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Okay, here is another opportunity for folks like Wallace who don’t like life in the slow NH lane. Also, it has the good manners to finish before Cheltenham.
It is quite easy to follow Australian racing, as there are quite a few news sites, and you can access form via more than one outlet. This can be supplemented by a couple of radio stations as well.
42 Group races, starting with the Lightning Stakes (1000m). Looks to be between the Caulfied Guineas winner Starspangledbanner, and Hayes’ supposed superstar Nicconi, who has disappointed last twice over 6f, but is unbeaten in 3 runs over 5f and one over 5.5f.
I only started following this stuff a few months ago, so be gentle with me, as I’m not quite sure how this is going to develop.
Interviews with various trainers over the course of this hour on
Rightly or wrongly, I’ll be laying Starspandgledbanner on Saturday morning. He got way too soft a time of it in the Guineas at Caulfield, and for all he might/probably is a sprinter, he won’t be getting away with that again. 1 minute 1.4 seconds for the first 1000m in the Caulfield Guineas – he’s going to need to run about 6 seconds quicker for a 1000m down the straight course at Flemington. Corstens is talking him up (as he would) after a 46 second barrier trial win over 800m, but I am fascinated as to where this amazing improvement in the Guineas come from. The form obviously looks exceptional on paper with the names of Manhattan Rain, So You Think, Denman and Extra Zero being beat, but I’m taking Carrara as the accurate line of form. Carrara was beat easy enough by Denman on Australia Day, where McEvoy nearly managed to get another good thing (Denman) beat. Coolmore, at least, must see something special in Starspangledbanner having paid $6-10 million for him. On RVL website it’s got him down running in the Tabor colours for the Lightning. I suppose they probably know more than me, but even if he never won another race in his life they can market him as the best son of Choisir at stud thanks to the number of Group 1 winners he beat at Caulfield. It does look a special group of Australian 3 year olds with Denman, So You Think, Manhattan Rain and the one I think might be the best – We’re Gonna Rock. That’s purely hype at this stage, but the sectional of 31 seconds at Flemington on his debut was incredible.
As for the Lightning, I like Burdekin Blues. I just think he’ll be too tough for the 3yo’s who will have to run at his pace.
Don’t worry about it finishing by Cheltenham – I’ll roll onto to the Sydney carnival.
I might have to try another radio station for Sydney. Is the Sky service based there?It does seem to be the widely held view that there was a soft lead in the Caulfield Guineas, or jockeyship won the race, or the others got in each other’s way, or whatever. Only betting to small stakes, and I don’t really know about Burdekin Blues or Hayes’ filly, but 5/1 or 6/1 or so Nicconi seems a reasonable price to me. More of a toe in the water job, because if I don’t bet in this, I don’t see how I can become involved in the other racing.
Does anyone know the story about the 2007 Derby 3rd, Aqaleem, who is now running in the 4th race, 3.50am GMT, as Our Aqaleem?
The Sky Channel 2KY radio service is based in Sydney.
Nicconi picked up an injury in The Age Classic. I think Hayes said something about how he wanted some give in the ground afterwards.
Well done, Gerald.
Sub 33 seconds for the final 3 furlongs from Nicconi. Another exceptional Australian sprinter. I remember watching him battle with Fravashi in a warm up for the Cadbury Guineas last year. He never struck me as a 1000m late running sprinter back then.
All I need to do now is find somewhere to watch the race. I’m not very pro-active in this regard, and if I come across somewhere where I have to give my details and log-in etc, I tend to knock it on the head.
Only got back from work an hour ago, so after I’ve had a kip, I’ll see if I can find anything interesting for this thread. There ought to be more details revealed about Aqaleem after his victory.
"Nicconi, a 4-1 chance, was Hayes’s only runner in the Aus$500,000 (£275,000) after Irish Lights’ owner Coolmore ordered the scratching of the filly to avoid a clash with Lightning rival Starspangledbanner, who is trained by Leon Corstens."
What would happen to an owner who did that on the day of the race in this country?
The story behind Our Aqaleem is that he has cracked his pelvis twice, and has been with Hayes since October. Next up for the horse is the Australian Cup on March 6th, and then onto the Melbourne Cup.
The Australian Cup, Australian Guineas and Newmarket Handicap are all on March 6th. Instead of concentrating on those, it may be easier to take things one at a time. Skipping over Moonee Valley night racing, the next task is to find the winner of the Orr Stakes. All I know so far, is that it is 1400m.
Calendar of events is here:
http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/p_MFOR … _2010.aspx
JANUARY
Saturday 30
Coolmore Lightning Stakes Day
Flemington
FEBRUARYFriday, 5
Moonee Valley Night Racing
Moonee ValleySaturday, 6
C.F. Orr Stakes Day
CaulfieldSaturday, 13
Pulse Pharmacy William Reid Stakes Day
Moonee ValleySunday, 14
Sportingbet Kilmore Cup Day
KilmoreWednesday, 17
Luxbet.com Mornington Cup Day
MorningtonFriday, 19
Moonee Valley Night Racing
Moonee ValleySaturday, 20
Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes Day
CaulfieldFriday, 26
MVRC Night Cup
Moonee ValleySaturday, 27
Rokk Ebony Futurity Stakes Day
CaulfieldSunday, 28
Inglis inaugural Open Day
Oaklands JunctionMARCH
Monday, 1 – Thursday, 4
Inglis Premier Yearling Sales
Oaklands JunctionWednesday, 3
Beautiful Girls Fashion Lunch
The Atrium, FlemingtonFriday, 5
Doxa Racing Lunch
The Atrium, FlemingtonSaturday, 6
Flemington Festival of Racing Super Saturday
FlemingtonSaturday, 6 & Sunday, 7
Deniliquin RSL Echuca Cup Carnival
EchucaSunday, 7
Stony Creek Cup
Stony CreekSaturday, 13
Flemington Festival of Racing Blamey Stakes Day
FlemingtonSunday, 14
Devine Communities Pakenham Cup Day
PakenhamThe three I’ve come across for the Orr Stakes so far are Denman, Heart Of Dreams (first up), and Sniper’s Bullet.
Seems relatively simple, at the moment, as Denman is supposedly another superstar.
Is Typhoon Tracy favourite for the Orr Stakes, over Denman?
She has won all 7 races in distaff company, and lost all 3 in mixed company.
As I wrote in the first post Wallace, there is quite a bit of info available, and I only follow the top stuff.
Denman might go for the easier Wellington, but he’d be giving weight. Viewed, Shocking and Zipping are likely runners in the Orr, who are all familiar to racefans, to say the least, at longer distances.
When is Coolmore new acquisition running again. Starspandledbanner (spelling?). Interesting to see how he gets on
I’m from Sydney, but I like to think I know what is happening over here.
Any questions Gerald, and I’ll try to help you out.
The Orr Stakes this weekend is going to be a cracker – but be warned, this race is usually won by a horse who will improve over ground.
In the last 20 years, winners have included Cox Plate (10 furlongs) winners like El Segundo and Maldivian, Melbourne Cup (2 mile) winners like Let’s Elope, Saintly and Jeune, Caulfield Cup (12 furlongs) winners like Elvstroem, and 3yo classic winners like Planet Ruler, Durbridge and Grand Archway.
Lots of horses are looking to start off here, official nominations will be released in an hour, but the Australian media is trying to hype it as a match race between star 3yo colt Denman (who to be honest, I’m not a massive fan of, but that’s because I prefer So You Think) and star mare Typhoon Tracy.
I disagree, I think there are many chances outside of it.
Horses which are possibly heading that way:
Melbourne Cup winner Shocking
Australian Guineas winner Heart of Dreams
Caulfield Guineas placegetter Carrara
2008 Melbourne Cup winner Viewed
Sandown Classic winner Zipping
2008 Turnbull Stakes winner Littorio
Railway Stakes/Kingston Town Classic winner Sniper’s Bullet
2008 Australian Cup winner Sirmione
2008 SAAB Quality winner MoatizeI’m not sure, there are probably more, but that I’ve garnered from different websites.
The one I’m interested in so far is Sniper’s Bullet, connections want to take him to Dubai for the Duty Free, so you’d hope he’d be competitive here.
It reminds me that a trainer said Derby winners would win the July Cup.
Can’t remember which one had that view though. Dick Hern???
Just posting this for a bit of fun . . .
#
Manhattan Rain’s lacklustre jump-out has Waterhouse hedging bets …
1 Sep 2009 … HE MIGHT be worth$20 million
according to trainer Gai Waterhouse, but don’t bank on the regally bred Manhattan Rain winning at Flemington …
http://www.smh.com.au › Sport › Horseracing
#Manhattan Rain the best colt I’ve trained: Gai Waterhouse | The …
13 Sep 2009 … GAI Waterhouse has labelled her$50million
galloper Manhattan Rain the best colt she has trained.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/…/manhattan … 5772429569 – Similar
#AdelaideNow… At
$60m
, Manhattan Rain must prove he’s good value
20 Oct 2009 … SIX Toorak mansions, all with a sweeping lawn, pool, tennis court and butler.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,226 … 91,00.html
I might have to try another radio station for Sydney. Is the Sky service based there?
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