Wood Aims For Summer Series With Belltone

Thursday, 18 August 2011 02:59

Trainer Kelso Wood holds no fears about a seven-day back-up with emerging sprinter Belltone at Doomben on Saturday.

Belltone, a Chris Munce mount in the Padua College Class Six Plate (1350m) has suffered only one defeat in five starts since Wood took over training the six-year-old at the start of the year.

The only loss suffered by the son of Brahms, who was previously prepared by Paul Dawson, was when he went down in a photo-finish to in-form sprinter Solzhenitsyn in a 1400-metre Class Six Plate at Eagle Farm last month.

"Solzhenitsyn only just ran him down that day and he shouldn't have got beaten," Wood said.

"He jarred up and Chris (Munce) said he was changing strides from the 800 metres.

"He was fine again in a couple of days and he came out and won again last start after I gave him an easy time."

Wood, who also has three other fancies at Doomben, expects Belltone to either lead or sit just off the pace as he has done at his past two starts.

"It won't bother me if he doesn't lead. He can sit off the pace and still win," Wood said.

"I'm not worried about backing him up. He's a fit horse who is racing very well."

Wood plans to spell Belltone following this run and will bring him back for the summer series.

The summer series begins with the Group Three George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm followed by the Listed Doomben Stakes (1350m) and Listed Bernborough Handicap (1615m) at Doomben.

The George Moore Stakes was moved for the first time to Eagle Farm last year but the meeting was abandoned after falling victim to the weather.

Wood also expects a strong showing from Elusive Port in the Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1615m).

Elusive Port was successful at Doomben and Eagle Farm last month before finishing fifth to Startsmeup over 1350 metres at Doomben on July 30.

Wood then tested Elusive Port for the first time over further ground when the seven-year-old was narrowly beaten by Lake George in a 1630-metre Open Handicap at Doomben on August 6.

"I've got four runners on Saturday and hopefully they'll all perform well," Wood said.

Wood's other runners are Seek And Find, who is dropping back in distance to 1110 metres in the Hardy Brothers Jewellers Handicap, and Ellie La Vie in the www.brc.com.au Handicap (1615m).

Seek And Find is resuming after winning three of his previous five starts prior to a break while Ellie La Vie has had only three starts in her career including a last-start fourth in a 1300-metre Maiden at the Gold Coast on August 6.

Rothera Nearing Racetrack Return

Tuesday, 16 August 2011 02:01

One of Queensland’s more accomplished open class gallopers is about to make a competitive return to the racetrack.

The Ben Currie-trained Rothera was put through his paces by jockey Priscilla Schmidt in an 800 metre trial at Doomben this morning, finishing last in the field of five.

Rothera is likely to resume in a $50,000 Open Handicap (1200m) at Doomben next Saturday and in doing so, Currie is treading a well-worn path with the six-year-old gelded son of Tobougg.

Rothera's past two preparations have commenced with a single trial, where he has finished towards the rear of the field, with an eleven day break to his first-up assignment which has been in an open handicap over six furlongs.

That plan seems to have worked with Rothera claiming the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last October prior to being injured in a rough renewal of the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

He returned in the autumn with a brief three start preparation which culminated with success in the Listed Members Cup (1600m) at Eagle Farm.

Rothera, who is nominated for the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup, has raced 27 times for 11 wins and a second placing, with prizemoney currently standing at $331,150.

Pictures: Quentin Lang & Sportpix

Silvern Breaks City Drought

Wednesday, 17 August 2011 07:15

Jason McLachlan declared he was still learning the training trade after speedster Silvern broke through for his first city win in almost a year at Eagle Farm.

Silvern, ridden by Eddie Wilkinson, led all the way to down Tierqualo by a long head in Wednesday's Bundaberg Five White Rum Handicap (1300m).

It was Silvern's first victory in the metropolitan area since a Class Five win at Eagle Farm last September.

"This win just goes to show that at the age of 41, I'm still learning," McLachlan said.

"I took blinkers off him after he was beaten at Caloundra last month and since then he's won two from two."

Silver was originally trained by McLachlan's father, the late Bruce McLachlan who died in Stradbroke Handicap week in 2009.

McLachlan Snr always believed Silvern had a bright future since the day he won the Bundamba Plate at Ipswich in 2008 but overall the son of Lujain hasn't lived up to expectations until recently.

Jason McLachlan decided to remove blinkers from Silvern after three successive failures at Caloundra.

"He used to be very quick but for some reason he wasn't jumping so I took the blinkers off him and it's made all the difference," he said.

"He once held the course record for 1000 metres at home (Caloundra) but I'd like to try him over 1600 metres one day."

Jockey Larry Cassidy was back in favour with premier trainer Rob Heathcote following his win on Trump in the Bundaberg Distilling Co. Handicap (1300m).

Trump, having his first start since April, finished strongly to down Black Jag by a long neck with Punch On a further 1-1/4 lengths away third.

Cassidy and Heathcote have been a formidable team together over the past 12 months but in recent times Jim Byrne has been doing the bulk of the stable's riding.

Heathcote and Cassidy both predicted a promising future for Trump who left the rider with a sore left shoulder after the Written Tycoon gelding jammed him up against the barriers.

Heathcote, who also won earlier with Gotcha in the Sirromet Love My Good Times Maiden Plate (1400m), has only had Trump for four starts.

"He had his first two runs for David Payne in Sydney and the first thing I did when I got him was to have him gelded," Heathcote said.

"He was a bit of a wayward lad when I got him but I liked him from day one and I told his owners he'd make a nice miler.

"But the smartest thing I did with him was send him on a road trip to Rockhampton which taught him to travel."

Cassidy's win was later soured in the stewards' room when he was suspended for seven meetings for careless riding aboard Fractions in the Country Cup (1200m).

Cassidy's suspension will commence after next Saturday's Doomben meeting and conclude at midnight on September 1.

Black Piranha On WFA Path

Monday, 15 August 2011 06:15

Weight-for-age racing holds the key to Black Piranha delivering more Group One success during the twilight of a distinguished career.

Effectively announcing the end of Black Piranha's days as one of Australia's best handicap sprinter-milers, trainer Con Karakatsanis said: "It's getting too hard for him at the top of the weights now."

Black Piranha makes his new season return in the $175,000 Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm on Saturday with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.

It's the first race in a weight-for-age campaign Karakatsanis hopes will lead to another Group One payday in the George Main Stakes.

Black Piranha's two Group One victories have come in successive Stradbroke Handicaps.

He carried 55kg to win the famous Queensland sprint in 2009 and then he had 0.5kg more in his 2010 victory.

But Black Piranha carried 57kg when midfield in this year's edition and Karakatsanis concedes the handicapper might have finally caught up with the eight-year-old.

"There's always going to be a younger horse on the way up who is probably equal in ability with him and he has to give them too much weight," Karakatsanis said.

"But you can't complain. Black Piranha was in the same position as he came through, getting weight off other horses."

A weight-for-age victory has been elusive for Black Piranha in his 57 starts but there have been close calls in the Doomben 10,000, the George Ryder Stakes and George Main Stakes.

Black Piranha was rated an unlucky runner when second to Road To Rock in the 2009 George Main and the Group One mile is a spring target for the veteran.

"He goes into the spring pretty fresh ... he's only had four starts this year," Karakatsanis said.

Bowman was on top when Black Piranha finished third in a Rosehill barrier trial on Monday.

The Warwick Stakes, a traditional Sydney launch race for Cups hopefuls, attracted 20 nominations.

Lloyd Williams's trainer Robert Hickmott entered four horses, including last year's Epsom Derby runner-up At First Sight and fellow European import Green Moon.

At First Sight and Green Moon have also been entered for interstate races along with Base.

Well performed stablemate Linton has the Warwick Stakes as his only possible weekend engagement.

Maluckyday, who also trialled at Rosehill, has been entered but the Hawkes stable is waiting before making a decision on a start for the 2010 Melbourne Cup runner-up.

Tye Angland, once the regular rider for Black Piranha, has been booked to partner this year's Queensland Derby winner Shootoff.

Angland's manager Bryan Haskins said Saturday's meeting would be the jockey's last in Sydney before he returns to Hong Kong to prepare for the new racing season.

Picture: Ross Stevenson

Ahrens Dares To Dream Of Melbourne Cup

Wednesday, 17 August 2011 03:59

Former physiotherapist Ben Ahrens is daring to dream of a Cups campaign in Melbourne with Queensland stayer Spechenka.

Spechenka, winner of last year's Group Three Summer Cup at Randwick and the Listed Caloundra Cup in July, returns in a 1615-metre Open Handicap at Doomben on Saturday following his last-start Grafton Cup failure.

Former Adelaide jumps rider Ben Cornell, who rides Spechenka in most of his trackwork, will have his first metropolitan ride in Brisbane on the six-year-old.

Cornell rides on Queensland's country circuit but has been given a rare city opportunity by Ahrens with Spechenka's regular jockey Ryan Wiggins out suspended.

He has had a lot to do with Spechenka since his two-year-old days and has ridden him seven times for four wins.

"I thought about claiming on Spechenka but he can pull and I don't want him getting outside his normal pattern of racing so I thought a senior rider would be better," Ahrens said.

Cornell, 42, began his riding career as an 18-year-old in Adelaide before weight problems forced him to try his luck over the hurdles.

"I rode for four years and won about 30 races over the jumps after I got too heavy for flat racing," Cornell said.

"In my first year as a jumps rider I won the South Australian jumps premiership."

Cornell then moved to Darwin with the intention of staying only three months but ended up riding in the Top End for 12 years before settling at Beaudesert, south of Brisbane, four years ago.

"I went to Darwin for three months and stayed 12 years. I liked the lifestyle there and the weight scale was higher which suited me a lot," he said.

Ahrens quit a promising career as a physiotherapist a few years ago to train horses and has a team of 14 in work at his Beaudesert property.

Spechenka was given 10 days in the paddock to recover from his tough Grafton Cup (2300m) run after finishing fifth, beaten less than three lengths, in the feature won by Warrior Within.

"The Grafton Cup was a stop-start affair which didn't suit him and he jarred up a bit on the hard track," Ahrens said.

Ahrens conceded his Melbourne Cup dream may appear ambitious but it's a serious option for Spechenka.

"It's probably ambitious but I have to keep it in the back of my mind," Ahrens said.

"At this stage he'll have another run here over 2100 metres in a fortnight then go down for the Newcastle Cup and The Metropolitan.

"If he wins or runs a good race in The Metrop I'll send him on to Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup and he's already qualified for the Melbourne Cup."

Heathcote Undecided With Availability

Saturday, 13 August 2011 07:45

Rob Heathcote will let the dust settle before deciding whether to send Availability interstate for the spring following the three-year-old's narrow victory at Eagle Farm.

Availability, ridden by Jim Byrne, proved he was well above average by stepping up from a midweek maiden win on debut at Doomben last month to score by a long head over Lucky Tycoon in Saturday's Programmed Maintenance Services Handicap (1000m).

Heathcote has a big opinion of the son of Exceed And Excel who led home a smart field of three-year-olds and compared him favourably to his stable star Buffering.

"He's been an exciting horse from day one but he only just fell in," Heathcote said.

"I partly blame myself for that as I tried to freshen him up because of the drop back in distance.

"I wasn't happy with the programming and I would have preferred another 1100-metre race or even a step up to 1200 metres and had him ridden quietly.

"He might not be another Buffering yet but he's not far off him."

Heathcote will wait and see how Availability recovers before deciding if he'll join his team in Melbourne, headed by Buffering, for the spring.

"I haven't ruled out sending him to Sydney first then on to Melbourne," Heathcote said.

"I sent Buffering back and forth between Melbourne and Sydney last spring.

"I'll see how he pulls up after this run before making a decision."

Meanwhile, Heathcote will target next year's Caulfield Cup with stablemate Simmering following the four-year-old's six-length win over King Of The Nile in the Brand & Slater Architects Plate (2125m).

Simmering, another Byrne mount, made it three straight wins and five overall from 10 starts with his demolition job.

"He'll go to the paddock now and I'll look at some nice races in the spring next year like the Caulfield Cup," Heathcote said.

"I'll probably bring him back for a short three or four-run campaign in the summer and he may go to Sydney next year.

"He's onlyhad 10 runs and to win so easily, even though it's against this sort of opposition, proves he's a good horse."

Byrne had no doubts Simmering could measure up to the spring races in Melbourne in 12 months.

Patinack Farm's new Queensland team of foreman Brett Killion and apprentice Tim Bell stole the show at Eagle Farm with a winning treble.

Trainer John Thompson won the opening two races with Just Been Lucky (Madison Cleaning Services Handicap) and Miss Cutie (Herston Smash Repair Handicap) before Shamardashing won the St Margaret's Anglican Girls School Handicap (1820m).

Killion, who worked for 15 years as Gai Waterhouse's Sydney foreman, took over the running of Patinack farm's Queensland operation at Wadham Park in the Gold Coast hinterland three weeks ago.

His appointment followed Bell's decision to take up a contract to be Patinack Farm's stable rider in Queensland.

Colless Back After Vertigo Problem

Tuesday, 16 August 2011 04:15

Jockey Glen Colless has declared his fitness to resume riding following a bout of vertigo.

Colless, who has five rides at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, visited his doctor on Monday to gain a riding clearance after dizziness and blurred vision forced him to stand down after fulfilling only one riding commitment at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

He was out of action after a fall from five-year-old Favours Traded at Doomben on July 6.

"I was sidelined for a few weeks with vertigo after the fall," Colless said.

"It's hard to explain but I was a bit dizzy and had no sense of balance.

"I could only ride one horse last Saturday so I went to see my doctor yesterday but he wasn't too concerned.

"I rode a few horses trackwork this morning and then rode in a few barrier trials and I'm feeling fine again now."

Colless is confident the vertigo won't return and is looking for a big payday at Eagle Farm.

One of Colless' best rides looks to be the Alan Bailey-trained Age Of Heroes in the Bundaberg Five White Rum Handicap (1300m).

Age Of Heroes is close to peak fitness following two starts this campaign.

The son of Grandera resumed from a lengthy spell when finishing second to Tierqualo in the Tattersall's Arcade Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm on July 23 before a last-start third to Leapfrog in a 1200-metre Open at Doomben on August 6.

Age Of Heroes has had a remarkable career considering Bailey was advised to retire him two years ago because of chronic leg problems.

"I sent him down to the equine centre at Randwick a few years ago and they put a dye through him to find any hot spots," Bailey said.

"The report came back showing he had stress fractures everywhere and the vets advised me to retire him.

"Because of his problems he only ever has a few runs each campaign before he needs to go back out for a break."

Age Of Heroes has managed to win almost $220,000 in prizemoney with seven wins and eight placings from 21 starts despite his ongoing leg issues.

Bailey is confident Age Of Heroes can make it win number eight despite the presence of Tierqualo who beat him at Eagle Farm last month.

"He's (Age Of Heroes) no world-beater but if you take the topweight (Tierqualo) out it's not an overly-strong field," Bailey said.

Cassidy Cleared After Inquiry

Saturday, 13 August 2011 04:45

Racing Queensland stewards have taken no action against Larry Cassidy over his ride on beaten favourite Red Royal in the Ord Minnett Handicap at Doomben last week.

The inquiry was opened after stewards took exception to Cassidy's perceived lack of urgency to get to the outside on Red Royal on the home turn.

Red Royal could not be tested at any stage in the straight and wound up second-last, six lengths behind the winner The Inventor.

Cassidy insisted he was stuck inside runner-up Peppered Black who was also in restricted galloping room.

Trainer Bryan Guy said he had asked Cassidy why he had not come to the outside and had accepted his explanation.

The initial inquiry was adjourned to allow stewards time to inspect betting sheets before it reconvened before the opening race at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Chief steward Wade Birch admonished Cassidy over his ride but did not believe any charge was warranted.

"We believe the action you took was a lot worse option than moving to the outside of Peppered Black," Birch said.

"We believe under the circumstances you found yourself in, the action you took was wrong.

"However, we don't believe your ride was below what is expected but it was not one of your better rides."

Alberton Park's Form To Decide Future

Tuesday, 16 August 2011 02:59

Trainer Liam Birchley is hoping underrated mare Alberton Park's upcoming spring performances may delay a career in the breeding barn for another season.

The five-year-old mare has been nominated at both Doomben and Warwick Farm in Sydney on Saturday and Birchley favours sending her interstate for the Listed Toy Show Quality (1300m).

She is entered for a 1350-metre Class Six Plate at Doomben.

E-Thoroughbred's principal Tony Bott recently bought into the ownership of Alberton Park who had her first start for her new connections when runner-up at the Gold Coast on August 6.

It was her first start in almost two months since a mixed Brisbane winter carnival campaign.

During the winter Alberton Park competed in three successive Listed races with her best performance at black-type level when runner-up to Jasminka in the Listed Bright Shadow Quality (1200m) at Doomben in April.

The daughter of Thorn Park then missed a place in the Listed Juanmo Stakes at Eagle Farm and Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast at her next two starts before finishing ninth after being slowly away and blocked for a run in the Group Three Glenlogan Park Stakes won by Kanzan at Doomben in May.

Alberton Park lived up to her sound winter performances when winning in Class Six company at Doomben on May 28 but was hampered by a wide barrier when ninth in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich in mid-June.

Birchley has always believed Alberton Park was a developing type who would get better with age.

"She was a bit unlucky in a few of those winter races," Birchley said.

"She's got new owners now and if she can't compete at stakes level in Sydney then she'll go to stud immediately.

Birchley is confident Alberton Park can measure up to stakes races in Sydney during the spring but is unlikely to test her at a higher level.

"She's already stakes-placed and I think she's up to some of the stakes races in Sydney," he said.

The $100,000 Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong on September 2 and the $100,000 Group Three Patinack Farm Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle 13 days later are two races Birchley has pencilled in for Alberton Park.

Birchley will decide later in the week whether to send Alberton Park to Sydney.

"I want to wait as late as possible," he said.

"I would rather not work her out of her normal environment so it's best to go to Sydney after she works later in the week.

"She's always been above average but she's no superstar. If she can be competitive in Sydney she'll probably race on for another year but if she doesn't she'll go straight to stud this season."

Patinack Pair's Run Continues

Saturday, 13 August 2011 03:59

Patinack Farm's new Queensland operation headed by Brett Killion and star apprentice Tim Bell continued its recent run of success by combining for a winning double in the opening two races at Eagle Farm.

The John Thompson-trained Just Been Lucky powered home to down Aladah by a long neck in Saturday's Madison Cleaning Services Handicap (1200m) and was followed up by Miss Cutie's two-length victory in the Herston Smash Repair Handicap (1500m).

Killion, who worked for 15 years as Gai Waterhouse's Sydney foreman, took over the running of Patinack farm's Queensland operation at Wadham Park in the Gold Coast hinterland only three weeks ago.

His appointment followed Bell's decision to take up a contract to be Patinack Farm's stable rider in Queensland.

"Things are going well and this is our fifth winner in the three weeks since I've been here," Killion said.

"We thought Just Been Lucky had a chance on her previous run when she had no luck from a bad barrier.

"Miss Cutie ran a huge race when runner-up at Doomben last start.

"Tim is riding really well at the moment and we've all got a lot of confidence in him."

Bell, 18, who rejected overtures from some of Sydney's top stables to join Nathan Tinkler's operation, gave Just Been Lucky every chance after settling the five-year-old off the pace and then produced another superb ride when weaving Miss Cutie through the field to score easily.

"Things are going well and we're having a good run," Bell said.

"This is my sixth winner for Patinack Farm and hopefully there's a lot more to come."