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Friday 20 June 2008 Go Maz Back On Track At Lismore The epic saga continues tomorrow at Lismore on the Northern Rivers of NSW, where we finally see Go Maz return to the race track. It is now almost 9 months since this rising 6yo son of Gatsby graced the Australian turf, his traumatic career at the races interrupted by the Equine Influenza outbreak. For those unfamiliar with Maz's story, he was born in Wagga in 2002, unfortunately losing his mother, Belle Hareb when only 2 weeks old. This put him well behind all other foals of his age, with his growth development taking a far longer time than normal. When Maz almost a 2yo, he was sent off to be broken in, after which it was advised he spend some months in the paddock to continue his maturing. During this stint in the paddock, Maz took fright during a horrendous thunder & lightning storm, ran at full speed into a fence post, basically impaling it into his chest. Maz was rushed to the local equine hospital where he was saved from the jaws of death and commenced a long recovery process. He still bares the reminder of this horrific accident, a large, 30cm, "V" shaped scar clearly visible on his chest. His recovery was from these injuries dramatically halted by a dreadful case of the scours, which again brought Maz within inches of death, a magnificent job was done by surgeons to once again save his life, and after 4 weeks in the hospital, Maz was eventually allowed to leave. Several months in a paddock to recuperate, and Maz was finally ready for his first real preparation, which took place on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. After a solid 10 week preparation with Maz appearing to cope extremely well, owners were advised to give him another spell to allow for more maturity. So, following another 5 month stint in a paddock so it was that Maz was sent to Ballina in April 2007, in an attempt to finally do what he was bred for, to race against other thoroughbreds. He responded well throughout this preparation, however wet tracks marred his attempts to make it to the races, being accepted for no less than three washed out meetings during the winter of 2007. Since his last and only appearance at the races in late September 2007, Maz (along with many other equines) took exception to the EI vaccinations and became extremely ill. When he finally started to recover from this latest set back, a track work accident saw him put a hoof in a pot hole of the track causing a back injury which has taken nearly 5 months in the paddock to remedy. Now back in full work for over 2 months, Maz was turned out magnificently by well respected Ballina mentor Phil Quinnell in a barrier trial after the last race there on Tuesday over 1000m. Well, Maz did not let his supporters down, despite a very heavy track, he, with top Rivers apprentice Jamie Quinnell aboard, ploughed through the going to record a victory in the trial, leaving a class 4 horse in his wake. This was in fact his second success in a barrier trial, the first coming in July last year at Lismore, just prior to wet tracks and EI interrupting his career. And so tomorrow, Saturday 21 June 2008, Maz has his second race start at Lismore in a maiden over 1100m. Phil Quinnell is very happy with his progress, however he believes Maz will be better suited over a little further ground. Due to the lack of suitable races tomorrow's hit out will be mainly for experience, on an expected rain affected surface. Nevertheless, Maz showed on Tuesday in the trial that he is fit and ready to race, plus he is able to handle the going. Here's hoping Maz can make a successful albeit long awaited return to the track. GO MAZ !!
Tuesday 20 May 2008 Takeover Target, A Marvel What an absolutely marvellous win by Takeover Target in the Singapore International Sprint on Sunday night. Jay Ford got him across onto the fence early to lead, and seriously, he was never ever going to be beaten from that point. In fact, he was cruising coming around the turn, sprinting away from his accomplished International rivals in the straight. He is an old marvel at 8yo (rising 9yo) and is not only still competitive at the elite level, he continues to defeat the best sprinters in the world. Trainer Joe Janiac is now looking forward to another crack at the two big sprints at Ascot in June, as well as a possible start in France for TT. This is a tremendous story for both Joe, and for all Australians, let's hope TT can continue on his winning way.
Racing at Taree, Pakenham (heavy track) & Townsville this afternoon, however there is not much to warm the cold cockles of a punters winter heart at either venue. Hopefully we can find a couple of winners for tomorrow's meetings, there are certainly plenty from which to choose.
Monday 19 May 2008 Good Luck to Luke Nolen Group 1 winning jockey Luke Nolen undergoes palate surgery today in Brisbane in the aftermath of his horrific fall on Saturday at Doomben. Nolen was aboard the Bart Cummings trained Antidotes, when attempting to obtain a clear run in the straight, appeared to clip the heels of one of the horses in front of him. The 28 year old was tossed over the falling head of his mount then down between the horses legs before hitting the turf with great ferocity. As ambulance crews gathered around the unconscious jockey, grave fears were held for his life. However after a long wait he finally came around and was taken to hospital with a drip attached to his arm. A fall this bad is rarely seen, Luke is a very lucky man to still be with us. The extent of his injuries are also amazingly light for such a horrendous fall. He has facial and palate injuries which require surgery, as well as a ligament injury to his knee which will require a full knee reconstruction. This will mean Luke will be off the riding lists for at least 6 months, probably longer, however this is a far better outlook than one dire prospect that looked imminent on Saturday afternoon. Best wishes go out to Luke and his family, let's hope he makes a speedy recovery and is back riding before the end of the year.
Monday 12 May 2008
Apache Cat, Greg's Pleasant Problem Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell knew from an early age Apache Cat was going to make the grade. However from the first time he gave the gelding a serious gallop, he knew he had a serious problem. On Saturday, Apache Cat narrowly won the Group 1 BTC Cup at Doomben in Queensland, achieving a feat very few equine thoroughbreds are able to achieve. This victory was his 4th successive Group 1 win this year, a performance normally set aside for champions of the turf. At his previous start, he had won the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick whilst before that was successful at Moonee Valley in the Australia Stakes as well as at Flemington, home of the Melbourne Cup, in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes. Only Weekend Hustler, who has won 6 successive Group 1's this season, can boast a better record of horses currently still racing in Australia. This places Apache Cat in a category far above most thoroughbred race horses. Apache Cat is adored by the Australian racing public. He has a huge white patch on his forehead, along a long white sock on each of his four legs which not only brings immediate attention to him, but stamps him apart from most other thoroughbreds. Because of his looks, as well as his most consistent performances on the track, he is idolised by racing fans across the country. And to think, at one stage this most revered of gallopers may well have been lost to the country of his birth. By little known USA stallion Lion Cavern out of a Whiskey Road mare, Apache Cat has risen from relative obscurity to now become a national icon. However after only 3 race starts, a large offer was made by interested parties in Hong Kong to purchase the gelding to race in SE Asia. The offer was too good to refuse, so Apache Cat endured a full veterinary inspection which he of course passed with flying colours. Funds for the purchase were to be transferred the following day, however the new owners wanted to see a video of his recent win in the VRC Gibson Carmichael Stakes prior to proceeding. On witnessing the video, the prospective owners were in shock, immediately reneging on the deal. When asked why, the would be purchaser was heard to say "Too much white, too much white, bad luck, bad luck," so the sale fell through to the good fortune of Australian race goers. Trainer Greg Eurell has had to overcome one major hurdle with his star galloper. Right from the start of his race track career, Eurell has never had one horse that can keep up with Apache Cat on the training track. Now Eurell is no slouch as a trainer, and he throws out plenty of winners from his Cranbourne stable every year, regrettably, none as fast as Apache Cat. One after another, Apache Cat would trounce his stable mates on the track, giving Eurell a massive problem as to how to get his stable star fit for his major events, albeit a problem that most trainers would love to have. Nevertheless, fit him Eurell has, proving he is a great mentor given the right cattle to race with. Apache Cat's next mission is the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 in a fortnights time. A victory here would annex his 5th consecutive Group 1 race, an achievement rarely bettered on Australian race tracks. It is a credit to the quality of the horse and the perfect placement by a great trainer that will now give Australian race fans the opportunity to witness such a magnificent feat. Go The Cat !!
Stewards Report - Edenhope 11/5/2008 Most punters read Stewards Reports as an aid to finding a winner, or a way to find an excuse as to why your horse was beaten. Most Stewards Reports are a valuable tool for punters in assessing whether a horse may have been unlucky and whether it should be followed in the future. Please note, the operative word here is MOST. Yesterday at Edenhope, we were very close to having a bet in the first race, however after much procrastination decided to sit the event out. Nevertheless, watch with extreme interest we did to witness the fortunes of the Darren Magro trained, unusually tagged Redsplit Thumb. He began well enough to be sitting about a length off the leader Tarrington as they approached the 800m of the 1000m affair. However, soon after, Redsplit Thumb copped a nasty check dropping back sharply into the lap of favourite Hullaballoo, both horses losing considerable ground. At the finish, Redsplit Thumb failed narrowly to run down Tarrington, who was declared the winner by a head, Hullaballoo didn't recover from the set back to finish 4th. Below is a copy of the Stewards Report in the race taken directly off the Racing Victoria web site last evening:-
Below is the result, taken again directly from the RVL web site:-
Now come on gentlemen, a Stewards Report needs to be succinct, coherent and understandable to all those who read them. Who actually won the race? Who were the protagonists in the protests?
This morning RVL, to their credit, have since altered the Report to appear like this:-
Now that all makes far more sense than the Dribbles posted on to the web site yesterday afternoon. It is difficult enough to find a winner on any given day, let alone attempt to derive some benefit or sense from illiterate ramblings such as the original Report. After reading said Report, one may think it was written from the bar at Edenhope, not from the Stewards Room.
Thursday 10 January 2008 PASS in Paralysing Form Members of Professional Analytical Selection Service have been lining their pockets with plenty of Christmas & New Year Cheer. Currently running at a winning strike of over 50% with profit margins well over 45% for this season, PASS is providing lots of winners for their members. To check out all the results or to become involved in all the winners, click here
Thursday 10 January, 2008. Regina Rocks Gallopers have a lovely chestnut 2yo filly for sale. She is fully broken in, has been with a leading trainer at Doomben for two weeks, trotting and cantering around the track, she is now ready for some serious work. Standing around 15.1hh, she still has plenty of maturing to do and will be even better as a 3 & 4yo. QTIS registered, she is qualified for the major 2yo race in Rockhampton later this year. For more details, click here !
Monday 29 October, 2007. 
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