After 250 wins – some career reflections
On the 1st December, Lady Yarrow finally broke through for a well-deserved win at Sapphire Coast, and in saluting, she became our 250th winner.
Since our first winner on the 14/07/2003 when Casiraghi won at Queanbeyan, we have had the pleasure of working with a great variety of horses, all with their own quirks, personalities and stories.
There have been many challenging and frustrating times, but also many great memories and success stories. We have endured Equine Influenza and COVID, and seen many changes across the racing industry.
Some so many people have played a role in this achievement, and I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of the team. We have formed many great friendships and extended family, and we look forward to continuing to add to the winners’ tally.
Some of our most memorable highlights included:
- Monegal being our first Group winner when winning The Epona Stakes (one of her 10 wins which also included a Canberra Mile, Bega Cup and multiple city wins).
- The Guru who always had the biggest fan club and support crew at the races. There were plenty of celebrations over the course of a career which tallied 6 wins (including Randwick on Melbourne Cup day and a dynamic win at Canterbury night races).
Other notable performers for the stable include:
Halliday Road and Jarrett (the King of the Coast) with 7 wins, Golly I’m Lucky, Old Man’s Angel, Arrows Destiny, Victory at Omaha (6 wins), Magico Hombre, Foxtrot Bravo (including the Kembla Grange Stayer’s Cup) and Hope Uno with four wins, Burden of Proof, Titaness, Direct Fire, Crackalacka and Freaky Freckles with four wins.
Fleeting Stryke won three and was the first of the yearlings we purchased. Freedom Call won three and was the first winner ridden by Jess Taylor for the stable. Skyway was our first metropolitan winner ridden by Mitchell Bell.
Giant’s Daughter, Chakana, Taqueda, Bound for Dubai, Bokarina, Lightning Gail, Hypernicus, River Charge, Michael Oscar, Club Legend, Without Equal, Alan, Divine Breath, Factorize, Pindarra’s Dream, Ma Bella Rosie, Maddison’s Missile, Moon Stories, Eberlee, Stryke Em Onesie, Real Key, Redente Choice, Steve Steve Steve, Shaka Rock, Skaifee, Vain Invader, Super Kontiki, Luckyimwithaimee, Skye’s Legacy, Tartana, Sassy Missile, Mulvader, Arabian Soo, Paziah, Magic Alwyns, Zariz Alwyns, Prized Alwyns, Master Riley, Sir Sublime, Sebastian’s Flyer, London Star, Champ De Fleurs, Mystic Diva, Kickamushu, Star of The Class, Miss Bariloche, Pretty Please, Lady Yarrow, Liamena Avenue, Joel, Bijalee, Yote Amo Maria, Blink Twice, Theresa Maree, Mickey Jay, Eskimo Commander, Sunday Poet, Tsumani Alert, Elite Hong Kong, Queen Elektra, Bring Cheer, Pena Ajena, Miss Bourbon Bar, Atlantic Dreamer, Storm On, Princess Kalli, Mermaid Rock, Heaven or Hell, Dust Devil, Bulloo Downs, Turbulence, Antamonic, Aphroditis, Left Right Centre, Carbonite, It’s Hell On Heels, Private Certifier, Hole In One, Puki, Copy That, Sherwood’s Choice, Overly, St Alessio, Paint the Ceiling, Grey Gulch, Seasofar, Spectacular Bird and Casiraghi are all part of the winners list.
Each of these names brings back many precious memories and each horse (even those that didn’t win) has their own special story.
One of my most memorable days was winning 4 races at Sapphire Coast on the 27th December 2020 when Halliday Road, Alan, River Charge and Yote Amo Maria won. Sapphire Coast is undoubtedly my favourite racetrack, and we hold many great memories there, especially over the Cup carnivals.
November Highlights
We hit another significant milestone on the 11th of November when recording a winning double at Queanbeyan.
Pretty Please made it two wins in a row when working home strongly in the Benchmark 58 over 2000m, ridden by Jess Taylor. This win was the 90th win for the Bateup / Taylor combination!
In the following race, Liamena Avenue led all the way for Claire Ramsbotham to notch up his first career win in dominant style, making it a race-to-race double. Leo has taken a while to mature, but has started to work it all out in this preparation.
We were represented by one runner on Gong Day when Master Riley lined up in the Midway over 1400m. Unwanted in the market and starting at $61 Riley was given a great ride by Amy McLucas from a wide barrier to come across and sit outside the leader. He kicked on strongly in the straight to finish 2nd.
Lady Yarrow was narrowly beaten at Kembla in a deceptive photo finish on the 15th November in a Super Maiden over 1500m, whilst Sebastian’s Flyer was very brave finishing 3rd behind stable mate Pretty Please at Queanbeyan after a tough run in transit.
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Racing Reports
Pretty Please made it two wins in succession when winning at Queanbeyan on the 11th November. Having broken through for her first win at Sapphire Coast on the 20th October, Peggy quickly added another win to her record and appreciated the step up to 2000m.She then lined up in stronger grade at Wyong over 2125m on the 26th November and was far from disgraced in finishing 5th.
Lady Yarrow our little “pocket rocket” has been a model of consistency her whole career. On 15th November Harriet lined up in a Super Maiden over 1500m at Kembla Grange and scooted up the inside to hit the front. She looked the winner only to be denied right on the line by the Chris Waller odds on favourite.
Harriet then ventured to Sapphire Coast on the 1st December, where well placed in a set weights Maiden over 1400m, she was able to come across from a wide barrier to sit outside the leader. Harriet was left in front a long way from home but drew away to win by over a length and record a well-deserved win.
Harriet has only been out of the placings once this preparation and that was still a great effort finishing 5th in a metropolitan Maiden. She will now have a couple of weeks in the paddock and can continue to progress through the grades.
Liamena Avenue has returned in great order this preparation winning his trial then finishing a solid 3rd on resuming.
Leo headed to Queanbeyan on the 11th November in a Maiden over 1200m and despite drawing wide, began well and was able to work across from the wide barrier to take the lead for Claire Ramsbotham. Well rated in front, he gave a kick down the Queanbeyan hill and was too strong to record his first victory.
Leo is a horse that has always shown ability at home but has taken time to furnish and figure out his race day craft. He stepped up to Provincial grade in a Class 1 at Wyong on the 26th November but raced flat in the hot conditions. He can bounce back next start.
Master Riley didn’t handle the shifty conditions at Newcastle on the 1stNovember. He was then our sole representative on Gong Day on the 22ndNovember, racing in the Midway over 1400m. From a wide barrier, Riley began well and worked across to settle outside the leader. He was left in front a long way from home but tried valiantly in the straight to finish 2nd at odds of $61. Riley will now head to a Midway at Rosehill on the 7th December.
Hussy La Vista was quite green at Kembla on debut over 1000m. Jumping well, she sat outside the leader but bounced off it a few times and when asked to let down, wanted to duck in and do a few things wrong. With the addition of blinkers and a jump out between runs, Hussy produced a much better performance at Sapphire over 1200m. She settled back in the field but once she found clear room in the straight, she balanced up and let down strongly making up significant ground to finish 3rd. Hussy will continue to improve with racing and will also appreciate stepping up in distance a bit.
Mr Fabulous was a good effort at Rosehill on the 8th November when finishing 5th beaten only 1.76 lengths behind the in form Thebudgiesmugla. Mr Fab then stepped up to Listed company in the 300k Beauford at Newcastle on the 15th November. He settled well back in a slowly run affair but kept working to the line and was far from disgraced.
Direct Fire faced the breeze throughout at Kembla in horrid conditions on Melbourne Cup Day and battled on well considering. Drake then enjoyed 2 weeks in the paddock and is now back in work. His mission will be to defend his Bega Cup title on the 1st February. On the path towards that, he is likely to follow in the footsteps of his half-sister Crackalacka and start in the Moruya Cup on 5th January. Crackalacka won that race in 2023 and with her racing days behind her, is now in foal to Dracarys. Her foal will be a ¾ brother / sister to Direct Fire!
Sebastian’s Flyer continues to race very honestly and consistently. Stepping up to 2000m at Queanbeyan on the 11th November, Jordan endured a tough run in transit however battled on tenaciously to finish 3rd behind stablemate Pretty Please. Jordan then dropped back to 1600m at Sapphire Coast on the 1st December and was honest again in finishing 4th. He is likely to return to Queanbeyan on the 18th December over 2000m.
Night’s Inferno stepped up to 1400m for the first time in his career at Kembla on the 15th November. Although he settled last when first up over 1200m, he began brilliantly at Kembla and landed in front by default. Despite battling into a headwind, Night fought on quite well just getting tired late which he was entitled to do.
Star of Kyeema is still learning some race craft and was fair at Sapphire on the 1st December. Emmy hasn’t has much luck with barriers and will also appreciate stepping up in distance.
Flying Gabbi made her debut at Queanbeyan on the 11th November. Gabbi jumped well from an inside barrier and travelled up strongly behind stable mate Liamena Avenue. However, she got a bit lost and off balance coming down the Queanbeyan hill. Gabbi then lined up at Sapphire Coast on the 1st December and endured a tough run in transit, being four wide without cover throughout from a wide barrier.
Kickamushu resumed at Queanbeyan on the 11th November over 900m which served as a trial. Mushu missed the start however worked home well. Stepping up to 1200m at Sapphire Coast on 1st December, Mushu settled back from a wide barrier and made good ground in the straight after being held up in early stages of the straight. She will improve again off that run and be ready to peak in her next couple of starts.
Hunter One made her race debut at Kembla on the 15th November following a good trial. Justine had a good day out and worked home well. A big, scopey filly Justine made massive improvement in her first preparation and will return a nice filly next time in.
Miss Bariloche was not disgraced when lining up in a Midway over 1800m at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day. Miss B has now been sold and will continue her racing in the Western districts,
Triallers and Track Work
Trialling/Jumpouts this month.
1st December trials: Elle Tee; Scarlet Icon.
15 December Jumpouts: Kitty Okay; Lindos; “Charlotte” the Sandbar x Rose of Scarlet f; Rubilace; Victory at Omaha; Tartana.
Pace Work.
Written By x Two To Tango f; Yes Arnie; Brundee Tom; Secret Love; London Star; Edorado; “Turtle” the Anders x Murtle Miss g; Sablonneuse; Zarkov; Frosted Armour.
Back In Work.
North Star Miss; Grey Axe; “Willow” the Wild Ruler x Ollagua f
Heading into Work/Pre-training this month.
Mercy Rule; Bikini Babe; Landmark Lady
New to the Stable.
Starsonus (“Tyson”) has joined the stable from Queensland. A very consistent and strapping big gelding, Tyson underwent a tie back surgery and will have a month in the paddock before returning to work
Two year old geldings “Nikita” by Extreme Choice and “Curly” by D’Argento are at the stables for their first preparation and both have settled in well so far.
Spelling
The following horses are enjoying their time in the spelling paddock:
Final Spirit; El Poppi; “Robert” the Your Song x Ma Ma I Love You g; Prized Alwyns; “Petey” the Peltzer x Tupelo Express g; “Dot” the Written By x Vintage Valley f; Sir Sublime; Farsain; Master Johnny; Tombo Ahi; “Reiby” the Invader x Reiby Rainbow g; Super One x Can Dream g; Coral Cove; “Trixie” the Sandbar x Simply Delightful f
Ownership Opportunities
If you are interested in joining us in any of our current or upcoming acquisitions please contact me at theresa.bateup@bigpond.com.au or give me a call on 0418 428 219. I have a variety of video’s available in addition to those below.
See below for opportunities to join us racing a variety of prospects
I also still have small shares available in a some of our other 3 year olds and tried horses.
I have small shares available in Sir Sublime that an owner wishes to move on. He will return to work this week. 5% for $450. Shares are also available in Landmark Lady.
For details contact me directly.