News and Press
Dexcellent Dancing Double on Melbourne Cup Day
Melbourne Cup Day 2008 ended up being a very successful day for the stable with two winners and a second in Canberra and a third placing in Sydney. Dexcellent started the day off well with an all the way victory in a Maiden over 1400m in her second start for the stable. This was followed by the victory in a strong local handicap over 1600m by Dance On Board, which is a lead up to the Canberra Cup. Predominance also ran a good race in her lead up to the same Cup with a fighting third at Randwick. Nick Olive Racing looks like having a good representation in the Canberra Cup this year with Dance On Board, Predominance, Johanrutz and Voice Commander all heading in that direction.
Date published: 07/11/08
Agyieus Shows Street Cred
Agyieus, a well named son of Street Cry, won his second race start ina 1100m Maiden at Queanbeyan on Derby Day. From his wide barrier he worked over to be third just behind the leaders in the running. Mark Smetzer worked him into the race on the trun and despite being green, he finished strongly down the outside to win by a half length. The roar from the very large group of owners, most first timers, would not have been out of place at Flemington. The partying continued long into the night with a very large number of race replays.
Date published: 06/11/08
Quichang Salutes at Goulburn
With two good seconds in two starts this preparation, Quichang put the writing on the wall for his well deserved win in a 1600m Class 1 at Goulburn. On jumping and being caught wide for most of the race he worked onto the pace at the turn. Showing a real appreciation for the big weight drop, Quichang drove through the pack and in a blanket finish closed strongly to win by a neck. Jockey Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins showing maturity and skill beyond his brief race experience. A very gutsy win by a small horse with a big heart.
Date published: 06/11/08
Commanding Voice at Rosehill
Voice Commander won a 1 Metropolitan Win 1400m race at Rosehill on Saturday 25 October. He drew very wide in barrier 11 in a very strong and open field of 13. From his wide barrier he worked across to be parked outside the leader at the first turn. He ran into the lead at the turn but was soon headed and at the 200 he looked well beaten. Under vigorous riding from Tye Angland he knuckled down to his task to come again and really stretched out and was doing better on the line to grab a photo finish by a half head. With this campaign being dogged by wet tracks he clearly enjoyed the good track and produced a very gutsy win, his second in town. Further wins look likely in the near future.
Date published: 27/10/08
A Return Asquick Aszariz
Asquick Aszariz returned to racing witha very strong first up win against a good field at Wagga Wagga in a 1200m Rating 62 race. From Barrier 1 he was a little tardy on jumping but used the barrier to work up for a good trail behind the leader. Jockey, Nick Souquet, pushed out on the turn and the horse quickly went to lead which was extended down the long Murrumbidgee Turf Club straight. It was a dominant win by two and a half lengths for a very delighted and exuberant Souquet. This gave the strong contingent of owners present a very comfortable and enjoyable win. Asquick Aszariz has now had two wins from four starts and the future looks bright.
Date published: 13/10/08
Another Canberra Double
The stable secured another double at the Canberra meet on Saturday 4th October with The Red Fox showing plenty of guts and raw ability to win his first start, a 1200m Maiden by a neck. The son of Beckett, jumped and was eased back to find a spot from his wide alley but would not settle so jockey, Patrick Murphy, pulled him out and let him stride from 700m three and four wide. He lead around the turn and was headed at the 200m but fought hard to be pulling away at the post. While very green, The Red Fox shows plenty of potential.
Zakynthos Expectus made it two wins from as many starts with the stable when he led from barrier to post, winning comfortably by one and a half lengths. It was the horses first start this preparation, and was just too strong, giving nothing else a chance. Connections enjoyed the comfortable win and look forward to his next start with great anticipation.
Date published: 07/10/08
Swashbuckling Double for Swashknuckler and Romanesco
The last meeting on the Acton Track for 2008 finished in splendid style for the stable with Swashknuckler and Romanesco both breaking their maiden. Swashknuckler, after 15 months off the racing scene with injury, jumped well and travelled third to the turn where soon after he took the lead and scorched away from the rest of the field to win by four lengths and in smart time. Romanesco broke her maiden in the following race. She was slow to begin but then gradually worked her way into the race, hitting the lead with 100m to go and winning by a margin of one and a half lengths. This was great result for the More Than Ready filly being only her second race start. There should be more wins in store for both horses in the near future.
Date published: 08/09/08
Rhumba Annihilates Them on Acton
Grand Rhumba continued his great first up record with a blistering win by seven and a half lengths on the Acton track at Canberra. Ridden by leading district apprentice Tommy Berry, he jumped well from barrier one to lead and dictate terms to the turn where he proceeded to scorch away to win impressively in class record time. Rhumba will be given a short freshen up before his next assignment.
Date published: 22/08/08
Goose Scores Golden Result
Two year old Our Grey Goose scored a strong win in a 1200m maiden at Wagga Wagga at her second race start. Goose, who has overcome a number of challenges in the lead up to her racing career, followed the old adage that if you jump in front and stay there you will win. She jumped brilliantly to land a length in front and then cruised along in the lead. The challenges came in the long Wagga Wagga straight but despite being a little green she hung on strongly to score by a length against her older rivals. She had put the writing on the wall when she was a solid third at her first start at Canberra.The win was the second in a month for connections who also race Drewcilla. Our Grey Goose has now gone for a spell with bigger things expected for her next preparation.
Date published: 31/07/08
A Well Placed Weekend
Palace Playgirl put a smile on Luke's face with a barrier to post win at the Cowra picnics. Apparently a very good day was had by the bus load of followers who showed up as much as Palace. The stable had a strong representation with six runners at the Canberra Acton meeting. All runners performed well but without luck to finish with two seconds and two thirds. Our Grey Goose opened her racing career with a good third after being wide throughout and to be beaten by a length in the 1080m maiden. A strong racing career looks likely. St Emilion resumed from a spell in the rating 72 1206m to be sent out favourite and ran a great race in finishing second. He dropped out early and finished strongly down the outside but could not haul in the leader. He will benefit from the run and it looks like another good preperation coming up. In the rating 77 1750m Red Pier ran a much improved race to finish third, beaten by a neck after again being forced wide and finishing strongly down the outside. He has performed well at his last two starts on the Acton track. Tonne of Glory, who dropped out early and was forced very wide on the turn also finished very strongly down the outside to finish a very close second in the rating 62 1080m. She continues to show her liking for the Acton track and a win looks just around the corner. A good day but one of not much luck which could of resulted in several winners.
Date published: 15/07/08
