December 2014

With four prior starts to his credit, the Tony Noonan-trained Cannonball Express headed to Bairnsdale on December 30 to contest the Pallots Jewellers Maiden Plate over 1600m.

Settling in a mid-field position on the rails after jumping away from the inside barrier for jockey Reece Wheeler, Cannonball Express drifted back a little due to the hot tempo set up in the lead by Berkley Gardens, the short-priced favourite.

Slowly making up ground along the rails, the Al Maher gelding pulled himself into a clear third before the home turn before knuckling down extremely well to chase the leader and produced a top-quality effort to take the race by a length margin, with Flytir a further five-and-a-half lengths back in third .

Despite original tactics going out the door upon missing the jump, trainer Noonan never panicked.

“He’s been a bit of a grinder but in his last gallop, we sat him off his companion and taught him a little bit about chasing and he replicated his training effort today,” Noonan said.

“We purchased him with a view of turning him into a stayer and although his runs to date over shorter distances haven’t looked flash on paper, Louis Mihalyka (part-owner) has been patient with this gelding.

“It’s always a thrill to get a win for Louis and his group and we hope this will be the first of many because this horse will only improve as he gets out further.

After attempting to dig Cannonball Express out of the gates to find the lead to little luck, Wheeler took the sit and settled midfield on the gelding who appeared to be travelling sweetly.

“If he missed the kick, Tony said he would be happy just to give him plenty of room,” Wheeler said.

“It was a good strong win in the end.

“He’s looking for further and that will do him the world of good and get him some confidence because he’s on the way up.”

A special congratulations goes out to the fellow owners in Cannonball Express; Laurel Oak Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Tony Noonan Racing Pty Ltd, Mr S C Cook, Mr M J Birrell, Mrs N C Birrell, Mr G M Muir, Club Number One, Mr G L Blenkinsop, Mrs K E O’halloran, Mr P D O’halloran, Mr T Kinnear, Mr P Crichton, Mr D A Russell, Mr G Kinnear and Mrs C Kinnear.

With the 2014 coming to a close, Laurel Oak Bloodstock have been lucky to have some further success in the past few days highlighted by the win of Tuscan Falls, as well as some of our runners performing extremely well at the barrier trials with both Texardini and Court Martial Miss both winning their recent trials.

Better Land is expected to make a low-key return to racing in the coming weeks following an easy jump out at Caulfield on Tuesday morning.

Trainer Peter Moody is keen for the well-bred colt to kick-off his preparation on the right note and is not afraid to find the easiest race possible.

“At the end of the day, all he has won is a Sale maiden,” Moody said.

“I like to see my horses do everything right on race day and win.

“He lost his way a bit towards the end of the preparation and I’m keen to start from scratch, look to give him a ‘kill’ and then proceed from there.

“I’d say he will be ready to return in about mid January.

“He wasn’t out to do much in the jump-out, just a nice look around for him.”

Better Land, by Shamardal out of Amelia’s Dream, finished second behind Scissor Kick in the Listed Rosebud before being pushed off the track and finishing fourth in the Up And Coming Stakes.

He then started a well-backed $5.50 chance in the Golden Rose but raced well below his best, finishing down the track behind Hallowed Crown after being caught wide from a awkward barrier.

Stablemate Dissident was also sighted at Caulfield on Tuesday morning, galloping before stewards and given the all-clear to continue his preparation after suffering a bleeding attack last preparation.

News from Racing Network

Having shown early promise with some very good barrier trial wins, it was great to see our three-year-old gelding Tuscan Falls finally put it all together on the track, breaking his maiden on Boxing Day to give his connections a late Christmas present with a length victory in the East Cessnock Bowling Club Maiden over 900m at Newcastle.

Dropping back from two 1100m runs at his past two starts, the Gary Portelli-trained Tuscan Falls managed to finally have a bit of luck in the run, also having the race run to suit.

Settling back past mid-field and with Andrew Gibbons in the saddle, and with a fast pace upfront, Tuscan Falls was able to come to the outside of the field when needed and produced a great turn of foot to charge late to take the win!

Showing that he appreciated being ridden that way, it would be no surprise to now see him continue to be ridden back in the field and come with a late rush.

Purchased from the draft of Turangga Farm at the 2013 Easter Yearling Sale, Tuscan Falls (pictured below as a yearling) is by the Widden Stud-based Nicconi out of the General Nediym mare Queen Of The Falls, a half-sister to the Group Two-winning, Group One placed Elite Falls (More Than Ready), both daughters of the Danehill mare Niagara Falls, a Group Three winner herself.

Congratulations to the winning connections; Laurel Oak Bloodstock Pty Ltd ( Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Hon. W R Haylen, J M Ryan, J T O’brien, N Macdonald, S C Cook, Mrs K Fraser, M R Tudehope, D Monch, M J Baumann, K Macdonald, J R Wilson, C J Reynolds, R H Spee, W A Chalker, S M Sandridge, M J Clift, R I Cullen and P Mckenzie.