iskander.com

Japan to miss Melbourne Cup

Kristen Buchanan — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:36:00 GMT

Japan will be without any runners in the Melbourne Cup for the third year in a row.

The Australian Quarantine department has advised Racing Victoria's racing operations manager Leigh Jordon that quarantine protocols for Japanese horses wouldn't be finalised until after the Melbourne Cup is run in November.
"It is disappointing," Jordon told radio station Sport 927.
"The Japanese have had runners wanting to come out each year and again this year but we have another year without them."
The only Japanese horses to contest the Melbourne Cup were Delta Blues who narrowly won from his stablemate Pop Rock in 2006.
Jordon said among the prospects this year was Dream Journey who last start won the Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) and is owned in the same interests as Delta Blues.
Al Nasrani, who was second in the Tenno Sho (3200m), and Tokai Trick who ran sixth were also likely Melbourne Cup contenders this year.
Jordon said an import risk assessment paper was being prepared by biosecurity officials which addresses the issues regarding the importation of horses to Australia.
He said officials last month inspected quarantine facilities in Japan as part of a worldwide assessment.
"They want to put the Japanese situation in with every other import risk assessment being considered on all quarantine centres around the world," Jordon said.
"They have indicated that the assessment probably won't be released until the end of the year or early next year and will be finalised in February or March next year."

By Robert Windmill

Afforestation scores upset win in Jungle Juice Cup

Kristen Buchanan — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:37:00 GMT

Apprentice Timothy Bell lifted Afforestation to an upset victory in the Jungle Juice Cup at Cessnock on Tuesday.

Trained by Cessnock-based Robert Davies, Afforestation started at $26 and defeated $4 favourite Planet Melmac by 1-3/4 lengths with Go Gus ($51) half a length away third in the 1350-metre race.
Bell, 16, who is based at Tamworth in NSW's New England region, put himself on the racing map by claiming back-to-back city wins aboard Border Rebel at Rosehill in May and June.

Thexton to aim for quality not quantity

Kristen Buchanan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:43:47 GMT

Gold Coast trainer Maryann Thexton is having one of her best ever winter carnivals and is hopeful her luck will continue with promising three-year-old Chilled at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Facts and figures have prompted Thexton to concentrate on quality not quantity with her stable in the future after winning more than $300,000 in prizemoney during the winter carnival.
"I've won more than $300,000 this winter with three stakeswinners, a second, a third and a couple of minor cheques," she said.
"I've worked it out that to win the same amount of prizemoney at the Gold Coast I'd have to win 38 races.
"That's why I've made up my mind to focus on quality horses from now on, not quantity."
Thexton has more than 40 horses on her books and now plans to cull her team to around 15 in work.
"I went to all our spelling farms yesterday and looked at all my horses and I've started recommending some of them go to north Queensland," she said.
Thexton, who started training at Hawkesbury in NSW, has been training on the Gold Coast for the past eight years.
Her best wins during the winter were with Za Magic in the Group Three Doomben Classic (1615m) and Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at Caloundra while My First Affair started the ball rolling with her victory in the Listed Bright Shadow (1200m) at Eagle Farm in April.
While Thexton is looking to reduce her team, Chilled will not be among those to be banished north.
Chilled will be ridden by comeback jockey Stathi Katsidis in the Corporate Super Planners Handicap (1200m).
The son of Redoute's Choice will be having his first start since being gelded following his last-start failure to Tempest Tost in the Magic Millions Trophy (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January.
"I think Chilled has got a bright future but we decided to geld him after he ran last in the Magic Millions," Thexton said.
"He's been his own worst enemy and was difficult to manage as a colt.
"He's pretty good to work on the tracks but he's been more concerned with the girls in his races."
Thexton sent Chilled to Melbourne to campaign last spring but brought him back home after only one start when sixth against his own age at Caulfield on October 15.
"He was beaten just over two lengths and the form out of the race has stood up since," she said.
"It wasn't that bad a run. Orca ran second in that race and a couple of others that ran in it have gone on."
Thexton has given Chilled two barrier trials to prepare for his comeback and hasn't ruled out another trip to Melbourne in the spring.
"Melbourne is not off the agenda but he'll have to prove himself quickly," she said.
"But there's a lot of nice races for him at home if he steps up to the plate and I might freshen him up for the Doomben Summer series in December after he has a couple of runs."

25% of Weekend Hussler sold

Kristen Buchanan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:54:00 GMT

John Bath is the new managing part-owner of reigning Australian Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler whose career is being threatened by a rare leg injury.
Former managing part-owner Jill Kewish has sold her 25 per cent share of the gelding.

The other owners of Weekend Hussler have increased their stake in the rising five-year-old while trainer Ross McDonald's wife Margaret has bought five per cent.
"We've just moved all the names as they appeared in the race book up one with Margaret added at the end," McDonald said.
McDonald was unwilling to comment on how much money changed hands over the sale of the 25 per cent share in Weekend Hussler who cost $80,000 at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
He has won 12 races - including seven Group Ones - and more than $3 million prizemoney.
However the leg injury is keeping the horse away from the racetrack and McDonald has opted for a course of shock wave therapy which vet Rob McGuinness began on Weekend Hussler a week ago.
"A professor from the US suggested we try it," McDonald said.
"Time will tell how the injury responds to it. It's all trial and error at the moment."
If Weekend Hussler does come back, he is not expected to race again until next autumn at the earliest.
McDonald said he tore the synovial pad from his off fore fetlock when he jumped a shadow during the running of the Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in February, finishing fifth as odds-on favourite to Apache Cat.
The joint had become badly inflamed because of leaking fluid and the problem was discovered by an arthroscope.

By Mark Ryan

International flavour to Jungle Juice Cup

Kristen Buchanan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:45:56 GMT

Rodney Northam has never met or spoken to the Japanese owner of Prior Baron who represents the trainer's first starter in the iconic Jungle Juice Cup at Cessnock.

However, come Tuesday, Northam hopes to communicate good news back to Masashi Kobayashi, an avid breeder and racehorse owner who controls a large paper manufacturing company in Japan.
Prior Baron will be ridden by apprentice Vicky Schubert in the 1350m event that commenced in 1981 and attracts a boisterous crowd of 5,000-plus annually.
The five-year-old gelding only needs luck in running to be thereabouts in the finish, Scone-based Northam said.
"The horse has done super. I couldn't be happier with him."
Northam has trained several horses for Mr Kobayashi, who has had strong links to Australian racing for more than a decade and won the 1996 VRC Oaks with My Brightia.
Mr Kobayashi's Australian interests are controlled by Satomi Oka, the Japanese representative at Williams Inglis.
"I've never met Mr Kobayashi, all my dealings have been through Satomi (Oka)," Northam said.
"Originally Prior Baron was supposed to go to Singapore but he was a box walker and they kept him here.
"He's been a consistent little horse, honest, and he's very easy to work with.
"When you look at his recent form it's good. He won well at Canterbury then was a bit stiff not to win at Tamworth, he got caught wide but kept coming at them.
"He's only a lightly-framed horse. I don't do a lot with him and he's never had a problem, soreness issues whatever, throughout his career.
"He likes a bit of speed on to perform best and he should get that at Cessnock."
Prior Baron, a winner of seven from 29 starts, finished 1-1/2 lengths fifth to Hot Gemini over 1200m at Tamworth on June 21 and prior to his Canterbury win on June 3 was a most unlucky fourth to Cruzado over 1300m at Scone on May 15.
The Albert Stapleford-trained Cruzado, last year's Jungle Juice Cup winner, is back to defend the crown with Steve Parr in the saddle.
Local hero Robert Thompson has been booked for the Guy Walter-trained Mr Incredible. Thompson has seven Cup wins to his credit, the last on Beaucastel in 1994.
Thompson piloted the Warwick Farm based Walter's first Group One winner - Sharscay in the 1995 Canterbury Guineas.
Topweight Ollie Vollie has been withdrawn with trainer Sue Grills to concentrate on the John Carlton Cup on Thursday and $130,000 Ramornie Handicap at Grafton on July 15.

By Tony White

Another 2 yr old winner for Southern Image

Kristen Buchanan — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:14:00 GMT

Iskander.com stallion Southern Image (USA) posted another 2yr old winner in North America on Thursday.

Queen La Turka contested the 1000m 2 yr old event with ease, drawing away to score a 4 1/4 length win at just her second start.
The win of Queen La Turka follows on from an earlier victory at Hollywood for the speedy filly Southern Fireball, who also posted a 4 length win and smashed a class record at her second outing.
A triple Group One winning grand-son of influential sire Halo, Southern Image (USA) stands for Iskander.com in conjunction with the renowned Widden Stud in Australia. He returns to Widden Stud this spring at the reduced fee of $9,900 and will have his first Australian runners in the new season.

For all enquiries about Southern Image and all other iskander.com stallions, please contact Suman Hedge on 13 13 40

Court Command chasing Group One glory

Kristen Buchanan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:31:00 GMT

The decision has been made to keep the promising QLD stallion on the racetrack for another season in order to secure a Group One win.

Wattle Brae stud principal Gary Turkington has announced Court Command will soon return to work with trainer Liam Birchley to prepare for a spring campaign.
Court Command spent last spring at Wattle Brae Stud on Queensland's Darling Downs and served a book of more than 100 mares with 90 per cent fertility.

Iskander.com brokered the stallion deal that led to Turkington's purchase of Court Command, recommending the stallion because he was such a magnificent, athletic type.

Sheriff Iskander commented "It's great to see the horse doing well for them, although some of our clientele will be disappointed not to send their mares in 2009. We really hope he kicks the Group One goal for Wattlebrae - his comeback has been amazing and his value as a stallion will skyrocket as a result."

Turkington decided to give the five-year-old another chance on the track and sent him to Birchley to be prepared for the winter carnival, including the Group One Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicap.
The son of Commands performed above expectations and was rated most unlucky at his first start for more than a year when 13th to Mr Hornblower in the Listed Prime Minister's Cup (1300m) at the Gold Coast in May.
He then won the Group Three BTC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben but his hopes of winning the Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke were ruined by wet tracks.
Turkington believes Court Command will become an elite-class stallion if he can win a Group One race before he's retired again next year.
"We've decided after a lot of thought to give it a go and see how good he is," Turkington said.
"He's a magnificent horse and is no problem in the stud barn and is very fertile.
"His racing career was limited when EI (equine influenza) hit and if he could win a Group One he'll be in elite class as a stallion."

Court Command struggled in heavy condition when 15th to Apache Cat in the Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on May 23 before putting up a brave performance in similar conditions when sixth to Black Piranha in the $1 million Stradbroke (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 6.
"He got skittled in the Prime Minister's Cup which was his first run for 58 weeks," Turkington said.
"Then after he won at Doomben he had no luck in the 10,000 and Stradbroke as he doesn't like the wet.
"He's only had 14 starts and is still young so we weighed up the pros and cons and have decided to give him another go."
Turkington said Court Command would begin pre-training next week before heading back to Birchley's stables at Eagle Farm.
"Liam thinks he could become a top weight-for-age miler," he said.
"We've got plenty of options with him in the spring and there's several races to choose from in either Sydney or Melbourne.
"After the spring he'll have a light spell and then there's races like the Futurity in Melbourne in February."
Court Command won three Group races as a three-year-old in Sydney including the Group Two Stan Fox Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in 2006 which earned him favouritism for the Group One Caulfield Guineas in which he finished third to Wonderful World.
He then had two brief campaigns but lost form before becoming stranded by equine influenza.

A large number of breeders will be disappointed to miss out on using Court Command for the coming Stud season, however, those lucky enough to have bred their mares to him in 2008 will be glad at the prospect of upgrading on their investment.

By Glenn Davis

Mad Rush out for the season

Kristen Buchanan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:12:00 GMT

English stayer Mad Rush, last year's unplaced Melbourne Cup favourite, is out for the season after being injured in the Group Three Curragh Cup on Saturday.

The Luca Cumani-trained five-year-old, who was seventh to Viewed in the Melbourne Cup, was favourite for the Curragh Cup but trailed in last of five to Profound Beauty and was found to be lame.
At his previous start, his first since his Melbourne effort, the Lemon Drop Kid entire scored a narrow win in the Listed Wheb Tapster Stakes (2414m) at Goodwood on June 5.
"As the result said, he pulled up lame and is injured. He will have a long rest and probably won't be out again this season," Cumani told the Racing Post.

Golden Rose set for Group One status

Kristen Buchanan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:19:12 GMT

The richest race of the Sydney spring, the $1 million Golden Rose, is set to be elevated to Group One status.

The Australian Pattern Committee made a recommendation to the Australian Racing Board (ARB) to lift the Sydney Turf Club's 1400m Rosehill feature from Group Two at a meeting on Tuesday.
"The STC's Golden Rose, if approved by the ARB, will join the Ascot Vale Stakes in Victoria as only the second Group One race for three-year-olds in Australia below 1600 metres," chairman of the Pattern Committee Alan Brown said.
"In its short history it has consistently produced outstanding fields and would thoroughly deserve elevation to Group One."
Since its first running in 2003, the Golden Rose has become an excellent form race with last year's winner Duporth going on to win the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben in May.
The equine influenza virus resulted in the 2007 race being run in the autumn last year and won by Golden Slipper winner Forensics.
Inaugural winner In Top Swing went on to claim the Caulfield Guineas.
Savabeel, who ran fifth to Doonan in the 2004 Golden Rose, won the Group One Spring Champion Stakes two starts later before going on to score in the Cox Plate.
The Bart Cummings-trained God's Own ran fourth to Paratroopers in the 2005 Golden Rose and went on to win the Caulfield Guineas.
John O'Shea's Racing To Win is another successful graduate from the Golden Rose.
He finished second in 2005 and went on to score multiple Group One victories including the Epsom and Doncaster Handicaps in 2006.
Econsul, who ran fourth in 2004 won the Caulfield Guineas a few starts later.
Before 2003 the race was known as the Peter Pan Stakes and was a Group Two event over 1500m.

McEvoy notches 1000th winner at Randwick

Kristen Buchanan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Kerrin McEvoy has come a long way since riding his first winner on a dusty track at Ceduna in South Australia to notching number 1,000 at Randwick.

His success on Brew in the Melbourne Cup of 2000 catapulted McEvoy into the spotlight just a couple of weeks after he finished his apprenticeship.
After riding the Godolphin-owned Beekeeper to third in the 2002 Melbourne Cup, McEvoy headed to Dubai and then spent several years as the number two jockey behind Frankie Dettori for Godolphin in Europe.
He returned to Australia last year, keeping his association with Sheikh Mohammed as part of the Darley Australia empire under Peter Snowden in Sydney.
But it was Rosehill trainer Chris Waller who shared in the history-making event on Tuesday as McEvoy steered former English stayer Bright Mind to victory in the AJC Convention Centre Handicap (2400m).
"It's a relief and it's on to the next 1,000 now," McEvoy said.
"It's good to get it done and if I couldn't do it on one of Darley's then to win on this horse is the next best thing.
"I've won a few races on him now."
Waller, who has several European imports in his stable, said McEvoy's overseas experience paid off with Bright Mind.
"Kerrin is very good on these types of horses and seems to have the key to the English stayers," he said.
During his time in Europe, McEvoy rode seven Group One winners including Shamardal and Dubawi, both of whom graduated to become Darley stallions.
"It's been a good ride and I've been lucky to win some of the best races in the world," McEvoy said.
"Shamardal won the St James's Palace at Royal Ascot and I won the Prix Jacques le Marois on Dubawi.
"But I still remember my first winner on the dirt track at Ceduna.
"It was Easter Saturday 1997. I was 16 years old and I think it was my 14th race ride and I won for trainer Butch Hebberman."
Life has changed for McEvoy and his wife Cathy who welcomed their first child Charlie late last year and are now firmly entrenched in Sydney.
After a rough start due to several suspensions, he is fighting out third place on the jockeys' premiership with Glyn Schofield.
Bright Mind's win brought up a treble for Waller in successive races after wins by Deer Valley and Every Man's Dream.
The Darley team failed to land a winner on the program, leaving Snowden 2-1/2 wins adrift of Gai Waterhouse (78-1/2) in the battle for the Sydney trainers' premiership.
Waller is a clear third, ending the day on 55-1/2 with Joe Pride next on 37.