By Wally O'Hearn, on January 21st, 2018  Stratocaster (Jonathan Riddell) again showing his liking for left-handed tracks when proving too good at Te Rapa today, Jonathan Riddell knew what to expect when he climbed aboard Stratocaster at Te Rapa today and the six-year-old didn’t let him down.
“The first time I rode him he was desperately unlucky. It was his first run back,” said Riddell referring to Stratocaster’s fresh-up seventh at Hastings last November when he was blocked throughout the final stages and went to the winning post untested.
Stratocaster raced keenly when unplaced in his next start then showed a touch of class when scoring decisively at Trentham last month with Darryl Bradley in the saddle before two more unplaced runs with Jake Bayliss aboard.
“He’s a lovely horse and he won well at Trentham,” said Riddell.
Happy to be back on Stratocaster for the second time, Riddell allowed the son of Mastercraftsman time to settle in the initial stages and that was a winning move.
Stratocaster was second-last early then a shade closer at the 800 metres and ranged up at the 300 metres to hit the lead soon after. He then drew clear over the final stages to win by a length and a half from Scrutinize.
“He settled beautifully for Jonathan,” said co-trainer Emma-Lee Browne. “That’s been his biggest problem. When he doesn’t settle things just don’t go right.
“That was beautiful today and he’s back to how he should be.”
Stratocaster’s previous start was in the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham when he finished 11th, almost six lengths from the winner, Wait A Sec.
“We took down to Trentham, but he was too fresh and he fought there so we thought we’d find something to back him up into so there’s just a bit of edge off him and he behaves better. It’s a fine line between too fresh and not fresh enough.”
It certainly worked for Stratocaster today and now Browne and her husband and training partner, David, can look ahead again to more ambitious goals with the handsome grey, whose three-year-old form included a win in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas Prelude and fourths in the Gr.3 James and Annie Sarten Memorial and the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas and a fifth in the Gr.1 Sothys NZ 2000 Guineas.
By Wally O'Hearn, on January 21st, 2018  Speechmaker (Alysha Collett) following up a debut fifth with a sound win at Te Rapa today with Diamondsandbubbles fighting on strongly on the inside to hold third. Local apprentice Brendan Hutton gave a valuable insight into the prospects of Speechmaker at Te Rapa today and listeners should have had a healthy return.
Speechmaker is trained by Hutton’s employer, Shaune Ritchie, and upset the favourites in the Smile Inflatables 1600, the final event today, at odds of 34/1.
“Brendan galloped him on Friday and he said it’s the best he’s ever worked,” said Noel Waddell, a spokesman for the Ritchie stable, after Speechless’ strong win.
“Coming back to a mile, we knew we had a fit horse and what a lovely ride.”
Speechmaker was given a beautiful run in the trail by Alysha Collett and, though checked off heels at the 500 metres, he was quickly back into stride and travelling well coming to the home turn.
Angled out around the two leaders after straightening, he challenged at the 200 metres, worked to the front and held his rivals at bay, scoring by three-quarters of a length from the late-finisher, Steven James.
A son of Jimmy Choux, Speechmaker had been placed in three of his first four trials then was taken to the races after winning comfortably over 1400 metres at the Matamata trials on November 28.
He made his raceday debut over 1800 metres at Taupo on December 30 and finished fifth, almost six lengths behind the winner Counting Crows, when ridden by Waddell’s son, Jason.
“His first run was probably a little better than it looked,” said Waddell. “I don’t think Jason would mind me saying this, but it probably wasn’t one of his better rides and he’s just improved since then.”
Speechmaker is the second horse to follow on with a next-up win after the Taupo race. Firefly was runner-up then went on to quit maiden ranks at Matamata last Friday week.
By Wally O'Hearn, on January 21st, 2018  Rogan Norvall returning to scale on Memories Only at Te Rapa today after breaking through for his first win in his latest comeback. Of the seven winners at Te Rapa today there was none more popular than the win recorded by Rogan Norvall on Memories Only.
It was Norvall’s first win on yet another comeback from a setback and making the occasion even more memorable for him was the fact it was on a horse owned, bred and trained by his most loyal supporter, Cambridge trainer Linda Laing.
Norvall did all the early work on Memories Only, but because of his setbacks and injuries he has ridden him raceday in just under half his 13 starts.
He was aboard in his debut win at Rotorua in April 2016, but was unable to get back on until last March when Memories Only chased the smart Love Affair home at Te Rapa. He then rode him in his next three starts, but missed his following two runs and was obviously thrilled to be reunited today.
“A big thank you to Linda and the team to have this horse presented spot on,” said Norvall. “I just had to sit and steer it.”
It was a bit more than “just sit and steer”, but that’s modest Norvall summing up in his humble way.
With blinkers on for the first time, Memories Only bounced out quickly from the barrier in the Greene Brothers 1200 and was eased by Norvall to sit fifth, though trapped three-wide.
Norvall improved him to third at the 700 metres and had him up to challenge the leaders on straightening. Memories Only then hit the lead but had a fight on his hands with Fortune Patch before getting in the deciding stride to win by a half-head.
It was a brave performance from Memories Only and one which brought plenty of slaps on the back and handshakes of congratulations for Norvall.
Norvall has spent more time on the sideline than in the saddle since he was injured in a horrific barrier incident at Te Aroha just a week after Memories Only’s debut win.
His leg was crushed against the back of the barriers when his mount, Livingston, suddenly backed out of his stall and he suffered a compound fracture of his tibia, a spiral fracture of his fibia, and a break behind the left knee.
He underwent surgery to have a rod inserted and after a long, steady recovery he was finally back in raceday action 12 months ago, but it was to be a short-lived return to the saddle.
He kicked home one winner, Itsabird last March, and registered several placings, but by June he was again undergoing surgery, this time to remove the rod in his leg.
Once over that setback he did make it back raceday but his return was even briefer. He rode two placegetters, the Laing-trained Happiness Is and Roger Lang’s Senassy, on his first day back at Rotorua on September 17, then a couple of weeks later he broke his collarbone when riding trackwork.
Complications set in and the collarbone took longer than normal to heal, but he is now back doing what he loves best and getting a winner in his eighth ride on the latest comeback trail has whetted his appetite even more for success in his career.
“It’s definitely been a long road to recovery. It’s been tough,” he said.
By Wally O'Hearn, on January 21st, 2018  Joe Douglas leads Ming’s Emperor from the winner’s stall as Sally House and jockey Maija Vance look on proudly after the first success for the training partners at Te Rapa today. Ming’s Emperor wasn’t popular with punters, but his upset maiden win at Te Rapa today will always be cherished by former Great Northern hero Joe Douglas.
Ming’s Emperor rocked punters to the tune of 78/1 when guided to victory by Maija Vance in the Style Counsel 1600 and for Douglas it was his first training success since going into partnership with long-time Cambridge trainer Sally House a couple of years ago.
“It’s been a lot of hard work and now we’ve got a result,” said Douglas as he watched Vance return to scale on the O’Reilly five-year-old. ”I’ll enjoy this and savour it for the rest of my life.”
Ming’s Emperor had shown some early promise on the racetrack with third placings in his first two starts (both at Matamata last May) after winning a couple of trials. He then ran a couple of sixths in his first two assignments back from a spell, but was completely dropped by punters after finishing 11th of 13 at Tauranga on January 2.
But Douglas wasn’t surprised to see him shape up today in his sixth start, though a win was a bonus result.
“He had blinkers and a tongue tie on today and he needed a bit better track like this,” he said. “Maija galloped him through the week and she was pretty pleased.”
Vance was reunited raceday with Ming’s Emperor after her first ride on him fresh-up a couple of months ago.
 Maija Vance getting the best out of the roughie Ming’s Emperor at Te Rapa today. She settled him midfield and had him sixth on the inner approaching the home turn. Whereas other riders skirted out for runs, she stuck to the fence and pushed her mount through to challenge at the 200 metres.
Ming’s Emperor had skipped a couple of lengths clear at the 150 metres and though he ran out in the final stages he held on to win by a neck from Madam Woo.
For Douglas, the win rates right up there with his highlights as a jumps jockey.
Douglas, who is also often one of the hard-working staff behind the barriers at most northern race days, enjoyed a few special moments during his rather brief seven-year career as a jumps jockey which netted 16 wins.
He formed a very successful association with the Tony Cole-trained Royal Ways with back-to-back Great Northern Steeplechase wins (1999 and 2000) and victory in the 2000 Pakuranga Hunt Cup.
He also joined an elite list of jumps jockey to win the Great Northern double in the same year as a couple of days before his 1999 Great Northern Steeples win on Royal Ways he was successful on Adipose David for Pukekohe owner-trainer John Twomey in the Great Northern Hurdles.
Douglas ended his riding career in 2001 and joined forces with House in a training partnership in the 2015-16 season.
With limited raceday runners, Douglas and House had to settle for six placings from their 43 starts leading into today’s meeting. But number 44 provided the winning turn, proving a popular result at the Cambridge training centre.
Ming’s Emperor has the bloodlines to go on from his breakthrough maiden win, Bred by Haunui Bloodstock, he is a grandson of Dopff, the Gr.2 ARC Bluebird Foods Trophy winner).
This is the family of two other recent winners from Cambridge, namely the Roger James-trained Rondinella and Insight, from Stephen Marsh’s stable.
By Wally O'Hearn, on January 21st, 2018  Rondinella pictured creating a big impression when cruising home second-up at Tauranga, sent a scare through her camp yesterday. Smart Cambridge filly Rondinella is likely to continue on the path toward the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai NZ Oaks at Trentham in March despite a major scare at the same track yesterday.
On the strength of an impressive second-up win at Tauranga early this month, Rondinella was backed into second favourite behind the eventual winner Dijou Bleu in the Gr.3 Metroclad-Terracade Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), but she shocked her connections and supporters when dropping out and being eased right down at the back of the field by rider Vinnie Colgan.
Stewards ordered a veterinary inspection after the race and it was established she had suffered from cardiac arrhythmia.
“She clearly had a decent heart fibrillation,” said trainer Roger James today. “She was still like it when she left the course, but we had her vetted at six o’clock this morning at Otaki and she was clear which is good news.
“She’ll be ECGed (electrocardiographed) in the morning and we’ll clear any permanent (heart) damage. All going well we’ll probably press on with the plan to come here for the Sir Tristram Classic. She’ll be ECGed again before that.”
James has had some limited previous experience with horses suffering from heart fibrillation.
“I haven’t had many do it, but I’ve looked back and I think every horse I’ve had do it I thought I had at lifetime peak fitness going into the race and they’ve fibrillated,” he said.
“There is documentation to say that when you’ve got every star aligned that they’re more vulnerable to do it.
“I can’t really say it about his filly as I don’t know her that well. But all the others that fibrillated, I’ve had them as absolute peak and I’m drawing on the fact none of them did it again so I’m hoping that’s the case with this filly as well.”
Rondinella has had just three starts for James, but she has shown enough to be rated very highly by the astute trainer.
He has made the bold statement that she is the best he has had since the multiple Group One winner Silent Achiever,
“I think she’s top drawer. She’s a filly that I’ve always held in the highest of regard,” he said after she followed her eye catching debut third at Ellerslie with her classy win at Tauranga.
By Wally O'Hearn, on January 20th, 2018  Stolen Dance (Sam Spratt) finally notching Group One success in today’s Harcourts Thorndon Mile. Racing dreams for Stolen Dance were fulfilled at Trentham today when she earned Group One success in possibly her final appearance.
The Alamosa mare had been a multiple placegetter at the highest level before she overcame a testing run for a clear-cut victory in the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m), in which she finished runner-up to Kawi in 2016.
Stolen Dance was originally trained by David Greene, but transferred to the Cambridge stable of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman after she was purchased outright by Gerald Shand.
“She really deserved this and it’s great for Gerald,” said Forsman. “We got her after a lot of hard work by David Greene. We’re lucky to have her for her last preparation.”
Stolen Dance, who is in foal to Tavistock, may now be retired at the top of her game.
“She could run in the Herbie Dyke Stakes, but maybe this is her last run,” said Forsman.
Stolen Dance was sent out at odds of 22-1 with her stablemate Love Affair installed favourite, but the latter was never a factor under jockey Matt Cameron.
“It was an indifferent run and Matt said she just never travelled,” said Forsman of Love Afffair.
Little went right in the running for Stolen Dance’s rider Sam Spratt either, but the mare was good enough to overcome a tough run.
“We were three wide and got pushed out four and five wide so it was a gutsy effort,” she said.
“It was great. She’s been knocking on the door for some time and at least being out wide let her get into her own rhythm.”
Stolen Dance improved around runners 1000 metres from home to hit the front half-way down the straight and she had kicked strongly to comfortably hold Watch This Space and Hiflyer.
– NZ Racing Desk.
By Wally O'Hearn, on January 20th, 2018  Magic Chai and Michael McNab landing the spoils for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike and owners Mark and Shelley Treweek in today’s Wellington Cup. Magic Chai is likely to be set for a feature 3200-metre double after his stout staying performance to win today’s Gr.3 Wallaceville Estate Castletown Wellington Cup at Trentham.
His victory in the 3200-metre feature came in his open-class debut and the five-year-old now has a Group One contest on his autumn programme.
“We’ll get him home and see how he is and if his form holds up then the Auckland Cup is an obvious target,” said trainer Tony Pike.
“He’s only had 18 starts so he’s still pretty much untapped. He’s a good, genuine stayer.”
The son of Magic Albert settled among the tailenders before picking up ground 800 metres from home.
“When they all took off a long way from home it played into his hands,” said Pike.
Magic Chai came with an irresistible finish to swamp his rivals in the closing 150 metres with a gallant Sampson, Alinko Prince and the topweight Patrick Erin the next three home.
The chestnut five-year-old is raced by Lyndhurst Farm principals Mark and Shelley Treweek and gave them a result to boost spirits ahead of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Yearling Sale series.
The Cambridge couple will be offering a 13-strong draft during the Book 1 sale at Karaka, which opens on January 28.
“It’s fantastic for Mark and Shelley,” said Pike. “Mark trained the horse for his first few starts and I got him about 18 months ago. He’s kept improving and got stronger.”
Magic Chai was ridden by Michael McNab, who said he was confident as soon as the pace of the race increased.
“We got back on a really slow tempo and when they cranked it up I got a lovely drag into it,” he said.
“He was travelling well near the turn and the more I asked of him the more I got. He was really strong at the line. It’s a big buzz.”
– NZ Racing Desk.
By Wally O'Hearn, on January 20th, 2018  Jasd (Michael McNab) bursting through the centre to win strongly at Trentham today. Highly-regarded Cambridge three-year-old Jasd continues to press his claims for a classic call up.
The Tony Pike-trained son of Sepoy maintained his perfect record at Trentham today when he overcame a chequered run to prevail in the Harrisons Carpets & Curtains Premier (1400m).
“He’s a very big horse with a good action and he’s bred to stay,” said trainer Tony Pike.
“We’ll probably step him up to a mile next and then maybe one of the later Guineas races ahead of the Derby.
“He’s not in the Derby at the moment, but there’s always a late entry if he’s going well enough.”
Successful on debut at Taupo last month, Jasd enjoyed a cosy run one off the fence behind the pace before trouble brewed 400 metres from home.
“It was looking very ugly coming to the corner and he ended up in a bad spot,” said Pike. “He got clear air late and he came through to get it on the line. He’s pretty progressive.”
Rider Michael McNab took his chance close to home and speared Jasd between runners to beat Matuzalem by a short head with a nose further back to Piriwai.
“He jumped well and we got into a beautiful spot,” said McNab. “Then the swoopers came around and it got a bit tight and it took a bit of time to get a gap. When he did get through he showed what he can do. He’s a pretty smart horse.”
A half-sister (Lot 355) to Jasd by I Am Invincible will be offered by Windsor Park Stud at the Book 1 Sale at Karaka on January 30.
– NZ Racing Desk.
By Wally O'Hearn, on January 19th, 2018  The game Cambridge mare Nailed It outfinishing Stylish Attack (nearest camera) at Tauranga today. Cambridge mare Nailed It lived up to her name when she produced a tenacious performance at one of her favourite haunts today.
The seven-year-old was successful in the Crockford Real Estate Handicap (1400) at Tauranga where she has now won on three of her five visits.
Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Nailed It went into the race off the back of an unexpected victory on a good surface at Ellerslie.
“She surprised me last time that she went as well as she did on a firm track,” said Forsman.
“That gave us a lot of confidence for today. The dead track was perfect for her and she has raced well here before.”
Nailed It raced outside the leader Ocean Emperor and took over early in the run home before she was clearly headed by the runner-up Stylish Attack, who was resuming after a nine-month break. She then kicked back determinedly to score by a short head.
“It was probably a combination of things – a good, strong ride by Matt (Cameron) and she was the fitter horse,” said Forsman.
Stylish Attack’s performance augured well for her campaign with her second, while Calligraphy was a close third and the winner’s stablemate Show The World ran on strongly for fourth in his first appearance for some time, making it an all-Cambridge finish.
“He went a boomer first-up,” said Forsman in reference to Show The World. “We had a lot of niggly problems with him eight months ago so we gave him a good break and he’s come back in good order.”
– NZ Racing Desk.
By Wally O'Hearn, on January 19th, 2018  Belle du Nord, who is still in contention for the Gr.1 NZ Oaks. Belle Du Nord’s connections will get a more accurate line on their Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) hopes after the Cambridge filly’s next appearance.
The Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) runner-up will further her preparation for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored classic when she steps out in the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m) on February 10.
“We had a bit of a rough spring, but the owners have been very patient,” said co-trainer Emma-Lee Browne. “She’ll step up to 2000m at Te Rapa and this will give us a clearer picture.”
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