Hurdles The Key To Exclusive Choice

Saturday, 10 July 2010 07:15

A change of pace and a wake-up call over hurdles were the keys to victory for docile three-year-old Exclusive Choice in the $100,000 Silver Bowl Final at Flemington.

The talented miler had been a victim of circumstance in his three previous runs this campaign when caught near the rear of the field in slowly-run contests.

But a stronger tempo in the Silver Bowl Final suited ideally as Exclusive Choice recorded the second win of his 10-start career.

Exclusive Choice had been transferred from trainer Rod Douglas to the care of Jim Conlan by owner Jonathan Munz prior to the Silver Bowl with Conlan sending the gelding over a couple of hurdles during the week to sharpen him up.

Munz shares his team of horses between Douglas and Conlan with the former doing the groundwork in the lead-up to Saturday's win.

"He got things his way and he won the $100,000 race we set him for so everyone's happy," Douglas said.

Exclusive Choice ($9) swept home from off the pace to win but had to survive a spirited challenge from the Lee and Shannon Hope-trained Supercheap ($21) inside the final 50m, eventually scoring by a half-neck.

Joint favourite Lord Of Arms ($6) was a further 4-1/2 lengths away third.

Exclusive Choice realised $500,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2008 as a handsome son of leading sire Redoute's Choice and has recouped a little less than a fifth of that mark after his Silver Bowl success.

But despite the lag between career earnings and purchase price, Douglas believes the best could well be yet to come for the lightly-raced prospect.

"His last two runs have been bottlers on leader's tracks. He's been a bit unlucky in his career but he looks like he's on track now, he's also had a few problems though," he said.

Douglas said that the horse would be suited if kept to bigger tracks in the future and that the Silver Bowl could be the launching pad to better races later in the year.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Noonan's Two Out Of Two At Flemington

Saturday, 10 July 2010 03:40

Jake Noonan made a good day better when he won the Mittys Rising Stars Final aboard Miss Lily Rose at Flemington this afternoon.

Noonan had already won the first race on Royal Bender, which gave him his first Flemington win.

He gave Miss Lily Rose a perfect run, having her midfield in the early stages before ranging up on the outside of the leaders coming into the straight.

Noonan gave the big Red Ransom mare plenty of time to balance up before getting busy on her at the clock tower.

Miss Lily Rose responded well to Noona's vigorous riding before careering away to win as she liked by 3¼ lengths.

Abitofado ($10-$11-$10) merely plodded to finish second, while favourite Tinamou ($2.20-$2.50F) ran fairly for third, three quarters of a length further away.

"I came in pretty positive today and confident that I had a good book of rides", Noonan observed.

He took little credit for his winning double saying:

"I got put on the right horses today and had enough luck to put them in the race properly and they've been too good I guess."

Miss Lily Rose was scratched from a $30,000 race over 1600 metres at Sandown on Wednesday to run today.

"We went for the 1800 and double the prizemoney and it was a little bit of a restricted race", said winning trainer Mick Price.

"I thought Tinamou was the one to beat but I was a bit worried that he was the deepest horse because from walking the track the inside few metres seemed to be the best."

Originally trained by Danny O'Brien, Miss Lily Rose was placed third on the Group 1 Australasian Oaks last year.

Today's win was only her second from 17 starts but Price has a plan to make sure that she is qualified for better races.

"I just need to build up her winning strike rate and her prizemoney and there'll be some stakes races for her in the future."

In an age when jockey's often overstate their ability to ride at a specific weight, Price was very impressed that Noonan committed to riding Miss Lily Rose at exactly 50.5 kg and he did, taking full advantage of his 3kg claim.

Price gave Noonan a real wrap saying:

"He's been riding for us over the past 8 or 10 months and he's a really promising, very intelligent kid and he's getting better all the time."

"He's an impressive young man."

The son of trainer Tony Noonan, Jake finds himself balancing his studies with being a jockey.

"I've had a fantastic season and couldn't be happier with the way its gone and the support I've had", he said.

"Being at school has held me back a bit but I guess I've got to take the benefits from that and use that next year when I go full bore."

"It's only going to get harder because I've got VCE exams coming up so I'm going to have to focus on both."

"I've got to have a bit of a social life with my mates so I've got to keep it all balanced."

Photos: Fiona Tomlin

Back-to-back Banjos For Figure Of Speech

Saturday, 10 July 2010 06:15

The aptly-named Figure Of Speech has won his second Banjo Paterson Final at Flemington.

A combination of a gear change and a quick back-up from his last run had the desired effect with the Brian Jenkins-trained stayer settling better than usual and coasting home for a length victory in Saturday's $150,000 2500m feature.

Ridden by Danny Nikolic for the first time, Figure Of Speech had the field covered inside the final 200 metres and scored from Crabs who charged home from near last and Rowland who was 2-1/4 lengths away third.

Jenkins said Figure of Speech had been set for the Banjo Paterson again this campaign and decided to put winkers on him for the first time on Saturday.

"In Hong Kong they say a winkers change is the most significant one of all and it worked," Jenkins, who trained 1998 Melbourne Cup winner Jezabeel, said.

Last year Figure of Speech won the Banjo Paterson seven days after running at Flemington and Jenkins used the same plan again this year, running him a week ago at Moonee Valley where he finished fifth to Niptious over 2500 metres.

"This was his target all the way through and it was the first time I have backed him up in seven days this preparation which seems to suit him," Jenkins said.

Nikolic watched tapes of Figure Of Speech's latest runs to get a feel for how best to ride him, mindful that he had a tendency to overrace.

"Brian was a little bit worried he was overracing a little bit but as he had raced last week he relaxed well," Nikolic said.

"From the 1000 metres they started to steady so at about the 700 metres I popped out three-wide, waited until he straightened before I asked him to go, and he was very strong on the line."

Figure of Speech is owned by New Zealand trainer Ross McCarroll who was at Flemington to watch Saturday's race.

The event wasn't without incident as a cardboard advertising panel was blown off the mounting yard fence and Figure Of Speech was one of two horses who got free from their handlers in the commotion.

Figure Of Speech didn't get far but the Peter Morgan-trained Pindarci injured his strapper Jamie Morgan when he trod on her and took off 50 metres down the race back to the stalls.

The race was delayed 15 minutes while Morgan, who is not related the trainer, was taken out of the mounting yard on a stretcher to Epworth Hospital suffering an injured elbow and lower abdominal pain.

Pindarci, ridden by Darren Gauci, finished seventh.

Jenkins said he would discuss the merit of another spring campaign for eight-year-old Figure Of Speech who last year was unplaced in the Moonee Valley Cup.

"He is a lovely sound old horse," Jenkins said.

"We had a crack at a couple of smaller staying races last spring but things didn't go right for us.

"He needs that little bit of cut in the ground."

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

First Flemington Win For Noonan

Saturday, 10 July 2010 03:26

The wins are starting to come at more frequent intervals for apprentice Jake Noonan as evidenced at Flemington this afternoon.

In cold and blustery conditions, Noonan rode unbeaten filly Royal Bender to victory in the $75,000 AFL Life Members & Carbine Club Handicap (1000m) for two-year-old fillies.

In doing so, it brought up his first victory at Flemington before Miss Lily Rose won the third event to give Noonan a double for the day.

With Cyndiana Star displaying its customary early speed from the outside alley to lead the field convincingly, Royal Bender latched onto its back and settled in third position.

Dutchy’s Lass, Gathering Gold, Parisan Sunrise and Barangaroo all sat prominent in the first half of the 10-horse field while Little Artist as expected dropped out to last with Sweet Cheeks.

As the field exited the chute to join the course proper near the 400 metre mark, Little Artist dropped the bit and was being vigorously ridden along by Luke Nolen to little avail.

Cyndiana Star skipped just under two lengths clear of her rivals before Royal Bender issued a strong challenge in the final furlong to grab the lead in the final 100 metres.

Royal Bender ($4-$6.50) defeated Cyndiana Star ($16-$20) by a long neck with Parisian Sunrise ($8-$10) a further 1-3/4 lengths away in third.

Crystal Castles ($15-$17) ran on from her midfield position to finish fourth while Barangaroo ($5.50-$4.50-$5) could only battle on to hold down fifth 2-1/2 lengths from the winner.

Gathering Gold ($12-$14-$13) dropped out sharply into sixth a further three lengths adrift while Little Artist ($2.40-$2.80-$2.70 fav) was eased out of the event to finish second last.

Noonan was clearly delighted with the victory.

“I’ve been dying to ride a winner at Flemington ever since I was a kid, I’ve had a couple of chances during my short stint in town and I’ve finally got one,” Noonan said.

“It’s a big thrill.”

“You grow up just like any apprentice wanting to ride one here on the big stage so it’s good to win,” he added.

Royal Bender won on debut at Swan Hill over 975 metres just under a month ago with Jacob Rule in the saddle before Noonan partnered her to victory last start on the Geelong Synthetic.

Her spirited performance to narrowly edge out Maratino instilled Noonan with confidence that she’d be able to win today.

“It was a really gusty win last time. We had a horse come out and attack us (in the lead) last time.”

“We had a nice sail up from Jordan Mallyon’s horse (Cyndiana Star).

“Darren said to me that ‘I want you to be hitting the line in first position,’ and he proved just too strong,” he added.

Noonan has now won six Melbourne metropolitan races and a healthy team of owners were trackside to hand out their plaudits.

Bred by main owner John Richards, trainer Darren Weir believes Royal Bender could measure up against better opposition whilst conceding everything panned out perfectly with the blinkers on first time.

“I was keen to ride her off the pace if we could just because I thought she’d go better chasing,” Weir said.

“Everything panned out how we wanted it to.”

“Sometimes it doesn’t happen but she’s got a good will to win,” he added.

Unbeaten from three starts, Royal Bender has won $105,738 in prizemoney.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Noonan Brings Up Flemington Double

Saturday, 10 July 2010 06:15

A frustrating start to the day came to an end for Caulfield trainer Mick Price when recent acquisition Miss Lily Rose recorded the second win of her career in the Mitty's Rising Stars Final at Flemington.

After the shock defeat of the favourite Our Baby Bonus and an even effort from heavily-backed debutante Barangaroo in earlier races at Flemington, Price struck back with Miss Lily Rose who won at just her third start for the stable since being transferred from the care of Danny O'Brien.

"It's been one of those days but let's focus on the positives," Price said.

With an extra $30,000 on offer at Flemington, Price chose to scratch Miss Lily Rose from an easier event at Sandown earlier in the week and was glad that he had taken the punt as the four-year-old mare strode to an easy 3-1/4 length victory under promising apprentice jockey Jake Noonan.

Miss Lily Rose ($5.50) left consistent middle-distance campaigner Abitofado ($10) and race favourite Tinamou ($2.50) in her wake as the mare signalled a return to something like her best form in the 1800m event as Price looks ahead to spring.

"She was Group One-placed in the Australasian Oaks as a three-year-old but we just need to build her up again. There will be some stakes races for her in the future," he said.

Price was full of praise for Noonan who brought up his first double at Flemington after riding his first winner at the track in Saturday's opening event aboard the Darren Weir-trained Royal Bender.

"Jake is a really promising kid, he's really intelligent and an impressive young man," he said.

Noonan said he went to the races confident that he could break his duck at Flemington after coming close on a handful of occasions at previous meetings.

"I came here pretty confident today. I thought I was on the right horses and had a really strong book of rides, I just needed to get them in the right spots to win," he said.

Noonan is currently completing his Year 12 studies at Padua College in Mornington and expects the next few months to present an enormous challenge as he juggles VCE exams, racing commitments and his social life.

"It's only going to get harder with VCE and riding commitments but I have to remember to be a kid and go out and have fun as well," he said.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Niptious Gives Couple A Holiday

Friday, 09 July 2010 22:50

Danny and Carmel Curran part owners in Niptious are off for a holiday in Queensland next week per medium of the gelding’s narrow win at Moonee Valley last Saturday.

There will be no shortage of spending money either if the gelding can come up trumps in the final of the Banjo Patterson over the same distance 2500 metres at Flemington today.

Curran who trains at Kyneton was on the look out for a stayer not realising until a  couple of months ago he already had one in the back yard.

The  previous owner in the horse  lost faith in the gelding after numerous disappointments selling him to the trainer for $5,000.

Niptious has proved a consistent of late without winning he has collecting a cheque at his previous five starts prior to winning at Moonee Valley.

He defeated much the same field as he will meet in the final  he is pretty tough sort of customer and will have no trouble backing up again today.

Niptious wasn’t bred to be a stayer his sire Rokosz by Danzig won just the one race at Maisons-Laffitte over 1400 metres.

His dam Rustic Ruler to Rustic Ambre was devoid of  staying blood as there were no winners beyond 2000 metres in the first four generations of her pedigree.

Picture: Jack Styring

Big Spirit Set For Big Things

Saturday, 10 July 2010 04:35

Rick Hore-Lacy appears to have another smart galloper in his stable capable of winning in stakes company after Big Spirit easily won the $75,000 Henry Bucks Best Dressed Handicap (1000m) for three-year-olds.

Big Spirit raced in second position for Craig Newitt the entire trip with Our Baby Bonus gaining an uncontested lead.

Despite the soft nature of his lead, Our Baby Bonus folded quickly in the straight and surrendered the lead to Big Spirit who put the race beyond doubt 150 metres from home.

Big Spirit ($4-$4.80) defeated Happy Angel ($5-$7) by 1-1/4 lengths with My Girl Helen ($8-$11-$10) a further head away in third.

Our Baby Bonus ($2-$2.35-$2.25 fav) finished fourth, over two lengths from the winner while Baltic Spirit ($7.50-$9.50-$9) failed to make any impression on the race from towards the rear of the field in fifth.

“She’s always been a good filly,” Hore-Lacy said before adding, “She was impressive wasn’t she?”

Newitt said Big Spirit likes the open spaces of the Flemington straight and that he was confident of victory a long way from home.

“Today, 700 metres from home I was never going to get beaten,” Newitt said.

“I travelled up to them and put a pretty handy field behind her.

“I was really travelling and I just held onto her as long as I could, she won with a bit in hand,” he added.

Hore-Lacy now intends on running Big Spirit in the $100,000 Listed Quezette Stakes (1100m) for three-year-old fillies at Caulfield on August 14.

“I think a listed race against fillies you’d have to give her a show.”

Big Spirit is by Invincible Spirit out of the dam Big Sky Montana who produced multiple stakes winner Dantana.

She has now accumulated in excess of $203,500 in prizemoney.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Country Racing Honour For George Hanlon

Friday, 09 July 2010 08:12

Country Racing Victoria (CRV) today announced that Victoria’s Country Trainer of the Year will be presented with the George Hanlon Trophy to duly recognise their outstanding training achievement.

The award has been struck in honour of one of Australia's most respected trainers who passed away in January of this year after guiding the career some of the nation's finest stayers including Family Of Man, Piping Lane and Arwon.

The George Hanlon Trophy will be awarded for the first time at the conclusion of the 2009-10 racing season and will be presented at the Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Awards at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium on Sunday, 8 August.

The winner will also be recognised at the Victorian Country Awards at Betfair Park (Sandown) one week later.

With the 2009-10 racing season drawing to a close on 31 July, Ballarat trainer Darren Weir enjoys a healthy lead in the race for the inaugural George Hanlon Trophy with 115 wins, followed by premier trainer Peter Moody with 93 wins.

Few trainers can boast a record like Hanlon’s with 37 Group 1s and 100 stakes wins to his name.

His feature wins include three Melbourne Cups (Piping Lane 1972, Arwon 1978 and Black Knight 1984); a Caulfield Cup (Diatribe 2000); Cox Plate (Family Of Man 1977); two Newmarket Handicaps (Correct 1960-61); an AJC Derby (Taras Bulba 1974), Mr Prudent (Sydney Cup 2001); a Doncaster Handicap (Lawman 1981); an Australian Cup (Kip 1982) and four Adelaide Cups (Gnapur 1969, Amarant 1983, Our Pompeii 1993-94).

“We are extremely honoured to have the Country Trainer of the Year Award named in honour of our father, grandfather and great-grandfather, George Hanlon,” his son Gary Hanlon said.

“When dad was a young man, through his older brother Freddy, he met Jack Holt the leading trainer. Holt, who wrote the book on training at the time, said to dad, ‘You could own Collins St and no one knows who you are, but train a good race horse and the whole world knows you’.”

CRV Chief Executive, Scott Whiteman, was thrilled to make today’s announcement which took place at the late trainer’s former home track of Geelong.

“George was known throughout Australia as a great trainer and racing person and had unbelievable respect amongst the industry. It was a sad day when George passed away and we are sure that this award, named in his honour, will be one of the most sought after awards for trainers,” Whiteman said.

Big Spirit To Chase Stakes Success

Saturday, 10 July 2010 04:15

Promising filly Big Spirit will try to enhance her pedigree at stakes level next start after scoring an emphatic win at Flemington.

The three-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit made it five wins from 15 starts when she posted her second city victory in Saturday's Henry Bucks Best Dressed Handicap (1000m).

Jockey Craig Newitt said he had an easy ride on the petite filly and was confident she would win well before the halfway mark.

"From the 600 or 700 metres I was never going to get beaten," Newitt said.

"She just really travelled up and put a handy field behind her."

A drifter from $4 to $4.80, Big Spirit settled second to the $2.25 favourite Our Baby Bonus, but Newitt sat against his mount until the closing stages.

She sprinted quickly to put the race beyond doubt, scoring easily by 1-1/4 lengths from Happy Angel ($7) and My Girl Helen ($10).

"She has really got a liking for the straight," Newitt said.

He said at her previous start she got lost on the home turn on the synthetic track at Geelong and was a fast-finishing third to Sandusky City.

Trainer Rick Hore-Lacy has always had a good opinion of Big Spirit whose other wins have been at Benalla, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Moonee Valley.

"She was impressive today," Hore-Lacy said.

"I think she would have to be a chance in a Listed race against her own sex."

Trainer Mick Price was at loss to explain the disappointing performance of fourth-placed Our Baby Bonus.

"I don't know," was Price's only offering.

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

Rawiller To Be Crowned Mittys Rising Star

Friday, 09 July 2010 07:56

Talented apprentice Stacey Rawiller will be crowned the 2009-10 Mittys Rising Star following the completion of Victoria’s coveted apprentice race series at Flemington tomorrow.

The sister of star jockeys, Brad and Nash Rawiller, has an unassailable lead heading into the 24th and final race of the series which commenced in August 2009 and has taken in races across all points of the state.

The 22-year-old, who has won four races in the series and placed in a further five, will ride Have A Shot in tomorrow’s $75,000 Mittys Rising Stars Final (1800m) at 1.15pm.

Past winners of the Mittys Rising Stars include Emirates Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Blake Shinn and multiple Group 1-winning jockeys Craig Newitt and Nick Hall.

“It’s been an unbelievable season for me,” she said. “It definitely helped getting on Roof Raiser at the start of the season. I had a couple of wins on her at the start of the series and she was also my first city win (at Betfair Park Sandown)."

“It’s been my goal all year to win the series and I have always looked ahead to try and find horses that I could ride in these races. I’ve had a lot of trainers backing me in it too which has been a big help.”

The Rawiller family have enjoyed their share of success during the 2009-10 season with Nash riding a nation high nine Group 1 winners and leading the race for the Sydney jockeys’ premiership, while Brad took home the BMW Caulfield Cup after his ride aboard Viewed.

“Mum and Dad are really proud of us and it’s a big help having Nash and Brad as my brothers,” Stacey said.

“I get a lot of help from them and they’re really good role models. Because they work so hard it really motivates you to do well yourself.”

Another brother, Todd, is a trainer out of Bendigo and has also been a significant influence on Stacey’s achievements to date.

“Todd has been fantastic. I wouldn’t even be a jockey if it wasn’t for him,” she explained.

“He’s really mentored me from a young age. I wasn’t a natural rider when I first started, but he really taught me a lot about horses and I got a lot of horse knowledge and sense from him.”

Racing Victoria Chief Executive Rob Hines said, “Congratulations to Stacey for her outstanding achievement in winning the Mittys Rising Stars Series.

“Stacey sets a fine example for young riders as she’s remained focused and driven throughout the series and put her mind towards achieving her goals.

“This series provides enhanced opportunities for apprentices to further craft their skills and Stacey has the potential to follow some illustrious footsteps onto bigger and better feats.”

Director of Mittys, Roger Cameron, said, “On behalf of Mittys, I would like to congratulate Stacey on a remarkable victory in the series and wish her all the best in her future career.

“Mittys is proud to sponsor the Rising Stars Series as it continues to unveil tomorrow’s champions.”

Stacey Rawiller heads into tomorrow’s race on 72 points, 20 clear of second placed Ashley Thompson who has captured the past two races of the series, but has not secured a ride in the finale at Flemington.

With 12 points on offer for tomorrow’s winner third placed Nathan Rose (41 points) needs a victory to leap frog Thompson, whilst fourth-placed Jarrod Fry (40) will have his eyes set on edging past Rose to secure a top-three finish.

Rawiller’s mount Have A Shot is $9 in the TAB Fixed Odds market, whilst Rose and Fry will partner outsiders in The Tiger ($21) and Markus Maximus ($35) respectively.

The $2.70 pre-post favourite is the Jason Maskiell-ridden Tinamou. Maskiell, who sits fifth on 38 points, can secure third place with a top-three finish if Rose and Fry fail to secure a point.