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Luciani Racing News

Lou Luciani is one of the most experienced horse trainers in WA. He offers owners a complete package, from selecting and buying a horse through to agistment, training and racing. He takes care of everything – from organizing horse floats to taking care of paperwork – so that owners can have as much or as little hands-on as they want.

Saturday 30 June 2007

STAFF.... THEY CAN BE SUCH TREASURES!

OK. So I asked for it. I don't think I have had such a response ever before to anything that I have ever placed on this site as the response I have had to my article on Friday regarding the "STARS".

Apart from coping it all day yesterday at an end of financial year luncheon put on by my good friend and client Kieth (whopper) Biggs, I have had to endure a day of smart arse remarks at the races today. As if that isn't enough, when I checked my mail this morning, the staff have decided to get in on the act and they have posted a response under the comments section of the particular article. For those who would like a better understanding of how and what my staff think..... check it out.

Thanks girls but just remember. The boss is always right. Even when I am wrong. Which is very very very rare. So rare in fact that I can't remember the last time.

Keep smiling and have a great weekend.

Friday 29 June 2007

FOUR RUNNERS FOR BELMONT

As we head further into the Belmont season I will probably begin to have a few more runners especially young unraced horses.

Tomorrow we head out to the races with three first uppers as well as CELT CODE in the Belmont Oaks. Don't be put off by her last start failure as there were some very genuine reasons which have been reported in the stewards report. The filly is going very well and she only needs to have a trouble free run with a genuine pace on for her to shake the life out of the race.

My other runners include PRICELESS SYMBOL who is racing first up after a very good campaign last time around. He may take a run or two to hit his top. In the first race we have two 2yo's racing first up after a spell. Both LA COUREUSE and BLESCAY are training very nicely and LA COUREUSE already has the score on the board. Both fillies bump into a pretty smart field for their return tomorrow however they are both worth following throughout this campaign. There are huge wraps on the top weight in race one, a horse called DARK TARGET who has only had one start and set a new record when winning very impressively at a mid week meeting recently.

Happy punting and good luck for the week end.

WHAT THE STARS HAVE TO SAY!!!!

Now this one is for those of you who still believe that I can't sit back and laugh at myself.

Over the years I have neither read nor put any credence in the stars - horoscope stars I am talking about. Then again I could say the same thing about the other "stars" such as Tom Cruise, Paris Hilton etc etc. Anyway enough digressing. During the week I was asked by a friend if I had read my stars for the day in the morning paper. When I said that I took no notice of my stars, I was told that I should read them on that particular day as they appeared very relevant to me.

Here is what they had to say........


Insightful by nature but inclined towards bluntness, others often misjudge you. To turn things around you should stop being such a smart alec and start expressing yourself more graciously. Learn to listen as ably as you lecture.


Now I must admit that the words I read appeared to be very prophetic. So much so that I was going to send a copy to the stewards who seem to often misjudge what I have had to say!

In all seriousness though, I have to admit that the few words are probably more a reflection of most days of my life than any particular day however I do agree with every one of them!

Friday 22 June 2007

BUSY DAY AT THE BELMONT TRIALLS.

Next Monday will see us have a very very busy and interesting day at the Belmont trials. I have ten horses listed to start however I doubt very much if they will all go around. I am not a big fan of trials at the best of time let alone having ten in the one morning. We don't do it very often so I guess I shouldn't complain.

I tend to use trials for the purpose of qualifying to race only and it is very rare if one of my horses shows up in a trial. This is simply because of the way I train where I like to leave plenty of improvement in each horse after they have trialled and I then like to see if they make that improvement. If I had my way I doubt that I would take many if any of my horses to the trials if it wasn't a condition prior to them starting. I have always felt that most "professional trainers" are capable of producing well schooled and well educated young horses to the races and have them perform genuinely without the need for a trial.

Either way the next month or so should see us have a bit of fun with our unraced and lightly raced young horses. I do love training young horses and watching the improvement that they can make from one gallop to another and from one preparation to another. Then of course there are the ones who show enough to keep you interested but don't improve a yard.

It's all good fun and I can't imagine training a team of horses that didn't include a lot of young unraced ones!

TWO POSSIBLE RUNNERS FOR SATURDAY

This weekend sees us with two runners at Belmont however neither of them are certain to start. Alcedo has again drawn wide and I will assess the weather conditions on the day before we decide if we will run. I am keen to run on a wet track however I am not keen to run if we have the same strong easterly winds that we had last week. As I have mentioned before, back markers are at a distinct disadvantage when the easterly breeze is blowing and it was very unusual to see that sort of weather pattern exist at Belmont in late June. If ALCEDO doesn't run he will be kept for an easier race next week.

My other runner FAIREST AND BEST will also be buttering up from last Saturday's meeting where he ran a mighty race under the conditions. He is however stepping up from 1200m to 1650m in a week on what looks like being a wet track. The only reason I wanted him to run was to assess him at the 1600m however the wet track and the extra 50m may make it a bit hard to get a true guide. Instead we may opt for the easier option of Wednesdays 1300m 2yo class six event which should be right up his alley.

I will decide in the morningb after studying the Fields for next week as well as the weather. Where ever they run they should both perform well however it will be the last start for both horses before they head out for a winter spell.

Thursday 7 June 2007

IT APPEARS TO GET EASIER FOR ALCEDO



JASON WHITING JUST CRUISES AROUND FOR THE RIDE ON ALCEDO YESTERDAY1

Two wins one week apart for up and coming young galloper ALCEDO and the second win appeared to be easier and more impressive than the third. This is the third win in a row for ALCEDO after having won at Northam about three weeks ago. It has been well documented, the frustration this horse has caused me and the disappointment he has caused the connections however good things come to those who wait...... or so the saying goes.

I must admit that when the owners informed me about six weeks ago that they had all had enough with the horse, that I was not surprised. I am not sure why but I talked the owners into leasing me the horse for a month or so as I felt we had not exhausted all our tricks with him. After agreeing to take him on lease and the owners agreeing to lease him to me, I felt that the horse started to turn the corner as far as putting things together. I told them all that I was happy to take him on lease, however I felt that they should continue on a bit longer with him before giving up.

As much as I may have missed out on a few extra dollars, nothing can compare with the thrill this horse winning has brought to his connections especially his most senior part owner Mr Vern Walsh.Vern brought the horse at the Perth yearling sales a few years ago under my recommendation and I must admit my judgement was starting to look pretty shaky there for a while. Vern has been a staunch stable supporter for a number of years and there was nothing I wanted more than to see this horse come good. Hopefully the horse can continue his rapid improvement of late and carry his form into Saturday company next start.

Wednesday 6 June 2007

OK ALL YOU SMART ARSES. TRY THIS!!!!

Now I admit, I am the first one to have a crack at someone if they can't perform a simple task. I am also the first one to boast that it is hard to put one over me. Well anyone who can perform the next simple little task, without stuffing up, wins a prize. All you have to do is to show me that you can do it. Now for the "it".

1. While sitting in a chair, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles with it. (simple enough!)

2 Now while you are doing this, draw the number "6" in the air out in front of you with your right hand. Your foot will change directions. I told you so.... and there aint nothing you can do about it.

Drop me a line if and when you manage to beat the system!!!!

THE GIRLS GET A KICK OUT OF THIS WIN.


ROYALE HARVEST is led back to scale by a very doting strapper, SARAH BROWN and a very happy part owner SHIRLEY PIPER representing the AMELIA PARK CLUB after the mare won her sixth race for this season at Belmont on Saturday. This was SHIRLEY'S third lead in for the afternoon having been involved with two other winners earlier in the day.

HOW TOUGH IS THIS MARE?


Jason Whiting eases ROYALE HARVEST down on the line after another brilliant win at Belmont on Saturday. This is her sixth win in town this season. I would certainly like another half a dozen like her!!!

ALCEDO SHOWS HIS WINNING STYLE AT BELMONT


ALCEDO puts in a near last to first effort in the straight to win at Belmont last Wednesday. We will find out today if he can repeat the effort in the last race.

Sunday 3 June 2007

ITALIAN FLAVOUR AT BELMONT

What a day ROMA CUP DAY has become at Belmont Park every year lately. This year was no exception with another bumper crowd in attendance. This, even with the EAGLES playing across town in what was billed as one of the games of the round. The usual entertainment was on show including the lovely Miss Italy Quest entrants, the Italian musicians and singers along with the sensational food including pizza, pasta, pork rolls and Sicilian sweets.

Apart from all these distractions, my interest was more in my two runners for the afternoon, FAIREST AND BEST in race one and ROYALE HARVEST in race six. FAIREST AND BEST was the best of good things beaten after settling at the rear of the field and being held up a number of times in the straight. He is a horse to follow.

ROYALE HARVEST didn't let me down when it came to her turn to perform with a brave effort coming from just off the pace to defeat a good field of in form gallopers. Carrying the red white and green colours of part owner Mr PETER WALSH (the same colours as the Italian flag) ROYALE HARVEST showed just what a good mare she has developed into, winning her sixth city race for this season. She sure has developed into a stable favourite, not just because of her winning ways. She is a real character and has some quirky habits which set her apart from the average horse.

ROYALE HARVEST will probably have a short let up now before being set for the HANNANS HANDICAP at Kalgoorlie in early September. Its a shame the Belmont Sprint is two weeks away because if it were to be run next week end she would be running and be giving it a real shake.

Saturday 2 June 2007

ALCEDO AGAIN.

Wonders never cease! I don't mean that in a nasty way but more in a sense of relief. Those who have followed the mixed fortunes and recent web articles on my horse ALCEDO will know where I am coming from. After enduring a couple of seasons of frustration with this horse he may just be beginning to get the hang of this racing caper. Or maybe we may be starting to learn more and more about him which is probably more to the point.

At Belmont last Wednesday, ALCEDO put in a performance which would make any open class sprinter proud. The horse settled well back in the field and the sprint he showed when pulled out in the straight would win nearly any Saturday race. I have not seen a horse finish as fast for a long time. Naturally I have a very happy group of owners who only four weeks ago were ready to add ALCEDO to the "retired forever" list but now are getting some much overdue pleasure from the horse.

We can only keep our fingers crossed and hope that the horse continues to grow in confidence and can repeat his last few performances. The horse will be kept in mid week company for at least one more run.