Karakatsanis Looking To The Future

Wednesday, 26 October 2011 04:16

A pair of promising gallopers will be the building blocks for the future for trainer Con Karakatsanis following the loss of two stable stars.

The recent sale of dual Group One winner Black Piranha and transfer of multiple stakeswinner News Alert to another stable shattered the young horseman.

"It's been a big kick in the guts to lose, one, my best miler and two, my best sprinter," Karakatsanis said.

"I sat down and thought long and hard about it and I figured I could either hang my head and feel sorry for myself or I could concentrate on getting some of the younger horses up and firing."

Karakatsanis did just that and in Howmuchdoyouloveme and Riva De Lago, he looks to have unearthed a couple of smart ones.

The duo will race at Rosehill on Saturday when three-year-old Howmuchdoyouloveme tackles the Bradford Solar Hcp (1200m).

An eye-catcher at the barrier trials, Howmuchdoyouloveme lived up to the wraps with an impressive debut win in midweek company earlier this month.

"He's a lovely horse. He's 17 hands but he's a friendly giant and he's shown the world of ability," Karakatsanis said.

"He still has a lot of maturing and a lot of growing up to do."

Howmuchdoyouloveme tackles a handy field which includes the stakes-placed Cindarockinrella and Startreusse who was 1-1/2 lengths fourth to Foxwedge in the Group Two Roman Consul Stakes.

"It's not a weak race, it's a nice 75 rating race in town on a Saturday," Karakatsanis said.

"We'll get a good guide on how well he's going and if he happens to win, we're mindful of how much he will still improve.

"He'll have probably this and maybe one more run then we'll give him a nice break and bring him back for the autumn and winter."

Riva De Lago, who lines up in the final race, has also been earmarked for a winter campaign in Brisbane.

The four-year-old was hot and cold before resuming with an emphatic four-length victory at Randwick and Karakatsanis said a gelding operation was the key.

"It's really switched him on. He looks a million dollars and there are no more excuses for him now," Karakatsanis said.

"He's always had a lot of ability but getting it out of him was the problem."

Karakatsanis hopes Riva De Lago might develop into a Stradbroke Handicap horse next campaign.

He knows what it takes to win the Group One having done it twice with Black Piranha in 2009/10.

That gelding will have his first start for new trainer Anthony Freedman in the Salinger Stakes at Flemington on Saturday and Karakatsanis admits he will have mixed emotions.

"It will be very strange," he said.

"It's a shame I lost him. I would have loved to see him out for his career but that's racing."

Somepin Anypin Sets Track Record

Saturday, 22 October 2011 07:30

Champion jockey Jim Cassidy put Somepin Anypin to the test on Saturday and the emerging talent answered the call to smash a decade-old course record at Rosehill.

The Gary Portelli-trained Somepin Anypin was sent out the raging $1.60 favourite in the Centrebet Pick Your Own Field Handicap (1400m) and Cassidy sent the gelding to the front from barrier 10 and asked him to run time.

The result was a brilliant 4-3/4-length all-the-way victory in 1:21.38 which bettered the previous standard of 1:21.51 set by Final Fantasy in March 2001.

Renewed Vitality ($10) led home the chasing pack with Theophorus ($21) another 1-1/4-lengths away third.

But Somepin Anypin was in a race of his own as Cassidy rode him out to the line for his fifth win from 11 starts.

"I rode him aggressive to run time, I wanted to see how good he was today," Cassidy said.

"He had no weight so I could do it. It was his third run up so he was hard fit but he's still not at his top yet, there's improvement in him.

"He could turn out to be an Epsom/Doncaster horse I think. He's that sort of horse."

Portelli missed the live action as he was at Moonee Valley for Cox Plate day but connections indicated the Group Three Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) on November 3 would be the four-year-old's next mission.

He could also target the Group Two Villiers (1600m) in December.

Cassidy said stepping up to the mile would answer even more questions but he was suitably impressed by the way the son of Pins attacked the line despite the race being in his keeping a long way from home.

"I was a bit hard on him the last bit but I taught him something today, he knows how to go to the line now," Cassidy said.

"I have always thought he was a high cruising speed horse who can run sectionals, and he proved that today.

"If they can run sectionals they are above average."

Somepin Anypin's victory came two weeks after he produced a similar all-the-way success to win by 2-1/4-lengths on a slow track.

Cassidy said he was always going to be positive again from the outset back on a good surface.

"I was taking no prisoners today," he said.

"That was the plan to jump and lead, and I didn't think there was a horse in that race today that was in his class.

"If you're thinking better races then you'd want to be beating them like that."

Noonan In Demand At Rosehill

Tuesday, 25 October 2011 11:46

Gerald Ryan is one of four Sydney trainers to have secured the services of comeback apprentice Jake Noonan for Saturday's Rosehill meeting.

Last season's leading Melbourne apprentice was only recently cleared to resume race riding after a heavy fall in a race at Flemington in May in which he suffered severe concussion.

Noonan made his race return at last Wednesday's Geelong Cup meeting and will venture to Sydney for two rides for the Patinack Farm team, while he'll also be aboard the Ryan-trained Conroy's Gap in the 3YO Benchmark 75 (1200m).

Peter Snowden and John O'Shea have also booked the apprentice for a ride on the eight-race Rosehill card.

"Jake's manager rang and said he was coming up, so we booked him for Conroy's Gap," Ryan said.

"He rode a couple of horses for us last season and he won an apprentices' race for us at Hawkesbury earlier in the year.

"He's a good rider and he's got his eye back in quickly.

"He rode a double at Cranbourne on Saturday and got another one today (Tuesday) at Seymour."

Noonan is booked to ride Second Draw and Web Of Love for Patinack, while he'll also partner Rule Number One for O'Shea and one of Snowden's runners in a 1200m Benchmark 75.

Conroy's Gap drops in class after disappointing when finishing last in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m), won by stablemate Hot Snitzel, on October 15.

"I don't know what happened the other day," Ryan said.

"He didn't do what I thought he could do, I thought he would have been very competitive in the race off his previous three wins but he was disappointing."

After dwelling at the start, Conroy's Gap raced behind the speed and came in more than eight lengths from the winner.

Ryan said vet checks and tests in the days after that race didn't show anything wrong and the gelding had worked well since.

"On Saturday we'll use his speed and see where he ends up," Ryan said.

Conroy's Gap will be joined in the event by stablemate Rock Monster, who is still a maiden from eight starts.

"He's got more ability than his form shows," Ryan said.

Meanwhile, the Darren Smith-trained Group One winner Atomic Force will carry topweight of 61kg in the Spring Flying (1100m).

The Ryan-trained Ahdashim is next in the weights with 57kg and will be ridden by Josh Parr.

Picture: Colin Bull

Mental Proves Himself At Rosehill

Saturday, 22 October 2011 05:45

Josh Parr was confident progressive three-year-old Mental would relish a dogfight and the gelding proved him right at Rosehill on Saturday.

Mental ($4.80) had to work hard to get past the gallant Pampelonne ($5) in the Sportingbet Handicap (1350m) but came out on top by a long neck to record his third win from as many starts this campaign.

Favourite Said Com ($2.50) was doing his best work late to finish another half-neck away in third.

"He's a nice little horse with a lot of upside and he showed today the toughness that I thought he had in him," Parr said.

"I thought if it turned out to be a dogfight today I would be quite confident he would stand up to it, which he did."

Parr hadn't ridden Mental in a race since his debut in April but heeded the advice of Darley's number one rider Kerrin McEvoy, who was in Melbourne to ride Helmet in the Cox Plate.

"Kerrin actually gave me a call this morning and said to me, 'when you go for him, really go for him because he can wander a bit'," Parr said.

"But I think the winkers have really brought him on today."

From barrier two Parr was able to give Mental the run of the race in the box-seat with Pampelonne having to cross from barrier eight to take up the running.

The Tim Martin-trained Pampelonne was game in defeat, kicking strongly in the straight and forcing Mental to fight hard to get past him in the final 50 metres.

Martin said he would push on with plans to take Pampelonne to Melbourne for a Listed 1400m event on the final day of the Flemington carnival.

Peter Snowden's stable foreman Brad Widdup believes Mental's victory could have the trainer also thinking of a possible trip south.

"He (Snowden) might try to find something for him now," Widdup said.

Martin said the trip away would benefit lightly-raced Pampelonne.

"Jay (jockey Jay Ford) said if you swap the barriers today you swap the result," Martin said.

"I think we've got to (press on to Melbourne). I think the winner and the third horse are good horses and our bloke needs racing.

"The trip to Melbourne and a run there will do him the world of good."

Collett Back In Sydney For The Week

Tuesday, 25 October 2011 11:46

Apprentice Jason Collett will make his first Sydney appearance of the season on Wednesday when he links up with the Chris Waller team for a busy week of racing.

Collett, who made a big impression in Sydney earlier this year, has three rides at Wednesday's Warwick Farm meeting and will stick around to also ride at Gosford on Thursday and at the city meetings at Canterbury on Friday night and Rosehill on Saturday.

The New Zealand apprentice spent threemonths on loan to Waller earlier this year and made the most of his stay with 28 winners including 24 in the metropolitan area.

He decided against extending his stay full-time at the end of last season but has answered the call from Waller to return for the week.

Waller has booked Collett for the rides on Galilean Moon and Dynamic Honour at Warwick Farm although Dynamic Honour is also entered for a race at Gosford on Thursday.

"Basically through a jockey shortage with people in Melbourne we were looking at bringing him over for Saturday's meeting," Waller's racing manager Liam Prior said.

"But rather than coming for one meeting, Chris said why not get him over for the week.

"There's three city meetings, he can still claim two kilograms and he didn't have anything keeping him in New Zealand this week, so why not utilise his services."

Collett has five rides for Waller at Rosehill on Saturday including Tromso in the Spring Flying (1100m).

Prior said Collett and the Waller team had kept in contact since the young rider went home to New Zealand.

"We've always entertained the idea of him coming back over but the timing just hasn't been right, either for us or for Jason, until now," Prior said.

"There's no doubt about his riding ability and his professionalism and personality complements his riding ability.

"For an apprentice he's a pretty furnished package and we've got no hesitation putting him on horses, he gets the job done and horses run for him."

Waller will make a final decision on where Dynamic Honour starts on Wednesday morning with the four-year-old drawing wide at Warwick Farm.

Galilean Moon resumes over 1600m in the Randwick Grandstand Finish 5/11 Maiden, having been placed once from two starts at the provincials in her first racing preparation.

"She's first-up from a fairly lengthy spell but she's come back well," Prior said.

"She's a staying mare resuming over a fair trip first-up and she's going to improve on what she does but she's capable of showing a bit fresh as well."

Collett is also booked for the Clarry Conners-trained Pregrada in the Randwick Betting Auditorium Handicap (1400m).

Pictures: Sportpix

Darley Produces Another Promising Type

Saturday, 22 October 2011 04:30

The powerful Darley team produced its second talented juvenile in as many Rosehill meetings when smart filly Meidung raced to a dominant debut win on Saturday.

Two weeks earlier trainer Peter Snowden produced promising colt Tatra to win on debut and on Saturday it was Meidung ($7) who led all the way and scooted clear in the straight to take out the Harvey Norman Handicap (1100m) by 2-3/4 lengths.

Darley-owned youngsters dominated the feature juvenile races last year, claiming all five Group Ones for two-year-olds in Australia, and stable representative Brad Widdup said Meidung could race again this preparation in search of more prizemoney for when the major races come around in the autumn.

"I'm not sure what Peter will do," Widdup said.

"He likes to try to give them a couple of starts, one for experience and two for the prizemoney.

"If you can land a couple now you're virtually there for the Slipper.

"If you get the right prizemoney you're in the race. I'm not saying she's a Slipper horse but if you get the money and you're there, then you can have a crack."

Meidung started from gate two and jockey Christian Reith pushed forward and held his ground in the lead on the fence.

The filly, by young Darley stallion Bernardini, raced a bit keenly in front but exploded away in the straight with favourite Dances On Stars ($2.20) doing his best work late out wide to finish second after doing a few things wrong during the race.

The Paul Murray-trained Kyoto ($7) came in another three lengths away third.

Reith and Widdup both expect Meidung to improve significantly from her first race experience.

"She'll learn a lot from today," Reith said.

"She was a bit fizzy in the run and I expect her to improve a lot.

"She's just another nice one to come out of the yard."

Champion jockey Jim Cassidy, who partnered the favourite Dances On Stars, said the colt's best work was late.

"He went nicely but was a little bit green," Cassidy said.

"His last 200 metres was good."

Jockey Whiteman Outed

Tuesday, 25 October 2011 11:46

A Sydney-based jockey has been suspended for testing positive to banned drugs, a Racing NSW report says.

Mark Whiteman will serve a seven-month ban after samples he produced after trackwork and Canterbury barrier trials last month contained traces of substances banned under the Australian rules of racing.

He pleaded guilty to a charge at a Racing NSW inquiry on Monday and will start the suspension on Wednesday week.

Whiteman will be out until June 2 but stewards will shave two months off the ban if he has counselling.

Counselling will also allow the jockey to return as a trackwork and barrier trial rider from February 2.

Reef In Rosehill Upset

Saturday, 22 October 2011 03:45

A well-judged frontrunning ride from Kathy O'Hara has helped Merensky Reef upset the favourite Miss Keepsake in Saturday's Wests Ashfield Leagues Handicap at Rosehill.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained six-year-old jumped well in the 2000m event and was able to lead all the way, holding out favourite Miss Keepsake ($1.60) by a long neck.

The Chris Waller-trained Shawnee Girl ($3.50) finished third, another 2-1/2-lengths back.

Merensky Reef's ($13) victorywas his first since returning from almost two years out due to injury.

Waterhouse's stable representative Mark Newnham praised O'Hara's ride and was delighted to see the gelding return to the winner's circle at his fourth run back from his long layoff.

"He was a very promising three-year-old, he's had a long time off with injury, and his first two runs back weren't too bad," Newnham said.

"We were a little bit puzzled with his run the other day but today Kathy rode him terrific out in front.

"She just rated him beautifully, he kicked on the corner and his fitness kicked in the last bit."

O'Hara said Merensky Reef responded well under pressure.

"He had a good run out in front," she said.

"From then on I was happy, I clicked him up from the 600-metre mark and he was pretty game late.

"Like most of Gai's horses, he responded well under pressure."

Apprentice Chad Schofield settled at the back of the five-horse field on Miss Keepsake before making his move on the outside approaching the turn.

Schofield said Merensky Reef was "just too strong at the distance".

"He just kept rolling and I couldn't catch him," Schofield said.

Atomic Force Confirmed For Rosehill

Monday, 24 October 2011 11:34

A Group One winner who wouldn't be out of place among the stars during the Victoria Derby meeting will return to Sydney racing on Saturday.

Dynamic Syndications' headline act Atomic Force is a confirmed runner in the Spring Flying - run under quality handicap conditions - at Rosehill.

The Galaxy winner, trained by Darren Smith, is expected to receive maximum topweight of 61kg in his first outing since finishing sixth to outstanding colt Sepoy in the Manikato Stakes last month.

"He's back at Darren's enjoying the wide, open spaces whereas when we took him to Melbourne it was like a concrete jungle for him in a city stable environment," Dynamic's Adam Watt said.

"He really thrives on being trained out of a paddock."

Atomic Force was beaten 7-1/2 lengths into sixth place by Sepoy but Watt said an on-pace pattern played against the sprinter finishing closer.

"It was a wicked leader-biased track that night and the form from the race has been proven since," Watt said.

"Sepoy has won again and More Joyous and Sister Madly ran one-two in the Tristarc Stakes."

Jim Cassidy will ride Atomic Force for the first time.

Smith has been enjoying a dream run with Dynamic runners, training 10 winners for the syndication firm since the start of the season.

Watt believes the Newcastle trainer could easily improve his numbers for Dynamic before Saturday's meeting if Midnight To Ascot is saved for a race at Canterbury on Friday night.

"He's nominated for Saturday and Friday and while we don't have a preference at this stage, Canterbury does look a nice race for him," Watt said.

The Spring Flying has attracted depth outside of Atomic Force, headed by the richly-talented Al Dhafra from the Guy Walter stable.

Al Dhafra has been away from the racetrack for 12 months but he was regarded as a horse on the move during his three-year-old season with victories in the Canberra Guineas and the Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick.

AAP TURF

Berry Looking For Walter's Run To Continue

Friday, 21 October 2011 05:59

Nathan Berry is hoping to play his part in continuing trainer Guy Walter's run of success when he partners Exceed And Exalt at Rosehill on Saturday.

Walter is having a great run with a Group One double at Randwick at the start of the month as well as another double at Randwick last Saturday and a Listed win at Gosford on Sunday.

Berry, who finished fourth on the Walter-trained Willy Jimmy in the Group One Epsom on October 1, has had plenty to do withthree-year-old Exceed And Exalt during the colt's five-start career and expects him to turn in a bold performance with blinkers off in the Sportingbet Handicap (1350m).

Exceed And Exalt raced too keenly and had a wide run first-up over 1200m two weeks ago when finishing fourth.

The first two across the line, Subarc and Pampelonne, are among his rivals again on Saturday in a field which also includes promising last-start winners Mental and Said Com.

"He (Exceed And Exalt) is a lovely horse, but with blinkers on first-up over the 1200 metres he got overracing and worked quite hard," Berry said.

"He steps up to 1350 metres tomorrow with blinkers off, we'll try to ride him a bit more positive and it wouldn't surprise me if he was able to win."

Exceed And Exalt, a son of Exceed And Excel out of the mare Laetitia who Walter trained, made a winning debut at Canterbury in March before finishing third in the Group Two Pago Pago Stakes.

The colt finished at the tail of the field in the Group One Sires' Produce Stakes, won by Cox Plate favourite Helmet, before ending his two-year-old season with a fifth in the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m).

Berry said Exceed And Exalt needed the blinkers as a two-year-old but with added maturity now believes he could be better off without them.

In the 1400m Centrebet's Pick Your Own Field Handicap, Berry is looking for Pureness to bring his "A game" as the gelding looks to bounce back with the addition of blinkers after a disappointing first-up showing two weeks ago.