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    Championing Life Beyond the Finish Line

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    • Last Saturday’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) has proved a fork in the road for a pair of Andrew Forsman-trained fillies earmarked for Oaks ambitions.   The race was won impressively by the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park), who swamped Forsman’s gallant runner-up Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh) late in the piece.   While Single Red is set to renew her rivalry with Ohope Wins in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie on February 21, it was an end of prep run for well-regarded stablemate Chilling Out (NZ) (Savabeel), who raced ungenerously throughout to finish tenth.   “Chilling Out raced like a horse that’s just come to the end of it for this season,” Forsman’s Racing Manager Joe Walker said.   “We really do like her and we think with a good spell now, we’re going to reap the benefits with her as a four-year-old and onwards.   “Single Red was a super effort on Saturday. She’s a nice progressive filly, and we will still be heading to the Oaks. It was a strong run considering she was stepping up to 2000m for the first time.   “They went hard enough and she was exposed quite quickly into the straight, so she probably had every right to knock-up. It’s taken a very good one to beat her, but we are impressed by her effort and looking forward to the Oaks.”   Fresh from riding his 100th Group One winner on Saturday, star jockey Opie Bosson will take the reins on Single Red in the Oaks, taking over from Bruno Queiroz.   Four-year-old mare Hinekaha (NZ) (Savabeel) finished sixth in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) won by Legarto, with the Forsman stable believing the consistent mare is best suited over a mile.   “She jumped so well, she led and the pressure just went on, maybe a little bit too early for her,” Walker said. “She’s seen out a strong mile and maybe 2000m is not quite the distance this time around but that is not to say she won’t get there in time.”   Quality mare Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) will have the addition of headgear this weekend as she looks to add further black-type in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) at Matamata on Saturday.   “We’re going to put blinkers on,” Walker said. “We thought her run the other day at Ellerslie was very good (when third on Karaka Millions night). She just hit that flat spot turning for home and picked herself up and was up on the winner’s heels as they crossed the line.”   There are also still cards to play for a pair of the stable’s highly-rated two-year-olds, with Lassified (Stay Inside) returning from Sydney after racing with little luck in the Inglis Millennium, while debut winner Stromlinien (NZ) (Almanzor) has had a brief break after her tenth placing in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).   “Lassified flew home on Monday, so she’s going to have a week in the paddock and then we’ll reassess,” Walker said.   “There are some nice black-type options later on in the season. We were happy with her effort on Saturday. The race just didn’t quite work out, we couldn’t land in a handy position and she was amongst them for the first time in her racing career. She picked herself up  and found the line well, considering and the Sistema Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) on Champions Day could be an option for her.   “Stromlinien had a little break after Karaka Millions night. It was only her second start and the lack of raceday experience showed on that occasion. She had a week in the paddock after the race but she’s back in work now. She’s in good order and she’ll be aimed at Manawatu Sires’ Produce (Gr1., 1200m) at Trentham in March. View the full article
    • David Hayes was left suitably impressed as Ka Ying Rising routed his rivals in a barrier trial ahead of his date with destiny in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday week. The world’s best sprinter is aiming to surpass the legendary Silent Witness by winning his 18th race on the spin when he tackles the second leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series and his trial on Tuesday morning went off without a hitch. Initially travelling second, Ka Ying Rising strode into the...View the full article
    • No proof.  No official communication. AI killed the Thread.
    • Suggest you give Chris Waller a call.  I'm sure he'd love to hear from you.
    • By Adam Hamilton Cran Dalgety summed up Republican Party’s Hunter Cup draw the best. “It’s the draw he needed to be a winning chance in such a hot race,” he said. “Drawing the pole is a hell of a bonus. It’s the quickest way home.” Republican Party firmed from $12 to $4.60 after drawing gate one for the $250,000 feature at Melton on Saturday night.  Defending champion Swayzee ($3.60) is next door in gate two, while Leap To Fame ($2.40) has six and NZ Cup hero Kingman ($4.40) is off the back row (10). Dalgety said Republican Party would be a lot fitter for last week’s second to Leap To Fame in the Group 1 Kilmore Cup. “He went from a chance to blowing out in the last 80m, but we sort of expected that with five weeks between runs,” he said. “He blew up a lot over the back and the run will bring him on a lot. We needed a good draw this week and we’ve got it.” Leap To Fame may have to do what he couldn’t do last year to win a $1 million bonus in the Hunter Cup. Mighty stayer and arch-rival Swayzee is the most likely of the big guns to find the lead from gate two and Leap To Fame may have to sit outside him. Swayzee used a better draw to lead, smash the track record and beat a gallant Leap To Fame in last year’s Hunter Cup. It was the second time Swayzee had led and beaten Leap To Fame. “He’s going to have to earn it now, that’s for sure,” Leap To Fame’s trainer-driver Grant Dixon said. “The draw isn’t perfect, but we’ve had more difficult ones. The way I see it, there’s as many positives as negatives. “I rate Kingman the hardest to beat and the back row isn’t good for him, so that’s a help, but then you’ve got Swayzee and Republican Party (gate one) drawn inside us. “Republican Party is the biggest winner from the draw. As we know, especially at Melton, the fence is gold in these races and he’ll be on the fence, either behind the leader or three pegs. “We’re going to have to be right at the top of our game, but all the signs are he is.” Leap To Fame is lining up for his fifth start in as many weeks, but Dixon said it suited him. “That’s where he’s different to most horses, he just thrives on it and bounces out of a big race looking for the next one,” he said. “This is the third time he’s had an extended stint down in Melbourne and it’s by far the happiest we’ve been with him. “He seems as good as this as he has all trip. He’s really bright, holding his weight and eating up. “We’ve just got four more days to keep him this well.” Leap To Fame’s three latest wins in the Ballarat, Cranbourne and Kilmore Cups make him the only horse eligible for HRV’s new $1 million Summer Carnival bonus if he wins the Hunter Cup. Victory will also give him a share of the record for Group 1 wins by Australasian pacer on 16 with former greats Westburn Grant and Lazarus. While most expect Swayzee to take advantage of gate two and find the lead, much focus will be on what Emma Stewart’s trio Oliver Dan (gate three), Miki To Success (four) and War Dan Buddy (five) – all fast beginners – do at the start. If one or more of them crossed Swayzee early, it could aid Leap To Fame’s cause. Superstar trotting mare Keayang Zahara’s quest for a 13th Group 1 win in the Saturday night’s Great Southern Star has been aided by a good draw (gate five) in the first heat of the unique race. Unlike any other Australian racing, the Great Southern Star consists of two heats early on Saturday night with the final about two hours later. View the full article
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