Direct Charge To Tackle Inglis Classic
- Saturday, 10 November 2012 00:45
Direct Charge Keeps Out Crack A RoadieDirect Charge showed the benefit of race experience by beating off two challengers to win the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington this afternoon.
First he had to overcome Shamus Reward which headed him at the 150 metre mark and then he had to withstand a strong bid by Crack A Roadie over the concluding stages.
It spoke volumes for the determination of the Robbie Laing trained colt that he was able to prevail under circumstances which would have tested a lesser horse.
Winning rider Steven Arnold brought up a hat trick of Flemington Carnival wins having won the last two races on Oaks Day with General Truce and Lord Of Brazil.
"I've had some nice rides in the last couple of days and he did a good job this bloke", Arnold said.
Direct Charge (inside)Laing explained that the pre-race plan worked out with Arnold was to lead if possible based on the apparent lack of pace in the race.
"The idea was to let him roll along up near the lead and at any stage if he was travelling well enough to go forward because he doesn't have an electric finish at the moment".
"There wasn't a heap of speed so we took it up and he travelled nicely", Arnold said.
Laing was confident of a win today based on Direct Charge's last run at Moonee Valley behind Crack A Roadie.
"The form experts generally see a horse three deep sharing the lead and he only got beat by two lengths running fourth so it was an enormous run at Moonee Valley.""He had no luck and couldn't get in but it wasn't Stevie's (Arnold) fault and he raced three deep the entire trip and got crowded in the straight."
Direct ChargeLaing went to $105,000 to buy Direct Charge from the Huntworth Stud draft at the 2012 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
"We only bought three yearlings last year, we don't get to buy many horses these days", he said.
Despite the small size of his two year old stable, Laing has specialised in producing them early in the season with an impressive strike rate.
"We've won the two-year-old race three of the past four years at Flemington so with a small team of youngsters we are doing alright."
A big well developed horse at 16.1 hands, Direct Charge was purchased with the specific intention of competing in the 2013 $250,000 Inglis Classic race open only to graduates of the Classic Sale.
"I bought him from the January Classic Sale in Sydney and that's been our target the whole time we bought him because he was the second top priced colt", Laing said.
"He'll have a run in Sydney late December or early January and then he'll go to the Classic on January 12 at Rosehill."
Photos: Quentin Lang
Cassidy Wins, Singleton Forgives
- Thursday, 08 November 2012 06:16
Jim CassidyA cheque for $600,000 helped restore an old friendship at Flemington on Thursday.
But it didn't prevent colourful owner John Singleton from telling it like it is.
Singleton privately paid out on jockey Jim Cassidy after his ride on Dear Demi in last Saturday's Wakeful Stakes.
After the filly won the VRC Oaks (2500m) with Cassidy in the saddle five days later, Singleton made his feelings public.
"I've never seen Jimmy ride so bad as he did in the Wakeful," Singleton said.
"He cost us the race, that's for sure.
"I actually sacked him."
But when replacement jockey Nash Rawiller was later suspended, Singleton reinstated Cassidy on the condition that he lift his game.
"I told him he had to ride her like he rode Kiwi when they won the Melbourne Cup," Singleton said.
"Told him to get out wide."
Jim Cassidy, John Singleton & Clary ConnersThe Oaks is the second major race this spring in which Singleton's relationship with those he pays to win races for him has been tested.
Three weeks ago things became strained between he and trainer Gai Waterhouse when she notoriously chose barrier 11 for Singleton's star mare More Joyous in the Cox Plate.
When More Joyous finished 11th in the race, Singleton snubbed Waterhouse.
The once enduring bond remains under review.
With Cassidy, though, forgiveness was as swift as Dear Demi's finishing burst in the three-year-old classic that multiplied her already substantial value.
"I forgive ya," Singleton said as he embraced the jockey.
Chances are the jockey's name was also put back on the guest list for Singleton's 70th birthday celebration on Friday.
Photos: Quentin Lang
Reith Confident Of More Flemington Joy
- Thursday, 08 November 2012 04:31
Christian Reith wins on NechitaA breakthrough Group One triumph last weekend has further fuelled jockey Christian Reith's desire to win another major race at Flemington, this time aboard Tiger Tees.
Reith claimed the first Group One success of his career when he guided exciting filly Nechita to a convincing Coolmore Stud Stakes win on Victoria Derby day.
It was a moment to savour for Reith, but he believes he's a genuine chance of saluting again at the elite level in Saturday's Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m).
This time he rides a horse he credits with playing a major role in rejuvenating his career.
Tiger Tees has won nine of his 15 starts with Reith aboard for seven of his wins.
He also partnered the Joe Pride-trained sprinter to a gutsy third in the Group Two Yellowglen Stakes (1200m) last Saturday.
"He's probably the one that has got me into this position," Reith said.
"He's been such a good horse to me, and the owners and Joe. If I could salute on Saturday it would probably be one of the biggest thrills I've ever had."
Reith is also sweating on Free Wheeling gaining a start in the Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m).
The Peter Snowden-trained galloper is first emergency but considered a live chance in the race.
The Sydney-based jockey remained in Melbourne after last weekend's meeting to put Tiger Tees through his paces at trackwork.
Reith returned to Sydney later in the week to ride at Thursday's Hawkesbury Cup day meeting.
"I rode Tiger on Monday and Tuesday morning and he has pulled up fantastic," Reith said.
"He's in great condition. I hope for a little bit of rain and he'll run a huge race.
"He has never backed up (in seven days) before but the way he feels I see no problems with him doing it on Saturday."
Triple Group One winner Sea Siren is the favourite for the Patinack on the back of her first-up Manikato Stakes win, but Reith rates Tiger Tees a genuine threat in the weight-for-age contest.
"He handles anything and fights for you," the jockey said.
"Sea Siren is the main danger, and Buffering, but I think it's one of the best races of the spring carnival on paper and we're going to have to be right on our game, which I expect us to be.
"I'm going in there with full confidence and reckon the horse will run his heart out."
Photo: Fiona Tomlin
Dear Demi Wins Oaks
- Thursday, 08 November 2012 05:31
Dear DemiJim Cassidy atoned for a couple of luckless rides aboard the Clarry Conners-trained Dear Demi to guide the filly to a resounding victory in the Victoria Oaks at Flemington.
Owned by millionaire adman John Singleton, Dear Demi came from well back to storm down the outside and overhaul favourite Zydeco in Thursday's 2500m staying feature.
The lightly-raced Summerbliss was a game third.
Conners, who decided to set Dear Demi for the Oaks six months ago, was thrilled to come away with the major prize.
"She just keeps trying and it was a very gutsy win today," Conners said.
"She's a lovely filly. Seven starts this prep and she just keeps getting better."
It was Cassidy's fifth win in the Oaks but Singleton revealed the big race hoop almost lost the plum mount after striking trouble aboard Dear Demi in two lead-up runs and being unluckily beaten in both.
Singleton had been prepared to sack Cassidy and give the ride to Nash Rawiller but when Rawiller was suspended, Cassidy was given another chance.
"I said `just give her a start mate. Clarry and the horse have done everything else. Just steer for Christ's sake. You're only on her because Nash is suspended. Let that be clear'," Singleton said.
Cassidy didn't let him down and Dear Demi did the rest to post a memorable Oaks win.
Photo: Quentin Lang
Honey Flower Wins Stakes Race
- Thursday, 08 November 2012 04:31
Honey FlowerThe famous red and black colours carried by many of Ross McDonald's former stars were on show with his only runner at Flemington on Thursday, Honey Flower, grabbing a narrow victory in the Listed G H Mumm Stakes.
The filly came into the straight 1100m event with a recent win over Koonoomoo at Geelong with the latter a Group Three winner at the carnival on Tuesday.
Ridden by Glen Boss, Honey Flower ($15) beat Dystopia ($6.50) by just a short half-head with Anise ($14) a neck third.
The last great horse to sport the McDonald colours was champion sprinter-miler Weekend Hussler.
Honey Flower has a way to go to join such illustrious company but as a homebred for McDonald, she holds a special place in the team.
Honey Flower"I bought the mother (Ocran) and sent her to Adelaide where she won ten races at Port Lincoln," McDonald said.
Eight of those 10 wins were over 1000 metres but McDonald is hoping there is more scope to the filly.
"The mare hasn't been very successful at stud but there are a couple more foals now, one by Bianconi and one by Not A Single Doubt.
"I'm not sure what we will do with this filly now but it's great to get a stakes win with her."
For Dystopia, who races in another set of famous colours, the Ingham family's cerise, the result was a disappointment.
"It's heart breaking to come so close," trainer Chris Waller said.
"Hugh Bowman rode her really well but she didn't have a lot of luck. We'll find another race for her."
Photos: Quentin Lang
Dear Demi Renews Singo Conners Group 1 Association
- Thursday, 08 November 2012 05:31
Dear DemiOwner John Singleton and trainer Clary Conners have had a long association, with Belle Du Jour the best horse that the pair have had together.
While Belle du Jour won at Group 1 level in the Golden Slipper and the VRC Newmarket Handicap, the pair also had an Oaks winner in the Zabeel mare Zagalia, which won the Queensland Oaks in 2003.
But it has been a long time since the pair were involved in a Group 1 horse, with the majority of Singleton's top horses making their way to the Gai Waterhouse stable.
All that changed at Flemington this afternoon when Dear Demi produced an authoritative win in the Group 1 Crown Oaks.
Starting a firm second favourite at $5, Dear Demi came from near last at the 800 metres to outstay favourite Zydeco (2.30-$2.50-$2.40F) by 1¼ lengths in a slogging finish. Third was the lightly raced Summerbliss ($8-$9) which finiahed a length and three quarters behind Zydeco.
Jim Cassidy, John Singleton & Clary ConnersSingleton gave serious consideration to replacing Jim Cassidy on Dear Demi after he put in a poor ride to finish fourth on her in last Saturday's Wakeful Stakes.
"I spoke to Clary on Saturday night and he asked me to talk to Jimmy and he didn't ring me until Sunday and I said we'd just get rid of him and put Nash (Rawiller) on", Singleton said.
"Then Nash got suspended so Jimmy got reinstated."
A relieved Cassidy said:
"It was up to me to turn it around because I didn't give it the best ride last week but that was last week and today is the big pay day."
While Conners wanted Cassidy to ride Dear Demi forward today, the jockey insisted that she would be better ridden back in the field.
Dear DemiCassidy was concerned that he would be posted wide if he went forward and was not keen on the flak he would cop from connections if he did.
For Conners after giving Dear Demi a long preparation, today's race vindicated his judgement that the daughter of Dehere would be up to the task.
“She was so strong today", he said.
"We set her for the race six months ago and this is her seventh run (this campaign) but she is a better horse than what I thought she would be.”
“She has raced in all the big races and she’s had no luck in her last four starts but she kept trying, she’s got a heart as big as anything.”
Photos: Quentin Lang
Hayes Revives Memories Of The Good Days
- Thursday, 08 November 2012 03:00
NiconoiseThe days when David Hayes dominated Melbourne spring carnivals may be well in the past, but there are strong recent indications that he could again be a force in Victorian racing.
One of them emerged at Flemington on Thursday when Niconoise won the Swisse Wellness Trophy (1800m).
Niconoise made up for a string of big-race placings for Hayes earlier in the carnival, the most notable being Rawnaq in last Saturday's Victoria Derby.
While Niconoise's breakthrough came in one of the lesser races of the spring, Hayes predicts a brighter future for the well-related son of Redoute's Choice.
"I'm quite confident he'll develop into a Group horse next year," Hayes said.
"He's very talented and he's been very close to winning a nice race."
Return to ScaleNiconoise is a half-brother to the high-class sprinter Nicconi and a three-quarter brother to the Australian Cup winner Niconero, both of whom were trained by Hayes.
Niconoise ($9) finished best to beat the heavily backed Commanding Time ($4.60 fav) by three-quarters of a length with Pelicano ($11) two lengths away third.
Seven times the champion trainer in Melbourne and twice in Hong Kong, Hayes trained a seemingly unapproachable six Group winners on Victoria Derby Day in 1990.
Since moving his training base to Euroa in central Victoria major winners have been rare, but in recent months the success rate has lifted with a string of winners in NSW and Victoria.
Photos: Quentin Lang
Arinosa Stands Out Among The Greys
- Thursday, 08 November 2012 05:00
ArinosaIt's worth a fraction of the Melbourne Cup but like the big race, only a select band can run in the spectacle that is the greys only race at the Flemington carnival.
On Thursday, the Chris Waller-trained Arinosa lived up to her $3.50 favouritism to take out the $100,000 event over 1400 metres with a surging finish to beat Dash For Viz ($14) by 1-3/4 lengths.
"It's special to win any race during Melbourne Cup week and for my owners this was their Melbourne Cup," Waller said.
"It's a dream for them. They were keen to get her here and we targeted the race.
"There are options for other horses but if you've got a grey horse, this is a great race to target."
Waller set the race as the mission after Arinosa won at Rosehill in September.
"We gave her a bit of a break and got her ready for this," he said.
"It's also good that she beat the boys as well."
Brenton Avdulla brought Arinosa to the outside in the straight with a sweeping run, giving her plenty of room.
Both the winner and the runner-up are by Dash For Cash, one of the best greys of the past few years.
Dash For Cash won the 2002 Australian Guineas and Futurity Stakes at Group One level and his last four starts produced second placings in four elite races.
It was a turnaround in luck for Waller after Dystopia was a close second in the Listed G H Mumm Stakes earlier in the day.
Photos: Quentin Lang
First Carnival Win For Hayes
- Thursday, 08 November 2012 02:57
NiconoiseThe Hayes/Devitt/Gordon team won the Swisse Wellness Trophy at Flemington this afternoon with Niconoise, a brother to Group 1 winners Nicconi and Niconero.
The win was Hayes first during Melbourne Cup week.
"I've been peppering the goals and getting really close and running great sectionals without winning so it was nice and Michael Walker gave him a great ride", Hayes said.
Walker and Hayes combined to finish an unlucky third in the Group 1 Victoria Derby with Rawnaq, so they were happy to pick up today's race as a consolation prize.
"Niconoise is very talented and Michael was absolutely shattered after the Derby (unlucky Rawnaq) so it was nice for him to get one up here."
NiconoiseWalker rode Niconoise ($8-$9) just off the pace before coming with a perfectly timed run to beat Commanding Time ($5.00-$6.00-$4.60F) by three quarters of a length with 2 lengths to Pelicano ($8.50-$11) which flew home from well back to finish third.
"Before the race we just wanted the horse to find his happy medium and his rhythm", Walker said.
"He travelled so good and I helped him get around the corner because he gets unbalanced but as soon he straightened he was strong."
"He is still not there mentally but I think the more he wins, the more confidence he will get and the better he will be."
Still an entire at four years of age, Niconoise has been given time to develop by Hayes.
Return to Scale"This is a brother to Niconero and Nicconi and I think he is more the Niconero mould and I think in the next year or so he will develop into a Group horse", Hayes observed.
"He is one that has got a great temperament and he is a bit like me, a slow learner."
Photos: Quentin LangShamal Wind Lives Up To Promise
- Thursday, 08 November 2012 04:46
Shamal WindTrainer Robert Smerdon knew Shamal Wind had class and ability before she ran at Flemington on Thursday, but he wasn't sure how much.
After her win in the Listed Gucci Stakes (1200m) he remains pleasantly uncertain.
"I wasn't quite sure how good she was," Smerdon said.
"This was her class test today and you'd have to say she's passed.
"But now I'm wondering if she's even better than I hoped."
Shamal Wind ($12) had created a strong impression at her only previous start, winning a Ballarat maiden by almost five lengths.
She created an even bigger one at Flemington, scoring by two lengths from Brave Soul ($5.50) with Isabella Snowflake ($6) 1-1/2 lengths further away in third place.
Shamal WindHaving handled the step up to city class, Shamal Wind will be progressed through the grades with a view to setting her a more serious test in the autumn.
Smerdon bought the filly under what he believes were auspicious circumstances at last year's Melbourne Premier yearling sale.
"She was lot 555 and I paid $55,000 for her," he said.
"It seems as though it should have meant something, some sort of omen.
"But I haven't found out what it is."
Photos: Quentin Lang
She's A Keeper
- Thursday, 08 November 2012 01:57
Keep de RoseDanny O'Brien produced his first winner of Melbourne Cup Week when Keep de Rose won the Visit Victoria Plate on Oaks Day.
O'Brien combined with Corey Brown to win with the filly, with the victory also being Brown's first for the week.
"It's been a while, I've had a few placings and been thereabouts but it's good to kick off, especially at the start today and get a winner under the belt", Brown said.
Always handy in second place during the run, Brown produced Keep de Rose ($10-$11-$10) at the 200 metre mark to go to the lead. She was untroubled to win by 1¾ lengths from Triquetra ($4.40-$6.50), with a long neck to third placed Moreau ($5.00-$5.50).
Race favourite at $5.00, the previously unbeaten Gladius, ridden by Craig Williams finished last.
Keep de RoseO'Brien elected not to run Keep de Rose in the Crown Oaks after her unplaced run in the Ethereal Stakes on Caulfield Cup day, saying:
"It was probably dependent on her last run but she got a bit lost from a wide barrier last start and couldn't really run up to what we needed to run in the Oaks so this is a bit of consolation today."
Pre-race plans for today were to make sure that Keep de Rose was on the pace.
"We were always going to be a bit aggressive and make sure she got there and she probably overdid it a little bit so it probably made the win a bit more meritorious that she still found."
Brown had to fight with the New Zealand bred daughter of Keeper during the race.
Keep de Rose"She was strong the whole way and if anything she was probably too strong early and she didn't want to come back to me", he said.
O'Brien plans to send Keep de Rose for a spell now before preparing her for an Autumn campaign.
"If we're going to aim her at some decent races in the autumn she probably needs to go for a break", O'Brien said.
"She is only lightly raced, it's only her fourth start and both her win two starts ago and today have been very good so we'll hopefully get into an Oaks in the autumn.
Brown agreed saying:
"Next preparation she'll win more races and I reckon she'll probably get over a lot further."
Purchased by Julian Blaxland's Blue Sky Thoroughbreds in New Zealand from Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud, Keep de Rose is by Keeper from the Grosvenor mare, Grove Nymph.
Photos: Quentin Lang