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Rip Van Winkle filly produces impressive winning Silhouette

While many owners would be frustrated that it took until the seventh start for their runner to break their maiden, but all was pushed aside on Sunday when Red Silhouette recorded an impressive three length victory at Racing.com Park in the R & C Asphalt Paving Maiden Plate.

Ridden by Michael Dee, the three-year-old filly jumped away cleanly from the middle of the line where she traveled forward to settle in fourth on the outside of the slightly erratic Vanilla Ice Cream.

Outsider Forrest Boy took up the leading position with short price favourite St Rumon on his outside appearing to get the run of the race.

Dropping back a little, Dash For Dee and Violet Fluture went around Red Silhouette but Dee didn’t appear to panic, although needing a gap was going to be his main priority.

As the leader started to weaken and St Rumon was urged to the lead, Dash For Dee started to make a challenge, but it was evident that Red Silhouette was going to play a part in the finish as the filly started to make up ground down the outside to look a leading chance.

Sprinting to the lead, the Tony Noonan-trained filly cleared out to record an impressive three length victory over Distant Sky, with a further half-length back to Dash For Dee. Click the below image to view the win.

Red Silhoutte image

Purchased from the draft of Curraghmore Stud at the 2014 New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale, Red Silhouette is the first out of the Listed winning More Than Ready mare Floramour, herself a winner of five.

Interestingly, trainer Tony Noonan secured the second foal from the mare a year later, a colt by Jimmy Choux who was left in New Zealand to do his early racing, where the colt was named Manolo Blahniq and went on to record success in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes earlier this year.

Special congratulations to the winning connections of Red Silhouette – Laurel Oak Bloodstock P/L (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Grant Bloodstock P/L (Mgr: S P Grant), A N Fitzgerald, Boeara Holdings (Mgr: Mrs D A Dunphy), Rdfit P/L (Mgr: S C Cook), P L Nottage, M K J Strassmeir, Mrs L J Strassmeir, Dr T P Clarke, Mrs C A McHugh, P J Peters, Laurel Oak Club Number Two and A Kustron.

Horse of the Week: Sir Bacchus

Those that study sectional times will have noticed a few impressive performances on the weekend, but none more so than Waller’s grey swooper. The son of Sebring was stuck in traffic near the back one second and screaming home for a dominant win the next.

His relentless surge to the line gets him the prize of Horse of the Week.

Breeding: Sired by Sebring, from Bacchanal Woman (Sire of Dam, Encosta De Lago)

Type: Three year old grey/chestnut Gelding born 21/09/2012

Features: Sprint & Finishing Surge

Weaknesses: Prefers Galloping Room

Record: 4 wins, 1 second from 7 starts. Total Prize-money of $257,725

Career Wins
•07/5/16 – McGrath Estate Agents at Rosehill over 1200m – Jockey R Hutchings
•23/4/16 – Hyland Race Colours at Rosehill over 1200m – Jockey J R Collett
•26/12/15 – McGrath Estate Agents at Randwick over 1200m – Jockey R Hutchings
•11/12/15 – Tab More Than Just Winning Mdn at Canterbury over 1100m – Jockey R Hutchings

Quick Facts
•Purchased at the 2014 MM National Yearling Sale Select Session for $130,000
•His dam Bacchanal Woman was a Listed level winner at Canberra
•He’s off to the Fred Best Classic at Doomben to try and qualify for the AAMI Stradbroke Handicap
•Not a horse that enjoys tight spots, it will be interesting to see how he handles the big handicaps up north

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Story: The Race Guide

Bacchus Simply Sensational At Rosehill

Waller and Hutchings then combined in the following race, the McGrath Estate Agents Bm77 Handicap (1200m), with Sir Bacchus. The Sebring three-year-old gelding stormed down the outside with 59kg to win his second race in succession.

Sir Bacchus will make presence felt in Queensland winter. Picture Simon BullardThe win looked unlikely at the 300m with Lucky Fish (carried 52.5kg) and apprentice James Innes out to a good lead and Sir Bacchus not making ground. However Hutchings quickly reversed that impression and the grey charged at the leader and swept past for a 1 1/2L winning margin and a new class record time of 1.09.67.

Lucky Fish (Exceed And Excel) was second with a further 1 1/2L to Sampeah (Exceed Ad Excel) (59kg) and Mitchell Bell in third.

“He needed to be a good horse to win from where he was,” said Waller. “He is an immature horse who is still learning his trade.”

The next step in that learning curve will be, like his stablemate Encosta Line, a trip to Brisbane and in his case for the Group 3 Fred best Classic (1350m) at Doomben on May 21st. The winner of that race gains a start in the $1.5m, Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) with Waller commenting that the stable and connections can ‘dream’.

Sir Bacchus, out of the Encosta de Lago mare Bacchanal Woman, is owned by a large group including Laurel Oak Bacchus, Boeara Holdings, Mr F W Cook, Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Dirty Grey, Mr K R Lowe, Mrs M P Lowe, Mr A W Reichard, Mr J T O’Brien, Club Bacchus, Mr M W Powell, Mr N Macdonald, Mrs R H Richards, Mrs C M Cook and Mrs E K Grant and they celebrated accordingly after their win. Their runner has earned them stakes of $237,725 plus a $20,000 BOBS bonus.

News from Thoroughbred News

Images: Simon Bullard, Daily Telegraph

All guns blazing at Texas Rebel fires winning shot at Randwick

He’s the younger brother of a Group 1 winner who speaks the same language, albeit with a southern accent.

Texas Rebel, a half-brother to Rebel Dane, broke through for his first career win with victory in race three (1400m) at Randwick on Anzac day.

“He’s always shown he’s going to get there eventually,” trainer Gary Portelli told G1X.com.au.

“He’s a big, lean horse and he’s just starting to fill up his frame.”

Texas Rebel April 25 win

With the same trainer, the same looks and wearing the same silks as Rebel Dane, the three-year-old son of Texarcana scooted up the rail to just hold off Go Benny ($6.10), with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Red Knot ($2.30 favourite) in third.

“He obviously doesn’t have the turn of foot of his brother but he’s only won by a head today and hopefully he keeps the trend up,” Portelli said.

“He actually came in last time and I wasn’t happy with him so I tipped him out again. He came in for this preparation and he’s stronger, but he’s still not there yet. He’s a long way from being where I think he’s going to be in six months, 12 months time.

“He’s a big jumping type, he’s got a fantastic attitude and he’s a lovely horse to train, and great to see the colours back up and winning again.”

Having jumped from gate four, the colt was given a smart ride from Travis Wolfgram, who took advantage of the rail being out 12 metres.

“His last few starts he’s drawn bad and we’ve gone back on him,” Wolfgram said.

“Everyone’s been scouting a bit wider so the inside was a bit untouched and being the first go at the 1400m, I needed to cover him the best I could.”

News from G1X Racing

Brisbane carnival beckons for Sir Bacchus after runaway win at Rosehill

Underrated three-year-old Sir Bacchus may get the opportunity of a Brisbane winter carnival campaign after thrashing his rivals first-up at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Chris Waller-trained grey won back-to-back races at Canterbury and Randwick in December, prompting a belated bid for the $1m Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on January 10.

Sadly for his horde of owners, about 60, Sir Bacchus was below his best and finished well down the order and was sent for a well earned break.

Sir Bacchus 1 Simon Bullard

The son of Sebring has clearly benefited from his time away from racing after yesterday’s 2½-length win after a heady ride by Jason Collett.

Collett snagged Sir Bacchus ($6.50) back to last early before making the bold decision to pin his hopes along the rails rather than come around them.

Sir Bacchus sprinted quickly passing the 300m streaking away with stablemate So Willie ($41) making ground from the back to take second just ahead of Dark Steel ($6.50).

Odds-on favourite Reincarnate had the run of the race but couldn’t add to his sequence of three straight wins and finished a disappointing fourth.

Sir Bacchus 2 Simon Bullard

Winning jockey Collett who walked the track before the first race prepared for all contingencies but not locked into a plan.

“I just sort of had an open mind as to where I’d be in the run and as to where I’d come down the straight,’’ Collett said. “Once I gave him that rein, he was off and gone and made it look easy.’’

With Waller on holidays, deputy Charlie Duckworth said the manner of Sir Bacchus’ win was enough to consider a trip away this winter. “It was very impressive,’’ Duckworth said. “He put them away with relative ease so hopefully he’ll progress up to Queensland.’’

Sir Bacchus returned to his huge team of happy owners brought together by well known syndicator Louis Mihalyka of Rebel Dame fame.

“There are about 60 people in Sir Bacchus,’’ Mihalyka said. “There are a couple of syndicates, of them only goes into grey coloured horses; they call themselves the Dirty Greys.’’

News: Shayne O’Cass, The Daily Telegraph

Images: Simon Bullard

Bacchus blows them away in Rosehill opener

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In the small seven horse field, the John O’Shea-trained Medaglia d’Oro gelding Reincarnate, a winner of his last three starts started the clear $2.00 favourite in the $85,000 Hyland Race Colours Handicap over 1200m.

As misty rain fell on the good 4 track, In Her Time (Time Thief), the lone filly in the field flew the gates and went forward to take up the lead very comfortably from Wudang Mountain and Dark Steel who came along the rail to take up third.

Race favourite Reincarnate settled in fourth on the outside with Chris Waller’s Sir Bacchus, who was resuming from a break after a last start run in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas at the Gold Coast, settle in last position.

Surprisingly off the pace, in comparison to his last start where he lead, Reincarnate began to track wide rounding the turn as his jockey James McDonald started to urged the three-year-old along.

At the 300m mark, Dark Steel had come along the inside of the runners to take up the lead momentarily before Jason Collett on Sir Bacchus drive the son of Sebring along the rail to hit to the front.

Surging clear, the grey pulled away to record a two and a half-length victory over stablemate So Willie (More Than Ready) in a time of 1.10.54 on the Good 4 rated track surface.

Holding on for third was the Gai Waterhouse-trained Dark Steel (Redoute’s Choice), with favourite Reincarnate back in fourth.

Starting $6.40 on the NSW TAB and $6.00 on fixed odds betting Sir Bacchus now has three wins and a place from six starts, for owners Laurel Oak Bacchus (Mgr: L J Mihalyka) F Cook, K Lowe, Mrs M Lowe, Club Bacchus (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Dirty Grey (Mgr: M Mulligan), A Reichard, J O’Brien, Grant Bloodstock (Mgr: S Grant), M Powell, N Macdonald, Mrs R Richards, Mrs C Cook, Mrs E Grant and Boeara Holdings (Mgr: Mrs D Dunphy), with the victory taking his career earnings to $188,975.

Likely to form part of Chris Waller’s arsenal for the Brisbane winter Carnival, stable representative Charlie Duckworth was on hand to discuss the victory with Waller currently enjoying a well-deserved holiday.

“He was very impressive,” stated Duckworth.

“Obviously he had a great prep last prep and he ran well in the Magic Millions Guineas.

“Resuming today it was a dominant performance.

“He has always run well fresh and he today he put them away with relative ease so hopefully he’ll progress up to Queensland.”

When asked about a trip to the Queensland carnival, Duckworth felt the win was enough to see him on the float.

“I would have thought that would be enough,” stated Duckworth.

Jockey Jason Collett who wasn’t tied down to an specific riding instruction, produced a perfect effort to take the win.

“I kept an open mind on where I’d be in the run and sort of where I’d come down the straight,” stated Collett.

“I had a walk of the track before the first and the obvious two strips on the inner aren’t probably the best, but the way he was travelling, he made it look easy.

“Once I gave him more reign he was off and gone.”

News: Dane Squance for ThoroughbredNews

Image: Sportpix

Rebel Dane to cause upset in 2016 All Aged Stakes Field

His jockey is suddenly out of luck and his horse continues to be out of favour.

There are obviously better angles from which Louis Mihalyka can approach a major race, but it’s not enough to stop Rebel Dane’s managing owner from making a case for a Group One upset in the All Aged Stakes.

Laurel Oak Bloodstock’s Mihalyka says Rebel Dane deserves a break at Group One level after toiling away from indifferent barrier draws for most of the autumn.

The same can also be said for Rebel Dane’s jockey Jason Collett.

Collett was going to ride the odds-on favourite Yankee Rose in the Champagne Stakes as he chases his first Group One win.

Getting back on Rebel Dane for the first time since the 2013 Randwick Guineas was an unexpected add-on to his day at Randwick.

RebelDane-Mihalyka-Portelli-20130824-0280_tnews_w433h650q50

But in light of Yankee Rose’s scratching from the Champagne, Collett’s All Aged Stakes outsider has become an all-or-nothing Group One ride for him as the Sydney autumn carnival draws to a close.

And while Australia’s studs seem to have given up on Rebel Dane as a stallion prospect, Mihalyka is keeping the faith.

“The horse is fine, well and healthy and racing in good form theoretically, but he’s just not getting the opportunity to figure at the pointy end,” he said.

“Barriers have cost him in the Futurity (Stakes), the Galaxy when he was back and had no hope and then he drew the outside gate in the TJ Smith and was four and five wide throughout.”

“He’s not as good as the Chautauquas of this world. He needs to have barrier advantage to compete against them. Not disadvantage.”

Just as high-profile stablemates Press Statement and Kermadec will be out to impress for an overseas campaign, Mihalyka said Rebel Dane needed to win another Group One race to revive his prospects of a commercial career at stud.

“There was far more interest 18 months ago,” he said.

“The fact that he hasn’t won a Group One race since the Rupert Clarke (Stakes) for two years, that sort of nipped things in the bud.

“He needs to go and ram it down their throats with another Group One win and he just hasn’t been able to do that.”

Rebel Dane will be contesting his third All Aged Stakes and was sent out favourite to win two years ago for Glen Boss.

He is unwanted as a $26 chance on Saturday as the next crop of Australia’s young sprinters come through with Press Statement favourite to beat fellow three-year-old English and the talented four-year-old Malaguerra.

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au