Molson Finds Her Feet At Betfair Park
- Wednesday, 26 May 2010 02:27
Patinack Farm's Molson stepped up to Melbourne city class at just his first attempt winning the $70,000 Star Shower Super Vobis Handicap (1400m) on a heavy Betfair Park track.
Molson ($8,$9) was ridden back in the field by Dean Holland and had very few favours sitting off a slow pace and eventually having to sit three-wide with cover.
After balancing up Holland peeled to the centre of the track and by the 200m mark had the measure of his opposition going on to score by neck from the grinding Population ($2.15,$3,$2.80) with Female Agent ($7,$8.50) a further length and a half away third.
Outside of the winner the eye catching performance was that of Danemark, a Freedman runner having his first start, who made strong late ground after settling out of his ground early.
The win came after just three starts, all in different states, with Molson improving on every occasion according to Glenn Thompson, Melbourne foreman for Patinack Farm.
"It was a nice win today," said Thompson.
"She has improved every start and I think she will improve a lot next time, she is still a very immature filly and I'd like to see her over more ground," he added.
Holland wasn't expecting too many plaudits for his ride directing all praise for the win to the daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus.
"We didn't have the best of runs today, but they went slower than I expected and the best I could manager was three-wide with cover," said Holland after the win.
"I probably found the front a little bit too soon and to the horse's credit she dug really deep and had a crack"
"The way she raced today she might even get a mile," Holland added.
The win takes the two-year-olds career earnings over the $20,000 mark.
Photos by Sportpix
Majestical Back With Old Trainer
- Tuesday, 25 May 2010 08:45
Cranbourne Cup winner Majestical will have his first start for Matthew Enright since being transferred out of his stable last year for a campaign with Greg Eurell when he resumes at Moonee Valley.
Connections are giving the Bendigo trainer another chance with the six-year-old who failed to go another level with the change of stable.
Majestical will line up in Saturday's open sprint over 1200 metres and with a three-kilo claim for apprentice Ben Knobel will carry just 54kg.
Enright said Majestical left his stable as a country Cups horse and hopes that he can train on again this year for similar targets.
He said the son of Montjeu wasn't a noted wet tracker but he has him more forward than previous campaigns before winter sets in.
"He probably shouldn't be in work at this time of the year but I really want to give him a run before I make any decision which path he should go along," Enright said.
Majestical was winless during his spring campaign but finished third to Red Lord in the Group Three Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield and third to Stormhill in the Benalla Cup (2046m).
He hasn't raced since finishing eighth in the Listed Johnnie Walker (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
His last win was the 2008 Cranbourne Cup (2050m) and he changed stables after being unplaced at his next two starts at Group One level in the Railway Stakes and Kingston Town Stakes in Perth.
Enright said Majestical seemed capable of winning a Group Three race and possibly a weak Group Two and he still has hopes that he can reach that level.
"I really need to get through Saturday to get a firm opinion," Enright said.
"There was some talk of him having an underlying issue last campaign but I have had him in work 3-1/2 months and seen no signs of it."
"He has trialled nicely and he seems fine but I haven't put him under real pressure which he will get on race day."
Majestical has won first-up for Enright and last campaign resumed with a close sixth to Mic Mac in the Listed Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
Pictures: Greg Irvine
Talented Ellerslie Rekindles Memories Of Munro
- Monday, 24 May 2010 02:30
The Ellerslie Handicap, run at Betfair Park Sandown Hillside on Wednesday, brought back a lot of memories mainly for the wrong reasons.
Ellerslie was a good horse as a three year old, he defeated Vagabond by a head in the Burwood Handicap.
After correct weight was notified rumours began to circulate that chief steward, Alan Bell, was conducting an enquiry into the running of the race declaring that Darby Munro, the rider of Vagabond, had not allowed his horse to run on its merits.
It was a nice way of putting it but in effect Bell had declared that Munro had pulled the horse up and that Frank Spurway, the owner, and trainer, Danny Lewis, were both parties to the incident.
There was no adjournment of enquires in those days nor were jockeys granted a stay of proceedings, all matters were completed before those charged left the racecourse.
It was well after dark when Munro was met by the press to be told he, Spurway and Lewis were rubbed out for two years.
Bell had a score to settle with Munro and he made the best of the opportunity.
Munro was unquestionably the greatest jockey this country has known however was he that good to bring a horse from last on the home turn and be beaten in a photo finish?
On appeal Spurway and Lewis had their appeals upheld, as for Munro his was dismissed.
Leica Falcon Resumes For New Stable
- Tuesday, 25 May 2010 06:30
A switch to a seaside environment is fuelling hopes that Australia's unluckiest stayer Leica Falcon can turn his career around this campaign.
Formerly trained by Richard Freyer at Corowa, the out-of-form eight-year-old joined Jarrod McLean's Warrnambool stables in November and will resume in Wednesday's William Pearson Handicap (1500m) at Sandown.
McLean said he was looking forward to seeing Leica Falcon in action and while he didn't rate him a winning chance he expected he would run well.
"I am going to the races hopeful more than confident and looking forward to seeing him under race pressure," McLean said.
"I would be disappointed if he let us down. I don't think we will walk away disappointed."
He said Leica Falcon was sound and he'd had a long, slow build-up to Wednesday's race.
"I have had him since November, then we gave him a nice break and started fresh with him in early January," McLean said.
He said he had been trained without any special consideration and, like the rest of his team, worked mostly on the beach.
"We haven't done anything outstanding with him yet but he's had a couple of trials and done everything right in them," McLean said.
McLean is getting a reputation for taking on tried horses and last year resurrected the career of Kibbutz to finish ninth in the Melbourne Cup.
As a four-year-old, Leica Falcon was hailed as Australia's next great stayer when he charged home for a luckless fourth to Makybe Diva in the 2005 Melbourne Cup and was just as impressive when fifth to Railings in the Caulfield Cup the same year.
He looked to have it all in front of him but he broke down with a tendon injury in July 2006 when favourite for the Melbourne Cup and missed the 2007 spring when stranded at Freyer's Corowa stables during the equine influenza crisis.
McLean said that the way Leica Falcon worked gave him away as a "great staying horse".
"I am really looking forward to getting him up to a trip," he said.
"He has got a real good head carriage and must have an enormous set of lungs because you can't give him enough work.
"He's happy, sound, appears genuine and relaxes beautifully in his work.
"He's in a good spot at the moment.
The only concern for McLean is soft ground and the Sandown track was rated slow on Tuesday.
"The way his action is I would be surprised if he is effective on heavy ground," McLean said.
"He may have handled it as a young horse but I don't reckon he's comfortable on it now."
The winner of five of his 21 starts, Leica Falcon's 2005 Melbourne Cup run took his rating to 105 but since then he has raced 11 times and finished worse than midfield on each occasion, plunging his rating back to 82.
At Sandown he is topweight with 59kg and Craig Newitt will ride him for the first time.
"The horse is fit but he just needs racing to bring him on now," McLean said.
"We will get through this race and then we have the option of taking him across to Adelaide second or third-up for something over 2000 metres."
McLean also hasn't ruled out another Cup campaign for Leica Falcon, even though he would be nine.
"You never say never," McLean said.
"We will just let him tell us where is going."
Gippsland News: Nose Denies Pete First City Double
- Sunday, 23 May 2010 14:00
Moe trainer Peter Gelagotis came within a breath of scoring his first metropolitan double at Sandown Lakeside last Wednesday when Savquaw notched his third city win and Belgietto was beaten the narrowest of margins.
Gelagotis earmarked both gallopers as horses to follow in the coming weeks in this column three weeks ago.
“Savquaw’s effort was good and the situation with him is that we are not looking too far ahead. When I say that, I must add we have the Moe Cup in October again on his agenda long term, but in relation to the next few weeks, it is a case of all options being open,” said Peter.
“It is no secret he prefers give in the ground and he will be placed with that in mind. If conditions suit, the Country Cup at Flemington could be an option, or we may even look interstate with him.
“He is also capable on top of the ground, but when it’s wet it just swings things in his favor a bit more. He is in career best form and the horse is in great order,” he said.
HOOF ON TILL
The run of Belgietto in finishing a nose second to the unbeaten Lloyd Williams owned Base just two races later was enormous.
“I have said if before and I will say it again – I believe this horse is potentially the best I have put a saddle on,” said Peter.
“He had no luck at all, being caught three wide with no cover and his performance was enormous. I don’t think anyone would argue that if the runs were reversed he would win comfortably.
“There are plenty of options for this horse in Victoria in the immediate future and I expect him to certainly be competitive the next time he steps out.”
One gets the feeling stable supporters would have had very full pockets had Belgietto got home!!
FRUSTRATION
Despite the win of Savquaw, the narrow loss of Belgietto was just part of an otherwise frustrating week for the stable.
Encosta Rica was also beaten a lip at Pakenham yesterday and this came after Carneggan Dasher finished at Moe Monday and Carneggan Angel ran into third place at Kilmore.
While we are on the Moe horses, Alpharari (Allison Bennett) and Prinsom (Michael Templeton) finished second at Bendigo and Kyneton respectively and will pay to put in the black book.
Stony Creek galloper, Rockpecker dropped back to 1200 metres at his most recent start at Flemington and found the line well, hinting a return to his best may not be far away.
Pictures: Colin Bull
Price Looking For More Baby Bonus
- Monday, 24 May 2010 08:59
Unbeaten three-year-old Our Baby Bonus is in fine fettle for his first-up run over 1000 metres at Moonee Valley on Saturday and trainer Mick Price expects he will be hard to beat.
Price, who landed a winning treble on his home track at Caulfield on Saturday, had already decided to use stable apprentice Jason Maskiell on Our Baby Bonus to take advantage of his two kilogram allowance in the three-year-old event.
The Dash For Cash gelding, with a rating of 82, is the highest rated of the 24 nominations ahead of the Lee Freedman-trained filly Gibraltar Moon (80), Briefed (78) and Gold Rocks (78).
Our Baby Bonus had three starts in his initial racing preparation for wins over 1000 metres at Bendigo last December and over 1100 at Caulfield and 1000 at Moonee Valley in January before going out for a spell.
"He's going great. He had a 650 metre trial here at Caulfield last Tuesday and went really well, he won that," Price said.
"He's had only the one trial but he's done some nice work and he's a fairly clean winded gelding and I would think he would be very hard to beat."
Price said after Saturday's sprint, there were very few suitable options for Our Baby Bonus at this time of the year and he baulked at running him second up over 1200 metres in the Listed A R Creswick Stakes at Flemington on June 12.
"We've trained him for 1000 metres and he'll get 1200 when we're ready for him to get it, but I don't know whether we need to run him in it even though it's a $125,000 race."
Price said a win on Saturday would basically weight Our Baby Bonus out of the three-year-old races over the last two months of the season and he indicated he would step him up to open company sprints.
"He's in good order and I'm sure he'll be hard to beat on Saturday," Price said.
Price intends to start in-form filly Dubleanny, who landed her third metropolitan win from as many wins this preparation at Caulfield on Saturday, in the Creswick.
Trainer Doug Harrison, who has nominated Tan Tat Brav for Saturday's 1000m dash, intends to start him in the Creswick.
The Falbrav colt, who was diagnosed as a grade three roarer and had a throat operation at the same time he had a bone chip operation on a knee, resumed to win over 1000 metres at Sandown on May 12.
He will be trying to make it three city-class wins from four starts on Saturday.
Picture: Fiona Tomlin
Star Scream Unlikely For Derby
- Sunday, 23 May 2010 06:59
Peter Moody-trained Star Scream remains only a rough chance of contesting next month's Queensland Derby despite his powerhouse performance to win at Caulfield.
The three-year-old produced a stunning form reversal after being easily beaten at Flemington to snatch long neck win over Fieldmaster and Cabeza in Saturday's PDF Food Services Handicap (2000m).
Stablemate Garozzo, who is also nominated for the Queensland Derby, finished fourth.
Moody's leading Queensland Derby candidates Tee Emar and Arvan are already in Brisbane.
The Caulfield trainer said Star Scream and Garozzo were still under consideration for the classic but would only start if he thought they would be competitive.
"I am happy to go if we think they can run well but we're not going to make up the numbers," Moody said.
"We have three weeks to assess it."
Star Scream has won three of his nine starts but Moody doubts he is seasoned enough for a Derby.
"He is quite immature and everything says he will be better at four and five," Moody said.
Two starts ago Arvan beat Star Scream in a photo finish at Sandown and ridden by apprentice Jack Hill on Saturday he was given little hope of winning at $20 after his last start 10th to Kutchinsky at Flemington.
Hill was under similar instructions to last start when he was told to ride for luck from back in the field and this time it paid off.
"It is good to see the horse hit the line well," Moody said.
"Last start he peeled out and got knocked sideways but it came off this time."
Moody said Star Scream, a son of Testa Rossa, would win his share of races but he believed at this stage of his career he would be better placed staying in Melbourne for one more run at Flemington in the Rod Johnson Handicap (2000m) on June 12, the same day as the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm.
He said Garozzo, who was one of the favourites on Saturday at $4.40, was paying the penalty for his consistency with big weights.
This campaign he has raced five times for two wins and two minor placings.
"He is doing a good job but he is still learning," Moody said.
Pictures: Colin Bull
Caulfield Trainer McDonald Fined $14,000
- Monday, 24 May 2010 07:15
Caulfield trainer Clinton McDonald has been fined a total of $14,000 over four positive swabs to a banned substance in post race urine samples taken from winners at Seymour and Echuca last November.
McDonald pleaded guilty to all four charges before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Monday.
Analysis of samples taken from the horses showed the presence of 3-methoxytyramine (3MT) at mass concentrations in excess of 4.0 milligrams per litre in urine.
3MT is produced in the body of horses and is a metabolite of dopamine which is a substance produced in the brain affecting the nervous system.
The Board fined McDonald $3500 for each charge.
The horses concerned were disqualified from their wins - Mr Crane at Echuca on November 3 and Seymour on November 19, Carleton for his win at Echuca on November 3 and Shabtis for her win at Seymour on November 19.
Price Makes His Mark With Das Machen
- Saturday, 22 May 2010 12:01
Das Machen showed her rivals a clean pair of heels in winning the $70,000 BWS Handicap (1200m) for mares at Caulfield this afternoon.
Her victory provided trainer Mick Price with a treble for the day after Dubleanny and Royal Charades both prevailed in their respective events.
Meaning “to make” in German, Das Machen made all the running from the outside barrier with Dale Smith in the saddle.
Obtaining the lead easy and then allowed to dictate terms, Das Machen quickened nicely at the top of the straight to open up a winning break ahead of the chasing pack which included last start Flemington winner Two Hills.
In the run to the line, Das Machen ($7) defeated Two Hills by ($4.60 fav) by a long neck with Delyara ($21) returning to form making up some ground from her midfield position to finish a further three quarters of a length away.
Describing Smith’s tactics from the outside alley as “Plan D”, Price was pleased with the imitative shown by Smith to roll forward.
“We trainers think we’re the only ones to know but honestly we were thinking to ride her cold, there was good speed in the race for her to roll forward and be midfield somewhere,” Price said.
“But she flew the gates, he made his decision and got away with it and good luck to Dale.”
Smith also suggested his winning move was far from premeditated.
“It’s one of those things, there seemed to be a lot of speed on the formguide and I had a couple of plans – A, B, C and maybe a D,” Smith said.
“A couple of times in the straight I thought I was gone but she really dug deep in the straight and it was just a great effort.
“It all worked out well,” Smith added.
After undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her knees at the end of last preparation, Price expects Das Machen to become a regular starter in Saturday-class mares’ races.
“She’s come up well this time in,” Price said before adding, “She’s probably a little horse to follow in these mares’ races.”
“If she was to fluke a little bit of black type somewhere in Adelaide, that’d be about her.
“I don’t have enormous opinion of her but she’s doing a good job.”
Boasting a record of four wins and three placings from eleven starts, Das Machen has won in excess of $85,000.
Pictures: Colin Bull
McDonald Fined $14,000 For Four Positive Swabs
- Monday, 24 May 2010 05:47
The charges relating to a prohibited substance, being 3-Methoxytyramine (including both free 3-Methoxytyramine and 3-Methoxytyramine liberated from its conjugates) at a mass concentration in excess of 4.0 milligrams per litre in urine, detected in the following horses trained by McDonald: 1. Mr Crane – winner of the Honey Fashion SV 3YO Maiden Plate (1100m) at Echuca on 3 November 2009 Plea: Guilty – all four charges. Decision: McDonald convicted of all charges and fined the amount of $3,500 for each charge – a total of $14,000 due on or before 31 July 2010. Mr Crane disqualified as winner of the Honey Fashion SV 3YO Maiden Plate (1100m) at Echuca on 3 November 2009 and the placings amended as follows: 1st – Le Roi Charlemagne 2nd – Immaculate Choice 3rd – Roman Centreman 4th – Coral Castle 5th – High Street Road 6th – Captangeorgi 7th – Single Asha Carleton disqualified as winner of the TAC 0-62 Handicap (1400m) at Echuca on 3 November 2009 and the placings amended as follows: 1st – Jeuneys End 2nd – King Crimson 3rd – Singing Shadow 4th – Great Grandeur 5th – Liberty’s Way 6th – Elite Moxie 7th – Olyball 8th – Bee Bee Warrior 9th – Prussia Island Mr Crane disqualified as winner of the Mangalore Hotel Class One Handicap (1200m) at Seymour on 19 November 2009 and the placings amended as follows: 1st – Xanthos 2nd – Bartonelle 3rd – Midnight Louie (NZ) 4th – Arctic Light 5th – Prowler 6th – Tidal Spirit 7th – Meetmeinkentucky. Shabtis disqualified as winner of the Mitchelton Wines Maiden Plate (1400m) at Seymour on 19 November 2009 and the placings amended as follows: 1st – Eraset 2nd – Starxaar 3rd – Thorn Connery (NZ) 4th – The Divine One (NZ) 5th – Bluetooie (NZ) 6th – Unreachable Star 7th – Valley Forge Picture: Sportpix
The Victorian Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board, chaired by Judge Russell Lewis, with Chris Winneke, instructed by RVL’s James Ogilvy and Dayle Brown, appearing as Counsel for the RVL Stewards, and Anthony Lewis appearing as Counsel for trainer Clinton McDonald on Monday considered charges being four breaches of AR 178 [prohibited substance].
2. Carleton – winner of the TAC 0-62 Handicap (1400m) at Echuca on 3 November 2009
3. Mr Crane – winner of the Mangalore Hotel Class One Handicap (1200m) at Seymour on 19 November 2009
4. Shabtis – winner of the Mitchelton Wines Maiden Plate (1400m) at Seymour on 19 November 2009
Boss, Baster Suspended At Caulfield
- Saturday, 22 May 2010 08:15
Glen Boss has been suspended for 10 meetings for an unusual careless riding charge on Royal Charades after winning the ALH Group Plate at Caulfield.
Stewards charged Boss with not having "proper control" of the mare prior to the finish and thereby shifting in causing Commanding Hope to check severely after the winning post.
It was stated that Boss was riding with his hands on one rein which contributed to the interference, with the careless riding rated in the low range.
He was suspended from midnight on Saturday until midnight on June 1.
Stephen Baster was also suspended for 10 meetings in the same race for his ride on second-placed Galbraith.
He was suspended from midnight next Monday until midnight on June 3.
Picture: Colin Bull