Romanee To Fore As Monaco Flops
- Saturday, 26 December 2009 07:54
Underrated galloper Vosne Romanee became a million dollar earner after winning his second Group One race of the season at Ellerslie.
Vosne Romanee took advantage of a good draw and a quality ride by Matt Cameron to race clear of a top field and win Saturday's Zabeel Classic (2000m) easily from Red Ruler and Tell A Tale.
The big disappointment was favourite Monaco Consul, who finished third last in the 12-horse field.
Co-trainer Paul Moroney said the horse appeared to feel the very firm ground and was "on one rein throughout".
While connections of Monaco Consul were left with more questions than answers, it was the second time in three months that Vosne Romanee won a Group One at long odds.
He won the Kelt Capital Stakes (2000m) at Hastings at odds of $55.40 on the New Zealand TAB in October, and was at odds of $26.30 for Saturday's $200,000 feature.
He was still sufficiently underrated that jockeys were hardly banging trainer Jeff Lynds' door down to get the ride in the Zabeel Classic despite his regular jockey Buddy Lammas being injured.
"I got one call," Lynds said.
"But that's racing, it happens sometimes."
Cameron, who had ridden Vosne Romanee some years ago in a barrier trial, was eventually engaged and he used the horse's number two barrier draw to get a good run three back on the fence.
"It was his first time racing right-handed so being on the rail probably helped him," Cameron said.
"He travelled beautifully and he just stuck his little white nose in the gap and took off."
It was the second Group One victory for Cameron, a former top apprentice who is coming back after a six-month disqualification for falsifying statements in November 2007.
"I was going pretty hopeless and the rides weren't coming like they were when I was an apprentice," he said.
"But you've got to be a man when you come out of your time and I think I've got the hang of it now."
Lynds said he would seek further Group One glory in the International Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in February.
Red Ruler had a beautiful trail and looked the winner 300m out but could not withstand Vosne Romanee's finish and was 2-1/4 lengths away second on the line.
Monaco Consul Flops In Classic
- Saturday, 26 December 2009 07:54
Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul turned in an inglorious effort at his weight-for-age debut when he finished down the track in the Group One Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie.
Top Sydney jockey Corey Brown took a Christmas Day flight across the Tasman especially to partner the Mike Moroney-trained colt but came away empty handed.
Having his first start since he added the Victoria Derby to his Spring Champion Stakes victory, Monaco Consul settled towards the rear and was never a factor in the 2000 metre race beating just two runners to the line and finishing more than 12 lengths from the winner.
The feature was won by seven-year-old Vosne Romanee, who added the Zabeel Classic to his Group One Kelt Capital Stakes victory two starts ago.
Vosne Romanee scored by 2-1/2 lengths from Red Ruler with Tell A Tale another three-quarters of a length away.
Picture - Quentin Lang
Victoria Derby Winner In Matamata Exhibtion Gallop
- Wednesday, 23 December 2009 03:30
Victoria Derby winning High Chaparral colt Monaco Consul under Michael Coleman was sent out behind the stakes placed Bachelor Duke colt Prince Of Wales as they went down the back straight, with Monaco Consul wearing blinkers.
Monaco Consul closed 4L on Prince Of Wales as hey commenced the sweeping turn into the main straight, and the two matched strides until the final 100m when Monaco Consul felt the early pressure and Prince Of Wales went to the line under a hold.
"That gallop will bring him right into fitness," said Paul Moroney after the gallop.
"He is a more mature horse now, bigger and heavier, and it is a bit touch and go getting him to peak fitness and ready for the 200m at Ellerslie," he added.
Monaco Consul, to be ridden by Sydney jockey Corey Brown if he receives a clearance to ride after injuring a foot, commences a three race campaign into the Group One Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 6th in Saturday's NZ$200,000, Group One, WFA Zabeel Classic (2000m).
There he will meet the John Sargent trained Red Ruler (NZ) who also galloped after the Moroney pair and looked in fine form, running away from Minquar Quam in the gallop with ease.
Red Ruler, who looked to be running into form in Melbourne in the spring but ran last in the Group One Caulfield Cup over 2400m at Caulfield, returned to racing with a last finishing fifth over 1400m in an Open Handicap on December 12th.
Prince Of Wales will run in the $100,000, Group Two, The New Zealand Herald Great Northern Guineas (2100m) also looking for a run in the Derby.
Picture - Quentin LangWalker Unveils NZ Derby Contender
- Saturday, 26 December 2009 06:33
Mark Walker hopes Zarzuela's last-stride Group Two victory will convince her owner David Paykel to run the filly in the New Zealand Derby in March.
He is also keen to bring her to Australia in the autumn for a shot at the Group One AJC Australian Oaks.
Prince Of Wales looked to have Zarzuela beaten with 150 metres to run in Saturday's Great Northern Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie but the Zabeel filly stretched out magnificently over the final stages to get up on the line.
Walker said he expected Zarzuela to improve further with maturity.
"I've been trying to convince David Paykel that she should be running in the Derby and hopefully that will convince him," Walker said.
"I'd also like to take her to Sydney for the Oaks in the autumn."
Zarzuela has both sprinting and staying blood in her pedigree.
Although Zabeel is a noted sire of stayers, her dam Star Satire was a Group One winner over 1400m.
But the way Zarzuela won at Ellerslie, needing every metre of the 2100m trip, suggested staying races would suit her.
"She's a promising filly who's untapped at this stage," Walker said.
"She'll have a week in the paddock now and we'll hit the big time in the autumn with her.
"When she gets to 2400 metres she should be well placed."
Prince Of Wales came into the Boxing Day feature following two unlucky Group One defeats at his past two starts and showed that his high reputation was at least partly justified.
His jockey Michael Coleman decided to move around the field 600m out as he feared Zarzuela could pocket him. He was the widest runner on the turn but accelerated well.
"Michael said he got to the front too early, though I could see his reasons for going when he did," trainer Paul Moroney said.
"But Michael said he was starting to pull up when he got to the front.
"He's a very good colt who will get a good race one day, but Zarzuela's a very good filly though."
NZPA
George To Return To NZ As Chief Stipe
- Monday, 21 December 2009 05:55
Cameron George is to return to New Zealand from Australia as thoroughbred racing's chief stipendiary steward.
George, an Australian, served as a steward for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) from July 2006 to December 2008, with the last 21 months as chief stipe.
He left to become chairman of stewards for Harness Racing Victoria.
"This is an excellent opportunity at an exciting time," George said.
"With the changes that are being proposed in the coming months there is every indication that racing in New Zealand will go from strength to strength over the coming years.
"I'm keen to be part of it once again and contribute to that change."
NZTR chief executive Malcolm Holmes said George was energetic and had a great passion for racing.
"He will add depth and knowledge to our industry's integrity services."
He will take up his old job on February 15.
NZPA WGT
Eight Carat Classic Marks Halfway
- Thursday, 24 December 2009 12:59
As the fifth leg in the ten race Series, the $100,000 Eight Carat, which offers eight points for first place, four points for second, and two points for the third placed filly, has attracted a talented group of 15 fillies.
Current leader in the Filly of the Year Series on 16.5 points is dual Group 1 NZ Guineas winner Katie Lee (Pins x Miss Jessie Jay).The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson trained filly heads the Eight Carat field on Saturday in what will be the fourth Series leg she has contested.
At her previous start in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) a fortnight ago Katie Lee finished a close second after being run down late by Veronica Franco (Johar). The superior filly's only query on Saturday will be the return to right handed racing after claiming all her major glory this season left handed. However the Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan owned filly did win the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie as a juvenile.
The only other filly to take part in the Group 2 Eight Carat with points accrued in the 2009/10 Series is the John Sargent trained St Germaine (Keeper x Selenium). Having beaten Katie Lee in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) in September, which gave her six points in the Series, St Germaine has gone on to be placed in both the Group 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas and, at her last start, the Group 1 Levin Classic against the boys.
A high class filly, St Germaine will be steered by the in-form Mark Du Plessis.
Five last start winners take their place in the Eight Carat on Saturday including Dean, Donna Logan, and Chris Gibbs trained Jungle Juice (Jungle Pocket x Shadow Ray) who beat Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas second place-getter Military Move when she took out the Listed Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at her last start before going for a break.
Set for the Group 1 NZ Oaks in March, Jungle Juice will be primed to put her best foot forward on Saturday for her Hong Kong-based owner, Dominic Li.
Comme Tu Veux (Howbaddouwantit x Justa Babe) has mixed it with the boys all season when winning the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes (1400m) in September and running a solid fifth in the Group 1 Levin Classic at her last start. The Richard Yuill trained filly has form on the course having won two of three at Ellerslie.
Kevin Gray's Gofonze (Golan x Elfonze) is a tough front-running competitor who just missed a place in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas in November. She will have to work hard from barrier 11 but has the benefit having leading jockey Michael Coleman in the saddle.
The Paul Jenkins trained Street Party (Handsome Ransom x Centenary) has strong form surrounding her two wins from just four starts. Close up behind Prince of Wales and Finderskeepers two starts back, Street Party got a good view of the Ellerslie track when powering home by three lengths over 1200m at her last start.
John Sargent's other Eight Carat contender, Blonde Bombshell (Towkay x Millie Munroe), is another who won last time out at Ellerslie by three lengths. The untapped filly has not missed a placing in three starts and will be ridden by this year's Melbourne Cup and Victorian Derby winning jockey Corey Brown from barrier 6.
Graham Richardson's Italian Princess (Bertolini x Our Chickaroonie) and Stephen Mckee's Adaline (Court of Jewels x Red Covet) have both shown plenty of promise in putting two wins together on the trot, and both will have to overcome wide barriers to make it three on Saturday.
Wayne and Vanessa Hillis' promising Volksraad filly Marsh Harbour (Volksraad x Pasithea, by Crested Wave) was caught three wide in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes at her last start and her effort told in a lackluster performance. She has drawn barrier 13 again on Saturday with jockey Michael Walker hoping for more luck on his first ride on the filly.
Other winners in the field include Richard Yuill's Tossed and Turned (Secret Savings x Dolphinima), Anne Herbert and Hadley Searle's Prairie Star (High Chaparral x Maryann Jones), and Roger James' Pearl Dancer (Danehill Dancer x Kaapture the Heart) who have all drawn well in 8, 4, and 5 respectively.
The field is completed by the acceptance of lightly tried Francilienne (Danroad x Astral Way) for Jean Pfersdorff and Smarttart (Don Eduardo x To The Manor) for Glen Anderton.
The $100,000 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic is set to jump at Ellerslie at 4.07pm on Boxing Day.
Media Release - New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd
Challenge Stakes To O'Cartier
- Saturday, 19 December 2009 13:45
Under fifty-eight and a half kilograms last time, fifty-nine at WFA, O'Cartier had clocked terrific sectionals when winning in 1:22.71 over 1400 metres at Riccarton on Cup Day, November 14, and again with Chris Johnson aboard he ran 1:22.40 off the front to record a memorable win for the South Island.
Trained at Balcairn, north of Christchurch near Amberley, by John and Karen Parsons, O'Cartier may throw his near foreleg to a degree, but he gets it down fast enough to have notched thirteen victories, and as Karen Parsons told Trackside, he is courageous.
"When he's fighting it out in front, he fights like a tiger. He's such a brave horse, a very special horse", she said.
Starting as second favourite, O'Cartier held the challenge on his inner of the favourite Il Quello Veloce, to draw away by one and a quarter lengths at the line.
The same margin away, fellow Cantabrian Hold It Harvey finished third, from the stable of Terri Rae, with a narrow gap to fourth placed Sharp Princess, who punched well above her weight as the winner of only three races.
His support on the tote was shared in confidence by the camp of the Bev Jones owned and bred star.
"Fairly confident", was how Karen Parsons summed up his chances, "His work before he came up here was very, very good. As good a work as he's done for a long time."
After a $4000 service fee with Berkley Stud stallion My Halo, the sire of more than forty winners in New Zealand, O'Cartier has achieved earnings of $300,000, with more in store as he eyes the Thorndon Mile at Trentham and Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa as upcoming assignments.
Brown Cleared To Ride In New Zealand
- Thursday, 24 December 2009 03:55
A visit to the chiropractor has cleared the way for Corey Brown to reunite with Victorian Derby winner Monaco Consul in the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie.
The Melbourne Cup-winning hoop was stood down from riding at Canterbury on Wednesday after complaining of severe pain in one of his feet.
The issue was related to his hips, which had been niggling him for several weeks, but a visit to a chiropractor on Thursday sorted the problem out.
"I just needed a bit of a wheel alignment," Brown said.
"I'd had pain in my hips and lower back for a couple of weeks and was pushing through it but it just got to the point where I couldn't stand the pain when I put my toe in the iron."
Stewards told Brown he needed a medical clearance before he could ride again and Racing NSW stipe Greg Rudolph confirmed the top jockey provided that on Thursday.
"I've just spoken to him and he saw a specialist chiropractor today who realigned the source of the problem," Rudolph said.
"He's fit and well and we'll clear him to ride in New Zealand."
Brown won the Victoria Derby at his only ride on Monaco Consul and will forgo Christmas Day celebrations with his young family to fly to New Zealand on Friday afternoon in order to partner the dual Group One winner in the Ellerslie Classic on Boxing Day.
However, he will need to produce one of his better rides after the colt drew barrier 14 of 15 in the Group One 2000 metre race.
Monaco Consul is trained in partnership by the Melbourne-based Mike Moroney and his brother Paul and the latter admitted the three-year-old faced a tough task from the gate.
"From that draw he will be at his most vulnerable," Paul Moroney said.
"It means he will have to go back and it will make his job that much tougher.
"But we are confident he will be at least very competitive."
Monaco Consul resumed work shortly after returning from his Australian campaign, which also netted the Group One Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney.
"We often find that the trip to Australia brings them on mentally and physically, and he's certainly matured physically," Moroney said.
Monaco Consul was the $3.40 TAB Sportsbet favourite on Thursday despite his draw with Red Ruler next best at $5.50 ahead of Culminate at \$9.
If he comes through Saturday's race well, Monaco Consul will head to the Whakanui Stud Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in February and the New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March.
Picture - Quentin Lang
Manawatu Cup To High Octane
- Saturday, 19 December 2009 13:45
So often filling minor places in group and listed races in recent times, the Gregor Robson-trained galloper had not greeted the judge since February 2008, but truly deserved his success.
As solid as a shotgun barrel in physique, he exuded a toughness of similar proportions to deny local trainer Lisa Latta a hat-trick in the event, having won with Jonbalena last year and Nanjara in 2007.
Having her first ride on the horse, Lisa Allpress, who bagged four winners at Otaki last Thursday, was given instructions to situate High Octane closer to the pace than he had been of late, but the plan came unstuck when being squeezed to the rear as the gates opened.
Nevertheless, Allpress still sent her charge forward on a hectic early pace, four wide leaving the straight with a lap to run, to finally arrive outside the leader at the 1300 metre mark.
Once there, High Octane appeared to gather himself and travel sweetly.
Able to kick a couple of lengths clear off the point of the home turn, he never relented in his quest for victory, holding on to win by a long head.
Having been patiently ridden back in the field, Manonamission unleashed a solid bid after receiving a drag into proceedings from the 800 metres, while Bakup, off a fifth in the group two Waikato Cup a week ago, finished solidly for third, a long neck away.
Noteworthy performances also came from fourth placed Grand Canyon, Fazza in fifth and Ranginui sixth.
The time for the 2300 metres was a very genuine 2:19.50, and despite having finished second at his previous start, High Octane was let go on the tote to return $26.50 & $7.50, paving the way for a $2820 trifecta dividend.
Owned by Gregor & Donna Robson and Mrs I J P Stewart, High Octane had previously been seen at his best over a mile, impressing three times, and his affinity for middle distance racing has come as an older horse.
Now the winner of nine races for $230,000 in prize money, High Octane is in the right sort of form to cash in over the Christmas / New Year racing period.
Wasted Emotions Put Down In New Zealand
- Wednesday, 23 December 2009 05:17
Australian sprinter Wasted Emotions has been put down after breaking a leg in a Waikato trial.
Wasted Emotions had been transferred from Danny Williams to New Zealand trainer Tony Pike for a tilt at two Group One sprints, the Railway Handicap and the Telegraph Handicap, after winning at Randwick on November 28.
But he smashed a fetlock just after passing the post first in a barrier trial at Te Aroha on Tuesday and had to be destroyed shortly afterwards, the Waikato Times reported.
The Desert Prince seven-year-old won 11 of his 26 starts and nearly $550,000 for Williams who is based at Goulburn.
He was set to make his New Zealand debut in the Railway Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.
After the Telegraph, he was scheduled to return to Williams to continue his career.
Picture - Sportpix
Sunline Progeny To Fore
- Saturday, 19 December 2009 13:45
She may no longer be with us, but memories of champion mare Sunline resurfaced at Te Rapa racecourse in Hamilton on Saturday when two of her progeny, Sun Ruler and Sunstrike, fought out the finish of a race.
Sunline, who won thirty-two of her forty-eight starts, including thirteen at group one level and banked over NZ$14million dollars, succumbed to laminitis in May this year after battling the debilitating hoof condition for twelve months, and was laid to rest at Ellerslie racecourse in Auckland.
Both trained by Stephen McKee who with his father Trevor prepared and campaigned Sunline, the two draw cards lined up over 1200 metres.
Reported to be in peak condition to resume from a spell, Sun Ruler a $2m sale topping yearling at Karaka came with a stout finish out of midfield with Sunstrike, before gaining her measure right on the line.
The victory gave inform rider Leith Innes his fourth success for the day and moved him to fourth place in the jockey premiership.
While Sunstrike does not possess the size and scope of her younger brother, she appears capable of further victories, and the past remarks by Stephen McKee that Sun Ruler would be a far better proposition in time, appear to be spot on.
Commencing with a win, his second from seven starts, augurs well for his planned campaign and he seems capable of working through the grades as he steps up further in distance.