From David Payne
Horse: Dream Circle
Message: (Saturday, Sydney Race 8, ACY Securities Hcp) My plan was to just go through the grades. But I’ll talk to the owners and have a think about it if he does win. He’s a horse that is improving and with two runs in he should be cherry ripe now. He is going up in grade but he has a light weight (54kg) and a good barrier (gate 1), a little bit of rain won’t harm him. He can be handy in the run but it doesn’t matter if they go slow or fast for him. He’s a versatile horse and the benefit of a light weight helps.
From Cody Morgan
Horse: Ice In Vancouver
Message: (Saturday, Sydney Race 3, City Tattersall’s Club Hcp) If anything I’m hoping we get the rain and we go down there on a heavy track because I don’t hold any fears at 1000m on a heavy track. Everything he has done at home suggests he will handle it. If he was to fail maybe it’d be the track but I’m going there confident he will handle it. He worked terrific here on Tuesday and I’d be going down hoping he can run top three because I feel that will keep him on the radar for the Kosciuszko. Regardless of what he does, because we haven’t seen him on the heavy, we’ll still be coming home knowing he’s still one of my top seeds for a race (The Kosciuszko) like that.
From John Thompson
Horse: Fituese
Message: (Saturday, Sydney Race 7, Bob Charley AO Stakes) I ran out of time to give her a second trial so she went into it (first-up run in the Ortensia Stakes) off one trial. I did want her ridden a bit quieter, but she just raced a bit fresh three-deep outside the leaders and she just got tired basically. So I didn’t run her again, I trialled her. We rode her a bit quieter and she trialled super. She will be ridden a bit quieter on Saturday and I reckon you’ll see a different horse. She just needs a bit of luck from the draw (gate 8) on Saturday, she is going super.
From Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Horse: Converge
Message: (Saturday, Brisbane Race 7, J.J. Atkins) Converge rocketed into J.J. Atkins favouritism off an unlucky second to Tiger Of Malay in the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm last month. Converge is quite a small horse and he’d be just over 15 hands but he’s got a very big heart. He was a bit unlucky in the Sires when he got further back than we expected and his options were limited. He got caught in an awkward position on the home turn but he did well to make up so much ground. A Tim Clarke mount – has drawn well in barrier five in the 1600-metre feature.
Horse: Volcanic Rock
Message: (Saturday, Brisbane Race 7, J.J. Atkins) Volcanic Rock was a horse on the improve and he would have no problem handling 1600 metres. His win in The Phoenix was a good effort for a horse still improving and it will be interesting to see how he handles the step up in class.
From Theresa Bateup
Horse: Noble Boy
Message: (Saturday, Sydney Race 7, Bob Charley AO Stakes) First race start for his new stable. He’s pleased us all the way through. We’re quite happy with how he’s tracking along. We haven’t had any issues with him all prep. I was happy with his trial and he had a gallop between races here on the 25th of May. He seems to be a happy horse at the moment and enjoying his work. Andrew Adkins came down and trialled him for me and galloped him between races at Kembla, and even he came back and said he feels really good and that he’s nice and bright and wants to be there (at the races). 1100m is probably well short of his best, especially as he’s getting a little bit older. But I’m viewing it as a kicking off point for him and getting back to the races and a fitness run for him, and we’ll get a bit of a guide on where he’s at exactly.
From Donna Scott
Horse: Sharlie
Message: (Saturday, Sydney Race 2, TAB Highway Class 3 Plate) This mare had issues, lost all form, Blaike (McDougall) worked her out, she was tying up badly in races. We changed everything, put her on different feed, gear changes, worked her differently and she just clicked. She surprised us all the way she won (at Wodonga). So we decided to come up for this Highway – any more rain would be a bonus as she loves a wet track and we’ve drawn well (gate 2). Jean Van Overmeire claims 1.5kg off the 57kg for Sharlie. Stronger race obviously in town but just the way she won, and when mares find form, they generally hold it.
From The Editor
Brisbane Race 4 – Knights Order
Brisbane Race 5 – Zaaki
Brisbane Race 8 – Wild Planet
