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.

Casino Prince and Encosta De Lago

Sandown -- Written Tycoon double at Sandown today with Golden Script winning the first. It was a perfect ride from young Ben Allen, that got the job done for Darren Weir and the team. The second was Island Dream who made it two from two with a similar ride to get the money but this time it was Luke Nolen.

 Written Tycoon Stands at Woodside Park Stud

       This filly is out of a Delago Brom mare and is a horse to follow. I wanted to mention the broodmare sire here as the Encosta De Lago's, love Sandown and during the day, the breed cropped up in a number of pedigrees. The third horse in this race Dawn Dawn by All Too Hard got chopped out in the straight and should of pushed the winner. All Too Hard is by Casino Prince another breed that have always had a liking for Sandown and in the seventh event the BM70 over 1600m we saw All Too Hard's three year old gelded son Reflectivity, kick strong to win.

 All Too Hard half brother to Black Caviar 

Stands at Vinery Stud

        In the two year old over 1400m won by Secret Blaze who is by Snitzel"s son Sizzling, out of  a Galileo mare. There was a good run by a Fiorente colt, Hawkshot. He sat three wide the whole trip and still almost got the job done. He is out of an Encosta De Lago mare. A coming winner for sure. In the final race the BM78 over 1600m, Sunday Pray, led all the way like many of the winners did today. The gelding is by the Encosta De Lago stallion, Manhattan Rain.

      Some other noteworthy performances were the mare Corrs win over the 2400m she is by Mastercraftsman, definately a breed to follow over the staying distances beyond 2000m. While a couple of So You Thinks who ran into places, Ancient Echoes very honest with a touch of class and the recently gelded Think Babe.

Warwick Farm -- In the BM74 Rising Star Hcp over 1600m, the Waller trained, So You Think 3yo colt out of the Encosta De Lago mare, Dark Vision was successful .The 1600m trip is a pet distance for the breed. A noteworthy double by Street Cry with Molten winning the 1300m BM74 and Marsupial winning over 1100m. The former out of a Fastnet Rock mare the other out of an Exceed and Excel mare. I have seen the Street Cry's successful at Warwick Farm on a regular basis so worth noting. In the last over 1200m, the James Cummings trained Resin won. The filly is by Exceed and Excel out of a Lonrho mare.

Sandown Specialists

        Sandown and Rosehill

        Sandown has always been a specialist track and yesterday saw a couple of wins by progeny of Pins. Hectopascal who is a mare by Pins, sat three wide the whole 1400m trip but when Ethan Brown let her go, she kicked clear to defeat an always honest Tigidig Tigidig running on into second again.In the race prior, we saw Winkelman, a mare by Rip Van Winkle take a sit and then kick clear on straightening to hold the challenges off, on the post. Rip Van Winkle stands at Windsor Park in New Zealand. The Galileo stallion is out of a Stravinsky mare. This could be where the liking for Sandown comes from with the breed as the Stravinsky's have always performed well there or maybe its just that Winkelman is out of a Pins mare. She was first up over 1500m.

            Nureyev as a broodmare sire line there is none more important than 

Nureyev closely related to the great Sadlers Wells . 

Watch his female line at Sandown

       Some other good runs and horses to follow at Sandown were Dancing Tycoon in race 3. It was a good win by the Written Tycoon filly who fought hard to hold off Extreme Bliss over the 1400m. She is out of the Redoutes Choice mare, Tangos Choice. While the Fastnet Rock filly, Dental, battled on well in third and a win is close.
       A powerful finish in the second race over 1600m by the High Chaparral gelding, High and Dry ridden by Andrew Mallyon suggests more wins are in store over a longer trip and a big track like Flemington. He is out of a Stratum mare.
At Rosehill there was a 2yo filly by Pierro called I Like It Easy who ran a top race over the 1100m. She is from Gai"s Choice a General Nedyim mare. The Commands gelding Blazeray in race 2 pulled very hard so forget the run . The Chris Waller filly, Young Star ran on well into third over 1200m. She is by High Chaparral from a Danehill mare so a 200m further we could see her salute but remember the breed prefer larger tracks. In the 1400m BM 75 we saw a huge performance from the Street Cry gelding, Almighty Crown. He came from way back in the field to win right on the post. He is out of the Encosta De Lago mare, Sesenta.
    There were another two winners worth following Montrachet by Fastnet Rock and Marbles by Exceed and Excel who will more than likely continue on their winning way in the near future. Tenderely at Oakbank by Stratum is one to follow from that meeting. 

Cliffs Edge and Whispering Brook

Whispering Brook --  The Listed Schneider Electrical Abell Stakes over 1200m saw a strong win to Whispering Brook who sat on the outside of the leader, until let down turning into the straight which saw the mare romp away to an easy victory .Now trained at Ballarat by Darren Weir the former Western Australian mare, by Hinchinbrook out of a Machievallen mare Artful Whisper. She has now won six of her 17 starts and none more impressive than last nights victory . She was bred and sold by Hillside Thoroughbreds at the 2014 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

Cliffs Edge -- In the Alister Clarke 2040m group 2, Cliffs Edge ridden by Jamie Mott and trained by Darren Weir went straight to the front and never looked like getting beaten even though the Pierro colt Levendi tried hard to run him down. He is a really tough horse by Canford Cliffs and a group 1 beckons soon. Cliff's Edge is a colt born in 2014 November 4th and sold at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale out of the Snaadee mare, Simulation. He has had 14 starts for 6 wins.

Highlighted Stallion 
Hinchinbrook

 By Fastnet Rock out of Snippets Lass stands at Yarraman Stud

What a bloodline on this stallion.

 Thoughts for the night !

 The stallion, Mint Lane got the quinella in the 955m sprint race with Our Gladiator and Another Diamond. The breed love the Valley sprints.
 One of the strongest wins of the night was another Darren Weir trained four year old Divine Command. The Commands mare showed enormous courage to fight them off. She is out os the High Chapparal mare So Divine.
Follow Levendi a win is around the corner for the Pierro colt.
Final meeting for the season next week at the Valley and the Sportsbet promotion jackpots to $200,000. Pick the last six winners but can you believe a punter missed it by one this week and that was Cliff's Edge. Poor guy ! Thats Racing !

Caulfield and Morphettville 24/02/2018

 Not A Single Doubt / Fastnet Rock / Hard Spun

Morphetville

Race 1 Four horse raffle! The outsider Gytrash is a chance even with a ordinary jockey by LopeDe Vega out of a Fastnet Rock mare.
Race 2 The favourite looks hard to beat here ! Bowditch riding Incomparable he is by I Am Invincible out of a Commands mare ! Rough chance first starter Wokit.
Race 3 No betting race !
Race 4 Tough race but leaning towards number 7 Calisto Girl with Pannel riding. The Hussonet mare looks suited. She is out of an Encosta mare. Dont forget the Good Journeys they are flying at the moment and horse 6 Silent Ice could run a strong race. Looks a good place bet. Infinity Queen has a habit of running second at this track.
Race 5 Not keen on this race but 1 Mihany, does look a good winning chance and 4 Strategic Demand also a chance.
Race 6 Over 1400m, I'm leaning towards the 2 El Desperado a Rebel Raider gelding out of  a Blevic mare. Fresh could be his go as all the Scenic breed go well fresh.
Race 7 I know the favourite Blue Tycoon looks hard to beat but Counter Spin with Raquel Clarke real good value at 10/1 . The Hard Spuns are such gutsy horses when right and this gelding looks placed well. Also a rough chance to Niccoco.
Race 8 Oamaru Owl should win this over the 1000m. He is by Oamaru Force out of an Encosta mare. Number 5 Call Me Curtis for second always runs second.
Race 9 The last looks a tough race but I cant see why Lord Topper another Hussonet cant win again although Roselli Sting by Casino Prince out of a General Nedyim mare with Chris Caserta riding looks well placed. Chance to Galaxy Gazer.

    Best of the Day Oamaru Owl 

Value Counter Spin

Feeling horse Roselli Sting

Caulfield

Race 1 Tough Race maybe Bedford a track distance specialist

Race 2 Amanito for me just have a feeling the Pierro gelding out of a Fastnet Rock mare maybe something out of the box. The So You Think horse Mr So And So a real danger just worried about the barrier. While Wetakemanhattan has potential and Jordan Childs riding.

Race 3 Even race but going with Overshare by I am Invincible.

Race 4 The pick here is Summer Sham by Not A Single Doubt . He can throw some good stock with Miss Wahoo a strong chance as well.

Race 5 Silent Sedition will be hard to beat but I have a funny feeling here about Wheal Leisure loves it fresh, Yendal riding by Artie Schiller out of a Encosta mare. Also a good chance to Samovare. Maybe a good trifecta here! 

Race 6 Really tough race Mighty Boss by Not A Single Doubt will be hard to beat but there are good chances to Brave Smash and Mr Sneaky. Just unsure if Mr Sneaky being by High Chapparal has the turn of foot but I know he is a good horse.

Race 7 The more I look at the Diamond the more i like the Fastnet Rock colt, Long Leaf . Have a really good feeling, he could be special. Kinky Boom by Spirit of Boom a chance.

Race 8 Russian Revolution a strong chance of winning this but just remember, he either wins or loses never runs a place. Fuhryk and Catchy, also have strong claims.

Race 9 Gailo Chop or Hartnell a hard decision probably leaning Gailo Chops way but keep an eye on Lord Fandango at good odds . Maybe even take a quinella with him and the other two. 

Best at Caulfield  Long Leaf

Best Value Amanito

Feeling Horse Wheal Leisure

 Yarra Valley

Race 1 Eight Times a Lady a Hard Spun filly up to the perfect distance.

Race 4 Horses 5 and 7 look strong chances Annanicolesnitz by Snitzel and Effectuate by Reward For Effort

Race 5 Good place bet Waterford Sound ridden by Jarrod Fry.

Race 7 The Written Tycoon, Smooth Hussler with Lord Mornington into the places.  

Benalla 23/02/2018 Pierro and Redoutes Choice

Our first race at Benalla is a no bet race. Race 2 1200m not confident but the favourite Snipes looks hard to beat . Lonrho out of a Commands mare Luke Currie to ride.
Race 3 looks another tough maiden going with the Stockdales and Turf Diva.
Race 4 is an interesting race with Hayes /Dabernig having three chances but I'm going to lean towards Jeddah Aheadah he is by Piero out of a Lion Hunter mare and looks very honest. Today maybe his day. Savvy Ken also a good chance as 1600m is a spot on distance for the Savabeels but drawn wide a concern. The All American gelding Free For All best of the Hayes horses.
Race 5 Another difficult race, the 3 chances i can see are the Piero horse, Kapow also Royal Zephyr by Commands and a place chance to Fire and Brimstone by Fastnet Rock.
In Race 6 I think Here Comes Lenni can get home. It has plenty of race experience is fresh and being out of a Centaine mare this is a plus as the Tavistocks do require a little further. Regan Bayliss to ride. A big watch on Hibernator from the Hayes/Dabernig yard first up.
Race 7 is our special for the day Regal Embrace from the Hayes camp a beautifully bred gelding by Redoutes Choice out of the Encosta mare Love and Kisses. I just feel with fitness, race experience he could be ready to fire. There is also an interesting Ocean Park filly Rip Girl to be ridden by Damien Thornton at value could run the place.
A watch race in the eigth. The Redoutes Choice horse Charlton too short probably runs second and Chance Taken a Hard Spun back in distance could win it but hasnt got a great winning record.
In the ninth race a bit of a toss up between Broo Boss a Street Boss gelding out of a Commands mare or Groegans Hero a More Than Ready out of an Encosta mare. Just leaning towards the later because of his victory last start may have turned a corner and I'm starting to notice with the More Than Ready they can put a few together.
In the last Invincible Rock looks the winner but is very short. Fastnet Rock gelding looks to have some promise. I Love this Lady could be one to place being fresh and is good value.

Special for the Day Regal Embrace

Best Value Jeddah Aheadah 

Feeling Horse of the Day Kapow just a bit worried about the barrier .

Penola in South Australia A Good Journey day

Race 2 horse 7 Amberdi chance but short.
Race 3 Horse 3 Dabay a Reward or Effort gelding
Race4 Horse 3 Good value Ready's Image gelding Visual Image good track and distance record and fresh record .
Race 5 Hard to seperate numbers 1,4,5 The Good Journey gelding Rhythmic just a head of 4 and then 5.
Race 6 Number 1 Redeeka Declan Bates to ride !
Race 7 Horse 3 Connemarra Rose another Good Journey will go close getting a good price at 7 dollars.
         At Canberra today keep an eye on the Reward For Effort in the last ridden by Carly Frater Hill Patrika Belle 30/1

Warrnambool 22/02/2018 High Chapparral and Written Tycoon Day

  In the first race over 2000m there is a High Chapparal recently gelded four year old trained by Darren Weir ridden by John Allen looks the winner but is short at even money. Dean Yendal is riding the second favourite an honest type by Skilled. Be wary ! Could be a race to take a few trifectas around the two of them.
    The second race is not much of a race the number one Salt Lake Stryker is by Captain Gerard and the 1100m is perfect but not to fussed on the jockey. Barenya is a 3yo filly by Reward For Effort who is alot more experienced now. Lucinda Doodt to ride could be value at 20/1.
     The third, Hot Shot Harry looks an up and coming Written Tycoon with 2 seconds from 3 starts .Today may be the day with D. Moor to ride. Being freshened is a plus as the breed do well fresh. The two Bel Esprits look chances with Evolutionist fit and coming back to 1300m may place. Honey Esprit is a chance.
     In Rce 4, we find a very open 1400m race with a watch on the number 8, Cunning Moves, he is a Foxwedge out of a Stravinsky mare, so soft track should suit, up to 1400m and blinkers on. The number 11 Quattro Porte is a So You Think so rise in distance should suit and has experience, chance.
      Race 5 over 2350m looks a race that should suit the High Chapparral horse Hi Rolla with Linda Meech to ride. The rise in distance and soft track all positives only query is his average record but may be the day he turns the corner.
      Race 6 is a watch race for me . Horses 6 and 7 are both Resets and look suited with the younger gelding Speed Stinger only having his 6th start and already has two wins so could be an up and comer.
    In race 7 over 1300m looks a even field but have decided to go with the Black Mosheen form . He is out of a Second Empire mare so soft track should help and has John Allen riding. the horse that ran right beside him last start could be value. Galileos Journey led a pulled a bit last start. He only has one win from 10 starts but i just have a feeling he might be going to start putting it together which is often the case with Good Journey horses but once they hit form are very consistent. To be ridden by Nikita Beriman for her father another interesting move.  Oh dont forget in multiples December always places. 
     Race 8 is a good quality field and i couldnt seperate the numbers 3,9,15 all look very promising. Just leaning towards the first up, Thorntons mare by Written Tycoon, Written Attraction on value. Snitch could be a real good horse but is short at 2/1, to be ridden by Dean Yendal and by Lope De Vega both Jockey and stable have had success with this breed before. The 15 Ruby's Reward is awesomely bred being by Reward For Effort out of a Fastnet Rock mare just a little concerned with jockey. Will she settle this time in a big field unsure as the breed have a tendency to get fired up.
               Best of the Day -- Hot Shot Harry in race 3. Hi Rolla best value .

Written Attraction and Hi Energy should go well.

Feeling horse of the day Galileos Journey