Arsenic Case Decision By Christmas

Monday, 05 December 2011 07:46

Dayle BrownAn announcement on whether Racing Victoria decides to proceed with the state's first arsenic irregularity case will be made before Christmas and the trainer named.

Integrity Services general manager Dayle Brown said on Monday that all the evidence available to stewards had to be considered and the process had to run its course.

"The case is still proceeding and exhausting all avenues. It hasn't hit a hurdle," Brown said.

"An announcement will be made prior to Christmas."

The trainer involved will be named whether the case proceeds or not for reasons of transparency.

An irregularity to arsenic in a post-race urine sample was detected from a feature race winner at Moonee Valley on Manikato Stakes night, September 30.

Racing Victoria stewards were advised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Racing Laboratory of the irregularity and it was made public on Cox Plate Day, October 22.

Brown said RVL was continuing its search to find another suitable laboratory to test the reserve sample.

The Rules Of Racing state samples are to be analysed only by an official racing laboratory.

But the Hong Kong Jockey Club Racing Laboratory is the only known facility that tests for arsenic.

Stewards can proceed with an inquiry with confirmation from just one laboratory.

Arsenic at a mass concentration in excess of 0.30 milligrams per litre in urine is considered a prohibited substance in accordance with the provisions of Australian Rule of Racing 178C.

Arsenic is a poisonous heavy metal and is regarded as a tonic in small doses.

Photo: Racing Victoria

Henia On Trial For Magic Millions

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 05:16

David Hayes-trained colt Henia will be on trial for a crack at the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic when he makes his race debut at Caulfield.

Hayes said he would be trying out a few two-year-olds for the January 14 feature in the next couple of weeks but said the son of Henia could be his best hope.

The chestnut is among the first Australian crop by 2006 World Champion Sprinter and Darley sire Henny Hughes who won six of his 10 starts including two at Group One level.

A $210,000 yearling at this year's Gold Coast Magic Millions sales, Henia will be ridden by by Nicholas Hall in Saturday's Laura Butcher Memorial Plate (1100m).

He is one of six unraced runners in the eight-horse field.

Hayes said the colt had impressed him so far and he expects him to run well.

Henia's only public appearance was at Wangaratta where he easily won a barrier trial by three lengths on November 21.

"He's in the Magic Millions but he's got to be running well this Saturday to go for it," Hayes said.

"He has trialled well though and I quite like him.

"If he won he would be my number one for it (the Magic Millions)."

Henia's maternal family is light on for black type but his half sister and two half brothers from Thunder Gulch mare Denia have all been winners.

Mick Price-trained Starchine could join Henia on the path to the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast on January 14.

An $80,000 buy at this year's sale he is a son of Golden Slipper winner Stratum from stakes-placed Rory's Jester mare Jesterchine.

The only raced runners in the field are Timely Truce, second to Maximus Moonard in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown on November 12, and Jacaranda Avenue who is backing up after finishing second to Member's Joy at Sandown last Saturday.

Futurity Mission For Rekindled Interest

Monday, 05 December 2011 07:16

Rekindled InterestThe Futurity Stakes in February is shaping as a watershed autumn carnival event with Cox Plate placegetter Rekindled Interest the latest big name being aimed at the Group One.

The Caulfield race is on the agenda for champion Black Caviar as her first test over 1400 metres with Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker also set to run.

Trainer Jim Conlan said Rekindled Interest, who finished third in the Cox Plate (2040m) on October 22, would be kept to shorter distances in the autumn, with the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) in Sydney a target.

Rekindled Interest is due back in Conlan's Mornington stable next week.

The four-year-old lost momentum when he was involved in a bumping duel with Efficient on the home turn in the Cox Plate and Conlan said he would have a light autumn with the Cox Plate, the weight-for-age championship, again in mind.

"He was great, he showed that he was up to that level," Conlan told Racing Victoria.

"He was pretty unlucky not to win the Cox Plate and he came through the preparation really well."

"He went out to the paddock in good order and he's done well since he's been out, so it's all looking fairly promising for the long term.

"I would think we'll pretty much keep him to around about a mile for the autumn, just so he's not overtaxed through the autumn and then we can give him another crack at the spring next year."

The $400,000 George Ryder Stakes is run at Rosehill on Golden Slipper day, April 7.

Rekindled Interest also finished third in his other Group One test during the spring in the Mackinnon Stakes won by Glass Harmonium.

Sepoy, Helmet Set For Early Departure

Tuesday, 29 November 2011 08:16

An international campaign for Golden Slipper winner Sepoy has been brought forward and he is set to contest a rich sprint at the Dubai World Cup meeting.

SepoySepoy, who will remain under the care of his Australian trainer Peter Snowden, will be aimed at the Group One Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 31.

High profile stablemate Helmet is also set for an early Australian exit and the Caulfield Guineas winner is also expected to race on World Cup night.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for me to take these two colts over there and I feel very privileged," Snowden told AAP.

"I'll train them there on that night, they'll race in the Godolphin colours and then after that night they'll go to their new (Godolphin) trainer."

Darley Australia managing director Henry Plumptre said: "Both Sepoy and Helmet have achieved so much in Australia and it makes sense for them to go for international honours in Dubai and Europe.

"Peter Snowden, who has trained them brilliantly, will oversee their preparations for Dubai and hopefully the two horses will enjoy exciting campaigns in 2012."

The decision to send Sepoy overseas earlier than first planned coincides with Tuesday's decision to have the Golden Shaheen included on the Global Sprint Challenge roster.

Snowden said he was not sure if Sepoy would race again in Australia.

"Sepoy might have one (start) in Melbourne or he could just barrier trial a couple of times," the trainer said.

Helmet (inside)"Helmet will possibly have two runs in Melbourne."

Sepoy is already a four-time Group One winner with $3.8 million in earnings and if he is an overseas success story his value as a stallion will skyrocket even further.

Helmet has won three Group One races, the latest when he staved off Manawanui to win the Caulfield Guineas last month.

Australian racing was resigned to losing both stars at some stage next year with Sepoy expected to make his international debut during June's Royal Ascot carnival in England.

Helmet will be set for the UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup night.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Family Partnership Chases Flemington Win

Monday, 05 December 2011 07:16

The new training partnership of John Ledger and son Chris will try for a breakthrough metropolitan win at Flemington on Saturday with exciting prospect Better Be Sure.

The Wangaratta-based co-trainers have had 10 runners for three wins including their first runner Olimpica at Bendigo on November 24.

Ledger has had some good horses including Sandown Classic winner Brave Chief, Autumn Stakes winner Blaze The Turf and Rubiton Stakes winner Mind Your Head.

But the partnership with 27-year-old Chris marks the beginning of a new era.

Better Be Sure is nominated for the Johnstaff Projects Handicap (1410m) and will be ridden by Mark Pegus who has been on board the Not A Single Doubt four-year-old in each of his three wins this preparation.

The gelding has been impressive racking up a hat-trick of wins at Seymour, Wangaratta and Wodonga.

"There were four races that were picked out for him when he was in the spelling paddock and he's conquered three of them and there's one to go," Ledger said.

"He's a very, very exciting horse. He's one of the most exciting prospects I've had the pleasure of training.

"He was bred by Howard and Jean Martin who bred Better Loosen Up at Berrigan."

His dam Rulable, prepared at Corowa by Richard Freyer, won 12 races including three in Melbourne as well as a Berrigan Cup.

Better Be Sure is raced by Howard Martin Jnr and his two sisters.

"As a two-year-old he didn't have the sesamoids attached properly to his tendons and we were told that he would be lucky to make the racetrack," Ledger said.

"He had a stem cell operation on both his fetlocks as a late two-year-old and he was put in the paddock for 12 months.

"He was scanned as a late three-year-old and they had attached pretty well and touching wood he's been really good since.

"To the vet's knowledge the operation hadn't been successfully done before."

Stablemate Very Humorous, a grand-daughter of Blaze The Turf who has won her two starts this campaign on her home track, is entered in the Victoria University Handicap (1000m) but a decision on a start has yet to be made.

The Ledgers has their first city starter, Nicholls Court, at Caulfield last Saturday but he jarred up on the firm track when finishing 10th behind Canali.

He will have his next start over 1200m at Flemington on Saturday week.

X-rays To Reveal Jukebox Jury Progress

Tuesday, 29 November 2011 05:15

Melbourne Cup casualty Jukebox Jury's leg injury will be assessed next week by one of Australia's leading equine vets.

Jukebox Jury, the highest rated stayer among a record number of internationals in this year's Melbourne Cup, went amiss late in the race with tests revealing he suffered a hairline fracture to his left fore cannon bone.

With his leg heavily bandaged, Jukebox Jury has been confined to a stable at the rural Victorian property of part-owners Colleen and Kevin Bamford.

The Bamfords, who also share ownership of the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain, bought into Jukebox Jury after the six-year-old won the Prix Kergorlay in France in August.

Jukebox Jury has been under the care of prominent vet Dr Alastair MacLean, who recommended time as the most efficient way of dealing with the fracture.

"It was decided to take the conservative approach and not operate," Mrs Bamford said.

"So it's been box rest for him for four to six weeks while nature takes its course.

"The horse has such a calm and relaxed attitude for a thoroughbred and I think that will help a lot."

X-rays next week will reveal how much progress Jukebox Jury, who finished 20th in the 23-horse Melbourne Cup field, has made on the road to recovery.

"He really should make a full recovery but we'll know more after Monday," Mrs Bamford said.

Mrs Bamford confirmed Jukebox Jury will return to trainer Mark Johnston's UK stables in early 2012 once he is fit to travel.

"Our property is approved for pre-export quarantine requirements so hopefully he can do his quarantine here before going back to England," Mrs Bamford said.

Jukebox Jury, who dead-heated in the Irish St Leger after his Prix Kergorlay win, was one of two runners Johnston saddled up in the Melbourne Cup.

Fox Hunt was the less fancied of the duo but his closing seventh placing - three lengths from the winner Dunaden - was a result Johnston says he has become well accustomed to.

"... a ubiquitous flat spot in the middle of the race meant that he hardly figured until the last furlong," Johnston wrote on markjohnstonracing.com.

"Again he frustrated us by finishing so fast that it looked as if another hundred yards would have taken him into the reckoning and another stride would certainly have secured fifth (placing)."

Of Jukebox Jury's future, Johnston wrote: "Plans to race him in Dubai in March, have, of course, been shelved but it is still hoped that he will be fit to race again next season and a tilt at the Ascot Gold Cup (in June) is still on the cards."

Mixed Day At Caulfield For Jake Noonan

Saturday, 03 December 2011 08:31

Jake NoonanApprentice Jake Noonan had mixed fortunes at Caulfield with the elation of a winning double tempered with a 11-meeting suspension.

Noonan, 18, scored an emotional win on Our Spirit's Bay for his father Tony in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (1200m) but his wayward ride on Alpha Proxima caused him to be charged with careless riding.

Noonan dedicated the win on Alpha Proxima to jockey Harry Hillier who died in October.

"He was a close friend," Noonan said.

Noonan pleaded guilty to shifting out inside the last 100 metres on the Alpha Proxima inconveniencing two other runners and he will be out after Tuesday's races and can return at Moonee Valley's night meeting on December 16.

His suspension follows two suspensions in one week in Sydney last month.

Last season's champion Victorian apprentice, Noonan said it had taken him time to adjust to race riding after being sidelined for six months after a fall in May.

"It's been a tough six months," he said.

"The race sense is getting there I just need to polish a couple of aspects.

"It could take another month. I won't be Damien Oliver overnight.

"I am just a bit rusty that's all."

Our Spirit's Bay was Noonan's first win on one of his father's team since his return to riding.

He said it was a big occasion for both father and son.

"Dad doesn't have the great team but we do the do the best with what we have," Noonan said.

"We work together pretty hard and especially with a mare like that (Our Spirit's Bay)."

Our Spirit's Bay is a former stakes placegetter in New Zealand and has had four starts for the Noonan stable.

Noonan's Caulfield double follows another winning double at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Fellow apprentice Katelyn Mallyon pleaded guilty to careless riding on Florets in the WAFEX Sovereign Plate (1400m).

She is also suspended for 11 meetings from Tuesday night and can resume riding at the Valley on December 16.

AAP

Grand Duels In Caulfield Gear Switch

Monday, 28 November 2011 06:29

Veteran sprinter Grand Duels will have a key gear change at Caulfield to try to recapture his winning form.

The eight-year-old has struggled this campaign but trainer Byron Cozamanis is hopeful that taking blinkers off him in Saturday's 1100m sprint will produce a form reversal.

"He has been over-racing his last three starts so we have taken the blinkers off to try and get him to settle," Cozamanis said.

Ironically it was the application of blinkers just over a year that rejuvenated the accomplished sprinter.

After finishing fourth at Balaklava in September last year the blinkers went on and he won four of his next five starts.

His second of those wins was the same race he is contesting on Saturday.

He also won Adelaide's Listed Wylie Stakes in September, 2010.

After his Caulfield success, Grand Duels won the Christmas Stakes on Boxing Day and before taking out the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington in January.

He also finished fourth to Black Caviar in the Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington but then lost form and hasn't won since.

Three starts ago Grand Duels gave Brad Rawiller a torrid ride and finished near the tail of the field.

"Brad couldn't hold him up and he raced with his head in the air," Cozamanis said.

He produced similar results when he again raced fiercely at his next two runs in the Group Two Caulfield Sprint and Listed Swisse Vitamins Stakes at Flemington.

Cozamanis, however, can take some comfort that Grand Duels was well beaten in last year's Swisse Vitamins Stakes but rebounded a month later to win the easier race at his next start at Caulfield.

"It has been a month since he's raced at Flemington and he does go well fresh so we are hoping he can turn it around," Cozamanis said.

He said Grand Duels had to be managed having been plagued by injuries most of his career but he still believes he can add to his 10 wins in 44 starts and boost his $787,210 in earnings.

"He hasn't had that many runs for an eight-year-old and while he's had back problems and knee operations I'm happy with him at the moment," Cozamanis said.

He is yet to book a jockey for Grand Duels with regular riders Steven Arnold and Brad Rawiller both unavailable.

Extra Gear Added To By The Way

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 06:46

Ballarat sprinter By The Way will be looking to spring an upset at Caulfield after trainer Mark Lewis decided to make wholesale changes to his racing gear.

The six-year-old opened at $18 with TAB Sportsbet to win first up Saturday's Roses Victoria Cup (1100m) but it could be way over the odds if he runs up to his trackwork and jump-out form.

Lewis has rung in the changes ditching By The Way's nose roll and Norton bit, replacing them with blinkers, a tongue tie and lugging bit.

Lewis said that with the changes the transformation in By the Way had been exciting and he can't wait for Saturday.

"He's a Street Cry and it seems like the breed need blinkers so we gave him a couple of goes in them and he's absolutely flown," Lewis said.

"He ended up winning a jump-out by 10 lengths and ran really, really quick time."

Lewis said without the Norton bit the horse also settled closer to the pace, giving him reason to believe the noted backmarker will be much more prominent at Caulfield.

"It is a good field, but I give him a sneaky chance at odds," Lewis said.

"I am really looking forward to it."

Lewis said By the Way, a winner of five of his 19 starts, was the soundest he had been for a long time which he attributed to keeping him in light work on a water-walker after his last run when he finished midfield in the Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington in July.

"It seems like I have got him over the little problems he's had like joints and knees," Lewis said.

"I haven't had to punish him as much to get him up this time and he seems to be thriving."

Lewis said there was an abundance of options for By The Way over summer, particularly if the blinkers do the trick on race day and he can keep him to the sprints.

"There is the Christmas Stakes and the Standish but I just want to see how he goes on Saturday first," Lewis said.

Apprentice Jake Noonan will ride By the Way who has drawn barrier 15, but without the four emergencies would start from gate 12.

"If we can get three deep with cover it will just be perfect," Lewis said.

The three main chances Catapulted ($4.40), Miss Octopussy ($5) and General Truce ($5) have all drawn well in barriers four, eight and one respectively.

Americain Pleases New Trainer David Hayes

Monday, 28 November 2011 06:29

Trainer David Hayes says Americain has settled into his new surroundings after arriving at his Euroa property late last week.

Hayes said the seven-year-old was in terrific order but wouldn't be asked to do too much before Christmas.

"He has a great nature and is doing very well," Hayes said.

"He has been here four or five days and he is just having a very easy time familiarising himself with the property for a couple of weeks with no pressure.

"It is all a bit new to him but we are showing him how to go out in the paddock which he has never really done.

"He is a sensible horse and I think he will adjust pretty well."

Americain's handler Stephanie Nigge has joined the Hayes team to maintain a supervisory role with the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner.

Until now the International Horse Centre at Werribee racecourse is the only home Americain has known on his two trips to Australia.

Hayes was appointed a week ago as his new trainer, taking over from France's Alain de Royer-Dupre.

Hayes has flagged the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in March as a preferred autumn target for the champion stayer.

The alternative is Sydney's Ranvet Stakes (2000m) while the BMW (2400m) is his other Group One weight-for-age mission.

Americain has raced five times in Australia for wins in the 2010 Geelong and Melbourne Cups, this year's Moonee Valley Cup and an easy last start victory in the Sandown Classic (2400m) on November 12.

His only Australian defeat was a luckless fourth to compatriot Dunaden in this year's Melbourne Cup.