Weekend News and Notes: Sea Changes and Shadows

SEA CHANGE TO VICTORIASEA LORD (25: 7-5-1) took home the top prize at Moonee Valley on Friday night with a win of the $220,000 G2 Australia Stakes for his seventh career win. The win also pushed him across the $500,000 line in career earnings. After racing for the majority of his career at Rosehill Gardens and in New South Wales (17: 3-4-1), this past season, the 5yo gelding has made Victoria home (8: 4-1-0). His Victorian career has included four wins and a runner-up finish, including a listed win of the $120,000 Macleod at Moonee Valley in September and a second place finish at the $120,000 listed Christmas Stakes at Caulfield.

MOODY PICKS UP JUVENILE PRIZEIt was a busy and productive day for Peter Moody’s stable at Caulfield, as he produced the winner and third place finisher of the $120,000 colt and gelding Blue Diamond Preview and the runner-up in the filly equivalent. Jockey Vlad Duric rode the leading runner in each juvenile race. Moody’s DISSIDENT won by 0.3L over the favourite KUROSHIO and 1.3L ahead of third place finisher THERMAL CURRENT. In the filly race, MIRACLES OF LIFE blew away the field with a 4.25L win over second place DIAMOND GLOW, to win third-straight career start.

This is Living Legends

This is the first of a two-part series by RISA YouTube video on Living Legends, the retirement home for racehorses by the Melbourne Airport.

Weekend Numbers to Watch

Weekend Notes and Numbers: Rawiller Rolls, Boss Commands, Callow Trebles

NINTH TREBLE FOR RAWILLER

Brad Rawiller (left) picked up his ninth treble of the season, at Flemington on Saturday, riding LORD OF BRAZIL (NZ) (22: 10-7-1) to his tenth career victory and third win over his last four tries.  Rawiller rode the favourite for trainer Darren Weir in the $100,000 Craftsman Handicap, before finishing his day with a win on DANISH WHISKEY (19: 5-2-1). Rawiller also turned the fortunes of GOLDSLICK (22: 8-1-1), who produced a winner for the first time since July. Rawiller is the Australia premiership leader this season with 90 wins and $2.5 million in prize money.

FIRST COMMAND WITH BOSS

Glen Boss has rode FIRST COMMAND (31: 12-6-2) to two wins in January, as the gelding continues to prove his class in the easier grade and further show that he is well on his way for another tilt in the feature sprints in the coming months. The win at Flemington in the 1000m $120,000 Kensington Stakes, brought the gelding to over $929,000 in career earnings and was his biggest prize since he was the runner-up in $750,000 G1 Telegraph Handicap in New Zealand.

Australian Fact Book for 2011/12

We introduce you to the Australian Racing Board 2011/12 Fact Book, produced by RISA, and online for the first time.... the link is here: http://tinyurl.com/av7wbyn

Weekend Notes & Numbers: Kelso Wood, Alcopop & Tourneur

WOOD-FUL OF MILLIONS
For trainer Kelso Wood (left) it all came down to a short neck on the Gold Coast. In the $1 million 3yo Guineas, Wood’s SIZZLING was edged out by SALUTER (13: 4-1-3), by a short neck, as the favourite charged back from the  back of the pack to finish second, as both Saluter and Sizzling passed the leader DRIEFONTEIN over the final 200m. But redemption came quickly for Wood in the next race-- the $2 million 2yo Classic. Using the same tactic, the Wood-trained REAL SURREAL (4: 3-0) went from 13th at the 400m mark to winner over the 1200m course.

ALCOPOP RETIRES
G1 winner ALCOPOP (34: 10-5-1) retired on Sunday night, after arguably its best season to date. Alcopop won the $1 million G1 Mackinnon Stakes in December as a part of four-straight placings to end his 34-start and 10-win career. In his final race, back in December, the former Melbourne Cup favourite, finished third in the G1 Hong Kong Cup. The 8yo retired with $1,967,752 in career earnings since winning his maiden race, a 1200m running in Morphettville in 2008.

Commanding Wins and Lionhearted Teens

BOSS IN COMMAND AT CAULFIELD

It was a strong finish for FIRST COMMAND (30: 11-6-2), who has battled injuries throughout his career, and with jockey Glen Boss, won the $100,000 Mal Seccull Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday. It was also half of a double for Boss, third in Victoria with 54 wins in the Premiership fixture. First Command’s career path has been a winding one. He once won six-straight and seven of his first nine races through October, 2009. After that, it was just three wins in 20 starts prior to this latest victory. The win also pushed the gelding to $857,690 in career earnings. Trainer Anthony Freedman is now targeting him for the G1 Oakleigh Plate, where First Command lost by 0.5 of a length and finished fourth.

TRUE LIONHEARTED TEENAGER

The changeover in the calendar has not changed the fortunes of South Australia’s leading jockey.  LIONHEARTED GIRL (36: 11-6-2) was a part of a treble for Ms. Jamie Kah at Morphetville on Saturday, giving the 17 year old jockey a win over 1200m. It has been a strong start to the New Year for Kah. The teenager posted a double on New Year’s Day at Morphettville and also won the next day at Murray Bridge. Kah’s 57 wins in South Australia, is 16 more than her nearest competitor in the premiership fixture. A story on Kah from the weekend Advertiser is here: http://tinyurl.com/a7t9yqy. For her 6yo mare, Lionhearted Girl, it was her fourth win over her last five races.