News and Press
Zartiki Breaks Maiden at Sapphire
Zartiki won a Maiden 1100m at Sapphire at her third race start. Using her inside barrier she jumped well and settled second on the rails with the leader just outside her. On straightening Brendan Ward strode her to the lead and she finished the race off well to hold out the swooper by a head. She had had no luck in her first two starts so it was great to see her win.
Date published: 06/02/12
Natch Catch at Canberra
Natch Catch had a very welcome change of luck to win a Benchmark 65 1400m at Canberra. Brendan Ward worked her across to settle on the rails just off the pace She was four lengths off the lead at the turn. On straightening Brendan angled her out to get a clear run out wide at the 300m. She then exhibited her usual strong sprint to quickly gather in the leaders and run away to a 1.5 length win. She had been racing well without luck and fully derserved the win.
Date published: 29/01/12
Tallow Beach Back on Wave
Tallow Beach had another win in a Class 2 1200m at Wagga. From her wide barrier she didn't show her usual speed and settled behind the leaders and three wide. Michael Travers started to move her up around the field approaching the turn and she worked into the race strongly to hit the lead at the 300m. She fought strongly in the straight to hold off the challengers and win by half a length. A tough win under a big weight and caught wide the whole way. She has been most consistent with three wins and a second in her last four starts.
Date published: 27/01/12
Capital Commander Top Lady at Magic Millions
Capital Commander scored a brilliant win in the $200,000 Fillies and Mares Handicap at the Magic Milllions raceday at the Gold Coast. From barrier one she jumped well but could not go the early pace and settled behind the leader on the rails. On the turn the horse one out ran off giving Glynn Schofield a saloon passage where he was able to hook around the leader. She soon went to the lead and finished very strongly to have over a length margin at the finish. Great excitement for a very vocal group of owners. This Commands mare has improved considerably and in four starts this preparation has won three and been second once and has collected close to $200,000 in prizemoney. She will now look to the listed National Sprint on Black Opal Day.
Date published: 17/01/12
Capital Commander Draws Barrier One
Capital Commander has drawn perfectly in barrier one for the $163,000 Fillies and Mares Quality handicap (1300M) at the Magic Millions meeting on the Gold Coast tomorrow. The four-year old will be Canberra's only representative on Magic Millions Day. Capital Commander has been in brilliant form this preparation, winning in two of her three starts including a last start win at Warwick Farm on December 17. The Commands mare's third race this preparation was a length second to Viva Las in the $50,000 Snake Gully Cup at Gundagai in November. "She has been going really well," trainer Nick Olive said. "She won last start in Sydney and since than I reckon she has improved again so I am really happy." Capital Commander travelled up to the Gold Coast last Friday and has acclimatised well to the warmer Queensland conditions. "She travelled up here well and she has done everything right," Olive said. Capital Commander has run into a hot field which includes ten last start winners. "It is a pretty strong field but I think she is going to be in the top four chances." One of Sydney's leading jockeys, Glyn Schofield, has been booked the the ride, with Olive labelling Demanding Miss and Miss Marx as the main dangers in tomorrow's race. Reprinted from the Canberra Times, Friday 13 January 2012.
Date published: 16/01/12
Another Conquest at Wagga
The Conqueror had another strong win in a Class 2 1600m at Wagga. From his outside barrier he jumped well and Brendan Ward worked him over to sit in second position outside the leader. On straightening Brendan started to move him up and he quickly went to the lead. Under his big weight he fought on very well to hold off the swoopers and have a long neck margin on the line. This well named horse has now had three wins and a second from four starts this preparation.
Date published: 15/01/12
McGovern Dominates at Sapphire
McGovern had a a very dominant win in a Class 2 1000m at Sapphire. She jumped well and travelled one of the rails just off the lead. On straightening Brendan Ward started to move her up and she hit the lead at the 200m then finished very strongly to run away to a 4.5 length winning margin. A welcome return to the winners circle after a number of minor placings in recent starts and hopefully she can go on to further wins.
Date published: 04/01/12
The Conqueror does at Canberra
The Conqueror had a decisive victory in a Class 1 1300m at Canberra. He travelled off the pace in the running and was still well back approaching the turn. Brendan Ward pulled him wide on the turn and he sprinted powerfully down the outside and put paid to the opposition in a few strides. He finished very strongly to win running away by 1.5 lengths. He has now had two wins and a second in three strarts this preparation and is starting to realise the potential he has always shown.
Date published: 02/01/12
Tide in again for Tallow Beach
Tallow Beach made it two wins in a row in a Class 2 1200m at Wagga. She jumped well and Mick Travers had an armchair ride bowling along in front. She was two lengths clear at the turn and finished on very strongly to have a very comfortable four lengths win. It took her eleven races to break through but she has won consecutive races despite the class rise and hopefully can go on through the grades.
Date published: 24/12/11
Capital Commands Saturday Metro Win
Capital Commander continued her good form this preparation in an all the way win a Benchmark 80 1300m at Warwick Farm. She jumped well and went straight to the lead where Nash Rawiller rated her perfectly to lead uncontested to the turn. Several horses challenged in the straight but she fought on well, especially over the last 50m, to win by a long neck. The win put her prizemoney over the 100K mark and she has won seven races from 17 starts with two wins and a second from three starts this preparation.
Date published: 21/12/11
