Motu Cruises In (Friday 29th January 2010)
It was expected and he delivered.
Winton gelding Motu Crusader returned to winning form at Ascot Park, bouncing back after a galant tenth in the New Zealand Sires Stakes Final at Addington in November.
The three year old gelding had been to two workouts - Invercargill and Wyndham in preparation for today's run - driven at both by today's winning driver Carl Hanna.
"Clark (Barron) and I had a bit of a talk to Carl and we had a bit of a game plan. We thought they may go a bit up front. It's not a bad run first up running 3-23 for 2700 metres. Highview Tommy's track record is 3-19," said trainer Tim White.
Although the result in Christchurch didn't look good on paper this years crop of three year olds is very strong and the trip confirmed White's assessment of the Courage Under Fire gelding.
"Ken (Barron) drove him when he was in Canterbury for Cup Week and said he was going to be a lot better over the longer distances and a better four year old," said White.
Motu Crusader was spelled after returning from Christchurch and according to White has come back a more compact racehorse.
"He's a lot stronger this time in and has filled out. I think he's grown. We won't back him up too quickly. We'll look at the Supremacy Stakes heat at Wyndham on the 27th over a mile."
Motu Crusader was purchased at the 2008 National Yearling Sales by Drummond farmer Doug McLeish.
"He went to the sales with $25,000 and bought Imaloch for $11,000. We bid on another horse but he went for $35,000 on the first day. Doug was keen to buy and said to have a look at lot 305 on the second day. I said to him he had a nice pedigree. He got him for $11,000."
The price proved to be a bargain because at that stage his half brother Motu Treasure hadn't started racing.
Although White liked the horse pedigree he wasn't too set on the horse when he started to break him in.
"What have we got here. He was bloody hopeless he was just so laid back, didn't give a stuff."
But eventually he turned a corner and qualified.
"I worked him in 3-10 (2400 metres) before he won at Forbury and he ran a quarter in 25.6 so we knew we had a good horse."
It's been a good week for the family. Motu Treasure returned to the winners circle at Forbury Park last night after seven months away from racing. He has now won six races from just fifteen starts.
Motu Crusader easy for Carl Hanna - Tania Dickson
Breeder, George Timperley who owned the dam of both horses, Silksngems, has a Live Or Die yearling at next months sales which White and McLeish are keen to inspect.
"But his price has probably just gone up by $10,000 after today's win," said White.
Although the Derby and Jewels are a possibility White says it'll be as a five year old that Motu Crusader will be at his best.
"You won't see too much of him as a four year old. I'll give him a good spell and he probably won't run until after Christmas."
Julius Reins Supreme (Monday 25th January 2010)
Julius Supreme finally delivered on his potential when he easily won the Wagon Wheels Bistro Mobile Pace at Ascot Park.
The four year old gelding was positioned in the one one early before he was taken around a breaking horse to sit parked. Driver Clark Barron then took him to the lead at the 500 where he shot away by at least four lengths before easily beating Gene Gene by a length and three quarters.
Julius Supreme qualified impressively at Winton in October but since then his career has been disappointing, although he indicated winning form wasn't too far away with a good second at Wyndham six days ago.
"I took him away to Central Otago. He only had one start up there but he's improved out of sight. I've also had John Cox (Horse Manipulator) to go over him and his gait has just improved since then," said trainer Tony Barron.
In his short career Julius Supreme has been driven by Dexter Dunn, Brent Barclay and Barron's brother Clark.
"He seems to suit Clark's style - just keep rolling along. He's not a super star speed horse he just seems to pace better when he's bowling along."
The gelding is owned by Ian Hunter of Wyndham who Barron has trained a number of winners for over the years including Delamaid (2), Deladream (2) and Delafella (1).
After racing on Friday Barron says Julius Supreme will go on the market.
Waltzing Holme (Monday 25th January 2010)
Winton trainer Roger Price consistently sings the praises of stallion Mach Three and it's no wonder after Waltzing Holme's win at Ascot Park.
For the last two seasons Mach Three gelding Scotty Mach has been one of the flagship runners in the stable and now Waltzing Holme looks to be carrying on the good record the Prices have with the stock of that stallion.
After being four back on the outside Nathan Williamson took Waltzing Holme to the lead and from then on it was a two horse war with favourite Stirling Charmer.
"Nathan said Tony Stratford's horse actually got a half a length in front," said Price. "She lacks sheer speed but she's as tough as they come. She just keeps grinding away."
Waltzing Holme showed a lot of determination to fight back bravely to win by a nose with eight and a half lengths back to third.
Waltzing Holme indicated she was ready to fire with an impressive trials win last Wednesday on the course and after today's gut buster she is in for a few days off.
"She'll have two quiet days. There's Wyndham coming up and still plenty of racing."
Price who trained the mare in partnership with daughter-in-law Katrina, said driver Nathan Williamson has been instrumental in fine tuning the mare with advice after trials and workouts.
"Nathan's been with her all the way. He understands her and has helped with gear changes. We don't drive them at the trails or races," he said.
Waltzing Holme is from the same family at Geraldine Cup winner Anne Franco and Auckland Cup winner Burlington Bertie - a family Roger Price has always had plenty of faith in.
Meanwhile the stable is about to get busy with Chicago Blues due back at the races on Friday while Queenalena and Falcon's Avenue are down to start at the workouts on Saturday.
Macca Mecca (Monday 11th January 2010)
It’s Southland biggest horse breeding operation and for owners Brent and Sheree McIntryre it’s all new territory.
The McIntrye's took over what was Jaccka Lodge in June last year after selling their 400 acre sheep farm and a smaller property at Tussock Creek.
Horses weren't new to the husband and wife team, as harness racing has always been in Brent McIntyre's blood. He can remember his grandfather's involvement and his father Graeme was also a trainer in his own right.
He started to dabble in the game at an early age between farming, shearing and working at the freezing works and soon had his first racehorse.
Silver Blue was purchased off Grant Shirley in 1987. The Sonny Silver – Blue Chance gelding was good enough to qualify but a fourth was his only stake bearing placing in fourteen starts over three seasons of racing.
However it wasn't long before the McIntyres tasted success. It came in March 1992 when Just Jazzan won at her first start at Gore and it was a real family affair. The ownership was shared with Brent's sister Jan and brother in law Wally Nelson of Lochiel and the Knowing Bret mare was trained by McIntrye’s father Graeme.
Brent soon gained his training licence and took over the training of the filly soon after and Just Jazzan won again at Invercargill. Ultimately she won six races.
As a broodmare Just Jazzan’s first foal was Bonnie Lass which went on to win ten races. Unfortunately Just Jazzan died in 2000 after leaving only two foals.
The magnificent 600 acre farm that is now Macca Lodge is located in Northern Southland and is split into two blocks of 300 acres on either side of the Wendonside road.
"The Prince" - Badlands Jewel half brother by Red River Hanover in the middle with a thoroughbred on the left and a Bettor's Delight - Kirbirnie colt on the right
The stud was the brainchild of Charlie and Ailsa Smaill who developed the raw land into Southland’s biggest breeding operation Jaccka Lodge about six years ago.
Part of the cornerstone of the operation is Owen and Anne Crooks who have been in the stud business for 40 years.
Crooks is the studmaster while Anne is an intergral part of the operation keeping records and dealing with the day to day issues on the farm.
"I was pretty cold on this stuff. I've learnt everything off them - how to run the place," said McIntrye.
Brent McIntyre and a group of two year olds.
Owning a stud it seems is also a licence to expand your broodmare band and the McIntryes are now breeding from eight mares either in partnership or as outright owners.
Mares include; Jamie (Albert Albert – Tuapeka Tango), Mach N Elle (Mach Three – Elleuro), Bonnie Lass (Camtastic – Just Jazzan), Minnie The Moocher (Astreos – Bonnie Lass).
Jamie was purchased as a three year old from Tuapeka Lodge with the idea of buying into one of the best blacktype families in the country.
The Albert Albert mare had qualified and raced under trainer Father Dan Cummings. McIntrye became aware of the filly being on the market through his father who had worked his horses with Jamie and a deal was struck.
She went on to win seven races and record a 1-56.3 mile place time. She still holds a New Zealand mares record for 2400 metres stand of 2-57.2 which she recorded in 2006 at the Wairio meeting.
Close to Ma - Jamie and her Falcon Seelster foal.
Macca Lodge operates an open door policy for stallions with semen from a wide range of established and freshman Entires including top shelfers Rocknroll Hanover, Somebeachsomewhere, Mach Three and Art Major.
New to the operation is former grand circuit stallion Tribute. He is the first resident stallion since the McIntyres took over the stud.
By In The Pocket out of Going Royce, Tribute won sixteen races over seven seasons of racing and was a genuine Grand Circuit horse.
He proved to be very versatile, winning the Kindergarten Stakes as a two year old in a New Zealand record of 1-54.9 in just his second start. His biggest stakes win was in the 2004 NRM Sires Stakes Final when he beat Marika and Revagain. He also won the 3200 metre Franklin Cup, Kaikoura Cup, New Brighton Cup and Ashburton Flying Mile.
“He’s really laid back and doesn’t know he’s a stallion so there’s a bit of work to be done there,” said McIntrye.
Lots of quality mares reside at Macca Lodge including Dreamy Atom, her daughter Western Dream, Achieve A Dream, Winter Rose (the mother of Bettor's Strike), On The Double, OK Medley, Make Em Count and many of the Tuapeka Lodge mares.
It's head down for Western Dream in aid of her Christian Cullen filly
Dreamy Atom particularly, has been one mare the stud has found hard to get in foal. She has only left seven foals since retiring from racing in 1997 and recently it was decided to put her back into work to help her conceive.
It worked and she is now safely in foal to McArdle.
Macca Lodge is not just a breeding and agistment operation. The Stud also breaks horses in and pre-trains with an all weather track on the property.
The place has a nice relaxed feel about it and the horses undoubtably do well here. McIntyre describes the land as "light country" and as a sheep farmer has noticed how well the early lambs do.
The fully irrigated property draws its water for the Garvey Mountain Range stream. The irrigators generally operate for ten weeks from Christmas until the end of February.
The flatter top side of the property is reserved for the operational side of the business with barns, sheds and twenty foaling paddocks as well as large well hedged grazing paddocks. The bottom side of the farm is gentle rolling land well suited to agistment of racehorses and the development of young horses.
Turbine is currently spelling on the property recovering from a blood disorder while McIntrye's own horse David Fagan is also taking a short break on farm.
The agistment farm also has thoroughbred clients including Ben and Sally Gordon.
Lining the agistment fence line at Macca Lodge
At the peak of the breeding season Macca Lodge is the home of up to 300 mares with 100 based on the property full time.
This year the McIntrye’s are venturing into new territory when their yearling colt by McArdle out of Jamie enters the Christchurch sales ring next month.
Its the mare's first foal and Macardo is being prepared for the sale by John Stiven.
Mates at Macca - Shiro (Live or Die-Peony Gold), Notabadexcuse (Live Or Die-Special Excuse) and Black Redemption (Washington VC -Highview Dream)
Not At His Best But Good Enough (Saturday 16th January 2010)
Best Chance was assessed by trainer Mark Jones as only eighty five percent right but he still proved good enough to win heat one of the Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes at Ascot Park on Thursday.
"He was the class horse of the field and it was where I wanted him for this preparation. He's still on the way up. We still have a long season ahead so hopefully we'll be back for the final," said Jones.
This was the three year olds fourth win from just eight starts but the formline could have even been better. After easily winning his previous start at Forbury he was disqualified after running off and disrupting most of the field with a lap to run.
Best Chance certainly made up for that mistake as he received double the stake money for Thursday's win under the Harness Plus scheme.
Jones took the three year old straight to the lead and he was allowed some soft sectionals before running his last 800 metres in 57 seconds and blazing his final 400 metres in 26.8.
"When you've got a class horse you put them in front and see if the others are good enough to beat him."
Flying Diamonds was a length and a half away in second with Elmer Fudd a further length and a quarter back in third place.
Despite the win Best Chance is still assessed as a maiden and Jones is likely to start him at Oamaru at the end of the month. It is also a Harness Plus race.
"I think we'll take our time with him. I'd expect him to compete in the Derby but he's not up with the top ones. But he's probably in the second tier. He's the best three year old I've got in the stable so we'll see how we go."
Best Chance is owned by Greg Brodie who also owned and raced his sire the champion Courage Under Fire. Courage Under Fire is proving to be real value at stud leaving quality horses on both sides of the Tasman. Jones, who trains more of his stock than most, says trainers need to wait on most of high progeny to mature.
"They didn't do too much early on. Everyone tried to make two year olds out of them. If you give them a bit of time they reward you. He (Best Chance) has got the turn of zip that a lot of Courage's have got."
Easily For Limited Edition (Saturday 16th January 2010)
He dealt to a handy field of one win horses like a super hot favourite. But despite winning his previous start at Addington, Limited Edition wasn't liked by most punters at Ascot Park on Thursday.
The In The Pocket three year old was allowed to start seventh favourite and his winning dividend was $20.70.
Trainer/Driver Nigel McGrath took Limited Edition back early from a second line draw. There was stacks of speed up front with Quattro Del and Exposed having an early battle for the front before Shelbyville took over. Limited Edition improved with a 1000 metres to run on the back of Sly Golfer.
At the finish Limited Edition was five lengths in front of favourite Quattro Del with a further half a length back to Sly Golfer.
"He's had a few problem with tying up but he trialed well before he came down here and he felt really good today. Once he got into line (home straight) he did it really nicely," said McGrath.
The 2200 metres was run in a smart 2-41.7 just outside Oscar Wild's freakish 2003 track and Southland record of 2-41.6.
The race on Thursday was the three year old's twelveth start and his fifth as a three year old.
"I raced him as a two year old. Maybe he wasn't really a natural two year old - he just battled really. But he's a bit stronger now and hopefully he'll go on from here."
Limited Edition was bought at the 2008 National Yearling Sales in Christchurch by McGrath for $41,000 and is closely related to Adios Dream and Courage Under Fire. His full brother Some Courage won two of his first three starts in New Zealand before being exported to Australia. He has won eleven races there and recorded a 1-56.9 mile time.
Briefs (Sunday 17th January 2010)
Thomas Pyke will do his future racing in Perth. Agent Geoff Gibson-Smith purchased the quality four year old. He had won three races from only six lifetime starts for Invercargill trainer Ray Faithful.
Tact Lizzie was also among the track record breakers at Ascot Park on Thursday. In a stunning return to form the Christian Cullen mare smoked over the 2700 metres in 3-20.6 which erased the old record of 3-24.2 held by Chrissys Choice. The open track record of 3-19.1 is held by Highview Tommy. The time is also a new New Zealand record for mares.
Quality Mach Three mare Supreme Belle has broken down again and has been retired from racing. Trained by Earl Swain she won three races from 38 starts and holds a Wyndham track record for four year old and older mares of 1-55.7 for the mile. Swain is talking about sending her to Rocknroll Hanover.
It's all about timing and Highview Chartom's win at Marlborough is a timely boost for Riverton breeder Allan Clark. Clark bred the Elsu filly and sold her to his father Dave of Highview Stud and Hazel van Opzeeland at the 2008 Yearling Sales in Christchurch. The filly's half brother, Highview Tommy is doing a massive job pushing the pedigree and Highview Chartoms win also helps because Clark is offering a full brother to Highview Tommy named Highview Teejay at next months sale.
Raymauwarrhen Sun fact file:
Some facts about evergreen trotter Raymauwarrhen Sun which broke a Southland record for 3200 metres at Ascot Park on Thursday.
* Qualified by 30 lengths at Mount Harding race course as a three year old for trainer Patrick O'Reilly in February 2000.
* Won his first start at Oamaru in February 2000.
* O'Reilly trained him for 22 starts for seven wins.
* Jeremy Douglas took over the training in May 2004.
* He started 20 times for Douglas and won four.
* Part owner Warren Bartlett started training him in August 2005 and Raymauwarrhen Sun was his first winner.
* He has started 58 times for Bartlett recording 10 wins.
* From 100 starts he has won 21 times and earned his connections $136,407 that $1,364 per start.
* Patrick O'Reilly and Ricky May have each won 7 races on the gelding with Phil Williamson winning 5 and Nathan Williamson 2.
* For the breeding buffs. Raymauwarrehen Sun is a half brother to Frances Jay Bee which won six races. As a broodmare Frances Jay
Bee is the dam of One Kenny (19 wins), One Under Kenny (11 wins) and One Over Kenny (31 wins).
Hard Not To Miss Elsie (Thursday 14th January 2010)
Miss Elsie had obviously been spotted by many good judges prior to her decisive win in the Gore New World Young Guns Series at Ascot Park. Despite having her first raceday start and racing against the colts and geldings the Elsu filly was the favourite and left no doubt about her potential.
She showed plenty of gate speed to draw out early from the Ken Barron driven Eliminator which took the lead after 100 metres at which point Miss Elsie's driver Colin De Filippi was happy to trail.
There were some worrying moments for De Filippi when Eliminator began to give ground at the 600 metres, but typical of the CJ De Filippi style, Miss Elsie was taken off the pegs. She challenged at the top of the straight before unleashing a powerful finish down the outside.
Her winning margin was three quarters of a length over Ransom Olds and State of Affairs.
Miss Elsie's time of 2-06.4 was only .2 of a second outside Galleon's Cheer 2003 track and Southland record of 2-06.2.
"I haven't had too many two year old fillies. She's by far the best I've had. I probably wouldn't have come south if it wasn't preferencial draw or she was paid up for the Sires Stakes or Sales Series. This is one of her few chances of having a go at the big money," De Filippi said.
Julie and Colin De Filippi have had plenty of success with this family with half brother B Grudge winning ten races including the 2008 Invercargill Cup and Rural Jack (by Falcon Seelster) winning recently at Rangiora. Rural Jack and Miss Elsie actually qualified on the same day at Motukarara on 16th December.
According to De Filippi there hasn't been too much forward planning done for Miss Elsie.
"We haven't looked past today. I just hope I wasn't kidding myself that she was as good as I thought.We'll have to look at the fillies final in Auckland now."
The style of Miss Elsie before her win - James Jubb
