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News Archive
More
Juvenile Joy for Kavanagh
Cats
Whisker Another Spring Prospect for Kav
Sea
Battle Looking for Spring Riches
Lamarr All Class at Cranbourne
Sea
Battle Qualifies for Championship Final
Whobegotyou to rest
after great win
Kav's Sea wins Sandown Battle
Two
On End for Dr Doute's
Whobegotyou
Brilliant on Debut
Tobouggie
Continues Stables Winning Ways
Our
Saint Marches In
Dr Doute's Impresses on Debut
Harmony Aces Rivals at Geelong
Sale Coup: Madonna for
Millions
Private Liaison
Impresses at Cheltenham
Divine Madonna Retired
Kav Club to bring
racing to new audience
Impressive SA Win
for Kavanagh's Blue Blood
Maldivian out until spring
Blue Diamond Final Field
Kavanagh's
Blue Diamond Chances Improve
Believe'N'Succeed stakes placed in Preview
New Rider for Tipungwuti
Juvenile Catapults into Millions Contention
Showcase win for Nadobe
Kenwick Stays Too
Well at Morphettville
Change of
Tactics Successful for Princess
Sea Battle Enjoys His
Change Of Stable
Coco Command Impressive At Cheltenham
Hong Kong plans shelved for Divine Madonna
Divine Madonna's Fourth
Group One
Kav's Princess Crowned at
the Valley
Final Preparation for Plate
Cox Plate Barrier Draw
Puerto Banus Redeems at
Seymour
Caulfield Cup Nightmare
Divine Madonna's Fourth
Group One
Kav's Princess Crowned at
the Valley
Final Preparation for Plate
Cox Plate Barrier Draw
Puerto Banus Redeems at
Seymour
Caulfield Cup Nightmare
Well bred doll cruises home
Adelaide Stable Firing
Devil Moon tackles tough Turnbull
Maldivian Dominates In JRA Cup
Mighty Moon Overcomes Devil of a Barrier
Top First Up Win for
Melbourne Bound Danedina
Regal Colt Adds Hometown Win
Stable Streak Continues at Bendigo
Moon Sparkles in the
Flemington Sunshine
Kav Looking Forward to
Testing Star Trio Again
Kavanagh Works
Magic With Bodacious Harmony
Maldivian heads Caulfield Cup Betting
Divine Madonna Crowned SA's Horse of the Year
More
Juvenile Joy for Kavanagh
28/07/08
While
Mark Kavanagh continues to enjoy a holiday in France, his stable's
winning run in two states rolls on.

Catapulted races home
for a brilliant win
On
Saturday at Cheltenham the exciting youngster Catapulted thrashed his
rivals in the Dermody Tailem Bend Handicap (1000m) at his first run
since a spell.
It
was the second win in three starts for the Catbird colt, who won on
debut at Morphettville in January before missing a place in the Queen
Adelaide Stakes won by subsequent MM Classic winner Augusta Proud.
From
barrier three regular rider Simon Price was able to get the chestnut up
to share the lead early, before skipping clear at the top of the
straight.
The
result was never in doubt as the talented two-year-old raced clear and
won pulling up by two and three quarter lengths.
Well
supported runner The Long Road was second, while Unique Spirit was
another head back in third place.
The
stable could send Catapulted across the border for a campaign in
Melbourne with the dual juvenile winner already getting up in the
weights in Adelaide.
Catapulted,
a half brother to the city performer Spectro, is from the 1400 metre
winner Siren Miss.

Catapulted - raring to
go before Saturday's race
A
daughter of Umatilla, Siren Miss is a full sister to the Perth stakes
winning juvenile Umatune and the Flemington stakes performer Godswaki.
Umatune
in turn is the dam of the Gimcrack Stakes winner and Perth Magic
Millions victor Jestatune.
Bred
by famous South Australian thoroughbred nursery Mill Park and stable
clients Robert and Helen Dinham, Catapulted was purchased by Kavanagh
for $90,000 from the 2007 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
So
impressed with the early form of Catapulted, Kavanagh went to the Gold
Coast at Easter to secure his Hussonet half brother at the Magic
Millions Yearling Sale for $325,000.
The
win of Catapulted on Saturday followed the brilliant come from behind
win of promising filly Devil Child in the Tudor Peak Handicap (1400m) at
Bendigo on Wednesday.

A
daughter of Street Cry, Devil Child produced a sizzling finish over the
final furlong to race home over the top of her rivals to win by a
widening length and a quarter.
Importantly
the meeting was conducted by the Victoria Racing Club and carried
metropolitan status and prizemoney.
"I
thought she was going to run a nice fourth or fifth in the
straight," stable foreman Merv Harvey said.
"But
she really knuckled down at the finish."
Harvey
said the filly may have one more run or be sent to the paddock for a
break.

"She
looks to have a nice future and she should come back stronger after a
spell. She's done a good job already and she should be suited by longer
distances into the future."
Devil
Child is raced by Sunbury based earth mover Laurence Eales, who also
owns the stable's other exciting Street Cry youngster Whobegotyou.
His
latest winner by the sire is the first named foal for the multiple
Sydney winning Anabaa mare Carabine.
A
daughter of the Auckland Cup and Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes winner
Spyglass, Carabine is a half sister to Epsom Handicap winner Iron Horse.

PICS
- Jenny Barnes and
Greg Irvine.
Top
Cats
Whisker Another Spring Prospect for Kav
12/07/08
The
in form Mark Kavanagh stable unveiled another spring carnival contender
at Moonee Valley this afternoon in the form of Fusaichi Pegasus filly
Cats Whisker.
Sent
out the hot favourite following a brilliant four length debut win at
Seymour on June 19, Cats Whisker made up for a tardy getaway with a
powerful finish in the straight.
Raced
by a Sydney quartet of owners, Cats Whisker will now be freshened up
before being set for feature races later in the year.
With
trainer Mark Kavanagh soaking up the rays in the French Riviera, stable
foreman Merv Harvey was in charge of saddling the stable's sole runner
today.
"It
was a good performance," Harvey said. "She finished it off
really well in the straight and won nicely."
"She
must have been on the back foot when the gates opened, she was a bit
tardy away."
"But
Nick didn't panic on her, he's great like that, he just put her into a
good spot and went from there."
At
the line Cats Whisker ($1.75-$1.90-$1.80 fav) got up to beat Ribati
($21-$26) by three parts of a length.
Third
home was Yesterday ($3.70-$4.60-$4.40) a further short head back.
Cats
Whisker joins recent city winning, and unbeaten, two-year-olds from the
Kavanagh stable Dr Doute's and Whobegotyou as youngsters with a bright
future ahead.
"She
was probably just too good for them at Seymour (on debut)," Harvey
said of the winner.
"We'll
send her up to the water walker at Rockmount now and she can have a
freshen up and come back for the spring."
The
filly is set to be nominated for a number of three-year-old filly
features later in the year including the Group One Thousand Guineas at
Caulfield.
"Racing
like that today was good. I think she's going to handle longer
distances."
"It
looks as though she will be perfectly suited at a mile," he added.
"She's bred for it."
Cats
Whisker, a homebred, is one of two winners from the stakes performed
Don't Say Halo mare Perfect Halo.
A
half sister to the dual winning stablemate Our Saint, Cats Whisker is by
Mr. Prospector's Kentucky Derby winning son Fusaichi Pegasus - the sire
of her group winning stablemate Tipungwuti.
Raced
by Sydneysiders Joy and Sam Jenkins and Mr and Mrs Bill Smith, Cats
Whisker has earned $42,900 from her two wins from as many starts.
"Sam's
not feeling the best, so that will be a welcomed win," Harvey said.
The
punters who took the short odds were also welcoming the win.
PICS
- Fiona Tomlin.
©
2008 Published 12/07/08
Top
Sea
Battle Looking for Spring Riches
05/07/08
Jockey
Michael Rodd won his first race at Flemington since last year's
Melbourne Cup when Sea Battle won the 2008 Henry Bucks VRC - CRV Winter
Championship at Flemington this afternoon.
Backing
up from a slashing win at Flemington last week, when he came from last
on the turn, the Mark Kavanagh trained Sea Battle showed his versatility
by sitting in sixth position in the big field before coming between
runners in the straight to win well.
Rodd,
who regularly rides Sea Battle ($2.60-$3.10-$2.80) in trackwork, bided
his time before asking for a final effort and was able to down
Rockpecker ($4.40-$6.00) by three quarters of a length.
The
pair cleared out by 2¾ lengths from third placed Magnetic ($14-$17).
Scenic Silver ($7-$9) was fourth a neck further away.
"He
was still pretty impressive in the way that when the sprint went on
coming around the turn they left me a bit flat footed", Rodd said.
Rodd
effectively made two runs on Sea Battle. One to get out of an awkward
position on the rails behind a wall of horses and the next over the
concluding stages to overhaul Rockpecker.
"I
had to squeeze for a run at the 400 which took a little bit out of him
and he had to pick himself up again and get going."
"It
was better than what it looked."
Rodd
is impressed by the improvement in Sea Battle since he first came into
the Kavanagh stable last year.
"I
rode him Thursday morning and he just keeps improving", he said.
"I
was so confident coming into today."
Trainer
Mark Kavanagh was on a plane to Dubai as the race was run, eagerly
anticipating a text message on arrival telling him the outcome of
today's race.
"I
could probably make a call from the plane but I'll wait until we
land", Kavanagh said yesterday when asked if he could cope with not
knowing the result.
Stable
foreman Merv Harvey explained that today's good barrier combined with an
anticipated lack of speed, led to a change in today's riding tactics.
"Last
week there was good speed in the race", he observed.
"Today
there probably wasn't as much genuine speed."
"It
was always Michael's plan to ride a bit closer, we just needed the
luck."
"He
wore the other horse down and did a good job."
Harvey
suggested that a Spring campaign was on the agenda for Sea Battle,
clearly one of the best horses going around this Winter.
"He's
a very versatile horse and he just keeps on improving."
"We'll
probably give him a bit of a break now and bring him back for the
Spring."
"I
think if we give him three weeks on the water walker and bring him back
and freshen him up for the Spring he could win a nice race for us."
The
Kavanagh stable is enjoying a lot of success giving horses like
Maldivian and Tipungwuti a spell on the "Aquaciser", walking
machine at Rockmount near Euroa.
Harvey
expects that Sea Battle will benefit from such training, enjoying a
change of scenery as well as retaining fitness without the constant
pounding of trackwork affecting his soundness.
"He's
offset in the knees", explained Harvey.
"He
gets 4 or 5 runs out of him and then the tracks get too hard and he jars
up a bit."
Rodd
is looking forward to riding Sea Battle in the Spring.
"Its
a big credit to Mark and his stable because he's a horse that's got his
fair share of problems but they've overcome them."
"His
biggest attribute is that you can ride him anywhere.
"He
can be on the pace or off the pace."
"He
switches off for you and when you ask him for it he gives you his
best."
Harvey
revealed that the stable has Group races in mind for Sea Battle.
"As
a three year old he ran in the Tulloch Stakes", he said.
"He
wasn't that far away from those horses in Sydney so I see no reason why
he can't progress to that sort of class."
"The
owner wants to get him out to a mile and a quarter."
"He's
won over 2000 metres but he's unsound and that's why we've restricted
him to the mile."
"He's
bred to be a mile and a quarter or mile and a half horse."
Perhaps
Sea Battle's pedigree gives the best clue to what he is most suited for.
By
English Derby winner Quest For Fame, Sea Battle is out of the Danehill
mare Peppie, bred by Bob Scarborough's Wood Nook Farm.
This
Quest For Fame/Danehill cross is the same as Kavanagh's promising two
year old filly Lamarr, owned by Gerry Harvey which won at Cranbourne on
Thursday.
The
cross also produced the ill-fated Group 1 filly Unworldy.
But
it is Sea Battle's third dam, Coup de Chance, that highlights his
potential. She is the dam of Dieu d'Or and Final Card, two of the
fastest sprinters ever to race at Flemington, both of which broke the
1200m track record.
This
suggests that Sea Battle would indeed be better kept to shorter trips
with the 1600m Toorak Handicap or Emirates Stakes being ideal Spring
targets.
Photos:
Fiona Tomlin
©
2008 Published 05/07/08
Top
Lamarr All Class at
Cranbourne
03/07/08
Mark
Kavanagh's winning run with two-year-olds continued at Cranbourne today
with promising filly Lamarr scoring an impressive win in the Winning
Edge Presentations 2YO Plate (1200m).
Despite being caught
deep for the entire journey, Lamarr was able to hold out the late
challenge from Cut and Run to win comfortably.
The win is yet another
for Kavanagh's stable, who's recent juvenile winners in Victoria have
included Dr Doute's, Whobegotyou and Cat's Whisker.
Significantly Lamarr is
the first horse in the Kavanagh stable to race for powerful breeder and
owner Gerry Harvey.
The filly was sent out
the warm favourite on the strength of her eye catching debut run when a
closing third in a metropolitan meeting at Bendigo on June 20.
Winning jockey Nicholas
Ryan was impressed with the filly, in particular her fight close to the
line after a tough run.
"She's pretty smart,"
Ryan noted. "She didn't have many favours, but she was very strong. She
really stuck it out well."
"I came here today
quite confident," he added.
"She's the type of
filly who's always on the improve and there's more to come out of her."
Ryan said the
youngster, named after former actress Hedy Lamarr, would "definitely"
handle longer trips in the future.
Lamarr, by Sarrera and
Viscount's sire Quest for Fame, is one two winners from two to race for
well bred mare Lupenta.
A daughter of champion
sire Danehill, Lupenta is a sister to group performer Dane Fever and
half sister to this season's stakes winning juvenile Woppitt and former
smart juvenile Swinging Bachelor.
Lupenta is from the
group performer Campbell Fever, who in turn is a daughter of the Blue
Diamond Stakes winner Midnight Fever.
PIC - Greg Irvine.
©
2008
Published 03/07/08
Top
Sea
Battle Qualifies for Championship Final
28/05/08
Sea
Battle, a horse described by trainer Mark Kavanagh as "held
together with bandaids and chewing gum", handled a hard track and a
bad barrier draw with ease at Flemington today to win Heat 7 of the
VRC-CRV Winter Championship.
A
powerful run out wide, coming from last on the turn blew away the smart
field with Sea Battle ($6.00-$8.50-$8.00) going on to win by a widening
4¼ lengths from Snort ($6.00-$8.00-$7.50) and In The Shadows
($15-$21).
Winning
rider Nicholas Hall made a good tactical decision to ride Sea Battle
from back in the field from his wide 16 barrier, even though part owner
Barbara Bardon said she'd never seen her horse running last before.
"He
didn't give me many instructions", Hall replied when asked what
Kavanagh had told him to do.
"He
left it up to me from the gate."
"There
was plenty of speed on with McLurch and Prospect and those sort of
horses."
"I
thought from that gate I didn't have much option but to go back."
"Knowing
there was a bit of speed I thought I would be back mid-field but not as
far back as I did."
"He
just proved way too strong."
Before
the race, Kavanagh was concerned that the track was too firm for Sea
Battle which has had his own battle with soundness issues.
After
the race, he was making plans for Sea Battle to back up at Flemington in
a week for the $200,000 Final of the Winter Championship to be run over
1600m.
"Looks
like he's qualified now", Kavanagh proudly proclaimed, after hoping
that he might sneak into the final by running a place.
"He
really rode him well and summed the situation up pretty good."
"I
thought he'd be mid-field and wide."
"He
elected to go back and certainly that's the best run he's had for
me."
"It
was a pretty emphatic win."
"With
a bit of luck if he pulls up good we'll go around next Saturday."
"He's
really starting to race himself into fitness now."
Nicholas
Hall is in the box seat to get the ride on Sea Battle again next weekend
as stable rider Michael Rodd is likely to be too heavy to ride.
Racing
Victoria Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter confirmed that Sea Battle
would most likely be allotted 53 or 54kg, under Rodd's preferred 55kg
limit.
Owners
Barbara Bardon and Peter Parker flew down from Sydney to watch their
horse win.
Formerly
trained by Guy Walter in Sydney, they elected last year to transfer Sea
Battle to Kavanagh.
"We
weren't getting a fair go in Sydney so we thought we'll go down to
Melbourne", they decided.
Bardon
and Parker purchased Sea Battle after the Inglis Ready To Run Sale in
2005.
"He
didn't go through the sale because he failed the vet", Bardon
explained.
"You
don't take much notice of vets do you?"
Maybe
the answer is to take heed of the vet's advice and give the horse to
trainer who can work around the horse's weaknesses.
Photos:
Fiona Tomlin
©
2008 Published 28/06/08
Top
Whobegotyou to
rest after great win
23/06/08
In
form trainer Mark Kavanagh is likely to spell exciting juvenile
Whobegotyou after he cruised home in the Quest Moonee Valley Handicap
(1200m) on Saturday.
Sent out the favourite after a brilliant debut win the Geelong
Thoroughtrack in late May, Whobegotyou made a quick dash around the
field approaching the turn and set up a winning break at the top of the
straight.
Top senior rider Nicholas Ryan allowed the promising gelding to cruise
to the line under his own steam and he won easily.
Owned by Sunbury based earth moving businessman Laurence Eales,
Whobegotyou is almost certain to head to the paddock for a break.
"I still think there is good improvement in him," a delighted Mark
Kavanagh said.
"We've always had a good opinion of him."
"He can go to the paddock for a little rest now and we might look at
something in the spring for him," Kavanagh added.
"It was a good win. He sustained a long run, but I was confident he'd be
able to do it."
"I'm not that worried about horses being trapped deep at Moonee Valley."
"It all turned out okay."
Kavanagh said Whobegotyou had come a long way in a short time and he was
looking forward to the future with the chestnut.
"This is his first real preparation. He's done a great job and I'm
confident there's a good future ahead for him."
Whobegotyou ($3.20-$4.20-$4 fav) cruised home to beat Georgia's Boy
($8-$9) by a length and a half.
Third home was the drifting second favourite Heart of Dreams ($3.90-$5)
a further length and a half behind the runner-up.
The best supported runner in the race, Barry Barnes' Buckets
($7-$8-$6.50) was the best of the unplaced brigade in fourth position.
Whobegotyou, by Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense's sire Street Cry, is
one of two winners from three to race for the French stakes performed
Carnegie mare Temple of Peace.
Further back his family takes in classy international group winners
including Cuddles, Cause to Believe, Buffythecentrefold, Tap to Music,
Northern Afleet, Bear's Kid and Katz Me If You Can.
© Cyberhorse 2008 Greg Irvine
Published 21/06/08
Top
Kav's Sea wins Sandown Battle
14/06/08
Tough entire Sea
Battle could head to the rich Winter Championship after a strong win in
the $60,000 Le Pine Funeral Services Plate (1400m) at Sandown on
Saturday.
The Mark Kavanagh
trained four-year-old has been a revelation since coming to Victoria and
joining the state's leading stable of Group One winners.
And there looks to be
more wins in store this campaign for the son of Quest for Fame who
handles all track conditions and relishes those with give.
"It was a good win,"
Kavanagh said. "He had to cart them along behind the leaders and then
kick away again."
Sent out the favourite,
Sea Battle showed great fighting capabilities when challenged about a
furlong from home by the last start Flemington winner Packing Supreme.
"Being down in
the weights really helped him," Kavanagh said. "He relished the claim
and was able to pull away at the finish."
Kavanagh was confident
leading into the race that he had the horse to beat after his recent
excellent first up second.
"He'd trained on well
and I knew he loved the wet tracks. He was really suited at the weights
and I virtually thought he was a good thing."
At the line Sea Battle
($2.60-$3.10 fav) held a length and a quarter margin over the in form
and well backed Packing Supreme ($8-$6.50).
Third home was another
heavily backed runner Bird Dancer ($9-$6.50), a further half length
back.
Kavanagh said the
Winter Championship could be an option for Sea Battle who looks to have
a nice campaign ahead of him over the coming months.
"It's an option that's
for sure. We'll see how he pulls up and perhaps look at a qualifying
race."
"Any horse who can
handle the wet and run a strong mile would be suited - he might fit the
mould."
"He has got definite
improvement in him. He was probably what I'd consider a run short
today."
Sea Battle, formerly
based in Sydney with Guy Walter, is raced by Sydneysiders Barbara Bardon
and Peter Parker.
The horse has been in
great form since joining Kavanagh - he hasn't missed a cheque in his six
runs which includes wins at Caulfield and Sandown.
Sea Battle's overall
career record has been boosted to four wins and six minor placings from
19 starts for earnings of $135,770.
PICS - Fiona Tomlin.
©
2008
Published 14/06/08
Top
Two
On End for Dr Doute's
24/05/08
Purchased
cheaply because his legs weren't straight, Dr Doutes proved Mark
Kavanagh's gamble worthwhile when he won his second race from two starts
at Moonee Valley this afternoon.
Starting
equal second favourite with Paddy O'Reilly at $6.50, Dr Doute's was
taken to the lead on the home turn by Michael Rodd.
Knowing
that the favourite Tindal ($2.50-$2.60-$2.40F) was in a pocket behind
him, Rodd opened up a 2 length break in a winning move.
Tindal
tried valiantly to bridge the gap but was still a length short of
victory on the line, beating Paddy O'Reilly by a half length into third
place.
By
Redoute's Choice from the Dr Grace mare No Limit, Dr Doutes was yet
another astute purchase for his trainer Mark Kavanagh from the Magic
Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Dr
Doutes reminded Kavanagh of another Redoute's Choice youngster he
purchased in Adelaide, the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner
Undoubtedly.
Kavanagh
purchased him off the one bid of $150,000.
"He
had a bit of a twisted leg and the talk of the sale was that was the
reserve", Kavanagh said.
"No
one was on him and actually a lot of people laughed at me when I bought
him."
"Everyone
else in the ring thought that I was running him up for the owners."
Asked
if he had a lot of success with horses with such problems, Kavanagh
pointed out that he started his training career in Mt Gambier with a
stable full of them.
"Not
all good horses have to have perfect legs and there are certain things
you must forgive if you're going to buy a horse", he said.
"There
are plenty of good horses that have had turned out legs."
"I
picked him the way he moved and it certainly hasn't affected him
today."
I've
got a pretty high opinion of him.
He
had the top weight and the widest alley today.
I
think this will turn out to be a pretty strong form race for Moonee
Valley in May.
There's
still a bit of maturing in him
I
might give him one more at Flemington and then head him to the Spring.
Kavanagh
stable jockey Michael Rodd rode Dr Doutes a treat, ensuring a clear run
to the post while keeping Tindal pocketed behind him.
Rodd
won on promising two year old Whobegotyou at Geelong yesterday, which is
the first one he's ridden for the stable since he was sidelined by a
mystery ailment early this year.
"Its
unusual that the stable jockey goes out when he hasn't ridden a winner
for me for 6 months and we're still talking", Kavanagh quipped.
Photos:
Fiona Tomlin
©
2008 Published 24/05/08
Top
Whobegotyou
Brilliant on Debut
23/05/08
Flemington trainer
Mark Kavanagh unearthed his third impressive debuting two-year-old
winner from as many weeks when the promising Whobegotyou scored an eye
catching win in the Bay FM Super Vobis Plate (1100m) at Geelong today.
After getting back
in the field after a tardy getaway, Whobegotyou then produced a
whirlwind finish after a wide run to reel in the leaders in the straight
before dashing clear for a brilliant win.
So fast was
Whobegotyou ($8) finishing that by the time the line was reached he held
an increasing one and three quarter length margin over runner-up Sherpa
($4.60).
The favourite and
early leader Ocean Journey ($3.80) was another half neck back in third
place.
"He'd shown
us some good ability at home," Kavanagh noted. "I thought he'd
make into a lovely three-year-old."
"The plan
today was to let him find his feet early and make some ground at the
finish - but boy did he reel them in well," he added.
Kavanagh said the
gelded son of Street Cry will most likely have another run before a
break.
"We'll
probably look for another race for him and then he might have a break. I
think his best is still to come with maturity."
Winning rider
Michael Rodd was delighted with the strong finishing win.
"He's a nice
young horse who looks to have a bright future," Rodd commented.
"You'd say he'd be up to better class in the future."
Cheering
Whobegotyou home from his base at Sunbury was earth moving businessman
Laurence Eales,
Whobegotyou, by
Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense's sire Street Cry, is one of two
winners from three to race for the French stakes performed Carnegie mare
Temple of Peace.
Further back his
family takes in classy international group winners including Cuddles,
Cause to Believe, Buffythecentrefold, Tap to Music, Northern Afleet,
Bear's Kid and Katz Me If You Can.
Top
Tobouggie
Continues Stables Winning Ways
19/05/08
Mark Kavanagh's Adelaide stable unearthed another impressive debutant
over the weekend in the
shape of runaway Morphettville winner Tobouggie Woogie.
Two weeks after cheering
home the exciting Redoute's Choice colt Dr Doute's, it was the turn of Tobouggie
Woogie to impress racegoers.
From a wide barrier the filly was forced to race three deep throughout, but
in the end that would be no problem as she easily won.
"It was a really good
win," stable foreman Sam Kavanagh said. "She'd shown good ability in
her trackwork and we were hopeful she would run well."
Tobouggie Woogie ($3 fav) cruised home two and three quarter lengths clear of
Go Lizzy ($6), while Swoop and Destroy ($5.50) was another three parts of a
length back in third place.
The promising youngster
has pulled up in great style from her racetrack debut and the stable is eyeing
off a black type event for her second start.
"We'll look at giving
her a run in a listed race here in Adelaide in a few weeks and then give her a
break," Kavanagh said.
"She's a filly we'd
nominate for the Thousand Guineas - I think she's got good upside," he
added.
Tobouggie Woogie, by
former top class international juvenile Tobougg, is a well related youngster.
She is one of two winners,
from two runners, for the winning Royal Academy mare Regal Flute.
Regal Flute is a full
sister to the Toorak Park Stud owned Thousand Guineas winner Serious Speed and a
half sister to the dam of sprinting stakes winner Victory Chant.
Tobouggie Woogie's second
dam, the Kendor mare Twitter, won the listed HC Nitschke Stakes in Adelaide as a
three-year-old.
Saturday's
juvenile star is raced by her breeders Harry Perks, Trevor Robertson and
Rod Fairclough, who breed under the Toorak Park Stud banner.
Meanwhile, Kavanagh's
Flemington stable continued their recent good form with a winner and close up
second placegetter from two runners at Ballarat on Thursday.
Camarilla's half brother
Emmy Award led the way with a brilliant win in the Bunch of Grapes Hotel
Handicap (1400m).
With Nicholas Ryan
in the saddle, Emmy Award romped away in the straight to beat his rivals
by a widening four and a quarter lengths.
"He has his
share of soundness issues, but he's going well and the win was as easy
as you'd like to see," trainer Mark Kavanagh said.
"Hopefully he
can continue on through the winters months and win some more
races," he added.
Emmy Award's win came
after promising stablemate Invinciblekindness beat all but Meld in the Golfhouse
Hotel Plate (1000m).
Judging by his closing
finish it looks as though a win won't be far away for Invinciblekindness.
Pic
courtesy of Atkins Photography.
Top
Our
Saint Marches In
06/05/08
Former New South
Wales galloper Our Saint kicked away his account in Victoria with a
thrilling win in the Ballarat Auto Wreckers Class 1 Handicap (1200m) at
Ballarat on Saturday.
The Mark Kavanagh
trained four-year-old gave comeback jockey Nicholas Ryan plenty to cheer
about when he got home first.
In a driving
finish on a deteriorating track Our Saint ($5) was able to beat
runner-up Mannerheim ($8) by a half head, while Redi Zedi Dash ($4.60)
was a further three lengths back in third place.
Our Saint was
having just his second start for Kavanagh, having raced on nine
occasions in New South Wales for a win and five placings beforehand.
Kavanagh was
delighted with the win and has been super impressed with how the
four-year-old had pulled up from the tough run.
"He's pulled
up very well from Saturday's win," Kavanagh said.
"I'll just
see how he does in the next few days before choosing the next suitable
race for him," he added.
Kavanagh said the
win should give the recent stable acquisition much needed confidence as
he raced on this preparation.
By Royal Academy
and from the Don't Say Halo mare Perfect Halo, Our Saint is the only
winner to date for his dam.
Perfect Halo won
four races during her career - all in Sydney - and was four times stakes
placed.
Top
Dr
Doute's Impresses on Debut
05/05/08
Dr
Doute's made the perfect start to his racing career with a dominant win in the
Williams Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Handicap (1000m) at Morphettville
on Saturday.
A $150,000 buy from last
year's Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale at Morphettville, Dr Doute's found
plenty over the concluding stages when required under in form comeback rider
Simon Price.
Stable foreman Sam
Kavanagh said the son of super sire Redoute's Choice had shown some good signs
in track work and connections were hoping that could be replicated on the race
track.
"We were thinking he
could run a big race," Kavanagh said. "He'd shown some nice ability in
track work, but I guess you never know until they get to the races."
"One thing I'm sure
of though is that he will improve as he gets further, judging by his pedigree
and his work."
"We were originally
thinking of running him at 1200 (metres) first up because he'd be suited at the
distance - but we decided that would be a bit too hard for a two-year-old at
their first start."
"He's always shown
tremendous ability and I'm sure he will improve with racing experience."
Kavanagh said Dr
Doute's was originally in work late last year, but was tipped out before
making his debut.
"He
won a jump out on Christmas Eve," Kavanagh pointed out.
"But he
pulled up a bit shin sore and we decided to give him time rather than
push on."
"We thought
by doing the right thing by the horse would reap rewards later on."
Future plans for
Dr Doute's are unsure at present - but Kavanagh Senior will check the
calendar for suitable races over the coming weeks.
"He's pulled
up well and ate up well."
"There's a
number of different options," Kavanagh added. "Ultimately the
horse will be better as a three-year-old and at a mile."
Dr Doute's is the third
winners from three foals to race for the seven time Sydney winning and stakes
performed Dr Grace mare No Limit.
Photos
courtesy of Jenny Barnes.
Top
Harmony
Aces Rivals at Geelong
12/04/08
Leading trainer
Mark Kavanagh predicted a step up to city class for Ace Harmony after
his impressive win at Geelong yesterday.
At his second
career outing, the son of O'Reilly accelerated brilliantly when he found
a split late in the race to grab the leader with about 100 metres to
run.
Sent out one of
the popular elects after his encouraging debut run when second at
Kyneton late last month, Ace Harmony went one better this time.
"This horse
is going to be better when he gets out to a bit of a trip,"
Kavanagh said.
"Once he
balanced up and he got on with his job in the straight he found the line
hard," he added.
"He's pretty
promising."
"We thought
he might have been looking for 1400 metres now - he seems to have a bit
of promise so we'll have a look how he pulls up and go from there."
Kavanagh is
confident the talented young performer is capable of stepping up to
metropolitan grade.
"He's got to
be city class. We'll look at something at around 1450 somewhere and give
him a try at that," Kavanagh summed up.
Ace Harmony, a
three-year-old, is by leading New Zealand sire O'Reilly - who's other
star performers include Group One winners Alamosa, Guyno, Master
O'Reilly, The Jewel and Final Destination.
He is a full
brother to the five time winner and twice Group placed Spinner's Magic.
Their dam Anne of
Tudor, by Twig Moss, is a half sister to Group Two winners Hermod and
Orsay as well as the dams of stakes winners Hire, Lease and Prankster.
Top

Sale
Coup: Madonna for Millions
07/04/08
One
of the world's great racemares - the mighty Divine Madonna - will go
under the hammer at June's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the
Gold Coast.
The daughter of
Hurricane Sky, a four time Group One winner, was retired last week after
suffering a muscle injury that cut shut her last racetrack preparation.
Purchased as a
yearling from the Adelaide Yearling Sale by Mark Kavanagh, Divine
Madonna established herself as one of the great Australian mares of the
modern era - earning over $2 million from just 26 starts.
"She was an
absolute delight to train," Kavanagh said today. "Not only a
sensational racehorse, she was a real stable favourite."
"She's got
the most wonderful temperament and she'll make the perfect
broodmare," he added.
The mare will be
offered at the auction by one of Australia's most historic and
successful thoroughbred outfits Widden Stud.
Widden's Antony
Thompson said he was delighted to be entrusted with the valuable
broodmare prospect.
"We're
honoured to be able to present the mare on behalf of her owners at the
sale," he said. "She joins a quality draft of fillies and
mares who will be heading north for the National Sale."
"She will be
without doubt the best race filly or mare to be offered in Australia
this year," Thompson added. "An outstanding mare who captured
the imagination of racegoers."
"Her strong
finishes were incredible to watch," he summed up.
Magic Millions
managing director David Chester was delighted to learn the star mare
would be gracing the Gold Coast sale ring in June.
"She's the
mare of the year," Chester said. "We're honoured to be able to
get her back to sell to the public as a broodmare after originally
selling her as a yearling in Adelaide."
"There
would be no better mare being offered at auction anywhere in the world
this year than Divine Madonna."
"She's a four
time Group One winner and she possessed the most paralysing finishing
burst I've probably ever seen in a racehorse."
"Her sale
will be one of the most anticipated thoroughbred auction events
ever."
Divine Madonna is
one of two Group winners from the top producing Pergo mare My Madonna.
A three time
winner in her own right, My Madonna is also the dam of the Group Three
Standish Handicap winner Blessum - a seven time winner of over $450,000.
Maduro, another of
Divine Madonna's half brothers, notched up yet another city win in
Adelaide on Saturday. He's now won eleven races and earned a tick under
a quarter of a million dollars.
Divine Madonna is
just one of the many stand out entries for the Magic Millions National
Broodmare Sale.
Many dozens of
stakes mares have been entered for the auction which will be held from
June 2-6.
"This sale is
now firmly established as the number one breeding stock sale of the
Southern Hemisphere," Chester commented.
"The weanling
and yearlings sale components to the National Sale have assembled some
truly outstanding entries as well."
Magic Millions
release
PICS - Fiona
Tomlin
Top
Private
Liaison Impresses at Cheltenham
06/04/08
Private Liaison
continued his rise through racing's ranks yesterday with a solid win in
the Patricks/Dunes Handicap (1000m) at Cheltenham in Adelaide.
With replacement
rider Matthew Neilson in the saddle, Private Liaison showed great fight
over the concluding stages to beat Sheeza Peril by a half head, while
Noble Mistress was another short neck back in third place.
The win was the
third for the regally bred colt at his seventh career run.
Sam Kavanagh,
Adelaide foreman for his Flemington based father Mark, was impressed
with the win.
"The rider
dropped his whip at the 300 so the effort to finish like he did was
first class," Kavanagh said.
Kavanagh said he
would look through the calendar for a suitable next run for Private
Liaison - but he's keen to space his runs.
"He seems to
go very fresh - so we'll look at something in about three weeks,"
he noted.
Private Liaison is
a sensationally bred three-year-old.
His sire Rock of
Gibraltar, by Danehill, holds the world record for consecutive Group One
victories and has been represented by Group One winners in both
hemispheres.
In Australia his
stakes winners include Gamble Me, Murtajill, Musidora, Pillar of
Hercules and Sliding Cube while his South African Group One winner
Seventh Rock is Aussie bred.
Private Liaison's
dam, the Royal Academy mare Regal Kiss, won six races during her career
including four at two.
She is best
remembered for winning the Group Two Reisling Slipper Trial Stakes at
Rosehill and a trio of stakes wins in Adelaide headed by the Group Three
RN Irwin Stakes.
Regal Kiss is a
half sister to two stakes winners including the Mark Kavanagh trained
Blue Diamond Stakes winner Undoubtedly.
Pics courtesy of www.barnesphotography.com.au
Top
Divine
Madonna retired
01/04/08
Australia’s
leading miler Divine Madonna will be retired after sustaining an injury
in the past 24 hours.
Trainer
Mark Kavanagh this morning confirmed the injury and said the daughter of
Hurricane Sky would be immediately retired after a stunning race career.
“We
discovered she’d pulled muscles across her back and while the injury
isn’t usually considered that serious, it is enough to end her
career,” Kavanagh said.
“The
usual prognosis on this sort of injury is three months – and that was
the time frame we had on the remainder of her racing career,” he
added.
Connections
of the mare were eyeing off a trip to England to contest the Queen Anne
Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
“It’s
obviously disappointing to lose her while she had some good racing ahead
of her through the Doncaster and possibly to England, but it wasn’t to
be.”
Divine
Madonna, an earner of over $2 million, is regarded as one of the finest
milers Australia has produced over recent seasons and she is a fan
amongst punters with her typical whirlwind finishes.
“She
was the loveliest mare to train,” Kavanagh said. “It has been a
great ride since I purchased her as a yearling from the Magic Millions
Sale in Adelaide.”
“She
turned into a real stable favourite over the past few seasons. All of
our staff will miss her a lot,” Kavanagh summed up.
Divine
Madonna, from just 26 starts, won eight races and was a minor
placegetter on seven other occasions. She won her connections over $2
million.
She
is best remembered for her come from behind wins in the Emirates Stakes,
Queen of the Turf Stakes, Myer Classic and Toorak Handicap – all at
Group One level.
“I
think she will become a fantastic broodmare and I can look forward to
seeing her foals over the seasons to come.”
Top
Kav Club to
bring racing to new audience
11/03/08
Mark Kavanagh, Australia's leading Group 1 winning trainer this season,
today announced the launch of the Mark Kavanagh Racing Club.
"I strongly believe that we have to introduce ownership to a new
audience", Kavanagh said.
"While syndication is great, there is a lot of paperwork, the lowest
entry point for a new owner is thousands of dollars and then they have
to wait over 12 months to see their horse racing."
The Mark Kavanagh Racing Club includes Group 1 winners, Maldivian,
Divine Madonna and Devil Moon as well as proven stakes performers
Believe'N'Succeed and Tipungwuti among its 10 horses.
For their annual membership fee of $99 Kavanagh Club members get regular
email reports on Club horses as well as being able to participate in
stable visits, attend trackwork and race days and enjoy social
activities.
"We think that during the year our members will gain a solid education
in what it means to be an owner without the expense", said Kavanagh.
"I'm hopeful that many of our members will become owners in a real sense
once they have an understanding of what its all about", he went on.
Kavanagh thinks that the Mark Kavanagh Racing Club is potentially the
model to encourage greater racetrack attendance.
"Having a horse racing is the only way I can think of to encourage
people to consistently go to the track", said Kavanagh.
"I've had some big ownership groups in some of my horses and believe me,
they can light up the mounting yard when their horse wins."
"There's not a lot of atmosphere at many race meetings today, so if we
can attract a crowd it can only be good for racing", he concluded.
The Mark Kavanagh Racing Club is a joint venture between the Kavanagh
Group Pty Ltd and well known racing web site Cyberhorse. The web site is
at
www.kavanaghracingclub.com.
Top
Impressive SA Win for Kavanagh's Blue Blood
03/03/08
The
nation's leading Group One trainer, Mark Kavanagh scored another win in
his home state of South Australia on Sunday.
Son and Morphettville foreman Sam saddled up the well bred Private
Liaison to win the Coopers Brewery Handicap (1000m).
Well handled by Chad Lever, Private Liaison ($2.60 eq fav) was able to
come through on the inside of runners to beat Circled ($6) by a half
length.
Lucenup ($16) was another half head back in third place, while the other
$2.60 equal favourite Graskey was the best of the unplaced brigade in
fourth position.
A colt by Danehill's record breaking sire son Rock of Gibraltar, Private
Liaison is a son of Royal Academy's Group winning daughter Regal Kiss.
Regal Kiss won four races during her career including a fantastic
victory in the Group Two Reisling Slipper Trial at Rosehill.
She is a half sister to two group winners including Kavanagh's Blue
Diamond Stakes winner Undoubtedly.
Private Liaison has two wins on his race record from just six starts
with the promise of more to come.
Last September at just his second outing he rattled home for an eye
catching win at metropolitan level.
Private Liaison is raced by Anthony Fedele, John Purdey, Alan Taylor,
Vanessa Walker, Frank Pergoleto, Harry Perks and Isobel Kavanagh.
PIC - Fiona Tomlin.
© Cyberhorse 2008 Greg Irvine Published 03/03/08
Top
Maldivian out until spring
25/02/08
Outstanding galloper Maldivian will be sidelined until the Spring
Carnival later in the year after the son of Zabeel was found to be
suffering a leg injury.
Trainer Mark Kavanagh has confirmed scans have revealed the former
Australian Cup favourite has a hairline fracture to a knee.
“It is very mild,” Kavanagh stated. “He’s being spelled immediately and
won't be seen until the spring.”
“He will be brought back and be set for races like the Caulfield Cup and
Cox Plate,” Kavanagh said.
“Vets expect him to make a 100 per cent recovery because they have
caught it in its infancy.”
Meanwhile, Kavanagh reports group winning juvenile Believe’N’Succeed has
been spelled after her gallant on speed fourth in Saturday’s Group One
Blue Diamond Stakes.
Top
Blue Diamond Final Field
19/02/08
7-04.10 ARROWFIELD STUD BLUE DIAMOND STAKES (1200 METRES)
Of $1000000 and $15000 trophy. 1st $600000 and trophy of $15000, 2nd
$180000, 3rd $90000, 4th $45000,
5th $25000, 6th $20000, 7th $20000, 8th $20000.
For Two-Years-Old. Set Weights. (GROUP 1).
1 EXCEEDINGLY GOOD Lee Freedman Corey Brown (1) 55.5
2 REAAN David Hayes Dwayne Dunn (10) 55.5
3 WILANDER Lee Freedman Luke Nolen (5) 55.5
4 ALL AMERICAN David Hayes Brad Rawiller (6) 55.5
5 MINNESOTA SHARK Tom Hughes Sebastian Murphy (a) (9) 55.5
6 BEYNAC Pat Hyland Sam Hyland (13) 55.5
7 HIPS DON'T LIE (NZ) David Hayes Craig Williams (7) 53
8 MARVEEN Robert Smerdon Vlad Duric (3) 53
9 BELIEVE'N'SUCCEED Mark Kavanagh Stephen
Baster (14) 53
10 SIENNAS FURY Leon Corstens James Winks (11) 53
11 BURGEIS Tony Vasil Danny Brereton (12) 53
12 PACHANGA (NZ) David Hayes Steven King (8) 53
13 OKAYLAH Lee Freedman Damien Oliver (4) 53
14 CHILEAN MISS Clinton McDonald Larry Cassidy (2) 53
Top
Kavanagh's Blue
Diamond Chances Improve
10/02/08 by Greg Irvine
Mark
Kavanagh's chances of winning his second Blue Diamond Stakes shortened
dramatically at Caulfield yesterday when Believe'N'Succeed scored a
dashing all the way win in the Group Three Prelude for fillies.
After an exceptional getaway from the barriers, the daughter of Exceed
and Excel was able to cross from barrier eight and from there took
control of the race.
Rider Stephen Baster always knew the filly was carving out solid
sectionals and her overall time told the story.
Her winning time of 1:03.70 was two-tenths of a second quicker than
Wilander clocked in winning the Prelude for colts and geldings.
"How quick was that," Kavanagh beamed after the race.
"Gee it was just fantastic - she was so fast!"
Kavanagh,
who won the 2005 Blue Diamond with Undoubtedly, was delighted with the
performance and has good reason to be looking forward to the Group One
event in a fortnight.
"She might be good. She carved out some sectionals," he said.
"She came on really well from the other day (when third in the Diamond
Preview on debut) and was quite impressive. I'm impressed."
"I just have to hope she pulls up well and comes on from the win as we
head to the Diamond - it's still two weeks away."
Also impressed were bookmakers with Betstar slashing her Diamond price
from $13 to $8.
Wilander and Exceedingly Good, who ran the quinella in the other
Prelude, share favouritism at $5.
After leading into the straight Believe'N'Succeed ($9) cruised home by a
1-3/4 lengths from Sugar Babe ($5).
The well-backed favourite Burgeis ($4.60 fav) was third, a further long
neck back on the outside.
Believe'N'Succeed was purchased by Kavanagh for $300,000 at last year's
Magic Millions Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast.
"She cost $300,000 - the second most expensive horse I've bought, a tick
under Tipungwuti ($310,000) cost as a yearling," he said.
PICS - Fiona Tomlin.
Top
Believe'N'Succeed
stakes placed in Preview
28/01/08
Exceed And Excel filly Believe'N'Succeed made an auspicious start to her
racing career on Saturday when stakes placed in the Listed $100,500 MRC
Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies).
The speedy two-year-old missed the major prize by just a nose and short
head in a chaotic finish where little separated the first five fillies
across the line.
Long shot Siennas Fury ($61) closed late down the outside to nose out
Merson Cooper winner Marveen who had dived between leader (and eventual
fourth) Woppitt and Believe'N'Succeed in third.
The fillies covered the 1000 metre course in a creditable 0:57.65, a
full second quicker than that recorded by Reaan who was untroubled to
win the colts division by five lengths.
Believe'N'Succeed is a member of the first crop of Danehill's champion
sprint son Exceed And Excel. The Darley based sire has made a
phenomenal start to his stud career siring stakes winners Exceedingly
Good and Sugar Babe amongst his first runners as well as the highly
fancied Blue Diamond aspirant Wilander.
Top
New Rider for Tipungwuti
23/01/08
Group winner Tipungwuti will have a new rider for Friday night’s Group
Two Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Michael Rodd, who was originally booked to ride the son of Fusaichi
Pegasus, has been struck down with an untimely illness and will not be
riding over the weekend.
Rodd was also scheduled to ride the stable’s unraced juvenile
Believe’n’succeed in the Group Three Blue Diamond Preview on Saturday.
“Corey Brown has picked up the ride aboard Tipungwuti for Friday night,”
Kavanagh stated this evening.
“It’s a shame Michael can’t ride him, but Corey is an excellent
replacement and we’ve had some success together already in similar
circumstances.”
Brown came off the “interchange bench” during the recent spring carnival
to ride classy mare Devil Moon in her Group One victory in the Turnbull
Stakes at Flemington.
On that occasion Hugh Bowman was scheduled to ride the mare but was
struck down with food poisoning.
Stephen Baster will ride stablemate Maldivian in the Carlyon.
Meanwhile, Kavanagh said Baster would ride the unraced juvenile
Believe’n’succeed in Saturday’s Group Three Blue Diamond Preview at
Caulfield.
Baster will also ride Kavanagh’s two runners at Sale tomorrow – Nadobe
and True Celebre.
Top
Kavanagh Juvenile
Catapults into Millions Contention
12/01/2008
Catapulted will be
set for the $400,000 Schweppes Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic
(1200m) at Morphettville in March after scoring a thrilling win at the
same track in the Cleanevent Plate (1050m) today.
Trained by prominent
two state horseman Mark Kavanagh, Catapulted got home in a desperately
close finish to beat the well fancied Phillip Stokes runner Super Satin.
Stable foreman Sam
Kavanagh, who thought his runner may have been beaten when the finish
was shown on the big screen, was thrilled with the victory.
"He's owned by a
great group," Kavanagh said. "Some have been clients before who haven't
bad the best of luck and then there's one there from Divine Madonna as
well."
Catapulted, who like
last night's runaway Moonee Valley winner Burgeis is by Danehill's ill
fated Golden Slipper winning son Catbird, had shown promise in gallops
prior to today's event.
"Early on he showed
us good ability and it's nice to see him come to the races today and
win," Kavanagh reported.
Catapulted ($6-$5)
got home by a nose to beat Super Satin ($2.50-$4.20), while Aqaleem
($8-$12) was third, a further three parts of a length back.
The favourite
Crusing Eagle ($4-$6-$4) was fifth home - 2.8 lengths from the winner.
A $90,000 purchase
from the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale Catapulted is heading for
better races.
"We'll see how he
pulls up first before we decide where to head next," Kavanagh noted.
"He could head to a
listed race in a couple of weeks, or perhaps have a little break."
"But he's being
aimed at the Magic Millions Adelaide race," he summed up.
Catapulted is yet
another successful Kavanagh galloper purchased from the leading South
Australian thoroughbred nursery Mill Park. He follows in the
footsteps of stable stars including Devil Moon and Divine Madonna who
also grew up on the Meningie property.
Mill Park will offer
a Hussonet half brother to Catapulted at the 2008 Conrad Jupiters Magic
Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast. The Hussonet colt is the
latest yearling from the well related Umatilla mare Siren Miss. A
winner at 1400 metres, Siren Miss, is a full sister to stakes winner
Umatune - the dam of Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic winner and proven
stakes winner Jestatune.
Story and
pictures by Greg Irvine (c)
Top
Showcase win for Nadobe
24/12/2007
Jockey Stephen Baster continued his
winning run for the Kavanagh stable yesterday when he steered Nadobe
home in the "The Big Group" Handicap (1300m) at Seymour - a $20,000
"showcase" event.
Making the most of an absence created by
a holidaying Michael Rodd, Baster notched what was his third win from
his last four starts for the stable with a well-rated front running
ride.
Nadobe, having his first start for the
Kavanagh stable, kicked clear in the straight and registered a length
win over Eight Reals with Sulawesi a further length and a quarter away
in third.
"I thought on paper there might be a bit
of pace, but I wanted to roll forward - they left me alone and he was
too good for them," said Baster of his only ride for the day.
"He had won a trial and the stable
thought he should run well. There's good money in showcase races and if
they can pick out a few more races like that they're laughing".
Nadobe, a four-year-old gelding by Belong
To Me, joined the Kavanagh stable after doing his early racing in
provincial New South Wales. Prior to his "showcase" victory he had
won as a two-year-old at Hawkesbury and been placed three times in
thirteen starts.
Nadobe races in the same ownership as
stablemate Little Baldy (Mr TM Marciano, Mr AJ Marciano, Mr S Vartuli
and Mr DM Zrna) a seven-year-old gelding who has accumulated nearly
$220,000 in stakes.
Top
Kenwick
Stays Too Well at Morphettville
19/12/07
Talented stayer
Kenwick won his third race and his first in town when he scored a
determined win in the Morphett Arms Hotel Handicap (2029m) at
Morphettville today.
A member of the red
hot Mark Kavanagh stable, Kenwick got home by a long neck to beat
Benefit Road, while Keepthedreamalive was a further three parts of a
length back in third place.
A winner of three of
his past four runs, Kenwick is raced by breeder Ross Cribb.
He is a half brother
to former smart stablemate Sadler Joh - who was stakes placed in
Adelaide before ultimately heading a jumps career in Melbourne.
"There didn't
appear to be much speed in the race so I told Simon (Price) to
lead," foreman Sam Kavanagh said. "He rode him beautifully,
rating him well in the lead."
"He kicked
clear in the straight and held them out by about half a length."
"We're not sure
what to do with him now," Kavanagh commented. "We'll see how
he pulls up, check the calendar and work something out."
The stable went
close to a double when Coco Command finished second in the ANZ Business
Banking Handicap.
The last start
winner made good ground in the straight from back in the field to beat
all but former Victorian For Now - who was four and a half kilograms
better at the weights than the runner-up.
Coco Command has a
win, a second and a third from his three runs this preparation.
"He ran well
and he's in good form. With a bit of luck he'll be back in the winner's
stall soon."
Top
Change Of Tactics
Successful For Princess Marizza
15/12/2007
A
change of gear and different riding tactics was the key to a mini form
reversal by Princess Marizza, which won the Tellimed Handicap at
Flemington this afternoon.
Coming from last in the small 8 horse field at the 400m mark, Princess
Marizza ($5.00-$6.50) circled the field to win going away by 3 lengths,
with Partiva ($4.40-$5.00-$4.40) second and a length to third placed
Britomart ($9-$10).
Favourite Just Curious led until the 400m but then faded quickly when
challenged and finished last.
"The thing with her is she's a small horse and she needs to get back and
get to the outside and not be crowded up", said Princess Marizza's
trainer Mark Kavanagh.
"Last start Michael Rodd rode her up right on the pace and she was
crowded right up and didn't go on with it."
Kavanagh tried Princess Marizza in blinkers for the first time today,
taking off the winkers which she had been racing in previously. He also
replaced Michael Rodd with Stephen Baster who was successful on Sea
Battle for the stable at Caulfield last week.
"She's back to her racing pattern today, she's got right back and then
around them and finished it off nicely", said Kavanagh.
Kavanagh is in a quandary about what to do with Princess Marizza, who
has now won 4 of her 14 starts, all against her own sex.
"We'll just wait and see", he said.
"She's only a little thing."
"We can't stop in the mares grade too much as she'll get up in the
weights a bit now."
Already stakes placed third in the Group 3 South Australian Oaks this
year, Princess Marizza's future is probably in stakes races, but there
are few around at this time of the year.
She is impeccably bred, being by Scenic, the sire of 588 winners and 61
stakes winners out of the stakes winning Nassipour mare Rose Of Marizza.
Her second dam Countess Marizza was also a stakes winner twice at Group
2 level in the VRC Lightning Stakes and the VATC Chirnside Stakes.
This is also the extended family of six time Group One winner Durbridge,
a star galloper of the early to mid nineties.
Photos: Fiona Tomlin
© Cyberhorse 2007 Bill Saunders Published 15/12/07
Top
Sea Battle Enjoys His Change Of Stable
10/12/2007
Mark Kavanagh, currently Australia's leading Group 1 trainer for the
season, had only two runners at Caulfield on Saturday, Flea Flicker and
Sea Battle, both longshots.
While Flea Flicker finished last, Sea Battle made Kavanagh's day by
taking out the Penny Edition Handicap with a gritty performance which
saw him work hard at both ends of the race.
Unfancied by punters, Sea Battle ($13-$15) was sent forward from his
outside barrier by rider Stephen Baster.
Baster found competition for the lead from the favourite
Dollops and Drizzle, so elected to sit wide and let his mount relax.
Coming into the straight Sea Battle made his run to go past Drizzle, and
was then a sitting duck for those running on. Newgrange ($9-$11) was the
only horse able to challenge him, but Sea Battle had enough in hand to
win by a head with 1¼ lengths to Drizzle ($9) which hung on to finish
third.
"It was a big effort", said Baster.
"We drew wide and we didn't plan to ride him that far
forward but all the boys kicked up inside me."
"I didn't have a lot of options."
"The way the track's been racing he got there nicely and I was worried
the first couple of furlongs I'd done too much work, but he switched off
nicely and relaxed and was always going strong."
"We got there probably a touch too soon."
"Drizzle was under pressure a long way out but he did hold on for a
while luckily for us."
Kavanagh derived some confidence for today's race after a promising
third from Sea Battle's only other run for the stable.
"It was a really good run at Ballarat the other day", said
Kavanagh.
"He got back too far and finished it off hard on the outside fence."
"We thought he was a bit of a chance here today when it rained during
the week."
Originally trained in Sydney by Guy Walter, where he won at Warwick Farm
and Kembla Grange, Sea Battle's owners, Barbara Bardon and Peter Parker,
decided to send him to Melbourne so they see him race.
After a brief stint with Tony Noonan at Mornington, Sea Battle was
transfered to Kavanagh only a month ago and he has now run third at
Ballarat and won at Caulfield from his only two runs for his new stable.
More wins are in store according to Kavanagh.
"He's not a bad horse."
"We'll have a look around but we won't get too excited at this stage."
"He's an improver and he's lightly raced so there's something else
there."
Photos: Fiona Tomlin
© Cyberhorse 2007 Bill Saunders Published 08/12/07
Top
Coco
Command Impressive At Cheltenham
28/11/2007
Talented
four-year-old Coco Command broke his maiden status in style with a fast
finishing win in the Schweppes Plate (1266m) at Cheltenham today.
At
his fifth career outing, the talented performer was able to finish over
the top of Vain Raja and draw away over the final 50 metres to win by a
half length.
"He's
had his share of problems and this is really his first proper racing
preparation," Morphettville foreman Sam Kavanagh commented.
Kavanagh
said the stable will now look to Coco Command to extend his winning form
over the summer months as he takes part in one of the season's feature
challenges.
"He'll
head to the Star of Christmas Series now and hopefully through to the
final at Cheltenham on Boxing Day," he confirmed.
Kavanagh
said the gelding is raced by a good group of owners - a selection of
first timers and others who raced former smart Adelaide performer Play
to Win. Also in the ownership is co-breeder Chris Tucker from Little
Hills Stud on the Yorke Peninsula.
Coco
Command, who as his name suggests is by Woodlands Stud sire Commands, is
a half brother to five winners including the Perth Gimcrack Stakes
winner Western Zip.
His
dam Canned Music, a winner in Adelaide, is a half sister to stakes
performers including the 16 time winner, Adelaide track record breaker
and American stakes winner Zephyr Art.
A
winner of 16 races, Zephyr Art proved himself as one of the fastest
sprinters to ever grace an Adelaide racetrack with a number of stunning
sprint wins at distances to 1200 metres.
Top
Hong
Kong plans shelved for Divine Madonna
07/11/2007
Trainer Mark Kavanagh will not travel to Hong Kong with his star mare
Divine Madonna for December's International meeting, deciding instead to
send the four time Group One winner to the paddock for a well earned
spell.
Divine Madonna earned $633,250 from five starts this spring which
included two majors - the Toorak Handicap and the Myer Classic.
A
five-year-old mare Divine Madonna has not been overtaxed throughout her
career having no more than six starts in each of six racing preparations
- a factor which is no doubt the key to her longevity.
Divine Madonna had two starts as a summer two-year-old before being
spelled and did not reappear until the spring of her three-year-old year
when she won her first stakes race. She has competed successfully
in stakes company ever since amassing over $2 million in prizes from 8
wins and 7 minor placings.
Top
Divine
Madonna's Fourth Group One
03/11/2007 -
www.virtualformguide.com
Divine Madonna claimed
her fourth Group 1 win at Flemington this afternoon, taking out the Myer
Classic with a typical last to first finishing burst.
Settled at the rear of
the field by Michael Rodd, Divine Madonna ($1.70) finished over the top
of her competitors to win by 1¼ lengths from Translate ($11) with Red
For Lou ($31) two lengths away third.
Rodd complimented
trainer Mark Kavanagh on his ability to send Divine Madonna out a winner
in today's race after a tough run in last week's WS Cox Plate, where she
ran seventh.
"Last
Saturday it was a pretty hot day and mares aren't easy to train at the
best of times", Rodd said.
"What Mark's done with
this mare is just outstanding."
"Its her second Group 1
this preparation."
Rodd revealed that he
had no qualms about dropping Divine Madonna out to the rear from her
wide barrier.
"I knew I was on the
best horse in the race and I rode her accordingly", he said.
"That's her
style to get back and the way the track's racing it suited a swooper so
I was very confident."
Kavanagh was his usual
ebullient self after the race.
"Its pretty exciting to
go into a Group 1 with your horse at $1.70 favourite", he said.
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