Soul Spoils Plunge On Breitling

Saturday, 26 June 2010 04:30

The powerful Peter Snowden stable foiled a betting plunge when first starter Soul defeated the heavily-supported debutant Breitling at Flemington.

Lonhro colt Breitling, trained by Robert Smerdon, was backed from $10 to $2.50 with TAB Sportsbet since acceptances on Thursday for Saturday's Thebigscreencompany Plate (1000m).

On-course bookmakers opened the colt at $2.20 before he eventually started favourite at $2.35.

Just as Breitling moved up to challenge the speedy Cyndiana Star, the nicely-bred Soul ($12), ridden by Craig Newitt, breezed past him to score by 1-3/4 lengths with Alotta Spur ($8) a long neck away third.

"Every chance, he was beaten by a better horse," Breitling's rider Glen Boss said.

Soul, by Commands, is out of the Night Shift mare Marvilha who is a half-sister to Group One winners Denman, who won the equivalent race last year, and Preserve.

Denman, the winner of nine of his 12 starts including the Golden Rose, has joined the Godolphin stable and is in England being prepared by Saeed Bin Suroor for the July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket on July 10.

"He's not in the same boat ability-wise as Denman and he's still immature," Melbourne stable foreman Paul Snowden said of Soul.

"He's had a jumpout up the back straight and one around the corner but that doesn't mean much. They've still got to handle the track that is presented (heavy 10) today.

"He got through it well and is from a good family that are very tough horses.

"He's still got a lot of growing to do and has another three months up his sleeve before you see the best of him.

"Dad came down yesterday and saw him and was quite happy with what he saw but he's still immature physically. It's like he's on stilts."

Snowden said Soul might have a break and come back for races as an early three-year-old.

Stallion Commands made it a double in the opening two events when the Peter Moody-trained Servant ($4.80), ridden by Ben Melham, took out the ACG Security Hcp (1420m) from stablemate Riptide($4.60).

Both Servant and Riptide, a winner at Flemington on June 12, are raced by David and Jenny Moodie's Contract Racing Syndicate which also races Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily.

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

Savquaw To Squelch Flemington Rivals

Friday, 25 June 2010 06:59

The Edgewater Meats Handicap at Flemington on Saturday looms as a battle of the top wet trackers in Melbourne and Moe trainer Peter Gelagotis is confident that he has the best of the bunch.

"Savquaw is an exceptional horse on a wet track, I've got no doubt that he's the best wet tracker going around," he said.

Of the runners in Saturday's race, eight have been successful on heavy tracks in the past but with seven victories on heavy ground from 14 attempts, Savquaw is surely at the top of the mud heap.

"The horse is in fine fettle and we go there pretty confident of another win tomorrow," Gelagotis said.

"He's a winner and at the end of the day you know that he's always going to try his guts out, he puts in every single time."

While Gelagotis doesn't bet, he admitted that the stable had enjoyed a fruitful campaign with Savquaw this winter with two wins from three starts on his preferred soft tracks.

"He owes us absolutely nothing for as long as he lives. I just love the horse and I reckon he's really looking for this distance (2000m) on Saturday."

Savquaw's main opposition looks likely to come from Mick Kent's tough campaigner Red Buttons and up-and-coming four-year-old Riveted from the Ciaron Maher stable at Warrnambool.

Only He Knows has also been backed at long odds with the Robert Smerdon stable gearing up for a big day at Flemington after a plunge on debutant Breitling in the opening race.

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

Plenty Of Soul In Flemington Victory

Saturday, 26 June 2010 03:56

Soul defied a confident betting plunge on Breitling to record an impressive victory in the $70,000 Thebigscreencompany Plate (1000m) for two-year-olds at Flemington on Saturday.

The Robert Smerdon-trained Breitling was quoted at as much as $10 in Friday’s newspapers but a steady flow of money in pre-post markets ensured he opened up almost at odds-on.

And at the 500 metre mark it appeared Breitling was poised to pounce on leader Cyndiana Star ($6-$7) and win the race easily.

However as Brietling overhauled Cyndiana Star, Soul charged out of the pack to hit the lead prior to the 200 metre mark.

Eased down on the line by Craig Newitt, Soul ($7-$12) defeated Breitling ($2.20-$2.35 fav) by 1-3/4 lengths with Alotta Spur ($8) finishing strongly out of the pack to run third a further long neck away.

Pitt Street ($18-$31) added value to First 4’s while Legion’s Belle ($21) held its ground fairly into fifth.

Newitt believes the gelding could have a bright future.

“He gave me a real good feel,” Newitt said before adding, “You don’t really expect much less from the Snowden-trained horses.”

“He was bombproof, he bounced and showed gate speed.

“He dropped the bit at about the 500 (metre mark) but when I clicked him up he really savaged the line good.

“I think this bloke (has) got a really good future, he’s got bigger wins in store for sure,” he added.

Paul Snowden was pleased with Soul’s winning performance and described the gelding as “pretty handy”.

“After the first jumpout he had about three weeks ago, I rang Dad and I said ‘I want to run this horse down the straight because he just does everything right’,” he said.

“I said in the paper during the week that you don’t necessarily have to have the best horse on the day to win these races down the straight.

“You just need the one that does everything right and he falls into that category,” Snowden added.

Snowden said that Soul had two jumpouts prior to today’s debut, one up the back straight and one around a bend. However he noted, “That means nothing, they’ve to still handle the track and what’s presented today and he got through it well.”

“He’s still growing too. He’s still got another three months up his sleeve until you see the best of him

“Dad come down late Thursday, saw him yesterday and was happy with what he’d seen but he’s still immature.”

Soul could now be aimed at a couple of feature races over the spring carnival, but Snowden is extremely mindful of his immaturity.

“We might give him a slight freshen up and then we’ll return for the early spring races.”

Star three-year-old Denman won the corresponding race last season but Snowden categorically ruled out any comparisons with Denman.

“He is not as good as Denman.”

By Commands out of Night Shift mare Marvilha, Soul is a half-sister to Denman and is by the same sire as Purple who is also owned by Sheikh Mohammed and raced by Peter Snowden.

Marvilha has produced four foals to race for four winners.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Cyndiana Set To Star At Flemington

Friday, 25 June 2010 05:59

After a comfortable last-start win at the track and distance, Troy Portelli is hoping bargain buy Cyndiana Star continues on her winning way at Flemington on Saturday.

But if weight of money is anything to go by, she will face a tough challenge from the Robert Smerdon stable with debutant Breitling the subject of a nationwide betting plunge.

Cyndiana Star relished the Flemington straight last start when leading all the way to beat a handy field of off-season two-year-olds and Portelli sees little reason why the filly can't produce a repeat performance this week in Thebigscreencompany Plate (1000m).

"She's going well, her work has been good and you'd think she'd be a good chance again," he said.

While the majority of the progeny of her sire Johannesburg handle soft conditions, Portelli admitted he was a little nervous going into Cyndiana Star's latest race after a poor run at Sandown in May.

"We were a bit worried after she failed at Sandown on a heavy track but there was a two-point difference in the penetrometer readings between that day and Flemington and it obviously made a difference," he said.

With similar conditions predicted on Saturday, Portelli is confident Cyndiana Star can continue on an upward spiral and push the investment of her connections further into the black.

"The group of guys that bought her are based in Hong Kong and usually buy colts or geldings to race up there but they decided to buy a nice filly to race and she was a beauty for $20,000," Portelli said.

"We're just trying to recoup as much as we can as early as possible and she isn't letting us down so far.

"She's only small, a little sprinting filly, and she won't grow much.

"She might improve next time around if she learns to settle better because at the moment she's just running on fear. She just hears other horses and takes off."

Although Portelli remains conservative about the heights that Cyndiana Star may scale during her career, an avalanche of money suggests that first starter Breitling may be well-above average and destined to make his name during the spring carnival later this year.

TAB Fixed Odds markets were crunched late on Thursday night when Breitling was backed from $10 in to $2.90 on the back of strong reports from Caulfield trackwork.

The son of Lonhro remains a solid favourite for Saturday's race and has been backed in to as short as $2.40 for his racetrack debut.

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

Glorious Win For Tasmania

Saturday, 26 June 2010 03:47

Midnight Glory ploughed through the heavy track at Flemington this afternoon to provide a thrill for Tasmania's Boxall family who bred and race the colt.

Ridden by Steven King, Midnight Glory ($4.80-$6.00) was well back in the race with a strong pace set by Go For Home ($13-$16).

King elected to stay on the inside after rounding the turn and was able to put in a strong finishing burst to prevail over Go For Home at the finish.

The winning margin was a neck with 2¼ lengths to third placed Fiscal ($7-$11-$8).

"Before the turn I was waiting off the bit and I was hoping they'd come back", King said.

"I cut the corner because I had no chance of getting out wide."

King had some concerns about reeling in Go For Home but his mount was too fit.

"He did find another gear when I put the pressure on him", King said.

A son of Invincible Spirit, which has produced 59 winners this season, Midnight Glory is out of Benny Boxall's mare Gone For Glory, which retired winless after only six starts.

Her first foal, Midnight Glory has already collected $160,000 in prizemoney which will give the Boxall family the confidence to race his brother, a two year colt called Revel In Glory by Rakti.

Midnight Glory is trained by Darren Weir who has also had success for the Boxall's with Group winner Like It Is, Okay Tiger, Stroke of Luck, Can Do, Pressure's On and Genuine Edge.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin

Cyndiana To Star Down The Straight

Friday, 25 June 2010 05:03

Trainer Troy Portelli will be hoping race experience becomes a telling factor when Cyndiana Star contests Saturday's two-year-old sprint down the Flemington straight.

"She really improved last start down the straight at Flemington and if she runs up to that performance she will be hard to beat," said Portelli.

Cyndiana Star looked likely to start as one of the favourites in the $70,000 Big Screen Company Plate (1000m) but an overnight flood of money for 'Breitling' which has seen the first starter shorten from $10 into $2.70 has pushed the filly out to $9.50 on Tab Sportsbet.

However Breitling wouldn't be the best horse ever beaten on debut down the famous straight, only recently a first starter by the name of Denman fell four lengths short before going on to win nine of his next ten starts.

Portelli is more than aware of the importance that experience of any kind, let alone down the straight, can be for a young horse.

"Some horses can get lost without the rail, Cyndiana Star certainly did two starts back on the big Sandown circuit, but she knows what to expect now at Flemington," said Portelli.

Having had the four starts this preparation Portelli believes Cyndiana Star is at her peak and admits he doesn't expect any improvement on her recent victory.

"I believe that she peaked at her last start so we have just kept her ticking over between runs," he said.

"It's only a 1000m race so she hasn't had to do too much since the win.

"The claim for young Jordan Mallyon will definitely be a bonus against the colts and geldings," Portelli added.

The daughter of Johannesburg has been somewhat of a revelation for the stable and while Portelli doesn't have any spring ambitions he is hoping to make hay while the sun shines, or doesn't for that matter.

"She hasn't shown us anything which would suggest she will measure up come spring," said Portelli.

"But in saying that she has a lot of maturing to do and could step up next time in.

"For now we will take advantage of her wet track ability and try and pinch a few more like Saturday's race," he added.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Moody's Servant Remains Unbeaten

Saturday, 26 June 2010 03:24

The Peter Moody trained Servant remained unbeaten scoring a comprehensive win second up in the $70,000 ACG Security Handicap (1420m) at Flemington.

Servant ($6,$4.80) was ridden superbly by Ben Melham crossing from a wide barrier to travel in the box seat for the duration of the event.

Melham peeled off the leaders heels upon straightening and quickly tackled the lightly weighted Riptide ($4,$4.60) hitting the line strongly to score by more than a length to Riptide with the eye catching Ulundi ($8,$11) running home for third a nose away.

A son of Commands, Servant brought up the second win of the day for the leading sire and according to Melham the best is still in front of the two-year-old.

"He has got a lot of ability I think, he is just a little bit raw, we definitely haven't seen the best of him," said Melham.

Melham believed the run was full of merit observing the 4.5kg difference in the weight given the minor placegetters.

"We drew out but we had a really nice run," said Melham.

"We got a bit lost in the straight but it was never really in doubt and a good effort with his weight I thought.

The second win for the Servant takes his prize money to almost $50,000 with both his wins coming on rain affected tracks.

Servant is also a half brother to the stakes placed Tahnee Tango and Vigor Delight.

Photo by Fiona Tomlin.

One El Of A Family Says Little

Friday, 25 June 2010 02:32

Racehorse trainers, like any professionals, differ greatly in many respects from the way they go about their work, to the quality of the finished product, however one thing remains the same with them all.

When they train a horse with above average ability, they will stick with the family.

Just a fortnight ago trainer Tony Vasil debuted the fourth of Elvstroem's brothers to race since the now famous stallion, of which Vasil has successfully guided the careers of three.

On June 29th trainer Colin Little will continue his own family affair when the career of Cox Plate winner El Segundo's full brother 'El Stupendo' begins at Geelong.

Little's affinity with the El Segundo bloodline began in the early nineties when he paid, what he considered at the time, a fortune for a weanling filly who would go on to be named Palos Verdes.

“I paid about $14,000 for this filly, which I thought was a fortune at the time,” said Little.

“Thankfully the vendor said that he would keep 50 per cent, but in return to not send him a bill which suited me at the time because it meant I had half of the horse already sold.

“Unfortunately it took me another three years to sell the rest,” added Little with a wry smile.

 Little almost raced the classy mare himself but on the cusp of her career he offered the remaining shares as compensation for an outstanding bill and it wasn't long before she started burning the track.

“She was a slow maturing filly and when she was almost ready to race I received a bill for some advertising so I asked them if they had ever considered owning a racehorse, the rest is history as they say” said Little.

 “She was a terrific mare for us, excelling in the summer months and at one stage held three track records after winning the Manion Cup, which is a mile and a half race at Rosehill, the Hobart Cup and in the Mornington Cup,” he added.

After succumbing to a tendon injury at the peak of her career Palos Verdes was retired to her original vendors stud but the partnership has continued to breed and race her progeny.

 “The original Vendor Phillip Brown still owns half the horse and the other owners still front up for the service fees each season,” said Little who admitted it wasn't all plain sailing.

 “The first of her progeny was a horse called 'The Snake' and he was exactly that,” joked Little

 “I think its first run in a race was a 2000m maiden and it wasn't worth a crumpet.”

 El Segundo, by Pins, was the next foal to race for the mare and couldn't have been more different from the initial failure winning twelve times for almost four million in prize money, including a Cox Plate, and it was clear Little would have to up the ante if he wanted to keep racing the family.

 “After El Segundo started winning I knew that the progeny would sky-rocket in price,” said Little.

 “She produced a magnificent colt which I had to pay $500,000 for, but unfortunately 'El Hermano' as we named him got an infected pedal bone ending any chance he had to race and costing us almost $60,000 in vet bills.”

“Eventually, after four to six months in a small recovery box with a drip coming from the ceiling, they were able to save his life but had to cut so much of the bone away that he now has a little donkey foot,” laughed Little who still thinks fondly of the stallion who now services 140 mares back in New Zealand.

El Stupendo is a bit on an enigma to Little, not resembling any of his siblings nor his mother and the rising four-year-old has taken longer than the trainer would've liked to get to the racetrack.

 “He is absolutely nothing like any of them, not on the track, not in the box, not at all," said Little.

“He was a sluggish and stocky colt who would just keep going shin-sore.

“We'd give him decent spells and easy preps but when we would get him to trials he would go shin-sore again.

Little isn't expecting another El Segundo but is confident the gelding will find his own niche around the mile.

 “Obviously very few have the speed or brilliance of his brother El Segundo," said Little.

“I'm hoping to keep him off the bog tracks but I think he will be hard to beat when he gets out over the mile and can relax as I believe his high cruising speed will hold him in good stead.

Colin Little is no different than any of us really, if you know something works you stick to it and with Palos Verdes throwing her first filly last season it's most likely Little will be regretting his decision to not keep Palos Verdes for a few more years yet.

Photo by Quentin Lang

Traralgon Transfer Decision Criticised

Friday, 25 June 2010 09:20

Last Friday's decision by Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) to transfer today’s Geelong Synthetic meeting to Traralgon has come under heavy scrutiny after the meeting was abandoned due to the state of track earlier today.

Mark Hoare, manager of the Pacific Bloodstock Syndicate, notified RVL raceday stewards of his dissatisfaction that the meeting was moved to the Gippsland-based track.

According to the stewards’ report, Hoare told stewards that today’s meeting “should have been transferred to an alternative venue than Traralgon as the Traralgon track had not been raced on for some time.”

The last time Traralgon hosted a meeting was their $50,000 Latrobe Valley Cup (1900m) meeting on December 13.

The only other meeting scheduled for Traralgon this season occurred on October 31. That meeting also came to a premature end after inclement weather and the incidence of lightning forced the meeting's cancellation.

Stewards noted Hoare’s comments and said they “would discuss his concerns with RVL.”

Hoare is the managing owner of three-year-old filly Zafir Adiva who was set to contest the fifth race.

The meeting was abandoned after four races however problems emerged early in the afternoon.

Danny Brereton, rider of Seguro in the second race, told stewards his mount had slipped at approximately the 800 metre mark.

Chairman of stewards Steve Coombes along with senior riders inspected the surface and after remedial work was completed, both parties agreed the track was safe.

But after the fourth race, Brereton and Ryan Maloney both complained about the state of the track and said their mounts had slipped near the 1100 metre mark.

Remedial work was done on the track however neither jockeys nor stewards were satisfied the track was suitable for racing and the meeting was abandoned prior to fifth race.

Geelong Synthetic will host its first meeting in over a year on Tuesday after the installation of a new Pro-Ride surface.

Queensland Punters Charged

Thursday, 24 June 2010 08:45

Gold Coast-based punters Kevin McFarland and Alessandro Alaimo have been charged by Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) stewards over failing to attend or give evidence at the Danny Nikolic inquiry.

Stewards called both punters to give evidence at the inquiry into their betting activities on a selection of rides by Nikolic.

The charges issued against them will be heard before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board (RADB) at a date to be fixed.

The betting activities of McFarland and Alaimo featured prominently during the Nikolic RADB hearing which went for three days this week.

They, as well as Victorian-based professional punter and commission agent Neville Clements, were warned off Queensland racetracks over the Baby Boom inquiry in Queensland.

The trio was found to have been involved in substantial laying activities on betting exchange Betfair on Baby Boom who ran fourth in a Sunshine Coast maiden as a $1.30 favourite on January 3 this year.

The mare was at the time prepared by Nikolic's brother John who has since handed in his trainer's licence.

Danny Nikolic this week pleaded not guilty to two charges of improper practice and two of conduct prejudicial to the interests of racing over calls made to Clements who substantially laid nine of Nikolic's mounts on Victorian tracks.

Danny Nikolic did not ride the mare Baby Boom but the evidence in that case was ruled by the board to be admissible in the Nikolic case due to its relevance.

The board was told this week at the Nikolic hearing that McFarland and Alaimo also laid three of Nikolic's mounts on Victorian tracks on Betfair including Finishing Card.

Finishing Card was a $1.60 favourite and finished second in a Mornington maiden on January 8.

RADB chairman Judge Lewis will deliver the board's decision on the Nikolic case on Tuesday.