Black Opal Stakes ( Canberra)

[imaufo]

Monday, 17 March 2003:

Gai Waterhouse has called on top Sydney jockey Chris Munce to break her Black Opal Stakes duck at Canberra on Saturday.

The G2 Sayers Black Opal Stakes (1200m) has been a frustrating race for Waterhouse, the leading Sydney trainer boasting only one minor placegetter of the feature two-year-old event.

She is placing her faith this year in the impeccably-bred Sunday Silence filly Touched By God, who has raced only once for a win over 1100 metres at Randwick on February 26.

Touched By God was bred by John Singleton and he retained the filly for racing rather than offer her for sale as a yearling despite the guaranteed high price she would have commanded in the sale ring.

Touched By God earned $13,000 for her debut win at Randwick but needs to pick up a big slice of the $200,000 Black Opal prizemoney to qualify for a start in the $3 million Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill on April 12.

Munce, who is also seeking his first Black Opal success, is in for a busy time on Saturday as he will rush back to Sydney after the Canberra meeting to ride at Canterbury on Saturday night.

Waterhouse is sending a strong team of horses to the Black Opal meeting with Munce also booked to ride We’re Dancing in the $75,000 Holiday Inn National Sprint (1400m).

Waterhouse will also start Swiss Echo (Glen Boss) in the National Sprint and last start Rosehill winner So Assertive in the $60,000 Gundaroo Stud Syndicate Canberra Guineas (1600m) for three-year-olds.

[imaufo]

Victorian two year-old Snip Attack, trained by Peter Moody, will not run in the Sayers Black Opal after drawing gate 16 in the $150,000 Group 3 1200m. Part-owner Bruce Clark said: "He worked really well on Tuesday at Moonee Valley but after he drew 16 in Canberra we decided to keep him in Melbourne."

"He'll now run in the Schweppervesence Stakes (1200m) at the Valley and we do think that the race is winnable. If he goes as well as we hope, he'll then head for Sydney to see if he can get a run in the Golden Slipper."

Snip Attack by General Nediym from Snip (Snippets), has had just the five starts for a win in the LILS GOLD SOVEREIGN STAKES at Launceston on February 26. The gelding has won $74,000 in prize-money and is currently level with John Hawkes' Niello, on the order of entry for the $3 million Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill on April 12.

By: Jo Adams - Thursday, 20 March 2003

[Handy Harry]

Big race specialist Chris Munce rates his filly Touched By God as the improver going into tomorrow’s Sayers Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra.

The Gai Waterhouse juvenile is rated a $7 chance in early betting with Exceed And Excel dominating at $1.90.
Munce concedes Exceed And Excel is the one to beat but by no means a good thing.

“I liked his win the other – he is obviously a good horse and the one we have to beat at Canberra,” Munce said.

“But I like my filly too – she’s the improver and she’s got the pedigree to win anything so I am going into the race knowing I am a good chance.”

Munce says Touched By God will hopefully get the chance to utilise gate two. “I’m hoping she won’t have to be under too much pressure to trail in about sixth place,” he said.

“And that’s in our favour – hopefully a trouble free run on the rails to the turn and getting the run at the right time."

Which Munce has an uncanny knack of usually achieving.

By: Racenet - Friday, 21 March 2003

[Handy Harry]

My tip is Exceed and E$xcel...good luck!!!:p

[VINCENT]

I think HANDSOME RANSOM is a moral !!!!!!!!!!

[Handy Harry]

WELL DONE VINCENT. BETWEEN THE TWO OF US WE GOT THE QUINELLA:p :p :p :eek:

[Handy Harry]

Handsome Ransom (Corey brown) earned himself a Golden Slipper spot today with an impressive win in the Group 3 $150,000 Sayers Black Opal Stakes (1200m).

Favourite Exceed And Excel (Hugh Bowman) lost no friends with his gallant second from barrier 12 with trainer Tim Martin suggesting, “the barrier beat him”.

“That was a top effort from him and I’m not disappointed at all. It was a good effort by the winner and I’m not taking anything away from him but if we draw a barrier we win.”

“He’ll either back up in the Todman next week or the Mercury Classic the week after. It all depends on the horse."

Paul Sutherland, trainer of the winner was more than happy he didn’t go to Kembla Grange as planned. “To be very honest , right up until this morning I was going to Kembla with my runners there but Jeff Penza, who rides Handsome Ransom in all his work said ‘Boss you’ve got to go to Canberra. He’ll win.’, so I changed all my staff around to come here and I’m so pleased I did.”

“On Thursday he worked three quarter pace over 600m, sprinting up the last 400m and Jeff got off him and said “That’s a Golden Slipper gallop". Ideally he won’t have another run now until the Slipper but we’ll see how he pulls up.”

“I don’t know about a jockey yet as I don’t know if Corey will be available. If I had my way I’d put Jeff Penza on no worries but I’m only the trainer and I’ll leave it up to the owners.”

Tim Martin would have had more than Exceed and Excel’s second on his mind when Handsome Ransom went past the post first.
He was outbid by Sutherland at the sales for the winner, stopping at $100,000 only to see Sutherland end up with the colt for $110,000.

By: Racenet - Saturday, 22 March 2003