Seen The Light on Derby Mission
- Tuesday, 08 October 2002 00:00
Seen The Light's Matamata trainer, Paul O'Sullivan, said the three-year-old was a shade unlucky not to win the Lindauer Guineas.
"He went for a gap close to the fence which closed on him and he ended up colliding with the running rail at a crucial stage of the race. He did well to run second," O'Sullivan said.
"The run showed me he is clearly an ideal type for the Derby," said O'Sullivan who has previously won the Group One three-year-old classic with Surfers Paradise and Popsy, both trained in partnership with his father, retired champion trainer Dave O'Sullivan.
Seen The Light, a son of The Oaks Stud stallion Manntari, will have his next start in the $50,000 Highview Guineas (1600m) at Te Rapa on November 9 followed by the Derby Prelude at Ellerslie and either the Avondale Guineas or Derby Trial before he contests the derby.
Manntari, an impressive group one winning 2 year old and sire of the group performers Shizu, Dawn Till Dusk and Ebony Boy is standing the current season at a service fee of $3,000 + GST.
Media Release - TNZ
Lowland Stakes Meeting Staying Put
- Monday, 07 October 2002 00:00
Club chief executive Eddie Jansen said today there had been some consideration given to moving the meeting to Tauherenikau.
"But after a close examination of the weather forecast it was decided to leave the meeting at Trentham," Jansen said.
"The forecast for the next few days is good and if we get some drying weather there is the prospect of a track slightly better than soft," he said.
"We are just hoping there is no further rain. A few sections of the track have suffered from the large amount of rain we have had in the Wellington area in the past six weeks but with a few fine days they won't take long to improve considerably," he said.
Media Release - TNZ
Flemington Aim for Kiwi Jumping Find
- Tuesday, 01 October 2002 00:00
The eight-year-old has an unbeaten record over hurdles, having won his three starts in that code since making his debut at Pukekohe six weeks ago. An easy novice hurdle win at Paeroa followed and he completed the hat-trick even more impressively in an open hurdle at Ellerslie 10 days ago.
Trainer-jockey Craig Thornton has kept My Willie Montague ticking over since then. A solid hitout on the Matamata course proper this morning convinced him to go ahead with plans to contest Monday's $A70,000 open hurdle at Flemington.
This 3200 metre race is a replacement for the Cup Day Hurdle, which is normally run on Melbourne Cup day. With the special conditions attached to the event, My Willie Montague will carry just two kilos above the minimum.
"It's a good opportunity to have a crack at a decent stake," said Thornton. "The field isn't overly strong and I'm happy with his condition."
John Wheeler's Waikato Hurdles winner Real Tonic is also in the list of 13 entries. Since jockeys cannot hold trainers' licences in Australia, My Willie Montague will race in the name of Kevin Myers, with Thornton content to retain his place on top.
The only complication is organising a space on a limited charter flight to Melbourne.
"Things are a bit up in the air at the moment," said Thornton, "but we're hoping that something can be worked out by the end of the week."
Thornton has another big riding engagement later this month, New Zealand-bred jumper Zabenz in the $US250,000 Breeders' Cup Steeplechase. The pair have already combined to take the New York Turf Writers' Steeplechase at Saratoga.
Media Release - TNZ
Hail Predicted for Cranbourne Cup
- Friday, 04 October 2002 00:00
Co-trainer Bruce Marsh confirmed today that the five-year-old gelding will depart on Monday and will be a starter in the $A130,000 Cranbourne Cup (2025m) in Victoria next Wednesday.
Marsh was delighted with Hails effort to finish third in last Saturdays $500,000 Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings and the progress of the gelding since has been very pleasing.
Hail will be ridden in the Cranbourne Cup by experienced Matamata-based jockey Noel Harris.
Marsh was to the fore at Thursdays Woodville meeting with two winners including the smart three-year-old filly Ultra Vires (NZ) (Woodborough) who will be aimed at a start in the $275,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas (1600m), Gr. 1, at Riccarton on November 9.
Media Release - TNZ
Walker Grabs Lead in Kiwi Training Premiership
- Tuesday, 01 October 2002 00:00
Walker's stable has 10 wins to his credit already this season.
He also has the best strike rate of the top 20 trainers in the country with a ratio of 3.3 (1 winner in every 3.3 starters).
Walker has confirmed that Distinctly Secret will be ridden by Sydney-based jockey Chris Munce in his upcoming Melbourne spring campaign which begins with the Yalumba Stakes on October 12.
Society Beau is also Melbourne bound for the Toorak Handicap.
Walker's two stable runners at the Otago meeting on Sunday are Zanzibelle and Supertred.
Zanzibelle is having her first start from the stable. She will be ridden by Jason Waddell in the three-year-old maiden 1000m event and should prove hard to beat.
Cameron Hooper has the mount on Supertred who lines up in an intermediate 1200m event.
Media Release - TNZ
McKee's New Star Set for Caulfield Guineas
- Thursday, 03 October 2002 00:00
Hawke's Bay Guineas winner Bunker will travel to
Melbourne next week to tackle the $A1 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m).The race on Saturday week is a Group One event.
Takanini trainer Trevor McKee said Bunker had thrived since his Group Three Hawke's Bay Guineas win.
The Sandtrap three-year-old will be ridden in Melbourne by Greg Childs.
The McKees' stable will be represented in Saturday's Lindauer Guineas (16000m) at Ellerslie by Bank Note and Pulitzer.
Bank Note will be ridden by Michael Walker while Pulitzer has the services of Peter Johnson.
In other riding engagements for the Lindauer Guineas Seen The Light will be ridden by Gary Grylls and Vixsun has the services of Lance O'Sullivan.
PIC - Quentin Lang.
Media Release - TNZ
Leeu Heading North for Fillies Series
- Tuesday, 01 October 2002 00:00
Leeu posted the second stakes win of her blossoming racing career when she was successful in the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes at the Ashburton meeting last Friday.
She travelled north to contest the Sires Produce Stakes races at Awapuni and Ellerslie last autumn but both times had to be scratched because of the rain-affected tracks.
"She is one of those Volksraads who must have a firm track to produce her best form," said her trainer, Mandy Brown.
Her next start will be in the $40,000 Lowland Stakes, a Group Three 1400m event, at Trentham on October 12.
Following that she will be prepared for a tilt at the Group One $275,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 9.
Leeu races in the colours of her breeder, Cambridge-based Windsor Park Stud.
She scored her first Listed race win as a two-year-old in the 2001-02 season when taking out the Ford Champagne Stakes at Wingatui.
Leeu is by last seasons champion New Zealand sire, Volksraad, from the well-performed Western Symphony mare, The Lions Roar, who included among her six wins the Gr. II Grosvenor Championship Stakes and Gr. III Wilkinson Insurance Mile.
Also from this same family are the Sydney Cup winner Linesman and Brisbane Cup runner-up and multiple group race winner, Bound To Honour.
Media Release - Windsor Park Stud
Crowd Complaint Leads to Rider's Suspension
- Thursday, 03 October 2002 00:00
The matter was brought to the attention of chief northern stipendiary steward George Lawson after the complaint was lodged with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racings Wellington office.
Trackside television footage of the incident was viewed and a charge of improper use of the whip was heard at yesterdays Avondale race meeting.
It was felt that Reese Jones conduct in striking his mount Money Machine while dismounted behind the starting gates was deliberate, unwarranted and improper, Lawson told ThorougbbredNews today. The judicial panel had no hesitation in finding him guilty as charged.
Jones has defended his striking of the horse prior to loading for the race. What is seen in eight or 10 seconds of Trackside footage doesnt tell the whole story, said Jones, who is northern president of the New Zealand Jockeys Association. The horse was reluctant to go up to the barrier, so I dismounted and hit him twice on the backside. That had the desired result and I was able to walk him up to take his place.
Jones begins his suspension after riding at Ellerslie on Saturday. I wont be appealing. The expense and the low success rate of jockeys who do appeal charges doesnt encourage me, he said.
Media Release - TNZ
Munce Snapped Up for Distinctly Secret
- Monday, 30 September 2002 00:00
Trainer Mark Walker confirmed this morning that
the Melbourne ride on Distinctly Secret has gone to Chris Munce.Lance O'Sullivan has been on the gelding in his two starts to date this preparation but he has a prior engagement for Cyclades.
"Chris is booked for the Yalumba Stakes and Caulfield Cup," said Walker. "He'll decide on his Melbourne Cup ride after those two races.
"It's great to get a rider of his calibre who can do the Caulfield Cup weight (51.5kg) easily."
Munce's biggest win to date is the 1999 Melbourne Cup on Cambridge-trained Jezabeel. He added last Saturday's George Main Stakes on Defier to his list of feature race wins.
Society Beau, a well beaten favourite in the Team Wealleans Cup at Matamata on Saturday, may yet be on the same Melbourne flight as his stablemate early next week.
"He's come through the race in good shape," said Walker, "and I tend to think that he was a victim of circumstances on Saturday."
Society Beau faded under topweight of 58kg after refusing to settle when taken on in the lead. His likely initial Melbourne target is the Toorak Handicap on Saturday week, on the same Caulfield programme as the Yalumba Stakes.
PIC -
Quentin Lang.
Media Release - TNZ
La Bella Dama Ready to Sparkle
- Thursday, 03 October 2002 00:00
Class mare La Bella Dama is well on course to
repeat her sparkling Melbourne form of 12 months ago.Graeme Rogersons New Zealand training partner Stephen Autridge reports that the Desert Sun mare is coming to hand at the right time as she builds up to attempt the same MVRC Tesio Stakes-VRC Mackinnon Stakes double that she won last year.
They were really pleased with her last start fourth and shell run next in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday week, said Autridge.
On the home front, Autridge is hoping for the weather to hold and a good track at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The stables main
interest will be Lindauer Guineas prospect Horus, who Autridge feels can improve on his
last start fourth in the Hawkes Bay Guineas.
That was only his third start and theres plenty of improvement in
him yet, he said. He was going to run third at Hastings, but just got pipped
on the line.
Horus will be ridden by Leith Innes, who is also booked for the Rogerson-Autridge first
starter Legend in the two-year-old event. Were expecting a good run from him,
said Autridge. Hes shown quite a lot with placings in both his trials to date.
Azure Tryst should appreciate the increased distance of his 1600 metre maiden race, in
which he will be ridden by Opie Bosson, while last start winner Casita is one stable
runner that will not be inconvenienced by a soft or heavy track. Vinny Colgan rides him
again in the intermediate 1400 metre event.
PICS - Quentin Lang.
Media Release - TNZ
Woodville Meeting Transferred to Hastings
- Monday, 30 September 2002 00:00
Torrential rain in the past 24 hours has left the Woodville course unsuitable for racing.
The Hastings track has also had rain but is expected to be no worse than soft. Nominations for the meeting have been left open until 9am tomorrow.
Media Release - TNZ