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
Friday, February 19, 2010
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.
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."
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