Chief Stipe

Roger James won the Tancred Stakes five years ago with star mare Silent Achiever and he is back for another shot at the Group One weight-for-age race with a horse he rates the best he has trained since. Rondinella, originally the first emergency, will take her place in the A$1.5 million race following the scratching today of Auvray. The lightly raced four-year-old has won four of her 11 starts and comes to Rosehill off the back of a Group One placing behind Melody Belle and Danzdanzdance in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes three weeks ago. James, who took stable foreman Robert Wellwood into partnership at the start of the season, regards Rondinella highly but admits he is concerned by the prospect of a heavy track on Saturday. “I’ve always rated her right up there. In fact, I said when she won her maiden I thought she was the best I’d had since Silent Achiever,” James said. “She was due to come across and run last week in the Ranvet, which Silent Achiever also won, but I pulled her off the plane because of the forecast. “My biggest concern – and it’s certainly a big concern – is the weather and track conditions.” Rondinella’s last-start placing was on heavy ground, an effort that came as somewhat of a surprise to James considering the mare’s aversion to the prevailing track conditions. As a backmarker, Rondinella didn’t have the easiest passage in the race but picked herself up to make good ground behind two quality horses. “Significantly, she was behind a couple of mares that are proven Group One performers on wet tracks and probably the two best mares racing in New Zealand at present,” James said. “She suffered considerable interference in the race and they’d gone by the time she got into gear, so her run was full of merit.” The Rosehill track has improved from heavy to be rated a soft 7 today, but showers are forecast on race morning. The Tancred Stakes holds mixed memories for James. Silent Achiever was narrowly beaten at her first attempt at the race, then known as the BMW, before avenging her defeat 12 months later. Rondinella faces a tough ask against the likes of Godolphin’s Ranvet Stakes winner Avilius, however James is confident she has the talent to feature. “Every year is different and every horse is different, but certainly you’d love to do it again,” he said. View the full article

Ken and Bev Kelso and Michael Coleman will combine with Supera in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes. The old firm of trainers Ken and Bev Kelso and jockey Michael Coleman will be chasing a unique hat-trick when Supera lines up in the Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha on Saturday week. The husband-and-wife duo has already won two editions of the fillies and mares’ Group One feature – with Xanadu in 2013 and Perfect Fit in 2016 – and in both instances Coleman was the rider. Coleman returns to raceday action with seven mounts at Ellerslie on Saturday after being sidelined for the past seven weeks with a medical issue. He resumed trackwork duties early last week and rode at Tuesday’s Cambridge trials. Ironically he was not the first choice for Supera, whose previous two raceday jockeys, Jason Waddell and Rosie Myers, are both under suspension. So too is Troy Harris, who was in the saddle when Supera accompanied Te Aroha rival Our Abbadean in an exhibition gallop between races at Matamata yesterday and was her intended Breeders’ Stakes rider. But Harris will also be under suspension when the final Group One race of the domestic season is run. After riding Harbourside, the last of three Tony Pike-trained winners at Matamata, Harris was charged with careless riding in the final stages and will be out from the close of racing this Saturday until April 12. “The way things were shaping our options were starting to run out, so we’re relieved that Michael was available,” Ken Kelso told www.theinformant.co.nz today. “We’re pleased Michael is back riding and even more pleased that he’s able to accept the ride on the mare.” Supera, the winner of five of her 11 starts including the Gr. 3 Anniversary Handicap at Trentham in January, blotted her copybook with a midfield finish when she last raced in the Haunui Farm Group One Classic at Otaki five weeks ago, but connections put that effort down to the prevailing track conditions. “If we had known the track was going to be as bad as it turned out we wouldn’t have gone down there,” Kelso said. “Thankfully it doesn’t seem to have harmed her and she’s been building up well for Te Aroha. “It was a nice hitout here yesterday; she and Our Abbadean ran the 1000 (metres) in a tick over a minute and came home from the 600 in under 35. It didn’t look like they were going that fast but she was there for a good blowout and it will bring her along nicely.” Fellow Matamata trainer Jamie Richards is likewise happy with his classy mare’s progress towards Te Aroha. Our Abbadean hasn’t raced since finishing third in the Gr. 1 Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham in early December, after which she was sidelined with a bout of what is believed to have been travel sickness. She has had two trials in recent weeks, winning the second of them over 1200 metres at Avondale a fortnight ago. “She’s in a good space, can be electric fresh and we’re looking forward to it,” said Richards. “With the right trip she could give them a good shake.” View the full article

Telemon Thoroughbreds has announced Sidestep, the sire of Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi, will stand at a significantly higher service fee next season. Sidestep, who is standing at the south-east Queensland stud in a two-year deal with Darley, will have a fee of A$22,000 and be eligible for the QTIS. Runner-up to Overreach in the 2013 Golden Slipper, Sidestep stood for A$7700 last year. The son of Exceed And Excel currently leads both the Australian first season sires and two-year-old sires’ tables following the Golden Slipper victory of Kiamichi last Saturday. Telemon general manager Joe Heather said Darley and Telemon remain committed to making Sidestep available to Queensland breeders. “We’ve been absolutely inundated with support for Sidestep since Saturday, and we want to be able to give our clients certainty regarding their mating plans for 2019. The reaction has been great,” Heather said. “It is wonderful to see the success of the horse and what he has done in such a short period of time. We’re really excited about the season ahead and the quality of mares he will attract.” After his numbers had dropped to just 36 mares in 2017, his third season at Darley’s Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley, Sidestep served 57 mares in his first season in Queensland and is expected to get many more this spring. It was earlier reported that those broodmare owners who paid A$7700 to send mares to him last year will be able to repeat the exercise in 2019. View the full article

The blinkers are back on Beefeater for the $50,000 open sprint (1400m) at Manawatu on Saturday, with top jockey Chris Johnson having his first ride on the six-year-old in three years. It all looks a winning formula, particularly after the horse’s impressive final trial with stablemate Just Fabulous at Awapuni this morning. All fast work took place […] 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

Matamata trainer Jamie Richards said he has no reason not to give even-money favourite Yourdeel his chance to complete his set of domestic Group One two-year-old wins in the Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at Awapuni. Concerns were raised after it was reported on Tuesday that stablemate Equinox had the better of the last-start Sistema Stakes winner in training. However, Richards was satisfied with Yourdeel’s trackwork this morning and the Dundeel gelding will take his place in Saturday’s field. “Yourdeel worked well on Thursday morning,” Richards said. “The horse is well. He’s had a long season and he’ll have a break after Saturday. We’ve spoken to the owners and it’s all go. He wouldn’t be there if I thought he wasn’t going to be competitive. “It’s a concern when they don’t gallop as well as they usually do but that’s just it – one gallop that wasn’t as good as what it normally is. We’re not worried.” TAB bookmakers have held firm on Yourdeel’s $2 opening quote on the final field market, even drifting Equinox from $7 to $7.50 in the wake of strong support for the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Holy Mongolemperor ($12 into $9.50) and Sistema Stakes runner-up Aalaalune ($6 into $5.50). Exceed And Excel colt Equinox has drawn barrier one and Yourdeel barrier five, with Richards hoping to get cover for both youngsters stepping up to 1400 metres for the first time. “Equinox did work very well on Tuesday,” Richards added. “We just don’t want to see any rain for him. He’s got a good barrier and hopefully he can settle just in behind the speed and be a good chance. “Yourdeel has drawn well and he’ll be ridden in behind the speed. We’d like to get cover for him the first time at 1400. He drew the outside at Ellerslie and we had to ride him forward in the Sistema all things taken into account.” Meanwhile, Richards is resigned to promising Savabeel three-year-old Golden Age missing a start in Saturday’s Gr. 3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic as the third emergency. “He probably should have won his maiden by now, he’s had a bit of bad luck on the way through,” Richards said. “If he had, he’d be in the field and had to be a good chance. We’ll probably take him to Pukekohe on Sunday week now for a three-year-old 2100-metre race.” At Ellerslie this weekend Richards will produce Griffin, the winner of his last two starts, and Kingsguard, a Gr. 3 Hawksbury Cup winner in Australia returning to New Zealand racing in the Electrolux Sprint. “He’s trialled okay and the (co-owner) Windsor Park boys are pretty confident he’s better right-handed on his Sydney leg,” Richards said. View the full article

Thunder Snow will have to overcome a wide barrier in his bid to become the first horse to win the Dubai World Cup at Meydan more than once. The five-year-old gave Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor a record eighth victory in the rich race 12 months ago before going on to finish third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. To be ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Thunder Snow does not appear ideally placed after drawing stall 12 of 13, but he was widest of all in gate 10 last year. Other leading fancies Capezzano and North America will jump from stalls two and three respectively. The Charlie Appleby-trained Old Persian is the likely favourite for the Dubai Sheema Classic under William Buick and has drawn two. Bin Suroor’s Racing History (four) also carries the Godolphin colours, while the Aidan O’Brien-trained Magic Wand and Hunting Horn will jump from gates three and five. Japanese star Almond Eye is the main attraction in the Dubai Turf and is drawn in the middle in stall seven. The four-year-old is unbeaten in five starts including top-level triumphs in the Japanese 1000 Guineas, the Japanese Oaks and the Shuka Sho before adding November’s Japan Cup. Connections have already identified this year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp as the four-year-old’s long-term objective, setting up a potentially mouth-watering clash with dual Arc winner Enable. Almond Eye’s 12 rivals this weekend include Bin Suroor’s Dream Castle, O’Brien’s I Can Fly and the John Gosden-trained Without Parole. The Appleby-trained Blue Point is the overwhelming favourite for the Al Quoz Sprint featuring Australian sprinters Brave Smash, Viddora and Illustrious Lad. Appleby also has Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter and Ispolini set to run in the 3200-metre Dubai Gold Cup. View the full article

Rule Number(s): 870(5) and the Breaking Horses RegulationsFollowing the running of race 4, the FARMLANDS WAIMATE & MCMILLAN EQUINE FEEDS TROT, an information instigating a protest was filed by Stipendiary Steward Mr S Renault, against AORANGI (K Townley), placed 1st by the judge, on the grounds that it “broke prior to, and over the line and was lapped on by ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(A)(2)Following the running of race 10 the STALLIONS AUSTRALASIA HANDICAP TROT an information was lodged by Stipendiary Steward Mr S Renault by way of a protest alleging Interference 75 metres when RED HOT ROCKET (G Smith) shifted outwards onto TRICK STAR Rule 869A (2) provides as follows: (2) When a placed ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(3)(b)Following the running of Race 2, THE TYRE GENERAL PACE, an information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr S Renault, against Licensed Driver B Munro, alleging that, as the driver of SHERRY BABY he “drove carelessly near the 100 metres when shifting outwards checking ULTIMATE SWIFT (D Keast) which broke.” ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2)Following the running of Race 3 the KIRK IRRIGATION MOBILE PACE an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward Mr S Renault alleging a breach of Rule 869(2) by Junior Driver Mr K Newman. The information alleged, You used your whip on more occasions than permitted by Clause (b) of the Use Of Whip Regulations. ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

A weight-for-age win would be a bonus but it isn’t out of reach for proven two-miler Yogi when he makes his Sydney debut in the Gr. 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill. The Victorian-based six-year-old is due to arrive in Sydney today ahead of Saturday’s 2400-metre assignment. The feature race on the programme, the Tancred has attracted a full field plus emergencies and includes Godolphin’s Avilius, who will back-up from his Ranvet Stakes victory, along with wet-track specialist Red Cardinal and the Chris Waller-trained pair of Brimham Rocks and Patrick Erin. The A$1.5 million race will be Yogi’s first start in the clockwise direction but David Eustace, who trains in partnership with Ciaron Maher, doesn’t expect the horse to have any problem adapting to racing in the reverse direction. “He’s not a horse that strikes us that going the other way will be a major issue,” Eustace said. “He’s an older gelding and he seems to take everything in his stride.” The winner of the Sandown Cup in the spring, Yogi produced a barnstorming finish to win first-up over 1800 metres at Caulfield last month and made late ground when midfield in the Australian Cup, his first test at weight-for-age. Eustace and Maher have been on a learning curve with their new recruit this campaign but are satisfied Yogi is poised to execute a Sydney Cup plan formulated last year by managing owner Darren Dance and former trainer Darren Weir. “It was Darren Dance’s plan and Weiry’s plan, so we’ve just tried to carry that out as best we can and he seems to be on the right track at the moment,” Eustace said. “He won first-up when we’d just got him then we just ticked him over at the beach and we thought he ran a really nice race in the Australian Cup. “It was a strong and eye-catching run from a genuine two-miler. It’s arguably not the strongest Tancred you’ll see and it’s a race I think he can be competitive in.” James Cummings has confirmed Avilius will back-up in the Tancred after bouncing back from an Australian Cup defeat as favourite with an emphatic win over 2000 metres in the Ranvet. It will be the first time Avilius has competed on a seven-day turnaround and Cummings is confident the horse will relish it. “With an unbeaten Sydney record at stake and with the best weight-for-age credentials of any runner, he appears to be perfectly placed for the quick back-up,” Cummings said. View the full article

The Racing Victoria Board has denied Jarrod McLean’s application to take over the Warrnambool stables of disqualified trainer Darren Weir. McLean was in charge of Weir’s Warrnambool base while also training a team of his own horses which include Group One winner Traps For Fools. “Acting in the interests and image of Victorian racing, the Board determined that Mr McLean’s application cannot be approved while serious charges laid by RV Stewards are pending hearing and determination by the RAD Board and while the current Victoria Police investigation remains ongoing,” RV said in a statement. McLean was arrested on the same day Weir’s stables were raided by Victoria police early last month. RV stewards charged McLean with being in possession of an electrical device capable of affecting the performance of a horse and of conduct prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing. Because McLean is contesting the charges, conditions were imposed at a show-cause hearing that included McLean not being permitted to receive any horses that had been in Weir’s care before the end of January. McLean’s RAD Board hearing is not expected to be heard until late May. View the full article

Waipukurau Race Scratchings R1: R2: 9 R3: 4,5 R4: 7 R5: R6: 4 R7: 7 R8: 6,10 Track conditions: Dead 4 Weather: Fine Rail: Out 3m from 1300m to 400m Track: Left hand 1800m Length of straight: 450m NZ TAB Meeting # 3 with the first of 8 races starting at 12:17pm Doubles: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Trebles: 2-3-4, 6-7-8 […] 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

BEST BET: RACE 2: #2 MAHARAJAHBEST EACH WAY - RACE 7: #2 OMAR SHARIF - BEST ROUGHIE: RACE 4: #10 MR FAHRENHEIT 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

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The issue of sensitivity has been at the forefront of public discussion since the Christchurch mosque shootings just under a fortnight ago. 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

24,000-strong crowd headed to Sydney's western suburbs racecourse to see just one horse. 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

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