Cheronbutch Win Simply Amazing
- Wednesday, 09 June 2010 05:23
The racing gods will curse the 'one that got away' today as Cheronbutch refused to add his name to the long list of 'good things beaten'.
Cheronbutch ($2.10,$2.35,$2.15) made it two Betfair Park wins in succession saluting in the $30,000 Betfair Handicap (1400m) in the most unlikely circumstances.
The Peter Healy trained four-year-old was in an airtight pocket turning for home but managed to find just enough galloping room over the concluding stages to snatch a length victory over Kudeta ($7,$9,$8) with Canary Islands ($15,$16) a further half length away third.
Cheronbutch was unable to build any momentum for the best part of the home straight and Healy was clearly mystified that he found himself in the winning circle.
"He shouldn't have won that, he just shouldn't have won," said Healy.
"Chris (Symons) is always trying for you and you can't ask for anymore than that."
Healy was impressed by the gelding's turn of foot when the run came highlighting that the son of Testa Rossa lengthens more than he accelerates.
"The horse has got a good turn of foot, it's exciting," Healy said.
"His riders tell me that he doesn't actually accelerate as much as he just lengthens his stride," he added.
Symons returned to scale with a smile from ear to ear and was quick to set the record straight.
"I was just being patient," he joked.
On a more serious note Symon's praised the gelding's improvement and described his winning streak as 'sensational'.
"He just keeps stepping up to the mark this horse," said Symons
"The way he is winning is pretty sensational."
If Healy decides to run Cheronbutch at Flemington in a fortnight's time it is highly unlikely that Symons will be available to take the ride with the regular hoop expected to undergo surgery in the near future.
Photos by Sportpix
Boss Rates Second Effort
- Wednesday, 09 June 2010 03:49
Glen Boss did not mix words when assessing the ability of Second Effort, winner of the Unspoken Word Super Vobis Handicap (1000m) at Betfair Park Hillside today.
"This horse will win a stakes or Group race," Boss said after the win.
"He has shown me some very special things on the training track," Boss added.
Second Effort ($4.60,$5,$4) travelled well throughout and was the last horse on the scene ranging up at the 200m mark and working away from Vals Boy ($7.50,$14) to score by more than a length with Baltic Spirit ($4.60,$6.50) a head away third.
Trainer Clinton McDonald joined in Boss's praise of the lightly raced three-year-old adding that he was keen to see the gelding over further next time in.
"He has always shown us a fair amount of ability at home and trialled very well last week," said McDonald.
"I really think this horse is up to Saturday class and we have no reservations in spelling him now and bringing him back for the Spring.
"I think that you will see the best of him when he gets out to six or seven furlongs next time in," he added.
McDonald was confident that a strong win in slow going at his last outing would hold him in good stead on the bottomless Betfair Park track.
"He got through the slow going at Warnambool last time round so I didn't think the heavy track was a concern today," said McDonald.
Boss rated the win 'unimpressive' but observed that the horse was over the top and looking for the paddock.
"I have a very high opinion of this horse but he was simply unimpressive today and needs the paddock, which shows the class of the horse and I think he has the ability to win stakes races next time in," Boss explained.
The win takes Second Effort's career earnings to to more than $30,000 and he is yet to miss a place in four starts.
Pictures: Colin Bull
Consolation Bonus For Missing Cup
- Tuesday, 08 June 2010 07:15
A $100,000 bonus will be offered to the winner of this year's Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington if the horse has been balloted from the Melbourne Cup.
Victoria Racing Club chief executive Dale Monteith announced the consolation bonus opportunity, which is a sweetener for connections if their horse fails to make the 24-horse Cup field.
If the bonus is won, connections will take home a total of $250,000 for winning a Group Three quality handicap, which is run four days after the Melbourne Cup on Emirates Stakes Day.
The VRC also approved a distance change for the 2010 Queen Elizabeth Stakes from 2500 metres to 2600 metres to provide an extra staying test for all runners.
Monteith said it was arguably every owner's dream to have a Melbourne Cup runner and that the VRC acknowledged the frustration and disappointment owners would feel missing out at the ballot stage.
"The VRC board has been highly innovative in providing a tangible consolation opportunity to disappointed Cup connections in the form of a realistically achievable $100,000 race bonus," Monteith said.
He said the club's offer would also act as an incentive for connections to continue to participate in the Melbourne Cup carnival program.
On average, about 40 per cent of the horses balloted from the Melbourne Cup, from year to year, do not race in other events at the carnival.
"This statistic is likely to improve with the bonus opportunity now in place," Monteith said.
Moody Fined Over Positive Swab
- Wednesday, 09 June 2010 02:30
Melbourne's leading trainer Peter Moody has been fined $3,000 by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to Returntosender returning a positive post-race urine sample to a prohibited substance.
Five-year-old mare Returntosender won the $70,000 W.J (Bill) Adams Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on April 3 however in a subsequent urine sample had detected traces of substances n-butyl hyoscine and dipyrone which is contained in Buscopan / Spasmogesic.
The administration of Buscopan or Spasmogesic is used to assist horses recovering from colic (abdominal pain) associated with the spasm of the intestines.
N-butyl-hyoscine is a smooth muscle relaxant that reduces spasm while Dipyrone is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic.
As a result, Returntosender has been stripped of her victory with the Darren Magro-trained Ocean Challenger promoted to first place.
The official results of the $70,000 W.J (Bill) Adams Handicap (1400m) now stand as:
1st – Ocean Challenger (Darren Magro & Darren Gauci)
2nd – Marchelle Belle
3rd – Bashful Girl
4th – Tahnee Topaz
5th - Running Riot
6th – Cool Diva
7th – Pink Shimmer
8th – Jacqueline Rouge
9th – Beauty in Motion
10th – Cut and Run
Two weeks after her victory at Caulfield, Returntosender won the $150,000 Group 2 Panasonic Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville.
The daughter of Elusive City has failed to race since.
Moody leads the Melbourne Trainers’ Premiership with 67 wins for the season with David Hayes in second position on 39.
Picture: Colin Bull
Healy Not Rushing Cheronbutch
- Tuesday, 08 June 2010 07:03
Trainer Peter Healy will be hoping his stable's rising star Cheronbutch can make it back to back city wins when he contests the $30,000 Betfair Handicap 0-82 (1400m) this Wednesday.
Cheronbutch was an eye catching winner of a 0-78 Handicap over the 1300m trip just a fortnight ago and looks perfectly placed by the in-form stable to repeat the dose on the Hillside circuit.
A pair of wins for the lightly raced four-year-old gelding would no doubt build Healy's confidence, something he noted was lacking leading up to Cheronbutch's last win.
"Normally I can tell when a horse is going to win, and tell my owners when to back them, but lately I have been way off the mark," said Healy.
"I have a big opinion of Cheronbutch, but I lacked the confidence to really declare him."
But this time Healy is more worried about Cheronbutch's confidence, something he intends to manage very carefully.
"We will just keep going through his grades this time in, we want to look after him," said Healy after track-work this morning.
"I believe as he steps up in distance he will continue to improve."
Despite a 1.5kg rise in the weights Healy is adamant the gelding's biggest danger will be the heavy track.
"I believe the horse is a genuine dead tracker," Healy said.
"He has won on heavy tracks, but I think that was just his class, both Chris (Symons) and I don't think he is a real wet tracker"
"Depending on how he pulls up we will probably look at a 0-89 at Flemington in two weeks time, but I wouldn't hesitate to put him back in the paddock if I didn't think he was ready," Healy added.
Cheronbutch has already eclipsed his purchase price of just $13,000 despite a number of setbacks and Healy is expecting bigger and better things down the track.
"The price tag was probably due to some minor confirmation faults and to be honest we have had to give him quite a bit of time, not to mention two operations," Healy said.
"He had a knee problem and hadn't long been back in work following that when they found he had an epiglotic entrapment, so he has seen his share of vets"
"Thankfully the owners have been very patient with him and are now reaping the rewards," Healy added.
'Reaping the rewards' is one thing but Healy is already plotting a strategy to have the son of Testa Rossa fit, in form and qualified for listed, even Group Three, races this time next year.
"If we look after him we could have a listed or Group Three horse on our hands this time next year," said Healy confidently.
Photos by Sportpix
Road To Roam Makes City Class
- Wednesday, 09 June 2010 02:10
The Mick Price trained Road To Roam successfully graduated from country to city class winning the $30,000 Goleen Super Vobis Handicap (1700m) at Betfair Park Hillside today.
Road To Roam ($4.40,$5.50) relaxed well just a few lengths off a solid pace for Newitt and looked to have the run of the race before coming off the bridle prior to turning and looking the first horse beaten as they balanced up.
However strong riding by Newitt helped the three-year-old filly build momentum and she quickly wore the leading pair down, scoring easily by almost three lengths over the fast finishing Gothic Paris ($5.50,$7) with Jetta ($5.50) holding on for third a further half length away.
Price was thrilled to get a city win for the daughter of Kempinsky but admitted the leaders looked to have her measure turning for home.
"It was a good ride today and nice for her to win one in town," said Price.
"Watching the TV it appeared the two in front were well and truly up on the bridle and she was the first one off the bridle, so I don't know what happened to the two in front."
Although a winner at her first start this preparation over the 1300m trip Price observed that the distance and conditions really suited his filly today.
"It was her first time on a heavy track and over the distance she has been bred for," said Price.
"She is also hard fit now and much more settled than she has been in the past," he added.
Newitt was confident he had given Road To Roam the run of the race but like everyone else thought the leaders had him covered upon straightening.
"I was struggling coming to the bend," said Newitt.
"She was the first off the bit and i really had to get to work on her"
"But she really appreciated the give in the ground today and I was able to get her to relax which is really the key to her," Newitt added.
Photos by Sportpix
Winter Options Open For Mare
- Tuesday, 08 June 2010 06:45
Trainer Peter Healey is keeping his options open with handy mare Justsay Sumthink as the winter rains soften Melbourne's racetracks.
The seven-year-old missed her chance to compete in last year's Winter Championship Final as an emergency but she is in the mix again this year after a last-start third to Jungle Ruler and Afterburn in a 1400m heat at Cranbourne on May 30.
Despite the encouraging effort, Healey has moved away from pursuing other heats and will run Justsay Sumthink in Wednesday's Nunkalowe Handicap (1400m) at Sandown to capitalise on her liking for heavy tracks.
"Wet tracks are her go," Healey said.
He said he had spaced Justsay Sumthink's runs this campaign while waiting for rain and two starts ago she found form on heavy ground with a third to Al's Best Mate at Sandown.
"She is racing super," Healey said.
"It was a really good run at Sandown and at Cranbourne she had some really good horses behind her."
The beaten brigade included Trustus, True Tales, Clandon and Our Smoking Joe.
Healey said at this stage the Winter Championship wasn't a priority for Justsay Sumthink but he hasn't ruled it out.
"For the moment we are just trying to target mares' races while we can," Healey said.
He said the Winter Championship Final (1600m), which is at Flemington on July 10, was always a hot race and he doesn't want to waste runs at this stage of Justsay Sumthink's career when she is not a genuine winning chance.
"If there was a chance of a wet track we would be tempted to go for it (the Winter Championship) but you need a fair bit going for you to win a race like that," Healey said.
"It is very difficult for a mare to win a race like that."
Dean Yendall will ride Justsay Sumthink at Sandown where she will carry 58.5kg.
The Mark Kavanagh-trained Lamarr has the same weight while Cameo Minx resumes with topweight of 59kg after twice winning at Sandown last spring.
Healey's other top chance of the day is Cheronbutch who is unbeaten in two starts this campaign at Ballarat and Sandown.
The Testa Rossa gelding has only raced 10 times for four wins and Healey believes he has an exciting future.
"We just have to see where we go with him," Healey said.
"After this he might have only one more run this time in.
"He is looking very good and we want to look after him."
Pictures: Colin Bull
Crozier Suspended Over Fall & Remount
- Tuesday, 08 June 2010 14:19
Jumps jockey Danny Crozier has been suspended for two misdemeanours in a race at Hamilton on Tuesday.
Contesting the $15,000 Marshman Racing 0 - 120 Hurdle (3200m) with only three other rivals, Crozier and his mount Better Than One were in third position over 10 lengths from the leading pair of Chatillion and Our Santa with one runner pulled up prior to entering the straight.
Appearing to approach the final jump with little momentum, Better Than One crashed through the last hurdle positioned near the 200 metre mark and fell.
Crozier then remounted Better Than One in a bid to gain third place however he was judged not to have completed the course.
Chairperson of the meeting Sally Miller charged Crozier with failing to retire his mount out of the race when the horse was not in contention and fatigued before also charging Crozier for remounting his horse.
Crozier pleaded guilty to both charges and was suspended for a period of five jumps races. He will be able to ride after the first jumping race at Sandown on June 19.
Melbourne & Mornington Members Vote For Merger
- Tuesday, 08 June 2010 05:17
Members of the Melbourne Racing Club and the Mornington Racing Club have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the merger between the two Clubs following their respective Special General Meetings (SGM).
The merger will be effective from the commencement of the 2010/11 racing season on 1 August 2010.
Both clubs convened their SGM in the past week and at each meeting, Members strongly approved a series of resolutions necessary to enable the merger to take effect.
“This positive outcome is the result of many months of due diligence and consultation between the Clubs and Members and it provides a very strong environment within which to further develop and expand the Club's activities, its revenue streams and assets,” said Melbourne Racing Club Chairman, Peter Young.
“We would like to thank our Members for endorsing the merger so enthusiastically and we look forward to delivering on the benefits outlined to Members,” Mr Young continued.
Mr Rod Fenwick, Chairman of the Mornington Racing Club, said that by merging the two clubs, a strong new entity will be formed.
“We are combining the most successful country club of recent times with the metropolitan club with the strongest balance sheet and most race dates in Victoria,” Mr Fenwick said.
“Under the terms of the merger, the Mornington Racing Club will continue to prosper. Being part of a metropolitan race club, major benefits will flow to all of our stakeholders including Members, sponsors, trainers and our peninsula community.
“We are providing one Membership, multiple racecourses and countless benefits to all of our Members,” Mr Fenwick added.
Philda Faces Big Weight Winter Test
- Tuesday, 08 June 2010 07:15
Talented galloper Philda has been hit with a big weight as trainer Mick Kent attempts to place the five-year-old to advantage this winter.
The Secret Savings gelding has 58.5kg in Saturday's third heat of the Winter Championship (1400m) at Flemington which has attracted an impressive 38 entries.
Philda has won nine of his 24 starts and rises two kilos on his last-start victory when resuming over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley on May 29.
After the win, Philda's rating jumped from 95 to 100, making Kent's job of protecting him from big weights this campaign much more difficult.
"He's a pretty genuine horse and doesn't run very bad very often," Kent said.
"We have got the Winter Championship earmarked for him, but he's getting up in the weights, which makes it hard to place him."
Kent has to find a new rider for Philda, with jockey manager Adrian Coyne advising that Nick Hall will be riding this weekend in Malaysia at the Selangor Turf Club's international racing carnival.
Chasm and Falaise head Saturday's weights with 59kg ahead of Philda and last-start Winter Championship heat winner Jungle Ruler who produced a stunning form reversal to score at Cranbourne on May 30.
Dr Doute's and 2008 Cranbourne Cup winner Majestical are also up in the weights with 57.5kg.
Meanwhile, the Mick Price-trained Our Baby Bonus heads the weights with 59kg for Saturday's Listed Creswick Stakes (1200m) while stablemate Dubleanny has 57kg.
Unbeaten after four starts, Our Baby Bonus is a son of Dash For Cash and was an impressive last-start first-up winner at Moonee Valley.
Matthew Allen has been booked for the ride, but Price won't finalise a start for him until later in the week.
The Creswick was picked as a target for Dubleanny who continues to improve with every run.
She has won four of her six starts including her last three in a row.
Steven Arnold will ride her on Saturday, replacing Craig Newitt who will be riding in Brisbane.
The Creswick attracted 12 nominations on Monday but the entries increased to 15 after they were extended.
Broken (57.5kg), Undeniably (56.5kg) and Tan Tat Brav (55.5kg) are among the better-performed three-year-olds entered.
Picture: Fiona Tomlin
VRC Announce Cup Consolation Bonus
- Tuesday, 08 June 2010 04:53
The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) have today announced a $100,000 consolation bonus for horses who are balloted out of the Melbourne Cup and then win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The move is in a bid to entice runners that do not make the Melbourne Cup field to race over the carnival.
In doing so, it should preserve the Group 3 status of the $250,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the final day of the carnival.
“It is arguably every owner’s dream to have an Emirates Melbourne Cup runner, and to get as close as having a Cup final acceptor, yet miss out on a place in the field of twenty-four, would be an extremely frustrating and disappointing experience,” VRC Chief Executive Dale Monteith said in a statement.
“On average, about 40 per cent of the horses balloted from the Emirates Melbourne Cup, from year to year, do not race at the Carnival in other events.
“This statistic is likely to improve, with the bonus opportunity now in place,” he added.
Subsequently, this year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes has been extended an extra 100 metres to a 2600 metre race in order “to provide an extra staying test for all runners."
Had the bonus been introduced last year, Queen Elizabeth winner Sterling Prince would not have collected the bonus as connections mistimed the third declaration payment of $2,420.
Vigor was controversially balloted from the Melbourne Cup final field with connections refunded their $45,375 final acceptance fee.
However rather then running over the more suitable 2500 metres in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Vigor contested the $1 million Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) and finished seventh.
Picture: Quentin Lang