MR EDISON READY TO SWITCH ON 26th August 2010

Mr Edison whose recent form has been consistant, has done everything right in his preparation for his Rosehill engagement on Saturday and we expect him to play a major part in the 2000m benchmark 80. Blake Shinn has been booked for the ride. We expect to have seven runners at the meeting and a lot of interest will centre on the performance of Kudakulari, who will be ridden by Brenton Avdulla in the Gr.1 Golden Rose. He fell below expectations when failed last start but exhaustive tests failed to reveal anything wrong and he subsequently trailed to the satisfaction of the stewards. He is a lot better than that run suggested and, despite the tough opposition which is to be expected in a $1m race, we are looking for a much improved showing from him. Our other Rosehill contestants will include God’s Hand, who is to be handled by Tim Clark in the 1800m Premiers’ Cup, with Clark is also engaged for Sir James in the 1500m benchmark 85. Star Ripper is in the same race and the ride has gone to Peter Robl. Robl has also been engaged for Indirect, who will run in the 1200m benchmark 80. Our seventh runner at the meeting is Raid, a winner in listed company in New Zealand and tightened up by a couple of barrier trial hitouts but in which she wasn’t asked to do much.   Before we saddle up our Rosehill team we’ll trial several at Randwick on Friday. The heats  will be run over 740m and those to have pipe openers will include Griffon, Landlord and I Think I Do. Tim Clark and Blake Shinn will be on hand to handle them.   The Caulfield meeting will be an important one for us with a number of our major prospects in the big events over the spring carnivals, out for inspection after their winter spells. Last year’s Cox Plate winner So You Think (Steven Arnold), the top staying three-year-old filly who is a classic winner, Faint Perfume (Michelle Payne), Sirmione (Mark Zahra) and Moatize (Chris Symonds) and Brightnight (James Winks) are all to make their initial spring shape ups in the 1400m weight-for-age Memsie Stakes which carries $200,000 in prizemoney and a $1,000 in trophies. Another of our spring hopes waiting in the wings is Precedence. He is to resume in the 1400m Gay Icarus Open handicap with Steven Arnold his rider. In the 1100m Reactive Handicap Sunday Rose will be ridden by Michelle Payne.   At Warwick Farm on Wednesday Zabdued will start in a 1600m one metropolitan win event, Goldstone in a 1100m three-year-old for non metropolitan winners and Good View in a 1600m 3yo benchmark 70. Tim Clark will ride the trio.

LATE WINTER WARM UP 19th August 2010

Polar Circle will be one of a six horse representation we intend to have at the Hawkesbury meeting on Thursday. Polar Circle and Our Rock Star are both in the 1400m maiden plate with the leading apprentice Tommy Berry to handle the former and Peter Wells booked for Our Rock Star. Clark will also be the rider of Domargo in the class 1 for fillies and mares, over 1400m, Kim Warrior, a son of Zabeel, who will start in the 1300m maiden and Sobers will saddle up in a 1400m class 1 for entires and geldings. The other member of the team will be Quick Thinking. She will start in a 1300m maiden restricted to 3 yo fillies and Blake Shinn has been booked for the ride.   We nominated 15 horses for Friday’s Rosehill barrier trials but six were balloted out and they will now contest the heats at Warwick Farm on Monday. One of the runners at the Rosehill trials will be Kudakulari, who finished last on the rain affected track at Rosehill last week. It was totally out of character and stewards ordered him to line up again in a trial before he races again. Tim Clark will ride him. Joe Blow and Empires Choice will also trial on Friday while, in the Warwick Farm heats Raid will be given a hitout. A five-year-old mare by Pins, Raid is a winner in black type company in New Zealand.   The Australian Guineas winner Rock Classic will be a runner at the important Warwick Farm race meeting on Saturday. Rock Classic, who has had two trials, will be handled by Tim Clark, contesting the 1200m Show County Quality. O Danny Boy will have a crack at 2400m at Warwick Farm, saddling up in the benchmark 80 and he will be another ride for Tim Clark. Our other Warwick Farm runner will be Without Compromise, who will resume in the 1200m benchmark 85 and Hugh Bowman has been engaged for the ride.   We’ll have three runners at Saturday’s Kembla meeting – Breccia in the 2000m class 1, Jewelled Crown in the 1600m class 2 and Vilayet in a 1300m benchmark 60. Peter Wells will ride the trio.   Blake Shinn will ride Aureo in the 1400m maiden at the meeting transferred from Randwick to Hawkesbury on Tuesday and will also have King’s Pride in the benchmark 70 , over the same distance with Peter Robl his rider.`

PATIENCE SHOULD PAY 12th August 2010

The breathtaking barrier to box winner of last spring’s Cox Plate winner, So You Think, will make his long awaited return to racing at Caulfield on Saturday – provided the track conditions are suitable. His race being the G2 $200,000 weight for age J.J. Liston Stakes of 1400m. He will be ridden for the first time in a race by Steven Arnold and those who have admired the four-year-old’s appearance in the past will see and even bigger and stronger thoroughbred this campaign. At the Rosehill meeting another of our young horses who is expected to play a major role in the big three-year-old races ahead, will make his reappearance. Kudakulari indicated his staying potential when he won the 1600m Fernhill Handicap at the Randwick autumn meeting and Hugh Bowman will take the reins when he returns in the G3 1300m Run To The Rose. He is going to be more at home when the distances of his races are increased but he has done everything right since he came back into work and should indicate he is right on track for the future. Tim Clark will have two rides for the stable, handling Sir James in a benchmark 85 and Zabdued, formerly prepared by Lee Freedman, in a benchmark 80 over 1500m.   At next Monday’s postponed Warwick Farm trials two of our contestants will be Raid (Blake Shinn) and Star Ripper (also Blake Shinn).   On the Kensington track on Wednesday Cosmonaut (Hugh Bowman) is due to make his debut, after being taken out of three recent races because of the unfavorable state of the tracks. He and Artistic (Peter Robl), who has had two trials, are both in an 1150m three-year-old maiden.   Fearless Babe (Tim Clark), which has also been withdrawn recently due to the state of tracks, will run in an 1150m benchmark 70 whilst Good View will run in a 1550m benchmark 70 event for three-year-olds.

SOBERS FACES THE JUDGE4th August 2010

Two stable runners will go to the Hawkesbury meeting on Thursday with Sobers to start in a 1200m class 2 and Daniel Ganderton will be his rider. Aureo, who missed what was to have been his debut because of a very heavy track last week, will be the other representative and he is to contest the 1200m maiden plate for entires and geldings.   The stable will be busy on Friday when we expect to have 17 runners at the Randwick barrier trials. Rock Classic whose Sydney mission is the Epsom Handicap and the very promising Kudakulari, winner of the Fernhill Handicap in the autumn, will be our most interesting runners. They were to have galloped between races at the Rosehill meeting last week but the hit outs had to be cancelled because of the state of the track. Tim Clark will ride Rock Classic in his trial who is scheduled to make his first spring appearance in the 1200m Show Country Quality at Warwick Farm on August 21st. Also to compete at the trials will be Empires Choice, Star Ripper, Joe Blow and Without Compromise. A lot of trial interest will centre on Skorost. He is a half brother to Sebring who, in 2008, won the Breeders’ Plate, Golden Slipper and Sires’ Produce Stakes, beating Samantha Miss, before going under narrowly to her in the Champagne Stakes.   The track conditions will naturally have a marked influence on the team we step out at Randwick on Saturday. Hugh Bowman has been booked for God’s Hand in the 1600m benchmark 90 and Tim Clark will ride O Danny Boy when he starts in the benchmark 80 over 2000m. Indirect  will be handled by Blake Shinn in the 1300m benchmark 80 in which she will clash with King’s Pride, who will be resuming with Peter Robl in the saddle. Breccia (Peter Robl)will contest an 1800m benchmark 75 for fillies and mares and Jewelled Crown (Tim Clark) will be accepted for the same race in addition to the 1600m benchmark 60 at Newcastle. A decision on which race she runs in will be made after a study of both fields are made. Vilayet will go to Newcastle, to run in a benchmark 65 over 1400m with Grant Buckley his jockey.   Also at Newcastle Jeff Penza has been engaged for Jewelled Crown in the 1600m and also Domargo who is to run in a 1300m Class 1 handicap. Leti (Grant Buckley) will run in an 1850m maiden with Ginger Tom (Kody Nestor) running in a 1400m maiden. Three runners are listed to start at Tuesday’s Randwick meeting with the former Lee Freedman prepared Zabdued to line up in the 1600m benchmark 70 with Tim Clark his rider. Good View (Tim Clark), another scratched from a couple of recent races because of the track conditions, and Kim Warrior (Daniel Ganderton) are both in the 1400m three-year-old colts and geldings maiden.   His performance when he lines up for a barrier trial on Friday will determine if Mr. Edison gets the green light to run at Canterbury on Wednesday in a 1900m one metropolitan win race. The trial was ordered by the stewards after he had to be withdrawn from a race there last week when he got stirred up before the jump.

RAIN CAUSING A HINDRANCE TO RACE PLANS 29th July 2010

Due to the continuing and persistent wet weather in Sydney over the past few weeks, our runners on Friday at Warwick Farm have been scratched and our intended runners at Rosehill and Kembla Grange on Saturday have not been accepted with; arrangements are being made to find an alternate race for them in the next week or two.   Cosmonaut , a son of Starcraft who was to have his first run yesterday (28th July) in Canterbury but it was delayed because of the heavy track, will now debut on  the Kensington track on next Wednesday (4th August),  in a 1150m colts and geldings handicap.   Fearless Babe, another withdrawal from yesterdays Canterbury meeting due to the conditions will be nominated for a 1150m benchmark 70 handicap for fillies and mares.

SURVEYING THE SCENE 22nd July 2010

The well bred Good View will be our only representative at the Randwick meeting on Saturday when he lines up in the 1400m two-year-old handicap. A son of Zabeel he’ll be having his second start and Peter Robl has been engaged to ride him. Robl will also be the jockey for our lone runner at Sunday’s Hawkesbury meeting – Leti in the 1600m maiden plate.   At Canterbury on Wednesday a recent addition to the stable, Fearless Babe, a winner at Sandown, will make her debut for us in the 1100m benchmark 70 for fillies and mares and Cosmonaut will contest the two-year-old maiden for colts and geldings. A “blast from the past” will represent the stable in the 1250m three-year-old maiden when Aureo steps out for the first time with Peter Robl his rider. A very good sprinter of the same name carried the black and yellow colors of STC Chairman, Bill Longworth in the 1960’s and his numerous wins included a Canterbury Stakes. Mr. Edison will run in either a 1550m benchmark 80 or a 1900m benchmark 70 with Daniel Ganderton his rider. Jewelled Crown is to run in the 1550m benchmark 70 for three-year-old fillies, in which she will oppose Breccia, who was trapped wide and not suited by the way the race was run when she was beaten at Kembla last start.   At the Sandown meeting on Wednesday next we will have one runner when Sunday Rose runs in a 1000m race for three-year-olds.

GOD’S HAND MAY WARM UP WINTER 15th June 2010

God’s Hand has had his admirers losing their faith on many occasions but there have been plenty of reasons to excuse a lot of his failures – bad barriers, unsuitably run races and unfavourable track conditions. He generally does everything right in his work and there is no questiong his ability when things go right for him. He is expected to make a sound showing in Saturday’s 1500m Winter Stakes at Rosehill, a listed race worth the handy purse of $100,000 to keep the home fires burning on the present cold nights. Daniel Ganderton has been booked to ride him. Indirect is another who is well up to winning the race in which she is engaged in on Saturday – the 1200m benchmark 80, restricted to fillies and mares and she’ll get some welcome help from Kody Nestor’s 3kg claim. Daniel Ganderton has also been booked for Mr. Edison in the 1500m benchmark 75 at Rosehill.   At Kembla Grange Jeff Penza has been engaged for Breccia, who should prove hard to beat in the 1600m benchmark 60 and we’ll have two other runners there. Vilayet and Newbold Atom are to clash in the 1200m benchmark 65, with Peter Wells to handle Vilayet and Jeff Penza Newbold Atom.   Monday morning will prove a busy one for the staff at Leilani Lodge, with 17 runners to saddle up at the Randwick barrier trials. The team comprises of mostly two-year-old inexperienced horses with the Australian Guineas winner Rock Classic the classiest and certain to be critically appraised.   Although he’ll only be out for a leisurely trial, with hopefully some big fish to fry in the spring. Depending on his progress, the Epsom may be his Sydney goal. Some of the other older horses to trial will include Blessus and King’s Pride.   At Canterbury on Wednesday Kody Nestor will have the ride on O Danny Boy when he runs in the 1900m benchmark 75 and Blake Shinn has been booked for Markab in the 1550m event for non metropolitan winning three-year-olds. Shakit All will also run in a 1200m three-year-old maiden with Tim Clark his rider.

APPRENTICE RIDER NO “GREEN HORN” 8th July 2010

The grass at Hawkesbury on Thursday should be greener than usual in the winter months, when a young rider from the Emerald Isle adds a unique touch to the meeting. We’ve drawn Ronan Keogh to handle Jewelled Crown in the 1600m National Invitation Apprentices benchmark 69 – a race programmed to include six invited apprentices. Ronan is the leading apprentice in Tasmania but he is from Ireland and has ridden 12 winners in England and also has a win in Ireland to his credit. His record certainly suggests he has enough ability and experience to hold his own against any of the opposition he’ll encounter on Thursday. Three of the stable’s runners are due to lock horns in the same race at the meeting. They are Rigging, Markab and Kunoichi, who are to run in the 1400m maiden handicap. Tim Clark will be the rider of Rigging, Markab will be handled by Blake Shinn and Peter Wells has been engaged for Kunoichi. Leti will be our other runner at the meeting and Peter Robl has been booked for the ride, in the class 1 over 1600m.   At the Randwick meeting on Saturday we’ll have only two runners.Blake Shinn will ride God’s Hand in the 1800m open and he will also be on Javasea in the benchmark 75 over 1400m. Javasea was beaten by inexperince and erratic running last week so we’ve backed him up again and he’s a young horse who seems certain to develop into a very handy performer once he learns what it’s all about.   We will have a lone runner in Newbold Atom at Saturday’s Newcastle fixture and they are both in the 1200m class 1. Grant Buckley will be his rider.   At Randwick on the Kensington track next Wednesday our runner will be Mr Gold in a 1600m one metropolitan win for two-year-olds.

ZABEEL COLT OUT FOR “FIRST LOOK” 1st July 2010

Good View, a son of the champion sire Zabeel, will make his debut at the Rosehill meeting on Saturday. He has trialled twice without being asked to do anything strenuous and the colt is naturally going to be improved by Saturday’s experience. Blake Shinn has been booked for the ride in the 1200m two-year-old handicap. Our other runners at the meeting will be Validated (Tim Clark), Javasea (Blake Shinn), who are to clash in the 1400m benchmark 80 over 1400m and Indirect. She will contest the 1400m benchmark 80 for fillies and mares. Apprentice Kody Nestor has been engaged for the ride.   The recent wet weather has upset barrier trial plans in recent weeks and subsequently set back race day programs for quite a number of horses in the stable. On Friday we have 15 scheduled to step out in the heats at Randwick with Blessus and Kings Pride probably the best known of the team.   Actually our representation at Kembla on Saturday rivals in size the Rosehill contingent. Jeff Penza will ride Breccia in the benchmark 65 for fillies and mares, over 1400m and Peter Wells has also been engaged for Danazara in the 1600m maiden handicap and Kunoichi in the 1300m maiden plate. The very appropriately named son of Fantastic Light, Mr Edison, will complete the numbers when he attempts to show the way home in the 1400m benchmark 65 for entires and geldings over 1400m.   At the Moonee Valley meeting our talented filly Sunday Rose will attempt an out of season bloom when she runs in the 1200m fillies and mares handicap of 1200m and to lighten the load Jason Maskell who has a 1.5kg allowance has been engaged for the ride.   Tim Clark has been booked for one of our two runners at the Kensington track meeting on Wednesday when he rides Rigging in a 1550m no metropolitan win race. Jewelled Crown is to start in the 1550m benchmark 75 for fillies and mares.   The long and sometimes bumpy road on the way to the Melbourne spring carnivals has begun and two of our prospective star performers have been dispatched south. Cox Plate winner, So You Think and Faint Perfume, the queen of the fillies, whose spectacular VRC win was one of last spring’s highlights, has left Leilani Lodge on Wednesday, after they’d been back in preliminary work for a month. They were accompanied on the journey south by Queensland Derby winner Dariana and the promising Brightnight.

ARDECHE CLOSES THE DEPARTMENT 24th June 2010

Saturday’s meeting at Eagle Farm will see us bring down the curtain on our Queensland winter campaign and we’ll have a very promising young galloper to drop it. Ardeche, whose two runs have rung up two and an unlucky third, will be our sole flag bearer, contesting the listed Australian Post Stakes- a set weights two-year-old event over 1400m, worth $100,000. The fillies are to carry 54kg and she’ll be receiving 2kg from the colts and geldings. Blake Shinn will be in the north to ride her and she’s done well since her win to suggest she’ll again keep the opposition honest. After her mishap at the start of the QTC Oaks,  Dariana well and truly made up for staying in the barriers by blitzing the boys in the QTC Derby and giving the stable its 260th Group 1 race.   Also on Saturday four runners are to start at the Randwick race meeting. Brenton Avdulla will ride God’s Hand when he runs in the 1600m Open Handicap and O Danny Boy who, because of the lack of any other suitable races in the coming weeks will start in the benchmark 80 over 1600m. Halleys is to step out in the benchmark 88 over 2000m and Tim Clark has been booked to ride her. Breccia (Daniel Ganderton) is an acceptor for the 1400m three-year-old fillies Benchmark 80 Handicap with a decision on whether she runs will be made on Saturday morning following the posting of the track rating. Mr. Gold will be our sole runner on the Kensington track at Randwick on Tuesday. A big lump of a colt by Encosta De Lago he will run in the 1550m for two-year-old  non metropolitan winners with Peter Robl his rider.

POOR TRACKS AND DRAWS SET BARRIERS 17th June 2010

We’ll have a seven horse team at the Wyong meeting on Thursday, after bad barrier draws and rain affected tracks have resulted in a number of our stable hopes missing races for which they have been set recently. Prime example is Validated, who will run in the 1350m class 2 with Blake Shinn the rider. Validated has missed four races in consecutive weeks which were suitable for him because of the state of the tracks.  In the three-year-old maiden plate of colts and geldings we’ll have two horses forced to clash – Ganazara and Markab. Blake Shinn has been booked for Markab and Tim Clark will ride Ganazara.  Shinn will also ride Leti, a half sister to the good Denham, trained stayer Eremein, when she steps out first up in the 1350m maiden plate for three-year-old fillies. In another stable clash Kunoichi will start in the race and Tim Clark will be the rider. Shinn will handle another runner at the meeting Jewelled Crown to start in the 1600m benchmark 63.  Tim Clark will ride our other runner at the meeting when Excelsis Deo runs in a 2100 Maiden. The stable will have four runners at the Rosehill meeting on Saturday with Yaqubi to run in the 3200m Stayer’ Cup with Blake Shinn his rider.  Shinn will also ride Antidotes in a 1400m Benchmark 85 and Think Money in the 2000m Benchmark 80.  O Danny Boy (Blake Spriggs) will oppose Antidotes in the 1400m Benchmark 85 and will be attempting back to back Twins following his first up success over 1250m two weeks ago. Twelve stable reps are scheduled to line up at the Randwick barrier trials on Monday and Blessus will create some interest when he steps out for his first test in some 18 months. Zabdued and Kings Pride are two others included in the team to trial.  Kings Pride won at big odds at Warwick Farm before he spelled. At Tuesday’s Warwick Farm meeting we’ll have Tolaga Bay (Tim Clark) in a 1300m Benchmark 70 and two starters in the 1600m three-year-old maiden plate – Wild Oats (Blake Shinn) and Elle (Blake Shinn).

SCRATCH AND WIN-NOT THIS TIME 10th June 2010

We nominated our biggest team yet to run at Kembla meeting on Thursday but, from a total of 10, it’s been reduced to only two. It was decimated by wide barrier draws and the fact of the rain affected track being unsuitable for some of them. The only two left are Elle and Mr Edison. Elle is the 1500m maiden plate and Mr. Edison in the 1400m Class 1. Blake Shinn will be the rider of Elle while Daniel Ganderton has been booked for Mr. Edison.   The presentation will be stronger on Saturday at Randwick, with seven horses scheduled to line up. In the benchmark 90 of 1600m Brenton Avdulla will ride God’s Hand and Tommy Berry on Pegembak in the 1800m three-year-old 73 while Wild Oats will contest that race, with Tim Clark booked for the ride. Clark has the mount on four runners. As well as Indirect in the benchmark 1200m 85 for fillies and mares and Wild Oats he’ll be on Halleys when she contests the 2000m benchmark 85 and Antidotes in the 1400m benchmark 80. Peter Robl hs been booked for our other runner Assertive in the 1400m benchmark 80.   Jason Maskiell will ride Russeting in the Stradbroke and Craig Newitt Latin News (if he gains a start), who was most unlucky in last week’s  Daybreak Lover over the 1400m Stradbroke course. Drawing an inside alley and being held up for a long way in the straight were major factors in his being beaten narrowly by Girl Hussler and Tromso. Michael Rodd will be the rider of Dariana in the Derby, after her sensational barrier incident which resulted in her taking no part in last week’s QTC Oaks. We have two other candidates lined up for the Derby. Damien Oliver has been booked for the highly promising young stayer Landlord and Blake Shinn for Brightnight. If Latin News fails to secure a Stradbrke run he will contest the $250,000 Gr.2 Queensland Guineas of 1600m with Craig Newitt his rider. Last start impressive debut winner Ardeche will run in the Listed Lancaster Stakes of 1200m on Saturday and will again be ridden by Blake Shinn. The race, formerly the Sir Douglas Wadley Stakes, is a listed two-year-old fillies event with set weights of 55.5kg and carrying prizemoney of $100,000.   Two runners wi’ll have at the Kensington track on Monday are Related (Tim Clark) in the 1300m wilter and Big Storm (Blake Shinn), to start in a 1550m no metro-wins, for two-year-olds.   On Wednesday at Canterbury Blake Shinn will ride Javasea in the 1550m benchmark 70 while other runners we expect to have there are Rigging (1250m non metropolitan winner) and Breccia and Shakit All in a 1250m benchmark 65 for three-year-olds.

A GALILEO OUT TO STAR 3rd June 2010

The stable is to be represented by four runners at the Hawkesbury meeting on Friday with two of them to clash in an effort to break their maiden status. They are Ganazara and Shakit All who will start in a 1300m maiden, with Blake Shinn to handle Ganazara and Tim Clark to be Shakit All’s rider. The other two runners will be Gold World, in the 1300m class 2, with Daniel Ganderton to ride and Excelcis Deo (Tim Clark). Excelcis Deo will tackle the 2000m maiden.   On Saturday we have two top hopes looking for wins in the feature events at Eagle Farm. Dariana, whose form has been sound but didn’t have much luck in her recent run, will run in the QTC $400,000 Gr.1 Oaks and Steven Arnold will ride her. Latin News, who was fifth reserve for the Doomben 10,000 and didn’t look like getting a run. He came up with a horror draw and is now to start in Saturday’s Daybreak Lover Plate three-year-old Gr.3 event. The 1400m set weights event is worth $125,000 with colts and geldings to carry 56kg and fillies 54kg. Michael Cahill has been booked for Latin News who recorded a great performance when he finished an unlucky third in the BTC Cup three weeks ago.   Daniel Ganderton will be the rider of Yaqubi in the 2400m Winter Cup at Rosehill on Saturday and he will also be on Halleys in the 1900m benchmark 80 when she clashes with stablemate Think Money (Peter Robl). Ganderton will also be the jockey on Big Storm in the 1400m two-year-old and Related in the 1200m benchmark 80.   One runner will line up at the Newcastle meeting – Jewelled Crown in the 1600m benchmark 60, with Grant Buckley to ride her. Leti will not run at Newcastle due to drawing a wide barrier (13).   Sunday Rose will represent us at Flemington when she will be ridden by Michelle Payne in the 82 benchmark for three-year-old fillies over 1100m. She should be ready to ply a very prominent role after her last start performance over 1000m at Moonee Valley last Saturday.   We also expect to have a busy morning on Monday next with 10 runners at the Randwick barrier trials, weather permitting. The contingent will include Rigging, ordered to trial by stewards, Breccia, King’s Pride, Indirect and Newbold Atom. After his trial on Monday, providing he performs satisfactorily, Rigging may run at Canterbury next Wednesday in a 1200m benchmark 70 for entires and geldings and Tim Clark will ride him while Validated is also scheduled to start in this race with Peter Robl his rider.

GOOD NEWS FIRST – THEN THE NOT SO GOOD 27th May 2010

After keeping our fingers crossed that Latin News would squeeze into the Doomben 10,000 field we had our hopes vindicated when he made it but they were tempered considerably when he scraped in. However he was only drawn as the fifth emergency and then came up with almost the outside barrier (20). He was very much poised on the edge for a start under the archaic Queensland balloting rules which very much favours older horses in the event of a ballot. Michael Cahill will ride Latin News while our other runner, Russeting, will be handled by Steven Arnold. Landlord, who is lightly raced but shows a lot of staying potential, is to contest the Gr.3 Grand Prix over 2200m and worth $150,000 and will be ridden by Damien Oliver. Tim Clark was on him in his last start win before he headed north. In the Premier’s Cup, a Gr.3 quality, also over 2200m Michael Cahill will be the rider of Dandaad.   We’ll have a number of runners in action at the Randwick meeting with five scheduled to take their places there, with apprentices Daniel Ganderton and Brenton Avdulla to handle the majority of them. Avdulla has been booked for Pegembak in the 2000m benchmark 75 for three-year-olds and Elle in the 1400m three-year-old fillies. Brightnight (Ganderton) will also run in the three-year-old benchmark 75. Ganderton is also to ride God’s Hand in the 1400m benchmark 95. Our other runner, Javasea, who is close to a win, will be ridden by Peter Robl when he runs in the benchmark 85 over 1600m and he’ll be suited by the distance.   At Moonee Valley on Saturday, Sunday Rose will be ridden by Michelle Payne when she steps out in a three-year-old handicap over 1000m   Kunoichi and Rigging will trial at Rosehill on Tuesday, Rigging by order of the stewards. The following day, at the Canterbury meeting, we have three runners to start in the 1250m 75 benchmark – Tolaga Bay, O Danny Boy and Validated while Kim Heaven and Ardeche will line up in an 1100m maiden plate.   Two of our top class performers, So You Think and Rock Classic, are back in work to begin their preparations for the prestigious spring events. So You Think, who demoralized his opposition in the Cox Plate with his all the way win in the Cox Plate spelled at Dato Tan Chin Nam’s Think Big stud while Australian Guineas winner Rock Classic had his holiday at Princes Farm. So You Think is back at Randwick as is Australian Guineas winner Rock Classic.

NO PAYNE – NO GAIN 20th May 2010

Michelle Payne has been booked to handle six of the seven runners we have scheduled to run at Saturday’s Rosehill meeting, with Peter Robl the “odd man out” on the other. He’ll ride Assertive in the 1500m Benchmark 80. Payne’s mounts will be Related, who is going nicely in his work and has trialled attractively, in the 1200m benchmark 85, Yaqubi in the feature race, the 2400m McKell Cup, Antidotes (1500m benchmark 80), Halleys (benchmark 80 over 1900m) Wild Oats (1500m three-year-old benchmark 75) and Big Storm, who will run in the 1400m two-year-old. Big Storm showed some promise finishing just behind the placegetters at his debut.   At Kembla Grange on Thursday Tim Clark will ride Rigging (1200m maiden) and Gold World (1200m benchmark 60) and Blake Shinn will handle Jewelled Crown in a 1400m benchmark 70.   At Doomben we’ll have two runners with Michael Cahill to ride Riva San in the Doomben Cup and Dariana to contest the 2020m Doomben Roses with Michael Rodd the rider.Dariana is endowed with  plenty of potential and lived up to her promise and consistent form with a last start win in the Packer Plate over the Randwick autumn carnival.   We missed out trialling some horses when the heats were washed out earlier this week and present intentions are to step out several, including Indirect, Shakit All and Breccia at Warwick Farm on Friday.   Blake Shinn has been engaged for Breeze Up in a 1800m three-year-old maiden plate at the Randwick meeting on the Kensington track on Tuesday and, in the same race, present intentions are to also start Excelsis Deo (Tim Clark). Encosta Fortune is in a 1300m benchmark 70 and two others likely to appear at the meeting are Mr. Edison and Validated, also in the 1300m benchmark 70. Mr. Edison was ordered to trial before his next start and, with the heats washed out last Tuesday he may run in one on Friday at Warwick Farm before also saddling up at Kensington in a 1300m benchmark 70 on Tuesday next.

READY TO STIR 13th May 2010

Shakit All will get the chance to break into the winning list at the Hawkesbury meeting on Thursday, in a 1300m maiden handicap, with Tim Clark the rider. Our other runner at the meeting will be Excelsis Deo, who will contest a maiden plate over 1500m. Tim Clark will also ride the son of Golan.   Landlord will also be ridden by Tim Clark at Saturday’s Randwick meeting, when they tackle a three-year-old 2000m benchmark 75 while, at the Kembla Grange fixture, Think Money and Pegembak will clash in as 1600m maiden plate. Christian Reith has been booked  for Think Money and Jason Lee will ride Pegembak.   The stable has been firing all season and our big guns will be trained in Brisbane in the coming couple of weeks. At Doomben on Saturday Latin News (Michael Cahill) and Russeting (Craig Grylls) are to step out in the Gr.1 BTC Cup, a weight-for-age sprint with the very attractive prizemoney of $400,000. Latin News is one of the most promising young horses in the stable and he showed he had returned from a break in top form with a win in the Gosford Guineas. He was scratched from the Gold Coast Guineas after he drew a horror barrier, which would have set him an enormous task. Russeting hasn’t raced since racing in Melbourne last spring but knows her way around the Queensland tracks and won the Gr.1 Winter Stakes up there last spring, when she had her  first run for the stable. Dandaad will also fly the flag for the stable at Doomben, with Luke Nolen to ride him in the 2020m Chairman’s Handicap. He is spot on for the staying races in the north and his last run down here, over the unsuitable Hawkesbury 1600m course, was a bottler and indicated he is ready to fire a salvo.   Javasea and Validated are booked to run at the Canterbury meeting on Wednesday, in a benchmark 75 over 1250m while Gold World and Leti are scheduled to run in a 1250m no metropolitan win race for three-year-old fillies. Markab is to saddle up in a no metropolitan win for three-year-old colts and gledings over the same course.

BART CUMMINGS RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL 7th May 2010

We are pleased to inform all, that Bart was yesterday (Thursday 6th May) released from hospital and is well on his way to a full recovery from a viral infection which has sidelined him for the past four weeks. His recovery was delayed by Bart getting over the sudden death of his great Melbourne Cup winning horse Viewed. Bart recognises this horse as one of the best stayers in Australia of the modern era.   Bart is very much looking forward to returning to what he does best and that is to train winners for his loyal owners. During his absence he has been in constant contact with his stables at Leilani Lodge at Randwick, Saintly Place at Flemington and also with Princes Farm where many of his horses are agisted.   Bart wishes to sincerely thank all those people who have conveyed their best wishes during his absence and also to his staff at Leilani Lodge, Saintly Place and at Princes Farm.   He is looking forward with anticipation and expectation, to returning to the racetrack when his recovery is complete.

HELP MAY BE CLOSE FROM GOD’S HAND 6th May 2010

The last start performance of God’s Hand indicated the gelding isn’t far off another win, which wouldn’t be out of turn, and he has the chance to oblige at Rosehill on Saturday. Daniel Ganderton will have the ride when the gelding takes his place in the 1400m open handicap. At Randwick last Saturday week God’s Hand finished a strong third to Ego’s Dare and Black Prince over 1200m and Saturday’s slight step up to 1400m on a track, on which he has preformed well against some strong opposition in the past, looks ideal for him. We’ll have three other runners at the meeting with Assertive to start in the benchmark 75 of 1300m, Halleys the 1500m benchmark 80 for fillies and mares and Yaqubi the 1800m benchmark 75. Apprentice Josh Adams’ 3kg allowance will give weight relief to Halleys and Assertive, who have both been allotted 58kg. Yaqubi’s rider will be Brenton Avdulla.   At the Flemington meeting on Saturday Sunday Rose, who missed a recent meeting because of a rain affected track, is scheduled to line up in a three-year-old fillies 82 rating race over 1100m and with Michelle Payne, who was to have ridden her, suspended in Adelaide last Sunday, Darren Gauci will now have the mount. Latin News will be out  to complete a double of Guineas wins when he contests the 1200m G3 Gold Coast Guineas, with Blake Shinn in the saddle. The highly talented colt was most impressive in his Gosford Guineas win last start, before heading north for the big winter carnivals there. Michael Cahill has been booked for Riva San in the 1800m SWFA G2 Hollindale Stakes, our other runner at the Gold Coast meeting.   At Monday’s Randwick trials we expect 10 runners to have hitouts. One of them will be Related, who is pleasing in his preparation and was an eye catching second in a previous heat while Indirect and Ancestor are two others who are progressing well.   At the Canterbury meeting on Tuesday Hugh Bowman will ride Tolaga Bay in the 1200m benchmark 70, in which Mr. Edison will also run, with Daniel Ganderton the rider. Elle is in an 1100m three-year-old fillies maiden plate and Brightnight a three-year-old maiden over 1900m. However an option is an 1800m maiden plate over 1800m on the Kensington track at Randwick the following day. Wild Oats is also in at Randwick, in a three-year-old maiden of 1400m and Big Storm an 1150m two-year-old colts and geldings for non metropolitan winners. Big Storm, to make his debut, is by the highly performed Caulfield Guineas winner God’s Own.   Breeze Up, runner up over 1550m at Canterbury yesterday is expected to back up in the 1800m maiden plate, with Hugh Bowman to retain the ride.

ANTIDOTES SEEKING A CURE 29th April 2010

It’s some time since Antidotes has been able to give a healthy return to his backers but he’ll be out to make amends for any he has wounded in the past at the Hawkesbury meeting on Saturday. Hugh Bowman has taken the ride in the 1400m benchmark 85, to be run over 1400m. We’ll have two other contestants at the stand alone meeting, with Dandaad to run in the Rowley Mile. The 1600m event carries prizemoney of $100,000 and $1500 in trophies and Dandaad will be handled by Brenton Avdulla. Our other runner is Encosta Fortune, who will resume after a spell in the 1200m Sweepstakes handicap and Tye Angland has been booked for the ride. The race is for non metropolitan winners.   Three stable runners will go to Newcastle and Robert Thompson has been engaged to ride one with Dale Spriggs another. Think Money (Thompson) and Pegembak will clash in the 1400m Maiden Plate and, although she has yet to break the ice and will be better suited over longer than the 1400m, Think Money has very sound credentials for a maiden event. She finished fourth to Samantha Miss in the VRC Oaks in the spring of 2008, before a close third to The Sportsman and Irazu in the 2600m Moonee Valley Cup last year. In the autumn of 2009 she finished a 2.3 lenghts second to Daffodil in the AJC Oaks. Dale Spriggs will be on Think Up in the 1850m class 1.   Two runners at the Canterbury meeting on Wednesday will be Jewelled Crown, in the benchmark 75, for fillies and mares over 1200m and Breeze Up, to start in the 1550m three-year-old Maiden Plate.

NEWS COULD MAKE HEADLINES 22nd April 2010

Latin News will make his long awaited reappearance on Thursday when he contests the Listed Gosford Guineas, a sprint run under penalty and allowance conditions. The 1200m three-year-old event carries prizemoney of $150,000 and trophies worth $1500. This promising colt hasn’t raced since an unlucky fourth in the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast last January but he has pleased in his work and performed well in a barrier trial during his leadup for this late autumn and winter campaign.   At Randwick on Saturday’s final day of the autumn carnival we’ll have a seven horse team, headed by Precedence and Moatize in the feature, the $425,000 Sydney Cup. Although Precedence appeared disappointing last start, those who supported him should stick solid as the way the race was run made him perform out of character, racing near the lead and inside horses, on the slowest part of the track. He’ll be given more time to settle back in the field over 3200m and shown some daylight when the pressure is applied. Moatize turned in a very pleasing trial for this race at his last appearance and all his recent performances have indicated the Cup distance, which he relished in the 2008 Melbourne Cup, will give him the chance to really live up to the staying promise he has always shown. Luke Nolen will ride Precedence and Blake Shinn Moatize. Riva San, who was previously trained by Peter Moody and hasn’t raced since the Premier’s Cup at Doomben last winter, will make her initial appearance for thestable in the 1400m Gr.1 All Aged Stakes and Steven Arnold will be the rider. Nolen will also have the mount on Halleys in the Gr.2 Emancipation Stakes and Michael Rodd will be on Dariana when she runs in the Gr.3 Packer Plate. Our other runner at Randwick will be God’s Hand and Michelle Payne has been booked for him in the Listed Hall Mark Stakes.   Robert Thompson will make a rare trip to Kembla Grange to handle the majority of our runners there. Landlord was withdrawn from Canterbury on Wednesday after drawing a bad barrier and he will contest a 1600m benchmark 65 and Onlyinthedark a 2000m class 2 while Thompson will handle Excelsis Deo in the 1300m maiden for entires and geldings in which Shakit All will also start with Dale Spriggs the rider. Thompson’s other rides will be Femmena in the 1500m maiden plate and Modana a recent trial winner, in the 1000m three-year-old maiden.   At the Randwick trials on Tuesday we’ll saddle up several runners with the most prominent being Related, Tolaga Bay, Mr. Edison, Validated and Ancestor.   At Canterbury next Wednesday, Blake Shinn will be on Assertive and Hugh Bowman Javasea when they clash in a 1250m benchmark 75 and two other runners at the meeting will be Brightnight in a three-year-old 1900m benchmark 70 and Coustelette in the two-year-old for non-metropolitan winners, over 1250m.   Tamanu Park, a highly promising young horse who scored in impressive style recently at Ballarat looks to have a bright staying future, will take on the 2800m VRC St. Leger at Flemington on Sunday and Steven Arnold will be his rider. Sunday Rose will resume racing at Sandown on Wednesday next (28th April) contesting a 1000m benchmark 72 for three-year-old fillies.

BRIGHTNIGHT LOOKING TO STAR 15th April 2010

Three stable runners will go to Hawkesbury on Friday, with Daniel Ganderton booked for two and Blake Shinn to handle the third. Brightnight will saddle up in a 1600m three-year-old maiden with Shinn the rider. Ganderton will handle Lovely Lonny in a maiden over 1000m and King’s Flyer, who will tackle the same grade over 1300m.   At the Canterbury trials on Friday Tolaga Bay, Validated and Kim Divine are scheduled to have hit outs over 900m and Shinn and Ganderton will again share the riding. Ganderton will be on Kim Divine while Shinn has been engaged for the other pair. Also on Friday we’ll have a runer at the Ballarat meeting with Tamanu Park to contest a 2200m benchmark 62 with Chris Symons his rider.   Things will spark up at Randwick on Saturday when the stable staff will have a busy Doncaster day. Our hope in the feature event, which carries prizemoney of $1.5m and another $11,500 in trophies, will be Allez Wonder, who has hit her hopples at the right time and will be ridden by the latest Group 1 queen, Michelle Payne. The pair combined to win the Toorak at Caulfield last spring and Michelle became the first female jockey to win a group 1 at Randwick when she won last week’s Sires’ Produce Stakes. We have the wonderful filly Faint Perfume to represent us in the AJC Oaks, with Michael Rodd, who has formed a formidable combination with her, again in the saddle as she attempts to add the classic to her VRC Oaks win. He will also ride Riva San, who will have her first start for the stable in the 1400m benchmark 95. Dandaad will also run in the sprint and Luke Nolen will have the ride. Moatize will be our representative in the 2000m JRA Association Plate, with Blake Shinn the rider and Michelle Payne will be on Breeze Up in the South Pacific Classic, a Group 3 for three-year-olds over 1400m. In the 1600m Fernhill Handicap, for two-year-olds, Luke Nolen will see if Kudakulari can live up to his name, in Indonesian meaning “My Fast Horse”. Gold World will go to Kembla Grange on Saturday and Dale Spriggs will be the rider in a 1200m bewnchmark 60 for fillies and mares.   Antidotes is to run at Canterbury on Wednesday, in an 1100m benchmark 85 while last start winner Landlord will saddle up in a 1550m benchmark 70 and Yaqubi a 1900m similar benchmark rating. Two other runners at Canterbury will be Elle and Wild Oats. Elle, whose last run suggested she’s close to a win, will contest a 1200m non metropolitan win for three-year-old fillies and Wild Oats will saddle up in a similar race for colts and geldings.

HALLEYS GETS A CHANCE TO SHINE 8th April 2010

Under the lights at Canterbury on Thursday, Halleys is in the right environment to make her presence felt. She is to contest the benchmark 75 for fillies and mares. That race will be run over 1550m and competent 3kg claiming apprentice Josh Adams will have the ride reducing the mare's weight to 56.5kg. Glyn Schofield will be the jockey on our other two runners at the meeting- the appropriately named Elle (whose dam is Classy Choice) who will step out in the 1100m maiden for three-year-old fillies and Wild Oats, set to sail in the colts and geldings maiden over 1100m. The heavy track conditions was the reason for Wild Oats being a late scratching last week and hopefully things will have improved by Thursday night.   On Friday we’ll have a runner at the Geelong meeting, with Tamanu Park to line up in the 1700m maiden plate with Michelle Payne the jockey.   Derby Day at Randwick will see six of the stable reps in action. In the Gr.1 classic we’ll have the Australian Guineas winner Rock Classic, who is tuned to the minute in his attempt to turn the tables on his Rosehill Guineas conqueror Zabrasive. He is to tackle several other highly promising young stayers in the $1.3m Derby. Some negative reports followed a gallop early in the week, but he’ll be fit and well and full of fight on Saturday. Stablemate Suyama, who shaded Rock Classic in the much discussed workout, will line up against him, with Michael Rodd to handle Rock Classic and Michelle Payne Suyama. Two of our other good stayers, Precedence and Dandaad will also run at the meeting. Precedence, who has hit a new high since being gelded and resuming is a winner at three, two in Melbourne and one in Sydney, and will attempt the quartet in the Chairman’s Handicap (2600m). The 2600m should be tailor made for him and while he is in form, so is his rider, Luke Nolan, who has been carrying all before him in the south and brought his winning form here last week, winning the Queen Of The Turf on Typhoon Tracy. Dandaad will be having his first run since the spring, when he tackled the best stayers over the high profile southern carnivals, but he has been pleasing in his work since coming to Leilani Lodge for his autumn and winter preparation. Nolen will be his jockey in the 1600m Royal Parma Stakes. Dariana is back from Melbourne, where she had no luck at her only start, and she’ll saddle up in the Gr.3 Adrian Knox Stakes of 2000m, a distance which will suit her with Michael Rodd her rider. The winner of the race is exempt from ballot on the AJC Oaks. If she won it and backed up in the classic, Dariana would match strides with stablemate Faint Perfume. Our other runner at Randwick will be Skorost, in the Sires Produce and Michael Rodd will handle him.   One of our largest teams to travel out of town for a while will head for Newcastle on Saturday when six horses will go north. Onlyinthedark is to contest an 1850m benchmark 70 and Robert Thompson will be the rider. He’ll also handle Landlord in a 1500m maiden plate and Femmena in a 1200m fillies and mares maiden, in which she will clash with Soft Landing, to be ridden by Dale Spriggs. Spriggs has also been booked for Miss Hinze in a 1200m benchmark 65 for fillies and mares. Shakit All is in a 1200m maiden for entires and geldings in which he will be handled by Grant Buckley.   A 1550m benchmark 70 will be the next target for Think Up at Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting.

HEAVY TRACKS BOG RACE PLANS 1st April 2010

The recent rain and prediction of more has thrown a good deal of confusion into the plans for a number of our team, with the chance of rescheduling races for them – depending on the weather. Lovely Lonny was to run in a 1200m three-year-old maiden at Hawkesbury on Thursday with Blake Shinn the jockey but has been withdrawn. Shinn will also be the rider of Redoubtebelle when she goes around in a 2000m class 2.   We’ll have a team strong in class as well as numbers at Rosehill on Saturday. In the BMW Glyn Schofield will ride Moatize, who is working into top form for the long races ahead while important changes of gear should see the right Roman Emperor stand up in the same race. He’ll be handled by Michael Rodd, who will also be on the top filly Faint Perfume, in the Gr.1 2000m Vinery Stud Stakes.. She is the winner of the Wakeful Stakes and VRC Oaks last spring before a sizzling Kewney Stakes win before coming north. She has been improved by her run in the recent 1500m Coolmore Classic. Suyama (Tulloch Stakes) and Kroner, who, under the conditions, should start to show his true form in the Star Kingdom Stakes of 1100m, both will be ridden by Rodd while Schofield will be in the saddle on Breeze Up in the three-year-old Darby Munro Quality of 1200m. Allez Wonder (Hugh Bowman) runs in the Gr.1 1500m fillies and mares Queen of the Turf Stakes while Kudakulari runs in the Listed 1400m Schweppervescence with Glyn Schofield the rider.   Lovely Lonny will probably run at Kembla, in a 1200m  maiden plate, in which Champagne King and Shakit All (scratched) who has drawn off the course in 17 are also acceptors. Lovely Lonny will be ridden by Christian Reith and Champagne King by Jon Grisdale. Grant Buckley has been booked for Redoubtebelle if she contests the 2000m benchmark 65.   Again, the weather will determine if King’s Flyer goes to Gosford on Sunday , to run as he has been granted no favours in the barrier draws, with 13 at Hawkesbury and 14 at Gosford.   Consistent but unlucky Dariana is to run at the Caulfield meeting on Saturday and Michelle will be her rider in the Bill Collins Handicap over 1800m for three-year-olds.   At the Canterbury meeting next Monday we have three booked to run and Michelle Payne has been engaged for Yaqubi in the benchmark 80 over 1900m. Glyn Schofield will ride Assertive in a benchmark over 1100m and Michael Rodd will be the Jockey to handle Antidotes in the 1250m benchmark 88.

TRIAL TEAM TO TEST STRENGTH 25th March 2010

We’ll have another big team in action at the Randwick barrier trials on Friday with probably 20 plus to flex their muscles in preparation for engagements over the autumn and winter carnivals at home and in Queensland. As well as some inexperienced young ones the lineup will include the proven performers Dandaad, Riva San, Antidotes, Assertive, God’s Hand and Think Money.   Also on Friday we’ll have a runner at the Geelong meeting with Tamanu Park in a 1503m maiden plate. Michelle Payne will have the mount .   We have some very talented horses scheduled to take on the big guns at Rosehill on Saturday. Rock Classic, who has come up the ranks in a very short time will take a step further in the $500,000 Gr.1 2000m Rosehill Guineas with Michael Rodd, who rode him in his Australian Guineas win at Flemington, again the jockey. Skorost was an extended entry for the Pago Pago Stakes and Glyn Schofield has been booked for him while he will also again handle Griffon in the 1200m Luskin Star Handicap – a benchmark 90 sprint. Griffon is untapped as far as the big time goes but is a young sprinter who has displayed great potential in his limited racing career. He has won three on the trot since he resumed and has shown plenty of authority in those victories. Precedence, who has come back in fine style this preparation and has been in winning form in Melbourne, will start in the Listed Manion Cup over 2000m and Luke Nolen will ride him.   Onlyinthedark and Brightnight are to race at Newcastle on Saturday with Onlyinthedark to contest a 1600m maiden and Brightnight a 1500m maiden. Dale Spriggs will ride both horses.   Wild Oats is to run at the Warwick Farm meeting next Wednesday, in a benchmark 75 for three-year-olds over 1400m with Glyn Schofield his rider.

RODD WON’T BE SPARED 18th March 2010

At Thursday’s meeting on the Kensington course we’ll saddle up one runner – Suyama in the Benchmark 70 of 1800m and Glyn Schofield, will have the ride. Dale Spriggs will be on our runner at Newcastle’s Saturday meeting – Shakit All in the 1200m three-year-old maiden.   Michael Rodd, with whom we’ve had a successful association, will be legged aboard three stable hopes at the Rosehill high profile meeting. Glyn Schofield’s mounts will be Moatize, responsible for an outstanding effort in the Australian Cup, Skorost, Sir James and Breeze Up. Skorst, by Charge Forward, is a half brother to the 2008 Breeders’ Plate, Golden Slipper – Sire’s Produce Stakes winner Sebring, who beat Samantha Miss in the Sires’ before going under a head to her in the Champagne Stakes. Skorost indicated he has inherited some of the breed’s ability with a recent trial win and it won’t be any surprise if he runs well when he makes his debut in the Todman Stakes. Sir James is to run in the 1900m Sky High Stakes and Breeze Up in th 1100m benchmark 80 for three-year-olds. Rodd’s rides are Roman Emperor, who will clash with Moatize in the Gr.1 Standard Weight For Age Ranvet Stakes. Kroner (Maurice Mc Carten Stakes of 1100m) and the VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume, who began her autumn campaign with a courageous win in the Kewney Stakes over1400m at Flemington a fortnight ago, which will run in Saturday’s Gr.1 Coolmore Classic. Although she’s probably looking for longer than Saturday’s 1500m she’s been kept nice and fresh, is all class and will let the opppsition know she’s in business over the last 200m.   Michael Rodd will be kept up to the mark at Kembla Grange’s Sunday meeting, where he has been booked for two or our runners. They are Yaqubi, in a 1500m benchmark 70 and Redoutebelle, who will contest a 2000m benchmark 60. She raced below expectations at Canterbury last start and, although she has won and raced well there, should be more at home on the wide wpen spaces on the roomier south coast track. Landlord is also to run at Kembla and Glyn Schofield will be the jockey in a 1300m maiden plate for entires and geldings. He has also been engaged for Think Up in a 1600m maiden.   We will be taking advantage of Kody Nestor’s 3kg allowance with Halleys at the Warwick Farm weeting o Wednesday, when she contests a 1300m benchmark 75.

TRIO TO HAWKESBURY - 11th March 2010

Three of the stable “lesser lights” will be in action at the Hawkesbury meeting on Thursday and Glyn Schofield has been booked for each.  Lovely Lotty has shown enough in her work and a barrier trial win to suggest she could open her account in the three-year-old for fillies over 1000m.  The other two are Onlyinthedark in a 1400m for entires and geldings and BrightNight to contest the maiden plate over 1300m.  BrightNight who will be making his debut is a three-year-old by Savabeel while Onlyinthedark will be having his first run back after 14 months on the sidelines. We won’t have runner at the Randwick meeting on Saturday, with Rock Classic to throw down the gauntlet to Denman at Flemington, after a busy morning at headquarters the day before.  Eighteen of the stable reps are scheduled to step out at the barrier trials with the most prominent of our autumn and winter hopefuls being Dandaad, former Peter Moody trained Victorian Riva San, Halleys, Antidotes and Breeze Up. While we’ll give Randwick a miss on Saturday two of the Flemington stable’s residents will make the trip to Geelong.  They are Cash Melody, to run in a 1700m maiden plate and Tamaru Park, who will also step out in maiden plate but that race will be over 1500m.  Luke Currie will ride both horses. As well as Rock Classic, in the Australian Guineas at Flemington, the other stable runners to miss out after the unbelievable hailstorm last week resulted in the Guineas and Australian Cup being postponed, our duo to run in the race, Sirmione and Moatize will fulfil that engagement this week with Luke Nolen on Sirmione and Clare Lindop riding Moatize.  Nolen will also be on Precedence, who is doing everything right this preparation after being gelded, in the 2000m open handicap. A 1200m maiden for entires and geldings, at Newcastle next Wednesday, has been earmarked for the chance of King’s Flyer opening his account.

BELLE TO PUT IN CARBON 4th March 2010

Redoutebelle, a last start Canterbury winner, will attempt to serve up a second dose on Thursday night. She will be ridden by Glyn Schofield when she progresses from her impressive maiden victory to a 1900m benchmark 70 and she has gone along well enough to suggest she should again be right in the thick of things at the finish.   At the feature Warwick Farm meeting on Saturday we expect to have five runners and Schofield has been engaged for four. His mounts are Sir James in a 2200m benchmark 90, Roman Emperor, who has gone along nicely since his good first up fifth in the G2 1400m Apollo Stakes, Allez Wonder, resuming after her successful spring campaign and the highly promising Griffon. Griffon will run in the 1100m benchmark 95 and his performance, against better opposition than he has met so far, will give us a good guide on his future program. Our other starters will be Kroner (Liverpool Cup) and Daniel Ganderton will handle him. Ganderton hasn’t ridden Kroner since he won the 2009 June Stakes on him. Allez Wonder won the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield in the spring but she hasn’t been done any favors in to the Gr.3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m). The mare has been given 58.5kg which she was allotted on a 109 rating under the precent handicapping system. In Melbourne in a similar Gr.3 Handicap she would be given 3kg less after the allowance for mares.   Rock Classic’s big step up in grade to tackle the 1600m Gr.1 Australian Guineas at Flemington and matching strides with Denman and co will also determine his immediate future. We’re confident he’ll make a bold showing in the event which carries $750,000 in stakes and a further $5,000 worth of trophies. Michael Rodd will be the rider. Clare Lindop, who rode Moatize for the first time in the 2008 Melbourne Cup, when he finished a very creditable sixth to stablemate Viewed, will be back on him in Saturday’s Gr.1 Standard Weight For Age 2000m. Moatize has tightened up after two runs since a lengthy spell. Sirmione will attempt to record his second win in the race and Luke Nolen has been engaged for him. Our very good filly Faint Perfume, who won the Wakeful Stakes- VRC Oaks double in the spring, will make her return in the Gr.2 1400m Kewney Stakes for three-year-old fillies and we expect her to run will first up and enjoy a successful autumn campaign. Michael Rodd has also been booked for her.   At Monday’s Warwick Farm meeting Schofield and Ganderton will again line up with the stable runners. Schofield will be on Sibling and Ganderton Think Up, with the pair to clash in the 1400m three-year-old maiden for colts and geldings.   Yaqubi has rejoined the Sydney team, after resenting the hard tracks down south and on Wednesday is due to start in a 1550m benchmark 75 with Glyn Schofield the jockey. Wild Oats, a three-year-old colt and a full brother to Gr.1 winner “God’s Own” makes his race debut in a three-year-old no metropolitan win race with Glyn Schofield his rider. At the Sandown meeting on Wednesday Dariana, an impressive last start winner before going to Melbourne in search of suitable races, will run in a 72 rating handicap for three-year-olds over 1600m.

DARIANA DODGES DAY TO SEE THE LIGHT 18 February 2010

A change in race conditions at Canterbury’s Thursday evening program has resulted in a change of plans for Dariana, originally scheduled to go to Newcastle Saturday. She will now start under lights at Canterbury on Thursday night. Glyn Schofield has been booked to ride her in a 1550m maiden for fillies and mares and she will be our sole representative at the fixture.   On Saturday Roman Emperor will contest the 1400m Gr.2 weight-for-age Apollo Stakes at Rosehill, after an exhibition gallop on the course proper at Randwick last Saturday and Mondays Randwick trials were called off. He could have used the track and kept well out from the rail but the stewards considered the going was “too slow” to allow him to work on it. Tim Clark has been engaged for Roman Emperor and will also be the rider of the highly promising Rock Classic for whom we have expectations during his autumn campaign. Rock Classic runs in a 1500m three-year-old Benchmark 71 while Sir James (Glyn Schofield) runs in the 2000m Parramatta Cup.   At the Newcastle meeting Suyama, who missed the Kembla meeting last week because of the very heavy track, will now go to Broadmeadow and run in a Class 1 over 1850m. The 58kg is a tester but, in a benchmark handicap, the opposition would have been considerably stronger. Dale Spriggs will be the jockey. In And Away, who was also scratched from the Kembla meeting and missed a run when Hawkesbury was called off, will now saddle up in the 1500m maiden at Newcastle and Robert Thompson will have the mount.   Three of the stable’s big autumn hopes in Melbourne will take on Saturday’s weight-for-age St George Stakes Gr. 2 over 1800m at Caulfield. It carries $200,000 in prize money and $1000 worth of trophies. Our three stayers to fly the flag will be the Melbourne-Caulfield Cup winner Viewed, Sirmione, who has an Australian Cup and Mackinnon Stakes to his credit and an excellent first up third to Typhoon Tracey in the Orr Stakes at Caulfield and Moatize. Steven Arnold will ride Viewed, Luke Nolen Sirmione and Kerrin McEvoy Moatize.   Wyong on Sunday will be the next stop for Comet Watch, who will run in a 2100m Benchmark 60, with Josh Adams the rider. Comet Watch is another of the team to miss a run at the washed out Hawkesbury meeting.   We’ll also have a couple of runners at Bendigo on Sunday. Mark Zahra will ride both Tamanu Park in a 1300m maiden and Cash Melody, also in a maiden, but over 1600m.   We’ll have a busy morning at the re-scheduled Randwick barrier trials on Monday next. The most prominent of the team, which will probably consist of about 18, will be the Toorak Handicap winner Allez Wonder, Halleys and Riva San, previously trained by Peter Moody in Melbourne.

BREEZE UP HOPES FOR A WIN 11th February 2010

Tim Clark has been booked to ride Breeze Up in the 1250m three-year-old for non metropolitan winners at Friday’s Canterbury meeting, at which Redoutebelle will be also a runner. Hugh Bowman has been engaged for the ride, in the 1900m maiden for four-year-olds and over.   Our two runners at the Randwick meeting on Saturday will be Kroner and Occurrence and Glyn Schofield will be the rider for each. Kroner’s mission will be the 1200m Southern Cross Stakes, Gr.3 worth $125,000 and run under quality handicap conditions. The Gr.2 Breeders Classic, the race in which Occurrence will resume carries $150,000 in prize money and $1800 in trophies. It’s a race for mares, also run over 1200m, with penalty conditions.   Suyama, scratched from an 1800m 64 benchmark at Wednesdays Randwick meeting will tackle a 2000m 60 benchmark at Kembla on Saturday. Suyama has a consistent record in his only seven starts, with a solid effort run in metropolitan company and a win over 1850m at Newcastle two starts back. In the same race Suyama will clash with stablemate Maillot Vert, who will be handled by Grant Buckley. Dale Spriggs will also ride our other runner at the Kembla meeting, Formermissuniverse, who will start in the 1600m maiden plate. At Monday’s Randwick barrier trials we expect to have 14 triallers including the Toorak handicap winner Allez Wonder and a recent to the stable, Riva San, formerly trained in Melbourne by Peter Moody.   The following day, at Hawkesbury meeting our runners will be Comet Watch, who showed plenty of fight when he won at Newcastle last start. He’ll start in the benchmark 75 over 2000m with Tim Clark his rider. In And Away will run in a 1500m maiden after drawing badly at Kembla Grange on Saturday.   Warwick Farm on Wednesday will see Sibling and Think Up, who will be making his debut, both line up in the 1300m maiden three-year-old for colts and geldings.   We’ll also have a runner at the Kilmore meeting on Sunday with Steven Arnold booked for Tamarn Park in the 1200m three-year-old Maiden Plate.

FINN CLASS READY TO SAIL(At Randwick Next Wednesday)04/05/2010

At Friday’s meeting in the Kensington track the exciting Griffon is in a 1150m benchmark 70 but he is also in a benchmark 85 at Rosehill the following day. He blitzed his rivals at only his second race start and his first after a very long spell and hasn’t put a foot wrong since. We’re expecting him to go on to much better things. Glyn Schofield will be the rider in the race selected for him and he has also been engaged for the mounts on Breccia in the 1800m race for fillies and mares and Breeze Up, who is to clash with Sibling (Corey Brown) in the 1300m maiden plate.   As well as Griffon- if he runs at Rosehill- Schofield will handle Sir James, who deserves another win after a couple of unlucky runs, in the 2000m benchmark 80 and Dreamcoat in the two-year-old over 1100m. Tim Clark has been booked for Rock Classic, to contest the 1400m benchmark 75 for three-year-olds.   We’ll open fire with some of our hopefuls at the Caulfield meeting on Saturday. Caulfield Cup winner Viewed will step out in the 1400m Gr. 1 Standard Weight for Age Orr Stakes which has seen several of the major spring cup winners come up trumps in it. Leilani (Caulfield Cup winner and second to Think Big in the Melbourne Cup) won the Orr in 1975 while Hyperno, Let’s Elope and Saintly all showed their versatility by winning both races. The 2008 Australian Cup and 2007 MacKinnon Stakes winner Sirmione will also run in the Orr while Moatize and Precedence are to start in the 1400m open handicap. Steve Arnold is to handle Viewed and Moatize, Dwayne Dunn Sirmione and Luke Nolen Precedence. All these horses did well during their spells, particularly Precedence, who will be racing as a gelding for the first time.   On the Kensington track on Wednesday Suyama and Finn Class will be runners in an 1800m three-year-old Non Metropolitan Winners for three-year-old fillies. The same day, at Sandown, Cash Melody will be a runner in a benchmark 68, a 1400m race for three-year-olds.   Assertive and Roman Emperor will head  to Warwick Farm to trial on Monday

TWO KINGS SEEK TO ACE 29th January, 2010

King’s Pride and King’s First are set to match strides at Randwick on Saturday when each attempt to prove top of the pack in the 1600m Benchmark 80. Glyn Schofield has been booked for King’s Pride while King’s First will be handled by Blake Shinn. King’s First was to have a run at Randwick’s Australia Day meeting on Tuesday but came up with the horror barrier drawn of 19 in the 20 horse field and, although there were eight scratchings, six would also have been posted “out to Siberia” at the start, which wouldn’t have been any help to our bloke. Our only other runner on Saturday was to be at Kembla Grange with Dariana in a three-year-old maiden plate over 1300m. However she has drawn barrier 15 and will now be kept for a 1400m maiden at Newcastle on Saturday 6th February.    The programming schedule makes it hard to keep some stablemates apart and, at Canterbury on Wednesday, Comet Watch and Vilayet are to clash in the 1900m event for horses who have not won more than one metropolitan race.

ATTEMPTING TO STAR 21st January 2010

Comet Watch will be one of two stable runners we’ll send to Gosford for Thursday’s meeting, with the 2100m class 2 the mission and Tim Clark the rider. The other rep to saddle up there will be Finn Class, who will start in a 1600m maiden for three-year-olds and Glyn Schofield is to have the mount.   Glyn Scholfield will also ride two of our runners at Rosehill on Saturday. He has been engaged for Sir James in the 2000m benchmark 85 and Breeze Up, whose race will be the benchmark 80 for three-year-olds over 1200m. Brenton Avdulla will be the jockey when Indirect saddles up in the 1300m benchmark 85, a race for mares.   Newcastle will be the venue for two contenders on Saturday and Robert Thompson has been booked for the pair. In the 1850m benchmark 60 Domargo will carry the flag while Gold World will start in the 900m maiden plate for three-year-olds.   King’s First will run at Randwick’s Australia Day meeting on Tuesday next, at which we have five likely starters. He will start in the benchmark 70 over 1600m with successful country based apprentice Timothy Bell his rider. Tim Clark has been engaged for Formermissuniverse in the 1300m benchmark 70 for three-year-old fillies and Glyn Schofield for Suyama in the 1800m 75 benchmark for three-year-olds.   Breccia, who was quite impressive in a last start win at Kembla on Saturday last will start in the 2000m benchmark 75 with Glyn Schofield her rider. Schofield will also ride Dreamcoat, the first progeny of God’s Own to represent the stable, in the 1000m two-year-old maiden plate.   Maillot Vert will be our only runner at the Wyong meeting on Wednesday, running in a benchmark 60 over 1600m.

ROCK IS READY TO ROLL AGAIN 14th January 2010

Rock Classic is to make his reappearance after an important “personality change” at the Canterbury meeting on Thursday evening.  Tim Clark is to ride Rock Classic when he starts in the 1200m non metropolitan winners three-year-old handicap for colts and geldings, in which he will resume after being gelded.   Vilayet, who is racing very consistently, will have an eight day back up in the 1900m event for non-metropolitan winners and Glyn Schofield will be the rider.   The very well bred Dariana, a daughter of Redoute’s Choice, will make her race debut at the Canterbury meeting, when she contests the 1200m sprint for non metropolitan winning three-year-old fillies and Tim Clark will also have the mount on her.   We’ll have a large contingent of trialers at the Randwick heats on Friday with the best known being Occurrence and Kroner.  The majority of the team are young ones lacking race experience.   At Saturday’s Rosehill meeting Glyn Schofield will be mixing with royalty when he is legged up onto King’s Pride in the benchmark 85 and King’s First, who is to run in the benchmark 75, over 1800m. In this race he’ll clash with Comet Watch, who is another of the team to be handled by Tim Clark. Ancestor (Elusive Quality x Cousins) will have his seasonal race start in the 1100m two-year-old colts and geldings Handicap with Glyn Schofield to ride.   We’ll have three runners at the Kembla Grange meeting on Saturday.  Dale Spriggs will be on two -  Breccia in the 2000m maiden plate and Sobers – while Grant Buckley has been booked for Maillot Vert.   At Tuesday’s Wyong meeting Briolette is in a fillies and mares class 1 over 1350m and In and Away a 1300m maiden for three-year-old fillies, Glyn Schofield will be the rider on both.   On Wednesday next we’ll have Michelle Payne handle Il Cardinale in a 1400m maiden plate at Geelong and, on the Kensington track at Randwick, Griffon is to tackle an 1100m benchmark 70 for four-year-olds and upwards and Redoutebelle a 1550m non metropolitan winners race for mares.

STRAIGHT INTO BATTLE AGAIN 7th January 2010

Indirect, who has been racing quite honestly and wasn’t disgraced at Rosehill last week, will back up at the Randwick meeting on Saturday. The highly talented apprentice, Timothy Bell will be the rider when she saddles up in the benchmark 85 over 1200m for fillies and mares. Another of our most promising apprentices, Brenton Avdulla has been engaged for Jewelled Crown, an impressive last start winner, in the three-year-old 1600m benchmark 67. Avdulla will also be the rider of Sir James when he contests the 2000m benchmark 85.   We’ll have only one other runner at Randwick- Sibling (Robert Thompson) in the three-year-old benchmark 70 but Suyama is to make the trip to Newcastle for an 1850m three-year-old maiden, with Dale Spriggs the jockey. But the performance of Latin News in the Magic Millions three-year-old trophy will carry plenty of our attention with the colt, who is to be ridden by Glyn Schofield, drawn “out in Siberia” (barrier 20) but expected to make a very bold showing.