N.Z. YEARLINGS AVAILABLE.

I have just returned from the yearling sales in N.Z. and I have to say that the whole trip was a real eye opener. There is no doubt in the world that if there is such a thing as reincarnation, I would like to come back as a race horse raised in N.Z. It really is an amazing place for horses to be raised. The paddock feed has more goodness and protein than what we are capable of feeding our horses with hand made feeds. All that aside there certainly were some very nice yearlings going under the hammer over the week of the sales and it was hard work trying to buy a good valued horse.

During the first two days I bid on at least half a dozen real nice colts and as many fillies however all went for more than I was prepared to spend. I will watch with interest over the next few years as to what becomes of them. I did manage to buy a very nice colt by STRAVINSKY from a ZABEEL mare called CASSOVIA. This colt is a magnificent type and from a real performing family. He will be brought home on the direct flight out of N.Z. in a week or two and I am confident that he will develop into a classy performer. I missed out on a couple of nice colts by O'REILLY as well as a couple by PINS however this colt is especially great value in my eyes. I also have a couple of fillies by O'REILLY which I picked up at the Select Sale on Wednesday and Friday which look to be very nice types and if either of them can get close to the performances of my other O'REILLY performer I will be over the moon. GUYNO is the first horse I have trained by O'REILLY and he really is the complete race horse.

All of the above yearlings are available to be purchased as I do not have owners for them as yet however I am sure that it will not take very long for all of them to be snapped up. I am happy to sell them as shares or as a whole and I am also happy to stay in a leg of all of them. Anyone interested in finding out more should get in touch with me as soon as possible as they won't be available for very long.

Meanwhile it is back to the grindstone and out to inspect more yearlings today which will go through the Perth Magic Millions Sales in a couple of weeks. This morning I am off to Dawson Stud then this afternoon it is off to Durham Lodge. Next week I fly down to Mungrup Stud where I have managed to find a couple of nice performers over the past few years

PETE PROVES TOO GOOD.

PETE THE PROFILER winning at Ascot on Wednesday with "Ike" on board. (Photo courtesy Hollands Photographics)

The win of PETE THE PROFILER AT ASCOT ON Wednesday was a real case of a horse coming back from the dead. PETE THE PROFILER ran last at his previous start at Ascot after suffering from an atrial fibrillation. Back at the stables after the race, the horse looked down and out. The horse has always been a highly strung type who gets himself very worked up on race day. I am not sure whether this is the cause of the fibrillation or just a by product of it however it can be very frustrating.

We have tried all sorts of different ways to settle him down, always hoping that age and maturity would do the trick. When the horse was sent back to trials after his previous start we decided to try pacifiers and ear muffs on the horse. The horse won his trial and pulled up well so we used the gear on Wednesday. I am not sure how much use the gear was but the horse did seem to chill out a bit more so we may be on the right track with him. If the horse can learn to relax on race day, I have no doubt that he is up to Saturday company.

The horse was well ridden by Takahide Ikenushi on Wednesday and it is always nice to repay a jockey with a winner who makes himself available at track work when needed. Ike rides very well and he is real gentleman which makes him a pleasure to deal with.

IN OR OUT OF FORM?????

In today's modern age of racing with statistics available to show everything and anything that the punter wants to know, I have trouble working out exactly what and when a trainer or jockey is in or out of form. I never worry about what others are doing instead choosing to concentrate what is happening in my own back yard. At times I have gone two months without having a winner and at times I have had five or six winners in the space of a week or two. It is easy to see why someone would see the later case as being "in form."

What do we then say if all the runners are performing well, running above and beyond their expected capability yet not winning? That is certainly what I have found over the past few months with my stable. Since mid October we have only won eight races with our horses however we have run eighteen seconds. The wins have included the W.A. GUINEAS and the BMW PERTH CUP. Apart from a good deal of other placings and some newcomers running great first up races, I am fairly happy with how things are ticking along. That is not to say that we don't always look to do better with our horses. As far as I am concerned, even if we are not winning more races than we are at the moment, the stable is in good form. With an ounce more luck, some of the seconds were dead set unlucky not to have been wins but that's racing. Maybe the next few months we will see all that change.

BUSY DAYS AHEAD

Firstly I have to apologise for being a bit slack of late as far as this site is concerned. The Perth Cup celebrations lasted a bit longer than expected and I didn't pull up that well. On top of that I've been laid up with some minor knee surgery and travel down south so the site has been a bit neglected. I promise to get things back up and current by the middle of next week. This time of the year always tends to get very busy for most horse trainers and my place is no different.

Today I head out to the races with three runners spread throughout the day and hopefully they can earn some stakemoney for the connections. It is not so much the racing which keeps us all flat out at the moment it is the upcoming horse sales which keeps us on the go.

We have already had the Gold Coast Sales and they will be followed by the New Zealand Sales which start on Monday and go right through this coming week. No sooner are they over and the Perth Magic Millions Sales are on and these do tend to take up a lot of time. Our yearlings are spread far and wide in this state and getting around to inspect as many as possible prior to sales time is very time consuming. It is a big help to get a lot of the bigger studs inspected prior to the yearlings coming up to the sales yards as it enables more time to get around amongst the smaller drafts which turn up a bit later.

Just because there are sales on it doesn't mean that there is any less work to do at the stables as everything continues along as normal with races and track work along with the usual nominations and scratchings to attend to. I am starting to get tired just thinking about it all! No its not a whinge.... just stating the obvious. I think I must be starting to feel my age.

Hopefully we can unearth another couple of nice horses from the next lot of sale so that we can keep the run of big race winners ticking along steadily. We have only stepped out a couple of 2yo's so far this season and I am confident that there are some nice types amongst the team which has yet to be produced. With a bit of luck we may even find something which can trouble the major autumn races again.

Anyway I must run as I have to move my butt to be ready for the races this arvo. all the runners today are at very generous odds but don't let that stop you from having a ticket each way on any of them.

FOUR CHANCES FOR WEDNESDAY

While it may not be a busy day or a big meeting, we head out to Ascot this afternoon with four runners and all four would have to rate as some sort of chance in their respective races.

In the first race of the day we have PRINCESS AMELIA and BASKERVILLE STREET. Both fillies are lightly raced and both are likely to continue to improve with racing experience. PRINCESS AMELIA won at her second race start at Belmont during the Belmont season and BASKERVILLE STREET ran a very nice race to run second first up at Bunbury last weekend. I expect both fillies to measure up to city class later in their programs.

In the second race of the day we start DESTROID another lightly raced horse with handy form. The horse ran close up at Belmont at his first race start back in the winter then went for a spell after his second start. The horse is a gross type who may take a run or two to bring him to his top however he has been working well and should pay to follow throughout this campaign.

Later on in the day we start CROWN OF CAITLIN in a 1400m F&M race which looks a nice race for her. The lightly raced mare was able to win first up from a spell a couple of weeks ago and this race looks a nice race for her to have her second up start in. There is not the speed in this race which there was in her first up race however this should help her to race a bit handier throughout and still sprint well at the end.

Even though I am confident that all my horses are going well and are likely to perform well I will be more than happy if we can come home with one winner. Not fussy which one!!!

GUYNO.

ODE TO GUYNO AND THE TEAM!


The carnival was over. The Cup had been run.
It’s time to head home I said to my son.
The next few days, we were all a bit slow.
We had put in so much, with so little to show.

Then Dion kept saying. This horse is so tough.
He’s been around in the Cup, but he’s not had enough.
“I reckon” he said to me, “if you’re as good as you say
You can win the Perth Cup. He may still have his day.”

I said “don’t be stupid. It’s never been done.”
“Your to scared to try” said my smart arse young son.
So the horse flew on home, to the paddock for a break.
While I pondered the thought; The Perth Cup, could we take?

I discussed it with owners and they all agreed.
We would love it to happen, to pull off this deed.
Still I was reluctant though the idea was great.
Were we asking too much of my little mate?

Johnny as usual said it’s all up to you,
Let’s have a go if you think you can do!
Peter said, it would be a great way.
To celebrate the occasion, of Shirley’s birthday.

Still I was reluctant, though the idea was great.
Were we asking too much of my little mate?
Then back to the stables he came quite content.
His time in the paddock you could see was well spent.

His coat looked all shiny, his eye was quite bright
But what of his mind? Would that be alright?
We had no time for test runs, no time for grace.
So onwards and upwards we continued at pace.

He ran in the Cox. A good run was a must.
But he performed below par….in fact he went just!
I was stunned and confused. I could not work it out.
His performance created, nothing but doubt.

So into my old bag of tricks I did look
What could I do that was not by the book?
He had to improve and improve quite a bit.
But his heart rate it told me he was already fit.

I spoke to the crew and I said I’m not fooling.
The last thing to try is some jumps for some schooling.
Sarah and Dion they both all agreed
If it works like we hope it will help him succeed.

So I set up some buckets and rails for the jumping.
They weren’t very high but my heart was thumping.
If he failed, if he stumbled or if the rider should fall?
It was then that I realised it had been a big call.

The last time we jumped him he had a clear round.
Not one of the rails did he knock to the ground
The horse appeared happy his spirit was up.
Now I was confident we could go to the Cup

The pace it was hot and so was the weather.
Up front the main chances went all hell for leather.
While back in the field, somewhere back near the rear,
Were Fishy and Guyno both showing no fear.

I sat in the stand between owner and son.
I looked on amazed as they started their run.
To the outside they came, they came very wide.
No time for excuses, no place to hide.

As they both hit the line its close but I know.
This years Perth Cup has been won by GUYNO.
As we pushed our way down the stairs through the crowd,
His number goes up, we shout out aloud.

Snookie’ first back to the gate bright and early.
Not far behind is Tubby and Shirley.
You can tell by the smile and the look on their faces,
There’s no place on earth like Cup day at the races.

Its not every day that you win a big race.
The effort, the timing, it all has its place.
The trainer, the jockey, the staff, we all dream.
That’s why we all work, so well as a team!

Louie

RACE FINISH AND POST RACE PICS

I have to thank race course photographer Scott Hollands for sending me through the above assortment of pics from Thursdays big Cup win. Thanks for the great shots and all your work throughout the year mate.

GUYNO...WAY TO GO!!!! GO YOU GOOD THING.

Don't tell me I didn't tell you. It was all there in black and white for those of you who follow this news page. GUYNO was back and ready to attack. THE FUZZ and BALLACK were the two to beat. Those who followed my tips at the races yesterday had a very tidy collect. To add to the 1,2,3, I also told those at my table yesterday to throw EXHILARATING in to the quartet. No wonder they were all happy after the race.

All the bragging aside, I have to say that yesterday's win was very very special. There is something about my little mate GUYNO which sets him apart from most horses. He has the best temperament of any horse I have ever trained and what he lacks in ability he makes up for in courage. He is so full of guts and determination he leaves no doubt that he has had a go. And yesterday was no exception.

On a day where the weather was hot and the easterlies were blowing, every jockey wanted to be in the first four all day or they figured they couldn't win. All except "The Fish" on board GUYNO. Going out the straight the first time he was in last position, two off the fence and with a lot of work to do. Not only that, he was in the very position that nobody else wanted to be in. Then again, what everyone else wants to do has never really concerned Fishy and I so I wasn't too concerned. When he was still back there at the 800m mark, I have to say that even I was starting to get a bit anxious.

As the field started to wheel around the turn and GUYNO came to the outside I could tell we were going to be right in the mix. GUYNO sprinted like I have never seen him sprint before, he covered the field quickly and stuck his nose in front at the right time. The rest as they say is history. Full credit must go to the horse for having the constitution to handle all that we have asked him to do and special thanks to my son Dion who looked after the horse throughout his stay in Melbourne ensuring that we had a horse safe and sound and able to go on with it when he arrived home.

GUYNO has pulled up well from his race yesterday and he will be given a couple of easy days of hand walking with an odd swim or two thrown in over the next couple of days. He will then go out for a well earned spell and at this stage I will not be making any set plans for him. What I do know is that he is now fully qualified for the 2009 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups should we elect to go that way with him. If not I am sure that there are a number of other suitable races around the country which he is more than capable of shaking the life out of given the right conditions.

Thank you to all the many well wishes who have sent through words of congratulations via text, voice mail and email. It has been a very "HEAVY" last 15 to 20 hours and I am going to need GUYNO'S constitution to help see me through the next week or so!!!