Eliza Park

SHINZIG RESULT WAS PSYCHIC

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:12:00 +0000

Always knew Shinzig would be a good stallion! OK, we’re only joking about our ‘vision’, but the performance of Psychic Mick at Morphettville certainly augurs well for the future of the Danehill Group One winner.

After all, this was Shinzig’s first runner … and his first winner – and what a winner at Breednet’s Mark Smith points out ...

Looking the consummate professional despite making his first race start, Physic Mick tracked the early speed before holding on strongly to win Saturday’s Distinctive Homes Plate (1000m) at Morphettville to credit Eliza Park Stud's young stallion Shinzig with his first winner.

Ridden by Mark Pegus for Morphettville-based trainer Dan Clarken, Physic Mick (Shinzig x Super Fund (Bianconi) defeated Clearwater Bay by a half-neck with Miss Intensus (Hard Spun) two and a quarter lengths back in third.

A bargain $10,000 purchase by part-owner Michael Duffield at last year’s Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Physic Mick is the second foal of the Melbourne winning Bianconi (USA) mare Super Fund.

Eliza Park Stud will offer a half-sister to Physic Mick by Bel Esprit at the upcoming Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling sale.

Physic Mick is the first runner for the CF Orr Stakes (G1) winner Shinzig, a full brother to Strada.

A son of Danehill out of the Coolmore Classic winner Shindig (Straight Strike), Shinzig covered 88 mares last year at a fee of $8,800.

Remarkably, Shinzig (below) has just one yearling on offer at both the Inglis Classic Yearling sale and Inglis Premier Yearling sale, while he has four at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling sale.

REVIVAL SHOW?

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:10:00 +0000

Black Caviar (photo by Bronwen Healy)

As if Friday wasn’t already shaping as the biggest date (thus far) on the Australian turf calendar, it appears Black Caviar’s return at Moonee Valley is part of a double whammy for 27 January.

Undoubtedly all eyes will be focussed on Black Caviar (be it live or on TV) when she chases the big 17 in the Group Two Australia Stakes at the Valley, but there will be a (albeit smaller) contingent rocking up to Randwick on Friday morning for a bopeep at the wonder mare’s archrival, Hay List, who will trial at Randwick’s Kensington track.

This will be the first time most of us have seen Hay List since he was knocked out by a life threatening illness seven months ago and it will be VERY interesting to see how the son of Statue of Liberty has come back.

Yes, he’s got a licking every time the pair has met, but Hay List (below) has run second to her the most times and his camp is very confident that they can turn the tables in 2012.

ANOTHER BEL DOUBLE

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:07:00 +0000

Another double for Bel Esprit (below) on Friday with the ‘cruise’ of Loveyamadly at Mornington and a win to Oregon Spirit at Cranbourne.

Stepping out for the first time, 3YO filly – Loveyamadly – was highly impressive over 1013m at Mornington, scoring by 3.3 lengths after sitting just off the lead until turning for home before scooting away over the final stages.

The Mick Price trained youngster was bred by Patrick Yii and is out of the Danehill Dancer mare, Beauty World, now the dam of 3 winners (from 3 to race), including Group One placed American Crew.

A multiple winner, Beauty World is also a half sister to stakes winning 2YO, Firenza.

Meanwhile, across town the Peter Moody trained Oregon Spirit produced his third win (along with six placings) from 14 outings when flying home for a comfortable win over 1500m at Cranbourne.

This is now two on the trot for the 4YO who is out of the Group winning Oregon mare, Oregon Seal.

BLACK CAVIAR – DAY AT THE BEACH

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:03:00 +0000

Bronwen Healy is one of Australia’s finest horse photographers and clearly has a passion for her work.

Still, she obviously has a special affinity for Black Caviar and is ready to track her down at work and play.

Recently Bronwen caught up with the wonder mare having a frolic at the beach.

WORD UP

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:57:00 +0000

Given that I’m always on the lookout to widen my vocabulary, I came across a couple of new words on the weekend:

Kummerspeck (German): Excess weight gained from emotional overeating. Literally, grief bacon.

(Clearly I get very emotional over Christmas)

milliHelen: The quantity of beauty required to launch one ship.

(Obviously they don’t launch a lot of ships in […..])

Paper-belly: A person unable to drink liquor straight, or one who grimaces after drinking.

(Assume I’m not Robinson Crusoe when it comes to Paper-bellying the morning after)

Karoshi (Japanese): Death from being overworked.

(You’d get a lot of that in the Australian public service)

Lawn mullet: A neatly manicured front yard and an unmowed mess in the back.

(Clearly mullets are still alive and well)

Clearly a Paper-belly

DRESS CODE

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:51:00 +0000

For those of you venturing to Royal Ascot this year to see Black Caviar strut her stuff, beware of the new dress code for the Royal Enclosure.

According to the new code, Ladies will no longer be able to wear fascinators, although headpieces more than 10cm in diameter will be accepted and dresses must fall to just above the knee or longer. Men must wear black shoes and ties, with cravats no longer allowed.

Damn, and I’d just a bought a salmon and black cravat especially for the occasion!

Reckon that might just get around the 10cm rule

UNBREAKABLE RECORDS

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:47:00 +0000

The Sydney Telegraph’s turf editor, Ray Thomas, is a walking encyclopaedia when it comes to sport and last week he penned an interesting column regarding the ‘Unbreakable Records of Racing’.

We’ve run it in full here, but would be interested to hear your views on a factoid which Ray might have omitted.

AS THE mighty Black Caviar is readied for her New Year return in the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday, talk will inevitably resume about her record unbeaten sequence.

Black Caviar is aiming for her 17th win in as many races and every time she competes it is like watching racing history in the making.

Black Caviar has set - and continues to improve - a record that may never be broken.

It reminded me of a recent article in the US Daily Racing Form by Bill Christine which ranked the 10 most unbreakable US racing records.

Christine listed some of the great achievements in US racing, such as Secretariat’s staggering 31-length Belmont Stakes win in a phenomenal time of 2min 24sec in 1973, jockey Kent Desormeaux’s 598 winners in one year, trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ six straight Triple Crown wins and Kelso’s five US Horse of the Year titles.

So, inspired by Black Caviar and the US list, here’s my version of Australian racing’s 10 unbreakable records.

1: Bart Cummings - 12 Melbourne Cups (1965-2008)

This record will stand forever - 12 Melbourne Cup winners including five quinellas. Cummings trained his first Melbourne Cup winner in 1965 when Light Fingers beat her stablemate Ziema. He has since won the Cup with Galilee (1966), Red Handed (1967), Think Big (1974-75), Gold And Black (1977), Hyperno (1979), Kingston Rule (1990), Let’s Elope (1991), Saintly (1996), Rogan Josh (1999) and Viewed (2008).

Why this is unbreakable: Cummings’ Melbourne Cup record is more than double that of next best, Lee Freedman and Etienne De Mestre with five each. His Cup effort is like Don Bradman’s batting average - he’s twice as good as the rest.

2: Phar Lap - Four wins during 1930 Melbourne Cup Carnival

Phar Lap, the greatest of them all, won on each of the four days during the 1930 Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington. On Derby Day he won the Melbourne Stakes (Mackinnon Stakes) over 2000m, then shouldered 62.5kg to win the Melbourne Cup (3200m) and backed up two days later to win the Linlithgow Stakes (1600m) before returning on the final day to win the C.B. Fisher Plate (2400). Phar Lap’s four races covered 9200m, with an aggregate margin of 13 1/2 lengths.

Why this is unbreakable: It’s rare for a horse to back up twice, let alone three times at the Flemington Cup carnival. They just don’t run over each of the four days anymore. Phar Lap’s record will stand for eternity.

3: Tommy Smith - 33 straight Sydney premierships (1952-1985)

In the toughest training environment in Australian racing, Smith was able to remain unchallenged as premier trainer for 33 consecutive seasons, an extraordinary achievement. Smith’s reign as premier trainer ended when Brian Mayfield-Smith won the title in 1985-86. But Smith showed why he was one of the all-time greats by winning back the title for the 34th time in 1988-89.

Why this is unbreakable: Smith’s 33 consecutive premierships is a world record and a unique example of sporting dominance.

4: Makybe Diva - Melbourne Cup three-peat (2003-05)

Since the Melbourne Cup was first run in 1861, only four horses have managed repeat Cup triumphs: Archer (1861-62), Peter Pan (1932, 1934), Rain Lover (1968-69) and Think Big (1974-75) - until Makybe Diva. She won with 51kg in 2003, then returned the next year to set a weight-carrying record for a mare with 55.5kg, only to smash that record in 2005 when she shouldered 58kg to a magnificent win.

Why this is unbreakable: There’s more chance of Kingston Town’s Cox Plate hat-trick (1980-82) being equalled, perhaps bettered, than Makybe Diva’s three Melbourne Cups ever being repeated. Quite simply, it is beyond any stayer to win four Melbourne Cups.

5: Black Caviar - Unbeaten in 16 starts

Black Caviar is so superior to her rivals she has rarely been tested in winning her first 16 races. She is deservedly rated the world’s best sprinter and is set to extend her record winning sequence next Friday night.

Why this is unbreakable: The previous record to start a race career was Grand Flaneur’s nine wins from as many starts, including the 1880 Melbourne Cup. His benchmark stood for more than 130 years, equalled only by Mollison, Eye Liner and Rancher but never bettered before Black Caviar made racing history.

6: Carbine - The 1890 Melbourne Cup

The legendary Carbine was asked to carry a crushing 10st 5lb (66kg) when he lined up against 38 rivals. Carbine proved his greatness when he set a weight-carrying record, winning by 2 1/2 lengths and establishing a race record.

Why this is unbreakable: No horse will ever be asked to carry such a huge weight again and the Cup field is restricted to 24 starters.

7: Bernborough - 1946 Doomben Cup

Bernborough was arguably the greatest weight carrier of them all. During his famous 15-race winning streak in 1946, he was asked to lump 10st 11lb (68.5kg) in the Doomben Cup. This should have been mission impossible but Bernborough made light of his handicap to win the Group 1 race easily.

Why this is unbreakable: Similar to Carbine and his 1890 Melbourne Cup win, the handicapper will never again allot a galloper the equivalent of 68.5kg in a Group 1 race.

8: Guy Walter - 2005 Doncaster Handicap trifecta

Guy Walter’s effort to prepare the first three placegetters - Patezza, Court’s In Session and Danni Martine - is truly one of the best training feats of the modern era. Gai Waterhouse’s Golden Slipper trifecta in 2001 deserves an honourable mention.

Why this is unbreakable: The Doncaster is run under handicap conditions over the exacting Royal Randwick 1600m course.

9: Malua - Racing’s most versatile champion

Can you imagine any horse having the speed to win the Oakleigh Plate-Newmarket Handicap double and, in the same year, the stamina to win a Melbourne Cup? Well, that is just what Malua did in 1884. Four years later, just to underline his versatility, Malua won the Grand National Hurdle.

Why this is unbreakable: In the modern era, racehorses are bred to be specialist sprinters and/or stayers. And it would be sacrilege to see a Melbourne Cup winner end his racing days over the jumps.

10: Banker, Briseis, Grace Darling, Belmont Park, Tulloch - Only the once

Banker won the 1863 Melbourne Cup with a record low weight 33.5kg. Briseis was ridden by a 13-year-old apprentice, Peter St Albans, when she won the 1876 Melbourne Cup. Grace Darling won the 1885 Caulfield Cup after 41 horses lined up at the start, 16 fell on the home turn, two horses lost their lives, and jockey Don Nicholson was also killed. At Rosehill in 1954, Belmont Park won successive races, a 2000m graduation and an 1800m welter. Tulloch won the AJC, VRC and QTC Sires Produce Stakes as a two-year-old in 1957, then later that year won the AJC, VRC and QTC Derbies.

Why these are unbreakable: Racing rules have changed, raising minimum weights, limiting field sizes, placing age restrictions on jockeys, and preventing a galloper from racing twice on the same day. As for Tulloch, his big-race hat-tricks in the Sires and Derbies will never be repeated.

OK everyone, thinking caps on … send you unbreakable record to info@elizapark.com.au

ONLINE GAMBLING

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:38:00 +0000

Interesting article in today’s ANZ Bloodstock News regarding Online Gambling …

Researchers at the Southern Cross University’s Centre for Gambling Education and Research have concluded that online gambling is the fastest growing format of wagering in Australia, writes Darryl Sherer.

The objective of the present study was to explore the characteristics of Internet gamblers in comparison to non-Internet gamblers to determine whether individuals using this medium represent a distinct subgroup of gamblers.

This study aimed to further the understanding of the impact of Internet gambling in Australia and provide results that may guide key stake holders, including policy makers, regulators, researchers, treatment providers, and industry groups, in forming an appropriate response to Internet gambling.

Researchers surveyed 6,500 online gamblers, and found that half of them started playing online in the past six years. Lead researcher Dr Sally Gainsbury says that means Australians are taking up online punting and gaming faster than any other form of gambling.

“Internet gambling actually does offer unique risks compared to other forms of gambling.” Dr Gainsbury said. “Because it’s available all the time, it’s private and you can gamble without anyone really finding out, people are saying that, half the internet gamblers, problem internet gamblers said that it disrupted their sleep and around a third reported it disrupted their eating.”

It is estimated Australians now spend $600 million a year on online gambling with 16 percent of the participants in the Southern Cross study deemed to be problem gamblers. Dr Gainsbury is calling for more measures to be put in place to ensure that responsibility in gambling is exercised. “Similar to the efforts put into making sure that the pokies are played in as safe a way as possible, there needs to be more responsible gambling strategies for online.

“We should be seeing pop up messages telling people how long they’ve been playing for and how much they’ve been spending.”

University of Sydney Psychology professor Alex Blaszczynski, who collaborated with Gainsbury, said, “While internet gambling has been around since the 1990s, its popularity has soared in the past few years with clear trends indicating an increasing number of participants starting to gamble online.”

NINE SLEEPS

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:42:00 +0000

The Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) roadshow is back in town, writes ANZ Bloodstock News. The unbeaten, best sprinter in the world according to the 2011 IFHA World Rankings, delighted trainer Peter Moody in an 800m jump out at Caulfield on Tuesday.

Black Caviar is scheduled to make her reappearance in the $200,000 Australia Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Moonee Valley in nine days time on 27 January.

Speaking to Shane Anderson on Radio Sport National yesterday morning, Moody said the daughter of Bel Esprit galloped under race jockey Luke Nolen and was ‘in unbelievable order’ ahead of her bid to stretch her unbeaten sequence to 17. “She had a nice burn around on the course proper. They went from the 1200m chute to the home turn. She had a nice gallop and her action was good and I’m very pleased with her.”

Black Caviar won the Australia Stakes in 2010 on her first start after a strained chest muscle had forced her to spell, and Moody said there was no rush to have the five-year-old fully wound up for her reappearance. “She’s got a long six or seven months ahead of her so we don’t need to be doing everything on the training tracks at this point in time.”

Moody has made no secret of his desire to extend Black Caviar in trip beyond 1200m and he reiterated that yesterday. “I’ve been busting to do that for probably two years. I’ve always felt her improvement would come when we stretched her out in distance, so I’ll either be a mug or a genius in about three week’s time when we see her in the Orr.”

TYCOON THUNDER

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:29:00 +0000

In the controversy surrounding the sensational finish of the $2 million BMW Magic Millions 2YO at the Gold Coast on Saturday, the run of Written Tycoon’s gutsy filly Alezan Thunder (below) got lost in the storm.

She finished just over a half length behind the eventual winner but only after being carted wide in the final 150m. Terrific performance.

Racing out of the Mark Kavanagh stable, Alezan Thunder (ex. Thunder Gulch mare Elysian Thunder) has now raced on four occasions for two wins – at Morphettville on debut and a 4-length win at Sandown on Christmas Eve – along with a third in the Emirates Air-LR at Flemington during the Cup carnival and, of course, Saturday’s third. Her earnings are now just shy of a quarter of a million which is darn fine money for a filly that cost on $55,000 at the Adelaide Magic Millions.

Alezan Thunder’s terrific run on Saturday was bookended by a victory to the Kym Davidson’s Devil Tycoon (ex. Perugino mare Perinite) at Wagga on Friday and a scorching win by It Is Written (ex. Danehill Dancer mare Winning Team) in the first at Werribee on Sunday.

Trained by Robbie Griffiths, It Is Written led throughout and has now posted a win and two seconds from four starts.

Impressively, Written Tycoon reigns supreme among Australia’s Second Season Sires with nearly $700k in progeny earnings: a nice fit following his Australian First Season Sires’ title in 2010/11.

BEL REIGNS ON DAY 5 AT MM

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:27:00 +0000

Trade understably came down a notch at the fifth and final session of the 2012 Magic Millions Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast on Sunday, writes Darryl Sherer of ANZ Bloodstock News, but the trends of the previous four days held true with the good physical types being sought after.

Caulfield-based trainer Rick Hore-Lacy has enjoyed success with Magic Millions graduates including his Group One winners Toorak Toff (Show A Heart) and Dash For Cash (Secret Savings) who where both purchased at the Gold Coast venue and he signed for the top-price lot yesterday when paying $225,000 for a colt by Bel Esprit out of Jezeera (Lot 670).

The colt, presented by Eliza Park, featured on the front page of ANZ Bloodstock News earlier last week taking refuge from the heat in front of a water fan and attracted plenty of admiring glances in the days beforehand. Even with being offered early in the session there were bids from around the auditorium before finally falling in Hore-Lacy’s favour.

The strongly-made bay is the third foal of Jezeera (Jetball), a winning sister to the Melbourne Listed winner Belle Ball and a half-sister to the Group-placed sprinter Tollesprit (Bel Esprit), making Hore-Lacy’s purchase a three-quarter brother to the threetime Melbourne winner.

“He’s a ripping colt and we thought he was our best so while it’s very pleasing to see him sell so well we would have been disappointed had he not sold well,” said Eliza Park’s John Jeffs.

WANT TO MAKE A QUID?

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:25:00 +0000

Inexplicably – particularly in light of progeny performances – Champion sire Bel Esprit was not universally regarded as a ‘sales’ horse, but that perception well and truly appears to have altered with the results of the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions.

Aside from selling to almost 7 times service fee in the first 4 sessions on the Coast (see below), he blew them away on the final day of the sale, by topping the session and garnering the top average to boot.

TOP STALLIONS BY PROFITABILITY
Sire	Sold	Avg	Fee	x Fee	$ Profit
Magic Albert	8	118,125	$13,750	8.6	$104,375
Myboycharlie	10	121,000	$14,300	8.5	$106,700
Snitzel	11	168,182	$22,000	7.6	$146,182
Dubawi	5	120,000	$16,500	7.3	$103,500
Bel Esprit	5	115,000	$27,500	6.9	$87,500
Jet Spur	4	107,500	$16,500	6.5	$91,000
Zizou	4	79,375	$13,200	6	$66,175
Shamardal	5	146,000	$27,500	5.3	$118,500
Mutawaajid	3	46,667	$8,800	5.3	$37,867
New Approach	3	172,500	$33,000	5.2	$139,500
Starcraft	12	108,750	$22,000	4.9	$86,75

OWN-ERSHIP

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:22:00 +0000

Following on from his sensational run last month where he closed out the calendar year with a two state double on 31 December, God’s Own has continued with a batch of winners in January, including a gutsy win to St Gabriel at Morphettville on Saturday (and a tremendous second by Canonized at Flemington) plus a cracking win to God Help Us in South Australia on Sunday.

Bred by Matt Brown’s Monterey Stud, St Gabriel (ex. Celtic Swing mare Not Jude’s Choice) is trained on track by David Balfour and led them all the way in a merry dance over 1800m at Morphettville.

Conversely, Mick Kent’s Canonized (ex. Grand Lodge mare Rather Grand) came from the heavens at Flemington but just failed to peg back the winner in a thriller over 1400m.

Owned by a bunch of doctors, they probably had to give themselves each a heart starter after the John Richards bred Canonized came from last at the 400m to just fail on the wire. The 3YO has now won two from four and picked up a cheque each time.

Meanwhile, it was a welcome victory for the Kevan Wacey bred and part owned, God Help Us (ex. Stravinsky mare By Any Means), who scored in a thriller over 1600m at Strathalbyn.

A BIG FUTURE … GODWILLING!

Home-bred 4YO, Godwilling, appears to be a sprinter with a big future and could well figure in autumn calculations for leading NSW trainer Kris Lees.

The son of God’s Own has now pieced together two wins and a half length second from just the three outings following his commanding victory over 1100m at Canterbury on 16 December.

The lightly raced sprinter certainly has a lot to live up to … bred at Eliza Park by principal Lee Fleming, Godwilling is out of the Group winner and Golden Slipper placegetter, Millrich (ex. Rubiton).

Sold to Frampton Racing at the 2009 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Godwilling (below) is one of six winners by Millrich (from seven to race) including the multiple stakes winner and promising young sire Danerich … each of them bred at Eliza Park.

YOU THE (WO)MAN

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:48:00 +0000

OK, regardless of what the handicappers say, most of us reckon Black Caviar is the best in the world. Full stop.

Frankel, smankel we say and a good proportion of us believe she’d hand his you-know-what to him if they met over 1400m. Not that we’re biased :)

For the moment though we’ll just to console ourselves in the knowledge that Bel Esprit’s girl is still the BEST mare in the WORLD and still the BEST sprinter in the WORLD according to the latest international rankings released this week.

AAP takes up the story:

Australian champion Black Caviar has achieved the highest ever international rating for a mare in the latest world rankings.

The International Federation of Horse Authorities released its rankings on Tuesday with the unbeaten English middle distance start Frankel on top with 136.

Black Caviar was next and was also named the world’s best sprinter.

During 2011, Black Caviar won all her eight starts including six at Group One level and extended her career winning sequence to 16.

She was given an interim rating of 130 after her Newmarket Handicap victory in March and this was lifted to 132 in the final listings.

“The rating assigned to Black Caviar reflects her absolute dominance in the Newmarket Handicap where she gave weight and trounced her rivals to win in the fastest time ever recorded in the 138 year history of Australia’s iconic sprint race,” Greg Carpenter, Australia’s representative on the rankings committee, said..

Her ranking exceeds the previous highest for a sprinter of 125 by Oasis Dream in 2003 and the best by a mare of 130 by Goldikova in 2009.

Black Caviar headed the older sprint division ahead of Australian bred and Singapore trained Rocket Man (125) and Hay List (122) (by Statue of Liberty) who ran second to the mare in the TJ Smith Stakes and the BTC Cup.

The rankings take into account all performances throughout the world, irrespective of where individual horses raced or were trained, during the calendar year.

To merit inclusion in the rankings, a horse must have been rated at 115 or above.

Of the 351 to make the rankings in 2011, 47 were Australian-trained.

Three-year-olds Sepoy and Atlantic Jewel were also declared champions in their respective age and distance categories.

Sepoy was given a rating of 123 for his victories against older horses in the Group One Manikato Stakes at weight-for-age and the Group Two Caulfield Sprint under handicap conditions against older horses.

Atlantic Jewel (121) was the champion three-year-old filly in the intermediate distance category for her seven length win in the Wakeful Stakes (2000m).

Atlantic Jewel was assigned a rating of 121 for that win, the same rating she achieved for her victory in the Thousand Guineas (1600m).

She shared the title of champion filly in the mile category with outstanding French trained filly Immortal Verse who defeated Goldikova to win the Group One Jacques Le Marois.

Joining Sepoy and Atlantic Jewel in the three-year-old listings were Helmet (119), Manawanui (118), Mosheen (116), Smart Missile (116), Streama (116), Foxwedge (115) and Induna (115).

Dual Cox Plate winner So You Think was assigned a rating of 126 for his three wins at Group One level in Europe.

For the second successive year, the highest rated performance in a race further than 2700m was produced by Americain for his fourth in the Melbourne Cup under 58kg, 1.25 lengths behind the winner Dunaden who carried 54.5kg.

Americain’s performance was rated superior to Orfevres (122) win in the Japanese St Leger, Masked Marvels (121) victory in the English St Leger and the Ascot Gold Cup win of Fame and Glory (121).

In winning the Emirates Melbourne Cup, Dunaden achieved a rating of 118, the fifth best performance in a staying race in 2011.

Carpenter said the reason Americain rated considerably higher than Dunaden was because he conceded his rival 3.5kg, which equated to about six lengths over 3200m.

THEY’RE OFF!

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:43:00 +0000

Good luck to all vendors and buyers as today marks the start of the yearling sale circus, traditionally kicking off with the Gold Coast Magic Millions at downtown Bundall.

Eliza Park is proud to present nine yearlings, including sons and daughters Bel Esprit, Magnus, Statue of Liberty, Ad Valorem, Bernardini, Duke of Marmalade, Hard Spun and Street Sense.

For a full rundown of the Eliza Park draft – including photos, pedigrees and videos – click here.

Tollesprit - a close relation in blood to Lot 670, the Bel Esprit colt from Jezeera

IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

Saw a cartoon recently that summed up horses perfectly: basically it opined that horses are only afraid of two things – things that move … and things that don’t.

Yearling handlers presently on the Gold Coast would concur about the ‘flighty’ nature of their charges, especially when it comes to bunting that he even shows of a hint of flapping.

However, as ANZ Bloodstock reported yesterday, the Gold Coast heat has produced a win for valour over discretion for the Bel Esprit colt from Jezeera.

ANZ takes up the yarn …

The day before the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast begins the heat was well and truly on at the sales complex on Monday, writes Darryl Sherer. Under a sweltering sky the temperature soared and it was hard work for those working their way through inspections, and even harder for staff and horses.

The more ingenious of horse staff found different ways of keeping their horses cool but the prize of the day belongs to Eliza Park Stud manager Jenny Saunders. Standing with the Bel Esprit colt out of Jezeera (Jetball), the bay was happy to stand in front of an industrial fan dispensing a fine mist of water, keeping both horse and handler cool.

“He loves it,” Saunders said. “I tried it this morning and he loved it, he drags me over to it now.” Lot 670 is, like Bel Esprit’s unbeaten daughter Black Caviar inbred to Vain, and he is a three-quarter brother to the Group-placed Tollesprit. He has been out plenty of times to take advantage of the relieving mist. “We left 40 degree heat in Victoria last week and now we’re here but we expect the heat and it’s great that the fans are here to help, it makes a difference.”

Eliza Park’s John Jeffs reported that inspections had been steady. “We’ve been busy and getting busier, which is good. We have got some nice horses here and certainly the Bel Esprit colt is already proving very popular.”

A GOOD DAY IN CALIFORNIA

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:14:00 +0000

Eliza Park globetrotter, Phil Marshall, is currently wending his way back to the land of Oz after spending Christmas in the UK: taking a detour to the US of A for a peek at Pressday.

The Group One winning 2YO is now in the stables of California trainer, John Sadler (left), and according to Phil, has come up a treat.

“John (Sadler) is very, very sweet on Pressday (below) and has an ambitious program set out for the horse,” Phil points out. “If all goes well he should make his American debut in the Group Two Arcadia Stakes over 1600m on turf on 4 February, while his main aim is the Group One Kilroe Mile on 3 March … probably the best turf mile race in the USA.”

Poised to stand at Eliza Park this spring, Pressday’s chances of shuttling will rest largely on his performances in the States: “As a grandson of Red Ransom, we feel he (Pressday) has genuine international appeal and if we can get a reverse shuttle deal it will help secure the horse’s future,” Eliza Park principal, Lee Fleming, told AAP last month.

“John has had good results with horses from Australian and New Zealand,” Lee adds.

Indeed, Sadler trained New Zealand-bred mare Black Mamba to a Grade One victory, while Red Arrow, a weight-for-age placegetter in Australia for Anthony Cummings, also made a winning transition to United States racing under his care.

Horses trained by Sadler have earned more than $US70 million and he has won titles at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita and De Mar.

Internationally, Sadler is best known as the trainer of Our New Recruit, winner of the 2004 Golden Shaheen Stakes in Dubai.

GREAT ADVERT FOR PADDOCK CLEANERS

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:12:00 +0000

LIFE ON THE FARM

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:50:00 +0000

Despite Mother Nature turning up the heat, it’s worth noting that Eliza Park’s Tracey Doolan snapped the following photos in the first week of January. Looking good!

SELL’S BELLE

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:39:00 +0000

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but the win of the Michael Sell trained Milwaukee Belle at Kyneton yesterday was very, VERY good.

After running third at Mildura on debut on 9 December, it was clear the 3YO filly had some ability, but the performance over 1125m at Kyneton was something else.

Jumping from the widest barrier in the eight horse field, Milwaukee Belle missed the kick and was looking a little lost, but Luke Londregan soon took her to the lead and there she stayed.

Holding a handy lead turning for home, Londregan hit the power switch and away she went, scoring by five lengths.

Sure, it wasn’t Flemington on Derby day, but it’s worth noting that the field included a couple of runners from the powerful Hayes stable, while the favourite – Sward – is owned by Darley and trained by Anthony Freedman.

Racing out of the Michael Sell stable, Milwaukee Belle is out of the Dehere mare Milwaukee Flyer, who hails from the family of Caulfield Guineas winner Chortle and Kiwi Group One winner Rockabubble.

Milwaukee Flyer was bred and is part owned by Peter Lord, who also bred and part owns another handy Bel Esprit performer in Belcino.

BE WISE – BACK GOD

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:31:00 +0000

GOD rather famously delivered the goods a couple of millennia ago, but his namesake is providing owners, punters and breeders with a bit of cash to load up on their own Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh for Christmas.

In the past fortnight, God’s Own – who stands at Eliza Park in conjunction with Yallambee Stud – has produced 11 winners and, consequently, is shooting up the national Third Season Sires’ chart: firmly entrenched in the top 10 by winners.

The ‘run’ continued into the weekend with Eliza Park homebred, Godwilling, scoring at Canterbury on Friday night.

The Kris Lees trained sprinter is only lightly raced, but had his mind well and and truly on the job on Friday, scoring comfortably over the 1100m journey and taking his career tally to two wins and a second from only three starts.

Out of the Group winning (and Golden Slipper third) Rubiton mare Millrich, Godwilling is one of six winners out of this top class producer who is also the dam of Group winner and sire, Danerich.

It certainly augurs well for the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale in February when Eliza Park will consign a half brother (by Commands) to Godwilling (Lot 66).

God’s Own also weighed in with another winner on Saturday when Seven Squared (from the Raise A Stanza mare Wingin’ a Prayer) scored easily at King Island, but it could so easily have been a double after Andrew Noblet’s Terpsichore (from the Jugah mare Rain Dance Lady) went within a whisker of notching up a win at headquarters. Beaten a neck in the Beachside Handicap over 1420m at Flemington, Terpsichore has to be one of the unluckiest horse’s in training. She had to be steadied to avoid climbing over the backs of runners on Saturday … at her previous outing when second at Morphettville she was forced to race wide when again beaten a neck … and, at her first run back from a spell in November, she knuckled over on jumping and was held up for a run in the straight.

And just to round out the weekend, the Terry and Katrina O’Sullivan trained, Belzeus (from the Balmerino mare Balmaria) scooted away for a two length romp at Horsham to take his tally to a win and a second from four outings.

Stay tuned – there’s more presents on the way!

Godwilling

BEL PICKS UP 6

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:29:00 +0000

Victoria’s Champion Sire, Bel Esprit, hasn’t missed a beat in the last few days either with a treble on Friday, a double on Saturday and a winner on Sunday.

Natalie McCall’s Ballroom Dance (from the Bellotto mare Fanza) got the ball rolling (oops, a pun) by comfortably capturing a 1000m scamper at the Sunshine Coast before Neil Dyer’s consistent Bel Sir (from the Group winning Euclase mare Mrs Bently) led all the way to score by two and a half panels at Moonee Valley.

Bel Sir has only once been out of the money is 10 starts this time in and was an unlucky second at Morphettville at his previous outing after jumping awkwardly and finding no space in the run home.

Lam Wai Yuen Steven (yep, try saying that quickly with a mouthful of marbles) is one of the top trainers in Singapore and he’s got a fairly handy type in China Eagle (from the Noalcoholic mare Apalachicola) who rounded out the treble by scoring over 1700m at Kranji.

On Saturday, John Salanitri’s filly To Be Honest (hailing from the Cossack Warrior mare Miss Lardydar) produced a gun performance to score by 3 lengths over 2000m at Colac, while the 7YO Vigneron (ex. Woodman mare Lenswood) notched up his sixth career victory in fine style with an equally impressive performance over 1400m at Bathurst.

And last, but certainly not least for Simon Drewitt and his band of owners, the classy mare Lady Reyane (from Mustin Lake mare True Blue Spirit) was indeed true blue in taking out a 1200m event at Port Lincoln, fighting on gamely to register another spine tingling victory.

Bel Sir

MAGNUS HALF TO CASSINI

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:24:00 +0000

Buyers hunting for a Magnus (below) at the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier will have 35 opportunities to take one home and, courtesy of Cassini’s victory in the Group Three Manawatu Cup in New Zealand on the weekend, Lot 57 will assuredly be one of the most popular.

Firstly, the bay colt is the first Magnus off the rank, secondly he’s a cracking type and last but not least, he’s a half brother to Cassini whose Manawatu Cup win is the second stakes victory for the classy mare.

Bred by Eliza Park, Cassini is out of the Honor Grades mare, Mathematical, who has also produced three other winners including the multiple Group placed Prestigious Miss, and is a daughter of Group One winner True Devotion.

Magnus has only had limited representation to date, but his four runners have all garnered cheques including Imprimus and Magnus Reign, both of which were stakes placed on debut.

WELCOME TO 2012

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:21:00 +0000

Well, Christmas is just about upon us and for those of us in the thoroughbred industry, yuletide beckons much more than a tubby bloke in a red suit.

The Gold Coast Magic Millions kicks off on 11 January and Eliza Park will consign 15 youngsters north, including sons and daughters of Bel Esprit, Magnus, Statue of Liberty (his first Eliza Park crop), Lonhro, Testa Rossa, Duke of Marmalade, Commands, Ad Valorem, Bernardini, Street Sense, Hard Spun and Kheleyf (click here for Eliza Park entries which currently include seven updates since the catalogue was released).

Then it’s on to the Sydney Classic (22-24 January) where an even dozen will venture to the Inglis sales complex, including pairs from Bel Esprit and Statue of Liberty, along with yearlings by Magnus, Written Tycoon, Shinzig, Lonhro, Henrythenavigator, Elvstroem, Snippetson and Kheleyf (click here).

In the past two years, Eliza Park has enjoyed considerable success across the pond and will again take a select group to New Zealand for its national series (30 January-3 February): leading the way are progeny by Exceed And Excel (Lot 68 being a close relation to Black Caviar), Lonhro, Sebring and Northern Meteor (click here) while there is also a God’s Own half brother to two Group winners in the Select Session (click here).

However, it’s back on home turf – and in Adelaide – where Eliza Park will again have its largest representation.

At the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier (27 February-1 March – click here) Eliza Park will be represented by no less than 64 yearlings, while at the Adelaide Magic Millions (13-14 March – click here), 36 will make the trek to Morphettville.

In Melbourne, there are 10 yearlings by Magnus, 8 by Bel Esprit and 6 by Statue of Liberty, first crop progeny of Astronomer Royal and Sharkbite, along with youngsters by Fastnet Rock, Lonhro, Exceed And Excel, Testa Rossa, High Chaparral, Commands, Dehere, Choisir, Henrythenavigator, Hussonet, Stratum, Street Boss, Charge Forward, Dubawi, Dylan Thomas, Duke of Marmalade, Pins, Reset, Sebring, Starcraft, Myboycharlie, Northern Meteor, Not A Single Doubt, Any Given Saturday and Hard Spun.

Meanwhile, in Adelaide, the lineup features 6 yearlings by Written Tycoon, 5 by Magnus and 4 by Bel Esprit, along with sons and daughters of Astronomer Royal, Sharkbite, Shinzig, Statue of Liberty, God’s Own, Desert Sun, Stratum, Strategic, Duke of Marmalade, Al Maher, Beautiful Crown, Bianconi, Churchill Downs, Clangalang, Hard Spun, Husson, Murtajil and Manner Hill.

Statue of Liberty yearlings are returning to the sales ring

A TASTE OF CAVIAR

noreply@blogger.com (About Us) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:17:00 +0000

Peter Davenport, whose family bred and owns world class sprinter Hay List, could hardly be described as a shrinking violet.

He would be the first to declare that Black Caviar’s emergence on the world stage is a tremendous boost to racing in this country … the best way possible to put bums on seats in an industry that he incredibly passionate about.

But, misguided or not, he’s prepared to shoot from the lip when discussion turns to Hay List’s prospects of turning the tables on Black Caviar in 2012.

The pair have met on four occasions but according to Peter, Hay List “has never been on his game when he has taken on Black Caviar”.

He admits that he’ll either end up with “egg on my face or a slap on the back”, but further clashes between the pair do take on the aura of a title bout, albeit if one is deemed a Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali at the height of their powers.

Never one to miss a marketing opportunity, Peter has managed to secure the domain name www.blackcaviar.com.au and there’s certainly something ‘fishy’ about what he’s done with it.

Releasing a limited edition Haylist Black Caviar, the 30 gram jar of elite tucker, comes with the catchline: ‘if you can’t beat her, eat her’.

Peter reckons it’s just a bit of Christmas fun and all profits will go to another project he’s very passionate about: Living Legends.

As for Eliza Park? We’re not about to enter the debate, but it’s definitely a thrill to be standing the sires of both Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and Hay List (Statue of Liberty).

And no, this particular scribe won’t be dining out on Peter’s caviar this Christmas: more a peanut butter on toast kind of guy.