Thousand Guineas On Members Joy's Radar

Saturday, 08 September 2012 03:45

Members JoyA horse with no real owners would have received the biggest cheer of any winner in the country at Flemington on Saturday.

The aptly-named Members Joy signalled bigger wins ahead when scoring its second success for its notional syndicate in the Listed Cap D'Antibes Stakes (1100m).

Ridden for speed by jockey Nicholas Hall, Members Joy ($26) cleared out to score by two lengths from the favourite Agueda ($3.10) with a length to Omniscient ($8) in third place.

The performance led trainer Robert Smerdon to predict a possible Thousand Guineas campaign for Members Joy, but he wasn't seeking any guidance for the future from the filly's "owners".

"I don't know who they are or how it works," Smerdon said.

"They pay their bills though."

Members Joy is raced on lease from Swettenham Stud proprietor Adam Sangster to the Melbourne Racing Club Members Syndicate which is at least one thousand-strong.

Syndicate manager Josh Rodder said he conducts a ballot every time the filly races to select 20 members to be "owners" for the day.

"It's a difficult concept to explain, but we have a lot of people who have expressed an interest and they are the owners," Rodder said.

Jimando wins from Awesome Bro"They pay very little and any prizemoney the horse wins just covers costs."

The spring three-year-old Classics are also on the agenda for the South Australian colt Jimando after his win in the Listed Henry Bucks Best Dressed Stakes (1400m).

Trainer Tony McEvoy declared the victory the best of Jimando's three so far, saying it proved the colt had the stamina required for the 1600m of the Caulfield Guineas and possibly the 2500m of the Victoria Derby.

"We will go to the Bill Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley next and that will tell us whether we go for the Guineas or the Derby," McEvoy said.

Jimando ($12) scored by three-quarters of a length from the favourite Awesome Bro ($4.80) with Forget ($9) a long neck away in third place.

Photos: Quentin Lang

Psychologist In Overdue Win

Saturday, 11 February 2012 07:59

Craig Newitt's vigorous left-handed riding style has delivered Psychologist an overdue success in the Group Three Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes at Caulfield.

PsyschologistTrainer Tony Vasil was running out of options to get the former top juvenile back to winning form but Newitt got the best out the four-year-old, bringing her home from second last in Saturday's 1200-metre sprint.

The widest runner in the straight, the mare raced clear in the last 100 metres to score by 1-3/4 lengths from Slow The Flow and Let's Be Happy.

"He (Newitt) is a different style of rider to those who have been riding her and we were hoping that would make a difference," Vasil said.

Newitt said the race was never in doubt.

"As soon as she turned for home she was never going to get beaten," Newitt said.

PsychologistPsychologist has won four of her 16 starts but was on an eight-race losing streak before Saturday's win with her last success at Caulfield in March last year.

As a two-year-old she looked a star in the making winning a Blue Diamond Prelude by more than four lengths at her race debut and finishing fifth to Star Witness in the Blue Diamond Stakes at her second start.

"Initially she looked like she was going to be a very good horse but she but had a few niggling issues along the way which we have tried to help her through," Vasil said.

"Winning another stakes race today has consolidated her as a broodmare in the future but she's a fair way off going to a stallion next spring so hopefully between now and then we can win a few more."

Photo: Fiona Tomlin

Sincero Delivers Spring Warning In Memsie

Saturday, 01 September 2012 07:31

The experience trainer Steve Farley gained on his first assault on the Melbourne spring carnival was put to immediate use the second time around when his stable star Sincero announced himself as a genuine big-race contender at Caulfield on Saturday.

Sincero"I came here last year thinking we were a chance in the best races, but I got a few things wrong," Farley said.

"At the same time, I think I learned a lot."

Sincero's winning performance in the Group Two Memsie Stakes (1400m) suggests his trainer is correct.

Against a field made up of a mixture of fit, in-form gallopers and aspirants for greater spring glories, Sincero served notice that his Cox Plate hopes are more than realistic.

Sent out favourite, Sincero ($3.60) produced a dazzling turn of foot over the final 250m to demolish the Memsie field, scoring by two lengths from Happy Trails ($13).

Second Effort ($19), himself an impressive Group Two winner at his previous start, finished third, 1-1/4 lengths further back.

The style in which Sincero put the opposition away prompted Farley to declare him "the most underrated horse in Australia".

That situation, however, seems likely to be short-lived.

"He's got a turn of foot you can't believe," Farley said.

Sincero"When he lets go he doesn't really quicken though, he lengthens."

As he did a year ago, Farley has set Sincero for the Cox Plate, but this time he believes he knows a lot more about how to win it.

Sincero raced three times in Melbourne last spring, finishing fifth in the Caulfield Stakes, ninth in the Cox Plate and seventh in the Mackinnon Stakes.

This spring the campaign that began on Saturday continues in the Group One Underwood Stakes (1800m) at the same track on September 22 followed by the Group One Caulfield Stakes (2000m) three weeks later and the Group One Cox Plate (2040m) two weeks after that.

Unfortunately for Sincero's regular jockey Chris O'Brien, one of the lessons Farley learned a year ago was that big races call for big-race jockeys.

"Chris and I are still great mates, but I think the horse has gone past him," Farley said.

As a result O'Brien has been replaced by Michael Rodd for Sincero's spring campaign.

In a race that kicked off several Cups campaigns, encouraging efforts came from Green Moon who was the only horse to make ground and the Italian import Voila Ici who showed surprising pace and then battled on well for sixth.

Photos: Quentin J. Lang

Eagle Rises And Another Plate Beckons

Saturday, 11 February 2012 07:45

Eagle Falls will defend his Oakleigh Plate crown after posting his first win since last year's feature in the Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield.

Eagle FallsTrainer David Hayes expected an improved performance from the six-year-old after an extended spell and the gelding rose to the occasion in Saturday's 1100-metre Group Three sprint with a last to first performance.

Hayes blamed a lingering bug from the autumn and too much exposure to Black Caviar for the star sprinter's form lapse last spring but now has him on target to be the first horse to win successive Oakleigh Plates since Dual Choice (1971-72).

"The eagle lifted," said Hayes who was sporting a Black Caviar tie to celebrate the unbeaten champion mare's 18th win in the Orr Stakes win in the previous race.

Ironically Black Caviar was responsible for setting Eagle Falls' career back when she gave him three confidence-sapping beatings, the last time in last year's Newmarket Handicap.

"She was just too fast for him and he gave up," Hayes said.

He said Eagle Falls also suffered a virus in the late autumn and he couldn't shake it last spring resulting in his worst-ever campaign.

David Hayes"We were playing catch up the whole time so we gave him a good spell," Hayes said.

"He is a brilliant trackworker and we knew if he reproduced it today he would go close."

Expected leader Karuta Queen missed the start after the race was held up by noted barrier rogue Here De Angels who was a late scratching.

After misbehaving for more than one trainer in Victoria, Here De Angels was barred but subsequently cleared to race by Racing NSW stewards.

After his antics on Saturday he was again banned indefinitely with Victorian stewards to study his NSW record.

Jockey Dwayne Dunn said that with Karuta Queen missing the start and settling back it took a lot of speed out of the race which probably helped Eagle Falls who was back with her.

Eagle Falls swung out to force a path rounding the home turn and sustained a strong finishing run to the 50 metres where Dunn urged him to the lead to go on and score a three-quarter length win over First Command.

Hot Spin, who raced on the speed with First Command, held on to finish third 2-1/4 lengths away, edging out Karuta Queen who made ground to finish fourth.

Photo: Quentin Lang

That's The One Scores Hayes Upset

Saturday, 18 February 2012 08:16

Emerging star That's The One has dented the Australian Guineas prospects of favourite Helmet with an upset win at Flemington.

That's The OneHelmet ($1.65) was dominant in Saturday's Group Three CS Hayes Stakes market but found wanting when finishing fourth after hugging the rail throughout the event while That's The One ($7.50), ridden by Craig Williams, powered to the line to score.

Settling eighth in the run, That's The One was always keen to go faster with a bounding galloping style out wide and, as has been customary, cornered awkwardly but when let down by Williams in the straight was far too good.

He scored by a length from pacemaker Decircles while Instinction and High Recommended couldn't be split for third place.

Cindy Alderson and her father Colin who co-trains That's The One made a successful gear change of a tongue tie and winkers on the gelding who has now won three of his five starts.

"That was a really strong effort," Cindy Alderson said.

"He has always had the talent.

"He's had a few issues with his temperament but he's started to come right.

"When I walked into the track today he looked really on his game and maybe this is his time.

"Craig was fairly aggressive on him but he knew he had the horse underneath him.

"He was fit enough and he took it to them and hung on well in the end."

That's The OneAlderson said Flemington was the best track for That's The One as it allowed him to balance up and stretch out in the straight.

"He is really big, long strider," Alderson said.

She said Helmet probably wasn't suited first-up and expected the Caulfield Guineas winner to be the one to beat in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 3.

Williams said That's The One, who last start finished second to VRC Oaks winner Mosheen at Caulfield, was "a much more finer product today".

"The way the race was run just shows how solid the horse can be," Williams said.

"He still did a bit wrong on the turn so he still has a little bit of racing experience to come out of today."

Helmet remains the dominant Australian Guineas favourite at $2.70 ahead of That's The One and Vanity Stakes runner-up Mosheen who are both $7.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin

Snowden Wins Third Autumn Stakes

Saturday, 11 February 2012 07:30

Pied A TerreLightly-raced three-year-old Pied A Terre is unlikely to clash with celebrated stablemate Helmet in the Australian Guineas despite winning the Group Two Autumn Stakes at Caulfield.

Ridden by Mark Zahra, the three-year-old made it four wins from five starts in Saturday's 1400-metre feature but it may not be enough to convince trainer Peter Snowden to run him against his Caulfield Guineas winner at Flemington on March 3.

"It would be good to have two good chances in the Guineas but I'm not sure if I will run him (Pied A Terre) yet," Snowden said.

"He is still a bit soft and hasn't furnished yet.

Pied A Terre"There are options back in Sydney for him, probably more than down here really, but we will decide in the next couple of days what we do.

"The key to him is to keep him fresh."

Pied A Terre suffered his only defeat against the older horses last start when second to At The Heads in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on January 14 after opening his campaign with a dashing win at Moonee Valley.

Back against his own age on Saturday he was able to settle on the outside of the leader Collar and held off challengers Proliferate, who was unbeaten in three starts, and Admantium to score a three-quarter length win.

Pied A Terre's stablemate Benfica finished ninth and will target longer races at the Sydney autumn carnival.

Pied A Terre's win was the third victory in four years for Snowden in the Autumn Stakes after Fravashi scored in 2009 and Denman in 2010.

Photo: Quentin Lang

Hay List Second Again

Saturday, 18 February 2012 07:46

Spare a thought for the gallant Hay List who was beaten for the fifth time by champion Black Caviar and for the second year in succession by the great mare in the Group One Lightning Stakes.

Hay List (red cap)The six-year-old Statue Of Liberty gelding is a great sprinter in his own right having won 14 of his 21 starts and more than $1.8 million in prizemoney.

He has won a Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley and an All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, both at the highest level.

But his record would read a lot better if Black Caviar wasn't around.

Hay List has chased the wonder mare home five times now and on four occasions run second to her.

Their first meeting proved to be a fizzer when Hay List wasn't right on the day due to his much-publicised feet problems and a run-in with a water trough beforehand when he ran sixth of seven to her in the 2010 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington.

But he has finished second to her the other four times they have met - in the 2011 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington when beaten 3-1/4 lengths, the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick (2-3/4 lengths) and the BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben (two lengths).

And last but not least Saturday's Lightning when beaten 1-3/4 lengths.

"He's probably run the race of his life and got beat you know," his frustrated rider Glyn Schofield summed up.

"He's run super, He's come back in great form. We've said all along we think he's come back probably a more sounder animal.

"It's a long way to come to get beat but at least he gave her a proper race today and she had to stretch and she had to stretch hard.

"She wasn't doing anything easy at any stage of the race.

"At the furlong (200m) I knew she had just edged marginally in front of me and I knew it was going to take a lot for my fellow to run her down because she had race fitness on her side and obviously she's yet to taste defeat.

"I can't give enough kudos to John (Gosford trainer John McNair). He's got this horse back.

"He's had his knockers but you can't knock a man that has been beaten by one horse so full marks to him.

"It's just a pity we keep having to bump into her."

It's a similar story with the Robert Heathcote-trained Buffering who ran third in the Lightning.

The Mossman four-year-old gelding, a Group Two (twice) and Group Three winner in three states, has chased home Black Caviar three times - finishing third to her and Hay List in the BTC Cup and runner-up to her in the 2011 Patinack Farm Classic before his third on Saturday.

"He ran as well as could be expected. There's a Group One win in him somewhere but where it is I don't know," jockey Michael Rodd said.

Photo: Quentin Lang

Long Range Plan Pays Off For Soft Sand

Saturday, 11 February 2012 07:30

Six months of planning had its reward with a decisive victory by the filly Soft Sand at Caulfield on on Saturday that has considerably enhanced her value.

Soft SandTrainer Colin Little said he had set Soft Sand for the Listed Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) last spring after she won a winter maiden at Ballarat at her first start.

"I put her out after that race in July and then brought her back in the spring with this race as her only target," Little said.

Soft Sand had one run in December for a win at Sandown and then disappointed in her only other run when third at Caulfield two weeks ago.

While her latest victory came as the result of some careful preparation, it was no more intricate than the filly's beginnings.

Soft Sand was bred by the Mitchell brothers' Yarraman Park Stud in the Hunter Valley but was conceived in England where her sire Dansili stands.

Soft SandBecause Dansili's owners haven't joined the band of stallions that shuttles to and from the northern hemisphere each year, the Mitchells bought Soft Sand's mother Mizzle in the UK and bred her to southern hemisphere time.

Mizzle was then brought back to Australia to give birth.

Little paid $160,000 for the filly at the Sydney Easter sales two years ago and while Saturday's win has helped recoup his outlay, it has also made her a valuable breeding proposition.

Given a perfect ride by Damien Oliver, Soft Sand raced away to beat the favourite, New Zealand filly Anabandana, by 2-3/4 lengths with a short head to Glows in third place.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin

19th Black Caviar Win Equals Aussie Record

Saturday, 18 February 2012 06:46

Black Caviar beats Hay ListBlack Caviar lived up to her rating as the world's greatest sprinter when she beat probably the second best sprinter on the globe, Hay List, in the Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington.

The unbeaten Black Caviar, sent out $1.10 favourite, landed her 19th win and equalled the record for consecutive metropolitan wins in Australasia held by Gloaming and Desert Gold.

The victory was the great mare's ninth Group One success and while she was too good she had to earn it by running 55.53 seconds for the 1000m, a shade outside Special's course record of 55.50s set in the 1988 Lightning.

She beat Hay List ($12) by 1-3/4 lengths with Queenslander Buffering ($71) two lengths away third.

Black CaviarThree-year-old Foxwedge ($21) was a nose back fourth.

In last year's Lightning she beat the runner-up Hay List by 3-1/4 lengths.

Trainer Peter Moody virtually ruled out Black Caviar fronting up for the third Saturday in a row in next week's Group One Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and it is unclear at this stage where and when she will go for her 20th win.

"I'd love to see it (go for her 20th win in Australia) but there is some possibility it won't take place now, but we've never let our heart get in the way of where she should be going," Moody said.

"I would pretty much say that she won't be there next week. For her to be there next Saturday, she probably had to have it softer today so we will let the dust settle but she needed to have it softer today to butter up three weeks in a row.

Black Caviar returns to scale"I'll sit down with the owners but if she goes to Dubai, she has probably run her last race in Australia this prep.

"If she doesn't go to Dubai we will look at what option leads us into Royal Ascot.

The Lightning could go down as the five-year-old daughter of Bel Esprit's best win as she had to come back from winning the Group One CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in just a week.

"It's the first serious task I've set her and I feel a bit sorry for her and you (the public) because it's the first time I've ever placed either of you under pressure," Moody said.

"But she shone through like the top horse that she is.

"Anytime she has been up for a fight and he (Hay List) is the only horse that has made her fight.

Black Caviar"With all due respect, he is a great horse but it's just unfortunate that he's run into a freak.

"She was never going to show a turn of foot that she had first-up last year in this race, and we always had that planned that we weren't going to be too far away.

"We had the best horse in the race and we were going to dominate the race and take it up to them.

"We weren't going to be dictated to by horses that weren't as good as her and Luke rode her accordingly.

"She loves the straight. I flagged it in December so it has always been in the back of my mind and I think I have trained her accordingly but obviously she's had a seven furlong (1400m) race and to come back to the five (furlongs, 1000m) was always going to be an ask.

"She ticked every box all week so we were happy to be here. It certainly wasn't the most dominant win but it's probably the closest she's ever been to a course record.

"She was pushed by a great horse but she's just a champion."

Photos: Quentin Lang, Fiona Tomlin

No Contest As Black Caviar Wins Her 18th

Saturday, 11 February 2012 06:15

She's the champion of the world, one of the best Australia has ever seen and the horse that broke the gates down.

Black Caviar Wins Her 18th RaceBlack Caviar, the best sprinting thoroughbred on the planet, turned back the clock at Caulfield on Saturday, dragging an old-fashioned bumper crowd that was allowed in free of charge just to see her run.

And at the same time she showed a glimpse of what's to come when she leaves Australia next month to take on the world.

As everyone expected her to, Black Caviar bounded to her 18th win from as many starts in the Group One CF Orr Stakes.

Only the South Australian mare Southern Speed made anything like a race of it with Black Caviar, and she had to produce the run of her life to fill second place, 3-1/4 lengths behind the great mare.

As well as taking her one race closer to the record number of wins for an unbeaten horse in Australia, it took her prizemoney total to a tick under $5 million.

"That might have been her best run yet," said senior part-owner Neil Werrett.

"It was her easiest."

Black Caviar with Luke NolenAs well as the massive crowd Black Caviar "invited" to see her Caulfield, her performance stopped a cricket match on the oval near the 1200m mark, the players jumping the fence to watch her flash past.

The only surprise to come from the race was delivered by trainer Peter Moody, who said he might run Black Caviar at Flemington next week and then come back to Caulfield the week after.

"If she pulls up well, you might see her again in seven days, and if she comes through that all right, she might be back here seven days later."

Black Caviar is then scheduled to race in Dubai next month at the world's richest race meeting, before tackling Europe's best at Royal Ascot in June.

Photo: Quentin Lang, Fiona Tomlin