Winterbottom Warriors
November 17th 2008 09:37
The emphatic victory of Danny Beau - the younger half-brother to the champion mare Miss Andretti - in the Group Three Colonel Reeves Stakes, has given an added interest to the looming Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.
(photo: www.thoroughbrednews.co.nz)
Danny Beau lowered the previous record mark set by Miss Andretti from 1.08.29 to 1.08.00. And he did it with relative ease after rounding up his rivals on turning and moving away in the straight for a win stamped with great authority.
Danny Beau (a 5 year old gelding by Zedrich) is late to mature, most likely because he had to overcome a serious breathing problem.
"Last year, we almost didn't have a horse. He had a severe breathing problem and it looked as if he was beyond redemption. Veterinary surgeon Tom A'Hern operated on his throat and the surgery was a complete success. “ - Bruce Watkins, trainer.
It did appear that the champion eastern states sprinters Takeover Target and Apache Cat had a mortgage on the Perth feature sprint - after all these proven Group One winning champions have brilliant records against the best in Australia (with Apache Cat winning five Group One races in succession - and Takeover Target defeating the best sprinters in Europe and Asia).
But the appearance of this new Perth sprinting star adds new interest to this race. Takeover Target is a 9 year old and retirement was contemplated after his last start failure in England. And Apache Cat - after being unbeatable through the Autumn and Winter was unexpectedly beaten after producing his career worst performance when first up at his last start.
The west has produced its share of champion horses. Northerly - of course. But also Miss Andretti and the trailblazer Placid Ark are other champions to emerge from the west.
Placid Ark was a $5,000 purchase who was the first horse to win the sprinters treble of the Lightning Stakes, Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap in the same season. That year of 1987 also saw him win the Winterbottom Stakes, AJ Moir Stakes, Linlithgow Stakes, and the Canterbury Stakes in Sydney. His performances saw him awarded the title of Australian Co-Champion Racehorse of the Year (1986-1987) - a title which he shared with the New Zealand Champion Bonecrusher (1986 WS Cox Plate & 1987 Australian Cup).
Northerly was Australian Champion Racehorse in 2002-2003; while Miss Andretti was Australian Champion Racehorse in 2006-2007. Both Placid Ark and Miss Andretti had won thel Winterbottom Stakes before subsequently becoming racehorses of the year.
The exhibition gallop by Apache Cat and Takeover Target at Ascot last Saturday only further added to the mystery with Takeover Target comfortably defeating Apache Cat - although Apache Cat carried around 10kg more with a track rider aboard and not a raceday jockey.
But the Perth horses were the ones to be impressive last week in both the sprint & RJ Peters Stakes - a 1500m event won by Famous Roman. If Danny Beau can win the Winterbottom he will receive an invitation to the KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore - a race previously won by Takeover Target.
Although this year boasts the strongest representation ever from the eastern states - could this just be another version of the situation with the overseas contingent who were expected to win the Melbourne Cup, but fell to the might of a local?
The Perth Summer Carnival looks very strong indeed.
The latest betting at Sportsbet for the Winterbottom Stakes:
Takeover Target $3.00
Apache Cat $3.60
Danny Beau $6.00
Takover Target defeating Magnus in the KrisFlyer
(photo: www.thoroughbrednews.co.nz)
Danny Beau lowered the previous record mark set by Miss Andretti from 1.08.29 to 1.08.00. And he did it with relative ease after rounding up his rivals on turning and moving away in the straight for a win stamped with great authority.
Danny Beau (a 5 year old gelding by Zedrich) is late to mature, most likely because he had to overcome a serious breathing problem.
"Last year, we almost didn't have a horse. He had a severe breathing problem and it looked as if he was beyond redemption. Veterinary surgeon Tom A'Hern operated on his throat and the surgery was a complete success. “ - Bruce Watkins, trainer.
It did appear that the champion eastern states sprinters Takeover Target and Apache Cat had a mortgage on the Perth feature sprint - after all these proven Group One winning champions have brilliant records against the best in Australia (with Apache Cat winning five Group One races in succession - and Takeover Target defeating the best sprinters in Europe and Asia).
But the appearance of this new Perth sprinting star adds new interest to this race. Takeover Target is a 9 year old and retirement was contemplated after his last start failure in England. And Apache Cat - after being unbeatable through the Autumn and Winter was unexpectedly beaten after producing his career worst performance when first up at his last start.
The west has produced its share of champion horses. Northerly - of course. But also Miss Andretti and the trailblazer Placid Ark are other champions to emerge from the west.
Placid Ark was a $5,000 purchase who was the first horse to win the sprinters treble of the Lightning Stakes, Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap in the same season. That year of 1987 also saw him win the Winterbottom Stakes, AJ Moir Stakes, Linlithgow Stakes, and the Canterbury Stakes in Sydney. His performances saw him awarded the title of Australian Co-Champion Racehorse of the Year (1986-1987) - a title which he shared with the New Zealand Champion Bonecrusher (1986 WS Cox Plate & 1987 Australian Cup).
Northerly was Australian Champion Racehorse in 2002-2003; while Miss Andretti was Australian Champion Racehorse in 2006-2007. Both Placid Ark and Miss Andretti had won thel Winterbottom Stakes before subsequently becoming racehorses of the year.
The exhibition gallop by Apache Cat and Takeover Target at Ascot last Saturday only further added to the mystery with Takeover Target comfortably defeating Apache Cat - although Apache Cat carried around 10kg more with a track rider aboard and not a raceday jockey.
But the Perth horses were the ones to be impressive last week in both the sprint & RJ Peters Stakes - a 1500m event won by Famous Roman. If Danny Beau can win the Winterbottom he will receive an invitation to the KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore - a race previously won by Takeover Target.
Although this year boasts the strongest representation ever from the eastern states - could this just be another version of the situation with the overseas contingent who were expected to win the Melbourne Cup, but fell to the might of a local?
The Perth Summer Carnival looks very strong indeed.
The latest betting at Sportsbet for the Winterbottom Stakes:
Takeover Target $3.00
Apache Cat $3.60
Danny Beau $6.00
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