Daughter Not About To Follow Dad's Lead
- Sunday, 11 April 2010 03:59
A taste of Group One victory for the daughter of one of New Zealand's most successful trainers has not altered her thoughts about following in her father's footsteps.
Kylie Wheeler, daughter of John Wheeler, was the stable's representative at Te Aroha on Saturday where Juice won the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes.
The 35-year-old has been working full-time for her father for about five years combining trackwork riding and office duties, but isn't about to follow his lead.
"I don't particularly want to be a trainer," Wheeler told NZPA.
"I don't mind the hard work but when you are training you can go five or six months without getting a decent wage."
John Wheeler has been one of the country's best trainers for years and just last month was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.
He was not on hand for Saturday's win, having just returned from the Great Eastern jumps meeting in South Australia.
Juice has always shown potential and was one of the better three-year-old fillies last season. She won the Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings before finishing second in the One Thousand Guineas and fourth in the New Zealand Derby.
"Her ideal distance is probably 1600 metres," Wheeler said.
"We were really happy with her. We knew she was right on target but at the same time you know in races like that you have to have everything go right."
Wheeler was unsure of future plans for Juice, but a return to the Brisbane winter carnival was likely. She had two starts in Brisbane last year but was unplaced in both.
By Bertolini, Juice was purchased for $20,000 at the 2007 NZ national yearling sale and has raced 26 times for six wins and seven placings.
Hayden Tinsley gave Juice a good run three back on the outer, ranged up out wide on the turn and got the better of leader Culminate halfway down the straight to score by three-quarters of a length in the excellent time of 1:34.9.
Favourite Culminate jumped well from a wide barrier to lead and although she fought strongly to take second she did not help her chances by drifting out in the straight.
Three-quarters of a length back third was Obsession, who was hindered by Culminate in the straight.
Australian visitor Emblem Of Liberty, trained by Lee Freedman, was handy all the way and finished sixth while last year's winner and second favourite Dane Julia, also trained by Freedman, tracked the winner throughout and finished eighth.
Group One Victory For Juice
- Saturday, 10 April 2010 04:30
The 17-1 odds returned by Juice (4 B. M. Bertolini – Call Minder, by Christmas Tree) to win the $200,000 Group One New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares under weight-for-age conditions at Te Aroha on Saturday spoke volumes for the quality of the field rather than anything else.
Inform with a first, second and third respectively at her last three starts, as well as having won a listed race at her only previous course attempt, Juice had been a listed winner as a two-year-old when winning the New Zealand Bloodstock Stakes at Avondale, won the group two Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings before her second to Daffodil in the 1000 Guineas and finished fourth in the NZ Derby at Ellerslie.
But although she remained shunned in the betting market, the performance by Juice in the hands of rider Hayden Tinsley confirmed her class and provided owners Graeme and Jack Kissick with a huge thrill, as well as giving veterinarian Jim Marks his first group one victory as a breeder.
Marks raced Call Minder, the dam of Juice, and she excelled winning seven times for trainers Vanessa and Wayne Hillis.
The family extends back to top producers Dash and Tang, which appealed to Graeme Kissick when he asked trainer John Wheeler to have a look at her as a yearling at the sales.
Wheeler was able to procure Juice for only $20,000 from the 2007 New Bloodstock Carnival Sale from the draft of Seaton Park and she has repaid in kind with six victories for earnings of $452,925.
Wheeler was unable to be on course, with his daughter Kylie, a fulltime stable employee, deputizing and soaking up the group one glory.
Wheeler had said after Juice had won at Te Aroha last May, “Jack Kissick is a Taranaki identity and played 50 or may have been even 100 games of rugby for Taranaki. He’s a champion bloke and everyone in Taranaki knows him. Both him and his son Graeme are extremely humble people.”
There to witness the occasion with her partner Graeme Kissick, Robyn said the win would be a huge tonic for Jack Kissick (in his eighties), who was unwell back in New Plymouth.
She said, “We weren’t really expecting it. She was a roughie and sweated up quite badly.”
Having notched more than 1000 wins in the saddle, Tinsley gave Juice a perfect trip sixth on the outer, presenting her at the ideal moment in the straight to claim Culminate and Obsession, and record his fifteenth group one victory.
Second placed Culminate stuck to her task in sterling fashion after being taken on in the mid-stages by Ruud Van Slaats, who trailed the field of thirteen at the line.
Three-year-old filly Obsession continued her solid recent form which suggests she is going to be a force in fillies and mares races for some time.
The margins were three quarters of a length, by three quarters of a length, with the mile covered in a sizzling 1:34.19.
Graeme Kissick, a builder in New Plymouth, said, “This is awesome, a great feeling and quite unbelievable, really. She didn’t look pretty before the race when she was sweating up.”
Tinsley said, “I got a beautiful run. She settled nice and although I peeled out a little bit on the home turn I didn’t want to have her stop and I got a roll on before we got held up. She was fit. She didn’t look the winner – sweating up, but she’d done the mileage with three runs over 2000 metres which helped her stay. She’s always been a good horse – group one placed.”
The two mares from the stable of Lee Freedman over from Australia for the race; the winner of the corresponding race last year Dane Julia finished eighth, while Emblem Of Liberty was sixth.
Ritchie Captures Derby-Oaks Double
- Saturday, 20 March 2010 05:15
Keep the Peace has captured the New Zealand Oaks in a breathtaking finish at Trentham to land a notable classic double for trainer Shaun Ritchie who recently claimed the NZ Derby with Military Move.
The Keeper filly, ridden quietly midfield by Opie Bosson, burst from the pack midway down the long straight and looked to be an easy winner, heading the big field by two lengths 100 metres from the post.
But November Rain and Zabeel filly Zarzuela, the race favourite, staged amazing late-finish runs to all but overhaul the leader.
They closed swiftly and in a blanket finish Keep The Peace got the victory by the slimmest of margins from November Rain who edged Zarzuela into third.
Two weeks ago Ritchie and Bosson combined at Ellerslie for the Derby with Ritchie now only the third trainer to win both races in the same season since the rationalisation of the classics in the 1970s.
Colin Jillings scored with the superb Uncle Remus, and Anthenaia in the 1977-78 season and Paul O'Sullivan with Popsy and Snaps in 1993-94.
Bosson got the Oaks ride on Keep The Peace after regular jockey Jason Waddell was suspended and unsuccessfully sought a stay of proceedings.
Saturday's victory gave Bosson his fourth Oaks win after She's Country (2000), Bramble Rose (2003) and Princess Coup (2007).
Keep The Peace started third favourite today at $6.40 behind Zarzuela and A Chance To Dream.
Keep the Peace is now unbeaten in three starts at Trentham and took her career record to four wins from eight starts.
She was runner-up in the One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton in November.
Sir Slick Wins Third Awapuni Gold Cup
- Sunday, 04 April 2010 01:20
New Zealand’s war horse Sir Slick, who almost died on Christmas day of rat poison, was given a heroes reception when he bounced back to his best to win his third Awapuni Gold Cup yesterday.
Trainer and co-owner Graeme Nicholson recalled in his victory speech how he found Sir Slick struck down by a mystery illness and how it was later revealed that someone had mixed rat poison in his feed.
Nicholson said if it wasn’t for Te Aroha vet, Graeme Waugh, who spent four hours working tirelessly on Sir Slick, the horse probably would have died.
“He got the horse right again and then unfortunately died himself of a heart attack last week,” Nicholson said.
“He has only 52 and his funeral is in Te Aroha next Tuesday and I’ll be parading Sir Slick there,” he added.
Sir Slick was having his 117th start yesterday and chalked up his 22nd win.
He was contesting the Awapuni Gold Cup for the fourth year in succession, following wins in 2007 and 2008 and a second behind MacO’Reilly last year.
“Slick and I love this place,” an emotional Nicholson said.
Matamata apprentice Samantha Collett renewed her association with Sir Slick yesterday and the win was her biggest to date.
“I’ve won the Group 3 Tauranga Stakes on him and been placed in a lot of other group races but this is my best win,” a happy Collett said.
She had Sir Slick in the lead in the early stages of the 2000-metre race but was content to let him settle in the trail when Robert Hannam was keen to lead on Borrack.
“As soon as I got to the 600 I just clicked him up and he took the lead again and kicked away,” Collett said.
Sir Slick had 1-3/4 lengths on his rivals at the finish, with Manonamission running on well to fill second ahead of Red Ruler and Vosne Romanee.
Red Ruler’s rider Mark Du Plessis said the horse would probably improve from the run, just his second one back after a break, while Vosne Romanee's rider Opie Bosson said the horse felt okay but couldn’t produce the necessary sprint in the straight.
“He took a while to wind up and was just grinding to the line,” Bosson said.
Vosne Romanee is booked on a flight to Sydney later this month where he will contest the Group 1 $A350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 24.
Meanwhile, Nicholson also had reason to celebrate with the six length victory of Time Keeper in Saturday's Group 3 $70,000 Oaks Stud Manawatu Classic.
The Stravinsky colt holds a nomination for next Saturday’s Group 1 AJC
Derby in Sydney but co-trainer Graeme Nicholson said that race may come
up a bit too soon.
“It’s only a week away and there is that much pressure on to try and get there,” Nicholson said.
“I’d like to take him to Queensland for the Queensland Derby and I might put him in the Easter Handicap too.”
The $200,000 Easter Handicap (1600m) is run at Ellerslie next Saturday week and Nicholson would like to have both Time Keeper and his old warhorse Sir Slick in the Group 1 event.
Vosne Romanee To Come To Sydney
- Sunday, 14 March 2010 07:15
New Zealand Stakes winner Vosne Romanee may attempt to add an Australian Group One to his three in New Zealand this season.
Vosne Romanee added Saturday's New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie to his Kelt Capital Stakes and Zabeel Classic triumphs, scoring a decisive one length victory over 2009 Australian Derby runner-up Harris Tweed.
Trainer Jeff Lynds said he would try to round Vosne Romanee's season off with victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 24.
"He's a terribly conformed horse - he's very straight in front," trainer Jeff Lynds said.
"But he's got a great turn of foot. Not that many horses can run their last 600 metres in 33 seconds."
He said he wasn't likely to be tempted by the $2.5 million BMW (2400m) on April 3.
"We tried him over 2200 metres in the Hawke's Bay Cup last year and he got outstayed," Lynds said.
"We think 2000 metres is his distance."
April 24 could be a big day for Lynds as he is also hoping to start Booming, runner-up to Zavite in Wednesday's Auckland Cup, in the Sydney Cup (3200m) that day.
While the BMW is not on Vosne Romanee's agenda, it is firmly in the mix for Harris Tweed who ran fifth in the Melbourne Cup last November.
"He's very underrated here - he was way in front of Zavite in the Melbourne Cup," co-trainer Bjorn Baker said.
"He'll improve on that run and we also hope there might be a little more give in the track in Sydney."
Nacho Man Wins Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes
- Sunday, 04 April 2010 01:16
Left-hand track specialist Nacho Man gave training brothers Mike and Paul Moroney their third Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes victory and credited 20-year-old jockey Craig Grylls with his third Group One success when he landed Saturday's $200,000 feature at Awapuni.
Adding to the run of threes, Nacho Man was recording his third win from five starts and all three have been on left-handed tracks.
The Mr Nancho gelding has failed twice going right-handed and just doesn’t seem to cope with racing that way around.
Neither of the Moroney brothers were on track at Awapuni yesterday - both instead being in Sydney for the Easter sales - so their father Denny was in charge.
“He’s a real left-hander and we’ve had a tongue-tie on him in his last couple of starts and that’s helped too,” Denny Moroney said.
“He’s had a little bit of a breathing problem but the tongue-tie helps.”
The Moroneys won their first Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes with Happyanunoit in 1998 and added a second success in the race with the ill-fated Jokers Wild in 2006.
For Grylls, who has been number one rider for the Moroneys since the middle of last year, the win was especially satisfying.
“It’s great to win a Group 1 for them because they have been a great help to me,” Grylls said.
The talented rider’s two previous Group 1 wins have been aboard Pasta Post in the ARC Easter Handicap a couple of years ago and Kaaptan in last year’s Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie.
Hamilton supermarket owner Chris Grace was the only one of Nacho Man’s owners on course at Awapuni yesterday. He races the gelding in partnership with Waikato couple Tom and Shelley Murtagh, who were also in Sydney for the Easter sales.
The other two owners are Singapore-based trainer Mike Clements and another Singaporean Peter Pang.
Grace said he has been racing horses for about 25 years and this is his first Group 1 victory.
“I’ve won a lot of races, mostly in Australia, and I’ve won a Ramornie Stakes at Grafton over there,” he said.
Nacho Man was at odds of better than 12 to 1 and got home by 1-1/4 lengths from the race favourite Cellarmaster, with Jimmy Choux half a neck away third.
Cellarmaster jumped brilliantly from the gates and raced a bit keenly in the early stages according to rider Opie Bosson but still fought on well when headed.
Jimmy Choux’s rider, Michael Walker, said the horse felt like he was feeling the firm ground over the final stages but still never gave it away.
“Man he’s got a big heart, Walker said.
Banchee and Lion Tamer were the disappointments in the race, both failing to weigh in.
Banchee’s rider, Leith Innes, said the filly didn’t fully stretch out over the final stages.
“She never let down and I didn’t think she was 100 per cent,” Innes said.
Lion Tamer got well back in the running and never improved, rider Michael Coleman describing it was a very poor performance.
Late Slipper Entry Chance For Banchee
- Sunday, 14 March 2010 05:15
New Zealand Group One winner Banchee could be a late entry for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper on Easter Saturday.
Owner Sam Kelt will have to pay $150,000 to put the filly in the race but trainer John Sargent believes it could be worth the risk.
The half-sister to top three-year-old filly Katie Lee lived up to her breeding to win Saturday's Group One Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie, holding off an unlucky Cellarmaster and Jimmy Choux to win by a head.
Australian visitor Sister Havana finished eighth of the 13 runners.
"She's probably the best two-year-old I have trained," Sargent said.
"It (Diamond) wasn't quite her race - she's best settling back and coming home from there but we had to use her number one barrier draw."
Banchee is nominated for New Zealand's other Group One juvenile race, the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on April 3, the same day as the Slipper.
No New Zealand two-year-old has ever won the Golden Slipper and Sargent said her best chance would be to get back and sprint home if the pace was fast in front.
The $150,000 late entry fee is due on March 29.
Other Sydney options, in which New Zealand horses have had more success, are the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) on April 10 and the Champagne Stakes (1600m) on April 24.
Troy Harris Charged
- Monday, 22 March 2010 13:00
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing on Saturday charged Jockey Troy Harris with a Serious Racing Offence, in accordance with the New Zealand Rules of Racing.
When directed to supply a sample of his urine for analysis at the Matamata Racing Club meeting on Wednesday, 17 March 2010, Troy Harris committed a dishonest act with respect to supplying that sample. In doing so he committed a Serious Racing Offence.
The hearing will take place at Waikato Racecourse on 30 March 2010.
Banchee Wions Auckland Diamond Stakes
- Saturday, 13 March 2010 04:40
Wall Street Tilt At Doncaster Likely
- Sunday, 21 March 2010 05:15
A tilt at the $1.5 million Doncaster Handicap should be confirmed for rising New Zealand star Wall Street early this week.
Reigning Horse of the Year Mufhasa will also head across the Tasman along with New Zealand Oaks winner Keep The Peace but two-year-old Banchee will stay home.
Wall Street proved too strong for his rivals in Saturday's Thompson Handicap at Trentham, winning by 1-1/4 lengths from Cassini and All In Tempo, erasing any doubts that may have arisen over his unplaced run in the Otaki-Maori WFA Mile won by Mufhasa.
Trainer Jeff Lynds said the plan was to run in the Doncaster at Randwick on April 17 without another race beforehand.
"I will be speaking with the owners in the next day or two to see whether we will go," Lynds said.
Jockey Opie Bosson, penned in as the rider for the Doncaster, said he got to the lead too early in the straight but the horse was travelling extra well.
"He's exciting," said Bosson, who will also partner the Lynds-trained Vosne Romanee in the weight-for-age group one $350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 24.
Lynds said it was yet to be decided whether promising stayer Booming would make the trip. The Sydney Cup and a rematch with Zavite would be his likely target.
The two met in the Auckland Cup with Australian Zavite the winner on that occasion.
Trainer Stephen McKee has confirmed Mufhasa will tackle the Group One $400,000 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on April 3.
Mufhasa was not nominated for the Doncaster, but if he does run well in the Ryder he may run in the Group One All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 24.
Last autumn, Mufhasa ran third in the George Ryder won by Vision and Power before running unplaced in the Doncaster also won by Vision And Power.
New Zealand's top two-year-old Banchee will stay home on Easter Saturday to tackle the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes on April 3 rather than the Golden Slipper.
Trainer John Sargent said owner Sam Kelt had decided against paying the Slipper's late entry fee of $NZ195,000 ($A150,000).
Third Group One For Vosne Romanee
- Saturday, 13 March 2010 04:36