New Zealand Racing, 2009-10
 

It'll be August 1 in about two weeks - the first day of the 2009-10 season. And that means our first G1, the Mudgway at Hastings, is only just over a month away.

I've decided to start a new thread for it because it's going to be the best season ever!

Time for some predictions that will look pretty stupid a year from now.

The three stars of the season:


Mufhasa
Champion sprinter this season and almost certainly Horse of the Year. He won the G1 Telegraph in 1:07.39. I don't think there's any horse in NZ that can keep up with him in sprint races.




Tell A Tale
This season's best 3yo should be bigger, stronger and more mature next season. He showed amazing speed in the 2000 Guineas and great courage with his 3rd in the Derby on a wet track over a distance way beyond what he's bred to handle. I think he could be a winning machine next season over a mile.




Prince Of Wales
I know this time last year I predicted that the Moroneys would have a big 3yo year with Altered Image and it didn't quite happen, but I think this colt could be better.

I'm not picking any Te Akau horses to have a big season, which is sure to be wrong - especially now they've contracted James McDonald (champion apprentice and number 1 jockey overall) to ride for them this season. Scary combination!

Summing up my predictions:

Best 3yo male up to a mile: Prince Of Wales
Best 3yo female up to a mile: St Germaine
Best 3yo male beyond a mile: Bally Duff
Best 3yo female beyond a mile: Masquerade
Best older male sprinter: Mufhasa
Best older female sprinter: Shanzero
Best older miler: Tell A Tale
Best older stayer: Daffodil

As Ellerslie race caller George Simon says, "let's bring it on." :cool:

Thanks for keeping us up to date!:)

Nom Du Jeu "galloped stylishly" at Cambridge yesterday - 52.0 for 800m.

I hope he's back in his best next season after two really bad performances in February/March.

Daffodil starts out her 2009-10 season on Thursday (still officially 2008-09 though!)

1 2138X Samurai 3 102 58.0 Neil Connors, Woodville
2 2441X Daffodil 6 96 55.5 Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
3 14820 Mega Belt 1 95 55.5 Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
4 26539 Woodbury Belle 7 89 54.0 Lisa Allpress Stephen Crutchley, Wanganui
5 X3249 Ease Hours 5 88 54.0 Kelly Myers (a) Dianne Sergeant, Hastings
6 244X8 Go Danny 4 86 54.0 Grant Searle, Awapuni
7 112X6 Yelracm 2 84 54.0 Grant Searle, Awapuni

The 1200m might be a bit short and the track could be a little bit wetter than she likes, but I think she should be too good for these. I have no idea why she, a dual G1 winner, is carrying 2.5kg less than Samurai, who is only a G3 winner.

Good question. He's only 20th on the NZ sires table for 2008-09, and didn't have any G1 winners this season.

There are no Zabeel horses in this country that look like real prospects to me at the moment. But a lot of his best ones do kind of come from nowhere, so you never know.

Just for fun, is there a video of her exhibition gallop a few days ago, ed?

I've been looking for it, but haven't found it yet. I'll post it if I do.

Thanks, ed.

Can't have a thread without our good :cool: Sir :{>: , can we?

This is a few weeks old, but...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times...-of-experience

... and then there's this...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/...ck-partnership

Thoughts?

I don't know what's in store for him. Hopefully not loads more races. :(

Daffodil was 2nd. She just ran out of gas in the last 50m or so, and her jockey didn't knock her around. I think they'll be happy with that, she should improve heaps.

Who won, ed?

Woodbury Belle. A nice winter handicapper. It was probably one of her biggest wins.

It's August 1. Happy birthday to all the horses! I'm probably going up to Ruakaka today to see a few really nice horses starting out - Boundless, Richard Beymer and Morelle in particular. I think all three of those will have a nice year.

Thanks ed and happy birthday kids! :D

I love Ruakaka. It's still winter and most places are more like swamps than racetracks, but Richard Beymer won up there today in 56.30 for the 1000m.

That race was always going to be too short for Boundless. She was last as they turned for home, but finished it off nicely down the outside to be 5th. Look out for her over a mile and more.

Her stablemate, Beyond The Blues, was a nice debut winner in the 3yo race (at 32-1!)

half time pissed off is not the word :-(

:(
But we'll peak at the World Cup.

Last year's G1 Mudgway Stakes winner, Fritzy Boy, started off 2009-10 with a nice win at Foxton today.

He's 5-1 to win the Mudgway again this year - 2nd favourite behind 2008-09 HOTY, Mufhasa.

Il Quello Veloce is the 3rd favourite at 7-1 - apparently she was very impressive in a trial during the week.

Then there's Tell A Tale, Daffodil, NDJ, Prince Kaapstad...4 weeks to go. :)

A couple of names to remember from today's races at Taupo...

INDISPUTABLE (3yo filly) - 2 starts as a 2yo for a 3rd and a stakes 2nd. She won nicely today in what looked like a really strong maiden field - the 3rd horse, Guiseppina, had a bit of hype around her (she'll be better next time. She flipped over backwards before the race started and had her head in the air for the first half of the race).

GASTON (3yo gelding) - He only raced once as a 2yo and finished 7th. That was in Sydney in October last year! He's obviously improved a lot in the 10 months since then. He was near last at the turn but made a huge move in the (very short) stretch to get the win in nice time.

I think we'll see both of those a bit more in the next few months as we start to look at the 1000 and 2000 Guineas.

Bulginbaah (known around the stable as Cecil) won the G3 Foxbridge Plate today. It was his 20th win and the second time he's won this race.



Probably the best NZ horse not to win a G1 in the last 10 years. Maybe he can change that in the Mudgway in 2 weeks.

Bob Scott has trained and owned racehorses for 10 years but had never had a winner until Saturday, when 54-1 Ketrajero won the maiden 3yo race at Otaki. Good for him. :)

He says Ketrajero will now go on the Guineas trail. I'm not sure if he's good enough to be competitive in those races, but I hope he is.

Cheers to him! :)

First G1 of 2009-10 on Saturday - the Mudgway at Hastings!

1 8702X Sarrera (AUS) 18 115 59.0 Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
2 13261 Bulginbaah 15 110 59.0 Trudy Thornton Ken Cropp & Catherine Wilson, Wanganui
3 1130X Mufhasa 12 110 59.0 Stephen McKee, Ardmore
4 71X58 Jacowils 3 104 59.0 Mark Hills Kristine Stead, Te Rapa
5 104X2 Maximum Star 2 104 59.0 Darryl Bradley Patrick Campbell, Hastings
6 709X1 Fritzy Boy 19 103 59.0 Alby MacGregor, Opaki
7 32310 Pindy 4 103 59.0 Kate Hercock Gary Hennessy, Matamata
8 8061X Prince Kaapstad 13 103 59.0 Opie Bosson Richard Yuill, Pukekohe Park
9 92316 Penrickson 6 102 59.0 Noel Harris Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
10 2435X Vosne Romanee 8 100 59.0 Hayden Tinsley Jeff Lynds, Awapuni
11 383X6 Sterling Prince 5 99 59.0 Cameron Lammas Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata
12 235X9 Occidentalis (AUS) 1 92 59.0 James McDonald (a) Richard & Chris Otto, Te Awamutu
13 140X3 Tavistock 17 93 58.5 Jason Waddell Andrew Campbell, Opaki
14 1500X Altered Image 16 90 58.5 Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
15 655X7 Il Quello Veloce 10 95 56.5 Mark Du Plessis John Sargent, Matamata
16 6470X Alagant Satin 20 82 56.5 Troy Harris Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge
17 71121 Alpha Pukeko (AUS) (B1) 9 100 59.0 Wayne Jones, Hawera
18 6X233 High Octane (B2) 7 98 59.0 Gregor Robson, Cambridge
19 X08X8 Cent Per Cent (AUS) (B3) 14 97 59.0 Scratching Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
20 3163X Arlington (AUS) (B4) 11 90 59.0 Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea

Excellent field, but I think Mufhasa is so hard to beat here. The race has been won by so many of our best horses in the last 10 years - Sunline, Miss Potential, Xcellent and Seachange - and he was so amazingly good last season, I think his name belongs on that list. He's got a wide gate, but I don't think that'll stop him. He's at even money.

Prince Kaapstad could be a bit of a surprise horse at 12-1. He's a G1 winner and was 3rd in this race last year.

There's a really nice race on the undercard too - 3yos.

1 2041X Joey Massino 3 80 58.0 Peter McKay, Matamata
2 3120X Seven Schillings 7 78 57.0 Sam Spratt Richard Yuill, Pukekohe Park
3 5335X Corsage 5 75 56.0 James McDonald (a) Mark Walker, Matamata
4 7313X Bear Heart 1 74 55.5 Jason Waddell Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge
5 1223X St Germaine 8 73 55.5 Mark Du Plessis John Sargent, Matamata
6 1X2 The Hombre (AUS) 6 69 54.5 Michael Walker John Bary, Hastings
7 5016X Cat Woman 4 68 54.0 Noel Harris John Sargent, Matamata
8 5 Thundermore (AUS) 9 52 53.0 Peter McKay, Matamata
9 Benny The Ball 2 50 53.0 Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata

Joey Massino and Seven Schillings are stakes winners, Corsage and St Germaine are G1-placed and Bear Heart is stakes-placed. Really nice field. Don't know anything about Benny The Ball. I would say that it's crazy to put a horse in for his debut in this race, but it's the Moroneys... Wait and see.

I'm really excited about Saturday. :)

Your horse of the year :tro: and Fritzy Boy are the only names I know!

Interesting about Benny... I wonder!

The Hombre won that 3yo race really impressively. He went straight to the lead, sprinted again at the turn to go to a 3-length lead, and no one got close to him. 3 starts now for 2 wins and a second. He could be a good one. We'll have to wait and see how he runs in longer races though.

Joey Massino finished nicely to get second. He'll be better when he steps up to a mile.

The Mudgway is only about 3 hours away now. :)

It was a 40-1 shocker - Tavistock.


Mufhasa had a wide trip and tried hard, but Tavistock just had more left in the last few strides of the race.

There was a fall in the race, with two horses coming down, but it sounds like both of the horses and jockeys are OK.

I have to say I've hardly heard of Tavistock, but he really impressed me today. He's now a G1-winning son of Montjeu, so he has a good stud career ahead.

I'll post the replay soon.

Replay - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7GUxqncO90

Weird name, but a good horse - Warrentherooster went wire to wire to win the Wanganui Guineas by 2 lengths.

Replay - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Q8yNtmX7c

Hastings tomorrow...

Windsor Park Plate (G1)

1 702X0 Sarrera (AUS) 8 114 59.0 Craig Grylls (a) Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
2 865X2 Sir Slick 16 112 59.0 Samantha Collett (a) Graeme Nicholson & Paul Allbon, Te Aroha
3 130X2 Mufhasa 13 110 59.0 Sam Spratt Stephen McKee, Ardmore
4 1X585 Jacowils 15 104 59.0 Scratching Kristine Stead, Te Rapa
5 061X0 Prince Kaapstad 11 104 59.0 Opie Bosson Richard Yuill, Pukekohe Park
6 09X19 Fritzy Boy 12 102 59.0 Michael Walker Alby MacGregor, Opaki
7 83X63 Sterling Prince 3 100 59.0 Cameron Lammas Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata
8 435X0 Vosne Romanee 9 100 59.0 Buddy Lammas (a) Jeff Lynds, Awapuni
9 40X31 Tavistock 4 104 58.5 Jason Waddell Andrew Campbell, Opaki
10 423X4 Tell A Tale (AUS) 5 98 58.5 James McDonald (a) Mark Walker, Matamata
11 500XL Altered Image 10 90 58.5 Scratching Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
12 262X1 Culminate 6 106 57.0 Leith Innes Stephen McKee, Ardmore
13 41X24 Daffodil 7 96 56.5 Hayden Tinsley Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
14 55X74 Il Quello Veloce 2 95 56.5 Mark Du Plessis John Sargent, Matamata
15 577X1 The Pooka (AUS) (B1) 1 93 59.0 Troy Harris John Wheeler, New Plymouth
16 163X3 Arlington (AUS) (B2) 14 90 59.0 Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea


Gold Trail Stakes (G3)

1 2218X Katie Lee (AUS) 11 77 56.0 Opie Bosson Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
2 120X6 Seven Schillings 13 77 56.0 Scratching Richard Yuill, Pukekohe Park
3 335X3 Corsage 7 75 56.0 James McDonald (a) Mark Walker, Matamata
4 011 Queen Sabeel 5 75 56.0 Michael Walker Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
5 630X3 Eileen Dubh 9 74 56.0 Jonathan Riddell Francis Finnegan, Woodville
6 223X4 St Germaine 3 73 56.0 Mark Du Plessis John Sargent, Matamata
7 413X9 Gofonze 12 69 56.0 Kelly Myers Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
8 3350X Bewitch 10 68 56.0 Leith Innes Andrew Scott, Matamata
9 10X4 Sitara 4 67 56.0 Buddy Lammas (a) Don Dwyer, Byerley Park
10 0107X Mi Payday 2 64 56.0 David Walker Stephen Crutchley, Wanganui
11 3X Mercury Mistress 6 56 56.0 Andrew Calder Lance Noble, Matamata
12 Promenade 8 50 56.0 Hayden Tinsley Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
13 Staged (AUS) 1 50 56.0 Craig Grylls (a) Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata

And a nice 3yo race on the undercard with The Hombre and King's Ransom.

Wow that's a tough race to put Sir Slick in!

Does your girl Daffodil win here ed?

I don't think so. It rained overnight so the track looks a bit too wet for her and for Tell A Tale. Not sure about Mufhasa today either.

I'll go for Culminate now.

I don't know half the field so as long as Sir Slick comes home... it's all good.

Good luck to you. :)

I don't recognize the name. Is this a new G1 or have they changed the name on another of the G1 races so that I can't figure out where I should put the results?

Terribly annoying for those of us trying to keep historical records, this changing the race names every 2 or 3 years.

It's formerly the Stoney Bridge Stakes.

That shows how much I know...



1st: Daffodil
2nd: Sarrera
3rd: Sterling Prince

Then Prince Kaapstad, Culminate and Tavistock.

Mufhasa was stuck in a crazy early sprint up front and had nothing left in the straight. Tell A Tale was slow out of the gates and never threatened.

Incredible win by Daffodil though. She was nearly last coming around the turn and made a huge run down the outside. Massive.

Replay coming soon.

Replays...

Gold Trail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmnX6L5LLVM
Windsor Park Plate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqsJWEyDn6g

Oh wow that was great!!!

Very exciting race. Great to see Sir looking good (!!!) and she is just sensational. :tro:

Too bad about Tell a Tale... thought he'd be up there too.

Kelt day at Hastings on Saturday. :tro:

Kelt Stakes (G1)

1 26X02 Sarrera (AUS) 5 114 59.0 Craig Grylls (a) Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
2 65X28 Sir Slick 8 111 59.0 Mark Du Plessis Graeme Nicholson & Paul Allbon, Te Aroha
3 13X13 Ginga Dude 10 107 59.0 Andrew Calder Graeme Boyd, Kaipaki
4 88X07 Gallions Reach 3 105 59.0 Sam Spratt Richard Yuill, Pukekohe Park
5 61X04 Prince Kaapstad 17 104 59.0 Opie Bosson Richard Yuill, Pukekohe Park
6 3X633 Sterling Prince 11 102 59.0 Cameron Lammas Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata
7 9X197 Fritzy Boy 14 101 59.0 Michael Walker Alby MacGregor, Opaki
8 35X00 Vosne Romanee 6 99 59.0 Buddy Lammas (a) Jeff Lynds, Awapuni
9 77X10 The Pooka (AUS) 1 92 59.0 Vinnie Colgan John Wheeler, New Plymouth
10 0X316 Tavistock 15 103 57.5 Jason Waddell Andrew Campbell, Opaki
11 12X93 Harris Tweed 4 100 57.5 David Walsh Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge
12 0X198 Miss Maren 7 100 57.0 Leith Innes Mick Price, Caulfield
13 36493 Yanna Marie 12 100 57.0 David Walker Kevin Myers, Wanganui
14 1X241 Daffodil 9 102 55.5 Hayden Tinsley Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
15 10X54 Jungle Rocket 13 88 55.5 James McDonald (a) Jeff McVean, Cambridge
16 70X64 Alagant Satin 16 86 55.5 Troy Harris Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge
17 63X30 Arlington (AUS) (B1) 2 90 59.0 Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea

Daffodil is the 2-1 favourite, and she looks the obvious one after that huge win last time. I think Jungle Rocket (11-1), Tavistock (10-1) and Harris Tweed (9-1) will run well, but I'll go with Daffodil to win the race.

Hawke's Bay Guineas (G2)

1 141X3 The Heckler (AUS) 17 90 56.0 Opie Bosson Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge
2 041X2 Joey Massino 16 80 56.0 Vinnie Colgan Peter McKay, Matamata
3 101X4 King's Ransom 8 78 56.0 James McDonald (a) Mark Walker, Matamata
4 1X212 The Hombre (AUS) 9 78 56.0 Michael Walker John Bary, Hastings
5 3X011 Slashing (AUS) 4 75 56.0 Craig Grylls (a) Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
6 113X Justanexcuse 7 74 56.0 Kelly Myers Lisa Latta, Awapuni
7 40X81 Keyora 14 69 56.0 Hayden Tinsley John Wheeler, New Plymouth
8 51 Thundermore (AUS) 5 69 56.0 Sam Spratt Peter McKay, Matamata
9 317X3 Credit Crunch 6 67 56.0 Andrew Calder Roger James & Paul Mirabelli, Cambridge
10 7X635 Time Keeper 3 66 56.0 David Walsh Graeme Nicholson & Paul Allbon, Te Aroha
11 2552 Bayly Road 13 59 56.0 Buddy Lammas (a) Peter McKenzie, Levin
12 37X23 Kohi Road 1 58 56.0 David Walker Jack Scott, Foxton
13 23X41 St Germaine 10 78 54.5 Mark Du Plessis John Sargent, Matamata
14 15X1 Aspinal 2 73 54.5 Chad Ormsby Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue, Cambridge
15 13X95 Gofonze 12 69 54.5 Lisa Allpress Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
16 016X7 Cat Woman 11 67 54.5 Leith Innes John Sargent, Matamata
17 2 I Am Sam (B1) 15 57 56.0 Paul Taylor Bryce Revell, New Plymouth

This is always one of my favourite races in the spring, and this year looks really awesome. The Hombre looks like a special horse and will be hard to beat here, but the really good filly St Germaine must be a strong chance against the boys as well.

GR Kelt Memorial (G3)

1 32617 Bulginbaah 2 109 59.5 Trudy Thornton Ken Cropp & Catherine Wilson, Wanganui
2 21352 Who Knows 7 105 57.5 Leith Innes Natalie Tanner, Muriwai Beach
3 61X21 Hold It Harvey (AUS) 13 102 56.0 Mark Du Plessis Terri Rae, Riccarton Park
4 74215 Elblitzem 8 99 54.5 David Walsh Robert Priscott & Clayton Chipperfield, Te Awamutu
5 5X901 Occidentalis (AUS) 4 99 54.5 James McDonald (a) Richard & Chris Otto, Te Awamutu
6 42120 The Twist 10 99 54.5 Kelly Myers Adrian Bull, Hunterville
7 131X1 Mill Duckie 14 95 53.5 Tasha Collett (a) Richard Collett, Pukekohe Park
8 21281 El Santo 6 94 53.0 Lisa Allpress Sophie Hargreaves, Riccarton Park
9 240X8 Happy Harry 11 93 53.0 Buddy Lammas (a) Adrian Bull, Hunterville
10 150X5 Awesome Planet (AUS) 12 92 52.5 Craig Grylls (a) Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
11 9605X Marty Boy 9 92 52.5 Danielle Johnson (a) Marty Johnson, Woodville
12 020X1 Miss Caruso 5 90 52.0 Sam Spratt Peter McKay, Matamata
13 080X8 Mohican Brave (AUS) 1 82 52.0 Danica Guy, Matamata
14 957X3 Howie 3 68 52.0 Kate Hercock Jessica Prangley, Pukekohe

Occidentalis is the favourite, but I'll pick Mill Duckie. No one has really noticed how good she is. She's had 13 starts and finished in the money 12 times, is a stakes winner and G1 placed.

Really nice field for the Kelt!

Are any of those "win and you're in"? Daffodil and The Hombre make a trip to Cali even more tempting.

I think the Champion Stakes and the Prix de l’Abbaye are the only ones left.

(Fleeting Spirit is supposedly coming for the turf sprint anyway...)

Two questions for ed... how has Gallions Reach done lately and this is race number what for Sir Slick? Poor guy... hope this is it for him and he gets to have a long and happy life somewhere.