• Winter Stakes 2009

Buckley, who will also be represented by the Lee Freedman-trained Dane Julia in Saturday’s 1400-metre Group One feature at Eagle Farm, bought Marveen for $450,000 at the recent Magic Millions National broodmare sale at the Gold Coast.

The filly raced in his colours for the first time when she was runner-up to Express Air in the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 6.

It was the filly’s only start on a heavy track and Buckley is hoping forecasts for showers eventuate.

“She’s very versatile and can cope with all conditions but a slow track will be ideal,” he said.


Eagle Farm was rated good on Thursday but a late storm was forecast with further showers tipped for Friday and Saturday.

Buckley was disappointed when Marveen drew barrier 15 in the Winter Stakes while Dane Julia fared even worse with the extreme outside gate, 22.

“I’ve got a 51 per cent share in Dane Julia and before the draw I favoured her over Marveen but now I’m leaning to Marveen,” he said.

“It’s a shame with Dane Julia because she’s flying.”

Buckley, who also owns champion mare Miss Andretti, bought Dane Julia for an undisclosed figure in South Africa last year.

The daughter of Caesour started her career with a flurry of five straight wins in South Africa, including the Group One Fillies Classic (1800m) in March 2007.

Dane Julia, a Michael Walker mount, is yet to win from 13 starts in Australia but became a Group One winner in two countries when she claimed the Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha in New Zealand on April 4.


Dane Julia has started once in Queensland, finishing a creditable sixth from a wide barrier to Chinchilla Rose in the Group Three Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 30.

Marveen, who will be ridden by apprentice Nicholas Hall, will be spelled in Queensland instead of Buckley’s Kilmore property in Victoria to prepare for a late spring campaign in Melbourne.

“I’ve got 30-35 broodmares at Kilmore but she’ll spell at Washpool Lodge in Queensland after the Winter Stakes,” Buckley said.

“She’ll have about three months off and we think she’ll go through a growth spurt while she’s out.

“I’m hoping she’ll go on. If Ortensia, Absolut Glam and Forensics are the best rated fillies and mares in the country then I’ll look at the Myer Classic with her in the spring if she can match them in the Winter Stakes.

“It won’t surprise me to see her go on for the Caulfield Cup as she should get in with a light weight but her main mission will be the Group One fillies and mares races in New Zealand in early January and February.”

Buckley and Marveen’s trainer Robert Smerdon have discussed the filly’s future and both are hopeful she will stay.

“I reckon she’ll get a distance but Robert hasn’t had the chance to test her yet,” he said.

Smerdon is currently overseas and will miss the Winter Stakes meeting.

He originally brought Marveen north for the Group One 2009 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm but her campaign direction was changed following a nomination mix-up for the Group Three Doomben Roses last month.

Article by Glenn Davis - Courtesy of Aapracing

• Full Winter Stakes 2009 Field and Barrier Draw

The winner of the 2007 Thousand Guineas, Serious Speed has caused Adelaide trainer Leon Macdonald a few headaches over the past 18 months.

But her win in the Group Three R A Lee Stakes at Morphettville on May 9 convinced the stable to send her to Brisbane for the last Group One of the season on Saturday.


With Macdonald and stable jockey Clare Lindop both on overseas holidays, assistant trainer Andrew Gluyas is in charge of the mare and of finding a rider.

“We haven’t got a jockey yet but we have talked to a few,” Gluyas said.

“Clare’s away and Danny Nikolic who won the Thousand Guineas on her is in Mauritius.

“Hopefully we can get the right person to ride her.”

Serious Speed is due to arrive in Brisbane on Wednesday.

A scheduled race at Morphettville didn’t eventuate when the opening of the new track was delayed but she was put through her paces in an exhibition gallop last Saturday week.

“She had a good gallop between races,” Gluyas said.

“We decided to keep her home as long as possible because she has had some niggling problems when she has gone away before.

“She is not far away from stud but her form turnaround convinced us to give her another go at a Group One.”


There were 24 entries for the Winter Stakes on Monday headed by last year’s winner Absolut Glam, triple Group One winner Forensics and outstanding filly Ortensia.

Sydney apprentice Peter Wells will make a flying visit to Brisbane on Tuesday to ride Chinchilla Rose in a barrier trial which will determine whether she runs in the Winter Stakes.

The winner of the Dane Ripper Stakes on May 30, Chinchilla Rose missed Saturday’s Eye Liner at Ipswich due to a wide alley.

“I will fly up to ride her in the trial in the morning and then be back to ride at Canterbury,” Wells said.

“Hopefully she trials well and runs in the Group One.”

Article by Caryl Williamson - Thanks to Aapracing

To buy tickets to this 2009 Spring Carnival - including 2009 Cox Plate, 2009 Melbourne Cup and 2009 Caulfield Cup.

• 2009 Winter Stakes Barrier Draw

Tasmanian trainer Gary White cleared the three-year-old filly to clash with boom filly Ortensia in Saturday’s 1400-metre feature after she worked brilliantly over 800 metres at Cranbourne in Victoria on Tuesday.


Jockey Darren Gauci, who rode the Statue Of Liberty filly in her Magic Millions Trophy (1400m) victory at the Gold Coast in January, partnered her in the Cranbourne gallop.

“Darren is rapt in her,” White said.

“After she worked today Darren said she gives him a better feel now than when she won the Magic Millions.”

Tempest Tost, the only Tasmanian to win the Magic Millions Trophy, is part-owned by Geoff Harper, chairman of the Tasmanian Racing Club, in Hobart, and also a delegate to the Australian Racing Board.

He has raced horses for more than 40 years and was formerly involved in the abalone industry in Tasmania

Tempest Tost’s career has been limited to just nine starts due to a knee injury which she carried into the Magic Millions Trophy.

The filly suffers from a knee spur but rather than undergo surgery she has regular treatment where blood is taken from the knee joint and is later injected back to protect cartilage.

“She’s had knee issues and we’ve had to manage her carefully,” White said.

“We thought about an operation but the orthopedic surgeon thought the trauma of an operation was risky and sometimes the calcification from it turns out to be worse.”

White has been one of Tasmania’s most successful trainers with three Launceston Cup wins and two Hobart Cup triumphs but rarely ventures outside his own state or Victoria with stable runners.

Prior to his trip to Queensland for the Magic Millions Trophy, White’s last trip beyond Melbourne was for the 1986 Sydney Cup when he had no luck with Scruples, who finished 14th to Marooned.


Tempest Tost, a $72,500 yearling at the Adelaide Magic Millions sale, will be set for the major fillies and mares races during Melbourne’s spring after she completes her Winter Stakes assignment.

The filly has attracted several large offers from prospective buyers and connections expect more will come if she can break through at Group One level.

A winner of four of her nine starts, she has started only twice since winning the Magic Millions Trophy.

In her comeback appearance on May 9, she finished third against her own sex over 1100 metres at Flemington then weakened to finish fifth to Gold In Dubai over 1200 metres at Caulfield on May 23.

“Her first up run was phenomenal. She went too early that day and carried a lot of weight,” White said.

“I was a little bit soft on her after that run and perhaps I made an error for her last start.”

White is hoping for a rain-affected track at Eagle Farm as Tempest Tost has won two of her three starts on heavy surfaces while Melbourne filly Ortensia is regarded as a better performer on top of the ground.

White may yet get his wish as the Brisbane Weather Bureau has forecast rain ahead of the Eagle Farm meeting.

By Glenn Davis - Courtesy of Aapracing

• 2009 Melbourne Cup Field and Barrier Draw
• Melbourne Cup Tickets
  

Roman Emperor won the AJC Australian Derby on April 11 and was rested after finishing out of the placings in the weight-for-age Queen Elizabeth Stakes a week later.

Viewed was sent to the paddock after a disappointing third to Fiumicino in the BMW and was subsequently found to have hoof abscess which went some way to reassuring the trainer there was an explanation for the performance.

Roman Emperor spelled at Cummings’ property Princes Farm on the outskirts of Sydney while Viewed stayed at fellow owner Dato Tan Chin Nam’s Think Big Stud in the NSW Southern Highlands.

“Roman Emperor back in the stable after five weeks spelling at the equine paradise - Princes Farm,” Cummings said.

“Viewed was out at Think Big Stud and arrived back on Friday.

“The staying races in the spring will be targeted.”

Viewed was kept to a weight-for-aged program during the autumn and weight will have a bearing on whether he targets back-to-back Cups.

As well as Roman Emperor, Cummings has Precedence among his leading Melbourne Cup aspirants.

The three-year-old won a 2390m race at Caulfield in April then finished a short neck second to Berlioz in the VRC St Leger (2800m) after a ride by Peter Mertens that didn’t earn a lot of praise from the master.

“He should have won that race, the jockey went the wrong way” Cummings said.

“Precedence is a very promising stayer and he will head towards the Cup.”

Dato Tan races the Zabeel colt in partnership with Cambridge Stud’s Sir Patrick Hogan and the Dowager Duchess of Bedford who has raced many horses in New Zealand.

Viewed gave Cummings his 12th Melbourne Cup and Dato Tan his third when held off English horse Bauer.

He is at $21 to repeat the feat with corporate bookmakers who have Roman Emperor between $34 and $41.

Victoria Derby winner Rebel Raider heads markets at $17 following his return to form in the South Australian Derby after a lacklustre Sydney autumn campaign.

Article by Caryl Willaimson - Thanks to Aapracing

• 2009 WINTER STAKES FIELD

Dorf Command overcame a wide barrier to win Saturday’s Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich to set up a tilt at the Winter Stakes for fillies and mares at Eagle Farm.

In April, Dorf Command ran a half length second to Ortensia in the Listed P J Bell (1200m) at Randwick and finished fourth to her in the Glenlogan Park Stud Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on May 16.

Ortensia went on to win the QTC Cup and run third in the 2009 Stradbroke Handicap but that has not deterred Conners.

“Dorf Command ran second to Ortensia in Sydney and I thought she was a bit unlucky,” Conners said.

“We certainly won’t be running away from a clash with her again, I’m not afraid to take her on.”

Conners remained in Sydney on Saturday to watch Apparitions win at Rosehill and set herself up for a tilt at the Sunshine Coast Guineas on June 27.

“I don’t want to run them against each other so that’s another reason to go to the Group One with Dorf Command,” he said.

Russeting, scratched from the Gai Waterhouse because of a wide barrier, will line up in the Winter Stakes at her first start for trainer Bart Cummings.

The mare was purchased for $300,000 at the recent National Broodmare sale at the Gold Coast.

“Russeting will run in the Group One on Saturday and is capable of being very prominent,” Cummings said.

“We scratched her because she drew barrier 19 but I’m very happy with what I’ve seen of her overall.”

Russeting was formerly in the care of Toowoomba hobby trainer Don Baker.

Anthony Cummings will start Prima Nova in the Winter Stakes which will be her first run for a more than a month with wet tracks interrupting her Queensland campaign.Article by Caryl Williamson - Thanks to Aapracing

The Eagle Farm Winter Stakes wraps up an amazing Winter carnival of racing in Queensland; The 3 lead up races being:

• BTC Cup 2009
• Doomben 10000 2009
  
• Stradboke Handicap 2009

Bookmark for the 2009 Winter stakes nomination, final fields, weights and barrier draw.

The 2009 Winter Stakes field, weights and nominations:

1    FORENSICS    Peter Snowden    Kerrin McEvoy     10     57
2    SERIOUS SPEED    Leon Macdonald    Scott Seamer     21     57
3    ABSOLUT GLAM    Danny O’Brien    Damien Oliver     9     57
4    CHINCHILLA ROSE    Steele Ryan    Peter Wells (a)     11     57
5    ILLUMINATES    Graeme Rogerson    Larry Cassidy     4     57
6    AMBERINO    John Moloney    Jason Taylor     2     57
7    DANEHILL SMILE    Jason Coyle    Steven King     5     57
8    JACQUELINE ROUGE    Tony Noonan    Scott Galloway     13     57
9    IMANANABAA    David Payne    Brad Pengelly     8     57
10    PRIMA NOVA    Anthony Cummings    Shane Scriven     17     57
11    DANE JULIA (SAF)    Lee Freedman    Michael Walker     22     57
12    SUBTLE COVE    Jason Coyle    Peter Robl     1     57
13    RUSSETING    Bart Cummings    Michael Cahill     7     57
14    ZILZIE (NZ)    Eden Petrie    Damian Browne     12     57
15    WELCOME SITE    Reg Mackay    Brent Evans (a)     19     57
16    TEMPEST TOST    Gary White    Darren Gauci     20     55.5
17    MARVEEN    Robert Smerdon    Nicholas Hall (a)     15     55.5
18    ORTENSIA    Tony Noonan    Craig Williams     14     55.5
19    EXPRESS AIR    Rex Lipp    Tye Angland     18     55.5
20    DORF COMMAND    Clarry Conners    Jim Byrne     6     55.5
21e    SAINT MINERVA    Alan Bailey    Glen Colless     16     55.5
22e    KISANI    Trevor Bailey    Terry Treichel     3     57

The Winter Stakes 2009 brings together highly rated runners Ortensia and Absolute Glam, who are both backing up up after solid races in this years 2009 Stradbroke Handicap (click to view video replay).  Forensics is another popular choice, and will start if the rain stays away in Brisbane; many were disappointed after he was scratched in the Stradbroke due to the wet track.

EACH WA Y TIP:

• DORF COMMAND
  

• 1st - Scenic Blast
• 2nd -Fleeting Spirit
  
• 3rd - Anglezarke
  

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFlBUZW1Z2U
Race 2 - The King’s Stand Stakes 1000m (Group 1) 3yo&Up 1000m
Wednesday 12:05am (EST) 

The 2009 Kings Stand Stakes Field, Barrier Draw, Tips and Prices
1     BORDERLESCOTT (8) R Bastiman - Pat Cosgrave $9
2     CANNONBALL (4) Wesley A Ward - J Velazquez $41
3     CAPTAIN GERRARD (7) B Smart - Tom Eaves $51
4     DANDY MAN (13) Saeed Bin Suroor - L Dettori $41
5     EQUIANO (9) B WHills Michael - Hills $2 $34
7     MYTHICAL FLIGHT (3) S Tarry - K Shea $26
8     SCENIC BLAST (15) Daniel Morton - Steven Arnold $4
9     TAX FREE (10) D Nicholls - Adrian Nicholls $11
10     WI DUD (11) K A Ryan     Neil - Callan $51
11     FLEETING SPIRIT (1) J Noseda Ryan Moore $6
12     AMOUR PROPRE (6) H Candy Dane O’Neil $4.50
13     RIEVAULX WORLD (12) K A Ryan - Neil Callan $51
14     SPIN CYCLE (14) B Smart - Richard Mullen $51
15     ANGLEZARKE (2) T D Easterby - David Allan $26

Who has some 2009 Kings Stand Stakes Tips?


Kings Stand Stakes barrier draw and early prices are listed above.

So book your Derby Day ticket package now!


A highlight of the 2009 Spring Carnival, the Derby is a Group one Race for 3 year olds over 2500m, and has a total prize purse of over $1.5 million. Tradionally a day for the Australian racing purists, Derby Day plays host to over 8 group 1 races; as well as other activities like mens and womens fashion, fashions on the field, live bands and a host of parties. Derby Day is a great day out!

Get your Derby Day ticket packages today, it’s an amazing day out!

So book your Oaks Day ticket package now!

A feature day in the 2009 Spring Carnival, and a lead up the Melbourne Cup 2009; Oaks day brings the best racing, fashion and glitz that to showcase the best of Australian horse racing. Where else but Flemington? Tickets for Oaks Day 2009 (general, member, corporate & marquee) are available through most major ticket retailers, and Ebay. (click here for Melbourne Cup tickets)

Have a look at our 2009 Spring Carnival Fashion page - for updates or registration, tickets and events.