October 24, 2014
by Ross Stanley
The performances of horses over time certainly can create a story of ups and downs, with gallopers seemingly heading to riches winding up in rags and vice versa.
The result of last weekend’s Roy and Glenis Radunz Smithfield Wondai Cup (BM 65,1465m) would have been unimaginable in October 2010.
On Cox Plate Day, a General Nediym two-year-old called Aashiq put the pads on for his first innings.
He compiled a tidy sixth in the $250,000 Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley and followed up seven days later in the prestigious VRC Maribyrnong Plate with a neck second to Arctic Command, a neddy that was to be winless thereafter.
Alas, the last recorded appearance of that chestnut gelding was for a fifth placing at Cunnamulla this time last year.
Aashiq, a $90,000 yearling buy for David Hayes, earned more than $140,000 in his Victorian chapter with wins at Cranbourne, Mornington, Tatura and Sandown.
Earlier this year, Toowoomba trainer Jason Judge and Janice Ciampa paid $10,000 for him at a Melbourne sale.
To date, their income from Gulch’s grandson’s seven Queensland outings is almost $22,000.
With in-form apprentice Sarah Eilbeck aboard, the General Nediym six year old’s sterling Wondai performance under 60.5 kilograms added to recent victories in the Surat Cup and a Gayndah Open.
The gelding is lining up this Saturday in the lucrative $18,000 Nationwide Civil River Junction Gympie Cup (1600m).
Judge’s grandfather Jack Judge and parents Les and Val provided the base for his life-long associations with the game.
As well as shoeing, breaking in and conditioning duties, the 45 year-old former Dirranbandi boy has been a horse transport driver.
“I knew that Aashiq had ability. To my eye, his stomach just didn’t seem right at first. I switched his feed around. He has blossomed and is a happy horse. He finished the race off very strongly and his confidence has been built up,” said Judge, whose earlier handy money-spinner Celestino won three at Eagle Farm.
Meanwhile Sarah Eilbeck’s five Gympie engagements for Barry Gill’s string this weekend includes the one for a key Cup player in Unique Fuse.
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Sexton Really Rang The Bell
Oakey conditioner Patrick Sexton combined with Sunshine Coast apprentice Amy Van Der Sanden to land a double with Wonderful Wally (Maiden, 1100m) and Miss Mega Hertz (Robyn Sippel’s 60th Open, 1000m) at Wondai.
The stable – courtesy of Clarence View and May Nelly – also provided two of Emma Ljung’s Toowoomba quadrella.
Wonderful Wally, a Wonderful World three-year-old raced by a Darling Downs group comprising the Stevens and Franz families, nosed out War Noise in the most thrilling contest on the card.
The Show A Heart mare Miss Mega Hertz ($1.45) never needed full throttle to win for the ninth time from 22 outings.
This highly consistent sprinter is owned by a family syndicate headed by Logan City Deputy CEO Todd Rohl, a former Oakey lad that Patrick coached in his junior football days.
Another syndicate member is Clive Williams. a grandson of three time Stradbroke winning trainer Con Doyle.
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Melbourne Marches On
Moonee Valley has some intriguing sidelights to its weekend “Mecca Meetings”, headed by the $1m Manikato Stakes late on Friday night and the W.S. Cox Plate on Saturday afternoon.
The former certainly has attracted a strong line up. Buffering, Lankan Rupee, Terra Vista, Rebel Dane, Temple of Boom, Angelic Light and Famous Shamus all conceded propsects.
The Cox Plate has a rarely disclosed prizemoney twist and an in-between Northern Hemisphere arrival with a usefully delayed change of residency.
The elite event is advertised as offering a $3 million purse with the first horse receiving $1,800,000 (and $45,200 in trophies).
The usual breakdown in Australian racing is for about 66% to go to the winner, but in this case it is much less.
Sixth, seventh and eighth past the post pick up $100,000 each for their trouble.
Although the Aiden O’Brien trained Adelaide, a northern hemisphere three-year-old born on 19 February 2011, is officially regarded as a four year old whilst Down Under, he has a special pro-rata weight of 56 kilograms when compared to the locals’ 57.5 kg.
The Australian three-year-olds, namely Almalad (born 19 September 2011), Wandjina (7 September) and the “baby” Sweynesse (6 November) will tote 49.5 kgs.
Apparently Adelaide will transfer to Chris Waller’s lodgings shortly.
And interestingly, all overseas (but non-New Zealand) trained Cox Plate runners get a guarantee of $100,000 if they finish between ninth and last.
Jockey wise, Zac Purton will be hoping to keep his Spring grand slam hopes alive by annexing the Plate with Sacred Falls.
His fine Caulfield Cup work on Admire Rakti secured the first leg.
Meanwhile Glen Boss will be seeking his fourth title, having attained the honours already with Makybe Diva, So You Think and Ocean Park.
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Bits And Bridles
- With her son Joshua as the pilot, Norma King’s pair Zionoic and Willywynya picked up placings at Thangool. On home soil, she teamed with Jason Missen to very comfortably collect the QTIS BM Handicap with Hidden Duck. Missen displayed remarkable balance to stay put on Butter’N’ Dash after it reared up into the superstructure as the gates opened in the Class B Handicap.
- Wondai apprentice Rhiannon Payne claimed a victory on Murramarang at Thangool.
- Kumbia, host of this district’s annual Melbourne Cup Day meeting, will stage its traditional Calcutta at the Kumbia Hotel on Sunday 2 November at 2:00pm. Details are available by calling (07) 4163-7200 or (07) 4164- 4155.
- Jockey Lyall Appo was treated to a surprise 50th birthday party last Saturday.Apparently his inventive family really stitched him up by creating a classy invitation requesting his services as a guest speaker at a sporting club. It is hard to imagine that the popular hoop was speechless for very long after the hoax was revealed.
