Emily's Gold Coast double caps off big week
 MATURE-AGE apprentice Emily Kehoe rounded off an impressive week when she landed a winning double at the Gold Coast on Saturday,The 26-year-old, originally from Sydney, is currently on loan to leading Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote.
Last Wednesday she made the most of a last-minute call-up to post her first metropolitan success on Telestah La Vista at Eagle Farm.
Then she backed up on Saturday at the Gold Coast to score on Chilly Ruler ($3.20) in the Lifestyle Trader Class 4 Hcp (1100m) and Luna Life ($21) in the Asteron Class 3 Hcp (1400m).
“It was a pretty big week for me all round,’’ said Kehoe, who linked with the Heathcote stable earlier this year after spending most of her apprenticeship with Ballina trainer Kevin Nipperess.
Kehoe also couldn’t have asked for a better start for her association with the Gillian Heinrich stable aboard Chilly Ruler.
“That was my very first ride for Gillian and I got off to the perfect start,’’ said Kehoe. “I’d love to get more opportunities to ride for her at the Gold Coast.’’
Heinrich opted to use Kehoe’s 3kg allowance on Chilly Ruler who has been a consistent performer in her seven starts to date, winning four times and beng runner-up twice.
Kehoe’s claim proved decisive as Chilly Ruler had a seven-kilo pull in the weights over gallant runner-up Overanxious ($2.60 fav) who just couldn’t match it with the winner over the final stages and was beaten 1 ½ lengths.
Kehoe backed up two races later to score on the Barry Bowditch-trained Lunar Life ($21).
The Heinrich stable completed a double later when Catalan Miss ($3.20 fav), ridden by senior jockey Dan Griffin, ran home from back in the field to win the Jim’s Mowing Maiden Hcp (1400m).
Catalan Miss appreciated the drop back to easier company on Saturday after taking on the likes of Fillydelphia and Flying Minstrel at her previous Brisbane assignments.
Story: Neil Archer 14.8.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Poetic justice for Beaudesert trainer
 BEAUDESERT trainer Troy Gillespie deserved his success with lightly-raced mare Poetic Mistress at the Gold Coast on Saturday.The four-year-old, lining up for just her sixth race start, broke through to land the AIA Maiden Plate (1800m)
Gillespie, who currently only has two horses in work, said Poetic Mistress has had to be brought along slowly.
“She’s just been a slow-maturing mare,’’ he said. “She just hasn’t been ready in the head for racing so I’ve brought along slowly.’’
Gillespie, who bred the mare by mating his Yeats broodmare Poets with Rock Of Cashel, took out his trainer’s licence about three years ago, but he struck an immediate hurdle.
“EI struck the industry about 22 days after I got my licence, so that was a major setback at the start,’’ he said.
Ridden by Chris Whiteley, Poetic Mistress ($10) appreciated the step up to 1800m on Saturday to draw away to beat Wild Wild Rose ($5) by a length.
Story: Neil Archer 14.8.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Rock Rules relegates Renmark to another minor prize
 OWNERS Len Hoyle and Robin Lee have raced many better horses than Renmark over the years, but probably not too many as frustrating as the six-year-old.Renmark had to settle for the bridesmaid tag again at the Gold Coast on Saturday when he posted the 15th second placing of his 45-start career.
Lee and Hoyle have shared plenty of success in the racing game with trainer John Morrisey, including Group One wins with Camarena, Lachlan River and Rockdale.
They originally had Renmark with Morrisey, but the gelding is now in work with Danny Bowen at Ballina.
He momentarily looked a winning chance in Saturday’s IPS Class 3 Plate (2200m) but Brisbane galloper Rock Rules finished off the better to score by a half-length.
Trained at Doomben by Paula Campbell, Rock Rules failed to handle the Ipswich circuit at his previous start but was much more at home around the Gold Coast.
Story: Neil Archer 14.8.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
St Vincents don't look this gift horse in the mouth
 TAMWORTH owner Aiden St Vincent didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth when he was offered Bundeebear for nothing a few seasons back.And you can take that literally because handling the troubled gelding provided a few headaches for St Vincent and his brother Kane. The brothers, sons of trainer Paul St Vincent of The Jackal fame, are about to officially launch their training partnership. They posted their first Gold Coast success with Bundeebear on Saturday.
Kane has been training in his own right for two years while St Vincent Snr has had major success with top sprinter The Jackal, dual winner of Grafton’s Ramornie Handicap and a Prime Minister’s Cup at the Gold Coast.
“A guy rang me one day and said he had a horse I could have that needed breaking in,’’ said Aiden St Vincent.
“I just thought he wanted us to break it in for him, but he said I could have the horse for nothing.
“Everyone thought the horse was a bit mad. He’d had a bad experience when he was being vaccinated during EI and I think that affected him. He’s was just a very nervous horse, didn’t like to be touched or handled at all. He just lacked confidence.’’
St Vincent said he and his brother never quite know what to expect on racedays from the gelding.
“His last few runs at Grafton have been good, but four runs back at Tamworth he was beaten more than 40 lengths after running off the track,’’ he said.
“Stepping up to the 1800m today suited him and Ken (Pope) rode him perfectly.’’
Bundeebear, a five-year-old son of Lawyer, has now won two races for the St Vincents and Saturday’s Gold Coast success lifted his earnings to $16,000.
Bundeebear ($6) gave jockey Ken Pope the second leg of winning double when he powered home to win the Griffith Uni Gold Coast Student Guild Class 1 Hcp (1800m) by 1 ¼ lengths from Renmark ($6.50).
Pope scored earlier on the Kelly Doughty-trained Craigellachie.
Story: Neil Archer 7.8.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Context is Miles away from where he started
 LIGHTLY-RACED five-year-old Context has seen a fair slice of Australia in his limited racing career.Now trained out at Miles by Bevan “Billy’’ Johnson, Context resumed from a 12-month break to win Saturday’s Coffee Bug Maiden Hcp (900m) at the Gold Coast.
But the five-year-old’s career started with much higher ambitions when he sold for $450,000 at the 2007 Inglis Easter yearling sale in Sydney.
By Falbrav out of the 2003 Canterbury Guineas winner Fine Society, Context was knocked down to Japanese owner-breeder Katsumi Yoshida but then joined the stable of prominent Melbourne owner Lloyd Williams.
Context did not race for Williams and Gold Coast-based owner Phil Smith bought him for $8000 when he went through the sale ring at the 2009 Magic Millions sale.
“We gave him to Trevor Bailey to train on the Gold Coast and he had four runs for Trevor last year,’’ said Smith.
“Trevor’s a good trainer but this horse has had a few little problems and needed a lot of attention, so we gave him a good break and sent him out to “Billy’’ (Johnson) at Miles.
“Being out there in a quieter environment and with Billy able to give him the individual attention he’s needed has done the trick.
“He surprised me a bit today as I thought they’d be a bit quick for him over the 900m.’’
Ridden by apprentice Ashley Butler, Context ($6) finished over the top of his rivals to win by 1 ¼ lengths.
Story: Neil Archer 7.8.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Motoki makes winning debut at the Gold Coast
 JAPANESE-born apprentice Motoki Okada came up trumps on his first day of riding at the Gold Coast when Ballina five-year-old Nicaise landed the Griffith Uni Gold Coast Class 1 Hcp (1200m) on Saturday.Okada, 22, has been in Australia for six years after deciding to leave Japan to pursue his dream of becoming a jockey.
At 16, he enrolled with Traintech, the international equine training centre at Bundall.
He started his apprenticeship with Ballina trainer Sue Birney and is now firmly entrenched in the same town with the Danny Bowen stable.
“Motoki’s been with me now for about two years,’’ said Bowen. “He’s really been going well around the Northern Rivers and this is the first time he’s ridden at the Gold Coast, so it’s great he has ridden a winner here for us.’’
A Sydney cast-off formerly trained by John Hawkes, Nicaise ($9) downed another Ballina-trained gelding Ravendra ($3.60 fav) by a half length.
Story: Neil Archer 7.8.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Kelly's waiting game turns up the right result
 TRAINER Kelly Doughty’s decision to scratch Craigellachie from his Doomben assignment last week turned out to be the right move when the three-year-old shed his Maiden status at the Gold Coast on Saturday.The Gold Coast trainer scratched Craigellachie from a Doomben race last Wednesday when he draw an outside gate.
“We decided to save him for this race and, as it turned out, is was the right move as he came up with the inside gate here,’’ she said.
Jockey Ken Pope made good use of that rails draw, giving Craigellachie ($4) a nice trail in fourth spot before driving him to a neck win over Eureka Dubai ($4) with Dancing Al ($18) 11/4 lengths away in third.
Craigellachie was bred by owners Peter and Brenda Breen, who are close friends of the trainer and her husband Gary.
The gelding is by Monashee Mountain out of the Baryshnikov mare Jaina Solo.
“This horse is nicely bred as his dam, Jaina Solo, is a half-sister to Chakvetadze,’’ said Brenda Breen.
Story: Neil Archer 7.8.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Griffin off to flying start in new season
 DAN Griffin has hit the ground running in the new season, landing a winning double at Saturday’s meeting aboard impressive winners Overanxious and Itimio.Griffin this season is chasing his fifth straight Gold Coast jockeys’ premiership which would equal the feat of the great Ken Russell back in the mid-1980s.
Overanxious ($7) relished the drop back in grade in Saturday’s Lila Coffey Memorial Class 3 Hcp (1100m) to post a two-length victory over Monaleah ($10).
Trainer John Morrisey, winner of the past two Gold Coast premierships, revealed after the race that he would be easing back his stable numbers this year.
Griffin completed his double when the Melbourne visitor Itimio ($4.80) led throughout for a two-length win in the Campus Computers Class 2 Hcp (1400m).
Trained by the Flemington-based Mike Moroney, Itimio is raced by the OTI Racing And Bloodstock, headed by Simon O’Donnell and Terry Henderson.
OTI’s familiar colours of blue and gold hoops and white sleeves have been carried by Victoria Derby winner Kibbutz and 2008 Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer.
OTI paid $80,000 for Itimio, a son of Flying Spur, at the 2008 Magic Millions sale. Itimio has now won two of his three starts in Queensland in the past month after opening his winning account at the Sunshine Coast on July 25.
Story: Neil Archer 7.8.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Diva makes another Livermore visit worthwhile
 IPSWICH trainer Geoff Livermore hasn’t kept count, but he must have notched his fair share of winners at the Gold Coast during his long training career. Livermore, who saddled up first-race winner Kadjabi Diva on Saturday, reckons he’s been bringing horses to the Coast for close on 40 years.
“Must be at leat 35 years, maybe close to 40,’’ said Livermore.
Raced by long-time stable clients Ian and Betty Smith, Kadjabi Diva ($5) outstayed her rivals in the Smiths Totalvend Maiden Plate (2200m) to score by 1 ½ lengths for Gold Coast jockey Laura Cheshire.
“Ian and Betty are lovely people and I think this mare is their first winner with me for about seven years,’’ said Livermore.
“Her racing career has been hindered by bad luck – she's had a few too many arguments with barbed-wire fences.
“She out of a Blue Run mare and they are usually just out-and-out speedsters but this mare has been looking for more ground.
“She really found the line at her previous start at Ipswich (over 2190m) and we were pretty confident she would run well here today.’’
Story: Neil Archer 7.8.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Tasty Tidbit gives 'em the slip
 THE Bryan Guy-trained Tasty Tidbit ($5) completed back-to-back victories when he raced away with the Coca-Cola Class 4 Hcp (1400m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.An Ipswich winner for jockey Paul Hammersley at his previous start on July 16, Tasty Tidbit and the rider combined again on Saturday.
The four-year-old was always travelling like the winner and went to the line with a 2 ¼ length margin over Newsnight ($3.40 fav) with Measured ($12) a half-length away third.
Tasty Tidbit, a $70,000 Magic Millions graduate by Beautiful Crown, has now four of his 13 starts.
Story: Neil Archer 7.8.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Clear-cut premierships for Morrisey, Griffin and Wood
SATURDAY’S last meeting of the 2009-10 season was a low-key affair for the Gold Coast’s three premiership winners.
John Morrisey, who had his second successive Gold Coast trainers’ title safely in his keeping, didn’t have a runner on Saturday. Morrisey took the premiership with 34 winners, clear of Trevor Bailey (27 winners), Gillian Heinrich (21 winners) and Bryan Guy (18 winners).
Leading rider Dan Griffin, who had the jockeys’ title in his pocket months ago, bypassed Saturday’s Gold Coast meeting to ride at the Darwin Cup carnival.
Griffin, 29, rode 64 winners in 2009-10 to clinch his fourth straight title – the first jockey to do that at the Gold Coast since Ken Russell in the mid-1980s.
Griffin also went close to landing an inaugural nation-wide Magic Millions premiership.
Griffin finished second to Stathi Katsidis in the MM non-metro premiership, decided on wins aboard MM graduates outside the metropolitan tracks. Katsidis edged him out 42 wins to 41.
Brisbane-based apprentice Mitchell Wood rode at the Gold Coast on Saturday but failed to ride a winner and finished his season on 35 winners. That enabled the 17-year-old to clinch his first apprentices’ title and also place him in second spot behind Griffin on the jockeys’ ladder.
Dean Tanti bagged a double at Saturday’s meeting to lift him to equal fourth spot with Chris Whiteley on 19 wins.
Trainers’ premiership: John Morrisey 34, Trevor Bailey 27, Gillian Heinrich 21, Bryan Guy 18, Alicia Willick 14, Mel Eggleston 13.
Jockeys’ premiership: Dan Griffin 64, Mitchell Wood 35, Terry Treichel 28, Dean Tanti 19, Chris Whiteley 19, Garry Baker 18.5.
Apprentices premiership: Mitchell Wood 35, Ashley Butler 18, Justin Wood 8, Emily Kehoe 7, Alannah Badger 5, Ben Looker 3.
Story: Neil Archer 31.7.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
O'Dea strikes again with Geblitzt
 EAGLE Farm trainer Steve O’Dea showed just why bookmakers have a healthy respect for his Gold Coast runners when the well-supported Geblitzt powered home to win Saturday’s Glenzeil Contracts Administrators F&M Class 1 Hcp (1200m).O’Dea has a very good strike-rate with his starters at the Gold Coast and many are strongly supported in the betting ring.
Geblitzt was no exception, firming from $2.20 to run a dominant $2.00 favourite.
Ridden by Ryan Wiggins, Geblitzt powered home first-up on the slow track to beat Madame Bartholdi ($15) by 1 ½ lengths with Rockin’ Roxy ($5) 1 ¾ lengths away third.
“I’ve had more success at the Gold Coast than anywhere else this season,’’ said O’Dea, the former Townsville trainer who moved to Brisbane about 18 months ago. “Not sure of the numbers, but I think my strike rate would be pretty good.’’
Geblitzt, a daughter of Testa Rossa, started off with Melbourne trainer Mick Price who purchased her for $20,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions yearling sale.
Geblitzt, a half-sister to the handy Sydney sprinter Madibagold, did not have a start under Price’s care and made her racing debut for O’Dea at Eagle Farm last February.
She broke through at her second start on a slow track at Doomben on February 17 then was spelled after her next outing, an unplaced effort behind Bevagna at Eagle Farm on March 20.
“There’s not much of her,’’ said O’Dea. “She’s a slightly built filly but she really finds the line.
“And she won so well in slow conditions at Doomben earlier in the year, so we knew today’s soft track was no problem.’’
Story: Neil Archer 31.7.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Zuzao starts ball rolling for Bailey stable
 THREE-year-old filly Zuzao ($11) kicked off a spectacular 50-minute period for trainer Trevor Bailey when she relished the step up in distance at the Gold Coast on Saturday.Not long after Zuzao’s narrow victory in the Glenzeil Project Managers Maiden Plate (1800m), Bailey scored with ex-Victorian three-year-old Carlton Forward in the $50,000 QTIS 3YO Hcp (1200m) at Doomben.
He struck again at Doomben 35 minutes later when his exciting prospect Flying Minstrel landed the $50,000 QTIS 2YO Hcp in blistering fashion.
Flying Minstrel, now unbeaten in two runs, looks an up-and-comer and Bailey is heading towards the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy in January with the Jet Spur colt.
Zuzao, on the other hand, had shown little in her three previous starts prior to Saturday’s break-through win at the Gold Coast, but owner Bob Manwaring said the filly had been crying out for more ground.
“We thought she might do something like this at her previous run here (over 1400m), but things didn’t go to plan,’’ he said.
“Trevor has been saying all along that she needed more ground and she showed that today. The soft track has probably helped as well.’’
Zuzao was the first leg of a winning double for jockey Dean Tanti, who rounded out the afternoon by winning the last race on the Deagon-trained Tully Endeavour ($7).
Story: Neil Archer 31.7.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
'Rocky' Balboa picks himself up off the canvas
 OAKEY-based trainer Matthew Park thought he was facing a disappointing trip home when his four-year-old Balboa Star looked headed for certain defeat at the Gold Coast on Saturday.Balboa Star ($7) was collared by Hivolt ($15) at the 200m of the Glenzeil Head Office Team Class 2 Hcp (1800m) and the challenger certainly looked to be full of running.
However, Balboa Star responded for rider Kristy Banks and refused to surrender, fighting back to score by a half-head.
“I thought the other horse had him for sure,’’ said a relieved Park later.
“I thought we were well and truly beaten but he’s really fought hard all the way to the line.’’
Balboa Star has now won three of his seven starts this campaign and hasn’t been beaten far in the other four defeats.
“He won first-up then won again at Kilcoy a couple of runs back,’’ said Park.
“He’s been very consistent this campaign. He’s just matured up a bit.’’
Story: Neil Archer 31.7.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Zatsacat rings up another winner for Felix
 OWNER-breeder Rex Leigh was all smiles after Zatsacat held off rank outsider Dekarnage to win Saturday’s opening race at the Gold Coast.
Zatsacat is by Leigh’s stallion Felix The Cat who stands at Valentine Park Stud at Beaudesert.
“This is our first Australian-bred winner from Felix The Cat,’’ said Leigh.
Felix The Cat, a son of Storm Cat, did his racing in the United States where he won three of his four starts.
He went to stud in New Zealand in 1998 and Leigh bought him in 2005.
Felix The Cat’s best progeny to date include Belmont Cat, winner of the Group 2 Santa Ana Handicap at Santa Anita in California, prolific Macau winner War Cat and New Zealand Listed-race winner Cheetie.
Felix The Cat is also the sire of Cat Schmea, the dam of this year’s Goodwood Handicap winner Velocitea.
Leigh races Zatsacat with a group of close friends. Several of them also race recent Gold Coast winner Rio Rex with Leigh.
Zatsacat was only recently transferred to Ipswich trainer Andrew Cowell after having his first four starts with Ballina trainer Bill Pholi.
Saturday marked the first time Zatsacat had tackled a wet track but Leigh was quite confident he would handle the slow conditions.
“Felix The Cat has had previous winners who have handled soft ground, including that New Zealand filly (Cheetie), but you’re never sure they’ll handle it until they actually prove themselves in it,’’ he said.
Ridden by Kevin Forrester, Zatsacat ($2.50) held on to beat Dekarnage ($20) by a head.
Story: Neil Archer 31.7.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Roughie gives Emily lucky pick-up ride
 APPRENTICE Emily Kehoe picked up a lucky late ride when the Ipswich-trained Fraha caused a surprise in the Glenzeil Site Teams QTIS 2YO Maiden (900m).
Kehoe, who landed the mount when Tasha Chambers could not make the weight, guided Fraha ($26) to a half-neck win over Caledonian Gold ($13) with Fuata ($5.50) two lengths away in third.
It must have been Kehoe’s lucky day as Fraha almost didn’t make it to the Gold Coast on time after a blown tyre on the transport during the trip from Ipswich.
Story: Neil Archer 31.7.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Military Rose Given Easy Time On Soft Track
STAR filly Military Rose and her stablemate Sweepstaking won their respective barrier trials over 1000m at the Gold Coast today.
This year’s Magic Millions winner Military Rose won her two-year-old heat by a head with jockey Stathi Katsidis giving her an easy time to the line.
Military Rose clocked 1.03.13 but was never comfortable in the heavy conditions.
Katsidis also partnered Sweepstaking in her impressive two-length Open heat win in 1.02.64.
The fastest trial winner yesterday was the John Thompson-trained Dancescape, another Katsidis mount, who raced away for a four-length victory in 1.02.60.
Trainer Gillian Heinrich plans would head to Sydney later this week where her main target, weather permitting, will be next month’s $1m Group One Golden Rose (1400m).
Meanwhile, outstanding Gold Coast galloper Shoot Out heads to Melbourne on Wednesday and is due to open his spring campaign in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday week.
Tuesday’s Gold Coast barrier trial results:
2YO MDN 1000m: LADY INNOCENT (Ms L Cheshire) 1, La Bella Luna (B Stewart) 2, King Baroo (L Rolls) 3. Then came: Pips, Heart Scent, Stutz Power, La Bella Rose, Riding Honours. ½ len, 1 1/2len. 1.03.92. Winner trained by H Norman.
2YO MDN 1000m: HIDE ‘N’ SEEK (J Taylor) 1, Trust In Me (D Tanti) 2, More More More (G Colless) 3. Then came: Golden Clang, Ferelli, In A Tangle, Bald Hill, Witches Black. ½ len, 1 ½ len. 1.02.95. Winner trained by H Page.
2YO MDN 1000m: JAQUALO (M Cahill) 1, Heavens Own (B Wallace) 2, Slick Image (D Tanti) 3. Then came: Miss Fascination, Yun Fat, Seawinds, Sunshine Kid, Sensational Hill. Lg nk, 1 len. 1.02.90. Winner trained by G Ryan.
2YO MDN 1000m: MILITARY ROSE (S Katsidis) 1, Satch (P Hammersley) 2, Gypsy Rock (B Hull) 3. Then came: Withthesewings, Executive Officer, Dragon Size, Looked Sharp. Hd, 2 len. 1.03.13. Winner trained by G Heinrich.
OPEN 1000m: LUCKY OMENS (B Stewart) 1, Monching (L Rolls) 2, Brigadoon Star (M Palmer) 3. Then came: Elsquare, Cabazon, Allervite, Truesdale. 1 ¼ len, 1 ¼ len. 1.02.71. Winner trained by B Guy.
OPEN 1000m: SWEEPSTAKING (S Katsidis) 1, At The Roxy (L Cheshire), Culture Warrior (P Hammersley) 3. Then came: I’ve Got Talent, Kasafuego, Martha Say. 2 len, ½ len. 1.02.64. Winner trained by G Heinrich.
CLASS 2 1000m: DANCESCAPE (S Katsidis) 1, African Lion (L Cheshire) 2, No Ransom (D Barron) 3. Then came: Da Vista, Illude. 4 len, 1 ½ len. 1.02.60. Winner trained by J P Thompson.
CLASS 2 1000m: DUBACHI (D Tanti) 1, Dance At Midnight (D Green) 2, Diamondheart (L Cheshire) 3. Then came: Meld, Morning Swim, Fast Fleet. 1 len, lg nk. 1.03.32. Winner trained by T Bailey.
MAIDEN 1000m: HYACINTHS’N’HONEY (J Taylor) 1, Zadane (P Hammersley) 2, Paguyjo (L Cheshire) 3. Then came: Dell’s Angel, Waterseye. 4 len, 2 ½ len. 1.04.47. Winner trained by H Page.
MAIDEN 1000m: ROYAL PAGE BOY (J Taylor) 1, Come On Archie (P Hammersley) 2, Manifest Destiny (K Forrester) 3. Then came: Pamela’s Wonder, King Of The Stars, Racing Pages. 3 ½ len, sh nk. 1.04.19. Winner trained by H Page.
MAIDEN 1000m: I FISH (L Cheshire) 1, Silver Kisses (M Palmer) 2, Elite Sherilea (D Griffin) 3. Then came: Fire Lizard, Country Classic, Storm Diamond. ½ hd, ½ len. 1.03.80. Winner trained by M Brosnan.
Story: Neil Archer 20.7.2010
Gold Coast Hoops Set For Darwin
CURRENT Gold Coast premiership-winning jockey Dan Griffin and previous titleholder Chris Whiteley will both be riding on Palmerston Sprint and Darwin Cup days in Darwin next week.
Both Griffin and Whiteley have won three GCTC jockey titles in the past decade and Griffin, currently on 64 winners, is set to make it number four on the honours board.
Griffin and Whiteley dominate races on a weekly basis at the Gold Coast and it’s not unusual for both jockeys to ride multiple winners on the same card.
Former topline apprentices and now fully-fledged jockeys Matt Palmer and Paul Hammersley were to make the trek north but a broken hand put Palmer’s trip to rest while Hammersley was suspended by stewards.
Griffin (0403442279) and Whiteley (0419023170) are available for rides on both Darwin racedays
Story: Steve Hawkins 20.7.10
O'Dea's Bargain Filly Lands The Cash
 FORMER Townsville trainer Steve O'Dea walked away with a bargain when he snared Easy Rocking filly Funky Lady for $10,000 at last year’s QTIS sale. And O’Dea found the perfect race for the filly to open her winning account in Saturday’s Mockridge Memorial QTIS 600 2YO Maiden (1400m) at the Gold Coast.
Raced by Townsville Turf Club president Alan Parry and his brother John, Funky Lady picked up the major $20,500 QTIS prizemoney on Saturday to lift her career earnings to $56,500 – not a bad start for a filly with one win and two placings from seven starts.
“I thought she was a nice type of filly at the sale,’’ said O'Dea on Saturday.
"Rob Heathcote paid $22,000 for her full-sister this year, so to get this filly for $10,000 seems a good buy now.''
O'Dea continues to make his mark in south-east Queensland since he moved to Eagle Farm from Townsville just over 18 months ago.
He has only been training in his own right for three years, but learned his craft working for Gai Waterhouse and Kevin Moses in Sydney and with leading Gold Coast trainers Alan Bailey and Gillian Heinrich. “I really only moved down to Brisbane by chanace,'' said O'Dea. "I brought a couple of horses down from Townsville to campaign and things went so well during that trip I decided to stay. “Things have really kicked on quite well since I moved and I think I've had somewhere around 46 winners since I moved down.''
During his initial venture south, O'Dea brought down Kiss Me Katy and Go Cart and this winter has had success with Lion Heart filly Bianca Jewel, who last week landed the $250,000 QTIS 600 2YO Plate (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
Funky Lady was no match for Bianca Jewel in their past two clashes, finishing midfield both times, but appreciated the drop in class in Saturday's Gold Coast race.
"She struggled a bit against the better class, but this race was more suitable for her,'' said O'Dea. "I might put her out now and I think she might get over a bit more ground later on.''
Ridden by Ryan Wiggins, the well-backed Funky Lady ($3.50 to $2.90), overpowered Mackenzie ($5.00) right on the line to score by a short neck with Federer Express ($11) a long neck away third.
Saturday’s Surfers Paradise Rotary Club Mockridge Memorial Hcp is named in honour of Gold Coast couple Graham and Josie Mockridge who were killed in a Portugal plane crash in 2002 after attending a Rotary Internation convention.
Story: Neil Archer 17.7.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Heinrich A Winner But Focus On Rose
GILLIAN Heinrich was delighted to see Falls Creek finally rediscover winning form at the Gold Coast on Saturday but her main focus at the moment is on star filly Military Rose's upcoming three-year-old season.
 Military Rose, the brilliant Magic Millions winner in January, will barrier trial at the Gold Coast tomorrow morning in preparation for her spring campaign in Sydney and Melbourne.
Military Rose has not started since suffering her first defeat in six starts when unplaced in the Golden Slipper on April 3 when she just didn’t fire in the wet conditions at Rosehill.
Heinrich delayed the filly’s return trip to Sydney last week because of more wet weather in the south.
“She really looks terrific and I'm really looking forward to taking her to Sydney again,'' said Heinrich. “I was going to send her down last week but, because of the weather down there, I decided to keep her home a bit longer and give her a barrier trial at the Coast on Tuesday.''
Heinrich's Sydney ambitions for Military Rose include the $70,000 The Rosebud (1200m) on Saturday week, the Group Three $130,000 Run To The Rose (1300m) on August 14 and the Group One $1m Golden Rose (1400m) on August 28.
All going to plan, Military Rose will then head to Melbourne to tackle the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 13.
“Hopefully she can notch up her first Group One down south over the spring,’’ said Heinrich.
It was less loftier surroundings for Falls Creek on Saturday when he bounced back to his best to win the Class 5 Hcp (1200m).
Falls Creek, a $160,000 Magic Millions graduate, won back-to-back Gold Coast races last spring, but his recent form this campaign had been patchy.
Falls Creek ($4.60) drew clear to beat Falconten ($5) by three-quarters of a length with a length to Power Of George ($4.40) who held on for third after leading.
Story: Neil Archer 17.7.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Expensive Yearling Comes Up Trumps
SYDNEY discard Supertrooper showed a glimpse of the ability his bloodlines suggest he should possess when he broke through for his first win in Saturday’s E&G Maiden Hcp (1400m) at the Gold Coast.
 By outstanding Coolmore Stud stallion Rock Of Gibraltar out of the former outstanding two-year-old filly Hasna, Supertrooper was originally purchased by major Japanese owner Katsumi Yoshida for $500,000 when he went through the Sydney Easter yearling sale.
Rock Of Gibraltar was the first horse in history to win seven Group One races in a row while Hasna, a Snippets filly, was an outstanding two-year-old, winning the 2003 AJC Sires Produce-Champagne Stakes double.
But put in work with Gai Waterhouse at Randwick, Supertrooper showed his connections absolutely nothing on the training track and in several barrier trials so they quickly unloaded him. Toowoomba trainer Russell Kirwin bought Supertrooper for four of his stable clients through Sydney bloodstock agent Cameron Barnes.
“We paid a lot less than $500,000, I can assure you,’’ said Kirwin.
“Apparently he showed them absolutely nothing in a couple of trials and they didn’t muck around, they got rid of him straight away,’’ said Kirwin.
Kirwin gave Supertrooper his first four starts at Toowoomba, but the three-year-old didn’t like the Clifford Park cushion track.
“Saturday at the Gold Coast was his first run on the grass and he drew perfectly (barrier two) which is always a big help,’’ said Kirwin.
“He has tended to over-race a bit and we’ve been trying to teach him to settle. We’ll probably give him a break now. Hopefully with his breeding there are more wins in him. He should be suited in races from 1600m to 2000m.’’
Supertrooper’s win on Saturday continued a long association Kirwin has had with jockey Leanne Deguara, who launched a riding comeback in January after becoming a mum.
“It’s good to see Leanne back riding. She’s ridden a lot for me over the years,’’ said Kirwin.
Story: Neil Archer 17.7.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Gerry's Filly Finds Form On Dry Track
 A RETURN to a dry track proved the key factor as former Sydney filly Livada staged a form reversal to post a runaway win in 3YO Maiden Plate (900m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Raced by billionaire businessman Gerry Harvey, Livada was sent north to Gold Coast trainer Stephen Jones earlier this year after she failed at her first three starts at Canberra, Kembla Grange and Newcastle.
She hadn't shown Jones that much more in her first two starts at the Gold Coast on June 16 and July 3.
"There were genuine excuses for her last time as the track was heavy and she just didn't handle it,'' said Jones, "But back on a dry track today she was a different filly.''
Jones has had a long association with Harvey and is expecting a few more of the major owner's horses to arrive on the Gold Coast in coming weeks.
Some punters were expecting Livada to show her best on Saturday, betting support forcing her price in to $4.40 after opening at $7.00.
Livada bounced straight to the front in the 900m dash and always looked the winner, dashing home for a 21/4-length victory.
Story: Neil Archer 17.7.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Morrisey Extends Premiership Lead
 JOHN Morrisey extended his winning lead in the Gold Coast trainers' premiership when Newsnight maintained his handy record over the Gold Coast 1400m journey on Saturday.
Newsnight gave Morrisey his
34th winner at the Coast this season and, with an eight-win margin over nearest rival Trevor Bailey, has his second successive trainers' title wrapped up.
Morrisey won his first Gold Coast title last season with 26 winners.
Newsnight ($6) drew away to win the Class 3 Hcp (1400m) by two lengths to give the four-year-old four wins from 10 starts over the 1400m trip at the Coast.
Story: Neil Archer 17.7.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Lucky Toss Helps Griffin To Another Treble
 LUCKY Toss laid the foundation for a two-track double for Toowoomba trainer Tony Gollan and maintained jockey Dan Griffin's outstanding form when she got home for a last-stride win in Saturday' Class 3 Hcp (1800m) at the Gold Coast.
Gollan later scored with Falvelina at Doomben.
Lucky Toss was the middle leg of winning treble for Griffin, who has now ridden 64 winners at the Gold Coast this season.
Griffin will finish short of Ken Russell's long-standing record of 76 winners set in the 1980-81 season but, with one Gold Coast meeting left this season, could still better his personal best return of 67 winners he posted in 2006-7. Griffin's other winners on Saturday where Livada and Falls Creek.
Story: Neil Archer 17.7.10
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Shadow Streets Ahead Of Rivals
 PROMISING three-year-old Flying Shadow made short work of his opposition in Saturday’s Class 1 Hcp (1100m) at the Gold Coast and trainer Bruce Hill expects further improvement as he develops.
Flying Shadow made it two wins from five starts when he dashed away for a six-length win in the class record time of 1.03.48. The ge |
