It's a Valley of Stars on Saturday
- Thursday, 15 August 2002 00:00
Quality abounds at Moonee Valley on Saturday as
the Melbourne Spring Carnival approaches with the running of three classy stakes races.Bel Esprit, Titanic Jack, Rubitano, Shaye Spice, De Gaulle Lane, Innovation Girl, British Lion, Flashed, Yell, Able Choice, Mistegic and The Big Chill are all set to step out one of the features.
The first of the stakes events on the weekend is the listed Mitchell McKenzie Stakes for the three-year-old colts and geldings over 1000 metres.
Bel Esprit, last season's champion Melbourne based juvenile, is primed to run a huge race first up provided the track is no worse than dead.
His major opposition is likely to come from the Tommy Hughes Jnr trained unbeaten performer Titanic Jack. Along with Bel Esprit he was the star of Tuesday morning's track gallops at Moonee Valley, running fast time and looking very impressive.
Yell, a stakes performer in nearly every state as
a two-year-old, also makes his return in the Mitchell McKenzie for John Hawkes. Darren
Gauci will be aboard the youngster who will jump from the outside barrier in the field of
seven.
The fillies get their chance to split up some black type in the William Crockett Stakes, also over the 1000 metres. A field of 12 has accepted for the listed event.
Innovation Girl, a member of the in form Brian Mayfield-Smith stable, comes off an impressive first up win in the Group Three Dermody Stakes in Adelaide, and she is a proven performer at Moonee Valley. She will be the one to beat from barrier eleven.
Flashed, a daughter of Fuji Kiseki, and the
unbeaten stakes winner British Lion, both have strong winning chances from better
barriers.
Meanwhile, the proven sprinters go head to head in the listed Rosemount Estate McEwen Trophy (1000m).
Rubitano and Mistegic look set to dominate the market in a field which includes the rising talents like Moonee Valley specialist Shaye Spice and Aragonce and The Big Chill, who are both trained by Russell Cameron.
The rest of the Valley card also hold plenty of quality. Horses the calibre of Bush Padre, Court of Jewels, Ugachaka, Mr. Prudent, Touch the Groom, Make Mine Magic and Chimu are also among the fields.
PICS - Quentin Lang.
Morphettville Races (10/08/02) Part One
- Wednesday, 14 August 2002 00:00
Irish Race day returned to its home at Morphettville with the main attractions of the day the Hurdle and the Steeplechase where the Irish put a lead on the Australian team while the promising local sprinters ran in the Listed Wylie Hcp.
Between races there was a shetland pony race where Harry proved too good from Feral Cheryl and Porky Pie and later in the day an exhibition gallop by the unbeaten Pompous and star 3yo filly of last season Elegant Fashion.
The Over The Rainbow jumping series concluded with the Hurdle today with the title (decided on a points system) awarded to Kastabon.
Race 1 - 3yo Hcp 1100m
1st - Upmarket Star ( bay filly 3yrs Staaraq - Market
Brace) ridden by David Carney. Trained by Shane Coombs for J Miller, D McNamara, G Taylor,
T Stephens, A Finlayson, R Allison, G Short, J Wishart and TL Wright.
2nd - Gucci Guru
3rd - Naden
Race 2 - Steeplechase 3600m
Despite misjudging the first jump in the home straight on the first occasion Gilligan recovered well and went on to withstand the challenge from Turkey Lane with Zidane third after leading for much of the trip.
1st - Gilligan ( bay gelding 11yrs Kings Island-Munika)
ridden by Danny Howard. He is trained by Eric Musgrove for himself, BH Musgrove and MG
Stockx.
2nd - Turkey Lane
3rd - Zidane
Lenny Counting on Loobnan
- Wednesday, 14 August 2002 00:00
The Mount Gambier race meeting, moved to Cheltenham Park as the upgrade to the Mount Gambier track continues, is the perfect opportunity for Loobnan to kick off his hurdling career.
Smiths last winner over the obstacles was Change Lady at Strathalbyn in September 1997, winning by 18.5 lengths at a lucrative 20/1. But not only was it Smiths last hurdle winner, she may have even been his last hurdle runner.
"Change Lady was definitely my last hurdle winner," he said. "I cant think of any other runners in between. Ive had a few come along but I dont think any made it to race day."
Top jumps jockey Grant Young rode Change Lady in 1997 and will ride Loobnan for his debut. Young, who is based at Cheltenham Park with Gary Kennewell, regularly rides the gelding in work and has schooled him extensively.
"Ive been schooling Loobnan for almost two seasons," Smith said. "He earned his licence last year but I tipped him out and kept him for this season."
Smith would have preferred the distance of Fridays race - 3036m to be slightly shorter but, overall, the transfer to Loobnans home track has worked out well.
"It would have been nice to start him off at 2800m, but hes on his home track with his regular rider in the saddle," Smith said. "Hes done a lot of work leading up to this, and regularly gallops a couple of miles down at the beach. He trialled here (at Cheltenham Park) recently and went well so he should be ready to make his debut."
Smith said the gelding was an excellent hurdler and would have a couple of starts this time in for experience. Should he measure up, Oakbank next year looks the logical step but theres also the Cup week hurdle at Flemington in November.
Media Release - Jason Hickson (TRSA)
Aussies Still a Chance in Jumps Series
- Wednesday, 14 August 2002 00:00
Led home by last season's Melbourne champion jumps jockey Brett Scott, the Australians had a little luck of their own, narrowing the Irish lead to 16 points.
Before today's race the Irish team of four had a massive 34 point lead, but with three representatives today the Aussie team scored close tomaximum points, while Ireland finished the race without a point.
The final race of the series will be held at Moonee Valley on Saturday with the running of the Waterford Crystal Hurdle. Acceptances and the drawing of jockeys will take place tomorrow morning.
Australia would have to win the race and grab 12 points to have any chance of scoring an unlikely victory.
New Minister for Racing in New Zealand
- Wednesday, 14 August 2002 00:00
This was announced by the Prime Minister Helen Clark when she today announced the allocation of portfolios to ministers and the appointment of ministers and under-secretaries outside Cabinet.
Gosche, the MP for Maungakiekie, replaces previous Racing Minister Annette King.
On his parliamentary biography horse racing is listed as one of Gosche's interests.
Gosche is also the Minister For Corrections. He was previously Transport Minister.
The Associate Minister For Racing announced today is Damien O'Connor.
Media Release - TNZ