TRAINER Nigel Blackiston has put a big rap on under-rated filly You're So Good on the eve of her clash with All Too Hard in Saturday's Australian Guineas at Flemington.
In other news from Racing Victoria Media Unit tickets go on sale tomorrow (Friday) for the farewell appearance of champion mare Black Caviar at Moonee Valley.
Girls’ Guineas hopes in Good hands
Nigel Blackiston stopped short of predicting untapped filly You're So Good would beat All Too Hard in Saturday's Australian Guineas, but he's happy to suggest she can handle her other male rivals.
The daughter of Savabeel is the lone female in the $500,000 Group 1 at Flemington and has the job of maintaining the girls' brilliant recent record in the race, which includes victory the past two years.
It's a record not lost on Blackiston, who believes finishing second to super colt All Too Hard will be a victory of sorts.
“Obviously All Too Hard is the one's that's going to be the hardest to beat, he's a special horse in the making, but take a line through the others and the form and I think she's in it up to her ears,” he said.
Pre-purchase tickets to see Black Caviar
Racing fans can book their date with history from Friday when tickets to the Moonee Valley Racing Club’s Jeep Night Racing Season Finale go on sale.
Champion mare Black Caviar heads to the night’s feature race, the $400,000 Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m), with connections targeting the Valley’s premier weight-for-age Festival sprint following her effortless win in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington.
The first race will be run at the earlier time of 5:45pm with the William Reid Stakes, which could provide a launch-pad for Black Caviar to autumn targets in Sydney or Brisbane, to be run as the final event at 9:45pm.
Fans are encouraged to get in quick as a near capacity crowd is expected to farewell Black Caviar in what is likely to be the champion mare’s final start in her native Victoria; general admission tickets must be pre-purchased and are available from 9am Friday 1 March through Ticketmaster, the MVRC webstore or by calling the club on 1300 79 79 59.
Zlatan shoots for hat-trick
From outback Northern Territory to Hong Kong, from Cranbourne to the Gold Coast, 32-year-old trainer Leigh Childs has certainly led a remarkable journey to end up at Flemington on Saturday.
Childs, who saddles up promising gelding Zlatan in the $100,000 Jeune Handicap (2000m), began his career as a fourteen-year-old apprentice for trainer Mick Kent but had been riding for years before becoming officially old enough to work in a stable.
The bane of many young jockeys, Childs quickly had issues with his weight and realising that he probably wouldn't have a lengthy career in the saddle, turned his attention to training.
Trying to gain as much knowledge and experience as he could while still riding as a heavyweight jockey, Childs credits his time riding as an 18 year-old at far flung parts of the Northern Territory, as one of his greatest learning experiences.
Class drop for Callanish
Three weeks ago, after a string of eight wins, the Mick Price-trained Callanish tasted defeat for the first time.
That was first up in the Group One Sportingbet Orr Stakes (1400m) and although not disgraced, the five-year-old came up just under three lengths short.
''He's a 100 rater so there are limited options for him and he has to take on the better horses now, '' Price said. ''The Orr was the most suitable stepping off point for him and gave us some measure of what level he was up to and he was beaten by 2.95 lengths, so he wasn't good enough on the day.''
On Saturday at Flemington in the Listed TAB Stakes over the same journey, Price is confident that with that run under his belt and three weeks more work on the track, Callanish, which will again be partnered by Dale Smith, can return to something like his best form.
Sprinters Ready To Rip
Peter Moody looks a strong chance of making it three wins on end in the Listed ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Moody won the race last year with Panipique, as well as the year before with Master Harry.
In Saturday's renewal of the race named in honour of former long standing Australian Trainers' Association President, Bob Hoysted, Moody has two of the leading chances in Ready To Rip and Karuta Queen.
''It looks a competitive race but they are both there to run well,'' Moody said.
Guineas Day treat for families
Australian Guineas Day is billed as a classic day out for kids and with an exciting cast of players set for the day’s feature race, the Group 1 Australian Guineas, it presents a fabulous opportunity to introduce kids to the excitement of a day at the races.
As well as high-class racing action, Australian Guineas Day offers a great value day out for the family with a range of free entertainment and attractions to excite children of all ages.
The east end of the famous Flemington lawn will be transformed into a free family entertainment zone with face painting, mini golf, a giant slide, roving balloonist, painting studio, tug of war giant games, jumping castles and pony rides.
Entertainment on the main stage will include SpongeBob SquarePants, who will also meet with the kids and pose for pictures after his performance, and the incredible Justice Crew, as well as an AFL football clinic at the Action Arena.
The Knuckle needs to punch above weight
A drop back from a group one event to an open handicap would usually see a horse be very hard to beat.
That drop in class is the case with the Robert Smerdon trained Go The Knuckle which last start ran in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes against Black Caviar, largely on the suggestion of the horse's owners.
However his trainer Robert Smerdon is taking a more conservative line with Go The Knuckle which runs in one of the main races of the night, the $100,000 17 Month Membership $285 Premium Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley tomorrow evening.
''He had had a freshen and needed a hit out over 1000 metres and he had that but he was outclassed,'' said Smerdon of the gelding fifth placing in the Lightning. ''I've only had him for three starts and am still learning about him but he has to find a bit more to cope with carrying the 58 kilos against what is a handy field,'' Smerdon said.
You’re Wanted at Premier Sale
As yearling inspections heat up before the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale on Sunday, there appears to be a few on-trend stallions already creating headlines among the local buying bench.
Bloodstock Agent Sheamus Mills says there is a swell of early interest from buyers and that the vibe at the sale complex is positive.
“I’ve seen 250 yearlings so far and I think it’s a pretty good catalogue. There are drafts here that are of Easter standard, so we should see some nice horses going through at the top-end of the market.
“Lauriston Thoroughbreds is probably the best draft I’ve seen so far, as they’ve targeted this sale instead of taking their horses up to Easter, so there’s real serious quality throughout their lot,” explained Mills.
Winning day at Wangaratta
Racing will go back-to-back with another sporting code in the state’s north-east at the weekend when the Australian Football League NAB Cup arrives in town Saturday night and the Wangaratta Turf Club holds its premier Cup meeting Sunday.
A crowd of 10,000 people is expected to pile into the Wangaratta Showgrounds to watch the Tigers take on Essendon before the attention turns to the Turf Club for its Sunday meeting.
Leading metropolitan trainers David Hayes, Michael Moroney, Peter Moody and Mick Price have accepted for the day’s feature race, the $80,000 Winsec Savings and Loans Wangaratta Cup (2010m) and a strong contingent have been gathered for the day’s eight race program.
Hayes will start Group 1 Darley Australian Cup nominee Why Not while Moroney will be represented by third place-getter in Sunday’s Centrebet Colac Gold Cup, Lordoftheparrots; both Moody and Price are keeping their options open with their horses – Elusive King and Min River respectively –accepted for Saturday’s Jeune Handicap at Flemington.
Doing it four the kids
Ever fancied walking a mile in a Black Caviar owner’s shoes – or at least footprints? How about treading a track alongside trainer Mark Kavanagh, or jostling for position against Glen Boss? Think you could put Jason ‘Richo’ Richardson to the test over 120 metres? Keen on an audience with Racing Victoria’s (RV) Chief Executive Officer, Bernard Saundry – one that lasts 44 kilometres?
These opportunities exist and are coupled with a unique fundraiser occurring Friday, 8 March when the second annual 4tracks4kids is held in Melbourne.
The walk takes in Victoria’s four metropolitan tracks and despite an early morning kick-off – 3am at Sandown – it’s an incredible journey for a wonderful cause, with money raised supporting both DOXA Youth Foundation and Western Health Foundation.
The charity walk will see racing identities and sporting stars tread the metropolitan tracks on a 44 kilometre journey which commences at Sportingbet Park Sandown, takes in Caulfield and Moonee Valley Racecourses and concludes down the Flemington straight at 12.15pm in time for the annual DOXARacing Luncheon.
Stewards Inquiry – Brendan Cleary
Racing Victoria (RV) stewards today issued a charge against licensed bookmaker Brendan Cleary for improper conduct under the provisions of the Club Bookmakers’ Licence Rule 20.2(i).
Rule 20.2(i) concerns, amongst other things, improper conduct in connection with betting whether on a racecourse or elsewhere.
At an inquiry held today at RV, stewards determined that Mr Cleary engaged in improper conduct on Friday night, 21 December 2012 in circumstances where his bookmaking business was operating at the Moonee Valley night meeting with an approved substitute.
On the night in question Mr Cleary made five bets on the Moonee Valley meeting via telephone from an off-course location with licensed bookmaker Rod Cleary’s VicBet using the account of another person, Patrick Arena, and when falsely purporting to be Patrick Arena for the purpose of placing those bets.
Brendan Cleary pleaded guilty and, pursuant to their powers under Rule 21, stewards imposed a fine of $1250.
In assessing penalty stewards considered the guilty plea, Mr Cleary’s contrition and good record, and that Mr Arena had agreed to allow Mr Cleary to use his account.
RACING VICTORIA NEWS BULLETIN COMPILED BY SHEENA COFFEY.
