Messara Has His Eyes On Randwick
Scone trainer Paul Messara has his eyes set firmly on the Group I Randwick Guineas (1600m) for classy three-year-old Rekindled Alliance. Rekindled Alliance burst onto the scene displaying a devastating turn of foot when successful at Canterbury on debut. "I haven’t had one accelerate like that for a long time,” winning ride Corey Brown said. The son of Redoute’s Choice finished second in the Group II Spring Stakes (1600m) before nothing went right when finishing sixth in the Group I Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October1. "It was one run too many for him,” Messara said. "He had the blinkers on for the first time and he should have been a lot closer in the run.” Messara said the brother to Cox Plate placegetter Rekindled Interest had returned to his stables in "super” condition. "He is just super. He’s matured nicely and I think we’ll see a very good horse this time in,” he said. "He’ll kick off in the (Group II) Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on February 18. "From there he’ll go to the (Group II) Hobartville Stakes (1400m) on March 3 and then straight into the (Group I) Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 17.” The trainer said he would contemplate a start in the $2million Group I Dooncaster Mile (1600m) with Rekindled Alliance. "I’ve nominated him for it,” Messara added. "He can run a strong mile and has a good turn of foot.” Hotel Grand won the inaugural running of the Randwick Guineas in 2006. No horse is yet to complete the Randwick Guineas – Doncaster Mile double. The recently retired Mentality came closest when winning the three-year-old feature before finishing second to another three-year-old Haradasun in the 2007 Doncaster Mile. Rekindled Alliance will trial at Kensington on Friday.

Waller Holds The Key
TAB Sportsbet believe Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller holds the key to Thursday’s Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm. Waller saddles up Permit and Wazn in the $100,000 feature. Both gallopers share favouritism at $4.80. Permit has won his last two starts over 2200 metres and 2400 metres for the Rosehill horseman albeit in easier company than Thursday’s assignment. Wazn finished second behind Straight Albert in the Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) on January 12. Third in that race was the John O’Shea-trained Legsman. The son of Pins was forced to work hard early before sticking on gamely. Legsman is at $5.50 for the Australia Day Cup. Then it’s out to the Gai Waterhouse-trained King Lionheart, who finished fourth in the Gosford Gold Cup, at $6.50 while his stablemate Kontiki Park is quoted at $8.50. Splitting the Waterhouse pair is the Peter Snowden-trained Yulalona at $7.50 while Winning Glory from the David Payne stable is the only other runner under double figures odds at $8.50. The Warwick Farm is currently rated a good (3) and the rail on Saturday will be in the true position. The Australia Day Cup is scheduled to be run at 3.40pm.

Chasm Well Backed
It took just one run in the care of local trainer Brendan McCarthy for Chasm to snap a 22-start losing streak in Saturday's Listed Doveton Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. Chasm enjoyed little luck during his career with Heath Conners, who took the son of Umatilla to Geelong with him when he left Aquanita Racing's Caulfield base in 2010. The gelding's owner Neil Wilson said Chasm made it clear he enjoyed the city surroundings at Caulfield, which prompted him to shift the seven-year-old to McCarthy's stable. "He just wanted to stay at Caulfield. He got a little bit homesick,” Wilson said. "The girl that looks after him said the day he got back, he was squealing so happy days.” Chasm raced off the pace in his first run since early November before his rider Chris Symons began looking for a gap between the tiring leaders Second Effort and First Command at the 200 metres. Chasm burst through a narrow opening to claim First Command before just holding off the closing Stirling Grove to post his first success since April 2009. "Luckily, Heath looked after him all the way through and we got him at the right time,” McCarthy said. "He ran a terrific race today. "He looked like getting baulked a number of times there and didn't look like getting through but he really finished it off well. "He got the luck today and he really finished the race off well and it worked out beautifully.” The Doveton Stakes success was Chasm's ninth win from 40 starts. The $60,000 winner's cheque took his prizemoney to more than $760,000. Chasm provided Symons with his second winner at Caulfield after the rider piloted Sweet Little Lies to victory in the Thomas North Plate (1100m). The market: Chasm had plenty of support on track, firming from $12 into $8.50 after opening at $11. Stirling Grove eased from $3.20 to $3.90 before tightening back into $3.70. Cascabel shortened from $7 into $6.50 while Cat's Pyjamas drifted from $5.50 to $7. The on-course market closed at 110 percent.

What A Fortune
The Sandra O’Sullivan-trained Carry To Fortune has scorched around the Gold Coast track to win Saturday’s Bat Out Of Hell Handicap (900m). Carry To Fortune exploded out of the barriers and shared the early lead with the well fancied Trusted Partner. The son of speed sire Untouchable dropped Trusted Partner soon after straightening and from there never looked in doubt. Carry To Fortune careered away to defeat the unlucky and fast finishing Seek And Find with Reilly Blue getting home for third. O’Sullivan, a former trackwork rider, said the win was the pinnacle of her training career. "That’s the best race I’ve won,” O’Sullivan said. "She never shirks her task.” Carry To Fortune’s rivals never had a chance. The mare, ridden by top jockey Glen Colless ran her last 600 metres in 32.45.

Go Hugh
Hugh Bowman took his recent Warwick Farm record to nine wins from 17 starts when the hoop again stole the riding honours at the western Sydney track on Saturday. Bowman has taken a huge liking to Warwick Farm in recent times. Saturday’s treble follows on from a double at Monday’s Carrington Stakes meeting and a quartet on Villiers Stakes day, which included the feature race double. Bowman opened his account aboard exciting the two-year-old Raceway in the Warwick Farm 100 Club Plate (1000m). He described the son of More Than Ready as "the best I’ve sat on for a while”. The jockey then cleverly steered the Chris Waller-trained Dystopia to upset the highly touted Tiger Tees in Schweppes Handicap (1300m). Rounding out Bowman’s treble was Rolling Pin from the Gwenda Markwell stable. The gelding continued his recent good form with a tough on-pace victory in the James Boag Handicap (1600m). Bowman said he has two reasons to celebrate tonight. "The wife turns 30 today so I’ll have a couple of beers with her tonight,” Bowman said. Meanwhile, Chris Waller took out the training honours. Dystopia’s win made it a race-to race double for the premier trainer after Republic Lad won the Australian T.C Handicap (2200m). Waller then made it a treble when Thumbtacks took out the TAB Number One Club Handicap (1400m). Jockey Josh Adams had to have his engagements filled after the hoop was involved in a car accident following trackwork on Saturday morning.

Cop A Eye Full
Under The Eiffel will carry a set of colours that have earned more than their share of success when the gelding steps out at Saturday's Betfair Park – Sandown Lakeside meeting. Under The Eiffel is the pre-post favourite to win the Group III Alannah & Madeline Foundation Stakes (1500m). TAB Sportsbet punters have backed the son of Mossman from $3.20 to $2.30 to remain unbeaten in his spring campaign. The four-year-old's jockey Craig Williams will wear the horse's usual colours of red and yellow stripes with navy blue sleeves, the same colours as another Tony Vasil-trained favourite Lucky Secret. Lucky Secret retired earlier this year after winning 14 of his 25 starts, a career that included a win in the Listed Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m), which is also run on the Sandown Guineas program. Vasil's stable foreman Trent Pennuto said Lucky Secret has moved on to the next stage of his career but remains a valuable part of the Aquanita Racing set-up. "He lives down on the Aquanita spelling farm at Drysdale,” Pennuto said. "He loves it down there and he is so happy and content that we use him as a kind of paddock nanny. "If there is a horse recovering from an injury and needs it quiet, we put it in with Lucky Secret or if there is a young horse that needs calming down, he goes in the paddock with ‘Lucky' and he works wonders with them, just providing a calming influence.” The Melbourne cup placegetter Zazzman also carried the same red, yellow and navy colours. The stayer finished third in the 2003 Sandown Classic before winning the Group III Eclipse Stakes when the race was run a week after the feature Sandown program. Pennuto said Under The Eiffel was progressing beautifully after his outstanding last-start win with 59kg at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day. Pennuto said the four-year-old came of age after trips to Sydney and Brisbane in the autumn and winter. "The trips away did him the world of good,” Pennuto said. "He learned what it was all about to be independent and on his own for periods of time and has come back a much better horse.” Craig Williams will take the mount after the 54kg handicap ruled out Under The Eiffel's regular rider, heavyweight jockey Jamie Mott. Brad Waters

McEvoy sticks with He’s Remarkable
Top jockey Kerrin McEvoy is looking forward to jumping back aboard the Roger James-trained He’s Remarkable in Saturday week’s $1 million Group I Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in Perth. McEvoy got his chance to partner the talented four-year-old at Flemington on Emirates Day when Corey Brown elected to cop a Melbourne Cup day suspension. He’s Remarkable and McEvoy overcame an impeded passage under the steadier of 59kg to score an impressive win in the Visit Victoria Handicap (1600m). "The win had plenty of merit at Flemington,” McEvoy said. "He was held up at the top of the straight but he had the ability to pick himself up with the big weight and he really attacked the line. "Roger says he’s a horse that loves a hard track and he’ll appreciate a genuinely run race so Perth should suit him.” Corporate bookie Luxbet has He’s Remarkable as an $11 chance in the Railway Stakes. McEvoy’s other main Perth engagement is the Peter Snowden-trained Rarefied in the Group I Winterbottom Stakes (1200m). Rarefied finished a narrow second behind Sister Madly in the Group II Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby day and he’s the $5.50 second favourite in the Winterbottom behind top mare Ortensia. Clinton Payne Thursday, 10 November 2011

Bookie to take on Americain
Sportingbet Australia has vowed to take on French galloper Americain in Saturday’s Group II Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown. Americain is currently $1.55 with the betting giant, which is the best price around for the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner in Saturday's race. Americain is coming back in distance after his Melbourne Cup fourth placing and for the first time in his career will be having his third start in as many weeks. ”He’s a risk and at that price we will keep laying him,” Bill Richmond from Sportingbet Australia said. ”At the weights he should win but it’s his and his jockey’s first go at Sandown.” ”Mourayan finished second in a Group One weight-for-age race last start over 2000m, it looks a better preparation for a race like this.” Richmond said the race was far from a two-horse competition, hinting Sydney visitor Lamasery could bring something to the table. ”Lamasery is the dark horse. He comes to this with different formlines but is a horse on the up and has a good turn of foot,” he said. Lamasery is currently quoted at $9 for the Zipping Classic while Mourayan, who will give owner Lloyd Williams his fifth straight win in the race, is a $4.20 chance. Nic Ashman Thursday, 10 November

Whats Going On
One of Australia’s feature three-year-old Group Is, the Randwick Guineas, is leaving Randwick next year due to a music event that has to coincide with Victoria’s Moomba Festival and the Melbourne Labour day weekend. The Australian Jockey Club has leased out Randwick to host the annual Future Music Festival on March 12 when it was scheduled to run Randwick Guineas day - a meeting that consists of a Group I, three Group IIIs and three Listed races. Racing NSW agreed to the AJC’s request to move the meeting to Warwick Farm, seven days after Chipping Norton Stakes day at the Western Sydney venue. “It is extraordinary,” leading Randwick trainer Anthony Cummings said. “This is not just a normal Saturday meeting they are playing around with – it’s an absurdity. “It’s very annoying when things away from racing impact on a horse’s preparation at such a vital time. “It’s supposed to be a racetrack, isn’t it?” The move to Warwick Farm will see the maximum field for the Randwick Guineas reduced from a possible 20 to 16, and the dynamics of the 1600 metre circuit also risks headline horses being lost from the Sydney autumn carnival with the Australian Guineas (1600m) run at Flemington on March 5. “These meetings are an integral part of a horse’s preparation going forward and for some it’s their grand final,” Randwick conditioner Grahame Begg said. “That’s a stallion-making race. “They keep telling us they want to compete with Victoria – well, they are certainly going about it the wrong way. “From my prospective, the Australian Guineas is maybe a more viable option for a horse like Ilovethiscity. “Ideally, I’d love to keep him in Sydney during the autumn, but with his racing pattern he’s not going to be as well suited at Warwick Farm as he would have been at Randwick, so I certainly have to consider other options as he would appreciate Flemington.” It’s believed the Future Music Festival at Randwick will bankroll the AJC by more than $600,000, but Cummings said the recent influx of funds into the industry should have guaranteed the meeting’s identity wasn’t further tarnished after they cut the race’s prizemoney from $500,000 to $350,000 in 2010. In 2011, the Randwick Guineas returns to a $500,000 race. “Do we need to be dealing with these sorts of issues to make an earn given the results of the last couple of months and by that I mean the grant that comes with the merger and then the Racefields legislation result in the Federal Court,” Cummings said. “It might be a one-off but if you’re trying to build a race, build momentum, it’s too important a race to be playing around with.” The AJC told trainers in a weekly newsletter they see the decision as an opportunity to “enhance the gains made in promoting racing at Warwick Farm and intend to team with Liverpool City Council and local businesses to promote a weeklong Festival of Racing at Warwick Farm”. “No consultation with anyone, they just went ahead and did it,” Begg said. “They are treating the owners and trainers with contempt. “Apparently we are an entertainment venue that holds a race meeting when there’s nothing else on. “Why couldn’t they have run the Chipping Norton Stakes day at Randwick and had the Randwick Guineas meeting at Warwick Farm. “At least that way you give yourself a better chance of having a decent surface on both days. “It’s not ideal but surely it’s a better solution that running two weeks in a row at Warwick Farm.” The move not only has the potential to affect the field size of the Randwick Guineas. It will also force a distance change of the Group III Randwick City Stakes from 2000m to 2100m and reduce the field size from 16 to 12 which would be further reduced to 10 if the rail is moved out from the true position following Chipping Norton Stakes day, a week prior. The Listed Aspiration Quality (1600m) could see the field reduced from 20 to 16.

Schofield To Ride Queenslander
Top jockey Glyn Schofield made a hit and run mission to Queensland on Tuesday morning to partner a top-line prospect in a Doomben barrier trial ahead of a crack at the Magic Millions Trophy on the Gold Coast in January. Schofield answered the call of Gold Coast trainer Trevor Bailey to ride the unbeaten three-year-old Flying Minstrel in a 1060 metre trial and the internationally successful rider was satisfied with what he felt. “He jumped straight to the lead and basically brained them,” Schofield said. “You don’t need to ask him for much, it’s all there. “He’s a big, strong, professional; a very smart horse and has got plenty of gears.” Flying Minstrel won his only two starts at the Sunshine Coast and Doomben by a combined margin of 8-1/4 lengths back in July and will venture to NSW to make his racetrack return. The son of Jet Spur will resume from a spell in the $100,000 Magic Millions 3YO Stakes (1200m) at Wyong on December 5, en route to the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 15. Schofield has been engaged to partner Flying Minstrel in both races.

The Next Young Gun
A young apprentice that expert punter Glenn Pollett regards as a “potential gun” and the “most improving rider in NSW” takes a big step in his career at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Jason Collins, 17, has been taking all before him in the Southern part of the state, and Pollett, who arguably travels to more meetings than anyone, has been taken by his ability. “I’m really happy to put my money on him, horses travel for him,” Pollett said. It has been in the last six or so months that Collins has made great strides in his career, a point noticed by Pollett. “I’ve been keeping a close eye on him since I gave him a severe bake on The Punters Show after a ride of his on Natural Star earlier in the year,” he said. “Since then, he has really, really improved and could be the next gun apprentice.” Collins is booked for two rides at Warwick Farm; the Matthew Dale trained Murphy’s Prospect in race 4 and General’s Sniper for Tracey Bartley in the final event. “I’ve come to town only once before, but I’ve good chance of riding a winner on Wednesday,” Collins said. “I’ve twice won on Murphy’s Prospect, he’s not a big horse but he has a big heart. “General’s Sniper won and been placed in town. I rode him twelve months ago and he is a pretty good horse. “If I give him every chance, he has the ability to get across the line.” Collins, who has ridden 59 winners so far in his career, is currently on loan to Barbara Joseph at Canberra, with his plans to remain in the country for the moment. “I’d hope to stay with Barb for the next 12 months or so until I’m more experienced and then move into the city,” Collins said. “Whilst I’m based in Canberra I’d like to get more opportunities to ride in town and hopefully that starts with a winner on Wednesday. “I’ve ridden against a lot of the city riders at Goulburn and I’m pretty confident I can measure up.”

Laming Pleaded Guilty
Victorian trainer Richard Laming will know his fate on Thursday after the latest instalment of Australia’s first thoroughbred EPO case. Laming pleaded guilty to an amended set of charges relating to the possession of EPO after Racing Victoria stewards dropped several charges and withdrew charges against Laming’s co-trainer and father Bevan. The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board heard sentencing submissions from Laming’s legal team as well as the RVL stewards before retiring to consider its position. The RAD Board will hand down its decision at 11am on Thursday.

Just Ask Singo
In January 2009 at the Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast, Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith approached John Singleton and asked him for a horse to train – almost two years later they combined for their first winner. “I just asked Singo for a horse to train at the Magic Millions two years ago,” Smith said. “He said something like ‘I’ll get back to you’ and one turned up and I’m very happy to be training for him.” The horse in question is Ready Steady Vetti and having just his second start he proved too strong in the Carramar Handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm. After beginning quickly, Ready Steady Vetti raced up on the speed, outside the leader Observer, before striding to the front in the straight and scoring a strong win. “I think he’s a nice horse in the making,” winning rider Nash Rawiller said. “He could still be a preparation away but he did all the work today and he was able to kick off a nice tempo. “It was a pretty good effort.” Ready Steady Vetti defeated another Warwick Farm-trained galloper Fast Ale with the Grahame Begg-trained Iberian Pleasure charging home from back in the field to finish in third.

Bookmakers Breath Again
On-course bookmakers say Americain has averted a Melbourne Cup betting disaster after his win in Tuesday’s great race. Bookies at Flemington breathed a sigh of relief when the French-trained galloper relegated the well-backed pair So You Think and Malyuckyday to the minor placings in an epic Melbourne Cup. “We avoided a disaster when So You Think got rolled,” Betstar’s Alan Eskander said. “Maluckyday was really well backed but So You Think would have been an absolute blackout. “Americain was backed from $14 into $13 with us, some smart punters got us on him but overall we made a little profit on the Melbourne Cup. It could have been a lot worse.” TAB Sportsbet’s Glenn Munsie said the betting giant’s on-course stand lost on the Melbourne Cup, in a race that reflected the day’s trading for the on-course arm of the business. “The punters have been right on to us all day and the Melbourne Cup was no exception,” Munsie said. “We held plenty on So You Think but the punters beat us with Americain. “We have only won on one race on the day.” Other rails bookies reported good money for Shocking, Monaco Consul and Zipping but all on-course bagmen surveyed said Americain had plenty of support at Flemington before his Melbourne Cup triumph.

Godolphin In Quarantine At Werribee
The internationals assault on the 150th Melbourne Cup was dramatically strengthened on Tuesday when Godolphin’s trio of hopefuls and Profound Beauty arrived in quarantine at Werribee. Profound Beauty is the sole representative of two-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer Dermot Weld while Godolphin are still yet to taste victory in the race that stops the nation. Godolphin’s Holberg and Campanologist, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, were joined on the 28 hour flight from Stanstead in the UK to Melbourne, via Dubai, in a private jet, by a recent addition to the Godolphin team, Eastern Aria, trained by Mark Johnston. Godolphin’s travelling foreman Tommy Strang said the horses appeared to have travelled well, but it would take up to another 48 hours to know what, if any affect, the trip had on the horses. Upon his arrival Strang confirmed Godolphin’s stable jockey Frankie Dettori would be chasing his first win in the Melbourne Cup aboard Holberg with the ride on Campanologist to be offered to Kerrin McEvoy if he can prove his fitness. “I think Campanologist is a better horse, he has more natural ability, but Holberg is the stays really well and Frankie wants to ride him,” Strang said. Craig Williams has been offered the seat aboard Eastern Aria. Meanwhile, Profound Beauty spent 47 hours, door-to-door, on a flight from Ireland with strapper Dave Phillips, who accompanied Weld’s past Melbourne Cup winners, Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002). Profound Beauty will spend three weeks in the Vintage Crop Stables at the Werribee International Horse Centre before she attempts to become Europe’s third Melbourne Cup winner.