Campin's Hero Close to Resuming

Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00

"I will take advantage of the drop-back clause with him to run in that race at Tauranga," owner-trainer Jim Campin said.

"He's a nine-year-old now and we will see how he runs in that race at Tauranga before setting any ambitious plans for him," Campin said.

Hero finished fourth in a 1000m trial at Te Teko last week and will have another trial at Cambridge next week.

Campin saddled up two winners at Te Rapa on Saturday - Evergreen and Spellbound.

Media Release - TNZ

McKee's Millennium a Good Bet at Te Rapa

Friday, 09 August 2002 00:00

Grant Cooksley is to ride Millennium who finished a strong second at his last start in the Opunake Cup behind Irish Rover.

Millennium's form leading up to the race has been solid overall. He was also second at Tauranga on June 2 behind With Drawn.

Other runners for the McKees at Te Rapa on Saturday are Split The Bank (race five) and Al Sheba (race nine). These horses will also be ridden by Grant Cooksley.

Split The Bank is stepping up in distance and will find the 1600m more to her liking.

Al Sheba will be improved with her last-start outing at Te Rapa on July 27 as that was her first outing since November.

Meanwhile, the all clear has been given for champion mare Sunline to line up in the $150,000 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m) at Hastings on August 24.

Media Release - TNZ

Citra's Prince Back to Race in New Zealand

Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00

Owned by Matata (Whakatane) identity Sam Seamark, the now 6 year old gelding, who has won the G3 VATC Coongy Handicap and been placed in the Queensland Derby and Feehan Stakes (behind Sunline) since finishing 6th in Hades' NZ Derby in his last New Zealand start, has rejoined the Northwood Farm stable of Phil Stevens in Matamata.

Purchased by Stevens for Seamark from Ann & Ken Browne as a two year old, Citra's Prince was trained in Australia by former Marcus Oldham College graduate Cliff Brown after Seamark leased a 50% share to Australian interests.

Stevens, who was involved in the early education of top gallopers Castletown, Corndale and Cool Reception, holds the bay gelding in high regard.

"He is a very smart horse, and although having won only 4 races, his last 3 starts have included the Brisbane Cup, O'Shea Stakes and Caloundra Cup, which is a strong indication of the ability he has", Stevens told Thoroughbred NEWS.

Stevens plans to give the gelding a freshen up, and use a slow build up to prepare him for some of the late summer and autumn features which may include the Marton Cup, a race that the stable won in consecutive years with Esprit de Corps (Centro).

Another horse in the stable that Stevens has high hopes for is the Australian bred filly Blu Rapture (Blu Tusmani).

"She had two starts at two, running second on debut before beating Chit Chat at Counties", said Stevens of the filly that he had to late scratch on the morning of the Matamata Breeders Stakes.

"We did everything we could to get her to the race [Breeders Stakes] as it was the owners dream to have a runner - however x-rays revealed pedal bone osteitis and she underwent surgery to rectify the problem".

The facilities at Stevens' Matamata property include a 600 metre sand track which has proved essential in the recovery of the promising filly and the plan is to trial her at Cambridge on August 20 in readiness for a start in the Sideline Bar Hawke's Bay Guineas.

PICS - Quentin Lang.

Media Release - TNZ

Blue Bloods Impress in New Zealand Trials

Thursday, 08 August 2002 00:00

There is a big gap between an 800 metre catchweight heat and the summer classic, but Lafleur and Diamond Like showed enough to encourage hopes that they can live up to their breeding.

Despite having done little more than three-quarter pace in her training to date, Diamond Like rose to the occasion to beat Lafleur by three-quarters of a length.

Lafleur likewise has not been pressured and more than pleased her trainer Jim Gibbs with both her relaxed demeanour and the ability she showed.

Cambridge Stud-owned and bred Diamond Like is out of the former high class race filly Tristalove who was trained by Dave and Paul O'Sullivan to win the Matamata Breeders' Stakes before she transferred to Australia where she won the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes and Australasian Oaks.

Paul O'Sullivan trains Diamond Like, who is a sister to the recently retired high class Australian colt Viking Ruler.

Lafleur is owned by Peter and Philip Vela, who bred her from Desert Lily, a Green Desert daughter of the high class European sprinter Habibti, a half-sister to legendary broodmare Eight Carat.

Media Release - TNZ

Te Rapa Double for Campin and McNab

Saturday, 10 August 2002 00:00

Evergreen took her record to three wins from six starts with another of her all-the-way displays in the Te Atatu Farm 1200.

Although she had a number of rivals lined up behind her to challenge 200 metres out, she held them all at bay comfortably.

Spellbound justified her strong support with an impressive debut effort in the Huntly Honda Ginger Molloy 1200.

The four-year-old Deputy Governor mare had attracted a big following with a trial win at Te Awamutu last month.

Media Release - TNZ

Sunline to Resume at Hastings

Thursday, 08 August 2002 00:00

"Naturally we are delighted to have her resuming here", McGifford said.

"The weather has cleared and with 2 1/2 weeks to the race we are confident that the track will be ideal", he said.

It is expected that the rail will be in its true position, thus providing footing that has not been used since the May 11 racemeeting.

Trainer Trevor McKee was also pleased to hear of the improved state of the Hastings track following the cancellation of last Thursday's meeting due to heavy rain.

"Hastings is our preferred choice, but we will be guided by the weather in the week leading up to the race", said McKee from his Takanini training complex.

Due to the historically fickle spring weather patterns, Sunline will also be nominated for 1400 metre events in Sydney and Melbourne as a possible alternative.

"We don't want to start her on a bog track like we did last year as it did tend to knock her a bit - and I don't think she likes it wet like she used to - they get a bit older and craftier", McKee said.

In her last three New Zealand race starts at Pukekohe and Te Rapa, Sunline has drawn huge crowds and with 12 individual Group One winners amongst the 30 nominations for the $150,000 feature, John McGifford will be smiling for some time.

PICS - Quentin Lang.

Media Release - TNZ

Eric The Bee-rilliant in Grand National

Saturday, 10 August 2002 00:00

The 11-year-old had won the Grand National Hurdles four years ago and was foiled by only Lucky Tip from repeating in that race last Wednesday.

But today he adjusted brilliantly to the bigger fences in the hands of Jonathan Riddell to put in a late surge that took him to a comfortable win over Currency and Sir Avion.

Topweight and favourite Silver Archer was the only other finisher, virtually pulled up after almost dislodging rider Finbarr Leahy 1200 metres from the finish.

Willie Tee lost Shoji Saki with a round to go, while Kinkaroo and Reon Aukett also parted company.

Media Release - TNZ

Trackwork Fatality at Matamata

Thursday, 08 August 2002 00:00

It is believed that the male rider died soon after being crushed by his mount when it reared over backwards. His name will be released once next of kin have been notified.

Media Release - TNZ