Melbourne Cup winning trainer John Meagher will make a return to his home town with Savanna Amour and Cruising Speed during the upcoming Autumn carnival.
Both horses come out of luckless black type runs last Saturday where the Eagle Farm track was definitely on the soft side working against top of the ground horses. Falling into that category is our own Cruising Speed who contested the Listed Just Now (1300m). "Cruising Speed has now failed 3 times on soft going so we will be avoiding wet tracks from hereon," said Ontrack CEO Grant Morgan. "We narrowly missed out black type target with Cruising Speed this time in when 4th in the Colin McAlpine, but I'm confident its only a matter of time before she gets a stakes race. "There are a number of options for her down south which will hopefully lead to some black type." Stablemate Savanna Amour was hampered by a farcical tempo and a wide barrier which saw her cover more ground than the early explorers before being beaten 3.5 lengths behind Eckstein in the Listed Mode Plate. "We couldnt believe how slow they went. On paper we expected them to run along a bit and give her a chance to slot in. Her run was amazing considering the tempo and the ground she covered to be beaten only 3.5 lengths," said Morgan. Savanna Amour is likely to target three races in Melbourne commencing with the $250,000 Inglis Dash (1100m) at Flemington on January 28. She will then move to black type targets in the $150,000 Group 3 Kevin Hayes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 11, before returning to Caulfield for the Group 2 Angus Armanasco (1400m) worth $200,000. During their Southern campaign, Savanna Amour and Cruising Speed will be stabled at the Mornington stables of Pat Carey, brother in law of trainer John Meagher. Following their Melbourne campaigns both Savanna Amour and Cruising Speed will refuel before targeting the Brisbane Winter Carnival. Up and coming mare Girl Sunday maintained her unbeaten sequence for this campaign when landing another impressive Sydney winner on her home track of Rosehill. Trainer Gerald Ryan has produced Girl Sunday three times this season and the result has been three very impressive wins – two at Rosehill and the other at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day. On Saturday, Girl Sunday was given a gem of a ride by Jamie Innes Junior who positioned her on the back of the pacemakers and had her out with perfect timing to claim the lead 200 metres from the finish and draw ahead for an authoritative win, prompting the comment “oh she’s going to win again” from the course commentator. Ontrack CEO Grant Morgan said Gerald Ryan’s placement and astute use of claiming apprentice riders has played a big part in the mare’s form this time in. “Gerald was convinced that Girl Sunday was going to be a Saturday horse in Sydney after her first preparation and that judgement has been spot on with the mare capturing two $100,000 Benchmark 78 races confined to fillies and mares. “Ontrack is all about finding city class performers for our owners and with five wins from only 10 career starts Girl Sunday is ticking all the boxes for her connections. The level of stakes now available in Sydney has seen her earnings rise pretty rapidly to over $173,000. “She was entered for races at Brisbane and Sydney last weekend but the rain in South East Queensland convinced Gerald to stay at home and the decision proved the correct one,” said Grant Morgan. Gerald Ryan was confident Girl Sunday would run another big race at Rosehill and he is already eyeing off another fillies and mares benchmark event for the daughter of Encosta De Lago. “She has come through the latest run in great order and I couldn’t be happier with her coming out of the win. There’s a Benchmark 85 race over 1350 metres on December 24 and we can use Jamie’s two-kilogram allowance once again. “Not many horses win three races on the trot in town but the way she has been going, and her recovery from the latest win suggests she is a realistic prospect to make it four.” Grant Morgan said the ultimate aim with Girl Sunday is to achieve black type success, but that goal might have to wait for a little while. “Once she races on Christmas Eve we will assess her, but at this stage a short break looks an option and she can return next year and focus on the autumn carnival. Congratulations to our owners Lang Brothers Racing No 3 Synd (Mgrs Stu & Matt Lang), Pam Bayles, Lucky Nine Racing (Mgr Brett Grogan), Ricky Kim, Keating Racing (Mgr Shane & Matthew Keating), Ken Stocks, Michael Walton & Paul Crisp. Matryoshka, an I Am Invincible half sister to the boom colt Winning Rupert is set to debut at the Gold Coast tomorrow if forecast showers can stay away.
Prepared by promising young trainer Leon Davies, Matryoshka was secured by Ontrack Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in January for just $80,000. Since her purchase Matryoshka's pedigree received an immediate boost with the arrival of her smart 3yo half brother Winning Rupert. A colt by Written Tycoon, Winning Rupert is unbeaten in 3 starts and is favourite for the $2m Magic Million Guineas in January. Prepared by Bjorn Baker, Winning Rupert recorded a Winter Group 2 win in the Champagne Classic at Doomben, the same race won by our own Brazen Beau at two. Leon Davies, together with fiancé Melissa Dennett, have recently established a Gold Coast satellite stable to compliment their highly successful Tamworth stable. Davies is concerned about debuting the well credentialed filly on a Heavy track. “Its not ideal to be running any 2yo having its first start on a heavy track,” said Davies. “She has a good deal of ability but she is probably still another preparation away and she shapes nicely as a late Autumn/Winter 2yo.” “She won her jump out in good style two weeks back but is probably doing it all on adrenaline and fear at the moment. “If she runs she will need to probably go to the front over the 900m,” said Davies The filly is owned by a group of clients of the Davies Stable and Ontrack, headed by principal owner Brett Bowman with the filly carrying his White and Green colours. Matryoshka was named after the Russian Nesting dolls of the same name, and is a throwback to the il-fated filly Babooshka. “I purchased Babooshka for Brett and a group of owners and sadly she raced just once when a narrow second at Canterbury this time last year,” said Ontrack principal Grant Morgan. “Sadly she broke down before her next start and we lost her. It was a heartbreaking time for Leon, Melissa, Brett and all the owners. “Babooshka was an immensely talented filly who I have no doubt would of gone onto be a very good racehorse. “Matryoshka is a different type but like Babooshka is by I Am Invincible. We haven’t missed with one of his progeny yet, so we are hoping Matryoshka can add to that record,” said Morgan. It never ceases to amaze us the strong bonds that are made on our tours. The recently concluded New Zealand tour is proof of that.
The 15 strong group came from a diverse range of locations spread throughout Australia including Mackay, Port Macquarie, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Seymour, Avenel and Deepwater. Whilst they started off largely as strangers, a group of like minded racing and breeding enthusiasts have moulded strong friendships which will no doubt continue well beyond the tour. The veteran of the group was the amazing Val Curry from Brisbane. I won’t embarrass Val by giving away her age, but I can guarantee you that she was leading the way on all fronts throughout the tour. She was the instigator of the ‘Charli Brown Syndicate’ which was formed during our New Zealand adventure. This new syndicate will be made up of members from the tour group who have joined together to part own our very nice Reliable Man filly from Saskia who goes to Darren Weir. The syndicate was named after Trelawney Studs’ ‘rolly polly’ chocolate Labrador of the same name. I only hope the filly races with as much enthusiasm and energy as Val who is nothing short of remarkable ! It was delightful to be joined by very successful Victorian breeders Frank and Karen Butler. Waikato Stud proved to be highlight for the Butlers who are proud shareholders in the mighty Savabeel. Joining the Butlers from Victoria were more successful breeders in Peter and Christine Mills. Their luck was nearly in when Fat Chap failed narrowly to get the money at Kembla Grange during the tour, with the Gai Waterhouse trained steed going down in a photo. The Mackay connection was strong with Mick Hackett, Barry Menzies and Darren Doyle. The tour was tinged with sadness with the recent passing of their ‘chairman’ Stu Smith. We raised our glass more than a few times in memory of Stu during the tour. Port Macquarie’s Charlie Buchanan and Lynette Zahra enjoyed the tour. During our travels we were able to visit the couples lovely filly by Tavistock at the Cambridge stables of top young trainer Stephen Marsh. The filly will race as Edible Flower and is one to watch closely. One of our very loyal supporters is Robert Hill from Carseldine. Rob didn’t have great deal of luck with his first few Ontrack horses. His luck seems to be on the up now though as a part owner of the highly promising Savanna Amour and also the consistent Chris Waller trained Kiwi stayer Brassy Belle. Rob was also appointed ‘chairman’ of the ‘Charli Brown Syndicate’ during the tour. Former amateur jockey Rob Wheatley and wife Cate were again great company. The Wheatleys hail from the Northern Rivers NSW township of Deepwater, where they are well known to racing circles in that area. Rob and Cate have been long term supporters of Ontrack both on the track and off. Hong Kong Tour veterans, they will also play an important part of the ‘Charli Brown Syndicate’. Join us in 2017 for our next edition of the New Zealand Horse & Wine Tour which will be held again over 5 nights November 23 – November 28, 2017. |
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