Kevin O’Brien 15/12/1939-16/05/2020

Yesterday, we lost our beloved Dad, Kevin O’Brien. An amazing man who passed away peacefully at 3pm. Our hearts are breaking and you will be missed forever. You are our hero! Rest in Peace Kevy!

Posted in Racing | Comments Off on Kevin O’Brien 15/12/1939-16/05/2020

Baracus makes it three from his last four with gutsy front-running display

The rapidly-improving Baracus made it three wins from four runs this prep with an impressive front-running display at Kembla Grange on Tuesday.

On what was just his second outing in the clockwise direction having switched from Peter & Paul Snowden’s Melbourne stable last month, Baracus defied top weight of 60kg to run out a gutsy winner of the 1600m Benchmark 64 Handicap under Christian Reith.

The son of Brazen Beau broke well and showed his customary gate speed to assume a position at the head of affairs. He travelled strongly thereafter and proved not for passing up the straight, seeing out the 1600m with aplomb to score by half a length, with the well supported favourite Living Rocks a further three lengths adrift in third.

“That was a much stronger race than last start and he got the job done again,” a delighted Peter Snowden said.
“He looked like he had a lot of fun winning there and that’s how it should be.”
“He’s a beautiful looking horse and he’s just starting to live up to what we though he might be in the early days, so hopefully he’s not done improving yet.”

“He has a good cruising speed and there are a couple more mile races around at the moment which should suit him.”

Congratulations to his fantastic group of owners in what is turning out to be a fruitful preparation! Mr J Moore, Ms S P Hopkins, Mr K F May, Mrs S G Perry, K Ayton, Mr C N James, Mr c Farnworth, Mr W Falzon, Mr B F McCann, Mr D Moretti, Mr C Johns, Mr J P Sennitt, KEEP’EM WANDERING, MARTINS, A Team Racing, Mr G T Corcoran, Mr S Abraham, Mr T Zdun

Article sourced from: Triple Crown website

Posted in Racing | Comments Off on Baracus makes it three from his last four with gutsy front-running display

Wellington impresses Gibson

Richard Gibson knows he has a smart horse on his hands in Wellington but do not expect to see him many more times this season.

Gibson said there is a chance his eye-catching three-year-old will be seen just once more this term before he is put away with an eye towards lucrative races next season.
Wellington was impressive at Sha Tin on Sunday, motoring home from the rear of the field to win the Class Three Citi Insurance Services Handicap (1,200m) after bolting in on debut last month. “He didn’t get a very good jump, we had an outside draw so [Alexis] Badel was cool out of the gates, had no option but to take a seat, probably further back than we expected but he accelerated nicely at the finish and showed a bit of class,” he said.

Wellington races home to win at Sha Tin on Sunday under Alexis Badel.

“I think he is a horse that will run maybe one more time this year and there are plenty of things for him if he is good enough next season.
“I think we saw today he would be able to increase in trip no problem.”

With Badel due to return to France next month, Gibson said he would miss the popular rider who has enjoyed a breakout season in Hong Kong with 23 wins to his name.

“I have always been a big fan of the school of French jockeys, I had a lot of success with [Olivier] Doleuze and obviously Badel now and [Tony] Piccone has come here and punched well above his weight, it is a shame they are both going,” Gibson said.

Article from South China Morning Post by Trenton Akers on Sunday, February 16, 2020

Wellington was educated (and named) by the team at Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm before being sold to Hong Kong interests. He was purchased by Lauriston at the 2018 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Posted in Racing | Comments Off on Wellington impresses Gibson

Debutant delights anxious Gibson

Gibson admitted he was anxious ahead of the debut of Wellington in Monday’s Class Four Prosperity Handicap (1,200m) but he needn’t have been, with the three-year-old son of All Too Hard producing a dominant victory.

Jumping from barrier 10 under Alexis Badel, Wellington travelled forward of midfield with cover before peeling out at the top of the straight and moving smoothly through his gears to finish three lengths clear of favourite Ping Hai Bravo in second.

“Chinese New Year is one of the key meets of the season and I was a bit anxious today, we were running our nicest unraced horse and it’s good to see that he performed accordingly,” Gibson said.

Wellington bolts clear to win at Sha Tin.

“The horse had been progressing well this season so we were looking forward to seeing him race on debut and he accelerated really well.”

Gibson is eager to see what’s ahead for Wellington but he’s not in a hurry to push the horse out over further.
“I think he’s got a lot of natural talent so we’ll keep going.”
I think we’ll stay at the same distance for the time being and build him up gently,” he said.

Article published by South China Morning Post by Tom Biddington on Monday, January 27, 2020

Wellington was educated (and named) by the team at Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm before being sold to Hong Kong interests. He was purchased by Lauriston at the 2018 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Posted in Racing | Comments Off on Debutant delights anxious Gibson

2020 Melbourne Inglis Premier Yearling Sale

Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm will present a draft of ten quality yearlings at the upcoming 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Melbourne, Vic from Sunday 01 March. The horses will be paraded at the Oaklands Junction complex from Tuesday 25 February.

Inspections by appointment are welcome at Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm, Corinella, Vic prior to their departure to the sales complex.

 

Lot 150 B. filly SO YOU THINK x ERAMOR

 

 

Lot 166 Ch. colt SEBRING x FIVE STAR BELLE

 

 

Lot 189 B. filly ZOUSTAR x GOLD COPY

 

 

Lot 287 B. colt CAPITALIST x MAGLISSA

 

 

Lot 434 Ch. colt CAPITALIST x SKIDOODLE

 

 

Lot 476 B. filly VANCOUVER x SWIFTLY RED

 

 

Lot 485 Ch. filly ZOUSTAR x TENDUE

 

 

Lot 704 B. colt SHOOTING TO WIN x RAITZA

 

 

Lot 712 B. colt MANHATTAN RAIN x ROYAL SINGER

 

 

Lot 727 B. filly FLYING ARTIE x SHOW STEALER

Posted in Racing | Comments Off on 2020 Melbourne Inglis Premier Yearling Sale

Jentico’s city win

Article from McEvoy Mitchell Racing by Graham Fischer

Talented mare Jentico continued to build on her impressive record with a strong victory at Caulfield on Saturday, January 25.

Beautifully ridden by Luke Currie, Jentico ($7) finished best to win the DrinkWise Benchmark 78 Plate (1400m) by a long neck from Titan Blinders ($3.20 fav) with Copper Fox ($15), 1-1/2 lengths away third.

Trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy have placed the four-year-old mare beautifully and she now has six wins and a placing from just 13 starts and today’s win took her stakes to $230,850.

McEvoys’ Victorian stable foreman Michael Shepherdson said the mare handled travel between Adelaide and Melbourne in her stride.
“Originally she spent a lot of time in our Melbourne stable,” Shepherdson said.
“She has gone back to Adelaide several times to try and give her some confidence where there were better options.
“She has had a really good preparation, really matured.
“It is great to get a city win in Melbourne with Jentico.”

Winning jockey Luke Currie said the race had worked out perfectly for Jentico.
“She had a really good run in behind some nice speed,” Currie said.
“She was always going to be hard to beat with the run she had.
“It was a lovely race for her.”

A race replay can be seen here: Race 2 Caulfield 25 Jan 20

Posted in Racing | Comments Off on Jentico’s city win

Jentico Wins Again

Article from McEvoy Mitchell Racing by Graham Fischer

Consistent mare Jentico notched her fifth win, and third this preparation, with a comprehensive victory at Murray Bridge on Saturday, January 11.

In winning the Beverley Curtis 70th Birthday Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m), the four-year-old daughter of Written Tycoon, brought up a race-to-race double at Murray Bridge for trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy and jockey Barend Vorster.

A solid $2.50 favourite, Jentico sat wide in running but drew clear over the final stages to score a 1-1/4 length victory from Table Of Wisdom ($41) with Regalo Di Gaetano ($6), a head away third.

The win gives the mare five wins from just 12 starts and took her stakes to $174,450.

Jentico was bred and is owned by Victoria’s Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm.

SA stable foreman John Cornell said Jentico had appreciated a return to South Australian racing.

“I was never really worried in the run even though she was covering a bit of ground,” Cornell said,

“She travelled well enough.

“Jentico ran well in a Group race in Melbourne after winning a couple here.

“She ran poorly at Pakenham and we are not sure what went wrong but then she ran well at her last run at Caulfield.

“The form said she would be hard to beat today.

“I think Tony will now sit down and have a look at a program for the mare.

“The owners (Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm) are breeders so we would love to get some black type with her.”

Barend Vorster, the winning jockey, said he had always been confident of victory and the mare deserved to pick up some black type.

“Tony and Calvin have her going in such great form,” Vorster said.

“She is an absolute beauty of a ride, she tries her heart out.

“Today, I had nice cover down the back but getting to the corner the pace picked up a bit and she was stranded out there.

“But as I said to John, if she is smooth, she is happy, and she did it beautifully and when I asked her the question she was game and honest, and she just kept doing it.”

Posted in Racing | Comments Off on Jentico Wins Again

Waltonia Finishes 2019 With Further Success

Article from Luke Oliver Racing

Waltonia returned to the races for her first up assignment over 1000m at Echuca, looking to leave 2019 on a high.

A week and a half earlier, she won a Ballarat jump out with ease and the Moonee Valley placegetter looked to be back to her best. As a result, she went into the race at Echuca as a heavily backed $2.25 favourite.

With Jordan Childs aboard for the first time, Waltonia was able to take a sit behind the hot speed and she was given the run of the race. As they turned for home the gaps opened up and Jordan was able to steer Waltonia into the clear. Half way up the straight Waltonia hit the front and eventually kicked away inside the final 100m to go on and record a fairly comfortable win.

The grey Bel Esprit mare, who carries the famous Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm silks, has now won 3 races from 13 career starts and she looks ready to return to the metropolitan circuits. She has been competitive in Saturday class races previously and a win in town would certainly add to her value as a broodmare following her racing career.

It was a very pleasing win for the stable and with some nice horses resuming from breaks in the coming weeks, hopefully there will be plenty of winners to follow.

Posted in Racing | Comments Off on Waltonia Finishes 2019 With Further Success

2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale

Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm will present a draft of two quality yearlings at the upcoming 2020 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Gold Coast, Qld from Wednesday 08 January. The horses will be paraded at the complex from Friday 03 January.

Inspections by appointment are welcome at Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm, Corinella, Vic prior to their departure to the sales complex on Tuesday 31 December.

Lot 464 Ch. Colt EXCEED AND EXCEL x LAKSHMIBAI

Lot 803 Ch. Colt NOT A SINGLE DOUBT x SPY CATCHER

Posted in Racing | Comments Off on 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale

Jentico’s win in series final

Article by Graham Fischer November 9, 2019 from McEvoy Mitchell Racing website McEvoy Mitchell Racing website

Smart sprinting mare Jentico scored her best win with a classy effort in the Dominant Happy Trails Series final (1400m) at Morphettville Parks on Saturday, November 9.

The victory brought up a treble at the meeting for trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy who had won earlier with The Pugilist and The Natural.

For jockey Barend Vorster it was a double following his win on The Natural.

A drifter from $3 to $5, Jentico was always prominent before drawing clear for a three-quarter length win from Enough Swagger ($8.50) with Tongsai Boss ($2.50 fav) a head away third.

Vorster had the four-year-old mare away swiftly to lead early but was happy to take a sit when another runner came out wide seeking the front.

On the home turn, Jentico came off the fence, quickly gathered in the leader and withstood all challenges to win well.

It was her fourth win from just eight starts, and she is proving a smart racemare for her owner-breeder Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm in Victoria.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy praised Jentico and her rider.

“It was a great ride by Barend,” McEvoy said.

“First up, this girl was really good over 1200 metres.

“A fortnight between runs and up to 1400 metres today, she was really good -it was a fantastic result.

“We weren’t quite sure what to expect up against some hardened, tough opposition but she put herself there and was really strong late.

“We actually bought her back from Victoria for this Happy Trails Series, they are a good iniaitive, it has worked out really well.

Again, I need to thank the team at home for their work to enable us to have a treble today.”

It was a good way to end the day for Vorster who had to rush to the airport to catch a plane for Singapore to ride at Sunday’s Gold Cup meeting.

Posted in Racing | Comments Off on Jentico’s win in series final