Sandown Abandoned After Three Races
- Wednesday, 07 September 2016 08:18
A Sandown meeting has been called off for the second time in two months with jockeys voting not to ride at the city course.
The July 20 meeting was abandoned after one race while three races were run on Wednesday before racing was abandoned.
Both meetings were held on Sandown's Lakeside circuit.
Jockeys first alerted Racing Victoria stewards to a problem on the home turn following race two after which a 400m section of track was aerated.
There were mixed reports following race three before jockeys were called before stewards and a secret ballot of riders in race four was taken.
The vote was five-four to abandon the meeting.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver said Wednesday's problem was in the same area that caused the July 20 meeting to be called off.
"It's unfortunate, especially when you get what looks a good track," Oliver said.
"There's obviously a problem with that section of the track. It's the second time it's happened now.
"They did some remedial work which we hoped would get us through the meeting but there were a couple of horses that lost their footing coming around the corner.
"It's not ideal for this time of year as we want the meetings to go ahead."
Oliver said recent meetings on the Hillside course had been run without any problem.
Melbourne Racing Club general manager of racing, Jake Norton, said the club would undertake a thorough investigation of the problem area.
He said there had been a problem with that same area of the track over the past three or four months, adding the club was accountable.
"Clearly it is something we have to investigate scientifically and understand how it happens," Norton said.
"Perhaps we need some land engineers to assist us with this process."
Norton said the track looked fine for racing but a strong northerly wind had possibly dried the track out more than anticipated.
Trainer Mitchell Beer had scratched his two runners only minutes before the meeting was abandoned at 2.53pm.
Beer said it did not matter if it was a country meeting or a city meeting, the most important thing was to get the horses home safely.
"A lot of people criticise jockeys but they are the ones that know these tracks," Beer said.
"A lot of them are Group One jockeys and they know what is going on.
"The welfare of horse and jockey must come first."
Sandown's next meeting is scheduled for November 12 on the Hillside course featuring the Zipping Classic.
Buffering Sizzles In Raceday Trial
- Wednesday, 07 September 2016 08:18
Jockey Damian Browne has a word of warning for his southern rivals following star sprinter Buffering's scintillating win in a barrier trial at Doomben.
Browne was quick to declare while he was happy with Buffering's effort he believed the gelding had improvement in him.
It was a startling statement because Buffering, who was ridden in a heavy saddle, ran 59.58 seconds for the 1050 metres, a tick outside the course record of 59.19s.
Buffering following a trial at Doomben
The eye-catching part of his run was the final 600m where he clocked a sizzling 32.14s.
Buffering took on four rivals in the trial between races including Group One winner Miss Cover Girl and Group One placed The Virginian.
It was Buffering's first serious hit-out since he was injured in the Hong Kong Chairman's Prize at Sha Tin on May 1.
"He pulled up a bit bigger than I hoped and was a bit thick in the wind," Browne said.
"I think there is some improvement in him. But I was happy with the way he went and he seemed to enjoy himself."
Trainer Robert Heathcote is on a short skiing holiday but will monitor Buffering in the next few days before committing him to a start in the Group One Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee valley on September 30.
Buffering's stablemate Hopfgarten was a well-beaten second in the trial but pleased his jockey Jim Byrne.
"it was a nice run behind a super horse," Byrne said.
Jockey Jeff Lloyd was happy with The Virginian, who finished third at his first hit out back since being placed in the Group One Stradbroke.
He said The Virginian showed no signs of the colic which caused him to be scratched on Saturday.
"He gave me a good feel and I liked the way he stretched out in the final 300 metres," Lloyd said.
The Virginian is now likely to run in the Testa Rossa Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday week with Damien Oliver to ride.
Trainer Kelly Schweida said Miss Cover Girl had been fair in the trial but he was still looking to run her in The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday week.
Omei Sword Looking For Backyard G1 Glory
- Wednesday, 07 September 2016 08:18
Chris Waller is confident Omei Sword has the strength to match it with the colts in the $1 million Golden Rose.
The lure of the rich Group One purse in Omei Sword's backyard at Rosehill on Saturday was enough to convince the trainer to take on the strong line-up of mostly males.
"What knocked me in the face was she's got to walk 100 metres from the stables to the tie-up stalls," Waller said.
"It's her home track for a Group One worth $1 million."
Omei Sword has shown her trainer she has the strength to measure up in the race but he hinted there was improvement still to come.
"She's not foolproof yet. She's still learning her trade," Waller said.
If she can win, Omei Sword will be the first filly to claim the race since it was elevated to Group One status in 2009.
Forensics won when it was run at Group Two level in April 2008 because of the equine influenza outbreak the previous spring.
Of 32 other female runners since 2003, three have been placed.
Waller said trainers' reluctance to race fillies against colts and geldings in the spring was behind the lopsided score card.
"From my personal perspective I would run 95 per cent of my fillies against their own sex because it's sheltered," Waller said.
"I would say that's been a big reason behind why there wouldn't be many fillies successful in the Golden Rose."
Group One-winning filly Yankee Rose has been well supported with bookmakers turning her in from $11 to $8 on Wednesday.
Omei Sword remains favourite but has eased from $3.20 to $3.50 while Run To The Rose winner Astern retains the second line of betting despite drifting to $4.20.
The other filly in the race, O'Reilly Cyrus, is at $101.
Waller said the timing of the Flight Stakes three weeks after the Golden Rose was perfect for Omei Sword.
She is likely to meet stablemate Foxplay in the Flight after that filly won the Group Two Furious Stakes in dominant fashion on Saturday.
The Rosehill track was in the soft range on Wednesday as temperatures broke into the low 20s.
Between four and eight millimetres of rain are predicted to fall in Sydney's west on Friday but fine conditions are expected for race day.
Lane Hopeful Ahead Of Makybe Diva Stakes
- Wednesday, 07 September 2016 08:18
Damian Lane's association with Rising Romance has yet to reap a big race reward despite a couple of near misses, but the jockey is hoping their day will come in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
Lane has finished second in three Group One races on the mare in the past year, including the 2015 Makybe Diva Stakes.
Their latest second placing came in the Group One Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 27 behind Black Heart Bart.
Lane admits Black Heart Bart is the one he fears most again in Saturday's Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington but is hoping Rising Romance can get the run of the race from barrier two.
"She's going really well and she's drawn barrier two which helps," Lane said.
"Obviously Black Heart Bart is going to be ultra-hard to beat again, but I couldn't be happier where she's at and the frame of mind she is in at the moment.
"I should be able to cuddle her up right on the back of the speed and save her for one short sprint at the end."
Black Heart Bart is the $2.25 favourite with Damien Oliver replacing the suspended Brad Rawiller.
His Darren Weir-trained stablemate Palentino is at $6 with Rising Romance and Tarzino at $10.
Rising Romance, winner of the 2014 Group One Australian Oaks, was narrowly beaten by Fawkner in the Makybe Diva last year.
"I was a touch unlucky on her in the Makybe Diva last year, so hopefully we can go one better," Lane said.
"She was three back on the fence and didn't get clear galloping room until the last 150 metres and Fawkner had the momentum on her."
The combination's other Group One runner-up finish was also at Flemington in the Mackinnon Stakes.
Lane is well acquainted with Black Heart Bart having gone close to winning the Newmarket Handicap on him earlier this year.
"He's a very good horse and the mile won't worry him a bit," he said.
NSW Saturday Races To Jump To $100k
- Tuesday, 06 September 2016 08:31
Sydney Saturday races will be worth a minimum $100,000 a race as part of a raft of prize money increases in NSW.
Australian Turf Club chief executive Darren Pearce said Group Two races would be worth a minimum of $200,000, Group Three races $150,000 and Listed races will jump to $125,000 with the increases to take place from October 1.
"Today marks a turning point for New South Wales racing after 10 years of toil and transformation," Pearce said.
ATC and Racing NSW members during a press conference
Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller said after a decade of tough times for NSW racing, it was now the best jurisdiction in the world.
"People don't realise that $100,000 prize money, you get $2000 back to 10th place," Waller said.
"There's just as many horses that run 10th as there are win races."
In a joint announcement on Tuesday, Racing NSW also announced increases for provincial and country meetings.
Country and Provincial Championships qualifying heats will be worth $150,000, while regular provincial races will rise to $30,000.
There is to be a $40,000 fortnightly provincial maiden race and 30 country restricted maiden races with the same purse.
Newcastle-based Group One trainer Kris Lees said the majority of horses in his stable were on the provincial and country circuit.
"To think that we're racing for that type of prize money in provincial and country areas is wonderful news," Lees said.
Lees said it would give his diverse ownership base a chance to cover training fees by winning country races.
"It's a really great influx for provincial and country racing," Lees said.
A feature race worth $150,000 will be added to selected metropolitan meetings including Randwick's Melbourne Cup day meeting, and night racing programs will have an $80,000 feature race added to them.
Racing NSW chairman John Messara said the money would come from the sale of digital media rights, Race Fields legislation fees and tax parity.
Pearce flagged infrastructure improvements including racetrack upgrades and rebuilds as well as a synthetic track for Sydney, likely to be at Warwick Farm.
He also foreshadowed the expansion of night racing, currently held at Canterbury, to Randwick and in the longer-term Rosehill.