Unbeaten Miss Vista Nearing Race Return

Monday, 12 September 2016 08:39

As popular for her striking looks as her speed on the track, the unbeaten Miss Vista is a nearing a return to the races.

With her unusual white markings and blue eyes, the four-year-old has attracted much attention since she made her debut at Ballarat in March.

Trainer George Osborne is looking to give her an exhibition gallop at Bendigo on Wednesday and kick off her campaign at Moonee Valley nine days later or the following week at Caulfield.

After the Ballarat win, she added a city victory at Flemington a month later.

"She's created that (attention) by the way she looks, and the fact that she runs very fast I suppose," Kyneton-based Osborne said.

He believes the best example of why Miss Vista has drawn such attention is the head-on vision of her Flemington win.

"If you try to watch another horse in the race, you can't," he said.

"You just get fixed on her, no matter who you're trying to look at.

"It's near impossible for her not to draw your attention to her."

Osborne said Miss Vista had been "terrific" in two Geelong jump-outs on the synthetic track.

He is planning to gallop her on the grass at Wednesday's Bendigo meeting if the track isn't too heavy.

"Due to all the wet weather we haven't given her a gallop on a grass track this preparation, not that that's a huge issue but I wouldn't mind doing it," he said.

If she doesn't make the field for a benchmark-78 over 955 metres at Moonee Valley's night meeting on Friday week, Miss Vista will run in a benchmark race over 1000m at Caulfield.

"We're not going to be throwing her in the deep end at this stage," Osborne said.

"She's a four-year-old mare and doesn't have the advantage of racing her own age any more.

"I do feel she'll get her chance to race in black type races, but it may be next preparation or the preparation after."

Owners Continue To Monitor Xtravagant

Sunday, 11 September 2016 08:29

Te Akau Racing will continue to monitor Xtravagant but have not found anything amiss in the 24 hours since his failure at Flemington.

The New Zealand star behaved badly before Saturday's Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington and Damien Oliver eased him down in the race.

His co-trainer Stephen Autridge said he was actually better pre-race than on his previous visit in the autumn.

Te Akau, which races the horse, said so far all tests were clear ahead of the results of blood tests.

"We immediately had Blake (Xtravagant) vetted and his heart, his legs and the scope all came back 100 per cent," Te Akau said in a statement.

"The good news and the most critical news is that we have (subject to the blood reports) a physically well horse and that is a huge worry off all of our minds."

Autridge also had a bad day when he was hit with a $500 fine for giving a treatment called Neutradex to Xtravagant on Friday against the Australian rules.

Stewards took pre-race blood and urine samples from Xtravagant and, after establishing the 30mg of the alkalinising agent would have a negligible effect on the horse's TCO2 level, allowed him to start.

Winx Well On The Way To Main Aim

Sunday, 11 September 2016 08:29

An interruption to Winx's campaign is of no concern to trainer Chris Waller.

After a comprehensive win over Hartnell in the Warwick Stakes, Winx missed a scheduled start in the Chelmsford Stakes because Waller did not want to risk her on a heavy track.

The champion mare is again likely to have only a few rivals when she runs in Saturday's Group One George Main Stakes at Randwick before she heads to Melbourne.

"We planned her program so that she could miss a race if she had to," Waller said.

"She is fine. She is fit enough and I have no concerns."

Winx was an eye-catching third in a 1000m-barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Friday and will have her final lead-up gallop at Rosehill on Wednesday.

Her stablemates Spiritjim and Storm The Stars will be entered for the George Main (1600m) with the latter third in the Chelmsford won in dominant fashion by Hartnell who lines up in the Hill Stakes (2000m).

Japanese horse Tosen Stardom will run in the George Main Stakes with her owners, Australian Bloodstock, keen to see how he measures up against Winx ahead of another possible clash in the Cox Plate.

Hartnell's John O'Shea-trained stablemate Hauraki, winner of the Tramway Stakes on September 3, runs in the George Main on his way to the Epsom Handicap.

Hauraki has been placed four times in Group One races including a third behind Winx in the Chipping Norton Stakes in autumn.

Waller will take on Hartnell in the Hill Stakes with Preferment, Who Shot Thebarman and Grand Marshal who are all on a Cups campaign.

O'Shea has not committed Hartnell to any races in Melbourne with the Group One Metropolitan in Sydney his preferred target.

"He is a horse that likes to get his toe in the ground and he's more likely to get that in Sydney," he said.

Tosen Stardom's stablemate, the Darren Weir-trained Signoff, will also be entered for the Hill Stakes.

All's Well With Cassidy Comeback

Sunday, 11 September 2016 08:29

Jockey Larry Cassidy admits he was sceptical when Brian Smith steered him into an unusual aid to try to help with his crippling knee pain.

Cassidy rode his first winner after a lengthy injury lay-off aboard the Smith-trained Sony Legend at Doomben on Saturday.

Smith has played a big part in Cassidy's comeback, in particular urging him to try a "Wellcell" which is now his constant companion.

The trainer has been a champion of the Wellcell, attributing it to getting him over a major health scare several years ago.

It is a small plastic device which emits electromagnetic light frequencies and is advertised as a treatment for everything from pain to poor sleep.

"Larry was complaining about his knees and the trouble he was having so I kept telling him to get a Wellcell and he finally did," Smith said.

Cassidy said he was not really sure if it worked or not but said he now took it everywhere.

"I'm not exactly sure what it's meant to do, but I know I lost the damn thing for a week. It was in the bottom of my bag or something," Cassidy said.

"My knees got very sore again. Perhaps it was a coincidence, but after I found it again I carry it with me except when I am riding."

Sony Legend was Cassidy's his first winner since he steered Winx to victory in the Sunshine Coast Guineas 16 months ago, the beginning of the champion mare's unbeaten run which now stands at 10.

It has been a long and painful comeback for Cassidy whose weight soared during his enforced lay off.

"When you are sitting around all day and eating that will happen," he said.

"But I have a strict exercise regime in place and walk 60-70 kilometres a week.

"Of course that means using your knees and at times the pain was crippling. But I have my weight down and I should be able to ride 54 kilograms in a few weeks."

"I'm still not 100 per cent there but the timing is coming back."

Michelle Payne Fourth On Return

Sunday, 11 September 2016 08:29

Michelle Payne says she feels like she's never been away although there has been no fairytale result to her return to competitive riding.

The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey suffered a career-threatening injury in fall in May when she split her pancreas.

But she said she was back where she belonged after riding Lucky Liberty, who was also returning from injury, into fourth place in a race at Sale on Sunday.

"I was really happy with how he went and how I went," Payne told racing.com.

"It's great to be back. I feel like I haven't missed a beat."

Payne said the drive to the country Victorian track gave her time to think about why she wanted to keep doing what she has done for the past 15 years.

"I had a lot of time to think in the car on my own," she said.

"I love thinking about racing and how the horse will go.

"It's so intricate. It's a game of inches and that's what I love about it.

"It's one of greatest levellers you can have in life.

"The beauty of it is everyone has a chance to win a big race."

Whether she gets the chance to ride Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance in the big race again this year is still a question.

But after being granted a dual trainer/jockey licence she will be riding her own horses.

"I have always had a plan to ride and train my own horses and that's what got me back," she said.

"I would love to be back on his (Prince Of Penzance) back but the owners don't owe me anything and neither does the horse.

"I know the owners are concerned for my welfare and I appreciate that."

Astern Gives Godolphin Second Golden Rose

Saturday, 10 September 2016 08:10

Sheikh Mohammed's investment in Australian racing has reaped yet another big prize with Godolphin colt Astern's win in the Golden Rose.

Godolphin won the $1 million race a year ago with Exosphere but both trainer John O'Shea and jockey James McDonald believe Astern has the scope to go on to even better things.

"He ran the 1400 (metres) pretty well I thought," McDonald said.

Astern, ridden by James McDonald, wins the Golden Rose

"He might even run a mile. He's very good. The world's his oyster.

"He's the real, real, real deal."

Astern came from the back in the field to dominate the final 200 metres of Saturday's Group One race at Rosehill, beating Omei Sword by 2-1/4 lengths.

The two were the respective market leaders with Astern at $3.20 and Omei Sword $4.40.

"He showed how dominant he is," O'Shea said.

"It's a team effort to persist on teaching him to be a good horse.

"I'm always learning about this game."

Astern has only been beaten once when unplaced in the Golden Slipper and used what O'Shea believes is the right lead-up in the Run To The Rose.

"We thought the Run To The Rose was an exceptional form race," he said.

"If we got everything right we'd give him a chance to do the job for us and he did."

Bookmakers have been quick to promote him to the top of the Caulfield Guineas market, turning him in from $21 to $4.

Yankee Rose had come in for support in the day leading up to the race to start at $5.

The ATC Sires' Produce winner and the only horse in the field of 14 three-year-olds successful at Group One level, Yankee Rose led for much of the race but failed to finish it off, and was beaten into sixth.

"It was probably a little bit different from her today," jockey Zac Purton said.

"She was rolling around a lot during the race, changing strides a couple of times in her action.

"She didn't quite hit the line like she has been so we'll see how she pulls up."

Astern's stablemate Impending ($11) was one of those to go past her and finished a pleasing third.

"We're proud of both horses," O'Shea said.

"Brenton (Avdulla) had not a lot of luck on the inside.

"I think he's a colt of immense future."

Trainer Chris Waller said Omei Sword would run next in the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m) against her own sex while her jockey Joao Moreira said she was a little unlucky.

"Lovely run. She was a bit unlucky turning for home. She got held up a bit but I don't think if she had have gotten a run later she would have beaten the winner.

"The winner was too good."

The Quarterback On Track For Gilgai Return

Sunday, 11 September 2016 08:29

The Quarterback has beaten two of the country's best horses in a Newmarket Handicap and his next challenge is to match it with the top sprinters at weight-for-age.

Trainer Robbie Griffiths is hopeful the gelding can prove his credentials this spring during a three-run preparation in Melbourne.

The Quarterback gave Griffiths his first Group One win when he beat Black Heart Bart and Chautauqua to win the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) in March.

While The Quarterback was beaten in his next three autumn starts, Chautauqua went on to win the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes and the Chairman's Sprint Prize in Hong Kong while Black Heart Bart has also won two Group One races and been runner-up in another three.

"We've just got to prove that we can hold those form lines with them at weight-for-age," Griffiths said.

"That's the thing. Yes, we beat them on a handicap scale and whether we can do the same at weight-for-age is what we've got to prove this preparation.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he has come on, but raceday is going to give us the real answers."

The Quarterback had a barrier trial at Cranbourne on Friday and his performance in the 800m hit-out has given Griffiths encouragement heading towards the sprinter's return in the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington on October 2.

"I thought it was as good as he's ever trialled," Griffiths said.

"He ran fourth on the bridle in quick time. (The winner) General Jackson ran pretty fast and I thought The Quarterback ran fantastic.

"By the time he has another trial on Monday week and some more training, he should be cherry ripe for the Gilgai.

"I want him to be pretty ready first-up because we're only having three runs, so I want him to hit form straight up."

After the Group Two Gilgai at Flemington over the same 1200m straight course as the Newmarket, The Quarterback is scheduled to contest two weight-for-age Group One sprints, the Manikato Stakes and Darley Classic, also targets for Chautauqua.

Palentino Wins G1 Makybe Diva Stakes

Saturday, 10 September 2016 08:10

Palentino's affinity for Flemington has continued with the Darren Weir-trained horse upsetting his stablemate Black Heart Bart in the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes.

Giving Weir the first one-two Group One finish of his training career, Palentino ($9) unleashed a devastating turn of foot in Saturday's 1600m weight-for-age race to chase down $2.05 favourite Black Heart Bart to win by a length.

The stablemates drew clear, with He Or She ($13) another two lengths away third.

Palentino is yet to be beaten across the line at Flemington from four starts but did lose the CS Hayes Stakes earlier this year on protest.

He has now won two Group Ones at Flemington with his first coming in the Australian Guineas in March.

After Saturday's victory third-up from a spell, Palentino will now be put on a path to the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

"He's a genuine superstar," winning jockey Mark Zahra said.

"You'd love the Cox Plate to be here. The way he settled and found the line, there's no reason why not to go for it. The only downside is the tighter track and up in trip but he's getting better with racing."

Zahra said he knew when Palentino settled well in a midfield position that he would run home strongly, but he just needed to get clear running from the top of the straight which he did.

Black Heart Bart settled fourth and hit the front at the 300m before Palentino emerged on his outside.

"Today his turn of foot was electric," Zahra said.

Zahra said he thought he could get up to Black Heart Bart in the straight but wasn't sure if he would get past him.

Weir was thinking the same.

"When he got to the outside of Black Heart Bart, I didn't know whether he would get past him but I thought he would test him," Weir said.

"Obviously just having the one extra run this preparation helped him, and the other horse ran great as well."

Black Heart Bart won the Memsie Stakes first-up and jockey Damien Oliver said he was brave in defeat on Saturday.

"We arrived a little sooner than I wanted to but if I had of come back and waited I would have been checking him to come back," Oliver said.

"The winner had the last crack at him but he was very brave in defeat."

Weir Pair To Heading To Randwick

Sunday, 11 September 2016 08:29

Premier Melbourne trainer Darren Weir is sending two of his spring hopefuls on Sydney mission to determine their carnival targets.

Former Japanese horse Tosen Stardom will tackle Winx in the George Main Stakes at Randwick on Saturday with Signoff to run in the Hill Stakes.

Tosen Stardom, to be ridden by Craig Williams, was headed to the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on September 24 but his owners Australian Bloodstock decided to to run him against Winx to gauge his Cox Plate prospects against last year's winner.

Darren Weir

The six-year-old came to Sydney in the autumn for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes but missed the race after a bleeding attack in quarantine.

At his first run for Weir, Tosen Stardom finished an unlucky fourth behind Awesome Rock in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 3.

After Saturday Tosen Stardom will head to the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 2.

"Because he didn't have a lot of racing over the autumn I thought having two weeks between runs and then another two weeks would be better for him," Weir said.

"Plus the trip away won't do him any harm. "Hopefully it will tighten him up a bit."

Signoff, fourth in the 2014 Melbourne Cup behind Protectionist, was originally going to Morphettville to run in the Tokyo City Cup before the change of direction.

Weir is happy with the way Signoff is progressing towards this year's Melbourne Cup and says the 2000m Hill Stakes fits in perfectly with the gelding's program.

"There was an 1800 metre Listed race in Adelaide but 2000 metres is better for him and the trip away to Sydney will also be good," Weir said.

"It will get him thinking and also tighten him up a bit."

Palentino and Black Heart will be Weir's representatives in the Underwood Stakes after finishing one-two in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

"They're both on the path to the Cox Plate but at any stage we can deviate," Weir said.

"It's run by run from now on and if they're not running it (2000m) out strongly we can have a re-think.

"There are plenty of races for them."

Rain Wipes Out Last Three Doomben Races

Saturday, 10 September 2016 08:10

The last three races at Doomben were abandoned on Saturday after heavy rain lashed Doomben mid-afternoon, leaving the track sodden and the official enclosure under water.

Stewards inspected the track at 3.15pm and after originally indicating the meeting would not go ahead they elected to give the track 40 minutes to dry out.

However, after a 4pm inspection by stewards and jockeys it was decided the track was unfit for racing and the last three races were abandoned.

"The jockey feel it would be unsafe and there safety is always paramount," said chief steward Dan Aurisch.

Meanwhile, stewards will call for a list of sectional times before deciding whether to take any action against apprentices Josh Oliver and Bridget Grylls after the Open Hcp (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Oliver, on Black Jag, and Grylls, on Ranked, got 10 lengths in front of the third horse at one stage of the race but were under pressure on the home turn.

Black Jag faded to finish last and Ranked was second last.

Chief steward Dan Aurisch asked the pair why they had not made attempts to restrain their mounts.

"I didn't realise I was that far in front both of us riders found it hard to work out who the leader was going to be," Oliver said.

Grylls said she also didn't realise they were that far in front so she had just held her ground and didn't think they had gone that hard.

Ranked's trainer John Wallace and Black Jag's trainer Trevor Whittington agreed there had been nothing malicious in the rides.

"They just went too hard. It is as simple as that," Wallace said.

Auriscsh said stewards weren't alleging anything malicious but had to decide whether they should take any other action.

"We will ask for sectional times from the race and other races. We also want your masters to be here," he said.