View Full Version : Starcraft lands in NZ
Courtesy of Racenet
Champion Australian colt Starcraft landed in Auckland on the weekend, in excellent shape for his pending clash with New Zealand’s best gallopers in the Mudgway PartsWorld Stakes at Hastings on Saturday.
Trainer Garry Newham travelled with the big chestnut from Sydney and reports that despite being the only horse on the flight, he handled the trip 'fantastically'.
'He got a little bit stirred up when he was first loaded but he settled down pretty quickly and hardly moved after that,' said Newham from Brookby Stables, the South Auckland agistment property he will be at until tomorrow morning.
Starcraft, whose dam Forum Floozie received the Mercedes Broodmare of the Year award on Friday night, is due to be floated to Hastings in the morning, a trip that will take about six hours.
Once there, Newham will assess his work requirements, but doesn’t expect to ask much of him until Thursday morning.
'I’ll be weighing him to see how much the trip has taken out of him and then see how he settles in down there.'
Raceday jockey Leith Innes will make a special trip from Matamata to ride Starcraft in his Thursday morning final gallop before the big race.
Boss has a lot on his plate, so Kiwi pushes claim for Starcraft
By John Schell
August 23, 2004
New Zealand's leading jockey, Leith Innes, is hoping a winning debut ride on Starcraft in this Saturday's Mudgway Stakes at Hastings will have him emerge as a contender for the prized Cox Plate ride on the Garry Newham-trained four-year-old.
Innes will have his first sit on the Paul Makin-owned galloper at Hawkes Bay on Thursday and is out to make a big impression.
"I'll gallop him on Thursday and am really looking forward to getting on him. I've only ever seen him on video," Innes said from New Zealand yesterday.
Starcraft hasn't raced sincebeing partnered by Glen Boss to win the AJC Australian Derby. Boss faces an embarrassment of riches this spring, with the regular mounts on Cox Plate favourite Private Steer and Up And Coming Stakes winner Fastnet Rock.
Makin said yesterday Boss would always have first refusal for Starcraft. Innes, however, hasn't given up hope of a long-term association with the galloper.
"I'm more than happy to be riding him in the Mudgway and if he can win that group 1, then you never know what can happen down the track," Innes said. "Bossy won on Private Steer pretty easily on Saturday and if he sticks with her, then I could be a chance of staying on. We'll just see how Saturday goes first, though."
Boss, who will miss just more than a week of riding because of careless-riding suspension which began yesterday, said he might be contacted by Innes this week.
"Paul [Makin] told me I might get a call from him to ask about Starcraft," said Boss. "There's not really a lot I can tell him other than, 'Enjoy the ride'."
Boss said he was not in a position to commit to a Cox Plate mount, as "there is a lot of time between now and that race".
But Makin said he would be guided by whatever Boss decided. "There is only one Glen Boss and he will always be first choice. It's up to him to decide," he said.
The owner said Starcraft arrived in Auckland on Saturday night and would travel to Hawkes Bay today.
Makin said if all went well, Starcraft would return to Australia to contest the Underwood Stakes, in which he believes Boss will be able to take the ride, before returning to New Zealand for the Kelt Capital Stakes on October 2.
"Without committing to anything, Leith would have some sort of chance of riding Starcraft in the Kelt, as there are three group 1s in Australia on the same day and Glen might be required to ride Fastnet Rock," Makin said.
Meanwhile, Queensland Oaks winner Vouvray is set to resume at Caulfield on Saturday for new trainer Peter Moody. The daughter of Zabeel was formerly prepared by New Zealand trainer Paul O'Sullivan, who will train in Hong Kong this season.
smh
Handy Harry
25-08-2004, 09:23
Trainer has high hopes for Starcraft
The trainer of champion racehorse Starcraft hopes the Gold Coast galloper can fill the "giant hole" left in the sport by last season's retirement of Lohnro.
The AJC Derby winner was last night named Queensland's Horse of the Year.
The four-year-old gelding will return to racing in Saturday's Mudgway Stakes in New Zealand.
Trainer Garry Newham says his stable-star will be an even stronger galloper this season.
"He has done everything fantastic, I cannot fault the horse," he said.
"He is much stronger now. If he can do what Lohnro's done it will be like winning lotto."
ABC
Handy Harry
25-08-2004, 09:41
By Rob Edwards
Perth
August 24, 2004
http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2004/08/23/northerley_narrowweb__200x313.jpg
Northerly, with Patrick Carbery aboard, strides out in a trial at Lark Hill, south of Perth, yesterday.
Picture:Rod Taylor
Trainer Fred Kersley is running out of time to get Northerly fit for the Cox Plate on October 24. Northerly is still 40 kilograms over his racing weight and Kersley's attempt to find a suitable surface to test the champion's fitness was thwarted yesterday by two heavy downpours.
It rained heavily 15 minutes before Northerly was scheduled to trial over 900 metres at Lark Hill outside Perth yesterday, ending Kersley's hopes of taking an accurate gauge from the hitout.
Kersley knows he is dealing with a much beefier Northerly, who weighs about 520 kilograms and is well short of racing condition. The eight-year-old weighed 480 kilograms at his last campaign more than 16 months ago.
Kersley, mindful of the increased risk of injury to Northerly's ligaments, would not allow his horse to be extended on a track where he could easily slip.
Pat Carbery steered Northerly to the centre of the track in search of firmer ground because of less traffic, giving him a soft gallop to finish fifth, four lengths behind winner Conspirator, who won in 55.75 seconds.
Carbery lengthened Northerly's rein only inside the last 100 metres and the horse cruised to the winning post, before being eased down gently over 200 metres.
"He was in good condition and handled the trial well," Kersley said. "But the trial was inconclusive in real terms under the conditions of a heavy track and over 900 metres.
"It doesn't shed much light on where he is at fitness-wise. He did as good as he could under the circumstances and seemed happy.
"He is a different shaped horse to what he used to be. He has put on a fair bit of beef and clearly he is short of race condition."
Kersley will today enter Northerly in Saturday's $42,500 Farnley Stakes (1400 metres) at Belmont Park, but will not confirm him as a definite starter until he inspects the horse before acceptance time on Thursday morning.
Carbery knows Northerly well. He was the gelding's regular rider in his lead-ups to his spring campaigns when he won two Cox Plates (2001 and 2002) and a Caulfield Cup (2002).
The natural lightweight was having his second ride on Northerly in the past three days yesterday. Kersley's son-in-law Paul Dyson has been the horse's regular trackwork rider.
Carbery reported Northerly to have kept his trademark competitive edge. "I didn't put him under any pressure," Carbery said. "He has a good will to win and feels as good as ever, that's the main thing."
About 60 onlookers braved the blustery conditions to watch Northerly in his first barrier trial since he injured his off-fore tendon 13 months ago.
Kersley has been frustrated in his bid to find a good surface on which to gallop Northerly. His exhibition gallop at Belmont last Wednesday week was in heavy rain on a rain-sodden track.
The master trainer's routine is to work Northerly at Belmont, but the usually pristine track is looking tired and cut-up from the extra traffic of an extended season, due to the Ascot season not beginning until January 1.
Perth's extremely cold winter and recent heavy rains have not helped the track recover from Australia's toughest workload of at least three meetings a week, plus barrier trials and training gallops.
- West Australian
http://www.theage.com.
au/articles/2004/08/23/1093246443489.html
Starcraft on track for return
By Tony Arrold
August 26, 2004
STARCRAFT's itinerary in the lead-up to his return to racing in New Zealand on Saturday continues to run smoothly for trainer Garry Newham.
A capacity field of 16, plus four reserves, was drawn yesterday for the $185,000 weight-for-age Mudgway Stakes (1400m) at Hastings.
Starcraft will start from gate eight, with King's Chapel, the likely favourite, in barrier 11.
"The whole trip has gone unbelievably well. He hasn't turned a hair," Newham said from Hastings yesterday, three days after the horse's arrival in Auckland.
"He lost a little weight getting here but has put it back on since he has settled in properly."
Premier New Zealand jockey Leith Innes will get his first feel of Starcraft in a working gallop this morning.
The venue for the historic Tattersalls Club meeting on September 4 will be determined after six horses gallop on the troubled section of Randwick's course proper this morning.
The Tattersalls meeting, featuring the $175,000 Chelmsford Stakes, is set down for Randwick.
But jockeys who rode at the August 21 meeting voiced concerns the surface between the 900m and 600m was unsuitable for racing due to a lack of grass growth during the winter.
The Warwick Stakes meeting advertised for Randwick last Saturday was subsequently transferred to Warwick Farm.
A delegation of jockeys walked the troubled section with Randwick track manager Jeff Haynes yesterday.
The Australian Jockey Club's spring meeting at Randwick is set down for September 25 and October 2.
Australian
Handy Harry
27-08-2004, 08:44
Kiwis go wild for Starcraft
By Darren Prendergast
August 27, 2004
Not since the locally-trained wonder mare Sunline has a horse garnered as much hype and attention as Gold Coast sensation Starcraft in the lead-up to his spring return in the group 1 Mudgway Stakes in New Zealand on Saturday.
"He has been on the front page of newspapers over here for the last two days," John McGifford, secretary of the Hawkes Bay Race Club, said on Thursday. "Everyone is talking about him. The hype is huge.
"About 100 people showed up to watch him gallop this morning. It's been fantastic for New Zealand racing to have him here."
The Garry Newham-trained AJC Australian Derby winner arrived across the Tasman last Sunday on the first leg of an unorthodox four-start spring program.
Newham and owner Paul Makin devised the schedule that will see Starcraft race exclusively in group 1 company, including two feature races in New Zealand, on the way to the ultimate goal of winning the $3million Cox Plate in October.
"Everything has gone to plan so far," Newham said. "He hasn't turned a hair since he got here. He hasn't left a grain of food. He's enjoying the experience."
Starcraft's relaxed nature was reflected in his first serious gallop at Hastings on Thursday ahead of his showdown with New Zealand's horse of the year, King's Chapel, in the $NZ200,000 ($184,264) Mudgway Stakes.
Leading New Zealand jockey Leith Innes, who will take over from the suspended Glen Boss aboard Starcraft on Saturday, was given his first ride on the dual group 1 winner in a 1400m hit-out around the Hastings circuit.
"He's a lovely horse to ride," Innes said. "He gave me a great feel this morning. He went around the Hastings track like he was born here. He didn't have a problem. He seems to have settled in really well."
In preparation for his ride aboard Starcraft, Innes has studied videos of the entire's racing pattern and style. The jockey also intended to consult Boss in the lead-up to the Mudgway.
"I've had a good look at his tapes and he's certainly a pretty smart horse," Innes said. "I might give Glen a call tonight or tomorrow.
"The horse does look like he's not an easy ride. Sometimes he gets on the wrong leg coming around the bends, probably more so in Sydney than Melbourne.
"But going by his gallop this morning he won't have a problem. He ran around very well."
Newham was equally satisfied. "He galloped very nicely this morning," he said. "We are confident. It will take a pretty smart horse to beat him on the day."
McGifford is expecting a big crowd to front up at Hastings to watch Starcraft pursue his third group 1 success.
"We had over 12,000 people come to see Sunline win the Mudgway Stakes at her final start in New Zealand two years ago," McGifford said. "While I wouldn't expect that figure to be surpassed, we shouldn't be too far away.
"Sunline is an icon of racing in New Zealand but Starcraft is attracting his own buzz. People want to see him race. With New Zealand's best horse, King's Chapel, also in the race, it should be a great race."
Newham isn't bothered by the extra attention on Starcraft, which was bred in New Zealand before being bought by Makin as a yearling. "He was starting to attract the same amount of attention before the [AJC] derby," Newham said.
"The attention doesn't bother me and it doesn't appear to bother the horse. It would bother me more if nobody was interested."
Starcraft starts from gate 12 in the Mudgway but Innes feels he is on the right horse. "All going well, I'd like to ride him again some stage down the track, but my main focus is on Saturday. I can't wait."
smh
Handy Harry
28-08-2004, 08:47
By Andrew Eddy
August 28, 2004
Starcraft's owner Paul Makin wanted locals to witness his champion first-hand, but those at Hastings today might actually see an improved version of the star of last season when he steps out for his first New Zealand run in the group 1 Mudgway Stakes.
Makin took the unusual step of sending the valuable horse to NZ for two runs to kick-start his spring campaign to "allow as many people as possible to see him" before he returns to Australia with the Cox Plate in October his main target.
His trainer Garry Newham said yesterday that the horse had changed remarkably since ending his amazing autumn campaign with a stirring win in the AJC Derby at Randwick.
"He's developed so much from last season, I don't know what to expect tomorrow," Newham said. "Last season, when he was all legs and gangly, he would take a little while to get organised in his races, but it wouldn't surprise me now to see him race handier."
Makin believes only bad luck can beat the champion three-year-old of last season as he strives for his third group 1 success today.
"If he keeps out of trouble, I don't know how the Kiwis can beat him," Makin said. "The track conditions are not going to worry him. He can handle any type of ground from heavy to firm."
Starcraft will stay in NZ for the Kelt Capital Stakes before flying to Melbourne.
Melbourne Age
cheesebeast
21-09-2004, 23:06
Racing: Next time will be a close encounter
20.09.2004
By MIKE DILLON
Miss Potential does not have two bigger fans than Starcraft's owner, Paul Makin, and his trainer, Garry Newham.
Makin has twice tried to buy Miss Potential from New Zealand owner Bill Borrie, the most recent attempt being on the eve of Saturday's $120,000 Stoney Bridge Stakes.
Borrie won't budge, but he and Makin have made a different deal.
Over dinner in Hastings on Friday night they agreed that Starcraft will serve Miss Potential the first season she is retired to stud.
Starcraft has dealt to the high-class Kiwi mare twice on the racetrack and will get another chance to deal to her in the breeding barn.
But they will almost certainly never meet again on a racetrack.
Miss Potential will miss the $1 million Kelt Capital and race instead on the same day in the A$600,000 Epsom Handicap at Randwick.
Newham is tipping her to win it.
"The Aussie journalists have been ringing me this morning about Starcraft and I've said to them all, never mind him, just have something on Miss Potential in the Epsom."
Newham says he now realises how good Miss Potential is after Starcraft has had to work hard to beat her, in the Mudgway Stakes and Saturday's Stoney Bridge.
"If Starcraft hadn't come to New Zealand, she'd have won the Mudgway and the Stoney Bridge and the press would be writing her up as the next Sunline.
"As it is she's been narrowly beaten in both races by one of the best colts ever to come out of Australia. :p :p :p
"She's guts plus. She can come into my barn anytime she likes."
Rider Reese Jones is sick of the sight of Starcraft.
"I don't care if I never see him again. I can't wait to get away from him - I'd hate for this mare to have to face him again."
Miss Potential has only 52.5kg in the Epsom.
"You'll see the skinniest Reese Jones you've seen for a while," said Jones, who normally rides around 54.5kg-55kg.
There were some wonderful runs behind the first two on Saturday.
Irish Rover stuck on grimly for third after sitting parked and Lashed went huge to take fourth after covering a lot of ground looping the field mid-race. She should be right on form for the Kelt, as should Distinctly Secret, who went a nice even race for fifth after enjoying a perfect trail.
If you owned Sedecrem you would be looking for a change of luck. He had to drop back to last from the outside gate at the awkward 1600m start and the way the race was run he was no chance from that point.
Sedecrem was making good ground late to finish mid-field.
Source (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sports/sportsstorydisplay.cfm?storyID=3592713&thesection=sport&thesubsection=racing&thesecondsubsection=general)
Outstanding Australian galloper Starcraft had his work stepped up at the Hastings track session as he prepares for Saturday's $NZ1 million ($A935,979) Kelt Capital Stakes.
The big chestnut has been deliberately kept on the fresh side by trainer Garry Newham since they arrived in Hastings six weeks ago but is now taking on a more serious look as he gears up for the Group One feature at the Hawke's Bay spring carnival.
With regular trackwork rider David Withington aboard, Starcraft worked about halfway out on the course proper, where the ground was firm and there was a good sole of grass.
Course manager Gary Foskett has been irrigating the track extensively closer to the rail for the past week and that section of the track had a penetrometer reading of 3.4, which is easy.
Rain is forecast for Hawke's Bay over the next couple of days.
Starcraft cantered three-quarters of a round before working in from the 2000m peg, steadily increasing the speed over the last round.
The full 2000m took him 2:18.1 but he only started to really stretch out over the last 800m and came home from there in 50.8s, the final 600 in 35.8s.
"Beautiful," was how Newham described the work.
"It was lovely work, especially on his own and was just what he needed."
Newham then weighed Starcraft and he tipped the scales at 562kg, 4kg less than he was after working last Thursday.
It shows the horse has tightened up in condition.
Newham is unlikely to do too much more serious work with Starcraft from now until Saturday's 2040m race.
"Once I've got him to a certain fitness I just keep him ticking over," Newham said.
Brought to you by
© 2004 AAP
Starcraft has drawn well in barrier four for Saturday's NZ$1 million Kelt Capital Stakes.
The $1.40 favourite will jump from the gate directly inside likely pacemaker St Reims. Second favourite Distinctly Secret, who won the race last year, has not been so kindly treated at gate 11.
Yesterday Starcraft came through his main pre-race gallop to the complete satisfaction of trainer Garry Newham. Working on the centre of the course proper with regular work rider David Withington in the saddle, he strode over 2000 metres and after being asked to extend for the final section, returned a time of 35.8s for his last 600m.
Overnight showers in Hastings have produced a penetrometer reading of 3.5, with a forecast of fine weather for the next two days and showers on the back of a southerly change on Friday.
Hastings track manager Gary Foskett told ThoroughbredNews this morning that no further irrigation will be applied to the track before Saturday.
'We’ll leave it alone now and if there’s no more rain we can expect a good track by the weekend,' he said.
The complete field for the Kelt Capital Stakes, scheduled for 3.40pm on Saturday afternoon, is:
Balmuse (7), Distinctly Secret (11), Floydeboy (3), Irish Rover (10), Sedecrem (1), St Reims (5), Zafar (9), 59; Mount Street (8), Starcraft (4), 57; Honor Babe (12), Lashed (6), Dowry (2), 56.5.
Dennis Ryan
NZ Thoroughbred News
cheesebeast
01-10-2004, 11:07
McAnulty scratches St Reims in protest
01 October 2004
Outspoken owner Rob McAnulty is upset the track for tomorrow's $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings has been prepared to a condition that will suit Australian galloper Starcraft ahead of local horses.
McAnulty last night scratched Cambridge galloper St Reims from the Gr I 2040m race in protest against the club watering the track, and also took out stablemates Danbird and Baja from support races.
"We've pulled our whole three out," McAnulty said after walking the track last night.
"The track is dead and it's raining now. My shoes are wet through to the socks and the bottom of my pants are wet, and you can see footprints where we've walked.
"We've got a horse who wants to run two minutes and it's disappointing that they've watered it.
"We'd cop it sweet if God had done it. We would have accepted it if the rain had come and done it, but we're not accepting it that they've watered it."
Starcraft's trainer Garry Newham earlier this week said: "He doesn't like hard tracks. He can handle a wet track and I won't be worried if we get some rain."
However, Hawke's Bay Racing boss John McGifford was livid at suggestions the club had watered the track to suit the Starcraft camp.
He said the club had watered the track because it could not afford to run the risk of having a rock hard track become unsafe with any rain on the day.
"We wanted to make sure there was a bit of give in the ground and our track manager (Garry Foskett) has a pretty good idea of how the track behaves," McGifford said.
"We are racing in the spring, not at Trentham in the mid-summer and we've got to prepare a track that gives every runner a chance.
"We are certainly not watering the track to keep the Starcraft camp happy. I've got no time for that type of talk."
Steady rain fell in Hastings on Tuesday night which last night left the track with a penetrometer reading of 3.2, on the soft side of easy.
McAnulty said one of the main attractions of racing at Hastings over the spring was getting a good racing surface and it was good practice for the club to take advantage of it's "climatic conditions".
"Our horse is flying. He's back to his best form and we're disappointed that any advantage we might have had has now been extinguished. We're gutted because we were a real chance," he said.
"We've got a pace attack. We think the wicket might be better suited to the spin bowlers so why should we produce our pace attack on a spinners' wicket.
"On a firm track, we would set the race alight. St Reims finished eighth last year and he's a much better horse this time around.
"But we're philosophical. He's booked on a plane to Melbourne on Monday and we're quite happy to run in the Yalumba Stakes next Saturday, then the Mackinnon Stakes and Sandown Classic."
Matamata trainer Mark Walker, who prepares Kelt runner Distinctly Secret, was also disappointed the club had resorted to watering the track.
Walker had read newspaper reports from Hastings that Starcraft had galloped on the middle of the track on Tuesday, as the inside 14m was being irrigated to a penetrometer read of 3.4.
"That's bordering on soft. That's ridiculous," Walker said yesterday.
"I couldn't believe what I was reading. We're just out to race on a level playing field but they've already gone ahead and done the damage. It's not very good, is it?"
Newham has described Starcraft as "spot on" for tomorrow's race.
From Stuff NZ (http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/waikatotimes/0,2106,3051385a6893,00.html)
cheesebeast
02-10-2004, 11:53
Starcraft got rolled by Balmuse which makes Cheesebeast happy. :D :D :D
Good boy Cheesy...your shout?
cheesebeast
02-10-2004, 13:49
Sure. :p
Hope he goes to Caulfield Cup now.
Surely not. They would be best to keep him under 2000 I reckon...he gets pretty pooped otherwise. His Derby win was a struggle.
cheesebeast
02-10-2004, 17:24
Was talking about Balmuse re the C Cup - he's by Lord Ballina so the 2400m should be a doddle. ;)
cheesebeast
04-10-2004, 10:54
Battler Bullard produces perfect ride
04 October 2004
By AIDAN RODLEY
A jockey who could ride only nine winners as an apprentice took New Zealand's richest racing prize at Hastings on Saturday.
Christchurch jockey Jamie Bullard, 29, who said of himself at the time that "I couldn't ride", delivered a perfect ride aboard Balmuse.
Bullard, a self-confessed battler come good, delivered a well-thought out ride to keep his unbeaten record intact on Balmuse.
He tracked Starcraft from the beginning and made sure he kept Balmuse in the open to ensure he had a clear run for his sprint.
"Turning for home, I'm in behind Starcraft doing pacework," said Bullard.
"He's gone passed Starcraft pretty easily. The acceleration is phenomenal, just unreal. He just went whoosh."
Bullard did his apprenticeship in the lower North Island, before heading south for more opportunities.
He had won at his first two rides on Balmuse before Saturday's win, but he said he only got a luke-warm reaction from Myers when he first approached him to ride the Lord Ballina gelding.
"I said I'm quite keen to ride him but he (Myers) said we'll see how you are riding.
"You know Dummy. He said I'm not paying for your flight and I'm not giving you a sling. But I was here to do my job and I've done it," Bullard said.
An exuberant whip flourish before the winning post cost Bullard $750 in a fined handed down by the Judicial Control Authority, but he was not phased by it.
"Big occasion, big win, great horse," he said.
"I've never saluted before, never even thought about it, but to win a $1 million race is substantial.
"It's sensational and for it to be on Balmuse and make it three from three on him, is very satisfying. And I've really got Kevin to thank for getting me on."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/waikatotimes/0,2106,3053744a6893,00.html
cheesebeast
04-10-2004, 11:05
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/451096
Brief video of the Kelt at the end of this clip.
Boss said Starcraft was on edge from the moment he laid eyes on him on Saturday, with the horse tossing him from the saddle before the field left the mounting yard. "It was totally out of character. He just self-destructed on me," Boss said.
Looks like it off the video too. Will need to settle down if he is going to race well in Melbourne.
cheesebeast
04-10-2004, 12:46
Actually the quality of that clip is quite poor?
This may be better
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/sport_index_skin/sport_index_group
Scroll down to the Video Section in the middle of the screen and click on "Balmuse shocks Starcraft"
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