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Colour Me Fast

September 1st 2010 06:55

The Listed Clamms Seafood Stakes (1100 metres) at Caulfield last Saturday produced a close finish with the talented Show A Heart gelding Rightfully Yours just doing enough to outlast Stanzout.

Stretched across the track at the 200 metres the grey Stanzout (2nd) has the weakening brown/black Solchow (6th) on his inside - with the bay winner Rightfully Yours on the inside rail.

(photo: Neil Murray) click for enlargement
Neil Murray Photography

Rightfully Yours, a 6 year old gelding trained by Mick Price, continued to improve his impressive first-up record when recording his 4th (fresh) win from his 6 preparations. It is worth noting that now 40% of Rightfully Yours' 10 career wins come from his fresh reappearance on the racetrack. The only two occasions that Rightfully Yours failed to win when fresh came from his debut in September 2007 when a 4th behind the talented Sound Journey at Kilmore; and in May of 2009 when narrowly beaten and 2nd in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup at the Gold Coast behind Mr Hornblower.

Being by Show A Heart and out of Academy Of Dreams, Rightfully Yours is a full brother to the exceptionally talented Heart Of Dreams (G1 Underwood Stakes; G1 Cadbury Guineas). As well as being brothers, the bay geldings are stablemates, with Mick Price training both.

Rightfully Yours was sold at the 2006 William Inglis and Son Classic Yearling Sale for $55,000 to Mick Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd.

Academy Of Dreams has been returned to Show A Heart in the past six seasons, and has produced a grey brother in 2006, Dreams To Life, who was beaten 2.5 lengths into 5th placing in a Benalla Maiden on debut in May 2010. In 2007 another grey brother was produced, Dreams To Silk, also debuting in 2010 when a well beaten 11th in a Geelong Maiden in July 2010. Both of these also trained by Mick Price at Caulfield.

It does appear that the bay progeny of Show A Heart - Academy Of Dreams provide a greater expectation of racetrack success than their grey brothers.

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Posted By: Leonard Marlborough - Category: No Category

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Tasmanian success at Caulfield

August 31st 2010 06:01

With all the Spring stars returning to racing for the Melbourne Spring Carnival it is rare that a Tasmanian horse wins a race on a metropolitan program.

I'm A Hussy with apprentice Ben Knobel aboard is well clear down the Caulfield straight

(photos: Neil Murray) click images for enlargements
Neil Murray Photography

Naturally there have been the exceptions, most notably with surprise Melbourne Cup winner Piping Lane; and Caulfield Cup winners Sydeston and Beer Street.

There have also been the high quality stakeswinners: Alfa; Bow Mistress; Weasel Will; My Sienna; Lady Lynette; and Conquering.

At Caulfield last Saturday we had the rare occurrence of two winners on the 8 race card coming from Tasmania. Both of these visiting mares won lesser races on the program, and although they may never reach the heights of those horses previously mentioned, it is not altogether unlikely that one of these winners (in particular) may figure in black type mares races in coming weeks.

Winner of race 2 - Book Now For Spring Package Handicap (1400 metres) - was the 7 year old Savoire Vivre mare, With Decorum. Trained by John Blacker, With Decorum is stakesplaced at home and has ventured across to Melbourne every year for the past 3 seasons. She surprised at $15.00 with her narrow nose victory over the very talented Avienus; with the favourite Salinas 3rd.

In the very next race - Heat 1 of the Sportingbet Sprint Series - 6 year old West Quest mare, I’m A Hussy, dominated in her typical front-running style and ran out an easy 1.8 length winner from Charlie’s Queen and Big Spirit. I’m A Hussy is already a stakeswinner in Tasmania - and was stakesplaced in Victoria earlier in 2010 when favourite and 3rd in the Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool. Defeating her in the Wangoom was Stanzout who continues on with impressive performances in strong company in the early Spring races.

Ben Knobel has With Decorum well clear although her final winning margin would be very narrow

I’m A Hussy - in particular - has potential to play a further part in Melbourne Spring racing. She is very lightly raced for a 6 year old with only 14 career starts - and the impressive record of 7 wins and 3 placings. I’m A Hussy was absent from the racetrack from September 2007 until July 2009. I’m A Hussy won her only two starts before fracturing a pelvis as a 2 year old and missing nearly 2 years of racing. Trained in partnership by David and Scott Brunton, I'm A Hussy was given ample time to recover from an injury that would mean retirement for most racehorses.

Tasmanian apprentice Ben Knobel was the winning rider for both Tasmanian mares, making it a memorable day and strong advertisement for Tasmanian racing.

Coincidentally, when winning before her injury, I’m A Hussy defeated With Decorum over 1100m on a slow track at Launceston. And nearly three years later they were (almost) back together again.

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So (who do) You Think is the best racehorse in the world?

August 29th 2010 08:44

Currently the recently retired Harbinger is ranked as the best thoroughbred racehorse in the world, this based on his devastating 11 length King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes victory. Canford Cliffs is ranked second - and Quality Road and Workforce equal third.

So You Think in full flight digs in for the battle with Whobegotyou (outside)

(photos: Neil Murray) click images for enlargements
Neil Murray Photography

Last year So You Think was ranked equal 19th best racehorse in the world with the IFHA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities) after his Cox Plate victory - and Emirates Stakes second placing.

There are some exceptional horses still gracing the world racetracks at present, with Rip Van Winkle, Zenyatta, and Goldikova, being in their number. Their ranking based upon performance in Group pattern races around the globe.

I base my ranking of horses on the purely objective aspect of speed. How much faster can one horse run compared to another. Measure and assess.

And on speedfigures, So You Think would be very near the apex of equine racetrack performance anywhere in the world.

200 metres from home and So You Think draws past typhoon Tracy (inside) with Whobegotyou imposing on the outside

120 metres from home and Steven Arnold has So You Think balanced and in control as neither Whobegotyou or Typhoon Tracy could rally with him

Speedfigures don’t lie. Although a speedfigure cannot be predictive, it does give a true assessment of the merit of a horse as a snapshot in time. As does a Timeform rating. As does the IFHA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities) World Thoroughbred Rankings. So You Think previously produced the best speedfigures I have encountered in the twenty-two years I have been using speedfigures for racehorse assessment in Australia. The champions Might And Power and Northerly went very close, but So You Think, at only his 6th racetrack appearance, produced the best speedfigures ever, in the best race in Australia. Conclusive. Fact.

The world has seen Australia’s best sprinters recently dominate in England. But Miss Andretti, Takeover Target, Choisir, Scenic Blast, and Starspangledbanner, could not get close to the speedfigures produced by the precocious High Chaparral 3 year old So You Think when he won the Group 1 (2040 metres) WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in 2009.

But what would follow for So You Think would be the aborted Autumn campaign and his wind (roaring) problem needing rectification through surgery. Could he return after 10 months away from racing - and on a rain affected track not conducive to his best - and still defeat a stellar field in the Memsie Stakes? A field comprising of Typhoon Tracy (5 wins at Group 1 in 2009 - and most likely to soon be crowned Racehorse of the Year); Shoot Out (AJC Derby winner who was undefeated in 2 Spring appearances); and Whobegotyou (last year’s Cox Plate favourite and dual Group 1 winner).

He could.

He did.

And he was never going to lose.

Blinkers were added to So You Think before the 2009 Caulfield Guineas to sharpen him up - but a slow beginning and bad luck in running made their use inconclusive. But at his following two starts the blinkers had him fired up and for the first time in his career racing forward. His all-the-way win in the Cox Plate was breathtaking (and not only to the eye - remember the speedfigures as well). And then the most valiant 2nd placing in the Group 1 Emirates when far too much use was made of him by Glen Boss, much to the chagrin of trainer Bart Cummings.

Come spell. Come operation to correct wind problem. Come nominations and subsequent non-acceptance trying to avoid wet tracks.

(finally) Come race day. Now without blinkers. Not needed now as the four year old stallion has his racing style - and that style is one of imposition and ultimate domination.

Typhoon Tracy led, but surprisingly being rated too conservatively, and So You Think was just cruising behind her off the moderate tempo. There was to be later in the race the seemingly irresistible challenge issued by Michael Rodd on Whobegotyou as they surged forward to the girth of So You Think on straightening. But even ‘Whobe’ could not get past him. And a late surge from Shoot Out (another of High Chaparral’s progeny) got him past the weakening Typhoon Tracy, although still a well-beaten third.

So You Think looks like a champion with his strength and size and demeanour. He is now quoted as favourite to win a consecutive WS Cox Plate prize at Moonee Valley in October.

Speedratings selected So You Think to win the feature race at Caulfield last Saturday. The top four speed horses filled the first four placings. Three other races on the eight race program were won by the top speed selections (these based on peak career speed performance and recent speed performance).

New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes 1400 metres (Group 2) $200,000

1st So You Think (Steven Arnold) $6.80 (for a $1.00 unit)
2nd Whobegotyou (Michael Rodd)
3rd Shoot Out (Stathi Katsidis)
4th Typhoon Tracy (Luke Nolen)

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Posted By: Leonard Marlborough - Category: No Category

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In Jockeys We Trust

August 25th 2010 08:57

The Essendon Nissan McKenzie Stakes, a Listed race run over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley last Saturday, saw the promising Peter Moody trained Anacheeva overcome a perceived track bias when Luke Nolen steered an inside course from well back in the field to gain a narrow victory over his rivals. Taking runs, taking risks, split-second decisions of daring and bravery. We see it every week, but seldom think twice. We take a jockey's skill for granted. In a driving finish, with our profit or loss on the line, we never give a passing thought to the danger of the situation. It is our entertainment and sport. But it is a jockey's ever unpredictable workplace.

Anacheeva goes on to win in a tight finish

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Dutch Auction

August 24th 2010 05:37

The Listed Hollylodge Crockett Stakes (1200 metres) at Moonee Valley was an early season opportunity for the 3 year old fillies to gain precious black type for their pedigrees - thus rapidly enhancing their residual value.

Michael Rodd has Dutchy's Lass well clear on her way to a stakes race victory at Moonee Valley

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Grey Power

August 22nd 2010 11:48

Veteran performer Stanzout continued his impressive, and continually improving form of this campaign, when he emerged as an emphatic winner of the $100,000 Australasian Flooring Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday. His previous two starts had yielded a 4th in the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes (1100 metres) at Caulfield behind Reward For Effort; followed by a closing 2nd to star performer Shoot Out in the Group 2 Bletchingly Stakes (1200 metres) at Caulfield.

Stanzout ranges up to Morgan Dollar

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Makfi defeats Goldikova in the Prix Jacques le Marois

August 18th 2010 09:20

Champion mare Goldikova was defeated for the first time this season when the English 2,000 Guineas winner Makfi returned to the winning list with a spectacular victory in the richest mile race in Europe, the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

Makfi (shadow roll) winning the 2,000 Guineas

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Comic Cheval

August 17th 2010 05:39

Totalizators around Australia have over time expanded their reach into fixed-odds betting on horseracing, competing with their bookmaker opposition, as well as offering sports betting options on a gamut of sports and special events.

Champion French jockey Christophe Soumillon

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Toorak Toff

August 16th 2010 07:26

The Vain Stakes (Listed - 1100 metres) at Caulfield last Saturday saw the return to racing by several high quality last-season two-year-olds having the first starts of their three year old campaigns.

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Liston Stakes Shoot Out

August 15th 2010 06:52

With sixteen days of Winter still remaining Shoot Out took his second scalp of Melbourne feature races when he won the Liston Stakes (Group 2 - 1400 metres) at Caulfield on Saturday. This following two weeks after his first-up win in the Bletchingly Stakes over 1200 metres.