Sofia Rosa To Resume In G1 Memsie

Monday, 22 August 2016 08:27

Oaks winner Sofia Rosa begins her Caulfield Cup campaign in the first Australian Group One race of the season and trainer Stephen Marsh believes she can make an immediate impact.

This year's ATC Australian Oaks winner pleased Marsh and race jockey Michael Walker in a jump-out at Flemington on Friday ahead of her season return.

Marsh is excited about the four-race campaign he has mapped out beginning with Saturday's Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

"She hasn't really turned in the coat yet but I think just the way she's coming up she might go a little bit better than expected in the Memsie," Marsh said.

"I certainly don't expect her to win or anything like that but I do think she'll be hitting the line as good as any, and I think she might just go that little bit sharper than what we probably thought originally.

"She's not just a dour staying horse. She still has a good turn of foot and I think you might see that on Saturday."

Marsh said Sofia Rosa had strengthened since her Oaks win in Sydney in April.

"I also think she's a lot more mature mentally which again she had to be, because she can be a bit temperamental," he said.

Walker doesn't think the 1400m will be too short.

"Not on the way she trialled," he said.

The Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and Turnbull Stakes (2000m) are also on Sofia Rosa's program leading to her main target.

"All going well and if she keeps progressing we'll definitely have a crack at the Caulfield Cup," Marsh said.

And while the Caulfield Cup is the aim, Marsh hasn't ruled out switching to the Cox Plate.

The New Zealand trainer says it's exciting having Sofia Rosa heading to spring features in Melbourne.

"We love bringing horses to Australia and it's just great when you've got a horse up to it and worthy of having a crack against the best," Marsh said.

Retired Trainer Paul Sutherland Has Died

Monday, 22 August 2016 08:27

Former leading Sydney trainer Paul Sutherland has died in Queensland, aged 71, after a short illness.

Sutherland was at his peak in the 1980s and 1990s with horses such as the champion Red Anchor (later trained by Tommy Smith), the Epsom winner Sound Horizon, weight-for-age star Wong and smart sprinter Royal Troubador.

He finished second to Brian Mayfield Smith in the 1986-87 Sydney premiership.

He quit Sydney racing in 2008, moving to Beerwah, near the Sunshine Coast, where he had a few runners until retiring full-time recently.

Bernadette Cooper, a former jockey and now Sky Channel commentator, said Sutherland had taken ill last week and died in hospital on Monday.

"I had a lot of luck with Paul when I rode for him in Brisbane and Sydney. One of my Group wins for him was aboard his horse The Man in the JRA Cup," Cooper said.

"Paul always stuck by me and he should be remembered as one of the top trainers of the past 50 years."

Sutherland is survived by his partner, Libby, son Steven and daughter Katherine.

His former wife Sue said Sutherland had recently enjoyed becoming a grandfather.

"Our daughter Katherine has just had a baby boy (Sean) and Paul was ecstatic about his new grandson," she said.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys said Sutherland would be remembered for his character as well as his training skills.

"Paul was a loveable character with a great sense of humour and extremely popular amongst his peers," V'landys said.

Sutherland's funeral will be held at the Sunshine Coast with details expected to be finalised on Tuesday.

NOTABLE HORSES TRAINED BY PAUL SUTHERLAND

* Epsom Handicap winner Sound Horizon

* Red Anchor

* Tross

* Royal Troubador

* Wong

Thames Court To Step Out In Cockram Stakes

Monday, 22 August 2016 08:27

Group One-winning trainer David Brideoake has high hopes for Thames Court who is set to make her return in the Cockram Stakes at Caulfield.

Thames Court won the Group Three Alexandra Stakes at Moonee Valley during autumn before jarring up when last in the Laelia Stakes in Adelaide in April.

Brideoake said Thames Court had had a trouble free preparation leading into Saturday's Group Three 1200m-race for mares and had performed well in two jump-outs.

"She goes into the race in pretty good shape. It's traditionally a very good race though," Brideoake said.

Brideoake is looking to give Thames Court her chance in feature mares' races this spring while longer-term he believes she will be suited in Sydney next autumn.

"I think what she's shown me, we've got a serious chance of a very high quality mare as we go forward," Brideoake said.

"Those sorts of races like the Myer Classic and the Coolmore Classic, as time goes on, are probably within this mare's grasp."

The Cockram Stakes has 25 nominations with Miss Promiscuity the highest-rated entry.

"We'll kick off in the Cockram and we'll feel our way, with probably the mares' race on Cox Plate day - the Tesio Stakes - or the Myer depending on how firm Flemington turns up to be," Brideoake said .

He said he would prefer not to run Thames Court on hard ground.

"We're content to take a few shots at some nice races through the spring and whatever comes out of it, her autumn will be good," he said.

"She's certainly improved since last preparation."

Thames Court's elder half-sister Our Harmony is ready to resume on Saturday but Brideoake is undecided whether that will be in a benchmark race at Caulfield or at Rosehill.

Winx's Stablemates Looking For Limelight

Sunday, 21 August 2016 08:20

While Winx is now the horse by which all others are measured, several of her stablemates are gearing up for their share of the limelight.

Trainer Chris Waller had his first stakes runners of the season at Randwick on Saturday with Omei Sword's Silver Shadow win stamping her as a future Group One performer.

Her victory came a couple of races before Winx toyed with her rivals in her triumphant return, extending her winning streak to 10.

Tsaritsa

Winx was responsible for five of Waller's haul of 15 Group One wins last season and Tsaritsa and Mackintosh will try to emulate her 2015 spring, going to the Theo Marks Stakes first-up and then to the Epsom Handicap.

"They both raced in Queensland during their carnival so they will start a bit later after having a break," Waller said.

"It's a big ask to think either of them could do what Winx did but that's the way their programs are.

"After the Epsom we will look at other targets."

Winx went from the Epsom to the Cox Plate and while Mackintosh and Tsaritsa are nominated, Waller isn't getting that far ahead.

Mackintosh won two Group Three races in Brisbane in May but struggled over the 2400 metres of the Queensland Derby.

Tsaritsa won the Queensland Guineas and finished third in a three-way photo-finish to the Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes.

Both ran in an 850m barrier trial on Friday with Mackintosh third behind Group One winners English and Japonisme.

While Tsaritsa finished last of the 10 runners, she was in the pack and Waller was pleased with her effort.

"They both trialled well but in saying that, it was a pretty strong trial with a lot of good horses in it," he said.

Waller said Japonisme would make his return in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) on September 3, a week before the Theo Marks (1300m).

Winx will will also race on September 3 when she will line up in the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).

Weir With Strong Hand In Memsie Stakes

Monday, 22 August 2016 08:27

Prince Of Penzance is set to return in the Memsie Stakes but it is the Melbourne Cup winner's stablemates who are the market leaders in the first Group One race of the season.

Victoria's premier trainer Darren Weir has four horses heading to Saturday's Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield with Harry Coffey getting the nod to ride Prince Of Penzance in what will be just the gelding's second race since his famous win at Flemington with Michelle Payne aboard.

Payne has not returned to riding since undergoing pancreatic surgery after a race fall at Mildura in late May, a couple of days after she rode Prince Of Penzance to an eye-catching second in a cameo autumn appearance in the R A Lee Stakes (1600m) in Adelaide.

While Prince Of Penzance is at $26 in the TAB's all-in market after the release of the 18 Memsie nominations, Weir's other three runners are the early fancies headed by the Black Heart Bart.

The Goodwood winner is the $2.70 favourite with Mahuta and Australian Guineas winner Palentino at $6.50 and $7 respectively.

The entries also feature three Classic winners from last season, Australian Derby winner Tavago, Victoria Derby and Rosehill Guineas winner Tarzino and Australian Oaks winner Sofia Rosa.

The Robbie Laing-trained Lord Of The Sky, who won the Bletchingly Stakes two starts ago before his fourth in the P B Lawrence Stakes, is at $9 along with Sofia Rosa.

New Zealand trainer Stephen Marsh says Sofia Rosa has strengthened and matured mentally since the autumn and he believes she will hit the line strongly over 1400m first-up.

"She's not just a dour staying horse," he said.

"She still has a good turn of foot and I think you might see that on Saturday."

Caulfield Cup favourite Tarzino is expected to have a solid gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday after Monday's barrier trials at Cranbourne were abandoned because of wet weather.

Wells Lands A Second Grand National Chase

Sunday, 21 August 2016 08:20

Former champion jumps jockey Craig Durden has gained deep satisfaction from the victory of Wells in the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat.

Durden won two Grand National Steeplechases as a jockey and prepared Wells with wife Kathryn to win the race in 2014.

Wells missed the 2015 season following surgery for a joint infection which Durden said allowed the nine-year-old to mature and cope with the rigours of racing.

With Wells gaining his second victory, only two horses have won the Grand National in the past five years with Bashboy successful in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

Ridden by Richard Cully, Wells ($7) scored by 10 lengths from Lucky Tonight ($11) with Undergroundfighter ($151) 3-1/2 lengths away third.

"It's better than the first one as we got him back," Durden said.

"When you're riding them you can get off them and go home and not worry about them and that's why I'm so relieved the horse has come back.

"Ironically the year off might have helped him. He's more mature and he's coped with things much better this time around."

The Grand National path was almost brought undone by a bout of colic as Wells prepared to head to the Crisp Steeplechase at Sandown on August 7.

Durden noticed the gelding was panting as he was about to be loaded onto the float and five minutes later was showing signs of colic.

"We put him on the walker and by the time the vet came he had walked himself out of it," Durden said.

Cully said the tough conditions with the rain that fell during the day at Ballarat had helped Wells who proved the superior stayer.

"I was in front way too early but he jumped well down the back but he got there rounding the bend going way too good so I had to go.

"Thank God he kept going."

Slowpoke Rodriguez (John Allen) fell at the last bringing down I'll'ava'alf ridden by visiting Irish jockey Katie Walsh.

There were initial concerns for Slowpoke Rodriguez but after a short period he rose to feet after being winded in the fall and walked back into the mounting yard.

Hawkes Racing Coming Up Roses

Monday, 22 August 2016 08:27

The Hawkes Racing team has claimed two of the three stakes races for the new season's three-year-olds so far and is well placed to win the next.

San Domenico Stakes winner Star Turn heads the opening market for Saturday's Group Two Run To The Rose at Rosehill while his stablemate, Up And Coming stakes winner Divine Prophet is the top pick for the $1 million Golden Rose two weeks later.

The Run To The Rose (1200m) is a chance for many others to cement a berth in the Group One Golden Rose.

Star Turn wins the Group Three San Domenico Stakes

So far the Hawkes pair has shown how well they have developed from their juvenile season and rival trainer Chris Waller has a couple he hopes can do the same.

Waller will run stakes winner Cellarman and new stable recruit Nikitas as they try to cement positions in the Golden Rose field.

Cellarman has two seconds and a Listed win in Brisbane from his four starts while Nikitas ran second to Capitalist in the Magic Millions Classic and was a close third in the Group Two BRC Sires' Produce Stakes,

"The Run To The Rose will tell us if Cellarman has made sufficient improvement to run in the Golden Rose," Waller said.

"It's a big step from two to three.

"Nikitas is a nice horse. He is still fairly new to the stable and we are still learning about him."

One thing in pair's favour is that Cellarman's Listed win came over 1400 metres, the distance of the Golden Rose, while Nikitas worked home well over 1350m in the Sires' Produce Stakes.

Senior trainer John Hawkes said after Divine Prophet's win he believed he would be the pick of the stable's two colts to get over a distance while Star Turn seemed more of a sprinter.

Cellarman is at $35 in early markets for the Run To The Rose with Nikitas at $61.

The Run To The Rose also features the return of El Divino, a half brother to champion mare Winx and unbeaten in his two starts.

Katie Walsh Has Tough Day At Ballarat

Sunday, 21 August 2016 08:20

Visiting Irish jumps jockey Katie Walsh has endured a tough day at the office.

The sister of last year's Grand National Steeplechase winner Ruby, Walsh failed to complete the course in three of her four rides at Ballarat on Sunday.

Brought out to captain a team of Irish jockeys made up of expatriate riders, Walsh escaped injury in two falls in the two steeplechase races on the program that consisted of six jumps races.

Walsh came off the $2.10 favourite Fledged at the third fence in the Hygain Steeplechase while she was brought down at the last obstacle on $5.50 chance I'll'ava'alf in the Grand National Steeplechase won by Wells.

Her mount Nordic Duke failed to finish in the maiden hurdle while Black Tie failed to beat a runner home in the other division of the maiden hurdle.

"That's horse racing," Walsh said.

"I was unlucky on Fledged. He half stepped into it and landed on top of the horse in front of him and I came off.

"I thought I'll'ava'alf travelled well everywhere and was going to win jumping the second last but he didn't quite see it out in the ground and was brought down at the last.

"It was a tough day but I'm walking out of it which is the main thing."

To rub salt into the wounds her team was beaten 32-12 in the Australia v Ireland Jockeys' Challenge conducted over three races on Sunday.

Dwyer Favours Caulfield For Leotie

Monday, 22 August 2016 08:27

The Golden Rose is shaping as the preferred lead-up race for Thousand Guineas hopeful Leotie.

Trainer Henry Dwyer has nominated the filly for four races across two states on Saturday including the Run To The Rose at Rosehill, but he is likely to choose the 1400m benchmark race for fillies at Caulfield.

Dwyer said Leotie's first trip to Sydney could be for the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 10.

He said that lead-up would give her two weeks between each run as she builds towards the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m).

"I think a trip to Sydney fits in better with the program for the Thousand Guineas," Dwyer said.

"She's a robust sort of filly that will be able to handle the trip."

Leotie was narrowly defeated in the Group Three Quezette Stakes (1100m) on August 13 after settling near the tail of the field.

The filly's closing sectional times impressed Dwyer, who said riding her quietly helped her settle.

"We were surprised to see her relax so well," Dwyer said.

"She definitely doesn't need to be that far back.

"But in terms of educating her to get further, which is the ultimate goal, it's probably more beneficial for her to do that."

Chris Parnham will retain the ride for Leotie's Melbourne starts.

Dwyer said if Leotie came through the Thousand Guineas well he would consider a tilt at the VRC Oaks.

"She doesn't look much like a stayer, she's built like a sprinter," Dwyer said.

But her breeding - by Darci Brahma out of a High Chaparral mare - would indicate an Oaks trip would not be beyond her reach, he said.

Almoonqith Starts Cups Tilt At Caulfield

Sunday, 21 August 2016 08:20

Almoonqith will spearhead the Lindsay Park team for the big spring Cups with the imported stayer ready to begin his campaign.

The seven-year-old is set to line up in the Listed Heatherlie Handicap (1700m) on Saturday.

Tom Dabernig, who trains in partnership with David and Ben Hayes, said Almoonqith was their leading contender for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

"We are a little shallow in the staying ranks," Dabernig said.

"We've got some contenders in three-year-old ranks and hopefully along the way some of the older horses will also step up."

Almoonqith won the Geelong Cup last October at his fourth Australian start before finishing 18th in the Melbourne Cup.

He then came out and proved superior in the Sandown Cup over 3200m last November.

He had four starts during the autumn and was spelled after running fifth to Gallante in the Sydney Cup in April.

Dabernig said they had not settled on a program towards the Cups with his first-up performance to help determine his campaign path.

"He'll probably need the outing on Saturday but it is the start of a long campaign," Dabernig said.

"But his preparation so far has been solid but just where we head after Saturday is open-ended at this stage."

Almoonqith has been working solidly in preparation for his return and chased home Alpine Eagle in a trial over 1400m at Tatura on August 16.

Alpine Eagle is set to make his return in Saturday's Group One Memsie Stakes.