Jack on Track After Titanic Valley Gallop
- Tuesday, 13 August 2002 00:00
Unbeaten three-year-old Titanic Jack is expected
to give brilliant colt Bel Esprit a run for his money in Saturday's Mitchell McKenzie
Stakes after a stirring track gallop at Moonee Valley this morning.Both Titanic Jack and Bel Esprit were among about 16 horses to gallop at the Valley this morning and the two star youngsters provided the most impressive performances.
A son of the exciting Victorian based sire Encosta de Lago, Titanic Jack galloped with a stablemate this morning and they were clocked as running their final 400 metres in a slick 24.55 seconds.
Bel Esprit and Nash Rawiller, who'll ride the colt on Saturday, galloped with stablemate Tarathea in a time just three hundredths slower for the same distance.
The other pair to impress over their final two sectionals were the Robert Smerdon pairing of Flashed and Spurn, both already proven stakes winners.
Brian Mayfield-Smith's star pairing of Rubitano and Innovation Girl both looked sharp, but their times were a touch slower, without being fully extended.
Other horses to gallop this morning included the Hong Kong galloper Able Choice, the Sydneysider Before too Long and the Russell Cameron quartet of Aragonce, Chiming Door, Star Doc and The Big Chill.
PIC - Quentin Lang.
Kattavia to Spell for Derby Goal
- Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00
Promising three-year-old Kattavia is heading to the paddock after his impressive win in yesterday's David Benham Handicap (1740m) at Flemington.
The Leon Macdonald trained three-year-old will be aimed toward the South Australian Derby (G1) in an attempt to emulate his former brilliant stablemate Gold Guru, who captured the AJC variety in 1998.
Kattavia, an attractive son of the shuttle sire success Grand Lodge, is part owned by Gold Guru's breeder and owner Harry Perks.
Yesterday with former Tasmanian apprentice Craig Newitt in the saddle Kattavia raced handy to the leaders before bounding the front at the top of the long Flemington straight and then comfortably held out all challenges from the opposition.
Macdonald's Melbourne stable foreman Andrew Noblet said the gelding was to have been spelled after his last run, when second to the boom filly Macedon Lady.
"We were going to send him out after his second the other day," Noblet said. "But we looked at this race and thought it was a nice option."
"He's bred to get over some ground and we'll aim him toward the Derby in Adelaide," Noblet added. "He looks ideal for that sort of a race."
Meanwhile, Noblet reported that Great Glen, who suffered his first defeat in Saturday's listed Yalumba "The Signature" Handicap at Morphettville in Adelaide is heading to Melbourne.
"He's coming over on the first available transport and he'll run in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield," Noblet added. "If all goes well he'll then go into the Ascot Vale Stakes."
The gelding, who's raced by in form owner Des Pope (Rubitano and Innovation Girl among othrers), is already a Group Two winner and he's been nominated for the Group One Caulfield Guineas to be run in October.
PIC - Jenny Barnes.
Magic Millions Winner Milkshake Fights for Life
- Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00
Promising three-year-old Milkshake is fighting for his life after being rushed to the Werribee Equine Hospital last week.
A winner of the Magic Millions Classic at Cheltenham in Adelaide this year, Milkshake was tipped to have a bright future on the track by his astute trainer Colin Little.
Little, who prepared a winner (Penash) at Flemington yesterday, reported that the son of Encosta de Lago's condition was "a bit serious."
"He got an infected sesamoid, and we're all just hoping he is able to pull through," Little reported.
The gelding's part owner Jason Petch said the events of the past week had been very trying and he was hopeful Milkshake would recover.
"We're just not sure what's really going to happen," Petch said. "I guess the next few days are going to decide."
At the time of his Magic Millions triumph in February, which netted connections nearly $230,000, Petch described the win "as the greatest thrill in his life."
PIC - Jenny Barnes.
Melbourne Cup Entry Wins Group One in Germany
- Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00
Trained by Mark Johnston, the spritely ten-year-old proved too strong in the Credit Suisse Private Banking Pokal (G1) at Cologne yesterday.
At the end of the 2400 metre event the son of Accordion held a half length advantage over the classy three-year-old filly Salve Regina. Capable performer Millenary was third, a further four lengths back.
Although he is a ten-year-old, Yavana's Pace has only started on 36 occasions. His record includes ten wins and 12 minor placings.
Yavana's Pace is among 32 overseas entries for the $3,675,000 Tooheys New Melbourne Cup (3200m) to be run at Flemington on Tuesday November 5.
Johnston is set to aim the gelding at the Irish St Leger and from there the leading trainer will have a good idea of where he stands for a possible tilt at Australia's most famous race. The Irish St Leger will be run at the Curragh on September 14.
Incredibly yesterday's Group One win was Yavana's Pace first at Group One level, but Johnston feels it won't be his last. "He'll certainly come back as an eleven-year-old," he told Racing Post.
Tweak Keeps the Cerise Ball Rolling
- Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00
Yesterday at Flemington the talented four-year-old Tweak made if four wins in two days for the stable when he scored a one length win in the Rosemary Kenny Handicap (1800m).
A day earlier the stable won three races, including one dead heat success, to take training honours. The Sandown success came thanks to outright winners Old Man and Gradual and the dead heat winner Philotimo.
"We always seem to make a good start to the season," Hawkes' son and Melbourne foreman Wayne said.
"The new season, perhaps it's the new look that's doing the trick," he added. Hawkes along with leading jockeys Stephen Baster, Darren Gauci and Greg Childs had their heads shaved on Friday afternoon to raise money for Bluey Day.
Hawkes went close to a winning double at Flemington only to be denied when the former Sydney based Dashiki was run down in the shadows of the post by the Michael Moroney trained Auckland Blues.
Tweak's winning jockey yesterday Darren Gauci, who was also displaying the sleek shaved head, was given lavish praise by Wayne Hawkes.
"He's just sensational on front runners," Hawkes said. "He gets them to the front and then rates them perfectly."
Hawkes, at this early stage to the season, heads the Melbourne training premiership over Tony McEvoy and Michael Moroney.
It's funny what a couple of weeks can hold. In the last three weeks to the season the Hawkes stable couldn't buy a winner to try and knock off Lee Freedman in the premiership race, but now they are back to winning form.
"Yeah it's amazing how it works like that," Hawkes said. "We couldn't do a thing right during July, but now with the better horses stepping out the form has again switched around."