Yes Bustino, I remember Assertive Lass well. A G1 winner with some serious pace on her sire side. The official price paid for her was not released, but it's thought to have exceeded AU$2.2 million. (As a brood mare.)
Thanks Cyc that's useful to know. She must have been a good filly but never heard of the sire Zeditave. (Harbinger's brother now not running).
I believe they will find him some suitable ground for his prep, and I would expect Cheltenham to be better ground than most places. I think he is a really interesting sort for the PPGC, but horses going fresh in that race have a good record if I recall? I wonder if we will see something from one of the big novice races at the festival turn up in the PPGC, and the one I really like is Uxizandre (sp) who I think is one of the best fence to fence jumpers I have seen in recent times. Interesting weekend ahead for the jumps, and we are beginning to see some good novice races and bumpers from small courses too. Its a shame that Creepy isn't running this week at Cheltenham, as I am looking forward to him over their fences.
One of the most interesting horses holding various entries over the coming days is the Roger Brookhouse-owned, David Pipe-trained Stars Over The Sea. By Sea The Stars out of Exciting Times, the former Mark Johnston inmate was rated 99 on the flat and finished 3rd in the Derby Trial at Epsom before finishing down the field in the Chester Vase and handicaps at Epsom (on Derby day) and at Royal Ascot. He is entered in juvenile hurdles at Uttoxeter on Thursday and Kempton on Sunday (was also in at Wetherby today but scratched). Interesting with a capital "I".
Zaditave was a crack sprinter Bustino. He only had two seasons on the track, but they were sensational. As a 2yo, he raced 10 times winning 9 and in the process, won Victoria's premier baby sprint, the G1 Blue Diamond. Then at 3 he won 5 of 7 with 4 of them being G1. He was one hell of a racehorse.
In an attempt to reduce the amount of meat I am eating: Yellow pea soup followed by Sesame & carrot fritter, herb sauce and salad, broccoli spears, rice. 6/10
Have not eaten meat in more that 50 years Oddy. Don't know if I'm any better for it, but the women adore me. I'm letting vegis and salads get the credit for it all.
Beef stew and dumplings. Just what you need on an October lunchtime when it’s pouring and howling outside. 9/10. Mr Henderson, the forum’s favourite trainer, is set to enter the 2014-15 juvenile hurdle scene shortly as he’s started making entries. Has Princess Ombu, what a lovely name for a filly by the way, entered in such a heat at Kempers Park on Sunday afternoon. Mr Henderson has trained her half-brother, Cool McCavity, to win 4 races and hopes must be high of this old girl achieving something similar. Princess Ombu only cost 14,000 gns but Mr Henderson can be guaranteed to increase her value many times over by the end of her career. In fact this one could be a valuable addition, in time, to any breeding shed. Princess Ombu that is not Mr Henderson.
Cyc - I always thought it was your "Budgie Smugglers" that drove the girls wild? Sir Barney - we are still in the low 20s centigrade over here on the continent. Is it my imagination, or do we always have such a well-populated juvenile hurdle scene? Seems to be good 'uns popping up left, right and bally well centre at the moment
Morning all. Sad news to hear about ENCKE this morning A really talented stayer who was on the upgrade when surprising Camelot in the Leger. Barring controversy and injury, I thought he could have been a regular in all the big staying events, much like Cavalryman et al. Wanted to cast an eye towards the Breeders Cup, Melbourne Cup, and jumps season. I've got some fancies for those and wondered if anyone else does? Breeders Cup Mile. TORONADO 7/2. With no Wise Dan running, is that price massive? Fast ground, the best 4 Y O miler in training. I think he has an outstanding chance. Breeders Cup Turf: RULER OF THE WORLD 8/1. It hasn't been decided yet which one, or both of Ruler Of The World or Magician run in this, as Betfair doesn't point in any particular direction right now. Ruler Of The Worlds Chester performance and style of running should play right into a race like this. He is a small horse with a decent turn of foot, particularly on quicker ground. I think he'll have a great chance in this if he runs and at 8/1, is there really that much opposition over in the US. Flintshire does not scare me at all. Melbourne Cup: LUCIA VALENTINA 20/1 Looks a really interesting each-way shot. Travels and quickens, and to me looks a stayer as well. Think she has great frame claims. We still have to await the final entries/nominations but she should be going there. Jumps wise, there are two very good novice hurdlers from 2013 who are due back to take up chasing careers: Ponte Alexandre Un Atout. Any news?
Toppy, Lucia Valentina will go off as a pretty warm favourite in Saturday's $3,000,000 Caulfield Cup over 2400m. The race is a top lead in for the Melbourne Cup. She comes in off the back of a nice win in the G1 Turnbull Stakes 2000m. Saturday will tell a lot.
Toppy I put up a Rich Ricci interview from ATR on the Cheltenham Ante Post thread - I think he mentions Pont Alexandre on there if I remember correctly.
Epee Celeste might be worth a small dabble in the next at Huntingdon - looks like the only one of these who will go in the ground
Both smashed up, thought Game Pie was a goodthing before and he went like one for 7 furlongs but he just got outstayed on the ground by what must be a pretty smart colt. Sweet Dream travelled well back on the soft, seen off the Gosden filly and done well to hold the late challenger as well, shes nothing special but her dam won a Vermille and a Park Hill over 1m6 so she should stay a bit further next year and could be half useful when the mud is flying.
