From Greg Hickman
Horse: Private Legacy
Message: (Saturday, Brisbane Race 8, The Roses) While she has a tough draw in barrier 16 on Saturday, expects the Australasian Oaks runner-up to acquit herself well. She can win from there, she gets back anyway. She was very good in Adelaide and surprisingly enough, she has gone from Sydney to Adelaide and now Brisbane and just kept on improving. I’m really happy with her.
From Matthew Smith
Horse: French Endeavour
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 5, St George Leagues Club Hcp) Since kicking off her campaign in February, French Endeavour has managed a top-five finish in four Group races, highlighted by placings in The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington and P J Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick three starts ago. She is a bloody nice filly. She has been consistent in Group races finishing just behind them and there is probably more to come when she comes back as a mare, she will come back a bit bigger and stronger. She has drawn a bit ordinary (gate 14), and she has got a bit of weight (59kg) in that race, but she is going well.
Horse: Miracle Spin
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Fujitsu Airstage Hcp) He is proven over the course and distance and I am anticipating a competitive performance. We had him in the Scone Cup and missed a run so he is in this weekend and the mile at Randwick should suit him. He looks good and his work has been good.
From Joseph Pride
Horse: Heaven Bound
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Wilson Asset Management Hcp) Improving filly Heaven Bound is vying for a trip to Brisbane. She will be looking to make it a hat-trick of wins after back-to-back victories over similar journeys at Newcastle and Hawkesbury. It has taken a while, she has been a real work in progress, but she is putting it together now. She is a big, tough thing and Saturday is a good test for her. She will roll forward from a wide barrier (gate 15) and we’ll see if we can make it a bit of a staying contest.
Horse: The Black Cloud
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Taylor Construction Hcp) The winner of her first two starts, The Black Cloud split Wallenda and subsequent Group 1 placegetter Stefi Magnetica when runner-up at her only other appearance in February. She has come back a lot more relaxed this time around. She didn’t trial as I thought she would have, she didn’t trial as a real fast sprinter, so I’ve put her in over 1000 (metres) and she will probably be ridden just off the speed.
From Annabel Neasham
Horse: Numerian
Message: (Saturday, Brisbane Race 9, Doomben Cup) Numerian’s win in the Hollindale Stakes was his first start since finishing a close 4th in the Perth Cup over 2400 metres at Ascot on January 1. It was a great win first-up from Numerian in the Hollindale and he’s come on very well since. He loves this track and we always thought he’d take more improvement out of his last run and he looks to have done so. The forecast for the rest of the week looks pretty good but it won’t matter as he’s versatile. He’s definitely our number one seed but Fawkner Park is also a good chance.
Horse: Bois D’Argent
Message: (Saturday, Brisbane Race 9, Doomben Cup) Bois D’Argent is coming off a last start 3rd to the Chris Waller-trained Bonny Ezra in the Gold Coast Cup over 2400 metres on May 11. He’s coming back to 2000 metres, which is more his go, and he had to carry a lot of weight (61kg) that day and is a good honest galloper,
Horse: Fawkner Park
Message: (Saturday, Brisbane Race 9, Doomben Cup) Fawkner Park won the Listed Albury Cup over 2000 metres in March and was then freshened to claim the Listed Wagga Cup over the same trip on May 3. He was very impressive coming from last to win the Wagga Cup. He’s another European import who we brought over and has a fair bit of class and has gone through the grades nicely. He was favourite for the (Group 1) Metropolitan at one stage last year but his form tailed off after he won his first four runs for us.
From Matthew Dunn
Horse: Oceans Of Energy
Message: (Saturday, Brisbane Race 8, The Roses) In what will be her fifth run this campaign in the Group 2 The Roses, Oceans Of Energy will be looking to bounce back after two unplaced results in black-type company at her most recent outings. When I pushed the button the other day, she just went. She’ll improve a bit and the run last time was good in the conditions (heavy track at Sunshine Coast on May 11). She can really come on this week, and I’d say she’ll progress to the (Queensland) Oaks. Michael (Rodd) rode her really well last time and he’ll stay on her.
From Chris Waller
Horse: Kovalica
Message: (Saturday, Brisbane Race 9, Doomben Cup) The anniversary of Kovalica’s biggest success comes up in the next week and he will chase his first win since last year’s Queensland Derby when he steps out in this Saturday’s Doomben Cup. He finished 9th in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile early last month before getting out to 2000m in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, in which he finished 5th. After the Derby last year, we decided to go the shorter route and he just missed in an Epsom (Handicap) – he was nosed out and run 2nd – then went to the Golden Eagle and things didn’t work out. So, he’s now back into the swing of things over 2000 metres and hopefully it’s onto The Q22 after that (Doomben Cup). He’s never had an issue, he’s got no soreness, he’s got no major problems, he just needs a bit of distance.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 1 – Pisces
Sydney Race 3 – Orient’s Secret
Sydney Race 6 – Piggyback
