Lindop One Woman Band At Sandown

Saturday, 19 June 2010 02:36

Clare Lindop did everything but strap the Macdonald and Gluyas trained Spirited Eagle to victory in the $70,000 Jim Conway (1200m) two-year-old event at Sandown today.

With Macdonald on holiday in Broome and Gluyas looking after the Adelaide team Lindop was thoroughly enjoying being the sole stable representative.

"I ride so much better when I don't get instructions," joked Lindop after the win.

Spirited Eagle ($7.50,$10) was a touch slow out of the gates and failed to gather speed being run off her legs in the early stages.

Showing patience and skill Lindop looked for runs along the rail eventually finding daylight in the straight and came from last to overrun Al Jandar ($10,$16) in the shadows of the post to score by more than a length with Trudeau ($2,$2.10) weakening for third three and a half lengths away.

Despite being a conspicuous last in the early stages Lindop was always confident the son of Not A Single Doubt would be hard to beat at his Victorian debut.

"I had a look at the track earlier and thought the fence would run well, at least for the first couple of races," said Lindop.

"knowing the horse you just can't hurry him in that first furlong he has to find his feet and he did."

Lindop also suggested a return trip come Springtime could be on the cards for the gutsy two-year-old.

"I was really happy with him and hoping he comes up to Spring racing over here, I'd like to be on him," said Lindop.

Pictures: Colin Bull

Geelong Synthetic Track Update

Friday, 18 June 2010 05:53

Horses will gallop on the Geelong synthetic track for the first time in over a year this Monday, 21 June as the resumption of racing on the reconstructed circuit draws near.

With contractors Pro-Ride completing the re-surfacing of the synthetic track this week, control of the circuit has been handed over to the Geelong Racing Club (GRC).

With GRC and Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) committed to running trials on the track before the resumption of racing, next Friday’s scheduled meeting has been transferred to Traralgon.

“We want some horses working on it and to oversee the successful completion of trials before we call for nominations for the first meeting,” RVL Chief Executive, Rob Hines, said.

“Due to delays caused by inclement weather we have not been able to achieve these objectives in time for the meeting on 25 June so we have transferred it to Traralgon.

“The next meetings are scheduled for the Geelong synthetic track on 29 June and 2 July. We will wait until the track has been trialled before confirming the location of these meetings.

Geelong Track Set To Open

Friday, 18 June 2010 08:45

Geelong could race on its new synthetic track before the end of the month.

The track, which is being laid by Pro-Ride, was to have been completed in February but was subject to a series of frustrating delays.

Racing Victoria, which has been in control of the project, is now hopeful that the first meeting on the new synthetic track will be held on June 29.

Local trainers will be able to gallop horses on the track on Monday and there are plans to hold up to 10 race trials on the new surface next Wednesday.

"We want some horses working on it and to oversee the successful completion of trials before we call for nominations for the first meeting," RVL chief executive Rob Hines said.

Providing the synthetic track is given all the clear, entries for Geelong's June 29 meeting will close next Thursday, a day later than usual.

Geelong Racing Club chief executive Paul Carroll said Pro-Ride would put the finishing touches to the track on Saturday.

"We are anticipating horses will gallop on it on Monday, trial on it on Wednesday and, touch wood, it will be ticked off by the stewards so we can be racing on the 29th," Carroll said.

The new synthetic track replaces the Geelong ThoroughTrack which was also a synthetic surface but was open for racing for only 15 months.

The last meeting on the Geelong ThoroughTrack was in October 2008.

Drainage works were carried out on the ThoroughTrack early last year, but in the process stones from the base of the track contaminated the surface.

Ironically, the ThoroughTrack was to host transferred meetings from other venues which couldn't race because of bad weather and other factors but the ThoroughTrack's own problems caused numerous meetings to be transferred away from Geelong.

In the last month alone, the opening of the Geelong track has been postponed twice.

It was to have had a delayed opening on Friday, but last month that was amended to June 25.

RVL has blamed poor weather for the latest delay and the June 25 meeting will now be held at Traralgon.

Extra Entry Gives Dime A Sandown Start

Friday, 18 June 2010 05:45

Trainer Rick Hore-Lacy has been able to switch race plans for Spare A Dime after accepting with him at Sandown as insurance.

Spare A Dime was unable to resume in Thursday's fourth heat of the Winter Championship (1400m), when the Seymour meeting was abandoned because of bad weather and surface water.

"We pulled the right rein there," Hore-Lacy, who had a feeling the Seymour program would be called off, said.

"It was blue sky at home but I accepted with him at Sandown on Thursday morning just in case."

Spare A Dime hasn't raced since last August, when he came off a six-week let-up at the end of a winter staying campaign and was a fast-finishing fourth over 1400 metres at Sandown.

"He's had a fair amount of time out, but I'm happy with the way he's come back," Hore-Lacy said.

"He's a had a couple of jumpouts and he should be able to run a reasonable mile (1600m) first-up at Sandown."

Space A Dime will be ridden by Dwayne Dunn in Saturday's Le Pine Funerals Hcp (1600m), but his best form has been in longer races as he has not won at less than 1700 metres.

Last winter he scored consecutive six-length wins at Bendigo and Sandown over 2400 metres.

A $220,000 yearling, he has always impressed Hore-Lacy as a stayer and as a three-year-old contested both the SA Derby and VRC St Leger Stakes before needing surgery for a serious knee injury.

Hore-Lacy said Spare A Dime was best suited on wet tracks and was in at the right time of the year to enhance his record of five wins from 30 starts.

"We are hoping that he can pick up a couple of races again this campaign," Hore-Lacy said.

Spend A Dime is renowned for racing off the speed and is a strong finisher.

"When he's right he's got a really good turn of foot at the end of his races and hopefully he can find form again," Hore-Lacy said.

'Likely Type' Has Shot At Rich Steeple

Friday, 18 June 2010 08:45

Co-trainers Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston believe novice fencer Tarawera is a worthy contender in Saturday's The Australian Steeplechase, but concede that star `chaser Mazzacano will be very hard to beat in the Sandown feature.

Houlahan said Tarawera had "underwhelming" form on the flat, but had taken to jumping with zest since joining their stable.

The gelding, by Giant's Causeway who sired Thursday's Royal Ascot Gold Cup (4000m) winner Rite Of Passage, won a Scone 1600m maiden from four outings for previous trainer Paul Messara.

There were few suitable races for Tarawera and Messara suggested to owner Tony Hodgson that he might be better suited over the jumps.

The rising five-year-old, described by Houlahan as a "likely type", has had five jumps starts for two wins, in a Warrnambool maiden hurdle (3200m) in May and at his latest start when making his steeplechasing debut over 3300m at Sandown on June 2.

"The horse was very dogged in his determination and he just kept coming and coming last time and I think the 3900 metres (of The Australian Steeple) is going to suit him," Houlahan said.

Houlahan said the step up in class could not be avoided, given the uncertainty of jumps racing going ahead in Victoria beyond this season.

"I'm sure he will continue to get better, but we might be running out of time. I don't think we have a lot of choice," she said.

"He's shown he's worth putting in the race, but Mazzacano at the weights looks a handicapping certainty if he brings his A-game to the track.

"A horse of that quality and experience is obviously going to be very hard to beat.

"But I do know that we can't win if we stay home so we'll go and have a crack."

Mazzacano, shooting for a record third Australian Steeple success, drops 0.5kg to 69kg on his winning weight last year.

Great Southern Steeple winner Virvacity has 65.5kg with Tarawera and the other six runners on the limit weight of 64kg.

Meanwhile, Houlahan and her husband Johnston are considering taking a team of jumpers to England in January.

"We're thinking about it at this stage. Jumps racing is our passion and it would be a nice thing to do," Houlahan said.

The couple prepared last season's Jumper of the Year Pentiffic, who had to be scratched from the 2010 Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan due to tendon trouble in the week of the race and who is now in England with trainer Venetia Williams.

Pentiffic was sent out favourite for last year's Australian Hurdle but blundered at the third last jump, catapulting jockey Craig Durden out of the saddle.

Later in the season, Pentiffic went on to claim the Hiskens Steeplechase, the Crisp Steeple and the Grand National Steeple.

Fighting Trainers Fined $500

Friday, 18 June 2010 05:13

Racing Victoria Ltd (RVL) stewards today concluded an inquiry into an altercation between licensed trainers Graham Hicks and Shane Garland at the Ballarat stables of Mr Hicks on 28 May, 2010.

Mr Hicks and Mr Garland both pleaded guilty to a charge of misconduct under the provisions of AR175(q) and under the provisions of LR6C(2A).

Stewards imposed a fine of $500 on both trainers.

Clements Appeal To Be Heard On Friday

Friday, 18 June 2010 06:59

Professional punter and commission agent Neville Clements will have his appeal before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard next Friday.

Clements is appealing against being warned off Victorian racetracks indefinitely by the Racing Appeals And Disciplinary (RAD) board.

On March 24, Clements faced the RAD board after being charged by Racing Victoria Limited stewards for failing to comply with a direction made on February 12 to produce his telephone records for inspection relating to the Danny Nikolic investigation.

A ruling of the RAD Board on March 5 found that Clements was subject to the rules of racing.

The former rails bookmaker is appealing on the grounds that as an unlicensed person he was not subject to the rules of racing, nor the RAD board decision and penalty.

On Monday, Nikolic faces a RAD board hearing over nine charges laid against the jockey by Racing Victoria Limited stewards.

Hore-Lacy Still Has Faith In Pinnacles

Friday, 18 June 2010 04:45

Rick Hore-Lacy believes there is still a feature race win in Group One performer Pinnacles, who resumes at Sandown after injury sidelined him for more than nine months.

The six-year-old is topweight with 59.5kg in Saturday's Le Pine Funerals Cup (1200m) and Hore-Lacy says he has the gelding fit again after he went sore just three runs into his spring campaign last year.

He said Pinnacles didn't race in the autumn when the injury flared again, but a couple of jumpouts this preparation have him ready for his first-up assignment.

"He seems in perfect order now," Hore-Lacy said.

"I still think there is a another good win in him."

Steven Arnold will ride Pinnacles, who Hore-lacy believes can be competitive at Sandown, despite having won just once in six first-up runs.

"It is only 1200 metres and he is forward enough to run it pretty strongly," Hore-Lacy said.

"It is just a matter of whether he can a carry the big weight."

The promise of a heavy track should pose little problem for Pinnacles, who has raced on similar ground twice for a win and a third.

For much of his career, he has been underrated and he has been beaten less than two lengths three times in Group One races.

He was third to Triple Honour in the 2008 Doncaster Handicap, a luckless seventh to Vision And Power in the 2009 Doncaster and eighth to Turffontein in the Rupert Clarke Stakes last September.

Hore-Lacy is keeping his options open with Pinnacles and hasn't ruled out a third Doncaster attempt next year.

"For the moment we'll win what we can with him and see if we can get another $100,000 in the bank for arguments sake," Hore-Lacy said.

"We can then spell him and bring him back for a race or two in the late spring or even get him ready for something like the Doncaster again next autumn."

Pinnacles has won eight of his 40 starts and more than $660,000 in prizemoney.

Werribee Shapes Up For Overseas Horses

Friday, 18 June 2010 06:15

Werribee's international horse centre is taking shape, with two quarantine compounds and a state-of-the-art equine surgery scheduled for completion by the end of next month.

The first wave of international horses is expected to arrive for the spring racing carnival on September 1, with as many as 15 raiders to be based at the quarantine facility at Werribee by mid-October.

A third quarantine stable compound is scheduled for completion by mid-August, providing a total capacity for up to 24 horses on the Werribee racecourse which also boasts a new track.

Racing minister Rob Hulls on Friday announced a $200,000 funding boost to establish the equine surgery which the state government and Racing Victoria Limited are each contributing $100,000 towards.

The project is among a number being developed across the state as part of the $86 million Regional Racing Infrastructure Fund.

Hulls said the key features of the surgery included two operating tables - one for surgery and one for the treatment of colic - a pre-operation room, a padded post-operation room and a 100-kilogram crane beam to assist in lifting horses on and off the operating tables.

He said all walls and floors of the surgery would be sealed to provide a safe, sterile operating environment.

Hulls said that the state government had spent more than $4 million on quarantine facilities and returning racing to Werribee.

The last meeting held at Werribee was in November 2007.

With government assistance the club now has a new turf track which was laid in April and the international horses will get first use of it ahead of the Werribee "comeback" meeting on December 4.

New plastic running rails will be installed by the end of July to provide increased safety for horses and jockeys.

"These upgrades will make Werribee the ideal place for international owners and trainers to quarantine their horses when they stay in Victoria as it will offer a high-standard training track and new stabling facilities," Hulls said.

"This venue will become a racing centre of excellence and a flagship venue for racing in Victoria."

The quarantine stable compounds will be complete lock-up facilities with security monitoring and have a large walking ring for the horses.

The first two compounds are being erected adjacent to the existing members' car park while a third compound is being erected at the top of the home straight, with the equine surgery behind the race-day horse stalls.

Lass Gets Opportunity At Sandown

Friday, 18 June 2010 01:02

Mathew Ellerton believes the time is right for Clarion Lass to step up to Saturday city class.

Clarion Lass was a stylish winner at her last outing leading all the way to score by four lengths in a Seymour 1400m Maiden and Ellerton has kept much the same for Saturday's $70,000 Sampson Handicap (1400m).

"She thrived over the 1400m last start and Andrew (Mallyon) rode her a treat so we will stick with what works," said Ellerton.

Ellerton is hoping the lightly raced three-year-old has turned the corner after enduring a number of setbacks earlier in her career.

"She has always shown us something, we have had a lot of problems with her but we are on top of those now and hoping she can go on with it," he said.

"This time of year is her time and going around with 55kg in a race like this is her opportunity to win in town.

"If she happens to win on Saturday we will keep her going," he added.

Despite having saluted on a slow track Ellerton has some doubts as to how the daughter of Falvelon will handle the heavy Betfair Park surface.

"It is a different kind of heavy at Sandown," said Ellerton.

"She handled the slow track at Seymour but did have an easy run out in front, I'm not sure how she will handle Sandown heavy."

Clarion Lass has started just the five times for the one victory and has almost $10,000 in her purse.

Photo by Quentin Lang