Randwick Track Expected To Improve

Friday, 02 September 2016 08:26

The biggest star at Randwick is supposed to be Winx but the weather is claiming centre stage ahead of the Chelmsford Stakes meeting.

But if the rain in Sydney forces a change of plans for the champion mare, her trainer Chris Waller says that will only be a minor inconvenience.

"Her program has always allowed for her to miss a race along the way so I wouldn't think much would change," Waller said.

"We won't make a decision until after we see if she runs or not."

Waller and her owners are not keen to run her on Saturday if the track is rated a heavy 10 but Randwick track manager Nevesh Ramdhani is predicting slightly better ground.

"We had 14 mils to 9am and another 22 mils to 3pm but I was pleasantly surprised when I walked it this afternoon (Friday) and I have rated it a heavy nine," Ramdhani said.

"The stewards have also walked inspected it and are happy with the heavy nine rating."

Ramdhani said there was still more rain to come but it was expected to clear by midnight.

"I'm not too concerned because Saturday will be pretty breezy with winds up to 40 kilometres an hour so we should get a bit of drying in before the meeting."

Winx is $1.15 with the TAB to record her 11th straight win since her second in the 2015 Australian Oaks.

If she doesn't run in the Group Two Chelmsford (1600m), options include Group One races over the same distance in two states, the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on Saturday week or the George Main Stakes at Randwick a week later.

"There are all sorts of options," Waller said.

"She is fit enough after her first-up run to miss a race."

Winx made her season return look easy, winning the Warwick Stakes under a hold from Hugh Bowman, beating many of her potential Chelmsford rivals most of whom she sees on a daily basis.

Waller has six of the eight entries with Godolphin's Hartnell and James Cummings-trained three-year-old Prized Icon the others.

As of Friday, Prized Icon at $7 is the only other runner under double figures.

Heavy Questions For G3 Ming Dynasty Field

Friday, 02 September 2016 08:26

The runners in the Ming Dynasty Quality are almost all in the same boat as they test whether they can navigate a watery Randwick track.

Persistent rain has soaked the track ahead of Saturday's Group Three race for three-year-olds, with more than 35mm falling since Thursday evening.

Of the seven runners, only Shazee Lee and Argentina have been on heavy ground for a win and a seventh respectively.

Bit Dusty's trainer John Sargent will rely on the gelding's breeding which he says indicates he should handle a wet surface.

"As long as he handles the track he should run a very big race," Sargent said.

"I think he's a smart horse."

As well as his wet track capabilities, Sargent is also looking for a guide on what races to target in the spring.

Bit Dusty won on debut at Newcastle on August 16, edging out Godolphin colt Bryneich and the Gerald Ryan-trained Star Of Monsoon.

All three are nominated for the Caulfield Guineas.

"We rode him out of his zone a bit at Newcastle," Sargent said.

"I think being left alone is better for him but you have to ride Newcastle like that when you draw inside," Sargent said.

Prominent owner Peter Horwitz bred Bit Dusty and races him with his family and his mate Doug Thompson.

"You wouldn't get a luckier owner than Peter. He's had some great horses," Sargent said.

Skylight Glow's debut win was on a soft track at Canterbury and she made it back-to-back wins at Randwick on May 28.

Trainer James Cummings says the form guide doesn't reflect how wet the track was for her latest win.

"It reads good track when she won at Randwick but it was raining on the day and that was the first race so it was downgraded," Cummings said.

Cummings said Skylight Glow had beaten colts and geldings as a two-year-old and is drawn to get a good run from barrier three.

Skylight Glow and Bit Dusty are both $7, while the Scott Singleton-trained Shazee Lee is the outsider of the field at $15.

Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have $3.20 favourite Taj Mahal and $11 chance Argentina.

Maher Mares Meet Again At Moonee Valley

Friday, 02 September 2016 08:26

Ciaron Maher is using the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes as a stepping stone to bigger spring prizes for two of his stable stars but victory for either could change their programs.

The winner of Saturday's Group Two race gains automatic entry into the Cox Plate which is currently not on the radar for either Set Square or Jameka, the winners of the past two VRC Oaks.

"Both are probably on a Caulfield Cup path so it doesn't map that well," Maher said.

Jameka

"If one of them was to win then you would have to consider it.

"We had thought about it with Jameka last year.

"If she had won the Thousand Guineas we'd have rolled the dice into the Cox Plate but she ran second and we took the alternative path.

"It could be an option for her."

Both mares will be having their second starts back after meeting in the P B Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield on August 13.

Jameka finished fourth behind Miss Rose De Lago with Set Square ninth.

Early betting suggests Jameka at $7.50 has better prospects ahead of Set Square ($19), although Maher is happy with both mares.

"They've both come through their first-up runs really well," Maher said.

"Their work has been good, the extra distance of the mile will suit and there should be good speed from The Cleaner and they should be able to slot in comfortably.

"Jameka has won around the Valley before so I would possibly lean more towards her but Set Square's sectionals were really good first-up at Caulfield."

The mares could be split after Saturday with Jameka maybe heading to the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley and Set Square to the Naturalism at Caulfield which would gain her a Caulfield Cup start.

They could then meet again in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington before next month's Caulfield Cup.

"Set Square is on the borderline of getting a Caulfield Cup start," Maher said.

"Depending on how she runs on Saturday, there are options for her."

Maher said Set Square had matured after missing an autumn campaign which he said in the long-term would benefit her.

"Srikandi and Azkadellia missed an autumn and came back better the following prep," Maher said.

"She hasn't won for a while but has been competing at the highest level and has been very competitive.

"I think she's come up better this time around and she seems to have matured into a strong racehorse."

Prized Icon To Prove He Is No Lightweight

Thursday, 01 September 2016 08:36

While Winx's reputation is unrivalled, James Cummings is hoping Prized Icon can improve his standing by running well against the champion mare.

Winx's dominance has reached heights where rival trainers are satisfied if horses just acquit themselves well against her.

Only two horses from outside Chris Waller's stable will take on Winx in Saturday's Group Two over 1600m at Randwick.

Prized Icon

They are Godolphin Group One winner Hartnell and the Cummings-trained three-year-old Prized Icon, who won the Group One Champagne Stakes in April.

"It leaves us in a good position to let the horse's reputation be improved if he can run well against the weight-for-age horses," Cummings said.

Prized Icon was solid first-up, finishing fourth in the Group Three Up And Coming Stakes carrying 61kg.

Cummings said he thought long and hard about keeping the three-year-old to his own age group in the Ming Dynasty Quality, but the 10.5kg weight swing from last start was appealing.

"He had to carry 61 kilograms first-up and he was allotted 62 second-up if I ran him in the Ming Dynasty," Cummings said.

"He's just not given must chance to win under those conditions.

"He won't know himself with the weight turnaround."

The weight advantage three-year-olds carry into the race has not translated into success since Mighty Kingdom won the Chelmsford in 1979.

Despite the history, Prized Icon is the horse given the biggest hope of an upset and he sits on the second line of betting at $7. Winx is $1.15 favourite.

"He looks much closer in the market would you believe at weight-for-age against Winx than he was first-up against Divine Prophet giving him the weight advantage," Cummings said.

Running in the $1 million Golden Rose on a one-week back up remains an option for Prized Icon, who could also contest the Gloaming Stakes over 1800 metres on September 24.

Winx's jockey Hugh Bowman rode Prized Icon in the Up And Coming and while he thinks the horse will be better suited over 1600m, he doesn't think they are at the same level.

Not surprisingly, Bowman believes Winx has the race at her mercy.

Miss Rose De Lago Aims For Another G2 Win

Friday, 02 September 2016 08:26

Damien Oliver admits Miss Rose De Lago's task in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes has been made harder by the outside barrier as the jockey chases a fifth win in the race.

Oliver won the Group Two P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on Miss Rose De Lago at Caulfield last month and is expecting a stiffer test in Saturday's Group Two weight-for-age race over 1600m.

Oliver has won the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, formerly the Feehan, on Tristalove (1994), Northerly (2001), Fields Of Omagh (2002) and Whobegotyou (2009).

"I'm hopeful more than confident," Oliver said.

"We've drawn the outside which is not going to make it easy. We had the luxury of a good barrier draw last start.

"The competition is probably going to go up another level but if she can have some luck from the outside draw, she's going to be there again."

Miss Rose De Lago is the second favourite at $6 behind Japanese import Tosen Stardom who is at $5.50 to win his first start since joining the Darren Weir stable.

Miss Rose De Lago was a dominant winner of the Group Two Sunline Stakes over 1600m the last time she raced at Moonee Valley during this year's autumn carnival.

Oliver's book of rides at Moonee Valley has been reduced by one with the Ciaron Maher-trained Chloe In Paris scratched from the Group Two McEwen Stakes.

The following Saturday at Flemington, Oliver will chase his first Group One win of the new season having picked up the ride on Memsie Stakes winner Black Heart Bart for the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Brad Rawiller, who rode Black Heart Bart in the Memsie, has been ruled out of Makybe Diva Stakes day by suspension.

Tosen Stardom To Line Up At Moonee Valley

Thursday, 01 September 2016 08:36

Tosen Stardom will take his place in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes after getting the all-clear in a work-out at Warrnambool.

The Japanese horse was forced to gallop before Victorian stewards in order to take his place in Saturday's Group Two race at Moonee Valley.

Racing NSW stewards put an embargo on Tosen Stardom after he suffered a bleeding attack in quarantine preparing for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney.

That ban had not been lifted until Thursday when the now Darren Weir-trained Tosen Stardom proved his fitness in a searching gallop.

Weir won't be at Moonee Valley to see him run after accepting an invitation from Zhang Yuesheng, who owns the "Yulong" prefaced horses, for a private race meeting in China on Saturday.

The trainer flew out after watching Tosen Stardom go through his paces and will return in time for important trials on Tuesday.

"He looks magnificent," Weir said.

"He's a great sort of horse. Big and strong and he's a good galloper if you look at his form.

"We've galloped him with a few of our better horses and I don't think there's any problem with his ability."

Weir wrestled with tackling the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on Saturday week before deciding to kick off his campaign on Saturday.

"My gut feeling is to start off at the Valley but the track might suit him a bit better at Flemington," Weir said.

"I'd be disappointed if he didn't run well. Finishing in the first three would be a pass mark."

Tosen Stardom is one of four representatives for Weir and a firming favourite, shortening from $6.50 into $5.

Mahuta ($8) backs up after finishing third in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield last week rather than going to the Makybe Diva Stakes a week later.

"I thought the better option was to go into this and then run in the Sir Rupert Clarke," he said.

Signoff ($35) has improved since his first-up run in Adelaide on August 20, but Weir doesn't expect him to be at his best until he gets out to 2400m.

Real Love ($61) hasn't raced since her fourth in the Brisbane Cup in June.

Weir says she will find the 1600m too short but is in fantastic condition after having a month-long break in the Queensland sun.

Robert Heathcote Off To A Flying Start

Friday, 02 September 2016 08:26

Robert Heathcote is looking to continue his winning start to the season but has already conceded the Brisbane trainers' premiership.

Heathcote finished August with 15 winners including 12 in the metropolitan area to give him a clear lead over Tony Gollan.

A five-time premiership winner, Heathcote has been runner-up to Gollan for the past three seasons and is resigned to another second place finish.

"I usually start the season well in August and September coming out of the winter. The tracks are a bit drier and we race a bit more at Doomben and the Sunshine Coast which suits my horses," Heathcote said.

"But I know from experience it won't last. It is a numbers game and for a few years I had the numbers. Now it is Tony's turn but we will be in there trying."

Heathcote will start September with a strong hand at Eagle Farm on Saturday, in particular in the Open Handicap (1200m) in which he has three of the favourites - Saluter, Dream Choice and Lauterbrunnen.

"I take pride in being able to get my horses through to open company. The fact I could win with nine-year-old Jopa last week gave me a real thrill," Heathcote said.

"My three on Saturday are starting to get on as well. Dream Choice has won three times this campaign, Saluter is always thereabouts and Lauterbrunnen is consistent. It is the new look Eagle Farm but all things being equal I would expect them to race well."

He said the weather would play a major role on Saturday as Saluter did not like really wet tracks.

Heathcote is hoping to trial his star sprinter Buffering at either Doomben or Eagle Farm on the course proper next Tuesday.

"Kelly Schweida wants to trial his Group One winning mare Miss Cover Girl and Tony Gollan and Brian Smith have a couple they also want to trial," Heathcote said.

"Buffering will need to trial if he is going to get to Melbourne for the Moir Stakes on September 30."

Heathcote has also been busy off the track campaigning against a draft proposal to introduce mandatory 12-month disqualifications for some drug offences in Queensland.

"I am all for stamping out those who deliberately do something wrong," he said.

"But some of the proposals would rub out trainers for 12 months on charges they have previously been fined for.

"I am one who has previously been fined but things can wrong in stables and there are accidents. I wouldn't be the only trainer to have that happen to him."

"Hopefully the powers that be will see common sense."

Worthington Looking For Honesty On G1 Path

Thursday, 01 September 2016 08:36

The Furious Stakes will determine which Group One target trainer Rick Worthington chooses for Honesty Prevails.

A small hiccup in her preparation has meant Honesty Prevails is a little behind in her program ahead of Saturday's Group Two race over 1200m at Randwick.

"Because we had that little bit of a setback she just needs to run on Saturday to give us another couple of pages of the book to see where we are at," Worthington said.

Plan A is the Tea Rose Stakes building into the Group One Flight Stakes at Randwick on October 1.

But if Saturday shows she won't reach her peak in time, Worthington is happy to wait for plan B - the $500,000 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield a week after the Flight Stakes.

Both races are for the same prize money and over 1600m, a distance Worthington has always believed will suit Honesty Prevails.

He is convinced Honesty Prevails has returned a better horse than when she ran fifth in the Golden Slipper at her last start.

"She's extremely well. She's developed into an even stronger, bigger filly," Worthington said.

"She's going to improve on the run whatever she does on Saturday."

Worthington is hoping Honesty Prevails can get cover from barrier three and work home strongly late.

"I want her to relax early and get home because going forward the plan is to step her up over ground later on," he said.

Global Glamour will also kick off her spring in the Furious and she is a horse co-trainer Adrian Bott says is highly talented.

"She's forward enough for Saturday and we've always thought a lot of this horse," Bott said.

Honesty Prevails is an $8 chance to win the Furious, while Global Glamour is being kept safe at $7.

In an open betting race after Omei Sword's omission, Victorian raider I Am A Star is $5 favourite with trainer Shane Nichols opting for the Furious over the Atlantic Jewel Stakes in Melbourne.

Chris Waller-trained duo Awoke and Foxplay are at $6 and $9.50 respectively.

Time For An Overhaul For SA Racing: McEvoy

Friday, 02 September 2016 08:26

Trainer Tony McEvoy is urging racing officials and the South Australian government to work together to ensure a viable future for the state's racing industry.

His call comes after the debacle at Balaklava on Wednesday when one race was deleted from the program and the distance of the Cup shortened 300m because of a wet spot on the track.

McEvoy said South Australia once had tracks that stood up to all weather conditions but it was not happening now.

He says Balaklava, Strathalbyn, Murray Bridge, Bordertown and Mount Gambier are just a few tracks in need of urgent attention while Morphettville is showing the effects of constant racing.

He said it may be time to consider building an all-weather track, perhaps at Strathalbyn, or maybe re-invent Victoria Park.

"I believe it is time for everyone to move on from past decisions, recognise there is a problem which is affecting everyone and return racing's credibility as a major employer and popular pastime," McEvoy said.

McEvoy thinks it's time for racing officials to come up with ideas to improve the industry and, possibly even more important, for the government to support them.

And he said the time has come for the industry to forge a close working relationship with the SA government.

McEvoy believes any initiative to raise additional capital for the racing industry must be a good thing.

While an additional tax on gambling for South Australians may appear detrimental to the punter, McEvoy believes if a large portion is put back into racing it could be the best thing for the industry.

Symons And Laxon To Call Queensland Home

Thursday, 01 September 2016 08:36

Group One-winning trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon hope to celebrate their decision to move to Queensland with a winning double at Eagle Farm.

The two have had much success as solo trainers with Laxon best known for winning the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double with Ethereal in 2001 while Symons trained Bel Esprit to win the 2002 Blue Diamond Stakes and Doomben 10,000 the following year.

They have been partners on and off the track for a decade in Victoria and Symons said they had originally come to Queensland with the idea of going into semi-retirement.

"But we have been at the Sunshine Coast and really enjoying it. Things have been going OK and we have decided to stay and have applied for our Queensland co-trainers licence," Symons said.

"We have 16 boxes at the track at the moment and are looking at expanding to about 30."

He said the Sunshine Coast was an ideal venue to train horses.

"You have got the major training tracks, the bush trails at the back and the pool. It is ideal for us," he said.

Symons and Laxon have had eight winners since coming north in May with Denoninator and Irish Constabulary leading the way.

The pair look major chances in their races on Saturday with the Denoninator to tackle the UMS Schoolwear Hcp (2200m) and Irish Constabulary the Barambah Organics Hcp (1200m)

"Denoninator hasn't had a lot of luck lately," Symons said.

"He got caught deep in a $100,000 race on Ipswich Cup day and last start Rebecca Williams rode him very well but got caught in the inferior ground at Eagle Farm.

"He only got beaten a lip so we are looking forward to Saturday with him."

Apprentice Sarah Eilbeck, who is back from a holiday in her native England, will claim 3kg on Denoninator.

Irish Constabulary has also been consistent and was second to star mare Hidden Pearl at his last start.

"There is no Hidden Pearl this time and Irish Constabulary did get through Eagle Farm well last start," Symons said.