Zabenz and Thornton to Pair Up in USA Debut
- Friday, 16 August 2002 00:00
The international experience of New Zealand jumps
jockey Craig Thornton has landed him the North American ride on New Zealand-bred jumping
star Zabenz.Thornton departs Sunday, having him in New York in time to school the Zabeel gelding before his debut there on Thursday.
"The original plan was to give him his first American start on August 22, but he's done so well that he will have a run beforehand," Thornton told ThoroughbredNews this morning.
Thornton had his first ride on Zabenz in a trial in Melbourne before he left for the States 10 days ago in the care of Merrick Staunton, an employee of trainer Robert Smerdon.
"He gave me a great feel," said Thornton, "everything you would expect of a horse with his performance."
Zabenz has won his only three hurdle starts, the last of them the VRC Grand National.
That performance sealed his purchase by expatriate
New Zealander Michael Watt, whose colours were carried to victory by Eric the Bee in last
Saturday's Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton.
Watt is also the owner of current Melbourne Cup favourite Vinnie Roe, who is trained in Ireland by Vintage Crop's trainer Dermot Weld.
Zabenz will race in a $US50,000 novice steeplechase at Saratoga on Thursday, followed by the $US120,000 New York Turf Writers' Cup Steeples on the same track a week later.
That means that Thornton will not be back in time to ride Royal Ways in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup at Ellerslie on Saturday week.
That mount has gone to Jonathan Riddell, who rode Eric the Bee last week.
PICS - Quentin Lang.
Media Release - TNZ
Tomorrow's Australian Wide Tips
- Friday, 16 August 2002 00:00
Moonee Valley |
|||
| 1 | Woodwina | Midday Matinee | Chimu |
| 2 | Bel Esprit* | Titanic Jack | Yell |
| 3 | Gilligan | River Boy | Pooky Bear |
| 4 | Innovation Girl | British Lion | Flashed |
| 5 | Ugachaka* | Dandy Kid | Marstic |
| 6 | Rubitano | Shaye Spice | Mistegic |
| 7 | Spring Warrior | Bush Padre | Dot Com |
| 8 | Mrs Bently | Wannaway | My Lavinia |
Rosehill |
|||
| 1 | Clangalang* | Takas | Recruiting |
| 2 | Size Her Up | Go Ziggy | Coablo |
| 3 | Polar North* | Ms Bowie | Gleam |
| 4 | Olivier | Oxford Princess | Go Errol |
| 5 | Cariboo | Silver Duke | A Deena |
| 6 | Ancient Song | Shogun Lodge | Sportsbrat |
| 7 | Conzeal | Hello Pamela | Master Pom |
| 8 | Skiddaw | Gordo | Sammuka |
| Victoria Park | |||
| 1 | Miss Revic | McBeal | Sunturwasi |
| 2 | Red Labelle* | Anacarde | Blue Haze |
| 3 | Scenic Garden | Spinnerman | Red Astaire |
| 4 | Bellton | Olongopo | Hostile Lad |
| 5 | Yusra | Nafir | Oil Can Annie |
| 6 | None For The Road | More Action | Inkamulla |
| 7 | Cullen Bay | Sir Archer | Daneforce |
| 8 | Heracles* | Bisha Mon | Ambroc |
Eagle Farm |
|||
| 1 | Narwhal | Duel Fuel | Love and Scandal |
| 2 | Laurinel Impulse | Little Bit Lively | Saddle Boy |
| 3 | Mascot | Telavon | Thong Tong |
| 4 | Booking | Final Demand | Intelligently |
| 5 | Sassi Switch* | Vivid Miss | Banyan Bay |
| 6 | Jillina Blue | Close to Danger | Music Star |
| 7 | Coolawin* | Katenian | Veteran |
| 8 | Potestas | Ruby’s Jester | Booboo |
Belmont |
|||
| 1 | Master Key | Platinum | Star of Vain |
| 2 | Dangerous Play | Elegantly Black | Kalastorm |
| 3 | Placid Park* | Son of Vasac | Double Jewel |
| 4 | Northerly | Corporate Bruce | Tender Smile |
| 5 | Kim Tilla | Vain Zoe | Midas Rose |
| 6 | Konjo | Blevvo | Anchor the Stars |
| 7 | Master Clan* | Perfect Minx | De La Hoya |
Alice Springs |
|||
| 1 | Swiftly | Ants | Copper’s Edge |
| 2 | Barrow* | Stormy Bay | Marcity |
| 3 | Lockmaster | Bonjour Dolly | Strewth |
| 4 | Chalet’s Magic | Factorway | Bowen Special |
| Toowoomba | |||
| 1 | Smoke That Pipe | Secret Gardens | Bush Pilot |
| 2 | Rodanza | Mantara Lad | In Sync |
| 3 | Manda Panda | Spanish Array | Marcasite |
| 4 | Our Fabio* | Cash ‘n’ Carry | Fairyman |
| 5 | Danrule* | Noble Effort | Levante |
| 6 | Oakey Jewel | Zulu Warrior | Underground |
| 7 | Suscitare | Don’t Mukaround | Talk About Real |
Leading English Hoop Banned for a Year in Singapore
- Friday, 16 August 2002 00:00
The English rider Gary Carter was outed for his handling of the galloper Bright Wonder at the Kranji meeting last Friday.
Carter was found guilty of a charge "for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that Bright Wonder was given full opportunity of winning or of obtaining the best possible placing."
The report issued by the Singapore Turf Club today gave the following three particulars of the charge.
- that after a slow start, he allowed Bright Wonder to progressively lose ground on the field to be placed last at the 800m approximately seven lengths behind the field and approximately fifteen behind the leader, which placed the horse at a disadvantage;
- that from the 800m to the entrance to the home straight, he failed to make an attempt to improve his position; and
- that from the 500m to the 400m, he failed to ride Bright Wonder with sufficient vigour and determination.
It has been a rotton week for the 36-year-old, he was outed for careless riding on Tuesday after another adjourned inquiry.
Carter was given a local Singapore permit in late June, which was to see the hoop ride there until the end of the year.
Kersley Reserved for Northerly Return
- Friday, 16 August 2002 00:00
Perth's pin-up horse Northerly makes his much
anticipated return to the track in the listed Goodwood Sprint in Perth tomorrow and
incredibly he will carry a kilo less than when he won the race last year.A change in the handicapping conditions, where the maximum topweight is now capped at 60 kilograms, the Fred Kersley trained gelding drops from the 61 he carried to win last year.
Northerly has drawn the inside barrier for tomorrow's 1300 metre race, in which he will have some ten rivals.
Kersley is hopeful but not overly confident the gelding can return to the track in winning style.
"I'd like to say to the public to be
understanding because the horse is not unbeatable," he told the West Australian.
"He is more fresh than fit and he is starting off what will be a long campaign. He is a year older and it is harder for them to come back fresh."
Among Northerly's opponents tomorrow include the last start winners Corporate Bruce and Prince of Pop and the talented duo of Pindarri and Tender Smile.
He is expected to have another run in stakes class in Perth before he is sent to Melbourne where he will again be set for the Group One WS Cox Plate, a race he won in sensational style last year.
PICS - Quentin Lang.
Waterhouse a Winner With Appeal Result
- Friday, 16 August 2002 00:00
The appeal was launched after NSW TRB stewards outed Waterhouse with a one year disqualification and fines of $78,000. The total of fines also were decreased today to $19,500.
The situation arose after it was discovered by officials that Waterhouse had provided elevated odds for a number of fancied runners to a former family associate Peter McCoy.
A number of character witnesses for Waterhouse had their turn in the spotlight today. They included a heavyweight from the Gosford Turf Club and a professional punter.
His wife, leading Sydney based trainer Gai, flanked Robbie for the first time during the appeals process.
Waterhouse will now be free to return to the betting ring in nine months time and he won't have to apply to the bookmaking officials for a licence as he would have had to if he was disqualified.