3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on July 14.

THE STARS

VOODOO LAD: Extended his brilliant Caulfield record with a dominant win in the Sir John Monash Stakes. He has now won four of his five Caulfield starts with his only defeat at the track an unlucky second in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

From last to first! Voodoo Lad was explosive in the final stages of the Sir John Monash Stakes at .

How far can this horse go?https://t.co/ZKeZWCKBvd pic.twitter.com/gqqRsabpAE

— Racing.comJuly 14, 2018

BRENTON AVDULLA: Can rest easy as Sydney’s premier jockey elect after his treble at Rosehill. He’s now 14 wins clear of his closest rival for the title and will get home despite deciding to ride at only two of the last four city meetings.

DREAMFORCE: Foolproof galloper gets his first stakes win with a game victory in the Winter Stakes at Rosehill. Certainly deserves his crack at something better in the spring.

ZOUSTYLE: Unbeaten youngster was the win of the day at the Sunshine Coast. He ran a record on debut at Doomben and his time here of 58.81 seconds on a soft track was just outside the class record. Exciting future.

PLOT TWIST: Unique in this era to have a horse holding a perfect three from three record over 3200 metres. He’ll have a cult following whenever he races.

BIRTHDAY BOYS: Hugh Bowman celebrates his 38th birthday with a double at Rosehill while Jim Byrne turns 47 with a fourth win in the Queen’s Cup (Queensland Cup) at Caloundra that he dedicates to his ill father.

RIDE OF THE DAY

AKIRA KAJIYA: Japanese apprentice has won worldwide social media fame for his win at the Cowra bush meeting after he lost his irons mid-race aboard the favourite It’s Business Time.

Rode the race straight backed but still did enough to win on the line before he was unseated after the line, but he was able to remount and rode the horse back to yard to the cheers of the crowd.

Yass trainer Allan McRae had scratched It’s Business Time from Rosehill to tackle the easier Cowra race.

“He lost his left iron soon after the jump but then he lost right one and was in all sorts of trouble,” McRae said. “How he won I’ll never know.”

Kajiya, known as 'Arky' around the tracks, is 36 but didn’t ride for 10 years. He is indentured to leading Canberra trainer Matthew Dale.

We haven&39t seen a win like this in a long time...
Akira Kajiya produces a tremendous effort to take out the first at Cowra despite having no irons. Just watchpic.twitter.com/S8ieOWykPx

— Sky RacingJuly 14, 2018

HIGHLIGHTS

DAVID FLETCHER: First metro win and just his third overall as a trainer for former Kiwi jumps jockey David Fletcher when Wild ‘N’ Famous was successful at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. Fletcher, 36, has has only been training since September after working for four years as foreman for the now retired Gold Coast trainer Mario Caltalbiano.

MATTHEW LINDSAY: Rookie trainer celebrated his second city win at Caulfield with Magnesium Rose, the only horse he has raced. Lindsay also works as an assistant to Caulfield trainer Colin Little.

BRUTAL: Clock watchers went ape over his debut win. Overall time and sectionals say he is another smart one for Team Hawkes.

RINGO’S A ROCKSTAR: Challenging for king of the sprinters at Caloundra after his fourth win and a second from five starts on the Sunshine Coast track. He beat Tarzan, the current ruler with seven wins and four seconds from 12 starts on the track.

GERALD RYAN: A satisfying double at Rosehill with Star Of Monsoon and Albumin. The gelding operation has made Star Of Monsoon a racehorse – from 11 maiden placings in his first 16 starts to three wins from his last six since he was cut.

LOWLIGHTS

CIARON MAHER: His stable rep was fined $500 for not notifying a change on tactics for his Sydney runner Al Galayel despite the trainer being laid up in a Melbourne hospital with a broken leg. Stewards have no heart.

HIGHWAY SIXTYSIX: A wasted trip down the Hume from Goulburn when the Danny Williams-trained mare was a scratched at the gates after she sat down in the barrier. Stewards ordered that she perform in a barrier trial before she races again

BORIS THORNTON: The ugly watch of the day when he was strung up in a small field on the favourite Privlaka in the first at Caloundra. Flew late when clear and should have won.

ASTERIUS: Poor effort but found to have bled. Banned for three months.

IN TIMES OF WAR: Inquiry opened into poor performance. Advice is she may now be retired.

ALASSIO: Lost her winning form. Suspect under pressure.

SIN BIN

GIRL IN A MILLION: Concern with action.

BRATISLAVA: Poor post race, endoscopic exam.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It’s not over until the fat lady sings.” – Brenton Avdulla remains circumspect about his pending Sydney premiership win.

THEY SAID IT….

• “I loved the way he just marched into the yard - he was up and about. He had a bit of spring in his step - they are great signs for a horse like him being an older horse now.” – Darren Weir’s praise for Voodoo Lad.

• “He was awesome. That turn of speed he had from the top of the straight, he was explosive.” – Voodoo Lad’s rider Brad Rawiller.

• “I went the early crow last time and was disappointed. It was nerve-wracking again. He's called Rocky around the stable because he never gives up. He is as honest as the day is long - on raceday he turns up and gives his all. He is the perfect horse to train.’’ – Dreamforce’s trainer John Thompson.

• “He's a gentleman to ride. Every time the bar gets raised he keeps going with it - he is getting up there to be one of my favourite horses.” Dreamforce’s rider Brenton Avdulla.

• "He hasn't got the turn of foot or class to run in a Melbourne Cup but a race like the Adelaide Cup might suit him. He’s a real two-miler.” – Peter Snowden being realistic about future plans for Plot Twist.

• “Everyone is happy to miss the spring with him and then have him back next year. He can come back matured and a lot stronger. He’s a good horse in the making and deserves to be looked after - there are too many traps in racing to get too carried away." – Tony Gollan on his plans for the unbeaten Zoustyle.

• “It is a bit scary how good he could be. I know it’s a big statement but I don’t think I’ve seen a two-year-old that I would be afraid of taking on with this guy. I wouldn’t by shying away from any of them - he’s not a squib by any means.” – Zoustyle’s rider Brad Stewart.

• “It's my first metropolitan winner and it’s a thrill to train one. I used to ride over the jumps in New Zealand but I only had about five rides.” – Gold Coast trainer David Fketcher after his win with Wild ‘N’ Famous.

• “She's a godsend. You can't dream about having a good horse like this this early in your career.” Magnesium Rose’s trainer Matthew Lindsay.

• “It was a very special win. He is going to Hong Kong to be prepared for the Hong Kong Derby next season." – Vchjris Waller reveals plans for Rosehill winner Jolly Honour.

• “He's a beauty. I loved the way he switched off and relaxed. Obviously if they are going to get over a trip they need to switch off in the run." – Darren Weir’s views on his impressive Caulfield winner Mount Kilcoy.

• “The gelding has helped and he is a racehorse now. There were studs chasing him as a young horse but as a 4YO there was no commercial value. It was not a hard decision.” – Gerald Ryan is happy he now has a gelded Star Of Monsoon in winning form.

BLACKBOOK

PARET: He’s a work in progress.

INSENSATA: Has come up well and will improve.

SWEET VICTORY: Luckless. Suited back to her own sex.

MISS NORWAY: Should have been closer. Longer trip suits.

SNITZEPEG: Locked in for last 400m. Never tested.

CHAPTER AND VERSE: Forgive run. Has talent.