Red Ruler Spot On For The Cup

Sunday, 24 January 2010 01:25

Instructions to ride Red Ruler (5yo G. Viking Ruler – Ransom Bay, Red Ransom) as the best horse in the race, again proved spot on as he strode to a dominant victory in the $70,000, Group III, Selaks Trentham Stakes, raced under weight-for-age conditions over 2100m at Trentham racecourse in Wellington on Saturday.

Matamata trainer John Sargent had told rider Mark Du Plessis to “ride him as though he is the best horse in the race” when the pair combined to win the group two City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on January 1, his previous start.

Du Plessis proceeded to carry out the instructions, riding the bold galloper from a wide draw to trail before surging clear in the straight, and he emulated the feat with positive display from barrier rise that resulted in a comfortable three quarter length victory.

Abuzz from the success, part-owner and Chairman of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Guy Sargent said, “It’s great that New Zealand is getting a chance to see how good this horse is. He competed well against the best horses in Australia.”

Sargent shares the winner of $1,140,383 from six victories in ownership with Ron Arculli, Andrew Meehan.

Second place finisher Stand Tall pleased trainer John Wheeler at his third run back from a spell.

“He’s needed his first two runs as he hadn’t raced for a long time, but he’ll be better next week with a pull in weights”, said Wheeler.

Both horses are set to contest the $250,000, Group II, Century City 2010 Wellington Cup at Trentham next Saturday, January 30.

Raced under handicap conditions, Red Ruler will carry fifty-seven kilograms, while Stand Tall is the benefactor with fifty-three and a half.

The outsider, Hurrah finished third.

Returning $2.70 & $1.40 as favourite, Red Ruler completed the 2100 metres on 2:12.42 on slow footing that did not suit according to his rider.

Du Plessis said, “I was concerned about the track, but he travelled up a bit better than expected and since the Zabeel he’s improved ten lengths.”

At Ellerslie on Boxing Day, three starts ago, Red Ruler finished second to Vosne Romanee in the group one Zabeel Classic WFA.

Red Ruler continues to flourish and impress his trainer.

“He’s flying at the moment”, said Sargent. “I told Mark ‘there is no better horse in the stable at present’.”

“Settle him where he’s happy and let him do his thing.”

“I gave him three days in the paddock after he won at Ellerslie, and we’re at Wellfield for the week, so he’ll come back here next Saturday”, said Sargent.

TAB bookmakers currently view Red Ruler as a $2.80 chance to win the Wellington Cup, where he sure to be competitive again, especially if receives the good type of footing he genuinely prefers.

Picture: Sportpix

NZ Racing Board To Distribute Additional $6m To Codes

Wednesday, 20 January 2010 23:00

The New Zealand Racing Board will make a special funding distribution of $6 million to the thoroughbred, harness racing and greyhound codes in March 2010.

Racing Board Chairman Michael Stiassny said on Wednesday he was pleased the Board was able to make the unscheduled pay-out which would benefit the grassroots industry.

“This unscheduled distribution is only possible due to the strong fiscal restraint being achieved by the Racing Board. The distribution is in addition to our budgeted distributions to the Codes which we will continue to make during the remainder of the financial year as scheduled.

“We are currently ahead of budget for the first five months of 2009/10, as a result of having worked to strip out more than $10 million in operating costs, at the same time driving revenues with initiatives such as TAB TV. We are continuing to identify and implement additional operational efficiencies.

“Last year we also paid out more to the racing industry than we earned which depleted our reserves by $22.2 million. However, we recognise that racing clubs are in need of additional support as the country emerges from the economic recession. And, given we are ahead of budget, it makes sense to pay out some of the surplus now rather than wait until the end of the financial year. It’s great to be in a position to help,” he said.

Mr Stiassny said the Board was tracking well ahead of budget for the first five months of 2009/10, with a total net profit of $58.2 million, up nine per cent on the same period in 2008/09.

Total turnover was up three per cent to $678.9 million for the same period, while operating expenses were down 7.3 per cent to $30.4 million.

The New Zealand Racing Board recorded a $119 million profit* for the year to 31 July 2009, despite the effects of the global financial crisis and increasing offshore competition from internet gambling operators.

Coming off a record high in 2007/08, the Racing Board’s total turnover of $1.513 billion was down only 0.9 per cent (or $14.25 million) on the previous year. Operating expenses of $144.73 million were up just 2.95 per cent (or $4.16 million). Importantly, distributions to the industry were up 7.2 per cent, with the three codes receiving $141.2 million.

The result reflects strong financial management through a difficult time, Racing Board Chairman Michael Stiassny said.

“We dipped into our reserves to pay out $22 million more to the racing industry than we earned during the financial year.

“This was a prudent decision taken to help racing weather the economic recession, which meant that our cash reserves were reduced to $41.0 million+ at the end of the financial year,” Mr Stiassny said.

Mr Stiassny said the Racing Board’s full year result was particularly robust given the pressure on discretionary household spending in 2008, the 2.5 per cent fall in GDP and the increasingly competitive environment that the Racing Board is facing.

“We’ve achieved enviable results in the past five years. We have managed a 34 per cent growth in total turnover and a 111 per cent increase in distributions since 2003, but it has not been easy. The threat posed by offshore operators is with us and increasing.

“On current estimates, around $50 million is being returned to overseas operators which otherwise would be available to support the New Zealand racing industry. Additionally these operators are able to offer betting opportunities relating to activities taking place within New Zealand on which legislation prevents us offering betting and therefore competing. Legislatively, we no longer operate on a level playing field.”

Mr Stiassny said the Racing Board was confident about the current financial year as the country emerges from the recession.

“We continue to focus on operational efficiencies while making important investments to improve our product and infrastructure. Investments - including the launch of TAB TV and the installation of the new Typhoon betting system - will help ensure the future health of the racing industry. However, we are under no illusion that we have our work cut out for us trying to head off the massive competition posed by the internet,” Mr Stiassny said.

* Net audited profit before industry expenditure and distributions

+ Excluding betting accounts and betting vouchers trust monies

Picture: Greg Irvine

NZ Jockey Harris Has No Plans To Retire

Sunday, 24 January 2010 01:15

Veteran New Zealand jockey Noel Harris has scotched any rumours of retirement in the wake of his latest Group One victory in Saturday's Telegraph Handicap.

Harris, 55 earlier this month, gave Tim and Margaret Carter their first Group One win as trainers, when he timed his run from back in the field to perfection to pilot Vonusti to a comprehensive victory.

While Harris praised the Carters for their patience in choosing the right races for the five-year-old gelding, Tim Carter, a former Maori All Black, praised Harris for his patient ride and sticking with the ship.

"Noel Harris has had a lot of faith in the horse all the way through. He's stuck with us and we've stuck with him," Carter said.

"He rode Stony Bay when I had him years ago. With this horse, we have always wanted him to keep on riding and I think it is probably the biggest thrill I have had in racing, especially to have Noel on."

Harris was delighted and said rumours he was heading for retirement were well off the mark.

"I always say another year or two," he said.

However, he admitted that he had been having a quiet season and was somewhat frustrated by trainers thinking he was scaling back.

"It's liked they're retiring you," he said.

"You have got to have the quality rides, but I think I can still compete."

He joked during the race presentation that his wife Kylie would have to "wait another year or two to pay off the beach house".

Vonusti was last when the field jumped, with Harris moving him up a little soon after.

But he was still three-quarters of the way back in the field, wide with cover, as Coup Align scorched ahead of the field with 600m to go.

Coup Align was still in front with 150m to go, but Vonusti and Harris were flying wide out and sprinted to the line, two lengths clear of Tootsie who recovered brilliantly from interference soon after the start.

One of the outsiders, Stupendous, got up for third ahead a long neck away, ahead of former Australian Kiloton and Melbourne horse Keano.

Favourite Wealth Princess, checked out of contention about the 250m, was next, ahead of Coup Align, who did well considering the soft track was unsuitable.

NSW gelding A Gold Trail, who was second early, faded to finish last, 20 lengths behind Vonusti with Michael Rodd saying he failed to handle the deteriorating track.

Michael Rodd Confirmed For Gold Trail

Monday, 18 January 2010 06:15

Jockey Michael Rodd will reunite with Sydney sprinter Gold Trail in his bid to plunder Saturday's $NZ1 million Telegraph Handicap in New Zealand.

The Gary Portelli-trained speedster will be chasing his second consecutive Group One victory across the Tasman after leading throughout to claim the Railway Stakes (1200m) on January 1 with Rodd aboard.

There had been some confusion over whether Rodd would be able to make the trip to Wellington to partner Gold Trail, who races as A Gold Trail in New Zealand.

However, Portelli confirmed the hoop had been booked for Saturday's showpiece.

"He's definitely on. We had to make sure about Michael's flights but he's landing in New Zealand at 1pm and the race is at 5pm so he will be fine," Portelli said.

"He knows the track, he knows the horse now so hopefully the horse will turn up and do his best over 1200 metres again."

Portelli made a flying visit to New Zealand last week to watch Gold Trail work and he was happy with what he saw.

He believed the five-year-old, who had not won beyond 1100 metres before his Railway victory, had improved from that run.

"I'm much happier with his appearance," Portelli said.

"The other day he was a bit light and the colour in his coat was off a bit, it wasn't dramatic but it wasn't the way I normally have him looking.

"He is spot on now."

Gold Trail is one of 19 nominations for the Telegraph Handicap along with fellow Australian Keano trained by Danny O'Brien.

Picture: Sportpix

Outsider Wins The Telegraph

Saturday, 23 January 2010 06:04

Vonusti has surprised a star-studded field to win the $NZ1 million Group One Telegraph Handicap at Trentham.

Australian A Gold Trail, winner of the Railway in Auckland on New Year's Day, led as expected but was found wanting over the final stages and finished last.

In contrast, Vonusti and veteran jockey Noel Harris made it look easy.

Vonusti was about 12 wide as the field streamed into Trentham's long straight, heading straight into a stiff southerly.

The gelding unwound a devastating sprint in the centre of the soft track where the going looked best and bolted in to score by two lengths.

Tootsie charged out of the pack close to the rail to take second, edging out Stupendous.

The winner is trained at Cambridge by Tim and Margaret Carter.

Kiloton, a former Australian, now trained in New Zealand by John Sargent, was fourth ahead of another Australian sprinter Keano, trained by Danny O'Brien at Flemington.

Heat Haze Headed For Wellington Cup

Sunday, 17 January 2010 07:45

A horse with a major bone missing from her head has bounded into contention for the Wellington Cup.

Heat Haze charged home for an impressive win when she made her open class debut in the 2200m Marton Cup at Awapuni on Saturday.

The mare is from the stable of Paul Jenkins, who said the horse smashed a head bone called the poll when being transported home from a yearling auction.

"She went off in the float for some reason and took the poll out of her head. She basically has no bone between her ears," Jenkins told NZPA.

"It was a pretty serious head injury."

If that wasn't enough Heat Haze was again in the wars as a three-year-old.

"She then chipped both fetlocks as a spring three-year-old which required more surgery," Jenkins said.

"She was just one of those horses that seemed to run into trouble all the time."

Consequently it was only 18 months ago that the Zabeel five-year-old mare began racing but she now has the very promising record of six wins from 20 starts.

All of her wins have been at 1800 metres or beyond and she should be suited by the 2400 metres of the Wellington Cup at Trentham on January 30.

Heat Haze is also entered for the $1 million Auckland Cup (3200m) on March 10 and, all going well, Jenkins said there was no reason why she could not contest that race.

Heat Haze was bred and is part-owned by Lorna Moore who had victory in the 2005 Auckland Cup with Bazelle, another Zabeel mare trained by Jenkins.

Ridden by Lisa Allpress, Heat Haze only had a few behind her on the home turn but after being worked to the outer in the straight she stormed home to down Cassini by half a length.

Cassini made all the pace and looked a likely winner after going clear early in the run home on a track that had been downgraded from good to dead following early showers.

On Sunday Heat Haze shared the second line of favouritism with Fiorano for the Wellington Cup at $10 with Red Ruler heading the market at $4 alongside Booming, another winner on the Awapuni card.

The $2.60 favourite for a rating 90 race over 2300m, Booming never gave his army of supporters any cause for concern.

He settled fifth on the outer for Opie Bosson and moved forward approaching the turn when Hoddiggidy went clear early in the run.

The strapping Don Eduardo five-year-old gelding easily claimed the leader inside the final 200 metres and went on to score by a length.

Friday's Rotorua Meeting Abandoned

Friday, 22 January 2010 00:26

Gold Trail At Juicy Odds For Double

Tuesday, 05 January 2010 00:59

Sydney sprinter Gold Trail's Group One win at Ellerslie has failed to convince New Zealand punters he can repeat the dose later this month.

The NZ TAB has Gold Trail on the fourth line of betting for the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham on January 23.

Gold Trail sped across from a wide barrier to lead the Railway Stakes field on Saturday and held off the finishing burst of Atapi.

The win was a special one for trainer Gary Portelli who made no secret of how his horse would run the race.

"It was a great thrill and even more special because I just love the horse," Portelli said.

"He is just a pleasure to have in the stable.

"It was even more satisfying because everyone I spoke to in New Zealand told me he couldn't win from the barrier.

"But I knew he had the speed to get across and, ridden properly as he was, he could hold them off.

"Sprint races are run differently in Australia, it's all about speed from the first furlong (200m) and that's what I was counting on.

"They say Trentham is a faster track and the faster they go, the further he'll win by."

The NZ TAB has Melbourne sprinter Lucky Secret the $5 favourite ahead of Mufhasa at $5.50, Wealth Princess at $6 with Gold Trail at $7 alongside Coup Align.

Michael Rodd rode Gold Trail on Saturday but Portelli was unsure whether he would be able to make the trip to Wellington.

"Michael may have a commitment to the Mark Kavanagh stable," Portelli said.

"But I don't think I'll have too much trouble finding a jockey."

Gold Trail is being cared for in New Zealand by Murray and Bjorn Baker.

The Railway was Gold Trail's first win over 1200 metres with his other six over 1100.

"In the past we've trained him more for 1100 metres but I've always believed he could get the extra distance," Portelli said.

"And I'm confident he can do it again."

Picture - Sportpix

Gold Trail Spot On For Telegraph

Thursday, 21 January 2010 07:45

The dominant Railway Stakes victory by Sydney sprinter Gold Trail has not been enough to convince New Zealand punters he can make it a double in Saturday's Telegraph Handicap.

But try telling that to his trainer Gary Portelli.

"The horse has come on and if they couldn't beat us last start I don't know how they're going to," Portelli said.

"The last 50 metres is always the worry with him but the track is downhill so it shouldn't be a problem."

Gold Trail, who races as A Gold Trail across the Tasman, was at $8.50 on the New Zealand TAB's fixed odds markets on Thursday after drawing barrier eight.

He will be one of two Australian-trained runners in the field of 17 along with the Danny O'Brien-prepared Keano ($21) who fared well with gate three.

Wealth Princess, who will jump from 10, is the $4.50 favourite ahead of Mufhasa ($7) who will have to overcome a wide draw in 14 while $8 chance Coup Align will start from 11.

"I suppose the weight of money is what determines the price and the locals fancy their chances of beating us," Portelli said.

"That's fine with me, I don't mind being the underdog."

Gold Trail was regarded as an 1100 metre specialist in Australia where he posted six wins over the distance.

He had not won over 1200 metres until overcoming a wide alley to lead throughout in the Group One Railway Stakes at Ellerslie last start and he will again attempt to extend his brilliance to that journey at Trentham on Saturday.

Michael Rodd will reunite with Gold Trail in the Telegraph Handicap in what will be a busy weekend for the 2007 Melbourne Cup-winning hoop.

Rodd will ride Here De Angels for Mark Kavanagh in the Group Two Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night before flying to New Zealand on Saturday morning.

He has proven a lucky charm for Portelli in major races having ridden the Warwick Farm trainer's two Group One winner to date - Rena's Lady in the 2007 AJC Australian Oaks and Gold Trail in the Railway.

Picture: Sportpix

Zabeel Closing In On Sire's Record

Sunday, 03 January 2010 06:38

Super stallion Zabeel is closing in on the stakes record of his sire Sir Tristram.

The win by Rainbow Styling in the Listed Tattersalls Club Cup at Randwick took Zabeel's individual stakes winners to 124, just six short of Sir Tristram.

Zabeel stands at New Zealand's famous Cambridge Stud which was also the home of his benchmark sire.

Among Zabeel's stakes winners are 39 individual Group One winners including champions Octagonal and Might And Power, one of his three Melbourne Cup winners. The others are Jezabeel and Efficient.

Sir Tristram sired 45 individual Group One winners, a world record at the time of his death in 1997.

In 2006, Zabeel's stud career was threatened when he suffered fertility problems early in the season but he recovered and is still active.

Cambridge Stud proprietor Sir Patrick Hogan did not race Zabeel but bought him as the heir apparent to Sir Tristram.

Sir Patrick will offer 22 Zabeel yearlings at the Premier sale in New Zealand later this month.

Zabeel's sire sons include the unbeaten Reset, Cox Plate winner Savabeel and Octagonal who in turn produced Lonhro whose progeny are producing the goods on the racetrack.

Among Lonhro's sons is Denman, winner of the 2009 Group One Golden Rose.

Picture - Sportpix