Katie Lee To Attempt Guineas Double

Sunday, 08 November 2009 05:45

Katie Lee is set to back up in Saturday's One Thousand Guineas, a week after her brilliant win in the $1 million Two Thousand Guineas at Riccarton.

Trans Tasman trainer Graeme Rogerson who prepares the filly in partnership with his wife Debbie, said she was in fine fettle on Sunday and they would continue to monitor his progress.

"She's come through it all right, she seems good," Rogerson said.

"She is in there (for the One Thousand Guineas) now and we will just make sure she is all right. Patrick puts his horses first."

Patrick is Sir Patrick Hogan, who paid $340,000 for Katie Lee at the national yearling sales at Karaka. The daughter of Group Three winning Spectacularphantom mare Miss Jessie Jay was offered by Hallmark Stud of Waikato.

Hogan, New Zealand's most famous breeder, was on hand at Riccarton and said he would leave it to the Rogersons to decide whether she was in peak condition for the $300,000 One Thousand Guineas (1600m), which is for fillies only.

Hogan's original aim was the One Thousand Guineas but Rogerson also nominated her for the Two Thousand Guineas and the ease of her win in the Sarten Memorial on October 26 persuaded them that she should run in the $1 million race.

However, Hogan insisted that she would only run if Opie Bosson, who had been on her at her earlier starts this season, chose to ride her.

Bosson had the option on a few mounts, including the well regarded King's Ransom, but found himself swayed by her effort in the Sarten Memorial.

Rogerson, Hogan and Bosson have had a lot of success together and their judgment about Katie Lee was spot on, with Bosson steadying her after a bumping duel at the top of the straight to storm home over the top of a game Military Move.

But the person getting the kudos from them was Debbie Rogerson, who has had a long term involvement in the stable before joining in partnership with Graeme who she married last year.

"Debbie has done all the work with this filly. She deserves the credit," said Rogerson.

Katie Lee has had hoof problems and Debbie Rogerson has spent a lot of time exercising her on a water walking machine.

It was the Rogersons' first official Group One win as a training combination, but Debbie has long had a prominent role in the stable's operation and its successes.

"It's just the same as it always been," her husband said.

They are likely to have two runners in the One Thousand Guineas, with Queen Sabeel to be ridden by Michael Walker.

"She is a very good filly, so we have two very good chances. Katie Lee deserves to be favourite though."

Our Man In Monaco Has A Big Win

Sunday, 01 November 2009 06:15

Millionaire businessman Owen Glenn appears to have had the last laugh over the New Zealand-consul-to-Monaco saga.

Glenn, who has a home in Monaco, wanted to be the consul there, but the last Labour government lost interest when he crossed swords with it over the Winston Peters donations ruckus.

Glenn had given the New Zealand First leader a $100,000 donation, but Peters denied it. Eventually Glenn gave evidence to Parliament's privileges committee and Peters was censured by Parliament for giving false or misleading information about the donation.

On Saturday, a horse owned by Glenn and Auckland businessman Gerard Peterson won the $A1.5 million Victoria Derby. Its name: Monaco Consul.

Peterson took the credit for the name.

"I hoped Owen would have a sense of humour when I told him what the name was. He just laughed and said you have to laugh at yourself," Peterson told NZPA.

It seemed to be a name that stuck in people's minds, he said.

"I'm sure Winston would have had a few dollars on it," he said.

Another horse owned by Peterson and Glenn won its first race at Matamata on Friday.

It was called Nothingbutthetruth and also drew its origins from the donations row.

"It was a very small entree to what happened on Saturday," said co-trained Moroney, who last year provided an affidavit to the privileges committee hearing, saying he had heard Peters thank Glenn for his help.

NZ Cup Beckons For My Scotsgrey

Sunday, 08 November 2009 05:15

Ritchie was speaking about the prospects of the likely cup favourite My Scotsgrey after he and rider Leith Innes had given a faultless performance to win the $70,000, Group III, Gold Club Metropolitan Trophy, an Open Handicap over 2500 metres on Saturday.

The striking grey with a laidback demeanour had ordinary form on paper before he sprinted clear off the trail for an impressive win over 2400 metres at Ellerslie a fortnight ago, but as Ritchie pointed out, his lead up runs had been over shorter distances.

"I had to get him ready or you'll miss the bus. He's had to race in unsuitable races over 1400 and 1600 metres, but once stepped up to longer distances he was always going to be competitive. He's a dead-set, genuine, Kiwi staying horse", said Ritchie.

On tour with two horses from his training base in Cambridge, Ritchie had produced Military Move to finish second to Katie Lee in the group one 2000 Guineas earlier in the programme and attributes the beach environments encountered on the travels to keeping his horses in good shape for their assignments.

"I took them to Raglan to get them used the beach and stayed with David Haworth on the beach at Foxton on the way down. We arrived here last Wednesday and I'm staying out at the trotting stables with David Butt and they work them on the beach out there."

After receiving a sweet trip in the trail by Leith Innes, My Scotsgrey ranged to lead early in the run home and although enduring a tussle with locally trained galloper Zabene he scored in dominant fashion by half a length.

Ritchie said, "It wasn't a big margin, but I think he was doing his best work over the last 100 metres."

There was an eye-catching run in the race from Smoking Chimneys to finish third, and both he and Zabene will go on to contest the NZ Cup next week.

Owned by G G Syndicate Ltd, R M Reid, S F Ritchie, W M Schoonderwoerd, R J Stroud, G Syminton, Mrs C B & M A Todd, My Scotsgrey trekked to Victoria last season, finishing second to The Tiger in the Geelong Classic before going on to produce a notable performance for sixth to Coniston Bluebird in the New Zealand Derby in March.

Along with the group one 1000 Guineas, the $225,000, Group 3, Christchurch Casino 146th New Zealand Cup (3200m) is part of a monumental days racing at Riccarton Park Racecourse in Christchurch on Saturday November 14.

Sir Slick To Run In Emirates

Sunday, 01 November 2009 06:15

New Zealand trainer Graeme Nicholson says he intends to race Sir Slick in the Group One Emirates Stakes despite Racing Victoria stewards deeming him lame after the Mackinnon Stakes.

Sir Slick finished last in Saturday's Group One event at Flemington.

The on-course vet said Sir Slick was lame in the off foreleg after the race and stewards deemed he would need a veterinary certificate before he ran again.

But Nicholson said Sir Slick was fine and would be entered for Saturday's feature.

"I don't think there is anything wrong with him, but will get the farrier to look at him on Tuesday," he said.

He put the horse's indifferent performance on Saturday down to missing the Cox Plate the previous week after stewards ruled he was unfit because of a hoof injury.

"He was underdone yesterday because of that," Nicholson said.

Katie Lee Wins 2000 Guineas

Sunday, 08 November 2009 01:30

Into contention for the time honoured event after dashing clear to win the Listed Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa on Labour Day, October 26, Katie Lee was six dollars with TAB bookmakers in the week leading up to the race, before gaining further favour on the day to return $4.10 & $1.70 as second favourite.

Aboard for her two starts since resuming, Opie Bosson settled the classy grey filly midfield on the rail and all appeared to be going to plan until he went in search of clear galloping room early in the home straight.

Held in a pocket by Kaaptan, Katie Lee remained stymied after being denied an exit while the leader, Military Move, had high-tailed it for home inside the 300 metres.

From three lengths astern at the furlong pole, Katie Lee burst on to the scene, flying over the concluding stages to round up Military Move before going on to win by one length.

The race took on a local flavour with South Island trained gelding Clapton filling third position, a neck away.

Clapton is prepared by Joanne Hillis, daughter of the late Bill Hillis, at Wingatui.

Another filly, Corsage finished fourth, ahead of her stable-mate from the Walker barn, King's Ransom, fifth.

The favourite, Keyora finished seventh, disappointing trainer John Wheeler with the effort after racing a touch keen handy to the pace.

The time for the mile was 1:34.91, final 600 metres in 34.45, with the meeting conducted on perfect footing under clear skies.

Bosson said, "We got a beautiful run and she showed a great turn-of-foot when we got a split."

Following the recent win by Katie Lee it was expected that she would contest the 1000 Guineas a week later on November 14, but a decision was made by connections to compete against the colts and geldings on the availability of Bosson to take the ride.

Bosson had also been aboard rival contenders leading up to the race and it was paramount to Hogan that Bosson opted to ride his filly.

"If Opie chose another horse, she wasn't running. That was the bottom line. Not because other jockeys aren't good enough, there is no disrespect to any of them, but because he gets on so well the horse", said Hogan.

While any victory brings genuine satisfaction, it was clear to see in the faces of Hogan, Bosson and the training combination of Graeme and Debbie Rogerson that the success was incredibly sweet.

In partnership since the commencement of the new season, Katie Lee provided the Rogerson duo with their first group one success.

Speaking on their behalf, Graeme Rogerson said, "She's something special. You don't see them any better than that, especially after getting flattened once then again at the furlong."

"Sir Patrick has been a great supporter of mine. He's a champion. He's been in Melbourne all week with me and he's been sitting with the filly down at the stables for the last two hours."

"Opie almost gave me a heart attack at the furlong, but great horses can do great things and she is a great horse."

Following her Te Rapa victory, Hogan had let it be known that the purchase of Katie Lee was a spur of the moment decision.

Hogan had said, "She walked into the ring, I saw her and bought her and she has turned out to be a hell of a good filly. I was just leaning on the rail at the sales when I saw her and decided to buy her on the spot. She was from a good grey mare and by Pins, so I decided to have a go."

Her sire, Pins, stands at Waikato Stud and Hogan suggested stud boss Gary Chittick would have also enjoyed the victory.

"It could be the first time Garry Chittick has been happy with me. Well, he should be anyway", said Hogan.

Burdened by a few feet problems, Katie Lee spends a considerable amount of her preparation time in the aqua walker at the Rogerson stable, and Debbie Rogerson said, "Through that regime we had her at about eighty-percent for the Sarten. We wanted her one-hundred percent for today and she normally recovers okay."

Providing Katie Lee makes a good recovery from the race and prospers during the week she will line-up in the $300,000, Group 1, New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 14.

"I hope she can come back here next Saturday for everyone concerned", said Rogerson.

Katie Lee gave Bosson his fourth success in the race, having won in 1998 aboard Danske, Buzz Lightyear the following year, and King's Chapel in 2003.

Sir Patrick outlaid $340,000 for Katie Lee at the 2008 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale from the draft of Hallmark Stud.

Awesome Planet Returns To Winners List

Monday, 26 October 2009 02:30

Under a confident ride by Michael Walker, the Graeme and Debbie Rogerson trained mare came from a handy position to reel in Cross Roads and favourite Mill Duckie at her leisure over the concluding stages.

A close up ninth to Who Knows after covering extra ground in the Kelt Memorial at Hastings earlier in the month, Awesome Planet won the Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), and the Manawatu Breeders' Stakes (2000m), both at listed level, as a three-year-old.

She followed her Doomben Roses win with a fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) on unsuitable slow footing.

Graeme Rogerson said, "All she needed was a dry track. She's got a lot of ability this filly and I think she's a pretty good horse."

Awesome Planet was a $155,000 purchase from the 2007 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

The winner of five races for $285,000 in prize money, Awesome Planet is likely to contest the $250,000 Group 2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile at Riccarton Park Racecourse in Christchurch on November 11 as her next assignment.

Boundless Wins In NZ On Cup Day

Tuesday, 03 November 2009 13:15

The five-year-old mare had required surgery to remove bone chips in a fetlock after finishing fifteenth in the Melbourne Cup last year and more recently reported back problems could also have stemmed from the same race according to part-owner Trevor McKee.

"She has taken a lot of work to get her right and there have been a number of people look her over, but hopefully she can go on now," said McKee.

"We'll go on to the Counties Cup now and take it from there."

For owners Paul Dallimore, Trevor McKee ONZM, Neil Miller & Mrs Cherry Taylor it had been a frustrating twelve months with a mare that as a filly in her three-year-old year took all before her when winning the New Zealand Oaks, then cleared away from rivals for a very impressive win at Ellerslie, before being narrowly beaten by Heavenly Glow in the AJC Oaks at Randwick.

Boundless had recorded one the most tenacious victories of the modern era when winning the 2008 NZ Oaks at Trentham.

On that occasion, she had her head in front on the outside of the leader for a majority of the mile and a half journey and kept lifting under the urgings of rider Hayden Tinsley to win by a short neck, paying forty-three dollars to win in the process.

With James McDonald in the saddle this time, the method of victory was executed in similar style, as Boundless positioned outside the leader.

Following a steady pace, Boundless kicked hard under the urgings of McDonald, wide of centre track in the straight, to hold a comfortable three quarter length margin over the leader Sand Hawk in second.

Sand Hawk won a $100,000 Open Handicap (2500m) at Moonee Valley in late September defeating Britomart but was disappointing in two subsequent starts, finishing down the track in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) and once again only ten days ago in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).

While the runner-up in the recent Kelt Capital Stakes, Ginga Dude, finished half a length away in third.

Evidence of the strength of the victory was reinforced in the final 600 metre time of 34.46, suggesting it was pretty tough for horses to challenge from off the speed.

Boundless was bred by Brent and Cherry Taylor at Trelawney Stud, where Van Nistelrooy stood, under the Mrs C N Taylor & The B M Taylor Family Trust.

As is often the case in staying events, the winner displays stamina on the dam side, and there is no exception to the rule with Boundless.

Her dam Nothing Less is a full-sister to talented a staying mare, Twinkling, from group one Brisbane Cup winning mare Limitless, by Sir Tristram, who also won the Summer Cup, Tatts Cup and Anniversary Handicap all at Randwick during her career of eleven wins.

Capecover To Take Bendigo Route

Sunday, 25 October 2009 07:59

New Zealand stayer Capecover is likely to take the Bendigo Cup route as his Melbourne Cup leadup run.

Trainer Alexander Fieldes has also nominated Capecover for the Lexus (2500m), formerly the Saab Quality, on Saturday but says he is more inclined to go for the listed Bendigo Cup (2200m) on Wednesday.

"The spacing of the Bendigo race gives him a few more days than the Lexus and it's a race he could win and pay for the $45,000 final acceptance for the Melbourne Cup," Fieldes told NZPA.

Capecover sits 29th in the elimination order for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 3 and should comfortably make the field with the attrition rate expected by race officials.

But Fieldes said Capecover would have to earn the right to start in the Melbourne Cup at Bendigo after being a little disappointing in his last run when seventh in the Group Two Herbert Power (2400m) at Caulfield on October 10.

"He got knocked sideways by Shocking early in the straight, but (jockey) Craig Williams thought he should have showed a lot more ping after that," he said.

"He has done a lot of swimming since then and I think he is back to his best but we shall have to see on Wednesday.

"He would virtually have to win at Bendigo to have any show in the Melbourne Cup."

Kerrin McEvoy will replace Williams in the Bendigo Cup but will partner one of the Godolphin runners - Kirklees or Crime Scene - if they line up at Flemington.

Capecover just missed making the Melbourne Cup field last year but won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m) on the last day of the Flemington carnival.

Cranky Spin Around Biting Fit For Cup

Monday, 02 November 2009 06:15

Spin Around is angry and that's a good sign a day out from the Melbourne Cup, says his trainer Steve Cooper.

"The fitter he gets the angrier he gets and he's ready to take on Mike Tyson now," Cooper said of the gelding he has nursed through two suspensory ligament injuries.

"If you stay around the middle of him you are perfectly safe. He is sharp at both ends, very quick with his teeth and his feet.

"I think the majority of people around him are carrying scars.

"Generally he is a nice horse - just don't turn your back on him."

Bookmakers rate Spin Around little chance and have posted him at $201 but Cooper begs to differ.

"He is well qualified and has got less weight (52kg) than he has ever carried in his life. I don't see a problem," he said.

"Spin Around doesn't know what price he is - if he was odds-on favourite does it mean he goes faster?"

The horse doesn't know his age either and his racing career has been well spaced.

Cooper and his partner Michelle Stebbing came to New Zealand from England nine years ago on holiday and loved the place so much they stayed.

The 53-year-old Cooper has been involved in horses all his life, much of it spent in Devon in the southwest of England.

He was a member of the Household Cavalry at Buckingham Palace and spent a lot of time at point-to-points and hunts in Devon, but was never involved with racing on the flat until he came to New Zealand.

He became a trainer only four years ago and is the private trainer for Hong Kong owner Danny Wong.

Spin Around began his racing career in Hong Kong where he won four races but was sent to Cooper because of his suspensory injuries.

Hydrotherapy sessions and tender loving care have helped him return to the track and his six victories since joining Cooper's stable 2-1/2 years ago include this year's Auckland Cup (3200m), a win that set him on the Melbourne Cup trail.

He is one of two nine-year-olds in the Cup along with the Colin Little-trained Ista Kareem and the pair will be striving to become the first of their age group to claim Australia's most famous race.

Ista Kareem will also be out to become the first galloper since Makybe Diva in 2004 to claim the Sydney and Melbourne Cups in the same year.

Sir Slick To Run In Mackinnon

Sunday, 25 October 2009 06:15

Sir Slick will be aimed at the Group One Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday after his enforced scratching from the Cox Plate, a race his trainer Graeme Nicholson is sure he would have won.

Stewards withdrew Sir Slick from the race on Saturday morning after vets said he had not recovered sufficiently from a hoof injury sustained on Wednesday.

"I'm brassed off because he was fit to run. He was fine," Nicholson told NZPA.

"He would have been well in front and would have won, I am sure. He can run that distance faster than they did yesterday."

The Cox Plate was won by three-year-old So You Think who ran the 2040 metres in 2:03.98, a time only bettered on the StrathAyr track by Might And Power in 1998.

The withdrawal of the front running Sir Slick had many believing that would take the pace out of the race but Glen Boss took So You Think to the lead shortly after the start.

Sir Slick will get the chance to prove himself against So You Think who is also set to line up in the Mackinnon (2000m).

Nicholson said Sir Slick would also probably run in the Group One Emirates Mile on November 7.