Found The One Impressive In Qld Debut Win

Wednesday, 07 September 2011 06:45

Found The One showed she could be a future force following an explosive victory at her Queensland debut at Eagle Farm.

The John Thompson-trained mare set a class record of 57.36 seconds with her six-length romp over Harmonies in Wednesday's David Jones Maiden Plate (1000m).

Found The One, owned by Patinack Farm's Nathan Tinkler, was sent to Wadham Park in the Gold Coast hinterland after finishing with the tailenders on a heavy surface on Randwick's Kensington track in late July.

It followed two metropolitan placings in Sydney and a heavy track failure on debut at Canterbury.

Stable foreman Brett Killion predicted a bright future in Brisbane if Thompson left her in the north.

"She's been looking for a dry track, that's why she was sent here," Killion said.

"She's got loads of ability and should go through the grades here.

"The only time she's raced badly were on those two heavy tracks.

"We're lucky to be in a situation of having stables in four states so if John wants, he can move our horses around as much as he likes."

Apprentice Tim Bell continued his great run since joining Tinkler's team.

"She doesn't go too bad and she should win a lot more races on that effort," Bell said.

Meanwhile, trainer Pat Duff's love of the Show A Heart breed again proved fruitful when Gypsy Heart ended a frustrating run of outs with a long neck win over Rose Of Kentucky in the www.brc.com.au Maiden Plate (1600m).

Gypsy Heart went into his 13th start with seven placings including five seconds before finally breaking his maiden status.

Duff paid $35,000 for Gypsy Heart at the Magic Millions and blamed himself for the four-year-old not breaking through earlier.

"He's been crying out for 1600 metres but I was a little greedy trying to keep him around 1400 metres in some of his previous races because of the better prizemoney," Duff said.

"He's been a frustrating horse because he's run so many seconds.

"I've always liked the Show A Heart breed.

"He's been a good stallion for me and one of my biggest wins was with Heart Of The Citi in the Magic Millions Trophy a few years ago.

"This horse is well bred and his family traces back to Vo Rogue."

Duff also praised the ride from jockey Justin Stanley who was also impressed with Gypsy Heart's victory.

"It was a good ride. He was caught three deep most of the way but he held him together and let him find the line strongly," Duff said.

Gypsy Heart is part-owned by Duff's wife Di and son Michael and former Queensland racing minister Bob Gibbs.

Shoot Out Crowned Qld Horse of the Year

Sunday, 04 September 2011 02:38

The 2010/11 racing season was capped off with the announcement of Shoot Out as the Queensland Horse of the Year tonight.

The John Wallace-trained four-year-old won this award last year and had another successful season racing amongst the country’s best kicking off the season with a win in the Group 2 J.J. Liston Stakes.

He went on to place in Group features behind So You Think, Whobegotyou, Typhoon Tracy and Descarado as well as a third in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes behind Zipping and Shocking and a fourth in the Cox Plate, the weight-for-age championship of Australasia.

The gelding beat out other Horse of the Year nominees Buffering and Captain Sonador. The Horse of the Year award was accepted at the 2011 RQs Thoroughbred Awards Night on Saturday, September 3 at the Sofitel Brisbane with a host of industry stakeholders.

Hosted by Racing Queensland Limited, the RQs recognise the season’s achievements in the thoroughbred racing industry.

Robert Heathcote was the recipient of the Queensland Trainer of the Year, nominated alongside Norm Hilton and Roger Milne. Robert also took home the Metropolitan Premiership Trainer of the Year award with 62.5 wins.

Group 1 Caulfield Cup winner Chris Munce earned the title of Queensland Jockey of the Year ahead of fellow nominees Shane Sciven and Jason Taylor. Chris also claimed the Metropolitan Premiership Jockey of the Year award with 79.5 wins.

The Ken Russell Queensland Apprentice of the Year award went to Justin Wood who also picked up the Metropolitan Apprentice Jockey Premiership. He beat fellow Apprentice of the Year nominee and brother Mitchell Wood.

The 2011 RQs Thoroughbred Awards winners include:

• Queensland Horse of the Year – Shoot Out

• Queensland Trainer of the Year – Robert Heathcote

• Queensland Jockey of the Year – Chris Munce

• Ken Russell Apprentice of the Year – Justin Wood

• Stallion of the Year – Show A Heart

• Community Racing Award – Stan Johnston

• SEQ Metropolitan Premiership Trainer of the Year – Robert Heathcote

• SEQ Metropolitan Premiership Jockey of the Year – Chris Munce

• SEQ Metropolitan Premiership Apprentice of the Year – Justin Wood

• SEQ Provincial Premiership Trainer of the Year – Michael Nolan

• SEQ Provincial Premiership Jockey of the Year – Daniel Griffin

• SEQ Provincial Premiership Apprentice of the Year – Bradley Wallace

• Non-SEQ Provincial & Country Horse of the Year – Playtime

• Non-SEQ Provincial & Country Premiership Trainer of the Year – Todd Austin

• Non-SEQ Provincial & Country Premiership Jockey of the Year – Adrian Coome

• Non-SEQ Provincial & Country Apprentice of the Year – Carly-Mae Pye

• Champion QTIS 3YO of the Year – Buffering

• Champion QTIS 2YO of the Year – Playtime
• Best 4YO & Up – Shoot Out
• Champion Broodmare – Live It Up
• Champion First Season Stallion – Red Dazzler
• Champion 2YO Stallion – Jet Spur
• Women in Racing Award – Del Fitton OAM

• Bookmakers’ Award for Longest Priced – Jedi Starfighter

• Media Award – The Queensland Times

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

State Of Wealth To Continue Guineas Hunt

Wednesday, 07 September 2011 06:15

Promising colt State Of Wealth's quest for a Group One Caulfield Guineas start in October will continue on home soil at Doomben on Saturday.

Trainer Brian Smith also nominated State Of Wealth for a Benchmark 74 race over 1200 metres at Rosehill the same day but preferred to remain at home for The Rohrig Group Three-Year-Old Handicap (1110m).

"I took a gamble on a good barrier and only accepted in Brisbane and we got barrier two," Smith said.

"If he wins on Saturday his next run will be in the Stan Fox in Sydney. It's halfway to Melbourne."

The Group Two Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) will be run at Rosehill on September 24.

Smith has a big opinion of State Of Wealth, who scored an impressive victory to break his maiden status at Eagle Farm last month.

"It was only a maiden but it was a very good win," he said.

"It's the owners' wish to run him in the Caulfield Guineas so we entered him for both Brisbane and Sydney on Saturday.

"He's trained on very well since his win but we're running out of time for the Caulfield Guineas.

"His second payment is in for the Guineas and the process is in motion.

"If he can keep ticking the boxes he'll be there."

State Of Wealth, a son of Ad Valorem, was bought for $50,000 at the Magic Millions sales by former New Zealander Graham Pollock who runs Yandina Lodge spelling and pre-training facility on the Sunshine Coast.

Pollock holds his own trainer's licence but was happy to have him trained by Smith after retaining a share when the colt was syndicated.

State Of Wealth has the right bloodlines for his Group One attempt as his grand-dam Ruffles won the Group One Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in 1997.

Meanwhile, Smith is happy with the progress of Hume and Raeburn following their defeats in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) last Friday.

Both stayers are being aimed at the Group Three Newcastle Cup (2300m) on Thursday week.

Hume only managed to finish 10th to The Verminator in the Wyong Cup while Raeburn fared better finishing eighth.

"The Wyong Cup didn't really suit Hume but I was thrilled with Raeburn's run," Smith said.

"I put blinkers on Hume but that only managed to fire him up and he pulled too hard.

"They'll be coming off for the Newcastle Cup."

Both Hume and Raeburn have been nominated for the Group One Metropolitan (2400m) in Sydney on October 1.

If Hume can measure up in the Metropolitan, connections will consider taking him to Melbourne.

Hume showed enormous promise as a stayer before suffering a tendon injury at the end of his 2009 spring campaign.

He was out of action for more than 18 months before resuming at Eagle Farm in June this year.

Epsom Plans In Disarray For Toowoomba Pair

Saturday, 03 September 2011 06:15

Toowoomba sprinters Poor Judge and Rothera's Epsom Handicap plans were thrown into disarray following the pair's failure at Eagle Farm.

Poor Judge, having his first start since tailing the field in the Listed Weetwood Handicap on his home track in March, fared the better of the pair, finishing strongly for fifth to veteran sprinter Anyways in Saturday's www.brc.com.au Handicap (1200m).

Rothera struggled home in last place, seven lengths away.

TheKelso Wood-trained Anyways, the oldest runner in the race at nine, edged out Craiglea Falcon for a short neck victory.

Joint Chiefs filled the minor placing a further 2-1/4 lengths away.

Trainer Ben Currie was dumbfounded with Rothera's performance when he failed to pass another runner.

"I'm very disappointed and I don't know what to say," Currie said.

"On that effort his Sydney trip is a long way off but I'll see how he is when I take him back home."

Rothera's jockey, apprentice Jason Letherby, offered no excuses and was also stunned by the gelding's lack of effort.

"He just went one pace. I thought he'd at least run on well but he didn't do a thing," Letherby said.

Rothera was having his first start since winning the Listed Tattersall's Members' Cup on a heavy track at Eagle Farm in March.

Trainer Wayne Nugent saddled up Poor Judge for only the second time in the six-year-old's career since he was transferred from Norm Hilton.

Under Hilton, Poor Judge won last year's Weetwood Handicap and later earned a Melbourne trip, finishing third in the Group One Toorak Handicap at Caulfield before claiming the Group Three Chatham Stakes on a heavy track at Flemington in October.

The son of Royal Academy lost form in his next campaign, finishing last in three successive starts including this year's Weetwood.

"My first impression was he was very disappointing," Nugent said.

"I thought he would find the line better than he did.

"On that effort you'd have to think his Epsom trip is in big doubt."

Nugent admitted he was still getting to know Poor Judge but felt he had been working well enough to be a winning chance first-up.

"I'll take him home now and see how he pulls up but it'll be hard to take him to Sydney," he said.

"His first-up runs are not normally his best so perhaps I'll give him another chance before deciding about Sydney."

Meanwhile, trainer Paul Nolan and jockey Chris Munce are having second thoughts about a Group Three Newcastle Cup (2300m) start for Fantastic Blue despite the gelding's easy two-length win over Secrets Untold in the brisbanetimes.com.au Handicap (2125m).

Nolan said he would be advised by Munce whether the five-year-old should start in Thursday week's feature.

"The worst decisions are made at the racetrack," Munce said.

"I'll think about it before talking again to Paul but it will be a different ball game at Newcastle.

"But he's in form and he did a good job."

Bailey Not Ruling Out Sydney Trip

Tuesday, 06 September 2011 05:45

Trainer Trevor Bailey is not ruling out a Sydney trip if talented sprinter Flying Minstrel brings his A-grade form to Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Flying Minstrel was entered for three races this week but Bailey's preference is to start the four-year-old in the Hidden Dragon @ Lyndhurst Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm.

The gelding was also entered for but did not accept in the Newmarket Handicap (1000m) at Ballina on Thursday and also holds an entry for a Benchmark 85 race at Doomben on Saturday.

"We're trying to pick the weather with him and it looks like he'll go around at Eagle Farm tomorrow," Bailey said.

"I'd like a dry track for him and tomorrow looks a better chance ..."

Flying Minstrel has won four of his seven starts and long-range plans for the son of Jet Spur include the Magic Millions Sprint at the Gold Coast in January.

Flying Minstrel mysteriously lost form last campaign, failing in the Magic Millions Three-Year-Old Stakes (1200m) at Wyong in December before finishing last at the Gold Coast on New Year's Day.

Bailey blamed the heat for his poor Wyong showing and a wet track for his Gold Coast failure.

Since then Flying Minstrel has been gelded and Bailey is confident he's back to his best form.

Flying Minstrel scored impressively in his comeback appearance at the Gold Coast on July 9 then came under the scrutiny of stewards following a fading 10th to Excellantes at Doomben the following week.

Bailey refused to blame the quick back-up for Flying Minstrel's defeat and got him back on track with a record-breaking 1000-metre win at Ipswich on August 5.

"Tim Bell rode him when he was beaten at Doomben and stewards took exception to his ride that day," Bailey said.

"It wasn't too bad a run and he showed that when he came out and broke the class record at Ipswich last start.

"He just missed breaking Lynn's Love's long-standing track record at Ipswich."

Bailey is not overly concerned with Flying Minstrel's wide barrier, 10.

"It's a bad alley but he's got the speed to get across and lead them," he said.

"We're taking things day by day with him and long range the plan is the Magic Millions Sprint next year.

"I haven't had a good look at the Sydney program yet but if his form is up to it he could go down for a race or two."

Risk Aversion On Her Way To Black Type

Saturday, 03 September 2011 03:59

Promising mare Risk Aversion continued to make giant strides to a long-range goal in Sydney next autumn with an impressive victory at Eagle Farm.

Risk Aversion, ridden by star apprentice Timothy Bell, gave trainer Michael Lakey a few moments of concerns before getting up in the last bound in Saturday's Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1200m).

The four-year-old nailed Redessi on the line to score by a short head with Cat Eyes a short neck away third.

RiskAversion broke through for her maiden victory at her second race start in April before scoring an impressive win in her comeback in Class 4 company at Eagle Farm on August 10.

The daughter of Encosta De Lago was entered for a race at Eagle Farm on Wednesday but was scratched when a downpour made the track heavy.

Lakey admitted he was concerned about stepping Risk Aversion up from Class 4 to Saturday grade but in hindsight was glad he took the gamble.

"To be honest I never wanted to start her today," Lakey said.

"But you never know with horses. She's a four-year-old who has had problems and things could go wrong again."

Lakey plans to chase black-type races with Risk Aversion in Brisbane in the coming months which will help decide if she's capable of measuring up to a Sydney trip next autumn.

Risk Aversion is owned by Gold Coast businessman John Hutchins whose former star Typhoon Tracy won the Coolmore Classic in 2009.

Hutchins is hopeful Risk Aversion can follow a family tradition to win in Group company.

Her half-sister Shania Dane was placed at Group One level while her half-brother Scintillation won three Group One races in Hong Kong.

"John is overseas in China at the moment but he'd love to go back and win the Coolmore with this mare," Lakey said.

"It was a good win but she gave me heart failure at the 200 metres when I thought she'd run a nice fourth or fifth.

"It's her pattern to get back in her races."

Lakey was forced to delay Risk Aversion's career after she suffered from suspensory problems early in her career.

"She's seems over those problems but she's a very light filly and is an average eater," he said.

"The aim is to win black type with her first then we'll see how she comes back next campaign before deciding about taking her away."

Mayfield-Smith Into Hall Of Fame

Sunday, 04 September 2011 07:15

Champion trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith has been honoured with induction into the Queensland Racing Hall Of Fame.

Mayfield-Smith began his career in far north Queensland and rose to the top in Sydney and Melbourne before going into early retirement, twice.

He began his racing career in 1967 as a strapper in Brisbane then learned more about his craft in Sydney under Jack Denham.

Mayfield-Smith took out his licence in 1971 and won his first race withGay Meld at Mareeba in April that year. He moved to Brisbane in 1974 and then in 1976 went to Sydney.

His first horse of real note was Tiger Town which held the distinction of being beaten in two Group One races by 100-1 chances - La Neige in the 1976 Epsom and Sir Wisp in the 1977 Stradbroke Handicap.

In 1978, Mayfield-Smith became private trainer for Millie Fox in Sydney and in 1980 he claimed his first Group One win with Brindisi in the Metropolitan Handicap.

When Robert Sangster and Bob Lapointe took over the ownership of Fox's Nebo Lodge in 1984 they appointed Mayfield-Smith as their trainer.

In the 1985-86 season, Mayfield-Smith ended TJ Smith's 33-year monopoly on the Sydney premiership with the first of three titles and the following year trained Marauding to win the Golden Slipper.

Mayfield-Smith stunned the racing world when he quit the industry in 1995 to move to Africa to work as a wildlife conservationist.

He was back home after two years and resumed training in Melbourne where he prepared Group One winners Rubitano (twice), Oliver Twist (twice), Sudurka and Special Dane.

Mayfield-Smith has trained more than 30 Group One winners and despite retiring again almost two years ago, he is now licensed and training a couple of horses out of his Victorian country property.

Speed Worries Ahrens

Friday, 02 September 2011 05:45

Trainer Ben Ahrens fears the lack of genuine speed looms as a major obstacle confronting Spechenka in his Group Three Newcastle Cup dress rehearsal at Eagle Farm.

Ahrens has preferred Saturday's brisbanetimes.com.au Handicap (2125m) as the final stepping stone to the Group Three Newcastle Cup on Thursday week for Spechenka following his last-start fifth at Doomben on August 20.

The six-year-old was also nominated for Friday's Listed Wyong Cup (2100m).

"He was entered for the Wyong Cup and got 55.5 kilos but he was better placed here even though he's got 58.5 kilos," Ahrens said.

"I thought his first-up run was very good. He settled into his normal racing pattern which I wanted to see and they broke 35 seconds for the final 600 metres.

"He had to run a faster sectional as he was making good ground on the leaders even with 59 kilos."

Regular work jockey Ben Cornell partnered Spechenka at his last outing but Ryan Wiggins will be aboard the son of Danachenka on Saturday.

"I haven't had a good look at the field yet but there doesn't look to be a lot of speed in the race which is a worry," Ahrens said.

"Despite that I'll still be disappointed if he's not really competitive this time."

Ahrens confirmed the Newcastle Cup would be Spechenka's next assignment before the Group One Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 1.

Ahrens won last year's Group Three Summer Cup (2400m) at Randwick with Spechenka and is keen to test him over 3200 metres and hasn't ruled out a tilt at the Melbourne Cup in November.

"He's qualified for the Melbourne Cup after winning a Group race further than 2300 metres in the last 12 months," he said.

"I wanted to run him in the Queensland Cup during the winter carnival but he wasn't quite ready to go 3200 metres after winning the Caloundra Cup."

Spechenka instead ran in the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) but could manage only fifth to another Queenslander, Warrior Within.

Ahrens isn't worried about a slow track for Spechenka.

"He doesn't love the wet but he gets through it," he said.

"A wet track would not be a benefit to him but it's not a disadvantage either.

"But he's not a mudlark."

Spechenka has been nominated for the Group One Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October and will head to Melbourne if his Sydney form warrants it.

"The Caulfield Cup is a definite option but I don't know how he'd go getting around Caulfield," Ahrens said.

Shoot Out Wins Second Qld Horse Of Year

Sunday, 04 September 2011 04:45

Gold Coast star Shoot Out has been named Queensland Horse of the Year for the second time.

Trainers Brian Mayfield-Smith and Rob Heathcote and jockey Chris Munce were the other big winners at Racing Queensland's annual awards presentation on Saturday night.

Mayfield-Smith was inducted into the Hall of Fame while premiership winners Heathcote and Munce were also named trainer and jockey of the year.

Shoot Out won last year's award following two Group One wins in the Randwick Guineas and Australian Derby at Randwick.

The John Wallace-trained gelding made it successive titles when he fought off challenges from Buffering and Epsom Handicap winner Captain Sonador.

Although he didn't win a Group One race during the 2010-11 season, Shoot Out was honoured for his strong performances during last year's Melbourne spring carnival.

After claiming the Group Two Liston Stakes at Caulfield in August, Shoot Out finished third to So You Think in the Group three Memsie Stakes and third to Whobegotyou in the Group Two Dato Chin Nam Stakes.

He then finished third to Zipping in the Group One Turnbull Stakes before two game fourths behind So You Think in the Group One Cox Plate and Group One McKinnon Stakes.

Mayfield-Smith was inducted into the Hall Of Fame for his long and distinguished career during which he rose from an unknown in Townsville to become one of the country's top trainers in Sydney and Melbourne.

Heathcote outpointed Toowoomba's Norm Hilton and Roger Milne to win the trainers' award after winning the Brisbane premiership for a third successive year.

Chris Munce won the jockey of the year award from Shane Scriven and Stradbroke Handicap winning jockey Jason Taylor.

Munce claimed Brisbane's riding honours last season for a fourth time with 79-1/2 wins.

The Ken Russell Queensland Apprentice of the Year award went to Justin Wood who also won the metropolitan apprentices' premiership.

The Heathcote-trained Group winner Buffering was named champion three-year-old, Playtime took the two-year-old title and Shoot Out the best older horse.

Gold Coast rider Daniel Griffin was named the South East Queensland provincial jockey of the year while Brad Wallace, son of Shoot Out's trainer John Wallace, was the apprentices' winner.

Cushion Saves Rothera's Epsom Campaign

Friday, 02 September 2011 04:45

Trainer Ben Currie believes Rothera's Epsom Handicap campaign would now be in tatters had it not been for the cushion track at Toowoomba.

Rothera was set to make his comeback at Doomben last Saturday but missed a vital run in his Epsom campaign when the final two races were called off because of poor visibility.

On Tuesday, Toowoomba was hit with a torrential downpour which under normal circumstances would have closed trackwork on a grass track.

"Missing last Saturday has put us back a bit but it would have been even worse had he missed a hard gallop on Tuesday," Currie said.

"We're lucky we've got a cushion track at Toowoomba and the torrential rain we had didn't interfere with any trackwork.

"If it had, it would have thrown his campaign right out.

"Not only would he have missed a run, he also would have missed a hard gallop."

Currie has pencilled in an ambitious program for Rothera who will be ridden by Jason Letherby in Saturday's brc.com.au Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm.

The Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 1 is the immediate goal for Rothera whose campaign could be extended to take in the Group One Caulfield Cup (2400m) or Flemington's Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m).

"He's been in work a long time and is ready to go first-up," Currie said.

"We were a bit disappointed when the races were called off last week on a heavy track and we'd like another wet track on Saturday.

"He just loves the wet. He gets through wet tracks easily and he's very effective."

Currie, who is in his final year at university studying for a journalism degree, will give Rothera his next start in the Group Three Bill Ritchie (1400m) in Sydney on September 17.

"It will have to take something drastic for him not to go," Currie said.

"I just hope we get some more rain before Saturday.

"Plan A is to go to Sydney for the Epsom and if we have to use plan B he'll go straight to Melbourne."

Currie rocketed into prominence when Rothera won the Group Three Betfair Stakes on a heavy track at Caulfield last October.

Rothera hasn't started since winning on a heavy track in the Listed Tattersall's Members' Cup (1600m) at Eagle Farm in March.

The temptation was there to continue on to the autumn carnival in Sydney and possibly the Brisbane winter but Currie saw signs Rothera may not have fully recovered from last year's Melbourne campaign and decided to spell him.