Laing Keen On Emergency In Paterson

Thursday, 03 June 2010 06:15

Trainer Robbie Laing is keen for emerging stayer Rowland to get a start alongside his other three runners in the second heat of the Banjo Paterson series at Flemington.

The four-year-old, who has won his last two starts in restricted grade, is the first emergency for Saturday's $100,000 race while Laing's other runners are Bashful Girl and jumpers Desert Master and Mazzacano.

Laing said Rowland had never raced better and was keen to test him at city level again after he posted victories at Cranbourne and Ballarat last month.

"Rowland is flying," he said.

"If he draws a barrier he is a horse who can box seat and peel off a very quick last 300 metres."

Rowland showed earlier in his campaign that he was capable of winning a good city staying race when he led by 10 lengths and battled hard to the line to be beaten less than two in the Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington in March.

"Ridden a bit more patiently and it might have been a different result," Laing said.

Rowland has drawn barrier nine on Saturday alongside Bashful Girl in gate 10.

Formerly trained by Bevan and Richard Laming, Bashful Girl joined Laing's stable this campaign after winning the Group Three Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Sandown in November.

She hasn't been placed in five runs for Laing but was close at her last four, her most recent when blocked for a run and finishing fifth to Raffaello over 2000 metres at Caulfield last month.

"She is going great," Laing said.

"The other day she drew 12, got back on to the fence, and was climbing all over their backs."

Bashful Girl is untested beyond 2000 metres but is a noted strong finisher and gives every indication she will run the 2500 metres on Saturday.

Steven King will ride the five-year-old Perugino mare while apprentice Jake Noonan is double-booked for both Rowland and Mazzacano.

Mazzacano has a history of leg issues and will use Saturday's race as a lead-up to the Australian Steeplechase (3900m) at Sandown on June 19.

The nine-year-old has a peculiar record of having had 26 barrier trials in the last three years but has raced just 13 times in that period.

He will have his 27th barrier trial when he schools at Stony Creek next week.

Roger Booth will ride Australian Hurdle contender Desert Master at Flemington and the grey will also trial at Stony Creek.

Picture: Colin Bull

Friday Inquiry For Flemington Fall

Wednesday, 02 June 2010 09:02

Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) stewards will reopen an inquiry on Friday into the reasons why The Fugitive dislodged rider James Winks in the Veolia Environmental Services Handicap at Flemington on 15 May, 2010.

Evidence was taken on the day from riders Brent Stanley (Morossa), Jason Maskiell (Willigobung), Danny Nikolic (Cudgewa), Brent Evans (Cyclone Al) and Billy Egan (Undeniably) regarding the incident, however Mr Winks was unavailable as a result of his fall.

Mr Winks and Mr Egan have been asked to attend when the inquiry resumes at 11am on Friday, 4 June at the RVL offices, 400 Epsom Rd, Flemington.

Picture: Colin Bull

Leica Larrikin To Leave His Rivals Cold

Thursday, 03 June 2010 05:45

Leica Larrikin has recovered from a head cold and the Richard Freyer stable is happy with the gelding going into Saturday's David Bourke Provincial Plate at Flemington.

Rick Freyer, the trainer's son who operates out of the same Corowa stables, said Leica Larrikin's cold forced him to be scratched from last month's Wagga Cup on the morning of the race.

"We had no choice but to scratch him but he trialled lovely at Wangaratta last Wednesday and he'll be perfect for the race on Saturday," Rick Freyer said.

Leica Larrikin won the 1170m trial against four rivals by five lengths on a heavy track with Nick Souquet in the saddle.

Matthew Cahill, who has ridden the Nothin' Leica Dane rising five-year-old at his past three starts for two wins and a third, retains the mount on Saturday.

Leica Larrikin showed his liking for the expanses of Flemington when he won the Silver Bowl Final (1600m) when sent out at 40-1 at just his fifth start and two starts later took out a 1710m open handicap last July-August.

He is chasing a hat-trick following wins in the Gundagai Cup on April 11 and the Murrumbidgee Cup at Wagga on April 18, both over 1800m.

Leica Larrikin has topweight of 59kg in Saturday's $100,000 1600m event but has shown he can carry weight having shouldered 58kg and 60kg at his past two starts respectively.

"He had plenty of weight against weaker opposition when he won at Wagga seven weeks ago and it won't really worry him," Freyer said.

He said the stable would pick and choose Leica Larrikin's races over the winter through to the spring.

The gelding was bred by and is raced by Margaret and Allan Eaton of Albury.

He is a younger brother of Leica Falcon who was trained by Richard Freyer to win the 2005 Group Two Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield before flashing home for fifth to Railings in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and running fourth to Makybe Diva in the Melbourne Cup (3200m).

"Connections are talking about entering him (Leica Larrikin) for the Caulfield Cup and not the Melbourne Cup," Freyer said.

"But as Mr Eaton said the other day when he dropped in on the way to Melbourne we'll see what he does between now and August 3 (when entries close)."

Leica Larrikin is $7.50 fourth pick with TAB Sportsbet behind Lord Pyrus ($4.60 fav), Kallogg ($5) and The Red Emperor at $6.50.

Benalla Track Repaired

Wednesday, 02 June 2010 09:01

Racing Victoria Limited’s (RVL) track and facilities team have today inspected and repaired the Benalla racetrack following the cancellation of yesterday's meeting after Race 5.

The inspection established that a disused water pipe underneath the home turn had collapsed in two places and eroded the surface above.

Two holes detected yesterday as a result of the erosion were dug up and refilled today with the water pipe repaired as part of the process.

Trials will next be held at Benalla on 15 June with the rail to be placed outside the affected area to allow the repaired surface sufficient time to knit.

Benalla's next race fixture is their Cup meeting on Sunday, 3 October.

Lake Crescent Makes A Big Splash

Thursday, 03 June 2010 02:14

Lake Crescent immediately made his presence felt winning at his Victorian debut at Betfair Park Sandown Lakeside on Wednesday.

Trained by Gary White at Brighton, Lake Cresent had done all his previous racing on the Apple Isle and brought an imposing record of five wins and three placings from 15 starts across the Bass Strait.

Sluggish to depart the stalls, Lake Crescent worked into the race brilliantly and took himself into the lead shortly after straightening.

With an eleven week gap between his last run at Hobart in a Class 4 Handicap (1400m), Lake Crescent appeared to be leg weary over the final furlong but thankfully for connections so were the opposition.

Lake Crescent ($4-$5) won the $30,000 Flying Halo 0-82 Handicap (1300m) by one and three-quarter lengths with Coolago ($7-$9-$7) one and a half lengths ahead of Papercut ($4-$5).

“He surprised me a little bit, I wanted to ride him forward but he didn’t begin all that good today,” winning rider Darren Gauci said.

“I went back and the pace was good and he just come into the race when he was ready and coming into the straight he was always going to be hard to run down.

“He actually pulled his way up there (to the lead), he wanted to go so soon,” he added.

Lake Crescent is expected to be targeted at one of the feature series finals at Flemington on July 10.

The four-year-old gelding by King Charlemagne has now accumulated over $65,000 in prizemoney.

Pictures: Colin Bull

RVL To Distribute Prizemoney For No-race

Wednesday, 02 June 2010 08:45

Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) has decided to distribute the prizemoney from the no-race, the King Alfred Steeplechase Prelude, at Casterton on Sunday.

RVL communications manager Shaun Kelly said the decision was made due to the "unique circumstances pertaining to the race".

"And the jumpers have limited opportunities to earn prizemoney this year and it would have been difficult to reschedule that race," Kelly said.

"So we have elected to distribute the prizemoney.

"But to qualify that, it in no way diminishes the support for the decision made by the stewards on Sunday to declare it a no-race which was indeed the correct one."

The Jumps Review Panel met on Wednesday to discuss the race and its findings will be referred to the RVL Board.

The event was called a no race by stewards after the second and third horses past the post, Cash Advance and Ballysteen, were forced to miss the fence in the straight when they were hampered by the ambulance.

The only other starter Sugihara, did not complete the course.

First past the post in the $15,000 3800m event was Yoshi Raaza whose connections will collect their share of the $8775 first prize.

Trained at Murray Bridge by Colin Stewart, Yoshi Raaza had not won in 47 previous starts.

Prince Vitality injured his shoulder when he fell and the seven-year-old was euthanased.

Currie Suspended For Bairnsdale Fall

Wednesday, 02 June 2010 14:00

Jockey Luke Currie has been suspended for almost a month after stewards attributed him with blame for causing a fall at Bairnsdale on Saturday.

Appearing at an adjourned inquiry on Wednesday, Currie was found guilty of careless riding aboard Treasury Agent in the Lakes Diesels Maiden Plate (1600m).

The careless riding being that shortly after the start, Currie permitted his mount to shift in when not sufficiently clear of Sampson (Jacob Rule), taking it in onto Skalatoson (Pat Hutchinson) who clipped heels and fell.

Currie was found guilty of the charge and was suspended for 26 meetings (8 metro) with stewards taking into consideration Currie’s good record and the severity of the interference which caused the fall.

Currie starts his suspension after Friday and will be free to return on July 1.

Meanwhile Hutchinson is expected to be on the sidelines through injury for around six to eight weeks.

Picture: Colin Bull

Rising 10-year-old A Flemington Hope

Wednesday, 02 June 2010 08:15

Mt Gambier trainer Dean Saxon will have a crack at Saturday's David Bourke Provincial Plate at Flemington with rejuvenated galloper Riceman.

The rising 10-year-old was retired from racing after running ninth of 10 to Captain Bax in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown in November 2008.

He had won successive 1600m races at Flemington and Ballarat in June 2008 for his then trainer John McArdle but bled when winning at Ballarat and was banned from racing for three months.

Around that time Riceman also suffered an eye injury.

The Runyon gelding has now had two stints of more than 12 months on the sidelines as he earlier suffered a tendon injury.

Saxon is Riceman's fourth trainer in a career which has included stakes victories in Tasmania.

"His owner Tony Rice, who is a colonel in the army, rang me and asked me to give the horse a try to see if he still had it," Saxon explained.

"He's just a real good horse and I think he's going as good as ever."

Riceman has had eight starts for Saxon for a third over 1550m at Morphettville two starts back and last start broke a 23-month drought with a win at his 50th start in the $75,000 CRV Autumn Series Showcase (1600m) at Cranbourne last Sunday.

With Brad Rawiller in the saddle, he shouldered 59kg topweight on a heavy track to score his 13th win.

Peter Mertens will take the ride on Saturday because Rawiller can't make the galloper's 54.5kg.

Before Sunday's win, Riceman settled last and according to Saxon did not handle the home turn before making up five lengths in the straight to finish an encouraging ninth to Montego Bay in the Mildura Cup (1400m) on May 23.

Fortunately for connections, Riceman's handicapping rating dropped from 82 to 78 after the Mildura Cup which made him eligible for the 0-78 Showcase event at Cranbourne.

"The race wasn't on the radar for him but Tony rang me and alerted me to it, so we jumped at the chance," Saxon said.

Riceman's rating has returned to 82 since the Cranbourne success.

"He's done enormous this week and this race has been a year in the planning," said Saxon whose first Melbourne winner was Stormy Jim in 1998 David Bourke Provincial Plate.

Saxon has had 14 wins in Melbourne and 12 in Adelaide with his best performers being Stormy Jim (16 wins), multiple city winner Go With The Flow and Apogee Storm, who won the 1998 Oaks Trial Stakes at Geelong.

Saxon trains his small team of six to eight horses in a pine forest near his property.

He said the sandy surface was ideal for his horse's feet.

Price Three-Year-Old Suffers Bleeding Attack

Wednesday, 02 June 2010 09:15

Three-year-old gelding Achill Island will serve a three month ban after suffering a bleeding attack at Betfair Park Sandown Lakeside on Wednesday.

Trained by Mick Price at Caulfield, Achill Island loomed up to the leaders at the furlong pole but was no match for the winner Conquering Journey in the $30,000 Runaway Kid Super Vobis 0-72 Handicap (1200m).

Achill Island finished a respectable third but will head to the paddock now with only a narrow maiden victory at Moe and a couple of encouraging metropolitan performances next to his name from four starts.

Picture: Colin Bull

Some Are Bent Lame After Being Pulled Up

Wednesday, 02 June 2010 05:15

Champion jumper Some Are Bent had his Australian Steeplechase plans thrown into disarray when he pulled up lame after failing to complete the course in his lead-up race at Sandown.

Despite jumping below his best he was with leaders rounding the home turn but was soon under pressure and jockey Steven Pateman pulled him out of the race before the last fence in Wednesday's Redleap Steeplechase (3300m).

"He didn't feel like the normal Some Are Bent so I decided pull him up and wait for another day," Pateman said.

"He was on the outside rein from the 1000 metres and that was the indicator he just wasn't right today."

A veterinary examination revealed that the dual Australian Jumper of the Year was lame in the off-foreleg.

Some Are Bent was having his first jumps start since falling in the Grand Annual Steeplechase on May 6, two days after winning the Brierly Steeplechase at the Warrnambool carnival.

Trainer Robert Smerdon applauded Pateman's decision to ease up on Some Are Bent when the $1.45 favourite was out of contention.

He said he would assess the horse over the next few days before deciding whether to push on the Australian Steeplechase (3900m) at Sandown on June 19.

"We will just let the dust settle a bit before we decide what to do," Smerdon said.

The only other runner to fail to finish was Destiny Calls who was unharmed when he fell at the last jump, dislodging jockey Craig Durden who walked away.

Promising jumper Tarawera won the race which was his first start over fences after a win and a second from four hurdle starts.

Trainer Fran Houlahan said she went into the race thinking Tarawera was running for second to Some Are Bent and was thrilled that he was able to win.

Jockey Brett Scott said he had trouble getting the four-year-old to settle but was impressed with his staying power.

"He was green but tough to the line," Scott said.

He said Tarawera got lost when he got to the front approaching the last fence and lost a couple of lengths when he got his legs tangled on the landing side before going on to score by a length from Beach D'Or and Our Santa.

The Winterset Hurdle (3300m) was run without incident with the Eric Musgrove-trained Famous Prince adding to his last-start win at Pakenham with a 2-3/4 length victory over Vindicating and Corries.

Famous Prince will have his next start in the Australian Hurdle (2400m) at Sandown on June 19.

Some Are Bent's half-brother Black And Bent was scratched from the Winterset and, after winning on the flat at Moonee Valley last week, will back up in Saturday's second heat of the Banjo Paterson Series (2500m) at Flemington before heading to the Australian Hurdle.

Picture: Colin Bull