Princess Chasing Two From Two
- Tuesday, 18 October 2011 05:30
Princess Layla impressed in an all-the-way debut win but trainer John O'Shea expects the filly to be better suited ridden with a sit at Randwick on Wednesday.
The three-year-old, who is yet to be beaten in a barrier trial or race, will tackle the Bar Coluzzi Darlinghurst Handicap (1300m) on the Kensington track with in-form jockey Jim Cassidy aboard.
Princess Layla, a daughter of Fastnet Rock, made light work of her debut at Gosford earlier this month, dominating from the front over 1200m to win by three lengths as $1.30 favourite.
"She was a short quote and she justified it," O'Shea said.
"I'm really happy with her and we'll probably get the opportunity to ride her just behind the lead tomorrow.
"We rode her pretty aggressive on debut just because it was her first outing and it was around Gosford, but tomorrow we'll get the chance to ride her just behind the lead and that's probably her go."
A $340,000 yearling purchase, Princess Layla had been to the barrier trials four times before making her debut.
The filly won a trial last November and another in March before trialling twice this preparation ahead of her Gosford outing.
"She's just been a very forward filly, she's never been beaten in a trial or a race and that's indicative of how she goes," O'Shea said.
Wednesday's event will also feature the Gai Waterhouse-trained Go Kate Go who won by a similar margin when making her debut on the same program as Princess Layla at Gosford on October 6.
However, it's an unraced filly from the Darley team trained by Peter Snowden who O'Shea believes will provide the testing material.
"I would think Peter's filly would be the horse to beat on what I've seen," O'Shea said.
The Snowden-trained Sindarin is a well-bred Redoute's Choice filly and finished second in a recent Rosehill trial.
Meanwhile, Group-winning colt Foxwedge heads to Melbourne on Tuesday night in preparation for Saturday week's Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
The O'Shea-trained Foxwedge won the Group Two Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 1 and has a date with superstar colt Sepoy in the feature sprint for three-year-olds.
"He goes to Melbourne tonight and he'll have a trial at Flemington next Tuesday," O'Shea said, adding that blinkers would be applied.
Schmidt Rides For First Time At Rosehill
- Tuesday, 18 October 2011 03:15
Birthday girl Priscilla Schmidt will ride for the first time in Sydney on a Saturday when she partners Queensland stablemates Pepperwood and Seqsational at Rosehill.
Schmidt, who celebrated her 22nd birthday on Tuesday, has ridden twice at midweek meetings at Canterbury but is yet to ride at a Saturday metropolitan meeting in Sydney.
Schmidt was booked for the Liam Birchley-trained pair last week but was only confirmed after she won an appeal against a recent careless riding suspension last Thursday.
"Liam asked me if I could ride them in Sydney last week but I was suspended at the time," Schmidt said.
"He waited until I had my appeal against the suspension heard and when it was successful last Thursday he booked me.
"I've ridden twice at the midweeks at Canterbury and had no luck.
"I'm pretty excited about it as Liam could have used any apprentice in Sydney but he's given me the opportunity."
Schmidt, who is the daughter of Eagle Farm trainer Dwayne Schmidt, is highly regarded by Brisbane trainers but does most of her Saturday riding at the Gold Coast.
"I've ridden five winners in town in Brisbane and all up I've ridden about 110 winners," she said.
Schmidt had her first race ride at Lismore in December 2009 after turning her back on a career as a flight attendant with Jetstar.
"It was always my childhood dream to be a flight attendant but after I did it for a year I wanted to follow another dream to become a jockey," she said.
She doesn't model herself on any particular rider but does admire Kathy O'Hara and former jockey Bernadette Cooper.
Birchley has been forced to send his pair interstate because of a lack of a suitable races in Brisbane.
"I couldn't find a race for either of them up here so there's no alternative but to take them to Sydney," Birchley said.
"It's unbelievable, I've got a miler and a 1000-metre horse and can't find a race for them here."
Pepperwood is to start in an 1800-metre Benchmark 90 race before proceeding to Melbourne while Seqsational will make her comeback over 1100 metres in a Benchmark 80.
"There's a 2100-metre race at Eagle Farm on Saturday but Pepperwood has never raced beyond 1800 metres and I've set him for an 1800-metre race at Flemington on Cup day," Birchley said.
"I couldn't possibly send him around over 2100 metres and then drop him back to 1800 metres."
Pepperwood has failed at his only two starts this campaign but that doesn't concern Birchley.
"He never goes well in his first few runs back from a break and takes time to find his best form," he said.
At his most recent outing, Pepperwood came from last on the home turn to finish sixth, only four lengths from the winner Racing Heart over 1800 metres on a heavy Eagle Farm track 10 days ago.
Seqsational is a six-time winner from 18 starts including her last-start victory in a Class 5 over 1100m at Ipswich on May 2.
Bell In Most Important Win For Patinack
- Saturday, 15 October 2011 07:15
GalizaniApprentice Tim Bell scored his biggest win yet for the Patinack Farm team aboard Galizani in Saturday's Listed Tattersalls Club Cup at Randwick.
Bell, 18, accepted the role as Patinack Farm's Queensland stable rider earlier this year and was thrilled to land his first stakes win for the racing and breeding operation in the $100,000 feature over 2400m.
Five-year-old Galizani was suited by the conditions and the hectic tempo set by Herculian Prince andfinished over the top of her rivals to defeat the Peter Snowden-trained Adroitly by three-quarters of a length.
Galizani and Adroitly cleared out from the rest of the field over the concluding stages, with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Older Than Time coming from well back in the field to finish 2-1/2 lengths away third.
"I'm really happy to be the stable rider in the Queensland areas for Patinack and opportunities like this don't come along very often," Bell said.
"Riding a winner here at Randwick is great. It's my first stakes win for Mr Tinkler."
Bell was called upon to ride at Randwick on Saturday with many of Sydney's best jockeys in Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup meeting.
The victory for Galizani was a bright spot in a frustrating campaign so far for the daughter of Galileo and stable representative Andre Rabbett praised trainer John Thompson for turning the stayer's fortunes around.
Maluckyday was a dominant winner of the same race last year before going on to win the Lexus Stakes at Flemington to force his way into the Melbourne Cup where he beat all but Americain.
The door is still ajar for Galizani to follow the same path, with her win in the Tattersalls Club Cup passing the first ballot clause for the Melbourne Cup.
Galizani was 69th in the order of entry heading into the Tattersalls Club Cup.
"We'll see how she pulls up from today and Nathan (Tinkler) and John (Thompson) will discuss things," Rabbett said.
"There's a few options they will look at."
Rabbett said Thompson had totally changed Galizani's training around to try to spark a form reversal as Galizani has failed to fire in four starts so far this campaign.
"Full credit to John, he realised things weren't going her way so far this preparation and he totally changed the way he worked and trained her," Rabbett said.
"He kept her fresher and it's paid off today."
King Gladiator, who was first emergency, gained a start in the race and despite starting favourite at $4.60 was disappointing and finished 12th.
Both apprentice Blake Spriggs and Chris Waller's stable foreman Liam Prior could offer no excuses.
Picture: Sportpix
Skyerush Wins Gosford Feature
- Sunday, 16 October 2011 07:15
Trainer Guy Walter's rich vein of form continued at Gosford on Sunday when Skyerush took out the Listed Belle Of The Turf Stakes.
Walter saddled up two winners at Randwick on Saturday including Balmont who was successful in the Listed Nivison Stakes.
Just two weeks earlier the trainer claimed a Group One double with three-year-olds Doctor Doom and Streama, respective winners of the Spring Champion and Flight Stakes.
Punters couldn't separate Skyerush and Miss Keepsakeand sent them out as $3.50 equal favourites in the 1600m feature which carried $100,000 prize money.
Skyerush raced handily and put the result beyond doubt halfway down the straight when she strode to the lead in the middle of the track.
She had a comfortable length over Quidnunc ($3.70) with Miss Keepsake a long head third.
"I was going to run her at Moonee Valley on Saturday but decided to come here instead," Walter said.
"She is a lovely mare and never runs a bad race.
"We went out with the intention to ride her closer and it worked out.
"She may still go to Melbourne, maybe for the Matriarch on the last day at Flemington."
It was a welcome stakes win for the six-year-old mare who went into the race off placings in the Tibbie Stakes and Angst Stakes.
The feature win was the third leg of a treble for Skyerush's rider Hugh Bowman who heads to Melbourne on Monday for the build-up to the Cox Plate meeting on Saturday.
Bowman will ride New Zealander Lion Tamer in the weight-for-age feature.
Riva De Lago Living Up To Promise
- Saturday, 15 October 2011 06:15
Riva De LagoFour-year-old Riva De Lago has gone some way to fulfilling his potential by taking out the It's A Better Bet With A Bookie CTC Handicap at Randwick on Saturday.
The Con Karakatsanis-trained gelding settled seventh in the 1200-metre event and closed strongly from the 400-metre mark to win by four lengths at his first start since May.
Riva De Lago ($5.50), ridden by Jay Ford, had won just one of his first six starts but Karakatsanis said gelding the horsehad really turned him around this preparation.
"He's a serious horse," Karakatsanis said.
"He's always shown a lot of potential and being gelded has changed the horse's attitude.
"He's still not 100 per cent right in his coat, there's a fair bit of improvement still to come which makes his win even better."
Karakatsanis said he would consider taking Riva De Lago to Melbourne as a result of the first-up victory.
Meanwhile, the Guy Walter-trained Foxstar may have also earned a trip south after a dominant win in the Diona Rose of Tralee Handicap.
Walter said he may target the Group Two Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 5 following the five-year-old's victory in Saturday's 1600-metre event.
"We'll think about the Matriarch, either that or maybe leave her an extra week and take her to Sandown," Walter said.
He said he was especially pleased with Foxstar's performance given she was backing up after racing in the Angst Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday.
"She's had a lot of trouble with wet tracks, and she's a mare that's raced best when her races are spaced, but we felt we weren't having much luck doing that," Walter said.
"We're getting to a stage in her career where it's not possible to do that all the time.
"She's come through with flying colours today, we're very happy with her and the good thing about her is that she's only lightly raced."
Picture: Sportpix
Ortensia Pleasing New Trainer Paul Messara
- Sunday, 16 October 2011 02:59
A spring carnival mainstay since her three-year-old season, smart mare Ortensia is on track for another tilt at Melbourne's riches.
Formerly prepared by Tony Noonan, Ortensia has joined the Paul Messara stable and is being prepared for a belated carnival bid.
Messara is taking a softly, softly approach with the six-year-old but has been pleased with her two recent barrier trials including a 900m heat win at Rosehill on Tuesday.
"She's going really well," Messara said.
"She'll head to Melbourne and we'll pick out a race for her there.
"I'm taking it very slowly with her. She's an older mare and it's a matter of keeping her happy and sound."
Ortensia signalled her potential in the spring of 2008 when she won the Group Three Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m).
A year later she was runner-up in a Listed race on Melbourne Cup day before going on to win the Group Two Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth two starts later.
In the autumn of 2010, Ortensia won the Group One Galaxy but was stripped of the race when she returned a positive swab with feed contamination the only explanation Noonan, who was not penalised, could offer.
She was again competitive last spring finishing third behind Black Caviar and Star Witness in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) ahead of a brave fifth in the Hong Kong International Sprint.
She hasn't raced since finishing down the track in The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville in May and is yet to sport silks for Messara on race day.
Messara said Ortensia was unlikely to have another trial and it was just a matter of finding her a suitable first-up assignment.
"I'll just keep her ticking over," he said.
"Fitness-wise she is pretty much ready, we just have to see where we go."
Ortensia will be joined in Melbourne by stablemate Mahisara who finished third behind Hot Snitzel and Combat Kitty in Saturday's Listed Brian Crowley Stakes at Randwick.
He is being aimed towards the Group Two Sandown Guineas (1600m) on November 12.
Hot Snitzel Scores First-up Randwick Win
- Saturday, 15 October 2011 05:30
Hot SnitzelConnections of Hot Snitzel have a decision to make after the colt returned with a fighting win in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
The question is whether to take on Sepoy in the $500,000 Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in two weeks or put him up against older horses with a light weight in the $300,000 Group Two Salinger Stakes (1200m) on the same program?
Hot Snitzel was sent out the $3.60 favourite in the Brian Crowley (1200m) in the colt's first start since he finished second to Benfica in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes (1600m) in Brisbane in June.
The three-year-old went forward to sit outside the leader Ying La, and in a competitive field the Gerald Ryan-trained colt fended off all his rivals to defeat fast-finishing filly Combat Kitty ($10) by a half-head.
The Paul Messara-trained Mahisara ($16) turned in a pleasing first-up run to be 1-1/4-lengths away third while stakeswinner Uate was never in the hunt after getting back to last early and finished sixth.
Ryan said he had to sit down with the colt's owners to decide Hot Snitzel's spring path.
"He'll go down to Melbourne. I'm a little bit keen on having a go at the Salinger with no weight on his back," Ryan said.
"But something has got to run second to Sepoy.
"He could go down and take on the Salinger or he could go down and take on Sepoy. The other option would be to go to a Listed 1400 metre race and then go to the Sandown Guineas over 1600 metres."
Hot Snitzel ran second over 1600m as a two-year-old but Ryan said he believed he was best kept to 1200 and 1400 metres.
The victory of Hot Snitzel was Ryan's second success for the day after two-year-old Amorino made an impressive debut in the City Tattersalls Plate (1000m).
Ryan is adamant Hot Snitzel's preparation in Queensland during the winter, which netted wins in the Group Two Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) and Listed Ken Russell Memorial (1200m), has been the making of him.
"He's come back well and I think he's better in the brain now," Ryan said.
"That was a tough win. He loves a fight, this horse."
Jeff Penza said Combat Kitty appreciated being ridden quieter and found the line strongly, while Mahisara's jockey Christian Reith was delighted.
"He (Mahisara) has come back super and is on target for the Sandown Guineas," Reith said.
Picture: Sportpix
Title's Win Turns Pride's Fortunes Around
- Saturday, 15 October 2011 07:59
TitleJoe Pride ended an otherwise frustrating day on a bright note with consistent sprinter Title taking out the Listed Lightning Handicap at Randwick.
Pride's two other runners on the day had failed to fire and he also made the decision to withdraw Phenomenal Lass from the Listed Nivision Stakes when the track was downgraded to slow on Saturday morning.
The track was upgraded to dead later in the day.
The Warwick Farm trainer had prepared the runners-up, Black Prince and De Lightning Ridge, in the Lightning Handicap (1100m) in the past two years and was pleased to go one better with Title who scored by two lengths over Rarefied and took his record to eight wins from 19 starts.
"He's obviously come back in good order and he's in for a good preparation," Pride said.
"He's never done that before first-up but he's raced at that level before winning the Takeover Target Stakes.
"It was a bit of a disaster of a day but it's finished off nicely and that's racing."
Pride is targeting a Listed race over 1300m at Hawkesbury with Title early next month, a home-town race for the gelding's owner-breeder Louise Nutman.
"We'd love to win that race out there at Hawkesbury but we'll just see how he is after this," Pride said.
Jay Ford has struck up a winning combination with Title in recent preparations with Saturday's victory the jockey's fifth from eight rides on the five-year-old.
Ford bagged a Randwick double after earlier partnering the Con Karakatsanis-trained Riva De Lago to an impressive first-up win.
"Title has come back just as well as when he went out," Ford said.
"He's not noted as a first-up performer but he trialled well the other day and no doubt having the blinkers on helped him today.
"He put himself on the speed, I nursed him up the rise and then he fought right to the line.
"You'd like to think he can only step up another notch from here now."
Title, who started $9.50, defeated comeback galloper Rarefied ($3.20 fav) with a length to Midnight At Ascot ($12) in third place.
Picture: Sportpix
Ryan Contemplates Melbourne For Amorino
- Saturday, 15 October 2011 03:59
AmorinoTrainer Gerald Ryan has earmarked a possible trip to Melbourne for impressive Randwick debut winner Amorino.
The two-year-old colt showed talent and professionalism in Saturday's City Tattersalls Plate (1000m), surging forward after only an even getaway before pulling away in the straight to score by 2-1/2 lengths.
Ryan has never taken a two-year-old to Melbourne since he's been based in Sydney but believes Amorino ($5.50) is the right horse to do itwith, and pinpointed the Group Three Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington as the race for him in three weeks time.
"He's just been a very professional little horse all the way along," Ryan said.
"If he did super well after this I might take him down to Melbourne for the Maribyrnong Plate.
"I've never taken a two-year-old to Melbourne but I reckon this horse could be the one to do it with because of his attitude and his nature."
Ridden by champion jockey Jim Cassidy, who brought up an early double with the victory, Amorino sat on the speed with the Clarry Conners-trained Lord Duveen but quickly raced away from that colt at the 300-metre mark and was strong to the line as the Darley-owned duo Rusambo and Knoydart attempted to chase him down.
Rusambo ($5.50), who was third in the Breeders Plate on debut two weeks ago, finished second with Knoydart ($3.40 fav) another 2-1/4 lengths away third.
"I think he'll be a horse that will get a bit further later on as well, he's just not a speed horse," Ryan said of the winner.
"He's a nice horse."
The colt's owners Elio and Jacqui Galante made the trip to Sydney from Western Australia to watch Amorino's debut.
"There was a bit of pressure on when Elio rang and told me they were coming over today," Ryan said.
Amorino is a son of Snitzel who Ryan trained throughout his career which included victory in the 2006 Group One Oakleigh Plate.
Picture: Sportpix
Winning Double To Guy Walter At Randwick
- Saturday, 15 October 2011 07:45
BalmontGuy Walter capped another fine day out at Randwick on Saturday with a winning double, including the Listed Nivison Stakes with outsider Balmont.
The six-year-old, who was sent out at $31 in the 1200m event, dived through late to claim Pontiana ($15) by a neck with Ofcourseican ($3.50) a length away third.
Balmont's first-up victory came after the Warwick Farm trainer took out the Diona Rose of Tralee Handicap with Foxstar.
The Nivison Stakes has been a successful race for Walter over the years with the trainer previously winning with Razor Blade (1998), Spinning Hill (2000) and Whoever (2006).
The win also marked a successful return to Randwick for the trainer who only two weeks earlier claimed two Group One events with three-year-olds Streama and Doctor Doom.
Walter said he was thrilled with the Nivison result.
"I was a little bit concerned about her fitness on a wet track, I knew she went vey well fresh and I instructed (jockey) Jeff Penza to hold her up for the last run," Walter said.
"It's a thrilling win all round, and it's the fourth time I've won this race."
Balmont had done the majority of her preparation at Walter's satellite stable at Goulburn and the trainer said it was a special win for him and owners Kooringal Stud.
"It's great for Kooringal Stud and the Lamont family, they've had a tough week as they had to had to put (stallion) Bureaucracy down through old age," Walter said.
"He (Bureaucracy) been a great horse for me, with horses like Court's In Session, Bobadah, and Forward Scout."
He said there were no ambitious plans for the mare in the immediate future.
"We've got no great plans, she's done her job today, winning a stakes race," he said.
Picture: Sportpix
Nocturnelle Comes From Last To Win
- Saturday, 15 October 2011 03:30
NocturnelleImproving filly Nocturnelle overcame a slow start to claim the City Tattersalls Handicap at Randwick on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained three-year-old was slow to begin from gate three in the 1400m fillies event and was last with 400 metres to run before storming home to win by three-quarters of a length from Mabsam ($6).
The Gary Portelli-trained Heels ($9) held on for third, another half-neck away, after leading.
Nocturnelle was sent out $2.35favourite and her victory takes her record to an impressive two wins from just three starts.
Waller's racing manager, Liam Prior, said he was pleased with her performance given the lack of speed in the race.
"She was obviously a bit slow out of the machines, but she relaxed nicely today," Prior said.
"She was probably caught in a little bit of an awkward spot heading for home but Jimmy (Cassidy) found the shortest way home and got the cash which was good."
Prior would not be drawn on the stable's plans for the filly in the absence of the trainer.
"Chris will wait until he gets home (from Melbourne) through the week to see how she pulls up first," Prior said.
"She's done more than enough this preparation, so Chris may want to turn her out and bring her back for the autumn."
In-form Cassidy said Nocturnelle had worked home well.
"She's a nice filly, I put her to sleep down the back and only worked home the last 400 metres," he said.
"It didn't worry me being back where she was, about five or six (lengths) off them and relaxed, and only really came home the last 400, so it was a good effort."
The second favourite Eyes On Guard ($3.60) missed a place, with jockey Hugh Bowman believing she would be better suited to 1200 metres.
Picture: Sportpix