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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.

Thursday 24 July 2008

BLACK HABIT AGAIN


BLACK HABIT with Paul Harvey on board is eased on the line after winning her second race in a row.(Photo courtesy Hollands Photogrphics)

It is a nice habit that BLACK HABIT is forming. Yesterday in what ended up being very ordinary conditions, the filly showed that her win at Northam last start was no fluke when she again came from well back to win her second race for this campaign. The filly will probably only have one or two more runs before she is given a good spell and I am confident that she can come back a nice four year old mare.

BLACK HABIT has raced in great form this preparation and she has matured into a real nice filly. With a good spell and without the pressure of being aimed at group races, I expect her to be able to string a few together next preparation and repay her connections faith in her. You never know. I may even be able to get her part owner "HENCHIE" to part with some money and buy me a beer or two now!!

Tuesday 22 July 2008

TEN EVENT CARD FOR BELMONT TOMORROW

Tomorrow's meeting at Belmont signals the first of what looks like being a number of ten race programmes in the coming weeks. This has been brought about because of the closure of the Northam Race Track which has problems with the grass track. Can't say that ten race cards are my favourite way of spending the afternoon however if we happen to win a race or two I am sure nobody here will be complaining. In reality we actually do have a number of chances tomorrow and I wouldn't dismiss the chances of most of my five runners.

We start off the day with lightly raced 2yo DESTROID. The horse made his race debut two weeks ago when running a very promising 3rd at good prices in similar company. The horse is sure to be improved by the run and he should run another bold race. The pressure is on me to win a race with him soon as I have opened my big mouth as usual and put the challenge to his group of part owners as to who would have a win first, DESTROID or the EAGLES footy team to which the owners have a major affiliation. Go DESTROID!!

We then go to race 3 where we have two runners, PIRATES GOLD and SHOW STORM. PIRATES GOLD ran a great race first up at Northam however SHOW STORM ran a shocker on the same day. She doesn't appear to like wet tracks so hopefully the rain will hold off till late in the day. PIRATES GOLD has done well since the run but he didn't perform at 1400m last preparation before I took over his training so that could be a query.

BLACK HABIT ran well when winning at Northam last start and the step up to 1700m tomorrow looks ideal for her. The filly has been a bit unlucky yet consistent this campaign and she thoroughly deserves another win. It will be a very popular win if she can pull it off.

In the second last race on the program we have GLEN ERIN LASS racing first up. This filly showed great form in her first preparation before having a few setbacks last campaign. Being galloped on badly across her hind tendon didn't help her cause although the enforced spell has done her the world of good and allowed her to develop and mature.

On what looks like being a tough day at the track I will be happy if my horses can run up to their best and we can bring home a winner....or two!

Wednesday 16 July 2008

THE INDUSTRY HAS HAD A GUTS FULL

When speaking to people in various sections of the racing industry today, one thing became blatantly obvious. Everyone has had enough! Enough of the apparent lack of accountability at the top level. Enough of the apparent lack of accountability with those in charge of provincial clubs and enough of the buck passing and hand balling which goes on when a problem arises. As one well informed wag commented.... "Its a shame the Eagles can't get some of these guys playing for them. They would have a team of champion hand ballers!"

Seriously though. How many more stuff-ups do we have to endure before those in charge start to listen to the industry participants? No matter how glossy or smooth the press releases coming out of head office are made to be, we are up the proverbial creek without a paddle. When will they begin to get their heads out of the clouds and start to listen to people at the grass roots level? That was probably a bad choice of words wasn't it?

I have just looked at the revised Belmont Park race programmes issued by RWWA. Overnight we have had races deleted from the Belmont mid week programmes without any apparent concern whatsoever. Races which we as trainers or owners, programme our horses for some weeks ahead. Often months ahead. Once again stakeholders foot the bill for someone else's incompetence. Sorry. I mean frost!

Tuesday 15 July 2008

HERE WE GO AGAIN

No sooner do we come off a fully cancelled Pinjarra season and here we are just a third of the way through the Northam season with more cancellations. Add to that the fascicle situation that we have had at York this season and one really wonders what exactly is going on with our tracks. Is it our weather or is it those in charge.

Why is it that in this day and age, with the amount of money involved both in stakes, turnover, staff wages and everything else involved in making this industry tick, that we continue to leave the condition of the racing surfaces in the hands of on most occasions AMATEURS???

I'm not saying that this is the case at Northam. What I am saying is that if RWWA is serious about taking control of racing and are in charge of provincial racing, then maybe they need to get the system sorted out sooner than later. Its not a case of if it ain't broken, then don't try to fix it. I am convinced that the system is not only broken, it will only get worse if we don't put competent people in charge of what is the very fundamental requirement of running a race meeting. Having a suitable racing surface!!!!!

We can provide top class horses, champion trainers, jockeys and apprentices, however if we can't race because of an unsuitable racing surface we may as well all give up. This time we are blaming the frosts. Maybe so. If the track is that cut up to the degree that there are bare patches as was stated in the RWWA press release, I am very keen to see how the problem will be fixed over the next 4-6 weeks at a time when most grasses remain dormant. Stay tuned. It can only get better. Or can it???

BLACK HABIT BREAKS THROUGH



BLACK HABIT bursts through the middle of the pack to score a gutsy win at Northam on Thursday with Jason Whiting on top. (Photo courtesy Hollands Photographics)

Smart thee year old filly BLACK HABIT broke through for an overdue win when dropped back to easier maiden company at Northan on Thursday. The daughter of Blackfriars has promised so much in her short career, however injury and taking time to mature have prevented her having a better record so far.

BLACK HABIT will probably only have one or two more runs for this campaign before she goes for a good long spell. The filly has not had a lot of paddock time over the past six months and I am confident that with a good spell she is capable of coming back and developing into a consistent city class performer. I will allow her to tell me when she has had enough and as soon as she has it will be off to Amelia Park to enjoy some R&R.

Thursday 10 July 2008

BUSY DAY AT NORTHAM TODAY

We don't usually have more than one or two runners a day at Northam however today we will be there from the first through till the last with four more in between. Although most of the runners are strong chances in their races, I have to say that it is not the ideal to have that many runners at a provincial meeting. What it means is that there are a lot of horses coming through the system here which may not be up to city standards. At the end of the day, if they have to go to the provincials to earn money then so be it. The biggest task is to make sure that we are able to assess when they are on their mark and to make sure nobody wastes time or money on horses which can't pay their way.

Today we take SEATON ROSS (will be better next preparation with more maturity), BLACK HABIT (will be disappointed if she gets beaten), SHOW STORM (a chance off her first up run), PIRATES GOLD (going well but this may be a touch short), SNOOKIE THE BOOKIE (hard to beat off her run two starts ago) and SHASHTI (needs to improve on her first up run).

Today will help decide which way we head in the future with this group of horses. They don't have to win to hold their place in the team however they do have to show that they deserve their place.

WEST COAST EAGLES CLOSE TO A WIN!!!

Judging by the first up performance of DESTROID at Belmont yesterday, the boys from the West Coast Eagles may be closer to their next win than most people think. The horse is owned by Mr Peter Walsh along with a host of "older" boys from the Eagles and it was great to see the horse finish off his race in such good style yesterday.

Having his first start in a race and coming off the back of a 400m trial, the horse lived up to our expectations by finishing off the race in great fashion.Not only did he live up to expectations, the $12.20 that the horse paid for a place was certainly enough to add to the smiles of those who stuck with him.

The horse has shown good form in training and DESTROID shows that he has a bright future and could be suited over 1200m and further.It could be a race between DESTROID and the West Coast Eagles as to who can get over the line first!!!