South African jockey Brett Smith has finally broken through for his first
success in Singapore.
In early September, the 41-year-old was granted a four-month freelance permit
to ride in Singapore until 31 December.
Opportunities have been limited for Smith and it was fellow South African
Michael Clements who provided him with his maiden success in the island state
which has a magnificent track at Kranji, the venue of the Group 1 Singapore
Airlines International Cup and the Group 3 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Sprint.
Smith and Clements combined to win with SIR JAMES, a six-year-old brown New
Zealand gelding by Centaine out of the Sovereign Parade mare Talking, in a
Benchmark 48, Div 1 - 1,600m race this afternoon.
Meanwhile, another South African trainer will be plying his trade in this
part of the world.
Kevin Coetzee, 44, has been granted 15 stables at Ipoh, one of the three
racetracks in Malaysia. The other two being Penang and Sungei Besi in Kuala
Lumpur. The three Malaysia tracks take turn to host meetings for Malaysian based
horses.
Turfonline.com
LONHRO BACK TO BEST
Lonhro bounced back from his Cox Plate failure to land his third Group One
win in the $500,000 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, while New Zealand
four-year-old Distinctly Secret turned in an outstanding Melbourne Cup trial.
Trainer John Hawkes said the Mackinnon was something of a consolation for
Lonhro. "It was a different race today, he`s not up against the elite
horses today," Hawkes said. "It`s good to see him win but he`s
definitely going to the paddock now. He`ll be a better horse in the
autumn." Just as last week`s Waterford Crystal Mile winner Royal Code
looked likely to win, the favourite Lonhro pulled out that extra bit in the last
few strides to score by a neck, while Distinctly Secret was only a nose away in
third place with Dash For Cash a short half-head away fourth. Matamata trainer
Mark Walker was delighted with Distinctly Secret`s effort. "Steven (jockey
Steven King) said he needed a split earlier," Walker said. "It was a
nice run, he`s trained on well and we just need a little luck on Tuesday.
"He hasn`t had much (luck). He should have run second in the Caulfield
Cup."
The Distinctly North gelding finished just over a length from the winner
Northerly when fourth in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) at his previous outing. Last
winter Distinctly Secret looked a good thing beaten in the Queensland Derby
(2400m) when he was sent out favourite but travelled wide throughout before
finishing fourth behind County Tyrone. Walker said he`d like to see the ground
"very firm" for Tuesday`s $4 million Melbourne Cup (3200m). "In
my mind Media Puzzle is probably the horse to beat. He likes it firm too,"
he said. Walker said Distinctly Secret was four kilograms heavier going into the
Mackinnon than he weighed before the Caulfield Cup.
Distinctly Secret drops six kilos to 51.5kg in the Cup and managing owner
David Ellis is confident of a big showing. "This (the Melbourne Cup) is the
race Mark set him for and he`s bang on target," Ellis said.
The other Melbourne Cup horses engaged in the Mackinnon were New Zealand
five-year-old Hail who ran an even race to finish eighth of the 11 runners,
while Pentastic made ground from last to finish seventh. Jockey Darren Beadman
has won three races on Lonhro this preparation including the Group Two
Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick and the Group One Yalumba Stakes (2000m)
at Caulfield in which he wore down the now-retired champion Sunline. The
striking Octagonal four-year-old has now won 13 of his 19 starts and more than
$2.2 million in stake money. "He`s always been his dad`s son," Hawkes
said.
source: aapracingandsports.com.au
BREEDER`S CUP PICK 6 UNDER SCRUTINY
The Breeder`s Cup pick 6 winners have come under scrutiny this week,
following all 6 winners of the $4,646,289 pool, coming from the same betting
outlet.
An employee of Autotote, the totalizator service of Catskills OTB, has been
fired for alleged wrongdoing with regards to the Breeders` Cup Ultra Pick Six
that is currently being investigated by the New York State Racing and Wagering
Board. Scientific Games Corp., the parent company of Autotote, fired the
unidentified employee after an internal investigation into the suspicious pick
six won by a 29-year-old Maryland resident was conducted. The evidence gathered
by Scientific Games has been turned over to New York state police and the state
racing officials for their investigation.
In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, Scientific Games chairman
Lorne Weil said, "As a result of our ongoing investigation to date, we have
terminated one employee, whose identity along with other relevant information
has been turned over to the authorities. We are taking all necessary steps to
resolve this matter as quickly as possible, and will continue to keep all
authorities fully informed."
A total of $4,646,289 was wagered on the Pick Six. There were six winning
tickets with a payout of $428,392 each. The consolation payoff for five correct
was $4,606.20. The payouts have been frozen. The six winning tickets were
purchased through Catskill Off-Track Betting Corp. in New York, which is not
licensed in Maryland. Published reports identified the bettor as Derrick Davis,
who resides in Maryland.
adapted from bloodhorse.com GRANDERA TO HONG KONG
Grandera, the clear leader in the 2002 World Series Racing Championship, is
being aimed at the final leg, the Group One Hong Kong Cup, which is run at Sha
Tin, Hong Kong, on Sunday, December 15.
The four-year-old Grand Lodge colt, who finished a close third in Australia`s
Group One Carlton Draught Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 26, has 32 World
Series points, with his now-retired stable companion Marienbard in second on 24
points. The next highest points scorer has 16.
The winner of three Group Ones in 2002 is set to travel from Australia to
Hong Kong on November 11 and will be prepared there for the 10-furlong Hong Kong
Cup.
Grandera has raced in six countries this year and is making his second trip
to Hong Kong, having run in the Group One Audemars Piguet QEII Cup in April.
Godolphin also heads the other three World Series categories, with 72 points
in the owner standings while Godolphin`s Saeed bin Suroor has 76 points in the
trainers` table and Godolphin`s retained rider Frankie Dettori tops the jockey
standings with 60 points.
source: godolphin.com
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