WEST Australian trainer Adam Durrant has been fined $10,000 by stewards after a stable raid which resulted in a charge involving treatment of his star galloper Mr Moet.
The Racing Victoria News Bulletin also highlights the weights released for the Newmarket Handicap and looks ahead to the Australian Guineas on Saturday
Stewards Report - Adam Durrant
Racing Victoria (RV) stewards today concluded an inquiry into a report tabled by RV’s Compliance Assurance Team (CAT) resulting from an inspection of the Tuerong stables at which the Adam Durrant-trained Mr Moet was stabled on Saturday, 23 February 2013.
Mr Moet was engaged to compete in the Group 2 Carlton Draught Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on the day of the inspection.
The report, along with video evidence, was considered on the day of the meeting and oral evidence was taken from Mr Durrant, RV’s Head of Equine Welfare & Veterinary Series, Dr Brian Stewart and CAT member Kane Ashby.
The inquiry was adjourned and reopened today at which further evidence was taken from Mr Durrant, Dr Stewart, Mr Ashby and CAT member Dion Villella.
Mr Durrant was subsequently found guilty of a charge under AR 175(k), which states;
“The Committee of any Club or the Stewards may penalise: Any person, who has committed a breach of the Rules, or whose conduct or negligence has led or could have led to a breach of the Rules.”
Stewards determined that Mr Durrant’s conduct or negligence led or could have led to a breach of AR 178E(1) which states;
“Notwithstanding the provisions of AR 178C(2), no person without the permission of the Stewards may administer or cause to be administered any medication to a horse on race day prior to such horse running in a race.”
The particulars of the conduct being that at approximately 10am on 23 February 2013, Mr Durrant approached the stall in which Mr Moet was stabled at 355 Balnarring Rd, Tuerong with a loaded syringe containing Carbalene, an alkalinising agent, and a hand towel with the intention of administering that medication to Mr Moet.
Mr Durrant was fined the sum of $10,000 for his breach of the rules.
WA raider tops Newmarket weights
Racing Victoria (RV) senior handicapper Neil Jennings has today allocated versatile Western Australian galloper Luckygray topweight of 58kg for the $1 million G1 Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Super Saturday, 9 March.
The Gino Poletti-trained five-year-old is being primed for a first-up tilt at Australia’s premier sprint race, having won the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic over 1800 metres at his most recent appearance at Ascot, WA on 8 December 2012.
A winner at 12 of 18 starts, Luckygray is one of six horses – all Group 1 winners – allotted 56kg or more for the 140th edition of the Newmarket which doubles as the final leg of RV’s lucrative G1 Sprinters Championship. Six of the past seven Newmarket winners have carried 56kg or more to victory including topweights Hay List (2012 58.5kg), Black Caviar (2011, 58kg), Scenic Blast (2009, 57kg) and Takeover Target (2006, 57kg).
Last start Black Caviar Lightning runner-up and current TAB favourite Moment Of Change has been given 56.5kg as trainer Peter Moody chases his third Newmarket in four years after the wins of Black Caviar and Wanted (2010).
Third Guineas Hard for Price
The Group 1 Australian Guineas has been a good race for Mick Price; consecutive wins with Light Fantastic in 2008 and Heart Of Dreams in 2009 helped Price cement his place among the top echelon of trainers in the state.
However in 2013, the ever realistic Price admits that if All Too Hard takes his place in the Guineas field at Flemington this Saturday, then a third win might have to wait for another year.
''It seems a bit of a one horse race doesn't it?'' mused Price after trackwork at Caulfield this morning.
With race jockey Glen Boss, who has partnered him in all his three starts, Ajeeb worked nicely on the course proper this morning working over 1200 metres and running home his last 400 metres in 23.75, ''I was pleased with his work on the course proper and although it looks a tough ask to win, he probably deserves his chance in the race.''
Moody's Esteem test in Guineas
Peter Moody has had rival trainers pulling their hair out in having to take on or avoid Black Caviar in recent years but in Saturday's Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington, Moody has had the roles reversed.
Moody will have High Esteem running for him in this year's renewal of the race but he has to take on Black Caviar's younger half-brother All Too Hard.
While Moody has dominated the Victorian training ranks in recent years, he has only had a handful of Australian Guineas runners, with his best effort to date being a second placing with Set For Fame in 2010 and he faces a huge task to go one better in 2013.
''I'm probably getting some of my own back in the Black Caviar way,'' joked Moody at Caulfield this morning. ''It certainly looks a forlorn task against All Too Hard.''
Patience is a virtue
Mornington-based trainer Dean Binaisse hasn’t decided on which race Cardinal Virtue will line up in over the weekend, but he is delighted with how the seven-year-old son stallion is coming along.
Nominated for both the $100,000 Premium Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night and the Listed $120,000 ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday, Binaisse is the fourth trainer in the son of Elusive Quality’s career.
Initially owned by Darley and trained by Lee Freedman, the well-bred entire was then purchased by his current owners and transferred to Queensland-based mentor Trevor Bailey.
After two runs in Queensland, Cardinal Virtue then found himself in the care of Sydney conditioner David Payne where he finished third in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) securing himself a stud deal in Western Australia.
Beriman's Rising Stars breakthrough
A bold front-running ride landed apprentice jockey Jackie Beriman her maiden heat win in this season’s National Patient Transport Rising Stars series at Werribee on Tuesday.
Beriman partnered the Brendan Woodman-trained Road To Summer to an all the way victory in the 0-58 Handicap over 1420m and in doing so, registered her first points in the apprentice-only series.
The young jockey, who boasts one of the best apprentice strike rates across Victoria in the past two seasons, said a lack of rides in the Rising Stars series had cost her a chance of claiming the title but said she was thrilled to register her first win.
“I don’t usually get rides in these apprentice races because they are so far away and it’s a little bit hard but it’s good today to get myself up there with them (leaders),” Beriman said.
Golden opportunity at VOBIS sale
It’s that time of year again, when Victorian thoroughbred farms go into over-drive in preparation for selling the next equine champion.
With the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale – where star graduates Black Caviar, Weekend Hussler, Starspangledbanner and Ortensia all hailed from – only days away from commencing, buyers have another exciting opportunity to purchase a bargain at the inaugural VOBIS Gold Sale to be held at Oaklands Junction on April 28 and 29.
With 19 yearlings due to roll through the VOBIS Gold ring on behalf of leading vendor Eliza Park Stud, sons and daughters of Written Tycoon, Magnus, Von Costa de Hero, Domesday, Statue of Liberty, Astronomer Royal to Any Given Saturday and more will be on offer.
“We’ve been a big supporter of Super VOBIS and now VOBIS Gold, as the extra prize money available for these qualified horses increase market value and interest in our stallions and progeny that sell through the farm, so it’s a win for the breeder and the owners who actively race them,” Eliza Park Farm Manager, Mark Lindsay, said.
Be part of the Melbourne Cup Tour
Communities across Australia and New Zealand are invited to host one of the world’s most recognised sporting trophies, the iconic Emirates Melbourne Cup, as the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) calls on all corners of Australasia to host the Cup in their home town.
Offering a chance to raise community spirit and celebrate the magic of ‘the race that stops a nation’, the Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour (EMCT) has seen the 18-carat gold $175,000 trophy, travel more than 325,000 kilometres across sea, road and air since 2003.
Last year the Tour celebrated its 10th anniversary by trekking across the red centre of Australia, taking underwater dives on The Great Barrier Reef and visiting New Zealand’s world renowned thoroughbred country to interact with tens of thousands of people of all ages.
VRC Chief Executive, Mr David Courtney, said the Tour’s 10 years of success is a testament to the role the 152-year old Melbourne Cup race has played in shaping the sporting, social and cultural fabric of Australia and New Zealand.
RACING VICTORIA NEWS BULLETIN COMPILED BY SHEENA COFFEY.