Joseph Loses Appeal

Monday, 13 December 2010 06:45

Popular Canberra trainer Barbara Joseph has lost her appeal against the severity of a two month suspension for the use of a prohibited substance.

The Joseph-trained Follow The Command was found to have the banned aminocaproic acid in his system after winning at Wagga Wagga in August, 2009.

Joseph received a second two month suspension for having a non-registered substance in her stable with the bans to be served concurrently.

Racing NSW has given permission for an interim period of seven days for Joseph's son and training partner Paul Jones to take over as sole trainer.

Rock Kingdom Heads Canberra Cup Weights

Tuesday, 23 November 2010 07:15

Group One winner Rock Kingdom heads the weights for Sunday's Canberra Cup with 59 kilograms, three more than Victorians Red Buttons and Rockpecker.

The winner of the 2009 Epsom Handicap, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Rock Kingdom heads 32 entries for $200,000 feature over 2000 metres.

Last year's runner-up Spinney has 55.5kg while 2009 winner Macknuckle goes up half a kilo to 54.5kg.

Red Buttons is prepared by Michael Kent and has won his past three starts including the Moe and Kyneton Cups.

Kent is on a country Cups roll having won Sunday's Ballarat Cup with My Bentley.

There are 10 two-year-olds entered for the Black Opal Qualifier, the winner of which is exempt from a ballot on the 2011 Black Opal Stakes.

Karuta Queen High And Dry In Big Wet

Friday, 10 December 2010 05:15

Queanbeyan has experienced its worst flood in years this week but local trainer Neville Layt doesn't expect the weather to have any major impact on Karuta Queen's Magic Millions preparation.

"We've worked the horses but we haven't been able to do what we normally want to do," Layt said.

"But in saying that, Karuta Queen was going to do nothing this week anyway.

"It's been bedlam with the rain but I'm just one of the lucky ones, I'm on a sort of hill where the only thing I've got is waterlogged yards.

"As far as the tracks go, yesterday all we could do was get them (the horses) out for some exercise, we couldn't get them on the tracks at all."

Layt's stables are on course at Queanbeyan racetrack which he said was about two kilometres from the Queanbeyan River and was safe from the flood.

"All we've had is waterlogged tracks and a lot of meetings washed out," he said.

Nominations for next month's $2 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast closed on Friday.

Karuta Queen, unbeaten in three starts including her 2-1/4-length Wyong Magic Millions victory on Sunday, is likely to head into the Gold Coast feature on January 15 without another start.

"I honestly believe that it's going to take a really smart one at the Gold Coast, if she draws right, to beat her," Layt said.

The trainer is looking to head to Coffs Harbour in early January to set up base in a "nice quiet environment" ahead of the filly's Gold Coast mission.

Layt is favouring just giving the daughter of Not A Single Doubt a barrier trial, possibly at the Gold Coast, ahead of the race.

Not since champion sprinter Takeover Target burst onto the scene winning his first seven races has a Queanbeyan-based horse made such an impact in Sydney.

Takeover Target thrust his owner-trainer Joe Janiak into the spotlight and took him all over the world in a glittering career.

While Karuta Queen isn't expected to reach the same dizzying heights, Layt believes the filly is a "Group horse" and declared after the win at Wyong on Sunday: "I think she'll take me on the ride of my life".

Kent After More Cups Success

Monday, 22 November 2010 08:15

Victorian trainer Mick Kent's plunder of feature Cups could continue in the national capital on Sunday.

The Kent-trained Red Buttons is among 20 early nominations for the $200,000 Canberra Cup (2000m).

In one of the Victorian spring carnival's hottest streaks, Kent claimed the Cranbourne Cup with Starmon and the Moe and Kyneton Cups with Red Buttons before preparing My Bentley to win Sunday's Ballarat Cup.

Other Victorian-trained entries so far include Ballarat Cup placegetter Allanthus, veteran stayer Fast Future and Rockpecker.

Michael Rodd has a booking - with provisos - for Fast Future, an eight-year-old he rode to a Moonee Valley placing on Saturday.

Rodd was suspended over a Seymour ride last week but is expected to appeal.

He also needs Fast Future to be given 54kg or more when weights are released on Wednesday.

Two Group One winners - the 2009 New Zealand Derby hero Coniston Bluebird and last year's Epsom Handicap winner Rock Kingdom - are among the early entries.

Macknuckle is also nominated as he bids for successive wins in the Listed race.

Nominations for the Canberra Cup meeting close on Tuesday.

Macknuckle Wins Second Canberra Cup

Sunday, 28 November 2010 07:15

The locals were cheering on Sunday as Macknuckle became just the fourth horse to claim back-to-back Canberra Cups.

The Bernie Howlett and Dwayne Dunn combination got the job done again with the Canberra stayer bursting to the front in the straight to win the $200,000 Listed event by a half neck.

"It's a big thrill, especially being the home town Cup," Howlett said.

Howlett and the horse's excited owners celebrated the back-to-back victory with some of the owners bursting into their own special victory song during the winners' presentation.

Mackuckle ($4.60 fav) went into the race at his fourth run back from a spell and fitness was Howlett's major worry ahead of the 2000m contest.

"I thought he might have been a run short," Howlett said.

"I think his class prevailed in the end."

The six-year-old was given the run of the race by Dunn just behind the speed and the Melbourne-based hoop produced Macknuckle at the right time as the field straightened for home.

He sprinted quickly to go past topweight Rock Kingdom, but the Gai Waterhouse-trained Group One winner rallied over the final 200 metres as Macknuckle started to feel the pinch.

As they hit the line Macknuckle was able to hold Rock Kingdom ($8) at bay with Fast Future ($9) finishing strongly to grab third, another long head away.

"He (Dunn) put him in a lovely position, the guy is a class rider," Howlett said.

Macknuckle is likely to progress to the summer staying races in Sydney with the Christmas Cup at Rosehill and also the Summer Cup at Randwick on Boxing Day on the agenda.

Dunn said he was aware of the slight fitness doubt on Macknuckle which is why he positioned the gelding a little closer than his winning ride a year earlier.

"He's only fallen in today but he's done a great job and to win back to back is fantastic," Dunn said.

"These sorts of horses really thrill you because they are very genuine."

While the crowd welcomed the local win, the race certainly didn't pan out the way another visiting Melbourne jockey, Michael Rodd, had hoped.

Rodd was dislodged from Rockpecker shortly after the start and the horse virtually took no part in the race.

"He spotted something in the centre of the racecourse, whether it was the TV or tote board and he shied left," Rodd said.

"Lucky there were two horses on our outside or I might have gone through the fence."

Picture: Sportpix

Moses Plays Waiting Game With Stayer

Monday, 22 November 2010 08:15

A decision on where Let Them Have It races this weekend will be delayed until nominations for the Canberra Cup are released.

Trainer Kevin Moses believes Sunday's 2000m feature at Canberra will shape as a tougher option than racing over 1800 metres at Randwick a day earlier but will leave the final decision to owner Joe O'Gara.

No matter which day he races, the emerging stayer will have the services of Peter Robl who rode him to his last-start win at Rosehill.

Moses will stick solid with Robl who will front stewards on Friday along with Blake Shinn to answer charges related to bets the pair made on his wife Elaine Robl's TAB account.

"The main aim for Let Them Have It is the Summer Cup on Boxing Day," Moses said.

"I don't know yet which race he will run in, probably Saturday is the easier option but it will be the owner's decision.

"Peter Robl rode him very well last time and he will be on again whichever day he races."

There were 19 entries for the Benchmark 85 race at Randwick on Monday and already there 20 nominations for the Canberra Cup.

Canberra Cup entries close on Tuesday.

Let Them Have It, who has won three of his eight starts, is by Song Of Tara, the sire of Moses's first Group One winner No Wine No Song who took out the 2008 Sydney Cup.

Song Of Tara stands at O'Gara's Tobermory Stud and serves a small group of his owners' mares each year.

Moses also entered Estancia Rios in the same race as Let Them Have It but the mare is more likely to run in the 1550-metre race on the program.

She ran five lengths seventh over 1400 metres to Dances On Waves last Saturday week but Moses said he was hoping she could reproduce her previous start when she was third in a three-way photo behind Turnstiles and Balmont over 1500 metres.

"It was too short for her last time and I think she will be better suited over the 1550 metres," he said.

Stablemate Perfect Silhouette was one of 27 entries for the 1150-metre race for four-year-olds and over while Posh Chic was nominated in the race for three-year-olds over the same distance.

"Perfect Silhouette will run but Posh Chic will trial tomorrow and will probably miss Saturday," Moses said.

"Her aim is the Magic Millions three-year-old race at Wyong the week after."

The Wyong meeting on December 5 features the Magic Millions 2YO Stakes over 1000 metres and the three-year-old race over 1200 metres.

Buttons After Another Lucrative Cup

Saturday, 27 November 2010 02:45

He may be coming off Moe and Kyneton Cup wins but trainer Mick Kent says Red Buttons needs to go to another level if he's to continue his winning run in the Canberra Cup.

"This is going to be a much harder race for him," Kent said.

Red Buttons arrived in the nation's capital on Saturday morning ahead of Sunday's $200,000 Listed Canberra Cup (2000m) in which he is the $6 second favourite behind Group One winner Rock Kingdom ($5).

Despite being in excellent winning form, Kent said it was difficult to gauge just where Red Buttons sat in the Canberra Cup equation.

"He certainly deserves a crack at the race but I can't line them up very well," the trainer said.

"He hasn't really beaten anything of note but he's a good, consistent, genuine horse and there's really nothing else left for him down here (in Victoria) at the moment."

Brad Rawiller rode Red Buttons to win at both Moe and Kyneton but with him riding in Perth at Saturday's Winterbottom Stakes meeting, big-race jockey Glen Boss will be in the saddle at Canberra.

Boss has won on Red Buttons in the past and also combined with Kent to win the Cranbourne Cup on Starmon last month.

"I really don't know how he (Red Buttons) will go against this quality of horses but he's worked well, he was originally from Sydney so he's raced that way of going, and he's got a good jockey," Kent said.

"I'm hopeful rather than expectant."

Six-year-old Red Buttons has played a major role in a successful Cups raid by Kent this spring.

My Bentley's win in last Sunday's Ballarat Cup added to the trainer's Cup success at Moe, Kyneton and Cranbourne.

Favourite Rock Kingdom, meanwhile, will be out to give Gai Waterhouse her fourth Canberra Cup following wins to Jay Bee Cee (1995), Regal Touch (2000) and So Assertive (2004).

Waterhouse's stable jockey Nash Rawiller has also tasted Canberra Cup success on Blutigeroo two years ago, and is out to claim a 2010 Canberra feature double having won the Black Opal Stakes on Decision Time in March.

Last year's winner Macknuckle is back to defend his crown and is third favourite at $7.50.

Consistency Ratings Snare Trifecta & First 4!

Friday, 13 August 2010 04:20

The Virtual Formguide’s consistency ratings proved their worth on Thursday as it correctly found the Trifecta and First 4 of the sixth race at Canberra.

The Consistency ratings selected Hot ‘N’ Moss as the top pick in the eight horse field.

Consistency Ratings Top 4

10           Hot 'n' Moss

4              Messy Times

8              Rusty Toy

12           Manu Peru

The result wasn’t too dissimilar.

Result – All Prices Uni-Tab

4              Messy Times ($2.90 Win & $1.50 Place)

10           Hot 'n' Moss ($1.70 Place)

8              Rusty Toy ($3.10 Place)

12           Manu Peru

Trifecta: $135.80

First 4: $478.60

Prices to subscribe for The Virtual Formguide’s exclusive Consistency Ratings start from $13.

A subscription will give you access to the Virtual FormGuide Consistency Ratings for all meetings every day.

For 130 meetings per month, this is a cost of less than 40c per meeting!

Use the Pay Subscription option in the Member Menu to subscribe to the Virtual FormGuide Consistency Ratings.

Go here to purchase your subscription using PayPal or Visa, Mastercard or AMEX. You can also advise of a bank transfer or cheque payment.

You will need to be a Registered Member of the Virtual FormGuide site to subscribe.

Click here if you are a Registered Member to log in.

If you can't remember your login click here.

If you can't remember your password click here.

If you are not yet registered click here.

Trainer Praying For Rain Ahead Of Cup

Friday, 26 November 2010 03:45

Tony Sergi has been keeping an eye on the skies and also the weather channel as he prays for rain ahead of Sunday's Listed Canberra Cup.

Sergi trains Cup hopeful With Ice, a mare who will be out to reverse her last-start Goulburn Cup performance where she struck an unsuitably firm surface and finished last.

"If the track can get a bit rain affected on Sunday and if she gets free running she can bounce back," Sergi said.

"We're hoping for a wet track and I think the 2000 metres will suit her."

With Ice showed her credentials on rain-affected surfaces with four wins and two placings in six starts throughout winter in Sydney this year.

Sergi gave the six-year-old a 10-week let-up after her ninth in August's Listed Premier's Cup (1800m) on a good track and the Queanbeyan-based trainer then set his sights on preparing the mare for the Canberra Cup.

With Ice was sixth in the $200,000 race won by Macknuckle, who will be a rival again on Sunday, last year.

"We've been watching the sky, watching the weather channel and hoping the rain does come on Saturday and Sunday morning," Sergi said.

"As long as there is a bit of give in the ground it will suit her."

A full field of 16 plus four emergencies will contest the Cup and With Ice came up with barrier six.

Group One winner Rock Kingdom is topweight with 59kg from barrier two with Sydney's leading jockey Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

In-form Victorian Red Buttons drew gate 12 and big-race hoop Glen Boss will make the trip to the nation's capital to ride the Moe and Kyneton Cups winner.

Sergi fears the class runners at the top of the weights.

"There's some good horses in the race, if you look through the form the top four or five horses are quite strong," he said.

Joseph Charged Over Acid

Friday, 23 April 2010 07:49

Top Canberra trainer Barbara Joseph will face two charges after a urine sample taken from Follow The Command following his win at Wagga in August was found to contain aminocaproic acid.

Racing NSW stewards on Friday adjourned the inquiry to a date to be fixed so they could give consideration as to whether aminocaproic acid, an anti-bleeding agent, should be regarded as a prohibited substance under the rules of racing.

Joseph was charged with a breach of AR178E(1) of having caused to be administered a medication in the form of an intravenous injection of aminocaproic acid to Follow the Command on race day prior to that gelding winning the Rating 72 Handicap at Wagga Wagga on August 9, 2009.

She was further charged with a breach of AR80E in that she had in her possession on that day at her Canberra stable premises a substance or preparation, namely a bottle of injectable aminocaproic acid that had not been registered, labelled, prescribed, dispensed or obtained in compliance with relevant State and Commonwealth legislation.

At the request of Joseph the hearing of both charges was also adjourned to a date to be fixed.