Wet Only Concern For So You Think

Monday, 09 August 2010 06:45

Favourable weather this week will allow Cox Plate equal favourites So You Think and Shoot Out to clash for the first time in Saturday's Liston Stakes at Caulfield.

Master trainer Bart Cummings, fresh from his record third Fred Hoysted medal for training excellence, said he brought So You Think and other stable stars including Cups favourite Faint Perfume to Melbourne early to avoid wet tracks in Sydney.

"I left Sydney because it's so wet and came down here and it's worse. The drought's broken," Cummings said.

"So You Think's going along nicely. I couldn't be happier with him.

"He's a little overweight at the moment.

"With the drought breaking the tracks have been heavy, but we're going to do a little bit of work with him this week and with sunshine he could be running on Saturday.

The reigning Cox Plate champion has had two jump outs at Flemington and Steven Arnold will ride him for the first time in a race in the weight-for-age race over 1400 metres.

Cummings said the four-year-old was heading towards the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley again and his final lead-up run would be in the Yalumba Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield two weeks before.

Randwick Guineas and AJC Australian Derby winner Shoot Out goes into the Liston second-up after his impressive win in the Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield late last month.

So You Think hasn't raced since his second to All American in the Emirates Stakes nine months ago.

The horse missed the autumn when Cummings decided he had not come back as well as he had hoped.

There were 19 nominations for the Liston including another star of last season's three-year-old ranks in Spring Champion Stakes and Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul.

The Mike Moroney-trained four-year-old, like So You Think and Shoot Out, is by High Chaparral.

The horse finished third behind Shoot Out and Descarado, another son of High Chaparral, in the AJC Australian Derby and was spelled after running third to Road To Rock in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April.

He has had the benefit of a 1000-metre barrier trial on the cushion track at the Sunshine Coast late last month.

Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, who ran only twice in the autumn, and Shamoline Warrior, who hasn't raced since winning the Norman Robinson Stakes at Caulfield last spring, will represent the Mark Kavanagh stable.

Last year's Liston winner Predatory Pricer will have his first start for new trainer Mick Price when he resumes in the Liston.

He hasn't raced since being injured when 12th in last year's Caulfield Cup.

Dual Group One winner Heart Of Dreams, who finished fourth in last year's Liston, also resumes for Price.

The Danny O'Brien-trained Caulfield Cup placegetter Vigor resumes as does Anthony Cummings's Auckland Cup winner Zavite and New Zealander Sterling Prince who won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington last spring.

The Lloyd Williams-owned C'est La Guerre and import Mourayan are the first wave of Cups prospects trainer Robert Hickmott will turn out in the next few weeks.

Tony Vasil has nominated Bill Stutt Stakes winner Carrara and Apprehend.

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

Tony Noonan Proud As Son Rides Treble

Saturday, 07 August 2010 08:45

Trainer Tony Noonan was the proudest man at Flemington when he combined with his son Jake for a winning double, the last legs of the young rider's first city treble.

Jake Noonan, 17, had won the Pauline Fogarty and Kennith Bird Hcp (1410m) aboard the Lee Freedman-trained Censor ($2.45 fav) and rode a patient race to score on Whiston ($8.50) in the Warren Lee and Kenneth Norton Hcp (1000m).

His treble came up on Belscenica ($9.50) in the Natalie Short and Nicholas Ward Hcp (1800m).

"This is like a dream come true. I pulled up with Bossy (Glen Boss) and he was ready to jump off his horse and pat me on the back," an excited Noonan said.

"I've had great support from the stable and other trainers and in particular the other jockeys in the jockeys' room.

"They've been great towards me in my short career so far so hopefully it'll continue."

Whiston gave Noonan his second winner for his father having won on Soul Diva at Caulfield last month and the double was his second in town having won on Royal Bender and Miss Lily Rose at Flemington on July 10.

Noonan had Whiston back 10th on settling and waited for the last shot, weaving him through the field near the inside to score by a neck from Devil's Force ($8.50) with Two Hills ($9) a length away third.

"It was a really good ride. His confidence is sky high at the moment so a table tennis ball looks like a beach ball for him at the moment," Tony Noonan said.

"I said to him just hold him up. He's got a good, short, sharp sprint and he rode him a treat."

Noonan successfully combines being apprenticed to his father with doing Year 12 at Padua College, Mornington, and has now ridden 18 city winners.

Whiston and Belscenica, both by Scenic, were bred by John Thatcher and Vern Jones who are in the ownership of both horses.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Glen Boss Wins Scobie Breasley Medal

Sunday, 08 August 2010 13:30

Bart Cummings and Glen Boss have claimed the major awards for their performances in Victoria during the 2009-10 racing season.

Cummings claimed a record third Fred Hoysted medal for his training performances in the spring of 2009 while Glen Boss won the Scobie Breasley medal as the outstanding jockey.

Australian Horse of the Year favourite Typhoon Tracy was the other star of the Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Awards presented on Sunday night.

Cummings' feats were also recognised by the general public who voted his spring as the "Most Memorable Moment" of the racing season.

In the space of four weeks in October and November, Cummings won four Group One races - the Caulfield Cup (Viewed), the Cox Plate (So You Think), the VRC Oaks (Faint Perfume) and the Toorak Handicap (Allez Wonder).

Boss made a surge in the final month to go past six-time Breasley medal winner Damien Oliver to claim Victorian racing's highest riding honour in his first full season since relocating from Sydney in late 2008.

Heading into the final month of the season, Oliver held a one-point advantage over Boss with Dwayne Dunn and apprentice Jason Maskiell just one point away.

Boss scored eight votes from the Racing Victoria panel in July to finish on 46, five votes clear of four-time medallist Craig Williams who amassed seven votes over the final four meetings.

Oliver held on for third place ahead of Maskiell and Dunn.

The Peter Moody-trained Typhoon Tracy raced seven times in her home state during the 2009-10 season for four wins including Group One triumphs in the Myer Classic (1600m), C F Orr Stakes (1400m) and the Futurity Stakes (1600m).

Victoria's media lodged their votes for the Racehorse of the Year award on a three-two-one basis with Typhoon Tracy amassing 98 with Starspangledbanner (61), So You Think (35), Shocking (22) and Black And Bent (15) rounding out the top five.

Like the Scobie Breasley Medal, the Tommy Corrigan Medal, awarded to the most outstanding jumps jockey of the season in Victoria and South Australia, produced a thrilling finish with premier rider Steve Pateman picking up his third in four years.

With votes awarded by stewards on a two-one basis, Pateman scored two votes on the final jumps meeting of the season at Sandown on July 28 to leapfrog apprentice Arron Lynch and win by one.

In the night's other awards, Peter Moody was recognised for his feat in taking out the Melbourne trainers' premiership while his stable jockey Luke Nolen was acknowledged as the winner of the jockeys' title.

Another Moody stable rider Linda Meech was awarded the inaugural Neville Wilson Medal as the state's leading country jockey with 105 wins.

Ballarat-based trainer Darren Weir won the George Hanlon Trophy for the most winners (122) in country Victoria.

Jason Maskiell took home the metropolitan apprentice award while Jacob Rule was the leading junior rider the country area.

The full list of award winners:

Country Apprentice - Jacob Rule

Metropolitan Apprentice - Jason Maskiell

Tommy Corrigan Medal - Steve Pateman

Victorian Racehorse of the Year - Typhoon Tracy

George Hanlon Trophy - Darren Weir

Neville Wilson Medal - Linda Meech

Metropolitan trainers' premiership - Peter Moody

Metropolitan jockeys' premiership - Luke Nolen

Fred Hoysted Medal - Bart Cummings

Most Memorable Moment - Bart Cummings

Scobie Breasley Medal - Glen Boss

Picture: Sportpix

Miles Above Could Be Cups-bound

Saturday, 07 August 2010 08:15

Bush trainer Denis Daffy will try to qualify improved galloper Miles Above for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups after he charged around the field from last for an impressive Flemington win.

Daffy, who has been training for 40 years, said he never lost faith in Miles Above developing into a good horse and he is now racing in the best form of his career.

The five-year-old made it three wins from five runs this campaign in Saturday's Roland Walker and David Webb Handicap (2000m) and such has been his improvement that Daffy entered for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups last week.

"We threw him in the Cups because we just don't know much he will keep improving," Daffy said.

"We will concentrate now on looking at trying to qualify him."

Champion jockey Damien Oliver rode Miles Above for the first time three starts ago when the gelding finished third at Caulfield.

He was so impressed with the run that when he saw him win his next start over 2250m in Adelaide he rang Daffy to recommend Saturday's event as a target for the Good Journey gelding.

Daffy said Miles Above's work had been "superb" since the Caulfield run and that he derived extra benefit from his trip to Adelaide.

"We took him to Adelaide thinking we would get an easy kill and the trip over there I think has made him grow up," Daffy said.

Miles Above settled at the tail of the Flemington field but joined the leading group at the top of the straight before surging to the front at the 150 metres and streaking away to a 3-3/4 length win over Chase The Sun and Spontaneous.

A $20,000 yearling, Miles Above has won six of his 27 starts but while he promised much as a three-year-old he continually disappointed.

"He has been one of those big, dopey, immature horses but always showed ability from the first day we galloped him," Daffy said.

"I think this time in he's a more mature horse whereas before he would just look around and do things wrong rather than concentrate on winning.

"I just feel now he is putting it all together and I'm hoping he goes on from here."

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Arnold To Ride So You Think

Sunday, 08 August 2010 07:45

Steven Arnold will ride Cox Plate winner So You Think in his scheduled comeback against Shoot Out in the J J Liston Stakes.

However, trainer Bart Cummings has put a proviso on the four-year-old's return that the Caulfield track not be too rain-affected on Saturday.

So You Think hasn't raced since his second to All American in the Emirates Stakes in November last year.

Cummings was not happy with the colt in the autumn and aborted his campaign before it began, robbing the Sydney carnival of a clash with Queenslander Shoot Out who took out the Randwick Guineas and AJC Australian Derby.

"Steven Arnold will ride him on Saturday and we'll see what happens after that," Cummings said.

"He's done very well this time, he's had two jump outs at Flemington and come through well."

Michael Rodd was offered the Liston ride but his commitments to the Mark Kavanagh stable forced him to knock it back.

Blake Shinn was aboard So You Think in his two jump outs but will be riding in Sydney on Saturday.

So You Think's dual Group One winning stablemate, Melbourne Cup favourite Faint Perfume, could run also run at Caulfield but is likely to be saved for Moonee Valley a week later.

"She might start on Saturday but will probably wait for Moonee Valley," Cummings said.

"There's a couple of races there that could suit."

Shoot Out created a huge impression with his winning return over 1200 metres in the Bletchingly Stakes on July 31.

Stathi Katsidis drove him forward and the classy gelding prevailed over a field of hardy sprinters.

The Queensland based Katsidis, who won the national jockeys' premiership for 2009-10, is looking forward to returning to Melbourne this weekend.

"He handled the left handed way racing really well," Katsidis said.

"he's a big horse and does pull but not as badly as he used to.

"He hung out up here but he gets in down there going the other way.

"He was fantastic before the Bletchingly, you could tell he was loving it.

"I just don't want the track to be too hard for him, he likes the jar out of it."

So You Think and Shoot Out are the equal early Cox Plate favourites at $12 with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Faint Perfume who is a $16 chance.

Pictures: Colin Bull & Fiona Tomlin

Berlioz Springs $151 Upset

Saturday, 07 August 2010 08:15

David Hayes landed the longest-priced winner of his career when rank outsider Berlioz stormed home to win at $151 at Flemington.

A drifter in the betting ring from his opening quote of $101, Berlioz, ridden by Dean Yendall, came from second last to down the well-supported Only He Knows ($5) by a head in the David Rosenquist and Rosemary Shimmin Hcp (1700m).

Topweight Pinnacles ($3.20 fav) was 1-1/4 lengths away third.

At his previous outing when resuming Berlioz had finished 11th of 13 to Bonindi over 1514m at Moonee Valley on July 24, but Bonindi was able to finish only seventh after leading on Saturday.

"We were a bit surprised that he could win at this distance on this sort of track (slow 7)," Hayes said.

"But he's a (VRC) St Leger winner and he was beaten a head in a WATC Derby so he's not a bad horse."

Hayes said the Zabeel five-year-old had shown an aversion to wet tracks, failing in two slow and one heavy track tries in past outings before Saturday.

"But it's not sloppy wet today and his past wet tracks had been on very wet," he said.

"I just asked Dean to ride him from the back and come with a strong last 400 metres and hopefully pass three or four but he cruised up to them and got up and won. We're just thrilled."

Berlioz has raced only 13 times for three wins and five placings and Hayes has him nominated for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

"He's entered in everything so you never know. He might be a genuine sort of horse who could pop up in a Metropolitan," Hayes said.

"We're building up for the early mile-and-a-half (2400m) races."

Hayes' late father, the legendary Colin Hayes, once trained a 300-1 winner, Dulcify, who won on debut in Adelaide before going on to be the star of his team and win the 1979 Cox Plate.

Dulcify also won the 1979 Australian Cup as a three-year-old at 80-1.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Makybe Diva Offspring Ready To Race

Sunday, 08 August 2010 03:59

Makybe Diva's first foal Rockstardom is on track to make his race debut before the end of the month.

Trainer Danny O'Brien said the three-year-old Galileo colt would have his first start in a country maiden in the next two weeks but the venue had yet to be decided.

"It just depends on the tracks," O'Brien said.

"If we can't get a reasonable surface at Bendigo or Ballarat he might have to run in a maiden over 1300 metres on the synthetic at Geelong."

Rockstardom is currently stabled at O'Brien's Barwon Heads racing complex just outside Geelong and last Wednesday impressed the stable when he led all the way in a 1200-metre jump out on the new Geelong track.

O'Brien said the colt, who cost $1.5 million at the 2009 Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is part-owned by breeder Tony Santic, would be aimed at the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on October 30 .

"We bought him bought him to run a mile and half and the first mile and half race is the Derby," O'Brien said.

He said Rockstardom had been a progressive horse but his racing career had been deliberately put on hold until he turned three.

"Naturally we were never going to run him at two but he came in to the stable two or three times and in his jump outs he showed enough to please us.

"He has been back in work three months and we took him to Geelong for a trial last Wednesday and he jumped to the front and won comfortably enough."

O'Brien has yet to finalise a path to the Derby but is mindful that most three-year-olds that start out on the journey never make it to the classic.

"We will give him his chance to get there," O'Brien said.

"Historically it is a bit of an ask for them (three-year-olds) but if he's not ready for that pressure then we will just give ourselves a platform for the autumn with him."

Three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva has been at stud since 2006 and she has had three foals.

Her second foal, a Fusaichi Pegasus filly, realised $1.2 million at this year's Australian Easter Sale while her third foal is a yearling colt by Encosta De Lago.

Her fourth foal by More Than Ready is due this month and she will then be covered by Darley's glamour sire Lonhro.

Picture: Colin Bull

Elusive Touch Too Strong At Flemington

Saturday, 07 August 2010 06:45

Former Sydney galloper Elusive Touch continues to be a revelation for trainer Mark Kavanagh after the five-year-old landed Melbourne's first Group race for the season at Flemington.

The son of Elusive Quality made it four wins from nine starts when he fought on bravely to defeat the unlucky Leica Larrikin by a head in the Group Three Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m).

The pair finished 2-3/4 lengths ahead of Beltrois who edged out Royal Ida for third while Group One-winning mare Headway was close up a half-neck away in fifth place.

Formerly trained by Tim Martin in Sydney, Elusive Touch flagged his class to Kavanagh when he finished second to stakeswinner Captain Coltish at Moonee Valley at his stable debut in January.

At his next start in June he won a heat of the All Victorian Sprint Series (1200m) at Flemington and was beaten a head when second to Elumino in last month's Series Final.

"The horse came to me as a restricted galloper and he's gone through his grades pretty quickly to win an Aurie's Star," Kavanagh said.

"He likes a bit of soft ground and likes his races spaced so we have kept him happy and he's going okay.

"I don't know how far into the spring we will go with him, we will just wait and see."

Kavanagh, who last week returned from a month-long overseas holiday, said Elusive Touch had the fitness edge on several runners on Saturday including Headway, Beltrois, Spacecraft and Uxorious who were all resuming from spells.

Elusive Touch's jockey Stephen Baster said the gelding refused to surrender despite a strong challenge from Leica Larrikin who nearly snatched a last-stride win.

"At the 300 metres I thought he (Elusive Touch) was going to struggle a little bit but he puts his head out and just keeps finding," Baster said.

Leica Larrikin hadn't raced since completing a hat-trick of wins when scoring at Flemington two months ago and was gallant in defeat after having trouble getting a clear passage in the race.

Trainer Richard Freyer described the performance of Leica Larrikin, who is nominated for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, as unbelievable.

"He didn't get his luck when he needed it," Freyer said. "He ran an unbelievable race."

Freyer queried the appearance of Leica Larrikin as a "two-miler" but is keeping his options open while also considering the Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m) on the last day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.

Jockey Damien Oliver was positive about Headway's fifth placing and said she would only get better.

"She wasn't real comfortable when she hit that softer ground on the course proper and she will benefit from the run," Oliver said.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Williams Keen To Stick With Moudre

Saturday, 07 August 2010 08:45

Top jockey Craig Williams labelled the Ciaron Maher-trained Moudre an exciting horse and is keen to stay with him after his impressive first-up win at Flemington.

The Blevic gelding hadn't raced since an equally impressive effort over 1800m at Flemington on May 15 when he defeated Module by 3-3/4 lengths.

Sent out the $3.30 favourite in Saturday's Keith Jackson and Colin Johnston Hcp (1410m), Moudre didn't let his supporters down, coming with a powerful burst to score by two lengths from Riceman ($10) with Jennings ($151) the same margin away third.

"Ciaron knows the horse very well and he's going to take him places," Williams, whose only previous ride on the Moudre was in a barrier trial win on the Geelong synthetic track over 1200m late last month, said.

"He's a Group One trainer already and he's great with staying horses.

"We saw last year with Alcopop and this horse may have a similar story."

Alcopop, prepared by Jake Stevens near Victor Harbour in South Australia, rose from obscurity to start favourite in the 2009 Melbourne Cup, finishing sixth, after a string of wins including the Group Two Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield.

The Warrnambool-trained Moudre, who has won five of his last six starts, is entered for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup.

The five-year-old was bred by Warrnambool businessman Colin McKenna who is the managing part-owner of the gelding.

Maher said that he would aim for the better races with Moudre and see how far he could get.

"We've got a plan to aim him for the better races and take it one week at a time and if he keeps stepping up like he has been obviously we'll put him in better company and see what happens," he said.

"He seems to like Flemington so we'll try to bring him back here as much as we can."

Maher said Moudre appealed to him as the type of horse who could run 3200m.

"We'll just have to wait and see. He hasn't been beyond 1800 metres yet," he said.

Maher, who won the 2007 Group One Emirates Stakes with Tears I Cry, had a two-state double with Man Of Class winning the SA Grand National Hurdle at Morphettville.

But he had a mixed day there as July fell at the last fence in the SA Grand National Steeplechase when in front.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Miles Above Is Just That

Saturday, 07 August 2010 05:40

The penny appears to have dropped with Miles Above after his crushing victory at Flemington on Saturday in the $70,000 Roland Walker & David Webb 0-89 Handicap (2000m).

Restrained from his wide alley after the start by Damien Oliver, Miles Above was brought into the race at the perfect moment.

Striking the front shortly after straightening, Miles Above dashed clear from midfield runner Chase The Sun and early leader Spontaneous to win easily.

In the run to the line, Miles Above ($7-$7.50) defeated Chase The Sun ($14-$15) by 3-3/4 lengths with Spontaneous ($21-$26) a further head away in third.

Zoomin ($10-$9) whacked away behind them and never posed the winner any serious threat, finishing fourth over six lengths from the winner.

“On paper I saw that there were a few kids on the front-runners so I thought there could have been a bit of pace upfront so I thought I’d take the punt and go back,” Oliver said before adding “It worked out well.”

“The pace was pretty keen in the first 400 metres and it set it up for the backmarkers.”

Terang-based trainer Dennis Daffy said today’s win was a watershed moment for the galloper.

“He’s starting to put it together, this time in he’s more mature,” Daffy said.

“He’s been an immature horse that’s always shown ability, from the first day but he never really switched on.

“Before he just used to look around and do things wrong rather then concentrate on winning and we just hope he goes on from here,” he added.

Daffy said his confidence was buoyed due to Oliver eagerness to ride Miles Above in a suitable race.

“Damien Oliver must have got a good feel about the horse because even before he was nominated, he rang up telling us to put in an entry in for a race which would be ideal for him and we were going to do it anyway,” Duffy said.

Oliver predicts a fruitful immediate period for the five-year-old gelding.

“He handles the ground well and he can go on from here and win a nice mile and a half race while the track are still soft.”

Boasting a record of six wins from 27 starts, Miles Above has won $145,329 in prizemoney.

He is a full-brother to Group 1 Western Australia Derby (2400m) winner Grand Journey.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin