

Omei Sword's second behind Astern in the Golden Rose boosts Bacarella's claims for the Group Two Tea Rose (1400m) at Randwick, but she will need to improve to upstage Foxplay.

"She deserves this on Saturday," Moore said.

"She's got a lot more muscle on her since the Furious and she's gone very well in her work on Tuesday morning."

Moore said Bacarella's prominent role in the Furious was unintentional.

"If you look back on her trials as a two-year-old, a few times she missed the start and she was held up and she showed a good change of gear," Moore said.

"She could easily lead but I'd like to see her ridden off the speed if that presents itself."

While the Group One Flight Stakes over 1600m at Randwick on October 1 is the final race of the Princess Series, Moore says Saturday's race will tell him more about Bacarella's distance range.

"I think what we've got to see is if she gets a good ride by Tim Clark on Saturday to see if she can go further," Moore said.

And a start in the Flight would also mean another encounter with Omei Sword.

"Omei Sword is a very good filly and she's the likely favourite for the Flight Stakes," Moore said.

"She beat me very easily so it would be pretty hard to take her on again."

Foxplay is the $2.80 favourite for the Tea Rose while Bacarella is on the third line of betting at $6.

Moore's runner in the Listed Heritage Stakes will be Mount Panorama who ran third behind Astern in the Group Two Silver Slipper Stakes in February.

He said Mount Panorama's last in the San Domenico Stakes first-up showed him he should have been fitter before he kicked off his campaign.

"He looks in great shape now," Moore said.

"He worked very well on Tuesday morning on the course proper."

Winx Gives Hugh Bowman Confidence

Monday, 12 September 2016 08:39

As a jockey Hugh Bowman copes with pressure on a daily basis but he admits to an added responsibility when it comes to riding Winx.

The champion mare runs in her first Group One race of the new season in Saturday's George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Just six horses were entered on Monday to run against Winx including two of her Chris Waller-trained stablemates, Spiritjim and Vanbrugh and former Japanese horse Tosen Stardom.

"To get a headline act and to be a part of it, it comes with a great deal of responsibility," Bowman said.

"But I have so much confidence in her.

"She is easy to ride. She puts herself where she needs to be."

The George Main will be Winx's last spring appearance in Sydney after which she heads to Melbourne for the Caulfield Stakes and her defence of the Cox Plate.

Although Bowman and Waller have had many Group One wins separately and together, the Cox Plate was the first of the established big four for jockey or trainer.

"The Cox Plate is the best race in Australia," Bowman said.

"The Golden Slipper is for two-year-olds and the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups are handicaps.

"But the Cox Plate is weight-for-age over 2000 metres. It was humbling to win it last year and I'm as excited as anyone leading into it this year."

Hauraki and It's Somewhat will represent Godolphin in the George Main while the Kris Lees-trained Randwick Guineas winner Le Romain is other nomination.

Lees has also entered Le Romain in the Bill Ritchie Hcp (1400m) and will wait until later in the week to decide which races he runs in.

Winx missed a scheduled start in the Chelmsford Stakes last Saturday week and had a hit-out in a barrier trial on Friday.

"I'm glad we gave her the trial," Waller said.

"It's just like a pre-match training session and she is right where she needs to be."

Indicative of her superstar status, Winx is at $1.15 in opening markets with Tosen Stardom next at $10.

Winx Odds-on To Make It 11 Straight

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 20:04

Winx is destined go to her next start at the same sort of odds Black Caviar did in many of her races but trainer Chris Waller plays down any comparison between the two mares.

Although Winx is attracting a public following and is odds-on to be named Australia's champion for last season, she doesn't have the perfect record of Black Caviar who won all her 25 starts.

What she does have is a will to win which sets her apart and she is already at $1.15 to win her first Group One race of the new season in Saturday's George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Hugh Bowman reacts after riding Winx to victory in the Cox Plate

Winx has won 14 of her 20 starts, the past 10 in a row.

"Black Caviar is the only horse to run at the same level and go through undefeated," Waller said.

"Winx has been beaten and she will be defeated again but that's not something we can worry about.

"If she gets beaten she will get beaten by a good horse."

Former Japanese horse Tosen Stardom and Godolphin's last-start Tramway Stakes winner Hauraki share the second line of betting at $9.50.

Randwick Guineas winner Le Romain is next at $13 and also holds an entry to the Group Three Bill Ritchie Hcp (1400m).

Trainer Kris Lees will wait until after Wednesday's acceptances to decide which race the four-year-old runs in.

Le Romain already has some form as a giant killer, upsetting the Waller-trained odds-on favourite Press Statement as a $21 chance in the Randwick Guineas in March.

Winx is in a different league from Press Statement and although Waller prepares himself for defeat, he doesn't think it is imminent.

"Her will to win sets her apart," he said.

"We haven't protected her. I respect all the horses she races against.

"But she is fit and well and she will do her best."

Great Esteem, trained at Caulfield by Stuart Webb, was added to the entries on Tuesday but is expected to run in either the Naturalism Stakes on his home track or a Listed race in Adelaide.

King Remembers Champion Mare Let's Elope

Monday, 12 September 2016 08:39

The spring carnival of 1991 is one jockey Steven King will never forget, thanks to deeds of Let's Elope.

The Caulfield and Melbourne Cups winner has died at the age of 29 and King has paid tribute to the champion mare.

"It's sad, because she was such an important part of my career," King said.

Jockey Steven King

"She did everything I could possibly ask of her.

"You just look at it and go, `you don't find those sorts of horses'."

Let's Elope was Australia's champion racehorse for the 1991/92 season, winning seven consecutive feature races in the care of the late Bart Cummings.

King was aboard for six of those wins including the Caulfield Cup, Mackinnon Stakes and Melbourne Cup.

"When I first laid eyes on her I was 21 and I was booked to ride her in the Turnbull Stakes," he said.

"She obviously won the Turnbull and went on and won the Caulfield Cup and won the Melbourne Cup on my 22nd birthday.

"So it happened very quickly. You look back now and I was quite young myself, so I was lucky enough to be on such a great mare and all I had to do was steer her - she did the rest."

Let's Elope won 11 of her 26 starts during a career that started in New Zealand and finished in America.

As a broodmare, she produced eight named foals with six to race, all of them winners.

They included Group Two winner Ustinov and Adelaide Cup winner Outback Joe.

Last year's Bart Cummings Quality winner Let's Make Adeal is a grand-daughter.

Lauriston Park's Chris and Kathie Bakker said Let's Elope died peacefully in her sleep lying underneath a gum tree in her favourite paddock on Monday night at the farm where she had been a nanny in her final years.

King said he was especially pleased he had taken his three sons - 21-year-old Jordan, 18-year-old Lachie, and 16-year-old Ben - to visit Let's Elope at the Euroa property last year.

"I took the boys out there and gave her a pat, and I'm glad the boys went out there and saw her," he said.

"It's like anything. You don't really appreciate those sorts of things until later on in life.

"The fact they were able to pat her and know that their father won a Melbourne Cup on her, I think is important."

Trainer Nigel Blackiston was foreman for Cummings during the Let's Elope era and has had success with descendants of the mare including Outback Joe and Let's Make Adeal.

"It was a privilege to be involved in Let's Elope's career," Blackiston tweeted.

Suavito Retired To Be A Broodmare

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 20:04

Dual Group One winner Suavito has been retired and sold to New Zealand's Waikato Stud.

Trainer Nigel Blackiston announced the retirement of Suavito on Wednesday saying the six-year-old mare would be served by Savabeel in the coming weeks.

"She is one of the toughest fillies or mares I have dealt with. She can race on the pace or off it, in the pack or out wide, and has a great will to win," Blackiston said on his website.

Her first Group One victory came in the 2015 Futurity Stakes, followed almost a year later with success in the C F Orr Stakes in February 2016.

Blackiston, who previously served as a foreman for Bart Cummings, said the mare would be missed when she returned to New Zealand were she was foaled and raised.

Suavito finishes a 24 race career, launched at Ballarat in 2013, earning more than $1.3 million prize money and claiming eight victories, including five at Group level.

Ball Of Muscle Rolling Into G2 Shorts

Monday, 12 September 2016 08:39

With Terravista missing the spring, sprinting understudy Ball Of Muscle carries trainer Joe Pride's Group One hopes.

He gets his first chance to prove he can take centre stage in the Group Two Shorts at Randwick on Saturday.

The six-year-old has trialled twice ahead of his first-up run.

He has won both and was impressive in the latest hit-out, winning easily under a tight hold from Kerrin McEvoy on Friday.

"Judging off his trials and the way he looks, he's come back better than ever," Pride said.

"I guess everyone says that about their horses when they come back but I don't think I've seen him trial better. It was excellent."

"Everything I've asked of him this preparation he's done and done with relative ease which is a good indicator."

Ball Of Muscle's Group One-winning half-brother Terravista is in work but will not race until autumn in a bid to overcome ongoing foot problems.

"Ball Of Muscle's the best sprinter we've got up and running at the moment so hopefully he can knock off a nice race for us," Pride said.

Pride considered starting Ball Of Muscle's preparation in the Group One Moir Stakes but decided The Shorts would prime him for Moonee Valley.

"Just seeing the strength of this Moir I really think he's going to have to be close to his peak to win it," Pride said.

"For that reason he's having a run here in Sydney before we leave because he's never been a horse who has peaked first-up."

If Ball Of Muscle exceeds his trainer's expectations he might get a crack at the Flemington carnival but a trip to Perth for the Winterbottom Stakes is more likely.

"It certainly won't be easy but you're not going to get an easier race for $1 million," Pride said.

Concorde Stakes placegetter Craftiness is nominated for The Shorts but likely to have her next start at Caulfield on September 24.

Ball Of Muscle is at $11 to win The Shorts in TAB's early market which is led by English at $2.80.

Wicklow Brave Firms In Cup Betting

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 20:04

Bookmakers betting on the Melbourne Cup are not the only ones impressed by the Irish St Leger win of Wicklow Brave.

Greg Carpenter, head of handicapping at Racing Victoria, announced on Tuesday he had allocated the Willie Mullins-trained stayer 55kg for November's Melbourne Cup at Flemington after his win over odds-on favourite Order Of St George at The Curragh on Sunday.

The weight is 2.5kg more than Carpenter handed the stayer in the Caulfield Cup when he released weights for that race two weeks ago.

Leigh Jordon, RV's recruitment officer, said Mullins had already placed Wicklow Brave in quarantine for a trip to Melbourne.

Before his Irish St Leger success Wicklow Brave was at $81 in Cup betting but had his price slashed to $15 favouritism after his weight was announced.

Wicklow Brave will be the fourth horse Mullins has sent to Melbourne for the Cup.

Holy Orders finish 17th in 2003, Simenon fourth in 2013 and Max Dynamite second to Prince Of Penzance last year.

"Wicklow Brave is locked away," Jordon said.

"He'll be out here early like Max Dynamite was last year. That's the way Willie likes to do things."

Order Of St George and 2014 Cup winner Protectionist share equal topweight of 58kg for the $6.2 million race.

But the pair face a 66-year hoodoo to win the race.

The last original Cup topweight to win was Comic Court in 1950 with 59.5kg.

"The handicap presents a challenge to both Order Of St George and Protectionist, however they have earned the position at the head of the weights based on their performances over the past 12 months," Carpenter said.

Last year's winner Prince Of Penzance rises 3.5kg on 2015 to 56.5kg.

The 3.5kg rise is the same given to Americain (2011) and Dunaden (2012) following their respective Cup victories.

Victoria Derby winner Tarzino and Australian Derby winner Tavago are the highest rated four-year-olds with 54kg, with VRC Oaks winner Jameka guaranteed a start with 51.5kg.

Preferment, a four-time Group One winner, has won the most number of races at the highest level of the 123 horses nominated and with 56.5kg shares the second highest weight with Prince Of Penzance.

Should Order Of St George and Protectionist not run, weights will rise a minimum of 0.5kg to obtain a 57kg minimum topweight under Australian rules of racing.

Tony Gollan Aiming Amexed At Newcastle Cup

Monday, 12 September 2016 08:39

Premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan is hoping to fire his first shot in the spring carnival with Amexed in the Newcastle Gold Cup.

The Group Three Newcastle Cup (2200m) on Friday will be a spring carnival launching pad for several classy stayers and Gollan doesn't believe Amexed will be out of place.

Among the 17 horses entered on Monday for the Cup are four from the Kris Lees stable as the local trainer attempts to win his home town feature for the first time.

Sense Of Occasion and Slow Pace are last-start winners while former European Singing has finished second in two Australian starts.

Olympic Academy rounds out the Lees quartet.

Gollan said there was not much for Amexed in Queensland.

"There isn't a lot for him in Brisbane at the moment as he isn't a Magic Millions horse," he said.

The now six-year-old won the Group Three Rough Habit Plate as a three-year-old and returned to form when he won the Listed Caloundra Cup and the Ipswich Stayers Final in the winter.

Amexed resumed at Eagle Farm two weeks ago in an open handicap over 1600m, finishing sixth after casting a show in the race.

Gollan was happy with the run and believes the step up to 2200m will suit Amexed.

"It looks to be the right type of grade for him and if he goes well we can start talking about something a bit better," Gollan said.

The trainer is starting to build up his Sydney satellite stable and hopes to have regular runners from October.

He has 20 boxes at Rosehill which are now ready to be used.

"The wet weather in Sydney has held us up a bit but we are getting things together. We have about 40 two year olds and a good percentage of them are BOBs eligible horses," Gollan said.