Nikolic Cleared Over Trustus Ride
- Monday, 19 July 2010 08:30
Danny Nikolic was fined $300 for misconduct in the aftermath of his ride on Trustus in the Winter Championship Final but stewards found no fault with his ride.
Nikolic said he was an "easy target" after last month being cleared by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board of two charges of engaging in improper practice and two of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing after an exhaustive inquiry into 21 of his rides.
The Trustus inquiry was opened on race day following a complaint by Brian Johnston, who co-trains the horse with his wife Fran Houlahan, regarding the riding tactics adopted by Nikolic on the gelding which finished 10th behind Doubtful Jack in the Listed 1600m event.
The inquiry was adjourned on the day following a dispute between Johnston and Nikolic in the stewards room following the race.
After hearing further evidence from Johnston and Nikolic on Monday, stewards accepted the explanation offered by Nikolic regarding his tactics and noted that there were no unusual betting trends on the race.
No action was taken against Johnston regarding his behaviour in the stewards' room but panel chairman Allan Reardon warned him his comments were of a provocative nature and reminded him of his obligations as a licensed trainer.
Nikolic pleaded guilty to a charge of having made inappropriate comments towards Johnston at the initial inquiry and had already submitted a letter of apology to stewards regarding his behaviour.
Nikolic is currently serving a careless riding suspension incurred on Saturday, coinciding with his stated intention to take a break ahead of the spring.
Meanwhile the RAD Board will hear the charges laid by Racing Victoria Limited stewards against professional punters Alessandro Alaimo and Kevin McFarland next Monday.
Alaimo and McFarland have both been charged with failing to attend the Danny Nikolic inquiry on April 20 when requested to do so by the stewards.
Alaimo and McFarland laid Nikolic's mount Finishing Card substantially on Betfair when he ran second as an odds-on favourite at Mornington on January 8.
They also laid Baby Boom, then trained by Nikolic's brother John but not ridden by Nikolic, when she ran fourth as odds-on favourite at the Sunshine Coast on January 3.
Alaimo and McFarland and professional punter and commission agent Neville Clements, a friend of Nikolic's, have all been warned off Queensland racetracks following the Baby Boom inquiry in Queensland.
Success Beckons For Fantastic Plumtastic
- Monday, 19 July 2010 01:04
Moe Racing Club conducted its Super Jumps day on Saturday, the highlight being Plumtastic’s impressive 20 length maiden steeple win.
For the Robbie Laing trained five year-old, it was his first success in 19 starts and he could have won by more after being eased up over the final stages.
Plumtastic started his racing career in WA and clearly has a liking for tracks with some give and the heavy ground Saturday was to his liking.
Steve Pateman rode a treble and Laing prepared a double on a card where the three obstacle events were supported by high weight events for the jumps hoops.
BRIDESMAID SPELLS
Prinsom will now head to the paddock after what would have to have been one of the most consistent, yet frustrating, campaigns for some time.
At his home track of Moe on Saturday he notched his seventh second in eight starts (the other a fourth) and now has 10 in his career with just the one win.
Trainer, Michael Templeton, said he was pleased with the effort he horse was putting in and said he expected the three year-old to return an improved horse next preparation.
“I would have loved to have seen him go to the paddock a winner after all his efforts, but I guess it wasn’t to be and I am sure his best is ahead,” he said.
Prinsom finished 6.8 lengths behind Monaco Consul in the Group One Victoria Derby last spring.
On a brighter note, Templeton has his three winning two year-olds back in work for the upcoming spring in Hovercraft, Veegeekay and Elite Ebony.
Hovercraft has one win and two seconds from three starts, but could easily be unbeaten. He was beaten a lip at Moonee Valley last start by the promising Spirited Eagle.
“He is the most brilliant of the trio and looks at though he is up to better races, but I still think there is a lot of improvement in Elite Ebony as well.
“Over a bit more ground and against her own sex I think she can measure up. The farthest she has been over is 1200m, but I think out to a mile or even further she will be far better suited,” he said.
LV PREPARING
Latrobe Valley Racing Club has plans well in hand for its two meetings in the coming season.
The recent announcement that Wights Motor World would sponsor the Cup on December 12, has been followed by the club this week announcing CreditCollect will sponsor Ladies’ day on Saturday, October 30.
Picture: Fiona Tomlin
Father And Son In City Success
- Saturday, 17 July 2010 08:15
Trainer Tony Noonan and his jockey son Jake have combined for their first city win together with stable favourite Soul Diva at Caulfield.
Jake Noonan, 17, grew up riding the eight-year-old mare trackwork and was as thrilled as his father as he returned to scale after scoring an upset win at $41 in Saturday's Clamms Seafood Handicap (1400m).
"It is great," Tony Noonan said.
"Not just because Jake rode her but because this mare has been one of my favourites.
"I bought her as a yearling in Perth and she has now won 11 of 35 starts.
"She's had a tendon injury and had chips out of a fetlock joint last preparation so to bring her back and win with her in town is just an enormous thrill."
Noonan said he thought Soul Diva, who was second-up, still needed a conditioning run to be at her best and was pleasantly surprised with how the race panned out in her favour.
"In the run I was confident because she tracked into it really nicely and had spent no petrol," he said.
"He (Jake) rode her very well."
But young Noonan feared he would get a roasting from his father when he decided to take his chances on the rail mid-race.
"I was a bit worried going back to the paint and I thought Dad was going to cut my head off, but we got out at the right time," Jake said.
"She was travelling but I didn't think she would show the turn of foot that she did."
Soul Diva rocketed home to score a long neck win over Philda with Arch Symbol a short head away third.
"I have had a good connection with this horse as I grew up riding her trackwork," Jake said.
"Dad said just ride her like a trackwork gallop and make your last 100 metres your best."
Apprenticed to his father, Noonan has now ridden eight city winners since he started race riding last year.
"I just haven't had that many horses good enough to put him on," Noonan said, referring to the limited opportunities he has been able to give his son.
However Noonan is hopeful that more wins are ahead for father and son with stakes-placed Soul Diva before she goes to stud this year.
Pictures: Fiona Tomlin & Colin Bull
Different Spring Path For Typhoon Tracy
- Sunday, 18 July 2010 02:15
Horse of the Year elect Typhoon Tracy will take a different path through the early spring to her 2009 campaign.
Typhoon Tracy, who has won 10 of her 14 starts including five Group One races, will resume in the Group Two Memsie Stakes (1400m) on her home track at Caulfield on August 28.
"She's going to have a slightly different program this year because I gave her a couple of extra weeks to get her over that virus in Sydney," trainer Peter Moody said.
Typhoon Tracy had won four successive Group One races before finishing 14th as favourite to Rangirangdoo in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 17.
The mare was galloped on in the Doncaster but apart from that Moody felt she wasn't at her top because of a virus.
"Last year I ran her in the Liston and went three weeks into the Makybe Diva Stakes," Moody said.
"This year she'll resume in the Memsie and go two weeks into the Dato Tan Chin Nam and then I'll play it by ear from there."
Typhoon Tracy ran third to Predatory Pricer in last year's Liston before being beaten a nose when runner-up to Vigor in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
She then ran eighth to Heart Of Dreams in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield before starting a run of five straight victories in the Group Two Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Typhoon Tracy then won the Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington before being spelled.
She returned in the autumn to claim the C F Orr Stakes (1400m) and Futurity Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield as well as the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
Meanwhile, unbeaten stablemate Black Caviar returns to Peter Clarke's Willow Wood Equicentre at Murchison in central Victoria on Monday to begin her spring carnival build-up.
"She's had a month off which was always planned to avoid that wet period in September so that we can have her back Caulfield Cup week for the Schillaci or the Caulfield Sprint and then Flemington and maybe Perth," Moody said.
The filly, a dual Group Two winner, hasn't raced since taking out the Australia Stakes (1200m) when first-up at Moonee Valley on January 22.
Her preparation came to an end soon after because of a leg injury.
Last September she strained a chest muscle during her win in the Group Two Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington and had to miss the rest of the spring.
Pictures: Fiona Tomlin
Nikolic In Strife Again
- Saturday, 17 July 2010 07:45
Jockey Danny Nikolic's woes have continued at Caulfield where he was suspended for 10 meetings.
Nikolic pleaded guilty to careless riding on sixth-placed Avalon Royale in the Glasshouse Cafe Handicap (1200m).
On Monday Nikolic faces an adjourned inquiry into a complaint regarding his handling of unplaced gelding Trustus in the Winter Championship Final at Flemington last Saturday.
Stewards will also inquire into his conduct and that of Trustus' co-trainer Brian Johnston during the hearing at Flemington.
Stewards deemed Saturday's interference at Caulfield to be in the mid-range which draws a 14-meeting penalty but Nikolic had two meetings shaved off for his guilty plea and another two for his excellent riding record.
Nikolic hasn't been suspended for careless riding in his last 650 Victorian rides.
He has been riding on the crest of a wave over the last week with nine winners, including Diggersanddealers at Caulfield.
However in the last race he shifted out on Avelon Royale in the home straight causing Dean Yendall on Cantakitwithya to check off the heels of Bubble Below ridden by Glen Boss.
Nikolic's suspension starts immediately and finishes at midnight on July 27.
He said he planned to take two weeks off for a freshen-up before the bigger races come around in August.
Picture: Fiona Tomlin
Noonans Combine For Special Win
- Sunday, 18 July 2010 01:53
The Noonan family had good reason to celebrate over the weekend after father Tony and son Jake combined to win the Clamms Seafood Handicap with Soul Diva at Caulfield.
It was the eighth city winner for Jake. He had ridden a double the previous Saturday at Flemington but this was the first time for his dad.
Winning is nothing new for Tony however this one was something special as was shown by the wide smile he was wearing as son Jake was bringing Soul Diva back to scale.
The win was rare in some respects as we seldom see a mare on the brink of nine years of age winning in the city.
However there will always be exceptions, mares of her age would normally have had a couple of foals by now.
She is by Grand Lodge from Marcia a daughter of Marscay. This has been essentially a filly family.
Lanyard, Gaelic Spirit, Party Time, Flash Bash, all fillies were among the winners in the family.
Picture: Colin Bull
Connections Get Reward With Comeback Win
- Saturday, 17 July 2010 06:45
Leading trainer Peter Moody said Reward For Effort's comeback win in the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield gave him a lot of satisfaction.
The 2009 Blue Diamond Stakes winner, a son of Exceed And Excel, was having his first outing since finishing seventh to Phelan Ready in the Golden Slipper 15 months ago.
The colt sprained a suspensory ligament before he was set to resume in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield last August and missed the entire spring and autumn.
"It's been heartbreaking the last 12 months to watch all the other three-year-olds go around and collect the spoils while this bloke has been laying around and not doing a lot," Moody said.
"It's been a lot of hard work.
"I've always had the belief that he's as good a colt as there was in the land.
"I thought he should have won a Golden Slipper if the track wasn't heavy as he hit the front at the 200 metres and when Luke (Nolen) let his head go his legs went everywhere.
"There's no doubt in my mind he wins the Golden Slipper on a dry track."
Moody especially wanted to thank Peter Clarke who played a big part in rehabilitating Reward For Effort at his Willow Wood Equicentre at Murchison in central Victoria.
"Peter's had this horse for the bulk of the last 12 months, barring the last three, and worked day and night to get him here in good shape," Moody said.
Ridden by Melbourne's leading jockey Nolen, Reward For Effort ($3.30 fav) held off Keano ($11), who made a late dive, to score by a short head with Royal Ida ($6) a short half-head away third.
"He was as fit as I could have him without racing him," Moody said of the winner.
"He's grown into a magnificent individual and you just know he's going to get better and better.
"He's not going to be the champion three-year-old (this season) but I think you'll find he's going to be a hell of a four-year-old next season.
"Hopefully he can get to the heights that I think that he can."
The win topped off a great day for Dean Watts' Dynamic Syndications which shared a double with Moody and Nolen at Caulfield with Triumphant Choice winning earlier in the day, while the Darren Smith-trained Atomic Force won at Rosehill.
Moody said there was still plenty of improvement in Reward For Effort who may have his next start in the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 31 providing the track isn't wet.
"There are other options including the Dermody Stakes in Adelaide and the Missile Stakes in Sydney," the trainer said.
Stanzout came from last to finish close up in fourth place with Oakleigh Plate runner-up Arinos just behind him in fifth place.
Pictures: Fiona Tomlin
Imperial Command GIves Slade Slickpix Cup
- Saturday, 17 July 2010 23:28
The Mark Kavanagh trained Imperial Command stormed home to steal the $70,000 Slickpix Cup (1400m) in the last stride at Flemington today.
Imperial Command ($10,$13) was settled well back off a fast pace by Peter Mertens who showed patience making his move at the 400m mark and giving tearaway race leader Beyond Pardon ($4,$4.40,$3.90) a big head start turning for home.
The straight was just long enough for Imperial Command to catch Beyond Pardon by the barest of margins with Princess Narine ($5,$7.50) fighting on for third a long neck away.
Merv Harvey, stable foreman for Kavanagh, admitted he was worried in the run but expected Beyond Pardon to come back to the field in the final stages.
“I was a little worried when they went so fast in front, but Beyond Pardon just had to stop,” said Harvey.
“It was a very good win.”
Harvey believes the three-year-old, who has won both starts this preparation, has really matured this time in and can go on to bigger and better things following the win.
“Maturity has really helped this bloke, he has become more sensible which gives him the scope to get out over more ground and step up to better races,” he said.
Corrina Slade of Slade Bloodstock was thrilled to see the son of the Commands begin to show his potential on the racetrack.
“We have always had a really nice opinion of this horse,” said Slade.
“Lee Freedman actually selected the horse and a lot of credit needs to go his way.
According to Mertens the gelding can only improve observing the three-year-old still has a lot to learn about racing.
“He is a good horse but he still does a bit wrong,” said Mertens.
“Once he works it all out he is going to be better than this class.”
Photo by Fiona Tomlin
Caulfield 'Quinella' For Syndicators
- Saturday, 17 July 2010 06:30
The Slade Bloodstock syndicate couldn't have been happier with the result of the Slickpix Cup at Caulfield with Imperial Command storming home to beat Beyond Pardon.
Slade syndicated the winner and Corinna Slade only last week bought, in a private sale, Beyond Pardon's younger Niello half-brother for an undisclosed figure from Chatswood Stud.
"We're pretty happy about the quinella," Slade said.
Imperial Command was originally selected by trainer Lee Freedman but Slade's split from that stable led to the galloper joining Mark Kavanagh.
Having his fifth start, the Commands gelding backed up from a last-start win on the synthetic track at Geelong on June 29 to score even more impressively at Caulfield on Saturday.
Ridden by Peter Mertens, he was near last most of the way while Beyond Pardon set the race up for the backmarkers with a tearaway early pace.
Mertens said that turning for home he was worried that Beyond Pardon had too big a break but his mount responded well in the last 100 metres and mowed down the pacemaker to score by a half-neck with Princess Narine battling away gamely a long neck away third.
Stable foreman Merv Harvey said Imperial Command, who has won or been placed at all his starts, was a slow learner and even on Saturday he was hanging in so badly that Mertens rode him on one rein in the home straight.
"He has always been promised to be a good horse but has had mentality issues," Harvey said.
"The penny is dropping with him and it was a very good win.
"I think he has got the scope to get out over more ground and in better races."
Mertens also predicted a good future for Imperial Command.
"Once he works out what to do he is going to be better than this class," he said.
"When they straightened I didn't think we were going to catch the leader but the last 100 metres he hit the line strongly even though he was doing things wrong."
Slade said that Imperial Command's victory over Beyond Pardon was a great result.
"Beyond Pardon has won something like $250,000 so what he (Imperial Command) has actually done is very exciting," Slade said.
She said John McArdle would train Beyond Pardon's half-brother who is a rising three-year-old.
Slade said that the gelding had broken in well and the signs were encouraging that it wouldn't be long before he was racing.
Pictures: Fiona Tomlin
Brietling Snares Inglis Bonus
- Saturday, 17 July 2010 23:18
The tickets on the Robert Smerdon trained Brietling were been justified today with an impressive win in the $70,000 Inglis Bonus Handicap (1000m) at Caulfield.
Brietling ($3,$3.30,$3) jumped well from an outside gate and despite working hard to cross the field the well back colt relaxed just a quickly for jockey Glen Boss, enjoying the run of the race.
Upon straightening Boss allowed Brietling to balance up and showed a sharp turn of foot to kick clear and turn the tables on Soul ($3.50,$3.70,$3.50) with a one and three quarter length victory.
Mr Cool Cat ($21,$26) ran on well for third a further length away with the Mark Kavanagh trained Too Deadly ($6,$7.50) producing an eye catching run to finish fifth and put the writing on the wall.
Smerdon was confident the two-year-old colt by Lonhro could greet the judge at just his second start highlighting his professional nature as the key factor.
“He has the best nature, even today he fired out of the gates but even when he crossed he relaxed straight away and then kicked when Glen asked him to,” said Smerdon.
“We rate him pretty highly, he ran well first up and we came away thinking the winner must be a pretty fair horse because we had an opinion of this fella.
“Hopefully he is up to the better class because if he can’t step up I’d be worried about a few of the others we have at home,” Smerdon added.
Smerdon observed the Inglis bonus as a huge incentive for connections and acknowledged Aquanita’s recent success with the bonuses
“Being eligible for that Inglis bonus is a huge incentive,” said Smerdon.
“Brietling was set for this race because of the $100,000 bonus.
“We (Aquanita) have been very lucky with the Inglis bonuses, I even picked up a $50,000 trainers bonus they had for consistency over two seasons.”
Boss admitted falling in love with Brietling after his first gallop on the two-year-old, revealing he felt the colt had a special something.
“From the first time I galloped him I fell in love with this horse,” said Boss.
“He has the mannerisms of a very good horse.
“Every good horse I have ever ridden has had that one special thing about them where they soak up the atmosphere, and he has that,” Boss added.
Ominously for the Spring three-year-olds Boss believes Brietling was only in third gear and has the ability to feature at Group level.
“He is still only at about 80%, floating when he gets to his top and running on pure ability,” said Boss.
“I have no doubt the first two horses will be competitive in Group races.
Photo by Fiona Tomlin
Triumphant Choice Breaks Through In Town
- Saturday, 17 July 2010 06:15
Cox Plate winner Savabeel's half-brother Triumphant Choice has a lot to live up to but indicated he might make a name for himself with his first city win at Caulfield.
The Redoute's Choice colt, out of dual Group One winner Savannah Success, cost Dynamic Syndications $1 million at the 2008 Magic Millions Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast.
But he broke down at his fourth start for the Hawkes stable when tailed off in the Fernhill Hcp (1600m) won by Choistar at Randwick on April 13.
After 14 months on the sidelines, Triumphant Choice has had three runs for trainer Peter Moody for two wins and a third.
After a first-up 1400m Ballarat maiden placing and an impressive 1713m Sale maiden victory, the colt was sent out $2.80 favourite in Saturday's $5 Pin and Win Supporting Epilepsy Foundation Hcp (2000m).
Ridden by Luke Nolen, the big-striding Triumphant Choice settled back eighth of the 11 runners and swept around his rivals before going on for a 2-3/4 length win over Beijing Bolt ($7.50) with Meet Me At Raffles ($15) a short half-head away third.
"He's a magnificent individual with a hell of a pedigree so he comes with a bit of baggage but every time we've done something with him he's improved that bit off it," Moody said.
"You just look at him, he's a quality animal so you just hope that he takes that to racetrack performances and happily he's continued to improve again today.
"He might develop a turn of foot in time but he doesn't know how to do it yet. He's still climbing and wandering and for that reason you've got to ride him a bit wild.
"He had to make a long sustained run and probably didn't look the prettiest but it was what was required to win today."
Moody said Triumphant Choice had earned a "little ease up" and would be nominated for suitable races in the spring.
"Whether it's in the spring or autumn I think he's going to end up a very nice handicapper and, if he improves, maybe beyond that," he said.
Nolen believes the colt will make into a good stayer.
"He's immature both physically and mentally but when the penny drops and he actually does fill into himself we're going to have an exciting horse," he said.
"He's an out-and-out stayer, we probably worked that out at his first run for us on a wet track at Ballarat. He doesn't pick up and sprint.
"He's going to furnish into a nice horse later on for sure."
Pictures: Fiona Tomlin