Political Yarns

Sam Agars LIGHT YEARS CHARM - R7 (7) Galloper firmly on the rise with plenty of ratings points in hand   Jay Rooney LITTLE PARADISE - R10 (8) Looks set to extend his unbeaten record after a pair of smart wins   Trackwork Spy AHREN - R10 (10) Track and distance winner only lost out narrowly in this grade last time   Phillip Woo AHREN - R10 (10) Smart youngster can go one better after a game second last start at this level   Shannon (Vincent Wong) KING OBERON - R1 (2) Can win dropping in class...View the full article

Last start course winner War Of Succession (Tavistock) relished stepping in distance when winning the $40,000 Horizon By SkyCity Rating 65 2100 metres on Saturday at Ellerslie. In the process, War Of Succession took seasonal prize money earnings for Te Akau Racing to a new record, topping $9 million for the first time in New Zealand racing history. Having recorded a very good second-up victory in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 17 May at Ellerslie, War Of Succession remained in the same grade and carried 56.5kg, aided by the three-kilo claim of apprentice Hayley Hassman, who won the first race on the programme aboard stable-mate Pokuru Gold (NZ) (Darci Brahma). Bred to stay, and a four-length Maiden winner over 1950 metres, War Of Succession appeared nicely placed to again rate a top three chance. Settling off a genuine early pace, War Of Succession seemed to travel sweetly when pressure increased at the 600m, cruised into contention turning for home, and kept responding with a well-timed finish to score stylishly. It was another competent ride by a young apprentice with the bit between her teeth, matched by the performance of a promising staying horse that boasts three wins from four starts on soft footing. “He relaxed beautifully and did an amazing job out there,” Hassman said. “The pace was on from the start and that really suited us, and we were able to kick through between runners on the home bend. He did everything perfectly and ran home strongly. “He had kicked before I even asked him and was right underneath me, ready to strike. When I asked him, he put them bed. “I ride him in pacework at home, so have got to know him pretty well, ridden him in a couple of trials, too, and good to get the ride on race day. He’s improving with each run.” On Soft7 footing, that subsequently upgraded to Soft6, War Of Succession ran 2100 metres in 2:12.8, last 600m in 37.6, and paid $3.50 & $1.60. “It was another really good win and a lovely ride of Hayley’s,” Walker said. “She got him into a perfect spot, off the fence at the right time, and got to the right part of the track turning for home. She’s riding very well. “We’re very thankful for the patience of the owners. He’s just had a few niggles and maturity problems, but he’s starting to put it altogether now.” War Of Succession was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, and owned by Te Akau 2022 Stallion Breeding Syndicate. “It was great to have Pokuru Gold win for Ian Farrelly and then this horse (War Of Succession) for a really good group of owners,” Ellis said. “They’ve been patient and it’s great to see them being rewarded with a horse that has now won consecutive races at Ellerslie, and looks to have a bright future over ground. “The horse was bred by Sir Brendan and Lady Lindsay, at Cambridge Stud, and like a lot of Tavistock’s progenies we’re seeing him improve with age. “After torrential rain this week in Auckland, to be able to race on a track as good as they’ve got today at Ellerslie it just incredible. It’s a credit to the track staff and the club administrators. “Those wins took us over $9 million in prize money in New Zealand this season and that’s the first time that’s ever been achieved. “I think there are only three trainers in Melbourne that have won more than $9 million this season, one in Queensland, and about four in Sydney, so it’s a fantastic achievement. “It shows that through Entain’s involvement in partnering with the TAB that we are racing for higher stakes, which the owners deserve, and also that Mark and Sam and all our staff are continuing to do an outstanding job. “Also, to Hayley, it was a very good ride and she’s just going from strength to strength as young rider. It’s fantastic to see her doing so well and it’s a big thrill for Karyn and me. “Te Akau has always been very supportive of our apprentices and Hayley is following in the footsteps of jockeys like Opie Bosson, Vinny Colgan, Samantha Collett, Troy Harris, Dan Stackhouse, Mick Dee, Wiremu Pinn, and Jasmine Fawcett.” War Of Succession was strapped by Nicole Weatherley. View the full article

A gritty performance by Western Empire to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Pinjarra has enabled the seven-year-old gelding to break the A$3 million barrier in career earnings. The Grant and Alana Williams-trained son of Iffraaj was as brave as ever, coming from a three-wide position midfield to wear-down favourite Magnificent Andy over the concluding stages. Western Empire missed the Belmont Sprint with a foot issue and hadn’t raced since finishing ninth in The Quokka (1200m) in April. Winner of the 2021 Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) for the Williams, Western Empire spent time in Melbourne with Danny O’Brien and John Leek Jnr over the ensuing two seasons where his form deteriorated before the Williams purchased him when he was offered for sale online. “We love this horse,” Grant Williams said. “He’s put in two bad runs over 1200m and all the experts write him off after that. “There were only a couple of Group one winners in this race, which means they’re  quality, and that’s what he is. “We gallop them up hills, he’s done plenty of work. He had that foot issue and I’ll be honest, it still wasn’t that great yesterday, but he’s sound on it. “Three deep, no cover and he hit the line good. What else can I say?  I can’t talk highly enough about this horse.” Williams said some TLC was the key to the horse. “They’re not machines. Some of them have to be treated differently and he does. He just needs to be treated differently. “He’s got a huge motor and he’s got Alana so it’s all onwards and upwards.” After unsuccessful tilts at the 1200m features of the Gr.1 Winterbottom and the A$5 Quokka, Williams said Western Empire won’t race over such a short distance again. “He’ll never go to 1200m again,” Williams said. “We learnt trying to be heroes and reading the papers. We thought it was easy winning 1200s and it’s not. He’s not a 1200m horse. “He is a 1400m to maybe 2000m horse and we might even have a little dip at the Strickland Stakes (Gr.3, 2000m). “We might have to put some ear muffs or something on him.” From 30 starts, Western Empire has now won 11 races with a further eight placings and A$3,004,550 in prizemoney. Bred and raced by original owners Bob and Sandra Peters under their Peters Investments Pty Ltd banner, Western Empire is by former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj and is out of Gr.2 Perth Cup (2400m) winner Western Jewel. View the full article

The training partnership of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton continues to flourish as evidenced by a stable quinella in Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) as Maison Louis defeated King Of Thunder in a perfect result for the Sydney trainers.  Charlton joined O’Shea in partnership this season and Maison Louis becomes the duo’s third Group One winner for the term after elite-level wins from Schwartz and Linebacker.  Ridden by Ryan Maloney, Maison Louis came from three back on the fence and tracked Imperialist through to find clear air shortly after turning and was strong through the line.  King Of Thunder and Chase Your Dreams made good ground from the back to fill the minor placings as New Zealand-bred horses comprised the trifecta.  O’Shea was quick to reference his penchant for sourcing horses from New Zealand and his fondness for budding young sire Super Seth, with Maison Louis becoming the stallion’s fourth Group One winner from his first two crops.  “Maison Louis has just been a progressive horse by a top young stallion in Super Seth. He’s one of the few horses that we have for Go Racing, who do a wonderful job,” O’Shea said.  “He’s just a tough, resilient little horse and he’s come from obscurity to win a Queensland Derby so we’re very excited.” From breaking his maiden in late February, Maison Louis has now won four of his seven starts and has made steady progress throughout the campaign.  “I think the key is that he was able to cope with the workload. He’s just a great doer and a good, tough horse,” O’Shea said,  “He came off Pencarrow Stud in New Zealand, and we always rush to New Zealand each year to participate in their sales, and we’ve been well-rewarded because the second horse comes out of one of their sales as well.” Prominent syndicators Go Racing purchased Maison Louis for $250,000 from the Pencarrow Stud draft at Karaka 2023, while King Of Thunder was a $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale purchase by O’Shea from the draft of Ohukia Lodge.  Winning rider Ryan Maloney was grateful for the ride and said the gelding conserves his energy exceptionally well. “It was a very dawdling run Derby, and when J-Mac sort of made his move at the half mile (on Belle Detelle), he increased the tempo, but not by a hell of a lot,” Maloney said.  “We were on the fence and everyone was starting to want to get to that better ground, and John wanted me to get one off, but after the scratchings, we ended up drawing one. But that’s why I wanted to be three back the fence, so I had two options when I wanted to stake my claim. “I was given the opportunity to come out and I ended up on the back of Imperialist and he was just too tough. “When he got the gap, he pinned his ears back and was just tough as nails.”  By Waikato Stud’s Group One winning son of Dundeel, Super Seth, Maison Louis joins Linebacker, Feroce and La Dorada as Group One winners for the young sire who has had seven stakes winners from 82 runners to date.  Maison Louis is from a famed Pencarrow Stud family and is out of the stakes winning Makfi mare Cote D’Or who won on eight occasions, including success in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m). Cote D’Or is a half-sister to the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) winner and Gr.1 International Stakes (2000m) runner-up Dolmabache with multiple top-flight winners Ethereal and Darci Brahma featuring in the pedigree. View the full article

Talented staying filly Shockletz rallied late to run-down Prochester in the Country Racing It’s Got It All Trophy (2000m) at Flemington as both connections of the Ciaron Maher-trained runner and favoutie backers alike gave a collective sigh of relief. Pre-race jockey Harry Coffey suggested to the owners of the three-year-old daughter of Shocking that it would be an easy watch, but upon returning to scale the winning hoop was somewhat sheepish. “It was far from an easy watch,” Coffey grinned. “Before the race I told them don’t panic, I’ll handle it. It will be an easy watch. I don’t think it was as it took her the whole of the straight to get there. “I was still confident during the run her turn of foot would win her the race, but when I looked up and saw Liam (Riordan) on Prochester that far in front. He’s a tough Kiwi stayer and he was going to take some catching. To her credit, although she peaked on her run, she got the job done,” he said. “They are a great group of connections who are a lot of fun. They’ve had a lot of fun and she has a bright future as she still doesn’t know what she’s doing,” he said. Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull admitted he had given up hope of winning when the Andrew Forsman-trained Prochester looked to have established an unassailable lead inside the furlong. “We were watching in the trainers’ room and we were tools down. I didn’t think we would get there, and then the last 75m it changed dramatically,” he said. “It was a really good staying effort. She had to make a long sustained run, she was in a nice spot then got shuffled back a pair or two further back than what we would have liked. To her credit, up in trip, big track, soft ground and she did it all. “She’s lightly raced and is still furnishing and she’s still young. So it’s great for Eales racing, we can just keep stepping her up. “It’s fantastic to get a Saturday win out of the way, and we can improve her profile over winter.” Bred and raced by Eales Racing, Shockletz has now won three of her six starts with a further runner-up placing. She is a full sister to Group Three placed stayer Horrifying, who has won on seven occasions. View the full article