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"TROT TACTICS"..23/05/2009..

The clock is ticking down to the inaugural running of the Redcliffe Yearling Sales Race.Heats for the now 2yo's will be conducted on Wednesday June 3rd,with the $30,000 Final decided on Friday June 12.Described as "the sale with something for everybody" the Juvenile Feature will send some owners home in a very happy frame of mind.Next year's winner has already gone under the auctioneers hammer and will be collecting the big end of $50,000.This sale is only going one way...and that's up!

A bit more news on the Crackerofaparty and Ann Manwaring roadshow.The son of Partywith thebigdog and Megsamillion has come a long way in two weeks.From the winner's cut of $3,400 at Gold Coast to a start in the colts and geldings division of the $100,000 Kevin Seymour Nursery Stakes tonight.The Karrabin trained pacer earned his place in the Group 1 event with a solid third to For A Reason (Luke McCarthy),and Major Victree (Natalie Rasmussen) and is further favoured with the magical 8 barrier behind a possible leader in Jorg Is Best (Ricky Thurlow).

Another local in the Kevin Seymour is the Darrel Graham trained and reined Lanercost.The unbeaten son of Courage Under Fire won his heat last Tuesday following impressive trackwork in the days preceding.DWG will give the colt a good trip from his second line alley,and Lanercost will be in this up to his ears...DENIS..

Posted by dlsmith at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Santanna Blue Chip to stand at Stallion Station in NZ

Stallion Station, one of Australasia’s leading standardbred studs, and Kentuckiana Farms, the North American breeding conglomerate, have jointly announced that the 2007 US Breeders Crown champion and Governor’s Cup winner Santanna Blue Chip 2, 1:51.4 will stand the 2009 season at Stallion Station’s New Zealand base at Christchurch.

With a lifetime bankroll of $1,608,733 including $931,223 as a juvenile, Santanna Blue Chip retired as the richest son of siring sensation Art Major, both in two-year-old and career earnings.

During his two-year-old campaign, Santanna Blue Chip finished in the money in all 11 of his starts (11-5-4-2) on his way to becoming the richest freshman pacer with two-year-old earnings of $931,223, some $150,000 ahead of the great Somebeachsomewhere.

Santanna Blue Chip’s brilliant freshman season was highlighted by wins in the $760,968 Governor’s Cup and $650,000 Breeders Crown, defeating Lonestar Legend, Sand Shooter and the ill-fated Robert’s Rage along the way. He was also stakes placed in the Metro, Champlain, and Nassagaweya, finishing either second or third in all three to Somebeachsomewhere.

As a three-year-old Santanna Blue Chip earned $681,637 in his 14 starts, finishing in the money in all but four starts – bringing his career totals to 25-7-8-6 and $1,608,732. During this season, Santanna Blue Chip’s credits included winning the Simcoe and Art Rooney elimination and stakes placed finishes to Somebeachsomewhere in the Burlington, North America Cup elimination, Confederation Cup and Messenger. He also stakes placed in the Rooney Final and Little Brown Jug.

Santanna Blue Chip possesses outstanding conformation and a can’t miss early speed pedigree, being the richest son of Art Major and from the two-year-old Debutante and New Jersey Sire Stakes winner Mmissus Hanover 2, 1:53.8 (by Matt’s Scooter).

Santanna Blue Chip was a striking $75,000 yearling and his full brother Jody J Blue Chip sold at the 2008 Lexington Selected Sale Company annual yearling sale for $100,000.

A 2005 foal, Santanna Blue Chip is standing his first season at Kentuckiana Farms, Ontario.

Stallion Station has just completed their best season ever and their flagship stallion Mach Three, the sire of the world record holder Somebeachsomewhere and ‘Down Under’ champion Auckland Reactor, is already fully booked for the 2009 season.

Similarly, studmate Courage Under Fire, winner of a record six Derby classics and one of Australia’s hottest young sires, has attracted a full book again in NZ and is close to being full in Australia.

For further information contact Les Joslin at Stallion Station on (03) 9746 1322.

Posted by dlsmith at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

'TROT TACTICS"..16/05/2009..

In the reverse of the normal process,Karrabin based trainer-driver Ann Manwaring and partner Lee Woldt went from the outhouse to the penthouse in the 2yo Stakes at Gold Coast on Friday night May 8th.Beaten a fair way after being checked under the same conditions a week previous,Crackerofaparty,a gelded son of Partywiththebigdog and Manwaring's former mare,Megsamillion,ran the 1609 metres out in 1-59.3 to score a skinny,but impressive victory over another Ipswich pacer,Jack In Flight,prepared by Brett Cargill at Fernvale.Crackerofaparty is Megsamillion's second foal,and the multiple winning chestnut is currently in foal to Enrique,a talented son of Presidential Ball,standing for Colin Knox at Braycrest Lodge,Thagoona.Who knows,with a win on the board,"Cracker' could be the next Abermain for team Manwaring..

Over the last two decades,successive control bodies have slowly compressed the sport of harness racing/trotting into the South East corner of our very large state.Originally the sport flourished from Southport to Cairns,and now the most northerly point with regular racing is Redcliffe and the western extremity is the soon to close Rocklea.Enter Leigh Wanless,the most flamboyant of the three brothers who followed their father Merv into the game.Currently Leigh is based in the Wide Bay area and is a strong force in a move to restore regular racing to the 900 metre circuit at Maryborough.Never one to do things by halves,Wanless has established Glenorchy Springs Stud and will be standing prolific sire Peace of Art,and the multiple New Zealand classic producer,Caprock.A hardline approach to the economic realities of racing the average light harness horse in Queensland sees both horses in the breeding marketplace at $1000 +GST with live foal guarantee..Serious value..Denis.

Posted by dlsmith at 02:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"TROT TACTICS"...09/05/2009...

The old saying,"not just a pretty face" was borne out at Gold Coast on Thursday,when Cold Mountain Stud's gelding,Honkytonk Hanover,was successful in race 9.The son of Western Hanover had starred at Marburg Show last Saturday,taking,among other ribbons,"Supreme Standardbred Exhibit".It was a family affair,with Jodie Whitaker,wife of Thursday's winning reinsman,Gary,having the lead at Marburg.Meanwhile,head trainer for "team Palmer",Simon Burrows,is headed to Melbourne with four pacers,including the flagship,Lonestar Legend.You can check progress by watching the Young (Southwest NSW) harness action tonight where Fancy Cardshark and Topshelf Hanover will be going round in the $36,000 Cup..

The concept of severe reduction in whip use is about to become a reality.The new format,which recognises the need to retain the whip as a tool of communication includes holding the whip and a rein in one hand.It will be a breach of the rules to hold the reins in one hand for any purpose other than releasing ear plugs or hopple shortener pins.The whip itself,seems likely to be a longer,more flexible version,to be applied only with a gentle flicking action.There is a bonus for the punters here as well as our four-legged friends.It will be a step closer to the level playing field,as an ability as a flogger will no longer be relevant in the driver selection process..September 1st seems the favoured date for introduction of the new deal.

Tonight's four feature races contain such a depth of talent,that a hatpin and a blindfold would be a reasonable tool with which to find a winner.For the statistics hounds, I reduced the performances to an average of earnings per start across the entire field in each race.4yo colts and geldings..$1577....4yo mares..$1218...3yo colts and geldings..$1496...3yo Fillies $890...2yo colts and geldings..$5223.These are the geese that lay the golden eggs...Denis..

Posted by dlsmith at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)