Chief Stipe

Thomaas and Mardigras can you both PM your ratings for the Tancred Stakes Field?

Yeah thanks Thomaas for telling everyone.

Correct. Funny how the Thoroughbred industry which earns the most is the first to circle the wagons. Word on the street is they want the new complex at Cambridge to be Gallops only.

It won't PC bollocks will prevail.

Tim Hall found himself getting rather frustrated with his maiden mare Sarabi, but a win at Manawatu on Wednesday has restored his faith somewhat. The Gotta Go Cullect mare, previously unplaced in 18 career starts, caused an upset at better than $25 when driven by Alicia Harrison. For Hall, it was a step in the right direction. “I thought she would have won a couple by now but she’s been a bit disappointing, really. “She’s shown me a bit at times but has never really produced it on race day.” Her mother, Miss Abigail, was good enough to win eight races, but has been an overwhelming disappointment at stud, leaving three winners of just nines races from seven foals. And seven of those wins came from Kilkeel Lady, who had 150 career starts. “She’s been very disappointing as a broodmare, but I think having seven fillies hasn’t helped. “Kilkeel Lady was the best but the rest have been pretty average.” A commitment to their breed by Tauranga’s Alan and Diane Greaves, no doubt at significant financial loss, was commendable, Hall reckoned. “Not many would want to persevere as they have. “If everyone had their dedication to their breed, the industry would be a lot different. “They’ve been with us since day 1 as owners and they really are amazing people to train for.” Hall, who did the early training of millionaire trotter Keystone Del, has only a small team in work at Cambridge now. “We don’t do as many as we used to; there are seven in work at the moment but ideally that would be four or five at most. “I shoe most of the time now and I’m not really focused on training a big team of horses.” Among them is Keystone Del’s three-year-old Andover Hall half-brother, Keystone Comet. “He’ll trial again shortly and then qualify. “He’s had three learners’ workouts and went well, but picked up a slight injury. “Nothing major but enough to have to put him aside to be careful.” Sarabi heads around again tonight, on the second leg of the two-day Manawatu meeting, and she’s come up with the plum inside draw. “I’ll be interested to see how she goes tonight; she’ll have to improve to be competitive up in grade but in saying that she was so lowly rated that she’s still on a good mark. “There’s another Manawatu meeting coming up for her, and Hawera, so hopefully she can continue to race well at them.” View the full article

The racing industry is very apt at screwing themselves. The fact that the Nats didn't do anything doesn't change that.

Lonhro is another that comes to mind.

I saw an article in the Informant that HRNZ is questioning the appropriateness of harness horses names prefaced with the word "Terror". Can anyone think of some Thoroughbred horses that should be renamed? One that comes to mind is Nasrullah for those intelligentsia amongst us.

I like him in the Tancred. Was lame last race and has had a hoof problem (synthetic filler applied). Any views?

Gr. 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes contender The Fugitive heads a four-strong team at Awapuni tomorrow for Hastings trainer John Bary. The Fugitive carries the colours of his breeders and part-owners, Richard and Liz Wood’s Chouxmaani Investments. The same owner-trainer combination finished third in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes nine years ago with Jimmy Choux, who later won the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, New Zealand Derby, Rosehill Guineas, Windsor Park Plate and Spring (Livamol) Classic and was second in a Cox Plate. The Fugitive has had two starts, scoring a dominant front-running win at Awapuni on December 22 before finishing second to Louis Luck at Trentham the following month. “He came up shin sore after Trentham and we just had to put him aside for a while,” Bary told www.theinformant.co.nz today. “We brought him back, and since then he’s been going through a few growing pains and things like that, so it’s been a bit hard to get good gallops into him. “We managed to give him two really good gallops last week, especially last Saturday, and he’s come through that really well. “We’re fully aware that we’re going into this Saturday on a short run-up, but they’re only two once and it’s a Group One. We believe he deserves a shot at it. “He’s got a wide draw (10), so we’ll drop back from here and hopefully take one shot at them in the straight.” The Fugitive is by Wanted, an Australian-based son of Fastnet Rock. He will be ridden by Chris Johnson tomorrow and is rated a $26 chance. The Gr. 1 Sistema Stakes winner Yourdeel is the $2 favourite, followed by Aalaalune ($5.50), Equinox ($7.50), Holy Mongolemperor ($9), Aretha ($10) and Bavella ($11). Bary’s other black-type runner is The Bandito in the Listed Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Handicap. After impressive performances to win at Trentham and place at Awapuni, the Pins gelding was a last-start ninth behind Podravina on New Zealand Derby day at Ellerslie. “I was disappointed with the ride at Auckland last time, but his form before that was good,” Bary said. “Sam Collett is back on this weekend, and she rode him nicely to win at Trentham a couple of starts back. “He’s going into the race in good order. He’s up in class, but he’s an honest horse and this is a nice chance to have a go at some black type. “There doesn’t seem to be an obvious leader in the race, and he likes to roll forward.” The Bandito is a $26 chance in a market headed by the defending Flying Handicap champion Magnum at $3. Tomelilla ($6), Beefeater ($6.50), Calligraphy ($7), Sweepstake ($7) and Monrecour ($8.50) are the others in single figures. Bary’s other runners are Heart Of Stone in the $30,000 The Oaks Stud/Hong Kong JC Trophy 3YO and She’s A Ripper in the last race on the card, the LJ Hooker Premier. Heart Of Stone, a Swiss Ace filly raced by breeder Gerry Harvey, ran second to Lincoln Falls on debut before scoring a four-length maiden win at Woodville two weeks ago. “She won well last start in good time (1:09.18 for 1200m), and to my eye she’s improved again since then,” Bary said. “She’s responded well to that race, both mentally and physically. Her work’s been good and we’ve got the ace draw this weekend. She’s up against some stiffer competition this time, but she’s an improving filly and this is a nice next step for her.” Heart Of Stone is rated a $5 chance, sharing second favouritism with Mr Universe. Cavallo Veloce is the $2.70 favourite. Meanwhile, She’s A Ripper is dropping back to 1400 metres following a last-start fourth over 2000 metres. “She just won’t settle, so we’re dropping her right back in distance,” Bary said. “The last time we tried that distance was last month at Awapuni, where they ran 1:22 and she was a really nice fifth and only a length off them. “Sam Collett has ridden her well in the past and is back on tomorrow. We’re just trying to get her to settle. She’s certainly capable on her day, but she’s going to need to improve her racing manners to be a winning chance on a Premier raceday.” She’s A Ripper is at $35 in a market headed by the promising Deerfield ($3.60). View the full article

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is calling for final entries for the Pearl Series Early Bird special. The Pearl Series is a bonus scheme for southern hemisphere-bred fillies and mares, offering bonuses of almost $2.6 million and prize-money of nearly $2.8 million. The scheme includes 200 individual races for fillies and mares over three seasons’ racing, with bonuses for each race of up to $20,000. The series has been designed to benefit owners, trainers and breeders of fillies and mares running in New Zealand and are available in all regions of the country. So far this season, 36 individual Pearl bonuses have been won. The Early Bird is for $920 including GST and closes on Sunday, March 31. After this date, the nomination fee will increase to $1,380 including GST. If you would like to nominate your yearling filly please visit pearlseries.nzthoroughbred.co.nz or email Corrina@nzthoroughbred.co.nz. View the full article

If ever there was an ambassador for the benefits of the Bambry family’s water treadmill, then progressive sprinter Deerfield is it. The five-year-old gelding had failed to make it to the races until last month but has quickly shown his ability with two wins and a runner-up finish in three starts for new trainer Chrissy Bambry. Deerfield will be out to add to his impressive formline when he contests tomorrow’s 1400-metre LJ Hooker Premier at Awapuni. “I had him probably eight weeks before his first start for us,” Bambry said. “He had been up at Alex Oliveira’s in Cambridge, his owner lives in Hong Kong and he has had him since he was a yearling. He had a few back issues but they always thought he could gallop. “He kept going sore on them, so Alex actually recommended he come down here because we have the water treadmill. “He was fit when he came down, we gave him a trial and a jumpout before his race and he won them both and hasn’t really looked back since.” Bambry said the post-race routine is fairly straight-forward and the son of Falkirk has continued to flourish since his last-start win at Trentham. “He does the majority of his work on the water treadmill and he has only been ridden twice since his last win,” she said. “That seems to be working for him and keeping the weight off his back seems to be the key to it.” Ace rider Johnathan Parkes has elected to stick with the horse after a strong performance at Trentham a fortnight ago. “We are rapt that Johnathan is sticking with him,” Bambry said. “He was really pleased with how he won and he said he gave him a good feel and that he would like to stick with him, so we booked him in straight away.” Bambry elected to keep Deerfield stepping through the grades and opted for the Rating 72 event over a Listed race on the same programme, believing the chestnut still has plenty of room for improvement. “His coat probably isn’t quite there yet and he is still very green and he doesn’t know a lot,” she said. “He is basically like a three-year-old running in a five-year-old body. There is plenty of room for improvement in him and I think he will probably get up to a mile. We will just take each race as it comes and hopefully he can get through the grades. “He is a great advertisement for the water treadmill. We pre-train a few and do a lot of rehab work but it shows that once they are fit it can really keep them at that peak fitness level.” Bambry will also have an eye on the fortunes of a recent water treadmill beneficiary, Platinum Invador, who contests the Gr. 2 Tulloch Stakes in Sydney. “We have some really good clients that continue to use it,” Bambry said. “Lisa Latta, Lincoln Farm and Neville McAlister are good supporters and it is great that Lisa entrusted us with the likes of Platinum Invador and Sentimental Miss, who just went back to the stable this morning. “It is great for keeping them fit but also for recovery. It keeps them working so they aren’t just standing in the paddock and it is great for their limbs and muscles. “Platinum Invador was zooming around the paddock and I think he will be hard to beat if things finally go his way in Sydney. He just adapts to everything, he came here and didn’t bat an eyelid. He worked on the treadmill like a professional, ate everything and it was like he had been here all his life. “The feedback we are getting on the water treadmill is great. Kamada Park and their new manager Anna Swainson are another that really appreciate the benefits of using it and they are keen to use it as part of their system.” View the full article

A pair of talented three-year-olds trained by Stephen Marsh will test the waters this weekend in the Gr. 3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic at Awapuni. Deels Done and Decadence are on an upward trajectory as lightly-raced maiden winners. “Given the timing of their campaigns, the Manawatu Classic fits in perfectly and will give us a good indication of where they are at,” Marsh said. “If they can compete at this level over ground, it opens up options in Australia for them. It is a good test at this early stage of their career.” The duo are both raced by Go Racing syndicates and have been earmarked as classic types. A gelding by Dundeel, Deels Done will be considered for a Derby campaign in Queensland or South Australia, while Decadence, a filly by Sweet Orange, will look at the Oaks in the same states. View the full article

The well-travelled Giovanni Canaletto will attempt to build on a promising last-start performance when he lines up in tomorrow’s Gr. 2 City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup. The Irish-bred son of Galileo has won only one race, a maiden at Leopardstown in his second start in October of 2014. But since then he has run fourth in the Epsom Derby, third in the Irish Derby and third in the Hong Kong Derby, along with four other black-type placings. Giovanni Canaletto made his debut for the Matamata stable of Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott in early November, finishing fourth at Tauranga. The seven-year-old was unplaced in his next two starts, but then showed big improvement for a close third behind Vin De Dance and Rondinella in the Listed Kaimai Stakes at Matamata. “That was a really encouraging performance and much closer to what we thought he might be capable of,” Scott said. “He’s trained on well since then and we’re looking forward to Saturday. Hopefully he can put together two good performances in a row and give us a little bit of confidence to make some more plans with him.” Giovanni Canaletto will be ridden by Jake Bayliss and is on the third line of favouritism at $5.50. Dolcetto heads the market at $4.40, with impressive last-start St Leger winner Sampson at $5. O’Sullivan and Scott will also line up talented filly Taming The Shrew in the Gr. 3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic. The daughter of Shocking scored a stylish come-from-behind win at Matamata two starts back, then stepped up to 2000 metres in a Rating 72 race last start and made up good ground for third. “The track was favouring horses who raced on the speed that day and she was one of the few horses to run on from the back,” Scott said. “You never really know if a horse is going to stay until you try it, so we really liked the way she ran out the 2000 metres that day. “She’s had the benefit of that first run over ground now, and while it’s a strong field this weekend, we’re expecting her to perform well.” Also to be ridden by Bayliss, Taming The Shrew will have to overcome the second-to-outside gate in the 2000-metre three-year-old feature. She is rated a $17 sixth favourite. The market is dominated by a quartet of runners from the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable. Spring Delight is the $2.60 favourite, followed by The Chosen One at $4, Nordic at $6 and Lord Arthur $7.50. The most favoured of the non-Baker/Forsman runners is the Peter McKay-trained Langkawi, who is fifth favourite at $8.50. View the full article

The Wyndham Cup will be a key form reference in Saturday’s feature pace at Ascot Park. Photo: Jonny Turner. Reverting to mobile racing should help Please Shuddup show his true worth at Ascot Park on Saturday. The Murray Brown trained pacer broke at the start of the Wyndham Cup, before recovering and going a big race for fourth. The consistent five-year-old meets two of the three horses that beat him home in that 3200m event, in Sagwitch and Vintage Cheddar, in Saturday’s feature pace over 2200m. Brown said he was hopeful starting on level marks may give his pacer the edge he needs to turn the tables on his two defeaters. “He must have lost 20 or 30m at the start, so it was a great run.” “One of the good things was we know he can go a good two miles now.” “Going back to the mobile will help him, he shouldn’t break up again.” “He has come through the race really well, so he should be a good chance.” Please Shuddup recovered and worked in to the race and had a head start on the winner, Sagwitch, who impressed with his big late finish. Vintage Cheddar also went a sound race in third, after sitting parked for the first lap of the event. Another race rival, Bettor Enforce, followed him home in fifth placing. Impressive last start mile winner, Born To Boogie, clearly looks the main rivals to the Wyndham Cup runners. The Brett Gray trained mare simply could not be caught when leading and bolting in by two and a half lengths at Winton last weekend. Her runner-up, I’mallaboutthebase, also starts in Saturday’s race. The Brown stable has a two-pronged attack on race 5, the rating 47-52 event on Saturday. Brown hoped Dallas Grimes would be on her best behaviour, after she pulled very hard and extinguished her chances in her last start at Wyndham behind Tartan Robyn. “The problem was she just made such a good beginning and once she could not get to the front she started pulling.” “She is drawn to be in behind them on Saturday, so it shouldn’t be a problem again.” “She should go a good race, but I think my other horses is the better chance.” Triple VC has drawn barrier 1 for Brown in the same event. The five-year-old charged in to third placing in his last start on Wairio Mile Day after having little luck from three-back on the markers. “He locked wheels in the run home, so it was a good run.” “The horse drawn beside us has good gate speed, so we might end up in the trail.” RnR Windermere, who is out of form, but has a strong record at Ascot Park, has drawn barrier 2. Brown starts Son Of Lana in race 6, a rating 53-57 event. The pacer went a good race for second behind Ardent Lustre last weekend, but his chances on Saturday took a hit when he drew barrier 8. Brown has not been in the final stages of preparing Mighty Flying Art for the New Zealand Derby recently. The trainer has pulled the horse out of next week’s classic and will aim the horse at next month’s Southern Supremacy Stakes. “He has had three trips to Christchurch already and it is hard on them, so we will stay home and concentrate on the Supremacy.” “He will run at Invercargill next week.” View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(3)(b)(ii)Following the running of race 3 the Temuka Transport Handicap stewards charged Mr T Moseley (BELLE HOPE) with a breach of excessive use of the whip in that he “…used his whip excessively PRIOR TO THE 100 METRES.” Rule 638 (3) (b) (ii) reads: A Rider shall not: (b) strike a horse with a whip in a manner ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(3)(b)(ii)Following the running of race 1 the Lyndsay Moyle Memorial stewards charged Mr C Johnson with a breach of excessive use of the whip in that he “…used his whip excessively prior to the 100m on your mount SURE HE CAN.” Rule 638 (3) (b) (ii) reads: A Rider shall not: (b) strike a horse with a whip in a ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(3)(b)Following the running of Race 3 (THANK YOU ANDRE AND DEANA MOBILE PACE 2500m) Information A10262 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It alleged a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) by Mr Z Butcher and stated that: "you drove carelessly by allowing your horse to strike the sulky wheel of KAROLYI nearing the ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 857(7)(a)Following the running of Race 1 (1st Race Friday Night 5.19pm Handicap Trot), Information A10263 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It alleged a breach of Rule 857(7)(a) by Licensed Driver Mr G Martin and stated that "You caused the start to be delayed by allowing DANKE to breach the barrier prior ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of race 8, Happy 80th Wally Henderson, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638 (1)(d). The Informant, Mr Coles, alleged that Mr Harris allowed his mount HARBOURSIDE to shift in near the 100 metres when insufficiently clear of AMBITIOUS SHOWGIRL which was hampered and lost ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Nathan (left) and Michael Purdon have made a good start to their ownership/training partnership. The training career of Michael Purdon got off to a great start with Major Trojan and now he’s set to make another good impression with juvenile trotter One Guz Hall. The Angus Hall gelding makes his debut in the two-year-old trot at Addington this week and will be Purdon’s first starter since Major Trojan lined up in the Sires Stakes Final on Cup Day. Purdon and his brother Nathan co-owned Major Trojan and had sold him for big money to the Gary Hall stable, for whom he has since started three times for two seconds to the smart Eloquent Mach and a third to the same horse in the G2 Western Gateway in Perth last Friday night. The Art Major colt lines up in the WA Derby Prelude at Gloucester Park this week. One Guz Hall made a very good impression when he won an Ashburton trial last week, crossing from post five to lead at the start in the six-horse heat and fighting off the trailer Bemus Point, a Majestic Son-Inspire filly who also makes her debut for trainer Regal Todd this week. She has drawn in barrier four and one place inside One Guz Hall. “One Guz Hall has been very solid in his gait at the trials although you never really know what these young trotters are going to do when they get to the races,” said Purdon. “He got lost in front last week, but when Nathan asked him for a little more, he found plenty. “That was encouraging and it was good to find a nice race for him without Muscle Mountain or Ultimate Stride.” The speed was really only on in last week’s trial from about the 500m and the pair drew clear of the rest during a final quarter in 27 seconds. While Nathan has gone to work for Cran Dalgety to further progress his driving career, Michael has been setting himself up as a trainer at Grant Payne’s stable and has three two-year-olds and six yearlings on the books at this stage. One of the other two-year-olds is Ringo’s A Star, a Bettor’s Delight-Blackbird Fly gelding who won a workout at Rangiora on Wednesday. Purdon owns that one himself after buying him at the Premier Sale for $23,000. “Dad (Mark) had him marked in his book although he didn’t quite make his top 10, so I just went on his judgement. “He’s not quite a Sapling Stakes horse so I’m trying to find him a more suitable race for the moment.” One Guz Hall also came from the Premier Sale although he was passed in by vendor Lex Williams. “We’d had a conversation with Lex about doing a 50/50 deal on any of his yearlings that were passed in and One Guz Hall was.” Another one that was in Cracker Hill won his debut at Winton last Saturday, while the one that wasn’t was Ultimate Stride, who topped the trotting sale at $160,000 and who was second on debut at Addington last Friday night. Williams also offered two pacers at the Premier Sale and one of them was Flying Even Bettor, a $90,000 purchase who won the Kindergarten Stakes this month after finishing a neck second to Smooth Deal in the Sapling. So of the five yearlings that Williams offered at the Premier Sale last year, it looks like four of them could easily be two-year-old winners this season. The two most expensive ones look like being very good and this week will tell a story about One Guz Hall. View the full article

Addington Race Analysis & Selections RACE 1 EASY PICKINGS (6) has been racing on the grass and from standing starts recently, back to a mobile on the all weather surface should see a change in fortune. MICHELLE (10) Tricky draw over this trip but with an ounce of luck will be right in the finish. […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Daysee Doom will fly the flag for Ron Quinton in the Gr. 2 Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill tomorrow, with stablemate Dixie Blossoms bypassing the race to concentrate on the Gr. 1 Doncaster Mile. “We decided we’d give her a crack at the Doncaster, so we’ll just leave Saturday up to Daysee now,” Quinton said. The two mares have been the backbone of Quinton’s stable for several seasons and both are Group One winners following Dixie Blossoms’ popular Coolmore Classic victory two weeks ago. Daysee Doom was scheduled to go around in the same race and attempt to defend her Coolmore title, but was scratched because of a wide barrier and the heavy track conditions. She gets the chance for a consolation win in tomorrow’s Emancipation, a race dear to Quinton’s heart. The former champion jockey regularly rode Emancipation during her stellar career and will chase his second win in the feature following Faith Hill’s 2003 success. Daysee Doom has not raced since finishing sixth to White Moss first-up in the Millie Fox Stakes on February 23 but Quinton says she won’t be beaten on the score of fitness. “She trialled last Friday over 1200 metres and she won her trial, but she needed to win the trial given the opposition she was against,” Quinton said. “We were happy enough with her and she’s drawn a relatively good barrier for a change in five. She’s rock-hard fit, so she should run well.” Daysee Doom finished third in the Emancipation Stakes two years ago and fifth last year, although she was beaten less than a length. Tomorrow’s race has attracted a classy field headed by Godolphin mare Alizee along with last year’s runner-up Oregon’s Day and Coolmore Classic placegetter Princess Posh. Victorian mare Naantali comes into the race on an eight-day turnaround after her fourth in the Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley last week and co-trainer David Eustace expects her to hold her own. “She’s backing up, which we think might suit her because she can go into a race quite fresh,” Eustace said. “We know it’s no easy task with the field she’s up against but we’ll see how she gets on.” Alizee was an even money favourite yesterday with Daysee Doom and Naantali both $14 chances. View the full article

Mick Price isn’t sure if Seabrook can turn the tables on last-start conqueror Verry Elleegant and deliver him consecutive wins in the Vinery Stud Stakes, but he has taken measures to give his New Zealand-bred filly a fighting chance. The Caulfield trainer, who won the corresponding race 12 months ago with Hiyaam, has taken blinkers off Seabrook, a ploy he hopes will help her relax and run out the 2000 metres. Seabrook raced in a handy position when she was overpowered by fellow Kiwi-bred Verry Elleegant on a heavy track in the Phar Lap Stakes and Price again regards the Chris Waller-trained filly as the horse to beat. “Verry Elleegant beat her fair and square the other day and Verry Elleegant is probably going to win again,” Price said. “But it doesn’t matter, we’re there to compete and you never know.” A Group One winner of the Champagne Stakes at two, Seabrook has not been extended beyond 1600 metres. Her sire Hinchinbrook is best known for producing sprinter-milers, but Price points to stoutness on her dam’s side as an indication Seabrook might have the stamina for a middle-distance. “Not many Hinchinbrooks get tried over 2000 metres, but she is out of a Don Eduardo mare and she is a pretty clean-winded horse,” Price said. Brett Prebble was aboard Seabrook for her first-up midfield effort in the Surround Stakes and reunites with the three-year-old in tomorrow’s Group One event. She has an awkward gate in 11 but Price is hoping Prebble can slot Seabrook in behind the speed and give her every chance to finish the race off. “I think there’s a good opportunity for there to be a bit of speed on, enough speed from that gate so that we can poke in somewhere,” Price said. “I’m happy with the filly. Prebble rode her on Tuesday morning and said she worked super. “She’s done the work, blinkers off, she seems to handle the ground okay, so if she can’t fire over 2000 metres she’s just not good enough. She’s had the perfect prep.” Price also has Oregon’s Day in the Gr. 2 Emancipation Stakes but says the mare will not line up if the track is heavy after struggling in similar conditions when sixth in the Coolmore Classic. “Michael Walker got off and said she felt like she was going to be in the finish but then the wheels were spinning on the heavy track,” Price said. “Some do, some don’t, she just doesn’t handle the heavy.” View the full article

Victorian speedster Illustrious Lad has flown under the radar in preparation for the Gr. 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in Dubai. The Peter Gelagotis-trained sprinter is making his second appearance at the Dubai World Cup meeting after finishing fifth in the Al Quoz Sprint won by Jungle Cat last year. Illustrious Lad, to be ridden by Anthony Darmanin, is one of three Australian representatives in Saturday night’s (early Sunday morning NZ time) 1200-metre sprint, and has drawn barrier 11 in the 13-horse field. The Kris Lees-trained Brave Smash, to be ridden by Hugh Bowman, has barrier six while the Lloyd Kennewell-trained Viddora, with Joe Bowditch aboard, has barrier 12. Gelagotis says the reports from Dubai are Illustrious Lad has thrived since his arrival. “The reports are the horse travelled excellent. He’s a very composed horse, more so this time than last time, and he worked outstanding on Tuesday morning,” Gelagotis said. “Darma rode Brave Smash in a gallop as well and he said both horses felt enormous. He didn’t say ours felt better, or the other one felt better, he just said both horses worked like really nice horses. He said you couldn’t split them and I’ve seen some footage of him and he looks a happy horse.” Unfortunately for Gelagotis he cannot be in Dubai on Saturday night with runners engaged in three states back home. “I can’t be in four places at once,” he said. “I’ve got a runner (Moss ‘N’ Dale) in Sydney, a runner (Miss Five Hundred) in Adelaide, one (Serenade The Stars) at Bendigo and one in Dubai. “We all can’t be in one place and neglect the others. It’s not that I don’t want to be in Dubai, but my system runs where the responsibility falls on me more than anyone else in the stable. I’ve got to send horses off interstate tonight.” Gelagotis said he was likely to be at Morphettville with Miss Five Hundred in the Laelia Stakes but would also like to be at Rosehill for Moss ‘N’ Dale in the Neville Sellwood Stakes, believing him to be in his right race at 2000 metres. View the full article