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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 30 October 2008

GUYNO LOOKS A TREAT

I have just returned from track work at Flemington where GUYNO has just completed his second last fast work out before the big event on Tuesday.

DION once again rode the horse in the workout and after some warm up jog work the horse worked over two laps doing strong pace work from the 2000m, evens 1600m improving the final 800m in about 54secs. The horse pulled up a treat and recovered quickly from the workout.

The horse looks an absolute treat and I have no doubt he will be one of the best looking horses in the mounting yard on Tuesday. Not only that, GUYNO will also be as fit as any horse going into the race. The horse appears to be reaching his peak at the right time. Now all I am looking for is a kind barrier (inside of seven would be nice) and I am confident that my horse is ready to run the race of his life.

It was very refreshing this morning when the first face I recognised walking through the tunnel on the way out to the track was that of Perth Jockey-Trainer, SJ Miller who is riding work at Flemington for top trainer Danny O'Brien. Stephen commented on how well GUYNO was looking and how well he had done since his last run.

After GUYNO worked I bumped into trainer David Hayes who has been kind enough to let me house GUYNO at his stables for his spring campaign. David also passed the same comment on how well GUYNO had come on in recent weeks and how well he looked.

GUYNO will have his last fast work out at Flemington on Saturday or Sunday and I can only hope that everything can hold together until the big day. More importantly it will be just as important that the horse pulls up well after the race. The closer we get to the race the more I am looking forward to the big day.

Wednesday 29 October 2008

BRING ON THE FIRST TUESDAY

After much conjecture during the past week as to whether GUYNO was in the Melbourne Cup field or not, I can confirm that I have been given 100% assurance that he is in and will not lose his place.

Most of the conjecture came about from eastern states press who kept calling and telling me that his place was in doubt even though I had confirmation that it wasn't. That said, I am relieved that the in out saga has ended and I am looking forward to attending my first ever Melbourne Cup. Fancy that? First ever Melbourne Cup and I have a runner in it.

I have been at Flemington on Derby Day and Oaks Day however I have avoided Cup Day like the plague. I'm not a great one for big crowds! A few months ago, when there was a chance that GUYNO was going to be heading over for the Cup, I was lucky enough to be able to book the family in for the day. In fact Derby Day as well. I am sure it will be a great experience for us all and hopefully we will have a big day irrespective of the final result.

GUYNO continues to please DION in all his work and the horse appears to be thriving. I am heading over later today to soak up the Cup week fever and do what I can to ensure our horse presents and performs as well as he possibly can. Knowing GUYNO as I do, I am confident that he will give his all as he always does. There are few more consistent, tougher or more genuine horses ever to have passed through my stables and his super casual nature makes him a favourite with everyone.

GO GUYNO!!!!!!

Tuesday 28 October 2008

MOCCASIN FOR BURGESS QUEEN

Impressive last start winner MOCCASIN BEND will line up at Ascot again this weekend however this time she wont be pitted against the colts. This time she will race against her own sex and a good result will see her head on towards the W.A. GUINEAS.

The filly has done very well since her win in the BELGRAVIA STAKES and I would expect her to run a similar race this weekend. She will have to carry a fair bit more weight this weekend however she will get her chance to get a weight advantage the next time she meets the boys.

I am not certain that she will run out a strong 1600m however her class and the way she is learning to relax suggest that it should not be too far for her. Saturdays race will give us a better indication.

Monday 27 October 2008

GUYNO MAKES THE CUT

When 3rd acceptances were taken today for the 2008 Melbourne Cup, GUYNO has moved along nicely in the order of elimination to now be all but assured of a run.

There were 39 third acceptors for the race and GUYNO is the 22nd highest rated horse to accept. With a field limit size of 24, it all but assures him of a start. The only way for him to be knocked out now is if one of the lower weighted horses should happen to win either the SAAB or the MACKINNON STAKES on Saturday and then get a penalty to push their weight up higher than ours.

This is still very possible considering there are a number of horses weighted within 2.0kg of GUYNO who are engaged on Saturday, who could leap ahead of him should they win either of the last two races to attract a penalty.

At this stage GUYNO is also nominated for both races at Flemington on Saturday and a final decision on if and where he starts will be left until the final minute. If he does run on Saturday he will be ridden for the first time by top Melbourne rider Craig Newitt who is keen to throw his leg over the horse. Craig can ride at under 50.0kg which means we have a strong fit rider to put on our horse in the Cup. Brad Rawiller who has ridden the horse at his last three starts can not ride below 55.0kg which ruled him out as a possible rider for the Cup.

Sunday 26 October 2008

GUYNO TO PUSH ON

I have to say that I went to Geelong last week with a horse I thought would win the Geelong Cup. I left the course convinced that my judgement was fairly spot on however I had not allowed for as much bad luck. I am confident and convinced that we should have either won or run second at worst in the event.

That may be a big call considering the horse was beaten 3.5 lengths and appeared to have had the run of the race. What it does not show is how badly the horse was held up from about the 550m mark until about the 150m mark by which time it was all over. My own impression was that the horse was unlucky and would have run a place with clear running. The jockey revealed after the race that in his opinion there was no doubt he was going to win the race before running into a dead end.

The horse has come out of the race feeling great and we aim to continue on with him. The horse will run again at Flemington next Saturday in the 2500m SAAB Quality and we will reassess our options then. The horse is giving every indication that the 3200m of the Cup will pose no problems for him however there is no doubt that with all the European runners in the race this year, it will be a very very tough race to win.

Then again if I know my owners, they are not the type to ever die wondering!!

TWO FOR NORTHAM ON CUP DAY.

We head up to Northam today for the final meeting of the season with two horses both engaged in 1300m maiden races. ALMOHAD and AMELIA STORM will both be looking to break their maiden status and both appear to have some chance on exposed form.

ALMOHAD is an unraced son of ROCK OF GIBRALTAR and he is yet to be produced at the races. He has had a few trials and this is now his third preparation. The horse is a slow maturing type who appears to be putting things together nicely of late. At his most recent trial he ran a nice third at Lark Hill and I would like to think that the trial has brought him forward even further.

AMELIA STORM is also a late maturing type both physically and mentally and I would like to think that he will continue to improve with racing. The horse ran a great race first up at Belmont when running second however his run at Ascot last weekend was well below par. In his defence the horse did over-race quite a bit early in the race and then found himself back in the field when the pace went on mid race. With a more evenly run race and with a subtle gear change the horse should run a lot better race.

Friday 24 October 2008

DOUBLE THE PLEASURE AT ASCOT


MOCCASIN BEND shows true grit as she fights on strongly to beat all the top colts at Ascot on Saturday.


MOCCASIN BEND being led back to scale by a very proud part owner Joe Porter after her win in the Listed BELGRAVIA STAKES at Ascot on Saturday.



Part owner Stefan Vahala with partner Jess Dooley and yours truly admiring ESTIARTE after another great result on Saturday.



ESTIARTE shows just how tough a little horse he is with a great come from behind win with Jason "The Fish" Whiting on board.

Monday 20 October 2008

GUYNO DRAWS ONE AT GEELONG

GUYNO has drawn the pole position for his attempt to win the Geelong Cup on Wednesday.This is quite a rarity for this horse as he has never been one to draw great barriers in any of his races at home. Since arriving in Victoria, the horse has been drawing fairly good barriers and this has enabled him to be ridden a bit closer to the pace.

GUYNO worked strongly at Flemington this morning with Dion on board and he appeared to really finish off his work. The horse has continued to improve in the coat and I will be going into the Geelong Cup with a fit healthy horse who appears to be spot on for the race.

The opposition is much the same as he met last time he ran at Flemington in a race over 2500m. The form from that race has held up with the second horse winning at Caulfield on Saturday and the fourth horse winning at Caulfild the previous Saturday.

I am looking forward to the race after which we will decide which way we go with him. He has a run in the Melbourne Cup if we choose to go that way or he may run in the SAAB on Derby day instead. Either way I am very proud of his efforts so far and he has enough improvement left in him to better those performances.

Sunday 19 October 2008

DOUBLE FOR ASCOT OPENING

I have often said that Ascot is my favourite racecourse and as I left the course yesterday I could find no reason to change my mind.

We went to the races yesterday with three runners and on form all three looked to have some chance. AMELIA STORM R1, ESTIARTE R5 and MOCCASIN BEND R7 had all been in the placings at their previous starts and there appeared to be no reason why they couldn't do the same yesterday. When AMELIA STORM failed to beat a runner home in the first, (due mainly to over racing and inexperience) I felt that the racing gods were certainly not going to shine upon me for the return to Ascot.

How quickly things can change! ESTIARTE came out in the fifth race and blew away a smart field of restricted class gallopers due mainly to a brilliant ride from stable jockey Jason Whiting. Jason rides my horses well however he is at his best when we get the chance to ride a horse off the speed in fast run races as yesterdays race was shaping up to be. For that reason we opted to go back and allow the speed of the race to bring us into the race at the end. The horse did the rest and he will now either have one more run or go to the paddock this week where he can have a well deserved break.

Our last runner MOCCASIN BEND was a real special victory. The filly was coming off a last start defeat as an odds on favourite however I was never confident on that day that the conditions of the race would suit her. After having a bit of a freshen up away from the track, I went to the races with a filly who had plenty of improvement left in her but ready to run a mighty race. I was a bit concerned when the early speed in the race was scratched on race morning as the filly can get on the bridle if her races are run slowly.

Jason tried to get cover early however she just failed to slot in to the one out line and was forced to race three deep without cover for the entire trip. To the filly's credit the filly settled well and Jason was able to time his run to perfection on her. The filly beat a very classy field and has come through the race in great order. She is starting to develop into the race horse we always felt she was capable of becoming.

MOCCASIN BEND will now have two weeks before her next run where she will start in the Burgess Queen Quality over 1400m, a race restricted to fillies. I am looking forward to the race which is run on VRC DERBY DAY.

Tuesday 14 October 2008

GUYNO PLEASES ON WAY TO GEELONG

GUYNO, who appears to be the last W.A. representative left in Victoria at the moment is working in top style as he prepares for his next run at Geelong next week.

My son Dion who is looking after the horse in Melbourne continues to be glowing in his praises of the horses work and his general demeanour. I have found in the past with GUYNO (as with most horses) that when he is happy and feeling well, he performs well. GUYNO has such a relaxed attitude to everything he does that it is hard to get a true reading on exactly how well he is feeling however Dion assures me that the horse is thriving. From past experience I can tell you that Dion is a very very good judge!!

The horse has been pleasing in his work at Flemington and he will have another couple of fast workouts before next Wednesday's race. It will be interesting to see the final make up of the field as I am told that there will be a few internationals in the race trying to Qualify for the Melbourne Cup. It looks like being a hot field but that has not dampened our confidence.

MOCCASIN BEND BACK SATURDAY

Talented filly MOCCASIN BEND, who won two in a row at Belmont last month will return to the racetrack at Ascot on Saturday. The lightly raced filly could not have been more impressive than she was when winning her two races in easy style before things went wrong at her last start.

The filly has had an easy time since the race and spent some time in the paddock whilst doing only light work. She will be very fresh for her return on the weekend however her main mission for this campaign will be the Burgess Queen Quality at her next start. Depending on how she performs in that race we may even look at running her in the W.A. Guineas before she has a good spell.

Monday 13 October 2008

I LOVE THIS ONE

It may just be my sick sense of humour but I do like this simple little email I received today.

Quote from an investment banker: ''This is way worse than a divorce ...I've lost half my net worth and I still have my wife.'

Priceless!!!!!!!

SURE GUYS. I BET HE DID????

One to start off the day !

Sunday 12 October 2008

CHARMING GIRL MY DAUGHTER!!!!

I got a bit of a chuckle out of this email sent to me by my darling daughter. She must have the same sense of humour as me. I hope nobody is offended.

e

SPRING FEVER

After having spent a fair bit of time in Melbourne over the past month or so it is easy to see why it is the sporting capital of Australia. The place is always abuzz with sporting events of one kind or another happening however mid September through to mid November is particularly hectic.

The footy finals through to the Grand Final sets the tone for the spring carnival which is now in full swing but not yet at its peak. That will be when the racing switches to Flemington for the week for The Derby, The Cup, The Oaks and The Emirates Stakes and it is not hard to get caught up in the emotion of it all.

I am just a very small player in the whole affair having GUYNO over there as a possible Melbourne Cup runner. At this stage we are heading for the next level of races however his form will determine which way we ultimately go with him. The hype surrounding the Cup along with the jostling for positions to get a run in the Cup is something I have never experienced before but it sure is exciting. I didn't for one minute expect to be a part of the excitement as it unfolds for this spring and I am certain that my son Dion who is based in Melbourne looking after GUYNO would be feeling the same way.

At this stage we both have our feet firmly planted on the ground as far as our expectations and our capabilities are concerned however it is Melbourne and it is springtime!

Wednesday 8 October 2008

ALL GO WITH GUYNO

GUYNO remains on target for his spring campaign after a very encouraging and close up fifth at Flemington on Saturday. Brad Rawiller who rode the horse felt that he was unlucky not to hold third place after achieving that position with less than 100m left to run. Brad felt that if the horse had more room to run into he would have held third placing.

Considering the horse was racing third up in Melbourne and only fourth up from a long spell, I felt that the run was full of merit. The horse has had a fairly quick step up from 1300m to 1700m to 2000m and then up to 2520m, so he was entitled to feel the pinch on Saturday however he ran the race right out.

At this stage the horse will have his next run at Geelong on Wednesday 22nd of October in the Gr3 Geelong Cup. This race should help us to decide which way he goes after that. If the horse runs a top race which I see no reason why he won't, he will then head to either the Melbourne Cup or the SAAB Quality on Derby day. The SAAB is run over 2500m which would be an ideal race for GUYNO however we have not ruled out a run in the Cup just yet.

GUYNO has given all his connections and all associated with him at LUCIANI STABLES a ton of pleasure over the past few seasons and his casual nature makes him a real favourite amongst the staff both here at home and now even amongst the staff at David Hayes Flemington stables where the horse is stabled.

Meanwhile for those who seem to gain such pleasure out of seeing local horses fail when they head east, perhaps one day they may try to cross Great Eastern Hwy and step out of their insular little world!!

AMELIA STORM SAVED FOR ANOTHER DAY

AMELIA STORM who ran a great race first up last Monday at Belmont and was engaged for race two at Belmont today, has been scratched to be saved for another day.

The horse will either race next Wednesday at Northam or the following Saturday at the opening meeting at Ascot.

AMELIA'S REASON HEADING HOME

Smart three year old AMELIA'S REASON will be heading home to Perth after once again finishing out of the money at Flemington last Sunday. AMELIA'S REASON has not had a lot of luck over in Melbourne and his run at Flemington last start typified just how unlucky he has been.

The horse ran in a 12 horse field up the straight with the field splitting towards the inside and outside of the track. Damien Oliver who rode the horse elected to go to the inside however he was always on heals and never got a true crack at the horses in front of him the whole way up the straight. When he returned to scale Damien was adamant that the horse was very unlucky and should have run a place in the race. The replays confirmed Damien's assessment of this.

With only a couple of suitable races left available for the horse over the rest of the spring, it was decided that the horse would be sent back to Perth without having another run in Melbourne. The horse failed to measure up to the best company over 1200m and had no luck in his next race over 1000m which was the next level down from what he has been competing in. The horse will fly back to Perth on Thursday night.