NZ Herald
Glenn Watson
22nd Feb 2010
It's Sydney in the autumn for the Kevin Gray-trained mare Daffodil after her outstanding win freshup at New Plymouth on Saturday.
The AJC Oaks and Windsor Plate winner sauntered effortlessly past a handy lot of sprinters to win the Schweppervesence Sprint.
She will start at Otaki on Sunday before heading to Sydney for the Ranvet Stakes and the BMW in April.
Hayden Tinsley will replace Opie Bosson for Sunday's race. Tinsley was at Ellerslie on Saturday.
"I was proud of her on Saturday. It was a marvellous effort," said Gray of Daffodil, who hadn't raced since an unlucky run in the Melbourne Cup almost four months ago.
Aussie rider Hugh Bowman will ride Daffodil in her Sydney campaign.
However, Gray was not so happy with Opie Bosson's ride later in the day on the stable's star juvenile Cellarmaster in the Waikato Stud Classic.
After a sluggish start, Cellarmaster was settled three wide for most of the race, lost his balance 200m out and still got up for third behind Icepins.
"I mean, here's a horse who usually leads but was left three wide all the way, and heaven knows what happened down the home straight."
Cellarmaster, who is owned by Auckland Judge John Clapham, his breeder, will start next in the $200,000 Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie on March 13, with either Tinsley or Michael Coleman aboard.
Gray, who was at Ellerslie on Saturday with Derby hope King Raedwald, was much happier after his colt ran third to Zarzuela and Corporal Jones.
Back at New Plymouth, freegoer Bruce Almighty ran his foes ragged in the $80,000 Taranaki Cup, beating off Il Quello Veloce, who was a game second in her first staying test.
It was jockey Paul Taylor's second win in the race, his first coming on Gallions Reach. Trainer Stuart Manning will now take the much-travelled Bruce Almighty to Riverton at Easter.
- WANGANUI CHRONICLE
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Manighar Luca Cumani Terry Henderson Simon O'Donnell Earle Mack
From SuperRacing.com.au
22nd Feb 2010
French stayer Manighar has been purchased in a joint venture between American Earle Mack and OTI Racing headed by Simon O'Donnell and Terry Henderson.
French stayer Manighar has been purchased in a joint venture between American Earle Mack and Australian-based OTI Racing headed by Simon O'Donnell and Terry Henderson.
The Racing Post reported the Group Two winner would be transferred to Luca Cumani to be prepared for a possible tilt at the Melbourne Cup.
The four-year-old son of Linamix has won six of his eight starts.
Following victory in the Group Two Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp in October, he went on to finish third to older horses Ask and Schiaparelli in the Group One Prix Royal-Oak when trained by Alain de Royer Dupre for the Aga Khan.
Mack owned the Cumani-trained Mad Rush who finished seventh as favourite in the 2008 Melbourne Cup while OTI is a shareholder in Bauer who was a close runner-up to Viewed the same year.
"I met Terry Henderson in Australia when our horses ran in the 2008 Melbourne Cup and I am really looking forward to our new association," Mack said.
"Manighar is settling in nicely at Bedford House Stable but we will be in no hurry with him and he probably won't be seen out until midsummer."
Mad Rush was injured in the Group Three Curragh Cup at the end of June and he is now back in light training with Cumani.
Bauer has not raced since the Melbourne Cup in November 2008. He suffered a tendon injury in the middle of 2009 as he was being prepared for another tilt at the race.
22nd Feb 2010
French stayer Manighar has been purchased in a joint venture between American Earle Mack and OTI Racing headed by Simon O'Donnell and Terry Henderson.
French stayer Manighar has been purchased in a joint venture between American Earle Mack and Australian-based OTI Racing headed by Simon O'Donnell and Terry Henderson.
The Racing Post reported the Group Two winner would be transferred to Luca Cumani to be prepared for a possible tilt at the Melbourne Cup.
The four-year-old son of Linamix has won six of his eight starts.
Following victory in the Group Two Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp in October, he went on to finish third to older horses Ask and Schiaparelli in the Group One Prix Royal-Oak when trained by Alain de Royer Dupre for the Aga Khan.
Mack owned the Cumani-trained Mad Rush who finished seventh as favourite in the 2008 Melbourne Cup while OTI is a shareholder in Bauer who was a close runner-up to Viewed the same year.
"I met Terry Henderson in Australia when our horses ran in the 2008 Melbourne Cup and I am really looking forward to our new association," Mack said.
"Manighar is settling in nicely at Bedford House Stable but we will be in no hurry with him and he probably won't be seen out until midsummer."
Mad Rush was injured in the Group Three Curragh Cup at the end of June and he is now back in light training with Cumani.
Bauer has not raced since the Melbourne Cup in November 2008. He suffered a tendon injury in the middle of 2009 as he was being prepared for another tilt at the race.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Linton Efficient Lloyd Williams
Herald Sun
13/2/10
THE comparisons between yesterday's Alister Clark Stakes winner Linton and 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient are inevitable.
Just as his famous stablemate Efficient signalled his rise to stardom by coming from last to win the 2006 Group 2 AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley, Linton looped the field to win the $200,000 Alister Clark Stakes (1600m).
Efficient, by Zabeel, won the AAMI Vase at his fifth start and Linton, by another noted staying sire in Galileo, graduated to Group class at only his third start in the manner of a rising star.
Rodd was clearly excited to be back in the Williams team.
"I spoke to Lloyd on Thursday, he said just give him a similar ride to Efficient in the Vase," Rodd said.
"You never like to go off too early, but you saw what he did at his third start in a race, he was able to come and treat them with contempt."
Backed from $4 to $3.80 favourite, Linton raced away in the straight to defeat Take The Rap ($14) by 1 3/4 lengths.
"Pretty much from the 600m onward I didn't think I was going to get beat," Rodd said.
"When he got to the straight he went whoa and had a very good look around. When he learns how to track up and come up on the bridle and then let down he's going to be pretty good."
Future plans are on hold. The gelding is not nominated for the Group 1 Cadbury Guineas on March 6, but Williams can get Linton into the field by paying a $41,250 late entry fee by March 1.
Williams's son, Nick, was quick to laud Linton as an emerging star but stopped short of rating him in Efficient's league.
"He's done a good job, you can't take anything away from the horse," Williams Jr said.
"But Efficient's won a AAMI Vase, Turnbull, Melbourne Cup and a (Victoria) Derby, this bloke's won a Group 2 in the autumn, so I think it's a long way off having any comparison."
He said the main comparison with Efficient was Linton's immaturity.
" I remember saying about Efficient all through his three-year-old, we're going to have to take him home and let him tell us. We've obviously got a Group horse of the future if we look after him.
"The staff think he's something special. We bought him at a ready-to-run sale in New Zealand."
Williams said Linton was a brother to Heimoro who was highly rated in Hong Kong before fracturing a leg.
Trainer Rob Hickmott, who replaced John Sadler as head trainer for Williams late last spring, was quick to credit his staff for Linton's development.
David Hayes will put blinkers back on Extra Zero who drifted from $3.30 to $5 and ran a disappointing fifth.
"I'm sure he's a blinker horse. I took them off for the Derby, but he needs them back on," Hayes said.
13/2/10
THE comparisons between yesterday's Alister Clark Stakes winner Linton and 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient are inevitable.
Just as his famous stablemate Efficient signalled his rise to stardom by coming from last to win the 2006 Group 2 AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley, Linton looped the field to win the $200,000 Alister Clark Stakes (1600m).
Efficient, by Zabeel, won the AAMI Vase at his fifth start and Linton, by another noted staying sire in Galileo, graduated to Group class at only his third start in the manner of a rising star.
Rodd was clearly excited to be back in the Williams team.
"I spoke to Lloyd on Thursday, he said just give him a similar ride to Efficient in the Vase," Rodd said.
"You never like to go off too early, but you saw what he did at his third start in a race, he was able to come and treat them with contempt."
Backed from $4 to $3.80 favourite, Linton raced away in the straight to defeat Take The Rap ($14) by 1 3/4 lengths.
"Pretty much from the 600m onward I didn't think I was going to get beat," Rodd said.
"When he got to the straight he went whoa and had a very good look around. When he learns how to track up and come up on the bridle and then let down he's going to be pretty good."
Future plans are on hold. The gelding is not nominated for the Group 1 Cadbury Guineas on March 6, but Williams can get Linton into the field by paying a $41,250 late entry fee by March 1.
Williams's son, Nick, was quick to laud Linton as an emerging star but stopped short of rating him in Efficient's league.
"He's done a good job, you can't take anything away from the horse," Williams Jr said.
"But Efficient's won a AAMI Vase, Turnbull, Melbourne Cup and a (Victoria) Derby, this bloke's won a Group 2 in the autumn, so I think it's a long way off having any comparison."
He said the main comparison with Efficient was Linton's immaturity.
" I remember saying about Efficient all through his three-year-old, we're going to have to take him home and let him tell us. We've obviously got a Group horse of the future if we look after him.
"The staff think he's something special. We bought him at a ready-to-run sale in New Zealand."
Williams said Linton was a brother to Heimoro who was highly rated in Hong Kong before fracturing a leg.
Trainer Rob Hickmott, who replaced John Sadler as head trainer for Williams late last spring, was quick to credit his staff for Linton's development.
David Hayes will put blinkers back on Extra Zero who drifted from $3.30 to $5 and ran a disappointing fifth.
"I'm sure he's a blinker horse. I took them off for the Derby, but he needs them back on," Hayes said.
ChangingOfTheGuard Viewed Shocking Sirmione David Hayes Speed Gifted
Racing and Sports
Thursday, 18 February 2010: Punters keen to find the winner of the Australian Cup should be watching Saturday's Group 2 St George Stakes at Caulfield as the definitive guide to the Group 1 race.
Eight of the last 10 Australian Cup winners have raced in the St George Stakes and in that period three have claimed the feature race double. Also worth noting few Australian Cup winners finish out of the placings in the St George Stakes as a lead-up.
Saturday's St George Stakes has drawn together a good field of gallopers including the 2008 Australian Cup winner Sirmione and the last two Melbourne Cup winners Shocking and Viewed .
David Hayes, who has never won the race himself, will rest Our Aqaleem and rely on Birthday Cup winner Zagreb and imported stayer Changingoftheguard .
Lee Freedman, a three-time winner of the race, will line up Metropolitan winner Speed Gifted who is being aimed at the Australian Cup and BMW Stakes.
Viewed and Shocking share Australian Cup favouritism at $7.50, with Speed Gifted and Sirmione sharing the second line of betting at $9.00.
Mick Price's Heart Of Dreams , who will run in Saturday's St George, is an $11.00 chance, just ahead of Our Aqaleem and Zipping at $12.00.
Underrated mare Miss Maren , also in the St George, is at $14.00.
R6 CAULFIELD 20 FEBRUARY 2010
Pure Blonde St George Stakes Group II, 1800m
Race Fields
Tab Horse BP WT Jockey Trainer
1 Viewed 11 59.0 STEVE ARNOLD BART CUMMINGS
2 Shocking 8 59.0 MICHAEL RODD MARK KAVANAGH
3 Sirmione 3 59.0 LUKE NOLEN BART CUMMINGS
4 Heart Of Dreams 10 59.0 CRAIG NEWITT MICK PRICE
5 Littorio 4 59.0 CRAIG WILLIAMS NIGEL BLACKISTON
6 Moatize 6 59.0 KERRIN MC EVOY BART CUMMINGS
7 Zagreb 1 59.0 PAUL GATT DAVID HAYES
8 Speed Gifted 12 59.0 DWAYNE DUNN D L FREEDMAN
9 Pacino 5 59.0 BRAD RAWILLER CLINTON MCDONALD
10 La Rocket 7 59.0 STEPHEN BASTER DALE SUTTON
11 Changingoftheguard 9 58.5 BRETT PREBBLE DAVID HAYES
12 Miss Maren 2 57.0 DAMIEN OLIVER MICK PRICE
Thursday, 18 February 2010: Punters keen to find the winner of the Australian Cup should be watching Saturday's Group 2 St George Stakes at Caulfield as the definitive guide to the Group 1 race.
Eight of the last 10 Australian Cup winners have raced in the St George Stakes and in that period three have claimed the feature race double. Also worth noting few Australian Cup winners finish out of the placings in the St George Stakes as a lead-up.
Saturday's St George Stakes has drawn together a good field of gallopers including the 2008 Australian Cup winner Sirmione and the last two Melbourne Cup winners Shocking and Viewed .
David Hayes, who has never won the race himself, will rest Our Aqaleem and rely on Birthday Cup winner Zagreb and imported stayer Changingoftheguard .
Lee Freedman, a three-time winner of the race, will line up Metropolitan winner Speed Gifted who is being aimed at the Australian Cup and BMW Stakes.
Viewed and Shocking share Australian Cup favouritism at $7.50, with Speed Gifted and Sirmione sharing the second line of betting at $9.00.
Mick Price's Heart Of Dreams , who will run in Saturday's St George, is an $11.00 chance, just ahead of Our Aqaleem and Zipping at $12.00.
Underrated mare Miss Maren , also in the St George, is at $14.00.
R6 CAULFIELD 20 FEBRUARY 2010
Pure Blonde St George Stakes Group II, 1800m
Race Fields
Tab Horse BP WT Jockey Trainer
1 Viewed 11 59.0 STEVE ARNOLD BART CUMMINGS
2 Shocking 8 59.0 MICHAEL RODD MARK KAVANAGH
3 Sirmione 3 59.0 LUKE NOLEN BART CUMMINGS
4 Heart Of Dreams 10 59.0 CRAIG NEWITT MICK PRICE
5 Littorio 4 59.0 CRAIG WILLIAMS NIGEL BLACKISTON
6 Moatize 6 59.0 KERRIN MC EVOY BART CUMMINGS
7 Zagreb 1 59.0 PAUL GATT DAVID HAYES
8 Speed Gifted 12 59.0 DWAYNE DUNN D L FREEDMAN
9 Pacino 5 59.0 BRAD RAWILLER CLINTON MCDONALD
10 La Rocket 7 59.0 STEPHEN BASTER DALE SUTTON
11 Changingoftheguard 9 58.5 BRETT PREBBLE DAVID HAYES
12 Miss Maren 2 57.0 DAMIEN OLIVER MICK PRICE
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Shocking Changingoftheguard David Hayes
Herald Sun
Nathan Exelby
Thursday, 18 February 2010
SHOCKING continues his bid to transform from handicapper to weight-for-age star in tomorrow's St George Stakes.
Shocking holds a lofty position in Australian Cup betting, but the market is likely to take on an entirely new look after the St George, with most of the key chances running.
Shocking, who opened at $18 for the St George, ran last when resuming in the Orr Stakes, but the slow tempo was a disadvantage and Kavanagh was more than pleased with the run over the unsuitable 1400m.
"His sectionals were exceptional and he's going as good as he's ever gone," Kavanagh said.
"Hopefully he will be coming to his best for the Australian Cup, but if he's going to do that he needs to step up here."
Kavanagh believes 1800m may still be a touch short at this stage and feels conditions are made to order for rival Heart Of Dreams.
"He is a Group 1 Underwood winner over the track and distance, has a Yalumba second to Whobegotyou and ran second to Typhoon Tracy in the Orr. He's got to be favourite and he's got to be very hard to beat," Kavanagh said.
Heart Of Dreams is $3 for the St George and has also been strongly supported to win the Australian Cup.
Another well tried Australian Cup candidate is Changingoftheguard ($21 into $14), who makes his Australian debut in the St George.
The former Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Montjeu was scratched from last year's Melbourne Cup, much to the disgust of new trainer David Hayes, who was later fined for referring to Racing Victoria officials as "knuckleheads" over the incident.
Changingoftheguard ($10) worked alongside recent Flemington winner Our Aqaleem last week, with rider Glen Boss declaring him the "real deal".
Boss's comments prompted a stream of money for the expensive import and Hayes is anticipating a big run.
"His work at Sandown with Our Aqaleem told me there's no problem. He's up to the class," Hayes said.
Nathan Exelby
Thursday, 18 February 2010
SHOCKING continues his bid to transform from handicapper to weight-for-age star in tomorrow's St George Stakes.
Shocking holds a lofty position in Australian Cup betting, but the market is likely to take on an entirely new look after the St George, with most of the key chances running.
Shocking, who opened at $18 for the St George, ran last when resuming in the Orr Stakes, but the slow tempo was a disadvantage and Kavanagh was more than pleased with the run over the unsuitable 1400m.
"His sectionals were exceptional and he's going as good as he's ever gone," Kavanagh said.
"Hopefully he will be coming to his best for the Australian Cup, but if he's going to do that he needs to step up here."
Kavanagh believes 1800m may still be a touch short at this stage and feels conditions are made to order for rival Heart Of Dreams.
"He is a Group 1 Underwood winner over the track and distance, has a Yalumba second to Whobegotyou and ran second to Typhoon Tracy in the Orr. He's got to be favourite and he's got to be very hard to beat," Kavanagh said.
Heart Of Dreams is $3 for the St George and has also been strongly supported to win the Australian Cup.
Another well tried Australian Cup candidate is Changingoftheguard ($21 into $14), who makes his Australian debut in the St George.
The former Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Montjeu was scratched from last year's Melbourne Cup, much to the disgust of new trainer David Hayes, who was later fined for referring to Racing Victoria officials as "knuckleheads" over the incident.
Changingoftheguard ($10) worked alongside recent Flemington winner Our Aqaleem last week, with rider Glen Boss declaring him the "real deal".
Boss's comments prompted a stream of money for the expensive import and Hayes is anticipating a big run.
"His work at Sandown with Our Aqaleem told me there's no problem. He's up to the class," Hayes said.
Alcopop Jake Stephens
Sportal.com.au
19th February 2010
Jake Stephens has sent a warning out to Alcopop's potential rivals in the upcoming Sydney autumn carnival, saying the most improved horse in Australia in 2009 has improved even more from when he started favourite in last year's Melbourne Cup.
Alcopop steps out for the first time this campaign in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday in what is a stellar field and while Stephens expects the five-year-old to take a couple of runs to hit his best this campaign, he feels he is in the best condition in his career.
"He's got a big heart. He's very smart as well. It's going to be very interesting on Saturday. Obviously it's much tougher class of horse, but first up he's got a good record," Stephens told TVN.
19th February 2010
Jake Stephens has sent a warning out to Alcopop's potential rivals in the upcoming Sydney autumn carnival, saying the most improved horse in Australia in 2009 has improved even more from when he started favourite in last year's Melbourne Cup.
Alcopop steps out for the first time this campaign in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday in what is a stellar field and while Stephens expects the five-year-old to take a couple of runs to hit his best this campaign, he feels he is in the best condition in his career.
"He's got a big heart. He's very smart as well. It's going to be very interesting on Saturday. Obviously it's much tougher class of horse, but first up he's got a good record," Stephens told TVN.
ChangingOfTheGuard David Hayes
The Age
Andrew Eddy
19th February 2010
DAVID Hayes has claims on both group 1 races at Caulfield tomorrow but it will be the Australian debut of the controversial Irish horse Changingoftheguard that could have a longer-lasting impact for the stable.
Hayes bought the horse from Coolmore last September to contest the Melbourne Cup and, while that did not happen when veterinary stewards ruled him unfit on race morning, the trainer has not downgraded his ambition. ''It's about getting him ready for the Melbourne Cup next spring so we'd be hoping for a couple of solid efforts this autumn starting with the St George [Stakes] on Saturday,'' Hayes said.
''He really is pleasing me and while I'd be happy to see him finish off nicely, he's that sort of horse that could just jump out of the ground and put his stamp on things.''
Changingoftheguard is rated a $10 chance for a first-up St George win.
Hayes will saddle Eagle Falls ($9) in the group 1 Oakleigh Plate and has three promising youngsters Shaheeq ($13), Legalistic ($23) and Evidentia ($21) representing the stable in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
The Blue Diamond Stakes field was reduced to 15 yesterday with the scratching of the Leon Corstens-trained Danzero colt Tricky Tricky, with a virus.
Sydney is yet to host a group 1 race in 2010 but tomorrow's Winning Edge Stakes at Rosehill is a clear indication indication that the big autumn races are just around the corner.
''A group 2 race but a group 1 field,'' Theseo's jockey Nash Rawiller said.
Andrew Eddy
19th February 2010
DAVID Hayes has claims on both group 1 races at Caulfield tomorrow but it will be the Australian debut of the controversial Irish horse Changingoftheguard that could have a longer-lasting impact for the stable.
Hayes bought the horse from Coolmore last September to contest the Melbourne Cup and, while that did not happen when veterinary stewards ruled him unfit on race morning, the trainer has not downgraded his ambition. ''It's about getting him ready for the Melbourne Cup next spring so we'd be hoping for a couple of solid efforts this autumn starting with the St George [Stakes] on Saturday,'' Hayes said.
''He really is pleasing me and while I'd be happy to see him finish off nicely, he's that sort of horse that could just jump out of the ground and put his stamp on things.''
Changingoftheguard is rated a $10 chance for a first-up St George win.
Hayes will saddle Eagle Falls ($9) in the group 1 Oakleigh Plate and has three promising youngsters Shaheeq ($13), Legalistic ($23) and Evidentia ($21) representing the stable in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
The Blue Diamond Stakes field was reduced to 15 yesterday with the scratching of the Leon Corstens-trained Danzero colt Tricky Tricky, with a virus.
Sydney is yet to host a group 1 race in 2010 but tomorrow's Winning Edge Stakes at Rosehill is a clear indication indication that the big autumn races are just around the corner.
''A group 2 race but a group 1 field,'' Theseo's jockey Nash Rawiller said.
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