Seen the Light on Trial for Guineas
- Thursday, 19 September 2002 00:00
The Manntari gelding showed the benefit of blinkers at Te Rapa, racing handier than he had in his previous outing and scoring a convincing win. Trainer Paul O'Sullivan reports that he has more than satisfied him in training since and expects a bold showing on Saturday.
"If he races up to expectations he can go forward to the Lindauer Guineas a fortnight later," said O'Sullivan, whose brother Lance will ride the black for the first time on Saturday.
Vanilla Sky rounded off a good week for Wexford Stables client Steve McCollam when she won fresh-up over 1200 metres at Avondale yesterday. The Player had done the same in McCollam's Augusta Bloodstock colours at Hastings last Saturday.
"I really liked the way she finished off her race at Avondale," O'Sullivan said, "and I think the win at 1200 metres was a bonus as she will be even better over more ground."
The Player, who like Vanilla Sky is by former Wexford Stables star O'Reilly, will race next in premier grade at Ellerslie on October 5.
Zabeel four-year-old Zafar makes his first public appearance since a debut win last autumn at tomorrow's Avondale trials.
"I want to give him some right-handed experience," explained O'Sullivan. "His first race back will probably be at Ellerslie in two weeks' time."
O'Sullivan does not hide the hopes he has for the impressive bay. "He's got enormous potential and we won't be hurrying him. I fancy having him ready to run in the Dunstan Stayers' series."
Media Release - TNZ
Big Screen On The Way for Ellerslie
- Thursday, 19 September 2002 00:00
Auckland Racing Club chief executive Dave Lloyd said the screen has been purchased jointly by the club and the Auckland Regional Council and is being constructed by Day One Digital Media Ltd, a New Zealand-owned company.
It is approximately 90 square metres and will be used at Ellerslie for every racemeeting and at Ericsson Stadium. It is fully mobile and will be available for hire at other venues.
"It is fully digital and the latest technology and will enable the club to present the raceday package so much better to patrons," Lloyd said.
"We anticipate that 50% of the screen will be available by Melbourne Cup Day and the rest before the Christmas Carnival," he said.
The screen will be placed in the centrefield but can be reconfigured so that on some days there will be two screens - one facing the stands, the other facing the in-field.
"The prototype was approved by our technical people last week and was tested at Ericsson Stadium during the last two Warriors games," he said.
"The club is indebted to several major sponsors including WestpacTrust who have assisted the club in purchasing this wonderful new asset for Ellerslie. The club also acknowledges the assistance of the Auckland Regional Council and the General Manager of Ericsson Stadium, Malcolm Roberts, in finalising the arrangement and look forward to a long association with the Regional Council," said Lloyd.
Media Release - TNZ
It's Platonic Gearing Up for Toorak
- Tuesday, 17 September 2002 00:00
Matamata trainer Graham Richardson is setting
Platonic for the $A350,000 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on October 12 following her game
last start fourth in the Craiglee Stakes.(Its) Platonic, who is based at Richardsons Mornington satellite stable, was just pipped for third in the Craiglee at Flemington on September 7 when ridden by Lance OSullivan.
That was the best shes been ridden for a long time and I would just love to be able to get Lance on her again, said Richardson.
Im very happy with her progress since
the Craiglee. The five-week break to the Toorak is perfect for her as she does not back
up.
On a less positive note, Richardsons good hurdler Sir View, the winner of his last
two starts in Melbourne, has been sidelined with suspensory ligament problems.
He pulled up sore after winning at Moonee Valley, but Im hopeful that he can
make it back for next winter, he said.
PICS - Quentin
Lang.
Media Release - TNZ
Society Beau and Swilcan Burn for Matamata
- Thursday, 19 September 2002 00:00
The 1400 metre race was to have been Society Beau's final start before travelling to Sydney for the Epsom Handicap. Trainer Mark Walker has now decided to wait for next Saturday's $35,000 Team Wealleans Cup (1600m), Listed, on his home track.
"It's not our original plan, but I didn't fancy giving him another race on bad ground," said Walker this morning. "He'll run at Matamata provided the ground is reasonable and then hopefully back up for the Epsom a week later.
"If it's decided that the Epsom is too close, he'll skip that race and go for the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield the following week."
Society Beau has been the most discussed New Zealand candidate for the $A600,000 Epsom Handicap(1600m)in the wake of his successful Brisbane winter campaign and an impressive two start-two win return. He is also entered for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, with the former race especially still very much on his agenda.
Roger James-trained Swilcan Burn, who turned in a brilliant fresh-up run at Tauranga last month, will start in the progresive 1400 metre event at Matamata on September 28.
Media Release - TNZ
Walker Stars With Sunday Double
- Monday, 16 September 2002 00:00
The beautifully bred Irish Belle justified her hot favouritism by winning a maiden 1200m event.
Irish Belle (by O'Reilly) is a half-sister to top-class galloper Society Beau, who is also trained by Mark Walker. She is also closely related to last season's dual Group One winner Final Destination.
The other Mark Walker-trained winner at yesterday's Geraldine meeting was the ultra-consistent sprinter Te Akau Dancer who scored by one and a quarter lengths over 1200m in the hands of Cameron Hooper.
Media Release - TNZ
Kiwi Rover in Epsom Test
- Wednesday, 18 September 2002 00:00
The Eddie Carson-trained chestnut, a brilliant winner of the Merial Mile at Awapuni 10 days ago, arrived in Sydney on the same flight as Sunline on Monday evening. He and and a travelling companion, maiden galloper Dunmore Boy, are stabled with expatriate Syd Brown at Warwick Farm.
"He travelled over well and has settled in lovely," Carson told ThoroughbredNews this morning. "It will be interesting to see how he goes on Saturday."
Entries for the 1500 metre Shannon Quality include fellow Epsom Handicap prospects Crawl, Hoeberg, and Evander. Regular rider David Walker will be on Irish Rover on Saturday.
While the Sydney racing scene is something new for Carson, it will be a familiar experience for co-owner Barney McCahill, whose great galloper (Mr) McGinty performed with so much distinction there 20 years ago.
Irish Rover has 52kg for the $A600,000 Epsom Handicap, which is run at Randwick on October 5.
Media Release - TNZ
Hastings Next Plan for Danroad
- Monday, 16 September 2002 00:00
Danroad was scratched from the Hawke's Bay Guineas at Hastings last Saturday because of the rain-affected track condition.
"I'm pleased he didn't go down for the Guineas as he would not have handled the track," said Danroad's managing part-owner Rob McAnulty.
Danroad's major targets this season are the NZ Two Thousand Guineas at Riccarton, the Bayer Classic, the Lion Red Railway Handicap and Whakanui Stud International Stakes.
Media Release - TNZ
New Apprentice Makes Her Mark
- Wednesday, 18 September 2002 00:00
Astill, who is indentured to Hamilton trainer-studmaster Brent Gillovic, rode two winners and two second placegetters from just four rides on the Waipa trials programme.
One of her wins came on a Senor Pete-Floridene three-year-old gelding and the other on the Spectrum four-year-old gelding, Clean And Jerk. Both winners are trained by Brent Gillovic.
Senor Pete, who stands at Highview Stud, was represented by three winners at the Waipa trials.
Besides the Senor Pete-Floridene gelding, the others to win were a Senor Pete-Origami gelding in the Te Awamutu stable of Richard Otto and Stephen Fache as well as the Roger James-trained Live The Reality (Senor Pete-Ivory 3g).
Senor Pete has already chalked up 11 individual winners this racing season spread across New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau.
Media Release - TNZ
Benjamin's Counties Dash Well Worthwhile
- Monday, 16 September 2002 00:00
Benjamin had no sooner stepped off an international flight from Singapore on Saturday morning then he was beating a hasty path to the Counties meeting.
Elevenses made the exercise worthwhile for Benjamin with her game win after a torrid home-stretch battle with Ella Sierra.
Benjamin's trip to Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong was part of a New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing promotional group led by chairman Joe Walls.
Benjamin said the trip was very worthwhile and it was timely given the win by NZ-bred Opposing Force in the Sprint Trophy at Penang last Sunday week.
Benjamin knows he has a valuable broodmare prospect on his hands in Elevenses given that she was a Group One winning three-year-old and will be chasing further Group One honours in the $100,000 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham next month.
Elevenses' win at Pukekohe was her first success in 18 months.
Media Release - TNZ
Sunline Arrives in Sydney
- Tuesday, 17 September 2002 00:00
Champion mare Sunline has settled in to familiar
surroundings at Randwick after flying across the Tasman late yesterday."She took the flight in her stride and seems as good as gold," said co-trainer Stephen McKee from Sydney this morning.
As part of her build-up to Saturday week's George Main Stakes, Sunline will run in a 1200 metre trial at Randwick on Friday.
"The trial will be held on the inside track and should clean her up nicely for the George Main," said McKee, who added that light rain falling in Sydney today should aid the main Randwick track, which appears quite dry.
Regular rider Greg Childs will be on hand to ride the mare in her trial. The George Main is Sunline's chance to equal the record of 14 Group wins held by Kingston Town.
PIC - Quentin Lang.
Media Release - TNZ
Hello Hello! Dolly Does it Again!
- Sunday, 15 September 2002 00:00
In the hands of Andrew Calder, the Cambridge mare outfinished Hail, the favourite Cent Home, pacemaker Joken and Trounced. Resuming stayers Prized Gem and Distinctly Secret ran satisfactory races to be next to finish.
Calder, taking the place of injured Hayden Tinsley, was riding today on borrowed time after incurring a three-day suspension at Te Rapa last Wednesday. He was able to fulfil his engagements today but will be absent until after next Saturday's Ellerslie meeting.
Owner-trainer-breeder Bill Wills, who describes Hello Dolly as a "tough old tart", is now expected to start the seven-year-old in the Kelt Capital Stakes. She ran third in that race last year.
She will then try for a repeat of her win in last year's Gr.1 Fayette Park Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham.
Media Release - TNZ