Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Sydney Cup - Jessicabeel - Zavite - Precedence - Anthony & Bart Cumming

2010 Sydney Cup Won by Melbourne Cup Hopeful Jessicabeel
Posted on 26 April 2010
Races.com.au

On Saturday talented Zabeel mare Jessicabeel secured the highlight race at Randwick when she defeated a classy field of rivals in the $400,000 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).

Prepared by local trainer John O’Shea, Jessicabeel began as the $5 favourite and proved herself as a definite stayer as she came from behind to defeat fellow mare and runner-up in the event last year as well, Divine Rebel ($21), by a three-quarter lengths with Harris Tweed ($7.50) a further length away in third finishing off an all New Zealand-bred trifecta.

Jessicabeel, ridden by Craig Newitt, messed up the start and then settled worse than mid-field after the first 1200m with the horse’s connections worried about her back position.

But they had nothing to fear as the mare displayed her brilliant turn of foot on the home straight, working her way up through the field of stayers to secure the Group 1 win.

Anthony Cummings’ highly fancied second-favourite Zavite ($5.50) was the disappointment of the race, beating home just one other runner, the Bart Cummings-trained Precedence ($6.50), as the Cummings’ pair finished 10th and 11th respectively after pushing too hard early on.

Zavite and Precedence held the lead for much of the 3200m but then faded at the finish as the genuine tempo of the race took its toll.

It wasn’t all bad news for Anthony Cummings on the day however, as he still enjoyed Group 1 glory at the meeting when Road To Rock took out the $350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

Other horses that failed to fire in the 2010 Sydney Cup included last start winner of the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) Littorio, who struggled to step up to the increased distance of the Cup, and 2008 Sydney Cup winner No Wine No Song who finished well back in eighth also stung by the surprising pace of the race.

Four-year-old Jessicabeel, who also took out the Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) this season, has now won five of her 13 race starts for $464,900 in prizemoney.
O’Shea is now obviously looking towards the coveted Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday of November for Jessicabeel, the 150th running of the esteemed feature worth a record $6 million this year.

Other feature races that played out on the final Sydney autumn carnival meeting on Saturday included the $300,000 Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) where the Peter Snowden-trained Skilled secured a close victory, and the $300,000 Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) won by Hot Danish.

With the excitement of the Sydney autumn carnival now over for another year, the best in Australian racing will now head up to Queensland for the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

2010 Schweppes Sydney Cup Results

Place
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
1
JESSICABEEL (NZ)
John O’Shea Craig Newitt
2
DIVINE REBEL (NZ)
Michael Moroney Kerrin McEvoy
3
HARRIS TWEED (NZ)
M & B Baker Michael Rodd
4
CAPECOVER (NZ)
Patrick Payne Steven Arnold
5
GET UP JUDE
Diane Poidevin-Laine Kathy O’Hara
6
MOATIZE
Bart Cummings Blake Shinn
7
SPIN AROUND
Steven Cooper Nash Rawiller
8
NO WINE NO SONG
Kevin Moses Hugh Bowman
9
LITTORIO
Nigel Blackiston Craig Williams
10
ZAVITE (NZ)
Anthony Cummings Damien Oliver
11
PRECEDENCE (NZ)
Bart Cummings Luke Nolen
Scratched:
BOOMING (NZ)

Monday, April 26, 2010

Harris Park - Sydney Cup

NZ Herald.co.nz
3:59 AM Monday Apr 26, 2010

Cambridge trainer Murray Baker is plotting another Melbourne Cup campaign with Harris Tweed after history failed to repeat itself during the Sydney Cup at Randwick on Saturday.

Hoping to emulate his success with owner Phil Bayly and add another Sydney Cup to their 1992 triumph with My Eagle Eye the duo, instead, had to settle for a bold third as Jessicabeel won the A$400,000 ($523,500) feature race to become prolific sire Zabeel's 41st group one winner.

Michael Rodd kept Harris Tweed well placed in the 11-horse field until Jessicabeel and outsider Divine Rebel skipped clear on the final turn of the 3200m journey.

One of the pre-race favourites ($5), Jessicabeel won by three-quarters of a length while Harris Tweed was a length further back in third, mirroring their placings in the Chairman's Handicap (2600m) lead-up race at Randwick two weeks ago.

Although the mare seems to have Harris Tweed's measure, Baker and Bayly, 87, were relishing the opportunity to turn the tables in November at Flemington, where they will hope to improve on last year's fifth placing.

"I'm pretty happy with the run, I thought he'd be in the first three or four," said Baker, who pointed out Harris Tweed was lumped with 56.5kg in comparison with Jessicabeel (52kg) and Divine Rebel (53kg).


"He was giving weight to the other two, they had the pull on him there."

Baker also felt another six months' maturity would have Harris Tweed capable of exceeding the achievements of this Randwick campaign when he next crossed the Tasman.

"Physically, another six months is really going to make him," Baker said.

"He's a big lanky horse and I think 5-year-old will be his go. We'll get him to Melbourne in the spring."

Harris Tweed, a close second in the AJC Derby at Randwick on his trip here last year, collected A$40,000 for his third in the Sydney Cup to top A$100,000 on this three-race excursion.

"He's done well this time," Baker said of a schedule that opened with a sixth in the BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 3.

However, his third placing yesterday left Honor Babe as the Sydney Cup's last New Zealand-based winner in 2003.

It also ensured New Zealand did not secure a group one victory for the duration of the Autumn Carnival.

Awapuni trainer Jeff Lynds' quest for a first group one victory in Australia since his first foray in 1995 ended when Vosne Romanee wound up fourth in the A$350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

The dominant weight-for-age performer in New Zealand this season raced on well in his Australian debut but could not keep pace with Road To Rock, Triple Honour and Monaco Consul.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Exceptionally - St Leger

THE Age
St Leger bolter aims for the Cup
ANDREW EDDY
April 26, 2010

TERRY O'Sullivan knows his filly Exceptionally has plenty more yet to achieve if the dream of a Melbourne Cup run is to be realised, but the trainer was looking towards November's $6 million race after she rallied to win yesterday's St Leger at Flemington.

''I'd love to think she might get into a Melbourne Cup,'' O'Sullivan, who is also a part-owner of the horse, said after yesterday's win over the 2800 metres. ''I know it's pretty tough just to get into the race, but she'll run two miles [3200 metres] no doubt.''

When a horse pays more than $50 for a win, it can be assumed that even the connections were only moderately confident of victory. But O'Sullivan, the filly's jockey Dan Nikolic and her part-owner Kingsley Peach were all convinced she could pass the first qualifying clause for the Melbourne Cup by taking out the $200,000 listed race.

''Halfway down the straight, I thought she would finish third at best but then she sprouted wings over the last 150 metres,'' Nikolic said. ''It was a really good staying effort.''

O'Sullivan was of the same mind as Gallant Lady and Sherpa Tenzing appeared certain to fight out the finish. ''It was a great ride by Dan. He rode it 110 per cent and he was patient and just waited. I thought he might have waited too long but over that last 50 metres she dived through to score.''

The result came as a great thrill but no shock for part-owner Peach, who picked the filly out at the Adelaide Magic Millions sale as he was a fan of the little-known stallion Ekraar and the filly was out of a Zabeel mare. He paid $62,500 for her.

Exceptionally, a $21 chance in the ring with the bookmakers, won by three-quarters of a length over Gallant Lady ($3.90 favourite) with Sherpa Tenzing ($4.60) a short neck away third.

Jesicabeel - Sydney Cup

Published: 3:03PM Sunday April 25, 2010
By tvnz.co.nz's Phillip Quay

The stunning win by Cambridge Stud-bred mare Jesicabeel in yesterday's A$600,000 Sydney Cup at Randwick has shown she will be a serious contender for the Melbourne Cup later in the year.

Lightly raced Jesicabeel relished the step up to the 3200m of the Sydney Cup and there will be no doubts about her staying qualities.

Bred by Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan, Jesicabeel is by Cambridge Stud's multiple champion sire Zabeel and became his 41st individual Group 1 winner. Zabeel has overtaken Sir Tristram's tally of stakes winners and has also made his mark as an outstanding broodmare sire with the likes of Darci Brahma, Samantha Miss and Faint Perfume all being from Zabeel mares.

Zabeel's previous Sydney Cup winner was Gallic who won the time-honoured event in 2007.

Trainer John O'Shea purchased Jessicabeel (ex More Diamonds by Straight Strike) at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale for $220,000 from Cambridge Stud.

Jessicabeel came with a stunning finishing burst in yesterday's race to claim the Mike Moroney-trained Divine Rebel, which finished runner-up in the race for the second year running.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Lloyd Williams Rundle

Racing & Sports

Friday, 23 April 2010: Anzac Day is about reflection but at Flemington on Sunday owner Lloyd Williams will be looking to the future with his four runners.

In the feature race, the Listed VRC St Leger, Williams will test emerging stayer Rundle over the 2800m in what is likely to be a screen test for the Melbourne Cup later in the year.

The Robert Hickmott-trained gelding is one of two dozen sons of Galileo Williams has invested in, hoping to land another Melbourne Cup.

Rundle has raced only four times and after finishing a close-up seventh on debut has been unbeaten since, including a soft 2500m win at Flemington last time.

Rundle has been posted at odds-on to make it four wins on end but for Williams success will be determined not by winning but how he runs out the 2800m journey for the first time.

In the following race, though, Williams will kick off the Australian campaigns of imports Grand Ducal, Muir and Martial Law.

The trio of former UK gallopers will find the 1200m straight dash of the Kokodas Track Handicap totally unsuitably, according to Williams, with longer races in the spring as their primary concerns.

Grand Ducal does have a good fresh record and is a winner in that state over 1500m and is Group 2 placed at 1400m.

All three of Muir's wins have been over 2000m while Martial Law did win his frst race at a mile but his most recent success was over 2982m in France.

Earlier this week another Williams import Stillman made his Australian debut at Betfair Park and ran well to finish runner-up over 1400m and a few more will emerge over the next fortnight.

Williams said all the imports would have just one or two runs before being turned out again and aimed at the spring.

Williams has almost a dozen imports and a myriad of Galileo gallopers on his books in his quest for this year's 150th running of the Melbourne Cup.

NB. Rundle was scratched from this race. Efficiency won it.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Gai Waterhouse Herculian Prince Above Average Zavite Booming

Sydney Morning Herald
April 18th 2010
GAI WATERHOUSE is already thinking about the Melbourne Cup with exciting stayer Herculian Prince after he dominated the Japan Racing Association Plate at Randwick yesterday.

The four-year-old has won four races in the past month, rising from a midweek race at Canterbury to claim his second listed win.

''What a horse and a half he is,'' Waterhouse proclaimed. ''He has just done everything we have asked of him and does it so easily.

''He is going to make a very good stayer and a race like the Melbourne Cup would be nice for him.''

Herculian Prince took his record to seven wins from 11 starts, leading all the way and scoring by 1¼ lengths from imported stayer Above Average with Booming getting home well for third a long neck away.

Glyn Schofield was also bullish about the future with Herculian Prince, which is likely to have one more run this preparation, though not in next week's Sydney Cup.

''That was a proper race out there,'' he said. ''It was a race of good tempo on testing ground and he was just too good for them.

''He has done nothing wrong this time and he has got a big future as a stayer.''

The runner-up, Above Average, seems a typical grinding English stayer and he will be tipped out with a view towards the Melbourne spring.

''At 2000 metres he just could not pick the other one up,'' part-owner Chris Lawler said. ''It might be different at 2400m but you will have to wait for the spring to see that. The good thing is he's already qualified for the Melbourne Cup.''

While the first two home will not be back at Randwick next week for the Sydney Cup, Kiwi stayer Booming will. He did his best work at the end in his first run since being runner-up to Zavite in the Auckland Cup last month.

''It was a good run. He is in the Sydney Cup and we will see how he has come through the race,'' Booming's trainer Jeff Lynds said.

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Faint Perfume recently won the Group 1 Storm Queen Stakes and is looking on track for more success in her autumn campaign.

The second favourite at this stage for the 2010 Melbourne Cup with SportingBet is another under the training of premier mentor Cummings, Precedence at $20.
Precedence is then followed by the Robert Hickmott-trained Linton ($21), Rosehill Guineas winner Zabrasive ($23), defending Melbourne Cup champion Shocking ($23), improving gelding Alcopop ($26) and impressive three-year-old filly Valdemoro ($26).
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Precedence

Courier Mail
9th April

IT might be 42 years since he first bred an AJC Derby winner but, for Sir Patrick Hogan, the hunger remains as strong as ever as he heads to tomorrow's Randwick meeting with a horse he hopes can deliver him a Melbourne Cup.

Precedence, a horse he co-bred and now owns one-third of, is a short-priced favourite to win the Chairman's Handicap.

Sir Patrick has enjoyed many wonderful moments on AJC Derby day, dating back to the 1968 winner Wilton Park, which he bred with his late father.

Bankrolled by the champion father-son team of Sir Tristram and Zabeel, horses bred by Sir Patrick have since won multiple Melbourne Cups, Caulfield Cups and Cox Plates, a Golden Slipper and countless Derbys and Oaks.

A guide to just how successful the breeder has been can be gauged by his not naming former public idol Octagonal among the favourite three horses he has bred, with Surround, Tristarc and Gurner's Lane at the top of the tree.



"I don't leave Octagonal out of it but, if you go back over the past 30 years, I've probably bred more Group 1 winners than any other breeder, so it's a hard question," Sir Patrick said.

Having accomplished everything in breeding, for which his achievements were honoured with a knighthood in 1998, the proud Irish-born New Zealander now wants to win Australia's greatest race as an owner.

"Where I am now, at 71 years old, my greatest desire is to own a Melbourne Cup winner.

"I've been a personal friend of Bart Cummings for 40 years or more and I thought the only way I could possibly win a Melbourne Cup is that, one, Bart trains it, and two, Dato Tan (Chin Nam) has to join me in the partnership.

"In New Zealand I've won the Auckland, Wellington and New Zealand cups. I've also won the top two-mile trotting cup with Mountain Gold. I've got those cups on the table.

"Now I have to get a bit serious in Australia. And first and foremost it's the Melbourne Cup. I'm not going to chase Chin Nam's number or Bart's number, but I need them to help me and it's better to have a piece of the horse with these two guys because they are blessed."

Sir Patrick's Cambridge Stud has been the dominant AJC Derby force in the modern era.

Resident stallion Zabeel has sired the winner four times - Octagonal, Sky Heights, Don Eduardo and Fiumicino - and he is in the box seat to add to the tally with his three runners tomorrow headed by hot favourite Zabrasive.

Fellow Cambridge stallion Keeper is the sire of Kiwi hope Keep The Peace, while Sir Patrick himself races the Savabeel gelding Suyama, although he's not holding his breath for the $71 chance to deliver any miracles.

Zabeel turns 24 this year but is in good health and will line up for a 20th season at Cambridge this spring.