Stimuli pictured as a yearling

The next few weeks are shaping as being very exciting for our company with several horses running in Stakes races.  These runners are Husson Eagle in the Group 2 William Hill Stakes and then perhaps the Group 1 Goodwood Handicap.  Atalanta Miss in the Group 3 National Stakes at Morphettville.  Savoureux is set to run in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes at Scone and Hijack Hussy the Listed Mick Dittman Stakes at the Gold Coast.  Makeadane is heading towards the Group 1 Queensland Derby and may start in the Listed Hawkesbury Guineas next Saturday.

We also have some of our old hands in Terra Amata, Unique, Faith’n’Courage, Beau Jez and Sanosuke not far off racing.  Our two year olds are coming through the system but won’t be pushed before they are ready.  We have 15 two year old on the books with Shining Brooke set to run at Geelong on 28 April 2015. 

On Saturday at Gosford we have Stimuli making his debut.  This is significant as he is the last of our three year old team to race and once he races all of our three and four year olds will have successfully hit the track.  This is quite a feat in an industry that sees about 50% of any foal crop race.  As I write this 22 of the 26 to race are winners with Savoureux, Hijack Hussy, Husson Eagle and Sanosuke being stakes horses with a big percentage of the remaining 18 are metropolitan winners.  Also, Rumeron won the 2015 Tasmanian Magic Millions Three Year Old Classic.  I am justifiably proud of these results.  Hopefully Stimuli can add to these figures.

BIG WET

I must say the weather in NSW and Queensland has made it almost impossible for trainers to maintain normal training regimes.  The sooner we see some consistent dry weather the better.  They say patience is a virtue and some of my clients are looking more at the BOM website than ever before.  In fact some have discovered it.  Hopefully it will dry up soon.  A dry ANZAC Day would be a nice way to begin!

In Queensland the situation has been worsened with Eagle Farm closed for a complete rebuild.  Hopefully with the Toowoomba track open for business some of the pressure on the other tracks can be lifted.

ON THE TRACK

Depending on the weather we have a few runners over the coming week.  Stimuli is set to run at Gosford on Saturday or Taree on Tuesday.  Faith’n’Courage and Annaman are set to run in Toowoomba on Saturday week.  Makeadane will either head to Kembla Grange on Tuesday or Hawkesbury on Saturday week.  Shining Brooke is most likely to run at Geelong on Tuesday and Arrayanes is nominated for Echuca on Friday.  Go Arrivederci heads to Wyong on Thursday week.  Maraska may also run next Wednesday.

COURAGE

The win by Cronulla Sutherland over South Sydney on Monday night was one the most courageous performances I have ever seen.  The weather was horrendous and the Sharks having to defend a slender lead running into an 80 kilometre headwind with heavy rain falling in the 2nd half were 100/1, when ‘the bunnies’ scored shortly after the break.  I’m not a Sharks supporter but take my hat off to them.  The strength of character the team displayed was quite unique considering all that has gone on at the club during the past two years.

The ‘bunnies’ were awful and their game plan in the 2nd half was atrocious.  Some of their high profile imports were quite conspicuous by their lack of involvement and their kicking game in the 2nd half was non-existent.  An under 12 side would have done a better job. Good night ‘bunnies’.

The Gold Coast Titans are another team that deserve a special mention.  This is another club that has had more than its fair share off dramas off the field and the effort by the players and coaching staff to turn their season around is amazing.  Well done to Neil Henry and his staff. 

These two clubs are going to cause plenty of headaches for their opposition as the season progresses.  The NRL competition is very even at present.