Chief Stipe

Group Three-winning mare Supera will head to Te Aroha next month in an attempt to add a Group One victory to her resume. The Ken and Bev Kelso and Mark Donoghue-trained four-year-old will line up in the Gr. 1 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes off the back of an unplaced run in the Gr. 1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic at Otaki last month. Ken Kelso cited the state of the Otaki track as the main contributor to that last start result, but said he is pleased with how his mare has pulled up after the run. “I don’t think it was a good enough track for a Group One race,” Kelso said. “It was terrible across the top. Lance Robinson walked it on the Friday night and he told me across the top he thought it was a Heavy11 and they were posting a Slow7. If we had known that, we probably wouldn’t have been there. “She has come through the race well, she had a week in the paddock. She will go straight to the Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha. We have won it a couple of times with Xanadu and Perfect Fit.” View the full article

Last year’s Sydney Cup runner-up Zacada is on target for another trip across the Tasman to compete in the A$2 million feature next month. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained six-year-old finished second behind stablemate Gundown in the 2200-metre Nathans Memorial at Ellerslie on Saturday, his last start in New Zealand before his Sydney campaign. “He needs rain, just to slow them up a wee bit,” Baker said. “Last year he got beaten by a nose in the Sydney Cup on a very good track. “He is probably better suited over there on a big track like Randwick and he won’t have any weight. He will probably go to Rosehill and run in a 2600-metre race, then into the Chairman’s (2600m) and Sydney Cup.” View the full article

Herbie Dyke Stakes winner On The Rocks will shoot for back-to-back Group One victories when he lines up in Saturday’s Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie. The son of Alamosa sparked memorable celebrations in the Te Rapa stands and birdcage with his victory over Tiptronic and Elusive Treasure in the $400,000 Herbie Dyke on February 9. It was a milestone 50th Group One win for Mike Moroney, and the first for his Matamata training partner Pam Gerard. While On The Rocks is now on a collision course with this season’s four-time Group One winner Melody Belle, Gerard is looking forward to taking him back to Ellerslie, where he has previously won the Gr. 2 Rich Hill Mile, Gr. 2 Avondale Guineas and Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial. “Everything’s been great with him since the Herbie Dyke and we’re very happy,” she said. “He loves Ellerslie and we’re hoping he’ll produce another strong performance this weekend. There’ll be some good horses in there on Saturday and he’ll have to step up again, but on the way he’s been working, we’re more than happy to have a go. Everything he’s done has indicated that he can run another big race.” Moroney and Gerard will also have strong representation in the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup with Vengeur Masque, the equal fourth favourite at $8. The Irish-bred son of Monsun has been a multiple Group winner from Moroney’s Melbourne stable and has earned more than $1 million in stakes. He will be ridden by Opie Bosson. “He flew in last night and went out into the paddock today – he took it all in his stride and didn’t give a stuff about anything,” Gerard said. “Mike did some work with him just before he travelled over and said he was pretty much spot-on for Saturday.” View the full article

Quality stayer Five To Midnight was beaten by the smallest of margins in last year’s Gr. 1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup, and he will return to Ellerslie on Saturday to try to go one better in the $500,000 feature. The son of Domesday finished second in a head-bobbing finish to last year’s race, beaten by a nose by Ladies First. Five To Midnight has won three races this season, all under big weights – 58.5 kilograms in an open handicap at Hastings, 60 kilograms in the Listed Feilding Gold Cup and 60 kilograms in the $100,000 Karaka Cup. He was a last-start third placegetter under 59 kilograms in the Gr. 2 Avondale Cup, and he drops to 56 kilograms on Saturday under the set weights and penalties conditions. “He’s going into the race in really good order,” trainer Lisa Latta said. “We put him out in the paddock for a couple of days when we got him home after the Avondale Cup. He’s been thriving since he came back in. “The drop to 56 kilograms is going to be an absolutely massive help this weekend. We’re looking forward to it. Johnathan Parkes will ride him.” The TAB rates Five To Midnight a $6.50 third favourite in its fixed-odds market for the Auckland Cup. Avondale Cup winner Glory Days heads the market at $3.50, while Charles Road is at $4.50. The only others in single figures are the Nathans Memorial winner Gundown and the interesting runner Vengeur Masque, who has travelled over from Mike Moroney’s Melbourne stable. They are each rated an $8 chance. View the full article

Platinum Invador has been sent out for a short break after an impressive placing in Saturday’s Vodafone New Zealand Derby. The son of Redwood has raced on the last three Saturdays in a row. After being badly checked and finishing outside the placings in the Avondale Guineas, he had to back up at Otaki seven days later to earn his way into the Derby field with a win over 2100 metres. He saved his best performance for Derby day, coming from last at the top of the straight and finishing a close third behind Crown Prosecutor and In A Twinkling. “It was a huge performance, he really did us proud,” trainer Lisa Latta said. “He’s had a big few weeks, so he’s gone out to the paddock now for a week off. “Then we’ll bring him back in, see how he’s doing and make a plan from there. He’s nominated for the Australian Derby (Randwick, April 6), but whether that’s an option or not will depend on how he’s come through his Ellerslie run.” Latta has also ended the campaigns of stablemates Sir Nate and Lincoln Falls, who finished 13th and 18th. “They’ve done enough for this campaign and will both head out for a well-earned break,” she said. View the full article

Allan Morley has a bit of inside knowledge on what it takes to win an Auckland Cup as he prepares for his first tilt at Ellerslie’s Group One staying test this weekend. A blacksmith and saddler by trade, the Byerley Park trainer prepares just the one horse, Blue Breeze, who is rated a $16 chance on the TAB’s Fixed Odds betting for the Barfoot & Thompson-sponsored feature. He has been using some of his vast experience with horses to have the five-year-old son of Bullbars at his peak Saturday. Morley has an equestrian background, but his experience with thoroughbreds goes back many years and includes a stint working for Neville Atkins, a trainer at Waiuku whose stable included multiple Group One winners Ring The Bell and Secured Deposit. “I was working for Neville at the time he had both Ring The Bell and Secured Deposit,’’ Morley said. ‘’I remember the day Secured Deposit won the Auckland Cup. We just about got the big double that day as Neville’s horse (War Like) was just beaten in the Railway. “Actually, Blue Breeze reminds me a bit of Ring The Bell, but he’s a smaller version of him.” Morley has kept in contact with Atkins since he shifted to Queensland and he has been given a confidence-booster over his prospects with Blue Breeze. “Blue Breeze is only a lightly framed horse. He weighs only 445 kilos and there’s nothing of him, but he eats like anything,’’ Morley said. ‘’I’ve told Neville about him and all he said was ‘you never see any fat on those African marathon runners so don’t worry. Just make sure he’s fit as he’s got to go 3200 metres.’ ‘’He’s right. It’s the heart that counts. The other day when he ran second in the Avondale Cup (2400m) going into the back after the finish he laid his ears back and wanted to go again when another horse came up alongside. He’s out of a St Reims mare and I think he can get the 3200 metres.’’ Blue Breeze almost caused a major boilover in the Avondale Cup when going down a mere half-head to Glory Days at odds of 56-to-one and he was at even longer odds when he finished third in the Gr. 3 Counties Cup at Pukekohe. In both of those significant placings Blue Breeze was ridden by Chris Dell, who has again been entrusted with the ride in the Auckland Cup. ‘’I’ve known Chris since he was a kid. I used to judge him in the showring,’’ Morley said. ‘’He knows Blue Breeze well and he’s got a good record on him. He’s had four rides on him for a win and two placings.’’ Morley resisted the temptation to run Blue Breeze at Ellerslie last Saturday, deciding to go straight from the Avondale Cup into the Auckland Cup with the three-race winner. “He’s that well and I didn’t want to push him over the top,’’ Morley said. ‘’He’s best with his races two weeks apart and, though this will be three weeks, I did give him a jumpout at Pukekohe last Friday. Chris rode him and he ran third or fourth over 1000 metres. He was five lengths last and flew home and it took Chris until well round the back straight to pull him up. “He’s that well. My trackwork rider reckons he’s improved, but he’s hard to read at times. He’s so quiet and so gentle. He loves it when my grandchildren are around him. He’s got such a lovely nature, but he knows how to run, too.’’ Blue Breeze is named after the popular Auckland restaurant in Ponsonby and Morley said there’s a good chance he and his group of owners will end up there on Saturday night if he runs a slasher in the Auckland Cup. View the full article

It might be another step up the ladder for both himself and his stable star, but Waverley horseman Bill Thurlow is confident that Glory Days is up for her big test in Saturday’s Gr. 1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup. Thurlow reports that everything has gone to plan in the two weeks since Glory Days made such an impressive Ellerslie debut, coming from last to win the Gr. 2 Avondale Cup. He opted to stay close to home in the meantime and is satisfied that he made the right call to head to the Ellerslie two-miler without another race. “She’s a mare that doesn’t need a lot of racing or work and I’m happy with her,” Thurlow told www.theinformant.co.nz this morning. “She went into the Avondale Cup with just that one run over a mile after a break and she’s gone forward, she’s very well. “We took her through to Wanganui on Saturday morning for a decent hitout on the grass there, which they’re able to irrigate. I’m pretty happy with her, fitness-wise she’s where we want her, so now it’s a matter of counting sleeps I guess.” The big query for Glory Days and most of her rivals heading into the Auckland Cup is the 3200-metre distance, but Thurlow is taking a positive approach. “She can run the sectionals – her last 600s are pretty impressive – and I know it’s up to her whether she runs two miles, but as far as that goes I figure she’s got as much chance as any of them. “The main thing is right now she’s very well, everything has gone to plan, so we’re looking forward to Saturday.” View the full article

Prince Jabeel returns to Ellerslie for Saturday’s 3200-metre Auckland Cup. The Lance Noble -trained pair Prince Sabeel and Bavella are set to bounce back for Group One assignments at Ellerslie on Saturday. Both put in below-par performances at Matamata nine days ago, Prince Jabeel putting the first duck-egg next to his name in his 22nd start and Bavella managing only fifth in her attempt at an unbeaten hat-trick in the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes. “Things didn’t go to script – it was just one of those days you can have – but they both had excuses,” Noble said. “Prince Jabeel was fresh for the Kaimai Stakes and with the slow track on top of that he just didn’t get into it. “Bavella was fractious in the gates and from the time she missed the jump and got back nothing went her way. “The main thing is they’ve both come through the runs in good shape and I expect them to line up ready for what’s in store next weekend.” Prince Jabeel’s mission is the 3200-metre Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup, while Bavella will also step up to Group One firs the first time in the Sistema (Diamond) Stakes. “We decided to send Prince Jabeel out to Moira Murdoch for some work on the beach,” Noble added. “That’s worked for him before and I’m looking forward to seeing him over two miles again after his big effort in the Wellington Cup.” Prince Jabeel followed his Gr. 3 City Of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day with a brave performance for third at Trentham when carrying 59 kilos. Under the set weight and penalty conditions for the Auckland Cup he drops to 56.5 kg. Bavella lined up as favourite for the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and is bound to have a big following again in the first Group One two-year-old race of the season. She won on debut at Ellerslie in October and was impressive again when stepping up to stakes level at Pukekohe in November. Lindsay Racing stable rider Leith Innes will be back in action on Saturday after returning from a five-week suspension. View the full article

That's fine Newmarket however I do have sympathy for you as I used to think like you until it dawned on me that the only revenue the TAB makes is from people's losses NOT turnover.

Takeout rates don't change on the tote they are fixed. Revenue earned from fixed odds can vary and can be negative.

You're wrong on this Newmarket. I'm starting to suspect that many at the NZRB think like this.

Wrong. The extra $3,000 turned over was Newmarkets only for a short time. He ended up contributing zero to TAB revenue.

View the full article

A joke between friends paid feature race dividends when Dixie Star won at Ascot Park. Visiting North Island reinsman David Butcher rated the Stephen Boyd trained filly to perfection when she won Sunday’s $11,400 graduation final. Dixie Star’s part-owner, Richard Bull, jokingly suggested that Butcher should head south to drive the two horses that he owns that were racing on Sunday. Butcher’s accepting of that invitation paid off when he controlled the pace and gave Dixie Star all the favours she needed to win in a moderate 2.45.2 time for the 2200m event. “They had a bit of a joke about it and Richard said to David ‘I’ll fly you down’ and that is how he ended up coming,” Boyd said. Though she did not burn the Ascot Park track up on Sunday, Dixie Star can run much faster splits. She proved that when winning a fillies and mares’ mile (1609m) at Winton on debut in 1.56.2. Dixie Star should be able to run even faster in the future as she is still untapped. “She is probably still around 90% there, there is still a bit of improvement to come.” “She is a typical Bettor’s Delight.” “They are tough and she has got that will to win, you can’t put that in to them.” “And she has got such great manners, she puts herself there to win.” Sunday’s victory virtually assured Dixie Star a starting spot in next month’s group 2 Southland Oaks Final. It is likely that by then the filly will have had all of her career starts in Southland. With the rich stakes on offer in the province, there is little reason to race anywhere else, Boyd said. “We will probably just keep racing her down here, because it is good money.” “Today, the race was $12,000, you are not going to get that at Addington and the racing is twice as hard.” “There is a Ladyship Super Final early next month for $20,000, so that will be a good race for her.” Robyns Playboy extended his winning distance-range beyond the 2600m of next month’s New Zealand Derby when scoring on Sunday. The Ross Wilson trained three-year-old took out the 2700m Autumn Cup when holding out runner-up, Vintage Cheddar, by a nose. Robyns Playboy is rated at $41 odds for the New Zealand Derby. View the full article

Terry Henderson believes the barrier draw will be crucial if Night’s Watch is to turn the tables on short-priced favourite Avilius in the Australian Cup at Flemington. Night’s Watch will run in Henderson’s OTI Racing colours in Saturday’s Group One weight-age contest over 2000 metres, his third run back from a spell. Now in the care of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace after being prepared by now-disqualified trainer Darren Weir when he arrived from New Zealand, Night’s Watch is the $8 second favourite for the Australian Cup. Godolphin’s Avilius has a stranglehold on favouritism at $2.10 following two impressive Caulfield wins at his only starts since finishing well back in the Melbourne Cup last spring. Night’s Watch has trailed Avilius home on each occasion, finishing third in the Carlyon Cup on February 9 before running fourth in the Peter Young Stakes on February 23. Damian Lane, who has ridden the gelding in his two runs this campaign, takes the ride on Saturday. “Frosty (Lane) was the first to say we should have gone up on to the back of Avilius last time instead of staying back,” Henderson said. “But Avilius certainly looks the superior horse for sure, so the draw will play a big part for us. We fundamentally need to be in the first six and if we’re not we’ll be up against it as Avilius is a more brilliant horse.” With Maher and Eustace having stables at Caulfield and Ballarat, Henderson said Night’s Watch may gallop at Ballarat tomorrow. “He could have a gallop on the course proper on Tuesday and then we’re ready to go,” he said. Night’s Watch and Avilius are the only two horses under double figures for the Australian Cup with Ace High, Johannes Vermeer and Rekindling at $11. View the full article

Wrong

Anaheed raced her way into the A$3.5 million Golden Slipper with a tough victory in the Gr. 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick yesterday, and trainers Peter and Paul Snowden are hoping a couple of her stablemates can join her by winning qualifying races in the coming weeks. “There’s a couple of nice tidy colts there. Obviously Rome missed today. He’ll run in the Todman or down at Canberra in the Black Opal,” Paul Snowden said. “Strasbourg is here in the Todman and obviously Cosmic Force has just found one a bit better today. We just need a little bit of luck with the prize-money, hopefully things can swing our way a bit and we can sneak a couple in.” A winner on debut in October, Anaheed had little luck when she resumed with a fifth in the Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield on Australia Day. She emerged from that race with a minor joint issue but the Snowdens gave her time to get over it and the filly showed the benefit yesterday. After racing on the speed, Anaheed quickly beat off leader Kiamichi and was strong to the line to score by three-quarters of a length over Still Single with debutante Let It Pour another length and a quarter away. Winning jockey Tim Clark said he had plenty of time for Anaheed and could see no reason why she would not measure up in next month’s Golden Slipper. “I liked her when I rode her here and won on her. She’s a stronger filly now and I think she’s got good improvement to come too,” Clark said. “She’s two from two in Sydney; her only defeat, she was down on the inside among horses and she didn’t look overly comfortable. She’s definitely put her hand up and she handles all conditions. Snowden said Anaheed was unlikely to race again before the Slipper but could be given a barrier trial to keep her ticking over. View the full article

Incredible race horse. What was the time for the race? Anyone got any sectionals?

Michael Hawkes has no qualms about Golden Slipper winner Estijaab taking on Australia’s best sprinter in next Saturday’s Challenge Stakes at Randwick. The filly will clash with two-time Everest winner Redzel, who is slated to make his autumn carnival return in the Group Two 1000-metre sprint. “She’s taking on the big boys but you know what, she’s worthy of it,” said Hawkes, who trains the filly in partnership with his father John and brother Wayne. “I’m not worried about them, I’m worried about her. She’s trialled super and her first run was outstanding. It’s just unfortunate it rained on the day and turned the race into a 1200, not an 1100.” Estijaab missed the spring after undergoing a throat operation, but returned in style with a fighting second to Fiesta in the Inglis Sprint at Warwick Farm on February 9. The three-year-old has since won a barrier trial at Rosehill on Friday and Hawkes has been rapt with her work at home. “She’s flying,” he said. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Redzel has been off the scene since he finished fifth in the Gr. 1 VRC Classic at Flemington in November. He won his most recent trial and has an exceptional first-up record with four wins and three seconds from eight fresh runs. He ran the closest of seconds to Redkirk Warrior in last year’s Lightning Stakes at Flemington before winning the Challenge. View the full article

Redkirk Warrior is poised to chase a historic third Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. After becoming the first horse in a century to win the Newmarket first-up from a spell two years ago, Redkirk Warrior won the famous handicap again last year carrying top weight of 57.5 kilograms after winning the Lightning Stakes three weeks earlier. The Lindsay Park-trained gelding is one of five horses to have won the time-honoured sprint twice, but no horse has won three. The eight-year-old import has not won since last year’s Newmarket and he has been given equal top weight for Saturday of 58.5 kilograms along with multiple Group One winner Santa Ana Lane. Two of Redkirk Warrior’s three runs this campaign in the C F Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes have been over 1400 metres in a bid to secure an All-Star Mile berth. But after he finished seventh and sixth respectively, the stable has turned its attention back to the 1200-metre Newmarket. “He’s going to try to create history,” co-trainer David Hayes said. “He’s a very good straight horse and his runs have been better than one might think because he’s been drawing bad barriers and getting back. “Then when he drew a good barrier the other day in the Futurity he got blocked just as he was making his run. I thought it was a really good run.” Lightning Stakes runner-up Osborne Bulls is favourite at $3.50 ahead of the Kris Lees-trained colt Graff, who was fourth in the Lightning won by his Newmarket-bound stablemate In Her Time. Graff has 51 kilograms and Western Australia’s champion jockey William Pike takes the ride in a rare Melbourne appearance. “We were looking for a good lightweight rider and I think he really fits the bill,” Lees said. “He’s extremely successful in WA and it’s a pleasure to have him over here.” Pike made a flying visit to ride the colt in a jumpout at Flemington on Friday and will ride in a Melbourne race for the first time since 2015 on Saturday. Pike has won nine Group Ones in Perth and will be chasing his first winner in Melbourne. Lightning third placegetter Sunlight won Friday’s jumpout, with Graff second, and the filly’s trainer Tony McEvoy said she had come through the hit-out beautifully in preparation for the Newmarket. View the full article

Um minus $2k?

If 10,000 is bet then on the tote 1,500 is taken by the TAB. That leaves 8,500 returned to the punter I.e. the winning punters. If no one puts new money in the pool then it will decrease as will the TAB takeout in dollar terms. The TAB needs losers to make money. Turnover figures only justify over the top salaries at the NZRB.

Crown Prosecutor defied record-breaking odds to win yesterday’s Vodafone New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie, but he wasn’t always so long in the market. The son of Medaglia d’Oro opened at $31 on the TAB’s fixed-odds market for the $1 million classic, and he tightened to $18 after registering the first win of his career in the Gr. 3 Wellington Stakes at Otaki in November. Following that win, Crown Prosecutor was described in glowing terms by purchaser Bruce Perry and trainer Stephen Marsh’s racing manager Todd Pollard. Perry recalled that he was surprised he was able to buy the colt for as little as A$50,000 as a yearling. Our report on that Wellington Stakes win can be found here. After the Wellington Stakes, owners Huntingdale Lodge and JML Bloodstock turned prospective buyers away. The rest is New Zealand Derby history. View the full article

The curtain came down on Dream About Me’s glittering race career in the best possible fashion at Menangle on Saturday night. The blue blood mare went out on a winning note with a dominant front-running performance in the A$200,000 Ladyship Mile. It was her 11th Group 1 win for trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, and took her career earnings to what will be, when the dust settles after conversions, around NZ$1.4 Million. For her co-owners, Paul and Mary Kenny, who raced her with Mary’s 95-year-old father, Charles, it was the perfect opportunity to call time on her career. “Mary (Kenny) and I, and Mark and Natalie, we were in total agreement,” said Paul Kenny. “It was a very short discussion and a great way to finish what for us, and for her, has been a sparking career.” Last night’s win was one they desperately wanted to round out her time on the track. “We so badly wanted that win for her,” said Kenny. “People in the media had been telling us that she’d lost her speed but after last week Mark commented that he was pleased that he had week to work closely with her. “We never go in to any race, be it worth $2,000 or $200,000 with confidence. We were hoping, and that’s all you can do.” Dream About Me will fly home on Tuesday and then arrive at her new home, the Kennys’ Ardmore property. “And that’s where she’ll stay.” As for her first consort, Kenny says the leading contender is probably Woodlands Studs’ newest stallion. “We are very lucky to have some good choices available at the stud. “I’ve got great regard, on type, for Downbytheseaside and I’m looking forward to what his first foals look like.” The other option was likely to be Sweet Lou, said Kenny. Speaking of Sweet Lou, he plays a key part in the Kennys’ succession plan for Dream About Me, being the sire of their next star filly. They were comfortable rounding off her career knowing Adore Me’s first foal, Sweet On Me, is just kicking off hers. She was a brilliant winner again at Alexandra Park on Friday night and looks to have and upcoming stakes race at her mercy. Another three or four years of excitement in Group 1 races on both sides of the ditch probably beckons. For now, they’ll reflect on Dream About Me’s career, one which, at times, got the Kenny and Roberts families through various personal upheavals. “I just don’t know which race was the stand out for me,” said Paul. “Every time she started, she gave it her utmost and last night was pretty special for us. “It’s not often I’m stuck for words when speaking after a win, but I was last night. “I was speechless.” View the full article

Karaka Million winner Probabeel will continue her build-up towards an upcoming Australian campaign when she steps out at the Rotorua trials on Tuesday. The Savabeel filly had a let-up following her stunning victory at Ellerslie on January 26, with trainer Jamie Richards ready to step up her workload as she prepares to head to Sydney to tackle the Gr. 3 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on March 16. “She’s coming along nicely after a bit of a break, so it will be nice to see where she is at with the trial,” Richards said. “She looks a picture and the pressure from the trial run should just clean her up nicely before she gets on the plane for Sydney. She will run in the Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on the 16th and then we will reassess from there.” Probabeel’s major Sydney target is the Gr. 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Royal Randwick on April 6. Richards also confirmed three of his juvenile team will tackle the Gr. 1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie next Saturday. “At this stage it looks likes we will have three in the Sistema Stakes,” he said. “Yourdeel, Equinox and Aotea Lad are all set to line up, although Equinox will only run if there is a firm track. He was a little disappointing at Matamata last time, but we have put that down to the slow track that day as he dipped and dived all over the place and wasn’t comfortable at all.” The three stable runners clashed at Matamata on February 23 in the Listed Waikato Stud Slipper with Yourdeel defeating Aotea Lad while Equinox finished back in fifth. View the full article