Exciting filly Test The World resumed in style to record a poignant win on Anzac Day at Gosford. Test The World has now recorded two wins and two placings in her only four starts and an Anzac Day win was an emotional moment for Ontrack CEO Grant Morgan. “Anzac Day is extremely significant in our family because my dad George Morgan served in World War 2 and he was a prisoner of war in Changi Prison following the fall of Singapore. “Anzac Day will always be very dear to us as dad passed away on Anzac Day in 2013 so to win a race on such an important day for the country and for our family is very significant,” said Grant. Test The World was resuming after a three month break and went into the Gosford race with only one trial outing under her belt. Trainer Bjorn Baker was impressed with the win and believes the filly as potential to succeed in far more ambitious assignments. “She is a very progressive filly and she was game on a track that probably didn’t suit her. She went into the race with only one trial so she was vulnerable late in the race so will take plenty of improvement out of that race. She did a few things wrong but that’s to be expected with a young horse having only her fourth race. “I think she is good enough to target black type races and the Scone meeting next month might present an opportunity for her. A race like the listed Denise’s Joy Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1100 metres is the sort of thing that we will consider for her. “I’ve always liked Test The World and she’s an athletic filly with a lot of natural speed and courage and that’s going to take her a long way,” said Bjorn Baker. A $40,000 purchase by Ontrack Thoroughbreds at the 2015 Inglis Classic Sale Test The World is the first foal of Danasinga mare Worldly. She is related to some talented gallopers and her second dam Glory Girl won a Group Two Tea Rose Stakes, while close up in her family is the talented sprinter Unanimously, winner of two Wagga Town Plates and the listed Ortensia Stakes at Scone. “She is by Testa Rossa and she caught my eye as a naturally athletic filly and one of the reasons I purchased her to send to Bjorn was that he enjoyed great success with another Testa Rossa filly in Twilight Royale, winner of a Group 2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes at Flemington for Bjorn. “So far, this girl has lived up to the big opinion that Bjorn has had about her and it will be fantastic if she can take the step up and snare a black type victory,” said Grant Morgan. Congratulations to our owners: Forti Rossi, Garry Batchelder, Bruce Burnell, Alan Wetton, David Moretti, Denis and Margaret Frew, Michael Byrne, Peter Davis, Anthony Barbieri, Ray Barker, Pam Bayles, Tony Halloran, Gordon Henry, Ailsa Morrison-Galt, Wayne Muller, Kevin O’Brien, Mark Ostermeyer, Terry West. The Ontrack Racing and Edmonds Racing partnership kicked off in fine style when Impregnable raced up to his Victorian form with an emphatic win at Grafton on Monday.
Impregnable came north after six starts from Mick Price’s Caufield stable for four seconds and a third so his form meant he was going to be competitive in his new environment. Trainer Toby Edmonds gave Impregnable one trial to fit him for the northern New South Wales outing and in spite of drawing a tricky number 10 barrier the horses proved too strong. Rider Jeff Lloyd was suitable impressed and warns there is still improvement in the chunky son of I Am Invincible. “From the draw I wanted to avoid using him up early and was able to restrain him off the strong early pace and in spite of getting on the wrong leg on the home turn he finished off nicely. “He is still working things out a little bit and he will improve with the race and looks a nice horse in the making,” said Jeff. Ontrack CEO Grant Morgan said the Grafton win was the perfect start for Ontrack and Toby Edmonds Racing. “Toby and I go back a fair way and when I was managing jockeys in Sydney he was starting out as a trainer and we have been friends ever since. When Mick Price suggested Impregnable and Knockoura would be better suited to the South East Queensland racing, it gave Ontrack the perfect opportunity to start racing horses from Toby’s Gold Coast base. “Impregnable was our first runner for Toby and it was great to kick off with a win. We were a bit unlucky not to snare a double as Dream Master had his first run for Toby after coming north from Chris Waller’s Sydney operation and he was unlucky not to finish closer than fourth. “Toby runs a great operation and the combination with Jeff Lloyd is invaluable when it comes to assessing horses and finding where they fit into the South East Queensland-Northern Rivers racing scene. “We will have Impregnable, Dream Master and Knockoura racing from the stable in the weeks ahead and it’s easy to see them adding to the great start we’ve made with Toby and Trent Edmonds,” said Grant Morgan. Congratulations to our owners: Ontrack Thoroughbreds No 1 syndicate, Steve Mauger, Matthew Maguire, Sansom Hue, Brett Grogan, David Worthley, Ken Stocks, Wayne McCubbin, Jenny Edington, Bobbin Along Syndicate, Peter Condon, Lisa Saxton Dan Paton, Ricky Kim, Garry Batchelder, Philomena Syndicate. In form lightweight rider Ronnie Stewart has been booked to partner Group 2 winning filly Savanna Amour for her resuming run at the Gold Coast feature meeting on Saturday 6 May.
Savanna Amour is a last start Group 2 winner of the Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield when ridden by champion Hong Kong rider Joao Moreira. With Moreira unable to ride at the Gold Coast meeting due to Hong Kong Jockey Club restrictions, Stewart will partner Savanna Amour for the first time for Eagle Farm trainer John Meagher. Savanna Amour will be accepted in two races on the Gold Coast programme, the Listed Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) and the Listed Silk Stocking (1200m). The Stewart booking turns back time for both Meagher and Grant Morgan from Ontrack Thoroughbreds. Morgan managed Stewart as an apprentice under the care of Canberra trainer Bernie Howlett. After being crowned champion Sydney apprentice (2002-2003), Stewart made a successful move to Singapore where he had a strong association with John Meagher. “Ronnie has been riding very well since he has established himself in Brisbane. The background he has with us all makes it a good fit,” said Ontrack CEO Grant Morgan. “He is a natural lightweight and is riding plenty of work for the stable and we are pleased to give him a good opportunity on a filly we feel is very smart.” Savanna Amour is being aimed towards Group 1 assignments at Eagle Farm in the Stradbroke Hcp (1400m) (Saturday 10 June) and the Tatts Tiara (1400m) (Saturday 24 June). Group 1 winning Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke has been added to the Ontrack trainer roster strengthening its position in Queensland as the leading licenced racehorse syndication company.
Ontrack CEO Grant Morgan said that the addition of David Vandyke continues the focus of developing our Queensland racing stable. “David fits our business model well in that he is a Group 1 winning trainer. The added benefit he offers is that he is training a medium sized team so any of our horses will get full attention.” “Importantly David has already proven that he is able to campaign in both Sydney and Melbourne out of the Sunshine Coast by achieving Group 1 success with Yankee Rose last Spring shortly after he set up the Sunshine Coast stable.” Morgan also paid compliment to the Sunshine Coast training facilities ranking them among the best in Australia. “I have long been a fan of both racing and training on the Sunshine Coast. The racing and training facilities are second to none. It is our first choice track for developing young horses before heading to the City.” Assisting David Vandyke is well known racing broadcaster Alan Thomas, who is now Racing Manager for the stable. “Alan Thomas has had a long association with Ontrack and we are delighted to be working with him and David in developing a team of horses for the stable.” Ontrack now has three stables at the three major training centres in South East Queensland with David Vandyke joining John Meagher at Eagle Farm and Toby Edmonds at the Gold Coast. “These three stables provide our client base with top class stables at our three key tracks in South East Queensland. “We plan on supplying all three stables with quality yearlings and tried horses and increasing our numbers in South East Queensland over the next 12 months. Ontrack achieved Group 2 success out of its Queensland operation earlier this year when Savanna Amour captured the prestigious Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield for John Meagher and Joao Moreira. |
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