THE HRO NEWSFEED – JANUARY 1, 2019

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, January 1, 2019

NO RUSHING JEDASTAR: Not everybody is rushing their two-year-olds towards the Millions with trainer Lloyd Kennewell shrugging off that temptation and, instead, confirming he will set his Flemington debut winner Jedastar for the Blue Diamond Stakes rather than the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Kennewell felt Jedastar was not ready for the Gold Coast assignment and that a short break before coming back in the Blue Diamond Preview would benefit the filly. Kennewell went to $250,000 to get Jedastar. He didn’t want to miss out again on a horse he wanted badly after being the under-bidder on classy mare Houtzen at a previous Gold Coast sale.

ALLEN RECEIVES TWO CARELESS RIDING SUSPENSIONS: John Allen, the regular jockey of Yes Yes Yes, the Magic Millions Two-year-Old Classic joint favourite might miss the Gold Coast glitter after being on the wrong end of two careless riding suspensions at Flemington on New Year’s Day. The suspensions currently put Allen on the sidelines from midnight on January 10 to midnight on January 18.

JACKSON MURPHY OUT FOR SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS: Leading apprentice Jackson Murphy's, after initially being cleared of any serious injury following a fall at Doomben last Saturday, does have ligament damage to his hand which is likely to rule him out of action for six to eight weeks. Murphy has been riding at the top of his form in recent weeks and this setback will not only slow his progress but it has also cost him the ride on the Toby Edmonds-trained Cadogan in the Magic Millions Cup. Cadogan has won his last three starts with Murphy in the saddle on each occasion.

SCHABAU AND THE MELBOURNE CUP: At Flemington, the Robert Hickmott trained, German import, Schabau really pleased his trainer after when scoring a win on his Australian debut. Hickmott spoke glowingly about Schabau saying: “He’s probably the only horse that I’ve seen with a lung capacity close to Efficient (the 2007 Melbourne Cup winner). He’s an absolute freak in the lungs so that will take him a long way in his racing career for sure.” Schabau’s long term target will be to try and emulate Efficient’s achievement on that first Tuesday in November.

BIG BOILOVER IN THE FIRST AUSTRALASIAN GROUP 1 OF THE YEAR: Santa Monica, paying $77 on the local tote, caused a massive boilover in the Railway Stakes at Ellerslie to claim the first Australasian Group One race for the year. Trudy Thornton did the honours in the saddle for trainer Stephen Ralph.

HAPPY NEW YEAR KELLY SCHWEIDA: While many still question the wisdom of the South East Queensland’s New Year’s day meeting being farmed off to Beaudesert instead of racing in Brisbane … and that is meant with no disrespect to the Beaudesert club … trainer Kelly Schweida just got on with the job, dominating the meeting with four winners from four runners over the seven-race card. Schweida’s winners were Chika Boom, Zilitor, Park Chinois and Ramtastic.

TRAINERS PREFERRED TRACK RATING SURVEY RESPONSE: The Australian Trainers' Association has reportedly received an 85 per cent response to a survey of its members regarding racetrack preparation with the majority wanting softer track conditions on race day with most trainers labelling a Dead 4 track as their preferred racing surface. ATA president Robbie Griffiths, speaking on RSN927, said, "Wagering people prefer a (good) three because that tends to be what punters punt well on. Trainers want it a bit softer because we want longevity in our horses." The matter remains under discussion between various stakeholders … wagering, owners, trainers and jockeys.

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