February was an extremely busy month in the stables!
The month commenced with the 2 day Sapphire Coast Bega Cup Carnival. Once again had a fantastic weekend on and off the racetrack.
Vain Invader was the star performer winning the Tathra Cup over 1400m and breaking the track record. He did this carrying 62.5kg under a great ride by Angus Villiers.
We had another enjoyable and successful Sappire Coast Bega Cup Carnival. Vain Invader was superb in winning the Tathra Cup aided by a perfect ride by Angus Villiers and made light work of the 62.5kg running a track record over the 1400m! “Garth” and Angus returned to a very excited and loud group of owners and supporters . Foxtrot Bravo added another 2nd placing in the Bateup Racing Sapphire Coast Cup over 2200m whilst Direct Fire delivered an excellent performance to finish 2nd in the Class 1 1400m just missing by a head! It was great a great weekend and fantastic to have so many owners in attendance. A big thank you to our staff for their hard work
– Theresa Bateup
Foxtrot Bravo was honest once again and picked up yet another 2nd placing in the “Bateup Racing” Sapphire Coast Cup over 2200m. Direct Fire put in a very tough effort to be just nutted on the line when finishing 2nd in the 1400m Class 1. Victory at Omaha ran a good race in the Bega Cup beaten only 1.89 lengths.
Sassy Missile and Direct Fire have been fantastic in their first race preparations. Both horses collected their second wins of the campaign during February. Sassy Missile relished the step up to 1600m and was a good winner at Sapphire Coast on the 19th February for Jess Taylor. Direct Fire gave nothing else a chance, leading all the way to win the Canberra Guineas Preview on the 23rd February for Kayla Nisbet.
Sassy Missile made it 2 wins from just 4 starts with a tough effort at Sapphire Coast yesterday in the Class 1 1608m ridden superbly by Jess Taylor . “Pommie” has done a superb job this preparation and will now head for a well deserved spell . Foxtrot Bravo put in another great effort to collect another 2nd placing whilst Macquarie Miss resumed from a spell with an encouraging 3rd placing. Congratulations to all owners and a big thank you as always to our team of staff
– Theresa Bateup
Direct Fire delivered a dominant all the way win in the Canberra Guineas Preview over 1400m at Canberra yesterday. Working across from a wide barrier, Drake relaxed nicely for Kayla Nisbet and kicked clear over the final stages . Drake is building a very handy record and we look forward to seeing him continue to improve! Congratulations to Drake’s owners and thank you to our team of staff
– Theresa Bateup
Foxtrot Bravo added a further second placing at Sapphire Coast on the 19th February in a Benchmark 58 over 2200m. Macquarie Miss returned from a spell in promising fashion at the same meeting finishing 3rd over 1000m and sets up for a nice preparation as she steps up over a little further.
We have been taking a few horses to town and they have been far from disgraced. Hope Uno added another city placing to her record finishing 3rd at Canterbury on the 9th February. This followed her 4th placing on the same track on the 2nd February. Master Riley had a tough run in transit but fought on well to finish 4th at Canterbury on the 2nd February and Victory at Omaha was a solid performance at Kensington on the 14th February, finishing 4th over 1550m.
In amongst a busy month of racing we also attended the Inglis Classic Sale at the Riverside Complex at Warwick Farm and we came home with a very flashy chestnut filly byStar Turn out of Fast Hussy (a Hussonet mare).
March will be another busy month with a number of the team at the races including the Albury Cup Carnival on the 21st and 22nd March with Direct Fire possibly heading for the Albury Guineas and Foxtrot Bravo looking to win another Adrian Ledger Memorial.
Meanwhile, the Yearling Sales continue to roll on with the Magic Millions QTIS and Adelaide Yearling Sales.