International chit chat

[my miss storm cat]

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...asp?NID=122503

Cameo Appearance By Efficient
Story By Chris Scholtz

Tuesday, 11 March 2008: While Melbourne Cup winner Efficient makes a cameo appearance at Flemington on Saturday his younger half brother Guillotine will attempt to build on his burgeoning reputation at Rosehill.

Efficient will have his first outing since his Melbourne Cup victory in November in the Blamey Stakes at Flemington before he returns to the paddocks ahead of another spring campaign.

Efficient's owner Lloyd Williams said the decision to give the four-year-old only one autumn start is part of his plan to win the Cox Plate- Melbourne Cup double in the spring with the grey.

"I like to dream a bit,” Williams said.

“He will have just the one run and have up to eight weeks out in the paddock as I only have one thing in mind for him in the spring."

Efficient will be ridden by Steven Arnold on Saturday, an ironic reunion with the horse he could have ridden in the Melbourne Cup.

Arnold preferred the Melbourne Cup mount on stablemate Gallic, a subsequent late scratching from Australia's richest race.

He was left to watch Michael Rodd win the Cup on Efficient but gets back on the grey on Saturday as Rodd is still recovering from an illness.

In Sydney trainer David Payne will start Guillotine's AJC Derby campaign in a low class 3YO ratings race over 1500m.

Guillotine was nominated for Saturday's $1 million Golden Rose but the three-year-old does not have sufficient prizemoney to make the final field, a good result for jockey Hugh Bowman.

Bowman is free to ride Guillotine and retain the mount on the Bart Cummings filly Mimi Lebrock in the Golden Rose. Payne will be represented in the Golden Rose by Vecchia Roma (Damien Oliver).

Guillotine, a grey like Efficient, recorded his second win from just five starts when he blitzed older horses by six lengths over 1900m at Rosehill in December.

He is set to follow Saturday's race with starts in the Randwick Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and AJC Derby.

[my miss storm cat]

Since i've pretty much missed the whole day, need to start catching up at the beginning.

Wow cheers to Hattan! HIs 5th win.


http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n..._Comments.html

[my miss storm cat]

Poor girl.....

http://www.smh.com.au/news/horseraci...602194650.html

[my miss storm cat]

First time I've ever seen Jock get some press!

Sporting Life.....

IRISH RAIDER OUT OF LUCK


By Tom Peacock, PA Sport

Robbie Osborne was not left too disheartened despite his Irish raider King Jock finishing last of seven in the Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud on Thursday.

The seven-year-old was beaten a shade over six lengths in the Group Two event by the appropriately-named grey Gris De Gris and rider Thierry Thulliez.

King Jock has enabled Osborne to travel the world, having last run in Dubai in February and is likely to return to France next.

"No luck today - he was in about fourth or fifth but he got tired in the last furlong," said Naas-based Osborne.

"The ground was a bit soft and didn't suit him and it was a pretty tough race anyway - I'd have been delighted to finish third or fourth.

"I think there's a Group Three at Longchamp on the 30th of the month that we might take a look at, otherwise there's another Group Three at Chantilly on French Derby day. He's entered in Leopardstown too, but I think we'll probably come back to France."

The other Pattern event on the card was an Oaks trial, the Prix Cleopatre, and went to Christophe Lemaire on the Alain De Royer-Dupre-trained Leo's Starlet. She was stepping in class following successes on the all-weather at Deauville.