Darryl Hansen Wins Appeal Against Ban

Thursday, 01 September 2016 08:36

Magic Millions winning trainer Darryl Hansen has successfully appealed a nine-month disqualification for allegedly having a horse with an elevated carbon dioxide (TCO2) reading.

In a judgment handed down on Thursday, Queensland's Racing Disciplinary Board found the process that followed from sending a second sample used in the case to Victoria for testing had been flawed.

Hansen pleaded not guilty to the charge of presenting How Can I Help with an elevated TCO2 reading after an unplaced run at Ipswich on August 18, 2015.

However, stewards found him guilty of the charge and disqualified him for nine months from October 2015.

Hansen, the trainer of the 2015 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Le Chef, appealed the conviction and sentence and was granted a stay of proceedings to continue training until a decision.

There have been several hearings in the months since his disqualification with the RDB reserving its judgment after final submissions in May.

The hearings heard lengthy arguments about the two samples used by stewards to convict Hansen and whether the second of them complied with the state's Racing Act.

Hansen's lawyers argued the B sample certificate which was obtained from the RASL Laboratory in Victoria had failed to meet the mandatory compliance requirements of the Act.

In Thursday's judgment, the RDB found the compliance requirements in the case of the second sample had not been carried out making that sample worthless.

The RDB found the receipt, testing and results of the B sample had been contrary to the certification and requirements of the Act.

"In the absence of both certificates being valid a prima facie case under the presentation rule cannot exist and the charge cannot be sustained," the RDB said.

"We would also add that this is certainly not a case where the stewards are at fault."

Hansen's lawyer Matt Tutt said his client had been vindicated after being put through a year-long process.

Special Gallop For Tosen Stardom

Wednesday, 31 August 2016 08:48

Japanese galloper Tosen Stardom has to pass a fitness test in front of stewards if he is to run in a stakes race at Moonee Valley.

Tosen Stardom is set to have his first run for Darren Weir in Saturday's Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

The Japanese galloper bled after trackwork at Canterbury while in quarantine preparing for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes during the autumn.

As stewards undertook their checks after acceptances they became aware Tosen Stardom had not been reinstated following his bleeding attack.

RV chief steward Terry Bailey said Tosen Stardom needed to gallop over 1000m with some exertion to be passed to race.

"That requires a gallop in front of the stewards which is now being done tomorrow at Warrnambool," Bailey said.

"Anything that is declared a bleeder has to go through the same process."

Bailey said if Tosen Stardom did not gallop he would not be allowed to run on Saturday.

Tosen Stardom has been taken to a number of country tracks for jump-outs which could have been used to pass his post-bleeder's test.

"The horse has been around in jump-outs. There are stewards at jump-outs, but it wasn't brought to our attention," Bailey said.

"Unless it is brought to our attention the horse doesn't get checked thoroughly."

Weir said Tosen Stardom was going to do some work on Thursday morning but will now do something a little more strenuous.

"That won't worry him. He's a big strong horse and it might do him good," Weir said.

Tarzino Caulfield Cup Fav After Weights

Wednesday, 31 August 2016 08:48

Jockey Craig Newitt believes Tarzino can give him his biggest win this spring and bookmakers agree with the Victoria Derby winner retaining favouritism for the Caulfield Cup after the release of weights.

Newitt is the regular rider of the Mick Price-trained Tarzino and has combined with the trainer to win 18 Group One races, although neither has won one of Melbourne's three biggest races - the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate.

"I think if we're going to win a Cup it will be with this horse," Newitt said.

Tarzino

"He's got Cups written all over him. We've just got to get him there in one piece I think and he'll be very competitive."

Tarzino was given 54kg when Caulfield Cup weights were announced on Wednesday and is the $13 favourite with the TAB.

Melbourne Cup favourite Order Of St George has been given equal top weight of 58kg for the Caulfield Cup but the Aidan O'Brien-trained horse, who is part-owned by Lloyd Williams, is unlikely to travel to Australia.

His stablemate Highland Reel is the other topweight.

Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance and Australian Cup winner Preferment are next in the handicaps with 56.5kg while French horse Erupt and last year's Caulfield Cup placegetter Our Ivanhowe have 56kg.

Tarzino and Australian Derby winner Tavago are the highest-weighted four-year-olds on 54kg, with Tarzino out to become just the fourth horse and first since Elvstroem in 2004 to win the Caulfield Cup a year after winning the Victoria Derby.

"That's what we thought he would get," Newitt said.

Tavago will be striving to become the second-straight Australian Derby winner to win the Caulfield Cup after Mongolian Khan last year.

VRC Oaks winner Jameka has 51.5kg while Godolphin-owned Scottish, trained by Charlie Appleby at Newmarket in England, has 54.5kg.

Highland Reel, Jameka and Scottish share the second line of betting at $18.

Williams' son Nick said on Twitter that Order Of St George was unlikely to travel to Australia.

"Proves weight not only stops trains, but planes as well!" Williams tweeted.

Last year's Cox Plate placegetter Highland Reel is the highest-rated among the 171 Caulfield Cup nominations.

Highland Reel won the Hong Kong Vase last year and the Group One King George VI (2012m) in England earlier this year to earn his equal topweight.

Dunaden (2012) and Admire Rakti (2014) are recent internationally-trained horses to carry top weight to win the Caulfield Cup.

Melbourne Cup weights are released on September 13.

Grylls Excited About First Randwick Ride

Wednesday, 31 August 2016 08:48

Brisbane apprentice Bridget Grylls will call on an old family connection for advice when she rides for the first time at Randwick.

The 23-year-old will ride Brisbane mare Hidden Pearl in the Group Three Concorde Stakes (1000m) in a lead-up to The Shorts at Randwick two weeks later.

Grylls is from one of New Zealand's best known racing families as the daughter of champion jockey Gary Grylls and the sister of multiple Group One winning rider Craig Grylls.

She is looking forward to her assignment and will get some insight into Randwick from another New Zealander, premier Sydney jockey James McDonald.

"It is one of the great racetracks in the world. I have only ridden in Brisbane in Australia but I have ridden against a lot of the big name jockeys when they come to Brisbane," Grylls said.

"James McDonald is a family friend so I will have a chat to him about how best to ride Randwick."

Grylls has made a name for herself in Brisbane, finishing fourth on the senior riders premiership in her first full season in 2014-15.

A broken wrist stalled Grylls late last year but she has been back riding at her best in recent months.

"The wrist took longer than expected to heal but I took a holiday to Europe which I really enjoyed. It has taken a little while to get my connections back," she said.

Grylls is apprenticed to Hidden Pearl's trainer Barry Lockwood and she has been the regular rider of Hidden Pearl who has won six of her past nine starts.

"Barry has stuck by me and of course I would love to win a big race for him," Grylls said.

Rain is expected in Sydney late in the week but Grylls says that won't be a problem for Hidden Pearl.

"She goes well in the wet and we have a light weight (54kg), so big rain won't worry us," she said.

Winx Has Wide Alley For Chelmsford Stakes

Wednesday, 31 August 2016 08:48

Winx's Chelmsford Stakes rivals will have the inside running as the champion mare attempts to extend her remarkable winning streak to 11.

But with Winx facing just seven rivals in Saturday's Group Two race at Randwick, trainer Chris Waller is not concerned about the outside barrier.

"It's not a bad draw in the field of a 1600 metre race," Waller said.

"She showed last start she's pretty versatile whether she goes back or forward it just depends on the tempo of the race.

"The beauty of Hugh Bowman is that he knows her so well.

"She's got speed to get herself out of trouble wherever she is."

Five of her seven rivals are from the Waller stable with the other two Godolphin's Hartnell and the James Cummings-trained three-year-old Prized Icon.

Prized Icon drops 10.5kg from his last start as he switches to weight-for-age company.

Hartnell ran second to Winx when she returned to racing a dominant winner of the Group Two Warwick Stakes at Randwick on August 20.

Godolphin trainer John O'Shea said Hartnell, a Group One winner over 2400m, was fitter after his first-up effort.

"I couldn't be happier with him. He's made nice improvement since his first-up run," O'Shea said.

"The wet track won't be a problem for him and the mile is more to his liking than the seven (furlongs) last start."

Hartnell has drawn barrier two inside the Waller-trained stayer Grand Marshal.

Grand Marshal's stablemate and fellow stayer Who Shot Thebarman will start from barrier four with Blake Shinn taking the ride.

Prized Icon is the only one of Winx's rivals at single-figure odds at $7 while the favourite is set to be sent out the shortest price in her career. She was rated a $1.15 chance on Wednesday afternoon.

With heavy rain forecast in Sydney towards the end of the week the Chelmsford could be run on a heavy track but Waller has indicated she will start as long as the surface is safe.

Strong International Noms In Melbourne Cup

Tuesday, 30 August 2016 08:29

A total of 124 horses from nine countries have been nominated for the 156th running of the Melbourne Cup.

Nominations closed on Tuesday for the $6 million race at Flemington on November 1, and the winners of the past two Cups, Prince Of Penzance and Protectionist, are among those entered.

Thirty-one horses from those nine countries have been entered, including Trip To Rhodes, which is the first nomination by a trainer from the Czech Republic.

"The challenge is now to get them here," Racing Victoria general manager Greg Carpenter said.

Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien has seven entries, which brings to 30 his nominations from 16 horses across the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.

Godolphin trainers Saeed bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby have 10 nominations as they go chasing a first Cup victory.

Carpenter said the Australian list was very strong, with nominations boosted by the winners of Derbies and Oaks around Australia.

Lee Freedman, chasing a sixth Cup victory, has 12 horses in the entry with his brother Anthony.

"I think it's impressive that Mornington has 10 per cent of the entries," Freedman said.

"Most of those horses are down at the beach but whether that converts to runners has to be seen.

"The horses are in good form, particularly Our Ivanhowe, who's still our main strike stayer."

RV's international recruitment officer Leigh Jordan says the picture will become clearer for international representation in two weeks.

He said the Doncaster Cup on September 9, meetings in Ireland and France on September 10 and 11 would be a factor.

"That will be the weekend when we'll find out a bit more who might be coming," Jordon said.

"There's a few in there but they just haven't committed at this stage."

Carpenter said Ascot Gold Cup winner Order Of St George and Protectionist would be high up in the handicap order when weights are released on September 13.

"The topweight has to have at least 58kg," Carpenter said.

"Without giving too much away those two horses are going to be up near the head of the weights."

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Lord Macau is the only three-year-old among the nominations.

Clondaw Warrior, a nine-year-old trained by Willie Mullins, is the oldest.

Gallop To Decide Tavago First-up Test

Wednesday, 31 August 2016 08:48

Tavago will have a defining track gallop before a decision is made on a delayed start to his spring preparation.

The Australian Derby winner is an acceptor for Saturday's Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday but trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young will wait until he gallops at Cranbourne on Thursday before confirming a start.

"A mile first-up can be a hard run but he will go to the mile either way, whether it's this Saturday or next Saturday," Busuttin said.

"We've got to gauge his fitness. He's not a horse that will take a lot of racing to get fit so he is one that we could get away with having a little setback with."

Tavago was scheduled to return in the Group One Memsie Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday but was a race morning scratching after pulling a tooth out the previous night.

Busuttin said it was not too serious and it was touch and go whether he would run.

"It was getting on towards scratching time and we still weren't certain so when you're thinking about it the right thing to do is to scratch," Busuttin said.

"If it was a weak race he would have been running."

If he doesn't run on Saturday, Tavago will run in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington a week later.

His original program was the Memsie followed by the Makybe Diva and the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 2 before the Caulfield Cup on October 15.

But Busuttin said if Tavago runs on Saturday he may head to the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on September 24 as a lead-up to the Caulfield Cup.

The trainer is mindful Tavago has previously failed to back up quickly.

He said Tavago had 13 days between a first-up third at Ellerslie and last in the Waikato Guineas as a three-year-old.

"He jarred up badly first-up and then wouldn't jump out of the gates and tailed out badly," Busuttin said.

"It was then touch and go to get to the New Zealand Derby but he had a month between those runs and came right.

"Looking further down the campaign the Turnbull Stakes is only 13 days before the Caulfield Cup.

"He is a year older and you can't judge that on just one run but it's something we're mindful of."

Winx Tuning Up For Gr 2 Chelmsford Stakes

Tuesday, 30 August 2016 08:29

As Winx's winning streak grows, her starting price shrinks.

But the champion mare will be oblivious when she tries to win her 11 consecutive race at the shortest price throughout her career in the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick.

Winx started $1.24 favourite when she won the Warwick Stakes first-up and is the $1.15 to win the Chelmsford on Saturday.

Winx

Trainer Chris Waller doesn't care about bookmakers' assessments.

"Winx can't read and I don't need to read," Waller said.

"My job is to keep her happy and get her to the race as well as I can."

Winx galloped at Rosehill on Tuesday morning and will have another light hit-out on Thursday.

"It's all maintenance now," Waller said.

"Now that she's had that first-up run, she is fit."

Winx returned to racing with an emphatic win in the Warwick Stakes at Randwick on August 20, a race Waller said gave him a vital gauge on her fitness.

"The Warwick Stakes was the important race because it told us where she was," Waller said.

Her only Chelmsford rival under double-figure odds is Prized Icon - the James Cummings-trained three-year-old - at $8.

Waller said he respected the opposition, which was likely to include five of Winx's stablemates, but three-year-old's had historically struggled to overcome older horses in the race.

"It's a hard race for three-year-olds to win," Waller said.

"They have run well in it but not many can win."

Mighty Kingdom was the last three-year-old to win the race in 1979.

Rain is expected to increase in Sydney as the week wears on but it's unlikely to prevent Winx starting.

"There would have to be a thunderstorm five minutes before the race to pull her out," Waller said.

The Chelmsford will be Winx's final start at Group Two level before the campaign switches to top-line racing in the Group One George Main Stakes at Randwick on September 17.

That will be her final run in Sydney before travelling to Melbourne for the Caulfield Stakes, which will be her final start before the preparation climaxes with her Cox Plate defence.

Rebel Miss Out For Furious Family Glory

Wednesday, 31 August 2016 08:48

Victory by Rebel Miss in the Group Two Furious Stakes will give trainer Matthew Smith another place in her family history.

The filly is by Krupt who Smith trained to win the 2008 Todman Stakes after which injury ended his career.

While Smith was devastated by the forced retirement of the horse which helped him build his profile, he has found joy through the stallion's progeny.

"I trained his first winner, I trained him and I trained the mother (of Rebel Miss) so I've trained the whole family," Smith said.

"It would be a damn good result if she could lob on Saturday."

Rebel Miss is out of Marju Rani who Smith trained to win one race and who is owned by his wife Melissa in her career as a broodmare.

Smith said it would be nice to carry on his involvement in the bloodline by training Krupt's first stakes winner in the Furious Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

He also trains a full brother to Rebel Miss, Quantrill who raced at Canterbury on Wednesday, finishing second.

"He's a very talented horse but he's like a child with ADD," Smith said.

In contrast, Rebel Miss has shown more professionalism by winning two of her three starts.

She was a dominant winner at Doomben in Queensland's final metropolitan two-year-old race, but steps up sharply in grade on Saturday.

"Her work indicates she's up to that level," Smith said.

"We'll know a bit more on Saturday but I can't be happier with her.

"Her work has been good and she's ready to go."

The filly steps up to 1200m for the first time at her first start as a three-year-old.

Smith is confident Rebel Miss will get the distance but is using the race to gauge where she fits in the emerging three-year-old puzzle.

"It will tell us whether we go 1400 metres, stay around the 1200 or even go back to 1100," Smith said.

"It will give us a line on where she fits in with the other three-year-old fillies but she's quite good."

The race will be run without Silver Shadow Stakes winner Omei Sword who will be saved a week for either the Golden Rose on September 10 or the Tea Rose Stakes a week later.

Sons Of John Trim And Terrific For Spring

Tuesday, 30 August 2016 08:29

Jason Attard had to become the equine world's answer to Jenny Craig to get Sons Of John ready for spring.

It is usually jockeys who battle weight, but at Sons Of John's portly peak he struggled to show his best.

The 29-year-old trainer believes he has conquered the horse's weight problem as he prepares to tackle the Group Two Tramway Stakes at Randwick (1400m) on Saturday.

After finishing third in last year's Group One Epsom Handicap, Sons Of John went to Melbourne where he was unplaced in the Crystal Mile and Emirates Stakes.

Attard said the horse didn't like travelling and was sent for a spell.

And that's where Sons Of John's problems started.

"He got grossly fat and was just horrendously fat when he came back," Attard said.

Despite three trials, he couldn't get into shape fast enough for his Hawkesbury Cup defence and was sent for a break after finishing fifth in the Scone Gold Cup in May.

"We were just chasing our tails," Attard said.

Rather than risk the horse returning to his bad habits in the paddock, Attard opted for a freshen-up at the stable.

"He stood on the walker and stood here at home," Attard said.

"That way I could keep an eye on what he was getting fed and how much weight he was putting on."

Now with two trials under his belt, including a second to Run To The Rose winner Astern when not extended fully, Attard says Sons Of John is fighting fit ahead of the Tramway.

While Winx will dominate the headlines surrounding Saturday's Chelmsford Stakes meeting, Sons Of John holds the honour of being the last horse to come close to defeating the champion mare.

He was narrowly beaten by Winx in last year's Theo Marks Stakes, her third consecutive win in a streak which has now extended to 10.

"We won't forget that one in a hurry," Attard said.

The pair met again in the Epsom Handicap where Sons Of John added another placing behind Winx to his record.

Sons Of John is one of seven Group One-placed horses nominated for the Tramway, while Gust Of Wind and Le Romain have both won at the top level.

"We're not expecting any miracles or for him to go out and smash them first up," Attard said.

"If he does we'll take it, but seeing him in the first four or five in that field would be awesome."

Attard said Sons Of John was likely to have one run after Saturday on his way to this year's Epsom at Randwick on October 1.