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Oh mate, I agree with that.
And the bad thing is that Alex asked me to open a betting account in my name for him to use (he’s underage) – and in my opinion, I don’t think he knows too much, although he likes to think he does!
Anyway, back to the great race.
Sydney Cup tomorrow is going to be a great guide, it is probably the best field (despite the size) since Makybe Diva beat Mummify in 2004.
Do you reckon Doctor Fremantle could stretch out to 3200m? I had my eye on him as a Melbourne Cup horse even when he was with Stoute.
I expect they are looking at a Cox Plate – Melb Cup prep, and I don’t think anyone will be sure about the 2 miles until he gets there.
Oh this is fun! You’re wondering whether a horse by Sadler’s wells out of a Rainbow Quest mare will stay 2 miles.
Doctor Fremantle’s sister, Summer Shower, recorded her best Racing Post Rating when coming 2nd in a 2 mile Listed race on Heavy ground at Saint-Cloud.
http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_ … _id=655706
The brother, Magnum Opus recorded his best, albeit still poor, rating when running in a 1m7f race at Chantilly as a 3yo.
http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_ … _id=610100
Raintrap, the full-brother of the dam, won the Prix Kergorlay, Prix Royal Oak, and San Juan Capistrano H’cap.
http://www.pedigreequery.com/raintrap
http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_ … e_id=73158
Only came 4th in the Ascot Gold Cup though, so didn’t stay 2m4f.
I was so tired yesterday, that I forgot the St Leger was today. Found this whilst looking for something else, actually. Rundle didn’t perform well???
Exceptional St Leger win by filly
Sunday, 25 April 2010
By Mark RyanTrainer Terry O’Sullivan landed his second victory in the VRC St Leger at Flemington with long shot Exceptionally and he’s now looking ahead to the Melbourne Cup with the filly.
Exceptionally gave embattled jockey Danny Nikolic an overdue feature win as he waits to hear whether he faces charges over a long running inquiry into 10 of his beaten rides.
O’Sullivan, who co-trains the Ekraar filly with his daughter Karina, races her with his wife Robyn and long-time stable clients Kingsley and Evelyn Peach.
O’Sullivan said he paid $65,000 for Exceptionally who was Lot 1 at the Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale a couple of years ago because she was a stunning type.
Exceptionally had won two races, at Warracknabeal over 1600m and on her home track at Stawell over 2000m, from nine starts before Sunday.
O’Sullivan said the win was not a surprise considering she had run an enormous race when fifth to subsequent Group One WATC Derby winner Chartreux over 2000m at Caulfield two starts back.
"We thought she was very unlucky not to run second to Chartreux at Caulfield," he said.
O’Sullivan said the filly didn’t travel well to Adelaide when 12th to Danaupair Starlet in the Group Three SA Fillies Classic (2400m) on April 10.
"She was flat and dopey. She went over to Adelaide the day before the race and obviously didn’t do that well and had no life in her and she raced accordingly," he said.
O’Sullivan’s first St Leger winner was Dolphin Jo in 2006 and that gelding went on to run 15th to Delta Blues in the 2006 Melbourne Cup and fifth to Efficient in 2007 before winning the 2008 Group Two Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield.
Nikolic, who won the 1993 Listed Bagot Hcp (2500m) on Water Snow for O’Sullivan, came with a late run on Exceptionally in the 2800m Listed event.
The Lee Freedman-trained Galileo filly Gallant Lady ($3.90 fav) led from the outset and looked to be holding her rivals at bay until the last 100m when Exceptionally ($21) dived through a gap to score by three-quarters of a length.
Sherpa Tenzing ($4.6) was a short neck away third, while the only other filly in the race apart from the first and second placegetters was Our Serena ($17) who was fourth.
"We thought he (Nikolic) may have left his run too late, but she’s out of a Zabeel mare and has always shown good staying promise," O’Sullivan said.
"She’s a great winded filly who right from the start her first start at Swan Hill showed she could stick. We always thought she went pretty good and she showed a good turn of foot first-up this preparation when she charged home to run third at Sandown.
"We had a hell of a lot of fun with Dolphin Jo so we’d be pretty happy if she finished up as good as him.
"I’d love to think she might get into a Melbourne Cup as she has staying power and she’ll run two miles (3200m), I reckon there’s no doubt."
Nikolic said he had a nice run in the race from barrier one.
"She relaxed quite well, the tempo was solid and from the 600 metres I just needed to get out of a bit of traffic," he said.
"Once I was out in the clear I thought she was going to run third at best but the last 150 metres she really put her head down and knuckled down to work."
"It was a good effort. She’s a dead-set stayer and Terry had her 100 per cent fit."
You’ve just about convinced me, knew I came here for a reason
I hope it didn’t convince you to have a bet yesterday, Ted. I was talking about 2 miles.
Rundle was scratched, Gerald. Lloyd Williams wasn’t happy with him.
From a Melbourne Cup point of view on the weekend:
Sydney Cup – Jessicabeel was impressive, she’s improving too so wouldn’t surprise to see her up there in November. I’d expect that Harris Tweed will probably be there, maybe Divine Rebel too. Wouldn’t think that anything else in the race could make it there – Littorio didn’t stay the trip, so he won’t be heading there. No Wine No Song probably too old now. Precedence and Zavite were screwed by their respective jockeys, but many people now believe that Precedence is probably a 10f horse and Zavite is just below that class. And I’m not sure about Moatize…
Queen Elizabeth Stakes – hmmm, the only two to look at are Monaco Consul and Doctor Fremantle. I have a prediction about Monaco Consul, I reckon he’ll start 40-1 or more in the Melbourne Cup and go very close. He’ll probably have terrible lead up form, but the way he’s going, he looks like a dead set two miler. His effort in the Queen Elizabeth was sensational, he’s better ridden back yet he led. Doctor Fremantle was very very disappointing, want to see what he does before I touch him again.
Frank Packer Plate – a race which has been won by Might and Power in the past, Moatize placed, Freemason won, and they all went on to run top 6 in the Cup in the same year. This year’s winner was Dariana – a good filly, but I’m not sure if she’s quite up to them. She’s trained by the master though, Bart Cummings, so she has that on her side. I liked the run of the third horse, Viking Hero, he’s heading to the Queensland Derby and I think that he could be a SAAB Quality/Melbourne Cup horse later in the year.
WA Derby – the WORST group 1 on the Australian calendar, without exception, no better than a Listed race. Not many horses have come through the WA Derby, and run in the Melbourne Cup – the only one I can remember in recent memory is Guyno. And I’d be surprised if Chartreux measures up. The only two I’d follow out of the race in the spring are Bridgestone and Brother Mak.
VRC St Leger – I know Exceptionally won, but I wasn’t overly enamoured with her run, she was lucky. The three I’d follow are Gallant Lady, who Lee Freedman said probably has no chance of making a Melbourne Cup, and two who finished very very strongly out wide in Chaparro and Sea Galleon.
There’s probably an original version of this on some Australasian site, but I’ve been too busy betting in the past few days to go on a trawl.
The headline is a bit of an overstatement.
Melbourne Cup prospect Doctor Fremantle injured
By Howard Wright 4:23PM 26 APR 2010DERBY fourth in 2008, Doctor Fremantle, who was bought privately by an Australian syndicate last October as a Melbourne Cup prospect, is out of action with an abscess on a foot, after disappointing on Saturday in his second outing for trainer Lee Freedman.
Doctor Fremantle, ridden by his Epsom jockey Kerrin McEvoy, pulled up slightly lame when finishing seventh of eight in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick over 1m2f, but Freedman was on Monday able to report better news than was first feared.
He said the injury would mean a spell on the sidelines but was not a long-term problem. However, he also said that he would not run Doctor Fremantleon ground faster than good in future.
Of four horses that Freedman bought in Europe last autumn with an eye on Australia’s greatest race, Doctor Fremantle is the only subsequent non-winner.
Above Average
and ex-French
Fanjura
won within eight days of each other last month, and on Sunday at Flemington in Melbourne,
Ajhar
got up in the last half-furlong to win the A$61,000 first prize in a 1m5f handicap.
Ajhar, previously trained by Marcus Tregoning for Hamdan Al Maktoum, was having his third start for Freedman and the Ball and Chain syndicate.
On the same Anzac Day card at Flemington,
Martial Law
, a 1m7f winner for Andre Fabre last year, had his first outing since being bought by owner Lloyd Williams as part of a band of at least 14 ex-European horses being aimed at the Melbourne Cup from Robert Hickmott’s stable.
Never previously raced at less than 1m, Martial Law finished 11th of 14 over 6f.
The rest of Williams’s ex-European collection comprises
Alandi, Aristocrat, Fergus McIver, Grand Ducal, Johann Zoffany, Malibu Bay, Mourayan, Rockhampton, Sail Of Gold, Set Sail and Trojan War.
With Freedman’s newly bought quartet, they make this year’s efforts to scour Europe for potential Melbourne Cup runners the most concerted ever, according to Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter.
“I have at least 21 horses on my files with form in Britain, France and Ireland, who have been purchased outright or in partnership by Australian owners since last October, intending to aim them towards the Emirates Melbourne Cup,” he said.
“Of course, European stayers have shown themselves to be a force in the race, but the fact this year’s will be the 150th running seems to have added even more interest.”
Others bringing European form to Carpenter’s ratings file are
Basaltico
and
Warringah
, trained by Chris Waller, and
The Miniver Rose
, who is with Mick Price.
Carpenter is also monitoring the well-being of two ex-French runners,
Manighar
and
Becqu Adoree
, who are now trained by Luca Cumani after their purchase by Simon O’Donnell’s OTI Racing.
The Melbourne Cup trophy itself is currently on tour, being used in conjunction with promotions to attract business and tourism, as well as horses, to Victoria in November.
Currently in Los Angeles, the trophy will be in Dublin and London next month, and will make appearances in India for the first time, as well as Singapore and Hong Kong, before making its way back to Flemington.
Actually, The Miniver Rose is quite interesting. She is very game, and I think she is one of John Francome’s favourite horses. [ex champion Jump jockey, now TV paddock commentator.]
I wonder how the new trainer is getting on?
10Sep09 Doncaster ( 15 Gd ,RPR106 )
She’s always been difficult. She won’t go anywhere with the string, so she has two lads every morning; one rides her and the other rides a four-wheeled motorbike, which stays upsides her on her near-side. The lads have done a great job with her. She stays well. She’s a very good filly and a very good-looking filly, too. She’s worth a lot of money, now – Richard Hannon, trainer
Meanwhile, TRF’s favourite roughie, Nanton (although he is well-bred) has a chance of becoming Melbourne Cup qualified at the weekend when he runs in a
5
runner 1m4f G2.
The others stand no chance. If they go too slow, he’ll do ’em for speed, and if they go too fast he’ll do ’em for stamina! Can’t get knocked out of the first three, imvho.
There isn’t a version of that article in Australia Gerald, surprisingly.
Here is my summation that I posted in Australia of the Lloyd Williams horses, as well as the other horses mentioned in the article.
Alandi – he’s had 8 starts for five wins, two seconds and a fifth, he came on to the scene last year winning the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes at his second start over 1m5f (2600m), he then ran Profound Beauty to a neck in the Gr3 Curragh Cup over 2800m, he finished off the season with a hattrick of wins – in the Listed Ballycullen Stakes over 2800m, the Group 1 Irish St Leger over 2800m and the Prix du Cadran over 4000m (beating Yeats)…if he hadn’t had his last run, I’d say that he’d be absolutely perfect for Australian conditions, but the 4000m run can make them dour forever, so I’d be cautious…also a big query on good/dead ground
Our Aristocrat – formerly Aristocrat, he’s had 6 starts for one win and one third, he’s shown some alright form, he makes his debut at Sandown tomorrow
Fergus McIver – a Sadler’s Wells gelding, not sure if he may be too dour for Australia
Grand Ducal – a Danehill Dancer gelding, he was entered but scratched from Flemington Sunday. Very interesting gelding, his last two starts he was beaten 14L in the Irish Champion Stakes by Sea the Stars and 24L in the Arc by, oh, Sea the Stars. He’s a G3 winner, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him improve.
Muir – formerly Johann Zoffany, ran 12th at Flemington on Sunday
Stillman – formerly Malibu Bay, ran 2nd at Lakeside last week
Mourayan – this looks the pick of the Lloyd Williams horses, he is a half brother to Mourilyan who ran 3rd in the Melbourne Cup, he ran 3rd in the Irish Derby, 2nd to Profound Beauty in the Ballyroan Stakes, to my eye he has always looked like he was a year away from maturing to his best
Our Rockhampton – formerly Rockhampton, he was Aidan O’Brien’s pacemaker in the Classics last year. He was beaten 30L in the Irish Derby, 20L in the King George and Queen Elizabeth and 43L in the Irish Champion Stakes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him improve.
Sail of Gold – as far as I can see, he’s unraced (that’s been proven wrong, he’s had 9 starts, but I couldn’t find anything)
Cornish – formerly Set Sail, his form is nothing short of woeful…beaten more than 25L in the French Derby, Eclipse Stakes, Juddmonte International, Irish Champion Stakes, Arc de Triomphe and the English Champion Stakes…needs a big improvement
Boland – formerly Trojan War, a name I much prefer…he’s a Montjeu who had 5 starts for 2 wins and 2 placings, showed some okay form and it will be interesting to see how he goes at Sandown tomorrow
The Miniver Rose – has had 9 starts for 2 wins and 2 placings, she’s a High Chaparral so I’ll be following her closely!
Manighar – can’t find much info, except he ran 2nd in the French St Leger to Ask
Becqu Adoree – once again, I didn’t find much info, she’s a Listed winner though
Yes, I’m sorry I wrote that Andy. Howard Wright is the Racing Post journalist that I respect the most, covering political issues, and he has been Down Under covering the conferences, so it would have been all his own work.
I really liked Becqu Adoree at Longchamp last year – made her a 14/1 shot on my tissue and she was trading at 150+ on the PMU at one stage. She has good solid listed form as a 3yo last year and looked the type to improve with age, she was unlucky in running in the Group 1 on her last start in France so has to go in the notebook. I knew she’d left France but wasn’t aware she was being targeted at the Cup.
COME ON BECQU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 April 2010
CONSIDER it racing’s equivalent of Spaghetti Junction. There may be only three weeks remaining in the jumps season but the outcomes to three Nationals – in Ireland, Aintree and Ayr – are still to be resolved. Yet in less than a month’s time, purists of the Flat will be acclaiming the first two Classic heroes of the new season. Little wonder many of us don’t know where to turn next.
Not that it makes much difference to Jim Goldie, so seamlessly does he flit between rival codes. Fresh from a seasonal-best haul of winners over jumps, the Renfrewshire trainer refocuses his attentions to the summer game for the first Flat meeting of the new Scottish campaign at Musselburgh today.
Chief among his immediate ambitions is a third victory in the Musselburgh Gold Cup since 2006. Ever the dreamer, the intrepid trainer is also weighing up an audacious tilt at the Melbourne Cup with Nanton in November.
"It’s only an idea at the moment," admitted Goldie, "but it’s something we’re thinking about now as there would be an awful lot of planning to sort out. If Nanton proves to us he’s worth sending all the way to Melbourne, we’ll make a decision by mid-summer."
By then, Goldie will hope to be well along the road to hitting 40 winners for the first time. Armed with a team of about 50 horses, he points to Hillview Boy, Sea Of Leaves, Hogmaneigh and even reformed loser Gordonsville as those capable of landing the major handicap pot which has, thus far, remained frustratingly elusive.
Gordonsville gets his chance to take another step in the right direction today, the seven-year-old having finally buried accusations of being a "shirker" when running out a cosy winner of this race 12 months ago. He is joined in the 14-strong field by stable-mate Dazzling Light, a filly not without her own detractors, despite having course-and-distance-winning form to her name.
"Because of the bad weather, my horses generally aren’t as far forward as usual," said Goldie. "But Gordonsville seems on good terms with life and I’m pretty sure Dazzling Light has also improved over the winter. I’m hoping for a big run from them both."
Goldie will hope they are the first of many in what could be a ground-breaking year.
by Tony Edwards
- Total Posts 17716
WOW who exactly is picking out these nags for the boys down under? Set Sail? There has never been a more over used bunny in the history of greyhound lures let alone racehorses.
Also I mentioned some tme ago that Doctor Freemantle is no Melbourne/Caulfield Cup horse. His rating is too high and he doesn’t stay well enough. Freedman needs to sack his consultant too. You don’t go to the Michael Stoute yard looking for horses you can improve in any way whatsoever. Yes the Doc might be a Cox Plate type but Lee has to work out how to get Stoute level performance from the horse first.
I wouldn’t be too hasty to write off anything that came from the Oxx/Aga Khan camp though. They are all bred to improve with age and Oxx doesn’t bottom them out before putting the for sale sign out.
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