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.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
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.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Efficient begins training for 2010 Melbourne Cup
From the Sydney Morning Herald
6th January
Efficient, the 2007 Melbourne Cup winner who was pulled out of last year's Cup on Derby Day because of fetlock wear and tear, is back in light work at Mt Macedon after a six-week spell.
Owner Lloyd Williams is intent on another Melbourne Cup campaign but is undecided about the autumn.
"We don't race them a lot in the autumn," Williams said.
"He may have a run in April. We gave him a 1200m run in May in 2009. We may do that again."
6th January
Efficient, the 2007 Melbourne Cup winner who was pulled out of last year's Cup on Derby Day because of fetlock wear and tear, is back in light work at Mt Macedon after a six-week spell.
Owner Lloyd Williams is intent on another Melbourne Cup campaign but is undecided about the autumn.
"We don't race them a lot in the autumn," Williams said.
"He may have a run in April. We gave him a 1200m run in May in 2009. We may do that again."
Sunday, December 13, 2009
New Zealander Passchendaele set for the 2010 Melbourne Cup
From Phillip Quay
Sunday Star Times
13/12/2009
Matamata trainer John Sargent says a patient approach will need to be maintained to give New Zealand's most exciting stayer, Passchendaele, her best chance of winning next year's Auckland and Melbourne Cups.
That is why Sargent will resist the temptation to race the Montjeu four-year-old at the Ellerslie Christmas carnival despite her latest brilliant victory – a resounding 2 1/2-length win in the $100,000 Waikato Times Gold Cup at Te Rapa yesterday.
"She will be going straight to the paddock now for a spell," Sargent said. "The City of Auckland Cup at New Year is tempting but we have bigger goals in mind next year.
"The Auckland Cup is going to be worth a million dollars," Sargent said. "She hasn't run the two miles yet, but the way she races points to her getting the trip.
"I have never had a Melbourne Cup runner but I think she will be my first next year. She is the best staying mare I have trained."
Within the space of a golden hour yesterday, Sargent also posted wins with Kiwi Hussler at Te Rapa and Dawn Ghost at Awapuni, but undoubtedly Passchendaele's Group Two success in the hands of Mark du Plessis was the most special for him.
It represented back-to-back wins in the Waikato Cup for Sargent after he won the race last year with Lovetrista.
"She has shown real talent right from the start of her career and still has plenty of scope to improve."
Passchendaele, the winner of five of only nine starts, is owned by her breeders, David and Elizabeth Olsen, who have raced a number of well-performed gallopers including Passchendaele's dam, Classic Babe and Flying Babe, whose wins included a $1m two-year-old race at Te Rapa.
Sunday Star Times
13/12/2009
Matamata trainer John Sargent says a patient approach will need to be maintained to give New Zealand's most exciting stayer, Passchendaele, her best chance of winning next year's Auckland and Melbourne Cups.
That is why Sargent will resist the temptation to race the Montjeu four-year-old at the Ellerslie Christmas carnival despite her latest brilliant victory – a resounding 2 1/2-length win in the $100,000 Waikato Times Gold Cup at Te Rapa yesterday.
"She will be going straight to the paddock now for a spell," Sargent said. "The City of Auckland Cup at New Year is tempting but we have bigger goals in mind next year.
"The Auckland Cup is going to be worth a million dollars," Sargent said. "She hasn't run the two miles yet, but the way she races points to her getting the trip.
"I have never had a Melbourne Cup runner but I think she will be my first next year. She is the best staying mare I have trained."
Within the space of a golden hour yesterday, Sargent also posted wins with Kiwi Hussler at Te Rapa and Dawn Ghost at Awapuni, but undoubtedly Passchendaele's Group Two success in the hands of Mark du Plessis was the most special for him.
It represented back-to-back wins in the Waikato Cup for Sargent after he won the race last year with Lovetrista.
"She has shown real talent right from the start of her career and still has plenty of scope to improve."
Passchendaele, the winner of five of only nine starts, is owned by her breeders, David and Elizabeth Olsen, who have raced a number of well-performed gallopers including Passchendaele's dam, Classic Babe and Flying Babe, whose wins included a $1m two-year-old race at Te Rapa.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Scintillo for for 2010 Melbourne Cup - after racing in California
USA: Scintillo, the winner of three Group races including a Group 1 in Italy, hasbeen transferred from trainer Richard Hannon's yard to California to continue his racing career.
Scintillo, who was recently purchased by Melbourne-based Leonard Lewis with a shot at the 2010 Melbourne Cup in mind, amassed more than £300,000 in win and place prize-money for Hannon and the trainer is predicting that his new owner might have a few more decent pay days to come at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park.
Quoted on his website, Hannon said: "Mr Lewis bought Scintillo to race in Australia, but he cannot take him until May and as he was reluctant to subject him to another of our cold winters, we suggested a season in California.
"Scintillo was a Group 1 winner on the turf, and he also won a Group 2 this summer but he seemed to love the Polytrack, having won the Winter Derby at Lingfield and a Listed race at Kempton, so the Californian tracks might suit him."
Scintillo, who was recently purchased by Melbourne-based Leonard Lewis with a shot at the 2010 Melbourne Cup in mind, amassed more than £300,000 in win and place prize-money for Hannon and the trainer is predicting that his new owner might have a few more decent pay days to come at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park.
Quoted on his website, Hannon said: "Mr Lewis bought Scintillo to race in Australia, but he cannot take him until May and as he was reluctant to subject him to another of our cold winters, we suggested a season in California.
"Scintillo was a Group 1 winner on the turf, and he also won a Group 2 this summer but he seemed to love the Polytrack, having won the Winter Derby at Lingfield and a Listed race at Kempton, so the Californian tracks might suit him."
VIC Derby Winner Monaco Consul begins racing again on 26/12/09
Thursday, 10 December 2009: Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul will get plenty of chances to bolster his stallion prospects over the coming months with a host of Group 1 races on his agenda.
Co-trainer Paul Moroney has the job of preparing the talented colt for a first-up tilt in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
Moroney said Monaco Consul has muscled up since returning to the stables and has been in work for 10 days as he prepares for a challenging summer and autumn.
He will gallop at Ellerslie in the next week to have a look at the course and again at home at Matamata before the Group 1 over 2000m on Boxing Day.
He will then target the Group 1 Whakanui International Stakes over 2000m in early February, then will run three weeks later in the Group 1 NZ Derby.
After a let-up, he will then target the Sydney autumn carnival where he will either run in the Rosehill Guineas then the AJC Derby, or just go straight into the Derby.
Moroney said the beauty of such a clean winded and talented stayer is being able to prepare and present him fit for races without a host of lead-ups, which will certainly come in handy with an arduous campaign penciled in.
The next 12 months will be aimed at increasing his stud value, with five Group 1 targets in the summer and autumn alone.
As a four-year-old he will kick off his campaign in New Zealand with more feature races before returning to Australia for the spring.
While admitting the Melbourne Cup doesn't necessarily guarantee an increase in stud value, Moroney said connections were keen to try to win the race and was likely to head that way.
Co-trainer Paul Moroney has the job of preparing the talented colt for a first-up tilt in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
Moroney said Monaco Consul has muscled up since returning to the stables and has been in work for 10 days as he prepares for a challenging summer and autumn.
He will gallop at Ellerslie in the next week to have a look at the course and again at home at Matamata before the Group 1 over 2000m on Boxing Day.
He will then target the Group 1 Whakanui International Stakes over 2000m in early February, then will run three weeks later in the Group 1 NZ Derby.
After a let-up, he will then target the Sydney autumn carnival where he will either run in the Rosehill Guineas then the AJC Derby, or just go straight into the Derby.
Moroney said the beauty of such a clean winded and talented stayer is being able to prepare and present him fit for races without a host of lead-ups, which will certainly come in handy with an arduous campaign penciled in.
The next 12 months will be aimed at increasing his stud value, with five Group 1 targets in the summer and autumn alone.
As a four-year-old he will kick off his campaign in New Zealand with more feature races before returning to Australia for the spring.
While admitting the Melbourne Cup doesn't necessarily guarantee an increase in stud value, Moroney said connections were keen to try to win the race and was likely to head that way.
Here comes Bart (again) with Zazabeau
Bart Cummings continued his summer assault with Zazabeau claiming an overdue win at Rosehill to give the trainer his fourth Sydney win in a week. Bart Cummings continued his summer assault with Zazabeau claiming an overdue win at Rosehill to give the trainer his fourth Sydney win in a week.
Star Ripper, Latin News and Validated have all stepped up while Zazabeau was impressive coming from last to win Saturday's Rosehill Event Centre Handicap (2000m) to set up a start in the Summer Cup. Zazabeau was the slowest out of the gates and Glyn Schofield elected not to push him early, a tactic that paid off in the end. After getting Zazabeau ($5) off the rail, Schofield brought him down the outside to reel in the leaders. Rainbow Styling (4.80) was a short neck second with pacesetter Merensky Reef ($2.80 fav) another short half-head third away third. "It didn't look too good halfway through the race," Cummings said. "I told him not to go too early but he got a long way back."
Schofield said once the damage was done early he didn't want to make things worse. "When he made the mistake at the barrier there was no point in making another one," he said. "I had to save some ground to make up ground after getting left at the start." It was just the second career win for Zazabeau who finished second in the 2008 Christmas Cup and third in the Summer Cup, both over 2400 metres.
Stablemate Star Ripper will be Cummings' runner in next week's Christmas Cup while Zazabeau will be saved for the Summer Cup on Boxing Day. A slow-maturing son of Zabeel out of The Perfume Garden, Zazabeau is a full-brother to 1999 Melbourne Cup placegetter Zazabelle who finished third in a dead-heat with Lahar. The Cummings-trained Rogan Josh won the Cup that year.
Star Ripper, Latin News and Validated have all stepped up while Zazabeau was impressive coming from last to win Saturday's Rosehill Event Centre Handicap (2000m) to set up a start in the Summer Cup. Zazabeau was the slowest out of the gates and Glyn Schofield elected not to push him early, a tactic that paid off in the end. After getting Zazabeau ($5) off the rail, Schofield brought him down the outside to reel in the leaders. Rainbow Styling (4.80) was a short neck second with pacesetter Merensky Reef ($2.80 fav) another short half-head third away third. "It didn't look too good halfway through the race," Cummings said. "I told him not to go too early but he got a long way back."
Schofield said once the damage was done early he didn't want to make things worse. "When he made the mistake at the barrier there was no point in making another one," he said. "I had to save some ground to make up ground after getting left at the start." It was just the second career win for Zazabeau who finished second in the 2008 Christmas Cup and third in the Summer Cup, both over 2400 metres.
Stablemate Star Ripper will be Cummings' runner in next week's Christmas Cup while Zazabeau will be saved for the Summer Cup on Boxing Day. A slow-maturing son of Zabeel out of The Perfume Garden, Zazabeau is a full-brother to 1999 Melbourne Cup placegetter Zazabelle who finished third in a dead-heat with Lahar. The Cummings-trained Rogan Josh won the Cup that year.
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