Chief Stipe

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

Certain horses are better suited to some trainers than others and trotter Miss Blissful appears to be firmly in that category. The daughter of Pegasus Spur, an impressive winner at Auckland on Friday night, was part of a stable swap in the middle of winter. In the deal, Jason and Megan Teaz took her over from former trainer Mike Berger, while Berger took over the then unraced Teaz-trained horse, Mach Little Soaky. Both horses have come out this season and performed creditably for their new trainers, making the swap somewhat of a master stroke for all concerned, especially their owners, Gordonton couple Jack and Jo Davies. Jason Teaz takes up the story. “We had the pick of them when they were yearlings; there were three of them at the Davies’ in a paddock, including Miss Blissful and Mach Little Soaky. “We chose Mach Little Soaky and left Miss Blissful there. “Time went on and we couldn’t really get him going that well. “We got him qualified, but honestly felt like we were ripping the owners off by keeping him in work. “We just couldn’t do a thing with him because he was a difficult horse. “After he’d been back at the Davies’ for a month, we rung up to have a chat to them and Jack mentioned that Miss Blissful had been sent home too. “She’d been making mistakes and that sort of thing for Mike Berger and we got the impression he was in no hurry to get her back either. “I remembered Mike had trained Warm Soak, the dam of Mach Little Soaky, so suggested to Jack that it might be a good idea to do a swap and take a fresh approach.” Mach Little Soaky ultimately won two of his first three starts for Berger while Miss Blissful has now won twice and earned just shy of $30,000 on the season for the Teazs. That’s not to say the journey has been without headaches – Miss Blissful has been known to throw in the odd short gallop or rough step at crucial times late in her races, including last week when she got to the passing lane and looked like winning. “We still don’t really know what that is; at this stage its being put down to over-extending herself when going in to a really top sprint. That’s when she seems to do it.” Jason Teaz Last night driver Megan Teaz took a different approach and had her out and rolling in the open, parked outside the leader, Secretofthesea Smile. Teaz asked her to go at the top of the straight and she put the rest of them to the sword, cruising down for an easy three-length win. “We decided to drive her a bit differently – either lead if was there or go back in the field so she had to hook out earlier to build up a sprint. “Last night she put the heat on a long way from home and the others crumbled around her which was nice, because it proved to us that she’s not just a sit-sprinter, she’s got the all-round game” One thing is for sure – she’s come a long way from the proposition that turned up at their stable back in August. “When we first got her, she really didn’t have any idea. She was the greenest horse I’d ever trained that had that many starts. “She didn’t have a clue about anything.” Time and maturity and lot of miles, especially with Megan, now have her sitting fifth on the Jewels leaderboard, though a trip south seems, oddly, unlikely. “The owners aren’t interested in going to the Jewels unfortunately, which is a shame. “So, I guess we will just potter around here and keep educating her. “I’d like to think in 12 months’ time she could be up to winning a Breeders Stakes, and perhaps even angling for a start in the Rowe Cup. “You’ve got to have goals and we think she’ll go a fair way.” View the full article

Dual Group One-winning New Zealand three-year-old Madison County is a late scratching from today’s Gr. 1 Rosehill Guineas. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained runner was second favourite for today’s race after an eye-catching finish for fourth in the Randwick Guineas on his Australian debut earlier this month. However, the Pins gelding was injured on the float on his way to the racecourse. The wound has been described as superficial, and Baker suggested that next week’s Tulloch Stakes is now a likely target. View the full article

12:20PM: We’re now only 10 minutes away from the first race, where star Kiwi filly Avantage is rated a $4.80 second favourite by Australian bookmakers. As a well-known Kiwi racecaller would say, let’s bring it on! Winx-mania: But mainly it’s all about one horse – the wonderful Winx, lining up for what’s expected to be the second-to-last start of her extraordinary career. There has been a buzz around Sydney this week, spreading well beyond racing circles and into the mainstream. Plenty of Kiwis in action, but not Madison County: There’s a bumper New Zealand contingent in action on today’s big day, starting in the very first race with Avantage. However, there’s been big news in the last few minutes with second favourite Madison County scratched from the Rosehill Guineas. Here’s a list of the Kiwi involvement throughout today’s card: Race 1 (Birthday Card Stakes): Avantage Race 3 (N E Manion Cup): Vin De Dance, Zacada Race 4 (Rosehill Guineas): Crown Prosecutor, Surely Sacred, Vernanme, Arrogant Race 6 (Ranvet Stakes): Danzdanzdance, along with Kiwi-owned runners (He’s) Eminent, Shillelagh and Savvy Coup Weather and track conditions: It’s been a mixed bag in Sydney this week, with plenty of fine and warm afternoons along with a few bursts of overnight and morning rain. We’ve ended up with a Heavy8 track for today’s big day, but the skies are clear and the temperature is already up over 25 degrees. 11:45AM (Australian time): Hello, and welcome to The Informant’s live blog for the 2019 Longines Golden Slipper meeting at Rosehill. Join me, Richard Edmunds, for all of the latest in an action-packed raceday here. The A$3.5 million Golden Slipper is arguably the world’s most famous two-year-old race and is a showpiece on the Sydney racing calendar, but today it is almost overshadowed by some of the supporting programme. Phenomenal mare Winx will shoot for her 32nd consecutive win in the Gr. 1 George Ryder Stakes, while boom colt The Autumn Sun steps up to 2000 metres against a host of Kiwi raiders in the Gr. 1 Rosehill Guineas. View the full article

Are you sure it wasn't the Good track that mattered more? As for the owner if you are quoting short stuff he hasnt owned the horse for some time.

Talented racemare Pop Star Princess has been scratched from today’s Tauranga race meeting after an apparent overnight attempt to uplift her from the Cambridge stables of her trainer and part-owner Fred Cornege. Pop Star Princess, the winner of three of her 14 starters and runner-up in the last three, was the pre-post favourite for the second race at Tauranga, the Rating 82 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race. Had she won, Cornege was planning to enter the Makfi mare for the Gr. 1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha on April 6. Those plans are now out the window after what Cornege describes as an extraordinary and disturbing turn of events during the early hours of this morning. “Some time after one o’clock my wife Lindsay got up when she heard the dogs barking,” Cornege told www.theinformant.co.nz. “She let the dogs out and they raced over to the stables, but when Lindsay got there Pop Star Princess wasn’t in her box. “Then when she went searching she saw a horsefloat behind a ute out on the road, with three people near it. Apparently when she got closer one of the people told her was taking the mare. “Pop Star Princess had broken away and was galloping around our track, which is between the stables and the road boundary.” Cornege in the meantime had called the police. “Thankfully two, maybe three, police cars then turned up – it was amazing how quickly they got there,” he continued. “By this time the mare had been caught and loaded on the float, and we had to leave her there while the police took control of the situation. “One of the people told the police that he was taking the horse. It was only when I showed the police the lease form stating that Lindsay and I held an 80 per cent share in the horse that they allowed her to be unloaded from the float and be returned to her box.” According to Cornege, the unwelcome visitors were officially trespassed from the property which is located adjacent to State Highway One just south of Cambridge. “It was very unnerving, you never expect something like that to happen,” he added. “Pop Star Princess was understandably pretty upset while all this was going on. We’ve never had her on a trailer float and with her being stuck on it while the police went through all the details she got very restless, kicking out and carrying on. “Thankfully she doesn’t appear to have suffered any serious injury, but she has knocked her hocks around. We really wanted to run her today, but it wasn’t possible after everything she had been through. “I got in contact with the RIU later this morning to put them in the picture and the police have asked us to drop by the station today and they’ll take official statements from us.” Racing Integrity Unit regional investigator Andy Cruickshank acknowledged that Cornege had been in contact, but given the police involvement it was a civil matter and therefore did not involve the RIU at this point. View the full article

Stuff all to do with racing.

Nothing like a hit and run coup coming off! Not sure she is Aussie Grp 1 though. Although I guess the family "non owner" will have an opinion on that.

FFS give it a rest or you are gonnnnneeeee!

Fira and Scott Phelan give Arna Donnelly her fourth training win at Cambridge on Thursday night. It was a night to remember for local horsewoman Arna Donnelly at Cambridge on Thursday, her familiar blue and white colours in the winner’s circle four times. Victories with Liberal Arden, Westburn Yield, Patanjali and Fira – all former South Island horses – set a new career mark for her. “It was definitely a real career highlight for me,” she said. “We had three winners at Hawera once, and maybe one other time, but definitely not four before.” Donnelly admits to being quietly confident once Liberal Arden and Westburn Yield capitalised on good runs to win. “I thought the last two (Patanjali and Fira) were good chances, so once the first two won I was thinking, what’s going to happen here?” The last of the quartet of winners was Fira, a trotting mare by Thanksgiving who was only having her fifth run from the stable. “She had been going really good, but the Auckland way around had tipped her up a few times. “She’d trotted right through it, and as a rule she’s got really good manners.” Fira was sent north by the Mounce family from South Canterbury, who bred and own her, and with whom Donnelly has forged a good association. “I’ve stayed with them at Blenheim and we see each other in the Central Districts from time to time. “We were doing a bit of Karaoke one night and John Mounce said I’ll send you up a horse one day. “They really enjoy racing their horses and I’m kind of glad they weren’t on course because today’s hangover wouldn’t have been nice.” Westburn Yield is owned by American David Litvinsky, from New York, and has been with Donnelly since October after being purchased relatively cheaply out of Ivan Court’s Christchurch stable as a maiden. Four wins have come since, including three with stable junior Alicia Harrison, who recorded her 20th career win behind the daughter of Bettor’s Delight on Thursday night. Litvinsky previously purchased former Donnelly horse Poppy Drayton, who is now racing with distinction in North America. Westburn Yield scoots up the markers to give Alicia Harrison her 20th driving win. Photo: Fokus Harness. Patanjali shared favouritism with About Turn in the second last on the card, but an aggressive Scott Phelan drive swung the race her way. Phelan burned her off the gate to the lead and after some sedate middle sectionals, that was ‘all she wrote’. “She’s a lovely mare that had a tricky gate but it was a great drive from Scott, so full credit to him,” said Donnelly. Phelan is a huge part of Donnelly’s continued success in recent seasons, their partnership really becoming quite potent. “I don’t ever give him any instructions; I do my part and he does his. “And it seems to be working out really well.” Donnelly is working 23 with full-time workers Harrison and Kaleb Bublitz while Rodney Frampton, who drove Liberal Arden to win the amateur drivers race at the start of the night, also helps out part time. “It’s a really team effort, our whole operation. “I’ve got fantastic staff and everyone chips in and helps out. “We’ve got a really good team going there at present so full credit to all of them.” Stable star Double Rocket, an impressive winner of a $30,000 Sires Stakes Graduate last week, is heading to Christchurch for the $200,000 New Zealand Derby in a fortnight. “He’ll race down there next week and then hopefully in the Derby. He flies down on Tuesday.” View the full article

The Valley wrap - McKee wins Sunline Stakes & plenty to Cheer about Article Author Brad Waters 10:53PM22 March 2019 0 Comments A smart filly drew plenty of cheers for her Listed win while a prominent jockey faces a fitness test to ride at Mornington on Saturday after missing his rides at Friday night's William Reid Stakes meeting at The Valley. MCKEE NAME GOES ON SUNLINE STAKES TROPHY The omen tip of the night landed when the Stephen McKee-trained Consensus claimed the Group II Sunline Stakes (1600m). McKee’s father Trevor McKee trained the great mare to win two Cox Plates and a Manikato Stakesat The Valley among her 13 Group I wins. The younger McKee switched Consensus from the Group I Ranvet Stakes to the Sunline Stakes because of Sydney’s wet weather and the seven-year-old justified her trainer’s decision with a fighting win. Consensus had to work hard under jockey Michael Walker’s riding to overhaul the on-pacer Spanish Reef to score by a half-head. Kenedna charged home to get within a length of the winner in third spot. “The way it has worked out, it was the race that fell for us and it just happened to be the Sunline Stakes,” McKee said. “It was great to be able to get that one. “We decided to can Sydney and come here so it has worked out all right so far.” McKee said he would give thought to looking for another race in Sydney in the hope the tracks dried out or take Consensus back to New Zealand to prepare her for a Brisbane campaign. See Racing.com's other Tweets

Riccarton Race Scratchings R1: R2: 12 R3: R4: 3,11 R5: 9 R6: R7: R8: R9: TAB Meeting #6 with the first of 9 races starting at 12:20pm Doubles: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Trebles: 1-2-3, 4-5-6, 7-8-9 Quaddies: 2-3-4-5, 6-7-8-9 Track conditions: Dead 4 Weather: Overcast Rail: True Track: Left hand 2400m Length of straight: 400m RACE 8: Best […] 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

Riccarton Race Scratchings R1: R2: 12 R3: R4: 3,11 R5: 9 R6: R7: R8: R9: TAB Meeting #6 with the first of 9 races starting at 12:20pm Doubles: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Trebles: 1-2-3, 4-5-6, 7-8-9 Quaddies: 2-3-4-5, 6-7-8-9 Track conditions: Dead 4 Weather: Overcast Rail: True Track: Left hand 2400m Length of straight: 400m Todays $50 Betting Strategy […] 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

New Zealand racemare Consensus pulled off an appropriate win in a hit-and-run raid on Moonee Valley last night when prevailing in a tight finish to the Gr. 2 Sunline Stakes. The win was special for trainer Stephen McKee, given the race is named after his family’s great champion who won two Cox Plates on the Melbourne track, but he admitted the race was not in the original plans. “The way it has worked out, it is just the race that fell for us and it just happened to be the Sunline Stakes, so it’s great to be able to get that one,” McKee said. “We were actually going to go for the Ranvet in Sydney but it was too wet. “She doesn’t seem to go on tracks that are dead or maybe an early slow, so we decided to can Sydney and come here and it has worked out alright so far. “We will make a few plans during the week. She is here until Saturday. We may even take her home and get her ready for Brisbane on fresher legs this year.” Ridden by ex-pat Kiwi Michael Walker, Consensus was prominent throughout but proved an awkward ride. “I actually went to Flemington this morning and trotted this girl around the bull tracks and she gave me a tremendous feel,” Walker said. “I was in a bit of trouble going to the start, I couldn’t stop her and I was a little bit worried. “The first 150 metres out of the gates I couldn’t stop her and then I was able to get some cover and she settled, but she was just on one rein the whole way. “In the straight I felt she had more to offer but she was hanging in so badly that I had to keep stopping and straightening her.” Consensus has bounced back to her best form this campaign, winning the Gr. 3 Trentham Stakes and Gr. 3 Taranaki Cup before finishing third to Melody Belle in the Haunui Farm Group One WFA. “I want to thank Stephen McKee and Leo (Molloy), who are good mates, for giving me the opportunity to ride her,” Walker added. “As we’ve seen she is a classy mare, she has bumped into Melody Belle and she is even better over 2000 metres. “It is a great honour to win a race named after Sunline.” View the full article

Tauranga Race Scratchings R1: 5,6 R2: 4,5 R3: 4,6 R4: 3,10,11 R5: R6: 11 R7: R8: 12 TAB Meeting #2 with the first of races starting at 12:38pm Doubles: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Trebles: 2-3-4, 6-7- 8 Quaddies: 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8 Pick 6: Starts on race 3 with a $25,000 Guaranteed Pool Track conditions: Dead 4 […] 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

A new chapter in the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s 135-year history will be written today when the first exhibition race meeting at Conghua Racecourse will take centre stage, and Alberto Sanna is looking forward to the prospect of riding the first ever winner at the new, state-of-the-art racetrack and training facility. The Italian rider heads to Conghua with two rides, but it is the Chris So-trained Smart Charade in the first race, the HK$2 million Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy, who will give him a chance at creating history. “The 1200 metres will suit him, the speed will be much faster, because over 1400 metres he raced a bit keen, so he didn’t finish off the race well,” Sanna said. The race is restricted to graduates of the Hong Kong International Sale. Smart Charade is a two-time winner from 16 starts, the first of which Sanna was aboard, back in March 2018. “Last year I won on him over 1600 metres on Derby day, both of his wins were Class 4 races, now he’s up in grade, but we believe the 1200 metres will suit him better.” Smart Charade recorded his second career win over 1400 metres on Longines Hong Kong International Races day in December, with Yasunari Iwata in the saddle. “The horse won easy on International Day, and the small field this time is much better for us, because we have to sit at the back and so we won’t be too far away from the pace,” Sanna said. A field of six will do battle in today’s opening race, including the Conghua-based Danny Shum-trained Happy Tour, who has registered two all-the-way wins from five career starts. “We’re up against three horses that are not bad, the Danny Shum horse, David Hall horse (Gallant Return) and the Richard Gibson horse (Nordic Warrior), but I think we can compete with them,” Sanna said. Trainer Chris So echoed the jockey’s opinion. “I think he should run well, 1200 metres or even 1400 metres are both better distances for him. Small field, not too many runners, it’s a tough race but I think he should run well.” So’s career at the Hong Kong Jockey Club dates back to 1997 when he started out as a work rider and he was assistant trainer to Caspar Fownes from 2003 until receiving his own licence ahead of the 2013-14 season. Having his name alongside the first ever Conghua winner would be something special for the Hong Kong native. “Of course, I really want to win it, but it’s not an easy race with two or three main chances,” So said. Meanwhile, at just 21 Regan Bayliss has already seen a bit of the world and today the Australian jockey will add the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Conghua racetrack and training centre to his experience. Bayliss will partner the last-start winner Green Card – the jockey’s first win since taking up a HKJC contract – in the Class 3 Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup Handicap. “It was a nice enough win the other day over 1400 metres, he covered ground and didn’t have cover, but he shot away nicely and from there was able to hold his rivals off,” Bayliss said. “He does go up in class, but I think dropping from 1400 metres to 1200 metres suits him better. He was out on his feet the last 50 metres over seven furlongs last start.” Green Card is one of trainer John Moore’s Conghua-based string. The gelding put in a good-looking second in a recent trial over 1000 metres at the Mainland track and seems to be thriving in his new surroundings. “I was just speaking to John Moore and the horse is relishing Conghua, he had a trial there and trialed really well and all of his gallops have been good,” Bayliss said. “Hopefully he’s enjoying the environment and his last win was a good confidence boosting win. Hopefully he can get a nice run from barrier five and I’m sure he’ll make his presence felt.” View the full article

Sunlight has erased the memories of her previous visit to The Valley with a breath-taking victory in the Gr. 1 William Reid Stakes. The only time Sunlight has finished out of the placings was in the Manikato Stakes at The Valley last October when she was slow into stride. Last night there was no such problem and Luke Currie let the filly slide forward and take the lead with 800metres to run. That allowed Currie to give Sunlight a breather before releasing the brakes turning for home, when she raced clear to beat the Sydney visitor Spright by three-quarters of a length, with Ellicazoom in third place. The victory was her third at the highest level, coming on top of wins in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Newmarket up the straight at Flemington. “I’m in awe of her, what a star,” trainer Tony McEvoy told broadcaster racing.com. “She rises to the occasion all the time. She loves the pressure of these elite races and I’m so proud of her. “It stands the hair up on the back of my neck when you think of the level that she’s up with now and the great horses of the past. “These are big-time races and there’s so much more to come with her. She could be one of the best of the best.” Currie was also full of praise for the filly and what she has achieved. Besides her three Group One victories, Sunlight won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic before finishing third in last year’s Golden Slipper. “She must have read the paper and known she’d drawn the outside,” Currie said. “She flew the gates as quick tonight as ever I’ve ridden her.” Weather permitting, Sunlight will head to Sydney for the Gr. 1 TJ Smith at Randwick on the opening day of The Championships. Jockey Ben Melham was transported to hospital with a suspected broken wrist after being dislodged from Voodoo Lad in the straight. View the full article

Jesse Duke took full advantage of Ultimate Sniper’s gallop in the Flying Stakes at Addington. Photo: Race Images. There was just one blot on the copybook for the All Stars stable on the premier night of racing at Addington on Friday. And it was a really, really big one. The country’s leading three-year-old, Ultimate Sniper, cause a major shock when galloping approximately 200m after the start of the group 2 Flying Stakes. The three-year-old refused to settle for driver Tim Williams and punters, who took the horse’s microscopic odds, had to watch their money go down the drain. The shock mistake left the race wide open for Ultimate Sniper’s stablemate, Jesse Duke, and he took full advantage. Driver Mark Purdon worked the pacer, who usually has to settle for being the best-man in Ultimate Sniper’s winning photos, to the front and he held off all challengers to win. Chiller Bay boosted his New Zealand Derby claims by running home strongly from the rear to take second placing. Dadndave took third ahead of a brave Memphis Tennessee. Though there were some handy derby trials in the Flying Stakes, Ultimate Sniper’s gallop will undoubtedly dominate pre-New Zealand Derby discussions. Two races later, trainer Margo Nyhan and partner, Peter Davis, almost pulled off what would arguably have been the most popular win at Addington in recent history when Overzealous was nosed out by Cheerful in the group 2 New Zealand Trotting Oaks. The Addington crowd roared, trying to will Overzealous home, as she rallied hard on the passing lane to reel in Cheerful. But, Cheerful denied the popular Nyhan and Davis, who are recovering from a horrific road accident, a special win by a nose. Cheerful just noses out Overzealous to win the New Zealand Trotting Oaks at Addington. Photo: Race Images. Mark Purdon rounded out a haul of five wins in the sulky, and as a trainer with Natalie Rasmussen, with three minor wins on Friday night. First starter, One Change, upstaged his more experienced rivals when winning the Sires Stakes heat for two-year-old male pacers. Kayla Marie lowered the colours of a below-par Wainui Creek to win the Sires Stakes heat for three-year-old pacing fillies. Letterkenny Boy powered home from a hopeless position before the home turn to win in rating 50-58 company. View the full article

Alta Maestro fights hard to score a front-running to win at Addington. Photo: Race Images. Alta Maestro boosted the already big claims trainer Robert Dunn had ahead of the Easter Cup with a front running-win at Addington on Friday night. Driver John Dunn dictated race terms in front with the four-year-old and the pair made their rivals pay when Alta Maestro reeled off a 55.5sec last 800m to win. John Dunn being able to rate a relaxed Alta Maestro in front would have been almost unimaginable judging by the horse’s free-wheeling and hard-running attitude to racing as a two-year-old. Robert Dunn credited the driver for his work in transforming the pacer. “Johnny has done a great job at home getting him to relax.” “He is a great staying horse, he is one of those horses that we knew if we can get him to relax in his races he will be a lovely horse.” “He has changed the way he is racing, from being up on the steel and wanting to over-race as a two-year-old, to be incredibly relaxed now.” “We have taken our time dropping him off the gate, even in some of the bigger races we purposely dropped him off the gate, because of his style of racing.” “To the horse’s credit he has done a hell of a job himself to turn himself around as a race horse.” Alta Maestro has transformed his racing style so much he is almost too comfortable out on the track. “He just tends to go in to his own zone now.” “He was just pricking his ears at the finish tonight and he was still going quite strongly even though it was a tight finish.” Alta Maestro held out the swooping finish of A G’s White Socks by a head at the finish. Elle Mac was more than a length after working hard in the breeze for much of the 1980m event. Alta Maestro’s win strengthened the Dunn stable’s already strong hand in next month’s Easter Cup. Stable runners Alta Orlando and Letspendanitetogetha did their prospects in the race no harm, either, by going good races. Alta Orlando had to settle for fourth after being nosed out of third by Elle Mac. Letspendanitetogetha hit the line strongly, beaten just over two-lengths in seventh placing. That trio and the emphatic Northern Southland Cup winner, Henry Hubert, give the Dunn stable a powerful team for the Easter Cup. “We have got four nice horses going for it, we are really looking forward to it.” Alta Maestro holds out the finish of A G’s White Socks to win at Addington. Photo: Race Images. View the full article

Former neighbours in New Zealand, dual Olympic gold medal-winning equestrian Sir Mark Todd and jockey James McDonald are joining forces in Sydney to try to win the Gr. 1 Ranvet Stakes with British horse He’s Eminent. “We go back a long way,” Sir Mark said. “We were neighbours back in Cambridge and James and his brother Luke used to come on their ponies and ride with our kids around the farm. “So I have known him a long time and it’s been great following his career. He’s done brilliantly well and he’s a really nice guy. It’s great to have him on board.” McDonald has won two Sydney jockey premierships in 2013-14 and 2015-16 and has a commanding lead over Hugh Bowman two-thirds of the way through this season. He’s Eminent stamps a return to training for Sir Mark after he was called on by owners Sir Peter Vela and Hubie de Burgh to prepare the son of champion galloper Frankel for a Sydney campaign aimed at tomorrow’s Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick three weeks later. Sir Mark, who has competed for New Zealand in eventing at seven Olympics, won the 2003 New Zealand Oaks and 2007 Wellington Cup during a previous training stint. He’s Eminent raced in Europe as Eminent and had strong form as a three-year-old in 2017 before his form tapered off last year. Taking on the horse for the Sydney targets was a challenge Sir Mark was up for. “Talk about giving me a mission!” he said. “The horse hasn’t raced since August last year, I haven’t trained for 10 years and here we are first-up in a Group One race. “Sir Peter Vela was a part-owner of the horse with the trainer Martyn Meade and then he and Hubie de Burgh bought the horse out, I think with the idea of standing him at stud in New Zealand. “He came to me to prepare for the flight. While he was with me we were just playing around and doing a bit of flat work and a bit of jumping and just hacking him out and letting him be a normal horse. “And then plans changed. There was an idea to come here and run in two Group One races and I was offered the chance to do it, so here we are.” Todd said He’s Eminent came to Sydney as a fit horse and he has been pleased with how the preparation has gone at the Canterbury racecourse quarantine centre. “James has ridden him and he’s been very happy how he feels,” he said. “The 2000 metres in a Group One first-up having not raced since August, we’re a little bit in the dark, but we’re hoping that he’s in the right sort of shape for it. “He’s a very, very smart horse. He was a good two-year-old and was a very, very good three-year-old. His form as a four-year-old tailed off for whatever reason but if we can have him back anywhere near his three-year-old form he’s going to be competitive here.” View the full article

BEST BET: RACE 10 #2 ARDENT LUSTRE $2.40 NZ TAB Fixed odds BEST EACH WAY: RACE 4 #14 LIFEOFBRIAN $4.80 & $1.85 NZ TAB Fixed odds VALUE EACH WAY: RACE 8 #2 NAYLA FRANCO $21 & $4.80 NZ TAB Fixed odds BEST ROUGHIE: RACE 6 #3 BLACK OPS $11 & $3.00 Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

BEST BET: RACE 10 #2 ARDENT LUSTRE $2.40 NZ TAB Fixed odds BEST EACH WAY: RACE 4 #14 LIFEOFBRIAN $4.80 & $1.85 NZ TAB Fixed odds VALUE EACH WAY: RACE 8 #2 NAYLA FRANCO $21 & $4.80 NZ TAB Fixed odds BEST ROUGHIE: RACE 6 #3 BLACK OPS $11 & $3.00 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

Group One performer The Lord Mayor has arrived in Queensland to further boost the ranks of the in-form Chris Waller Gold Coast stable. The Lord Mayor will make his Brisbane debut over 1500 metres at Eagle Farm tomorrow. Waller has a strong hand in the open class race and will also saddle Jaminzah, Veladero and Impasse, with the stablemates all drawing alongside each other in barriers nine to 12. The Lord Mayor won twice in New Zealand when trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, but his best run was a fourth in last year’s New Zealand Derby. It was then decided to transfer the horse to Waller in Sydney, where The Lord Mayor was well beaten in the Australian Derby and Rosehill Guineas. He stayed in Sydney for a spring campaign, winning two races in the lead-up to the Gr. 1 Metropolitan in which he was unplaced. He also had a short Melbourne campaign which included a second at The Valley. The Lord Mayor has had one run since resuming, finishing ninth in the Newcastle Newmarket two weeks ago. Waller’s Queensland manager Paul Shailer describes The Lord Mayor as an ideal type for Queensland staying races. “He obviously has a touch of class and had no luck in the Australian Derby when he clipped heels and while Saturday is short of his distance he should be competitive,” Shailer said. The Lord Mayor is part-owned by brothers Chas and Cam Stewart, who also have the likely favourite Order Again in tomorrow’s race. The Brian Smith-trained Order Again has struggled with injury after winning the Gr. 3 Grand Prix Stakes in 2017, but was an encouraging first-up fourth two weeks ago at Eagle Farm. The Ben Currie-trained Sword Of Justice is the early $3.70 favourite ahead of Order Again at $4.50. View the full article