Lakey Eyeing Weather With Risk Aversion

Thursday, 01 September 2011 03:15

Trainer Michael Lakey hopes to know whether Risk Aversion is the real deal when she faces a quantum leap in class at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Lakey scratched Risk Aversion from a midweek Class 3 race at Eagle Farm on Wednesday because of a heavy track and he's now hoping the current slow (6) or better will prevail for the four-year-old in the Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1200m).

"This is a lot harder race than Wednesday," Lakey said.

"I've only flicked through the field but it looks very competitive but it should give us a good guide where we'll go with her.

"She's on the minimum with 53 kilos but she'll carry 1.5 kilos less with Tim Bell's claim so she's in the race very well at the weights."

Lakey admits Risk Aversions's chances of going round are in the lap of the gods with possible showers forecast for Friday.

"I'll be happy to start her on a slow track but I doubt she'll run if it's heavy again," he said.

"This is a bit of a test case for her.

"It's a small field but she'll only have 51.5 kilos so she should be very competitive."

Lakey and her connections are keen to give Risk Aversion her chance in next year's Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill.

However, Lakey is unlikely to be tempted to send Risk Aversion interstate this spring and is content to achieve black type on home soil before considering a Sydney trip.

"We're hoping she'll measure up to the Listed fillies and mares races here for the time being but she needs to get some prize money to get into these black-type races coming up."

Lakey said Risk Aversion had trained on well since the mare's impressive comeback victory at Doomben on August 10.

"She's come through the race really well," he said.

Risk Aversion has started only three times and looked capable of scoring in much better company after successfully stepping up from a maiden win at Eagle Farm in April to a Class 4 at Doomben last month.

"She's been placed on a heavy track but I'd rather see the weather improve," Lakey said.

"She's only light and I haven't done that much with her since she won first-up."

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, a daughter of Encosta De Lago, 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.

Blinkers For Buffering In Melbourne

Tuesday, 30 August 2011 03:59

Trainer Rob Heathcote will use blinkers on star sprinter Buffering during his upcoming spring engagements in Melbourne.

Heathcote gave the green light for the four-year-old to wear the hood following a successful trackwork experiment on the course proper at Doomben on Tuesday.

"I was lucky enough to be given permission by the Brisbane Racing Club to gallop Buffering and Woorim together on the Doomben course proper," Heathcote said.

"I really appreciate what the club did and both of them worked extremely well.

"I put blinkers on Buffering for the first time and he went awesome.

"I've always wanted to try blinkers on him and he'll wear them in his first run in Melbourne in the McEwen Stakes."

The Group Three McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday week will be Buffering's lead-up to his main mission in the Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) on the same track on September 30.

"I know he could be taking on horses like Sepoy and More Joyous but he's a Group Two winner who deserves his opportunity," Heathcote said.

Woorim will also launch his spring campaign at Moonee Valley on Saturday week in a 1200-metre Open Handicap.

Woorim missed his comeback at Doomben last Saturday when the final two races were abandoned because of poor visibility.

However, Heathcote wasn't unduly worried with Woorim's comeback being delayed.

"It hasn't massively upset my plans with Woorim," he said.

Buffering, winner of the Group Two Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm during the Brisbane winter carnival, hasn't started since finishing fourth in the Group Three Healy Stakes (1200m) won by Pinwheel at Eagle Farm on June 25.

The son of Mossman was a gallant fourth at his previous start to Sincero in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.

Woorim and Buffering will be Heathcote's advance team to Melbourne and are booked on a flight next Monday.

Caloundra jockey Damian Browne made a special trip to ride Woorim in his Doomben gallop and will ride both sprinters in their first-up Melbourne appearances.

"I'm very happy with Buffering. He had four weeks out after his last run and he's been in work only about five weeks," Heathcote said.

"There's no better opportunity to try blinkers on him the first time than at Moonee Valley where they are sure to go fast."

Woorim's main mission will be the Group One The Emirates (1600m) at Flemington in November.

Heathcote is yet to train a Group One winner and rates Woorim as his best chance to end his run of outs at the elite level.

RQL Refutes Baseless Drug Claims

Thursday, 01 September 2011 02:35

Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) on Wednesday responded to comments attributed to former racing licensee Michael Jackson in an article published in the Sunday Mail on August 28, 2011.

In that article comments were attributed to Mr Jackson to the effect that “racing is rife with drugs” and “if they went through 100 per cent of the jockeys every Monday morning, they’d get close to 30 per cent”.

RQL director of integrity operations Mr Jamie Orchard said today that nothing could be further from the truth.

“The men and women who ride in races are professional athletes engaging in an inherently dangerous sport. As a group they are conscious of the dangers illicit drugs would pose both to themselves and to their fellow riders and therefore tend to stay right away from them,” said Mr Orchard.

“Nonetheless, RQL has in place a stringent drug testing program which sees riders tested somewhere in the state every week. RQL performs unannounced testing at race meetings and trackwork sessions and the results have never been anywhere near those levels suggested by the former licensee quoted in the article.

“Interestingly, jockeys themselves support the rigorous drug testing program, as inconvenient as it might be for them when they are preparing to race, and this is a clear indication that jockeys as a group share the views of RQL that illicit drugs have no place amongst the professional athletes in our sport.”

Queensland Jockeys Association (QJA) president Glen Prentice endorsed RQL’s drug stance.

“The QJA and all Queensland jockeys fully support Racing Queensland’s stringent drug testing program and acknowledge that the baseless comments by a former licensee are unfounded due to the level of testing jockeys are subjected to in Queensland,” said Mr Prentice.

“Racing Queensland and the Jockeys Association work hard making all riders aware of their obligations in relation to banned substances.”

Woorim Bound For Melbourne

Sunday, 28 August 2011 07:15

Trainer Rob Heathcote could send Woorim straight to Melbourne after the gelding missed his planned comeback at Doomben on Saturday.

Woorim was set to resume in the Channel Seven Handicap (1200m) ahead of an ambitious spring campaign.

Riders were preparing to mount when stewards summoned them to canvas their views about track safety and visibility after concerns were raised earlier by a jockeys' delegation.

The final two races were eventually abandoned.

The meeting's fate came in the aftermath of the Bruce Thomas Lawyers Handicap (1010m) in which winner Belletrist snapped a front leg before being pulled up by apprentice Mitchell Wood.

Belletrist was put down after the incident.

Heathcote was not concerned Woorim missed his comeback run as he had his own concerns with him resuming on a heavy track.

"I think the stewards did the right thing to call the meeting off," Heathcote said.

"It won't worry me too much as Woorim can go straight to Melbourne now and run at Moonee Valley on Saturday week."

The other option is to run the horse at Eagle Farm on Saturday with an extra race added to the program.

Woorim hasn't raced since scoring his second successive win in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at Caloundra on July 6.

The son of Show A Heart previously finished seventh to Sincero in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June after claiming the Group Three BRC Sprint at Doomben in May.

The Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield will be Woorim's primary goal in the south but Heathcote is also considering the Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in November.

Woorim went close to fulfilling Heathcote's dream of claiming his first win at elite level when the six-year-old flashed home for third to Response in last year's Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Woorim's stablemate Funtantes also missed her comeback when the Channel Seven Handicap was abandoned.

Heathcote said Funtantes would remain in Brisbane and start at Doomben on Saturday week which would decide if she joined his Melbourne team.

Funtantes will be directed to black-type fillies and mares races if she earns an interstate trip.

Last campaign Funtantes won the Listed Juanmo Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm in April before failing in the Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast and Group Three Glenlogan Park Stakes at Doomben in May.

Earthquake Escapee Wins First City Race

Wednesday, 31 August 2011 06:15

Ashlee Mundy's decision to escape earthquake-ravaged Christchurch five months ago reaped its reward when the former Kiwi jockey landed her first Australian metropolitan winner at Eagle Farm.

Mundy produced a daring ride on the Bevan Laming-trained debutant The Best who edged out Dark Charger by a nose in Wednesday's Forest & Jungle IPG Maiden (1000m).

The Best looked in a hopeless position coming to the home turn and was at long odds to win halfway down the straight when held up for a run until the three-year-old bullocked his way between runners into the clear.

Mundy, 24, has had less than a dozen rides on Brisbane's city tracks but had more than 200 wins in her home land before joining Laming's stables.

"I first came over in `09 and worked for Bevan for a short while before I went back home," Mundy said.

"I was at home in Christchurch when we got the two earthquakes and the second one was enough and gave me a good reason to come back over.

"After the earthquakes I thought I just needed a break from it all but the weather was another good reason.

"It's not hard to choose between Christchurch's weather and the weather here."

Since joining Laming, Mundy has ridden 10 winners, all on provincials tracks until The Best's victory.

"I've been riding for around seven years after doing a lot of work around pony clubs in New Zealand," Mundy said.

Mundy, who was apprenticed to Kiwi trainer Michael Pittman before breaking into the senior ranks, believes The Best has a promising future.

"Wait until the penny drops with him," she said.

"This is only the second time he's been away from Bevan's property. The other was for a trial at the Gold Coast.

"He's so green and still won. He was very green on the home turn but I thought at the 200 metres he could still win."

Mundy doesn't model herself on any particular rider but her performance to angle The Best into clear running would have done champion Kiwi jockey Lisa Cropp proud.

"I don't try and follow any rider but all the female riders would love to be like Lisa," she said.

Meanwhile, former Sydney sprinter Lemieux showed a liking for heavy tracks by stretching his winning run to four with a short head victory over Che Casino in the Terry Mays Lia Handicap (1600m).

Trainer Paul Messara sent the five-year-old son of Redoute's Choice to his Caloundra stable during the winter and his only defeat in five starts since was at his first outing when runner-up there in June.

Stable foreman Eden Petrie thought Lemieux was gone after surrendering the lead to Che Casino at the 200 metres.

"I thought at the 200 metres he was hopeless but he fought back well," Petrie said.

"Paul has a synthetic track at home (in Scone) and he thought he'd do best racing up here on the cushion track at Caloundra."

Matthew Smith Gearing Up For Spring

Sunday, 28 August 2011 02:30

A proven stakes performer and an up-and-coming filly will headline trainer Matthew Smith's assault on the carnival races this spring.

Hurtle Myrtle is back in work at Smith's Warwick Farm stables after a fruitful two-start winter campaign which yielded a Group Two win in the Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

It was her second victory at that level after she claimed the Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick during the autumn, prompting Smith to raise the bar this campaign.

"She's going towards the Myer Classic in Melbourne," Smith said.

"She's stronger than last time. She is really getting better as she gets more mature."

Smith said Hurtle Myrtle would resume in the Group Three Golden Pendant (1200m) at Rosehill on September 24.

She is then likely to head to Melbourne for the Group Two Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 15 with the Group One Myer Classic (1600m) run at Flemington two weeks later.

He is also looking forward to the return of lightly-raced filly Combat Kitty.

She has been off the scene since finishing runner-up to Karuta Queen in the Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast in January.

Smith said she had a chip removed from a fetlock after that race and had returned in great order.

Combat Kitty showed her fitness with a barrier trial win at Warwick Farm on Friday ahead of her return at Canterbury this week.

"Everything is good with her, I just felt she needed a bit more racing before she tackled better company," Smith said.

"She will kick off on Wednesday and then we will go to Saturday company.

"I've mapped out a preparation around coming into the three-year-old (Princess) Series and into the Flight Stakes if she is good enough."

The Group One Flight Stakes (1600m) is at Randwick on October 1 and Smith has had some luck in the race with Hurtle Myrtle finishing third to More Joyous two years ago.

Meanwhile, trainer Anthony Cummings will keep his options open for promising three-year-old Strike The Stars.

A fast-finishing second to Darci Be Good over 1400m at Rosehill last start, Strike The Stars has been entered for two 1550m races at Canterbury on Wednesday along with the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick three days later.

"He will possibly run Wednesday but I will nominate him for the Chelmsford as well," Cummings said.

Stablemate and 2008 Rosehill Guineas winner Dealer Principal will be nominated for the Group Three Tramway Hcp (1400m) on Saturday while Fontelina will be among the entries for the Listed Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).

Heavy Track Not What Poor Judge Wants

Wednesday, 31 August 2011 03:59

A heavy track and a forecast for more showers was the last thing Toowoomba trainer Wayne Nugent wanted to hear ahead of Poor Judge's comeback at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Poor Judge is being aimed at the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) scheduled for Randwick on October 1 but his comeback was delayed a week after the final two races at Doomben last Saturday were abandoned due to poor visibility.

If travel arrangements could have been arranged, Nugent would have preferred to start Poor Judge in Saturday's Concorde Stakes (1100m) at the transferred Warwick Farm meeting in Sydney in preference to the www.brc.com.au Open Handicap (1200m).

"If I could have arranged a flight for him on Monday or yesterday he'd be in Sydney now and would run in the Concorde Stakes this Saturday," Nugent said.

"But he's not a good traveller and couldn't go down by float. He wouldn't cope with the 12-hour float trip so close to the race."

Nugent has his fingers crossed Poor Judge's Epsom Handicap plans won't be further disrupted by the weather and is hoping for an upgrade with Eagle Farm rated a heavy (8) on Wednesday.

"He'll go around on Saturday but only if the track is slow. He won't run on a heavy track," Nugent said.

"If the track stays heavy we'll scratch and he'll go first-up into the (Group Two) Sebring Sprint in Sydney on Saturday week.

"It's a bad situation to be in but missing last week's race hasn't upset our plans too much with him."

Nugent has trained Poor Judge for only one start, when he failed in the Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba in March, following his transfer from fellow Toowoomba trainer 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 lastin three successive starts including this year's Weetwood Handicap.

Nugent is unsure why Poor Judge failed so dismally last campaign but believes having his first two starts on heavy tracks last time in contributed to his loss of form.

Provided Poor Judge makes his return on Saturday, Nugent plans to start him in the Group Three Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) in Sydney on September 17.

Nugent, a former amateur jockey, is a farrier by trade and juggles work commitments with preparing the team of six horses he has in work.

Apprentice Brad Wallace, who was due to ride Poor Judge last Saturday, has retained the booking this week.

Nugent hasn't ruled out giving Poor Judge another trip to Melbourne for the Toorak Handicap (1600m) on October 8.

Poor Visibility Ends Doomben Meeting

Saturday, 27 August 2011 08:15

Racing Queensland stewards abandoned the final two races at Doomben on Saturday after jockeys complained of poor visibility.

A jockeys' delegation led by Eddie Wilkinson complained to stewards about track safety and visibility following the ill-fated win by Caloundra mare Belletrist in the Bruce Thomas Lawyers Handicap (1010m).

The meeting started with a slow track rating but was downgraded throughout the day to a heavy (8) following persistent rain.

Belletrist, ridden by apprentice Mitchell Wood, had to be euthanased after snapping her near-foreleg as she stretched out for a neck win over Pointe Dancer.

Wood was in tears as he came back to the enclosure.

In an unrelated incident, stewards later adjourned an inquiry after charging Wood with careless riding for causing interference at the 250-metre mark.

"That was my first city winner in three months and it's not a good way to celebrate," Wood said.

Wood broke his ribs several months ago in a track accident and has struggled to keep his weight under control.

Following the jockeys' deputation, all riders competing in the final two races were summoned to the stewards' room to air their grievances with most agreeing the track was safe but visibility was poor.

Earlier Shamardashing continued the great run of Patinack Farm and apprentice Tim Bell with a narrow win in the OJ Kitchens & Acro Refrigeration Handicap (2020m).

Bell has been in great form since joining Patinack Farm last month as its Queensland stable rider.

Bell, who has ridden nine winners since joining the stable, admitted he had given up hope of winning when Shamardashing was stuck in behind a wall of horses at the 1000-metre mark.

"That was an outstanding win and it takes a good horse to do what he did," Bell said.

"I didn't think he could win 1000 metres out and I'd lost all faith in him.

"He was the best stayer in the race but he didn't like the wet."

Patinack Farm's foreman Brett Killion rated Shamardashing's win as amazing.

"I was petrified when Tim was so far back on him," Killion said.

"With his big weight, a bad barrier and the wet track I thought it was a massive effort.

"He's going to make a nice horse once he gets over further later on."

Munce To Continue Great Start To Season

Tuesday, 30 August 2011 06:20

Grand slam-winning jockey Chris Munce's freakish start to the new season looks set to continue at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Munce, who claimed Brisbane's riding honours for a fourth time last season, has landed at least one winner at every meeting he's ridden since returning to the saddle at Eagle Farm on August 3 after a holiday.

Munce's winning streak over 12 meetings has been on both metropolitan and provincials tracks and includes his latest interstate success when he scored on Just The Tonic at Rosehill last Saturday.

He became a member of the grand slam club, joining Neville Sellwood, Pat Hyland, Roy Higgins, Mick Dittman, Damien Oliver and Jim Cassidy, after winning last year's Caulfield Cup on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Descarado.

The Caulfield Cup was the final piece of the grand slam jigsaw to fall into place for Munce after he previously won the 1998 Melbourne Cup on Jezabeel, the Cox Plate with Savabeel (2004) and two Golden Slippers aboard Prowl (1998) and Dance Hero (2004).

Munce has five rides at Eagle Farm and trainer Michael Lakey is confident Risk Aversion can maintain the jockey's winning momentum in Wednesday's Fuji Zerox Fillies and Mares Class 3 Hcp (1200m).

Lakey said Risk Aversion had trained on well since the four-year-old's impressive comeback victory at Doomben on August 10.

"She's come through the race really well and I can't see any reason why she won't win again," Lakey said.

Lakey's only concern is the weather with the threat of showers forcing a track downgrade from its current slow rating.

"She's been placed on a heavy track and can handle wet tracks but I'd rather see the weather improve," Lakey said.

"She's only light and I haven't done that much with her since she won first-up."

Lakey and her connections are aiming high with Risk Aversion whose long-range goal is next year's Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill.

Lakey is unlikely to be tempted to send Risk Aversion interstate this spring and is content to achieve black type on home soil before considering a Sydney trip.

"Our aim with her is to get black type and there's some nice Quality races coming up here for her soon," Lakey said.

"I'd rather take small steps with her for the time being and see how she goes in a Saturday race here first.

"I don't think she's ready to travel yet."

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

The Peter Moody-trained Typhoon Tracy was recently retired with six Group One wins in a stellar career which yielded 11 wins and five placings from 20 starts and career earnings of $2.4 million.

Risk Aversion, a daughter of Encosta De Lago, is a half-sister to Group One placegetter Shania Dane and Hong Kong triple Group One winner Scintillation.

Forster Pockets Holiday Money

Saturday, 27 August 2011 04:30

Trainer Desleigh Forster collected travelling expenses for an overseas holiday when promising three-year-old Easy Running scored an easy win at Doomben.

Easy Running, ridden by Damian Browne, made amends for his last-start defeat at Eagle Farm with a commanding 2-1/4-length victory over Aquatorial in Saturday's Iceworks Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Handicap (1200m).

The Alan Bailey-trained March To Victory was a half-length away third.

Forster begins a two-week holiday on Tuesday and was thrilled to see the son of Easy Rocking win for the third time in his seven-start career.

"I'm going on holidays on Tuesday and it's a timely win," Forster said.

"I've going to Hong Kong and Macau for a few days then I'm off to Dubai."

Forster is unsure of Easy Running's immediate plans in her absence but connections, which include former bookmaker Doug Forbes, are keen to set him for the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January.

"I'm not sure what's going to happen to him while I'm away and I'll sit down with his owners and have chat about things," Forster said.

Easy Running was a $16,000 buy at the QTIS600 sale and has now earned more than $138,000 in prizemoney.

"He's turned out to be a rather cheap buy now," Forster said.

Forster was always confident Easy Running could win despite finishing seventh to Availability over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm two weeks ago.

"He won first-up at the Gold Coast and he probably should be unbeaten this campaign," Forster said.

"He was terribly unlucky last run.

"His rider got a little lost and rode him too patiently and then he copped a lot of interference."

Forster believes Easy Running has the scope to run 1600 metres despite his small stature.

"His biggest problem is that he's only tiny and is about 15 hands," she said.

"But he's a nice little horse and I'm sure he'll get 1600 metres."

The $3.40 favourite Availability was the big disappointment, fading to finish fourth after leading comfortably entering the straight.

Trainer Rob Heathcote was considering a Sydney trip with the son of Exceed And Excel but a trip away now looks forlorn following the gelding's defeat.