Kent Takes Easier Option With Duo

Friday, 02 July 2010 06:15

Mick Kent has taken the easier option with stablemates Philda and Clandon by running them at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Both horses have run in two heats of the Winter Championship Series, but Kent has baulked at running them in the Listed $200,000 Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday week.

"I don't know whether I'll have a runner. (Impressive heat winners) Doubtful Jack and Tiakinui look hard to beat," Kent said.

Philda, a first-up 1200m winner at Moonee Valley on May 29, ran fourth to Jungle Ruler in a Cranbourne 1400m heat of the Winter Championship Series on June 12 before finishing fifth to Doubtful Jack in a 1420m heat at Flemington last Saturday.

Clandon was eighth of nine in the Cranbourne heat three starts back but improved sharply last time out when a length second to Tiakinui in the Ballarat 1600m heat on June 24.

Secret Savings five-year-old Philda will be ridden by three-kilo claiming apprentice Adam McCabe in the Legends After The Last Hcp (1500m) while senior rider Peter Mertens takes the mount on Clandon, a six-year-old Brief Truce mare.

Philda, who has won two of his three starts at Moonee Valley, is $4.80 favourite with TAB Sportsbet with Clandon at $7.50.

Kent will again take on the impressive Ghostmilk with Cameo Minx in the thinkbigstud.com.au Hcp (1500m).

Cameo Minx was runner-up to Ghostmilk over 1400m at Sandown on June 9 and meets the Peter Moody-trained mare 3.5kg better for a 2-3/4 length defeat.

Ghostmilk has since won again over 1400m at Sandown on June 19 and is the shortest priced favourite of the meeting at $1.80 with Cameo Minx at $7.

Kent will also saddle up Cameo Minx's younger brother Countcool in the tattsbet.com Hcp (2040m).

The Viscount colt came from well back to win over 2015m in a 0-62 Handicap at Seymour last start on June 7.

Kent's stable apprentice McCabe will ride both Cameo Minx and Countcool.

Ghostmilk, a half-sister to 2008 English St Leger runner-up Unsung Heroine, was purchased by OTI Racing after having won three of 29 starts in Ireland.

She has won three races, all at Sandown, from seven outings since joining the Moody stable and last year was eighth to Gold Salute in the Winter Championship Final.

The Golan mare hasn't contested any heats of the series this year and is likely to be tried against better company in the spring after her last two explosive finishing efforts.

Apprentice Jacob Noonan will ride Ghostmilk for the first time when she tries to complete a hat-trick on Saturday.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin & Colin Bull

Star Apprentice Sacked For Drinking

Thursday, 01 July 2010 06:45

Top apprentice Jason Maskiell is negotiating with trainers keen for him to join their stable after he was sacked by trainer Mick Price due to a drinking problem.

Maskiell's manager John Nikolic said he had "touched base" with half a dozen trainers but no decision had yet been made as to where the rider goes.

"The final decision will be made after he speaks with his family in Tasmania and something will be resolved in the next couple of days," Nikolic said.

Price told Maskiell to find a new master on Monday.

"He (Maskiell) has been mixing with the wrong people and drinking, and I won't tolerate drunks in my stable," Price told the Herald Sun newspaper.

Maskiell, who has had two careless riding suspensions in the last month and hasn't ridden since June 20, has been staying with his grandfather, Tasmanian trainer Ken Hanson.

The 19-year-old returns from his latest suspension at Moonee Valley on Saturday when he has five rides.

Among them are last-start Flemington winner Sunday Rose for the Bart Cummings stable in the Dominant Hcp (1200m), Rockabee Miss in the Become An MVRC Member Hcp (1200m) for trainer David Hayes and True Tales in the Legends After The Last Hcp (1500m) for Tony Vasil.

Maskiell, son of top Tasmanian jockey Stephen Maskiell, joined the Price stable in June last year having ridden 114 winners in his home state.

He quickly made a name for himself riding 52 city winners including 50 in Melbourne this season to win the apprentices' premiership in which he is currently 23 wins ahead of his nearest rival Brent Evans.

He is second in the jockeys' title, 10 behind the leader Luke Nolen.

Maskiell has three times ridden a winning treble at Moonee Valley, the latest on May 29.

Meanwhile, apprentice Adam McCabe, fresh from landing his 50th career winner and his fifth metropolitan success aboard Take All Of Me at Geelong on Wednesday, has four good rides at the Valley.

The 20-year-old, on loan to trainer Mick Kent from Russell Cameron, has spent a lot of time on the sidelines due to injuries and other issues.

He has three rides for Kent - Countcool in the Tattsbet.com Hcp (2040m), Cameo Minx in the Thinkbigstud.com.au Hcp (1500m) and Philda in the Legends After Last Hcp.

His other mount is the Jason Warren-trained Viking Turf Belle, who he won on at the Valley on June 23, in the Wonthaggi Workmen's Club Hcp (1200m).

Pictures: Colin Bull

Apprentices Able To Claim In Community Cup

Friday, 02 July 2010 05:38

Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) stewards today established that the $100,000 CRV Community Cup, to be run at Ballarat this Sunday 4 July, had been incorrectly advertised in the official industry gazette Inside Racing as a race in which apprentices can claim.

Given the race carries prize money of $100,000, apprentices, in accordance with LR.37, are not entitled to claim.

Under the circumstances, stewards have exercised their powers under AR.8(a), which states ‘To make, alter, or vary all or any of the arrangements for the conduct of any race meeting under their control’, and allowed apprentices to claim an allowance for this race only.

Ballarat (Sunday)

Race 7 @ 3:44pm - $100,000 CRV Community Cup (2000m)

Dwyer To Answer Two Charges At RAD Board

Thursday, 01 July 2010 06:06

Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) stewards today issued two charges against Henry Dwyer, licensed trainer of Laspiel, following the horse’s withdrawal from the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club Swan Hill Cup (1600m) on 13 June 2010.

Following reports from the RVL Compliance Assurance Team and raceday veterinary surgeon Dr Tim Russell, coupled with evidence taken from Mr Dwyer, stewards are satisfied that the gelding was administered medication on the day of the race.

The charges issued against Mr Dwyer are for breaches of the following rules;

Charge One – AR 175 (gg)

Any person who makes any false or misleading statement or declaration in respect of any matter in connection with the administration or control of racing.

Charge Two – AR 178E

Notwithstanding the provisions of AR 178C(2), no person without the permission of the Stewards may administer or cause to be administered any medication to a horse on race day prior to such horse running in a race.

These charges will be heard before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board at a date to be fixed.

Picture: Colin Bull

Black And Bent On Landing Seventh Straight Win

Friday, 02 July 2010 03:23

Jumping prodigy Black And Bent returns to the flat at Moonee Valley on Saturday and connections are confident of the horse posting his seventh successive victory.

After his breathtaking win in the Australian Hurdle at his most recent appearance at Betfair Park (Sandown) on 19 June, both the horse and senior part-owner Mike Symons are brimming with confidence.

“He’s flying at the moment and he’ll be hard to beat on Saturday despite switching back to the flat,” Symons said.

The four-year-old, who is the most successful horse on Victorian tracks this season with eight wins (four hurdles, four flat), will start favourite in a $100,000 2500m heat of the Banjo Paterson Series.

The Robert Smerdon-trained iron horse took out the second heat on the series at Flemington on 5 June and will back up in the $150,000 final at the same venue on Saturday week.

“Everything being equal and with the right run in transit, he does the look the one on Saturday,” Symons said.

“He loves the track, he loves the wet, he’s great over the distance and he seemed to click really well with Glen Boss last start who is back on again.”

Black And Bent will carry 55.5kg in Saturday’s 3.20pm feature with stablemate Light Vision and last start winner Oak Heart, a luckless fourth behind Black And Bent in the Flemington heat, shaping as the hardest to best.

Also included amongst his rivals are a trio of Robbie Laing-trained jumpers in last start Australian Hurdle placegetters Corries and Vindicating and 2009 Grand Annual Steeplechase winner Sir Pentire.

Beyond the Banjo Paterson Series, Black And Bent will return to the obstacles on 1 August at Warrnambool for the $100,000 Kevin Lafferty Hurdle (4150m) before tackling the $150,000 Grand National Hurdle (4530m) at Betfair Park on 15 August.

Long term his goal remains the $A1.9m Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan next April and Symons says the horse’s deeds have already captured the attention of the host officials.

“I’ve contacted the JRA in recent weeks and they tell me they’ve been watching his performances with great interest,” he said.

“They have advised us that the horse doesn’t need to compete over the steeples here this season to be eligible for an invite to the Nakayama so we’ll keep him in his comfort zone for the rest of the season.”

In other news, Black And Bent’s high profile older brother Some Are Bent was successful in a hurdle trial at Warrnambool on Tuesday and is on target for a racetrack return.

“We’re very happy with the way horse performed in the trial and we’re looking forward to getting him back to the races,” Symons said.

The horse is being set for the $100,000 Tommy Corrigan Hurdle (3350m) at Warrnambool on Sunday, 11 July before a clash with his brother in the Kevin Lafferty Hurdle.

He’s then likely to drop in distance a fortnight later and tackle the $100,000 JJ Houlahan Hurdle (3400m) at Betfair Park rather than the Grand National Hurdle.

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

Directions Hearing For Laming Case

Thursday, 01 July 2010 05:56

Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) stewards have announced that a pre-hearing conference will be held in relation to the charges issued against the training partnership of Bevan and Richard Laming.

The conference will be held on Monday to discuss “issues relating to evidence accumulated by both parties” and also to determine a date for the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board inquiry.

Monday’s pre-hearing conference is a private meeting and will be closed to the media.

The hearing comes just under a year since RVL stewards confirmed that blood samples taken from Benelli and War Dancer in the month of June and July were positive to the prohibited blood-boosting drug EPO.

Bevan & Richard Laming EPO Inquiry Timeline

June 11, 2009: Blood samples were taken from Benelli and War Dancer as part of the out-of-competition testing regime being conducted by RVL stewards in Victoria.

June 13: Benelli wins at Sandown Hillside.

July 2: Out-of-competition blood sample taken from Benelli.

July 4: Benelli finished second in the Listed Winter Championship Final.

July 18: Benelli wins at Caulfield over 1800m.

July 31: RVL Stewards raid the Lamings Fiveways property.

August 13: RVL confirm that blood samples taken from Benelli and War Dancer are definitely positive to the prohibited blood-boosting drug EPO.

August 15: Benelli is scratched by stewards from the JJ Liston Stakes.

October 1: Benelli and War Dancer banned from racing until January 17 after a drug surveillance laboratory located in the UK, HFL Sports Science, confirms those positive tests.

November 20: Ten charges are placed against Bevan & Richard Laming after stewards complete an investigation.

January 20, 2010: Stewards announce the provisional Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board hearing date of Monday, April 12 2010.

February 17: Benelli returns to racing, finishing sixth in the Listed Hareeba Stakes.

March 30: Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board announce that it had accepted an application from both counsel for the Lamings and counsel for Racing Victoria stewards to adjourn the hearing to a date to be fixed.

May 29: Dr Cornelius Uboh, an American doctor who specialises in identifying EPO in equine athletes, is to be used in Bevan and Richard Laming’s defence against three EPO-related charges as he would dispute the validity and accuracy of the testing methodology on the samples taken from Laming-trained horses Benelli and War Dancer.

Worm Turns In Werribee's Favour

Friday, 02 July 2010 01:47

Werribee Racing Club will be debt free when racing returns to the venue on Saturday, December 4.

However it’s amazing how the worm has turned in this saga that has been an on and off affair going on for the best part of three years.

The course was closed on the advise of certain sections of the racing industry as it was considered unsafe for future racing.

While numerous other racecourses within the state have had their tracks reconstructed, Werribee was hung out to dry.

The excuse given by Racing Victoria was a simple one.

“We do not have the money.”

If Werribee was going to survive they had to do it on their own. There were no white knights to render assistance.

Werribee was gone. Make no mistake about that, they had lost all their dates and here was a racecourse in the highest growth area in the state being completely ignored.

The turning point for the worm came when a new quarantine centre had to be found for visiting horses coming into Melbourne for the spring carnival.

Werribee was the logical choice and a new track was constructed at the cost of $4.5 million.

Obviously there is still gold in those far off hills.

The club is on track to have 1,000 members for their return to racing in December. Membership is $50 and $20 for guests.

A change has been made to the Werribee Cup. To be run in March, the distance has been increased to 2600 metres which will assist horses over the first balloting clause for the Melbourne Cup.

Conners' Big Boy Out For Hat-trick

Thursday, 01 July 2010 04:59

At 16.2 hands and 580 kilograms, imposing two-year-old Pimpala Secret is the giant among trainer Marc Conners' stable of youngsters.

But for such a big juvenile, Pimpala Secret has shown he is an athlete with two wins from as many races to start his career.

The Monashee Mountain gelding will be out to extend his unbeaten run in theraces.com.au Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

"He's a big boy - he would have to be the biggest (two-year-old) we've had in either of our stables, mine or Dad's (trainer Clarry Conners)," Conners said.

"I don't know if his size necessarily helps him, but for such a big horse he's quick on his feet. He's big but he's quite athletic."

His size could prove an asset on Saturday as he is topweight with 58kg although Sydney's leading apprentice Tommy Berry will continue his association with the gelding and take 1.5kg off the impost.

Conners had originally planned to send Pimpala Secret to Queensland this weekend to race at Caloundra in the Bruce McLachlan Classic but decided to keep him in Sydney.

The race in Queensland, which carries a QTIS bonus, would have been worth $53,000 first prizemoney if Pimpala Secret had gone up and won, while Saturday's Rosehill race carries first prizemoney of $42,000.

"I thought it was just as good for him to stay here, he doesn't have to travel then," Conners said.

Pimpala Secret jumped from barrier seven in a field of eight at Randwick on June 12 when he crossed to the lead and was never headed in winning an 1100m 2YO Handicap by half a length over Forward Love.

Both Conners and Berry believe the gelding has even more to offer.

"He's a big baby still," Conners said.

"Even though he's a big horse, he's not mature in the head yet. He only does what he has to do, he relaxes well and there's no reason he won't get further in time."

Conners is hoping two-year-olds such as Pimpala Secret and last weekend's Randwick winner Alittlebitofmonica can make the transition to stakes company in the coming season as three-year-olds.

"That's the idea," Conners said.

"They weren't up to the better ones early on but they're starting to hit their straps and it's all about getting their prizemoney up to get into some of those better races later on."

Alittlebitofmonica formed part of a winning double for the in-form Conners stable last Saturday.

McDonald To Shout Bingo At The Valley

Friday, 02 July 2010 00:51

A debut in the Arrowfield Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) is a pretty clear indication that trainer Clinton McDonald has quite an opinion of his two-year-old filly Bingo Betty.

A graduation to city class racing after a first-up failure at Swan Hill only reinforces that McDonald has better races in mind for the daughter of Fastnet Rock, starting with Saturday's $70,000 Become A MVRC Member Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

McDonald acknowledged that not everything went to plan when the filly debuted at listed level earlier this year but that she had spelled well and shown enough to warrant metropolitan racing this time in.

"She got caught five wide on debut had no luck and pulled up shin-sore so we sent her straight to the paddock," McDonald said.

"Her work has been good this time in and she probably needed the run first up but ran well and has really come on."

Having met older mares first up McDonald believes a return to two-year-old company coupled with a wet surface will further increase the fillies chances.

"She is back to her own age and down in the weights on Saturday."

"She also loves the wet and will thrive in the heavy which will be a big advantage I think."

Bingo Betty was purchased for just $60,000 at the 2009 Melbourne Premier Sale, a relatively inexpensive price tag for such a well bred filly, something McDonald puts down to her appearance.

"We picked her up for $60,000 at the Melbourne Premier Sale which was probably because she is quite a big, ugly horse, with a parrot mouth," laughed McDonald before adding,  "She does have a beautiful big stride though."

Bingo Betty is a half sister to the well performed Dalooka and is quoted a $26 chance with TAB Sportsbet with Glen Boss to ride from barrier three.

Photo by Quentin Lang

A Fitting Tribute To Siren Song

Thursday, 01 July 2010 00:06

Siren Song was remembered when a race was named in her honour at Geelong Synthetic on Wednesday.

Fitting you could say as she was foaled not that far from the racecourse at the former St Albans.

St Albans had a long and distinguished history dating back before Briseis won the Melbourne Cup in 1876.

The property was then owned by the Wilson family and after the death of W.R Wilson, there were no horses bred from there during the following 26 years.

Guy Raymond, an Englishman, became the new owner of St Albans. He was later elected to the committee of the Victoria Racing Club.

The stud was in pretty poor shape when he took over. His determination to succeed saw St Albans restored to its former glory days.

He was quite a knowledgeable horseman - a student of the stud book and familiar with bloodlines that had a habit of clicking with certain sires.

It was due largely to that knowledge that he mated Great Legend to the Enfield mare Charmeuse.

The result was Siren Song a top race filly trained by the late Jack Besanko, the grandfather of current trainer Ray.

Charmeuse proved an excellent broodmare besides Siren Song. She also produced the classic winner Toastmaster and the dual Doncaster success Tudor Hill.

She was from a mare that Raymond imported, Fine Mouche, of the number three family. By Singapore from Fifine, the champion staying three-year-old filly Fifinella, winner of the Derby and Oaks, was sadly just another top filly that never reached the heights expected of her when she went to stud.