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Carlisle Bay/Best Gift didn't go much better than last time. :( He's behaving really badly at the start at the moment, tiring himself out before the races even start! Don't know why he's doing that.
Sir Slick won another race yesterday, his 17th career win and he was carrying 62.5kg. Amazing horse. And now, since I'm bored at work, it's time to have another look at the Derby. Let's see how the ones I talked about in my last post about the Derby are going... Quote:
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Rios, Nom Du Jeu, Pierre Joseph and The Pooka haven't raced since. I'm expecting them to appear again in the next couple of weeks. There are some I hadn't even heard of when I did that post that are now the leading contenders now though... PRINCE KAAPSTAD - 3 g Kaapstad - Brilliant Princess - 8 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third G2 Great Northern Guineas winner, a very impressive effort and there's no doubt he'll get the distance. 10-1 for the Derby. IL DIVO - 3 g Don Eduardo - Rubiton's Best - 5 starts, 1 win, 3 seconds Closed nicely for second in that Guineas. 12-1 for the Derby. STEEL - 3 g Zabeel - Tennessee Midnight - 4 starts, 2 wins, 2 thirds This horse has been getting better every race, finishing nicely for 3rd in his first 2 races before clearing maidens impressively and winning again last start. Both of those wins were at the Derby track, Ellerslie. He's a Zabeel, of course he'll get the distance. 10-1. RED RULER - 3 g Viking Ruler - Ransom Bay - 3 starts, 2 wins, 1 third The Derby favourite. What's he beaten? Absolutely nothing. But the way he's done it has been so impressive, 8-1 almost looks like good value. This looks like a pretty talented crop. :) I hope so anyway. |
Some fantastic entries for Telegraph Sprint Day at Trentham, the first day of Wellington Cup week.
ANNIVERSARY HANDICAP Final Reality Ombre Rose Shamrock Star Avaroadi True Valour Fercertain Black Fox Point Guard WAKEFIELD STAKES (G2 2yo) Reuben Thorn Fully Fledged Fyfetheknife Khamseen Stand And Deliver Captain Fantastic Izonit Sanjura Viva Volksraad Lady Alberton Amazing Sky Key Message Solo Flight Pure Strike Hell Yeah Joan's Chance Seathepost Awesome Planet Encantada Starring WELLINGTON STAKES (G3 3yo) Alamosa The Pooka Prince Kaapstad Bruxaar Run Like Al Mission Critical Nom du Jeu Halfametreshort Van Who TRENTHAM STAKES (G3 wfa) Xcellent Delbrae Kerry O'Reilly Everswindell Miles Three Chimneys Twinkling Sakura Cluden TELEGRAPH HANDICAP (G1) Seachange Dezigna Clifton Prince Kay's Awake Irlanda Imananabaa Our Umaga Rabkalajo O'Cartier Pinsoir Brianna Maximum Star Accardo Manten Pinmdown Leadership St Verdi Smartway Victory Code Mary Ellen Wish I could be down there! |
Of course i only know about a fifth of the names but looks like a great day. :)
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Glad your girl Seachange won again.:)
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Everyone knows about poor Xcellent's career-ending injury at Trentham on Saturday, but apart from that awful moment it was a really good day, spent the whole day on the couch in front of the TV.
The first of the big races, the Wakefield for 2yos, is a good example of how quickly your luck can change in racing. A horse called Fully Fledged hit the lead and looked like it would kill them, but then for some reason it decided it wanted to jump over the rail. So Captain Fantastic (by Fantastic Light), Xcellent's stablemate, ended up winning! Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzacCr9-4Es Then in the Anniversary Handicap, Fiscal Madness made it 2 big mile races in a row, and this was a nice win under a big weight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UcLS-aWvC4 Alamosa's probably our best 3yo. None of the others have won a race as impressively as he won this Wellington Stakes against a very good field including Bruxaar, The Pooka, Prince Kaapstad and Mission Critical. He's a very impressive colt and has won 7 out of 15 now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwnsx8ok01E Then it was the Trentham Stakes. At least Xcellent ended his career with a win. Apparently the injury happened early in the stretch, and they think he was in a lot of pain as he ran, but he was just so determined to win. That's how I'll remember him. We'll miss you X. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJFrTQ-s6X4 And the main race of the day, the Telegraph, was absolutely awesome. They said Seachange couldn't win with that massive weight against such a strong field...they were wrong. Look out Dubai, here comes one of the toughest little mares you've ever seen. And she's pretty fast too. Don't know if she's as good as some of the others who will be in the Duty Free, but I really hope she goes well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRg9zb1vRNU |
Thanks for the links.
I had read about Fully Fledged..... geez, Antonius Pius-esque. |
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He was really good, it was a weak field (apart from Pasta Post, but he didn't handle the distance) but he smashed them. Was good to see Resolution get up for 2nd for the trainers of Xcellent and Jokers Wild. :)
The video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMH24Gj7khw The track was a bit off (and the weather had been fine, they just watered it too much :mad: ), but some of the other races were still really good. Keepa Cruisin won another big one in the G2 Desert Gold, very impressive win after being given a great ride by Leith ('Lethal') Innes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp2Tn3bElrQ And then Alamosa smashed the older horses in the G1 Thorndon, which was awesome to see. :D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVHsHvDAZMM Tomorrow is a big day at Ellerslie, with the first ever Karaka Million ($1 million race for 2yos). Here's the field: https://www.ebetonline.co.nz/forms/2...#view=FitH,top Lots of talent in here, very hard to pick. And some of the other races on the card are good too, with Derby contenders like Steel, Red Ruler and Minqar Qaim all running on the undercard. |
Thanks, ed!
Let us know who wins the Karaka Million. i don't know any of the horses..... DUH! |
ed really looking forward to seeing Seachange in Dubai... she is one awesome girl..do you know if they are they planning on sending her to Europe after do you know or back to NZ for some end of season targets..
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They've been talking about going to the UK with her, maybe the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot.
I hope they go for a race like the Windsor Forest there instead, I think she'd be a great chance in that, and then maybe a race like the Falmouth. I believe she's better at a mile than sprinting. But she still tries her heart out every time and I'm sure she wouldn't disgrace herself in the Golden Jubilee. 3 hours until the Karaka Million! I'm stuck at work so can't go. :( But at least I can watch it on TV. |
Hey ed... do you know a horse Starofken?
He makes his HK debut tonight as Guan Dao (oooh pretty!:D ) in R4.... A very nice field. |
Can't tell you anything about that one sorry, never heard of it. :confused: Hope it goes well though, love seeing the NZ-breds winning in HK.
In the Karaka Million undercard, Red Ruler just brilliantly won the One Cool Cat Mile. 4 wide all the way, hit the lead at the top of the stretch but clearly headed by a wonderful filly in Sing Song Girl and dropped out to be a length behind...then rallied! Unbelievable. There's the Derby favourite. 30 minutes til the Million. |
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Absolutely, I'll post links to both that race and the Million a bit later on.
Karaka Million result: Vincent Mangano Maureen Dorothy Raid Vincent Mangano has won 3 out of 4 now, and this was by far his best performance so far. He had the outside barrier draw, didn't care about that. And he didn't care that everyone who was saying he was the best 2yo in the country back in November had forgotten all about him. Great result. :) |
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That's very true, but I think she'll handle it.
She's only run further than a mile twice, in the G1 Kelt Stakes the last 2 years. That's 2000m (1m 2f), and she was in front until the last stride both times, losing by a head and a neck if I remember right. So 9f should be within her range, but obviously it will be a much stronger field than she's used to running against. |
thanks ed. had another look at her latest win. If she's quick enough to be handy carrying top weight over 6f, she'll easily have enough tactical speed to get herself in a good position over 9f. I dont know what the field behind her are capable of, but I really think she can do very well against the world's best..
ill have to have a good long read through this thread.. |
I've been looking forward to this Saturday for a little while, it's the Waikato Guineas, one of the main Derby prep races.
Maybe you might recognise some of these names: 1 13215 Prince Kaapstad 4 85 56.0 Sam Spratt (a) Richard Yuill & Stephen Goodin, Pukekohe Park 2 12151 Sircross 13 83 56.0 Leith Innes Richard Collett, Pukekohe Park 3 51624 Borrack 14 77 56.0 Robert Hannam Adrian Bull, Hunterville 4 11632 Six O'Clock News 15 77 56.0 Chris Johnson Patrick & Trent Busuttin, Cambridge 5 24122 Il Divo 1 76 56.0 Jason Waddell John Sargent, Matamata 6 35441 Pierre Joseph (AUS) 6 76 56.0 Michael Walker Stephen McKee, Ardmore 7 09014 Demhills 11 74 56.0 Sean Collins Patrick & Trent Busuttin, Cambridge 8 13518 Halfametreshort 16 74 56.0 Lisa Cropp Graeme Rogerson & Garry Newham, Tuhikaramea 9 32016 Nom du Jeu 10 74 56.0 Noel Harris Murray Baker, Cambridge 10 03105 Figuring 3 72 56.0 Gavin McKeon Kay Lane, Levin 11 012 One For The Money 2 70 56.0 Michael Coleman Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata 12 93524 Keepabit 5 69 56.0 Craig Grylls (a) Stephen McKee, Ardmore 13 40413 King Silver 12 68 56.0 Troy Harris (a) John Sargent, Matamata 14 2351 Post Haste 9 68 56.0 Opie Bosson Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott, Matamata 15 24 Maythehorsebemagic 8 57 56.0 Vinny Colgan Roger James, Cambridge These (the top 6 especially and Nom du Jeu) are the horses (as well as Rios and The Pooka) that have been prominent Derby contenders since the start of the season. The new kids that have come along like Red Ruler and Steel might just have left them behind a bit, but this is their chance to prove that they've developed enough to still be strong contenders. |
Good luck to Nom du Jeu, AND.....
to Best Gift! (Hard calling him Carlisle Bay). Are you going, ed? If so tell him to get in the gate like a good boy this time. :D # FORM HORSE DRAW RTG WGT JOCKEY TRAINER 1 672X0 Pentathon 1 109 60.5 John Wheeler, New Plymouth 2 7X570 :cool: Carlisle Bay :cool: 13 103 57.5 Jason Waddell Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott, Matamata 3 75531 Desert Flight 14 101 56.5 Cameron Lammas Richard Coxon, Matamata 4 60363 Valley Chief 12 99 55.5 Reese Jones Mark Brosnan, Matamata 5 30205 Black Panther 11 98 55.0 Gavin McKeon Joanne Surgenor, Ardmore Lodge 6 X2044 Charliehorse 10 95 54.5 Michael Walker Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott, Matamata 7 04422 Gallions Reach 4 94 54.0 Richard Yuill & Stephen Goodin, Pukekohe Park 8 53115 Prized Touch 3 94 54.0 Leith Innes Richard Collett, Pukekohe Park 9 X9P06 Trebla 2 92 53.5 Del Roberts, Tauranga 10 82010 Heza Gangster 5 89 53.0 Mark Sweeney Gavin Sharrock, Stratford 11 30416 You're My Angel 6 85 53.0 Lisa Cropp John Sargent, Matamata 12 68X76 Fly'n' High 9 83 53.0 Trudy Thornton Royce Dowling & Linda Laing, Cambridge 13 10546 Winsome Kash 7 82 53.0 Craig Grylls (a) Graham Richardson & Jason Bridgman, Matamata 14 32321 Dalliance 8 69 53.0 James McDonald (a2) Yves Seguin, Cambridge |
Yeah it's about a 90 min drive from my place down to Te Rapa, so I'll be there. :D
Hope he does behave himself this time! Even if he's not as good as he used to be I think he should still be good enough to be competitive in a race like that. Not a strong field really. Gallions Reach is a tough little horse though, he'd probably be my pick for the race unless Carlisle Bay decides to try. |
Once upon a time, he beat Vengeance of Rain home.....
And not only him..... Bullish Luck, The Duke, Perfect Partner (rip), Saturn and Bowman's Crossing (rip)..... A grand race. He flew at the end. :) http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/r...2005&raceno=08 |
He doesn't look like the same horse as that now. :( Another disappointing run.
But you picked the Waikato Guineas winner, Nom du Jeu. :) At 14-1! He's been a little bit disappointing for most of this season, but he was back at his best today. Huge run from way back, his owners must be so excited about the Derby now. Replay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G82qbQUc5wo |
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Poor Giftie. :( |
Two G1s down at Te Rapa on Saturday...one's a reasonably even field (Sir Slick looks the likely winner to me though), the other is not. Seachange will be even money and I really don't think anyone can stop her winning her seventh G1. Under the weight-for-age scale no horses in NZ can run with her over 1400m (7 furlongs).
Apparently Ted Durcan is likely to commit to ride Seachange for all her Northern Hemisphere engagements. I know he wins quite a few races, but I don't know very much about him beyond that. What do you guys think of his riding ability? |
Ted is OK, not flashy but decent and underrated by many.. she does look like an uncomplicated ride..
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Hey... is Best Gift gonna go in this one? http://www.nzracing.co.nz/Meetings/M...492/1#raceLink edit - CARLISLE BAY! I really need to call him by his name! |
Not sure, haven't heard anything from the trainers about that...he did make a bit of ground late in his last race so maybe the 2 miles will suit him?
He would have a big weight though and it's looking like being a race with some good horses low in the weights. Tough task for him if he does try it. He's at 40-1 for that race at the moment. |
It's been a long time since I saw the stands at a NZ racetrack full of people all on their feet clapping for a horse, but I saw it today when Seachange won her 7th G1 race. :)
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpciMzF22Gs Her trainer said she was "a bit fat" today so the win wasn't as dominant as we were expecting but she was so tough in holding the lead from Kay's Awake down to the wire. When Gavin McKeon rode her back after the race he took her a furlong up the straight and came back past the crowd. There was a whole bunch of people from the stable down by the rail wearing blue & white holding up a sign that said "Go Poppy!". Apparently that's her stable name. The other races were really exciting too, although the other G1 didn't help with trying to find the Derby winner. Against older horses in the International Stakes (2000m/1m 2f), a 3yo colt by Fantastic Light called Mission Critical led all the way and bolted in against horses as good as Sir Slick. It was an incredible performance by a horse who hasn't really been considered a Derby contender before today. It was...amazing. Really happy for the Moroneys (trainers) after they lost Jokers Wild and had to retire Xcellent in recent weeks. They've got a new star. :) Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD2WPJxuVmY And Kaatoon was a nice winner of the G2 Fillies Classic over 2000m (1m 2f). She's been waiting to run over a distance like that. I loved the run of Insouciant for 2nd though, this race was too far for her and she was tired at the final turn, got so tired that she hit the rail more than once down the straight, but was so brave. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5ONoEVgd2k Great day of racing! 3 weeks 'til the Derby, I'm totally confused now. |
ed thanks for the video.. another one for seachange.. i must ask though. how does mckeon feel that he wont get to ride her in dubai.. he mustnt be happy..
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Yeah I really feel sorry for him. He's taken it very well, saying he's grateful for being given the opportunity to ride the horse in each of her 7 G1 victories, but inside he must be gutted. It would be an amazing experience for any jockey to ride there.
Not sure I agree with the decision...I guess it comes down to the question of which is more important - knowledge of and relationship with the horse or experience with the track. As you said in an earlier post she's not a difficult horse to ride so I'm sure Ted will do a fine job, but I really do feel for Gavin. :( |
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I do like Duncan but yeah..... that's kinda crappy. |
# FORM HORSE DRAW RTG WGT JOCKEY TRAINER
1 55113 Spin Around (AUS) 8 109 60.5 Steven Cooper, Ardmore 2 X5700 Carlisle Bay 6 102 57.0 Jason Waddell Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott, Matamata 3 X4211 Young Centaur (AUS) 1 101 56.5 Michael Walker John Sargent, Matamata 4 X2429 Three Chimneys 5 99 55.5 Hayden Tinsley David & Sarah Haworth, Foxton 5 X8080 Prize Lady 10 96 54.5 Graeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu 6 20448 Charliehorse 9 95 54.5 Chad Ormsby (a) Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott, Matamata 7 44225 Gallions Reach 2 94 54.0 Richard Yuill & Stephen Goodin, Pukekohe Park 8 31153 Prized Touch 4 94 54.0 Leith Innes Richard Collett, Pukekohe Park 9 73432 Ntamack 7 90 53.0 Trudy Thornton Kerry & Belinda Verner, Ardmore 10 10784 Genuine Offer 3 89 53.0 Rogan Norvall Donna, Dean Logan & Chris Gibbs, Ruakaka 11 11271 Tinseltown 12 85 53.0 Michael Coleman Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata 12 29424 Tarbach 11 76 53.0 Lisa Cropp Raylene Whiteside, Kariotahi Beach Gear Changes HORSE GEAR CHANGES Carlisle Bay Blinkers on, Tongue Tie on, gelded 04/02/08 :eek: Charliehorse Blinkers on, Tongue Tie on |
That's...surprising. Thought he would be starting stud duty in September! If it makes him focus on racing again though it'll be worth it, I'd love to see him win some races here. But that's a tough field.
On the same day it's the G2 Championship Stakes, the last and biggest Derby prep. 1 20161 Nom du Jeu 4 84 56.0 Noel Harris Murray Baker, Cambridge 2 32159 Prince Kaapstad 17 84 56.0 Sam Spratt (a) Richard Yuill & Stephen Goodin, Pukekohe Park 3 21513 Sircross 8 83 56.0 Leith Innes Richard Collett, Pukekohe Park 4 21181 Avancer 7 80 56.0 Stephen McKee, Ardmore 5 41222 Il Divo 12 80 56.0 Jason Waddell John Sargent, Matamata 6 1311 Red Ruler 15 80 56.0 Vinny Colgan John Sargent, Matamata 7 33112 Steel 2 77 56.0 Lisa Cropp Graeme Rogerson & Garry Newham, Tuhikaramea 8 54414 Pierre Joseph (AUS) 6 76 56.0 Stephen McKee, Ardmore 9 16240 Borrack 3 75 56.0 Robert Hannam Adrian Bull, Hunterville 10 16328 Six O'Clock News 13 75 56.0 Chris Johnson Patrick & Trent Busuttin, Cambridge 11 90146 Demhills 10 74 56.0 Mark Sweeney Patrick & Trent Busuttin, Cambridge 12 35187 Halfametreshort 9 74 56.0 Graeme Rogerson & Garry Newham, Tuhikaramea 13 1481 Thumbs Up 16 74 56.0 Hayden Tinsley Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge 14 10104 Abitofado 5 72 56.0 Michelle Wenn Paul Harris, Rangiora 15 23515 Post Haste 11 69 56.0 Michael Coleman Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott, Matamata Great field this. Horses who are proven at this level (Nom du Jeu, Prince Kaapstad, Sircross, Six O'Clock News, Il Divo) against horses who have looked insanely good against rubbish oppostion (Red Ruler, Steel, Thumbs Up). There's only one major Derby contender missing from this race - Mission Critical, who gave Sir Slick and other older horses a view of his ass in the G1 last weekend. I think whoever wins this will start favourite in the Derby though. |
Young Centaur and Nom du Jeu.
No idea if that's a chalk-fest or not..... BEST OF LUCK to the newly-gelded..... hope he beats a few home. Hell, I hope he wins but i can't hold my breath. :( (Good boy anyway). :D |
Championship Stakes - http://www.ellerslie.co.nz/show.cfm?...wf&w=294&h=240
Umm...wow. :eek: Carlisle Bay looked good in his race for a while but tired badly, sorry. :( |
Thanks ed.....
I haven't watched it yet... will wait till tomorrow. Don't want to be sad. He came home safe though? Well there's that. :) |
Oh wow... okay watched it (I figured out it wasn't the Giftie race... duh :D )...
Wow, nice win! |
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