Guineas On Radar For Revolving Door

Friday, 26 August 2016 08:05

If Revolving Door can win one of the feature races at Caulfield this spring, there will no doubt be some excited senior Melbourne Racing Club officials.

The ownership group in the Clinton McDonald-trained colt includes MRC chairman Mike Symons, chief executive Brodie Arnhold, treasurer Domenic Romanelli and committee member Roger Donazzan as well as other stable clients of McDonald.

Revolving Door lines up in Saturday's Group Three McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield with connections hoping to follow a path to the Group One Caulfield Guineas in October.

McDonald rated Revolving Door's sixth in the Vain Stakes as good as any other performance in the race given the three-year-old was forced to cover ground on the turn.

"He had the toughest run. He looked the winner and then just blew out with 100 metres to go," McDonald said.

McDonald said Revolving Door had trained on well with more improvement to come as he got deeper into his campaign.

The colt has barrier 10 on Saturday.

"We haven't drawn favourably again, so we'll be going back and letting him run home his last 400 metres of the race," McDonald said.

Revolving Door was fourth in the Blue Diamond Prelude on debut in February before beating Seaburge at Sandown at his second start.

His juvenile campaign culminated in a third in the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes.

McDonald said Revolving Door had always shown ability, and the colt's performances so far suggested he could measure up this spring.

"We're training him to be peaking hopefully on Caulfield Guineas day," McDonald said.

"We think he'll run a really strong mile and we're really happy with him.

"He's probably going to be giving a few of the other runners a bit of a head start on Saturday. It's going to come down to tempo I suppose, how quick they go up front and whether you're able to make up that ground.

"But he'll be hitting the line pretty strong."

Coffey Proud To Ride Cup Winner In Memsie

Thursday, 25 August 2016 08:10

Harry Coffey says he is proud to be chosen to ride Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance in his return at Caulfield.

Prince Of Penzance starts his build-up to this year's Cup in Saturday's Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m).

Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne is still weeks away from a return following a fall in May while Coffey is not long back from a stint in hospital for what he calls a tune-up before the spring carnival.

He suffers cystic fibrosis, a condition that affects the lungs and digestive system, and every four to six months he goes to hospital for five days and has another five days at home on antibiotics.

"I tried to judge it so that if I got a couple of opportunities over the spring, which it looks like I'm going to, I'd be available," Coffey said.

"My health's very good at the moment and it's easy to have good health when you're riding these good horses, but it has to be.

"When you're riding against the best you have to be at your best."

The ride on Prince Of Penzance will be Coffey's third at Group One level and he says he's thankful for trainer Darren Weir's support.

He says it's a big thrill to be on a Melbourne Cup winner but noted there's also a lot of trust.

"I suppose it's a big deal, but you know the horses, you've been riding them in trackwork and once you get on their backs you settle down and let it all unfold," Coffey said.

"He's a Melbourne Cup-winning horse and there's a lot of trust in you to get the horse around and get him back safe and sound.

"I'm very grateful for that and proud to be chosen to do it."

Prince Of Penzance, who has had one run since the Cup for second in a Group Three race at Morphettville in May, is one of four runners Weir will saddle in the Group One race.

He has $2.60 favourite Black Heart Bart, Mahuta ($6) and Palentino ($6.50) while Prince Of Penzance has been specked from $41 to $31.

"He's going really well but it's a good sharp race for him first-up," Coffey said.

"He did run really well first-up in Adelaide but the best thing is it's exciting to have him back at the track."

Ratcliff Aims For Repeat Highway Party

Friday, 26 August 2016 08:05

Barry Ratcliff made sure he fully enjoyed Beside You's first city win and he is hitting the road again to try to repeat the feat.

The Kempsey trainer said the best of his eight horses made a better recovery than he did after a night of post-race revelry in Sydney after Beside You won the Highway race at Rosehill on August 13.

"I tell you what, I didn't come good till Tuesday," the Kempsey-based Ratcliff said.

The talented Beside You won her third race from as many starts last time and Ratcliff celebrated with Kempsey locals who made the trip to see her kick home at $9.

"The young blokes I was with can go all night. They led me astray," Ratcliff said.

The filly is shooting for back-to-back Highway wins in the 1100m handicap at Rosehill on Saturday.

Ratcliff isn't worried by a wet track.

"I don't think that will affect her too much, I just hope the other ones don't like it," Ratcliff said.

"She had a good blow-out on Tuesday here so she's polished and ready to head to Sydney on Friday morning."

Win or lose, Beside You will be off to the spelling paddock after Saturday with Ratcliff planning the three-year-old's return to take on the Country Championship series next year.

He is buoyed by the prospect of her being low in the weights for those races as she will be on Saturday when she will carry 53kg.

Ratcliff will have two runners at Rosehill, with Malleable also joining the travelling party on a one-week back-up from an unplaced finish in the Taree Cup.

"He's a bit of company for her," Ratcliff said.

"There's only eight in it so he'll be competitive and if he get's beat he won't get beat that far."

"Put it this way, you pick up 1000 bucks anyway for running eighth, so he could pay for the hotel and the grog."

Ratcliff revealed his dedicated staff eventually called time on the celebrations after Beside You's win.

"I'd like to thank all of my staff for helping me out with the horse, putting up with me and putting me to bed," Ratcliff said.

El Divino Out To Make More Family History

Thursday, 25 August 2016 08:10

In a sport rich with dynasties, a new lineage is looming as Australian racing's next star-studded family.

Winx confirmed her status as the undisputed superstar of the turf by returning to the track to win the Warwick Stakes at Randwick in breathtaking fashion.

Her younger half-brother El Divino has his chance to prove he is a top level contender in the Group Two Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

With Winx racing on alternate Saturdays, the pair, who are both out of Vegas Showgirl, could get the chance for Group One wins in successive weeks.

El Divino will race in the Golden Rose a week before Winx returns to elite-level racing in the George Main Stakes on September 17.

The colt's most recent barrier trial was on a heavy Kensington track at Randwick with jockey Hugh Bowman describing the ground as dreadful.

El Divino likely to get another heavy track at Rosehill, but co-trainer Adrian Bott believes he will handle it.

"He wasn't entirely comfortable in the trials the other day on the Kensington track but he can get through it," Bott said.

El Divino thrashed his rivals on a heavy track at Gosford on debut, before sharing first prize with Astern in the Group Three Kindergarten Stakes on soft ground Randwick in April.

Gai Waterhouse rates El Divino among the best three-year-old colts she has ever trained.

Bott said in four years with the stable he had been privileged to be involved with young stars like Pierro and Vancouver.

"I've been only with Gai for a relatively short time but I've seen some incredible colts in that time," Bott said.

"He's a colt that keeps improving and he's shown those early signs initially, so hopefully he's every bit a special colt as the others."

Waterhouse and Bott also train the youngest and most expensive family member, El Divino's $2.3 million as yet unnamed full-brother.

"He's a little bit of a different type to El Divino," Bott said.

"He has a bit more scope, quite a leggier individual.

"He may not be as early as what we saw El Divino but he's been through the stable a couple of times now and he's a beautiful mover."

Ross Hoping For Total Authority At Doomben

Friday, 26 August 2016 08:05

As would be expected from a more than handy boxer Les Ross has climbed off the canvas to be back in business in the Brisbane training ranks.

Ross, who is still a member of a Brisbane boxing club, recently split with his biggest owner Mick Crooks after a highly successful partnership.

"I had a bit of a lean spot and Mick wanted to try something different," Ross said.

The Eagle Farm trainer has been in top form with six winners in the past four weeks including a double at Caloundra last Sunday.

"Things have been going OK in recent times and I hope it continues. In this business you have to take wins when they come," Ross said.

"I've got some nice horses including River Racer who is pretty handy."

One of the mainstays of Ross's stable has been six-year-old mare Total Authority in the Jim Beam Open (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.

"She was a good third at Doomben in an open handicap behind some handy horses and then won well in restricted class at Eagle Farm," Ross said.

"The thing about her is she can get out and make her own luck."

Total Authority is raced by her breeder Eugene Nolan who will eventually also breed from the mare and Ross would love to add to her stud value with an Open win.

Flamboyer is edging Total Authority for favouritism with his trainer Kelly Doughty hoping to get him to next month's Group Three Cameron Handicap at Newcastle.

Flamboyer won his first two starts back from a spell and has been far from disgraced with a recent fourth at 1600m and a third over 1400m at Eagle Farm.

"If he races well on Saturday we will head to the Cameron otherwise he could be ready for a break," Doughty said.

Nolan also bred and races another of Ross's horses, Dandy One, a last-start Caloundra winner, who will contest the Coke Zero Plate (1350m).

"Dandy One has always shown potential and he was an easy winner last Sunday so he can back up here," Ross sad.

Ross has 16 horses in work which he says is manageable.

"But I have 20 boxes so there is always room for another good one," Ross said.

Black Jag Racing For New Trainer

Thursday, 25 August 2016 08:10

Trevor Whittington will saddle new stable recruit Black Jag for the first time at Doomben where he hopes the eight-year-old can regain winning form.

Black Jag began his career in Queensland with Peter Hulbert before he was sent to Chris Waller in Sydney four years ago.

The gelding more than held his own in the south and has now won 10 races and more than $600,000 prize money.

Black Jag had his final run for Waller when third at Eagle Farm in a 2200m-open handicap last Saturday week and was then transferred to Trevor Whittington on the Gold Coast.

Whittington said Black Jag had settled in well and he expected him to run accordingly in the Coke Hcp (2000m) at Doomben.

"Mark Timms who heads the syndicate has another horse with me and decided it was time Black Jag headed north full time," Whittington said.

"He is starting to struggle a bit in Sydney and it was felt he would be better suited here."

Whittington said there were plenty of races in Queensland for Black Jag in the 2000 to 2200m range.

"He is honest and while he doesn't want it too heavy he can handle softish tracks. If he doesn't measure up here he will probably be retired," he said.

Whittington said Black Jag had earned his 59kg in Saturday's race and he had booked in-form apprentice Josh Oliver who claims three kilograms.

"He doesn't look harshly treated on his best form with 56kg after the claim," Whittington said.

Whittington will also have recent Ipswich winner Gracefully Chic in the Cascade Three-Year-Old Hcp (1110m) with Jason Taylor to ride.

The trainer has a big opinion of the filly but is worried by her wide barrier (13) on Saturday.

A former jockey in New Zealand, Whittington only has a small team in his Gold Coast stable but has a reputation for producing smart horses including the stakes winning staying mare Femina Fashion and smart sprinter Golden Fox.

Maurus To Step Out For Smerdon Stable

Friday, 26 August 2016 08:05

Ipswich Cup winner Maurus has only been in trainer Robert Smerdon's care for a short time, but he has made an immediate impression.

The six-year-old gelding, formerly trained by David Vandyke, makes his debut for the Smerdon stable in Saturday's Catanach's Jewellers Handicap over an unsuitable 1400m at Caulfield.

It will be his first start since being beaten as odds-on favourite in the Caloundra Cup (2400m) in early July.

Smerdon said the gelding had a few weeks off after his Queensland campaign and started building up for his spring preparation at his owner Paul Fudge's property before heading down to the trainer's Caulfield stable.

"What we've seen of him, it's not hard to be impressed," Smerdon said.

"He's a very good-winded horse. When he does a bit of work he pulls up like it's no effort to him. I'm looking forward to taking him to the races on Saturday and seeing what he can do.

"He won the Ipswich Cup in a canter. He put a big gap on them.

"He's failed twice at 2400 metres but he's got a good record around 2000 metres and a bit beyond 2000.

"He's resuming and we're still learning about him. He'd have some residual fitness but I would have thought he would need further than the 1400 metres."

Maurus is nominated for spring features, including the Caulfield Cup, but whether he can run a strong 2400m remains a query having been beaten twice over the distance in The Metropolitan and the Caloundra Cup.

"It is a bit of a worry," Smerdon said.

"He was so strong at the end of 2150 metres in the Ipswich Cup, it's hard to imagine he wouldn't run another furlong (200m).

"We'll just play it by ear. We haven't set any specific aims for him just yet."

Stradbroke Winner To Resume At Caulfield

Thursday, 25 August 2016 08:10

Stradbroke Handicap winner Under The Louvre will follow a familiar spring path in a bid to add another Group One victory to his record.

After considering their options, connections of Under The Louvre decided to start his campaign in Saturday's Group Three Resimax Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

It will be his first race since the Stradbroke in Brisbane in June.

Under the Louvre

"We were looking at options for him because he's going to go through to the Rupert Clarke as he did last year," trainer Robert Smerdon said.

"That's a Group One option for him in two runs time. There's a Group Three on Saturday then a Group Two down the straight in a couple of weeks and then into the Rupert Clarke."

Under The Louvre contested the same three races at the start of his 2015 spring campaign, finishing fifth in the 1100m event, second in the Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington and a close third in the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

"If his form warrants it, a month after that he could go to the Manikato Stakes," Smerdon said.

After the Stradbroke, Under The Louvre had a short break in Queensland.

"I can't fault him. He's as good as he's been," Smerdon said.

"He had three weeks in the sun up there and then came back and he's done plenty of work for a first-up run.

"So he goes there fit and well and we're expecting him to be super competitive."

Nick Hall reunites with Under The Louvre on Saturday with Stradbroke-winning rider Dwayne Dunn to ride Santa Ana Lane.

Smerdon said Dunn took the ride before connections of Under The Louvre decided to run him at Caulfield.

Hall has ridden Under The Louvre seven times for two wins and five placings.

David Vs Goliath Battle In Premier's Cup

Thursday, 25 August 2016 08:10

A trio of underdogs will aim to upset NSW's power stables in the Listed Premier's Cup.

Jim Litt's small family operation trains Song And Laughter, a $21 hope.

Former rodeo rider Shannon Fry is confident Sofin, one of two horses in his Bowraville stable, has a winning chance at $26.

Rank outsider Loud Debate is $101. The Paul Cave-trained six-year-old is coming off five unplaced efforts this preparation.

They are pitted against premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller, who has Loophole, Sacred Master and Junoob entered, and Godolphin's Group One winner Magic Hurricane and last-start winner Allergic.

Kris Lees, the state's most winning trainer based outside of Sydney, has Newcastle Cup-bound import Singing and Sense Of Occasion both having their second runs for the stable.

And James Cummings is confident Ruling Dynasty will thrive stepping up from 1400 to 1900 metres.

Allergic is the $3.20 favourite to win the Premier's Cup after an easy win in the Prelude at Rosehill on August 13.

"His win second-up was fairly soft in the end," Godolphin trainer John O'Shea said.

"He got into a nice spot, he showed a nice turn of foot and he's drawn to get a good run again."

His stablemate Magic Hurricane won the race last year but carries seven extra kilograms after his Group One Metropolitan Handicap victory in the same preparation.

"He's trimmed up and he's in the right shape for a horse who has a long spring ahead of him," O'Shea said.

Waller said the race was well within Loophole's reach.

"He's a very consistent horse one step away from the Group horses," Waller said.

He said he was doubtful Junoob would start on a heavy track and has some concerns about running Sacred Master on a very wet surface as he heads towards the Group Three Newcastle Cup.

"Sacred Master is probably looking for a bit further than 1900 metres so as long as he's steadily building into the race we'll be happy," Waller said.

Singing is $4.20 second favourite after he was defeated by Song And Laughter on a heavy track at Canterbury at his first Australian start.

Currie With Good Book Of Caulfield Rides

Thursday, 25 August 2016 08:10

Luke Currie heads to Caulfield with a book of rides he hopes can deliver him a successful start to the carnival at the first Group One meeting of the season.

Currie has rides in the five stakes races on Saturday, three for trainer Tony McEvoy including Alpine Eagle in the Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m).

He also partners Shiraz in a Group Three sprint and Don't Doubt Mamma in the Cockram Stakes (1200m).

Currie continues his association with the Terry and Karina O'Sullivan-trained Magnapal who will be chasing his second-straight Heatherlie Stakes, while he also rides Kinetic Design in the McNeil Stakes for trainer Stuart Webb.

"It would be nice to have a bit of luck and have a good day to get the ball rolling for spring," Currie said.

Currie's 2015/16 season was highlighted by his Group One win aboard Suavito in the C F Orr Stakes in February.

He hasn't ridden Alpine Eagle in a race but partnered the horse in a barrier trial last week.

"He's very forward," Currie said.

"He might have matured a little bit as a racehorse. Obviously it's a tough race and Tony is looking forward with him, but I think he's definitely forward enough to run a big race."

Currie is hoping for better luck on Shiraz than he had in the Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley last week when the sprinter was unplaced after getting held up in the straight.

"He just didn't get a crack at them at all," Currie said.

"You would have to say off his last run that he would be very hard to beat and he should back up because he wasn't tested at all last Saturday.

"He gave me a good feel and I was really disappointed, especially for the owners, that he couldn't get a crack at them because I thought he would have given (winner) Heatherly a shake."