Ellerslie tomorrow. :{>: First day of the flat season there, finally! It should be our best season ever too, with 3 races worth $1 million or more between January and April including the $2.2 million NZ Derby.

Tomorrow's a pretty quiet opening day though, just a couple of minor 3yo stakes races. But there are still lots of nice horses.

Race 5
Soliloquy Stakes
3yo Fillies 1400m

1 320X5 Raid 10 76 56.0 Leith Innes Stephen McKee, Ardmore
2 846X1 Annie 2 68 56.0 Vinnie Colgan Don Dwyer, Pukekohe
3 X3143 Shock 3 68 56.0 Michael Coleman Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
4 21X84 Awesome Planet (AUS) 1 67 56.0 Opie Bosson Graeme Rogerson, Scott Lucock & Roydon Bergerson, Tuhikaramea-Palm Nth
5 16 Sub Prime 4 67 56.0 Samantha Collett (a) Jim Collett, Matamata
6 334X2 Alberton Princess 5 59 56.0 Sam Spratt Richard Yuill, Pukekohe Park
7 654 Fastnfree 11 55 56.0 Noel Harris Bill Pomare, Rotorua
8 0X4 Karloushe 9 55 56.0 Danielle Johnson (a) Richard Yuill, Pukekohe Park
9 4 Mercury Lady 8 55 56.0 Cameron Lammas Lance Noble, Matamata
10 7X5X4 Glamorous Girl 7 54 56.0 Andrew Calder Roger James & Paul Mirabelli, Cambridge
11 75X0 Lady Power 6 50 56.0 Craig Grylls (a) Graeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu

These girls are probably a bit behind Juice, Il Quello Veloce and that lot, but there's still some talent.

Race 6
Open Hcp 1200m

1 356X7 Clifton Prince 8 104 58.0 Andrew Calder Peter McKay, Matamata
2 5380X Floydeboy 11 102 57.0 Grant Cooksley Patrick & Trent Busuttin, Cambridge
3 7611X Volscar 1 100 56.0 Cameron Lammas Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata
4 3233X Culminate :D 5 98 55.0 Sam Spratt Stephen McKee, Ardmore
5 296X0 Irlanda 3 98 55.0 Michael Coleman Lance Noble, Matamata
6 3313X Indikator 6 95 54.5 Noel Harris Keith Opie, Te Aroha
7 32314 Tuscany Dancer 10 94 54.0 Tasha Collett (a1) Tania Skinner, Te Awamutu
8 171X0 Martini Red (AUS) 13 93 54.0 James McDonald (a1) Ross Elliot, Cambridge
9 5575L Rabkalajo 7 93 54.0 Trudy Thornton Gale Julian, Wanganui
10 42223 My Lips Ar Sealed 2 90 53.0 Toni McMullen (a4) Graham Richardson, Matamata
11 74622 Vicenzo 12 90 53.0 Lynsey Satherley Ernie Griffiths, Paeroa
12 784X0 Ebony Babe 9 86 53.0 Craig Grylls (a) Richard & Chris Otto, Te Awamutu
13 587X7 Rapid Rielle 4 85 53.0 Michelle Wenn James Hatton, Ardmore

Very nice race. Culminate! She was 2nd in two G1s last season, hope she wins one this season.

Race 8
Bonecrusher Stakes
3yo 1400m

1 811 Takeanotherchance 8 80 56.0 Jason Waddell Garry & Steven Barlow, Newbury Park, Palm North
2 21123 Rough Odds 2 75 56.0 Mark Hills Craig Ritchie, Pukekohe Park
3 73X31 Al Qurhah 6 74 56.0 Sam Spratt Peter McKay, Matamata
4 6X21 Headsiwin 15 68 56.0 James McDonald (a) Donna, Dean Logan & Chris Gibbs, Ruakaka
5 1X Kildonan (AUS) 13 68 56.0 Andrew Calder Yves Seguin, Cambridge
6 15 Redessi (AUS) 1 68 56.0 Craig Grylls (a) Richard & Chris Otto, Te Awamutu
7 16 The Diamond Knight 14 68 56.0 Leith Innes Steven Pinfold, Byerley Park, Kingseat
8 61037 Blakmandu 10 67 56.0 Gavin McKeon Sandy Dravitzki, New Plymouth
9 196 Merrymaker 9 67 56.0 Michael Coleman Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
10 510 Red Tiger (AUS) 12 67 56.0 Grant Cooksley Ken Kelso & Thomas Russell, Matamata
11 42X2 Late Addition 11 59 56.0 Scratching Graeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu
12 2 Santorielli 3 58 56.0 Vinnie Colgan Peter McKay, Matamata
13 42X All In Tempo 4 57 56.0 Reese Jones Bryce Revell, New Plymouth
14 2 Elusive Fortune 5 57 56.0 Opie Bosson Mark Walker, Matamata-Rangiora
15 65X43 Crown Of Thorns 7 56 56.0 Troy Harris Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata

Kildonan! I posted a video of his debut a few months ago, he won it by 9. Been waiting for him to race again. Tough field for him though, some really nice horses here.

Should be a good day. :)

What happened with Slick, ed? Was he scratched?

Dear Vets...

Thank you.

Yeah, it was a good decision. Wish the vets had the power to order a horse to be retired.

Great races at Ellerslie today though, Awesome Planet won the Soliloquy and Kildonan is still undefeated after winning the Bonecrusher. Videos soon. :)

Videos...

Soliloquy Stakes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUD7NBzKJa4
Bonecrusher Stakes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY6VBOjIzHU

What happened man the Warriors where SH$T:confused:

They were. I was watching it in a bar with some mates but it was terrible to watch, we decided to go somewhere else instead.

Finally got a chance to watch these..... thanks for posting them!

Kelt day on Saturday at Hastings. I'll be there, again. :D

HAWKE'S BAY GUINEAS (G2)

1 15X13 Fully Fledged 7 92 56.0 Leith Innes Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge
2 178X0 Vincent Mangano 10 83 56.0 Vinnie Colgan Peter McKay, Matamata
3 141X3 All In Brawl 12 82 56.0 Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
4 110X2 Minstrel Court (AUS) 3 80 56.0 Opie Bosson Mark Walker, Matamata-Rangiora
5 1119 Altered Image 15 79 56.0 Michael Coleman Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
6 3X313 Al Qurhah 6 74 56.0 Sam Spratt Peter McKay, Matamata
7 6X31 Perky Parrot 14 70 56.0 Noel Harris Grant Nicholson, Opaki
8 314X2 Tell A Tale (AUS) 11 70 56.0 Troy Harris Mark Walker, Matamata-Rangiora
9 162 The Diamond Knight 4 70 56.0 Bruce Herd Steven Pinfold, Byerley Park, Kingseat
10 12 Lauaki 8 69 56.0 Cameron Lammas Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata
11 14X2 Caratacus 1 68 56.0 Jason Waddell Graeme Rogerson, Scott Lucock & Roydon Bergerson, Tuhikaramea-Palm Nth
12 3X14 Firebolt 13 68 56.0 Andrew Calder Roger James & Paul Mirabelli, Cambridge
13 1 Rubin Carter 5 68 56.0 Craig Grylls (a) Richard & Chris Otto, Te Awamutu
14 978 Oliver Twist 9 50 56.0 Cory Parish (a) John Mason, Tokoroa
15 692X3 Explosive Dancer 2 59 54.5 Gavin McKeon Bruce Wallace, Takanini

Nice field this, but FF should be at a short price here.


GR KELT MEMORIAL

1 11225 Bulginbaah 2 109 59.5 Opie Bosson Ken Cropp & Catherine Wilson, Wanganui
2 484X1 Dezigna 11 106 58.0 Troy Harris Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata
3 56X75 Clifton Prince 7 104 57.0 Andrew Calder Peter McKay, Matamata
4 4039X Fooram 1 104 57.0 James McDonald (a) Richard & Chris Otto, Te Awamutu
5 4X211 Our Umaga 10 103 56.5 Kelly Myers (a) Bill Thurlow, Waverley
6 0X323 Samurai 13 101 55.5 Neil Connors, Woodville
7 X1421 Old Belvedere 16 99 54.5 Craig Grylls (a) Richard & Chris Otto, Te Awamutu
8 280X3 Imananabaa (AUS) 15 98 54.0 Don Sellwood, Cambridge
9 510X1 Special Mission 4 98 54.0 Sam Spratt Peter McKay, Matamata
10 7114X Vosne Romanee 5 97 54.0 Michael Coleman Jeff Lynds, Awapuni
11 1280X Marty Boy 6 96 53.5 Darryl Bradley Marty Johnson, Woodville
12 X11X3 Antipodean (AUS) 14 95 53.5 Vinnie Colgan Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue, Cambridge
13 45861 Ben Hogan 17 94 53.0 Bruce Herd Lisa Latta, Awapuni
14 737X6 Black Panther 12 94 53.0 John Wheeler, New Plymouth
15 24X14 Mufhasa 9 92 52.5 Stephen McKee, Ardmore
16 X2111 Tootsie 8 89 52.0 Lisa Allpress Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata

This race always has a strong field of sprinters, but this is even better than usual. Couple of G1 winners (Imananabaa, Special Mission), and some massive talents (Mufhasa, Tootsie, Vosne Romanee). Should be great.

KELT CAPITAL STAKES (G1)

1 552X9 Pentathon 17 108 59.0 Troy Harris John Wheeler, New Plymouth
2 037X0 Spin Around (AUS) 15 107 59.0 Gavin McKeon Steven Cooper, Ardmore
3 22X06 Sterling Prince 16 99 59.0 Cameron Lammas Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata
4 19X42 Ginga Dude 10 98 59.0 James McDonald (a) Graeme Boyd, Kaipaki
5 12X12 Nom du Jeu 6 107 57.5 Noel Harris Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge
6 3X113 Fritzy Boy 14 105 57.5 Alby MacGregor, Opaki
7 02X39 Prince Kaapstad 4 98 57.5 Sam Spratt Richard Yuill, Pukekohe Park
8 26X40 Red Ruler 7 94 57.5 Jason Waddell John Sargent, Matamata
9 28X10 Rios 3 94 57.5 Leith Innes Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge
10 98X00 The Pooka (AUS) 18 90 57.5 Michael Coleman John Wheeler, New Plymouth
11 22X91 Princess Coup (AUS) 9 110 56.5 Opie Bosson Mark Walker, Matamata-Rangiora
12 11161 Katy Keen 13 107 56.5 Vinnie Colgan Stuart Manning, Tauranga
13 7X391 Gaze 11 103 56.5 Bruce Herd Roger James & Paul Mirabelli, Cambridge
14 2X454 Ombre Rose 5 103 56.5 Andrew Calder Shane Marr, Riccarton Park
15 041X8 Prize Lady 2 102 56.5 Mark Sweeney Graeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu
16 12X15 Boundless 12 98 55.0 Hayden Tinsley Stephen McKee, Ardmore
17 027X0 Izzat (B1) 8 103 59.0 Andrew Scott, Matamata
18 00X74 Shariat's On Fire (B2) 1 95 59.0 Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata

They're all here. :) The Princess is fav after her dominant win 2 weeks ago, but she won this race last year and no horse has ever won it twice in a row. Apart from Seachange (who didn't get the distance anyway), this is a much better field than last year's Kelt as well. Can't wait. :D

Izzat needs one horse to scratch to make the field - it might happen, the trainer of Pentathon and The Pooka is unsure about both horses.

Ooooh, how fun!

I don't know all the names but I'm thinking no one beats FF so a fun race to watch.

Good luck to the Princess, of course, and to Nom du Jeu.

Oh... can't they find something a bit, ummm... not-so-difficult for Izzat? I mean is he ready for this? :)

Hey, any idea how my Best Gift / Carlisle boy is doing? Thanks!

I believe they retired him because they didn't think he was enjoying racing anymore (*looks at Sir Slick's owner/trainer*). Not sure what he's doing now, but it sounded like he was going to be well looked after. :)

Awww, that's nice to hear. He looked like he had had enough for quite a while..... maybe other owners and trainers will GET A CLUE SOMEDAY.

The Princess!!!

http://www.virtualformguide.com/cgi-...4zprincess.txt

She was awesome. $4m now! Was good to see Red Ruler back to his best (2nd), and NdJ came 3rd. Boundless 4th. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q0G-aUtD4E

The Hawke's Bay Guineas was a good race too, won by Tell A Tale (3 g Tale of the Cat - Cheeky Veronika). He was 24-1 but looks like a really nice horse. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_VeBacVVcI

And Mufhasa won the GR Kelt Memorial. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtwTopqg-kg

She's brilliant!

Indeed. :)

FF was disappointing in the Hawke's Bay Guineas though, he came 2nd but it was his 3rd race over further than 6f and the 3rd time he's lost. Looks like he might just be a sprinter...a damn good one though.

So for the 2000 Guineas (6 weeks away), Kildonan is the leader at the moment. But there are some nice horses not far behind him - Tell A Tale, Islington Bay, Moveovr, Quartz Reef, The Diamond Knight, Altered Image...

Hey do you remember this guy, ed?

Let's Migrate...

http://www.hkjc.com/english/pp_formsheet/fse_H303.pdf

He's getting better and better (in HK. HIs name is Enthused).

Nice boy!

http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/H...p?HorseNo=H303

http://racing.scmp.com/freeservice/n...s20081006a.asp

just watched coups run WOW!!!!:eek:

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...asp?NID=136782

Poor girl. Hope she's feeling better.


Seachange Survives Emergency Operation

Tuesday, 7 October 2008: Champion Kiwi mare Seachange has survived a close brush with death after suffering a twisted bowel.

The connections of Seachange had the mare rushed to the Matamata Veterinary Services clinic.

"Thanks to good vets and staff we were able to save her," said Rick Williams, racing manager for Seachange's owner-breeder Dick Karreman.

"They operated on her and were able to untwist the bowl without cutting any of it away.

"Another hour or two and we would have lost her.

"I can tell you I didn't sleep at all that night."

Seachange had been back at Karreman's The Oaks Stud for about three weeks and will now remain at the Matamata clinic for another few days.

"She's over the worst of it and she seems fine," said Williams.

"It's put her back another month being served (by Zabeel).

"The main thing is she has been saved.

"It was frightening to think we could lose her.

"She's never had anything like this before and I don't want it to happen again."

Seachange's near fatal problem occurred a couple of days short of 12 months since she tried valiantly to complete the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown.

Having won the Mudgway Partsworld Stakes - Stoney Bridge Stakes double for the second year in succession, she went down fighting when a close fourth to Princess Coup in the Gr I $2 million Kelt Capital Stakes.

Seachange has been the Mercedes Champion Horse Of The Year for the last two seasons and retired with a record of 14 wins, including seven Gr I triumphs.

She was a Gr II winner in Australia and ended her career on the international stage, competing against the best in Dubai and England

Wow, hadn't heard that. Poor girl indeed.