Ellehro
in a Class of Her Own!
Scott Darby
Sunday, 16 November 2008
One
of Darby Racing's first partnerships had just her 2nd trial
on Friday and she didn't let her owners down.
Ellehro
(Lonhro / Body and Soul) has been plagued with shin soreness
with only the one barrier trial earlier in the year, finishing
2nd at Randwick. Now a 3YO her owners patience has been rewarded
with one of the easiest wins in a trial you will see. Ridden
by Peter Robl, she jumped 2nd last before finding the lead easily
and from there she cruised to the line untouched.
Peter
Robl was wrapped in her effort believing she was only cantering
the entire trial. Her trainer Clarry Conners will now find a
suitable race for her and if she measures up in her first few
starts then a run in the 3YO Magic Millions race would not be
out of the question.
She
is a lovely filly that has always shown plenty in training and
is closely related to the Tony Vasil trained Causeway Queen.

Ellehro
(Lonhro / Body and Soul) as a 2YO
Flaming
Nearing His Peak!
Scott Darby
Sunday, 16 November 2008
7YO
Beautiful Crown gelding Flaming showed yesterday that he is
getting fitter with every run after a strong effort in the 1500m
Open Handicap at Rosehill.
Ridden
extremely well by apprentice Kody Nestor, Flaming was driven
out of the barriers to find a position just behind the leaders.
The race was run at a break neck speed which set it up for the
back markers to find the line. Flaming challenged strongly with
200m to run but his condition gave way finishing an encouraging
6th.
“Good
run, he knocked up in the last bit but he’ll take a lot
of improvement from it,” said Kody Nestor, rider of Flaming.
His
trainer Gerald Ryan will now see how he pulls up before maybe
backing him up next Saturday over 1400m with a possible tilt
at the Festival Stakes and the Villiers.

Bart
wins his 12th Melbourne Cup
Clinton Payne - Racenet
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
The Cups King Bart Cummings has done it for the 12th time in
the Melbourne Cup with his stayer Viewed winning the race and
giving the master trainer his 250th Group One victory.
The
victory sent Flemington into raptures when the big screens around
the track showed Viewed was holding a nose margin over Bauer
as they hit the line.
“I get hay fever,” was Cummings response when asked
if he was emotional following the win.
“It’s
a nice figure [250 Group Ones], we’ll have to keep improving.”
The
Hall Of Fame trainer won his first Melbourne Cup in 1965 when
Light Fingers beat her stablemate Ziema and he followed it up
the next year with another quinella when Galilee defeated Light
Fingers.
He
then did it again in 1967 with Red Handed but was then forced
to wait seven years until Think Big went back to back in 1974
and 1975.
It
was then Gold And Black’s turn in 1977 and Hyperno in
1979, Kingston Rule in 1990, Let’s Elope 1991, Saintly
in 1996 and his 11th came from Rogan Josh in 1999.
It
was also the fourth time he’d combined with his loyal
owner Dato Tan Chin Nam after winning with Think Big and Saintly.
“I
thought after I’d won four or five it can’t get
any better than this but I think it might be,” Cummings
said.
“You
just do your best and I’ve been lucky enough to be able
to pick the horses and train them, in this case I think Duncan
[Ramage] found this one but my whole career has been a joy and
I still like it, I reckon it’s terrific.
“To
be successful in the field you chose and dad was a top trainer
before me and I learnt most of my things from him so I’m
just happy to be here.”
The win also gave Sydney’s premier jockey Blake Shinn
his first victory in Australia’s Greatest Race and it
was Cummings that gave the raw young Victorian kid his first
big ride in a Stakes race when they teamed up to win the 2005
VRC St Leger with Accumulate.
The
win for Shinn was also especially satisfying due to missing
the winning Golden Slipper ride aboard Sebring earlier this
year due to suspension, which was again the case on Saturday
when Northern Meteor took out the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
“This
is one of the greatest moments in sport to win the Melbourne
Cup and to do it for Mr Cummings and give him his 12th winner
and 250th group winner I doubt this will be topped,” Shinn
said.
“It’s
an unbelievable feeling I just can’t describe it.”
Following
the race the plaudits came from everywhere for Cummings who
is one of the world’s great trainers.
“He’s
an amazing man,” Aidan O’Brien said.
“You
don’t have to ask me about Bart you guys see it every
day, he’s amazing.
“I
might come over and work for him for a while.” he concluded
with a laugh while Dermot Weld added, “what do you say
about Bart, he’s unbelievable”.
Bart Cummings and Dato Tan Chin Nam hold up the Melbourne Cup
- photo by Steve Hart
The race was run at a ridiculous tempo with the Coolmore trio
true to their work establishing a big break on the field as
they left the straight and by the time the field swung for home
Septimus and Alessandro Volta were struggling while Honolulu
had already lost touch with the field before they finished an
embarrassing last [Honolulu], 20th [Alessandro Volta] and 18th
with Septimus.
But
while the Irish were stopping it was Blake Shinn putting Viewed
into the race and he shot to the front on straightening before
holding off Bauer in a memorable finish by a nose.
“Once
the dust settles and we realise we ran second in the Melbourne
Cup well be thrilled but it’s a bit bitter at the moment,”
Bauer’s part owner and Sportsbet supremo Matt Tripp said.
“We
thought we’d won the race but that’s racing we’ll
live to fight another day.
“I’m
tipping the book [at Sportsbet] was ok so that’s some
consolation.”
Back
in third, two lengths away was the John Sadler-trained C’est
La Guerre who appreciated the strong tempo making up plenty
of ground from the 400 metres to the 200 metres to edge out
Master O’Reilly ($26) with Profound Beauty ($9) in fifth.
“Brett
[Prebble] got off him and said when the Irish gave up running
their 2500 metre race the field stacked up and he couldn’t
get out and he said if he could have got out he probably would
have been in the finish,” C’est La Guerre’s
part owner Nick Williams said.
“But
at the end of the day, Bart’s 250th Group One victory,
I’m just pleased I’m here to see it, it doesn’t
get any better.
“We’ll
be back.”
The
Danny O’Brien-trained galloper Gallopin was eased out
of the race near the 800 metres after he choked down but he
the trainer reported the horse is ok.
The
placings and margins: Viewed 53kg ($31) (B.Shinn) defeated Bauer
52kg ($21) (C.Brown) by a nose with C’est La Guerre 54kg
($21) (B.Prebble) a further two lengths back in third.
The
time and sectionals: The overall time for the race was a race
3.20.40 secs and the final 600 metres was run in 34.93 secs.
Winner’s
breeding – A five-year-old entire by Scenic (IRE) x Lovers
Knot (NZ) (Khozaam (USA)).
Conners
eyeing fifth Slipper with Our Joan of Arc
AAP
November 1, 2008
Clarry
Conners has high hopes next autumn for Our Joan Of Arc following
her win in Saturday's The Inglis Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington.
"She'll
be spelled and come back for the (Golden) Slipper. She's done
a great job," Conners said.
The
four-time Golden Slipper winning trainer said he had not intended
to back up the daughter of Beautiful Crown in Saturday's Group
Three 1000m event.
However
he changed his mind after she finished an unlucky fifth to Starspangledbanner
at Moonee Valley last Saturday after being held up behind the
leader.
"She
had such an easy run last week," he said.
Ridden
by Corey Brown, Our Joan Of Arc ($2.35 fav) jumped from the
outside barrier in the six-horse field and was always close
to the lead before going on for a three-length win over first
starter Zaffaan with Happy Knockout a half-head away third.
"She
got a little bit lost being her first start down the straight.
We wanted something to lead her and she got there fairly easily,"
Conners said.
"She's
a laid-back sort of filly and if you don't ask her to do something
she won't, that's why she got beaten the other day at the Valley
when she didn't have clear running.
"But
Corey asked her to stretch out and she did. That's how she won
the Gimcrack (Stakes). She's a pretty nice filly, very professional
and easy to train.
A
$15,000 purchase at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney,
Joan Of Arc is raced by a group of 20 and has already given
them plenty of joy winning two of her three starts.
At
her debut she jumped from the outside barrier and won the Listed
Gimcrack (1000m) at Randwick last month which has been a strong
form race.
Brown,
who rode Our Joan Of Arc for the first time in a race on Saturday,
said he was impressed with the filly.
"She's
only a little thing but will develop. She's not going 100 per
cent and inclined to look around, but all in all I'm pretty
impressed with her," he said.

Our
Joan Of Arc On Fire In Maribyrnong
Mark Smith
Saturday, 1 November 2008
It
seems appropriate that a filly sporting the Darby racing colours
should capture the opening race on AAMI Victoria Derby day.
There's
not much of Our Joan Of Arc but what a little star she is.
Punters who sent Our Joan Of Arc (Beautiful Crown (USA) x Bright
Heroine (Bluebird (USA)) out a short priced favourite in Saturday’s
$250,000 Group 3 The Inglis Maribyrnong (1000m) at Flemington
never had a moments worry as the big-hearted filly powered home
under Cory Brown to defeat first starter Zaffaan (Red Ransom
(USA) x Farasha (NZ) (Jeune (GB)) by three lengths with Happy
Knockout (Happy Giggle x Punch (Marauding (NZ))a short half
head back in third.
Making her third career start, Our Joan Of Arc captured her
second stakes having taken the $100,000 Listed Keeneland Gimcrack
Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on debut on October 4. She
didn’t get the rub of the green when a close up fifth
behind Starspangledbanner in the sales related Inglis 2YO at
Moonee Valley last week and trainer Clarry Connors revealed
he was close to sending the filly to the paddock.
“I
thought she was a little bit disappointing last week, she didn’t
get a clear crack at them but she’s a very nice filly,”
Conners said.
“We weren’t going to run today but because she didn’t
have a hard run last week, we thought she could back up”.
Having his first ride on the filly, Corey Brown thinks Our Joan
Of Arc has a bright future.
“She’s got plenty of upside, she’s very new,
she didn’t come here on Tuesday to have a look around
so her effort was her first time down the straight,” he
said.
“The only reason I had to hit her with the whip was to
keep her straight and focused, I think she’s got plenty
of upside.
Our Joan Of Arc cost her syndicate of owners just $15,000 at
the William Inglis Classic Yearling sale. Her earnings now total
$216,500.
She is the tenth foal of the Bluebird (USA) mare Bright Heroine
who was runner-up in the Listed VATC Gwyn Nursery Stakes. All
ten foals have raced, seven have won including the 5-time winner
Dominic who was stakes-placed in Perth.
Bright
Heroine’s stakes-placed full sister Love At Large produced
the Group 3 winner Inspire (Rory’s Jester) a great stalwart
of the Connors stable whose earnings topped $715,000. His 9
wins included the VRC Carbine Club Stakes (G3) and the 2005
Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast.
Bright
Heroine has a yearling full-sister to Our Joan Of Arc and missed
to her cover by California Dane last season.
Our
Joan Of Arc is one of 10 stakes-winner for Beautiful Crown (Chief’s
Crown), who became a foundation stallion for the fledgling Patinack
Farm organization after the acquisition of Alanbridge Stud.
He is standing his eleventh season at a fee of $16,500.

Joan
relishes quick back up to score in Flemington opener
Brad Waters
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Clarry
Conners’ change of plan was rewarded when his quality
filly Our Joan of Arc comprehensively took out the Group III
The Inglis Maribyrnong (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Conners
brought the filly to Melbourne with one race in mind, last Saturday’s
Inglis 2YO race at Moonee Valley and intended to send her to
the paddock after the event but elected to back her up seven
days later with terrific results.
“I
thought she was a little bit disappointing last week, she didn’t
get a clear crack at them but she’s a very nice filly,”
Conners said.
“We
weren’t going to run today but because she didn’t
have a hard run last week, we thought she could back up”.

Corey Brown
eases up Our Joan Of Arc for an easy victory - photo by Steve
Hart
Corey
Brown always had the $2.35 favourite well placed at the leader’s
hindquarters before extending nicely over the last 300 metres
to record a three-length win.
Zaffaan
($4.60) from the David Hayes stable took a little time to get
going but finished strongly once he found clear galloping room
in the straight, chasing very hard late to take second place.
Happy
Knockout ($21), also from the Hayes stable made the running
until the 300 metres but battled away fairly well after she
was headed by the winner to comfortably hold third, a half-head
behind Zaffaan.
Winning
rider Corey Brown was very impressed with Our Joan of Arc’s
ability and said the Inglis Maribyrnong win may well be the
start of big things for the filly.
“She’s
got plenty of upside, she’s very new, she didn’t
come here on Tuesday to have a look around so her effort was
her first time down the straight,” he said.
“The
only reason I had to hit her with the whip was to keep her straight
and focused, I think she’s got plenty of upside.
“The
first crack was pretty much a warning to keep her straight but
then she accelerated very well and the race was all over.”
The
major disappointment of the race was the effort of the $3.80
second favourite Seduced who loomed up menacingly at the 300
metres but went nowhere once put under pressure.
The
placings and margins: Our Joan Of Arc 53.5kg ($2.35) (C.Brown)
defeated Zaffaan 55.5kg ($4.60) (C.Williams) by three lengths
with Happy Knockout 53.5kg ($21) (G.Boss) another short half
head back in third.
The
time and sectionals: The overall time for the race was a race
58.39 secs and the final 600 metres were run in 34.07 secs.
Winner’s
breeding: A two-year-old filly by Beautiful Crown (USA) x Bright
Heroine (Bluebird (USA)) - $15,000 yearling purchase at Inglis
Classic sale.
What
they said: “She has plenty of upside, this filly, she
had them covered at the 300,” winning jockey Corey Brown
said after the victory.
“You
don’t want anything happening to them before the start
so under the circumstances he went really nice,” Craig
Williams, the rider of runner-up Zaffaan.
“What
you see is what you get with her, she’s only little, so
she went good for what she is ,” Glen Boss, rider of third
placegetter Happy Knockout.
“She
was a bit green and not happy inside horses. Greenness got the
better of her today but I was happy with the run,” Chris
Symons, rider of Dawned (4th).
“She’s
had enough and is better than that,” Dwayne Dunn, rider
of Seduced (5th).
The
favourite: Our Joan of Arc camped right on the speed and when
it counted her fitness and class shone through to give punters
the perfect start to the carnival.
The
betting: No real action for any here with everything blowing
from it’s opening quote. Our Joan of Arc was out from
$2 to $2.35 while Seduced was $3.20 to $3.80 and Zaffaan $4
to $4.60. The on-course market closed at 108 percent.
Horse
to follow: Zaffaan will be better for the experience and is
a horse to follow.
Joan's
Sister Heading To Millions
Racing and Sports
Saturday, 1 November 2008
$15,000 Beautiful Crown filly Our Joan Of Arc continued the
great ride for her owners when winning the G3 Inglis Maribyrnong
Plate at Flemington today.
The filly, who was purchased by Darby Bloodstock from the 2008
Inglis Classic Sale, is now a dual stakes winner, with earnings
in excess of $200,000.
While
the win was a good result for sponsors William Inglis, it was
also welcome news for Magic Millions, who have a full sister
to the filly to sell at its Conrad Jupiter's Yearling Sale on
the Gold Coast in January.
Already
a proven stakes winner of the Gimcrack Stakes in Sydney on debut,
Our Joan of Arc bounced back from a luckless run at Moonee Valley
last Saturday for an authoritative win.
The
Beautiful Crown filly sat on the speed set by Happy Knockout
before striding to the front and then clearing away for an easy
victory.
Trainer
Clarry Conners said the filly would be sent straight to the
paddock with the Golden Slipper as her main target.
"She'll
spell now straight away," Conners commented. "And
be set for the Slipper."
The
Maribyrnong Plate wasn't originally on the agenda for Our Joan
of Arc, but after her unlucky effort at the Valley when fourth
in the Inglis Juvenile.
"This
horse was unlucky at the Valley (last Saturday). It was a bit
disappointing."
"We
weren't going to run today, but because she didn't have a hard
run last week we decided to keep her going - thank god we did."
Connections
have always had a good opinion of Our Joan of Arc - a filly
who has about 20 owners - many of them first time owners.
"She's
a very good filly," Conners added. "She's been my
top filly since day one."
"She's
a top filly to train. She does everything right."
The
full sister to Our Joan of Arc heading to the Gold Coast will
be in the draft of Mick Nolan's Noralla Stud.
Magic
Millions bloodstock manager Paul Knight said the filly was an
attractive youngster who would attract plenty of interest at
the sale.
"She's
a lovely bodied filly," Knight said. "A strong, racy,
athletic type - a real Magic Millions style yearling."
Our
Joan of Arc, by In Top Swing's sire Beautiful Crown, is one
of two stakes performers and seven winners from Bright Heroine.
A
stakes performed daughter of Bluebird, Bright Heroine is also
the dam of the five time winner and Perth stakes placegetter
Dominic.
Bright
Heroine is a full sister to Love at Large, the stakes performed
dam of former Conners star Inspire - a winner of over $715,000
including the rich Magic Millions Cup.
The
finishing touches are currently being put to the catalogue for
January's pin-up sale with the sister to Our Joan of Arc just
one of the quality lots confirmed for the auction.
Beautiful
Crown stands for $16,500 at Patinack Farm in 2008.

Joan
keeps up family tradition
Andrew Eddy
November 2, 2008
TWO-year-old filly Our Joan Of Arc continued a family tradition
of winning over the Flemington spring carnival when she ran
clear for an impressive victory in the group 3 Maribyrnong Plate
yesterday.
Trainer
Clarry Conners said he sought the filly at the January Sydney
Classic sale as her mother, Bright Heroine, was a full sister
to Love At Large, who produced Inspire to win twice at huge
odds over the Flemington carnival.
"I've
had a lot of luck with that family, so I looked her over at
the sale and she looked pretty good to me," Conners said.
"She obviously didn't look that good to many others because
I got her for $15,000."
Inspire,
whose dam Love At Large is out of Florescence, as is Bright
Heroine, won the Carbine Club Stakes on this day in 2000 at
$51 and then won on Melbourne Cup Day two years later at $21.
"I
love this carnival and to kick off with an early winner makes
me happy. It's made a lot of other people happy because there
are about 20 people in this filly and they're very pleased,"
Conners said.
He
said Our Joan Of Arc was one of the cheapest of 23 two-year-olds
in his stable, but has always shown the most ability. "She's
a little professional and she's been my top filly since day
one. She'll go for a spell now and I'll get her ready for the
Golden Slipper."
Conners
has won the Golden Slipper Stakes, Sydney's autumn feature,
four times.
The
trainer said he had not targeted the Maribyrnong Plate with
Our Joan Of Arc. "This race certainly wasn't on her program,
but after she was so unlucky last week (at Moonee Valley) and
came through it as though she hadn't had a run, it looked a
good option and so it's turned out."
Our
Joan Of Arc was blocked for a run on the inside at Moonee Valley
last Saturday, where she finished fifth as the $2.35 favourite.
Yesterday,
Our Joan Of Arc was again well backed and started the $2.35
favourite. Her supporters had few worries as she strode to the
lead inside the 200-metre mark and won by three lengths from
Zaffaan ($4.60) with a half-head to the early leader Happy Knockout
($21) third.
Our
Joan of Arc lines up in the Group 3 Maribynong Plate!
Scott Darby
Friday, 31 October 2008
The
star of Darby Racing 'Our Joan of Arc' will line up for her
third and final start this preparation in the Group 3 Maribynong
Plate at Flemington tomorrow.
After
being extremely unlucky last week in the Inglis Juvenile, Joan
has had an easy week in preparation for her final race before
being sent for a spell. She will return for a crack at the 2009
Golden Slipper.
Win,
lose or draw tomorrow, Joan's owners have a serious horse on
their hands, they are all enjoying the ride and are looking
forward to the future with this outstanding daughter of Beautiful
Crown.
Good
luck to all the owners!

Photo
courtesy of Bradley's Photos (02) 4868 1433
Gimcrack
fillies shine in Valley gallops
Brad Waters
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
The Gimcrack Stakes formline has held the key to two-year-old
races in both Sydney and Melbourne and two fillies that debuted
in that race were among the stars working at Tuesday’s
Breakfast with the Best at Moonee Valley.
Both
Sheeznodoubt and Our Joan of Arc impressed onlookers with the
quality of their work on a firm Moonee Valley surface in preparation
to compete in the $250,000 Inglis Juvenile to be run on Saturday’s
Cox Plate program.
Our
Joan of Arc won the Gimcrack Stakes and Sheeznodoubt finished
fourth in the event with the form standing up perfectly with
runner-up Horizons recording an easy win at Randwick last Saturday
and Come Hither thrashing the colts in the Listed Debutants
Stakes.
The
Gary Portelli-trained Sheeznodoubt was ridden by Mark Zahra
and clocked one of the fastest times of the morning when easily
accounting for her workmate in a rousing gallop which impressed
her trainer.
“After
her work today, at their first time around the Valley, you just
don’t know wether they are going to get around it or not,”
Portelli said.
“She
straightened up and put a gap on the horse she was working with
and ran very good time, she’s right there for Saturday.
“There
won’t be a problem at all getting around the Valley, Mark
Zahra rode her and she got straight on her right leg and she
didn’t have a problem.
“Mark
said that she dominated the gallop and went past the post strongly
and Mark (Zahra) said it felt like she’d been there a
million times”.
Our
Joan of Arc cruised throughout her workout and had her workout
partner, Stoneblack, being pushed along to keep up with the
daughter of Beautiful Crown but trainer Clarry Conners was not
happy with the gallop.
“She
took it too easy,” Conners said.
“I
wanted her to have a harder workout than that.
“The
form out of the Gimcrack has been incredible; three two-year-old
winners have all come out of the race.
“The
plan for Our Joan of Arc is to win on Saturday and then she’ll
go out for a spell”.
The
four-time Golden Slipper-winning trainer said that Our Joan
of Arc could not be in better shape going into Saturday’s
race.
“She’s
100%, she could not have taken the trip down from Sydney any
better, she travelled like she’s done it a hundred times
before and took it all in her stride,” Conners said.
“I
spotted this race in the calendar for her, she was going to
go out for a spell but the race looked perfect for her so I
decided to bring her down”.
Darby
Racing Syndications Boasts 100% Runners to Earners!
Scott Darby
Monday, 20 October 2008
Darby
Racing is enjoying an amazing run with its racehorse partnerships
so far this year! Kicking off less than 12 months ago, Darby
Racing has 12 horses under management that were syndicated in
the last 10 months. Currently Darby Racing has 8 2YO's, 2 3YO's
and 2 older horses under their care.
Five of the 12 have now raced with all 5 picking up prize money
with some outstanding results. Here are a list of those 5 that
have raced-
2YO's
- Our Joan of Arc - 1 Start Listed
Gimcrack winner $60,000 prize money
- Eight Thorns - 1 start 2nd at Rosehill $13,300
prize money
- Gladiator - 1 start 5th at Randwick $1,750
prize money
3YO's
- Elastane - 5 starts 3x4th, 4 of 5 starts
in city grade $2,960 prize money
Older
- Irish Myth - 1 start for Darby Racing for
a 3rd $1000 prize money
It
has been an amazing start for Darby Racing with more of the
twelve horse's to commence their racing careers very shortly.
Darby
Racing has limited shares in its final 2 syndications for 2008,
a stunning filly by Encosta De Lago and a cracking colt by Beautiful
Crown, the full brother to Group 3 and Listed winner Flaming.
Check out the syndications
page for more information.
Flaming
given impossible weight at Canterbury this Wednesday!
Scott Darby
Monday, 20 October 2008
7YO
warhorse 'Flaming' makes his return to the track this Wednesday
at Canterbury with an impossible weight of 63.5kg's in the 1200m
Welter. Rated at 103, the Group 3 and Listed winner makes his
return after suffering a suspensory ligament tear in two places
back in January this year.
Gerald
Ryan his trainer has been more than happy with his work and
will use this race for further fitness. Believing Flaming will
be weighted out of any race he will contest up here, Gerald
will see how he gets through this first race before floating
him down to Melbourne to contest some Black type races over
the spring carnival.
At
this stage we are just looking for a positive return to racing
and hoping he gets through his first run unscathed.
Canterbury
Race 7 4:48pm

Flaming with one of his proud owners Allan Johns.
Gladiator
Feels the pinch in his debut race!
Scott Darby
Monday, 20 October 2008
Promising
Darby Racing 2YO 'Gladiator' debuted on Saturday in a tough
1000m City Tattersalls Plate for 2YO's.
After showing potential and plenty of speed in his first two
barrier trials, Gladiator was tardy out of the barriers and
got back to 2nd last before making up some ground in the straight.
Initially we thought the run was a little disappointing however
on day where leaders won every race it was pleasing to see our
impeccably bred colt make up some ground in the straight. It
was also discovered just after the race that he was quite sore
in his shins which adds further merit to his run.
Gerald
Ryan his trainer has a very good opinion of our Hussonet colt
and will now spell him and bring him back in January for tilt
at the 2009 Blue Diamond Stakes.
Gladiator
Impresses at yesterday's trials!
Scott Darby
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Impeccably
bred Gladiator (Hussonet / Flying Single) trialled impressively
yesterday at Rosehill. Finishing a long neck 2nd to the $800,000
'Wanted' (Fastnet Rock / Fragmentation), Gladiator jumped well,
showed good speed and held his position up the straight.
Gladiator
is now on target to make his 2YO debut this Saturday at Randwick
in a very tough 1000m race which see's him clash with some of
the Gimcrack and Breeder's Plate place getters.
Gladiator
was a $160,000 purchase from the Inglis Premier sale and is
from the Easy Date/Snippets/Not a Single Date family.
Darby
Racing purchased and syndicated 8 yearlings this year from the
sales. So far 5 have trialled with Gladiator being the third
to race.
*Our Joan of Arc - 1 start -Listed Gimcrack Winner $60,000 prize
money
*Eight Thorns - 1 start - 2nd at Rosehill $13,300 prize money

Gladiator
Flaming
ready to return to the races!
Scott Darby
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Flaming
completed his 2nd trial yesterday at Rosehill and now looks
set to return to the races next Wednesday in a 1200m welter
at Canterbury.
Ridden
yesterday by Brad Stewart, Flaming was never let go at any stage
cruising over the 1030m under a tight hold finishing 3rd. Gerald
Ryan is delighted with Flaming's progress and will use his 1st
up run at Canterbury as a stepping stone to a Listed race held
at Hawksbury on VRC Oaks Day.
We
are expecting a pretty big weight for his return next Wednesday
and at this stage of his preparation we are just looking for
a positive return to racing and hoping he can get through the
run unscathed.
Yet
Another promising 2YO for Darby Racing!
Scott Darby
Saturday, 11 October 2008
After
winning the Listed Gimcrack Stakes with 'Our Joan Of Arc' last
week, Darby Racing unleashed another 2YO debutante at Rosehill
today named 'Eight Thorns'. A cracking colt by Australia's Champion
racehorse 'Lonhro' out of the multiple city winning mare 'Southern
Rose'.
Trained
by Gerald Ryan, Eight Thorns went into the the race fairly underdone
and only went to the races after Gerald believed he would benefit
more from a race than another trial. With the 1100m looking
way too short, Eight Thorns put in an outstanding effort to
finish strong and grab 2nd place, picking up $13,300 for his
excited owners, which is not bad for a horse that was going
to trial next Tuesday instead of racing.
Gerald
will see how he pulls up before deciding on another start in
a fortnights time. Gerald was very encouraged with the run pointing
out to the owners that his optimal distance will be around the
2000m. He certainly looks to have a bright future after his
terrific effort today congratulations to all his owners!

Eight Thorns (Lonhro / Southern Rose)
Clarry's
filly one to watch
Amanda Hawke
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Clarry Conners re-emerged as one of Sydney’s leading producers
of juvenile talent when his filly Movie bounded away to snatch
a stunning win in the Dairy Farmers Rise 2YO Handicap (1100m)
at Rosehill today.
The
second of the day was drama-packed from the kick, when the Neville
Layt-trained Articlesandorders bolted sideways out of the gates
and threw an unharmed Glyn Schofield who later commented: “Do
I get 10 out of 10 for my triple somersault?”
Movie unleashed a withering run from back in the field when
taken widest at the top of the straight, hitting the line well
clear of Eight Thorns who dived between runners for second while
Engulf ate up the ground to fill third placing in an eye-catching
effort. Early leader Lucky Elmo battled away on the fence to
hold on for fourth.
The
filly’s four and a quarter-length win delivered Jeff Lloyd
a running double, having claimed the first aboard surprise winner
Opter.
Trainer
Clarry Conners believes he has a nice juvenile prospect on his
hands, having been confident last week’s Gimcrack eighth
placegetter could handle the seven-day backup.
“She
was a little bit unlucky at Randwick,” Conners said.
“She
came through that run well and when I saw the noms, I thought
why not?
“She
won impressively today, even sitting back and giving them a
massive start.
“She
hit the line really well and has the makings of a nice filly.”
The
placings and margins: Movie 54kg ($3.10) (J. Lloyd) defeated
Eight Thorns 56.5kg ($8) (C. Agnew) by four and a quarter lengths
with Engulf 56.5kg ($8.50) (N. Berry (a3) a long head away in
third.
The
time and sectionals: The overall time for the race was 1.05.31
secs and they ran the final 600 metres in 34.96secs.
Winner’s
breeding: A two-year-old filly by Red Ransom (USA) x Strawberry
Storm (Thunder Gulch (USA)).
What
they said: “She’s a nice filly. I don’t know
if she beat too much but she has a very good turn of foot,”
winning jockey Jeff Lloyd said after the victory.
“Very
green,” Nathan Berry, rider of the Engulf.
“He
ran good. Just knocked the last bit,” Lucky Elmo’s
jockey Patrick Ferris said.
“He
just got lost when I put him under pressure. The shades and
some time will do him good,” said Peter Robl, the jockey
of Bargaining [5th].
“I
slaughtered it,” Peter Wells said about Gaston [6th].
“He
just refused to go,” Ayrton’s jockey Rod Quinn said
[8th].
“She
just decidd this was not for her today,” Articlesandorders’s
jockey Glyn Schofield said [failed to finish].
The
favourite: Movie’s gun performance warranted her $3.10
quote, after an unlucky debut in last week’s Gimcrack
Stakes for fillies at Randwick.
The
betting: The best backed runner in the race was Eight Thorns
firming in from $17 to $8 while Ayrton also had support and
firmed from $6 to $5.50. Bargaining was specked from $10 to
$9.50. The on-course market closed at 113 percent.
Horse
to follow: Eight Thorns went every bit
as good as the winner in failing to land a sizable betting plunge,
settling back but getting going a bit too late to catch breakaway
winner Movie.
A
Beautiful Association
Breednet - Media Release
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
SINCE
veteran Warwick Farm trainer Clarry Conners showed the American
importation Beautiful Crown up as a potential good sire at the
beginning of the 2001-02 juvenile racing year by producing a
star of the early Sydney spring racing for the age group, Tom
Coureuse, in his first crop, the Conners family have considerable
success with the offspring.
To
start with Clarry won seven races with Tom Coureuse, a horse
who matured early and proved one of the better juveniles of
his generation. After finishing second on debut in the Listed
AJC Canonbury Stakes and winning at Rosehill Gardens, he went
on that racing year to be third in the Group 1 VRC Sires’
Produce Stakes and Group 3 MRC Blue Diamond Preview and fourth
in the Group 3 MRC Blue Diamond Prelude.
Like
most of the progeny of Beautiful Crown, himself a lightningly
fast American by one of the best Danzig racehorses and sires,
Chief’s Crown, that followed not only precocious but also
good class as an older campaigner,Tom Coureuse went on to win
again in Sydney and also in Brisbane and to place in the STC
Heritage Stakes and in Melbourne and Perth.
Clarry’s
son Marc, another Warwick Farm trainer, has had a rewarding
association with the Beautiful Crown progeny, including supplying
the first leg of a prestigious stakes double at Caulfield in
mid October 2003 with two of his second crop 3-year-olds. He
won the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes with the filly Crown
Princess and Hawkesbury trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith claimed
the Group1 Caulfield Guineas with In Top Swing.
At
the end of May this year, Marc Conners provided both legs of
a Beautiful Crown double at Rosehill Gardens. Both owned by
Marc Conners Racing Pty Ltd Syndicates, the winners were the
6-year-old Western Beau (six wins to date, including the Listed
STC Heritage Stakes and Canberra Guineas) and the 3-year-old
filly Star of Crown (six Sydney wins and four seconds in 19
outings).
The
Conners clan could be on the way to their best success yet with
the Beautiful Crown progeny, Clarry taking out the first Australian
metropolitan race of the new year for juveniles, the Listed
$100,000 Gimcrack Stakes for fillies which opened the big Randwick
program on Saturday with the exciting filly Our Joan of Arc,
an October 7 foal.
It
was a remarkable effort as she had the outside gate and despite
a soft track, covered the 1000m in new race record time of 0:58.03.
Real Saga, the Tale of the Cat winner of the next race, the
Breeders’ Plate for the juvenile males, was timed at 0:58.29.
Our
Joan of Arc is only the second horse syndicated by Scott and
Renee Darby through their Darby Racing, one which is located
at Narellan in the Camden district, a cradle of Australian breeding,
and reflects an ability to assess physical quality at the sale
ring and to read pedigrees. She cost what is a bargain price
today of $15,000 at the Sydney Classic yearling sale and was
by far the cheapest of any of the 24 youngsters who lined up
at Randwick on Saturday.
The
price was remarkable value as she is now not only the 269th
winner by Beautiful Crown, but she is the seventh winner for
her dam Bright Heroine, a two times stakes placed sister by
the influential sire Bluebird to Adelaide winner and Melbourne
Listed third Love at Large. She is the dam of Inspire, a Rory’s
Jester winner of nine races headed by the Group 3 VRC Carbine
Club Stakes.
Tom
Coureuse, Crown Princess, In Top Swing, Western Beau and Our
Joan of Arc were all bred and marketed by Andrew and Lasca Bowcock
using their own or clients mares. A third generation of the
Bowcock family to operate out of the historic Segenhoe Valley
near Scone, the Bowcock’s head the syndicate that bought
Beautiful Crown in America and stood him as the foundation sire
at the Alanbridge Stud they founded at the intersection of the
Pages and Hunter rivers.
Early
this year, the Bowcock’s sold Alanbridge to coal mining
enriched Nathan Tinkler, investor in the past 12 months of over
$100million in bloodstock, breeding farms and training complexes.
He has renamed Alanbridge and an adjacent stud that he has acquired
Patinack Farm and is standing four sires in the current season.
One
of these sires is Beautiful Crown and he is at the stud by arrangement
with his Bowcock headed syndicate. He is on a fee of $16,500
and is again looking at a book well in excess of 100. He has
had 100 or more mares in each of seven seasons, including 159
in 2003 and has registered fertility in excess of 90% on six
occasions. - Brian Russell Media.
$15,000
Is All it Takes
Tara Madgwick - Breednet
Monday, 6 October 2008
The
Sport of Kings it may be in other parts of the world, but in
Australia all it takes is $15,000 to buy yourself the favourite
for the Melbourne Cup or the first juvenile stakes-winner of
the season.
In
recent weeks we’ve seen any number of high priced yearling
purchases claiming major race success with $1.5 million Redoute’s
Choice filly Samantha Miss the pin-up of the group having smashed
her filly rivals to make a clean sweep of the Princess series
culminating in a Group One victory in the AJC Flight Stakes
last Saturday.
The
breeding industry needs those horses to succeed to drive the
top end of the sales market in a pyramid effect to keep everything
else afloat, but for Joe Shmo who dreams of racing a good horse,
but has limited funds there is good news!
$15,000
is all it cost for Darby Racing to buy a filly by Beautiful
Crown (USA) from stakes-placed Bright Heroine at the 2008 Inglis
Classic Yearling Sale from the Alanbridge Stud draft and the
cheapest horse in the Listed AJC Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick
on Saturday also turned out the fastest as Our Joan of Arc prevailed
to win in race record time.
$60,000
in prizemoney jumped in the kick and as a stakes-winner her
future value as a broodmare is assured.

Our
Joan of Arc wins the Listed Gimcrack Stakes in race record time!
Photo
courtesy of Bradley's Photos (02) 4868 1433
Our
Joan Of Arc wins the Gimcrack
Clinton Payne - Racenet
Saturday, 4 October 2008
A
$15,000 yearling, Our Joan Of Arc, served it up to her more
expensive rivals with a tough and tenacious performance to win
the $100,000 Listed Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes over 1000m at
Royal Randwick today.
In
the first two-year-old race of the season, Our Joan Of Arc was
clearly the least expensive filly in the race with Come Hither
at the other end of the spectrum being a $1 million purchase.
Jumping
from barrer 14, Our Joan Of Arc began quickly but was allowed
to follow the hot favourite Horizons across the field and she
settled in a three wide position three groups back from the
leader Sheeznodoubt.
In the straight Horizons went up to apply the pressure and just
as quickly Our Joan Of Arc mounted her claim and the pair charged
up the Randwick straight head and head before Our Joan Of Arc
proved too strong over the concluding stages for Horizons with
Come Hither finishing off in stylish fashion to grab third.
“This
has been planned for a long time,” winning trainer Clarry
Conners said.
“We
had the horse, the rider [Peter Robl] rode her well, the barrier
went against us but I though she could win the race.
“When
I trialled her she was nowhere near ready but she was today.
“I’ll
probably spell her now and come back in the new year.”
Our
Joan Of Arc 56kg ($21) (P.Robl) defeated Horizons 56kg ($2.30)
(B.Shinn) by a half length with Come Hither 56kg ($6) (C.Brown)
a further three quarters of a length back in third.
The
sectionals: The overall time for the race was a race record
58.03 secs and they ran home the final 600 metres in 35.23 secs.
Winner's
Breeding: A two-year-old filly by Beautiful Crown (USA) x Bright
Heroine (Bluebird (USA)) - $15,000 Inglis Classic.
What
they said: “She did a terrific job. Coming up the rise
she quickened really good and it just goes to show you that
you don’t need to spend much to get a good horse,”
winning jockey Peter Robl said after the victory.
“She
tried hard,” Blake Shinn, rider of the runner-up Horizons.
“She
had every chance but it was a good effort. On a dry track she
would have quickened better and probably won,” Come Hither’s
jockey Corey Brown said.
“She
ran good but is still a bit weak – next time,” said
Dan Nikolic, the jockey of Sheeznodoubt [4th].
“She
went alright but just not seasoned enough yet,” Glen Colless
said about Calape [5th]
“It
was a workmanlike run. She kept finding the line” Arctic
Light’s jockey Zac Purton said [6th].
The
favourite: Horizons showed plenty of natural dash to charge
across the field and take up a trailing spot behind the leader
and she gave plenty in the straight but found the winner a shade
to strong over the final 100 metres.
The
money trail: The best backed runner in the race was Come Hither
firming in from $7 to $6 while the favourite Horizons got out
from $2 to $2.30. The on-course market closed at 122 percent.

Our Joan of Arc wins the Listed Gimcrack
Stakes in race record time!
Photo
courtesy of Bradley's Photos (02) 4868 1433
He's
Back!!
Scott Darby
Friday, 3rd October 2008
7YO
warhorse gelding 'Flaming' indicated he was
back from a long lay off due to injury after a super performance
in Heat 13 at the Rosehill trials today.
Ridden
by Brad Stewart, Flaming was only supposed to have a very quiet
trial in fact we were expecting him to finish near the tail
of the field. However someone forgot to tell Flaming this, as
competitive as ever he sat midfield before being let go around
the field in a lightning move to join the leaders entering the
straight. Jockey Brad Stewart then took hold of the big chestnut
restraining him in the last 100m to the winning post to finish
a more than satisfying 4th.
Brad
Stewart's comments 'Very, Very good horse'
Trainer
Gerald Ryan and all the Darby Racing owners are over the moon
with how he has returned and he will now be scheduled to trial
again next Tuesday week before a possible return to racing.
Darby
Racing 2YO's Impress at the trials!
Scott Darby
Friday, 3rd October 2008
Darby
Racing unveiled two 2YO debutantes at the Rosehill trials this
morning. Gladiator (Hussonet / Flying Single) finished 4th in
the quickest heat of the morning and leading most of the way
before knocking up in the last 100m.
Also
Eight Thorns (Lonhro / Southern Rose) in the same heat got back
to last before sprinting up the inside to finish 5th. Both colts
will derive plenty of benefit from the trial and will now trial
again in around 10 days.
Fantasising
(Redoute's Choice / Cosima's Dream) contested heat 6 finishing
a strong 2nd showing she has derived great experience from her
1st trial 10 days ago. Settling in 4th place and ridden by Tye
Angland, Fantasising set sail after the runaway leader to get
within 2-3/4 lengths after the winner was leading by 5 lengths
at one stage. She will either head to race in a fortnight or
be spelled and brought back towards the end of the year for
a tilt at the Magic Millions in early January.
Horror
draw for Darby Racing's Gimcrack Hopeful!
Scott Darby
Wednesday, 1st October 2008
Darby
Racing's 'Our Joan of Arc' has drawn the extreme outside barrier
in Saturday's Gimcrack Stakes for the 2YO fillies. To be ridden
by Group 1 winning rider Peter Robl, he will need all of his
skill and guile to pilot our brilliant young filly to victory.
Darby
Racing's 2nd syndication to race, lines up in the Listed Gimcrack
Stakes!
Scott Darby
Monday, 29th September 2008
Darby
Racing has all but syndicated eight 2YO's this season with most
of those eight horses either trialled or about to trial. One
in particular partnership is a stunning bay filly by Beautiful
Crown out of Bright Heroine named Our Joan Of Arc. She will
line up this Saturday in the Listed $100,000 Gimcrack Stakes
for 2YO's.
Trained
by Clarry Conners, she has impressed from day one and thus far
has never been beaten on the track with Saturday obviously being
her acid test.
Win lose or draw, Joan will be a horse of the future! Her owners
are finding it hard to contain their excitement and joy. It
has certainly been an amazing ride already in such a short space
of time.
Joan
was only syndicated back in July and now 3 months later lines
up in a $100,000 black type event.
Good
luck to all the owners this Saturday!

Our Joan of Arc
Flaming
returns to the trials this Friday at Rosehill
Scott Darby
Monday, 29th September 2008
Group
3 and Listed winner Flaming returns to the trials this Friday
after an injury earlier this year halted his racing career.
Formerly
a Gai Waterhouse trained and Star Thoroughbred owned horse,
Darby Racing purchased the horse after the well performed galloper
injured a suspensory ligament back in February this year whilst
being prepared for the Group1 Doncaster Handicap. Now under
the care of Gerald Ryan, Flaming has been nursed back to health
firstly by Scott Wade and Mark Holland at Razorback Stud and
now with Rosehill trainer Gerald Ryan.
Gerald
could not be happier with the 7YO gelding with no signs thus
far of the old injury. Flaming is likely to have 3 trials before
heading back to the races with the first of those at Rosehill
this Friday. He will be given a real easy trial as he slowly
makes his way back to competition.
Flaming
has raced 26 times for 8 wins and nearly $400,000 in stakes
earnings!

Flaming - 28/9/2008
Darby
Racing Has Three 2YO's at Fridays Rosehill Trials
Scott Darby
Monday, 29th September 2008
Darby
Racing continues to roll out its 2YO's this Friday with two
colts under the care of Gerald Ryan and a filly trained by Clarry
Conners.
Gerald
Ryan will trial for the 1st time a well bred Hussonet colt named
Gladiator, out of the Flying Spur mare 'Flying Single', she
is a 1/2 sister to young Arrowfield stallion Not a Single Doubt
and is directly related to Snippets, Forensics, Quick Score
and Zizou just to name a few.
Also in the same heat Gerald will trial for the first time a
Lonhro colt named Eight Thorns, out of the multiple city winning
mare Southern Rose.
Both colts have been working well and are expected to trial
accordingly.
Clarry
Conner will trial for the second time an impeccably bred Redoute's
Choice filly named Fantasising, out of Cosima's Dream she is
a full sister to super sire General Nediym. Fantasising has
been working well and will derive plenty of benefit from the
trial. She will also benefit with some time to mature.



Gladiator_________________Fantasising__________________Eight
Thorns
Promising
stayer kicks off for Darby Racing!
Scott Darby
Tuesday, 23th September 2008
Darby
Racing were more than pleased with the efforts of their new
recruit Irish Myth in the 1st race at Mackay today.
A
recent purchase at the Inglis tried sales for just $8,000, Irish
Myth was originally trained at Randwick by Anthony Cummings.
The five year old gelding was purchased after having 12 starts
for Anthony for one 1 win at Kembla Grange and a 2nd at Canterbury
over 1900m.
Originally
a $200,000 purchase at the Magic Millions sales, Darby Racing
thought the handsome son of Giants Causeway would develop into
a potential cups horse in QLD. Irish Myth is now trained by
Stuart Kendrick at MacKay kicking off his campaign in an unsuitable
1200m. He showed terrific fighting qualities to only go down
by 3/4's of a length in a slick time of 1:10.53 for the 1200m.
Judging by his first up performance I think there are plenty
of wins install. Trainer Stuart kendrick was more than pleased
with his efforts and will now find a suitable race over 1400m
for his next assignment.

Irish Myth
as a yearling
Another
Darby Racing Syndication makes her debut at the 2YO trials!
Scott Darby
Tuesday, 23th September 2008
The
Darby Racing 2YO's are certainly up and firing and following
on from some terrific results last Friday at the official Randwick
2YO trials, it was Fantasising's (Redoute's Choice / Cosima's
Dream) turn to trial at Warwick Farm. Trained by Clarry Conners,
she finished a credible 4th run in the fastest heat of the day.
Jockey Hugh Bowman thought she was a lovely filly and felt like
a city class 2YO. She knocked up a little in the straight and
will now trial again at Rosehill next week.
Fantasising's
dam Cosima's Dream is a full sister to sprinting sensation and
now top class sire General Nediym. The owners will certainly
be eager to try and earn some black type in her racing career
to compliment her outstanding pedigree.

Fantasising

Fantasising
Our
Joan of Arc leaves her mark at the official 2YO Trials!
Scott Darby
Saturday, 20th September 2008
Darby
Racing's 2YO filly 'Our Joan of Arc' upstaged her more pricey
rivals in her heat of the official 2YO trials at Randwick yesterday!
Purchased
for just $15,000 from the Inglis Classic sales this year, Our
Joan of Arc (Beautiful Crown / Bright Heroine) lived up to her
work on the track by showing great determination to beat her
rivals.
Our
Joan of Arc is out of the stakes placed Bluebird mare 'Bright
Heroine' who is a full sister to the dam of Inspire winner of
over $700,000 in stakes earning.
If
she pulls up well she will be set for the $100,000 Listed Gimcrack
Stakes in a fortnight. Naturally her owners were over the moon!
Another
Darby Racing syndication also trialled in heat 2 yesterday.
Grand Maneuver (More Than Ready / Bardot) was trapped wide and
had to be taken back to last last to get a position. Coming
into the home straight he appeared to be traveling nicely however
once let go he immediately started to shorten stride. Peter
Robl his jockey eased on the colt as he felt that Grand Maneuver
was feeling his shins. He finished a credible 4th and did pull
up quite shin sore. He will now be spelled and brought back
later in the year for a tilt at next years Magic Millions.

Darby
Racing's 2YO's to the fore at the Warwick Farm Jump Outs!
Scott Darby
Monday, 8th September 2008
Darby
Racing unveiled some promising 2YO's this morning at the jump
outs at Warwick Farm. Run down the course proper over approximately
440 metres, heat 1 saw two of the Darby Racing babies in action,
a 2YO named Fantasising (Redoute's Choice / Cosima's Dream)
and Our Joan of Arc (Beautiful Crown / Bright Heroine). Our
Joan of Arc sprung the gates and travelled like an experienced
horse to win the heat by 3 lengths in the second quickest time
of the morning. Fantasising finished 3rd closing rapidly on
2nd place with her last 50m the strongest part of her work.
Grand
Maneuver (More Than Ready / Bardot) closely related to up and
coming superstar Duporth contested heat 5. He jumped cleanly
from the barriers before racing a little green up the straight
however once he was balanced he stretched out nicely in the
last 100m to win his heat by 1/2 a length.
All
three 2YO's are under the care of Clarry Conners and will now
head for another jump out next Monday before officially trialing
at Randwick on Friday the 19th of September.
Darby
Racing is down to their final 2 syndications for the year, a
lovely filly by Encosta De Lago who is in full work with Gerald
Ryan and is about 4 weeks away from a trial and a powerful colt
by Beautiful Crown (full brother to Group 3 and Listed winner
Flaming) also with Gerald Ryan and should be ready to trial
next month.
For
more information please visit the syndications page or click
below
>>>>Syndications
Page<<<<
Heat
Haze looks the Goods!
Scott darby
Wednesday, 9th September 2008
Darby
Racing's clients were grinning ear to ear today as Zaflame's
(Zabeel/Western Flame) full sister Heat Haze won her 2nd race
from only 3 starts.
Heat Haze debuted only a month ago over 1200m finishing midfield,
she was quickly moved up to 1850m winning by nearly 4lengths
at only her 2nd start. Today Heat Haze stepped up to 2100m in
a ratings 70 race accounting for her rivals with ease.
Heat Haze looks to have a bright future when you consider she
had just her first start over 1200m only a month ago and then
2 starts later winning over 2100m.
Darby Racing's Zaflame was purchased at this years NZ Karraka
Premier yearling sales and is the full sister to Heat Haze.
She has developed nicely since being broken in at Razorback
Stud with horse breaker Scott Wade delighted at what she had
shown early on the track.
With the dam Western Flame now the producer of two runners for
two winners the future certainly looks bright for the owners
of the well related Zabeel filly 'Zaflame'.
Causeway
Queen and Duporth cheered on by Darby Racing!
Scott Darby
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Two
fantastic results for clients of Darby Racing after Duporth
took out the $1million Golden Rose and Causeway Queen won again
in Melbourne.
Duporth
by Red Ransom out of the Group winning mare Staging looks to
be a stallion prospect of the future as he accounted for his
rivals in the Golden Rose on Saturday. Darby Racing clients
of Grand Maneuver were cheering every step of the way as their
2YO More Than Ready colt is closely related to Duporth. Grand
Maneuver by More Than Ready and out of the Bluebird mare Bardot
who is a 1/2 sister to Staging. He is a strapping colt that
has impressed from day 1 and is currently preparing for the
official 2YO trials at Randwick on Monday the 22nd of September.
The
exciting Causeway Queen also won her way back into the winners
circle after an outstanding performance in the last at Caulfield.
After winning 7 in a row last preparation she returned a fortnight
ago finishing last not handling a heavy track. Causeway Queen
however put the dismal run behind her winning the last at Caulfield.
Again Darby Racing clients were cheering as Causeway Queen is
very closely related to Ellehro(Lonhro/Body & Soul). Ellehro
has only trialled once finishing 2nd at Randwick however she
has succumbed to shin soreness in her only 2 preparations. She
is loaded with potential and we look forward in seeing her return
to work shortly.

Grand
Maneuver (More Than Ready /Bardot)


Ellehro
(Lonhro/Body & Soul) spelling at Heritage Park.
Hussler
crowned Horse of the Year
Racenet
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Six-time Group I winner Weekend Hussler has been named the 2007-08
Australian Racehorse of the Year presented by Sky Channel, at
a glittering black tie affair at the Palladium at Crown in Melbourne
tonight.
Weekend
Hussler earned 82% of the overall votes to cap an extraordinary
first season of racing and cement his standing as as Australia’s
best galloper.
The gelding
also becomes the first three-year-old since Octagonal in 1995-96
to be crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year.
In two amazing
months last spring, the Ross McDonald-trained superstar had
raced away with a Group 1 double –Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
at Caulfield and the Ascot Vale Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
But it was
earlier this year that the world took notice of the ‘Hussler’
when he won four straight Group 1s – the Oakleigh Plate
(1100m), the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) in Melbourne, followed
by The Randwick Guineas (1600m) and George Ryder Stakes (1500m)
against Sydney’s best weight-for-age stars.
These performances
saw Weekend Hussler rated the world’s equal best miler
and second best sprinter behin