iskander.com

Star Scream unlikely for Derby

Administrator — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:30:00 GMT

Peter Moody-trained Star Scream remains only a rough chance of contesting next month's Queensland Derby despite his powerhouse performance to win at Caulfield.

The three-year-old produced a stunning form reversal after being easily beaten at Flemington to snatch long neck win over Fieldmaster and Cabeza in Saturday's PDF Food Services Handicap (2000m).

Stablemate Garozzo, who is also nominated for the Queensland Derby, finished fourth.

Moody's leading Queensland Derby candidates Tee Emar and Arvan are already in Brisbane.

The Caulfield trainer said Star Scream and Garozzo were still under consideration for the classic but would only start if he thought they would be competitive.

"I am happy to go if we think they can run well but we're not going to make up the numbers," Moody said.

"We have three weeks to assess it."

Star Scream has won three of his nine starts but Moody doubts he is seasoned enough for a Derby.

"He is quite immature and everything says he will be better at four and five," Moody said.

Two starts ago Arvan beat Star Scream in a photo finish at Sandown and ridden by apprentice Jack Hill on Saturday he was given little hope of winning at $20 after his last start 10th to Kutchinsky at Flemington.

Hill was under similar instructions to last start when he was told to ride for luck from back in the field and this time it paid off.

"It is good to see the horse hit the line well," Moody said.

"Last start he peeled out and got knocked sideways but it came off this time."

Moody said Star Scream, a son of Testa Rossa, would win his share of races but he believed at this stage of his career he would be better placed staying in Melbourne for one more run at Flemington in the Rod Johnson Handicap (2000m) on June 12, the same day as the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm.

He said Garozzo, who was one of the favourites on Saturday at $4.40, was paying the penalty for his consistency with big weights.

This campaign he has raced five times for two wins and two minor placings.

"He is doing a good job but he is still learning," Moody said.

By Robert Windmill

Gold Trail touches down in England

Administrator — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:19:00 GMT

Australian sprinter Gold Trail has arrived safely in England after a delayed flight from Singapore.

Gold Trail was a gallant fourth in last Sunday's KrisFlyer Sprint at Kranji, prompting the decision to continue travelling him to England and the Royal Ascot meeting in June.

The speedster will be joined at Newmarket next week by Nicconi and Alverta with all three out to uphold the winning reputation of Australians at the Royal meeting.

Nicconi and Gold Trail are to contest the King's Stand (1000m) on June 15, the first day of the carnival, while Alverta runs in the Golden Jubilee four days later.

Choisir won both races in 2003 to set the stage for other Australians to follow with Takeover Target successful in the 2006 King's Stand.

Miss Andretti won the race a year later and Scenic Blast was successful last year.

Trainer Gary Portelli has to pinch himself to think Gold Trail can be mentioned among those horses.

"I can't believe we're talking about Gold Trail as an international sprinter," Portelli said.

"When we bought him I thought he would struggle to win in Australia.

"We thought he might win some nice city races but he continues to step up and surprise us."

His first foray into Group One company resulted in a third to Nicconi and Danleigh in last year's Galaxy (1100m) at Randwick.

During the late winter and early spring Gold Trail racked up three placings and a dashing win in the Group Two Shorts (1100m) after which Portelli and the five-year-old's owners targeted the Group One Railway Stakes (1200m) in Auckland on New Year's day.

He ran the field ragged and held on to claim his first, and so far only, win over 1200 metres.

The distance stretches Gold Trail out of his comfort zone which is another reason for Portelli to be proud of his Singapore effort behind Green Birdie.

"He did a lot of work up front and at the 200 (metres) I thought he might still be a chance," he said.

"But the 1200 is just beyond what he likes so the King's Stand should be to his liking."

The trip to England will be a first for Portelli.

"It's one place I've never been to and I'm looking forward to seeing how things are done there," he said.

"I will travel over about eleven days from the race and be there for his major gallops leading up to the race."

Trainer David Hayes was pleased with Nicconi after he tuned up for his departure with an exhibition gallop at Caulfield on Saturday while the Paul Messara-trained Alverta had an easy workout in a Muswellbrook barrier trial on Thursday.

Both horses will leave from Melbourne on Wednesday.

British bookmakers have installed Nicconi as 6-1 favourite for the King's Stand with former Australian Starspangledbanner at 12-1 and gold Trail at 16-1.

By Caryl Williamson

Masquerader has sights on spring

Administrator — Sun, 23 May 2010 23:10:00 GMT

David Payne welcomes unbeaten colt Masquerader back to his stable this week to begin a preparation aimed at the Caulfield Guineas this spring.

After his win in the Todman Stakes in March, Masquerader's owners paid the $150,000 late entry fee to put him in the Golden Slipper.

But just hours before the final field was declared, Masquerader suffered a back muscle injury at morning trackwork which forced him to miss the race.

Payne said Masquerader had fully recovered during his enforced break.

"He has had plenty of time off and comes back to Rosehill on Monday," Payne said.

"He will be ready for the early three-year-old races and the Caulfield Guineas is what he will be aimed at.

"I think we will see the best of him once he gets to 1600 metres."

Payne said the Group One Golden Rose was a possible not probable target as a late entry fee for that race would need to be paid.

Horses among the original nominations for the Golden Slipper are also entered for the three-year-old race at Rosehill in August.

"He's not in the Golden Rose but we'll see what happens after he runs in a race like the Up And Coming," Payne said.

"I believe he is a very serious horse and hopefully he gets to show that this spring."

While he is looking forward to the big spring races, Payne isn't finished with the winter yet as Centennial Park heads towards the Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane.

Centennial Park currently occupies 31st position in the ballot order for the Group One Stradbroke (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 12 with several defectors above him.

The field limit for the $1 million Stradbroke at Eagle Farm on June 12 is 18 with two emergencies.

Centennial Park is at $26 on TAB Sportsbet with Ortensia holding favouritism at $5.50 ahead of Whobegotyou and Latin News at $7.50.

Winner of the Group Three AAMI Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last October, Centennial Park came within a short half head of a Group Two victory when beaten by Brilliant Light in the Ajax Stakes in March.

By Caryl Williamson

Brisbane Cup target for Persian Star

Administrator — Sun, 23 May 2010 23:06:00 GMT

Robert Smerdon has had a rethink on the immediate future of Persian Star and is now aiming her at next month's Brisbane Cup.

The five-year-old mare, who Smerdon describes as an "absolute revelation", has won her past two starts including the Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m) at Flemington on May 15.

Initially Smerdon thought the mare had done enough after winning four of her 14 starts this campaign which started in November last year, but he decided to extend it after talking to jockey Glen Boss.

"Bossy threw up the Brisbane Cup as a race that would suit so we are going to give it a go,' Smerdon said.

"It will be about four weeks between her last run and the Cup so it gives us a chance to freshen up her up for the 2400 metres.

"She is in form and has come though her last run well so we will push on."

Persian Star joined Smerdon's stable as a tried horse early last year and had bone chips removed from both her fetlocks before her career took off.

Boss, who rode her in the Ramsden, said the Brisbane Cup looked a logical option for her.

"Mares once they hit form can hold for it for quite a while," Boss said.

"Until she goes off why put her out.

"I didn't actually say go, but she is flying and I said to Robert if she does well why not take her to the Brisbane Cup.

"It is hard to believe she has had 14 runs this campaign and is going as good as she is.

"I thought when she won the two mile race last start she was definitely better than she was the start before."

The Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) is at Eagle Farm on June 12.

By Robert Windmill

Schofield to ride Gai's hope in McKell

Administrator — Thu, 20 May 2010 01:12:00 GMT

Glyn Schofield is hoping to continue a recent good run with trainer Gai Waterhouse when he partners Common Objective in Saturday's McKell Cup.

With stable rider Nash Rawiller in Brisbane on Saturday and Kerrin McEvoy, who rode Common Objective to win the Lord Mayor's Cup last start also heading north, Schofield has been given the call to partner the tough stayer in the 2400m Listed feature at Rosehill.

Schofield won the Listed JRA Plate (2000m) on Herculian Prince for the trainer during the Randwick autumn carnival.

He also claimed a winning double at Canterbury on May 5 for Waterhouse and rode Geffen to victory at the same track on Wednesday.

Schofield has never ridden Common Objective but took note of the five-year-old's tough effort in winning the $100,000 Lord Mayor's Cup (2000m) last start.

He said the gelding looked a very good ride on paper.

"It was a good win by him the other day, he was very strong at the finish," Schofield said.

"It looked like the other horse (Music Review) was going to get on terms with him and go past him but he wouldn't let her by.

"He's a strong frontrunner and the trip suits, so all looks good."

Common Objective goes into the McKell Cup fourth-up after finishing fifth in the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury second-up on May 1.

Waterhouse then backed the son of Redoute's Choice up in the Lord Mayor's Cup over 2000m a week later and he produced a strong frontrunning performance to defeat Music Review by a short neck.

Schofield has been booked for all of Waterhouse's Rosehill runners on Saturday, including Power Of Flight in the 1500m Benchmark 75 for three-year-olds.

The jockey rode him to a 3-3/4-length Maiden win over 1550m at Canterbury last Wednesday.

"He takes a little step up to Saturday grade but he was a dominant winner last start," Schofield said.

By Mathew Toogood

Cassidy predicts big future for Slater

Administrator — Thu, 20 May 2010 01:08:00 GMT

Champion jockey Jim Cassidy declared the sky was the limit for superbly-bred two-year-old Slater after he scored a debut win at Canterbury on Wednesday.

The son of Redoute's Choice out of triple Group One winner Special Harmony ran down the Gai Waterhouse-trained Someday Somehow to win theraces.com.au Handicap (1100m) by half a head.

There was 5-1/2 lengths to the third placegetter Smash Hit.

Cassidy was immediately impressed when he first rode Slater at Warwick Farm in a trial at the end of last month and said Wednesday's win was a bonus ahead of the colt's three-year-old season.

"He's bred to be anything and I think he's the real deal," Cassidy said.

"He's got Group One written all over him, if he doesn't win a Group One I will give up."

Slater ($3.30 fav) settled third in the run, just behind the speed set by Someday Somehow ($3.70) who kicked away on the turn and opened up a good break.

Someday Somehow showed greenness in the straight and Slater charged late to grab the filly on the line.

Trainer Chris Waller said Slater had shown plenty of talent right from day one.

Waller will now send the colt for a spell before raising the bar with him as a three-year-old.

"He's a very nice horse," Waller said.

"He'll probably go to the paddock now, that was one of the reasons for running today and taking the punt that he would handle the track because it just means you can get out to the paddock that little bit earlier."

The trainer said he was keen to give Slater every chance to win a good race next season but said the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on August 28 would come up too soon for him.

"We'd like to have a good crack at something decent as a three-year-old but we're not going to shorten spells or anything like that," Waller said.

"He's a very nice, kind horse and I think he deserves to be given every chance. The three-year-old year is a long year."

The win of Slater came on the same day Waller announced Peter Muscutt would relocate from South Africa to take up the position as his new stable foreman.

Waller said the 49-year-old Muscutt had a wealth of international experience, working in South Africa, Singapore and Dubai, and came highly recommended by many including Sydney trainer David Payne.

Muscutt is expected to begin within the next month.

By Mathew Toogood

Mustang chasing Brisbane trip

Administrator — Thu, 20 May 2010 00:47:00 GMT

Trainer Tony Noonan will give Midnight Mustang the chance to prove he is up to a Brisbane campaign when he kicks off a delayed preparation at Caulfield on Saturday.

Noonan had hoped the six-year-old would win last week's Listed The Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington for the second year in a row but shelved race plans when Midnight Mustang didn't come on as well as he expected.

"He just wasn't conditioned enough to run a solid 1200 metres first-up," Noonan said.

Craig Newitt will ride Midnight Mustang in Saturday's Undue Handicap (1000m) at Caulfield after the gelding easily won a Cranbourne barrier trial on May 3.

"The 1000 metres will suit him better," Noonan said.

"He is still a little bit big in himself but he might go up to Queensland after Saturday if he runs well enough.

"We will just see how he comes through it but there are some nice stakes races up there for him.

"He's a Listed and Group Three winner and you wouldn't think he would be too far away in those sorts of races in Brisbane."

Midnight Mustang's only run this year was in February when he resumed with an eighth to Huxssen in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington.

On that occasion jockey Brad Rawiller excused the run, telling stewards that Midnight Mustang raced on a bad section of track.

The gelding has won eight of his 23 starts and has twice won first-up.

His best win was the Group Three Spring Gully Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville in August last year.

In light of his record he will carry 58.5kg on Saturday with only Commanding Hope (59kg) assigned more weight.

Rawiller will ride Commanding Hope while other early riding engagements are Steven Arnold on Grand Duels, Glen Boss on Royal Charades and Stephen Baster on Galbraith.

By Robert Windmill

No Queensland Derby for Buffalo

Administrator — Thu, 20 May 2010 00:37:00 GMT

Peter Snowden has decided against a Queensland Derby start for Buffalo but expects the three-year-old to be hard to beat at Rosehill on Saturday.

The Red Ransom gelding was a dominant 2-1/4-length winner against older horses on Randwick's Kensington track over 1550m on May 12 but Snowden decided against stepping him up in distance again, ruling out the Queensland Derby (2400m).

Buffalo will drop back slightly in distance on Saturday in the 1500m Benchmark 75 against his own age group at Rosehill.

"I brought him and Daytona Beach back this time in with the view of getting to the Queensland Derby, but I've just run out of time," Snowden said.

"I realised I couldn't get the work into them for a Derby distance so they'll just poke along here in Sydney and get up to 2000 metres over the next six weeks and learn a bit more about them for their next preparation."

Daytona Beach was a winner over 1550m at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Buffalo has won two and been placed in another two of his six starts and heads into Saturday's race third-up from a spell.

Snowden has kept Buffalo fresh since his win a week ago and said Saturday's slight drop in distance wasn't a concern.

"I don't think going back to 1500 metres will worry him because he's still very sharp and fresh in himself," Snowden said.

"I expect him to run well again."

Snowden also nominated impressive debut winner Golestan for the 1400m 2YO Handicap on Saturday but said he would keep him for a 1200m race at Randwick a week later.

Golestan was going to be sent for a spell after winning on the Kensington track on the same day as Buffalo, but Snowden said he had done so well that he kept him in work.

The trainer is considering sending Golestan to Queensland for the Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) on June 5.

Meanwhile, Gerald Ryan is likely to run Hus Der Lieften over 1200m on Saturday in the Benchmark 75 after the three-year-old missed a scheduled barrier trial on Tuesday due to Sydney's wet weather.

He was also nominated for races over 1500m, including Buffalo's race.

Ryan is planning to step him up to 1600m in the Group Two Queensland Guineas at his next start after Saturday.

Although he missed the trial on Tuesday, Ryan said Hus Der Lieften still produced a sensational piece of work that morning over 800m.

"If he runs the way he worked on Tuesday he'll be winning," Ryan said.

By Mathew Toogood

Cup farewell for Road To Rock

Administrator — Mon, 17 May 2010 22:48:00 GMT

Stud duties await Road To Rock after the Doomben Cup but trainer Anthony Cummings hopes the entire has his mind on racing when he has his final start on Saturday.

New Zealand's Wellfield Lodge announced on Monday it had secured Road To Rock for stallion duties from next season.

The Doomben Cup (2020m) will be his racetrack swansong and gives him a chance to bow out a triple Group One winner having already claimed elite victories in the George Main and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney.

However, Road To Rock has started to show an interest in his new career, taking a fancy to rival Gold Water prior to his second in the Hollindale Stakes last Saturday week.

Gold Water is one of five mares nominated for Saturday's showpiece and Cummings is only too aware of the potential distractions.

"Hopefully she draws the other side of the field," Cummings said.

Cummings says while it will be sad to lose a horse of Road To Rock's quality from the stable, the stud deal has been a good result.

"It's a good advertisement for the stable," Cummings said.

"He cost us about $100,000 and he's been sold for quite a few million so it's a good result."

Road To Rock has won six of his 35 starts and if he wins again on Saturday he will take his prizemoney tally to more than $1.5 million.

Syndicated into 50 shares with Wellfield Lodge holding the majority interest, Road To Rock will stand at an initial fee of $NZ12,500 plus GST.

Hollindale winner Metal Bender ($2.80) shades Road To Rock ($3.50) for Doomben Cup favouritism in early TAB Sportsbet markets but Cummings has no doubt his charge can turn the tables.

"Absolutely. The race didn't work out in his favour the other day," he said.

"The other bloke got all the breaks, we got none.

"I think this will be a different race on the weekend.

"On the day the (Gold Coast) track didn't play to horses who got back and that's what Road To Rock did.

"Doomben will be a much more comfortable place for him."

Damien Oliver will be reunited with Road To Rock at Doomben after Stathi Katsidis warmed the saddle for the suspended Victorian at the Gold Coast.

Oliver won the Queen Elizabeth aboard Road To Rock two starts ago after the pair was controversially beaten by Rangirangdoo in the Doncaster when Oliver returned to scale overweight.

There has been no resolution over who will ride Metal Bender despite Hugh Bowman losing his appeal against an eight meeting suspension on Monday.

Bowman plans to launch a further appeal and apply for a stay of proceedings which, if granted, could free him to maintain his association with the Chris Waller-trained gelding on Saturday.

The Hombre new Derby favourite

Administrator — Sun, 16 May 2010 23:38:00 GMT

New Zealander The Hombre has been elevated to favouritism for the Queensland Derby following his win in the Rough Habit Plate at Doomben.

The John Bary-trained three-year-old was second past the post but won Saturday's race in the stewards' room after Jonathan Riddell's successful protest against Luke Nolen, rider of the wayward Tee Emar.

Stewards deemed The Hombre deserved the win and TAB punters agreed with his price slashed to $5 on Sunday.

Former favourite Kutchinsky, who did not race on Saturday, is the new second elect, remaining at $6.50 with Tee Emar in a group on $7.50.

Randwick winner Landlord was another big mover, firming to $11 after his 2000 metre victory on Saturday.

Bary said The Hombre was unlikely to have another start before his Group One assignment at Eagle Farm on June 12.

"He's still learning his craft and I'll see how he pulls up but he races best fresh and we will probably roll on to the Derby," Bary said.

Landlord is trained by Bart Cummings whose most recent Queensland Derby win was with Empires Choice in 2007.

The master trainer's record is currently 259 Group One wins and his chances of making it 260 in Brisbane this winter are strong with three-year-old sprinter Latin News on target for an elite win.

The Gosford Guineas winner was a close third in Saturday's BTC Cup (1200m) won by Albert The Fat from Melito.

He moved to $10 for the Doomben 10,000 on May 29 and $11 for the Stradbroke Handicap two weeks later.

However, his chances of making the Stradbroke field hinge on the weight he receives when handicaps are released on Monday.

Ortensia remains favourite for the two big sprints despite her fifth as favourite in the BTC Cup.

Hollindale Stakes winner Metal Bender continues to edge Road To Rock for favouritism in Saturday's Group One Doomben Cup.

Road To Rock finished second to Metal Bender in the Hollindale after getting boxed in on the fence.

At his previous start he won the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes after running second in the Doncaster.

Metal Bender was trained by the late Jack Denham to win the 2009 Randwick and Rosehill Guineas. He is now in the care of Chris Waller.

AAP TURF cw