Thoroughbred Horses

Current Racing & Breeding Activities - Updated: 20/03/09


Ashikaga proved an abject failure at Newcastle on Wednesday in the Group 3 Newmarket Hcp.  Forced to race outside his comfort zone Ashikaga was caught wide early and then raced to sit outside the leader in a very fast run race.  The winner smashed to course record running 1.20 and Ashikaga was very disappointing starting at $1.90 favourite.  This horse seems much better when he is allowed to control the tempo of the race and reminds me a lot of Desert War who was very similar in that when he was out of his comfort zone he was inclined to give up.  Ashikaga will be put over some hurdles at Randwick by Gai to sharpen him up and he will appear in blinkers at his next start which is the Group 3 Ajax Stakes 1500m over at Rosehill on 28th March.

Gooree has a large representation of four runners at the STC's opening day of the Golden Slipper Carnival at Rosehill this Saturday.

Kicking off is Encosta de Lago 2 year old Rhythm of Dance in the Group 2 Todman Stakes over 1200m.  This horse was most impressive when winning his maiden at Kembla Grange a few weeks ago but certainly has been thrown in the deep end against Golden Slipper 2nd favourite Real Saga and the Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward for Effort.  His work has been very sharp this week with the addition of blinkers and whilst in a very tough race Gai is very confident Rhythm of Dance will run very well.

Star 3 year old colt Northern Meteor starts in the Group 2 Canterbury Stakes over 1200m at Rosehill on Saturday.  His first start back from a spell was two weeks ago in the Newmarket Hcp up the  straight at Flemington when a slashing forth doing his best work on the line.  He has improved in fitness since his first up run and is well suited in the weight for age scale for this race.  His work has been excellent this week at Randwick and he should prove very hard to beat from gate 1 and ridden by Blake Shinn.

Tough 3 year old Choisir filly Gold Water gets her chance at a Group 1 tomorrow in the Coolmore Classic over 1500m.  To be ridden by apprentice Daniel Ganderton this filly gets in with 51kg after a very successful Melbourne campaign.  It is a very big field and a tough race but from gate 12 she should roll forward and hopefully control the pace.  This is Daniel's first ride in a Group 1 and it is a great opportunity.  We have used Daniel before, he has won on this filly and with 51kg on her back she will run a very cheeky race.

Promising 3 year old colt Emotional Outburst by Johannesburg runs in the group 2 Phar Lap Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill on Saturday.  This horse was won his first two starts at Newcastle and Randwick most impressively and has certainly been thrown in the deep end here in the Phar Lap Stakes as it is a very competitive field.  His work has been excellent on the track this week and Gai is very confident that he will run a super race on Saturday.  To be ridden by Blake Shinn this horse is out of a half sister to Northern Meteor, a family that has been very kind to Gooree over the last few years.

3 year old filly Above Perfection by Encosta de Lago out of our stakes winning mare Actress gets her chance at stakes level on Sunday in the listed Keith Nolan Classic over 1600m at Kembla Grange.   This filly was most impressive winning by 4 lengths at Warwick Farm over 1400m two weeks ago.  It is a big jump in class for this filly but she has continued to improve in her work on the track and is highly promising.  Ridden by Blake Shinn from gate 4 both Gai and Blake are very confident this filly will be most competitive on Saturday at her first crack at black type.