Avienus Gallop Boosts Railway Chances
- Tuesday, 15 November 2011 04:16
A pleasing track gallop has confirmed for trainer Mark Webb that Avienus is on track for Perth's Group One Railway Stakes.
AvienusThe six-year-old mare had a stressful trip to Perth a week ago but has picked up well and had her final serious hit-out at Ascot on Tuesday morning ahead of Saturday's $1 million feature over 1600 metres.
"It wasn't hammer and tongs but it was nice work," Webb said.
"She went 1200 metres in evens and a working gallop the last 600 metres.
"That will probably do her now as her fitness levels are pretty good coming off her recent runs in Melbourne.
"She got a bit crook on the plane coming over but that was more due to circumstances of being delayed on the tarmac at Tullamarine for three hours.
"She has bounced back from that and things are pretty good."
Avienus firmed from $12 to $11 with TAB Sportsbet for the Railway after she drew gate 10 in the field of 16 plus two emergencies at Tuesday's barrier draw.
"The two emergencies are inside her and if they don't run she will come into eight which is probably ideal," Webb said.
Local galloper Ranger eased marginally from $3.40 to $3.60 after he drew barrier six while second favourite Luckygray has gate 14 and eased from $5.50 to $6.
New Zealand visitor He's Remarkable, who will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, has the inside gate and firmed from $9.50 to $7.50.
Playing God has barrier nine and shares the third line of betting at $7.50.
Five-year-old Ranger has won three in a row this preparation including a two-length success last start in the Group Two Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.
However Avienus has been unable to win for more than a year.
Webb is hopeful that Craig Williams can help break her 15-race losing run in the Railway and bring up her sixth career win in 34 starts.
"It a big key having Craig on her," Webb said.
Craig Williams"It certainly gives you some confidence.
"He has ridden her several times and won on her so he knows her pretty well."
Avienus finished second to Descarado in the Group One Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on October 8 and second last in the Cox Plate before storming home from last for fourth to Vintedge in the Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
She drops from 56.5kg to 53kg in the Railway which convinced Webb to make the trip west.
"She has been running well without winning and is very nicely placed with that weight," Webb said.
The Railway Stakes is one of two Group Ones to be run at Ascot on Saturday with a field of 14 set to contest the $500,000 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
Eastern states visitors Ortensia ($2.30) and Rarefied ($6.50) head betting for the weight-for-age sprint.
Pictures: Fiona Tomlin
Kind Draw For Ranger In Railway Stakes
- Tuesday, 15 November 2011 01:31
Local galloper Ranger remains the favourite for Saturday's Group One Railway Stakes in Perth following Tuesday's barrier draw.
The in-form Grant Williams-trained Ranger came up with gate six after a field of 16 plus two emergencies was declared for the $1 million feature at Ascot.
Ranger is the $3.60 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Luckygray at $6.
Luckygray has barrier 14 but will come into 12 if the two emergencies come out, while New Zealand visitor He's Remarkable will jump from the inside gate with Kerrin McEvoy to ride.
The Roger James-trained He's Remarkable is on the third line of betting at $7.50 along with Group One winner Playing God who has drawn gate nine.
Five-year-old Ranger has won three in a row this preparation including a two-length success last start in the Group Two Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.
The Railway Stakes (1600m) is one of two Group Ones to be run at Ascot on Saturday with a field of 14 set to contest the $500,000 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
Eastern states visitors Ortensia ($2.30) and Rarefied ($6.50) head betting for the weight-for-age sprint with the barrier draw to take place on Tuesday night.
Williams On Ortensia In Winterbottom
- Monday, 07 November 2011 04:16
Craig Williams will finally be reunited with Ortensia after she was among several sprinters to figure in a sudden change to their campaigns in the wake of Black Caviar's Winterbottom Stakes defection.
Ortensia"Things have changed very quickly in the past 24 hours," trainer Paul Messara told AAP.
"It's been a very busy morning and I would imagine there are a few more trainers doing the same thing now that Black Caviar's out.
"But yes, she will be will on the flight (to Perth) tomorrow night."
Williams, denied a place in racing history's books when suspension cost him the ride on the Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden, was quick off the mark to secure the Ortensia ride in the Group One sprint at Ascot on Saturday week.
Messara confirmed Williams' manager Mark Guest had chased the mount as soon as the news on Black Caviar broke, leaving the way open for a strong contingent of eastern states sprinters to make the trip to Perth.
"They (Williams' team) rang me," Messara said.
While she isn't box office material like Black Caviar, Ortensia is a top-shelf sprinter in her own right, confirmed during the Melbourne Cup carnival at her first start for Messara.
Williams was booked for a VRC Oaks day reunion before his ban and with Darren Beadman in the saddle, Ortensia scored with authority in a Listed 1100m race against her own sex.
"She's come through the run really well," Messara said. "I'm very happy with her."
Williams, who was almost a permanent fixture on Ortensia's back during her rise to the elite level of Australian sprinters, last rode Ortensia when she failed on a heavy track in The Galaxy at Randwick in April.
He was also aboard the mare when she was first across the line in the 2010 edition of the Group One sprint, only for the race to be stripped from her because of a positive swab.
After her win last Thursday, Messara pencilled in a New Zealand campaign during the summer but a trip across the Tasman could now be on hold.
"Going to Perth might make change things now for the rest of her preparation," Messara said.
Ortensia, promoted to the second line of Winterbottom betting at $3 in revised TAB Sportsbet markets on Monday, will be trying to win the race for second time.
OrtensiaTwo years ago she quickly rebounded from a Railway Stakes defeat over 1600m to win the Winterbottom a week later when the race was run at Group Two level.
Black Caviar's trainer Peter Moody will still have Winterbottom representation with Master Harry while Peter Snowden has confirmed Rarefied on the flight west.
Barakey, the unbeaten Perth sprinter who was going to miss the Winterbottom because of Black Caviar's presence, is the new race favourite at $2.30.
Trainer Jim Taylor told Perth radio on Monday the four-year-old was now a "60/40" chance of taking his place in the field.
Pictures: Quentin Lang
Railway Stakes: Final Field & Barriers
- Tuesday, 15 November 2011 00:41
The barrier draw for Group One Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (1600m) has been released this morning with pre-race favourite Ranger drawing well in barrier six.
Playing GodRanger is one of four runners from the stable of Grant Williams in the Railway.
Williams will also saddle up Lords Ransom (barrier four), Battle Emblem (barrier 11) and Tranquility (barrier 18).
Topweight Playing God drew well in the middle of the line and will begin from barrier nine.
Victorian visitors Avienus and Spacecraft drew barriers 10 and 12 respectively.
The barrier draw for the Group 1 Burswood Winterbottom Stakes will take place at Burswood Entertainment Complex later today.
Ascot (Saturday)
$1 million Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m)
| # | Form | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Wgt | API | Win% | Plc% |
| 1 | 245360 | Playing God (9) | S Parnham | N D Parnham | 57 | 53.7 | 30.0 | 70.0 |
| 2 | Lx2213 | Waratah's Secret (3) | P Harvey | D R Harrison | 57 | 31.1 | 47.4 | 84.2 |
| 3 | 30x111 | Ranger (6) | W Pike | Grant Williams | 56 | 24.6 | 37.5 | 75.0 |
| 4 | 134635 | King Kool Kat (8) | D Miller | I S Glading | 55 | 10.1 | 11.8 | 54.4 |
| 5 | 1x0x97 | Lords Ransom (4) | B Parnham | 54 | 34.4 | 42.9 | 52.4 | |
| 6 | 092204 | Avienus (10) | C Williams | M C Webb | 53 | 16.5 | 15.2 | 42.4 |
| 7 | 528328 | Battle Emblem (11) | K Yuill | Grant Williams | 53 | 10.1 | 19.6 | 47.8 |
| 8 | 0x2364 | Big Ted (16) | M Chui | Ivan Haggerty | 53 | 7.1 | 19.2 | 50.0 |
| 9 | 0x1131 | He's Remarkable (1) | K McEvoy | R A James | 53 | 18.8 | 35.7 | 57.1 |
| 10 | 121121 | Kincaple (15) | T Turner | M B Reed | 53 | 13.3 | 30.4 | 69.6 |
| 11 | 42x111 | Luckygray (14) | S O'Donnell | G P Poletti | 53 | 31.0 | 75.0 | 87.5 |
| 12 | 715323 | Mega Steel (17) | J Noske | B A McClune | 53 | 10.9 | 18.9 | 59.5 |
| 13 | 06x241 | Rocky Range (13) | S Meeres | A D Mathews | 53 | 7.5 | 18.8 | 52.1 |
| 14 | 4x4804 | Spacecraft (12) | P Knuckey | D A Hayes | 53 | 14.7 | 22.7 | 40.9 |
| 15 | 16x343 | Tranquility (18) | J Whiting | Grant Williams | 53 | 13.4 | 21.4 | 57.1 |
| 16 | 351311 | Westriver Kevydonn (2) | P Carbery | Ms P Kenney | 53 | 11.9 | 33.3 | 66.7 |
| Emergencies | ||||||||
| 17 | 216325 | Our Ol' Fella (7) | S McGruddy | S J Wolfe | 53 | 11.2 | 27.6 | 51.7 |
| 18 | 20x102 | Ringmeister (5) | TBA | L Smith | 53 | 10.2 | 33.3 | 60.0 |
Picture: Quentin Lang
Caviar At Short Odds For Winterbottom
- Friday, 04 November 2011 06:46
Champion Black Caviar is expected to notch win number 16 at Flemington on Saturday and has been posted as the $1.10 favourite to make it 17 in Perth later this month.
Black Caviar has been installed at the prohibitive quote for the Group One Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in the opening TAB Sportsbet market.
The weight-for-age sprint is on November 19 and has been pencilled in as the champion sprinter's likely next target following Saturday's Group One Patinack Farm Classic at (1200m) Flemington.
Unbeaten Perth local Barakey is the second favourite at $5, while another local in Playing God heads the market for the Group One Railway Stakes (1600m) at $5.
The Railway is run on the same day as the Winterbottom.
Playing God is also the $3.60 favourite for the Group One Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 3.
Taylor Makes Early Call On Barakey
- Wednesday, 09 November 2011 05:20
Trainer Jim Taylor has decided against a Winterbottom Stakes start for Barakey and will send the unbeaten sprinter for a spell.
Taylor was considering running Barakey in the $500,000 Winterbottom (1200m) on Saturday week following the withdrawal of champion Black Caviar on Monday.
He said his decision on Tuesday was in the best interests of the horse after a long first campaign.
Barakey is unbeaten in six starts in the west including a two-length victory at Ascot last Saturday.
He was elevated to $2.30 Winterbottom favourite on Monday following news Black Caviar wouldn't be making the trip to Perth.
"He worked this morning and he's just had enough," Taylor told AAP.
"I've just decided he's just not as bright as his normal self.
"I think he's got a pretty big career ahead of him so I think it's best to pull up stumps.
"I think he'll be a pretty nice horse next time in six months time."
Crack sprinting mare Ortensia is now $2.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet to win the race for a second time.
The race carries Group One status for the first time.
Ortensia is booked on a plane from Melbourne to Perth on Tuesday night.
Waratah's Secret is now second favourite at $4.20 with All Friared Up and Rarefied at $6.50.
Barakey is expected to be aimed at feature handicap sprints in Melbourne in the autumn.
Idyllic Prince Wins Fourth Godwood Sprint
- Sunday, 21 August 2011 08:45
Evergreen West Australian galloper Idyllic Prince took out the Listed Goodwood Sprint for a fourth time on Saturday while the meeting unearthed another potential star for trainer Dan Morton in Bliss Street.
To the roar of the crowd, Idyllic Prince took the lead in the straight and staved off the challenge from the fast finishing Playing God.
Trained by Jim Taylor and raced by his family, nine-year-old Idyllic Prince has battled many problems throughout the years.
"He just keeps on battling through the pain barrier and bulldogs his way through his races," Taylor told perthracing.com.au.
"For Mum, Dad, (my wife) Tina and (jockey) Jason Brown he has provided a wonderful roller coaster ride for us all."
The career of Bliss Street is still in its early stages with the talented filly to be targeted at Group One racing in Melbourne this spring following her 1200m win on Saturday.
The winner of the WA Sires Produce Stakes last season, Bliss Street has the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on October 12 as her main goal.
"That was a pretty good effort," Morton said.
"She has matured with the break and at this stage she will most likely have her next start in Melbourne."
orton is no stranger to eastern states success having prepared Scenic Blast and Scenic Shot to Group One victories.
Barakey Back In Winterbottom Contention
- Wednesday, 09 November 2011 05:20
Winterbottom Stakes favourite Barakey will be monitored over the next few days before trainer Jim Taylor confirms a start in Saturday week's Group One sprint in Perth.
Taylor was going to bypass the $500,000 Winterbottom (1200m) with Barakey due to the expected presence of champion mare Black Caviar.
But with the Peter Moody-trained drawcard ruled out on Monday, the weight-for-age contest is now back on the table for Perth's latest boom sprinter.
"It would have been easier if Black Caviar came because it would have made the decision a lot easier," Taylor told Sydney's Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday.
"I would have said, `right, go to the paddock'.
"Obviously it (the Winterbottom) is very tempting at this stage, but I'm very mindful that it's his first preparation."
Barakey is unbeaten in six starts with his most recent success a two-length victory over 1200m at Ascot on Saturday.
"At this stage we're going on but I'm just going to monitor how he feels this week," Taylor said.
Taylor wants to make sure the four-year-old is 100 per cent before confirming a Winterbottom start.
He said the son of Key Business had come through Saturday's win in sound order.
"He's pretty well in himself and just had a light trot this morning," Taylor said.
"He had a couple of days off after the race. When he does a bit more serious work in the next couple of days I'll get a good feel of where we are at."
Barakey is the $2.30 favourite on TAB Sportsbet with the 2009 winner Ortensia next in line at $3 following her first-up win during the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Ortensia is booked on a Melbourne to Perth flight on Tuesday night.
Taylor, who prepared Hay List to eight wins in nine Perth starts before he was transferred to NSW trainer John McNair, is planning a Melbourne campaign with Barakey in the autumn.
Winterbottom Stakes Now A Group One
- Friday, 22 July 2011 07:45
The Winterbottom Stakes in Perth has been upgraded to Group One status following an Australian Pattern Committee meeting in Sydney on Friday.
The 1200m sprint has been elevated from Group Two at the expense of the West Australian Derby which has been downgraded from Group One to Group Two.
"It's disappointing to lose the Group One status of a historical race like the WATC Derby but at the same time it had not been performing to the appropriate standard in recent years," Western Australia's representative on the Pattern Committee, David Hunter, said.
"This way we don't lose a Group One, we still have three Group One races in Western Australia."
While last year's Winterbottom was won by local galloper Hadabeclorka, other recent winners of the weight-for-age event have included Takeover Target, Miss Andretti and Ortensia.
Hunter, manager of thoroughbred racing for Racing and Wagering WA, hopes the upgrading of the Winterbottom will see champion Black Caviar take her place in the race on November 19 at Ascot.
Black Caviar's trainer Peter Moody revealed earlier this week that the Winterbottom could be the unbeaten sprinter's fourth start of her spring campaign.
Albert The Fat, Wall Street Top WA Weights
- Monday, 07 November 2011 07:00
Emirates Stakes winner Albert The Fat and New Zealand star Wall Street head weights for the Group One Railway Stakes.
Albert The FatWest Australian handicappers have given the pair 57kg for the $1 million race over 1600m at Ascot on Saturday week.
Albert The Fat carried 54kg to his last-stride Emirates win over King's Rose at Flemington on Saturday.
Wall Street, who finished 3-1/2 lengths behind Albert The Fat in sixth place in the Emirates, will meet the Sydney galloper on two kilogram better terms if they clash in the Railway.
The Rick Hore-Lacy-trained Toorak Toff has been given 55.5kg with Grand Nirvana the highest-weighted WA horse at 55kg.
Of the 53 Railway entries, 41 have been handicapped on the minimum 52kg, including Saturday's Flemington winner He's Remarkable.
Ascot (November 19)
Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m)
| # | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | ALBERT THE FAT | Chris Waller |
| 2 | AVIENUS | Mark Webb |
| 3 | BATTLE EMBLEM | Grant Williams |
| 4 | BIG JOSH | Daniel Morton |
| 5 | BIG TED | Ivan Haggerty |
| 6 | BRIDGESTONE (NZ) | Neville Parnham |
| 7 | COSMIC CAUSEWAY | Peter G Moody |
| 8 | DINO MAK | Wally Mitchell |
| 9 | DREAMAWAY | Dean Binaisse |
| 10 | EGO’S DARE | Gerald Ryan |
| 11 | EVEN ASTAR | Neville Parnham |
| 12 | EXTRA ZERO | David Hayes |
| 13 | GOD HAS SPOKEN | Neville Parnham |
| 14 | GRAND NIRVANA | Fred Kersley |
| 15 | GUEST WING | Shane A Edwards |
| 16 | HE’S REMARKABLE (NZ) | Roger James |
| 17 | INSURGENCY | Garry Delane |
| 18 | KID CHOISIR | Allen McNamara (Snr) |
| 19 | KINCAPLE (NZ) | Mark Reed |
| 20 | KING KOOL KAT | Ian Glading |
| 21 | LARGO LAD | David Hayes |
| 22 | LAUNAY | Peter Snowden |
| 23 | LORDS RANSOM | Grant Williams |
| 24 | LUCKYGRAY | Gino Poletti |
| 25 | LUEN YAT FOREVER | Peter G Moody |
| 26 | MEGA STEEL | Bruce McClune |
| 27 | MOMENT IN TIME | John P Thompson |
| 28 | MORANT | Ross & Clint Price |
| 29 | OUR OL’ FELLA | Steve Wolfe |
| 30 | PHILBY | George Daly |
| 31 | PINNACLES | Rick Hore-Lacy |
| 32 | PINWHEEL | Peter Snowden |
| 33 | PLAYING GOD | Neville Parnham |
| 34 | RAFFERTY | Ross & Clint Price |
| 35 | RANGER | Grant Williams |
| 36 | RENEWED VITALITY | John P Thompson |
| 37 | RINGMEISTER | Lindsey Smith |
| 38 | ROCKY RANGE | Alan Mathews |
| 39 | RUN FOR LEVI | John P Thompson |
| 40 | SENTENZA | Ivan Haggerty |
| 41 | SPACECRAFT | David Hayes |
| 42 | SPECCIO | Simon Barrass |
| 43 | TARZI | Neville Parnham |
| 44 | TESTA MY PATIENCE | Mick Price |
| 45 | TINDAL | Wendy Roche |
| 46 | TOORAK TOFF | Rick Hore-Lacy |
| 47 | TRANQUILITY | Grant Williams |
| 48 | WALL STREET (NZ) | Jeff Lynds |
| 49 | WARATAH’S SECRET | David Harrison |
| 50 | WESTRIVER KEVYDONN | Paige Kenney |
| 51 | WILLY JIMMY | Guy Walter |
| 52 | WOLFE DREAMS | Steve Wolfe |
| 53 | XAARAVID | George Daly |
Picture: Quentin Lang
Winterbottom Promoted, WA Derby Demoted
- Friday, 22 July 2011 04:18
The Australian Pattern Committee met in Sydney today and recommended to the Australian Racing Board the following changes to the Western Australian Pattern: Representing Western Australia on the Australian Pattern Committee, RWWA Manager Thoroughbred Racing David Hunter, said "Although it is disappointing for Western Australia to lose group one status on the WATC Derby, it has become obvious the race has failed to consistently perform to group one standard in recent years. The Western Australian breeding industry has produced some of the world’s leading sprinters in recent years and it is pleasing connections will now have an opportunity to compete in a group one sprint event in their home state with the newly elevated Winterbottom Stakes." The elevation of the Winterbottom Stakes to group one status further strengthens the ‘Super Saturday’ race meeting to be run at Ascot on 19 November 2011. The meeting will now feature two group one events, a group two and three listed races on the ten race programme. Following downgrade of the WATC Derby to group two status, RWWA and Perth Racing has undertaken a realignment of prize money for three-years-old feature events. Prize money for the 2011 running of the WA Guineas will be increased by $100,000 to $350,000 and the WA Champion Fillies Stakes by $25,000 to $250,000. Prize money for the 2012 running of the WATC Derby, as group two event, will be reduced to $400,000.