Oriental Tiger Wins German Gr1 Rheinland-Pokal
In Germany overnight, Darley shuttler Tiger Hill (Danehill-The Filly, by Appiani) added a Group 1 triumph when 6YO entire Oriental Tiger (Tiger Hill-Oriental Flower, by Big Shuffle) scored a front-running 7-lengths victory in the €155,000 (A$264,000) Gr1 Rheinland-Pokal Der Sparkkasse Kolnbonn (2400m) at Cologne.

Queensland Derby favourite Moatize will wear blinkers for the first time as he tries to break maiden ranks at Group III level in Brisbane on Saturday.

Trainer Bart Cummings worked Moatize in blinkers this week ahead of his $125,000 Rough Habit Plate (2020m) assignment at Doomben.

“His trackwork was impressive in the blinkers so Bart will leave them on for raceday,” Cummings’s racing manager Bill Charles said.

“Bart was hoping the blinkers would switch him on and so far it looks like they have done the trick.”

Moatize has raced just four times and has been runner-up in three starts, the most recent when a close second to Rockwood in the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick on May 3.

Suspended jockey Blake Shinn rode Moatize at Randwick and Hugh Bowman takes the Rough Habit mount.

“Blake got off him at Randwick and said he felt like a genuine Caulfield Cup horse,” Charles said.

Charles said the tight-turning Doomben circuit presented some concerns for Moatize’s racing style but he expects the luckless galloper to still be in the finish.

“Doomben is a query … he’s obviously going to be better when he gets to Eagle Farm,” Charles said.

“He’s a horse who likes to wind up but if he is within four or five lengths of the leaders on the turn he will be hard to beat.”

King's First has improved each start this campaign, with his last start second converting to a well-earned win for both horse and jockey today at Canterbury (7th May).  It was a perfect ride by Blake Shinn, 11 out of 10, according to Bart Cumming's stable foreman John Thompson.   This was the first occasion in 5 starts the horse was in the right part of the track and had clear running to the line, the step up to 1900m suited as well. 

Half-brother to our Fusaichi Pegasus colt yearling, `Big Choice` (3yo Choisir x Eaux De Vie) now five starts for 2 wins, a second and a third in Singapore.

 

 

 

Double for Laxon with Big Choice and Steel Cut

Craig Brennan
Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Lightly-raced Big Choice kicked off on the right foot for trainer Laurie Laxon when successful in the $65,000 Novice Stakes over 1200 metres on Wednesday night.  And Laxon made it a double later in the night when Steel Cut scored a convincing win in Race Seven.  Having his first start for Laxon, Big Choice had to be ridden hard by jockey Saimee Jumaat to cross the field and lead from Lucky Wish (Barend Vorster), Chessman (Noel Callow) and Dumar (John Powell).  The same four gallopers held the same four positions as the field turned for home.

After initially kicking clear and looking all over the winner, Big Choice all of a sudden looked to be paddling with 150 metres when both Lucky Wish and Chessman were throwing out strong challenges.  When it appeared that Lucky Wish was about to get the upper hand over Big Choice, Saimee was able to extract that little extra from the three-year-old and he held a half-length margin on the line Lucky Wish with Chessman a neck further back in third place.

Big Choice was transferred from John Meagher’s stable shortly after scoring a six length victory over 1100 metres in an Initiation Stakes on February 15.

“He’s a very fast horse and is quite promising,” Laxon said. “He was a very fractious horse when he came to me but he’s a lot quieter now.

“I’ll keep him going for now. I don’t have anything in mind for him but the first leg of the Three-Year-Old Challenge could be a good race for him.”

The first leg of the Three-Year-Old Challenge will be run over 1200 metres on June 6.

Big Choice is an Australian-bred son by former champion sprinter Choisir from the Hennessy mare Eaux De Vie. Wednesday night’s victory was his second from just five race starts.

It was a challenge at Magic Millions this year finding quality horses at the right price.  Patinack Farm snapped up quite a few horses in the sub $100,000 bracket as well as the sales toppers.  Thankfully the March weather was cooler than the traditional January heat and the horses had an extra two months to develop; to the buyer's advantage.   We were looking for colts with potential to race over 1600-2400m by proven stallions and which must also pass x-ray and vet inspection.  We were successful on day 1 and day 4 and the details are available on Horses Available section.  (Tiger Hill colt pictured)