ALMOHAD ALL DRESSED UP BUT NOWHERE TO GO!!!

On Sunday I stated on this site that a start in the Cup for ALMOHAD was looking more and more doubtful by the day. My assessment that he would be second emergency or maybe first emergency at best was proven to be correct however I was still hopeful of gaining a last minute reprieve. As it stands right now some 38 hours away from final scratchings, that reprieve is looking more and more doubtful by the minute.I have kept my ear to the ground for any news of a late scratching but nothing appears likely.

I have to admit that it is a very strange feeling and one I wouldn't wish on anyone. It is bad enough when you have an emergency in any race and you are sweating on a run however to be first emergency in the Cup with a horse who is ready to run a big race is a very sobering feeling indeed. As I have said all along, if we don't gain a start then so be it and we may run in an 1800m handicap on the same day or we will go for a short break and then have a crack at the SW Cups in a few months time.

One thing is for sure and that is once the final time comes to know if we have gained a run or not, I will be a lot more relaxed either way and hopefully get my first good nights sleep since late last week.

My dear old mum always said, "good things come to those who wait". Trust me mum, I'm waiting!!!!

STILL DOUBT ON ALMOHAD

Yesterdays ATA Quality has thrown more doubt into the equation on whether or not ALMOHAD will gain a start in the 2010 Perth Cup. This is strange territory for me as in previous years I have known well in advance that my horse had a run in the Cup however this year we really are in the lap of the racing gods.

At the time of writing this article I can only see ALMOHAD at second emergency or first emergency at very best at gaining a start. Yesterdays ATA Quality result means that the first and second placegetters are likely to accept for the race having put in good performances. Prior to the race I had both of those horses as possible doubtful starters which would have meant we could have snuck into the final field. Now it will come down to the number of final acceptors as we do not have the form in open class races to ensure we gain a start.

As an emergency I guess we are still some hope of gaining a run right up until 8:00am on Friday morning however it is certainly not the ideal way of preparing for a major race. My horse had a solid workout on the course proper yesterday morning and has come through the work well. He will do his last piece of solid work on Tuesday morning and with a bit of luck we may by then whether or not we are in the race.

Here's hoping!!!!

ALL GO FOR ALMOHAD

After much discussion and weighing up the pro's and cons about running in the 2010 Perth Cup, the decision has been made to pursue that option. I was never keen to run in this weekends ATA Quality and then butter up six days later in the Cup, so we decided to miss that race to concentrate on the Cup.

At this stage the horse still does not have a run in the Cup however he has moved quite a bit closer and the events over the next few days will help determine whether or not we gain a start. I have done a lot of homework on what may or may not accept for the race and at this stage I reckon we are about third emergency with still some doubt on about four horses above ALMOHAD. With natural attrition we should scrape in.

I was just as happy to wait another twelve months for the 2011 Cup, however after assessing where the horse is at, the quality of the field and the keenness of the owners to have a Cup runner, I am more than happy to head down the path of the 2010 Cup. The horse has improved further since his last run and he is still on the up! The horse continues to please in his work and if he had given me any indication that we were trying to "swim out of our depth" I would have recommended a different path for him.

I have to say thank you to the many emails I have had regarding the horse's future and whether or not he will run in the 2010 Cup. The horse appears to have created his own little fan club and I appreciate the well wishes. With a bit of luck he will repay the hopes and confidence of his many supporters.

Meanwhile Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all and I hope the punt is kind to you in 2010.

Louie

AUSSIE FRIENDS Vs WOG FRIENDS

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If you have any problems or are a bit peeved that the following article may not be "Politically Correct" then I apologise in advance but at the end of the day go tell someone who cares!!!

Another sweet little email as sent to me by my darling daughter.


AUSSIE FRIENDS VS WOG FRIENDS



AUSSIE FRIENDS: Move out when they're 18 with the full support of their parents.

WOG FRIENDS: Move out when they're 28, having saved for that nice house and are a week away from getting married...unless there's room for the

Newlyweds at home.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: When their mum visits them she brings a nice bunt cake and you sip coffee and chat.

WOG FRIENDS: When their mum visits them she brings 3 days worth of food and begins to immediately tidy up, dust, do the laundry or rearrange the furniture.



AUSSIE FRIENDS: Their dads always call before they come over to visit them and it's usually only on special occasions.

WOG FRIENDS: Are not at all fazed when their dads come over, unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 8:00am and start pruning the trees with a chainsaw or renovating the garage.



AUSSIE FRIENDS: You can leave your kids with them and you always worry if everything is going to be ok plus you have to feed them after you pick them up.

WOG FRIENDS: No problem, leave the kids there and if they get out of line the WOG friend can set them straight...plus they get fed.



AUSSIE FRIENDS: Always pay retail and look in the yellow pages when they need something done.

WOG FRIENDS: Just call their dad or uncle and ask for another dad's or uncle's phone number to get it done...cash deal, U know what I mean.



AUSSIE FRIENDS: Will come over for cake and coffee and expect cake and coffee, no more.

WOG FRIENDS: Will come over for cake and coffee and expect an antipasto, a few bottles of wine, a pasta dish, a choice of two meats, salad,

bread, potatoes, a nice dessert cake, fruit, coffee and a few after dinner drinks...



AUSSIE FRIENDS: Think that being a wog is a great thing.

WOG FRIENDS: KNOW that being a wog is a great thing.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Never ask for food

WOG FRIENDS: Are the reason you have no food.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.

WOG FRIENDS: Call your parents mum and dad.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.

WOG FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Are for a while.

WOG FRIENDS: Are for life.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Will ignore this.

WOG FRIENDS: Will share this with other wog friends.

WILL HE OR WON'T HE RUN IN THE CUP????

I have been asked that question a number of times over the past few weeks and even more so since his win on Saturday. The honest answer is I have yet to make up my mind or fully discuss it with my owners however at the end of the day, the welfare and future of the horse will be my first concern.

As it stands with Scenic Shot in the field as the top weight and the race having a 52.0kg minimum, my horse is weighted about 10.5kilo's higher than he should be. If Scenic Shot comes out at final acceptances, the weights will be raised 2 kilo's and the top weight becomes Newport on 57kg. This would still mean my horse will have to carry 8.5kg more than he would if the race had no maximum top weight and no minimum bottom weight. That is one hell of a penalty.

I know that races do not always work out as they would appear they should on paper however I prefer to go into a race with something in my favour instead of things stacked heavily against me. The decision on whether we run or not will be made after further discussion with the owners however there is no doubt that the Bunbury and or Pinjarra Cups would be more realistic options at this stage.

ALMOHAD WINS IN CRUISE MODE!

Both ALMOHAD and his jockey JASON WHITING look pretty pleased with themselves after a brilliant display of speed and staying power on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Hollands Photographics)

ALMOHAD ON HIS WAY TO BIGGER THINGS.

On Saturday, ALMOHAD took his first serious step towards becoming a genuine race horse. It was his first win at 2200m and although the quality of the field was average to say the least (no disrespect intended to other runners), it was the way he won which convinced me that the horse has finally arrived.Don't get me wrong, I think the horse still has a good way to go before he becomes a complete race horse in maturity both physical and mental, however on Saturday he did what I have always felt he was capable of doing.

ALMOHAD wore blinkers for the first time on Saturday and many have asked me why I didn't go down that path earlier with him. The reality is that I have always believed that blinkers can do more harm than good when a horse is immature especially mentally. Blinkers can make an immature horse try to do things he is not quite capable of doing and hence do themselves some damage. The timing of when to put blinkers on him had to be spot on and I reckon we got it pretty right on the weekend.

At his previous start the horse switched off completely with about 1200m to go and showed no sign of getting interested again until he was inside the final 150m. I sent the horse back to Amelia Park for a couple of days "just to let him get his head right" and he was back in time for his only solid workout with blinkers on, when he worked on the grass on Tuesday morning. All the signs were good and I would have been disappointed if he had done anything less in his race on Saturday.

I have to say that his win was one of the more dominant victories I have seen or had the pleasure of training for a long long time. When you consider it was done over a middle distance and the horse was asked to race more forward than was his customary manner, I feel the performance can not be underestimated. The horse has pulled up a treat from the race and will again have an easy week before we make a decision on where to go next with him. The Perth Cup is an option but it certainly isn't a foregone conclusion. The horse will tell me what and where!

TERADA BREAKS THROUGH FOR FIRST WIN

He started as an odds on favourite and won as his price suggested he should however he did appear to be under a bit of pressure before the corner. That is until Jason Whiting got serious and asked the horse for an effort.

ASCOLI MAKES IT TWO!

Lightly raced filly ASCOLI shows her style with a comfortable and impressive win at Ascot today.Get home you good thing!!!!!!

EARLY DOUBLE AT ASCOT

It was very nice to hit the ground running at Ascot this afternoon when TERADA was able to break through for his first win having had only three previous starts. It was an even better feeling some 35min later when my own filly ASCOLI was able to break through for her first win after racing very consistently in recent weeks.

I have to say that I was very keen on both horses chances today however I thought the same thing at both there last starts when they ran second and fourth respectively. Both horses raced in stronger company last start and both appreciated the drop in class today. TERADA was the first winner for new owner LUKE BARTLETT who is enjoying the fun of being a winning owner. His parents have been stable clients for many years having had success with TERADA'S mother some years ago as well as the high class race horse and Railway Stakes winner HARDRADA.

TERADA may not reach those heights however he will win a lot more races as he gains in experience and has his distances stepped up. I am sure that Luke will enjoy the ride!

ASCOLI has had a few runs of late however she is a tough little filly who will also continue to improve. Whilst she is no champion, I am confident that she will also develop into a regular winner over the next few seasons.