Streetson Lands the Money
First starter Streetson landed a solid plunge at the Gold Coast on Wednesday, taking out the Easter Kids Party 3 April Maiden Handicap on the weekend. The money arrived late for the three year old son of Street Cry, who firmed from $6.00 into $4.20 just before the jump.
Streetson jumped near last from the 1200m, but under hard riding from Jim Byrne was able to muster early speed and weave a passage through the field to find the lead at the 1000m, taking up the running from the other well backed runner in the race, Dubailand (Chris Munce) for Patinack Farm and trainer John Thompson.
Unchallenged in the lead, Byrne was able to give Streetson a mid race breather, before loosening the reins to pinch a three length break at the top of the straight. Holding the Fort (Larry Cassidy) jumped out of the pack as the only danger in the straight, but Streetson had some in reserve and went on to win by two and half lengths. Owner Larry Willick is confident he and trainer daughter Alicia have a ‘very good horse’ on their hands, and with expect improvement we might see Streetson play a part in the Queensland Winter Carnival.
Story: Damien Iannazzo 11.03.2010
NT’s Hillibrand Takes DETNA Series Cup
A perfectly rated ride from Northern Territory apprentice Scott Hillebrand helped local trainer John Morrisey take out the second leg of the Queensland Government Department of Education & Training National Apprentice Series Cup at the Gold Coast on Wednesday.
Jumping straight to the lead from gate 3 of the 13 horse field, Hillebrand was able to take up the running and dictate the race on Mr Nappy, after finding the rail inside the first 100m. From there he was able to slow the tempo and ensure a sprint home finish, where the four year old was able to hold off a late challenge from Jackpot (Mitchell Speers), with Wipeout (Ashley Butler) winning a blanket finish to take third.
Hillebrand had an experience edge on most of his rivals, having been riding for about five years, and he showed that poise with his ride today.
The Gold Coast event was the third leg of the National Apprentice Series. Queensland took out the first leg when Chris McIvor saluted at Belmont last October, before Victorian star Jason Maskiell took the honours at Moonee Valley in February. The next leg of the series heads to Adelaide, at Morphetville on the 28th April.
Story: Damien Iannazzo 11.3.2010
Welcome Return to the Coast for Browne on Jet Surge
Jet Surge jumped to favouritism for Saturday weeks $250,000 QTIS 600 2YO Handicap, with a commanding win in the QTIS 600 Handicap at the Gold Coast on Wednesday.
Jet Surge, who was an eye catching run when fourth on debut at Eagle Farm last month, opened up $2.60 favourite with bookmakers but was unwanted by punters, easing to $3.30 at the jump, as support came for stablemate Count Spur ($10-$7).
The money looked to be right as Jet Surge appeared to roll in towards the fence at the top of the straight, when Count Spur (Jim Byrne) shot clear by two lengths. But Damian Browne on Jet Surge balanced up the colt and set about chasing the fellow son of Jet Spur. Browne picked up the leader inside the final 100m and moved clear to win by a length on the line. It was a typically perfect rated ride from Browne, who despite the wide gate, was able to get across and take up a position one horse off the fence and just behind the leaders.
The win continued a freakish run for Sunshine Coast based Browne, who has ridden 7 winners from his last 9 rides, following an outstanding couple of days last weekend, where he rode four winners on the cushion track at the Sunshine Coast on Friday, and backed it up with a winning double on the same track on Sunday. It was Browne’s first ride at the Gold Coast since a fall a number of years ago, which now limits him to a maximum four rides per meeting. He ensured trainer Bryan Guy he’ll be back to ride Jet Surge on Saturday week, saying “I’ll go anywhere to ride this horse”.
Story: Damien Iannazzo 10.03.2010
Pengelly Strikes on Roseland
Former Victorian galloper Sir Roseland showed a touch of class in winning today’s Johnnie Walker Black Label Class 1 Handicap. Regular city rider Brad Pengelly engaged a strong book of rides for Eagle Farm trainer Kelso Wood, which proved a master stroke when the races at Eagle Farm were abandoned after heavy rain earlier this week.
Owner Peter McPhee, who picked up the horse in October last year, described the promise shown by Sir Roseland, formerly trained by David Hayes, earlier in his career. McPhee recalled Sir Roseland’s first start, over 1000m at Ballarat almost 2 years ago, in which he beat home a smart horse called Pricked who would go onto win a Listed race in Adelaide. Running 5th that day was Shocking, who would go on to win a Melbourne Cup, and was due to start favourite for the Group 1 Australian Cup later today before he was scratched.
Sir Roseland has now had 2 starts for Kelso Wood, both at the Gold Coast. He ran 3rd at the Gold Coast last month behind fellow former Victorian Must Be You, before winning comfortably from Motive (Matthew Palmer). Warando Street (Brad Wallace) loomed as the winner at the 200m, but peaked on his run after tracking wide on the turn, and finished 3rd. Sir Roseland now has 2 wins from his 12 starts, and $16,400 prizemoney.
Brad Pengelly scores on Sir Roseland for trainer Kelso Wood
Story: Damien Iannazzo 6.3.2010
Photo: Courtesy of Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Theo Strikes Ipswich
On a regular Friday afternoon at the Gold Coast Turf Club, most staff are busily ticking off regular tasks, preparing for another raceday on Saturday. It’s unusual that race at Ipswich, for maiden horses over a mile, attracts much attention. But for a few moments on February 26, the TV’s in the Members Lounge on the Bundall track were tuned on Sky Channel.
Jumping from gate 5 in the field of 13, Lord Theodore struggled to muster any early speed, and despite some vigorous riding from Luke Rolls, found himself a couple of lengths off the second last horse, ten from the leader, 100-1 chance Sir William (Julie Murphy), at the 1200m. As the field began to bunch up at the 1000m, Rolls had no choice but to go for an inside run and ride for luck, but was still last at the 800m, with little room to move, and still ten lengths off the pace. While the favourite, Flawless (Jim Byrne), made a 3 wide move towards the lead on the home turn, Court Jesting (Michael Heagney) shifted off the fence to go 4 wide around her, opening the first gap for Rolls to continue hugging the rails. At the top of the straight, the tiring Sir William began to drift, allowing Lord Theodore a clear passage, and the gelding drew level with Court Jesting before hitting the lead and drawing clear inside the last 100m, holding off the fast finishing Ivor’s Girl (Terry Treichel) by a length and a quarter, with Court Jesting hanging on for third.
Lord Theodore is raced by the Racing in Paradise Syndicate. The group consists of a number of the bar and track staff at the GCTC, most of whom are experiencing the thrills of owning a racehorse for the first time. Managing owner, Robert Buchanan, is known to many Gold Coast Turf Club members. In his tenth year with the Club, “Bobby” as he’s known to most, can be seen at every race meeting supervising the upstairs bars. He recalls putting the syndicate together 12 months ago, “We tried to get it going in February last year. We asked all the local trainers if they had a horse they were looking to lease and Mel (Trainer, Mel Eggleston) said he had a nice colt coming into the stable that was ours if we wanted it”.
Downstairs in the members at the GCTC on a Saturday, you’ll find Joe McLachlan managing the Prime Minister’s Bar. McLachlan had no hesitation entering into his first racehorse when the syndicate was put together. He described the win as a “feeling like no other. This is my first horse and first win. I had a tear in my eye as he crossed the line”.
The road to maiden glory hasn’t been all plain sailing. When “Theo” first entered the barriers for a jumpout back in June, the Racing in Paradise Syndicate gathered on the grandstand to watch on. He ran last, pulled up sore in the shins, and was sent back to the paddock. He took the time to fill out, and was nursed back to a barrier trial in early December. In a similar pattern to his maiden win, Luke Rolls tracked up the rails and ran a closing third behind Dubachi. More importantly, the horse pulled up sound and was ready to race. He made a lacklustre debut over 1000m at Ipswich, before starting at $60-1 on a Wednesday at Doomben, running an encouraging third, again behind Dubachi. There followed a couple of frustrating runs on his home track, where his owners so dearly wanted to win, before finally tasting success at Ipswich. Ironically for Rolls, who rides Theo in almost all of his work, it was the first time he’d ridden him in a race.
There was more elation at the $7.10 dividend than the prizemoney on offer for the race. It’s safe to say the local TAB took a hit. Then again Buchanan says “we’re racing for a bit of fun not to win $1 Million. We need him to win a race here at the Gold Coast. The winners room won’t close that night”. Expect to see Theo in an 1800m race at the Coast soon, and there’ll be a few extra eyes watching from the bars.
Story: Damien Iannazzo 2.03.2010
Griffin Double before the Heaven’s Open
Star local jockey Dan Griffin recorded a couple of crucial wins in his bid to claim an unprecedented fourth consecutive Gold Coast Premiership on Saturday.
Griffin combined with leading local trainer Trevor Bailey when promising filly Fomal Princess recorded a gutsy win in the SPAR Express Fillies & Mares Class 1 Handicap. Forced to ride hard after beginning only fairly from gate 8, Griffin was forced to track a little wide around the first bend, and only found the fence inside the last 500m. Entitled to tire after working so hard in the first half of the race, Fomal Princess found another gear in the straight, kicking clear by 20 lengths inside the last 200m. The late challenge came from Fragrant Star (Garry Baker), who surged late, but the well supported favourite was able to hold on by a neck on the line, with Winwin Situation (Paul Hammersley) a further length away third. Fomal Princess remains undefeated in two starts, following her debut win at Ipswich earlier this month.
In the very next race, Griffin was at it again, this time with different tactics aboard the Robert Heathcote trained Captain Clayton. Happy to settle at the rear of the small field, Griffin peeled to the outside at the top of the straight and set about running down Magic Symphony (Paul Hammersley), who had moved to a clear lead. The result was never in doubt, with Griffin and Captain Clayton surged clear in the last 50m, relegating Magic Symphony to bridesmaid for the fourth consecutive start.
The two early wins before constant rain forced Stewards to abandon the meeting prior to Race 7, took Griffin’s tally to 29, 7 clear of his nearest rival, Mitchell Wood, who has a stranglehold on the Apprentice Jockey Title. Griffin has ridden 8 winners in the past 4 meetings.
 
Early Double: Dan Griffin returns to scale on Fomal Princess (left), and surges clear on Captain Clayton (right)
Story: Damien Iannazzo 27.02.2010
Photos: Courtesy of Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Patinack Starts Again
Aptly named Start Again recorded the first Gold Coast winner for trainer John Thompson, who recently took over the Queensland based training operation of Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm.
Set the sizeable task of taking on Class 1 company at his first start, Start Again gave his more experienced rivals an exhibition. In driving rain that would later cause the last two races on the program to be abandoned, the three year old jumped well before taking a sit behind the leaders. As most of the field came to the centre of the track for the perceived better going, jockey Scott Galloway found himself with a clear passage, and the son of undefeated dual Group 1 winning champion Reset shot clear, with Galloway riding hands and heels to an easy 3 length victory in the Kleenex Viva Handicap.
Well fancied favourite Lake George ($3.00 to $2.90) never appeared to handle the going, tailing well off the pack and only managing to beat two horses home.
Debut Win: Start Again records a dominant win on debut for the Patinack Farm Team
Story: Damien Iannazzo 27.02.2010
Photo: Courtesy of Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Staying Spechenka Too Good
Beaudesert gelding Spechenka proved the superior stayer in the SuperSPAR Class 2 Handicap at the Gold Coast on the weekend.
Jumping from the inside gate, jockey Todd Pannell was happy to drop out near the rear of the field, and with the pace being poured on by early leaders Shocking Blue (Dan Griffin), Whitemore Dynasty (Mitchell Wood) and Jouer Le Jeu (Chris Whiteley), Spechenka settled the best part of 10 lengths away as the field passed the post the first time.
As the field packed up leaving the back straight, Pannell began to work on Spechenka and the 4YO rounded the field down the side to be outside the leaders at the top of the straight, before moving clear to score by two lengths on the line from an unlucky Jouer Le Jeu, with Hindsight third. Trainer Ben Ahrens explained the long sustained run, “He’s a difficult horse to ride, so he needed to be out in the clear”. Spechenka took his earnings to $23,325, with 4 wins and 2nd from 10 starts.
Superior Stayer: Todd Pannell guides home Spechenka in the SuperSPAR Class 2 Handicap on Saturday
Story: Damien Iannazzo 27.02.2010
Photo: Courtesy of Trackside Photography PTY LTD
 
Aunt Rock (left) bolts in the SPAR - Making Everyday Better Handicap, and (right) Helluva Hurry takes out The Matt Archibald Coca-Cola Handicap
Double for Wood as Bruleur Wins Again
 Bruleur showed his class and rewarded favourite punters with a strong win in the Lea Insurance Brokers Class 3 Handicap on Saturday.
Jumping from the inside gate, Bruleur set a solid pace inder apprentice Mitchell Wood. Despite being niggled for most of the first half of the race by Rotarian (Ben Hull), the four year old was never headed. With the early battle for the lead over the 1000m scamper, the race appeared set up for Trevor Bailey’s John’s Gem (Dan Griffin), who was shooting for a hatrick of wins. John’s Gem looked like she was going to go straight past Bruleur with 150m to go, but Wood had saved a bit in the tank, and safely held sway on the line.
Wood’s win took him to 22 wins for the season at the Gold Coast, and while he has the Apprentice Jockey’s Title all but sown up, he sits second on the senior riders ranks, 5 behind triple reigning champion Dan Griffin.
Story: Damien Iannazzo 20.02.2010
Schweida’s Charmed Run
 Eagle Farm trainer Kelly Schweida produced a rare feat at the Gold Coast on Saturday, with his three year old taking out the Southport Sharks Australian Rules Football Club Plate over 1800m What was remarkable about the win, was that Charmingly showed no ill effects of an unplaced unlucky run at Ipswich, just 24 hours earlier!
Charmingly was given a dream run by star young apprentice Mitchell Wood, who from gate 5 had the gelding positioned perfectly, midfield on the rails withing the first 200 metres. From there Charmingly relaxed beautifully, hardly spending a penny until well inside the 600m. As tiring horses fanned off the fence on the home turn, Wood was allowed a dream passage through along the rails. Wary of the horse tiring late after consecutive days of racing, Wood nursed the son of Danehill Dancer along, only asking him to let down inside the final 300 metres.
The win was Charmingly’s 1st in 14 starts, staving off a late challenge from Iron Red (Dan Griffin) to win by a length on the line, with Sir Seamus a further 5 lengths away in third.
Story: Damien Iannazzo 20.02.2010
Melody for Birchley’s Devil
Devil’s Melody lived up to his top billing with an easy win in the Searite Container Repairs Plate on Saturday. Jumping well from gate 6, Chris Whiteley parked the filly just off the speed behind a wall of leaders in Texas Red, Danzig Dancer and Queen Thyra.
 After Whiteley peeled to the outside and strolled forward at the top of the straight, Devil’s Melody strode clear. Getting a little tired with about 100m to go, Whiteley had a look to see if there were any challenges, but the result was never really in doubt.
The eye catching run of the race was the Peter Balzen trained first starter Mr Tweed (Dan Griffin). Coming from a long last on the turn, Mr Tweed flew home to go down by a lenth on the line, with Texas Red (Danny Craven) holding on to run third.
Aided somewhat by the scratchings of a couple of fancied runners in the race, the winner was rock solid in betting, firming from $1.70 to $1.60. Devil’s Melody was having her first start in Queensland at her third start. Her first 2 runs in the Spring were against top quality opposition in some early two year old races, indicating trainer Liam Birchely has a strong opinion of her.
Story: Damien Iannazzo 20.02.2010
Coasters Shine in Sydney
The weather was slow, the weather was miserable, but a couple of Gold Coasters were a shining light at Randwick on Saturday. In an outstanding field assembled for the Schweppes Royal Sovereign Stakes, the John Wallace trained Shoot Out proved he can be a major player in the Autumn 3YO classics, bursting out of the pack to claim the Group 2 feature.
In the hands of top Sydney jockey Kerrin McEvoy after Stathi Katsidis was stood down with a knee injury, Shoot Out tracked about midfield, five lengths from the leader Viking Storm (Nash Rawiller), who set a strong tempo. Showing all the signs of a quality stayer on a Derby campaign, Shoot Out didn’t get going until the final 150m under strong riding from McEvoy, but by then More Than Great (Glyn Schofield) had pinched a break. As Shoot Out lunged on the line, most around Australia believed More Than Great had lasted, until a deceptive photo showed a clear margin in favour of the Gold Coast trained gelding.
Shoot Out endured some hard luck during a short Queensland Summer carnival, culminating in running 5th in the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy, after racing 3 wide for the entire race. Wallace held faith in the horse he maintains is the best he’s ever trained, and was rewarded for his patience on Saturday. Set for the Group 1 AJC Derby over 2400m, the brilliance of his last 200m has connections considering altering his program to focus on the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap over 1600m.
Earlier, Gillian Heinrich’s classy filly Sweepstaking showed she’s capable of matching it with Sydney’s best, producing a strong finish to run 3rd behind the outstanding More Joyous in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes. Sweepstaking appeared to relish the soft going, reeling off the second faster 400m, only behind Gai Waterhouse’s brilliant filly.
Story: Damien Iannazzo 14.2.2010
Another Day Out for Morrisey
Trainer John Morrisey jockey Daniel Griffin asserted their dominance of the local racing scene, with Morrisey saddling up three runners at the Gold Coast on Saturday and saluting with all three and helping Griffin to a double. With Griffin engaged in the first race of the day, his 3 year old filly Glorietta, was a well supported $3.40 favourite and duly scored by 3 ¼ lengths on the line from rank outsider Smart of Course ($51), with Chapter ($5.50) a further 1 ½ lengths away in third. The win held some extra significance for Glorietta’s managing owner, Jim Buchanan. Recogising the Leukaemia Foundation’s support of the raceday, Buchanan noted his late father, who passed away from the disease, would have celebrated his birthday on Friday.
Later in the day, arguably the Coast’s most consistent galloper, Eastline, with Griffin again in the saddle, gave a glimpse of what’s in store for him with a dominant win against some smart company in the NABPrivate Wealth Class 2 Handicap. Relishing the jump from his last start 1300m to today’s 1800m assignment, Eastline thrashed his rivals, winning by 6 ¼ lengths from Dorado Beach and Coming Up Trumps in third. After an unlucky and sometimes frustrating string of four consecutive minor placings, Eastline broke his maiden at the Coast a fortnight ago, and the ease of today’s win signalled he could be capable of better quality races in future.
In between, Morrisey combined with young apprentice Allan Chau when classy mare Goldfinger took out the feature event of the day, the Ken Irvine Memorial Handicap, in honour of the former Australian rugby league champion. Well supported on track to start $2.90 favourite, Chau gave Goldfinger a perfect ride, sitting just outside the leader Ghost Queen, before letting down in the straight to score narrowly on the line to Magic Symphony (Paul Hammersley), with Ghost Queen (Dean Tanti) holding on for third.
Golden Moment: Allan Chau boots home Goldfinger in the Ken Irvine Memorial (Top) and earlier promising filly Glorietta scores for Dan Griffin (Bottom)
Story: Damien Iannazzo 13.02.2010
Photo courtesy of Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Gem of a Win
Last start Beaudesert winner John’s Gem brought her good form back to her home track, flying down the centre of the track to score in the House With No Steps Class 2 Handicap over 1200m on Saturday. Top local trainer Trevor Bailey has travelled the four year old mare across the countryside, racing at five different tracks at her previous five starts, but looked at home back at the Coast, racing away to win by two lengths from Tuscon Rain (Alannah Badger), with Tie Hand (Justin Stanley) a further two lengths away 3rd.
John’s Gem and Tuscon Rain settled together midfield, about 5 lengths off leader Jeweller’s Gem (Ashley Butler), who’d ridden hard to take up the running from Danes Kid. From the 800m, Badger and John’s Gem’s rider Dan Griffin followed different paths to the finish. Badger took off on a long sustained run along the rails, with most of the field drifting off the fence after an earlier downpour. Tuscon Rain hit the lead at the top of the straight from $3.50 favourite Jeweller’s Gem, who weakened to finish 7th. In contrast, Griffin saved John’s Gem for a late sprint, and at the 150m the result was never in doubt.
The regally bred son of Bel Esprit, from an Encosta de Lago mare, was well supported late in betting, firming from $6.50 to $5. The win completed a vital double for Griffin, who is now two wins clear of Terry Treichel in his bid to claim a record breaking 4th consecutive Gold Coast Jockey Premiership. Bailey is vying for his first Trainers Premiership, the win putting him one win behind leader and last year’s winner, John Morrisey.
Gem of a win: Premiership leading jockey Dan Griffin, with the happy connections of John's Gem
Story: Damien Iannazzo 6.2 2010
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Boxer Backs Up
Mr Shadow Boxer took another step up for trainer Gerald Ryan, comfortably taking out the Comminsure Classic Colts, Geldings and Entires Class 1 Handicap over 1400m on Saturday. The four year old made it two wins in a row, and held his strong Australian record intact, having only missed a place once (when 4th to the impressive Ro’s Purring at Doomben) in 4 starts since joining Ryan’s stable after 2 failed runs in New Zealand.
Carrying the top weight 58kg, jockey Todd Pannell was content to take a sit on the gelding, who within 200m settled about 6 lengths off the leader Tread Lightly (Mitchell Wood), who ensured a genuine tempo. Pannell showed confidence in his mount, easing out to make a 3 wide move at the 600m, with Mr Shadow Boxer joining the leaders at the top of the straight. He was only really pushed out in the final 300m and won going away on the line by ¾ length from Good Emperer (Justin Stanley), with leader Tread Lightly holding onto 3rd.
The placegetters were the three best backed runners in the race, with Mr Shadow Boxer jumping favourite having been supported $3-$2.60. The son of Shovhog now has 2 wins and 2 placings from 7 starts, and $17,144 prizemoney.
Knock Out: Mr Shadow Boxer (right) gets past Good Emperer (middle) and Tread Lightly (left)
Story: Damien Iannazzo 6.2.2010
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD
Bookies Stung by Classy Slepner
Punters were all smiles on Saturday after well supported favourite Slepner stormed over the top of his rivals to score in the CCS Insurance Solutions Class 3 Handicap on Saturday. Trained by Michael Jacobs at the Sunshine Coast and backed late from $2.30 into $2.00, Slepner brought up the first winner at the Gold Coast for young apprentice Tyrone Huxham.
In a ride showing experience beyond his years, Huxham planted Slepner at the tail of the field as the field passed the post the first time. The four year old gelding settled beautifully and looked to be travelling a long way from home, but his young rider patiently elected to save his petrol tickets and held cover until well inside the straight. Once he peeled to the outside at about the 400m, it always appeared Slepner was going to reel in the leaders, going on to score by ¾ length to Don’t Back Down (Mitchell Wood), with Pressed On (Shaun Guymer) a further length away third.
On the up: Slepner returns to scale with apprentice Tyrone Huxham aboard
Story: Damien Iannazzo 6.2.2010
Photo: Trackside Photography PTY LTD |
