THE Racing Victoria News Bulletin is over-flowing today with a look ahead to the big races on Saturday, spearheaded by the Blue Diamond.
There is also an item on Sunday's Kilmore Cup and the outcome of a couple of interesting apeals.
Hawkes sets Hard task for Futurity rivals
He knows how good his Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes contender All Too Hard is but co-trainer Wayne Hawkes will be keeping a keen eye on Saturday's Carlton Draught Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield, to see how his vanquished foes of two weeks ago, fare earlier in the day.
Orr Stakes placegetters Mawingo and Mr Moet, are stepping up in distance in the Young Stakes and Hawkes is keen to see them run well to frank the form from All Too Hard's Orr win.
''Freedman's horse could come out and win on Saturday and then win the Australian Cup, which franks our first up win and that would not surprise me, because I think he (Mawingo) is a pretty good horse,'' Hawkes said.
Hawkes said that All Too Hard had been ticking over nicely since the Orr Stakes and had improved but queried how much, ''He's good and has come on since the first up run but that was in a Group 1 weight-for-age race so how much are you going to improve?''
Taylor holds Plate Key
Last week it was Black Caviar trying to keep an unbeaten record intact, this week at Caulfield it is Western Australian star Barakey, who is aiming for win number 12 in the $400,000 Group 1 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
But trainer Jim Taylor says he's not feeling any pressure ahead of his stable star’s Melbourne debut.
“Peter (Moody) had a lot more pressure on him than me,” Taylor said. “He's got the world champion, I've only got a horse from WA.”
Barakey has not raced since winning the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in November but Taylor says he has him very fit for Saturday's first up assignment.
Hayes' classy Diamond trio
He might not train any of the favourites but as a five-time winning trainer of the race, David Hayes has to be listened to in any Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes discussions.
Hayes trains three of the 14 starters and believes he has a good chance of bringing up win number six at Caulfield on Saturday with colts, Fast 'N' Rocking, I Am Titanium and filly Gregers.
''I reckon I'm going to get a good result out of it,'' Hayes said. ''Most of my Diamond winners haven't been in the market and I'm confident that I'll be figuring in the finish.''
Apart from obviously having a horse with ability, Hayes believes the key to winning the Blue Diamond is not having to back up quickly into the race.
Thermal Current out of Diamond
Peter Moody's Patinack Farm Blue Diamond team is down to three following this morning's scratching of Thermal Current.
The son of Exceed And Excel, who occupied the $8 third line in the TAB's market, was scratched on vet's advice due to a near hind muscle strain.
Thermal Current had not started since a luckless third to stablemate Dissident in the Blue Diamond Preview on 26 January.
His withdrawal reduces the field for Victoria's premier two-year-old race to 14 following Tuesday's scratching of the Mark Kavanagh-trained Casquets due to the outside bad barrier.
Cox Plate winner set to resume
The weight-for-age stars of the Melbourne Festival of Racing do battle in the Peter Young Stakes this Saturday, but around 15 minutes before that race is run the winner of the country's biggest weight-for-age race will be in action across the ditch.
Ocean Park makes his anticipated return to racing in the NZ$200,000 Group 1 Hanui Farm Classic at Otaki in New Zealand.
The 1600m event will only be the Thorn Park four-year-old's second start since winning the Sportingbet Cox Plate last October and trainer Gary Hennessy is excited about seeing him back in race mode.
“He's really progressed since the Spring and his work's been right up to the mark,” he said. “Without having a race he's as forward as I'd like him. He's very bright in the eye and all his body language says he's ready to go to the races.”
Angelic filly to Light up Valley
Robbie Griffiths is hoping it’s a case of horses for courses when talented filly Angelic Light takes her place in the feature $100,000 Listed Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday.
A daughter of Holy Roman Emperor, she was an impressive winner at her only run over the track and distance in the Listed Crockett Stakes (1200m) during the Spring.
After just peaking on her run late when third behind Octavia and Member’s Joy first-up in the Listed Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, Griffiths believes the effort was full of merit.
“The winner Octavia was having her seventh run for the preparation, we had the most weight and Members Joy had gone to the paddock three weeks before us in the Spring so it was able to have that extra first up run and was fitter than us. Angelic Light beat the rest comfortably,” Griffiths said.
Kilmore to the fore
Caulfield’s Group 1 feast on Saturday may demand the most attention on the Australian racing calendar this weekend but quality country racing is also a feature at a number of venues around Victoria.
Sunday’s Sportinbet Kilmore Cup Day generates great interest with the day’s feature event, the Listed Sportingbet Kilmore Cup (1600m), carrying a record $200,000 purse.
The prizemoney increase from last year’s $110,000 offering has proven a winning move for the Kilmore Turf Club with the likes of seasoned Group 1 campaigner Wall Street, last-start Listed winner Future Solution and progressive middle-distance galloper Dany The Fox featuring among the 15 horse Cup field.
The action off the track will be just as exciting with the massive Fashions on the Field event, live music thought the day and heaps of free kids' activities sure to keep the entire family entertained.
Racing Conference off to cracking start
Melbourne, home of the world famous Spring Racing Carnival and champion mare Black Caviar, today played host to the launch of the Australian Racing Conference for the first time.
Minister for Racing Denis Napthine, officially opened the event at the Grand Hyatt this morning and said the three day conference would attract more than 500 racing industry delegates from around Australia as well as many international delegates.
“The Australian Racing Conference brings together some of the country’s leading racing administrators, breeders, trainers, owners, wagering providers and media commentators to discuss the challenges and opportunities for racing,” Dr Napthine said.
“The Australian thoroughbred racing industry is worth more than $5 billion to the national economy. In Victoria alone, more than $2 billion in annual economic benefits and 70,000 jobs are derived from the three racing codes.”
Racing stars walk for kids
Racing’s biggest names will converge on Sandown racecourse in the early hours of Friday morning, 8 March in support of a unique fundraiser for DOXA Doxa Youth Foundation and Western Health Foundation.
The second-annual Melbourne 4tracks4kids charity walk will see racing identities and sporting stars tread the metropolitan tracks on a 44 kilometre journey which commences at Sandown Racecourse, takes in Caulfield and Moonee Valley Racecourses and concludes at Flemington Racecourse at 12.15pm in time for the annual DOXA Racing Luncheon.
Along the journey over 100 walkers are expected to participate, including Racing Victoria’s (RV) Chief Executive Officer Bernard Saundry, Deputy Chairman Rob Roulston and General Manager – Racing Greg Carpenter.
Trainer Mark Kavanagh and jockey Glen Boss as well as Black Caviar owners will be amongst the racing royalty walking, while TVN presenters Jason Richardson, Bruce Clark and Richie Callander will also be involved.
Diamond Day action doesn't disappoint
Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes Day continues the Festival racing action in sizzling style with three Group 1 events, an assortment of trackside entertainment and the return of the G1 Pavilion.
On the track, the Group 1 $1 million Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes over 1200 metres is Victoria’s richest and most prestigious race for two-year-olds and has attracted a star showing of speedy juveniles.
The day also features the Group 1 $502,000 Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes and the Group 1 $402,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate, which also forms leg two of the Sprinters G1 Championship, currently being led by Black Caviar.
In addition, Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes Day is a race meeting full of glamorous style, with the lucrative Sundari Cosmetics Fashion Stakes competition offering participants the chance to share in more than $50,000 in prizes across three categories: 13-17 years, 18 years and over and Fashion Duos.
RAD Board Hearing Result: Michelle Allen
Trainer Michelle Allen has been disqualified for a period of 18 months after today pleading guilty in front of the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board to all three charges laid by Racing Victoria (RV) stewards.
The charges relate to the sale of the racehorse Fraazam and allegations that Ms Allen made false statements in relation to the horse.
Ms Allen was convicted and disqualified for a period of 12 months, commencing midnight, 24 February 2013, for one breach of AR 175(a) which states; “Any person, who, in their opinion, has been guilty of any dishonest, corrupt, fraudulent, improper or dishonourable action or practice in connection with racing.”
Ms Allen was convicted and disqualified for two periods of three months for two breaches of AR 175(gg) which states; “Any person who makes any false or misleading statement or declaration in respect of any matter in connection with the administration or control of racing.”
The RAD Board ordered that the three periods of disqualification be served cumulatively thus meaning a total of 18 months disqualification.
RAD Board Appeal – Damian Lane
The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board will hear an appeal by jockey Damian Lane at 10.30am on Tuesday, 26 February 2013.
Mr Lane has appealed against the decision of the Stewards and severity of the penalty imposed when he was found guilty of a charge of careless riding on his mount The Road Ahead in Race 7 the Sportsbet.com.au Top Tote Plus 0-58 Handicap (1469m) at Kyneton on Tuesday, 19 February 2013.
Mr Lane had his licence to ride in races suspended for a period to commence at midnight on Thursday, 21 February 2013 and to expire at midnight on Sunday, 3 March 2013 – a total of 12 race meetings (5 city, 7 country).
A stay of proceedings was granted effective until midnight on Monday, 25 February 2013.
RACING VICTORIA NEWS BULLETIN COMPILED BY SHEENA COFFEY.
