Some will say it was only a win in Class 2, 800m dash – but Je Ne Sais Pas’s fluent victory at Ipswich was far more than that.
The result and the subsequent outpouring of pure pleasure by the connections of the filly was a welcome reminder of the fact that racing can, and should be, fun.
Their joy was infectious and it left most race-goers smiling – and on that basis alone, the win was a notable success giving some oomph to a meeting which might otherwise have passed quietly into the record books.
Much of the owners’ adrenaline rush came from the fact that it was their first horse, their first run and, obviously, their first winner.
“I said to Pam that we want to get something for nothing that will win plenty,” said part owner Aaron Brooks, when asked how the group came to purchase Je Ne Sais Pas - ‘Pam’, being Pam O’Neill of Brisbane Bloodstock with whom Brooks had previously had a chance meeting.
“When Aaron told me he was looking to buy a horse I suggested he look down south for a horse that perhaps wasn’t quite up to the standard where he or she was competing, but who might be good enough to produce a result or two in Queensland,” said O’Neill, taking up the story.
“Peter Bredhauer, who is a Bloodstock Agent in Toowoomba suggested this horse,” continued O’Neill. “It was only about six weeks ago when the purchase was made.”
“Pam sat down with me and showed me the options and told me what she thought. So I went with her advice,” nodded Brooks, who thus, with a group of colleagues became the proud owners of their first racehorse.
Je Ne Sais Pas arrived in the yard of trainer Colin O’Neill (Pam’s husband) with a record of two wins and four places from thirteen starts. That indicated the stable had something to work with but the filly’s recent form also suggested there was plenty of work to be done.
Sadly Colin O’Neill has been fighting cancer for some time and the trainer could only do so much.
Enter Cherie O’Neill, Colin and Pam’s daughter, who has been assisting her father in the stable for the past year. It was Cherie O’Neill who played a pivotal role in the preparation of, not only Je Ne Sais Pas, but also the grey mare Checkit, who gave the stable an emotional and loudly cheered double later in the day.
Colin O’Neill was not at the track due to his ill health.
So it was that on the last day of the season, the O’Neill stable landed two winners. It was a happy send off from the training ranks for Colin O’Neill (who is not renewing his license) and a flying start for Cherie O Neill (who will be a licensed trainer in her own right when the new season kicks off).
Checkit has now been retired and Cherie O’Neill will start out with just three horses in training but the Je Ne Sais Pas / Checkit double has provided a massive boost for the stable’s self-confidence.
Things are always changing and few things should ever be taken for granted.
That is why it is great that Aaron Brooks and his fellow group of owners remembered to enjoy their moment in the sun when success came their way.
It was a lesson all race-goers should heed.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
BALDWIN REFLECTS ON HIS PREMIERSHIP WINNING SEASON
Barry Baldwin had the Brisbane Trainers’ Premiership wrapped up before the last meeting of the season at Eagle Farm, but he went out in style with Burdekin Blues routing his rivals by a widening nine length margin to provide one last celebration to complete a successful but very testing season for the Eagle Farm based trainer.
Baldwin, who also has a Trainers’ Premiership title in Macau on his resume, was pleased but also philosophical about his success.
“I’ve been lucky that I’ve had some horses come good at the right time and we’ve been able to place them nicely,”said Baldwin. “That has helped me a lot.
“EI was a problem for everybody of course,” continued Baldwin. “We all suffered.
Again I was probably very lucky to get some good advice.
A fellow said to me at the time, ‘after quarantine, don’t turn your horses out once they are cleared to leave the yard.’ He said I should keep them in the stable, his argument being that if they are off in the paddock somewhere you might not know if they have coughed or not, whereas in the stable I could monitor things more closely.
“So I did that and I think that served me well.
“You know, for me personally, EI brought good and bad into the racing scene.
"I believe a lot more damage was done to the horses than many people generally believe.
“I see it in the number of horses with breathing problems. I see it with the number of horses prone to bleeding. The lungs of a horse are so delicate.
"Some of that would have happened anyway, but I believe there is now a higher incidence of those sort of problems and I think it stems from EI. So there is a worry there.”
And the good to come out of EI?
“Over the years, with the stewards and trainers there has always been a sort of ‘them’ and ‘us’ mentality,” explained Baldwin. “Nothing sinister ... but they are the police of racing and in a sense that means they are always trying to catch us out on something.
“Well that relationship changed dramatically during the EI outbreak,” emphasised Baldwin. “I have never seen anybody bend over backwards so much to try and help the trainers as the stewards did during that time.
“I’ve got so much more respect for the stewards group after EI than I had before. Not that I had a big problem with them before or anything like that. Don’t get me wrong.
"What I’m saying is they have earned a new found respect from me. Sometimes it takes adversity to change things for the better and that’s what EI did in that case”
Baldwin will step out into the new season encouraged by his latest set of results.
His recent back to back midweek winners, Cicarelli and Burdekin Blues are just two reasons Baldwin can be optimistic about the future.
The former has won two from two. The filly came from the clouds to snatch victory on her debut over 1100m and then went to the front and trounced her opposition over 1200m in her second start.
Baldwin puts those runs, with seemingly opposing strategy, into perspective.
“We actually wanted to lead first time out but she did a few things wrong so we could’nt follow the plan,” explained Baldwin. (The Stewards report notes that Cicarelli was difficult to load, took a heavy bump at the start and was tightened for room shortly after the start).
“Then she did it the way we wanted it in her second start,” continued Baldwin, “and won very well, so yeah ... there is certainly something to work with there.
“With regard to Burdekin Blues, he was going to run on Saturday. I also have a horse called Simplest. Burdekin Blues and Simplest have the same owners and they didn’t want their runners to clash so we decided to give Burdekin Blues the easier option today.
“He would have had a workout tomorrow anyway, so, instead he went around today and picked up eight grand for his trouble.
“The most exciting thing about this horse though is ... alright he’s run a creditable second and third before this win, but I’ve been saying all the time that he is not a wet weather horse. After today maybe they’ll start believing me.”
For the record, Baldwin saddled 41 Metropolitan winners for the season, nine winners more than his closest rival, Rob Heathcote.
Like Baldwin, jockey Jim Byrne and apprentice jockey Mandy Radecker also rounded off their Premiership winning season on a high note at the last meeting.
Championship leader Byrne quickly repelled any chance of a late turnaround of fortune for the chasing Glen Colless by taking out two of the opening three events on the card aboard Cattleman and Zulu Man, while Radecker’s expertise helped Shady Prospect, who was the medium of a fair betting plunge, come home as a clear-cut winner on his debut.
Baldwin, who also has a Trainers’ Premiership title in Macau on his resume, was pleased but also philosophical about his success.
“I’ve been lucky that I’ve had some horses come good at the right time and we’ve been able to place them nicely,”said Baldwin. “That has helped me a lot.
“EI was a problem for everybody of course,” continued Baldwin. “We all suffered.
Again I was probably very lucky to get some good advice.
A fellow said to me at the time, ‘after quarantine, don’t turn your horses out once they are cleared to leave the yard.’ He said I should keep them in the stable, his argument being that if they are off in the paddock somewhere you might not know if they have coughed or not, whereas in the stable I could monitor things more closely.
“So I did that and I think that served me well.
“You know, for me personally, EI brought good and bad into the racing scene.
"I believe a lot more damage was done to the horses than many people generally believe.
“I see it in the number of horses with breathing problems. I see it with the number of horses prone to bleeding. The lungs of a horse are so delicate.
"Some of that would have happened anyway, but I believe there is now a higher incidence of those sort of problems and I think it stems from EI. So there is a worry there.”
And the good to come out of EI?
“Over the years, with the stewards and trainers there has always been a sort of ‘them’ and ‘us’ mentality,” explained Baldwin. “Nothing sinister ... but they are the police of racing and in a sense that means they are always trying to catch us out on something.
“Well that relationship changed dramatically during the EI outbreak,” emphasised Baldwin. “I have never seen anybody bend over backwards so much to try and help the trainers as the stewards did during that time.
“I’ve got so much more respect for the stewards group after EI than I had before. Not that I had a big problem with them before or anything like that. Don’t get me wrong.
"What I’m saying is they have earned a new found respect from me. Sometimes it takes adversity to change things for the better and that’s what EI did in that case”
Baldwin will step out into the new season encouraged by his latest set of results.
His recent back to back midweek winners, Cicarelli and Burdekin Blues are just two reasons Baldwin can be optimistic about the future.
The former has won two from two. The filly came from the clouds to snatch victory on her debut over 1100m and then went to the front and trounced her opposition over 1200m in her second start.
Baldwin puts those runs, with seemingly opposing strategy, into perspective.
“We actually wanted to lead first time out but she did a few things wrong so we could’nt follow the plan,” explained Baldwin. (The Stewards report notes that Cicarelli was difficult to load, took a heavy bump at the start and was tightened for room shortly after the start).
“Then she did it the way we wanted it in her second start,” continued Baldwin, “and won very well, so yeah ... there is certainly something to work with there.
“With regard to Burdekin Blues, he was going to run on Saturday. I also have a horse called Simplest. Burdekin Blues and Simplest have the same owners and they didn’t want their runners to clash so we decided to give Burdekin Blues the easier option today.
“He would have had a workout tomorrow anyway, so, instead he went around today and picked up eight grand for his trouble.
“The most exciting thing about this horse though is ... alright he’s run a creditable second and third before this win, but I’ve been saying all the time that he is not a wet weather horse. After today maybe they’ll start believing me.”
For the record, Baldwin saddled 41 Metropolitan winners for the season, nine winners more than his closest rival, Rob Heathcote.
Like Baldwin, jockey Jim Byrne and apprentice jockey Mandy Radecker also rounded off their Premiership winning season on a high note at the last meeting.
Championship leader Byrne quickly repelled any chance of a late turnaround of fortune for the chasing Glen Colless by taking out two of the opening three events on the card aboard Cattleman and Zulu Man, while Radecker’s expertise helped Shady Prospect, who was the medium of a fair betting plunge, come home as a clear-cut winner on his debut.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
PASSIONATELY YOURS TAKES HOME $50 000 BONUS
When Passionately Yours quickly made up ground from the rear of the field and swept past all of her rivals in the straight to score a quality victory in the Bracelet Handicap at Ballina on Tuesday, it provided a very special moment for the connections of the filly.
Passionately Yours was one of two runners in the field eligible for a $50 000 bonus payout, courtesy of the Brisbane Bloodstock sales company who manages a bonus scheme which offers $1 million worth of cash incentives to its sales graduates spread over 45 designated races during the season.
Under this scheme, The Ballina Bracelet offered a $50 000 bonus and it was well earned and gratefully accepted by the connections of the Darryl Gollan trained filly who powered home in convincing fashion under a superb ride from Scott Richardson.
The base stake for the race handed the winner $10 000. The Brisbane Bloodstock bonus increased the value of the win by $50 000. There was, of course, a Bracelet to go with the winners’ cheque and, to top it all, Passionately Yours earned a free service to the stallion Top Marc, who stands at Racetree for a fee of $3,300.
Not a bad day’s work for the winning connections, particularly as the meeting had been under threat due to adverse weather conditions which saw it postponed from Friday to Tuesday.
“Darryl Golan is a great supporter of our sales,” said Pam O’Neil of Brisbane Bloodstock, “so we are very happy that he has been successful.
"Having somebody win the bonus is a great promotion for our company and highlights what a great incentive the bonus scheme is for our buyers.”
This is not the first time Passionately Yours has benefitted from this bonus scheme. She also picked up a bonus amount of $10 000 in January.
“This is the first $50 000 bonus to be claimed,” confirmed O’Neill.
“Generally we would give away maybe six or seven $10 000 bonus’s a season, but this season has obviously been badly impacted on by EI, so Passionately Yours is currently the only bonus winner in 2008.”
Of the $50 000 payout, $25 000 goes to the winning owner, $12 500 goes to the winning trainer and $12 500 is for the vendor.
The Ballina Bracelet has a proud history having previously been won by the likes of quality performers such a Red Rancher, Novajinsky (who was also trained by Darryl Gollan) and Winger Charger, all of whom went on to win high profile feature events.
Passionately Yours was one of two runners in the field eligible for a $50 000 bonus payout, courtesy of the Brisbane Bloodstock sales company who manages a bonus scheme which offers $1 million worth of cash incentives to its sales graduates spread over 45 designated races during the season.
Under this scheme, The Ballina Bracelet offered a $50 000 bonus and it was well earned and gratefully accepted by the connections of the Darryl Gollan trained filly who powered home in convincing fashion under a superb ride from Scott Richardson.
The base stake for the race handed the winner $10 000. The Brisbane Bloodstock bonus increased the value of the win by $50 000. There was, of course, a Bracelet to go with the winners’ cheque and, to top it all, Passionately Yours earned a free service to the stallion Top Marc, who stands at Racetree for a fee of $3,300.
Not a bad day’s work for the winning connections, particularly as the meeting had been under threat due to adverse weather conditions which saw it postponed from Friday to Tuesday.
“Darryl Golan is a great supporter of our sales,” said Pam O’Neil of Brisbane Bloodstock, “so we are very happy that he has been successful.
"Having somebody win the bonus is a great promotion for our company and highlights what a great incentive the bonus scheme is for our buyers.”
This is not the first time Passionately Yours has benefitted from this bonus scheme. She also picked up a bonus amount of $10 000 in January.
“This is the first $50 000 bonus to be claimed,” confirmed O’Neill.
“Generally we would give away maybe six or seven $10 000 bonus’s a season, but this season has obviously been badly impacted on by EI, so Passionately Yours is currently the only bonus winner in 2008.”
Of the $50 000 payout, $25 000 goes to the winning owner, $12 500 goes to the winning trainer and $12 500 is for the vendor.
The Ballina Bracelet has a proud history having previously been won by the likes of quality performers such a Red Rancher, Novajinsky (who was also trained by Darryl Gollan) and Winger Charger, all of whom went on to win high profile feature events.
BIG DAY OUT FOR EMILY KEHOE
Apprentice jockey Emily Kehoe was all smiles after landed her first double at a TAB meeting at the Ballina on Tuesday.
Her wins came via a well-judged effort aboard the Gary Nielson trained Trick On Track and a strong front-running display on Orpen Love for her boss Stephen Lee, who was also completing a double after the stable had struck earlier in the day with Jewel Of Ephraim.
“I have landed a double on a couple of occasions before, but they were at non TAB meetings,” explained Kehoe. “I nearly rode three winners in the one day, but I was just touched off in the finish. It was ahh ... oh so close,” winced Kehoe, reliving the emotion of the near miss.
“But, yes this is my first TAB double and I’m very pleased with both that result and the way things are going generally.
“Last year was really a non-event for me,” continued Kehoe.
“I had a fall in a trial. The horse actually won the trial and I came off after the post and was out for a while so that was a setback.
“Then we had floods at the place where I was based so that didn’t help matters and then, of course, there was the whole EI situation ... so, yeah, like I say, last year was practically a non-event, which obviously makes this current success all the more enjoyable.”
Kehoe shared the days riding honours with Neil Paine who brought home You Said and Gairloch. These two winners were both saddled by Kevin Nipperness.
Her wins came via a well-judged effort aboard the Gary Nielson trained Trick On Track and a strong front-running display on Orpen Love for her boss Stephen Lee, who was also completing a double after the stable had struck earlier in the day with Jewel Of Ephraim.
“I have landed a double on a couple of occasions before, but they were at non TAB meetings,” explained Kehoe. “I nearly rode three winners in the one day, but I was just touched off in the finish. It was ahh ... oh so close,” winced Kehoe, reliving the emotion of the near miss.
“But, yes this is my first TAB double and I’m very pleased with both that result and the way things are going generally.
“Last year was really a non-event for me,” continued Kehoe.
“I had a fall in a trial. The horse actually won the trial and I came off after the post and was out for a while so that was a setback.
“Then we had floods at the place where I was based so that didn’t help matters and then, of course, there was the whole EI situation ... so, yeah, like I say, last year was practically a non-event, which obviously makes this current success all the more enjoyable.”
Kehoe shared the days riding honours with Neil Paine who brought home You Said and Gairloch. These two winners were both saddled by Kevin Nipperness.
Monday, July 28, 2008
CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR PHOTO-FINISH
There was twinkle in the eyes of Glen Colless when he made an early return to action at Doomben on Saturday.
The accomplished hoop was originally only due back from a well-earned holiday for the last meeting of the season on Wednesday, but the lure of riding a good one and the chance to have one last arm-wrestle with rival Jim Byrne for the Metropolitan Premiership title proved to be too strong to resist.
The good one in question was Charming Rogue, a three-year-old Commands gelding trained by Alan Bailey.
Charming Rogue had yet to miss a beat, moving progressively through the ranks with solid victories in a Maiden, Class 2 and Class 3 contests in his only three starts prior to Saturday’s engagement.
There was a moment of doubt early in the straight, but once Colless got his mount balanced up and asked him to quicken, the response was decisive enough to quickly put the gelding in contention and he finished off well enough score in a finely judged fashion and so keep his unbeaten record intact.
Charming Rogue’s win saw Colless halve Byrne’s lead in the Championship which is now down to a single winner with one race meeting left before the season ends.
The accomplished hoop was originally only due back from a well-earned holiday for the last meeting of the season on Wednesday, but the lure of riding a good one and the chance to have one last arm-wrestle with rival Jim Byrne for the Metropolitan Premiership title proved to be too strong to resist.
The good one in question was Charming Rogue, a three-year-old Commands gelding trained by Alan Bailey.
Charming Rogue had yet to miss a beat, moving progressively through the ranks with solid victories in a Maiden, Class 2 and Class 3 contests in his only three starts prior to Saturday’s engagement.
There was a moment of doubt early in the straight, but once Colless got his mount balanced up and asked him to quicken, the response was decisive enough to quickly put the gelding in contention and he finished off well enough score in a finely judged fashion and so keep his unbeaten record intact.
Charming Rogue’s win saw Colless halve Byrne’s lead in the Championship which is now down to a single winner with one race meeting left before the season ends.
RADECKER RULES OK
Mandy Radecker is the flavour of the month in Queensland racing – and rightly so.
Some might think the hype is all about winning the Brisbane Metropolitan Apprentice Championship, about creating history as the first female rider to win that coveted title, but, as important as those two achievements are, the return that Radecker has achieved this season goes far beyond the numbers game of who has ridden the most winners.
It is more about effort and reward, about dedication and ambition, about teamwork and loyalty. In essence, it is Radecker’s professional approach to every aspect of her career that has earned her the respect of her peers and has seen her emerge as the big winner.
Guided throughout, in good times and bad, by the deft touch of master-trainer Pat Duff, Radecker is fortunate to be blessed with both the intelligence to recognise and take on board wise council and the talent to apply what she has learned in combat conditions. That is such an obvious recipe for success, yet it eludes so many. It is often a prime factor in separating champions from also-rans.
Radecker suffered severe injuries in a fall last April. The physical challenge she faced then was substantial, as was the mental agony of coping with a costly time out of action which saw her ambition of landing the Apprentice Championship for that year left in ruins.
Such was Radecker’s commitment to her fightback against adversity, she returned to the saddle in a far quicker timeframe than any had anticipated, with her ambition still burning brightly. A new season beckoned with a new opportunity.
When a run-in with the stewards threatened to derail her efforts earlier in the year, Radecker took on that challenge as well – and won, to keep her title challenge on track and her integrity intact.
Then there was the final chase to the line to overhaul fellow-rider Michael Palmer.
The focussed dedication and impressive all-around work ethic that had become associated with Radecker’s name was about to pay dividends. Teamwork and loyalty now proved to be a formidable force as the Pat Duff stable, from trainer to owners, rallied behind the cause until, in the end, the Radecker-Palmer showdown became an unequal battle with Radecker easily reeling in and racing away from her rival at the finish.
An ambition had been realised. There will be new playing fields to conquer.
There will always be those who highlight the gender aspect of this seasons Apprentice Championship. I prefer only to mention it in passing.
If there are young woman who take inspiration out of that distinction than that story angle does have some benefit.
If Radecker’s achievement does cause even a small percentage of owners and trainers to re-think their use of lady riders in a positive sense, then Radecker has helped forge a further breakthrough for female riders, as did those who went before her.
I’d prefer to just say congratulations to a very good race rider.
Some might think the hype is all about winning the Brisbane Metropolitan Apprentice Championship, about creating history as the first female rider to win that coveted title, but, as important as those two achievements are, the return that Radecker has achieved this season goes far beyond the numbers game of who has ridden the most winners.
It is more about effort and reward, about dedication and ambition, about teamwork and loyalty. In essence, it is Radecker’s professional approach to every aspect of her career that has earned her the respect of her peers and has seen her emerge as the big winner.
Guided throughout, in good times and bad, by the deft touch of master-trainer Pat Duff, Radecker is fortunate to be blessed with both the intelligence to recognise and take on board wise council and the talent to apply what she has learned in combat conditions. That is such an obvious recipe for success, yet it eludes so many. It is often a prime factor in separating champions from also-rans.
Radecker suffered severe injuries in a fall last April. The physical challenge she faced then was substantial, as was the mental agony of coping with a costly time out of action which saw her ambition of landing the Apprentice Championship for that year left in ruins.
Such was Radecker’s commitment to her fightback against adversity, she returned to the saddle in a far quicker timeframe than any had anticipated, with her ambition still burning brightly. A new season beckoned with a new opportunity.
When a run-in with the stewards threatened to derail her efforts earlier in the year, Radecker took on that challenge as well – and won, to keep her title challenge on track and her integrity intact.
Then there was the final chase to the line to overhaul fellow-rider Michael Palmer.
The focussed dedication and impressive all-around work ethic that had become associated with Radecker’s name was about to pay dividends. Teamwork and loyalty now proved to be a formidable force as the Pat Duff stable, from trainer to owners, rallied behind the cause until, in the end, the Radecker-Palmer showdown became an unequal battle with Radecker easily reeling in and racing away from her rival at the finish.
An ambition had been realised. There will be new playing fields to conquer.
There will always be those who highlight the gender aspect of this seasons Apprentice Championship. I prefer only to mention it in passing.
If there are young woman who take inspiration out of that distinction than that story angle does have some benefit.
If Radecker’s achievement does cause even a small percentage of owners and trainers to re-think their use of lady riders in a positive sense, then Radecker has helped forge a further breakthrough for female riders, as did those who went before her.
I’d prefer to just say congratulations to a very good race rider.
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