Waller To Train Shoot Out

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 06:48

Multiple Group One winner Shoot Out has transferred stables and will now be trained by Sydney's premier trainer Chris Waller.

Formerly trained by John Wallace, Shoot Out missed this year's Melbourne spring carnival after an unsuccessful autumn campaign in Sydney and Brisbane.

Shoot OutWallace instead opted to allow Shoot Out, a horse with a history of niggling back problems, time to recover from his five start campaign which culminated in a placing in the Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup (2400m).

However the Waller stable issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon confirming that Shoot Out will join their stable with a view to getting the son of High Chaparral ready for the Sydney autumn carnival.

Waller said he was "privileged and honoured" to have the "arduous task"of buliding on the work Wallace has done with the horse.

"This horse has reached the greatest heights in racing," Waller said before adding, "I congratulate the job, both him and his staff, have done with this horse up until now.

"For any trainer it is difficult to lose such a horse and to my understanding there has certainly been no falling out between the owners (Graham and Linda Huddy) and trainer, with the owners speaking very highly of Mr Wallace.

"The owners have indicated that the horse may benefit from a change of environment after struggling to recapture his best form in the past twelve months.

Chris Waller"With the upcoming Sydney Carnival approaching and the likelihood of him returning to racing sometime throughout this period, it seemed logical to make Sydney his new base."

Shoot Out won two Group 1's as a three-year-old, the Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Australian Derby (2400m).

He returned as a four-year-old in fine form, winning the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 JJ Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Shoot Out has since been unable to win in 11 starts, with him placed only once at Group 1 level (a third in the 2010 Turnbull Stakes) from seven attempts at the elite level.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin & Sportpix

Overseas Options Beckon For Ortensia

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 05:46

Plans for Group One Winterbottom Stakes winner Ortensia will be finalised later this week but a trip overseas remains a serious option.

Trainer Paul Messara plans to meet with the mare's owners in the next couple of days to decide whether to head to New Zealand for the Group One Railway Stakes (1200m) on New Year's Day.

"New Zealand is still on the agenda," Messara said.

"Whether we go there or tip her out, or we might have a crack overseas somewhere, not just New Zealand but maybe kick on to Dubai.

"There are a few options to discuss."

Ortensia landed a deserved Group One win in the Winterbottom in Perth last start after being disqualified from her first placing in the 2010 Galaxy at Randwick due to a positive swab.

Messara, who only took over her training from Tony Noonan earlier this year, has now produced Ortensia for two wins from as many starts.

The elite victory at Ascot was especially gratifying.

"It was great, fabulous. And it was great for her value as a broodmare, especially after she had the other one (Galaxy win) taken away," Messara said.

Messara will chase further black-type success at Rosehill on Saturday when Chateau Fort lines up in the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m).

The four-year-old lost all chance first-up at Flemington when he bungled the start then disappointed Messara last time out when eleventh to stablemate Trauma.

"He disappointed us with his last run. We couldn't put a finger on anything that went wrong so we've pressed on to Saturday," Messara said.

Chateau Fort, who won the Group Three Gunsynd Classic (1600m) during the Brisbane winter carnival, needs to perform in the Festival to earn a shot at next month's Villiers Stakes (1600m).

Fat Al Has Big Things In Store

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 06:46

Sydney's premier jockey Nash Rawiller wouldn't be surprised to see Fat Al progress to next year's AJC Australian Derby after guiding him to a dominant win at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Rawiller rode Hendricus when he defeated Fat Al in the lucrative Inglis Bonus Mile (1600m) at Warwick Farm last Saturday week but jumped aboard the Gai Waterhouse-trained gelding for Wednesday's Inglis Handicap (1900m).

Fat Al started the $1.75 favourite and Rawiller took him to the front from the outset.

After taking the home turn awkwardly, Fat Al powered away in the straight to score by 5-1/4-lengths over Duty Bound with Falklands a long neck away third.

"He's a lovely horse, it's just that the penny hasn't really dropped with him yet," Rawiller said.

"Neil Paine rides him in his trackwork and I spoke to him this morning and he was adamant he would be a better horse ridden with a sit and given something to chase.

"It's something he might be able to do later on but today wasn't the day to do it because there was no pace and I wanted to ride him like he was the best horse in the race."

Rawiller said with experience the son of Al Maher would be up to better class races next preparation which could include taking aim at the Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

"Quite possibly," Rawiller said.

"In the autumn that might be his main aim."

Trainer David Pfieffer has a more immediate goal in mind for three-year-old Safusa who'll head to the $100,000 Wyong Magic Millions 3YO Stakes (1200m) on December 22.

Safusa began well in Wednesday's De Bortoli Wines Handicap (1200m) to sit on the speed before racing away to a 1-3/4-length victory over Kernel with Flying Zero third.

The Pfieffer-trained Graceful Anna won the Wyong race two years ago on her to winning the $1 million Magic Millions 3YO Trophy at the Gold Coast.

Smart Missile Getting Ready To Fire

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 05:46

A stronger and more mature Smart Missile has returned to Anthony Cummings' stable to begin the build-up to an ambitious autumn sprinting program.

Smart Missile, who remains the only horse to have toppled superstar Sepoy, has five Group One targets pencilled in which could include a clash with champion Black Caviar depending on her schedule.

"He came back in yesterday and looks really good," Cummings said.

"He's broader across his backside, broader across the shoulder and he just looks really healthy and well."

Cummings is aiming the exciting colt at the Lightning Stakes (1000m) first-up on February 18 at Flemington.

The Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and William Reid Stakes (1200m) are also pencilled in before a return to Sydney for the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and All-Aged Stakes (1400m).

It was announced on Tuesday that Sheikh Mohammed's two glamour colts Sepoy and Helmet would venture overseas to compete on Dubai World Cup night on March 31 in the care of their Australian trainer Peter Snowden before transferring to one of Godolphin's trainers for the European summer.

Cummings said Smart Missile, who is owned and raced by Eduardo Cojuangco's Gooree Stud, was unlikely to be set for an international campaign during his next preparation.

"I don't think so this year, but we'll talk to Mr Cojuangco and see whether he'd like to do that later," Cummings said.

"I think that's a pretty big preparation (Melbourne and Sydney) if we go along and live up to that, so we'll just see how that pans out first."

Smart Missile won the Breeders Plate on debut and then returned in the autumn to win the Group Two Todman Stakes with Sepoy second.

The colt was scratched at the barrier before the Golden Slipper and sent for a spell.

He returned as a three-year-old with a last-to-first success in the Group Three Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill.

He was a close second to Manawanui in the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) before heading to Melbourne where he was a luckless 10th against older horses in the Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).

The decision was made to keep him to sprints in the autumn after his fifth over 1600m in the Caulfield Guineas.

Cummings said it would be interesting if Smart Missile and Black Caviar met in the autumn.

"They're both very good horses and she's got the record on the board that we would like to have, so it would be interesting to see," Cummings said.

Robl Gets First City Win After Ban

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 06:46

Peter Robl had to do it tough to shed the kilos but the opportunity to land his first city winner following a year-long ban was too good to refuse.

Robl got down to 53kg at just his third meeting back to partner the Grahame Begg-trained Dreamworker to a 1-1/2-length victory in the Schweppes Handicap (1550m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old jockey returned on Saturday from a 12-month ban incurred for betting on races through the TAB account of his wife.

"I rode at 54-1/2 kilos on Sunday at Canberra comfortably but I was just planning on taking half a kilo a week off," Robl said.

"Then Grahame (Begg) rang for me to ride this filly and it was too good an offer to refuse, basically.

"I had to do a few hard yards in the past few days."

Robl said he had spent 40 minutes a day in the sauna over the past three weeks to prepare for his comeback but had to up that even more leading into Wednesday.

"On Monday night I sweated for an hour and yesterday for a couple of hours. I did another 40 minutes this morning and I was right," he said.

"It's been hard but it's been worth it."

Robl, who got up to 61kg at one point during his time out, had one ride at Canterbury last Saturday when second aboard the Clarry Conners-trained Diamond Start.

He notched his first winner back at Canberra but Wednesday's success in town was an even bigger milestone.

"It might just be a midweeker at Canterbury but it's a big milestone for me," Robl said.

"Like I've said previously, the support that I've had from all the trainers and owners since I returned has been tremendous and I'm grateful for the support."

On Saturday, Robl will partner the Matthew Dale-trained Lebrechaun in the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.

And while he said the 12-month ban was a blow, the positive was that it could have prolonged his career.

"You never want to take 12 months off like that but it will probably be good in the long run," he said.

"I feel really good and I'm really happy and I want to do it. I'm probably more keen to ride winners in Sydney than when I came here four years ago."

Monton To Go The Journey In Festival

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 04:45

Best known as a sprinter, Group winner Monton will be out to prove he has another string to his bow in Saturday's Listed Festival Stakes at Rosehill.

Monton's four career wins have been in the 1000-metre to 1400-metre distance range, the highlight his 2010 Group Two Hobartville Stakes victory.

The gelding will have his first start in almost two months in the Festival Stakes and former top jockey-turned-trainer Ron Quinton has no qualms about him tackling 1500 metres fresh.

"I don't worry about that. The Europeans don't worry about it," said Quinton, who won the Group One Irish St Leger during a successful European riding stint for John Oxx in 1989-90.

"I've had a bit of experience over there."

The only time Monton has been tested over further than 1400m was in the 2010 Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m) in which he was sixth to Shoot Out, beaten less than two lengths.

Quinton pointed to that effort as an indicator the five-year-old could be competitive in the Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on December 17.

The summer feature was pencilled in as a target after Monton's three solid runs for his new trainer during the spring, including a third to Decision Time in the Concorde Stakes.

"There wasn't too much else left for him after those runs so we gave him a let-up for a couple of weeks," Quinton said.

"We brought him back with this (Festival Stakes) in mind and he will probably head to the Villiers as well.

"He won the Hobartville as a three-year-old and one of his best runs was in the Randwick Guineas when he drew off the track (15 of 15).

"If he's ever going to run it (middle distance) it's now."

With a plethora of Sydney's best jockeys unavailable to ride at Rosehill for various reasons, Quinton has booked senior hoop Chris O'Brien.

O'Brien is the regular partner of dual Group One winner Sincero and Quinton rates him highly.

"He's an excellent rider, which is evidenced by his riding aboard Sincero," Quinton said.

"We've drawn a good alley (one). It's perfect for the horse. He likes a smother and to be able to get one bite of the cherry."

Monton's former trainer Tim Martin will be represented in the Festival Stakes by Fibrillation who showed she had returned in good fettle with a eye-catching third to Kontiki Park first-up last month.

Kontiki Park will also line up, one of two runners for Gai Waterhouse who also runs King Lionheart.

Prize Money Boost For Albury

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 06:46

The Albury Cup carnival has received a boost and will offer almost $750,000 in prize money, trophies and bonuses from next year.

The major new incentive is a $100,000 bonus to the winner of the Flat Knacker (900m) if they can break the 50sec barrier.

Prize money for the the sprint and the Albury Guineas will be bolstered by $10,000, rising to $50,000 and $40,000 respectively.

The Guineas will also be part of the Inglis Race Series from 2012 with a $50,000 bonus to the winner if they're nominated for the Series.

The two-day carnival will be held on March 22 and 23 with the highlight the Listed Albury Gold Cup (2000m).

Albury Cup Carnival Receives Prizemoney Increase

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 03:39

The 2012 Commercial Club Albury Gold Cup Carnival (22 & 23 March) will offer a record $745,800 in prizemoney, trophies and available bonuses.

In a major boost to the two-day program the TAB Sportsbet Flat Knacker will increase from $40,000 to $50,000 in prizemoney and TAB Sportsbet will offer an additional $100,000 bonus if the winner can break 50 seconds for the 900m sprint.

The Myer Albury Guineas (3Y0 BM70) will increase from $30,000 to $40,000 and will be part of the successful Inglis Race Series for the first time with Inglis providing a $50,000 bonus to the winner if nominated to the Inglis Race Series.

The cup day program on Friday 23 March will be highlighted by the Listed $170,000 Commercial Club Albury Gold Cup (2000m) and an increase in prizemoney on the maiden handicap will see an 8 race program with minimum prizemoney of $20,000 per race.

The $60,000 Enpower Solutions (EPS) City Handicap (1400m) will headline day one of the carnival on Thursday 22 March.

Single To Resume At Rosehill

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 06:16

An interstate trip during the winter could prove to be the making of promising gelding Single who resumes at Rosehill on Saturday.

The four-year-old will step out in the Blackwoods Macnaught Hcp (1500m), his first start since finishing midfield in the Queensland Derby won by Shootoff.

His Derby run came at the end of his first racing campaign and trainer Craig Carmody said while the result wasn't what they had hoped for, the trip away from Sydney was worthwhile.

"Probably looking at the Derby now, he was just on that little bit of a slide," Carmody said.

"But I'm glad we went. It was all good experience for the horse.

"It certainly helped him to grow up a bit.

"He was in a bit of a rush last time but he seems more settled now."

Single, by So You Think's sire High Chaparral, has started just five times.

He won over 1400m on debut at Newcastle in April and progressed to a city victory over 1500m two runs later.

Stepped up in distance, Single was ninth to Yulalona over 2000m on a heavy track at Randwick in May before his even effort in the Queensland Derby (2400m).

Carmody admits the jury is out on whether Single stays and he is keeping an open mind about the four-year-old's ideal distance range.

"I haven't set that in stone, I've got no firm opinion on it yet," he said.

"He seems pretty comfortable around a mile so we'll just see how he does and go from there."

Single has prepared for his return with two barrier trials, the most recent a 4-3/4 length win.

He won on debut last time in and Carmody said he was forward enough to be competitive on Saturday.

A former top jockey, Carmody is best known as the regular partner of the outstanding Intergaze.

He trains a small team of half a dozen at Randwick and while the hours are long, Carmody is relishing the challenge.

"It's nice to have a horse like him (Single) and hopefully there are one or two coming up that go all right," Carmody said.

"I ride all my own work so I'm very hands-on.

"It's a lot of hard work but I'm enjoying it."

Figures In Dale's Favour For Festival Card

Tuesday, 29 November 2011 06:45

Encouraging statistics for stablemates Lebrechaun and Unanimously have young trainer Matthew Dale chasing his first city double on Saturday.

Stakeswinner Lebrechaun takes a strong second-up record into the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill while Unanimously boasts an unblemished fresh record ahead of his return in an 1100m support race.

Dale, who prepares his team at Canberra, will also have eight-year-old Happy Finish on the float to Sydney to run in a 1300m race.

Lebrechaun resumed with a third in the Snake Gully Cup (1400m) at Gundagai and has been successful in three of his four second-up outings with one placing.

That included a victory in the Listed National Sprint (1400m) at Canberra in March.

"We took him to an unsuitable track first-up in the Snake Gully Cup but it was a suitable timeframe leading into this race with three weeks between runs and stepping up to 1500 metres," Dale said.

"He'll be better suited on the bigger track on Saturday, his second-up record is very good and we're looking like getting a bit of sting out of the track which would suit him."

Dale has booked comeback jockey Peter Robl for Lebrechaun.

Robl, who returned from a year-long ban last weekend, has ridden plenty of times for Dale when based in the Riverina as well as when he moved to Sydney.

Country jockey Mathew Cahill continues his association with the consistent Unanimously.

"He (Unanimously) is three from three first-up and he appears to have come up well," Dale said of the four-year-old gelding who has five wins and seven placings from 16 starts.

"I've been quoted before saying he's a hard horse to get a really good guide on because he doesn't do a great deal in trackwork.

"But as long as he is fit and healthy, which he is, he runs true to form.

"I'd expect him to run well on Saturday."

Lebrechaun will progress to the Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on December 17 while options for Unanimously include the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) on the same day.

Dale said he was forced to look for a city race for the veteran sprinter Happy Finish.

"You just can't find an Open class sprint in the country," he said.