Chief Stipe

Trainer Mick Burles, one of the true characters of racing in recent times, has died aged 70 after suffering from emphysema for many years. Burles and The Cleaner garnered a cult following and put the Tasmanian town of Longford on the map for their deeds in high class Melbourne races in 2014 and 2015. The Australian Trainers’ Association confirmed Burles had died in a Tasmanian nursing home. The Cleaner was retired in 2016 and now resides at Living Legends in Melbourne, while Burles, who trained his first winner in 1976, retired last year because of ill health. A natural front-runner, The Cleaner won the Gr. 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes twice and was also Group One placed. He was the first Tasmanian-trained horse to run in a Cox Plate, finishing ninth in 2014 and seventh a year later in what was the first of Winx’s four wins. After another unplaced run, Burles believed the horse had been retired and was heartbroken when he was transferred to Peter Gelagotis but after four more starts, The Cleaner had run his last race. The pair were reunited last year when The Cleaner was taken to Tasmania as part of a promotion for Armidale Stud, where he was born. View the full article

Progressive staying mare Artiste has earned a black-type assignment after a convincing victory in the Drymix Cement Bay Of Plenty Cup at Tauranga yesterday. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained five-year-old has come of age during her current campaign with this victory her fourth in her last seven starts. Capably handled by apprentice Taiki Yanagida, the Mastercraftsman mare tenaciously held out race favourite Felaar for the length of the Tauranga straight to score a three-quarter-length victory. The win has confirmed to her trainers that she is ready to tackle stakes company, with Forsman indicating the Gr. 3 LJ Hooker Manawatu Breeders’ at Awapuni next month as a likely target. “That was a really gutsy win that was set up by a perfect ride,” Forsman said. “I thought he (Yanagida) put her in a great spot throughout and she really benefitted from his claim, as she got a good pull in the weights from her main rivals. “She has really strengthened up during this campaign and is reaping the benefits of that now. While she is going so well, we will press on with her. I would think a tilt at some black-type is the obvious choice and the race at Awapuni sets up nicely as it’s against her own sex over a good distance for her. “She seems to handle most tracks, so if we do get the rain then I wouldn’t think it would disadvantage her at all.” Forsman was also delighted with the run of stablemate True Enough, who finished an unlucky third in the Gr. 2 Windsor Park Stud Japan New Zealand International Trophy. “He acquitted himself well in his first time against the big guns,” Forsman said. “He didn’t have all the luck in the world as he copped a decent check turning for home, but he picked himself up and ran on very strongly. “He’s another who has done well this prep, so he might go to the spelling paddock now and have a good break before we bring him back in the spring.” Forsman was philosophical about the less impressive results for the stable in Sydney, where Vin De Dance and Zacada were the tailenders in the Gr. 3 Manion Cup and Madison County was a late scratching from the Gr. 1 Rosehill Guineas after suffering hip abrasions when being transported to the track. “Vin De Dance had no luck when he was three-wide throughout so you could excuse that run, whereas, on the face of it, Zacada was quite disappointing,” he said. “We’ll take a good look at them over the next few days but at this stage we will press on with them both. “It was just bad luck with Madison County, so now we have to find something for him as his lead-up to the Australian Derby. “The likely option is the Tulloch Stakes (Gr.2, 2000m) next weekend, but we will have to sit down with his owners and discuss it all as they may want to reassess where they want to go with him. “It may have been a blessing in disguise to miss the run as it was a very deep and testing track and I know there will be plenty of his Derby rivals who will be feeling it today.” View the full article

Boots ’N’ All (Corey Campbell) completes a perfect day for Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson with a brave win over Tommy Tucker in the Hororata Gold Cup. Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson had plenty to celebrate at the completion of the racing action on his home track yesterday after producing a perfect three-from-three result. Promising three-year-old Khimar War started the day off well when he stormed home late to snatch victory against his age group rivals over 1400 metres before two-year-old debutante Live Drama launched her career in style with an eye-catching run to win over 1000 metres. Older stable star Boots ’N’ All made it a day to remember when he capitalised on a superb ride from apprentice Corey Campbell to land his tenth career victory in one of the day’s feature events, the Seaton Family Memorial Hororata Gold Cup. Robinson was quick to heap praise on both Campbell and the six-year-old Perfectly Ready gelding after the event. “That was just an absolutely perfect ride by Corey,” he said. “I told him before the race to be patient and not get to the leaders too early and he judged it to perfection. “He (Boots ’N’ All) is just a little fella and he has been struggling a bit with the big weights. The two-kilogram claim made a big difference to him and once again he showed just how tough he is. “He actually went a good race at Otaki last time on a really patchy track, although on paper the result doesn’t look that good. “He finished less than a length off Consensus, who went out and won at Moonee Valley on Friday night, so that gave me a lot of confidence he could win as his work since then had been very good.” Robinson had been contemplating a trip north for the Gr. 2 City Of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup for Boots ’N’ All, but may stick closer to home after yesterday’s victory. “I had been thinking about the Awapuni Gold Cup but it would be his fourth trip north in this prep which might be a little too much for him,” he said. “I think the Canterbury Gold Cup next month might be a better option.” Robinson is also predicting a big future for the two younger members of his team who got his day off to an impressive start. “It was fantastic to see Khimar War finally get some luck and show just how good he can be,” he said. “Nothing has gone right for him as he has been checked or suffered bad luck in nearly every race he has had this campaign. “I really think he can measure up next season so I will be recommending to his owners we give him a spell now and get him ready for the spring. “It was also very satisfying to see Live Drama win on debut, as I’ve held her in high regard since the day we broke her in,” he said of the Ghibellines filly. “I think she will be right up there with the best three-year-olds around her next season. “We will probably give her one more run this time in, then tip her out and get her ready for a race like the Canterbury Belle Stakes in the spring.” View the full article

James Cummings was destined to become a racehorse trainer. But whether he expected to be head trainer for Sheikh Mohammed’s Australian Godolphin operation and holding a Golden Slipper at the age of 31 is another thing altogether. His father Anthony is a multiple Group One-winning trainer, his grandfather Bart won more Melbourne Cups than anyone else and his great grandfather Jim started it all with Comic Court in the 1950 Melbourne Cup. Yesterday at Rosehill, Anthony Cummings was the proudest father on course after Kiamichi beat stablemate Microphone in the A$3.5 million Slipper for two-year-olds. He said of his four children, James was always the keenest when it came to the horses. “He was the first one to put his hand up and was the most interested,” Cummings said. “All the children had an exposure to the horses and worked in the stable. “They all had time away overseas doing different things and James was the one who picked it up and ran with it first. “He’s just done a fantastic job. It’s just been a fantastic result I think from both sides. He’s got the best out of the horses and that’s a trainer’s job “It’s just great to see. It’s a very, very special day.” View the full article

I disagree it is her dominance that doesn't allow anything to pressure her. She can pull phenomenal sectionals at will on any surface. Never seen a horse that has been able to do it like she can.

BEST BET: Race 5 - ALREADY GONE - BEST EACHWAY: Race 6 IKNOW - BEST LONGSHOTS: Race 8 AVEROSS RUSTLER & Race 9 GO DAVEY 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

Todays $50 Betting Strategy: RACE 3: #11 FLYING MEG $7 Win (paying $2.40 NZ TAB FOB) - RACE 4: $23 Quaddie / 1-3-4-6-7 / 1-2-3-4-9 / 4-8-10 / 1-4-7 / =10% - RACE 6: #4 RED CLOUD $10 E/W (paying $7.00 & $2.05 NZ TAB FOB) 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

She didn't look very nervous yesterday!

A day after his Group One winner I Am A Star was retired, trainer Shane Nichols has collected a hometown double on Mornington Cup day. Nichols announced I Am A Star’s retirement following the mare’s unplaced effort in the Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night. I Am A Star won 10 of her 31 starts, including the 2016 Gr. 1 Myer Classic at Flemington. Tahitian Dancer made the retirement decision easier to swallow when successful in today’s Cleanaway Handicap before Streets Of Avalon made the day sweeter collecting the Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington. Ridden by apprentice Zac Spain, Streets Of Avalon was sent off the $5 favourite in scoring by a length from Bons Away, with Sniztkraft one and a half lengths away third. Streets Of Avalon was backing up from finishing third in a Listed race over 1400m at Flemington last Saturday. “He’s an amazing horse,” Nichols said. “To bring him back from 1400 metres in seven days to win at 1200 metres, the staff need to be congratulated. “He’s had a long prep and it doesn’t happen easily so to win the Hareeba, on the home track, I’m really chuffed about that.” Streets Of Avalon is now the winner of five races from his 30 starts and more than A$500,000 in prize-money. “A year ago if you had told me that he’d be a 96-rater and winning at stakes level, I would have said no,” Nichols said. “There might be a bit more to come, but it depends on where his rating goes to after this. “There’s a Listed race in two weeks at Caulfield over 1400 metres, so we’ll go there and see how it unfolds.” View the full article

A lunch to celebrate the victory of Self Sense in the Mornington Cup will determine the future path of the gelding. Success in today’s Mornington Cup has earned Self Sense a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup in November. Trainer David Brideoake said he would have to sit down with his fellow owners and discuss options for the gelding, who emerged last season as one of the country’s best jumpers. “This entry into the Caulfield Cup, it means a lot,” Brideoake said. “It’s a hard race to get a start in, so I think we’ll have to have a lunch on Self Sense and discuss the pros and cons.” Ridden by Luke Nolen, Self Sense ($12) scored a short-head win over Tarquin with Trap For Fools three-quarters of a length away third. Tarquin’s rider Fred Kersley lodged an objection against the winner for alleged interference at the 300-metre mark, but it was dismissed after a short deliberation by Racing Victoria stewards. Self Sense was lining up for his third attempt at his hometown cup, having finished sixth in 2017 and 2018. Brideoake said the win was highly satisfying after he returned to winning form in last Sunday’s Yarra Valley Cup. “He hit his straps last week, he pulled up beautifully and we decided to run him on a six-day back,” Brideoake said. “He would have had to do something this morning anyway, but he’s certainly done something special this afternoon. “It’s terribly exciting. It doesn’t get any better than that.” Brideoake said while jumps races potentially could be put on the backburner for the upcoming season, jumping will still form part of his campaign. Self Sense could now head to Sydney for the Gr. 2 Chairman’s Quality at Randwick on April 6. “He does like a jump. It stimulates him,” Brideoake said. “Round and round in trackwork he gets a bit dizzy, but once he gets to a fence, he’s excited. “There’s a race in Sydney in two weeks that we’ll have a think about, so we may go there. We can probably continue our autumn a little longer and see where he can take us.” View the full article

Expat New Zealand trainer Chris Waller bagged a Group One treble on his adopted home turf of Rosehill this afternoon. After winning the Rosehill Guineas with The Autumn Sun and the George Ryder Stakes with the champion Winx, Waller worked the oracle with his enigmatic new recruit Nature Strip in the A$700,000 Galaxy. Part-owned by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, the Nicconi gelding has long been regarded as one of Australia’s fastest horses. He had been an explosive winner of nine of his 14 starts, but had failed badly as favourite in the Gr. 1 Moir Stakes and Oakleigh Plate. Having joined Waller’s stable earlier this year following the disqualification of Darren Weir, Nature Strip finally got his Group One in today’s 1100-metre Galaxy. Showing his customary explosive speed, Nature Strip charged forward from his wide gate. Ridden by Waller’s compatriot James McDonald, the four-year-old had a commanding lead early in the run home. Again he began to get the wobbles late in the piece, and Pierata came from nowhere to dive at him in the last 50 metres. In a thrilling photo finish, Nature Strip held on by a nose. “It’s pretty good to have a Group One treble, isn’t it, especially when one of them is Winx,” Waller said. “But full credit to all of them, it’s a great raceday. It’s one for the real special race days in the world, it’s a day for everyone to remember. “Everyone’s had a go at training this horse. I probably get the accolade for winning the Group One with him, but there’s been a lot of hard work go into him through the years, so well done to all those trainers as well. “Great work by James McDonald, he’s put a lot of time into the horse at home, on the training tracks and in his trials. “He’s a lovely horse to train, we just have to get into his head on race day that the winning post is not at the 300-metre mark. “From the wide draw and the wet track today there was a lot against us. He needed to be pretty tough and he was.” McDonald was full of praise for his mount, who has now earned more than A$1.2 million in prize-money. “The team has done an amazing job,” he said. “From the first time I sat on him he felt like a really good sprinter. Things don’t really go his way and he makes it hard for himself. He sprung the gates really well and I just sat on him like a quiet church mouse. I thought the give in the ground would be to his assistance and it was. “I thought it was a dead heat, it probably deserved to be one, but it was a great race and he’s done it the tough way and won. They all can’t win like Winx, so I’ll take winning by a nose!” View the full article

The Caulfield Cup, the Melbourne Cup, the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the Blue Diamond and now a trifecta in the Golden Slipper – international powerhouse Godolphin is enjoying a season of unprecedented Australian success. But it was a boil-over in today’s A$3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill as the $30 outsider Kiamichi led all the way to beat her James Cummings-trained stablemate Microphone ($8). The Anthony Freedman-trained Blue Diamond winner Lyre ($14) was third. “The guys have done an amazing job all season and they’ve been meticulous with these two-year-olds,” Cummings said. “I’m pretty proud to be associated with the blue jacket at the moment.” Kiamichi, a home-bred daughter of the 2013 Golden Slipper runner-up Sidestep, had won two of her four starts before today’s world-famous juvenile feature. After finishing fourth in the Gr. 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes earlier in the month, she clinched her place in the Slipper field with a front-running victory in last Saturday’s Gr. 3 Magic Night Stakes. It was more of the same today as Damian Lane sent Kiamichi forward from gate 14. She never looked back from there, holding on grimly to her advantage all of the way down the straight to win by a length. “I just sent her away – what a tough filly,” Lane said. “She was so well prepared by James Cummings and his team. I got on her last week and sat and steered her around and did the same thing today. She’s just so honest and so tough. “We had to be positive today. We had to use her attributes, which are her speed and her toughness, and it paid off. “It’s a big thrill to ride such a big winner for Godolphin. I’m just a small part of the team there, but it’s a good team to be involved with.” Remarkably, Kiamichi had been Godolphin’s very first two-year-old winner of the season, taking out a 1200-metre race at Rosehill on November 10. “Our first two-year-old winner of the season had the heart to get up and win on debut, and she’s just kept improving,” Cummings said. “She was trained for 1200 metres all the way through, toughening up right until the grand final. It’s very, very satisfying. “I can tell you she’s been squealing all week, she’s just been strong all the way through. “That was some sort of race. Great credit to this horse. “She’s by a stallion (Sidestep) who was able to run three weeks in a row and still run second in this race, just like our colt Microphone just did, beaten less than a length. “Microphone’s got a great future, but one thing I knew coming into this Golden Slipper this year, a little like two years ago, you can throw out the window what horse you think is the most brilliant horse; you can throw out the window the horse you think has had the picture perfect preparation, because at the end of it it’s going to come down to the horse that’s got the guts to handle the heavy track on the occasion and the heart to get over the line first.” In winning today’s big race, Cummings followed in the footsteps of his legendary grandfather Bart, who won four Golden Slippers. The first non-Godolphin horse home today was the fourth-placed Loving Gaby, whose dam is the New Zealand-bred Mastercraftsman mare Maastricht – a half-sister to Group One winner Velocitea and this season’s Southland Guineas winner Weaponry. Maastricht was bred by Christchurch’s Shelley Frost and her late mother Raewyn Ramage. “Very pleased with her run,” jockey Oisin Murphy said. “She put herself in a good spot, a little bit lost around the turn, she’s got a big future.” View the full article

Avilius lived up to his favouritism with a stylish performance in today’s Gr. 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill, but there was a strong New Zealand flavour among the second and third placegetters. Our dual Group One winner Danzdanzdance was a $5,000 yearling purchase taking on the global might of Godolphin, and she did her big group of connections proud with a strong performance for third. Shuffled back into an awkward position on the inside rounding the home turn, she powered home to get within half a length of second. Avilius, who was given a dream run by Kerrin McEvoy, finished a further two and a quarter lengths ahead. “There were a few factors against us a little bit,” Danzdanzdance’s co-trainer Chris Gibbs told www.theinformant.co.nz. “I won’t say we would have won the race, but possibly we could have run second with a bit of better luck. “She over-raced for a large part of the race. She probably ended up one spot further back than we wanted, but we really wanted to get cover and that’s what Opie (Bosson, jockey) was trying to do. “She actually flew the gates, but we weren’t sure about going forward on a track like this. So Opie tried to ease back, but it took quite a while for the field to sort themselves out. “She was in an awkward position coming into the turn and was stuck in possibly the worst part of the track, down on the inside. “But we’re really proud of the way she found the line, and her value has just gone whoosh. A placing in a Group One weight-for-age race in Sydney, on a big day like today, it’s like winning a Group One at home. We have to be happy. “We’ll see how she comes through this, but at this stage I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t carry on.” The Gr. 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, run for A$4 million at Randwick on April 13, has been identified as a possible target. Today’s placing lifted Danzdanzdance’s prize-money earnings past $500,000 – a remarkable return on her $5,000 purchase price. Runner-up He’s Eminent is an Irish-bred son of Frankel who has never set foot in New Zealand, but he nevertheless has strong connections to this country. He is trained by the decorated New Zealand olympian Sir Mark Todd, and he carries the colours of Sir Peter Vela. He’s Eminent was a Group Two winner in France and recorded multiple Group One placings (fourth in the Epsom Derby, third in the Irish Champion Stakes). Ridden by expat New Zealand jockey James McDonald, He’s Eminent went out to a clear lead and took some catching in the straight. Only Avilius was able to reel him in. McDonald pointed out after the race that this was the five-year-old’s first start since the beginning of August. “Very proud of his effort,” he said. “He was gallant in defeat. It took a fit horse to beat him.” For Avilius, today’s win was sweet redemption after he finished only fifth as hot favourite in the Australian Cup at Flemington earlier this month. “He bounced back from that last-start defeat in the Australian Cup,” McEvoy said. “I think he enjoyed getting back to Sydney and getting onto some softer ground. I had a nice run through, following Auvray, he picked up really well when I asked him. He powered through the ground. Soon after I asked him I thought ‘I’ve got this won’. “He is pretty electric and that ground assisted him. He’s been well managed by James (Cummings, trainer) and they came here with a good amount of confidence today. The further I went in the run, the better he travelled. He might go to 2400 metres in the old BMW, the Tancred, that’s still to be decided. Winx is the main girl in the Queen Elizabeth, but he can put up a good fight I’m sure.” Avilius, a five-year-old son of Pivotal, has now won nine of his 17 starts and more than A$1.49 million. “He’s a super horse and that was a demonstration of the supreme turn of foot that he can exhibit,” Cummings said. “Kerrin wasn’t here to ride the track, he was here to ride the horse and I think that was the key to getting the horse over the line. “He had a bit to turn around from his performance in the Australian Cup and we knew it, but he’s had a fantastic fortnight and I’m just proud of the team. “That’s the sort of weight-for-age promise that he demonstrated when he hit the racetrack in Australia last year. He’s got up and won us a Group One, so we’re thrilled for the horse.” Cummings has yet to decide whether Avilius will back up in next Saturday’s 2400-metre Tancred. “I don’t want to make any decisions on race day, it will be up to the way Avilius pulls up,” he said. “We hold a nomination for the Tancred next week, but it’s very much a team effort to get him here and he’s done a wonderful job to improve many many lengths since getting back from Melbourne.” View the full article

Can't. She runs time on any track under a hold. Unbelievable.

A massive crowd flocked to Rosehill today to give Winx the home-track farewell she deserves, and the champion mare and her thousands of fans all rose to the occasion. Trained at the track by expat New Zealander Chris Waller, the incomparable seven-year-old lined up in the Gr. 1 George Ryder Stakes for what is expected to be the second-last start of her career. The likely finale is next month’s Gr. 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, across town at Randwick. Winx’s western Sydney send-off went perfectly to script. Accompanied by a deafening roar from the stands and the waving of thousands of little blue flags, the champion produced her customary finishing flourish out wide on the track. She bounded away from her outclassed opposition, winning by three and a half lengths to extend her winning sequence to 32. No fewer than 24 of those have been at Group One level, and her earnings have now broken through the A$24 million barrier. She has won seven of her eight starts at Rosehill. The crowd’s prolonged ovation continued as jockey Hugh Bowman took Winx along the outside rail in the home straight, with U2’s ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’ playing through the speakers. “She’s a very special horse,” Waller said. “I’m sure she knows what’s going on. Just a marvellous horse to work with and we owe it to her to be in this position. “She’s brought the world closer to Australian racing. We haven’t been overseas, but we don’t need to be worrying about that. We can just enjoy this for a racing moment that will be remembered for a long time here. “I guess the race was run sort of differently today. A little bit of pressure early, they backed off, Hughie popped out four wide with a bit of arrogance, as we’ve seen him do and as he’s entitled to do. Obviously everyone expects her to win and that’s one of the reasons she does. “Every other jockey I’m telling not to be three wide, but with her we have to be three wide to stay out of trouble. It’s the longest way home and it was a good fight, but the last 200 metres she just powered away.” For Bowman, the win was every bit as easy as it looked. “I would never have imagined growing up that I would be riding one of the greatest horses that has ever lived,” he said. “The pace was pretty good in the early stages. I settled towards the rear of the field, as she often does, and when they slowed up the pace in the middle I was staying out wide on the better ground, because it’s quite chewed up on the inside with the conditions here this afternoon, so the pace steadied and I just crept a bit closer. I rode her like a piece of trackwork. Obviously I was more assertive with her over the last 300 metres than I would be here early in the mornings but for her it was very comfortable. “When I asked her to stretch she responded and you could hear the crowd roar. The excitement and the emotion, she responds to that as well as anything else, and once again I am just so proud of her and proud to be a part of it.” New Zealand-bred three-year-old Brutal ran a big race for second, finishing almost three lengths clear of the rest of the field. The O’Reilly colt was lining up for just his seventh start. “She obviously put me away, but full credit to him,” jockey Tommy Berry said. “He’s a young horse, he still fought back when she went past him. He didn’t love the ground, he’s in for a great preparation.” View the full article

Former Singapore-based South African rider Barend Vorster has continued the remarkable start to his Australian career, guiding Vinco to victory at Mornington. Vorster came to Australia to ride for Tony McEvoy as his Adelaide-based stable rider and, after arriving earlier in the month, has notched six winners from 14 rides. Among his winners was Sunlight in the Gr. 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington, which preceded his move to Adelaide where he’s made an immediate impact including a midweek double at Balaklava. “It’s nice riding these quality tracks,” Vorster said. “I’m really enjoying these surfaces and obviously it’s helping having these quality horses underneath.” Vorster partnered the McEvoy-trained Vinco to take the Mornington Sires’ today and he said having a previous ride on the colt had proven beneficial. McEvoy praised Vorster for his coolness after being undecided prior to the race as to how it would be run. “We didn’t know how to map this race being the first time out to this trip,” McEvoy said. “I left it to Barend, ride the horse where he’s comfortable and we got back to last and I didn’t think that was great, but he weaved his way through the field beautifully.” McEvoy thought Vinco’s race experience was crucial in the final stages as he ran out a half-neck winner over Power Scheme. “He’s been a bit fussy and I’ve contemplated gelding him a couple of times,” McEvoy said. “He’s got a bit of upside, so we’ll consider going to the Sires’ in Adelaide now if he tells me he’s got some more to offer.” View the full article

Consistent mare Residential has landed the biggest win of her career with an all-the-way performance in Gr. 3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton today. Carrying the familiar colours of her breeder and co-owner Waikato Stud, the Pins five-year-old gave her rivals a galloping lesson as she set up a consistent speed out in front and then defying them to run her down. Visiting rider Robbie Hannam had Residential humming along sweetly and despite being challenged hard by Zabay and race favourite Contessa Vanessa, Residential wouldn’t surrender as she went to the line still with half a length over her pursuers. Zabay took second narrowly from Contessa Vanessa. Karen Parsons, who prepares the mare with her husband John, was delighted with the win although admitting that Hannam hadn’t followed her pre-race instructions. “It was super,” she said. “He pulled it off and the Waikato Stud will be very pleased.” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick paid tribute to ability of the mare’s trainers to keep her competitive at the top level throughout her career. “John and Karen have done a wonderful job with her and I’m just as pleased for them as I am for her syndicate of owners to get the win today,” he said. “She’s just a good tough racemare who always gives her best and I think she deserved that one after being thereabouts all season. “She comes from a really good family and once again there was old Pins reminding us just what a good stallion he was over his long career at Waikato Stud.” Residential is out of the stakes-placed Elusive City mare, Metropolitan, and from the family that includes Gr. 1 Railway Handicap winner Silver Liner, the dam of 1984-85 South African champion three-year-old filly, Petrava. She is the eighth individual stakes winner for Pins this season, the most recent of which was the Hannam-ridden Emily Margaret in last Saturday’s Wellington Guineas. Successful three times at Listed level as a three-year-old, Residential has now won nine of her 36 starts and more than $250,000 in stakes. View the full article

A sensational mile victory by U May Cullect was enough to convince long-time Southland owner Tom Kilkelly he has found his best horse yet. The five-year-old produced a booming finish from off the pace to score in 1.51.1, clearly the fastest time on the Wairio Trotting Club’s Mile Day at Winton on Saturday. Kilkelly admitted the hairs on the back of his neck stood up when U May Cullect powered down the outside of the track to win by more than eight-lengths for trainer-driver Kirstin Barclay. “There are only two horses that have made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, that is Guns N Roses and him.” “And I think this fellow could be the best I have ever had.” Guns N Roses was known for his brilliant turn of foot, when Killkelly raced the pacer between 2009-2013. The owner said trainer-driver Kirstin Barclay was equally impressed by U May Cullect’s effort on Saturday. “He went 0.1sec outside the track record and Kirstin said at the end of it ‘I still had a handful’.” “And she said I have driven cup horses and this horse is better than anything I have ever driven in my life.” Franco Santino set the all-age mile record for male pacers at the same meeting last year when pacing 1.52.0 to win. U May Cullect was just 0.2sec outside the all-comers record of 1.51.9, set by Delightful Memphis in 2017. Kilkelly and Barclay have been forced to take a patience approach with their exciting pacer, who has been plagued by leg injuries. “Our patience seems to paying off,” Kilkelly said. “We walked him for a month before we started jogging him and then brought him up slowly.” U May Cullect has been in Kilkelly and Barclay’s care for much of his five years. Kilkelly purchased the Gotta Go Cullect gelding, from the Albert Albert mare, Ides of May, as a weanling for $5200. “We bought him at the all-aged sale in Auckland, I liked the family and I just bought him on that.” “We have bought a few over the years, sometimes you get a decent one and other times you don’t.” Santanna’s Rocket clocked the second best time on the Wairio Trotting Club’s Mile Day when pacing a 1.53.7 mile in rating 56-70 company. The victory continued the sensational form of trainer Syd Breen. Junior driver Ellie Barron scored the second winning double of her short career at Winton on Sunday. Barron picked a perfect path for Nottingham VC to weave through and get up late to win in rating 40-55 trotting company. The reinswoman scored back-to-back wins when Paduka produced a tough effort to win his first start from Clark Barron’s stable. The trainer produced the race quinella in the rating 40-51 event when Black Ops ran second. View the full article

Arrogant (Craig Williams, inside) fights for all he is worth in a desperate Rosehill Guineas battle with The Autumn Sun. New Zealand three-year-old Arrogant ran the race of his life in today’s Gr. 1 Rosehill Guineas, throwing down an almighty challenge to Australia’s most valuable three-year-old. Multiple Group One winner The Autumn Sun was sent out as a $1.35 favourite for today’s 2000-metre feature. His dominance only grew when the expected main challenger, multiple Group One-winning Kiwi galloper Madison County, was scratched after suffering abrasions during his float journey to the racecourse. But when the boom colt swooped into contention at the top of the straight, Arrogant went with him. The pair fought a titanic tussle through the last 200 metres, with the A$3 million earner The Autumn Sun being matched at every stride by the $68,500 earner Arrogant. In a nail-biting finish, The Autumn Sun claimed victory by a head. Arrogant has won only once in his nine-start career, that being a December maiden at his home track of Matamata. But he has also finished second in the Gr. 2 Waikato Guineas, fourth in the Gr. 1 New Zealand Derby and a luckless sixth in the Gr. 1 Levin Classic. Mike Moroney, who trains on both sides of the Tasman with Pam Gerard running the Matamata branch, was proud of the Ocean Park colt’s performance. “That’s not a bad Australian debut – it’s a big effort to run a horse like The Autumn Sun to a head,” he told www.theinformant.co.nz. “He was often a bit unlucky in New Zealand, especially in the Levin Classic. All of the jockeys who have ridden him have said he’ll be better next year, he’s still not the finished product. “The signs are good heading into the Australian Derby in a couple of weeks’ time. Chapada also ran a really big race today for third, so we could be going into that with a couple of the leading chances.” But it was The Autumn Sun who came out on top, adding the Rosehill Guineas to his previous Group One victories in the JJ Atkins, Golden Rose, Caulfield Guineas and Randwick Guineas. The Redoute’s Choice has been beaten only once in his nine-start career, running an unlucky second in the Gr. 2 Stan Fox Stakes in the spring. Trainer Chris Waller was relieved to see him master today’s Heavy8 track. “John Messara (principal of majority owner Arrowfield) is a good sportsman and that’s why the horse was here racing,” he said. “There was concern earlier in the week whether he should be running on a heavy track, because he’s still young and not a horse that’s fully matured. It’s through his sportsmanship that we brought him here and he’s a very good horse. “That was a good test, the last 200 metres. He just didn’t lie down. He’s a really tough horse. We were really testing him today over 2000 metres, and only a champion comes out like he’s done and he’s done it.” Waller wouldn’t be drawn on what happens next for the valuable colt. “It’ll be up to the owners to decide whether he goes to stud,” he said. “I get the importance of the horse’s value. I get the people at home, the people coming to the races and the media, how they want these great horses racing. We’ve got to give the owners some support whatever decision they make, but it would be great to see him back.” From a Kiwi point of view, there was also plenty of merit in the strong-finishing fourth by multiple Group Two winner Surely Sacred. “Very happy with him,” jockey Damian Lane said. “He just peaked on his run late in the heavy ground, but he’ll be better for that.” New Zealand Derby winner Crown Prosecutor jumped from the outside gate and worked hard early in the race to lead and cross the field. He faded in the straight to finish ninth. “He probably needs to be ridden with cover to relax better,” jockey James McDonald said. His Stephen Marsh-trained stablemate Vernanme was particularly disappointing, dropping out to finish 11th. “He got a soft, cosy run, but he was the first one beaten,” jockey Opie Bosson said. View the full article

Class mare Volpe Veloce maintained her unbeaten record at Tauranga when she strode to victory in the Gr. 2 Windsor Park Stud Japan NZ International Trophy today. In her most recent start the Foxwedge mare was all at sea on a Slow8 track when finishing well back in the Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic at Otaki, but back to a Dead4 surface at Tauranga she showed just what she is capable of in stunning fashion. After settling well back off a solid speed set by The Mitigator, Volpe Veloce had plenty to do with 600 metres to run. Rider Michael McNab didn’t panic, however, as he eased Volpe Veloce to the outside and sent her forward. Turning for home former Australian galloper Endless Drama had shot to the front and looked hard to catch – but that was before Volpe Veloce hit top gear. With huge bounds she gobbled up Endless Drama before easing across the line to score comfortably from Watch This Space, the 2016 Japan NZ Trophy winner, who dashed home late along the rail after being held up before the home turn. Trainer Graham Richardson, who prepares Volpe Veloce with Gavin Parker, was relieved to see his stable star bounce back to winning form after some frustrations in her last two starts at Group One level. “She’s a great chaser and everything panned out this time,” Richardson said. “He (McNab) didn’t panic and to be honest, that’s half the battle as well with her. “It was a good effort and I’m just chuffed for her and all the owners.” Richardson confirmed that Volpe Veloce would now have another tilt at Group One level in the Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha on April 6. “She will be at Te Aroha in two weeks’ time,” he said. “She’s been unlucky hence why we got over a mile as she just lacks that early speed, but what a run today.” A $240,000 purchase by Richardson from the 2014 National Yearling Sale at Karaka, Volpe Veloce has taken her record to 12 wins – three of them at Tauranga – from 24 starts and $639,000 in stake-earnings. View the full article

Unbelievable. Best horse in our generation.

Consistent performer Pasabache has again shown her liking for the Tauranga racecourse by scoring her fifth victory at the track today. The Team Rogerson-trained six-year-old was coming off a creditable performance for fifth in open company at the same venue last weekend as she defeated a small but competitive line-up of fillies and mares in the Rating 82 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race over 1300 metres. Settled midfield by rider Ryan Elliot, Pasabache travelled sweetly as Honneur Noir set a solid speed up front. Elliot moved the Shocking mare into contention on the point of the home turn before unleashing her with 300 metres to run. Pasabache surged to the front in the closing stages to defeat La Mia Stella with Honneur Noir fighting on gamely for third. Elliot was full of praise for the mare’s effort after her trainers had decided to bypass today’s feature event, the Gr. 2 Windsor Park Stud Japan NZ International Trophy. “She loves this place down to the ground,” Elliot said. “Graeme (Rogerson) was debating whether to run in the Group Two today or the 1300. I’m glad he stuck to the 1300 as she won that well. “She didn’t disgrace herself last week. This time I was able to bring her back a couple of positions and just travel up on the corner and she’s really let down.” Raced by long-time Rogerson Racing administration manager Denise Howell, Pasabache has now won nine of her 57 starts and close to $160,000 after being purchased by Howell for just $500 at the 2014 National Weanling Sale at Karaka. Today’s also continued a good run of form for the progeny of Rich Hill Stud-based stallion Shocking, whose four-year-old son Surprise Baby took out the Gr. 2 Adelaide Cup last week, while promising three-year-old filly Artic Shock finished a close third behind Princess Jenni in the Gr. 3 Alexandra Stakes at Moonee Valley last night. View the full article

Kevin Townley has been tearing his hair out trying to figure out Aorangi in recent months. Aorangi is proving an incredibly frustrating horse and it’s fair to say the situation has become desperate heading into Sunday’s meeting at Waimate. The maiden trot is the best and perhaps last chance for the Peak colt to secure the win he needs to gain a start in the Trotting Derby in a fortnight. Should Aorangi once again lose the plot and go for a gallop at some stage, trainer Kevin Townley still has the Sires Stakes Prelude at Addington next week and a trek to Forbury Park as options. But the latter is not looking very appealing as it would probably be just another waste of time and the Addington race would be much more difficult to win. Aorangi would win Sunday’s race if he just trotted all the way, but that is something he hasn’t done in seven starts since he made his debut at Addington in early December, when Franco Josiah only just held him out by a neck. Blair Orange drove Aorangi on that occasion, then soon after committed to promising three-year-old Majestic Chevron, so Townley turned to Sam Ottley. But when Aorangi quite probably blew the Hambletonian at Ashburton when in front and travelling like a winner on the home turn, Townley took to driving Aorangi himself in an effort to get him sorted. “I drove him at Addington last time, but he galloped in the score up (behind the mobile) after getting too keen,” said Townley. “I keep trying new things with each race and now I’m resorting to putting the half hopples on for Sunday. “They’re a last resort and I hate using them but desperate means require desperate measures. “I’m not going to guarantee anything though because there’s really been no excuses or rhyme or reason for why he’s kept breaking in the past. “It’s been incredibly frustrating because he’s always done things perfectly at home and at the trials.” The Hambletonian was actually the third occasion within four starts where Aorangi has blown a race all by himself. He was going to win at Oamaru the start before and at Orari a fortnight earlier, but broke when leading inside the last 100m on both occasions. In between on the grass at Rangiora, he had an excuse with the crossing, but that has been the only time that Townley could point to one. He has been sent out the favourite on most occasions so he has also been very frustrating for the punters, who will once again have their hearts in their mouths until he gets over the line at Waimate. Then there’s sympathy for breeder-owner Bill Bishop, whose had a long and successful association with Townley. Bishop has been going foal about from Scuffle with the late Cliff and now Sue Irvine since saving the mare from a very bad injury before she qualified. The Sundon daughter of Tussle has produced good trotters in De Gaulle, Mamselle, Spell and Mr Fahrenheit, but Aorangi is the best of them and still a maiden. “I think he’s shown that he can probably go with all of this season’s good three-year-old trotters outside of Enhance Your Calm, now that Oscar Bonavena has been sidelined. “I’m sure we’ll get him sorted eventually, but with the way things have been going, if it wasn’t for all these good races coming up, I would have just turned him out and started again. “But for now we’ll just have to keep trying until we’re defeated.” View the full article

The New Zealanders have had an up-and-down start to the day at Rosehill, with a disappointing late scratching followed almost immediately by a superb Group Three win. Rosehill Guineas second favourite Madison County suffered abrasions on his way to the track today and was late-scratched around midday local time after two vet inspections. His wounds have been described as superficial and he is now likely to line up in next Saturday’s Tulloch Stakes. But when the racing action got underway half an hour later, top-class filly Avantage wasted no time in getting the Kiwis’ day right back on track in the A$160,000 Birthday Card Stakes. Making her first start since winning the Gold Trail Stakes in September and on her Australian debut, the Fastnet Rock filly was sent out as a $5.50 second favourite behind Godolphin’s Resin ($4.40). Avantage and jockey Opie Bosson raced on the pace throughout the 1200-metre fillies and mares’ event, but they were clearly headed by Resin in the straight. It looked like Avantage was beaten, but then she summoned a second wind. She clawed her way back level with Resin, then found even more. By the finish line, a near-certain defeat had been turned into a three-quarter-length victory. “She’s a lovely little filly and she doesn’t know when to lie down,” Bosson said. “I gave her a couple with the stick and she really stuck in. She’s a top-quality filly back home and she has done nothing wrong so far. “She doesn’t normally get too warm before a race, so I was a bit worried that she was too fresh today. But all credit to Jamie (Richards, trainer). He has done a terrific job to have her ready first-up. “She’s got heaps of improvement. She had such a long time off. This is a bonus win first-up.” The winner of last season’s Karaka Million and Gr. 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, Avantage has now had eight starts for seven wins, one second and more than $820,000 in prize-money for owners the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate. She was a $210,000 yearling purchase by Te Akau principal David Ellis. “She’s a very good filly and is probably unlucky not to be unbeaten,” Richards said. “She had a muscle issue in the spring and just needed a bit of time, and all the staff have done a great job to get her back so well. She trialled well at Avondale at home and travelled over in very good order. “I probably didn’t expect her to land in front today, but I thought it was a lovely patient ride by Opie, he never panicked. He got headed but she fought back to win well. “She’s always been a high-class filly and hopefully we can work through to The Championships now with a little bit of confidence that hopefully she can step up. “She’s pencilled to go to the Arrowfield Sprint. We’ll keep her nice and fresh. I think the three weeks suits and hopefully she can be competitive. We’ve got to take on the boys, that’s where the money is and that’s what we’re here for.” The Gr. 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint will be run for A$1 million over 1200 metres at Randwick on April 13. Expat New Zealand jockey James McDonald has ridden a number of winners in the Te Akau colours, and after finishing second on Resin today he gave all credit to the Kiwis. “Good tough run, she just got outfought,” he said. View the full article

Muscle Mountain and Ben Hope have the measure of Ultimate Stride and Brad Williamson. Ian Dobson hasn’t had much to cheer about since the days of Christian Cullen and Mainland Banner but he has some interesting months coming up with Muscle Mountain and Cullenburn. The former maintained his unbeaten record in the two-year-old trot at Addington on Friday night and completed a double for Dobson after Cullenburn’s authoritative resuming win over Nandolo and Smokin By. Trainer Benny Hill has been playing a waiting game with Cullenburn, who he still describes as a “big baby”. “He’s always been an immature and weak horse which we’ve had to keep tipping out to allow him to get stronger and he’s improved each time in,” said Hill. “He’s never had any soreness issues, but you could only take him so far before that weakness took a toll.” Dobson bought Cullenburn, a brother to Locharburn, at the Christchuch yearling sale for $160,000 and he finished third on debut in the Sapling Stakes won by Cole Porter in 1.53.9 but had just one more race before being spelled. He won a Breeders Crown heat and a grade race at Addington that winter and Hill then tipped him out again and took aim at the Sires Stakes series. He was third in that final won by Chase Auckland over King Of Swing in a 1.52.2 mile-rate, although he merely had to follow that pair around after drawing the inside of the second line. Hill then spelled Cullenburn again and set his sights on the New Zealand Derby, although he only made it as far as the Flying Stakes before going to the paddock again. He reappeared last winter for two wins and two seconds and was then freshened again, winning first up again in October before finishing third in the Aged Classic at Kaikoura. Cullenburn wasn’t disgraced when running fourth and fifth at the Cup meeting in strong company which included Turn It Up, Elle Mac, Funatthebeach and Henry Hubert and then Hill tipped him out again. “He’s always gone very well fresh so I just gave him the one quiet trial a fortnight out from racing. “He’s got the Superstars race next and the blinds can come for that as he never saw the other horse (Nandolo) coming back at him. “After that it will be up to ‘Dobby’ about going to Auckland, but the fields up there are going to be pretty scary.” Dobson is racing Muscle Mountain after he was passed in at the Premier Sale, having bred him from Paramount Faith, an unraced Pegasus Spur half-sister to Paramount Geegee, Paramount Queen, Paramount Dream and Paramount King. The Muscle Hill gelding is the first foal from Paramount Faith, who has since lost foals by both Muscle Hill and Trixton. Muscle Mountain has been pretty much faultless in his career to date and started from post eight before Ben Hope slowly worked his way to the lead with a lap to travel. He was immediately supplanted in that role by Ultimate Stride but Muscle Mountain always appeared to have the favourite covered in the run home. There was also an awful lot to like about the performance of Ultimate Stride on debut however after missing the start by several lengths and that pair look head and shoulders above the rest at this point. Hill completed a double of his own later when Double O Heaven won second up, the one-win four-year-old daughter of Auckland Reactor holding out the much better-performed mare Enchantee to give Ricky May a treble. Double O Heaven had a stint with Steven Reid in Auckland last year where she had a win and five placings from seven starts, earning over $18,000 in a couple of months before returning home on a 55 rating. “We sent her up there for the smaller fields and bigger stakes because she’d been working so good right-handed.” Hill races Double O Heaven with Glen Scott after the latter sorted her out from the Premier Sale for $9000. Double O Heaven was reportedly backed at $5 on Fixed Odds for $15,000 and must have completed a forgettable night for the TAB bookies after a run of All Stars favourites won and also Alta Maestro was the centre of a betting plunge where he dropped from 10s into 4s. The only mercy for bookies no doubt being Ultimate Sniper’s early gallop at $1.20, which will have taken hundreds of multis out of play. View the full article