White Saddles Two Strutt Stakes Chances

Saturday, 06 February 2010 01:17

Tasmanian trainer Gary White astutely declared his three-year-old filly Feerique to Virtual FormGuide readers in the Thousand Guineas at Launceston a fortnight ago and he is confident she will feature again in the Strutt Stakes this Monday.

But this time round he is wary of two other runners, one of which is Feerique's stablemate Fine Dimple.

"Fine Dimple is probably the out and out stayer of the two, but she lacks Feeriques turn of foot," said White.

"The form around the Alderson horse Tio Rossa is also very strong and it will give us a good guide as to where our fillies stack up."

The form White is speaking of is Eraset and Extra Zero, which extend to household names such as Monaco Consul and Starspangledbanner.

"There is no doubt that those horses would win this race, but thankfully they are not coming," joked White.

"What we do know is that all of these fillies have to prove they can run 2100m and that will be the biggest test."

White is also confident that experience on his home turf will be a factor in the first of the fillies staying tests.

"Hobart is an odd track, it has a steep hill down the back and it takes a tough horse to kick off it," he said.

"Both my runners have won at the track and that gives me a lot of confidence that whatever beats them will win.

The Wrest Point Strutt Stakes is an $80,000 listed race for three-year-old fillies over 2100m and is scheduled as race 6 - 3.15pm on Monday 8 January.

White Feature Race Double At Launceston

Monday, 25 January 2010 05:45

Trainer Gary White had plenty to smile about on Sunday after snaring a feature race double at Launceston on Sunday.

Feerique won the $30,000 Acelands Stud 1000 Guineas (1600m) for three-year-old fillies while 35 minutes later White celebrated the victory of Twenty Grand in the $80,000 Listed The Tote.com.au Stakes (1200m).

White was extremely confident of the chances of Feerique in the Guineas as he told Virtual Formguide readers during the week.

Feerique settled in a midfield position, three back along the fence before peeling wide down the side and finishing strongly over the concluding stages to win in convincing fashion.

Feerique ($6) defeated Cool Illusion ($6) by a length and a quarter with Love The Moment ($11) a further length away in third.

Favourite Devon Lass ($3.90 fav) finished sixth, beaten over three lengths from the winner.

Meanwhile, Twenty Grand narrowly edged out Victorian visitor Chairmanoftheboard by a half head.

Brad Rawiller made the trek to Launceston for the one ride aboard the Chris Hyland-trained Chairmanoftheboard ($2.60 fav), but his hit and run mission failed in the final stride of the race as Twenty Grand ($13.50) charged home over the final 100m.

Up and coming local sprinter Relentless Pursuit ($6.30) finished a further length and a quarter in third position with Peter Mertens in the saddle.

Twenty Grand has now won eight times from 29 starts with his prizemoney in excess of $130,000.

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

Loaded Owners Has Weight-For-Age Ambitions

Saturday, 06 February 2010 00:39

It could be argued that trainer Jason Clifford has bitten off more than he can chew pitting his rising star Loaded Owners against the best weight-for-age horses in Tasmania this coming monday.

But the punters certainly dont think so - and either does Clifford.

"If my horse can run out the 1400m as well as he does 1200m well I don't think he can be beaten," said Clifford after trackwork on Friday.

Loaded Owners is the local favourite for the $80,000 listed Thomas Lyons Stakes only shaded in the betting by the Victorian, Group One placed, Royal Ida.

Despite never having met a field of this calibre Loaded Owners has had no problem disposing of his opposition having won five of his six local starts by an average winning margin of 3.5 lengths.

Of course Clifford is not discounting the proven Royal Ida or in from local pair Twenty Grand and Moulin Rouge.

"I respect Royal Ida's form, especially the run behind Black Caviar, but he has boated over and that is always a worry," said Clifford.

"The locals are both good horses but Brendan (McCoull) has ridden both and chosen to ride my horse which says enough."

"He won like a very good horse last start," Clifford added.

The only blemish on Loaded Owners scrapbook comes from a second up defeat to the Gary White trained Emily's Girl at Devonport but Clifford is not dwelling on the run.

"I had a virus  go through the stable and he wasn't himself that day," said Clifford.

"He was relaxed which is normally a good thing, but it's not him and he is back to being bullish and full of himself now."

"I've had his blood done and he is spot on this week," he added.

Win, lose or draw the experience of weight-for-age pressure is important in the development of any top-liner and Loaded Owners is a Tasmanian horse with Victorian ambitions.

White Hoping Plan Comes Together In Guineas

Friday, 22 January 2010 00:25

The Gary White trained Feerique will contest the $30,000 Acelands Stud 1000 Guineas, a listed three-year-old event, at Launceston this Sunday.

White has had this race in his sights since the Al Maher filly won in impressive style as a two-year-old this time last year.

"She was always going to be better at three," White said this morning after trackwork.

"She won her maiden on Hobart Cup day last year with Nicholas Hall in the saddle and we decided to tip her straight out and let her mature with a view to qualifying her for the 1000 Guineas."

The plan has come together well for White with the last start winner in peak fitness and drawing well for the listed event.

"Everything has gone to plan," he said.

"When we expected her to win, she did and conversely when we have expected her to find the distance too short etc she has run fairly - but to our liking."

To win the three-year-old fillies feature Feerique will have to defeat the unbeaten Outlaw Oakley trained by Mark Ganderton and to be ridden by his nephew Daniel Ganderton, along with White's other runner Fine Dimple.

"Fine Dimple has won her last two and is a very tough filly," said White.

"But Feerique may be better suited over the 1600m whereas I believe Fine Dimple will excel over 2100m."

"Outlaw Oakley couldn't have done anymore than it has but I honestly believe that whatever beats Feerique will win the race," he added.

Feerique has already earned over $30,000 in prizemoney from just the nine starts and a win in the listed event will give the filly some well earned black type.

"David and Louise, the fillies owners, give all their horses the best chance of reaching their potential and they deserve all the feature success that they can get," said White who is also preparing promising derby chance Ebbing for the couple in next Saturdays $200,000 Group 3 Cadbury Tasmanian Derby. 

Photo By Fiona Tomlin

Hobart Cup Day Features Races – Final Fields & Barriers

Wednesday, 03 February 2010 13:15

Final fields and barriers were released for Monday’s Hobart Cup meeting on Wednesday afternoon which includes three stakes races.

The $400,000 Group 3 AAMI Hobart Cup (2200m) takes preference over two listed races, the $80,000 Wrest Point Strutt Stakes (1600m) for three-year-old fillies and the $80,000 Tattersall's Thomas Lyons Stakes (1200m) at weight-for-age.

Below are the fields and links to the appropriate form for the three major events on the card.

Hobart - Monday

Race 6 @ 3:15pm - $80,000 Listed Wrest Point Strutt Stakes (1600m) 

3yo fillies - Set Weights - No Claims - Form

Race 7 @ 3:50pm - $80,000 Listed Tattersall's Thomas Lyons Stakes (1200m)

3yo&Up - WFA - No Claims - Form

Race 8 @ 4:30pm - $400,000 Group 3 AAMI Hobart Cup (2200m)

3yo&Up - Handicap - No Claims - Form

Quality Fields At Launceston On Sunday

Wednesday, 20 January 2010 23:00

This Sunday’s meeting at Launceston has seen handy fields assembled for the two feature races on the card.

The $80,000 Listed tote.com.au Stakes (1200m) will see Tasmania’s best sprinters – Conquering, Colonel Parker, Wealthy Lad and Relentless Pursuit - all jostling for bragging rights once again.

Only one Victorian horse will make the trek south with the Chris Hyland-trained Chairmanoftheboard aiming to break eight-race losing streak that stretches back to mid-September of 2008.

In the other feature race of the day, the $30,000 Aceland Stud 1000 Guineas (1600m) for three-year-old fillies, jockey Daniel Ganderton will ride the unbeaten and highly-fancied Outlaw Oakley trained by his uncle Mark Ganderton.

Launceston (Sunday)

Race 8 @ 3:20pm - $30,000 Aceland Stud 1000 Guineas (1600m)

3yo Fillies - Set Weights - No Claims

Race 9 @ 3:55pm - $80,000 Listed tote.com.au Stakes (1200m)

3yo&Up - Weight-For Age - No Claims

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

Dream Pedlar Out For Cups Double

Wednesday, 03 February 2010 04:15

Tasmanian trainer Troy Blacker's Hobart Cup hope Dream Pedlar has drawn ideally in barrier six for Monday's Group Three race.

Michael Rodd takes the ride which if successful will complete a Cups double for the Blacker family after trainer John Blacker, whose wife died in September's Samoa tsunami, won last month's Devonport Cup (1800m) with With Decorum.

Dream Pedlar is a much stronger horse than when he finished 4-1/2 lengths third to Gotta Keep Cool in last year's Hobart Cup (2200m) when he carried 53kg.

The five-year-old gelding goes up only half a kilo on that run in Monday's $400,000 feature.

He comes into the race having won the weight-for-age Listed Tasmanian Stakes (1600m) three starts ago before a close-up sixth in the Devonport Cup after a torrid journey.

He's been freshened since and tuned up for Monday with a fourth in the Group Three Ingham JC Cup (2100m) at Elwick, where the Hobart Cup will be run.

"He's weighted well at 53.5kg and given he's a much more mature and stronger horse this year, I think he is well weighted," Blacker said.

The Hobart Cup will be Rodd's first ride in Tasmania.

Race favourite, the Robert Smerdon-trained Rathsallagh ($3.50), drew barrier two on Wednesday while second favourite Zavite ($4), trained by Anthony Cummings, will start from 10 and De Fine Lago ($6), prepared by Tony Vasil, jumps from gate five.

Tasmanian-born jockey Craig Newitt rode With Decorum to win the Devonport Cup and in the Hobart Cup he'll be on the Rodney Douglas-trained Larry's Never Late who drew barrier 11 in the 16-horse field.

Excuse My French Completes Guineas Double

Sunday, 17 January 2010 11:12

Excuse My French made it three wins on the trot after winning an enthralling renewal of the $80,000 Listed Betfair Hobart Guineas (2100m) at Hobart on Sunday.

In a repeat of the Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) a fortnight ago, Excuse My French ($2 fav) defeated local hope Geegees Blackflash ($4.40) by the narrower margin of a short neck.

Excuse My French edged out Geegees Blackflash in the Tasmanian Guineas by a half neck.

Trained by Andrew Payne and ridden by Aaron Spiteri, Excuse My French took the entire straight to overhaul Geegees Blackflash who showed staunch resistance over the longer trip.

They spaced the others with Daniel Ganderton returning home to partner Catwen Boy ($18.80) into third a further two and a quarter lengths away.

Temajim ($30) finished fourth while Uboa ($4.10) was unable to sustain his effort over the concluding stages after crossing to lead from the outside barrier and finished fifth.

With four wins and two placings from 13 starts to his name, Excuse My French has accumulated over $190,000 in prizemoney, of which $145,000 has been pocketed in the last 30 days.

Both Excuse My French and Geegees Blackflash are expected to clash once again in the $200,000 Group 3 AAMI Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Hobart on January 30.

Another Derby Might Be On Geegees Agenda

Monday, 01 February 2010 02:34

Geegees Blackflash could be aimed at another three-year-old classic later in the season following his richly-deserved victory in the $200,000 Group Three Cadbury Tasmanian Derby (2200m) on Saturday at Hobart.

Trainer John Lutterell revealed post-race that Geegees Blackflash could back-up into the $300,000 Group 3 AAMI Launceston Cup (2400m) on February 24 or be freshened for a tilt at the $300,000 Group 1 Betfair.com South Australian Derby (2500m) for three-year-olds on May 2.

"We'll talk about it in a few days,” Luttrell told Tasmanian newspaper The Examiner in reference to what his plans are with the talented gelding.

Geegees Blackflash snared his first win in stakes company on Saturday much to the delight of Lutterell who by his own admission was on the brink of quitting 18 months ago before local breeder Paul Geard started to support the Brighton-based trainer.

Geegees Blackflash finished second to Excuse My French in both the Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) and then the Hobart Guineas (2100m) a fortnight later on January 17.

However on Saturday the son of Clangalang, who profited from a superb ride by little-known Victorian rider Lee Smith, proved too strong over the concluding stages for odds-on favourite Kinnersley.

Geegees Blackflash ($19.60) defeated Kinnersley ($1.90 fav) by three-quarters of a length with Coulis ($13.80) a further two and a half lengths away in third.

Excuse My French ($5.70) finished fourth, over four lengths from the winner.

Boasting a record of four wins and seven placings from 16 starts, Geegees Blackflash has now accumulated just under $200,000 in prizemoney.

Newitt Wins Another Devonport Cup With Decorum

Wednesday, 06 January 2010 10:18

Lifting his mount over the line with the vigour punters have become accustomed to, Newitt gave an expansive celebratory salute after steering With Decorum first past the post.

With Decorum ($3.70 fav) defeated Speedy Sky ($22.70) by a length with Beven Heights ($19.30) a further half length away in third.

The fancied Troy Blacker pair of Dream Pedlar ($5.10) and Mystery Quest ($5.90) finished sixth and seventh respectively while topweight Life To The Full ($9.70) finished in eleventh, under five lengths from the winner, on the tight-turning circuit that claimed more than a few hard-luck stories throughout the afternoon.

Newitt has now won four Devonport Cup’s from only seven rides in the race and needs one more victory to equal the most amount of wins by a jockey in the feature middle-distance event.

In 2004, he became the only rider in history to complete the Devonport, Hobart and Launceston Cup treble in the same season aboard Chardere in the Devonport Cup and the Peter Moody trained Zacielo in the Hobart and Launceston Cup.  

The win was also an emotional one for both jockey and trainer as they were touched by tragedy in 2009.

It was the first major race Newitt has won in Tasmania since his father, Guy, passed away in a car accident back in February while Maree Blacker – wife of John – died in September’s Samoa tsunami on a family holiday celebrating her 50th birthday.

Craig Newitt’s Devonport Cup Record

2001 – Almost Precious ($41) 13th

2002 – Chardere ($8) 1st

2003 – Dream Quest ($6) 1st

2004 – Chardere ($2.50) 1st

2006 – Di’s Angel ($4) 4th

2009 – Saval Prince ($4.20 fav) 5th

2010 – With Decorum (3.70 fav) 1st

Picture - Sportpix