Chief Stipe

A raging success. What a fantastic success the recently completed teal campaign was. The harness racing industry should be proud it contributed thousands of dollars towards ovarian cancer research. Though the money is obviously the whole point of the campaign, if you put it aside for a second you can marvel at the driver for its success. The way industry participants pulled together for the cause was incredible to watch. A seal of tea washed over meetings across the country and clubs, trainers and drivers and other officials banded together to make the teal campaign a success. I think the challenge for harness racing officials is to capture this kind of drive and cooperation and replicate it in many other projects. Imagine reproducing the kind of incredible support the teal campaign enjoyed in another project. So, I say, do not let the ball stop rolling. The possibilities are endless. Ban the stand? Lets put standing starts back on the agenda. Standing starts were an ugly talking point during the build up to the New Zealand Cup. Little has changed since then and there is little to suggest they will not be a problem again this spring. Bad stands are so regular they seem to have been accepted as part of everyday harness racing. Its nothing new to point out faults, instances of horses being unfairly treated and general debacles. My question is, when did the industry just start accepting these horror shows? When did the industry roll over and say ‘oh well, it is just part of the game’. I would like to see a full and rigorous enquiry into standing start procedures and the place of the stand in the harness racing industry. A whinging chorus of old timers clinging to traditions is not enough of a reason to keep them around. We need data and analysis suggesting – with particular note of betting trends – when to use them and how often, as well as how they should be executed. Most accept standing starts are necessary. So, if we are going to have them lets make them workable for the punter. The number one function of the standing start right now seems to be scaring bettors away. View the full article

Adelaide Cup winner Surprise Baby, pictured as an unraced three-year-old. Today’s Gr. 2 Adelaide Cup winner Surprise Baby has provided a stunning return on investment for connections of the Kiwi stayer, who purchased the son of Shocking for just $5,500 from online auction gavelhouse.com as an unraced three-year-old. The Paul Preusker-trained four-year-old has been a revelation, winning four of his six starts. He is the seventh stakes winner for Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking, who also sired last year’s Adelaide Cup winner Fanatic, the Group One winner of the New Zealand Oaks. Bred by Rich Hill Stud, home to Melbourne Cup and Australian Cup winner Shocking, the stayer is the 14th stakes performer for the young sire. “He was a nice horse,” Rich Hill Stud Managing Director John Thompson said. “I took him to the New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale and couldn’t sell him. I decided that he would make a Ready To Run horse and he just didn’t breeze up that well on the day. “I still liked the horse, so I put him in work with Margaret Falconer with the idea of winning a trial and getting him sold. “He proved a bit difficult and he never got to the trials early in his three-year-old season, so I thought we’d missed the boat.” As a result, Thompson decided to list the untried galloper on gavelhouse.com, where he fetched $5,500 to the bid of Australian owner John Fiteni. “John bought the horse off gavelhouse pretty much sight unseen,” Thompson said. “He rang up and Paul Preusker came over to look at him after John had bought him. “Paul said they were looking for a nice staying horse and I said to him that if he could get him to relax, he might make a nice staying horse and that he would be more a four or five-year-old because he was just mentally a bit immature. “He has won four from six races and an Adelaide Cup and it is just a phenomenal training performance. He had a real dash at the end of the two miles and he is one of the most exciting young stayers in Australia.” While Thompson was left lamenting the sale of the progressive stayer as well as his dam Bula Baby, the affable studmaster could see nothing but positives for his young sire Shocking. “His dam is a Kaapstad daughter of Miss Tessla, so she had a pedigree, but she hadn’t done a whole lot and I sold her on gavelhouse as well for $400 I think,” Thompson said. “From a breeder’s perspective it’s not a great story but thank god I’ve still got Shocking. He had three winners on Sunday, he had three winners the weekend before and he had a very impressive maiden winner in Arctic Shock at Pakenham last week. “He has got Formidable, who won a stakes race in New Zealand and was sold to Hong Kong where he is called Tianchi Monster. He has won three of his past four starts and is a good chance in Sunday’s Hong Kong Derby (2000m).” Thompson said the numbers of mares that patronised Shocking ebbed and flowed as it often can with staying stallions. “He is probably typical of a staying sire in that he got good support for his first two years and then as his progeny were only two-year-olds, the support drops off,” he said. “The same thing happened with Pentire and the same thing happened with Zabeel. “He has got a lot of nice young horses around and he has good numbers of yearlings this year on the back of siring an Oaks winner in his first crop. “There are not many horses that can sire two-mile winners and he has sired back-to-back Adelaide Cup winners, so he is certainly one of the most promising staying influences in Australasia.” View the full article

Bill Thurlow is sticking to his policy when it comes to booking a rider for Glory Days in the Sydney Cup at Randwick next month. The Waverley trainer has confirmed plans are underway for Glory Days to be in Sydney for A$2 million feature following her decisive win in Saturday’s Gr. 1 Auckland Cup at Ellerslie. He is weighing up the lead-up race options for Glory Days, but has already decided on what he will do for a rider in Sydney. “No disrespect to Sam Collett, she rode him beautifully in the Auckland Cup, but I have a policy with riders,” Thurlow said. “When I decided to take Glory Days to Auckland I wanted a good northern rider who knows the track well and that’s how I booked Sam. I’m sticking with the same policy when she goes to Sydney. I will try and find a good Sydney rider who knows Randwick well. “I think it’s important to have riders familiar with the tracks as every track can be so different. Randwick is a lot different from Ellerslie. I’m sure I’ll be able to get a good lightweight Sydney rider, but Sam can be on her again if she runs over here.” Glory Days is 12th equal and weighted at 51 kilograms for the Sydney Cup and, though the Auckland Cup was the main goal, Thurlow said the Sydney Cup has always been an option. “She’s eating up well and looking good, not tucked up at all,” he said. “I just want to make sure she’s 100 percent before confirming everything, but at this stage it’s definitely the option. “I’ve just got to try and map out how to get her to the Sydney Cup. Whether she has a lead-up here and goes for a lightning raid or has her lead-up over there, probably in the Chairman’s (Group Two, 2600m).” The two local options being considered are both at Awapuni, the Gr. 2 City Of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup on March 30 and the Gr. 3 L J Hooker Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes six days later. Thurlow has been flooded with congratulations over his first Group One win and in typical modest fashion he gives all the credit to Glory Days. “She’s a fast stayer, a quick-actioned horse,” he said. “You just push the button and she goes bang. She showed that on Saturday when Sam went to improve on her. She grabbed the bit and worked into it easily. She travels so sweetly and doesn’t pull hard. “She’s also so versatile, she’s won from 1200m to 3200m. Not many stayers can do that.” Though Glory Days’ campaign began just over a fortnight into this season, with a win at the local Waverley meeting, Thurlow has managed to keep her up for eight months and she is still showing no signs of being over the top. She has excelled since being stepped up over more ground and won four races in succession within 49 days from mid-October, including a popular local win in the Waverley Cup followed by victory in the Listed Wanganui Cup. Since then she has been runner-up in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes and won both her starts at Ellerslie, beginning with the Gr. 2 Avondale Cup last month. “She’s won six of her last eight starts. The only time she’s really missed was at Awapuni (Gr. 3 Manawatu Cup) when it wasn’t her fault,’’ Thurlow said. View the full article

Champion New Zealand reinsman Dexter Dunn has received more support than he could have dreamed of on his venture in to North America. Dunn has worked his way in to the top bracket of drivers in the New Jersey harness racing scene since arriving there in August. He told American media personality Heather Vitale in a recent interview the support of the North American trainers and drivers has boosted his success. “I have had great support from trainers and drivers over here, helping me out and giving me tips and telling me where I am going wrong and what not to do.” “There is a long list of names that have been unbelievably supportive of me.” “It has been better than I have expected by a mile.” Dexter Dunn has cemented himself in the top tier of North American drivers this year. Photo: Meadowlands Racing. Dunn sits in 22nd position on this year’s US Trotting drivers premiership with 63 wins from 455 drives. Those wins have brought in more than $800,000 in stakes. That places Dunn 14th on the drivers premiership by stakes earnings. Dunn has quickly adapted to the North American style of racing to reach that success. He said the longer he was there, the more he gets used to the American tracks and horses. “I have been trying to adapt and I think the longer I have been here the more I know the horses and get to know the horses and read the [form].” Dunn moved to North America after suffering his first defeat in ten years in the New Zealand drivers premiership. He said he was ready for a new challenge. “I guess I was just ready for a change and have a go at the North American scene.” “I had a stint seven years ago, when I was a bit younger, and really enjoyed it and I was ready for the change and the new challenge.” View the full article

In-form Tasmanian stayer Eastender has been scratched from today’s Gr. 2 Adelaide Cup amid concerns around raceday treatment. The Barry Campbell-trained gelding, who has won his past four starts in his home state including the Devonport, Hobart and Launceston Cups, was among the leading contenders for the Morphettville feature but was withdrawn on race morning. “Eastender was ruled a late scratching by order of stewards at 10.55 Adelaide time this morning,” Thoroughbred Racing SA’s chief steward Johan Petzer told broadcaster racing.com. “That followed routine and regular inspections as we do at stables on race morning. “Stewards were concerned with some raceday treatment practices in relation to Eastender.” Petzer said TRSA deemed the integrity of racing would be better protected if the horse was withdrawn but said he could make no further comment ahead of an inquiry to be conducted at a future date. View the full article

Multiple Group One winner Danzdanzdance remains firmly on track for a Sydney autumn campaign following her outstanding supporting role in Saturday’s Gr. 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie. The Mastercraftsman mare finished second to this season’s five-time Group One winner Melody Belle in the 2000-metre weight-for-age race, but made that rival work hard for the win. The two high-class mares drew almost four lengths clear of the rest of the field in a spectacular duel down the Ellerslie straight. “It was a really good race,” Danzdanzdance’s co-trainer Michelle Bradley said this afternoon. “Those two horses had been the talk all through the week, and it was so cool to see them both come around the outside and run away to fight out a great finish. “We were very happy with how our mare performed, and she seems to have come through it really well. She looked bright under saddle this morning and is a happy horse. We’re right on track to take her over to Sydney next week.” A dominant winner of the Captain Cook Stakes and Zabeel Classic in December, Danzdanzdance is scheduled to run in the Gr. 1 Ranvet Stakes over 2000 metres at Rosehill on March 23. The A$4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 13, featuring the legendary Winx, is also on the radar. View the full article

Savy Yong Blonk and Shezathinka will give Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards two strong chances at a Group One milestone at Trentham this Saturday. Still in only his fourth full season of training and his first in sole charge of the stable, Richards has won 19 Group One races – six with Melody Belle, three with Gingernuts, two with Xtravagant and one each with Risque, Heroic Valour, Hall Of Fame, Embellish, Age Of Fire, Sword Of Osman, Avantage and Yourdeel. He played a starring role at Ellerslie last Saturday as Yourdeel and Melody Belle delivered a big-race double in the Sistema Stakes and Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes. Richards will saddle Savy Yong Blonk and Shezathinka as $10 and $12 chances respectively in Saturday’s $400,000 Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks. Savy Yong Blonk won two races earlier in her campaign and produced a big finish for a last-start third in the Gr. 3 Sunline Vase at Ellerslie, while the maiden filly Shezathinka burst into Oaks contention with a last-start second in the Gr. 2 Lowland Stakes at Hastings. She finished in between Queen Of Diamonds and Imelda Mary, who are the two Oaks favourites at $3.20 and $4 respectively. “We were very pleased with Savy Yong Blonk at Ellerslie,” Richards said. “I thought she could have switched off when she was knocked around a bit at the top of the straight, but instead she kept up a strong gallop and found the line very well. It was a very good effort. “She’s come through it well and is making good progress towards Saturday. She’s been in work a while and is very fit, so hasn’t needed to do a lot. Michael McNab will ride her in a final gallop tomorrow morning, and he’ll be aboard on Saturday. “Shezathinka is a high-class filly. She’s still a maiden, but she really proved herself against some of the best fillies around with her Lowland placing. I’m disappointed that she hasn’t won a race before now, but she’s been a victim of circumstances and has had a bit of bad luck. “She’s going into the race in great order and will be ridden by Chris Johnson.” Richards will also saddle impressive last-start winner Sasso Corbaro in the Listed Gavelhouse.com Lightning Handicap, while Southland Guineas winner Weaponry is a possible runner in the Gr. 2 Norwood Family Wellington Guineas. On the other side of the Tasman, the brilliant Karaka Million winner Probabeel will line up in the Gr. 3 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill. She will travel to Sydney later today. “She’s about to be loaded on to a truck,” Richards said. “I’m looking at her right now and she’s in really good order.” View the full article

Just a week after his landmark Auckland Cup win, Waverley horseman Bill Thurlow will attempt to double his Group One tally in Saturday’s Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks. Whereas Glory Days lined up as the second favourite for the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup, Thurlow won’t have the same confidence about Beyond The Fort in the Trentham fillies’ classic, but he’s still happy to give it a shot. The Niagara filly will at least go into the race unbeaten, having won her only two starts to date, both at 1600 metres. She broke maiden grade at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day and again finished over the top of her rivals to repeat at Otaki On February 23. Rather than try and fit another race in ahead of the Oaks, Thurlow opted for a 1600-metre trial last week at Foxton, in which she finished third. “The Oaks is coming up a bit soon,” Thurlow admitted, “but we’ve had to wait and wait on her until she was ready to go to the races. “She can gallop and everything she’s done says she’ll manage a trip, and even though it would have been good to have more racing ahead of such a big test, we’re still keen to give it a shot.” Before Glory Days’ dominant Auckland Cup won, the closest that Thurlow had been to landing a Group One victory was in the 2008 New Zealand Oaks, when his two-win filly Referred finished second to subsequent Australian Oaks runner-up Boundless. Beyond The Fort has a current quote of $1 on the TAB’s New Zealand Oaks market, which is headed by Lowland Stakes winner Queen Of Diamonds at $3.20. Thurlow reports that Glory Days has taken her big weekend in her stride and a Sydney Cup start is under serious consideration. “She got home at 2am on Sunday morning and seems fine,” he told www.theinformant.co.nz. “I took the cover off her in the paddock this morning and she looks good, I’m happy with her. “As far as Sydney goes, it looks that way at this stage, so we’ll carry on with that in mind.” Glory Days, whose six rating points from her Auckland Cup win took her to 104, is weighted at 51kg for the A$2 million Sydney Cup, which is scheduled for April 13. View the full article

Well that confirms two things you are not a punter and don't have an original thought.

How can you explain something that is black and white anymore?

The entry and balloting rules were clear.

Promising three-year-old filly Elate suffered a heart fibrillation in the Gr. 3 Sunline Vase last start, causing concern for her connections leading into Saturday’s Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks at Trentham. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained filly was heading into the race off the back of victory in the Listed Oaks Prelude at New Plymouth last month and looked a major threat in the running before fading late. “She had a heart fibrillation last start,” Wellwood said. “In that regard we have just got to rule a line through that race. “Troy (Harris, jockey) said she felt super in the running and travelled up very nicely. He was really happy, but unfortunately she did have a heart fibrillation. “It’s not ideal heading into the New Zealand Oaks having that, but we do know that horses can bounce back extremely well their next run. We have got to forget that run and head on with some form of confidence.” Wellwood said she has recovered well since the Sunline Vase and will continue towards the New Zealand Oaks on Saturday. “She’s well, she converted back to her normal heart-rate the next morning. She looks in super order,” Wellwood said. “It does give you a bit of uncertainty doing it the run before, but we are pretty happy where we are at with her.” Meanwhile, the Cambridge trainers welcomed Group One performer Hypnos back to their barn two weeks ago. The three-year-old son of Reliable Man won the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes at Ellerslie on Boxing Day last year before dead-heating for second in the Gr. 1 Levin Classic at Trentham in January. Hypnos subsequently finished unplaced in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic before heading to the spelling paddock. He is now being set for a tilt at the Gr. 3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes at Te Rapa next month before potentially targeting some Australian spoils. “Hypnos has just come back into work. He may have a trial prior to the Cambridge Breeders’ at Te Rapa or he might just head fresh into that,” Wellwood said. “We will get a line on him when he runs in that and we may look to head to Queensland with him, but we will make that decision after the Cambridge Breeders’.” View the full article

True but based on its performance in the Guineas I'm guessing you like the rest of the population didn't rate its performance hence $105 dividend.

The rules were clear well before for everyone to work out. They were going to battle to get in the field with only 3 races each a month apart leading into the Derby. It's Grp 3 placing wasn't all that great a run either. The form from the Guineas didn't carry into the Derby that well.

If he is that good then get on a plane to OZ.

Godolphin’s formidable arsenal of two-year-olds has gained another potential Golden Slipper weapon after Pin Sec scored a commanding victory in yesterday’s Black Opal Stakes. The filly won Canberra’s juvenile feature by four lengths over the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Rome ($2.80 fav) who beat stablemate McLaren ($3.60) by a length and a half. Trainer James Cummings’ representative Darren Beadman said Pin Sec reminded him of her sire Lonhro, the champion on whom he won 10 Group One races. “She looks a lot like him. She’s a lovely strong, progressive filly,” Beadman said. “Once she was able to get that open space from about the 500 metres onwards she really kicked into gear and won with a lot of authority.” The Cummings stable has an embarrassment of riches ahead of the A$3.5 million Slipper at Rosehill on March 23. Tenley rocketed to joint Golden Slipper favouritism with the Chris Waller-trained Yes Yes Yes after winning the Gr. 2 Riesling Stakes on Saturday, replacing injured stablemate Tassort at the head of betting for the world’s richest two-year-old race. Microphone sits on the second line at $8 ahead of Magic Millions winner Exhilarates at $11. The Anthony Freedman-trained Blue Diamond winner Lyre ($11) has also been confirmed as a Slipper runner for Godolphin, giving the global powerhouse a fearsome team. Pin Sec is a $21 hope. “You won’t be able to count them on one hand anyway,” Beadman said of the blue army’s Slipper contingent. He said Cummings, Godolphin’s head trainer in Australia, was reaping rewards of a major team effort. “James has really got his head around the two-year-olds. They’re all just well-placed and hitting the mark at the right time.” Pin Sec’s jockey Jason Collett said once he got the filly to settle his confidence grew. ‘She’s a lovely little filly. She’s still got a bit of growing up to do, but that was pretty easy,” Collett said. Cummings is expected to decide riders for his Slipper runners this week, as the race continues to take shape. View the full article

Hugh Bowman is set to resume normal duties after forfeiting weekend rides at Flemington and Canberra because of a family illness. Bowman left Flemington on Saturday before the Australian Cup to fly back to Sydney when he found out his wife Christine was ill and needed medical attention. He was due to ride favourite Avilius in the Cup with the horse subsequently fifth in the 2000-metre race won by Harlem. Racing Victoria stewards said yesterday they had again spoken to Bowman, who told them his wife was recovering. He gave up rides at the Black Opal meeting in Canberra but will be back in the saddle from today. Early on Saturday Bowman partnered Godolphin mare Alizee in a raceday gallop ahead of Saturday’s A$5 million All-Star Mile at Flemington. View the full article

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Trapeze Artist is set to spend his days at Widden Stud, with the famous Hunter Valley farm to stand the four-time Group One winner on behalf of owner Bert Vieira. The four-year-old racked up his latest Group One win on Saturday in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, lowering the time of Happy Clapper’s record from a year ago. Trainer Gerald Ryan said Trapeze Artist had won more Group One races than any other horse he has trained and will be aimed at two more at least before his career on the track is over. Those two races are the TJ Smith Stakes and All Aged Stakes which he won last year, while Royal Ascot in June is still a remote possibility. After he failed in the Expressway first-up last month, there was talk Trapeze Artist would immediately be retired but Ryan was one who forgave the run. “We will use the same plan as last year,” Ryan said. “We’ll send him away for a week then we’ve got three weeks to get him ready for the TJ. He has eaten up really well and come through the race in terrific order.” Trapeze Artist was virtually forced to set the pace in the Canterbury Stakes when natural speedster Fell Swoop was scratched. Under Blake Shinn, Trapeze Artist controlled the race and held off Shoals by a length and a half. Trapeze Artist is by Snitzel, who Ryan trained to win the Oakleigh Plate. Snitzel is the country’s leading sire and stands at Arrowfield, while Ryan also guided the career of Rubick whose son Yes Yes Yes won Saturday’s Gr. 2 Todman Stakes. “It’s a real privilege to stand Trapeze Artist on behalf of the Vieira family,” Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson said. “He is a record-breaking machine, just a phenomenal athlete and is by the best stallion in the country.” View the full article

After sparring with a two-time Group One winner, Bjorn Baker was confident Samadoubt was ready to strike the knockout blow which landed him the Canberra Cup. The Warwick Farm trainer’s father Murray Baker worked Madison County with Samadoubt on the Tuesday before today’s Listed A$200,000 contest over 2000 metres. A dual Group One winner in New Zealand, Madison County produced a strong finish for fourth behind The Autumn Sun in the Randwick Guineas yesterday. “Samadoubt worked with Madison County on Tuesday and kind of held him at bay up the running,” Bjorn Baker’s racing manager Jack Bruce said. “Bjorn was pretty pleased with that going forward. I think after his fourth in the Randwick Guineas that’s good enough form for us.” Samadoubt’s victory gave jockey Tim Clark his third Canberra Cup in four years, adding to wins aboard Dark Eyes and Hippopus. “I rode a lot around this area when I was an apprentice, so it’s always nice to get back here on major days, especially when you win the big ones,” he said. Sent out a $5 chance, Samadoubt led all the way to score a two-length victory over Taikomochi ($12) with last year’s winner Almost Court ($8) third. Veteran campaigner Snippets Land wound back the clock to win the Listed National Sprint, a race the now eight-year-old won four years ago. Co-trainer Peter Snowden hailed the gelding as a grand old performer after he notched his eighth victory at his 50th start. “He’s no champion but he’s ultra-consistent, always puts in, and it was another solid performance today,” Snowden said. The Scone Cup could be on Snippets Land’s radar, with the stable aiming to pick off another Listed or Group Three race before the horse is retired. “We’ll probably find a home for him after this preparation, but if he keeps winning it might be delayed another 12 months,” Snowden said. Pin Sec won the Gr. 3 Black Opal for trainer James Cummings and expat New Zealand jockey Jason Collett, while Final Award took out the Listed Canberra Guineas. View the full article

Harness Racing New Zealand’s teal campaign to support ovarian cancer research was wrapped in fitting circumstances at Reefton on Sunday when ambassador Samantha Ottley saluted while donning her teal silks and driving pants. Ottley gave the campaign colours she wore in all of her races over the past six weeks every hope of being seen in the winner’s circle by giving Ford Rule a perfect run in the one-one in yesterday’s women’s invitational drivers’ race. The Bob Butt trained pacer did not let his driver or the teal campaign down by holding out the flying finish of Cheezel to win. Butt said he was rapt to be able support the teal campaign and notch a win at the same time. “It was great, it is such a great cause, so it was awesome for Sam to be able to get the win in the teal colours.” “And it was a perfect drive, Sam gave him a perfect run.” Sam Ottley with officials from the Reefton Trotting Club. Photo: Race Images. Tom Rule is raced by West Coast harness racing identities, the Reedy family. Butt had considered sending the pacer for a spell, but resisted that temptation knowing the two-day West Coast meeting looming. That paid off when the Reedys got to see their pacer sprint to victory on Sunday. The win meant Tom Rule would now sign off his current campaign among the sea of teal at Reefton. “He is going for a spell now, he has come a long way in a short time,” Butt said “He only qualified a week before the coast meetings before Christmas.” “He is still a big, dumb and raw bugger and if we tip him out for a while hopefully he will come back a bit better.” “At the moment it is still all coming to him.” It was Ottley and Ford Rule that had to settle for second, behind The Kaik and Kimberly Butt, in the first of two female drivers races over the weekend. Cheezel improved on his fifth placing in Friday’s race at Westport to produce an eye-catching run to finish second for driver Kerryn Tomlinson. Swap Over held third placing for driver Mikayla Lewis. The thirteen harness racing women that competed at the two-day West Coast meeting with officials from the Reefton Trotting Club. Photo: Race Images. View the full article

Former New Zealand-trained filly Spanish Whisper made a stunning return to the winner’s circle when she overcame a wide run to take out yesterday’s Gr. 2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington. The Lope De Vega filly won two of her first four starts in New Zealand, including the Gr. 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, for co-owners Darren Brady and Daniel and Elias Nakhle before they sold a controlling interest in her to clients of David Hayes’ Lindsay Park stable in Victoria. Hayes, who trains in partnership with his son Ben Hayes and nephew Tom Dabernig, had told Daniel Nakhle that he believed the filly had returned for this campaign in better shape than in her first Australian preparation last spring, where her best result was a runner-up finish in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes behind recent Gr. 1 Australian winner Mystic Journey. “She didn’t get a lot of luck in the spring, where they seemed to want to ride her on the pace, which was against the pattern of how she performed best in New Zealand,” Nakhle said. “They gave her a good break and have adopted a more conservative approach to her racing style, which looks to be paying dividends. “She went a really good race for second first-up and that convinced me to get on a plane and come over for Saturday and I’m sure glad that I did. “I am paying for the decision a little bit today though, as I can hardly talk above a whisper. We were cheering her on pretty hard during the race and celebrating just as much afterwards.” Nakhle spent time at the Lindsay Park operation this morning, where he reported that Spanish Whisper looked to have come through her exertions well and was looking forward to the next stage of her campaign. “She was very bright this morning and all reports from the team are that she seems to have handled the race really well,” he said. “I think they are going to monitor her for a few days and then decide where she goes next. The two options they are looking at could be a run over 1600m at Moonee Valley in a fortnight or a trip up to Sydney for the Coolmore Legacy Stakes (Group One, 1600m) next month.” Nakhle was quick to pay tribute to the staff of New Zealand Bloodstock, who were instrumental in securing Spanish Whisper’s dam Cutting Remark for him and his partners. “We got Cutting Remark from the Patinack Farm dispersal sale thanks to the guys at NZB,” he said. “They had taken a look at what was going through that sale and made some recommendations to us. “We liked several of the ones they put up on the list and ended up getting two mares from the sale including Cutting Remark, who was in-foal to Lope De Vega. “Spanish Whisper was the resulting progeny, so we wouldn’t be here with her without that help that we got. “We’ve had a Foxwedge colt out of her (Cutting Remark) along with a lovely Super Easy filly, so the win yesterday has really added some value to her sister even if she never makes it to the track.” The only disappointment for Nakhle is that Cutting Remark missed getting in foal to champion sire Savabeel this season. “She missed to Savabeel which is a bit of a blow, but she can have 12 months off, and we will have another go next year.” View the full article

Group One performer Dawn Patrol showed he is ready to return to the racetrack after producing a stylish display over 1000 metres at the Rotorua trials last Tuesday. The Dawn Approach gelding missed a start in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie in late January due to the effects of a virus, with trainer Frank Ritchie adopting a cautious approach with his stable star. “He just wasn’t 100 per cent for Ellerslie, so we backed off him rather than risk completely flattening him,” Ritchie said. “His blood just wasn’t right and he has had a few little niggles since, so we have just taken him along quietly to this point. “The trial was really to see where he was at, and he certainly impressed plenty of people who were on hand to watch it.” Allowed to settle back off a hot speed set by Staccato, rider Michael McNab angled to the outside on the home corner, where Dawn Patrol hit top gear in a couple of strides before cruising to the line under a stranglehold to win by a conservative four lengths. “We know he has a real turn of foot and it was good to see him show that without any pressure being put on him,” Ritchie said. “I think he has matured during the break and he is very forward to resume.” Ritchie will throw his charge in the deep end for his raceday return in Saturday’s Gr. 2 Norwood Family Wellington Guineas at Trentham. “We think he is far better suited going left-handed, so the Wellington Guineas was the obvious target for him,” he said. “If he performs well there, we will look at where he can go next with Australia a definite option. “I think he would be suited to a roomy track like Randwick or Eagle Farm, but it might be best to look at Melbourne so we can keep him going left-handed.” Ritchie was also encouraged by the performance of Gr. 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Madison County, who charged home to finish an eye-catching fourth behind star colt The Autumn Sun in yesterday’s Randwick Guineas. “It was great to see Madison County go so well, as we finished second to him in the 2000 Guineas, so it provides some sort of measuring stick for our Australian chances,” he said. “When he beat us in the Guineas, we were still on a steep learning curve, so if the improvement Dawn Patrol has shown lately can be translated into performance, then I think he can be competitive in Melbourne.” View the full article

Lauren Brennan is playing the waiting game with promising three-year-old Sword In Stone as she contemplates where to next with the Gr. 2 Waikato Guineas placegetter. The Redwood gelding, who was balloted out of the New Zealand Derby, is currently under offer for a potential sale to overseas interests, which means Brennan’s plans are in limbo until that process has been completed. “He is under offer and we are just waiting to hear back after completing the vetting process,” she said. “Obviously if the sale goes through, then he will be on his way, but if it doesn’t then we are looking at where to go with him next. “I think the Queensland winter carnival is the best option, so we will work out a plan on what he has to do to get there from where we are now.” Should the Brisbane plan become a reality, Brennan is mindful that her charge will need to lift his prize-money earnings to gain a start in the key three-year-old races on offer. “We would look to run him in the Rough Habit Plate (Group Three, 2000m) and then the Queensland Derby (Group One, 2400m) but at the moment he wouldn’t have enough money in the bank to qualify,” she said. “There are two nice races at Ellerslie coming up, so they would be our immediate targets. There is a three-year-old mile on March 30 and then the Championship Stakes (Group Two, 2100m) in April, so if he could get a win there it would set him up nicely.” Regardless of what happens over the next few weeks, Brennan is still coming to terms with the disappointment of Sword In Stone missing a start in the New Zealand Derby despite being stakes-placed in his final lead-up run. “I was gutted he didn’t get into the race and I’m still feeling it now,” she said. “He was cherry ripe for the race and had drawn perfectly in barrier one. He would probably have enjoyed a lovely, economical run on the fence and I think he would have proved very competitive. “To be Group Two-placed and still only second on the ballot doesn’t seem right as I definitely think he should have made the field. “We can’t change it now though, so we have to look forward with him.” View the full article

Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lyre will press on to the Golden Slipper with the chance to become the sixth two-year-old to claim the coveted Group One double. Trained by Anthony Freedman and owned by global powerhouse Godolphin, Lyre stormed home to win the A$1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 23, having also won the fillies Prelude at her previous start. The Freedman stable confirmed today that Lyre would line up in the A$3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 23 and would have a barrier trial in Sydney in the lead-up. “@godolphin owned Blue Diamond winner Lyre will travel to Sydney on Monday night in preparation for the Golden Slipper on March 23,” Freedman Racing posted on Twitter. “She will trial at Rosehill on Thursday morning. Luke Currie will retain the ride in the Slipper.” Sepoy in 2011 is the most recent juvenile to complete the Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper double while Courtza (1989), Bounding Away (1986), Manikato (1978) and John’s Hope (1972) also won both races. Lyre was at $11 in a Golden Slipper market today with Godolphin expected to have a strong hand in the race despite losing long-time favourite Tassort for the autumn because of a hoof problem. Godolphin’s head trainer in Australia, James Cummings, prepared Tenley to win yesterday’s Reisling Stakes for fillies at Randwick while her Magic Millions-winning stablemate Exhilarates finished second. Tenley shares Golden Slipper favouritism at $6 with the Chris Waller-trained Todman Stakes winner Yes Yes Yes while the Cummings-trained Skyline Stakes winner Microphone is on the second line of betting at $8. View the full article