Black Caviar Races To 18th Win

Saturday, 11 February 2012 05:30

Wonder mare Black Caviar has handled her first start beyond 1200 metres with ease, annihilating her rivals in the 1400-metre Group One CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield.

Black CaviarThe unbeaten Peter Moody-trained superstar racked up her 18th win when she bounded away from Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed and West Australian star Playing God in the run to the line.

Jockey Luke Nolen didn't have a moment's concern on the five-year-old, jumping her on terms with the rest of the field and settling beautifully in fourth place.

Nolen edged her closer to the lead approaching the home turn and when he gave her head at the top of the straight the race was over.

Black Caviar strolled to the line 3-1/4 lengths in front to take her prizemoney to more than $4.74 million.

"If you were writing a script that's how you'd like to see it play out," Nolen said.

"I gave her a shake for 50 yards (metres) or so, then I throttled down."

Moody said he hadn't ruled out backing Black Caviar up in next Saturday's Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.

"What do you say, it's unbelievable," he said.

"It's mind-boggling.

"What she does to good horses is unbelievable.

"I'm just rapt.

"It's amazing, we've never pushed her."

Photo: Fiona Tomlin

Shinn Rides A Winner On First Day Back

Wednesday, 21 December 2011 07:46

Blake Shinn Wins On TelloraAn emotional Blake Shinn made a dream start to his riding comeback for himself and his family when Tellora romped away with a seven length win at Sandown.

The 2008 Melbourne Cup winning rider was disqualified in November last year along with fellow jockey and good friend Peter Robl for betting which is against the rules of racing.

During the time he was sidelined, Shinn underwent counselling for his gambling problem and also recuperated from a broken leg sustained in a fall on Melbourne Cup day 2010.

Relaxed and calm before and after his first ride on Wednesday aboard third placed Distillery, Shinn couldn't hold back the tears after Tellora won.

"It's hard to contain the emotion, especially with my family, but we've worked hard," Shinn said.

The mare is part-owned by his mother Carol Shinn and prepared by his stepfather Lee Hope and stepbrother Shannon Hope.

The 24-year-old jockey was supported at the track for his two rides by his mother and other family and friends.

Blake and Carol ShinnThe former champion Victorian apprentice and Scobie Breasley Medal winner showed he hadn't lost any of his class in the saddle.

"You've got to learn from your mistakes," Shinn said.

"It was terrible what happened but with the support of so many people behind me including my best mate Pete (Robl)...

"That's why we came down here (from Sydney) for a low key start and I'm just rapt because my step dad works so hard to guide me in the right direction.

"We hit a bit of a hurdle but we're back bigger than ever and I'm just rapt.

"It was my mum's horse and it couldn't have been a better result."

He looked as if he might win on Distillery earlier in the day but was happy just to be back in the saddle.

"Just to be around the mark was a great thrill. It was nearly a fairy tale," Shinn said.

"I came here pretty calm, I prepared really well and did the form.

"I was fit enough, I've done the hard yards.

Tellora"Riding is what we live for, we work hard and strive for it so I was very excited. It's just great to be back doing what I love.

"I'm eating less and just keeping busy. Before I was just sitting on the couch and I was getting bored a lot and that's what got me into my problem of gambling.

"Now I'm just keeping active, doing more things, keeping busy, not eating as much and that's helped me with my weight and I'm happier now."

Shinn will return to his old base in Sydney after he rides Hollowlea in the Group Three Standish Hcp (1200m) at Flemington on January 2.

"I've got some great trainers behind me who have supported me right throughout the last 12 months and I'm looking forward to getting back, working hard and repaying the loyalty they have shown me," he said."

Robl has also made a successful return to the saddle in Sydney.

Photos: Colin Bull

General Rippa Earns Blue Diamond Start

Saturday, 11 February 2012 04:15

David Hayes got another one into the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes when first starter General Rippa swept home to win the Group Three Prelude for colts at geldings at Caulfield.

General RippaHayes said the General Nediym gelding, a $65,000 yearling purchase bred by Gerry Harvey, had not raced earlier due to him jarring up.

However, ridden by Damien Oliver General Rippa ($17) came from last to win the 1100m race by a long neck from the unlucky Rusambo ($3.50 fav) with Ferment ($21) 1-1/4 lengths away third.

"I've been very quiet with him and haven't done a lot of work with him," Hayes, who holds the Blue Diamond training record with five winners, said.

"I gave him a little sprint up on Monday and he made a few mistakes so I went from last week thinking I had a certainty through his earlier work with Mama's Choice.

"But after that little bit of work I thought he might be a bit green and make a mistake."

General RippaGeneral Rippa was at $81 for the Group One Blue Diamond (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25 in the TAB Sportsbet market before Saturday's race.

He is now at $16 but betting is now being dominated by the the Mick Price-trained Samaready who demolished her opposition in the fillies Prelude and has firmed from $7 to $2.80 favourite.

General Rippa's stablemate and debut winner last week Mama's Choice is at $10 with Gold Coast Magic Millions Classic placegetter Mrs Gray at $31.

"I probably prefer Mama's Choice with the three weeks between runs from first run to second run probably suits better," Hayes said.

Return to Scale"But this horse long-term will be the best.

"He's a very cheap horse now."

Oliver said he didn't know what to expect with General Rippa who was doing it on natural ability at this stage of his career.

"He didn't know much early and he was content to sit back and watch them but he took a nice gap in the straight," he said.

"Even when he got to the front he didn't know how to put them away and when they came to him he sort of went again.

"He is still pretty raw and a long way from learning what it's all about yet but the extra distance (of the Blue Diamond) certainly won't hurt him.

"His style of racing won't hurt him because he is the sort of horse that will race in the second half of the field and be strong at the end."

Photo: Quentin Lang

Hayes' Rebuilding Continues Apace

Wednesday, 21 December 2011 07:16

David Hayes will attempt to further improve his tally of Melbourne winners this season when he saddles up five runners at Sandown on Saturday.

Hayes is still in a rebuilding phase at his new state-of-the-art Lindsay Park property at Euroa and believes his team will continue to pick up momentum as the season goes on.

He received a huge boost when he was given outstanding stayer Americain to prepare for the autumn and landed his eighth winner in Melbourne for the season when $21 chance Vintage Triumph won at Flemington last Saturday.

He has had nine winners in Sydney and 15 winners in Adelaide, sitting second on the premiership ladder there to Tony McEvoy (17).

"In Melbourne we've been a bit quiet, but I'd say we'll gain momentum as the season goes on," Hayes said.

"We won't hit our top until next spring and my grass track won't be established until then anyway.

"I would say this time next year we'll be shaping up to be looking good.

"The Sydney experiment seems to be working well for me, and Adelaide's been good too."

"I've got a smaller string now. I've got 80 galloping and I used to have 180 galloping so it's a big difference.

"I've purposely kept it small while I've been moving. I won't get back to those numbers but I wouldn't mind building it up to 100-odd again just to keep regular runners in three states.

"That's the sort of number you need, plus another 40 in pre-training."

Hayes starts his Sandown assault on Saturday with Spirit Of Carbine who makes her debut in the Swettenham Stud Dash For Cash Plate (900m).

The Danehill Dancer filly won a Tatura 850m barrier trial by 2-1/2 lengths on December 7.

"She trialled well and was untouched. The time (50.1 seconds) was okay but she wasn't knocked around," Hayes said.

Jockey Chris Symons has had his task made harder with the filly drawing the outside gate, 13.

Bay's Edge runs in the Ladies In Racing Magazine Hcp (1000m) from barrier four with Brad Rawiller in the saddle and Hayes is looking for improvement from the three-year-old on her first-up 10th to Delegance over 1000m at Flemington on December 10.

"She disappointed at Flemington but went silly before the start and we've taken the blinkers off and hopefully that will settle her down a bit," he said.

Zero To Sixty jumps from barrier one for Stephen Baster in the Le Pine Funerals Hcp (1300m).

The four-year-old resumed with a win in a Kyneton maiden (1212m) which was only his second start on December 6.

"Going up in class but a progressive sort of horse," Hayes said.

Luke Nolen will have to overcome gate 12 of 13 on Mosse Diva in the Patinack Farm Hcp (1400m).

The daughter of Danzero improved sharply at her third start when she romped in by 5-1/4 lengths in a Warwick Farm three-year-old fillies maiden on December 7.

"She impressed at Warwick Farm and I expect her to run well," Hayes said.

Last-start Flemington winner Token Of Honour drew barrier 11 of 16 in the D'Urban Hcp (1800m) and will have three-kilogram claiming apprentice Katelyn Mallyon aboard.

"It's taken him a while while to win another one but he's going well and looks well placed," Hayes said.

Soft Sand In Soft Win To Stay Unbeaten

Saturday, 24 December 2011 06:16

Soft Sand with Michelle PayneMichelle Payne labelled the promising Soft Sand as "the real deal" after the Colin Little-trained filly came from last to win at Sandown on Saturday.

Little said he was worried about the 1000m of the Ladies In Racing Magazine Handicap being too short for the three-year-old daughter of Danehill stallion Dansili.

"We knew she'd get back but she's obviously very good to be able to give them a big start," the Caulfield trainer said.

Payne bided her time before producing Soft Sand ($2.60 fav) to the outside for an unimpeded run and she scored by 1-1/4 lengths from the Patrick Payne-trained Song Of The Bell ($5) with Amour Cache ($14) a short half-head away third.

Payne said Little had told her to trust Soft Sands' ability and let her settle back.

"I think she's the real deal," she said.

"She's a little bit hot so she'll probably suit a girl rider. I'll tell him that and hopefully he'll keep me on her."

Little checked out the credentials of Dansili with a friend at the British Horseracing Board, noting that he was the sire of star English galloper Harbinger and 2006 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Rail Link.

He secured Soft Sand for $160,000 as a yearling in Sydney and she is raced by the Glenferrie Farm Syndicate.

Soft Sand has raced just twice for two very impressive wins, the first being in a Bendigo 1100m two-year-old fillies maiden which she won by 2-3/4 lengths on July 7.

Little said the plan had been to get her ready for black-type fillies races in February.

But she needed to win a metropolitan race to give her a chance of getting starts in those better events.

The Group Two Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 25 is the race Little said he had in mind for her.

"She's really a month early but as a maiden winner before today we thought she might struggle to get a run in those sort of races so we thought we'd go off early and pick out a nice little race," Little said.

"Being a metropolitan winner now she should get a run in those sort of races now and we'll just back off her a little bit.

"She might be in the paddock for seven or 10 days before starting on her again."

Little said Soft Sand would hopefully get out to 1600m.

"She might even get further if we teach her to relax. One of the reasons we rode her back today was just teaching her to relax and just rely on her natural ability to win the race," he said.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin, Quentin Lang

Signor Socks In Long-shot Win

Sunday, 11 December 2011 09:46

Kilmore trainer Kate Goodrich ended a frustrating time in her career when veteran sprinter Signor Socks staged a form reversal to win at the Moonee Valley twilight meeting.

It was Goodrich's first win since Changabang won a maiden on her home track six months ago.

An emotional Goodrich said she had had a torrid time recently due to issues with the Kilmore training track.

"It's been shocking. It's been financially hard and psychologically it's been tough," Goodrich said.

"We don't have a turf track to work on."

Signor Socks was sent out a $51 chance in Sunday's Noor Elaine Farm Hcp (1200m) after running 10th of 11 to Going Spending over 1009m at Seymour when he resumed last month.

However his rider that day, Craig Robertson, reported to Goodrich he had been playing with his tongue and may have rolled it back.

Armed with that information she changed his gear, putting on a cross-over nose band and taking the nose roll off.

Ridden by apprentice Jacob Rule, the seven-year-old led but was clearly headed by the Peter Moody-trained Ben Zena ($5 equal fav) in the straight.

However Signor Socks showed plenty of heart to fight back and win by a short-neck with Rebel Truce ($5.50) running on strongly to finish a half-length away third.

Goodrich races Signor Socks with her partner, former Collingwood back pocket John Hassall.

Hassall took up track riding some time ago with mixed results.

"I reckon I've had more injuries than in footy," Hassall said.

Signor Socks has won five races and been placed eight times from 35 starts for $166,328 in prizemoney.

It was his first win since scoring at $31 on a heavy track at a Saturday meeting at Sandown in July 2009.

The gelding had been placed in three of nine runs at Moonee Valley, including a second to Group One winner Eagle Falls in August 2009 and is clearly the stable favourite

"He's probably the oldest horse trained at Kilmore but he's the soundest," Goodrich said.

"We nearly lost him 12 months ago. He got really sick and he's been part of the family so that was really hard.

"But we knew if we could get him right again he was still the horse, there's no soundness issues with him."

It was Rule's third metropolitan winner since he returned a couple of months ago from a few months off.

"It just got too much, but I always planned to come back," Rule said.

Rule, who is now with Malua Racing's Flemington-based trainer John Sadler, still claims 2kg in town but can't ride below 54kg.

Scarf Off To Dubai After Sandown Win

Saturday, 24 December 2011 05:30

Scarf with Mark ZahraThe Peter Snowden-trained Scarf ran his last race in Australia on Saturday when he bolted in at Sandown ahead of going to Dubai to race over the World Cup carnival.

Melbourne stable foreman Paul Snowden said Scarf would have his second inoculation on Boxing Day before leaving.

The grey will race in suitable ratings races at Meydan over the 2012 Dubai World Cup Carnival which runs from January 5 through to the Dubai Cup meeting on March 31.

Stablemates Soul and Dysphonia will also be following to Dubai as will the team's superstars Sepoy and Helmet who will both race here before they make the trip.

Peter Snowden will remain trainer of the multiple Group One winners in Dubai before they join the Godolphin team and race on in England.

Paul Snowden said Sepoy would probably resume in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 25 before heading to Dubai for the Group One Golden Shaheen (1200m).

Helmet, who is set to resume in the Group Three CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 18, is being readied for the Group Two UAE Derby (1800m).

Scarf, backed from $3.80 to start $3.10 favourite, sat off race leader King Cobweb in the Swettenham Stud Summer Championship Heat 2 (1500m) before racing away to a very easy win.

Ridden by Mark Zahra, the Lonhro four-year-old scored by four lengths from Horsham-trained mare Let's Be Happy ($6) who had been after her fifth straight city win.

Bocuse ($9.50) was 1-1/2 lengths away third.

Scarf, who has raced in Sydney throughout his career, has now won seven of his 15 starts and Snowden said he was not concerned in the slightest about him handling Melbourne's left-handed way.

"It was pretty easy for this bloke as he spent his whole two-year-old career down here," he said.

"It's pretty much home for him here and he slotted in really well.

"I think about 10 days before he had his first start he went back to Sydney.

"He had a very serious injury after his first start actually.

"He fractured his hind tibia bone which is very hard to do and it is not a thing diagnosed a lot so he spent a lot of time on the sidelines with that and he's obviously come back a much bigger and better horse."

Photo: Fiona Tomlin

Circle The Globe In All The Way Win

Sunday, 11 December 2011 07:15

Trainer Brendan McCarthy had some compensation for losing one of his most promising young gallopers when Circle The Globe led throughout for an impressive win at Moonee Valley.

The unraced Sly Stach, a magnificent grey colt by Dash For Cash and a half-brother to McCarthy's dual stakes-winning sprinter Zedi Knight, had to be put down after being injured.

"He would have picked Zedi Knight up and carried him," McCarthy said.

"He fractured a back leg about two weeks ago and then he got cast in the box.

"He looked like he was going to be all right until that happened.

"I got a Amadeus Wolf colt out of the mare the other day so that's something.

"I'm sending her back to Dash For Cash but it's going to be a late foal."

Ridden by Danny Nikolic, Circle The Globe ($3.70) was favourite in the shark.com.au Plate (2040m) for maidens, cleared out from her rivals to score by five lengths from Charting with Memphis Man 1-1/4 lengths away third.

"She's been very consistent," McCarthy said of the four-year-old who had been placed in four of her seven starts before Sunday's twilight meeting.

"She's getting better as she gets over a bit more ground. That was her first start over 2000 metres."

Nikolic said Circle The Globe was starting to live up to her early promise.

"I liked this mare early doors. I thought she was going to be at least Saturday city class or might even black type grade," he said.

"She showed a lot, then she went through a stage where she wasn't clicking and not finding anything and I thought she was very disappointing.

"But we've found as we've stepped up her training and racing she's really coming into her own with special thanks to my brother Tommy and his partner Tara.

"They've worked very closely with Brendan (McCarthy) with this mare.

"She was a bit of a head case but Tom rides her every morning and he's got her going really well.

"I think she's going to stay further which is a big thing when you go to staying races because if they do stick the races get weaker, not stronger."

Circle The Globe is a half-sister to Siennas Fury who won the 2008 Listed Blue Diamond Fillies Preview (1000m) and was runner-up in the Group Three Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200).

Kavanagh Coy About Millions For Alezan

Saturday, 24 December 2011 03:59

Alezan ThunderMark Kavanagh is reluctant to commit to a start for Alezan Thunder in the $2 million Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic at the Gold Coast despite her thrashing her rivals in the Swettenham Stud Dash For Cash at Sandown.

The Written Tycoon filly has now won twice from three starts, scoring over 1000m on debut at Morphettville in October and finishing third to Applegate in the Listed Emirates Airlines Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.

A drifter in the betting from $2.40 to start $2.70 favourite Alezan Thunder, wearing winkers for the first time, was always prominent after jumping from barrier one on Saturday and raced away to score by 3-3/4 lengths from Ephemera ($6.50) with Flying Hostess ($16) third.

Alezan ThunderThe filly ran the 900m trip in 51.41 seconds which is a course record, beating the time Members Joy ran (53.01s) in winning the first Dash For Cash run on a soft track on November 26.

"We'll have to have a chat with the boys (owners) and see how we go. Obviously she's above average," Kavanagh said regarding a start in the Gold Coast 1200m feature on January 14.

"The knock (on taking her to the Gold Coast) would be the opposite way, if it rained ... don't know. We might be better off doing something else. We'll wait and see."

Surprisingly Alezan Thunder was not one of the 14 two-year-olds Kavanagh nominated for the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25.

Alezan Thunder"We paid $50,000, something like that for her. We bought her without the catalogue, without the breeding, just walked around and picked out the best type," he said.

"How long has this been going on."

Winning jockey Stephen Baster, who leaves for a six-month stint in Singapore on January 15, was impressed with the filly.

"Kav said she's a bit flighty but she did everything right today. She was really quiet in the gates and pinged the machines well," he said.

"Obviously having had a couple of runs already helped and she was pretty strong on the line.

"She's a nice filly and hopefully she'll win better races."

Photos: Fiona Tomlin

Werribee Abandoned After Storm

Saturday, 10 December 2011 08:45

A severe thunderstorm has caused Saturday's Werribee races to be abandoned after just two events at its first meeting in nine months.

The club, which faced extinction three years ago, has had only three meetings since its new track opened in December last year.

Saturday's seven-race card was its first fixture since the club held its Cup meeting on March 18.

Stewards and jockeys inspected the track after 29mm of rain had fallen up to 3.30pm (AEDT) which included 22mm in a 15-minute period following the second race, leaving significant surface water.

In addition to the state of the track, the club also experienced a collapsed roof in the members' dining room as well as other significant flooding and damage to several areas of the racecourse.

"It's an extremely disappointing outcome as the return to racing at Werribee was greatly anticipated by everyone," Werribee Racing Club chief executive Jeremy Crawford said.

"We had a large number of dining and marquee bookings for today and it promised to be a great day of racing.

"The safety and wellbeing of both jockeys and horses is paramount and we fully understand the need to abandon the meeting."