A Cup Day trip to my old hometown of Cootamundra proved to be a fruitful outing for the stable. We took a nice team of 7 horses and they all performed very well, finishing in the top 5.
Hussy La Vista achieved her second win this preparation and has been ultra-consistent in recent months (she was narrowly defeated in a deceptive photo finish at Goulburn on the 11th September).
Night’s Inferno was fantastic, finishing 3rd after coming from last and having a chequered passage in the straight. This followed his solid first-up 4th at Moruya.
Liamena Avenue and Sir Sublime finished 4th and 5th respectively, right alongside each other in the 1200m Benchmark 58. Both were good efforts and Sir Sublime was a bit stiff not to finish closer after running out of galloping room. North Star Miss and Lindos also finished alongside each other, 4th and 5th in the 1100m Maiden. Both were solid first-up efforts. Brannum was on the quick back-up and put in a gutsy performance in the Cup, just missing out on 3rd placing after travelling wide throughout the race.
Other highlights of the month were Lady Yarrow running a brave 2nd first-up at Moruya on the 15th September before returning to that track for a gallant performance in the Legend of the South on the 2nd October.
Master Riley returned to the races with an excellent effort in a Midway at Rosehill on the 26th September. Mr Fabulous ran 4th at Newcastle on the 19th September before finishing 4th at Rosehill on the 30th September, whilst Aegipan was a brave 4th at Queanbeyan on the 8th September, carrying 61kg.
We had a nice team of horses at the Trials at Illawarra Grange on the 7th October, with Kitty Okay winning her trial in the quickest heat of the morning. She is set to resume later this month. Farsain, Eltrum, Leica Fox, Edorado, Mercy Rule and Kaihalulu Beach also trialled well for where they are in their preparations. All will head to the races later in the month/early November.
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Racing Reports
Hussy La Vista gave a fantastic sight at Goulburn on the 11th September. Jumping from a wide barrier, she pinged the gates to settle outside the leader and hit the front in the home straight. She was going to hold on, only to be denied on the line by the favourite in a deceptive photo finish.
Hussy then produced an honest effort at Hawkesbury on the 24th September when finishing 4th over 1500m, finishing off strongly.
She dropped back to country grade at Cootamundra on the 4th October. Settling mid-field and not entirely comfortable on the tighter track, Hussy was helped by a smart ride from Amy McLucas. They saved ground around the home turn for a narrow but well-deserved win. Hussy has developed into a very honest campaigner this preparation.
Lady Yarrow put in a fantastic effort first-up at Moruya on the 15th September. On a track that deteriorated with rain throughout the day, Harriet was valiant in defeat when finishing 2nd. She then struck another horrid track at Moruya on the 2nd October when lining up in the Legend of the South over 1300m. Harriet lost some traction around the home turn but tried very hard and was far from disgraced, beaten only 2.6 lengths.
Master Riley put in an excellent effort when returning to the races at Rosehill in a Midway over 1300m. He settled back in the field and worked home gamely. He looked a chance of finishing in the placings but peaked a little late and was only beaten 1.6 lengths. Riley looks set for a good preparation.
Mr Fabulous was outclassed in the City Tatts Cup at Rosehill on the 5th September but bounced back with solid efforts. He finished 4th both at Newcastle over 2300m on the 19th September and in a 2400m Benchmark 78 at Rosehill on the 30th September. At this stage, Mr Fab will race over 2400m at Rosehill on the 14th October.
Rubilace put in a fair effort over 1450m at Illawarra Grange on the 1st October. She is definitely racing more dourly this preparation and will step up in distance next start.
Brannum ran fairly at Nowra on the 20th September over 1400m. The shifty conditions at Moruya on the 2nd October were not to his liking and he faded to finish at the tail of the field. However, on a quick 2-day back-up, Brannum produced a gutsy effort when stepping up in grade in the Cootamundra Cup over 1600m. Despite sitting wide throughout, he battled away strongly to be nudged out of 3rd place in a 3-way photo. Brannum has now been sold and will continue his racing in Central QLD.
Night’s Inferno returned with a sound effort, finishing 4th at Moruya on a deteriorating track. He then lined up in a strong Benchmark 66 over 1100m at Cootamundra. It was an eye-catching effort, coming from last and weaving through the field to finish 3rd. He ran into a dead end late and probably should have finished closer. Night has returned in tremendous order.
Zouallo trialled well at Moruya and debuted with an even effort in a Super Maiden over 1400m at Kembla Grange. Zouallo will be in his element as he steps up to a staying distance.
Liamena Avenue resumed with a good effort over 900m at Queanbeyan on the 8th September, finishing 5th. Leo then lined up over 1200m at Cootamundra where he was pestered in the lead throughout but still gave a good kick and fought on bravely to just miss 3rd place in a photo finish.
Lindos was first-up at Cootamundra. She has matured a lot this preparation and it was a sound effort over 1100m, working home nicely to finish 5th, beaten 3 lengths. Linky will take good improvement as she steps up in distance this preparation.
Brundee Tom commenced his campaign at Moruya on the 2nd October. On a track that was quite chopped out, Tommy settled back in the field and took a while to find his feet around the home turn. But he worked through the line nicely and will be competitive next start as he steps up slightly in distance.
North Star Miss kicked off her campaign at Cootamundra on the 4th October over 1100m. Priscilla put in a good performance to finish 4th in a race that turned into a sit-and-sprint and will improve from the run and stepping up in distance as her preparation progresses.
Sir Sublime lined up at Cootamundra to kick off his campaign and put in a very good effort. He was somewhat unlucky when finishing 4th over 1200m. Stubby never got a lot of galloping room in the straight and should have finished in the placings. He will take good improvement in fitness from the outing and looks set for another honest campaign.
Autumn Flyer stepped up in grade at Illawarra Grange on the 17th September. He settled a long way back and never got clear running until late, when he worked through the line solidly.
Aegipan was a very brave 4th at Queanbeyan on the 8th September, shouldering 61kg over 1000m and was only beaten just over a length. Pan had a brief freshen-up before heading to Newcastle over 900m, where he wasn’t suited when having to press forward early. However, he battled on fairly and is likely to head to Kembla on the 24th October.
Mr Bazza didn’t get much luck at Nowra when unable to build into the race when he needed to. He can make good improvement when he steps up to 1460m at Queanbeyan on the 11th October.
Trials & Trackwork
Trialling/Jumpouts this month
7th October (Trials): Leica Fox; Eltrum; Kitty Okay; Mercy Rule; Kaihalulu Beach; Edorado; Farsain.
22nd September Jumpouts: London Star
Pace Work: “Cora” the Sandbar x Chorus of Angels f; “Fiona” the Prized Icon x I Love Pho f; Pure Sin; Starsonus; Dartanu; Hey Dot; The Munster; “Bella” the Sandbar x Pretty Bella f; “Venus” the Captivant x Planet’s Princess f
Back in Work: “Tilly” the Sandbar x Titaness 2yo f; “Fleet” the Sandbar x Fleeting Stryke 2yo f; “Thorn” the Prized Icon x Rose of Scarlet 2yo f; Yes Arnie; Landmark Lady; Lantau Island; Sablonneuse; Totally Bodacious
In Pre-Training: North Pacific x Heaven on Earth 2yo f.
Heading Into Work/Pre-Training this month: Bikini Babe; Rockbarton Red; Bow Lion; Master Johnny; Tupelo Twist; Coral Cove
Heading to the Breaker: Brutal x All Too Rio 2yo colt
Newcomers
“Cappy” is a lovely big, scopey colt by Captivant x Perfect Rhyme, who was placed in multiple stakes races including the Group 1 AJC Oaks. He has just completed his first preparation in the stables and did everything right.
Kitty Okay returns to the stables after trialling very nicely. She is set to race later this month.
The following horses are enjoying their time in the spelling paddock:
Caribbean Rose; In The Congo x That’s Amore c; Atossa; Stone Cold Curty; “Queenie” the Fastnet Express x Dubai Queen f; “Tassie” the Tassort x Shenthara f; Direct Fire; Emma Dee Lemma; Watch Me Tango; Mr Reiby; Frosted Amour; Wildstone Nature; “Champ” the Bruckner x Champion Parade g; “Jack” the Jacquinot x Clemency g; Nikita Firestone; Fancy Deal; “Reba” the Profiteer x Red Heeler f; “Louise” the Sandbar x Lagarde f; “Flick” the Captivant x Vintage Valley f; “Mufasa” the King’s Legacy x Hard to Find g; “Cappy” the Captivant x Perfect Rhyme c; “Boom” the Spirit of Boom x Thuwaany f.