Forum Replies Created
- Posts
Meanwhile, trainer Brian Smith is confident promising stayer Hume can make a full recovery from a leg injury which threatens his racing future.
Hume, who was in work progressing towards the Brisbane winter carnival, sustained a tendon injury which will require a lengthy spell.
"It’s a strained tendon in his off-front leg but he should be able to race again," Smith said.
"I doubt he’ll be back for the spring and the longer we give him off the better."
The rising seven-year-old, who cost $22,000 at a Lloyd Williams dispersal sale, won the Group Three Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm in June.
The Zabeel gelding was then runner-up to Kiwi stayer Castle Heights in the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) in July which opened the door for Smith to send him interstate for the spring.
Hume had two starts in Sydney, finishing sixth in the Group Two Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill in September before failing on a heavy track when 15th to Speed Gifted in the Group One The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick in October.
Smith, who had Melbourne Cup dreams with Hume, sent him on to Victoria where he started three times.
His best effort was finishing second to subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Shocking in the Group Three Lexus Stakes over 2500m at Flemington, also in October.
Hume was sent home to spell for a winter campaign following his last-start fifth to Sterling Prince in the Group Three Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m) at Flemington in November.
Yeah the question is whether he goes for 2010 or 2011.
Just a word of warning – when they bought C’est La Guerre, they kept saying he wouldn’t be aimed at the 2008 Cup, that it was all preparation for 2009.
However, he ended up in the race, and ran an unlucky 3rd.
I’d be surprised if Linton wasn’t in the race, as he looks the most likely to end up at the race with Efficient. The other two Lloyd had aimed at the race last year won’t be running – well, C’est La Guerre might, but he’s back across the Tasman now. Zipping will most likely be retired at the end of this campaign.
You have to remember as well that Moatize had to qualify for 2008, he was pushed throughout that prep (and it was still effectively his first prep, as he started racing in February, ran in March, April, May, June, had a let up but came back to win a maiden in August, ran throughout September and October attempting to qualify, finally qualified 3 days before and I reckon he’d had enough).
If he had been in the 2009 race, he wouldn’t have won methinks. The pace was too slow. What he needs is to be further back than he was in 2008, but a similar sort of speed. It isn’t normally as slow as last year, but you never know.
P.S – Warringah had his first run today since his last in the Melbourne Cup. He ran 40 lengths last in a 2000m G3 at Randwick. Something’s not right there.
From a Melbourne Cup point today:
Shoot Out won the Randwick Guineas – may go to the AJC Derby, as he’s a High Chaparral, but I reckon Cox Plate would be the spring aim.
Rock Classic won the Australian Guineas (upsetting hot favourite Denman for Bart), I can’t see him heading that way, he looks more a sprinter-miler type, could possibly stretch to 2000m. Very promising though.
Zipping finally won a Group 1 at 8yo (after placing in two Cox Plates and running 4th in two Melbourne Cups). He beat Sirmione, who is no 3200m horse.
There were four brilliant Melbourne Cup runs, if you can have brilliant Melbourne Cup runs in March.
First was Moatize, who flew home in the Australian Cup and is now headed to Sydney for possibly the Ranvet, the BMW and the Sydney Cup. As you said Gerald, the only query is whether Bart can keep him injury-free. He should.
Second was Precedence, who I declared a certainty for the Sydney Cup before I saw Moatize’s run. He’s been gelded since his last campaign (where he showed promise but he was inconsistent). He’s a Zabeel, and he’ll run 3200m. And he’s trained by the master, Bart Cummings. His 7 length win over 2000m was scintillating, his turn of foot extraordinary.
Third was Linton, who ran 3rd in the Australian Guineas. It is only his first preparation, and he should improve as the distances increase. He flew home out wide at Flemington, and he has plenty of scope. He is now equal favourite for the Cup with Sportingbet.
Fourth was a lightly raced Zabeel 3yo named Zabrasive, who flew home in the Randwick Guineas. He is one of the nominal tips for the AJC Derby, and he is one you have to keep a big eye on.
Devastated, Our Aqaleem would have won the Australian Cup on Saturday I feel.
This year’s Auckland Cup was the worst in living memory. Many agree with me.
The only two horses I could see appearing in a Melbourne Cup were Zavite (again) and Passchendaele. One of them didn’t even run. Spin Around ran last year, but he isn’t the same horse.
The Adelaide Cup is also not a class race anymore, it has been downgraded from Group 1 status quite rightly and really it is probably of a Group 3 level.
The Sydney Cup is probably the only two mile race in Australia which could have any relevance to the Cup, and usually runners there are outclassed in a Melbourne Cup. There are exceptions though – Master O’Reilly has run 4th in two Melbourne Cups, and he finished closer to last than first in the Sydney Cup. Same with Newport, he finished a long last in the Sydney Cup yet has been 10th beaten 5L both times in the Melbourne Cup.
They are different styles of races, the Melbourne Cup requires more a 2800m horse.
In the last couple of years one of the better guides has been the Brisbane Cup, which is a hard run 2400m handicap.
Viewed won by 8L on a bog track in 2008, we’ve all seen what he’s done since.
Last year, Scenic Shot won the Cup with 60kg. While he didn’t embark on a Melbourne Cup mission (and he failed in it when he wasn’t going half as well) he ran 5th in the Cox Plate and won the Mackinnon Stakes.
Changingoftheguard died due to his gelding operation.
Our Aqaleem has basically broken a shoulder, but ain’t dead yet.
I was about to come here and say that – what bad luck for David Hayes. Two of the better imports and it is likely they’ll both be dead come the end of the day.
Not good!
The buildup to the Australian Derby begins this weekend with the rescheduled running of the Australian Guineas (Gr 1), and also the running of the Randwick Guineas (Gr 1), both over a mile. The logical progression is to either the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1) over a mile and a quarter in two weeks time, or the Tulloch Stakes (Gr 2) also over a mile and a quarter in three weeks time. Then the Derby is a week after the Tulloch.
Here is the Randwick Guineas field:
6-04.10 TURNPOINT ROYAL RANDWICK GUINEAS (1600 METRES)
Of $350000 and $2400 trophies. 1st $210000 and trophies of $1700 to owner $350 to trainer $350 to jockey, 2nd $66500, 3rd $33300, 4th $15800, 5th $8800, 6th $5200, 7th $5200, 8th $5200.
Starter Subsidy: $200 for non-prize earning runners.
For Three-Years-Old. Set Weights. (GROUP 1).
No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 20 + 4 EM
No Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Handicapper
Rating
1 KIDNAPPED Peter Snowden Joshua Parr 9 56.5 97
2 MONTON Tim Martin Jay Ford 16 56.5 95
3 HANKS Peter G Moody Damien Oliver 7 56.5 94
4 SHOOT OUT John Wallace Stathi Katsidis 5 56.5 94
5 MORE THAN GREAT David Payne Brad Pengelly 8 56.5 92
6 VIKING LEGEND Gai Waterhouse Brad Rawiller 1 56.5 92
7 CAPTAIN SONADOR Roger Milne Scott Seamer 6 56.5 88
8 DELAGO BOLT Gary Portelli Nathan Berry (a) 14 56.5 87
9 GATHERING John P Thompson Jim Cassidy 11 56.5 86
10 SIR HALLOWELL David Harrison Patrick Carbery 3 56.5 85
11 COSMOCRAT Mick Price Blake Shinn 10 56.5 75
12 SAINT ENCOSTA John P Thompson Tim Clark 13 56.5 73
13 ZABRASIVE (NZ) John O’Shea Hugh Bowman 15 56.5 69
14 THE COMEDIAN Lee Freedman Glyn Schofield 17 56.5 68
15 LEICESTER SQUARE Paul Messara Daniel Ganderton (a) 12 56.5 61
16 RUN FOR NAARA John P Thompson Chris Munce 4 54.5 88
17 INDIAN OCEAN Tim Martin Tye Angland 2 54.5 84Of these, Hanks, Shoot Out, Viking Legend, Gathering, Cosmocrat, Saint Encosta, Zabrasive, The Comedian and Leicester Square look the most likely Derby types. Run for Naara and Indian Ocean are fillies and will head to the Oaks.
As I described it yesterday to a friend, the Australian Guineas (featuring Denman, Rock Classic, maybe Hanks, Linton) tends to be more for horses who are established at Gr 1 level, whereas the Randwick Guineas is more for the up and coming types.
The Derby is vital though from a Melbourne Cup perspective, although it isn’t normally the best reference for a Melbourne Cup.
Since it was switched to our autumn in 1979, only one winner has placed in the Melbourne Cup in the same year as winning the Derby, and that was Our Paddy Boy in 1981. Only one other winner (a champion in Kingston Town) has placed in any subsequent Cup – he ran 2nd in 1982 to Gurner’s Lane, although he should have won.
Nevertheless, they are always thrown into the betting after they win, and normally stay there too.
Roman Emperor was 9-1 SP last year, he ran 21st. Nom Du Jeu was 7-1 in 2008, he ran 7th. Fiumicino did not run in 2007. Headturner started at 25-1, he finished down the track.
It will be interesting to see if this year is different.
Sorry for my rant, once I start I find it hard to stop.
Had my heart in my mouth when it looked like Sirmione could win, seeing as I’d said he had none.
His run was enormous though, he’s never done anything like that first up or over 7f before though.
Watch him when he gets to his favourite track and distance, probably in the Australian Cup (which he won in 2008 by 5L).
Also from yesterday, the Blue Diamond Stakes for 2yos became a lot clearer after dominant wins by first starter Psychologist (another Choisir filly) and expensive colt Beneteau (Redoute’s Choice colt).
I have to agree about Lloyd Williams, he has some nice types at the moment, he’s had two maidens who are being compared to Efficient at the same stage (names are
Linton
and
Bolton
). But his arrogance annoys me. There was an incident last year involving one of our racing channels, TVN, where one of the presenters criticised him because he refused to let the new trainer, Robert Hickmott, talk to the media. Instead, he said that they were only to talk to his son. Because of the criticism, he then told his son and jockey Michael Rodd not to talk to TVN when Zipping won his 3rd Sandown Classic. Ridiculous!!!!!
No one on here happens to be close to Her Majesty, do they? I think that would be truly something, to have her at our Cup!!!
Queen could attend Melbourne Cup
AAP
Everyone knows Queen Elizabeth is an avid horseracing fan, but will she come to Melbourne in November to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Melbourne Cup?
Victorian Racing Minister Rob Hulls on Tuesday refused to say whether or not the Queen had been invited to attend Australia’s premier horse race.
"I know that the Queen is a great racing fan, and I honestly don’t know whether or not she has any plans to come here," he told reporters.
Mr Hulls would not say whether Premier John Brumby extended an invitation during his meeting with the Queen at Balmoral last year.
Asked if she would be invited, Mr Hulls said: "I’m not going to pre-empt what may or may not occur in relation to who’s invited to the Cup.
"But I expect there will be a whole range of dignitaries from around the world who will be desperate to get to Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup."
Mr Hulls helped launch a calendar of events to celebrate the Melbourne Cup anniversary in the lead-up to the November race.
"It’s really Cup day every day throughout 2010," he said.
© 2010 AAP
Melbourne Cup legends inspire 150th anniversary celebrations
WILL BRODIE
February 2, 2010 – 2:49PMThe Victoria Racing Club has revealed the new design of the 2010 Melbourne Cup trophy as it launched celebrations of the great race’s 150th anniversary today.
Phar Lap is the inspiration for the 2010 trophy, with designers Hardy Brothers basing their design on the model won by the legendary horse in 1930.
Mark De Mestre, grandson of the first Melbourne Cup-winning owner/trainer Etienne De Mestre, presented the cup to VRC chairman Rod Fitzroy.
Cup-winning jockey Damien Oliver, trainer John Meagher and owner/breeder Lloyd Williams were also on hand to kick off the anniversary.
Events are planned throughout the year to mark the 150th anniversary of the race that stops the nation.
Prize money for the 2010 edition of the 3200 metre group one classic will top a record $6 million, cementing it as the world’s richest handicap. With equine flu fears abating, Japanese horses will compete for the first time since Delta Blues and Pop Rock were first and second in 2006.
The 150th year celebrations, supported by the State Government, will focus on the heritage of the great race, and its relevance to ordinary Australians.
But the international flavour of the modern race was evident at today’s event, with winning Irish trainer Dermot Weld and Japanese jockey Yasunari Iwata amongst those feted by host Bruce McAvaney and Deputy Premier and Racing Minister Rob Hulls.
The new Melbourne Cup trophy was modelled on the "three-handled loving cup" preferred by renowned master jeweller James Steeth, first presented to the owner of the 1919 winner Artilleryman, and used throughout the 1920s. It became one of the most recognisable trophies in world sport.
After 1930, the Great Depression forced the cup to be reduced in size, but turf historians contend that in 1953 and 1980 Phar Lap’s 1930 cup was presented to Wodalla and Beldale Ball respectively.
Etienne de Mestre received a hand-beaten gold watch as a trophy for winning the first Melbourne Cup with Archer, in 1861.
Eagle Falls definitely has a chance in the Newmarket, I think you’ve had a good investment. His win in the Salinger was great on VRC Derby Day.
I can tell you about Bart’s two – Sirmione has been a real enigma sort of horse, he only seems to peak when he gets 2000m at Flemington. For example, in the spring of 2008, he went really badly, and then he won the G1 Mackinnon Stakes at 80-1. Ran 12th in the Melbourne Cup 3 days later. Returned in better form, albeit not winning form, in the autumn of 2008. Came out and won the G1 Australian Cup over the same track and distance by 5 lengths. He was then out of form in the spring of 2008, but still managed an unlucky 3rd in the G1 Mackinnon again. Can’t have him on Saturday.
Moatize is an up and comer – don’t know if he still qualifies for that tag though. He had his first prep in the autumn of 2008, culminating in a 2nd in the Queensland Derby. He won his maiden at the country Victorian racecourse of Sale two months later, and then made it to the 2008 Melbourne Cup by winning the SAAB Quality 3 days earlier – he ran 6th. Thing is, his form last autumn was great at WFA. He was even favourite for the G1 The BMW at 2400m but he injured himself and hasn’t been seen since. He’s the smoky at massive odds.
It’s very likely to be the latter!!!
You seem to know a lot about Aussie racing, you would know that before last weekend he was doing very poorly.
Orr Stakes nominations:
6- C.F. ORR STAKES (1400 METRES)
Of $400000 and $2000 trophy. 1st $240000 and trophy of $2000, 2nd $72000, 3rd $36000, 4th $18000, 5th $10000, 6th $8000, 7th $8000, 8th $8000.
Standard Weight for Age. (GROUP 1).
No Allowances for apprentices.
No Horse Trainer Handicapper
Rating
1 CANNONBALL (USA) Wesley Ward 107
2 CARRARA Tony Vasil 103
3 DANZYLUM Robbie Griffiths 100
4 DENMAN Peter Snowden 108
5 HEART OF DREAMS Mick Price 113
6 LA ROCKET Dale Sutton 97
7 LITTORIO Nigel Blackiston 107
8 MASTER O’REILLY (NZ) Danny O’Brien 110
9 MISS MAREN (NZ) Mick Price 107
10 MOATIZE Bart Cummings 103
11 O’LONHRO Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 104
12 RAFFAELLO Jim Marconi 104
13 SHOCKING Mark Kavanagh 115
14 SIRMIONE Bart Cummings 112
15 SNIPER’S BULLET Tracey Bartley 116
16 SUBTLE COVE Wayne Wilkes 89
17 TYPHOON TRACY Peter G Moody 116
18 VIEWED Bart Cummings 119
19 WORK THE ROOM Colin Little 72
20 ZIPPING Robert Hickmott 115In regards to David Hayes’ 2yo’s this weekend, he has the following:
Gigstar
– Testa Rossa colt, it’s not a prolific family but the dam is the half to the Group 3 winner Armidale. No trial form.
In Faith
– Keep the Faith colt, and once again not a fashionable family. This one was very impressive on debut at Morphettville in Adelaide though, albeit in poor time.
Jalsah
– Elusive Quality filly, not sure about her. Not a great family, but is coming off two Morphettville runs, the second of those a victory over subsequent winner Obsidian Dragon.
Legalistic
– I’m expecting this is the one you may have heard about, a colt by our champion sire Encosta De Lago and the first foal from Group 1 placegetter Legally Bay. No trial form, but should be very competitive.
Thought some of you might be interested in this, this was a question that I asked of Racenet’s Dallas Baker.
Question of the Day – where are the imports?
Dallas Baker
Monday, 1 February 2010The David Hayes-trained Our Aqaleem burst onto the Australian racing scene on Saturday and he is one of a strong contingent of imported horses in Australia with their progress the subject of Racenet’s question of the day.
Racenet reader Andrew Hawkins has asked about imports now under the care of trainers Lee Freedman, Robert Hickmott from the Lloyd Williams-owned Macedon Lodge and David Hayes.
In addition to Our Aqaleem, Hayes has Changingoftheguard which was sensationally scratched on the morning of last year’s Melbourne Cup, prompting a furious reaction from the trainer.
“Our Aqaleem will head towards the Australian Cup, most likely at his next start,” Hayes’s stable manager Gary Fennessy said.
“Changingoftheguard arrives from Lindsay Park tonight and will only have a couple of runs, possibly starting in the St George Stakes at Caulfield on February 20, with the focus on setting him for year’s Melbourne Cup.”
Macedon Lodge has two former UK stars in training, Alandi (pictured above winning the Irish St Leger – photo – http://www.sportsfile.com), winner of back-to-back Group I races, the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp and the Irish St Leger, as well as Irish Derby placegetter Mourayan.
“They are absolutely fantastic,” part-owner Nick Williams said.
“Both have been in work since the middle of January and will follow our usual path of having a run this preparation then being set for the spring.
“Expect to see them from late April to mid May.”
Doctor Fremantle, pictured right, is the winner of a Group II event and three Group III races in the UK and arrived at Lee Freedman’s Markdel property on New Year’s Day.
“He’s settled in beautifully, we are delighted with him,” Freedman’s racing manager Sam Pritchard-Gordon said.
“He’ll have a light autumn preparation of one or two starts at weight-for-age and then be set for the spring with the Cox Plate being his ultimate goal all going well.”
The stable had success last year with Speed Gifted and has two additional UK gallopers trained by Freedman to hopefully fly the flag in this year’s Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Owned by the Ball and Chain Syndicate, Above Average and Fanjura are “two to three weeks behind Doctor Fremantle” but will follow a similar campaign to Speed Gifted last year, having one or two runs this preparation before being set for the spring.
On Speed Gifted, Pritchard-Gordon reported “he is absolutely flying” and set to resume in the St George Stakes.
