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Still looking for another thread.
Must admit, that Group Ones ain’t my glass of tea, and I still haven’t had a bet.
Going back to the winter, glad that Joshua(‘s) Tree made an encouraging comeback, and that is probably the one I’ll go for on the day.
Found it. Not as definite and positve as had got ingrained in my brain. Another score down the drain.
RACING NEWS
William Knight could not be happier with Illustrious Blue.
The Goodwood specialist has been given a new lease of life this season stepped up in trip, so much so that connections are leaning towards a tilt at the Melbourne Cup.
"He came out of Goodwood very well and we just hope there’s isn’t too much rain," said Knight.
"He’s bouncing, I’ve never really known him better.
"He looks fantastic and is moving well. And while we are shouldering a penalty, there are not that many races for him so it is the obvious race for him.
"The Melbourne Cup is still very much a strong possibility but there are still various things in the melting pot and there is the question of whether we go for the Caulfield Cup beforehand.
"To be honest, we are moving more towards going straight for the big one because it’s the chance of a lifetime – it’s fantastic prize-money and the owners are considering it very seriously."
I’m not an expert, and this is just a personal opinion, but I’ve never been convinced that King of Wands would come down.
Illustrious Blue finished the race off well, after being outpaced 1-2 furlongs earlier.
There was an item on him yesterday on the sportinglife site (or maybe attheraces), which convinced me to have a bet on him at 160. [Concentrating on horses that I think will be in the final field.]
Can’t find it anymore.
Knight said that the owners were onside (and him), and if he ran well in the Lonsdale, the passage was booked.
As he finished the race well, though was well beaten earlier in the race, would that mean they’d give it a go, as they ought to get their money back by finishing in the first 10?
Suroor says that Darley Sun has lost his confidence. Not too sure I’d run a horse in a 20 runner h’cap if that was the case.
Anyway, they’re the experts, and we’re learning off them.
Cumani’s Stable Tour in today’s Weekender:-
No mention of Bauer.
Becqu Adoree
She was a Listed winner in France before joining us. She has had four runs for us and showed improved form last time out in a Listed race at Newbury over 1m4f. She has an entry in the Galtres at York on Thursday [not accepted] but may miss that and wait for next week at Goodwood where there is a Listed fillies’ race. I am pleased with her progress.
Drunken Sailor
http://www.theracingforum.co.uk/horse-racing-forum/chat/img/emoticons/favorite.png
He came to me this year and won two races at Meydan. In England he has acquitted himself very well in three races, including coming second in the Northumberland Plate. However, his mark of 112 is too high for the Ebor and he will now run in the March Stakes at Goodwood later this month before going into quarantine for the Melbourne Cup. I have had two runners-up in this race in the last three years and I would say he is the right type, we just need a lot of luck along the way.Manighar
He really excelled with some give underfoot in France, where he won the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp on Arc weekend before joining me. He’s still a bit of a puzzle to us but it’s possible the ground has been too quick for him in his three runs so far. We are waiting for softer ground now and hope that is the key to him.
Man Of Iron
He is an exeptionally well bred colt who won the Breeders’ Cup Marathon on Polytrack last year at Santa Anita. He came to me this year and ran a pleasing debut at Newmarket, but was a little disappointing last time. We are giving him a break and starting over again, but he’ll miss the Breeders’ Cup as i don’t think he would act on dirt.
Presvis
He has been a remarkable horse for us, winning eight races including the QEII Cup at Sha Tin last year. The only poorish run he has put in recently was at Royal Ascot in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, but he had been on the go for a long time and in retrospect needed a break. He has enjoyed his summer holidays [ffs, he’s been cavorting with chasers] and he is back now. The plan will be very similar to last year in that he will go to Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore, but he will probably have one or two runs in England. The Champion Stakes is a possibility.
Purple Moon
. . . Last time in the Goodwood Cup he was hampered at a key time.
Sadly he picked up an injury there and is out for the rest of the season.
Summit Surge
He came to me from Ger Lyons and won the Group 2 York Stakes from Bushman, who is a fair yardstick , on his first run for us in Britain. He relishes quick ground and he goes for the Arlington Million this weekend. He doesn’t have the credentials of my 1983 winner Tolomeo [round about when Big Buck’s was born??] , but he is in excellent form, is tough and consistent, and the trip of 1m2f is perfect. I’m very happy with him.
Going off-thread, I’m thinking the bet of the meeting is Opinion Poll in the Lonsdale.
Got home a few minutes ago, and I was too busy sending an email to the Victorian handicapper to get my bet on.
Yeah, I’m about the only one whining, and my whining has got nothing at all to do with Rip Van Winkle, and I was whining about the owner having to pay a £50,000 supplementary fee before the race as well.
Yeah well, the owner has paid £50,000 to find out that the trainer should have run him in the Jacques le Marois.
Had minimal bets. (Therefore big prices, so you can guess what on.)
Two or three people have now asked how the race will be run. My guess, given that Frankie is on board, is that Cavalryman will make the running.
Darley Sun has been declared for the Ebor, so there can’t be too much wrong with it. I’ve stepped in and taken the £9.15@480 for November.
Cormack, there was a final standing for the ‘Big Races’ section, underneath the one you’ve taken. Seven Towers won.
No, its okay wallace, you might still have an excuse if the ground is too Soft. (Not saying it will be.)
Monday, 16 August 2010
By Warwick BarrSydney stayer Zabrasive will travel to Melbourne on Monday night as planned to signal the countdown to the start of a Cups campaign.
John O’Shea, yet to train a Caulfield or Melbourne Cup runner, said the Rosehill Guineas winner was ready to resume in Saturday week’s Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
"It’s all systems go for Zabrasive," O’Shea said.
Zabrasive will renew acquaintances in the Memsie, a 1400-metre weight-for-age race, with Australia’s boom galloper Shoot Out.
They clashed three times during the Sydney autumn carnival with Shoot Out holding a 2-1 edge courtesy of his Randwick Guineas and AJC Australian Derby wins.
However, Zabrasive momentarily grabbed autumn three-year-old bragging rights with his heart-stopping Rosehill Guineas win before running fourth in the Derby.
The Derby was Zabrasive’s fourth run in and O’Shea is relying on the same timing to bring a lucrative spring result.
"He’ll only want three runs into the Caulfield Cup," the Randwick trainer said.
The Underwood Stakes and the Turnbull Stakes, run over 1800 and 2000 metres respectively, will round out Zabrasive’s Caulfield Cup lead-up program.
Zabrasive occupies the fourth line of Caulfield Cup betting at $16 while he is a $21 chance in early Melbourne Cup betting.
A son of Zabeel, Zabrasive surprised O’Shea with his sharpness as he went to the line under restraint when placed in an 850-metre Randwick barrier trial on August 6.
Craig Newitt will have the Memsie ride as he reunites with O’Shea after they combined to win this year’s Sydney Cup with Jessicabeel.
Jessicabeel, an $18 chance in latest Melbourne Cup betting, is expected to resume in the Tramway Handicap at Randwick early next month.
Monday, 16 August 2010
By Warwick BarrMetal Bender and Triple Honour, two horses central to trainer Chris Waller’s major spring plans, are ready to open their campaigns after competing in separate barrier trials.
After watching them go through their paces at Warwick Farm on Monday morning, Waller declared both horses on target to resume when Saturday racing returns to the outer Sydney track this week.
Metal Bender went to the line under a tight grip from jockey Tim Clark and, similarly, Triple Honour was unextended in his heat.
"It’s just what I was looking for," Waller said.
Waller said while it wouldn’t be an ideal scenario, he was almost certain to have three runners in the $175,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m).
"It’s a shame they all have to clash. It’s not perfect for a trainer but there are owners to consider," he said.
"I’ve nominated Triple Honour for the Show County just to keep some options open."
Stablemate Danleigh joins Metal Bender and Triple Honour as Warwick Stakes entries with Hugh Bowman, who won last season’s George Ryder Stakes on the sprinter-miler, continuing his association with the seven-year-old.
Bowman rode Metal Bender when the three-time Group One winner won a recent Rosehill trial.
He was also in the saddle when the five-year-old won the Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast earlier this year but Clark takes over on Saturday.
Metal Bender was originally pencilled in for a 1200-metre trial but a postponement from Thursday forced Waller to tweak the galloper’s Warwick Stakes lead-up.
Metal Bender lined up over 800 metres and finished at the rear of a seven-horse heat won by McClintock.
Waller said there was no need to give the Doomben Cup winner additional gallops during the week.
"That’s it now," he said. "If we hadn’t have come to the trials today he would have had a hard gallop on Tuesday.
"Then more than likely he would have galloped hard again on Thursday.
"Trackwork can be just as hard on a horse so I was happy to come here today and keep him up to the mark."
Veteran jockey Jim Cassidy, meanwhile, has a Warwick Stakes booking for Triple Honour.
Triple Honour was on the wrong end of the three-way finish in the Doomben Cup before winning the Eagle Farm Cup at his most recent start.
The six-year-old is on a Caulfield Cup trail while a firm spring target for Metal Bender won’t be finalised until after next month’s Group One Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.
Underwood Stakes day on September 18 is likely to be the first Melbourne meeting Waller will target during the spring with Stryker, another trialist on Monday nominated to resume on Saturday, being set for the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
There were 20 Warwick Stakes nominations when entries closed with Gai Waterhouse matching Waller in the numbers game.
Evergreen weight-for-age galloper Theseo heads the Tulloch Lodge entry which also includes AJC Australian Derby placegetter Descarado.
