Bob Bentley, Chairman of Queensland Racing Limited, has announced that Queensland Racing and Magic Millions have entered into a two year agreement whereby an “All QTIS Yearling Sale” will be held, commencing in March 2009.
The agreement means that the long standing QTIS scheme will now be linked to a yearling sale restricted to QTIS registered horses.
The carrot is that horses graduating from that sale will be eligible for a $4.19 million race and bonus series, backed by Queensland Racing, and, beyond that, each horse sold at the sale will also qualify for the $5.975 million Magic Millions race and bonus series.
This takes the total stakes incentive on offer under the new agreement to $10,165 million.
The payment of a fee of $3300.00 will be required for any horse to be eligible to chase these incentives.
The sale will be known as the QTIS 600 Yearling Sale.
The motivation for the deal according to Bentley, is to provide “increased incentive for owner’s to invest within the Queensland Racing Industry.”
“When considering that these horses will race for in excess of $10 million in additional races and bonuses, it is a compelling reason for both seasoned racehorse owners and those wishing to dip their toe in the water for the first time to be at Magic Millions in March 2009,” said Bentley.
Several leading breeders in Queensland expressed their views on the subject at the Queensland Racing Awards function last night. They unanimously praised this new initiative which some saw as a saviour for the breeding industry in the state.
Friday, August 15, 2008
LIAM BIRCHLEY IS TRAINER OF THE YEAR
Liam Birchley, who took out the Queensland Racing, Jim Atkins Trainer Of The Year award at a function at a city hotel last night, did not even think he would be nominated, let alone take out the prestigious prize.
“I really didn’t even consider it as a possibility”, said Birchley, “but now that it has happened I’m very grateful for the recognition. It is an honour.”
The recognition was achieved via a combination of hard work, perseverance and, ultimately, results, but Birchley was quick to point out that this past season had been a difficult one for all trainers, to the degree where just surviving could be seen as something of a victory.
“We all had a tough time with EI,” explained Birchley. “EI was new to us. Once the horses had been treated there was no right or wrong way to move forward and so there were many strategies put into play by different trainers.
“I put all my horses out,” continued Birchley. “I didn’t want to put any of them under any unnecessary stress. I just didn’t know enough about the virus and thought that would be the safer option.
“Some other trainers just kept going with their horses and they came good and won lots more races than I did, so, like I said, there was no right or wrong way of going about business. You went with your gut feeling and hope you came through.”
When he turned his horses out for a spell, Birchley did have some long term goals for his better runners on their return. He was eyeing the Queensland Winter Carnival, then many months away.
“My hope was that I would be in a position to do well at our Carnival, but at that stage that was all it was – a hope. There were no guarantees and I was just extremely lucky that some of my horses did come good at the right time and we got a fair run of results.”
Which win, if any, was a standout highlight of the season?
“I have to mention Pepperwood first,” answered Birchley. “His win in the BTC Classic was quite outstanding, yet he was such an unlucky horse during the Carnival. He just couldn’t draw a barrier. If he had you would have heard a lot more of him.
“Then, of course, there is Vietnam and Rags To Riches ... but I guess at the end of the day, I’d have to go for Devil Inside’s win in the Lightning Handicap as the highlight.
“Maybe it was the fact that it was her last run,” continued Birchley.
“Devil Inside had been sold to Jon Haseler of Glenlogan Park only a few weeks before that run and he let me do what I wanted with the horse. He let me place it where I wanted ... and to get a great send-off result like that in such scintillating fashion was really very satisfying for me.”
So to the last word ... Birchley’s acknowledgement of the part played by his staff in his success.
“Any trainer needs to have good staff if they are ever going to do well,” commented Birchley, “and I think I have got some of the best. I thank them all very much for what they have done to help keep the stable moving ahead.”
“I really didn’t even consider it as a possibility”, said Birchley, “but now that it has happened I’m very grateful for the recognition. It is an honour.”
The recognition was achieved via a combination of hard work, perseverance and, ultimately, results, but Birchley was quick to point out that this past season had been a difficult one for all trainers, to the degree where just surviving could be seen as something of a victory.
“We all had a tough time with EI,” explained Birchley. “EI was new to us. Once the horses had been treated there was no right or wrong way to move forward and so there were many strategies put into play by different trainers.
“I put all my horses out,” continued Birchley. “I didn’t want to put any of them under any unnecessary stress. I just didn’t know enough about the virus and thought that would be the safer option.
“Some other trainers just kept going with their horses and they came good and won lots more races than I did, so, like I said, there was no right or wrong way of going about business. You went with your gut feeling and hope you came through.”
When he turned his horses out for a spell, Birchley did have some long term goals for his better runners on their return. He was eyeing the Queensland Winter Carnival, then many months away.
“My hope was that I would be in a position to do well at our Carnival, but at that stage that was all it was – a hope. There were no guarantees and I was just extremely lucky that some of my horses did come good at the right time and we got a fair run of results.”
Which win, if any, was a standout highlight of the season?
“I have to mention Pepperwood first,” answered Birchley. “His win in the BTC Classic was quite outstanding, yet he was such an unlucky horse during the Carnival. He just couldn’t draw a barrier. If he had you would have heard a lot more of him.
“Then, of course, there is Vietnam and Rags To Riches ... but I guess at the end of the day, I’d have to go for Devil Inside’s win in the Lightning Handicap as the highlight.
“Maybe it was the fact that it was her last run,” continued Birchley.
“Devil Inside had been sold to Jon Haseler of Glenlogan Park only a few weeks before that run and he let me do what I wanted with the horse. He let me place it where I wanted ... and to get a great send-off result like that in such scintillating fashion was really very satisfying for me.”
So to the last word ... Birchley’s acknowledgement of the part played by his staff in his success.
“Any trainer needs to have good staff if they are ever going to do well,” commented Birchley, “and I think I have got some of the best. I thank them all very much for what they have done to help keep the stable moving ahead.”
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
STABLE APPRENTICES DO STEPHEN LEE PROUD
Could it be that a small page in history was written at the proud Tweed River Jockey Club at Murwillumbah on Monday?
I won’t claim that yet as I haven’t had time to scour the record books, but I would take the odds that the feat of the Stephen Lee stable at the meeting could be the first time that a trainer has had three stable apprentices all ride winners at the same meeting ... or, at very least, that no trainer has bettered that achievement.
“Pity they were not all for me,” joked Lee, who was justifiably proud of the efforts of his three youngsters, Emily Kehoe, Josh Jones and Samuel Payne.
Jones and Kehoe’s winners gave Lee a double on the day. Payne’s winner was for the Barry Bowditch stable.
Jones was first off the mark when scoring in an armchair ride aboard Easy Silence. The young rider has faced a great deal of well publicised adversity on several fronts in his short career, but the fact that he continues to fire winners back at his critics stands to his credit.
At times it must have been far easier to fold than keep going in his situation. That Jones has stuck to his task and forged some good results is a happy reward for both the youngster and those who have supported him during his troubled times.
Payne was the second of the Lee attached apprentices to visit the winners’ enclosure.
When he piloted Stitch It to victory in the fifth event on the card, the 4kg claiming apprentice Payne was winning for the third time in only nine rides, giving him a strike rate, for now at least, that would be the envy of any race rider.
“Just loving it,” was Payne’s only remark. And why wouldn’t you in his position.
For Emily Kehoe, who rounded off the memorable day for the Lee yard, her second successive win aboard the ever-honest Orpen Love was just another step in the steady progress this young apprentice has been making in recent times.
She is clearly thriving in the Lee stable environment which augers well for her future.
Record book stuff or not, the results of the Murwillumbah meeting produced a memorable achievement for the Stephen Lee racing family.
All credit to all involved.
One last word. You could do a lot worse than keep tabs on where Lee takes Easy Silence next.
The four-year-old mare was previously with the Gai Waterhouse stable, where she only had two starts.
She did not win, but was supported in the betting on both occasions so it fair to surmise she must have shown some ability in her first home.
But then she was withdrawn from action, allowed six months off and transferred into the care of Lee.
“Apparently she was a troublesome sort,” said Lee. “They struggled to keep weight on her or something like that and so gave her a break and then sent her to the bush.”
While you must take into account the quality of the opposition, the move has paid immediate dividends with the first win being posted with the minimum of fuss.
Jockey Josh Jones, for one, was impressed enough with the effort, or lack of it, required to take first prize.
“She’s a freak,” he said when dismounting. “I hadn’t moved on her by the 50m mark and I only did then because I thought I should remind her I was on top.”
Jones must wish everything in life could be that easy.
I won’t claim that yet as I haven’t had time to scour the record books, but I would take the odds that the feat of the Stephen Lee stable at the meeting could be the first time that a trainer has had three stable apprentices all ride winners at the same meeting ... or, at very least, that no trainer has bettered that achievement.
“Pity they were not all for me,” joked Lee, who was justifiably proud of the efforts of his three youngsters, Emily Kehoe, Josh Jones and Samuel Payne.
Jones and Kehoe’s winners gave Lee a double on the day. Payne’s winner was for the Barry Bowditch stable.
Jones was first off the mark when scoring in an armchair ride aboard Easy Silence. The young rider has faced a great deal of well publicised adversity on several fronts in his short career, but the fact that he continues to fire winners back at his critics stands to his credit.
At times it must have been far easier to fold than keep going in his situation. That Jones has stuck to his task and forged some good results is a happy reward for both the youngster and those who have supported him during his troubled times.
Payne was the second of the Lee attached apprentices to visit the winners’ enclosure.
When he piloted Stitch It to victory in the fifth event on the card, the 4kg claiming apprentice Payne was winning for the third time in only nine rides, giving him a strike rate, for now at least, that would be the envy of any race rider.
“Just loving it,” was Payne’s only remark. And why wouldn’t you in his position.
For Emily Kehoe, who rounded off the memorable day for the Lee yard, her second successive win aboard the ever-honest Orpen Love was just another step in the steady progress this young apprentice has been making in recent times.
She is clearly thriving in the Lee stable environment which augers well for her future.
Record book stuff or not, the results of the Murwillumbah meeting produced a memorable achievement for the Stephen Lee racing family.
All credit to all involved.
One last word. You could do a lot worse than keep tabs on where Lee takes Easy Silence next.
The four-year-old mare was previously with the Gai Waterhouse stable, where she only had two starts.
She did not win, but was supported in the betting on both occasions so it fair to surmise she must have shown some ability in her first home.
But then she was withdrawn from action, allowed six months off and transferred into the care of Lee.
“Apparently she was a troublesome sort,” said Lee. “They struggled to keep weight on her or something like that and so gave her a break and then sent her to the bush.”
While you must take into account the quality of the opposition, the move has paid immediate dividends with the first win being posted with the minimum of fuss.
Jockey Josh Jones, for one, was impressed enough with the effort, or lack of it, required to take first prize.
“She’s a freak,” he said when dismounting. “I hadn’t moved on her by the 50m mark and I only did then because I thought I should remind her I was on top.”
Jones must wish everything in life could be that easy.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
'GOOD THING' DOES IT THE HARD WAY
The well-supported Regal Castanea scored an overdue victory in the Country Cup Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
While all turned out well in the end, the ‘living on the edge’ route that the chestnut followed to claim his success would have had his connections reaching for the oxygen masks on more than one occasion.
The gelding jumped well enough, but slipped back on the early speed and had already been shuffled back to midfield 200m into the race.
When other runners, caught wide, chose to make up ground on the outside of Regal Castanea, jockey Scott Galloway maintained a patient approach, but their move had added a further complication to the task facing the favourite.
As the field turned into the home stretch, the question was not only the one of how much ground Regal Castanea had to make up, but whether he would have any chance of doing so, given the fact that he was surrounded by horses with seemingly nowhere to go.
The race commentary accurately summed up the position at the time with one caller saying, “Regal Castanea’s under heavy pressure turning from home. He’s a mile from them.”
Reach for oxygen mask 1.
The first 100m of the home stretch was to prove decisive to the outcome.
Had any of those numbered in the wall of runners ahead of Regal Castanea tired and dropped back onto the main fancy during this time, it would almost have been ‘race over’ for the Ron Mccrae trained four-year-old, as he would not have time to regroup if baulked.
But the field stretched away, leaving Regal Castanea some galloping room in which to go to work.
But just as Galloway looked to get out, Regal Castanea appeared to brush against the horse on his outside.
Reach for oxygen mask 2.
There was a commitment to the cause now though, and Regal Castanea pushed past that hiccup without losing any momentum ... and then there was a target.
Galloway’s choice was to take aim at the gap between Mohawk and Bann Ruby and hope it would not close before he arrived.
That was just the first step though, as Mohawk and Bann Ruby were themselves still some three lengths off the duelling duo of King Cash and All Again who were both flat out, disputing the lead.
At the 200m mark Regal Castanea was ready to take the gap, but would it stay open long enough for him to benefit?
Reach for oxygen mask 3.
And that’s when the complexion of the race changed.
Under a strong urging from Galloway, Regal Castanea surged through the opening and, as if buoyed by that move, exploded into action from the 150m mark.
It was time to set aside the oxygen mask and enjoy the ride.
“And Regal Castanea is coming from the tail of the field. He’s jumping out of the ground,” called one commentator.
Again it was an accurate description as Regal Castanea cut into the leaders advantage with every stride and arrived in good time to snare a popular victory from Scarlet Sari, who was also hitting the line hard.
Trainer Ron Mccrae credited jockey Scott Galloway both for the expertise of the ride and the value of his advice.
“Scott wasn’t happy with the blinkers on Regal Castanea last time,” explained Mccrae. “He said I should remove them and then the horse would be a 'good thing'.”
And so it proved to be, although perhaps via a script that proved a lot more complicated than Galloway might have originally envisaged.
While all turned out well in the end, the ‘living on the edge’ route that the chestnut followed to claim his success would have had his connections reaching for the oxygen masks on more than one occasion.
The gelding jumped well enough, but slipped back on the early speed and had already been shuffled back to midfield 200m into the race.
When other runners, caught wide, chose to make up ground on the outside of Regal Castanea, jockey Scott Galloway maintained a patient approach, but their move had added a further complication to the task facing the favourite.
As the field turned into the home stretch, the question was not only the one of how much ground Regal Castanea had to make up, but whether he would have any chance of doing so, given the fact that he was surrounded by horses with seemingly nowhere to go.
The race commentary accurately summed up the position at the time with one caller saying, “Regal Castanea’s under heavy pressure turning from home. He’s a mile from them.”
Reach for oxygen mask 1.
The first 100m of the home stretch was to prove decisive to the outcome.
Had any of those numbered in the wall of runners ahead of Regal Castanea tired and dropped back onto the main fancy during this time, it would almost have been ‘race over’ for the Ron Mccrae trained four-year-old, as he would not have time to regroup if baulked.
But the field stretched away, leaving Regal Castanea some galloping room in which to go to work.
But just as Galloway looked to get out, Regal Castanea appeared to brush against the horse on his outside.
Reach for oxygen mask 2.
There was a commitment to the cause now though, and Regal Castanea pushed past that hiccup without losing any momentum ... and then there was a target.
Galloway’s choice was to take aim at the gap between Mohawk and Bann Ruby and hope it would not close before he arrived.
That was just the first step though, as Mohawk and Bann Ruby were themselves still some three lengths off the duelling duo of King Cash and All Again who were both flat out, disputing the lead.
At the 200m mark Regal Castanea was ready to take the gap, but would it stay open long enough for him to benefit?
Reach for oxygen mask 3.
And that’s when the complexion of the race changed.
Under a strong urging from Galloway, Regal Castanea surged through the opening and, as if buoyed by that move, exploded into action from the 150m mark.
It was time to set aside the oxygen mask and enjoy the ride.
“And Regal Castanea is coming from the tail of the field. He’s jumping out of the ground,” called one commentator.
Again it was an accurate description as Regal Castanea cut into the leaders advantage with every stride and arrived in good time to snare a popular victory from Scarlet Sari, who was also hitting the line hard.
Trainer Ron Mccrae credited jockey Scott Galloway both for the expertise of the ride and the value of his advice.
“Scott wasn’t happy with the blinkers on Regal Castanea last time,” explained Mccrae. “He said I should remove them and then the horse would be a 'good thing'.”
And so it proved to be, although perhaps via a script that proved a lot more complicated than Galloway might have originally envisaged.
ONE HAPPY STRAPPER
There was one particularly happy strapper at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Bill Gavin was beaming.
“I can’t believe it! My last runner as a trainer came back a winner and my first runner as a strapper has just won. It’s just so good to be here,” said Gavin leaning on the winners’ enclosure.
Gavin did not renew his trainers’ license at start of the new season, opting instead to go to work for Alan Jones, that most accomplished of trainers, on the Sunshine Coast.
Gavin sent out his last runner as a trainer on July 23, when La Marianne did him proud, sealing a special day by winning in front of co-owners Les and Noeline Lowrie who had made the trip from New Zealand to watch their horse in action.
Then Gavin’s unusual double arrived on Saturday in the form of the dashing grey, Grey Stream, who prevailed in a hard fought finish to see off the persistent challenge of Frosty.
Both Grey Stream (one wide) and Frosty (glued to the rail) tracked the pace-setting call To Order from the break and then pressed forward on either side of the frontrunner to join issue in a stride for stride battle over the last 250m.
For a brief moment it looked like Frosty had gained the initiative, but Jason Taylor and Grey Stream were having none of that and they repelled that challenge to score by a short-neck margin.
That result was little bit closer than the win of La Marianne, who won by a little over 0,30 lengths, and was every bit as exciting for Bill Gavin.
The smile was still on his face long after he had led Grey Stream away from the mounting yard, which only goes to show that ‘that winning feeling’ can be experienced from many different perspectives and is always a pleasurable experience.
This was Grey Stream’s third win in four starts since the mare was relocated from New South Wales.
Grey Stream, who is owned by Gerard and Jan Nolan of Rosari Stud, has been booked to be serviced by General Nediym this breeding season. Whether Grey Stream will have another run before that plan is put into effect has yet to be decided.
“I can’t believe it! My last runner as a trainer came back a winner and my first runner as a strapper has just won. It’s just so good to be here,” said Gavin leaning on the winners’ enclosure.
Gavin did not renew his trainers’ license at start of the new season, opting instead to go to work for Alan Jones, that most accomplished of trainers, on the Sunshine Coast.
Gavin sent out his last runner as a trainer on July 23, when La Marianne did him proud, sealing a special day by winning in front of co-owners Les and Noeline Lowrie who had made the trip from New Zealand to watch their horse in action.
Then Gavin’s unusual double arrived on Saturday in the form of the dashing grey, Grey Stream, who prevailed in a hard fought finish to see off the persistent challenge of Frosty.
Both Grey Stream (one wide) and Frosty (glued to the rail) tracked the pace-setting call To Order from the break and then pressed forward on either side of the frontrunner to join issue in a stride for stride battle over the last 250m.
For a brief moment it looked like Frosty had gained the initiative, but Jason Taylor and Grey Stream were having none of that and they repelled that challenge to score by a short-neck margin.
That result was little bit closer than the win of La Marianne, who won by a little over 0,30 lengths, and was every bit as exciting for Bill Gavin.
The smile was still on his face long after he had led Grey Stream away from the mounting yard, which only goes to show that ‘that winning feeling’ can be experienced from many different perspectives and is always a pleasurable experience.
This was Grey Stream’s third win in four starts since the mare was relocated from New South Wales.
Grey Stream, who is owned by Gerard and Jan Nolan of Rosari Stud, has been booked to be serviced by General Nediym this breeding season. Whether Grey Stream will have another run before that plan is put into effect has yet to be decided.
RADECKER REBOUNDS WITH FEATURE RACE WINNER
Champion apprentice Mandy Radecker’s win on Rebounded in the feature race at Eagle Farm on Saturday sent a clear message to her rivals that she intends to carry on right where she left off last season and that, although one lofty ambition has been realised, she still has many fields to conquer.
“Yeah, just to keep winning,” nodded Radecker when asked of her aims for the new season. “Oh yes – and not to get injured,” said Radecker, nursing a pronounced facial bruising, courtesy of an untimely encounter with the back of the head of runner Spanish Fling a week earlier – the filly having flung her head back into the face of the rider in an incident before the start of the race.
“I guess I’m not off to a good start in that regard,” laughed Radecker. “But I least I haven’t been sidelined by the injury so it could have been a lot worse.
“She is a bit of nervous filly and when she broke away from the clerk of the course and saw she had nowhere to go she just panicked.
“The guys working at the barriers said it sounded very bad – like a loud crack - but she must have caught me more on the right hand side of my face than on the nose, because nothing was broken. Just a lot of bruising .. and that was painful enough,” continued Radecker.
“I couldn’t sneeze. I couldn’t yawn. It wasn’t fun.”
But a winner always goes some way towards making up for the downside of the profession.
Given the circumstances of being down on the ground being attended to by the medics one week and riding a feature race winner the next, Rebounded was probably as appropriately named a winner as their could have been in a result which continued Radecker’s run of regular successes.
Rebounded was superbly rated in front by Radecker before kicking on late in the stretch to secure his seventh career victory.
“I actually wanted something to go around me to be honest,” admitted Radecker. “Then he doesn’t pull as hard and it makes my job easier.
But with nobody else obliging, Rebounded was left with the front-running role and Radecker’s judgement of pace was put to the test.
Was Radecker confident all of the way? I put it to her that, if she was, she even had one of the race-callers fooled at the top straight when he suggested Rebounded might be coming under pressure.
“That was just my arms giving in,” answered Radecker. “I did know what he was capable of because I ride Rebounded in work every morning and, knowing your horse very well is a huge advantage and it can make a difference in those sorts of situations. So I knew he would be competitive all the way.”
And that is the way it proved to be with Rebounded responding in winning fashion to add another winner to the ever increasing Radecker ridden, Pat Duff trained combination honour roll.
Radecker is obviously very happy with the way things are going at the moment but she remains grounded about the task awaiting her in the future.
“I’ve just got to be realistic about what might happen, in terms of my opportunities, when I join the senior ranks,” said Radecker. “It’s going to be tough. But, like a say ... all I am aiming to do at the moment is to keep the winners coming. If I can do that, the rest will take care of itself.”
“Yeah, just to keep winning,” nodded Radecker when asked of her aims for the new season. “Oh yes – and not to get injured,” said Radecker, nursing a pronounced facial bruising, courtesy of an untimely encounter with the back of the head of runner Spanish Fling a week earlier – the filly having flung her head back into the face of the rider in an incident before the start of the race.
“I guess I’m not off to a good start in that regard,” laughed Radecker. “But I least I haven’t been sidelined by the injury so it could have been a lot worse.
“She is a bit of nervous filly and when she broke away from the clerk of the course and saw she had nowhere to go she just panicked.
“The guys working at the barriers said it sounded very bad – like a loud crack - but she must have caught me more on the right hand side of my face than on the nose, because nothing was broken. Just a lot of bruising .. and that was painful enough,” continued Radecker.
“I couldn’t sneeze. I couldn’t yawn. It wasn’t fun.”
But a winner always goes some way towards making up for the downside of the profession.
Given the circumstances of being down on the ground being attended to by the medics one week and riding a feature race winner the next, Rebounded was probably as appropriately named a winner as their could have been in a result which continued Radecker’s run of regular successes.
Rebounded was superbly rated in front by Radecker before kicking on late in the stretch to secure his seventh career victory.
“I actually wanted something to go around me to be honest,” admitted Radecker. “Then he doesn’t pull as hard and it makes my job easier.
But with nobody else obliging, Rebounded was left with the front-running role and Radecker’s judgement of pace was put to the test.
Was Radecker confident all of the way? I put it to her that, if she was, she even had one of the race-callers fooled at the top straight when he suggested Rebounded might be coming under pressure.
“That was just my arms giving in,” answered Radecker. “I did know what he was capable of because I ride Rebounded in work every morning and, knowing your horse very well is a huge advantage and it can make a difference in those sorts of situations. So I knew he would be competitive all the way.”
And that is the way it proved to be with Rebounded responding in winning fashion to add another winner to the ever increasing Radecker ridden, Pat Duff trained combination honour roll.
Radecker is obviously very happy with the way things are going at the moment but she remains grounded about the task awaiting her in the future.
“I’ve just got to be realistic about what might happen, in terms of my opportunities, when I join the senior ranks,” said Radecker. “It’s going to be tough. But, like a say ... all I am aiming to do at the moment is to keep the winners coming. If I can do that, the rest will take care of itself.”
TWO FOR CAHILL. TWO FOR THE NOTEBOOK!
The talent of jockey Michael Cahill, who brought home a quality double at Eagle Farm on Saturday, will once again be lost to Queensland racing for a period of time. Cahill will be taking up a contract to ride in Singapore at the end of August.
“Next week I’ll be away in Mauritius. I’m going there to watch my younger brother ride and then it will be on to Singapore,” confirmed Cahill.
"I’ll arrive in Singapore during the last week in August,” continued Cahill. “I had a license to ride there before I was injured and I’ve just kept my options open. This is a good time to put it to use.”
Cahill has been contracted for a period of six months.
Cahill has once again made his mark on the local scene in a short space of time since resuming race riding after his injury enforced layoff. His latest serving of success came aboard two very smart horses in the form of Burdekin Blues and Sommersea Drive.
The Barry Baldwin trained Burdekin Blues has now won five out of eight starts. While his strike-rate is most impressive, it is the manner in which he has gone about his business – such as his demolition job on the opposition on Saturday - that has caught most attention.
“He is a top liner in the making, there is no doubt about that,””enthused Cahill. “He just toys with those sorts of horses. There might not be any champions there but he has just got so many lengths on them.
“He wanted to get out on the track to where he raced last time,” said Cahill. “I didn’t need to hit him in terms of getting the result, but I did give him a couple of smacks just to straighten him up.”
Burdekin Blues, without being pushed out unduly at the line, stopped the clock in 1-09 flat, just 0,30 seconds outside of Tycoon Alley’s Class Record which has stood for more than three years.
Baldwin has targeted the Lightning Stakes as the gelding’s next assignment.
“We can always go there. We can always come back again,” mused Baldwin.
Burdekin Blues will now be spelled for a month before heading down south for that new challenge.
Whereas Burdekin Blues has been steadily building momentum, Sommersea Drive, Cahill’s second winner for the afternoon, has suddenly sprung to life. His latest triumph was his third successive victory.
Trainer Trevor Miller gives his view of Sommersea Drive’s rise to prominence.
“He’s always shown some ability so it is no surprise to me that he is starting to produce results,” explained Miller.
“I suppose you could say he was a bit of a slow learner,” continued Miller, “but ever since the Sunshine Coast Guineas (in which he finished fourth) his rate of progress has improved.
"He seems to be getting an idea of what racing is all about and he is going to get better than he is now,” stated Miller with outright confidence.
“He has been a busy horse. I think he has had maybe ten days off in the last twelve months, so he would be entitled to be going the other way and looking for a break. But instead he is thriving. So all of the signs are good” concluded Miller.
“Next week I’ll be away in Mauritius. I’m going there to watch my younger brother ride and then it will be on to Singapore,” confirmed Cahill.
"I’ll arrive in Singapore during the last week in August,” continued Cahill. “I had a license to ride there before I was injured and I’ve just kept my options open. This is a good time to put it to use.”
Cahill has been contracted for a period of six months.
Cahill has once again made his mark on the local scene in a short space of time since resuming race riding after his injury enforced layoff. His latest serving of success came aboard two very smart horses in the form of Burdekin Blues and Sommersea Drive.
The Barry Baldwin trained Burdekin Blues has now won five out of eight starts. While his strike-rate is most impressive, it is the manner in which he has gone about his business – such as his demolition job on the opposition on Saturday - that has caught most attention.
“He is a top liner in the making, there is no doubt about that,””enthused Cahill. “He just toys with those sorts of horses. There might not be any champions there but he has just got so many lengths on them.
“He wanted to get out on the track to where he raced last time,” said Cahill. “I didn’t need to hit him in terms of getting the result, but I did give him a couple of smacks just to straighten him up.”
Burdekin Blues, without being pushed out unduly at the line, stopped the clock in 1-09 flat, just 0,30 seconds outside of Tycoon Alley’s Class Record which has stood for more than three years.
Baldwin has targeted the Lightning Stakes as the gelding’s next assignment.
“We can always go there. We can always come back again,” mused Baldwin.
Burdekin Blues will now be spelled for a month before heading down south for that new challenge.
Whereas Burdekin Blues has been steadily building momentum, Sommersea Drive, Cahill’s second winner for the afternoon, has suddenly sprung to life. His latest triumph was his third successive victory.
Trainer Trevor Miller gives his view of Sommersea Drive’s rise to prominence.
“He’s always shown some ability so it is no surprise to me that he is starting to produce results,” explained Miller.
“I suppose you could say he was a bit of a slow learner,” continued Miller, “but ever since the Sunshine Coast Guineas (in which he finished fourth) his rate of progress has improved.
"He seems to be getting an idea of what racing is all about and he is going to get better than he is now,” stated Miller with outright confidence.
“He has been a busy horse. I think he has had maybe ten days off in the last twelve months, so he would be entitled to be going the other way and looking for a break. But instead he is thriving. So all of the signs are good” concluded Miller.
Monday, August 11, 2008
'OLD FIRM' STILL VERY MUCH IN BUSINESS
When trainer Alan Bailey announced he was downsizing his stable earlier this year, his rivals might have been forgiven for thinking they could look forward to having a bit more breathing space than they had previously enjoyed.
It was a false hope – as the facile win of Tears’N’Cheers at Eagle Farm showed on Saturday.
The statement was clear. The ‘old firm’ of Alan Bailey and jockey Glen Colless is still very much in business.
Bailey reduced the number of horses in his care from a steady number of ‘around fifty’ to a more manageable number of thirty. The reduction was planned and orchestrated to a prescribed timetable and the re-organisation was completed in June after which Bailey went on holiday.
He has now returned fresh from a rest and ready for the new challenge.
“It (the downsizing) wasn’t an easy process,” admitted Bailey.
“I actually wanted to cut more, but it got to the stage where the people became more important than the horses,” explained Bailey. “Many of my owners ... you know, we go way back. They’ve been very good to me and the loyalty factor comes into play so that’s why I kept more horses than I wanted.
“I took no pleasure in those that I did cut,” continued Bailey. “When I originally sent letters out to everybody saying what I was going to do, most of them said ‘that can’t be right’. They basically couldn’t believe it.
“You see I have a good relationship with all of my owners. It’s either works that way or I don’t have them.
“So it has been a difficult process but, once everybody knew it was happening, they seemed to understand. Things went pretty smoothly and I’m comfortable with the ways things stand now.
“I still go to the gallops and watch races with all my old friends, so in some respects little changed.”
... and that includes still having Glen Colless as the number one call.
“Absolutely,” confirmed Bailey. “Not only with myself, but also with all of the owners.”
Tears’N’Cheers was the latest addition to a long line of winners chalked up by the Bailey-Colless combination.
“He’s been going well,” said Bailey. “He should have won at the Sunshine Coast. He was drawn wide and then another horse took him out on the bend.
“Then last time he got into trouble all by himself,”continued Bailey.
“Glen was not happy with having the blinkers on. I’ve been away on holiday for a month and I forgot to take the blinkers off ... which Glen said may have been just as well because it helped give him a good shot today.
“We’ll head for the Golden Rose in three weeks time,” confirmed Bailey. “He’ll get 56kg at set weights. You have to take your chance in a $1 million race.
“If nothing else the travelling will add to his experience and help him mature,”concluded Bailey.
It was a false hope – as the facile win of Tears’N’Cheers at Eagle Farm showed on Saturday.
The statement was clear. The ‘old firm’ of Alan Bailey and jockey Glen Colless is still very much in business.
Bailey reduced the number of horses in his care from a steady number of ‘around fifty’ to a more manageable number of thirty. The reduction was planned and orchestrated to a prescribed timetable and the re-organisation was completed in June after which Bailey went on holiday.
He has now returned fresh from a rest and ready for the new challenge.
“It (the downsizing) wasn’t an easy process,” admitted Bailey.
“I actually wanted to cut more, but it got to the stage where the people became more important than the horses,” explained Bailey. “Many of my owners ... you know, we go way back. They’ve been very good to me and the loyalty factor comes into play so that’s why I kept more horses than I wanted.
“I took no pleasure in those that I did cut,” continued Bailey. “When I originally sent letters out to everybody saying what I was going to do, most of them said ‘that can’t be right’. They basically couldn’t believe it.
“You see I have a good relationship with all of my owners. It’s either works that way or I don’t have them.
“So it has been a difficult process but, once everybody knew it was happening, they seemed to understand. Things went pretty smoothly and I’m comfortable with the ways things stand now.
“I still go to the gallops and watch races with all my old friends, so in some respects little changed.”
... and that includes still having Glen Colless as the number one call.
“Absolutely,” confirmed Bailey. “Not only with myself, but also with all of the owners.”
Tears’N’Cheers was the latest addition to a long line of winners chalked up by the Bailey-Colless combination.
“He’s been going well,” said Bailey. “He should have won at the Sunshine Coast. He was drawn wide and then another horse took him out on the bend.
“Then last time he got into trouble all by himself,”continued Bailey.
“Glen was not happy with having the blinkers on. I’ve been away on holiday for a month and I forgot to take the blinkers off ... which Glen said may have been just as well because it helped give him a good shot today.
“We’ll head for the Golden Rose in three weeks time,” confirmed Bailey. “He’ll get 56kg at set weights. You have to take your chance in a $1 million race.
“If nothing else the travelling will add to his experience and help him mature,”concluded Bailey.
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