Oliver Excited To Ride Black Heart Bart

Tuesday, 06 September 2016 08:31

The misfortune of jockey Brad Rawiller has given Damien Oliver a great chance to win the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes for the second year running.

Oliver is looking forward to riding favourite Black Heart Bart in Saturday's 1600m weight-for-age feature at Flemington having picked up the mount last week after Rawiller was suspended for careless riding.

Rawiller won the Group One Memsie Stakes on Black Heart Bart on August 27 in the gelding's first start this season.

Oliver won last year's Makybe Diva Stakes on Fawkner, having chosen him over Alpine Eagle.

Black Heart Bart is the early $2.25 favourite in all-in betting ahead of stablemate Palentino who has been a notable firmer to $5.50.

"He's in great form and he's most consistent," Oliver said.

"He hasn't run a bad race since he has come over to the eastern states, so he's a fantastic ride to pick up."

Black Heart Bart raced 26 times for Western Australian-based trainer Vaughn Sigley, recording 10 wins, before being transferred to Victoria's premier trainer Darren Weir.

In six starts for Weir this year, Black Heart Bart has won The Goodwood and Memsie Stakes at Group One level and finished second in the Newmarket Handicap, All Aged Stakes and Stradbroke Handicap.

He also won the Group Three Victoria Handicap.

Like Black Heart Bart, Oliver also hailed from the west before moving to Victoria early in his career.

"His former trainer Vaughn Sigley, I grew up with him," Oliver said.

"He was apprenticed to my stepfather. So it would be nice to get a win on him."

Black Heart Bart won the Memsie Stakes by 1-1/4 lengths from Rising Romance who is among the 15 nominations for the Makybe Diva.

Jacquinot Bay, a stablemate of Rising Romance, was the only horse added to the entries after they were extended.

Nick Hall will ride Jacquinot Bay should he take his place.

Oliver is set to have a strong book of rides at Flemington including star New Zealander Xtravagant who resumes in the Group Two Bobbie Lewis Quality.

"I trialled him a little while ago and he's a lovely horse," he said.

Oliver said he expected Xtravagant to run well but it was always interesting to see how four-year-olds came back after their three-year-old season.

Omei Sword Confirmed For Golden Rose

Monday, 05 September 2016 08:27

Omei Sword has rocketed to the top of the Golden Rose market alongside Astern with trainer Chris Waller deciding to take up the challenge to run the filly in the Group One race.

The winner of the Silver Shadow Stakes last Saturday week, Omei Sword has been the subject of much deliberation by the stable with Waller announcing on Monday she would take on her male counterparts in Saturday's $1 million feature.

The other option was to wait a week and run in the Group Two Tea Rose Stakes, also over 1400 metres, against the fillies on her way to the Flight Stakes on October 1.

Omei Swor, trained by Chris Waller

Waller will also run former Queensland colt Nikitas in the Golden Rose at Rosehill.

"Our stable intends to have two runners in the Golden Rose, the first being Omei Sword who has done well since her first up run," Waller said.

"And whilst taking on the boys, I feel that she is strong enough and has the ability to be competitive in this race.

"Nikitas will be our other runner. This colt has taken good benefit from his unlucky first-up run."

Omei Sword and Godolphin colt Astern are at $3.50 ahead of Tuesday's declaration of the final field.

Divine Prophet is the only other runner under double figures at $4.60 with Derryn and Yankee Rose at $11.

The ATC Sires' Produce winner, Yankee Rose has also been under scrutiny with trainer David Vandyke finally giving her the all-clear to run after a pleasing raceday gallop at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

Yankee Rose will be ridden by Hong Kong-based Australian Zac Purton who rode her to her Group One win in the autumn.

There has been speculation Joao Moreira would also make the trip from Hong Kong to ride Omei Sword but Waller said he would confirm his Golden Rose jockeys on Tuesday morning.

Welfare Fund For NSW Thoroughbreds

Tuesday, 06 September 2016 08:31

Young Sydney horse trainer James Cummings says a $2 million horse welfare fund will help transform the NSW racing industry and provide justification it is doing all it can to protect animal rights.

The fund, drawn from an estimated $204 million of annual prize money, will ensure all NSW thoroughbreds are cared for outside their racing careers, including those that never make it to the track, according to Racing NSW.

Cummings said the impending demise of the state's greyhound racing industry meant it was paramount Racing NSW staked its claim as a world leader in animal welfare.

"I'm a young trainer and I have young friends from university who are well educated animal activists and animal lovers," Cummings said.

"They ask me that question, `what happens to these horses after racing'?".

The welfare fund will be predominantly funded from a one per cent deduction in prize money which is set to receive a multi-million dollar boost from October.

Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club jointly announced an almost $53 million increase to prize money on Tuesday, which RNSW chairman John Messara described as a watershed moment for the industry.

The Horse Welfare Fund will support a dedicated team of staff, including an equine veterinarian, to manage the program, as well as establishing partnerships with riding schools and agricultural societies to promote horse re-homing.

The money will also fund training in horse welfare for new owners.

Cummings said the fund would help alleviate some of the financial burden that had previously laid with owners and participants.

"This has been an argument, and explanation that we've needed to give for a long time, a part of our sport that we really need to take responsibility for," Cummings said.

Happy Trails To Return In Makybe Diva Stks

Monday, 05 September 2016 08:27

With retirement plans shelved for now, spring carnival stalwart Happy Trails returns to Flemington for the seventh consecutive year.

The winner of seven races and more than $3.2 million, the nine-year-old makes his reappearance in Saturday's Group One Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).

Happy Trails hasn't raced since finishing fifth to Lucia Valentina in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick but has been given a steady build-up by Adelaide trainer Paul Beshara.

"He had six weeks in the paddock but was on the walker every day," Beshara said.

"It keeps him active and stops the arthritis that we get as we get older."

Beshara's biggest concern has been getting Happy Trails fit on the wet tracks in Adelaide.

The gelding has finished third in two trials at Gawler and Morphettville but Beshara is keen to see Happy Trails on top of the ground.

"It's been very bad here," Beshara said.

"He's had two trials so I'm looking forward to getting him on something dry so he can have a good sprint.

"We've done a lot of work on the synthetic track because the grass has been too heavy.

"He'll need this run. If we had some dry tracks where I could gallop him I could get him fitter, but I couldn't."

Where Happy Trails heads after Saturday will be determined by his first-up run.

Happy Trails holds a nomination for the Cox Plate, a race he has contested for the past four years with his best result a half head second to Shamus Award in 2013.

Whether he heads down that path or is aimed at the Emirates Stakes, a race he won in 2014 when known as the Mackinnon, will be decided by his performances.

"Sometimes it can be a bit greedy going to the Cox Plate and the Mackinnon," Beshara said.

"I think it will be one of the other."

Beshara said although retirement was on the table for Happy Trails at the end of his last campaign, he had thrived back in the stable.

"He's enjoyed his work," Beshara said. "He's not a paddock horse, he loves the stables and the attention."

Rules Not Followed On Cobalt: Bailey

Tuesday, 06 September 2016 08:31

Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey has admitted the rules of racing were not "followed to the letter" in testing for cobalt.

Bailey blamed Victorian lab Racing Analytical Services Ltd for the decision to split urine samples for testing, which he admitted did not "strictly" follow the racing rules.

"That's the way RASL wanted to do it so that's the way we did it," Bailey told trainers Danny O'Brien and Mark Kavanagh's appeal against their cobalt disqualifications.

"Obviously the rules weren't followed to the letter."

After Racing Victoria brought in its cobalt threshold in April 2014, samples were initially sent to Perth-based ChemCentre for testing.

However from June 2014 the urine samples were divided with ChemCentre testing for cobalt and RASL for all other prohibited substances.

Asked who was in charge of ensuring the stewards complied with their obligations under the rules, Bailey said: "At the end of the day the buck stops with the chairman of stewards."

Bailey said he was never told ChemCentre and the Hong Kong Jockey Club lab did not have specific accreditation for the method for testing for cobalt in equine urine.

Kavanagh and O'Brien's barrister Damian Sheales on Tuesday suggested Bailey was lying about what Racing Victoria knew in 2014.

"We say he's untruthful about all matters pertaining to cobalt and what they knew in 2014," Sheales told the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Sheales accused Bailey of telling "a straight-out lie" when the steward maintained he could not remember a drug strategy committee meeting where cobalt was discussed.

"When it's in your interests I suggest to you you're a person who tells lies," Sheales said.

Bailey replied: "You can suggest what you like."

Bailey was also questioned about a media report describing the 2014 spring racing carnival being the cleanest ever, when Sheales said the steward knew about cobalt positives for O'Brien, Kavanagh and fellow trainer Peter Moody.

Bailey said there were only screening results at the time, which were not positive results.

He said Racing Victoria does not notify trainers about positives for any prohibited substance until it gets the first analysis certificate.

"Screening levels we've found in the past have been unreliable.

"We don't act on screens because we're not confident of the readings."

VCAT heard the certificates of analysis relied on by Racing Victoria for one Kavanagh horse and four trained by O'Brien were all dated after ChemCentre had accreditation for its method to test for cobalt in equine urine.

ChemCentre forensic scientist Charles Russo admitted he said should not have put the National Association of Testing Laboratories stamp on certificates before the November 26, 2014, accreditation date.

Bailey continues giving evidence on Wednesday, before Racing Victoria head vet Dr Brian Stewart appears as a witness.

AAP TURF mn/cw

Apprentice Orman To Make Rosehill Debut

Monday, 05 September 2016 08:27

Top Queensland apprentice James Orman's first trip to Rosehill can deliver him his biggest win in the Sheraco Stakes.

Orman is set to ride Sold For Song, a Listed winner who has only missed a place once in nine starts, in Saturday's Group Three race.

The 19-year-old has ridden at Randwick once, but Golden Rose day will be the first time he has set foot on the western Sydney track.

"I'm really excited," Orman said.

"I've won a few black-type races but not a Group Three so it'd be career highlight.

"It should be a big day and I'm on a horse that should be a very live chance in the race."

Apart from drawing on the experience of the Brisbane jockeys' room, Orman plans to fly to Sydney on Friday evening to give him time to prepare for the meeting.

Orman said he recognised Sold For Song's potential when he won his first stakes race on her in December's Listed Gold Edition Plate.

"I said then if she improved a couple of lengths she's going to have a big carnival in Brisbane and she did," Orman said.

Sold For Song's Listed Daybreak Lover win was sandwiched between placings in the Queensland and Sunshine Coast Guineas.

"I reckon she can improve a couple of lengths again," Orman said.

"She's going to be right in a big race over the carnival in Melbourne."

Toowoomba trainer Kevin Kemp has earmarked the Group Two Tristarc Stakes on Caulfield Cup Day as her first Melbourne run.

Before that, Orman and Sold For Song are planning to return to Rosehill in two weeks for the $400,000 Golden Pendant.

The former gymnast led the Brisbane senior riders' premiership for much of last season before finishing third on 70 winners behind Jeff Lloyd and Jim Byrne.

He outrode his metropolitan claim and won the Queensland apprentices' title with 143 winners. '

After he finishes his spring carnival duties on Sold For Song, Orman will have a three-week stint in Singapore he won by being named the Queensland Racing Media Association rising star.

Sold For Song is one of 17 nominations for the Sheraco Stakes which include Dixie Blossoms, Pearls and Nancy.

Winx Set To Trial At Warwick Farm

Tuesday, 06 September 2016 08:31

Champion mare Winx is likely to run in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm to sharpen her fitness ahead of the Group One George Main Stakes.

Trainer Chris Waller opted to avoid the heavy Randwick track and scratch Winx from the Chelmsford Stakes on Saturday.

Winx's next start is to be the George Main Stakes at Randwick on September 17 before she travels to Melbourne for the Caulfield Stakes, her final lead-up race to her Cox Plate defence.

Waller said he would rather see her trial at Warwick Farm on Friday than have an exhibition gallop during Saturday's Golden Rose meeting on her home track at Rosehill.

"She galloped well on Monday," Waller said.

"The back-up plan would be to gallop on Saturday at Rosehill.

"I'd prefer the trial, it would just bring her on a little bit more."

Durendal To Resume In Bobbie Lewis

Monday, 05 September 2016 08:27

Durendal's affinity for Flemington's straight 1200m-course gives him the chance to snare an early season Group Two win in the Bobbie Lewis Quality.

Co-trainer Simon Zahra says while Durendal is just below the top sprinters, he can find his place this campaign, starting on Saturday.

"He likes the straight and we're just going to plot a little sprinting path for him," Zahra said.

"He's not up to the best of the best. He's just below them."

A half-brother to multiple Group One winner Flamberge, Durendal had a successful summer last season with three consecutive wins at Ballarat in late November before winning twice over the 1200m at Flemington.

Those two victories were in an open handicap in December and the Group Three Standish Handicap on New Year's Day.

The gelding was sent for a break after a luckless run in the John Dillon Stakes at Caulfield in January and made a cameo appearance in May at Flemington when fourth in the Listed Straight Six (1200m).

"Just to tick him through winter we gave him the one run and then he just had a month out in the paddock and was back in again," Zahra said.

There were 20 entries taken on Monday for the Bobbie Lewis headed by Stradbroke Handicap winner Under The Louvre and New Zealand star Xtravagant.

Xtravagant was taken out of the McLeod Stakes at Moonee Valley with a slight temperature last week but pleased co-trainer Stephen Autridge in a gallop on Saturday at Flemington and he said the horse had missed no work.

"He worked over an easy 1000 metres," Autridge said.

"He will have another gallop on Tuesday morning and that will top him off nicely. He is a very happy horse."

Cobalt Lab Accreditation 'not An Issue'

Monday, 05 September 2016 08:27

The fact the laboratories involved in four Victorian trainers' cobalt cases lacked specific accreditation for the method used to test for the substance in horse urine "wasn't an issue", an inquiry has heard.

No laboratory in the world had an accredited method to test for cobalt in equine urine when Racing Victoria introduced its cobalt threshold in April 2014, Racing Analytical Services Ltd lab director David Batty said.

Batty said there was no issue in his mind the two official racing laboratories involved were accredited to conduct the analyses of trainers Mark Kavanagh, Danny O'Brien and Lee and Shannon Hope's cobalt positives in 2014.

RASL was not able to test for cobalt at the time and the urine samples for the trainers' horses were sent to Perth-based ChemCentre and the Hong Kong Jockey Club lab.

ChemCentre had an accredited method for testing of cobalt in urine generally, the trainers' appeal against their cobalt disqualifications heard on Monday.

"In early 2014 no laboratory in the world had an accredited method for cobalt in equine urine," Batty told the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Batty said there was no concern about the labs' accreditation, as they were accredited to test for cobalt in urine.

Batty maintained he discussed where to send the samples and the accreditation status of labs to test in equine urine or urine generally with Racing Victoria, mainly with its former compliance assurance team head Kane Ashby.

"I would have discussed with RVL the accreditation status of the laboratories at the time and in my view it wasn't an issue," Batty said.

"Certainly there was no issue in my mind that the laboratory was accredited to do the work involved."

Ashby has previously told VCAT he was absolutely astounded by the claim Batty told him ChemCentre and the HKJC lab did not have the accreditation to test for cobalt.

Batty said his recollection differed from Ashby's.

Batty said at the time there was not a lot of choice in finding a lab to test the samples for cobalt.

"The fact that ChemCentre had accreditation for urine was something that we felt was OK because there was really no other choice," he said.

He said HKJC was considered a world leader in testing for metals, although it did not have its testing method accredited then as there was no international threshold for cobalt.

Batty said RASL was entitled to use methods that had not been accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities.

He said RASL could be testing for thousands of compounds in the early screening stage and no lab had an accredited methodology for each specific substance.

ChemCentre manager Charles Russo will give evidence from Perth on Tuesday before Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey takes the stand.

Stokes Pair To Make The Trip To Flemington

Monday, 05 September 2016 08:27

Adelaide filly Samara Dancer hits the road again to begin a campaign her trainer Phillip Stokes hopes will lead to a Group One victory.

Samara Dancer runs in the Group Two Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday when she will be joined by stablemate Captain Duffy who runs in the Listed Pin & Win Stakes.

The pair are no strangers to travelling between Melbourne and Adelaide.

Samara Dancer won the fillies division of the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield before finishing down the track as third favourite in the Blue Diamond won by Extreme Choice two weeks later.

Stokes said travelling the filly back to Adelaide following the Prelude victory had taken a toll on Samara Dancer by the time of the Group One race.

"She was cooked on the day," Stokes said.

While he didn't win his Melbourne debut in the Listed Taj Rossi Final, Captain Duffy was competitive and has been working well for his return.

Stokes has bigger carnival plans for the pair later in the spring.

Samara Dancer is on a path to the Thousand Guineas while Stokes hopes to get Captain Duffy through to the Victoria Derby.

Stokes said Samara Dancer only had to gallop well at Morphettville on Tuesday to confirm a start on Saturday.

The filly has undergone a slow build-up which has included two "soft trials" in preparation for her return.

"We've been hindered with wet tracks over here and we've been treading water a bit," Stokes said.

"She's had two trials and they've been soft trials because of the conditions.

"We'll kick off in this and then it's two weeks to the Thousand Guineas Prelude and then hopefully on to the Thousand Guineas."

Captain Duffy's first big spring target is the Caulfield Classic on October 15 on his way to the Derby.

"That's the dream," Stokes said.

Dom Tourneur will partner both gallopers at Flemington.