GREETINGS FROM DOWN UNDER BY ALICIA CURTIS

Alicia Curtis za BGTURF sa mnogo zanimljivih sadržaja sa južne hemisfere .

BONG BONG PICNIC RACES CUP 2008 - 12.11

It was 6:30am when I boarded a train from my local station to the city, unaware of ther big day ahead. We left the city at 9am with clientele from around Sydney aboard a coach bound for the annual picnic race day meeting at Bong Bong.
The settlement of Bong Bong dates back to 1817 when it became the first village established in the historic Southern Highlands region.
The official site for the village was chosen by Governor Macquarie on a visit to the region in 1820; a police barracks and huts built soon after.
Today Bong Bong exists only as a name on a map (as well as a race track named after it) with a historic sign commemorating the village.
2008 saw the meeting resume after 2 years of being dormant due to the devestating EI crisis that hit NSW and QLD racing in 2007.
As we arrived the day was just spectacularly brilliant, with barely a cloud in the sky.
The meeting was highlighted by the Cup but also supported by 5 other minor races on the card. The track was on fire, and four track records were broken on the day, including in the Cup.
Gangleri, a 5yo gelding by Octagonal out of the Group producing stakes mare, Spring Thaw won the Cup for his trainer Danny Rolfe, who had been waiting for more than 15 years to find the correct horse to take him to the victory in the event.
Overall it was an excellent day, highlighted by the excellent company, good food and good racing.

Heres from sunny Australia!
Alicia

The winning post at the 2008 Bong Bong Picnic Races Cu   Oncourse view at the top of the hill on the infield

Correct weight sign at Bong Bong   The TV crew had a demanding task to do.

On course at Bong Bong.   Me on the rails, book, hat, sunnies and pen all in hand

The track from the infield     The betting ring!

 

SINGAPORE GOLD CUP & JAPAN CUP by Jason

 

2008 Japan Cup Dirt:

JAPAN CUP - KANE HEKILI PRVI DVOSTRUKI POBEDNIK NAJPRESTIŽNIJE INTERNACIONALNE TRKE JAPANA NA PESKU. U IZUZETNO NEIZVESNOJ ZAVRŠNICI CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLION JE USPEO DA ODBIJE NAPAD MEISHO TOKON I PROŠLOGODIŠNJEG POBEDNIKA VERMILLION-A. KANE HEKILI JE PRVI PUT DOBIO JAPAN CUP PRE TRI GODINE.

 

2008 Japan Cup Turf:

Teruya Yoshida (younger brother of Katsumi Yoshida, the owner of Singapore Gold Cup contender: RIBEIRO)
owned SCREEN HERO (JPN), 6yo bay by Grass Wonder (USA) won the 2008 Japan Cup from my idolized
colt DEEP SKY (JPN) and filly VODKA (JPN). Could not have pick the winner SCREEN HERO. Both are owners
of the powerful Shadai Farm and Northern Farm in Hokkaido, Japan

RESULTS

2008 Singapore Gold Cup:

RIBEIRO (AUS), by French Deputy (USA) was in the leading forward position and finished mid-field 8th.
The race was won by EL DORADO (JPN), by Stay Gold (JPN), the gelding that I backed in the Singapore
Derby (ran 2nd to Top Spin) on 13-July-2008 and Raffles Cup (ran 2nd last to Chevron) on 9-Nov-2008

RESULTS :: VIDEO

The race should belong to the Ivan W.Allan owned CHEVRON (IRE), by Medicean (GB) who carried 58 kgs a
nd lost by a whisker.

RIBEIRO (AUS), by French Deputy (USA) was not supposed to race in such a forward position. He should be
handy just like EL DORADO (JPN) What got into Michael John Freedman & Jay Ford's head. RIBEIRO (AUS)
was a spent force at the last 300 meters from the line.

I lost S$ 800-00 for this race and repented why I dumped the gelding that I have been monitoring for the last
10 months. I gathered I am a lousy horseman. Still drunk.

I will back your DUORO VALLEY (AUS), by Encosta De Lago (AUS) in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong
Vase (HK 3yo+ WFA Gr-1) 2400 meters turf, right-handed course at Shatin, Hong Kong on 14-Dec-2008
and please ping me if the DUORO VALLEY (AUS) do goes something amiss as I will be travelling to
Shanghai on 10-Dec-2008

As there was no suitable rider available, the Stewards gave permission for Jockey V Sivan to replace App HS Gill on STEALTH. STEDMAN (Din Azis) was slow to begin. Near the 2000m, WATCH THE CRAB (A Fiezan) steadied when momentarily tightened to the inside of MR LINE (R Fradd), which in turn laid inwards away from TRIGGER EXPRESS (D Beasley). In the early stages, STEDMAN got its head up on a couple of occasions whilst overracing. CHEVRON (J Saimee) was obliged to race wide throughout. WATCH THE CRAB was held up and unable to improve in the early part in the straight.
Approaching the 100m, LIM'S FIGHTER (O Chavez) eased when racing to the inside of TRIGGER EXPRESS.  An Inquiry into this incident will be held at a date to be fixed. Approaching the 50m, STEDMAN was carried outwards by MR LINE.  Shortly after, BIG VALOUR (B Vorster) laid inwards when racing to the inside of RAPHAEL (I Saifudin).  This resulted in STEDMAN having to be eased off the heels of BIG VALOUR.
The Veterinary Surgeon reported that the saddle on RIBEIRO (J Ford) slipped back during the running. The Farrier reported that NEW KUALA DIPANG (HK Lim) returned having cast its near-fore plate. Jockey Beasley, the rider of TRIGGER EXPRESS, reported that his horse was not striding out freely. A subsequent veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormality. TOP SPIN (N Callow) was impounded for routine veterinary and analytical examination.  The Veterinary Surgeon reported no apparent abnormality.

MELBOURNE CUP 04.11

BY JASON

Flemington A$ 5.55 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (AUS 3yo+ Handicap Gr-1) 3200m Left Handed TurF

1. Viewed $41 53 B Shinn Bart Cummings 8 3-20.40 0
2. Bauer(IRE) 0.1 $21 52 C Brown Luca Cumani 11 0
3. C'est La Guerre(NZ) 2.1 $21 54 B Prebble John Sadler 5 0
4. Master O'Reilly(NZ) 2.5 $26 55 V Duric Danny O'Brien 6 0

COMPLETE RESULTS

VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq0JOPOGJ3c

WINNING OWNER / TRAINER MELBOURNE CUP STAT

Bart Cummings's Melbourne Cup Winners

1965: Light Fingers 1966: Galilee 1967: Red Handed 1974: Think Big 1975: Think Big 1977: Gold And Black 1979: Hyperno 1990: Kingston Rule 1991: Let's Elope 1996: Saintly 1999: Rogan Josh 2008: Viewed

Dato Tan Chin Nam's Melbourne Cup Winners

1974: Think Big (NZ), by Sobig (NZ) - co-owned with the late Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.
1975: Think Big (NZ), by Sobig (NZ) - co-owned with the late Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.
1996: Saintly (AUS), by Sky Chase (NZ) - co-owned with Trainer Bart J. Cumming.
2008: Viewed (AUS), by Scenic (IRE) - co-owned with Trainer Bart J. Cumming.

WHAT THE JOCKEYS SAID

Blake Shinn – Viewed – 1st

"He was trained perfectly for the race and that was all important. The straight seemed to last forever.
I thought I had won on the line, but I was not sure and I did not want to go off to early after the line. I looked to the infield and they had the camera on Bauer so I thought I might be wrong.
I was down when I missed the suspension on Northern Meteor (through suspension), but this more than makes up for it."

Corey Brown – Bauer - 2nd

"Shattered. Every chance, I have watched it a few times and there is nothing more I could have done. I reckon his run may have ended just about 25m out, but to his credit, the last two strides he really sort of had a dive at the line, but it was not good enough.
My biggest disappointment no doubt."

Brett Prebble – C'est La Guerre – 3rd

"A super run, very strong. He pulled a bit. We could not get clear, he should have won."

Vlad Duric – Master O'Reilly – 4th

"Got held up, Needed to get free and rolling a bit earlier. Probably would almost have won if I had got the right breaks."

Glen Boss – Profound Beauty – 5th

"She had a perfect run. We tracked the winner, but when I asled her she really felt the ground."

Clare Lindop – Moatize – 6th

"Probably raced a bit too close. At the top of the straight I thoughy he would let down, but he didn't let down as well as I thought he would. But he boxed on to the line."

Damien Oliver – Mad Rush – 7th

"Did not quite stay the trip and came to end of his run near the 200m."

Jeff Lloyd – Nom Du Jeu – 8th

"He over raced but basically needed the rain. He's a bit of a keen horse, but got to the line okay."

Danny Nikolic – Zipping – 9th

"He ran terrific today, but between the 1000m and the 800m I ran into all sorts of trouble behind Gallopin when he dropped back really quickly. I tried to ride for luck and gave him the shortest way home having a query at the two miles (3200m)."

Chris Symons – Newport – 10th

"If he had drawn better he would have been closer. He got home as well as anything else, went terrific."

Michael Rodd – Ice Chariot – 11th

"Went well."

Craig Newitt – Guyno – 12th

"He probably ran up to his best."

Stephen King – Littorio – 13th

"No excuse, the two miles was too fast for him."

Craig Williams – Varevees – 14th

"She just lacked a turn of foot."

Greg Childs – Boundless – 15th

"Had every chance."

Nicholas Hall – Red Lord – 16th

"He will be a better horse next year, but he got the trip okay."

Mark Sweeny – Prize Lady – 17th

"She just did not see it out."

Johnny Murtagh – Septimus – 18th

"He might not be the horse for the race, when they got to the straight he just stopped."

Stephen Baster – Barbaricus – 19th

"Just did not stay on the day."

Wayne Lordan – Alessandro Volta – 20th

"Travelled well but would not let down, maybe the track was too firm, but he is only a three-year-old and I think he will be back."

Colm O'Donoghue – Honolulu – 21st

"The ground was too quick for him."

James Winks – Gallopin – failed to finish

"He could not breath. I had to pull him up.

 

Dobra Yutro Everyone! My name is Alicia, and I am from Sydney, Australia. Firstly I would like to say a big warm G'day from Down Under, and a MAJOR thank you to the BG Turf for providing me this space to provide all the latest news from Racing Down Under.

 

Anyway I am sure most people want to know more about me. I am 25 and come from Sydney, Australia, where I am still situated. I have been associated with the racing industry pretty much since I was born.

 

My grandmother's cousin, Andrew Knox, won the 1940 Melbourne Cup (2 miles/3200 metres) on the 100/1 shot, Old Rowley. To this day, Old Rowley remains the third and last 100/1 back horse to win the Melbourne Cup. Knox was quie a good jockey on his day, and in previous years had ridden the great horse and dual Melbourne Cup winner, Peter Pan.

 

I didn't happen to fall automatically in love with the sport. It would take me 12 years and a charismatic 3yo colt that went by the name of Octagonal, for me to permanently cement my love of the thoroughbred. I remember the day clearly, as if it was yesterday. It was October 1995, and Cox Plate Day. Many critics described it as one of the "greatest fields" ever assembled for this race legendarily known as the southern hemisphere WFA championship of the world. The field included Danewin the 5X Group 1 winner on the berth of becoming a legend, reigning Australian Horse of the Year and 1994 Melbourne Cup winner Jeune, the Caulfield Guineas winner Our Maizcay, multiple Group 1 winners Solvit, Seascay, Stony Bay, Danarani and Star Dancer.
Then there was the powerhouse himself, Mahogany, a former Horse of the Year who would be rated one of the best horses of the 90's.

 

If there was ever a closer finish in racing, then this was it. Both Mahogany and Octagonal went to the line, with the 3yo getting the nose over the elder statesman. Octagonal would eventually go on to win 10 Group 1 races, including the Australian 3yo Triple Crown in Sydney (becoming the first horse in over 20 years, since the legendary Kingston Town to do so). He would retire the Southern Hemisphere's greatest all time stakes earner of the period, and eventually stand at Woodlands Stud and produce a horse better than himself, the world champion miler of 2004, Lonhro.

 

In 1999, at age 16, and with my passion for the sport immense, I started work as a part time strapper (official name in Australia for, a racing room/stablehand) for a small but well established stable based out of Randwick. The stable foreman was none other than TJ Smith's brother, Ernie Smith. There is nothing more inspiring than working for a person who has so much knowledge and wisdom, followed up with passion. The stories were intense and you could just not imagine what it would have been like "back in the day" when "such and such" horse was in work.

 

I no longer do this due to other committments, however am now a member of the Sydney Turf Club (Rosehill and Canterbury Park).

 

It was around this time last year that I found out Serbia actually had a racing and breeding industry. Since then my fascination for the sport in the Balkans region has intensified. I am extremely passionate about the former Yugoslavia (namely Serbia) as an entirety.

 

In general I believe there is still a lot to be learnt from Eastern Europe and its racing and breeding industries. Hungary in particular has proven itself to the world, through the deeds of the undefeated racemare Kinscem. Whats even more exciting is that they have another horse on their hands in the sprint sensation, Overdose, who will run in Germany. It would be my dream to see him race against the likes of Apache Cat and Sacred Kingdom in Hong Kong at Sha Tin later this year. 6f around the bend at racing's toughest arena, a dream I hope to see become a reality.

 

I think lastly I cannot forget the horse that for me remains the main inspiration for this page and Serbian racing as whole, the wonderful Billy Allen. All fans of Serbian racing should be very proud of this horse, who now races in the USA for west coast based Bob Bone. Its an absolutely fascinating story, an average horse from the UK, bred in Ireland, winner of the 2004 Triple Crown for 3yo's in Serbia, sold on to Gary Tanaka, a winner in Sweden on the dirt at Listed level, and now in America aged 7 and a stakes winner on turf at Turf Paradise. It took me weeks to track down his owner, but thanks to a wonderful person and very solid contact, it has been possible to find out about this horse and his progress.

 

So stay posted as I bring more from the land downunder, known as Australia!

picture: Old Rowley silks

 

GALLERY

Me and the great champion Hong Kong sprinter, Silent Witness. This photo was taking at Living Legends in Melbourne. Silent Witness je veliki sprinterski šampion Hong Konga sa 17 uzastopnih pobeda :: Silent Witness on BGTURF   On the track at Moonee Valley on Saturday night of 26th July 2008. This was at around 6pm. You are probably wondering how I managed to get on to one of Australia's premier courses. It comes in handy to know the Racing Manager of the club!	Better Loosen Up and Fields of Omagh (who has his back facing the camera). BLU remains the only horse from Australia to win the Japan Cup. He is now 23 years of age, and going on about 4. Fields of Omagh is now 10, and retired in 2006 after his winning his last start in the WS Cox Plate, Australia's greatest horse race.     At the winning post at Moonee Valley. Its a photo I could not have left with, and one that racing purists in Australia would die to have in their album.	Regal Chamber - was taken in April of 2007 at Lomar Park Stud about 1 hour west of Sydney. My good friend Calindy and I visited the stud to see some of our favourite broodmares, including this mare, Regal Chamber. She was bred in 1994 by Palaranda Bloodstock Co in NSW, and is a daughter of the ill-fated Archregent out of La Maison. She was a Group 2 winner at 2 in one of the lead up races to the second richest race in Australia, the Golden Slipper and was good enough to win over $280,000 in prizemoney before retiring. She is now the dam of Group 1 winner Regal Cheer.	Arena - picture also taken in April od 2007 at Lomar Park Stud of top sire and former outstanding racehorse, Arena. He is a son of Danehill and won the 1995 VRC Derby in one of the hottest contested fields of that race of all time. He is now at stud, and is the sire of Regal Cheer.     The mounting yard at Moonee Valley prior to the race.