Short Drive To Eagle Farm For Johnston

Wednesday, 17 August 2016 08:53

Sunshine Coast trainer Krystle Johnston will feel like she is on a pleasure drive when she makes the 120 kilometre trip to Brisbane chasing her first metropolitan double.

Johnston will have stable star Executed in Saturday's Northside Women's Health Open (1200m) and Craiglea Wandoo in the Mirvac Ascot Green Hcp (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

It is nothing for the Johnston team to travel thousands of kilometres a week around Queensland chasing wins.

The system has proved successful with Johnston winning 34 races last season including her first black type race with Executed in the Listed Queensland Lightning in May.

Executed also won the feature Cleveland Bay Handicap in Townsville while Craiglea Wandoo won the North Queensland Guineas.

Johnston won races from Cairns in north Queensland to Brisbane and the Gold Coast in the south to Roma in the west last season.

Her team has now grown to 30 and she is relying more on her father Stan Johnston, who runs Craiglea Stud on the Sunshine Coast, to help with the travel.

"Dad does most of the driving north these days because he is used to it and can make the drive from Rockhampton, Mackay or Townsville in a day. It takes me two days from the further north tracks," Krystle Johnston said.

"I have lost count of the kilometres we have clocked up. But Dad's car is getting near a million kilometres and we have three cars."

Johnston said being able to bring horses back to an open paddock for a few days was a great help.

"We bring them home and give them three of four days in the paddock at the farm before bringing them back into the stables. It seems to work well," she said.

Johnston believes the regime is the reason her horses are so consistent and can race on without a break.

Craiglea Wandoo finished equal second on the Australian premiership for wins last season with eight while Executed won five races last season.

"Executed is now really restricted to city racing after those feature wins. But he is very honest and deserves his chance in the better company," Johnston said.

"I am not sure how Craiglea Wandoo will handle Eagle Farm but we have to find out some time.

"They are both what you want in horses as they give their all every time they step out in a race," she said.

Meeting With Owner To Decide Eagle Return

Tuesday, 16 August 2016 08:21

Alpine Eagle has taken another step towards his season return with a win in a barrier trial at Tatura and connections will decide this week when the horse steps out at the races.

The five-year-old was taken to Tatura to trial on Tuesday and trainer Tony McEvoy was pleased with the way he went about his work to win the 1400m heat which also included Geelong Cup winner Almoonqith who finished second.

McEvoy said he would meet with Alpine Eagle's owner Wolf Blass this week to decide which race the horse resumes in.

Alpine Eagle in the Australian Guineas

The Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m) on Saturday week or the Listed Sofitel Stakes (1400m) two weeks later are options.

"He went very nicely," McEvoy said.

"He did all that we asked him to do. I couldn't be happier.

"I've got to have a meeting with Wolf Blass later this week then we'll decide on his program. There's the 27th (of August) or there's the 10th of September."

Alpine Eagle won a Group Two race and was runner-up in the Australian Guineas as an autumn three-year-old but a cracked pedal bone forced him to the sidelines for an extended period after two spring starts last year.

He made a late season cameo when fifth in the R A Lee Stakes (1600m) in Adelaide in May before McEvoy turned his attention to the spring.

Luke Currie rode Alpine Eagle in Tuesday's trial.

"He strode out nicely," McEvoy said.

"It was a heavy eight track and he seemed to be quite comfortable in it. Luke didn't knock him about and he went to the line with his ears up."

Wide Draw For Keen Array In Carlyon

Wednesday, 17 August 2016 08:53

A wide barrier draw in the Carlyon Stakes could prompt a change of plans for Keen Array.

Tom Dabernig said he and co-trainers David and Ben Hayes would consider whether Keen Array took his place from barrier 15 at Moonee Valley or was saved for the Group Three Heath a week later at Caulfield.

"He's drawn wide and we're just going to have a look at the race first before making a decision there," Dabernig said.

"We're just keeping our options open and we'll have a look at it.

"At the Valley over 1000 metres, it's not impossible from a wide gate because it's a straight run down to the bend. But if it looks tough from the gate, we can always wait and there's a nice option on the 27th."

Keen Array won four of his six starts as a spring three-year-old including the Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield and was second to Japonisme in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes.

He failed to live up to expectations during autumn when he was unplaced in the Group One Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap.

"I think it was the preparation of a horse that just didn't come up," Dabernig said.

He said the four-year-old had a good spell and he believed he was ready to show his true form this time.

Dabernig says they have not ruled out stepping him up to the 1400 metres of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

"We thought he was going to make the progression to being a serious Group One horse and he ran second in the Group One on Derby Day last year, and just got on the wrong part of the track," Dabernig said.

"You never really know until you see them under the pressure of racing, but he seems to have come back and is going as well as he ever has."

Bridget Jones's Diary: Randwick Races

Tuesday, 16 August 2016 08:21

Bridget Jones's diary entry for Saturday August 20 might read: "Randwick - don't get lost."

The Dubbo trainer is bringing Iona Nicconi to the big smoke for the Highway Plate (1600m).

The last time Jones last made the seven-hour journey to Sydney she ended up stuck in the middle of the city after a satellite navigation mishap.

"I haven't done it for a few years so I'm probably going to get lost again," Jones said.

Despite navigational bumps in the road Jones has had some city racing success, most notably with Murray's Sun who finished third in the 2009 Group Three Tramway Handicap won by future Group One winner Rangirangdoo.

She hasn't had another racehorse worth bringing to Sydney until now.

Iona Nicconi, daughter of Group One winner Nicconi, is in with a good chance.

"If she's up to form and travels OK she should be right up there," Jones said.

She will carry 53.5kg with apprentice Taylor Marshall's claim and will wear blinkers.

"They have made her focus and concentrate a bit more because she was always lacking early speed, she wouldn't get quickly into stride," Jones said.

Jones says the step up to 1600m will suit the big striding mare.

Depending on how she pulls up, Iona Nicconi could be heading out for a spell after Saturday's race.

"I'd like to bring her back out here and give her one more easier start, then she will be going for a holiday," Jones said.

Manaya A Live Chance For Silver Shadow

Wednesday, 17 August 2016 08:53

Michael Costa often spends Saturdays listening to major races on the radio while cleaning out boxes at his Warwick Farm stables.

The 28-year-old trainer will be in the thick of the action on Saturday when Manaya lines up in the Group Two Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick.

Costa is approaching the race with hope rather than expectation after an interrupted lead-up.

"I would have thought leading up to a Group race I would have been a bit nervous but the preparation hasn't been smooth sailing," Costa said.

"We only had eight weeks from the paddock to this Saturday and we lost five days with a small viral infection early on in the prep."

Manaya's scintillating debut in the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone in May gave Costa his first stakes win. H

He says the three-year-old filly is still immature but he remains confident she is a Group horse.

Glyn Schofield, who will take the Silver Shadow mount, rode Manaya in her latest trial and was delighted with her turn of foot.

"I've never had a jockey be so positive after getting off in a trial before," Costa said.

Manaya is the $3.80 Silver Shadow second favourite behind the Chris Waller-trained Omei Sword at $2.90 in early markets.

Costa is elated just to be on the big stage, let alone with a live chance.

"There's so many Saturdays when you're at the stable and you're listening to the radio or watching the races on your phone while you're doing boxes so it's good to be amongst it," he said.

Costa started riding trackwork for leading Sydney trainers as a 16-year-old.

He spent four years working as a stipendiary steward before joining Kevin Moses' stable as foreman and then went it alone.

"I went out and bought one tried horse for $4000 and for my first season pretty much had one horse," Costa said.

He slept in his car during his first season as a trainer while running his business on a shoestring budget.

After slowly building momentum, Costa now has about 30 horses in work as he embarks on the biggest race of his career.

"It's going to be a new experience but something that's very welcome," Costa said.

"I've worked very hard so I'm going to enjoy every minute of it."

Costa has the Group Two Furious Stakes on September 3 and Tea Rose Stakes on September 17 in mind if Manaya can measure up on Saturday.

Yankee Rose To Run First-up In Golden Rose

Tuesday, 16 August 2016 08:21

Star filly Yankee Rose will begin her ambitious spring campaign in the Group One Golden Rose without a lead-up race.

Runner-up in the Golden Slipper and the winner of the ATC Sires' Produce, Yankee Rose won a jump-out against two stablemates at the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday without over-exerting herself.

Yankee Rose is noted as not producing her best in trials and jump-outs and lived up to that reputation but trainer David Vandyke's racing manager Alan Thomas said she did as expected.

"David summed the trial up as fair. But that is what you always get from her. She did the same before running second in the Golden Slipper and winning the ATC Sires," Thomas said.

"She just doesn't fire away from race day."

Thomas confirmed Yankee Rose would remain in Queensland until the day before the Group One Golden Rose on September 10.

"Yankee Rose is doing well in Queensland. David doesn't want to give up three weeks of sunshine for her," Thomas said.

"She will leave for Sydney on the Thursday before the Rose and arrive at Warwick Farm the next day and then straight into the race," Thomas said.

Hong Kong-based Australian jockey Zac Purton, who won the Sires' on Yankee Rose, will ride her in the Golden Rose (1400m) on September 10.

The filly is also entered for the Thousand Guineas and Cox Plate in Melbourne this spring.

She is now the $8 equal favourite alongside Star Turn for the Golden Rose with Slipper winner Capitalist to miss the race to be prepared for the Coolmore Stud Stakes in late October.

In his first race since the Slipper, Capitalist finished fourth in the San Domenico Stakes won by the Hawkes Racing-trained Star turn.

Winx Has Final Gallop Before Return

Tuesday, 16 August 2016 08:21

The most talked about horse in the country is a step closer to her return with her trainer and jockey giving Winx the tick of approval.

Race jockey Hugh Bowman put the champion mare through her paces in a course proper gallop at Rosehill on Tuesday morning ahead of her Warwick Stakes assignment.

Winx is likely to have a maximum of six opponents in the 1400m-Group Two race at Randwick on Saturday, half from her own back yard.

Her trainer Chris Waller has earmarked the race for the return of Cups hopefuls Grand Marshal and Who Shot Thebarman along with Spring Champion Stakes winner Vanbrugh.

Trainer David Hayes has already decided Dibayani will not take his place with Rebel Dane, Lucia Valentina and Hartnell the others likely to try to upset the odds-on favourite.

"Winx worked well this morning and Hugh was very happy with her," Waller said.

"She is ready to go and I'm happy with the others too."

Kerrin McEvoy will be aboard Lucia Valentina, the second favourite, who was also entered for the Show County Quality (1200m).

Lucia Valentina won Sydney's richest race, the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a week after Winx won the Doncaster Mile.

Trainer Kris Lees also entered Lucia Valentina for the Show County Quality (1200m) as insurance against running over 1400 metres on a heavy track.

But he said she would race over the longer distance with stablemate, Randwick Guineas winner Le Romain, to tackle the Show County.

Rebel Dane's trainer Gary Portelli had hoped by getting the seven-year-old up and running early he might be able to steal a march on some of those horses returning.

Things didn't quite go to plan with Rebel Dane second in the Missile Stakes on the heaviest Randwick track most can remember.

"It's not ideal taking on Winx," Portelli said.

"But I'm happy with how he has come back this time. He is bigger and stronger and has held his weight since his first start."

Shiraz Familiarises Himself With Valley

Tuesday, 16 August 2016 08:21

Trainer Tony McEvoy has taken the opportunity to give Shiraz a gallop around Moonee Valley before the sprinter's bid to add another first-up victory to his record.

Shiraz, the winner of four of six starts fresh, has yet to race at Moonee Valley but was among the horses to work there on Tuesday morning in preparation for Saturday's meeting featuring the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m).

"I was pleased with the way he got around there," McEvoy said.

"He's just got to come through that gallop nicely and he'll take his place on Saturday.

"He just cruised around over a half mile on his own. He wasn't sent out to be tested too much. It was just a familiarisation gallop, really."

Shiraz has only raced twice in Melbourne, winning the Aurie's Star Handicap down the straight at Flemington a year ago while his other Melbourne start was a Schillaci Stakes failure at Caulfield.

The seven-year-old hasn't started since his unplaced run in the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick in April which came after a close fourth in the Group Two Challenge Stakes first-up before a second in the Group One Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill.

McEvoy believes Shiraz has come back equally as good ahead of the Carlyon.

"All the signs to me are that he's the same," he said.

"He's probably carrying a bit more weight. This is his first full preparation in Melbourne and he seems very settled and calm at Flemington."

Shiraz's performance in the Carlyon will also give McEvoy a guide whether to press on to the Group One Moir Stakes next month.

"I just want to see how he is at the Valley," McEvoy said.

"The Moir is an option but if he's not effective at the Valley then we will look at other options.

"He's got to show a liking for the Valley and go well to give us enough confidence to consider a Group One at the track and distance."

Shiraz, to be ridden by Luke Currie, is the highest-rated horse among the 19 nominations along with Group Two winner and Oakleigh Plate placegetter Heatherly.

Co-trainer Simon Zahra said Heatherly, who has won twice at Moonee Valley, looked to have returned from a spell in great order.

Alluvion Heading For G2 Silver Shadow

Tuesday, 16 August 2016 08:21

A filly who wasn't born when Scott Singleton bought her could produce his first stakes win.

When the Hawkesbury trainer found broodmare Accretion at a Patinack Farm dispersal sale she was in foal with Alluvion.

The filly is the first of Accretion's progeny to race and will have her fourth start in Saturday's Group Two Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

Alluvion was entered to run at Canterbury on Wednesday but an unfavourable barrier draw convinced Singleton to head to the stronger race.

"She can gallop, but she just needs to draw a barrier to put herself a bit handier," Singleton said.

In Alluvion's maiden win on her home track on July 24 she jumped from barrier three and took up a forward position on the rail.

Singleton believes Alluvion has talent and raced the filly in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes and the Group Two Sweet Embrace Stakes at her first two starts.

He decided to put her in stakes company again with options limited.

"I hadn't planned to throw her in the deep end but it's just a bit tricky at this time of year," Singleton said.

"You've almost got to weigh up whether it's easier to take on older horses at the provincials and midweeks or throw them in something against their own age that's a bit richer."

The Silver Shadow is $135,000 richer than the Canterbury race Alluvion will bypass.

The filly, who Singleton races with long-time client David Lopez and his sons, will earn black type with a first-four finish.

"She'll have a future but she probably needs everything to go her way Saturday," Singleton said.

"I dare say she'll beat more home than beat her home."

Winx Is Coming To Randwick

Monday, 15 August 2016 08:21

As anyone travelling down Alison Road in Randwick is aware - Winx is coming.

The Australian Turf Club is displaying banners saying just that ahead of the champion mare's return at Randwick in Saturday's Warwick Stakes.

The highest rated horse in the country is blissfully unaware of the controversy surrounding a minor operation she had months ago which was revealed last week.

A banner on the Australian Turf Club's office wall in Randwick

Although trainer Chris Waller broke no rules by not publicising she had a bone chip removed, there is now talk of actually changing those rules.

That aside, Winx will have a fast gallop on Tuesday morning in preparation for her first race since the Doncaster Mile.

"Hugh Bowman will ride her on Tuesday morning," Waller said.

"She's pretty right for Saturday and everything has gone smoothly."

Winx has not been beaten since she ran second to Gust Of Wind in last year's Australian Oaks.

Nominations have been extended with Monday's entries at eight, four from the Waller camp.

Grand Marshal, Who Shot Thebarman and Vanbrugh are all likely to join her along with Lucia Valentina, Rebel Dane, Hartnell and Dibayani.

Winx is at $1.45 in the TAB's first market with Lucia Valentina, who is also entered for the Group Three Show County Quality, the $8 second elect.

The Waller-trained Preferment was taken out of the nominations with the Chelmsford Stakes two weeks later his likely goal first-up goal.

"Grand Marshal and Who Shot Thebarman will follow a similar campaign to last year towards the staying races," Waller said.

"Vanbrugh is also entered for the Show County Quality so we will look at what weight he gets in that."

The stable has entered three horses in the Up And Coming Stakes - Cellarman, Nikitas and Pound Sterling.

"I don't think Nikitas will run and maybe only one of the other two," Waller said.

Saturday will be the third week of stakes racing in Sydney this season but the first time the stable has had a Group or Listed runner this term.