Price Waits On Our Baby Bonus Decision

Thursday, 10 June 2010 05:45

Mick Price is likely to go with just the one runner, Dubleanny, in Saturday's AR Creswick Stakes at Flemington with his other acceptor Our Baby Bonus expected to run at Moonee Valley on Monday.

The unbeaten Our Baby Bonus is topweight with 59kg in the Listed Creswick (1200m) for three-year-olds, but will carry 54kg against the older horses in the Simpson Construction Hcp (1000m) at the Valley, which is heat six of the 2010 All Victorian Sprint Series.

"I don't know that you would want to be slugging it out with the three-year-olds with 59 kilos," Price said.

"But I want to have a good look at the final acceptances for both races before I make my final decision."

Price pointed out that Our Baby Bonus carried 57kg, after a 2kg claim was taken by apprentice Jason Maskiell, when he won first-up over 1000m at Moonee Valley on May 29 from subsequent Flemington winner Sunday Rose.

"I've actually got a little program for him that might end up in the Monash (Stakes) and if he gets that far I'd probably give him a breather and then concentrate on some nice races for him in the spring," he said.

The Listed $100,000 weight-for-age Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) is at Caulfield on July 17.

Mathew Allen will ride Our Baby Bonus if he runs in the Creswick, while Maskiell will be aboard the grey at Moonee Valley.

Our Baby Bonus, the winner of all four of his starts, will carry just 52.5kg at the Valley after Maskiell takes his now 1.5kg allowance.

Steven Arnold takes the mount on Dubleanny who is after her fourth straight metropolitan win, and her third at Flemington, this preparation.

The Dubleo filly will carry 57kg, 0.5kg more than she carried when she beat subsequent impressive Flemington winner Doubtful Jack over 1200m at Caulfield last start on May 22.

Price admitted he had been surprised with the progress shown by Dubleanny this campaign and she was now in the position to earn some black type in the Listed Creswick and when she comes back for the spring.

"Certainly this preparation she's improved out of sight," he said.

Our Baby Bonus is $2.80 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Dubleanny at $4, Broken, who will have blinkers on for the first time, at $5.50, with Tan Tat Brav and Undeniably next best at $6.

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

Moody Double At Sandown

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 09:00

Despite the fact Peter Moody wasn’t trackside, two runners from Melbourne’s leading stable won races at Betfair Park Sandown Hillside on Wednesday.

Live In Sin comfortably accounted for her opposition in the third race, the $30,000 Magic Flute Handicap (1000m).

Jumping from the inside alley with Luke Nolen in the saddle, Live In Sin ($3.80-$4.40) settled behind the speed set by Humma Mumma before bursting along the rails to win by three and three-quarter lengths.

Kel’s Gold ($6-$8) worked home well for second but never posed any threat to the winner while Humma Mumma ($4-$5.50) finished third.

Avelon Royale ($3-$3.80-$3.30 fav) was never in contention, finishing over eight lengths from the winner in fifth place.

“Pete (Moody) said she was going well but first-up over 1000 metres you just don’t know,” Nolen said.

“We were sort of worried with a few other horses having the fitness edge over her but she treated them with contempt.”

Nolen added that he was always confident of victory once Live In Sin was able to travel down the notorious dip at the top of the Sandown straight still on the bridle.

“You can then kick out of it (the dip) and it generally holds you in good stead for the rest of the race.”

Live In Sin has won five times from 15 starts and has placed on another three occasions to ensure her prizemoney is hovering just under the $100,000 mark.

Meanwhile Ghostmilk appears destined for another tilt at the VRC/CRV Winter Championship Series after her win in the $30,000 Nunkalowe Handicap (1400m).

Once again ridden by Nolen, Ghostmilk loomed up to her rivals from a midfield position before unleashing a devastating turn of foot prior to the furlong pole.

Leading by over three lengths at one stage up the straight, lack of race fitness told on Ghostmilk as the winning margin reduced to two and three-quarter lengths on the line.

Ghostmilk ($3.50-$3.90-$3.60 fav) defeated Cameo Mix ($7-$9) with Cool Diva ($9-$10) finishing four lengths from the winner.

“She enjoys the mud here at Sandown,” Nolen said alluding to Ghostmilk winning at the corresponding meeting last season.

“She got into the race a lot easier then I thought, she might have peaked on her run late.

“She open for improvement and they might tackle a similar race as they did last winter with her, probably the Winter Championship,” he added.

Owned by the OTI Racing syndicate headed by Terry Henderson and Simon O'Donnell, Ghostmilk finished eighth in last year’s Winter Championship final behind Gold Salute.

Ghostmilk has won twice from six starts in Australia, which is considerably more impressive than her English record of three wins from 29 starts.

Pictures: Colin Bull

Melbourne Cup Carnival An Economic Winner

Thursday, 10 June 2010 02:37

As the Victoria Racing Club gears up for the 150th running of the Melbourne Cup, research undertaken by IER Pty Ltd confirms the positive economic impact the Melbourne Cup Carnival has each year on the state of Victoria and the nation.

The world renowned four-day Carnival featuring the AAMI Victoria Derby Day, Emirates Melbourne Cup Day, Crown Oaks Day, Emirates Stakes Day attracted more than 389,000 attendees.

Attendance by non-local racegoers remarkably increased to 73,825, up 6.8% on last year’s Carnival.

The ability of the Melbourne Cup Carnival to attract tourists to Victoria has been a major driver of economic benefits for Victoria.

Over 26,000 international and interstate visitors attended last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival despite being in the midst of a global financial crisis, when these figures would be expected to be down, and contributed more than $155 million to the state during this period.

The report also revealed that racegoers in Victoria spent more that $29 million on fashion items to wear to the 2009 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

This represented an increase of almost $2.7 million on 2008.

The 2009 Melbourne Cup Carnival is directly responsible for the following economic and tourism impacts:

• Increase in attendance by out-of-state-visitors +6.8% (from 69,125 to 73,825)
• Value added contribution to gross state product increased by +5.2% (from $148.1 mil to $155.8 mil)
• Motivated 21,000 interstate and 5,000 overseas visitors to travel to Victoria to attend the MCC
• Generated more than $3.3 million in spending on other tourist attractions during their stay in Victoria
• Delivered more than 114,000 bed-nights in commercial accommodation throughout Victoria
• Out-of-state visitors delivered more than $6.2 million spending for the retail sector
• The economic activity generation by the Melbourne Cup Carnival sustained more than 2,240 full time equivalent jobs in Victoria with much of this employment stimulated as a result of increased demand on the retail, hospitality and accommodation sectors

The unique cultural and social significance of the Emirates Melbourne Cup is evidenced by the fact that more than 4.3 million people nation-wide celebrated the event without necessarily making it to Flemington.

The combined Melbourne Cup Carnival, including national expenditure on Melbourne Cup Day is responsible for stimulation of State and Territory economies around Australia to the value of $714.1 million.

This represents an increase of 2.1% on the 2008 result.

VRC Chief Executive Dale Monteith says that the national economic impact study sheds light on the true reach of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

"Not only does the Melbourne Cup Carnival deliver considerable economic impact to the state of Victoria, but the event's ability to encourage spending in other parts of the Australian economy, such as in retail and hospitality, delivers considerable economic stimulus to local business.”

“Tourists around the nation and across the globe embark on the pilgrimage to Flemington to experience Spring Racing at Flemington. It is their embrace of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and its history that sets it apart from all other great national sporting and social events,” he added.

The momentum in the lead up to the 150th running of the Melbourne Cup is showing no signs of slowing.

Sponsorship numbers are on the increase and dining and hospitality package sales to this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival are up over 65% compared to the same time last year and which are likely to sell out early.

A number of hospitality options have in fact already sold out.

Mr Monteith added that corporate marquee sales are up by 20% from this time last year with Derby and Cup Day corporate marquees almost sold out.

“Sponsorship numbers are on the increase. All 2009 MCC sponsors are returning with many increasing their investment and broadening their involvement. Also, several sponsors who dropped out last year because of the GFC are returning.”

“Clearly, the excitement generated by the staging of the 150th Cup is translating into an increase in hospitality sales. It’s important that those people who plan to attend this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival on one or more racedays, organise purchasing their tickets sooner rather than later,” he
advised.

Pivotal Moment Ready For Creswick Stakes

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 07:45

Promising three-year-old Pivotal Moment, who is closely related to a Dubai World Cup winner and a Melbourne Cup placegetter, will have plenty to live up to when he tackles the Listed Creswick Stakes at Flemington.

After scoring an easy debut win on his home track at Yarra Valley a month ago, the Shane Nichols-trained colt faces a leap in grade on Saturday but has the pedigree to get the job done.

He is one of the few horses racing in Australia by world-class sire Pivotal who won four of his six starts including the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and now stands at stud in England where he has produced more than 80 stakeswinners and has progeny earnings of more than STG22 million ($A39.31 million).

Pivotal Moment's Entrepreneur dam, Speciality, only raced once but is a half-sister to Central Park, who was second to Rogan Josh in the 1999 Melbourne Cup, and Velvet Moon who is the Group Two-winning dam of 2003 World Cup winner Moon Ballad.

"He's got a cracking pedigree," Nichols said.

He said Pivotal Moment was originally with David Hayes but the colt's owners sold him for financial reasons and he was bought by Nichols' stable client Phillip Anderson Bloodstock for $22,000 at a mixed sale in Melbourne last August.

Last year Pivotal's yearlings sold for up to STG650,000 guineas ($A1.22 million).

Nichols said Pivotal Moment was no more than 15 hands but had a strong body and impressed with the way he carried 58kg to an unextended 2-3/4-length win over 1212 metres on a heavy track at Yarra Valley on May 11.

"He is not a big horse but he's compact," Nichols said.

"He didn't beat much at his first start but he did brain them."

Nichols said Pivotal Moment had always shown ability and had won several jumpouts by "many lengths" before his debut.

He said the Creswick was a big test for the colt and expects him to run well without necessarily winning.

"He has improved since his debut and drops down to 53kg on Saturday so I imagine he will probably run a ball-tearing race and not get beaten very far," Nichols said.

"His work has been excellent but whether he is up to these at this stage I'm not sure.

"It is his last chance for black type as a three-year-old so you have got to have a go.

"It just gets harder in those races as they get older."

Dale Smith, who won on Pivotal Moment at Yarra Valley, has retained the ride on Saturday.

Conners Says Be Patient With Chubby Chasm

Thursday, 10 June 2010 00:09

Aquanita trainer Heath Conners has warned punters not to jump off his stable star Chasm following a disappointing first up performance at Caulfield almost three weeks ago.

"Be patient with him," Conners said at track-work this morning.

"His goal this preparation is the Winter Championship Final, so judge him on that."

Conners is still firmly focused on a Spring assault with Chasm but concerns over the five-year-old gelding's weight called for a short winter preparation to bring him back into shape.

"Every preparation we have done a fair bit of ground work to get him into shape," said Conners.

"He is a big boy, about 565kg in fact, and getting him clean in his wind involves quite a bit of swimming and leg work"

"If we didn't give him the three or four runs now he wouldn't measure up in the Spring," Conners added.

A first up failure against Aquanita stablemate Veewap was expected to tighten the gelding up for this Saturday's $75,000 Winter Championship Series Heat (1400m) but to Conners disappointment Chasm has thrived since the outing.

"General soreness issues have limited his groundwork since his racing last Spring and to be honest he has done too well this time in, even putting weight on since his first up run," Conners added.

"It is great to see that he is enjoying his racing and the training environment here, but I'd like to have seen him shed a few more kilo's."

Whilst Conners expects the Group 3 winner to be competitive in his next few runs he believes punters will see the real Chasm in the $200,000 Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 10.

"I think his next two runs will have him in good fettle for the final and if he does trim up well by then he has to be one of the horses to beat," said Conners.

Conners is also expecting a forward showing from four-year-old Out Of The Desert at Cranbourne on Sunday following good form around the colt's last run.

"He has had two runs this time in for two placings and the horse that beat him last start backed up a few days later and won at Sandown so he should be hard to beat," said Conners.

Pictures: Sportpix & Quentin Lang

Rowland Makes Most Of Second Chance

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 06:45

Trainer Robbie Laing was glad he never gave up on Rowland after the stayer completed a winning hat-trick at Sandown.

Laing admitted he gave Rowland little chance of returning to racing after the horse was diagnosed with a serious breathing problem last year.

Veterinary surgeon John Van Veenendaal performed throat surgery on the gelding and Rowland has gone on to win four races and be placed in another five of 13 starts since.

The four-year-old won first-up in a Cranbourne 1600m maiden in December and after further wins at Cranbourne and Ballarat last month, landed his first city win in Wednesday's Hayai Handicap (2400m) on a heavy track.

Apprentice Jake Noonan made it three wins from as many rides on Rowland ($2.40 fav) who settled fourth in the field of five before scoring a 1-1/4 length win over Niptious ($7) with Titch ($2.50) seven lengths away third.

Rowland is by Lonhro out of the Sadler's Wells mare Paris In The Fall, a three-quarter sister to Irish and French Derby winner Old Vic.

Laing bought the horse at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale for $60,000 after he had been passed in for $50,000.

"He was a gangly, skinny bugger," Laing said.

"He's always been a good galloper but unluckily he went in the wind a bit over 12 months ago and I didn't think he'd come back."

Laing said Rowland was too lightly-framed to make a jumper and would be stepped up in class in the Luther's Luck Handicap (2400m), which is heat four of the 2010 Banjo Paterson Series, at Sandown on Saturday week.

His performance in that race would determine whether he goes on to the Banjo Paterson Series Final (2500m) at Flemington on July 10.

Noonan, son of Mornington trainer Tony Noonan, landed only the second metropolitan win of his career aboard Rowland.

"He's been a good, honest horse for Robbie and I," Noonan said.

"He's definitely a swimmer and he's a horse who can get away with a bit of a sit and sprint and he showed that today."

Pictures: Colin Bull

Horses To Follow - Betfair Park 9 June 2010

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 14:00

The horses which caught my eye at Betfair Park Hillside on this wet and dreary day were:

Race 2: Goleen Handicap (1700m)

Having just her second race start and rising almost 400m on her debut outing Gothic Paris was probably wondering where on earth the finishing line was!

Her run was superb, many experienced mud-larks found it difficult to make ground on the bottomless track - many even trotting over the line furlongs behind the winners.

This young girl has some upside.

Race 6: Betfair Handicap (1400m)

Cheronbutch was the run of the day a fortnight ago at the Lakeside circuit and didn't disappoint at the Hillside circuit today.

Couldn't win anywhere but the line and yet still won by more than a length. 

This horse just keeps getting better and has a few very important traits when it comes to winning listed races... which are on the horizon next time in.

Race 8: Nunkalowe Handicap (1400m)

History repeated itself in the last of the day as Ghostmilk blitzed her rivals scoring by a handful of lengths and spacing the majority, almost a year to the day of her last win.

Ghostmilk didn't kick on following her superb Sandown swimming effort in 2009 so will 2010 be any different? I think so.

Back her next time out on a heavy track.

Noonan Notches Second Metro Win

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 06:32

Young apprentice Jake Noonan continued his healthy association with four-year-old Rowland after he won the $30,000 Hayai Handicap (2400m) at Betfair Park Sandown Hillside on Wednesday.

Noonan celebrated only his second winner in the metropolitan area upon returning to scale today since making his metropolitan riding debut in the latter half of 2009.

The recipient of the 2009 Victorian School-based Apprentice of the Year Award, rode his only other winner aboard Dabba Dancer at Moonee Valley in March.

“He (Rowland) has given me my last three winners so he’s been a good honest horse for both Robbie and I,” Noonan said.

Trained by Robbie Laing at Cranbourne, Rowland enjoyed a lovely run in transit to sit in fourth position in the five-horse field where a genuine tempo was established by Titch.

As Titch weakened to surrender the lead at the 300 metre mark, Noonan asked Rowland to quicken and the gelding duly accelerated to put the outcome of the race beyond doubt.

Rowland ($2-$2.40 fav) defeated Niptious ($6.50-$7) by a length and a quarter with Titch ($2.50) clinging onto third a further seven lengths away.

“With the three kilos off (from Noonan’s claim) and only a length (winning) margin, he might not have won it if he carried the full weight,” Laing said.

“Once again it was a terrific ride and they went along at a good clip.”

“As you could see from the grandstand it wasn’t the case of a small field canter and a sprint home, there was good speed on and that’s probably why the leader (Titch) succumbed at the finish,” he added.

Laing noted he has always had an opinion of Rowland however a wind problem that was only recently resolved by Dr John Van Veenendaal, head vet surgeon at Flemington Equine Clinic, has allowed him to showcase his talents.

“He was a five out of five full blown roarer and he’s come back in and he can breathe, he doesn’t have any discharge from his nose when he eating or drinking – it was a good operation.”

Noonan believes Rowland will be hard to beat in staying races in similar grade over the winter months.

“He is the sort of horse that can get away with a bit of a sit and sprint coming from behind and he proved that today.”

“He is definitely a swimmer, I can’t say he’s doing a bad job on these wet tracks so I’d be happy to leave him here through the winter,” he added.

Rowland is now likely to have his next run in the fourth heat of the Banjo Paterson Series over the same track and distance on next Saturday.

Should Rowland finish in the placings in that event, he would secure a berth in the $151,000 Banjo Paterson Series Final (2500m) at Flemington on July 10.

By Lonhro, Rowland is out of the dam Paris In The Fall who produced stakes winning mare Exceedingly French.

After winning his third consecutive race this afternoon, Rowland boasts a record of four wins and six placings with over $83,000 in prizemoney.

Pictures: Colin Bull

Training Difficulties At Echuca

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 14:00

Echuca based trainers are facing difficulties getting their horses worked due to lighting yet to be installed.

Training is a pretty tough job at any time and is only being made harder due to the lack of proper facilities.

Because of Occupational Health and Safety regulations, horses can only be worked on the track between the hours from 7am to 11am.

Whilst trainers are being inconvenienced, ground staff have fared no better with just half a day to prepare tracks for the following morning.

Trainers are further frustrated when they have a runner at a midweek meeting that could require two or three hours of travelling time.

Let’s trust that common sense will ultimately prevail with these matters being cleared up to the satisfaction of those concerned.

Weekend Hussler Back In Pre-training

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 05:45

Weekend Hussler is in pre-training ahead of his return to racing during the spring carnival.

"He's doing some dressage at the moment and we'll probably send him on to the water-walker in a couple of weeks and we'll go from there," trainer Ross McDonald said of the seven-time Group One winner and Horse of the Year for the 2007-08 season.

Now rising six, Weekend Hussler hasn't raced since his first-up 11th of 13, beaten 3-3/4 lengths, to Starspangledbanner in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield in February.

Meanwhile, McDonald's son Clinton intends to put promising Mossman gelding Second Effort away until the spring after he landed his first city win in the Unspoken Word Hcp (1000m) at Sandown.

The three-year-old has now had four starts for two wins and two seconds and progressed from a 1200m maiden win at Warrnambool in slow going on May 4.

Ridden by Glen Boss and backed from $5 to $4 favourite, Second Effort showed he was adept in heavy ground on Wednesday, bursting through a gap in the straight and scoring by 1-1/4 lengths from Vals Boy with Baltic Spirit a half-neck away third.

"The 1000 metres was probably a touch short but when he gets to 1200 metres to 1400 metres that's when you'll see a really nice horse," Clinton McDonald said.

"I think he's up to Saturday class. He'll go to the paddock now and we'll bring him back and hopefully find a nice race in the spring for him."

Picture: Sportpix