Rodd Off to New Zealand for Prized Mount

Thursday, 05 September 2002 00:00

Champion Queensland apprentice Michael Rodd will be reunited with his Brisbane Cup winner Prized Gem when she resumes in the Glenmorgan Hawkes Bay Challenge Stakes at Hastings on Saturday week.

Rodd, who also won the Prime Minister's Cup in his other ride on the Cambridge mare, has confirmed he will ride Prized Gem wherever she starts this season.

Prized Gem, runner-up in a Pukekohe trial last Tuesday, has been entered for the $A2.5 million Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup and the $A4 million Tooheys New Melbourne Cup, with the latter being the main mission.

Rodd's first experience of New Zealand racing last March resulted in four wins over five racedays.

"I'm looking forward to riding in New Zealand again, especially getting back on Prized Gem,"said Rodd.

Rodd can ride at 52.5kgs and is looking for other mounts at the Hastings meeting.

His rides are being taken on (021) 27-53790.

Media Release - TNZ

Huge Entries for National Jumps Day in New Zealand

Monday, 02 September 2002 00:00

Entries have exceeded all expectations for the National Jumps Day at Paeroa this Sunday, with a total of 146 nominations for the six jumping races programmed.

With two flat races on the programme as well, total entries on the day are 188. Even allowing for 22 dual nominations, this is one of the biggest entries received in the country for any race meeting in recent times.

Fortunately the Paeroa Racing Club has made provision to split the maiden hurdle and steeplechase events should entries warrant it. With a nomination of 41 and 30 respectively for those events, it would appear that there will a full programme of 10 races on Sunday.

Notable entries are Silver Archer, Smart Hunter, Sir Avion and Currency in the open steeplechase, and Hooter Bedford, Mick Bailey, Jockular, Mr Easystreet and Treblig in the open hurdle.

The novice steeple and hurdle events, the final round in the Morgan Furniture Championship Series, contain South Islander Variable, No Sweat and Ilika Dance, the first three on the steeplechasers' table, while hurdles co-leader Al Burkhan heads the entries in that category.

Media Release - TNZ

Sheila Hunting Back to Back Cups

Thursday, 05 September 2002 00:00

It might be the most difficult mountain for a trainer in this part of the world to climb, but Melbourne Cup history-maker Sheila Laxon is serious about her next attempt at Australasia’s most famous race.

Even though Forlorna, her candidate for this year’s Flemington two-miler lacks the classic-winning form of Ethereal, Laxon is confident that the Irish-bred mare has the potential for the task at hand.

Laxon was full of enthusiasm after putting the seven-year-old through her paces at Matamata this morning with a workout on the course proper.

“She felt awesome and took forever to pull up,” she said as Forlorna cooled off. “This time round she is so much stronger and I think she’s finally ready for a big preparation.”

Laxon has trained the daughter of Epsom Derby winner Nashwan since she was imported to New Zealand as a maiden four-year-old. Although Forlorna has not been successful since the summer of 2000-01 when she put together four wins, her last start produced a half-length second to Bodie in the Gr.3 Rotorua Cup in May.

The onset of winter tracks then kept her away from the races, but a trial at Te Awamutu next week should have her ready for a return. A likely first-up target is the Team Wealleans Matamata Cup on September 28, the same race that put Ethereal on the path to her fantastic Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double last year.

“I know it’s a tall order, but I’m confident of her staying ability and with 49kg she does get into the Melbourne Cup with a luxury weight,” said Laxon.

PIC - Quentin Lang.

Media Release - TNZ

First Kiwi Two-Year-Old Race Run and Won

Monday, 02 September 2002 00:00

New Zealand's first two-year-old race of the 2002-2003 season has been won by the Australian-bred Romar Dale.

The Armidale two-year-old colt outmuscled the much smaller Little Jewel to win the 800m dash at the Wanganui Jockey Club meeting on Saturday.

Romar Dale races in the same colours as last season's leading 2YO filly, Lady Dehere.

Romar Dale is owned by Ron and Margaret Saunders who bought the youngster at the Karaka yearling sales earlier this year.

He is trained at Te Awamutu by Graeme and Debbie Sanders. The Sanders family has always enjoyed a marvellous run in the early season juvenile races at Wanganui over the years and have won the race many times with such horses as Ballroom Babe and Dandy Dancer.

"My grandfather (Bill Sanders) won the race many times and Dad (Graeme) has too," said Debbie Sanders.

Romar Dale was ridden by Mark Sweeney who won the event for the first time. Sweeney and Debbie Sanders are due to marry next month.

Media Release - TNZ

Society Beau Set to Go

Wednesday, 04 September 2002 00:00

Society Beau looks a great each-way chance to Matamata trainer Mark Walker in the open 1400m race at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The talented galloper, fresh from a new campaign pipe-opening win at Taupo last month, worked in fine style at Matamata on Tuesday prompting Walker to believe the gelding has a great chance in Saturday's race.

Society Beau is heading for a start in the rich Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) in Sydney next month so there will be much interest in his performance on Saturday.

Te Akau Racing Stables has two other runners at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Top Spinner will line up in the apprentice riders intermediate 1400m event with Cameron Lammas aboard while Wedding Dream requires some improvement and will be ridden by Lisa Mumby.

Media Release - TNZ

Safety Issues Highlighted at Matamata

Friday, 30 August 2002 00:00

Safety concerns expressed to Hamilton’s Occupational Safety and Health office have led to a revision in procedures at Matamata racecourse, one of the country’s busiest horse training centres.

A meeting between Matamata Racing Club officials and trainer and jockey representatives, as well as input from OSH officers, has resolved that in future training tracks will be closed when heavy fog severely reduces visibility. Other measures include extra lighting at strategic points on the training tracks and additional personnel employed to monitor horse and rider traffic.

Matamata has been in the spotlight in recent weeks with the death of trackwork rider Karl Brittain and the broken leg suffered by jockey David Johnson, but OSH officials have been quick to disassociate those incidents from latest developments.

“OSH has a racing co-ordinator dealing with matters of national interest and our regional officers have on-going contact with organisations such as the Matamata Racing Club,” commented Kevin Webby, OSH service manager for the Waikato-Thames Valley region. “The issues being dealt with at present are quite separate to the recent fatality.

“The officer involved in discussions with Matamata is satisfied with the plan of action being undertaken and will maintain contact as necessary.”

MRC president Danny Moss accepts that a responsibility exists to ensure rider and horse safety during training sessions. “Our club is very mindful of safety issues and the role OSH has to play in that,” he said. “OSH has expressed absolute satisfaction with the responsible approach taken by the club towards such matters.”

Trainers’ and jockeys’ representatives met with MRC officials earlier this week to resolve issues of concern. Lance Noble, NZ Trainers’ Association northern branch vice-president, agrees that safety is of paramount concern, but points out that the club was already undertaking a safety review when the complaint was made to OSH.

“By putting in place concise guidelines which all track users must adhere to, areas of concern will be eliminated as much as is practically possible,” said Noble.

Media Release - TNZ

New Zealand Trainers Happy With Cup Handicaps

Tuesday, 03 September 2002 00:00

Matamata trainers Roger James and Mark Walker expressed satisfaction this morning at the handicaps allocated to their Melbourne and Caulfield Cup entries.

Walker's two candidates Distinctly Secret and Society Beau both received 51.5kg for the two races, while the James pair Sixty Seconds and The Pumper were given 50.5 and 50kg respectively.

The more serious Melbourne Cup prospect of the Walker duo is Distinctly Secret, who has emerged from an injury cloud to win a trial last week and continue his preparation for a return to racing at Hastings on Saturday week.

The QTC Grand Prix Stakes winner struck a tendon while playing in the paddock a month ago, but has staged a complete recovery.

"The signs weren't too bad at the time, and the vet has scanned him again since last week's trial," said Walker. "He gave him the all clear."

Distinctly Secret, who at 16-to-one is the most favoured New Zealand-trained entrant for the Melbourne Cup, returns to racing in the 1600 metre Glenmorgan Haweke's Bay Challenge Stakes at Hastings on September 14.

Society Beau continues his Epsom Handicap preparation over 1400 metres at Ellerslie this Saturday. He was impressive when resuming successfully at Taupo a fortnight ago and has thrived since.

Sixty Seconds has yet to make a raceday appearance this season, but pleased James with an easy 1300 metre trial win last Friday.

"Scott Seamer made a special trip out to Bendigo to ride her and was most taken with her performance," James told ThoroughbredNEWS this morning.

James has yet to finalise the Centaine mare's season opener, but comments that she has "really gone forward" in the past couple of weeks.

The Caulfield Cup remains her primary goal, with a Melbourne Cup start no certainty at this stage. Nor is The Pumper, who satisfied James with his close up fifth in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday, a certain runner in either race.

"Caulfield remains an option, but I'll just have to decide his plans as I go along," said James.

Other Cup handicaps of local interest include Brew, who has 54kg in both races, Leica Guv (53.5), Kaapstad Way (53), Hail (52.5), Prized Gem (52) and this Saturday's Flemington first starter Cyclades, who has 51.5kg in both big events.

Cent Home and La Bella Dama, entrants for only the Caulfield Cup, are handicaped at 53.5 and 52.5kg respectively.

Media Release - TNZ

Lamb Bags Hundredth Jumps Win

Thursday, 29 August 2002 00:00

At today's Foxton Racing Club meeting Eddie Lamb notched his 100th jumps win in New Zealand aboard the Makaraka-trained jumper, His Worship.

Lamb became the 30th rider to reach the ton of jumps wins in NZ.

After a successful career as an apprentice jockey, gradually hindered by increasing weight, Lamb had his first jumping ride in 1986.

His first win came at his 24th jumping ride, aboard Justa Kiss at Woodville on 29th April 1987.

Lamb reached his 50th jumping win on 28th September 1994, aboard Sir Blanco at Te Rapa.

He and great friend Brett Scott have had a long-standing bet as to which of them would be first to reach 100 jumping wins.

Although the bet theoretically became easier for Eddie to win when Brett moved to Melbourne, Scott has succeeded so well on his occasional visits home that he is on 98 wins, and will be looking for the 100 at Paeroa on Sunday week.

Lamb's first major overseas win was the 2000 Australian Grand National Steeplechase on Vowtinsk for Robbie Laing.

He followed that up with a jumping treble at Riccarton on 9th August 2000, including the Grand National Hurdles on Rand. This was the first jumping treble by a jockey since Bill Hillis won three races on 8th August 1967, also including the Grand National Hurdles.

Lamb has not long returned from a three month contract riding in Japan, where he rode three winners.

His first experience of that country was last year, when he travelled with the grey flyer Rand to win the prelude to the Nakayama Grand Jump, before being brought down on the flat in the big race itself. They then went on to the U.S.A., where the highlight was winning the Iroquois Steeplechase, a Grade (Group) 1 race.

The only steeplechaser in New Zealand racing in blinkers, His Worship should have won two starts earlier at Otaki when he unaccountably pulled himself up close to home and was run down into third. He will now go to Paeroa in ten days' time for the National Jumps Day.

Media Release - TNZ

Oliver Dances Toward New Zealand Cup

Tuesday, 03 September 2002 00:00

Oliverdance’s Whakatane Cup success at Tauranga on Saturday left Hamilton accountant Chris Luoni more convinced than ever that taking a shine to the former Trelawney Stud stallion Dance Floor was a good judgement call.

Victory in Saturday’s listed race took to 25 the number of wins registered by Dance Floor progeny bred by Luoni.

"From the first time I saw Dance Floor, he struck me as something extra," Luoni recalled after his big weekend. "He was a very energetic horse and one hell of a racehorse too."

Oliverdance (NZ) is the second black-type winner Luoni has bred by Dance Floor. The first was the good sprinter Ma Danseuse (NZ), who won 10 races all told, while Ask the Dancer (NZ) has contributed seven wins, one less than Oliverdance’s tally.

Unfortunately Luoni’s enthusiasm for Dance Floor was not sufficient to retain the horse in New Zealand, and he was repatriated to the United States in 1999 after standing six seasons here.

Oliverdance, who Luoni races in partnership with his father George, co-breeder David Johns and trainer John Wheeler, sealed plans with his Whakatane Cup win to be aimed at the New Zealand Cup in November.

But before that, he will be treated to some rest and relaxation at Luoni’s Te Kowhai property for the next fortnight before rejoining Wheeler’s New Plymouth stable. His paddock mate during the brief sojourn is Cox Plate winner The Phantom Chance (NZ) (Noble Bijou), who these days is Luoni’s farm hack.

"They get on like a house on fire," said Luoni. "When I fed them tonight (Sunday), by the time I left the paddock they were eating from the same bin."

Media Release - NZTM

Call for Mudgway Upgrade

Wednesday, 28 August 2002 00:00

There was no more jaunty stepper at Hastings last Saturday than Wayne Mudgway, whose vehicle parts company was provided a sponsor’s dream through the appearance of champion mare Sunline.

The Mudgway Partsworld Stakes, already renowned as a the early season springboard for many of the country’s best gallopers, attained new heights this year when it was selected for Sunline’s return.

With another eight Group 1 winners thrown in to oppose the champion mare, Mudgway could not help but comment on the irony that the weight-for-age 1400 metre event was only a Group 11 event.

“This lineup today has to be unique,” he commented, “and I really do think that the overall strength of the race in the past few years must make it a logical one to upgrade to Group One status.”

Media Release - TNZ