Mossriver Decision To Be Vindicated

Wednesday, 26 October 2011 04:31

Trainer David Murphy is hoping a decision not to head to Melbourne with promising mare Mossriver will be vindicated at Doomben.

Murphy tossed up between sending Mossriver south for a fillies and mares race on Oaks day at Flemington next week or stay at home to run at Doomben on Saturday.

"It was a nice race for her on Oaks day in Melbourne but I'm happy enough to send her around at Doomben and get the money in the bank," Murphy said.

Murphy expects a strong performance from Mossriver in the Mount Alvernia College Handicap (1200m) following her successful comeback at Caloundra on October 16.

"She only just won when she resumed but she was off the track and had had enough by the time she got to the front," Murphy said.

Murphy plans only a light preparation during the summer months before setting Mossriver for next year's Brisbane winter carnival.

"She's a good mare whose only been out of a place twice in her life," he said.

"They were at the start of the year when she ran sixth at Eagle Farm behind Catashee then fourth to Wabeel in her last run before spelling.

"It was a great run that day. She sat five deep with 57 kilos and only got beaten 1-1/2 lengths by Wabeel.

"She got to the lead at the 200 metres after doing all the hard work and only just got run down."

Murphy isn't afraid of the second-up hoodoo as Mossriver has won and finished third at her only two attempts.

"She's going to be very hard to beat and I'll see how she goes before deciding where next to go with her," Murphy said.

"If she runs well enough I might give her a couple of easy weeks and get her ready for the Just Now Quality."

The Listed Just Now Quality (1300m) at Eagle Farm on December 17 is restricted to fillies and mares.

Ultimately, Murphy believes Mossriver is capable of picking up a Listed or Group race during the Brisbane winter carnival.

Mossriver is already Group-placed having finished third on a heavy track behind Benny's Buttons and Falino in the Group Three Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben on Boxing Day.

Benny's Buttons has since gone on to be runner-up to Torio's Quest in the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June and third to Shenzhou Steeds in the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at Caloundra in July.

"It was a good run behind Benny's Buttons and Falino who are two very good horses," Murphy said.

"She had never been on a heavy track before and it was bottomless that day."

Craft To Follow Dad's Wins In Hawks Cup

Friday, 21 October 2011 05:45

Kim Craft came to Queensland in unfortunate circumstances around four years ago but will head back interstate if Lucky Dubai wins at Eagle Farm.

Craft has pencilled in the Group Three Hawkesbury Cup (1600m) on November 3 for Lucky Dubai if the five-year-old mare performs up to expectations in Saturday's Sita Australia Quality (1400m).

But Craft's decision to head back across the border won't be permanent as she loves training at her Caloundra base.

She was originally based at Wyong but was forced to seek new stables when a flood hit the NSW Central Coast town.

"We got flooded out at Wyong when the big flood came a few years ago and then we were stranded here at Caloundra during EI (equine influenza) and had to stay for a while," she said.

"We liked it so much we decided to stay permanently."

Craft is the daughter of former Wyong trainer Colin Harwood who won the Hawkesbury Cup with Thrifty Reserve and Magic Road.

Thrifty Reserve won 18 times, including the Group Three Gosford Cup in 1994, in an 82-start career while Magic Road's best victories were in the Group Three Newmarket Handicap at Newcastle and Hawkesbury Cup in 1996.

Thrifty Reserve ran in three successive Hawkesbury Cups, winning in 1993 after being placed the two previous years.

Harwood died on July 27 this year which prompted Craft to dedicate Lucky Dubai's last-start victory at Eagle Farm to her late father.

"I got my trainer's licence when I was 18 and I've been training a long time since," Craft said.

"Dad won the Hawkesbury Cup with Thrifty Reserve and Magic Road but I strapped them both and had a lot to do with them as Dad was paralysed down his left side following a stroke."

Lucky Dubai, who was the prize in a raffle won by owner Greg Needham, broke a long run of outs for Craft in her narrow victory over Femina Fashion on a heavy track over 1500 metres at Eagle Farm on October 8.

The daughter of Dubai Destination's win was Craft's first victory since her recently-retired Toptwo was successful in a restricted midweek race at Doomben on January 5.

"I'm a bit worried 1400 metres might be a touch short for her," Craft said.

"But I've tried to keep her as fresh as possible.

"She'll be getting to the line strongly and the others will know she's in the race."

Craft has no plans to extend Lucky Dubai's NSW campaign past the Hawkesbury Cup and will bring her straight home for the Listed Recognition Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm on December 3.

Tongue Tie For Amber's Crown

Tuesday, 25 October 2011 11:46

After ruling out a Melbourne trip with Amber's Crown, trainer Steve O'Dea is hoping a gear change can help the filly rediscover her best form.

O'Dea experimented with a tongue tie on the three-year-old when she won a Doomben barrier trial last week and will use it for the first time in her next appearance.

He is tossing up whether to run Amber's Crown in Wednesday's www.brc.com.au Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm or at the Gold Coast on Thursday and won't make a decision until as late as possible.

"She was very disappointing first-up but there were genuine excuses," O'Dea said.

"She was caught three wide and we think she may have got her tongue over the bit.

"I put a tongue tie on her when she won a barrier trial impressively at Doomben last week so I'll put it on her for her next start and see what happens."

Amber's Crown, winner of the $150,000 QTIS600 Plate at Ipswich in May, failed to book a trip away when she resumed with a disappointing ninth to Seek And Find in a 1020-metre Class 6 at Doomben last month.

The three-year-old will be dropping back sharply in class from Saturday opposition if she runs at Doomben or in a 900-metre race at the Gold Coast.

O'Dea had pencilled in a trip to Melbourne for a Listed race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day for Amber's Crown had she raced up to expectations in her comeback.

The daughter of Excites, a $14,000 weanling purchase, has started only seven times for four wins and a placing.

"She's not a big filly and she's got 59 kilos at the Gold Coast and two kilos less at Eagle Farm," O'Dea said.

"It's a tough choice but the Gold Coast race is worth more money being a QTIS race."

Meanwhile, trainer Rob Heathcote is also hopeful a gear change will spark a better performance from Bribie in the Sky Racing Plate (1200m).

Bribie scored big wins at Doomben and Caloundra before struggling to beat one runner home in a 1200-metre Class 3 won by the Tony Gollan-trained Theft at Doomben last start.

"I'm taking the blinkers off him this time which hopefully will improve him," Heathcote said.

"He ran himself into the ground last time. With the blinkers off we hope to ride him a little more conservative."

Bribie is a full-brother to the Heathcote-trained Woorim who will contest the Tab.com.au Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Baldwins Has Hopes With Havatryst

Friday, 21 October 2011 02:45

Trainer Barry Baldwin is hopeful Havatryst can bounce back from a lacklustre winter carnival campaign in his comeback at Eagle Farm.

Havatryst, a Chris Munce mount in Saturday's DPMA Handicap (1200m), is having his first start since finishing sixth to Torio's Quest in the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June.

The son of Foreplay earned rave views after winning his first three starts as a three-year-old, including a 1200-metre success at Randwick on Boxing Day last year.

However, Havatryst failed to live up to his early promise, going winless in a five-start winter campaign.

Havatryst has been in work for more than three months preparing for his return and Baldwin expects a strong showing despite the four-year-old not having a barrier trial.

"He should race very well but I've got a lot of respect for Audacious Spirit," Baldwin said.

"He's (Havatryst) coming along nicely and has done well since he came back into work.

"I haven't trialled him but he's had a jumpout and has been in work for over three months so there was no great need to trial him."

The Gillian Heinrich-trained Audacious Spirit made a triumphant comeback this campaign, winning easily in a Class 5 at Caloundra on October 9.

It was only Audacious Spirit's second career win but the son of Bel Esprit has a Group Two placing to his credit when runner-up to Master Harry in the Royal Sovereign Stakes at Randwick in February.

Baldwin felt Havatryst may have been playing with his tongue early on in his winter campaign which contributed to his below-par performances.

Havatryst's best run was in the Listed Daybreak Lover Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm when runner-up to Steps In Time.

"With any luck he should have won that day," Baldwin said.

"His bad barrier beat him and then I backed him up in the Queensland Guineas when he finished sixth.

"His Guineas' run was a bit disappointing but it wasn't the worst run in the world."

Baldwin has no major plans in mind with Havatryst who is likely to target the summer sprint series which begins with the Group Three George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben in December.

"He's not a Magic Millions horse and the summer series looks a good option for him here," Baldwin said.

Falino Recovers From Eye Injury

Sunday, 23 October 2011 03:45

Hobby trainer Jeff Caught is hoping his first venture onto a Melbourne racetrack will be successful with his talented sprinter Falino.

Caught has cleared Falino to continue his quest to win in three states following the four-year-old's bruising last start fifth to Joint Chiefs at Eagle Farm on October 15.

Falino, who has won four times in Brisbane and once in Sydney, disappointed Caught before he later discovered the gelding had been hit by a clod when he raced on the heavy track.

"He got hit by a clod in one eye which closed up pretty quick," Caught said.

"But it was back to normal the next day."

Caught gave Falino a through examination following the defeat and could find nothing amiss with the son of Fusaichi Pegasus.

"I've had his blood taken and it's come back fine," Caught said.

"I was very happy going into his last race when the track improved during the day but we got the big storm just before our race.

"He seemed to struggle to pick his feet up on the heavy track."

Caught has picked out the $150,000 Listed MSS Security Sprint down the Flemington straight six on Melbourne Cup day for Falino.

"I'm looking forward to having my first runner in Melbourne," Caught said.

"I've never set foot on a Melbourne racetrack before but I have been to Melbourne for tennis.

"I went there one year for the Australian Open and watched Leyton Hewitt get beaten in five sets and I ended up staying the next day to watch Venus Williams."

Falino will be accompanied on his flight to Melbourne on Wednesday by Gold Coast mare Femina Fashion who will run in the Schiavello Plate on Cup day before backing up in the Group Two Matriarch Stakes on November 5.

"Falino's done well since his last run and I couldn't be happier with him," Caught said.

"I'm sure when he gets to Melbourne he'll be competitive."

Caught, who works as a draftsman for a Brisbane engineering company, would have preferred to be in Melbourne earlier.

"I would have liked to do what Tony Gollan did with Spirit Of Boom and Listen Son and had him stabled at Flemington by now," he said.

"That way I could have given him a jump out at Flemington last Friday like Tony did with his horses."

Galloway Hungry For Success

Thursday, 20 October 2011 04:15

Trainer Noel Doyle is hoping jockey Scott Galloway will be "hungry" to end a frustrating run of injuries with his first winner in four months aboard Celtic Dancer in the Sita Australia Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Galloway missed most of last year due to three separate injuries and only recently returned from another six-week stint on the sidelines after breaking his foot in a fall at the Gold Coast barrier trials in July.

His last winner was aboard Crosscannons in a restricted race at Doomben on July 6.

He was sidelined for seven months last year recovering from a crushed left foot he suffered in a barrier mishap at Eagle Farm and a further three months following knee surgery after being tossed off a horse going to the barriers.

His comeback after fracturing his foot was delayed an extra month when Galloway twisted the ankle on the same leg while carrying his son, William, down steps.

Doyle booked Galloway after Celtic Dancer's last-start rider, apprentice Tim Bell, was required for the John Thompson-trained Prost.

"When Tim couldn't ride Celtic Dancer I tried to find someone who could ride 53 kilos so I chased Scott," Doyle said.

"He's had a tough trot of late and I think he might be hungry for a win."

Celtic Dancer made a big impression at his first run back from his winter carnival campaign, finishing third to Melbourne-bound Falino in a 1200-metre open sprint at Eagle Farm on October 1.

"It was a very good run considering he was stuck three wide. He boxed on really well," Doyle said.

"He's done well and had another barrier trial since then.

"I think this is going to be his best prep. He's learnt to settle in his races and he no longer rips and tears."

Doyle plans to give Celtic Dancer only two or three more runs before his main mission, the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January.

The Group Three George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben in December is likely to be one of his lead-up races to the Magic Millions.

Doyle is confident Celtic Dancer can give Galloway an overdue win since the rider made his comeback at the Gold Coast on October 8.

"He should go close this time as he comes in well at the weights and has drawn beautifully (five)," Doyle said.

Nugent Defies Critics With Poor Judge

Saturday, 22 October 2011 07:59

Toowoomba trainer Wayne Nugent proved his critics wrong when Poor Judge ended a run of outs at Eagle Farm.

Well supported from $26 in to $18, Poor Judge scored his first win for Nugent with a three-quarter length victory over Fillydelphia in Saturday's Sita Australia Quality Handicap (1400m).

Nugent took over the training of Poor Judge from Norm Hilton in March but the six-year-old had failed to run a place in five previous starts before recording his14th win from 35 starts.

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.

Nugent, a farrier by trade, was visibly feeling the emotions of Poor Judge's win following his last of six on a heavy track at Eagle Farm last start.

"It's been a real roller-coaster ride for me," Nugent said.

"There's been a lot of knockers out there and people have been telling me what I've been doing wrong."

Nugent, who has only three horses in work, hopes to get the last laugh on his critics by sending Poor Judge back to Melbourne for the Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington next month.

"There's not much around for him here and if he pulls up well I'll send him down to Melbourne for the Emirates on the last day of the Flemington carnival," Nugent said.

Earlier, talented filly Snipzu cemented her place as an early favourite for the Magic Millions Classic in January with another commanding win in the BCD Technologies Handicap (1000m).

Snipzu, ridden by Glen Colless, followed up her seven-length win last week with a 3-1/2-length victory over Holey Gadoley.

Trainer Liam Birchley was in Sydney to saddle up Pepperwood and Seqsational at Rosehill and missed the win.

Stable foreman Brad Berwick rated her win as a better performance than her previous stroll.

"That was a much better performance than last time," Berwick said.

"She's got a few tricks but today she did everything right.

"Liam was going to spell her after last week's win but she ate up so well and was bucking her brand off."

Colless said Snipzu proved she was not one-dimensional and had the versatility to go all the way in the Magic Millions.

"She's very versatile and has a good turn of foot which is needed for the Magic Millions," Colless said.

"It was just a sit and steer job out there today and hopefully she'll come back stronger after a spell."

Blinkers Off Townsville Star In Brisbane

Thursday, 20 October 2011 03:30

Farrier and hobby trainer Jim Fogarty could be in for an extended stay in Brisbane if north Queensland star Last Gift is successful at Eagle Farm.

Fogarty, 59, has mixed his farrier business with training for the past 32 years and is hopeful Last Gift can make a big impression in Saturday's Earthborn Waste Services Handicap (1200m).

Last Gift has started six times in Townsville and could have a far better record had it not been for his bad barrier behaviour.

The son of Escalation has missed the start badly in all bar one of his races yet has still managed to produce brilliant finishes to win three times.

Fogarty has tried every trick in the book to coax Last Gift out of his bad barrier habits and will try another when he removes blinkers from the three-year-old in his Brisbane debut.

Fogarty admits it's never been plain sailing with Last Gift who suffered complications from a gelding operation before an eye injury.

"He's not real good in the coat but that's got a lot to do with the antibiotics he was once on," Fogarty said.

"He got an infection after I gelded him and he needed treatment.

"Then I was picking up manure one day and I accidentally poked him in the eye with a rake.

"The vet was very worried and at one stage he was going to operate."

Fogarty is one of racing's real journeymen having worked for several years as a farrier for the late Bruce McLachlan at Thornhill Park in the mid-1990s.

"I started off as a farrier in Townsville before I came to Brisbane," he said.

"I worked for Bruce for a couple of years then I bought some stables at Deagon and trained there for about seven years.

"I also did a lot of work for Pat Duff at Deagon and I shod for Kelly Schweida who I knew from his days in Townsville before he moved to Eagle Farm."

Fogarty took a one-year break from training and his farrier work to travel around Australia in 2005.

"I did the grey nomad thing. Had a year off travelling around Australia," he said.

"I did some farrier work at Lindsay Park and ended up working for 10 days during the Alice Spring carnival when their regular farrier was crook.

"I've only got one horse in work. But I've another two-year-old by All Bar One in the paddock and the farrier work pays for any slow ones I get."

Last Gift missed the start badly before winning his only two starts this campaign at Townsville but Fogarty knows he can't afford a repeat against stronger opposition.

"I've tried everything from blinkers to pacifiers and now I'm taking the blinkers off in the hope he'll jump," he said.

"I'll be disappointed if he doesn't win but he'll need to jump against this type of opposition. It's not Townsville."

Sydney A Possibility For Streets Away

Saturday, 22 October 2011 02:59

A trip to Sydney could be on the agenda for rejuvenated five-year-old Streets Away following the gelding's commanding Eagle Farm victory.

Glen Colless gave a masterful display on Streets Away who settled back last and went around only one horse before downing Wonderful Lass by half a length in Saturday's Kartaway Mini Skips Handicap (1600m).

Mington filled the minor placing, a further 1-1/2 lengths away.

Streets Away was a one-time favourite for the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill three seasons ago before being ruled out of the world's richest two-year-old race with a colic attack.

"He was the early favourite for the Slipper but he got a colic attack and nearly died," trainer Alan Bailey said.

"He's had his share of problems since but has come back this campaign pain free."

Bailey admitted he expected Streets Away, who won his previous start on a heavy track at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago, to race a little closer in the early stages.

But the veteran Gold Coast trainer was never concerned as Colless had the son of Street Cry within striking distance of the leaders.

Bailey believes Street's Away's best distance is 2000 metres but a lack of suitable races in Brisbane could mean he goes to Sydney where he has already stamped his class winning at Rosehill in December.

"There's not much around for him here and his best distance is 2000 metres," Bailey said.

"Sydney is a real possibility for him again.

"He's ideally placed down there this time of the year."

Colless heaped praise on Bailey's training skills for Street's Away's seventh career win.

"I rode him in trackwork on Tuesday and he felt terrible," Colless said.

"I thought his first-up win might have taken too much out of him but whatever Alan does he got him right on the day.

"He (Bailey) is just a freak."

Colless told Bailey, Streets Away felt a "million dollars" on his way to the barrier.

"He wasn't the same horse as the one I rode on Tuesday," Colless said.

Hocking On Top Of World After City Winner

Wednesday, 19 October 2011 05:59

The excitement fell well short of the dizzy heights of former Group One winner Goleen but trainer Neil Hocking was on top of the world after landing his first city success with plunge winner Mountain Of Gold at Eagle Farm.

Mountain Of Gold, who was backed from $101 to $41, defied her poor form to win Wednesday's www.brc.com.au Maiden Handicap (1200m) by three-quarters of a length over topweight Tiyatro.

Hocking is the son of former Brisbane trainer Ian Hocking who won the 1984 Group One Thousand Guineas at Caulfield and the Flight Stakes at Randwick when it was a Group Two with former top Queenslander Goleen.

"I used to strap Goleen for Dad but I gave racing away for about 15 years," Hocking said.

Hocking, who has been training for only four years, operated a Brisbane milk run and food wholesale business during his period away from racing.

"It's quite a thrill to train my first city winner and it's a lot more fun than doing a milk run and running the food wholesale business," Hocking said.

Hocking only has five horses in work but admitted he was set to cut Mountain Of Gold from his stable had her form not improved sharply.

"I've got five in work but it was almost four," Hocking said.

"She just saved herself from retirement."

Hocking's moment in the sun was soured temporarily when he was questioned by stewards over the six-year-old's form reversal.

Mountain Of Gold went into the race without a single placing from 10 starts.

The daughter of Monashee Mountain finished last in a field of 11 at her latest appearance over 1800 metres at the Gold Coast on September 24.

She was previously beaten at big odds at her two previous starts at Caloundra.

"There was a lot of top dressing at Caloundra and I don't think she appreciated the sandy surface," Hocking told stewards.

"She certainly was a different horse today but I'd kept her fresh after she was beaten last start."

Hocking's victory was the 16th win of his training career which included five wins with Mountain Of Gold's half-brother, Semi Wells.

Meanwhile, trainer Trevor Whittington rated promising filly Edinglassie Girl a winter carnival contender next year following her three-length win in the Kedron-Wavell Services Club Maiden (1200m).

The daughter of Commands cost $175,000 at last year's Magic Millions sales and was having only her fourth start.

"She's a very good filly and I think she'll make a nice carnival horse next year," Whittington said.

"She's by Commands and if I get my way I'll put her in the paddock and get her ready for the Queensland Oaks.

"The Doomben Roses over 2000 metres is going to be an ideal race for her."