August 2014

Having not finished worse that fifth in his ten runs since his last win, our four-year-old War Pass gelding Warinda mange to get his head down when it counted, winning his second career victory when taking out the Bottle Mart Plate (1600m) at Canberra on August 29.

Starting the race favourite based on his utter consistency, the Keith Dryden-trained Warinda settled midfield before producing and effort to win the race by a half head margin from Sindariya with a length back to the third placed Bank On Henry.

A graduate from the Widden Stud draft at the 2011 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Warinda has never finished further back that fifth, and while everyone would like him to win more often, he is very consistent and now that he has managed to secure another victory, we hope he can now go on with it.

Out of the Woodman mare Tolinda, herself a half-sister to South Africa’s Champion Two-year-old Male Tytola (Last Tycoon), both out of the dual Group Three-winning, Group One placed Tolanda, Warinda’s extensive list of owners include; Laurel Oak Bloodstock Pty Ltd Synd (Mgr: L Mihalyka), D & Mrs C Jeffery, D Caldwell, W Seay Jnr, R Wise, D Emmerick, K Hudson, P & Mrs A Hickey, S Cottle, Ms L Hanrahan, D Ulrich, P Hart, Mrs J Murray, G Luton, B Luton, M Duncan, G Hargraves & Redbank North Pty Ltd Synd (Mgr: J Middleton) and we would like to congratulate them on the victory.

Brisbane’s newly-crowned premier jockey Tim Bell will return to Sydney to ride Group One placegetter Scratch Me Lucky in the Run To The Rose.

Bell, 21, served most of his apprenticeship in NSW and capped his first season as a senior rider with the Brisbane premiership and his first Group One win on Tinto in the Queensland Oaks.

Bred by by Ramsey Pastoral Co Pty Ltd and Laurel Oak Bloodstock, the Paul Perry-trained Scratch Me Lucky finished second to Peggy Jean in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and just missed a place in the Champagne Stakes.

Both races were run on wet autumn tracks and the same conditions have been forecast for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting.

Perry has entered Scratch Me Lucky for several major spring races including the Epsom Handicap and the Cox Plate but says he will take it one race at a time.

“He has grown into a darn nice horse. He has had two easy trials to get ready for the Run To The Rose,” Perry said.

“Tim Bell is coming down to ride him.

“We want to get him started and see where we are at. If he goes well on Saturday and then runs in the Golden Rose we will look at things after that.

“He could go to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas Prelude or he could stay here.

“The weather will play a part because we know how good he is in the wet.”

The colt was one of 14 entries taken on Monday for the Group Three 1200m sprint as the three-year-olds scramble for berths in the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) two weeks later.

The nominations are headed by the Gai Waterhouse-trained Almalad, the only colt to win a juvenile Group One race last season when he beat Brazen Beau in the J J Atkins in Brisbane.

Brazen Beau will be among his rivals on Saturday with trainer Chris Waller also nominating Law and Sniper Fire.

Gerald Ryan, who enjoyed a stellar season with two-year-olds in 2013/14, entered Washington Heights and Ygritte.

He gave thought to nominating Bachman but said he would stick to his plan to go to the Golden Rose first-up.

Bachman has risen in the order of entry after Saturday’s Up And Coming Stakes during which some of his potential opponents were knocked out of the prize money by the wayward Liberation.

News from Caryl Williamson, AAP

Whether you are a “could’ve, would’ve, should’ve” kind of person or not – no one can deny the fact that Better Land “could’ve, would’ve and should’ve probably won in Saturday’s Group Three Up And Coming Stakes at Randwick!

Settling on the outside of the field after jumping away from one of the outside gates, Better Land was travelling extremely well for jockey Glyn Schofield, but when the Peter Moody-trained three-year-old looked as if he was going to play a huge part in the finish of the Group Three race, the wayward leader Liberation veered, seemingly from nowhere, right into the path of Better Land – taking his running and literally ending his winning chances. Check out the pictures below of the incident Liberation (Orange Silks) and Better Land (Red Cap and white blaze).

Such wass his determination, Better Land got going again but the same thing happened with Liberation making it clear Better Land was not to pass him.

Finishing fifth across the line, and eventually promoted to fourth in the Steward’s Room, Better Land is now in a precarious position of not having enough prize money in the kitty to make the field of the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) in three weeks’ time.

Post-race, trainer Peter Moody was obviously quite angry about the interference caused to his runner, especially as the culprit had previously behaved in the same manner on the track.

“He doesn’t have enough money to get into the race now and really has left us with some decisions to make about where next,” Moody said.

“He was going that well I thought he was going to win by a couple of lengths and Glyn (Schofield) thought the same thing. He was about to let down and got smashed.

“He picked himself back up and was about to go again and (Liberation) got him again. He was never tested to the line. We know we have a very good horse but we might not be able to get to the race we want now.”

Schofield described Better Land as “the meat in the sandwich” in the first incident. “I just got corkscrewed and then got going again somehow and (Liberation) run out again,” he said. “He should have won.”

All in all, the positive we can take away from the race is that Better Land is a colt with immense promise and while he may not make the field for the Group One Golden Rose (sigh), there are still a lot of opportunities for the colt to aim towards during the spring and we wish all the owners the best of luck.

While on paper it appeared as if our Charge Forward six-year-old had been having a bad run of late, but all things were turned around on Saturday when Beckon thundered out of the pack and held off all challengers to win the St Johns Park Bowling Club (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Showing plenty early on in his career when winning his first two starts, things went slightly awry after that and the well-bred Beckon was gelded to help keep his mind on the job! A full-brother to Group One winner Headway, the Peter Moody-trained Beckon had not won since November 2012 when winning at Gosford with the beaten brigade that day including Masterstroke, who was also competitor on Saturday.

Forced to take a 45 weeks spell, Beckon resumed his current campaign in May of this year and while it has taken a few months for everything to fall into place, they finally did on Saturday and his large group of owners could not have been more excited!!

Ridden by Josh Parr, Beckon settled up handy in about fifth position on the rail from barrier two. With last start winner Runway Star ensuring there was a good tempo in the race, Parr pulled Beckon out wide as the field rounded the home turn to start to chase down the leader.

With Maroon Bay going to the inside of the leader and Beckon on the outside, these two pulled away from the rest of the field with Beckon getting his head in front of Maroon Bay to take the win, Masterstroke worked home well into third.

With four wins and a five placed efforts from 21 starts to date, Beckon was secured from the 2010 Magic Millions Yearling Sale from the draft of Turangga Farm and is raced by Laurel Oak Bloodstock Synd (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Lanista Thoroughbreds Synd (Mgr: S C Cook), D J Daniel, A N Fitzgerald, G S Tucker, A G Charlton, S M Sandridge, S W Hackney, W Gest, K C Ooi, M D Jackson, Mrs K J Hanckel, Ms N Mayhew & Mrs R C Fitzgerald.

For more images, head over to the Laurel Oak Facebook page by clicking here.

Heading to Royal Randwick on Saturday with two live chances in black type races is always great, and although neither crossed the finish line in front, both ran extremely positive races and highlights what hopefully will be a fruitful campaign for both.

The first of the team to head to the starting gates was our three-year-old Shamardal colt Better Land who was having his second career start, stepping up to the Listed Rosebud over 1200m against a handy line up of runners.

Trained by Peter Moody, the Inglis Easter yearling sale graduate was unfortunately planted three-wide in the run after jumping from the outside gate, but produced a brilliant turn off foot when it mattered to go down by three-quarters-of-a-length to last start winner Scissor Kick – pictured below.

Producing what many considered to be the run of the race, it is interesting to note that 12 month prior, trainer Peter Moody also finished second in the race, also with a horse that jumped from barrier 8. That horse was Dissident, who would go on to win the Group One Randwick Guineas and become a very valuable commodity!

We can all hope that down the track we are in the same situation as our son of Shamardal is extremely well-bred being out of the former high-class juvenile Amelia’s Dream who could have been anything!!!

The very next race of the day saw Rebel Dane start first up in the Group Two Missile Stakes over 1200m with new jockey Blake Shinn in the saddle.

Starting the race favourite, the Gary Portelli-trained Rebel Dane settled mid-field in fourth while the four-year-old mare Sweet Idea got a cosy lead.

When the field headed for home, jockey Blake Shinn produced the now five-year-old to make his run, charging at the leaders to be beaten a long head x long head into third, with promising galloper Messene finishing second to Sweet Idea.

With both horses putting in great runs, all at Laurel Oak Bloodstock are excited to see how they progress during this campaign and fingers crossed we will be reporting about victories at their next starts #onwardsandupwards

Heading back to Wyong after her narrow last start second, our Fastnet Rock mare Posh Rock once again produced a very encouraging run to finish second.

Starting one of the race favourites in the Moneywise Super Funds Maiden over 1350m, the Tony Noonan-trained mare jumped away a little slowly from the inside barriers before jockey James McDonald drove along the rail to sit in third position on the rail behind the leader Crimson Ruby.

With the leader getting a good run in front, when the field turned for home, Crimson Ruby kicked and while Posh Rock continued to make ground on the leader the whole way down the straight, the three kilo weight difference came into play.

Finishing a half-length second, Posh Rock has now recorded back to back second placed efforts and fingers crossed the Magic Millions graduate can go one better next time out as she steps up in trip.

Peter Moody is giving blueblood three-year-old Better Land an early opportunity to prove precisely how good he is.

The champion Melbourne trainer is giving the son of Shamardal and former brilliant filly Amelia’s Dream a crack at the $100,000 Listed The Rosebud (1200m) at just his second start.

The only time the colt has been to the races was for a three-length Sale maiden win in April and while Moody is not convinced he will measure up to the top level, he said he might have struck the right year to have a crack at the early three-year-old features.

“He’s like everyone’s three-year-olds; we’re just hoping they improve sufficiently to measure up to the better grade,” Moody said.

“Probably all of this season’s three-year-old colts are in the same bracket because none of them actually shone at two.

“The two best two-year-old colts (from last season) are maidens – Jabali and Cornrow – so anyone with a three-year-old that they’ve got any opinion of are entitled to have a crack at what is supposedly the better grade.

“Is it six months too soon? Yes, I think it is, but to get seasoned he’s going to be taking on the better class.”

Better Land will tackle a Rosebud field full of horses in a similar boat. None of the field have had any more than three starts and two rivals – John O’Shea-trained favourite Sarajevo and Gai Waterhouse’s Echo Prince – have had just one start for a win in maiden grade.

Inkling, Bold Circle and Scissor Kick are other last-start winners in the race, while the remaining runners – Nayeli and Hero I Am – are also winners.

None of Better Land’s rivals are as well-travelled as the $400,000 purchase from last year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale (pictured as a yearling).

Sent out to the far east of the state for his debut run and spent the bulk of the winter spelling in Queensland, where he trialled before heading down to Moody’s Randwick stable late last month.

How he performs in The Rosebud, in which he will be ridden from Kerrin McEvoy and start from the outside barrier in the field of eight, will determine future plans but Moody did use last year’s race to launch the campaign of Dissident, who went on to run second to Zoustar in the Group 1 Golden Rose.

“I did a similar thing with Dissident, but bear in mind he was a bit more experienced,” Moody said. “He’d had a couple of runs and ran in a Blue Diamond, so he was more seasoned.

“But this guy is a well-bred colt that I’ve always had a good opinion of.”

The Rosebud is the key support race on an exciting Randwick program that includes a sterling edition of the Missile Stakes.

Boban, Hawkspur, Kirramosa and Weary are among the possible Spring Racing Carnival stars who will launch their campaigns in the event that also contains Group 1 winners Rebel Dane and Laser Hawk and classy types Messene, Sweet Idea and Thump.

Story by Brad Bishop, Racing Victoria

The Sportsman’s Ray Hickson speaks to Rebel Dane’s trainer Gary Portelli about his chances first up in Saturday’s G2 Missile Stakes.

Trainer Gary Portelli admits his star sprinter Rebel Dane could be at a crossroads if he doesn’t finish in the first two, or maybe three, when
he returns at Randwick tomorrow.

The five-year-old looked in for a big autumn and winter when he chased home Lankan Rupee in the TJ Smith Stakes during The Championships but came up winless in three subsequent runs.

Added to that is the surprise defeat in his barrier trial a couple of weeks back that Portelli is hoping was just due to being “a bit fat”.

To read the complete article, click the below image.

Jumping from a maiden victory at Sale to a stakes race at Royal Randwick, three-year-old Shamardal colt Better Land has shown enough to give trainer Peter Moody the confidence he is capable of the massive leap.

Scoring by three lengths as a the race favourite back in April over 1100m at Sale on debut, the colt was immediately put away and sent north to the warm weather in Queensland for a spell.

Sent to Doomben a few weeks back to trial over the 1000m, Better Land showed he had relished the Queensland sun, taking the trial by a neck margin.

After the win trainer Peter Moody told AAP that, “He is a nice horse and he might have a start in Brisbane before we bring him back south. I would be looking at some of the nice three-year-old races for him.”

Since the colt has now headed to a Stakes race, this in itself must suggest the high held opinion of the well-bred colt.

The first foal to race out of the former brilliant two-year-old Amelia’s Dream (Redoute’s Choice), herself an unbeaten winner of the Group Two Silver Slipper (by over six lengths), before injury resulted in retirement, Better Land was purchased from the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Edinglassie Stud for $400,000 by Peter Moody Racing.

In what looks a field of up and coming horses, that includes Group Three winner Nayeli, the David Payne Bold Circle as well as last start winners Inkling, Scissor Kick and Echo Prince, Better Land has drawn the outside gate in the field of eight, but will have Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle to work his magic. The final field and the form for the race can be viewed by clicking here.

Laurel Oak Bloodstock wishes our fellow owners; Mr R A Pegum, Laurel Oak Shamrock, Ramsey Pastoral Company Pty Ltd, Mr D J Tamblyn, Mr R S Willis, Mrs J M Tamblyn, Mr D J Tamblyn, R V 8, Mr M R Tudehope, Mr B N E Hastie, Mr M J Forsdick, Mr A N Fitzgerald, Lanista Thoroughbreds, Mr A W Reichard the best of luck for the race in what could be the first leg of winning stakes double for us with Rebel Dane contesting the very next race of the day (click here to read all about it).

With an outstanding first-up record, five-year-old Rebel Dane looks set to start one of the favourites in Saturday’s $175,000 Group Two Missile Stakes over 1200m at Randwick on Saturday.

Having won three times fresh from four attempts, including the Group Two Show County Quality over 1200m this time last year, the Gary Portelli-trained stallion prospect will jump from barrier four on Saturday with top class jockey Blake Shinn in the saddle.

Taking on a field of high class runners (click below for form) which includes Group One winners Boban, Laser Hawk, Hawkspur and Kirramosa as well as the upcoming promising runners Messene and Weary, Rebel Dane has been readied for his first up assignment with a pleasing third in a barrier trial on July 25, followed up by a hit out between races at Rosehill last Saturday with Shinn in the saddle.

A winner of six from 16 starts that includes a stunning victory in the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) during last year’s Spring Carnival, the son of Danehill stallion California Dane will target the Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m) on the final day of August – a race won in the past by the likes of Atlantic Jewel (2013), So You Think (2010), Weekend Hussler (2008), Miss Finland (2007), El Segundo (2006), Makybe Diva (2005), and Sunline (2000 and 2001).

Best of luck must go to the large group of owners of Rebel Dane, pictured below after one of his earlier wins; Laurel Oak Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Mr J V Murphy, Rdfit Pty Ltd, Mr P M Kite, Mr M W Powell, Mr C J Baker, Pardon, Mr S J Lindley, Mr R H Spee, Simpson-Morgan, Mr T J Gleeson, Mr N A Parbery, Mr G Zivkovic, Mr A N Fitzgerald for Saturday’s race.

Yet to hit the track on race day, Laurel Oak Bloodstock’s now three-year-old Tuscan Falls produced another exciting trial effort on Monday at Rosehill, taking his heat by one-and-a-quarter lengths over the 900m.

Trained by Gary Portelli, the Nicconi gelding has had three trials to date and looks one to watch as we hopefully head to the races with him in the coming weeks – you can read about his previous trial win by clicking here.

Partnered by Tye Angland on Monday, Tuscan Falls went forward after jumping away well from the gates and settled in second place.

Wearing blinkers, Tuscan Falls came up on the outside of the leader who was under pressure and allowed to coast to the line in fine style (pictured below).

As his pedigree does suggest, he looks a smart horse in the making.

A graduate of the Turangga Farm draft at the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, the Nicconi gelding is the first living foal of the General Nediym mare mare Queen Of The Falls, herself a half-sister to the Group Two -winning, Group One placed Elite Falls, both daughters of the Group Three-winning Danehill mare Niagara Falls.

Back from a spell, and having just turned three, Fastnet Rock colt Out Of The Night travelled to Bairnsdale on August 3 for the 1200m Four’n Twenty Maiden Plate.

With a small field to contest with, the Tony Noonan–trained colt finished third over what many may suggest an unsuitable distance based on pedigree.

Although by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock, Out Of The Night (pictured below with Louis) is the first foal out of the dual Group One Winning New Zealand bred mare Zarita, a winner of the South Australian Derby and South Australian Schweppes Oaks double.

Zarita was one of the best of her age group not only being a dual Group One winner, she was also successful in another five stakes races.

With nine wins from 33 career starts and over $1.6 million in earnings we hope that Out Of The Night can be half as good as his mother – and fingers crossed we are heading that way!