The younger member of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr training partnership is expecting a better performance from Tavisan (NZ) (Tavistock) with his return to his home track at Caulfield. Tavisan is on the quick back-up from running in the All Victorian Sprint Final at Flemington last Saturday in which the sprinter finished last behind Lord Von Costa. Also engaged in the Sir John Monash Stakes after unplaced efforts at Flemington are I Am Someone (fifth) and Snitzkraft (ninth). Kent Jr said the 1200m race did not work out for the enigmatic Tavisan…
Month: July 2020
Hello Youmzain aims for third Group One
Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay will be glued to their television screen when Hello Youmzain contests the Gr.1 July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket this weekend. The couple own the entire in partnership with Haras d’Etreham. The Kevin Ryan-trained four-year-old gave them one of their biggest moments in racing when he won the Gr.1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot last month. It was his second victory at elite-level after previously winning the Gr.1 Haydock Sprint Cup (1200m). The Lindsays are hoping he can add a third Group…
Mick Preston was once the stallion handler of Hyperion for Lord Derby in Newmarket
by Brian de LorePublished 10th July 2020 True Enough’s 87-year-old owner-breeder Mick Preston is the only man remaining on the planet today who can claim he was once the ‘handler’ for the great English Derby-winning sire and worldwide thoroughbred influence in Hyperion. Greatness in the thoroughbred world is often contentiously debated, but on the score of sheer racecourse talent coupled with success in the breeding barn, Hyperion easily ranks in the top dozen horses ever foaled, if not the top six. The year 1933 was pivotal in this story. Brendan…
Red letter day for boutique stable
Rangiora trainer Paul Harris spent a sleepless night on Friday as he counted down the hours to the commencement of racing on Saturday. Harris took six runners to the Riccarton meeting including a two-year-old filly he believes could be the best horse he has ever trained. A bundle of nerves before the start of the second race on the card, Harris sported a smile a mile wide after the event as Sweynesse youngster Walkthisswey (NZ) lived up to his expectations with a gritty victory to kick her fledgling career off…
Tavidance stepping through grades
Four-year-old gelding Tavidance (NZ) (Tavistock) was a comfortable winner at Caulfield on Saturday when landing the Neds Bet Back Handicap (1400m) for trainers Mick Price and Michael Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. The Caulfield trainers have enjoyed good success with the progeny of the late Cambridge Stud sire Tavistock, most notably with multiple Group One winner Tarzino, and progressive galloper Tavidance looks to be another that can string multiple wins together for the stable. Perfectly ridden by Jamie Kah, Tavidance always looked a likely winner and drew away late…
Birthday bonus for promising apprentice
Promising young rider Callum Jones is making every post a winner in the early stages of his career, adding a winning treble to his record after bagging a double on his home track last month. Jones, who is apprenticed to Nigel Tiley at Pukekohe, scored aboard Diogenes and Double Happy on his first official day of race riding on June 20. The combination was to the fore again at Ellerslie on Saturday where Jones guided Macushla and Gorgeous Geisha to victory in consecutive races for his boss before adding a…
Redcayenne upsets at Ellerslie
Rugged stayer Redcayenne sprang an upset at Ellerslie on Saturday when he scored first up over 1400m for new trainer Alan Morley. The Bullbars six-year-old had done all his previous racing from Tony Pike’s Cambridge stable but made his way to Morley’s Byerley Park-based operation during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown following some changes to his ownership group. Having his first start since finishing third in the Bay Of Plenty Cup (2100m) back in March, Redcayenne made light of his 60.5kg impost as he stormed home under the urgings of in-form…
Mystery Shot continues on winning streak
Jockey Michael Rodd and trainer Lindsey Smith are becoming a lethal combination after teaming for another success at Caulfield. Since his return in May following a five-year stint in Singapore, Rodd has combined with Smith on 16 occasions, registering seven wins. Three of those victories have been aboard Kiwi import Mystery Shot (Shooting To Win) who Rodd guided to success in Saturday’s Neds Price Boost Handicap. The win was the easiest of the jockey’s three rides on the gelding as Mystery Shot idled home in the final 50m to score…
Bedford completes Caulfield treble for sire
The win of the Anthony Freedman-trained Bedford (NZ) (Tavistock) in the final race at Caulfield on Saturday capped a stellar day for his late sire. The ill-fated Cambridge Stud stallion had earlier been represented by winners Tavidance and Travimyfriend before the fittingly named Bedford sailed down the outside to score in the Neds Toolbox Handicap (1700m). It was the seventh win from 26 starts for Bedford, named after the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, previously the Marchioness of Tavistock and the breeder of the late Montjeu sire Tavistock. “He was probably…
Groundhog day for Travimyfriend
12 months ago Travimyfriend (NZ) (Tavistock) broke through for his first Australian win and the seven-year-old gelding repeated the dose in the equivalent race this year when taking out the Neds Same Race Multi Handicap (1400m). Prepared by Rachael Frost, who these days is based at Mornington, Travimyfriend was Group One placed in his homeland before crossing the Tasman and has added in excess of A$200,000 to his bank balance despite only finding the winners’ circle on two occasions since making the move. Frost was pleased to see her charge…