Where is a good cup of coffee when you need it? Certainly not in Tahuna at 9am on a Sunday morning.
Devoid of sleep (blame the AB's and Mr Cuervo) I was beginning to question the trip in favour of a lie in and a cooked breakfast in the Village.
Thankfully a sense of direction is one of my few virtues, for although it must have been close on 20 years - it was known as Evergreen Lodge then - I managed to find Rich Hill in the early morning mist and drizzle.
Maybe it's the setting in the rolling hills that makes the very aptly named Rich Hill a little different. Most NZ studs I ve visited are pretty flat but contours have meant this place is set out a little differently and it works; from the paddock overlooking the farm gates with mares and their days old foals, to the grassy pitched stallion yards.
I was particularly looking forward to seeing the farms latest recruit, the English Derby winning three-year-old Sir Percy. I guess it had something to do with a friend having booked a mare into his court and taking criticism from a few people including yours truly, plus despite the malignment of winners of Derbies these days, you still rarely get to see the winners of such prestigious races in these parts and from good "old" English stock to boot, rather than that "common" line our friends across the ditch are so enamoured with.
He did not disappoint.
I remember reading an article once on a leading agent, an English chap I think he was. Starting out in the business he had recommended a mating to a client based on a stallion he had only seen in photos. The stallion was in fact very different in the flesh and did not suit the mare on physical compatibility and the result was not pretty. From then on, despite the horrendous gas and motel bills, he made a point of getting to some far flung posts around GB to physically inspect every new commercial stallion.
The photos I had seen of Sir Percy where of a washy bay, almost a little coarse and weak.
Actually he's a rather elegant horse of a rather rich bay clouring. A typical miler on type, he's of medium size and bone with good balance and a deep strong symetrical shoulder (a physical trait of his father Mark of Esteem) which is probably where he would have got that muscular wind up acceleration he displayed in most of his victories.
Probably the clincher for me was a lovely intelligent head and eye. Stood up in front of me for a time, I 'm sure he was looking me over, thinking, serves you right you silly old b...... for thinking you still a teenager and staying up half the night.
Slightly bigger than I had imagined, Pentire is your typical classic English thoroughbred and while some of those refined features, particularly around the girth (sounds all too familiar) after 12 odd years of Matamata grass are a little harder to disseminate, I don't imagine Pentire would have carried a lot of condition as a racehorse rather living on the nervous energy he displayed while paraded today.
A little short in front Pentire is possessed of a longish barrel which is offset by a good gaskin and hind quarters.
I was lucky enough to see Lion Hunter one day early in his racing career and had thought to myself then what a gorgeously made horse. Sure there was the dapled grey coat which is enough to make any horse lover weak at the knees but he had esquisite balance coupled with a beautiful way of moving.
Any Suggestion didnt take my breath away like dad but it's easy to see why breeders rushed to him last season with over 130 mares. It's no Banjo Paterson or even Tony Morris but "big" is the first word that comes to my mind after seeing him.
But he's not coarse at all, there's good balance, a big overstride, a pronounced wither and a lot of athleticisim. It's going to be fascinating to see what size yearling he leaves.
Before today I wasn't so sure about Sir Percy, the pedigree worried me slightly and despite been impressed with his race performances on DVD his photos were hardly inspiring.
Revigorated by my morning (and some Warehouse Songs and Stories) the question I kept asking myself as I headed home was is he going to be another English Derby winner to flop as a sire joining the ranks of Oath, High Rise, Benny the Dip, Erhaab and Shammit just some winners since 1990 who have been major disappointments in the breeding shed.
The critical difference is that Sir Percy had the speed to win a Grp 1 as a two-year-old. And no it wasn't a 1600m 4 runner slog in the Curragh mud but consistently the most competitive two-year-old race in Europe, the Dewhurst at 1400, where he beat the high class and subsequently ill fated Horatio Nelson.
And when you look at some of the more recent Derby winners who have gone onto become leading sires it is that 2 year-old speed that differentiates them from their contemparies.
Galileo, High Chaperal and Generous spring to mind from more recent times. Yes I can already hear someone demand of me to mention Dr Devious or Dr Who as I once saw him described. He didn't set the Ganges let alone the Thames on fire as a stallion. And Michael Phelps brother drowned in the bath...
Which got me thinking about pedigree. Did he outrun his? I'll save this for a rainy day for I have chores to do before the working week. Suffice I think it's a better pedigree than it looks on paper which is probably symptomatic of how insulated we have become down under over a couple of sire lines but thats a whole topic in itself.
Regardless of how he fares, hats off to John Thompson and the team for having the nous and kahunas to bring Sir Percy to our shores. We need more English Classic horses to revigorate our breed especially those blessed with his mile speed and type. Remember most were put off Pentire 12 odd years ago for reasons of his pedigree.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
All Roads Lead To Te Teko
It had been a few years since I'd ventured to these trials - the days of Distinctly Secret I think.
To any budding Marco Polo's I'm pleased to report they ve now signposted the racecourse. Last time I ended up horendously lost - thank you AA.
The weather was fine throughout and the surface which was officially rated dead, did cut out on the inside gradually during the programme so I would ignore the slower times later in the day as they were scouting 4 and 5 horse widths off the rail from the turn by then.
I won't bother you with the obvious - the dailys are paid to do that tomorrow. I saw a few performances and a horse or 2 on type which you may like to paste away in your black book.
As far as the two-year-olds heats went I thought I was at Doremello Stud not Te Teko for a while, for there were Duelled's everywhere. For all I know Roggie may even have had the Clerks of the Course on one. As a type they did not strike me as two-year-olds, a rather unfurnished group, although the filly out of Tittletaat looked a runner.
The General Nediym - Zolius colt from Mark Walkers barn looked the most forward of all the babies out today. A typical well muscled example of his fathers get, it would surprise me if he is winless by Xmas.
Quiet trialists with scope for improvment were a couple from Peter McKays yard: the General Nediym colt from Little Deuce Coupe - a brute of a horse - along with a Commands colt from Apart.
Russianov (Keeninsky-Amy Cee) got home very nicely and out of a Yamanin Vital mare you d fancy him a bit later on and further than 600m! The Oaks crew should be happy enough with that start.
Finally from the babies heats, Savannah Prince was doing handstands and won have won by a gap if he had been let down.
Very little was asked of Prince of Wales, Six O Clock News and Tell a Tale with the later getting home very nicely the last 50m, a feakishly similar effort to his hitout at these corresponding trials last season.
St Germiane, after botching the start, found the line well under minimal urging. She look's to have developed during her break.
Il Quello Veloce who was hard held in second, paraded looking like she had thickened appreciably.
The easiest winner on the programme was La Bella Encosta. He d won another trail recently and I gather the agents have been circling.
The unraced Our Heir Apparent (Zabeel - La Quinta Gold by Encosta De Lago), who holds a VRC Derby nom, didn't really look to be handling the track but was doing some nice work late. A gorgeously balanced medium sized athlete - as befitting a 900k yearling - he looks an early winner once he strikes 1600m.
The John Sargent team who looked strong throughout, produced another nice trialist in Mr Thorpedo. The Thorn Park three-year-old who had run 2 solid races last season got home strongly.
Noel Harris only had a ride or 2 yesterday but his reason for attending became clear when he lead all the way for an easy win on Sandblaster, indicating the 5 year-old entire is well forward for a return to racing.
The terribly named Warrentherooster won nicely enough despite carrying a bit of condition. He had the most physical scope of the Savabeels I saw out at 2 so it will be interesting to see how he progressesd. This heat could have some form come out of it as the unraced One Cool Cat - Glenview Lass gelding who ran second, had won a trial at Rotorua last month and is well regarded by the Moroney stable.
It was getting chilly but I m glad I stayed on to see Penrickson take the 1200m Open Catchweight heat. A 6 year-old now, I had last seen him as a 2 year-old and he has furnished into a lovely lengthy horse. A roll forward horse he is going to pick up a nice race back in NZ this season.
Man I love the spring. Roll on Mudgway day.
To any budding Marco Polo's I'm pleased to report they ve now signposted the racecourse. Last time I ended up horendously lost - thank you AA.
The weather was fine throughout and the surface which was officially rated dead, did cut out on the inside gradually during the programme so I would ignore the slower times later in the day as they were scouting 4 and 5 horse widths off the rail from the turn by then.
I won't bother you with the obvious - the dailys are paid to do that tomorrow. I saw a few performances and a horse or 2 on type which you may like to paste away in your black book.
As far as the two-year-olds heats went I thought I was at Doremello Stud not Te Teko for a while, for there were Duelled's everywhere. For all I know Roggie may even have had the Clerks of the Course on one. As a type they did not strike me as two-year-olds, a rather unfurnished group, although the filly out of Tittletaat looked a runner.
The General Nediym - Zolius colt from Mark Walkers barn looked the most forward of all the babies out today. A typical well muscled example of his fathers get, it would surprise me if he is winless by Xmas.
Quiet trialists with scope for improvment were a couple from Peter McKays yard: the General Nediym colt from Little Deuce Coupe - a brute of a horse - along with a Commands colt from Apart.
Russianov (Keeninsky-Amy Cee) got home very nicely and out of a Yamanin Vital mare you d fancy him a bit later on and further than 600m! The Oaks crew should be happy enough with that start.
Finally from the babies heats, Savannah Prince was doing handstands and won have won by a gap if he had been let down.
Very little was asked of Prince of Wales, Six O Clock News and Tell a Tale with the later getting home very nicely the last 50m, a feakishly similar effort to his hitout at these corresponding trials last season.
St Germiane, after botching the start, found the line well under minimal urging. She look's to have developed during her break.
Il Quello Veloce who was hard held in second, paraded looking like she had thickened appreciably.
The easiest winner on the programme was La Bella Encosta. He d won another trail recently and I gather the agents have been circling.
The unraced Our Heir Apparent (Zabeel - La Quinta Gold by Encosta De Lago), who holds a VRC Derby nom, didn't really look to be handling the track but was doing some nice work late. A gorgeously balanced medium sized athlete - as befitting a 900k yearling - he looks an early winner once he strikes 1600m.
The John Sargent team who looked strong throughout, produced another nice trialist in Mr Thorpedo. The Thorn Park three-year-old who had run 2 solid races last season got home strongly.
Noel Harris only had a ride or 2 yesterday but his reason for attending became clear when he lead all the way for an easy win on Sandblaster, indicating the 5 year-old entire is well forward for a return to racing.
The terribly named Warrentherooster won nicely enough despite carrying a bit of condition. He had the most physical scope of the Savabeels I saw out at 2 so it will be interesting to see how he progressesd. This heat could have some form come out of it as the unraced One Cool Cat - Glenview Lass gelding who ran second, had won a trial at Rotorua last month and is well regarded by the Moroney stable.
It was getting chilly but I m glad I stayed on to see Penrickson take the 1200m Open Catchweight heat. A 6 year-old now, I had last seen him as a 2 year-old and he has furnished into a lovely lengthy horse. A roll forward horse he is going to pick up a nice race back in NZ this season.
Man I love the spring. Roll on Mudgway day.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Manawatu Stallion Parade 26 July
Palmerston North is a way from Auckland but there was an air of anticipation as I headed south.
I guess a lot of that feeling had to do with visiting farms I hadn't been too before, in particular the history ladden Fairdale establishment and the new kid in town Wellfield Lodge. Oh and of course, the chance to see Fully Fledged and Alamosa, two of the more interesting colonial bred stallions to go to stud in a while.
First stop Fairdale has seen much quieter times since the halycion days of Pakistan 2, but Fully Fledged gives them cause for optimism. First out though we saw Howbaddowantit. Looking taller than his advertised 16.1 hands he does'nt carry a lot of condition - maybe that's the nervous Nijinsky disposition coming through - he nevertheless looked in good condition for his 14 years.
Deep rich chestnut horses with white socks grab anyones attention but the next thing that struck me about Fully Fledged was his lovely kind honest eye. Having Bjorn Baker, on hand to extoile his former charges virtues was a nice touch and he certainly emphasised "Freddies" personality and nature.
Preconceptions are horid things and if you were like me, you were asking yourself whether Freddies tussle with the running rail at Trentham and some chicane manouveres at Ellerslie one day were a sign of some waywardness and dare I say it that word that no studmaster wants to hear -ungenuineness. His campaign in Sydney this autumn had shown me he was far from 'soft' and Sunday confirmed that these early indiscretions were simply maturity pains.
Not yet four years of age and only a little over two months out of training, Fully Fledged was un derstandibly not carrying a great deal of condition. This time next year I expect you'll see a different model.
A little light on pedigree but if you are looking for a good looking, sweet moving racehorse with a great temprament, Fully Fledged warrants consideration in todays stallion market.
Chinese Dragon and Goodwood Park were next. A more typical built sprinting type than the Fairdale pair, quite low slung with good strength in front of the saddle and a wide masculine head, the deep bay was not as tall as I had expected from the photos I had seen.
I like to play a little game when I see stallions and work out what ancestors they've thrown too. Chinese Dragon seemed to have picked up charcateristics of a number of his forbears significantly the Mill Reef head and the Stravinsky jowl.
At Newmarket Lodge we saw Columbia, Danger Looms and resident stallion Gold Circle. Despite his advancing years its not hard to see why Columbia was a one million plus yearling and Danger Looms is a strongly made short coupled type.
As a full brother to Elvstroem and half to Haradasun, Gold Circle has a fair bit going for him, however he's also an attractive looking horse, only medium sized at best but in proprtion with a good over reach and strong quarters.
Lucky enough to see "Elvis" when he was racing in Melbourne their are definite similarities between the two brothers in physical makeup, particularly behind the saddle.
Viewing a collection of Gold Centre's weanlings in their boxes he certainly stamps them with strong quarters and they are a bit longer in the body than dad.
Talking to a breeder on the day there are a few Gold Centre's going well in their early prepartions and it would not be a surprise to see a few out early. Apparently Laurie Christansen has a speedy type he is quite taken with.
The crowd had swelled to about 150 by the time the parade reached Wellfield, no doubt eager to see the public debut of Alamosa as a stallion.
Firstly we saw Hansome Ransom who was a tad shorter than I had imagined from photo's. Blessed with a strong middle you could see the engine room that contributed to his early speed on the racetrack.
I had last seen Alamosa live at Ellerslie in his two-year-old season and the charcateristics ( character being the operative word) that struck me then came flooding back; the lovely intelligent O'Reilly head and an air of confidence or more explicity, charcater.
Alamosa won't ever be a bulky stallion and I thought there was a lot more Centaine coming through on physical type than O'Reilly.
Most of the crowd stayed around to see the LA stallions that had come up from Masterton.
The regally bred Zed who was first away, has let down significantly since starting stud duties in 2007. LA studmaster Sam Williams was on the money when he described him as a mesh of Zabeel and Danehill. He reminds me of a smaller version of his father Zabeel with some of the more refined Danehill charcteristics including markings, merged in.
With my work for LA I have seen a great deal of Towkay over the last two years but I haven't seen him looking any better than he was on Sunday. He's a well balanced and bodied individual who captures all the best attributes of the very successful Last Tycoon sireline.
Judging by John Cleese's frame, he doesn't eat a lot of pies but he would have been contemplating eating one of the humble variety should he have been on Sunday's annual event in an area much maligned by the British comedian. Conducted in glorious winter weather, the crowd were an enthusiastic and appreciative bunch. Talking to a few studmasters and nominations staff at the end of the day there was a good level of enquiry.
My only brickbat for the day was the absence of food to go with the refreshments at Wellfield. It had been a long day and some snacks would have facilitated more activity and ultimately business for the studs, instead of people having to rush off to the cheesecake shop in Woodville..
Thanks to the Manawatu branch and Hugh Taylor for putting on the event.
I guess a lot of that feeling had to do with visiting farms I hadn't been too before, in particular the history ladden Fairdale establishment and the new kid in town Wellfield Lodge. Oh and of course, the chance to see Fully Fledged and Alamosa, two of the more interesting colonial bred stallions to go to stud in a while.
First stop Fairdale has seen much quieter times since the halycion days of Pakistan 2, but Fully Fledged gives them cause for optimism. First out though we saw Howbaddowantit. Looking taller than his advertised 16.1 hands he does'nt carry a lot of condition - maybe that's the nervous Nijinsky disposition coming through - he nevertheless looked in good condition for his 14 years.
Deep rich chestnut horses with white socks grab anyones attention but the next thing that struck me about Fully Fledged was his lovely kind honest eye. Having Bjorn Baker, on hand to extoile his former charges virtues was a nice touch and he certainly emphasised "Freddies" personality and nature.
Preconceptions are horid things and if you were like me, you were asking yourself whether Freddies tussle with the running rail at Trentham and some chicane manouveres at Ellerslie one day were a sign of some waywardness and dare I say it that word that no studmaster wants to hear -ungenuineness. His campaign in Sydney this autumn had shown me he was far from 'soft' and Sunday confirmed that these early indiscretions were simply maturity pains.
Not yet four years of age and only a little over two months out of training, Fully Fledged was un derstandibly not carrying a great deal of condition. This time next year I expect you'll see a different model.
A little light on pedigree but if you are looking for a good looking, sweet moving racehorse with a great temprament, Fully Fledged warrants consideration in todays stallion market.
Chinese Dragon and Goodwood Park were next. A more typical built sprinting type than the Fairdale pair, quite low slung with good strength in front of the saddle and a wide masculine head, the deep bay was not as tall as I had expected from the photos I had seen.
I like to play a little game when I see stallions and work out what ancestors they've thrown too. Chinese Dragon seemed to have picked up charcateristics of a number of his forbears significantly the Mill Reef head and the Stravinsky jowl.
At Newmarket Lodge we saw Columbia, Danger Looms and resident stallion Gold Circle. Despite his advancing years its not hard to see why Columbia was a one million plus yearling and Danger Looms is a strongly made short coupled type.
As a full brother to Elvstroem and half to Haradasun, Gold Circle has a fair bit going for him, however he's also an attractive looking horse, only medium sized at best but in proprtion with a good over reach and strong quarters.
Lucky enough to see "Elvis" when he was racing in Melbourne their are definite similarities between the two brothers in physical makeup, particularly behind the saddle.
Viewing a collection of Gold Centre's weanlings in their boxes he certainly stamps them with strong quarters and they are a bit longer in the body than dad.
Talking to a breeder on the day there are a few Gold Centre's going well in their early prepartions and it would not be a surprise to see a few out early. Apparently Laurie Christansen has a speedy type he is quite taken with.
The crowd had swelled to about 150 by the time the parade reached Wellfield, no doubt eager to see the public debut of Alamosa as a stallion.
Firstly we saw Hansome Ransom who was a tad shorter than I had imagined from photo's. Blessed with a strong middle you could see the engine room that contributed to his early speed on the racetrack.
I had last seen Alamosa live at Ellerslie in his two-year-old season and the charcateristics ( character being the operative word) that struck me then came flooding back; the lovely intelligent O'Reilly head and an air of confidence or more explicity, charcater.
Alamosa won't ever be a bulky stallion and I thought there was a lot more Centaine coming through on physical type than O'Reilly.
Most of the crowd stayed around to see the LA stallions that had come up from Masterton.
The regally bred Zed who was first away, has let down significantly since starting stud duties in 2007. LA studmaster Sam Williams was on the money when he described him as a mesh of Zabeel and Danehill. He reminds me of a smaller version of his father Zabeel with some of the more refined Danehill charcteristics including markings, merged in.
With my work for LA I have seen a great deal of Towkay over the last two years but I haven't seen him looking any better than he was on Sunday. He's a well balanced and bodied individual who captures all the best attributes of the very successful Last Tycoon sireline.
Judging by John Cleese's frame, he doesn't eat a lot of pies but he would have been contemplating eating one of the humble variety should he have been on Sunday's annual event in an area much maligned by the British comedian. Conducted in glorious winter weather, the crowd were an enthusiastic and appreciative bunch. Talking to a few studmasters and nominations staff at the end of the day there was a good level of enquiry.
My only brickbat for the day was the absence of food to go with the refreshments at Wellfield. It had been a long day and some snacks would have facilitated more activity and ultimately business for the studs, instead of people having to rush off to the cheesecake shop in Woodville..
Thanks to the Manawatu branch and Hugh Taylor for putting on the event.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Saturday 27 June
True winter racing at Avondale tomorrow.
Where are you Oranmore?
The dogs are barking Sorbello in the last.
It's never an easy assignment for a 3 yr old filly against the older horses and in the mud so follow your money.
I was impressed with Harvest the Gold's hurdles win over QB weekend and took note of his pace on the flat scampering awy from the likes of Bennyosler between jumps. The better track at HB should enable him to use this pace to his advantage.
Miss Sivavatu has good form over distance in Ireland and should appreciate the step to 2000m at HB. I liked the way she kept making ground last start over 1600m.
Where are you Oranmore?
The dogs are barking Sorbello in the last.
It's never an easy assignment for a 3 yr old filly against the older horses and in the mud so follow your money.
I was impressed with Harvest the Gold's hurdles win over QB weekend and took note of his pace on the flat scampering awy from the likes of Bennyosler between jumps. The better track at HB should enable him to use this pace to his advantage.
Miss Sivavatu has good form over distance in Ireland and should appreciate the step to 2000m at HB. I liked the way she kept making ground last start over 1600m.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
2009 Kelt Nominations
Well it's less than 90 sleeps to the Kelt, time for Thad and his team to contravene the Fair Trading Act with their first odds set for this years contest.
I poke the borax at the odds but no doubt I'll couple a few into a few in the Melbourne Cup. Hey it's more fun than that Big Wednesday robbery and better odds too.
There s a good deal of Gimblett Gravels Syrah to be drunk yet, but this years contest shapes as one of the more even in a while.
A number of questions jump out at you. Will Mufhasa and Shanzero get the tough 2000m? Can Nom Du Jeu and Pasta Post overcome their unsoundness issues? Is Daffodil capable of doing a Legs and Princess Coup? And will the Aussie s travel or are they just there to get the kiwi punter?
Mufhasa tops the ratings and takes early favouritism at 7s. If you like him you are probably best to get on early as he should run well in the first two legs at his pet distances.
I don't begrudge his rating but I don't like the price given his risk at the trip. Already I can hear you saying what risk, he's a Pentire, ran a record in the Couplands Mile etc etc. I'll save my breeding treatise for another day but just add that I always have my doubts about a free running sprinter-miler type getting the tough 2000m at Hastings. Some pretty good milers such as Hello Dolly, Starcraft and Seachange tried and failed.
Nom Du Jeu and Pasta Post are recovering from injury and there must be a query about them standing up to the rigours of a Kelt campaign. I m also a believer than an Xcellent or Princess Coup aside, these sorts of contests are won by so little that litterally everything must fall into place: I thought Nom Du Jeu had all the cards fall his way last year - right age, preparation, track conditions, luck in running - but found 2 better on the day. I rest my case.
Prince Kaapstaad raced well in the first two legs last season but failed in the Kelt and based on his record seems to race best in a fresh state. I also have some doubts with him at 2000m. Sure he ran second in the Derby but three-year-olds can get away with that some year s because so many of their contemporaries don't. No doubt the stable will endeavour to get the mileage into him on the training track this year and go in a bit fresher. They don't loitter in the Kelt and I can see Prince Kaapstaad getting a tougher run near the lead than he had for instance in this seasons Easter.
Gallions Reach's form may have tappered off towards the end of the summer but he had a long spring and summer campaign during which he showed himself to be our leading middle distance handicapper before making the rare successful transition to WFA. I just have my doubts that his WFA form will stack up.
Fritzy Boy is another whose form tailed off this season after an auspicious start winning the Mudgeway. You would think that Alby McGregor has learnt a great deal from last years Kelt campaign and a wet spring would play into his hands. To the naked eye he had shown that the distance held no fears for him with his courgaeous third in the Derby behind Cest La Guere but the same case applies as with Prince Kaapstad. I tend to think Fritzy Boy has a tad too much brillance (excuse the pun) to be a genuine 2000m WFA horse.
Red Ruler is a bit of an enigma horse. At his best he is very good. His win in the Championship Stakes at 3 was close to the best performance I witnessed in NZ that season. I also thought his run for second in the Kelt last year was outstanding, been widder than Princess Coup around the home turn, taking a while to get balanced and not losing ground to her over the last 150m. One facet I've admired with John Sargent is his ability to keep his older horses in form and if he's out thought Red Ruler, this could be his race.
Of the other older NZ horses I don't see Vosne Romanee up to WFA at 2000m, likewise Six O Clock News.
Just Call Me Sir aside, the Kelt for a while seemed a race for the older more seasoned horses. That was until the likes of the 4 yr olds Xcellent and the mares Legs and Princess Coup fresh from their NZ Oaks wins at 3, took the spoils.
So what chance the younger brigade continuing the momentum this year? A good chance I feel.
There s the most impressive 2000 Guineas winner Tell A Tale who showed his ability at 2000m with a gutsy second to Mac OReilly in the WFA International at Te Rapa before another game run for 3rd in the Derby as his season finale. Apparently the gelding had a few problems after Christchurch, nothing major I understand, but enough based on his performances to show that he had a strong constitution.
Impressive AJC Oaks winner Daffodil fits the mould of Legs and Princess Coup and is sure to have her admirers. As good as her Oaks win was I have my suspicions about the form out of that race plus and more convincingly, I feel she s best with the sting out of the ground.
Danzero mare Shanzero showed as much potential as any three year old in the country this season and her ability to unleash a powerful closing sprint should suit WFA racing. In the usual Collett fashion the rangy filly was not overtaxed and 1600m was as far as she went. In the same vein as Mufhassa I have some niggling doubts about her abilty to get a solid 2000m. She's from a Marauding mare which reeks speed and although her sire has left group one winners at 200m and further in Niconero and Fairway, they were out of Scenic and Cocky Golfer mares respectively, both staying orientated sires. The only way Danzero's group one females Danglissa and Dani Martine would have got 2000m was in a float.
Mill Duckie reminds me of one of those girls in the school choir with braces who you d see in the library at lunchtime but who you never paid much attention too; that was until you saw her at the school ball and your heart skipped a beat. Be it, wet or dry tracks, slow or well run contests, big imposts, the unfashionably bred big but plain filly just kept putting in. You never know if they are up to WFA until they try but she's so adaptable that the 41 to win is tempting.
I'd wait until first withdrawls later this month before getting too spruked on any of the aussies although you'd think the Freedman stable will have been buoyed in confidence by Dane Julia's performance at Te Aroha: they have a couple entered with the VRC Oaks place getter Miss Scarletti probably the pick of them on exposed form.
Instead of wandering down to the corner bottle shop tomorrow night and partaking in my current tipple, a Misiones De Rengo 2004 Carmenere I'll use the $ to take those multis through Boundless, Red Ruler and Tell a Tale.
Now I just have to sort out Melbourne..
I poke the borax at the odds but no doubt I'll couple a few into a few in the Melbourne Cup. Hey it's more fun than that Big Wednesday robbery and better odds too.
There s a good deal of Gimblett Gravels Syrah to be drunk yet, but this years contest shapes as one of the more even in a while.
A number of questions jump out at you. Will Mufhasa and Shanzero get the tough 2000m? Can Nom Du Jeu and Pasta Post overcome their unsoundness issues? Is Daffodil capable of doing a Legs and Princess Coup? And will the Aussie s travel or are they just there to get the kiwi punter?
Mufhasa tops the ratings and takes early favouritism at 7s. If you like him you are probably best to get on early as he should run well in the first two legs at his pet distances.
I don't begrudge his rating but I don't like the price given his risk at the trip. Already I can hear you saying what risk, he's a Pentire, ran a record in the Couplands Mile etc etc. I'll save my breeding treatise for another day but just add that I always have my doubts about a free running sprinter-miler type getting the tough 2000m at Hastings. Some pretty good milers such as Hello Dolly, Starcraft and Seachange tried and failed.
Nom Du Jeu and Pasta Post are recovering from injury and there must be a query about them standing up to the rigours of a Kelt campaign. I m also a believer than an Xcellent or Princess Coup aside, these sorts of contests are won by so little that litterally everything must fall into place: I thought Nom Du Jeu had all the cards fall his way last year - right age, preparation, track conditions, luck in running - but found 2 better on the day. I rest my case.
Prince Kaapstaad raced well in the first two legs last season but failed in the Kelt and based on his record seems to race best in a fresh state. I also have some doubts with him at 2000m. Sure he ran second in the Derby but three-year-olds can get away with that some year s because so many of their contemporaries don't. No doubt the stable will endeavour to get the mileage into him on the training track this year and go in a bit fresher. They don't loitter in the Kelt and I can see Prince Kaapstaad getting a tougher run near the lead than he had for instance in this seasons Easter.
Gallions Reach's form may have tappered off towards the end of the summer but he had a long spring and summer campaign during which he showed himself to be our leading middle distance handicapper before making the rare successful transition to WFA. I just have my doubts that his WFA form will stack up.
Fritzy Boy is another whose form tailed off this season after an auspicious start winning the Mudgeway. You would think that Alby McGregor has learnt a great deal from last years Kelt campaign and a wet spring would play into his hands. To the naked eye he had shown that the distance held no fears for him with his courgaeous third in the Derby behind Cest La Guere but the same case applies as with Prince Kaapstad. I tend to think Fritzy Boy has a tad too much brillance (excuse the pun) to be a genuine 2000m WFA horse.
Red Ruler is a bit of an enigma horse. At his best he is very good. His win in the Championship Stakes at 3 was close to the best performance I witnessed in NZ that season. I also thought his run for second in the Kelt last year was outstanding, been widder than Princess Coup around the home turn, taking a while to get balanced and not losing ground to her over the last 150m. One facet I've admired with John Sargent is his ability to keep his older horses in form and if he's out thought Red Ruler, this could be his race.
Another from the highly rated three-year-old class of 2007/08 is the slightly forgotten mare Boundless. I thought her run for fourth in last years Kelt had a lot of merit. It was well publicised that she had a light preparation after getting back from Oz late due to the EI protocols. Looking up my Kelt racebook notes from last year I had written " fractious and looks just underdone". Given a long spell after a brief and unsuccessful Oz campaign post the Kelt, the McKee charge has apparently come back a lot stronger. Mares have won five of the last 8 Kelts and at 15's the Van Nistlerooy mare is worth strong consideration.
The well named mare All In Black is indeed something of a dark horse. Her rise through the grades this autumn was dramatic and if she can improve again from 4 to 5 she could join Love Dance as the only winners of both the Kelt and Hawkes Bay Cup. John Wheeler sensibly put her away once the tracks deteriorated and she is in great hands to go one better than her half brother All In Fun who ran 2nd,3rd, 4th and 7th in the Kelt between 1994 and 1998.Of the other older NZ horses I don't see Vosne Romanee up to WFA at 2000m, likewise Six O Clock News.
Just Call Me Sir aside, the Kelt for a while seemed a race for the older more seasoned horses. That was until the likes of the 4 yr olds Xcellent and the mares Legs and Princess Coup fresh from their NZ Oaks wins at 3, took the spoils.
So what chance the younger brigade continuing the momentum this year? A good chance I feel.
There s the most impressive 2000 Guineas winner Tell A Tale who showed his ability at 2000m with a gutsy second to Mac OReilly in the WFA International at Te Rapa before another game run for 3rd in the Derby as his season finale. Apparently the gelding had a few problems after Christchurch, nothing major I understand, but enough based on his performances to show that he had a strong constitution.
Impressive AJC Oaks winner Daffodil fits the mould of Legs and Princess Coup and is sure to have her admirers. As good as her Oaks win was I have my suspicions about the form out of that race plus and more convincingly, I feel she s best with the sting out of the ground.
Danzero mare Shanzero showed as much potential as any three year old in the country this season and her ability to unleash a powerful closing sprint should suit WFA racing. In the usual Collett fashion the rangy filly was not overtaxed and 1600m was as far as she went. In the same vein as Mufhassa I have some niggling doubts about her abilty to get a solid 2000m. She's from a Marauding mare which reeks speed and although her sire has left group one winners at 200m and further in Niconero and Fairway, they were out of Scenic and Cocky Golfer mares respectively, both staying orientated sires. The only way Danzero's group one females Danglissa and Dani Martine would have got 2000m was in a float.
Mill Duckie reminds me of one of those girls in the school choir with braces who you d see in the library at lunchtime but who you never paid much attention too; that was until you saw her at the school ball and your heart skipped a beat. Be it, wet or dry tracks, slow or well run contests, big imposts, the unfashionably bred big but plain filly just kept putting in. You never know if they are up to WFA until they try but she's so adaptable that the 41 to win is tempting.
I'd wait until first withdrawls later this month before getting too spruked on any of the aussies although you'd think the Freedman stable will have been buoyed in confidence by Dane Julia's performance at Te Aroha: they have a couple entered with the VRC Oaks place getter Miss Scarletti probably the pick of them on exposed form.
Instead of wandering down to the corner bottle shop tomorrow night and partaking in my current tipple, a Misiones De Rengo 2004 Carmenere I'll use the $ to take those multis through Boundless, Red Ruler and Tell a Tale.
Now I just have to sort out Melbourne..
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Ruakaka Wednesday 17 June
Green Supreme is worth backing each way at odds in the two-year-old event.
I was quite taken with his debut run then you could forget his last effort in the mud.
The obvious two are Poetic Music with Kenny Rae's Thorn Park filly the danger.
Leica Diva should find a more comfortable lead in the third than she did last start and interestingly Sam jumps on rather than riding the McKee debutant.
The Gaffer has always had some ability but has been dogged by injury. He should almost be at peak fitness for his assignment in the 6th. Jamie Graham has a nice horse for next season in Reposado however he can go close here with a decent track.
I was quite taken with his debut run then you could forget his last effort in the mud.
The obvious two are Poetic Music with Kenny Rae's Thorn Park filly the danger.
Leica Diva should find a more comfortable lead in the third than she did last start and interestingly Sam jumps on rather than riding the McKee debutant.
The Gaffer has always had some ability but has been dogged by injury. He should almost be at peak fitness for his assignment in the 6th. Jamie Graham has a nice horse for next season in Reposado however he can go close here with a decent track.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
More Than Just a Great Trainer
I couldn't let the passing of Vincent O'Brien go by without a comment or three.
Probably the most poignant memory of any racing book I've read would have to be the piece in the 'Horsetrader' by Nick Robinson when one of the syndicate comprising Sangster, Magnier etc asks in the Keeneland bar where Vincent had disappeared too and the answer came back that he had gone back to look at the little Northern Dancer colt (The Ministrel). Further proded by the enquirer - whom must have had one too many Jamisons - if in fact that meant Vincent liked the colt, to which the comment came back "Like him, he bloody loves him".
O'Brien would leave no stone unturned in his search for thoroughbred perfection. A horrible cliche but someone light years ahead of their time.
Remarkedly O'Brien never had a string of more than 50 horses in work and often operated at around the 40 mark. Not for him the large satellite operations we see today. Vincent believed in care and attention and within reason this did not extend to delegation.
His Ballydoyle operation were the first to pad their boxes and lay straight gallops to take unnecssary pressure of a young horses legs.
But above all else O'Brien was a horse psychologist extraodinaire . Someone who got inside his 'flocks' minds and knew his horses better than they knew themselves. Some of the greats he trained such as Nijinsky and Alleged had more quirks than Michael Jackson yet he co erced them to become legends of the turf. I wonder though how he would have felt about trying to domesticate lions and tigers..?
About ten years ago I found myself at a wedding seated next to an elderly chap. Now having gone to a few weddings in my time as a single bloke I was well used to a bit of matchmaking. Looking around this particular wedding at a number of pretty single females, I begun to think pretty critically of my cousin whose wedding it was; that was before I discovered the elderly chap just happened to be Vincent O'Briens brother in law..
For the next three hours I got a wonderful insight into the life of one of the true greats, his love of nature, order and engineering.
Thank you Aunty Jill.
Probably the most poignant memory of any racing book I've read would have to be the piece in the 'Horsetrader' by Nick Robinson when one of the syndicate comprising Sangster, Magnier etc asks in the Keeneland bar where Vincent had disappeared too and the answer came back that he had gone back to look at the little Northern Dancer colt (The Ministrel). Further proded by the enquirer - whom must have had one too many Jamisons - if in fact that meant Vincent liked the colt, to which the comment came back "Like him, he bloody loves him".
O'Brien would leave no stone unturned in his search for thoroughbred perfection. A horrible cliche but someone light years ahead of their time.
Remarkedly O'Brien never had a string of more than 50 horses in work and often operated at around the 40 mark. Not for him the large satellite operations we see today. Vincent believed in care and attention and within reason this did not extend to delegation.
His Ballydoyle operation were the first to pad their boxes and lay straight gallops to take unnecssary pressure of a young horses legs.
But above all else O'Brien was a horse psychologist extraodinaire . Someone who got inside his 'flocks' minds and knew his horses better than they knew themselves. Some of the greats he trained such as Nijinsky and Alleged had more quirks than Michael Jackson yet he co erced them to become legends of the turf. I wonder though how he would have felt about trying to domesticate lions and tigers..?
About ten years ago I found myself at a wedding seated next to an elderly chap. Now having gone to a few weddings in my time as a single bloke I was well used to a bit of matchmaking. Looking around this particular wedding at a number of pretty single females, I begun to think pretty critically of my cousin whose wedding it was; that was before I discovered the elderly chap just happened to be Vincent O'Briens brother in law..
For the next three hours I got a wonderful insight into the life of one of the true greats, his love of nature, order and engineering.
Thank you Aunty Jill.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
