Saturday, July 28, 2018

Nature Strip Adds Magic


       Some serious spring contenders took to the tracks this Saturday and they didnt let anyone down with Nature Strip blitzing his rivals in the Listed Lightning Stakes at Morphetville. While Vega Magic began his quest for the Everest title with an easy win in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield. A stallion who regularly keeps producing winners Choisir ended up with three of his stock greeting the judge first at the Morphetville meeting.
  • Nature Strip -- An awesome performance by this son of Nicconi putting the time on the board with a blistering performance in the Listed Lightning Stakes in Adelaide and can now surely secure a spot in the Everest for the Weir camp. There are still doubters about the Darren Weir galloper but should you doubt the man who can turn water into wine as he said earlier this week “this is the fastest horse I’ve ever saddled”.He is now into 11/1 for the Everest with Vega Magic but neither have a spot as yet. Nicconi stands at Widden Stud

  • Vega Magic and Lope De Vega -- Last years runner up in the Everest, Vega Magic has put forward his case for one of the remaining slots for this years event with a dominant return victory in the Bletchingly Stakes. The Hayes sprinter is now unbeaten in three starts at the Caulfield track. Champion jockey Damien Oliver said "Vega Magic over raced in the early stages, which caused concern, but he was too classy for his rivals on top of the ground". Gytrash was another winner for Lope De Vega in Adelaide, ridden by Anna Jordso over 1050m trip. The 2yo gelding is out of the Fastnet Rock mare, Miss Barley.
  • Choisir and Morphetville -- He won 12 group ones in his career and sprinting was his game. The old guy of Coolmore, Choisir's progeny broke through the 100 winner mark for the Australian season for the 7th consecutive season and produced a treble at Morphetville on Saturday. The first was Barbies Boy over the 1600m trip with Kayla Crowther riding. Then three year old Choisborder was one of many winners for Darren Weir yesterday as he had an easy win in the BM70 over 1200m with Damien Lane, in the saddle. While Barood scored his fifth win of his career and his fourth this year over the 1050m trip. One of Choisir''s best sons is the ultra consistent Chamois Road who has a super record and always starts at good odds. The talented galloper after winning the final race on the Caulfield card, now has a record of 12 wins and a further 19 placings from his 39 starts in a stellar career. Choisir stands at Coolmore

  • High Chaparral -- The Chris Waller stable had many winners over the country yesterday and i would like to bring a couple of promising ones to the forefront. At Gosford we saw three year old gelding, High Power successful over the 1600m with the talented jockey Aaron Bullock riding. He is by High Chaparral out of the Encosta De Lago mare,Plumm. He is one for the future staying events in Sydney as are the following two winners from Rosehill, yesterday. The Redoutes Choice  3 year old gelding, Huangshan copped a few bumps in the straight but was too strong at the finish of the 2000m BM 73.  He came storming through the pack with Hugh Bowman putting in another masterclass , to make it two wins in a row. He is out of the Galileo mare, Majestic Girl . Thinkin Big looms as a major spring player for the Waterhouse/ Bott stable as the two year old colt by High Caparral led all the way for a convincing win in the Rosehill opener. Waterhouse said "the colt had the right attributes to deliver the Classic over 2500m at Flemington on November 3. Thinkin' Big is very promising and will stay all day," 
     Other results worth a look at is the win by Run Gypsy Run who kept the Fastnet Rocks in the winners stall as did the Darren Weir trained Mantastic who finally broke through for a win.The four year old gelding is out of the Galileo mare, Foreign Legionary. The seven year old gelding Self Sense added another victory in the Vobis Gold Stayers event over 2400m to his amazing list and now is heading towards the Grand National in a few weeks time.The Street Sense galloper has now earnt connections 1.2 million dollars in his career.
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Saturday, July 21, 2018

Visao Derby Bound

       This racing seasons coming to a close and on the weekend we were at Flemington ,Rosehill and Morphetville.  Moments worth noting were the continued success of the Exceed and Excels down the Flemington straight. The Encosta De Lago broodmares continue to get an enormous amount of winners on Saturdays and let the Al Mahers roll. While Brenton Avdulla secured the Sydney jockey premiership with a great ride on Tactical Advantage and in Melbourne, Damian Lane got four up at headquarters in reply to Craig Williams smorgasbord of wins over the past weeks but will just fall short of willow for the premiership there.

  • Snitzel -- Next week we virtually see the beginning of Spring with the running of the Bletchingly Stakes and there were a few warning signs put out by the Snitzel breed yesterday with the win of Miles of Krishnan in the Rising Stars Final over 1700m giving young Melissa Julius her first Flemington success. She gave the mare a perfect sit throughout and rode hard hands and heels to the line, for the win. Irithea was another win for the breed at Rosehill for the Baker/Parr combination over 1400m in the fillies and mares BM80. While Lions Head broke his maiden status at Kembla early in the day. 
  • Visao and the Encosta Broodmares -- Visao win in the 1800m Byerly for two year olds shows us a couple of things. The first is the strength of the High Chaparrals as they get out over a bit of ground and a bigger track but also noteworthy is the amount of winners the Encosta De Lago broodmares get and over all distances. The Ciaron Maher trained colt is out Villa Moura and was given a peach of a ride by Damian Lane and always looked to have the race in control. He will most likely be heading towards the Derby.
  • In the 1100m July Stakes at Rosehill saw the 4yo gelding Tactical Advantage get a dream run with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle to score for Kris Lees. He is by Bel Esprit out of the Encosta mare, Above Perfection.  While in Adelaide a distance switch back to 1550m by Ryan Balfour paid off for Canford in the 3yo BM70. The Canford Cliffs gelding is out of the Encosta mare, Sorenstam and was strong at the finish after a solid pace was set.
  • Exceed and Excels -- The win of Overstep highlighted two things for me in the BM 78 at Flemington. They were the Waller/Walker combination continuing run of success and the Exceed and Excels continued liking for the Flemington straight. It wasnt the only win for the stallion on Saturday as four year old gelding, Trogir in the last at Morphetville over 1400 also saluted, for trainer Phil Stokes.
  • All Too Hard -- This stallion and half brother to the great Black Caviar produces some quality gallopers and Unfair Dismissal in the listed Oaklands Plate for two year olds in Adelaide, could well be one. They tend to do better on a freshen and this colt out of the Exceed and Excel mare, Up and Up for Tony Mcevoy is no different. His record stands at three wins from seven starts now.  
  • Godolphin and Bandipur --A great ride by Hugh Bowman on the gutsy Commands colt Bandipur gave James Cummings and the Godolphin team a treble after wins earlier on the Rosehill programe with the 2yo Plague Stone by Lonhro out of Elusive Quality mare, winning  and Gaulois who is by Street Cry out of the Lonhro mare, Celts who won the BM92 over 1600m.
  • Al Passem and the Al Mahers -- Al Passem is a great guide to the way this breed loves to race. They love to roll at their own strong pace and even though last start it came undone as he was attacked in front. Today worked out perfectly for Ethan Brown and when he gave the gelding a kick halfway down the straight you knew they were going to struggle to get past this quality horse. Emshally at Kembla was another winner on the day for the breed.
  •  Other Results --Serenade the Stars won the 2500m benchmark 90 race with a strong finish for the Gelagotis team. The gelding by Sea The Stars gave that stallion a hemisphere double with the filly, Sea Of Class winning the group one Irish Oaks.   Brave Song's win down the straight is worth mentioning as under strong riding he responded to just score. The three year old colt by the Fastnet Rock stallion Your Song is trained by the Snowdens and the breed tend to get alot of winners north of the border but this is a rare win at headquarters. He could be a good one.  Invincible Al won the last race on the Flemington card for the I Am Invincibles and Patrick Payne. A quinella to the Ambidexters at Morphetville with Modulate for Richard Jolly just lasting to defeat Amberdi in the BM 70 over 1250m which is about as far as this breed likes.  
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Saturday, July 14, 2018

Smart Missile Firing

      It was a fine winters day at Caulfield for racing which included the group 3 John Monash Stakes. While interstate racing was at Rosehill and Morphetville. The imposing looking Voodoo Lad returned to his winning ways after dropping back from group one appearances to secure victory in the John Monash. The Smart Missile's continued with their awesome performances of late with a double at the Rosehill meeting and the High Chaparral grey, Silvera gave that breed a double with Mount Kilcoy a strong winner at Caulfield as well. 

  •  Smart Missile and Rosehill -- Sydney racing again saw the Smart Missile's firing with Smart Amelia for the Baker/Shinn combination. The four year old mare was first up over the 1100m today. She struggled last season but has now been transferred to the Bjorn Baker stable and her first start is a winning one. She is out of the Redoutes Choice mare, My Amelia who produced, The Mission.
  • In the final race of the day the three year old gelding Sparky Lad by Smart Missile finally got another win on the board this preperation in the BM85 over 1500m. He was pushed out by jockey Brenton Avdulla to secure the win for the Chris Waller stable. He is out of the More Than Ready mare, Lady Hepburn. In the listed 1400m winter stakes, the Fastnet Rock gelding, Dreamforce produced the goods once again giving Avdulla another victory for the day and bringing the gallopers win tally to eight from 18 starts. Smart Missile stands at Twin Hills Stud.
  •  Al Maher Stands at Aquis Farm-- The 4yo gelding Vaucluse Bay finally got back in the winners circle after nearly 12 months, in the BM80 over 2000m for the Waller/Collett combination. The Al Maher galloper has had a frustrating season of placings but made amends with a hard fought victory. In the last at Morphetville the promising Al Maher mare, Rat With Goldtooth continued too impress by trouncing his rivals over the 1600m trip.

  • High Chaparral -- The High Chaparral's were back doing their stuff  with the grey gelding, Silvera a good winner over 1600m in Adelaide after jockey Jason Holder took a trail on the heavily backed favorite Top Prospect. He finished strongly to win for te Tony Mcevoy camp and it was a similar story for the Darren Weir trained High Chap colt, Mount Kilroy at Caulfield as he sat back and took the trail behind Masculino until halfway down the straight where he shot clear for an easy win. The ultra consistent Godolphin, Street Cry gelding, Demolition scored in the BM78 over 1400m after a great ride from Damian Lane getting the drop on Avenger. He is ex Lonhro mare, Shatters.  
  • While in the John Monash the class galloper of the day, Voodoo Lad exploded away with a great turn of foot to win the group 3. The six year old gelding is by I Am Invincible and rates just below group one level on talent.
  • Other successes worth taking note of were the wins by Star of Monsoon. He is by Lonrho out of full sister to Redoutes Choice,Monsoon Wedding and has now scored three times since his maiden win, this season. Gerald Ryan puts his improvement down to maturity and being gelded. Listen to him discuss the gelding here. Gerald Ryan on Star of Monsoon. He was ridden by James Mcdonald.  A double for Fastnet Rock's with a win for Dreamforce and the promising 2yo Thorondor at Morphetville winning once again. Then two geldings China Gale and Schoolmates both broke their maidens at Wyong and both are ex Encosta De Lago broodmares. The later is trained by Chris Waller and is by Redoutes Choice and former is by Pierro.  Lady I Am made it a double for the I Am Invincible's when she won the class2 at Wyong, for the Snowden camp. There was also a double for the Magnus clan with wins to Magnesium Rose at Caulfield and Magnus Knight in Adelaide.
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Saturday, July 7, 2018

Red Letter Day for Craig Williams


     Races at Flemington,Randwick and Gawler on Saturday as Spring looms on the horizon. The obvious highlight being the appearance of a possible Everest contender in Nature Strip and jockey Craig Williams winning spree continues, to another Melbourne premiership with six winners. At Randwick the Waller/Sebring combination scored yet again with his filly, Seahampton flying home to get up on the post. 
  • Written Tycoon -- The Robbie Griffith trained, Mr Money Bags gained a dream run through the field for jockey Jye Mcneil to notch up win number four of his career, in the 1600m Silver Bowl. He is by Written Tycoon and held off the fast finishing, Mount Kilcoy. The breed have been getting a good flow of successes over the past couple of weeks and with Spring around the corner he has plenty of sons and daughters ready to fire. In the opening 1200m, 2yo event on the Randwick card, the Written Tycoon gelding, Helaku won well for the Snowden camp being the first winner of a treble for jockey, Corey Brown.
  • Sebring -- The Sebrings had a state double with Good'n'Fast winning for the Hayes/Dabernig stable in the Taj Rossi Final over 1600m with Luke Nolen in the saddle. While in Sydney that formidable combo of Waller/ Sebring got yet more success with the three year old filly, Seahampton charging home to snatch victory right on the line in the BM72 over the 1600m journey. The breed are so astute at the 1400m to 1600m trip on a soft surface. 

  • Nature Strip -- I thought Nature Strip maybe a bit vulnerable over the 1200m trip at Flemington but he continues to impress. The now, Darren Weir trained, Nicconi gelding, led them up from the jump facing the breeze and although he didnt let down like last start for Damien Lane it was still a comprehensive victory. The Everest is looming in the sights of connections ,I am sure. 
  • Mintha and Redoutes Choice -- In the Rivette Series Final we saw the Craig Williams show get underway as the Redoutes Choice filly Mintha, scored easily, she is out of the Encosta De Lago  mare, Hades. Australias former king of the stallions, Redoutes still produces quality gallopers and when he combines with the Encosta mares, there is fire. Its worth noting the win of Falago in the Banjo Paterson Final over 2600m another perfect ride from Craig on the Darren Weir trained old gelding who is by Fastnet Rock from the Encosta mare, De Lago Lass. Craig's other winners were Camdus, Magic Consul,Miss Gunpowder and another Weir runner in Sixties Icon. At Gawler there was another Redoutes Choice colt trained by D.Weir successful as Night Falls proved too good for his rivals over the 1500m of the BM 70. He was ridden by Brad Rawiller and started in the red. Another Redoutes 3yo gelding, Mascot broke his maiden at Newcastle for the Hawkes team.  
  • So You Think and Gawler --  In the 1200m BM 90 saw So You Too get up for Raquel Clarke/Leon Mcdonald combination.The 4yo gelding is very honest and that was his sixth win of his career over the 1200m trip. He is out of the More Than Ready mare, Modonna. Later in the day at Gawler the Tony Mcevoy/ Jamie Kah combination struck with Miss Siska. The So You Think mare now has four wins this preparation. She has found her mojo, thats for sure.  Classic Thoughts won a class one at Newcastle to notch a good day for the breed.

  • Mastercraftsman -- The win of Just Shine for Chris Waller in the 1800m BM90 at Randwick is worth looking at. The Matercraftsman gelding came from New Zealand a couple of seasons back, to the Waller camp. Chris has given him plenty of time and his record now stands at 5 wins from eight starts in Australia. All three second up runs have resulted in victories. It was the third leg of Corey Brown's treble.   
Checkout the Awesome looking grey stallion Mastercraftsman at Coolmore 

  • Breeds who scored multiple wins this weekend were Hinchinbrook, Fastnet Rock,Street Cry and Excellent Art. The Michelle Payne trained and ridden gelding, Duke of Nottingham scored in the 1600m at Echuca, for the later . While IHeartPoppy by Fastnet Rock won the next race at the Echuca track. The Kris Lees two year old Hinchinbrook filly, Aliferous won at Newcastle at her first start . The 5yo Street Cry mare, Philosophy finally got back in the winning stall after a run of outs with a win at Randwick in the BM 84 over 1300m for James Cummings. While the Street Cry gelding, Camdus won the last at Flemington making it a red letter day for Craig Williams, with six winners. 
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