Giants Causeway and Smart Missile

 Randwick --The Kensington course last hosted a race meeting in November 2014, before this new rebuild. The first race on its return was won by the promising 2yo Godolphin filly Gododdin who is by Exceed and Excel. The filly debuted in October in a maiden but has then been given time to develop by the stable.“She’s just taken a little while to get back on track, it was very impressive to see her do that,” Godolphin assistant trainer Darren Beadman said. Jockey Glyn Schfield decided to roll forward on her and use her brilliance and that proved a winning move in the 1300m All Too Hard Vinery Handicap. 
        In the maiden over 1300m we saw a gutsy win by the Snitzel filly , Luskintyre Lass ridden by Corey Brown and trained by Bott/Waterhouse. She kept fighting after being headed to win. Warranty the All Too Hard filly scored again making it 3 from 6 starts. She is out of Encosta De Lago mare and is definately one to keep following. She was ridden by Blake Shinn in the 1100m event.  In a later race the Hawkes trained, Thaad, ridden by Tye Angland made it 3wins from 13 starts. The Smart Missile gelding is out of the Zabeel mare, Uneasy. He finished strongly down the outside to get up and beat Bravissimo in the 1300m Ranvet Hcp. Smart Missile is in third place behind So You Think and Sepoy for the Third Season Sires, title. That’s after heading last season’s Australian Second Season Sires' table by Winners 66 and Wins 93 and finishing third on the Earnings list with prizemoney of $3.2 million. He was announced as a new addition to the Twin Hills roster this spring .

Smart Missile will Stand at Twin Hills Stud

 

Sandown -- Galaxy Raider ridden by Jordan Childs for Graeme Begg stormed home to victory. Halfway down the straight in the BM70 over 1400m he looked like he might struggle to reel in the leader but then that big turn of foot clicked in and he was home in an inkling . He is by Hard Spun and is a very consistent galloper who suffers bad luck because of his racing style . 
Connery the gelding by Pierro out of the Cape Cross mare, Sean Baille Mor made it 2 wins from 8 starts in the benchmark 64, over 1600m. He was well ridden by Jordan Childs who is riding in super form right now. I wanted to highlight the breed here as 1600m is a pet distance for them. At Werribee on Thursday Coutinho a Pierro gelding, trained by Anthony Freedman, scored a convincing win sustaining a long run for victory in the maiden over 1600m. He is out of Footprints, the Redoutes Choice mare.

Latest News

Surgery for Levendi -- Australian Derby winner Levendi is to undergo surgery to remove bone chips putting his spring campaign in doubt.Trainer Peter Gelagotis has issued a statement advising of the procedure and alerting futures punters,the following. “Unfortunately Levendi will undergo arthroscopy surgery to remove bone chips and he will be in the best hands at Werribee Equine Centre and naturally this could put his spring campaign on hold depending on the recovery time required from this procedure,” Gelagotis said.

Death of Giants Causeway --  Jockey, George Duffield on Wednesday described Giant's Causeway as a horse that "just wanted to win" as he recalled their memorable victory over Kalanisi in the 2000 Coral-Eclipse Stakes. Giant's Causeway, whose death at stud in the United States was announced by Coolmore on Tuesday, was stepping up in distance for the first time after finishing runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas. Irish 2,000 Guineas and winning the St James's Palace Stakes. Kalanisi headed him inside the last furlong but Giant's Causeway, being the horse he was,fought back and beat him. At the end of an epic duel over the final furlong Giant's Causeway won the photo finish verdict by a head. The Eclipse was the only one of Giant's Causeway's six Group 1 victories, regular jockey, Kinane missed out on. Kinane said: "They called him The Iron Horse and that was very apt. He was tough as they come and always had something in the locker. He was special a hell of a good two year old and a very good three year old who went on to become a great stallion."

George Duffield winning the 

2000 Eclipse Stakes on Giants Causeway

Soliloquy --  Soliloquy took out the G3 Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket for team Godolphin becoming her sire's Dubawi 's, newest Group and Stakes winner. She sprinted from the gate and quickly gained the lead, kicking clear for a strong victory. Bred by Godolphin in England, Soliloquy is out of the multiple Stakes winner and G1 placed Dysphonia, a daughter of  Darley sire, and Australian champ, Lonhro.

Retirement of Dansili -- Dansili is a son of Danehill and was one of the leading sires in England and a top broodmare sire. The announcement from Juddmonte Farms came earlier this week. Stating he has been pensioned from stud duties due to declining fertility . He was out of the legendary mare Hasili, who died last month at the age of 27.