Bargain Buy Chasing Hat-trick

Friday, 12 March 2010 01:45

Handy mare Redemiyev, purchased for just $1,500 as a tried maiden galloper, heads to Queanbeyan on Saturday looking for a hat-trick of wins.

Trained by John Nisbet in Canberra, the four-year-old lines up in the First Class Accountants F&M Benchmark 55 Handicap (1100m).

Redemiyev, by American stallion Fasliyev, has flourished under Nisbet returning $26,700 from three wins and five placings in 11 starts with the former top jockey.

The mare was purchased by June Baker as a future broodmare prospect.

"She had four runs when trained out of Warwick Farm and hadn't won a race," Nisbet said.

"June, a regular client of mine, got her cheap and she's managed to prove a pretty good money-spinner."

Redemiyev was sent to the breeding barn last year after winning over 900m at Queanbeyan in August but failed to get into foal, with Baker subsequently putting her back in work with Nisbet.

After the failed mating, the mare scored handsomely first-up at Queanbeyan on February 23 in a Benchmark 55 handicap over 900m with tomorrow's rider Roly Saxton in the saddle.

"She was in work for about ten weeks before Queanbeyan and came to hand quickly," Nisbet said.

"She's been a mare that has had a few traits, she tends to want to pull in her work and shy at everything, but with time, she's slowly improved.

"I guess you could say she's been awkward.

"I ride her to work every day, we use a butterfly bit to settle her, and you've just got to be patient. When she gets on with you she gets on with you.

"She's racing well at present, has come back from the break in good order and importantly, while she got beaten at her first try at the track by twelve lengths, she's taken a liking to racing at Queanbeyan."

Redemiyev has two wins and a second from four Queanbeyan starts.

"It (Queanbeyan) can be a tricky track," Nisbet said.

"But when horses handle it they seem to keep handling it.

"Redemiyev has drawn shocking tomorrow (barrier 16) and that's a concern but it's a good start from the 1100 metres and she has enough early speed to be prominent, hopefully somewhere with cover.

"I think there are more wins in her before she goes back to stud."

Basaltico To Have First Start For Walter

Tuesday, 02 March 2010 09:17

Imported stayer Basaltico will have his first start for new trainer Guy Walter in Sunday's Listed National Sprint at Canberra.

Basaltico was brought to Australia by former trainer Luca Cumani for last year's Melbourne Cup in which he finished 18th after running seventh in the Geelong Cup at his only other Australian start.

Walter got the horse to train earlier this year when he was phoned by one of the stayer's managing owners, Terry Henderson from Oti Racing, asking if he was interested in training the horse.

The six-year-old gelding has won six of his 23 starts with three wins over 1800m, one over 2200m and two over 2400m in Europe.

"He's a nice little horse, a proven stayer," Walter said.

"Obviously the 1400 metres (of the National Sprint) is well short of his best but he's probably looking at the Easter carnival (in Sydney) and also Brisbane."

Walter also has the unbeaten three-year-old Al Dhafra set for the Canberra Guineas (1400m), and possibly Tie The Knot's half-brother Hood if he gains a start.

The $250,000 Black Opal Stakes for two-year-olds received 23 nominations.

Decision Time Takes Out Black Opal

Sunday, 07 March 2010 07:15

Four-time Golden Slipper winning trainer Clarry Conners added the Black Opal Stakes to his tally of feature juvenile wins when Decision Time raced to victory at Canberra on Sunday.

Decision Time is now unbeaten from four starts and has stamped himself as a genuine Golden Slipper prospect in the minds of Conners and jockey Nash Rawiller.

The two-year-old is not currently nominated for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 3 but his win on Sunday in the $250,000 1200m feature puts him a step closer to connections paying the $150,000 late entry fee.

Decision Time, who started the $3.10 favourite, got himself out of an awkward position coming to the home turn but once Rawiller was able to get the gelding clear he showed a strong turn of foot to defeat Lohan ($16) by a length with Butt I'm Ready ($10) a half head away in third.

"He's a better horse than I thought he was," Conners said.

"You can't win on the fence today. My instructions were to go out wide so it was a big effort.

"He just keeps getting better every time he goes around."

Conners sais the decision to go to the Golden Slipper would be left to Decision Time's owners but the trainer believed he would be a genuine chance in the race.

Conners has won the Golden Slipper with Burst, Tierce, Prowl and Belle Du Jour.

"It's up to the owners but if they don't go they're silly, because he could go out and win it," the trainer said.

"It's terrific to win this race, I've never won a Black Opal so it goes on the mantelpiece."

Rawiller had ridden Decision Time in his two Sydney wins and was only too happy to travel to Canberra to partner him in the Black Opal.

"It was a sensational effort by the horse," Rawiller said.

"He got into a precarious spot and the momentum of the field got about a length and a half on us while we were waiting for a run to come.

"He showed a tremendous turn of foot to put the race away inside the final 150 metres, it was a tremendous effort."

Rawiller believes Decision Time is right up there with the best two-year-olds to step out this season.

"He's very professional with a tremendous attitude," he said.

"A turn of foot is what wins races and he's got a very good one."

Ridden by Dale Spriggs on debut at Kembla Grange, Decision Time remains unbeaten after four starts.

Lohan's jockey Jay Ford said the Tim Martin-trained filly ran a terrific race from her wide barrier.

"Had she drawn an alley she might have gone close," Ford said.

"Her run was good but she has also run into a very good horse."

Gary Portelli was aiming for his fourth Black Opal with Butt I'm Ready but had to settle for third.

He said he would keep Butt I'm Ready in the stable for the time being and decide whether to press on and try to get into the Golden Slipper.

Picture: Sportpix

Canberra To Hold Industry Forum Over Legislation

Wednesday, 10 February 2010 02:22

Canberra racing officials have called an industry forum next week following the decision by the ACT government to keep funds received from the race fields legislation in its own coffers.

The ACT government passed the Racing Amendment Bill 2009 in December which outlines plans for race fields legislation to be introduced effective from March 1 this year.

Under the Bill, all wagering operators wanting to bet on races in the ACT will need to pay a fee.

However, unlike other states where it is proposed that the fees paid will be returned to the racing industry and put towards prizemoney, the ACT government will not be passing on the revenue it receives.

"This is in direct contrast to every other state where race fields legislation has been introduced ... those state governments have maintained the existing funding model and passed on the revenue from race fields legislation as additional revenue to the racing industry," the Canberra Racing Club said in a statement on its website.

"The level of prizemoney and the number of race meetings that the (ACT race) clubs can fund and conduct is under threat because of the government's failure to recognise the racing industry's rightful entitlement to this new revenue stream."

Officials are encouraging anybody with an interest in racing to attend the forum to discuss the sport's future in the ACT.

It will be held next Wednesday at Thoroughbred Park in Canberra.

The race fields legislation will affect thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing and representatives from all three codes will attend the meeting.

Al Dhafra Earns Chance At Sydney Autumn

Sunday, 07 March 2010 05:45

Promising three-year-old Al Dhafra kept his unbeaten record intact with a brilliant win in the $100,000 Canberra Guineas on Sunday and will now take aim at the Sydney autumn carnival.

Al Dhafra settled at the back of the field in the 1400m event but rounded up his rivals with ease in the straight to defeat the Peter Snowden-trained Offhanded by 1-1/4 lengths with another Snowden runner Sigma a further 4-1/4 lengths away in third.

Trainer Guy Walter said he was now likely to set Al Dhafra for the Group Two Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 20 but did not rule out a crack at the Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) a week later.

"I was very impressed, I thought it was a terrific win," Walter said.

"We planned to ride him back from the wide gate but he's obviously learning to relax.

"We didn't think he would get that far back but to see him finish like that was very, very good."

Walter said Al Dhafra, who made it four wins from as many starts, had the scope to get to a middle distance over the autumn carnival.

"Perhaps he'll go to the Phar Lap Stakes and the Frank Packer Plate but we'll see how we go," he said.

Al Dhafra hadn't raced for five weeks heading into the Guineas so his effort to pick them up and win so easily was encouraging for Walter and jockey Kathy O'Hara.

Al Dhafra had previously won a Goulburn Maiden over 1200m last December before winning a Class One at Canberra over 1400m on January 8.

He then showed he was a horse with much potential when he scored a tough win at Rosehill over 1500m on January 23.

"He's a magnificent looking horse," Walter said.

"He's strong physically, he's getting better all the time and he's a wonderful type."

O'Hara, who has made headlines in recent weeks through her association with Golden Slipper-bound filly Chance Bye, said the best part of the gelding's win was the way he relaxed during the run.

"He's a promising type and his effort today was excellent because it was five weeks between runs and after the race he wouldn't have blown a candle out," O'Hara said.

"A couple of times before he's been a bit keen but it was really good to see him relax today. He worked into the race nicely at the right time and it was a soft win in the end."

Konedobu Chasing Overdue Cup Win

Sunday, 06 December 2009 01:45

Local trainer Murray Irving hopes a home track advantage can finally bring Cup success to Konedobu in Monday's South Jerrabomberra Christmas Cup (2600m) at Queanbeyan.

The tough seven-year-old gelding will be backing up after finishing runner-up in Saturday's Cooma Cup (1600m).

He has been placed in the Queanbeyan, Cootamundra and Cooma Cups and Irving figures his charge is due for a change of luck.

"He's due to win one and deserves to," Irving said.

Konedobu has never raced beyond 2400m but Irving remains adamant the seven-time winner will handle the extra trip.

"He works around Queanbeyan two laps most days and he's a big tall horse," Irving said.

"He's very clean winded too.

"I think they'll amble along in the first half then pick up the pace from the 800 metres.

"He'll get the trip even with 59 kilos.

"The weight shouldn't worry him either. His track rider weights 80 kilos."

Konedobu is raced by Irving and his partner, Joanne Roberson.

He purchased the gelding as a yearling at the Inglis summer sale in Sydney, the gelding winning more than $78,000 from a 77 start career that also includes 20 placings.

Konedobu scored successive wins over 2000m at Canberra on October 17 and November 10 before his 14th to Macknuckle in the Canberra Cup on November 29.

"You can forget the Canberra Cup run," Irving said.

"Coming out of the straight he was with the leading bunch then nearly fell at the crossing.

"He got on the wrong leg, copped more trouble at the 800 metres when they were all going forward and the run can be forgotten."

At Cooma on Saturday, Konedobu tracked the field early and sustained a long run from the 800m to go under by a length to Sebony.

"He was picking them up and closing over an unsuitable trip," Irving said.

"He came home that night, stuck his head in the feed bin and has pulled up well. He's backed up well before.

"I'll give him a sprint up tomorrow morning before the race and provided he shows no signs of soreness he'll go around."

Late Fee Decision Time In Black Opal

Thursday, 04 March 2010 06:15

Nash Rawiller is more than happy to travel to Canberra on Sunday to ride unbeaten youngster Decision Time in the Black Opal Stakes, believing the gelding is a genuine Golden Slipper prospect.

Decision Time, who Rawiller has ridden in his past two wins in Sydney, is not entered for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 3.

However, a win in the $250,000 Listed event at Canberra on Sunday would go a long way towards connections paying the $150,000 late entry fee to put him into the race.

The Clarry Conners-trained two-year-old has drawn barrier five for the 1200m contest in Canberra.

"He's a really promising horse," Rawiller said.

"He's the sort of horse who keeps improving, he's still green but he keeps lifting the bar.

"Every run he's finding an extra couple of lengths which is really good heading into a (Golden) Slipper and I'm more than happy to go down and ride him (on Sunday). I'm looking forward to getting back on him."

Decision Time won on debut at Kembla Grange in January before Conners took him to a midweek two-year-old race over 1000 metres on the Kensington Track on February 10.

He won that by 2-1/2 lengths in good style and then took another step up winning at Rosehill on February 20 in a 1200m 2YO Open Handicap.

That victory was enough to suggest to Rawiller that the son of Foreplay was a legitimate Golden Slipper chance should he get to the race.

"It might be different after Saturday, but I don't think there's anything other than maybe Chance Bye that has come out and really said `the Slipper is mine' this year, and (Decision Time) is a very competitive horse," he said.

Rawiller has only had one previous ride at Canberra for a win in the Canberra Cup on Blutigeroo (2000m) in November 2008.

Picture: Sportpix

Macknuckle Wins Home Town Cup

Sunday, 29 November 2009 07:59

Local horse Macknuckle has scored a dominant win in the Canberra Cup for prominent trainer Bernie Howlett.

Victorian jockey Dwayne Dunn made the trip to partner the five-year-old who racked up his eighth win from 28 starts when he beat Spinney by 2-3/4 lengths.

Vintage Rock was another two lengths third in the 2000m feature carrying $200,000 prizemoney.

A consistent performer in city class, Macknuckle won the Wagga Cup earlier this year before travelling to Queensland where he was placed in Group Three Premier's Cup at Doomben and the Listed Ipswich Cup.

Macknuckle's cheque for the Canberra Cup boosted his prizemoney to more than $430,000.

Further south, Syndrome took out the Wodonga Cup (1590,) on a slow track.

Trained by Mike Moroney and ridden by Luke Nolen, Syndrome beat Berringama by a length with Dr Nipandtuck a nose third.

Opal Could Be Feast Or Famine For Ryan

Wednesday, 03 March 2010 10:00

Gerald Ryan will wait until Thursday's barrier draw for the Listed Black Opal Stakes to determine where city winner Top Drop runs this weekend.

The colt is also among acceptances for the Group Three Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday, although Ryan favours a trip to Canberra.

"If he draws well in Canberra he'll go there," Ryan said.

"The Black Opal was always the race we set him for, it's over 1200 metres on a big track and a good track.

"But if he draws wide at Canberra we'll go to Warwick Farm where we can ride him back because there looks to be a bit of speed in that race."

Top Drop has gate six in the 10-strong field for the Kindergarten Stakes.

There are 23 entries for Sunday's Black Opal with the Peter Snowden-trained Secession the 57kg topweight under the set weights plus penalties conditions.

Top Drop has 56kg as does stablemate Lonchero who has also been paid up for a race at Canterbury on Thursday night.

Ryan said connections would decide in the next 24 hours which race Lonchero would contest.

The Listed Black Opal is one of three feature races on Sunday's program along with the Listed National Sprint (1400m) and the Canberra Guineas (1400m).

Road To Rock is the 61kg topweight for the Sprint but will bypass the race in favour of Saturday's Group One Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm.

Other notable entries include import Basaltico for Guy Walter, the Lee Freedman-trained pair of Sound Of Nature and Dane Julia and Group winner McClintock.

Last year's Black Opal winner Delago Bolt heads weights for the Guineas with 59kg while the Walter-trained Hood, a half-brother to champion Tie The Knot, has 55kg.

Acceptances for the feature Canberra meeting will be taken on Thursday.

Joseph's Incentive To Win Canberra Cup

Friday, 27 November 2009 05:45

Local premiership-winning trainer Barbara Joseph has an extra incentive to win her first Canberra Cup on Sunday.

A leading trainer for many years in Canberra, Joseph has Vintage Rock in the $200,000 Listed 2000-metre feature.

"I've won the premiership and plenty of races here but never the Canberra Cup or the Black Opal," Joseph said.

"It would be fantastic to win the race, especially now with it being such great prizemoney.

"It would be even more exciting to win it because my husband Peter and I have a third of the horse, so there's something extra in it for us."

Six-year-old Vintage Rock is already stakes-placed having run a half a length third to Blutigeroo in last year's Canberra Cup.

The Thunder Gulch mare comes into Sunday's race off a fourth to Parfumier in the Goulburn Cup (1600m) on November 20.

Prior to that she was a close fourth to Hussenor at Randwick over 1400 metres.

"I don't think it's quite as strong as last year, it's a pretty even race this year and she's a lot stronger now too," Joseph said.

"This mare has never run a bad race at Canberra."

Vintage Rock has barrier 11 and will be ridden by Peter Robl.

"A couple of the leaders are outside her and I'm hoping that she'll be able to be about midfield," Joseph said.

"We're definitely in there with an each-way chance."

Joseph said Vintage Rock would have a short break after Sunday.

"We'll then race her through the autumn and will probably send her to stud in the spring next year," Joseph said.

Vintage Rock has six wins and nine placings from 27 starts and has won more than $150,000 in prizemoney.