Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm

That’s All Gold was purchased from Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm by Stuart Gower at the Adelaide Magic Millions yearling sale in 2010. Now, a three year old, the Dash For Cash filly broke her maiden status against older horses over 2,000 metres at Strathalbyn today.

That’s All Gold showed her staying potential at her previous start where she was beaten by just 0.2 lengths over 1,709 metres at Gawler.  Today, on a heavy track, she box seated after jockey Michael Hoppo allowed New Song to cross and lead. That’s All Gold drew up alongside the leader at the turn, but New Song was quickly under pressure  leaving That’s All Gold in front. Two Timing, who had the drop on her challenged in the straight, and looked to have the race won. But, displaying the same toughness that she showed at Gawler just three weeks earlier, That’s All Gold fought back gamely. She won by just over half a length.

Trainer Stuart Gower felt that it was a good win given that she really did not handle the heavy track.

That’s All Gold became the forty-third individual winner to be bred at Lauriston. The win follows in the footsteps of her half-sister, Novaspirit’s win last week. That’s All Gold’s dam Nova Gen is also the dam of three time winner winner She’ll Avago.

Novaspirit is a lightly raced four year old Bel Esprit mare who had displayed some toe as a two year old, pushing multiple black type placegetter Obsidian Dragon to half a length at Morphettville. She was given nearly a year off to help her recover from a leg problem after just three starts as a two year old.

Three starts later with new trainer Shea Eden she broke her maiden status. It was the last at Pakenham on Saturday. The race – a 0-58 rating race over 1000 metres was not without incident. Settling toward the rear Novaspirit was lucky to avoid trouble when three horses in front of her fell. All Riders and horses escaped injury. Novaspirit responded to the urgings of Noel Callow with an impressive turn of foot just 50 metres from the winning post. She won by 0.8 lengths running away.

The following day Shea took another Lauriston bred horse to Seymour. Rambert had won his previous start, over the same 2000 metres distance at the same venue just ten days earlier. In that race he was never headed and won by a nine length margin. In yesterday’s showcase race Rambert, with partner Jack Hill on board, raced in similar fashion. He won by three lengths.

Both horses were bred at Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm.

Sequallan had finished second and third in his previous two races at Morphettville and trainer Stuart Gower had reported that his work leading into last Saturday’s 1,050 metre race had been terrific. Race favourite Stirling Grove had been allotted 58 kilograms and compressed the weights for the remainder of the field. With Michael Hoppo on board Sequallan settled just worse than midfield. Michael made his move sooner than most and presented the gelding at the turn. A wall of horses went to the line but it was a late finishing Sequallan, with his neck out, who managed to hold out A Wee Dram. Less than four lengths separated the field.

“There’s still life in the ol’ fella,” reported Stuart Gower yesterday. “He has pulled up well.” Stuart plans to give the nine year old seven to ten days to freshen before aiming him at another race in about five weeks.

It was Sequallan’s fifteenth victory and took his career earnings beyond $420,000. A replay of the race can be seen by following the following link: Race 8 Morphettville 24/09/11

Phillip Wolfgram made full use of the good gate in the class 2 handicap over 1,200 metres aboard Whisprian in the thirteen horse field.

Phillip tracked race leader Mondiah along the rail until the turn. He then moved up to apply pressure to Mondiah and after straightening drove the mare to the line. Race favourite Blitzed tried to make up late ground but Whisprian was strong to the end and won by two lengths.

It was the Mossman mare’s second win for trainer Neville Saunders and took her career prize money to $36,500.

Ricky Maund With Swift Sands

Just four days before the end of last season Ricky took two horses to Geelong. They both won. It happened at Mornington ten days ago. And yesterday, he did it again at Geelong.

Swift Sands has raced on six occasions for Ricky. She is yet to miss a spot on the podium. Her run yesterday, followed an impressive last start win in a show case race at Cranbourne.

Her form had not been unnoticed by punters who sent her out as the favourite in the 0-68 for fillies and mares over 1200 metres at Geelong yesterday. Katelyn Mallyon who rode her in the Cranbourne win was on board. However Craig Newitt, aboard Miss Brilliance, had other ideas. He took her straight to the lead and was able to control the race. Turning, Swift Sands loomed, and the battle began. Miss Brilliance dug deep. It took the length of the straight but at the wire Swift Sands finally put her nose in front. “She really tries” said Katelyn after the race, “she is very tough.”

Ironically later in the day it was Craig Newitt who won on Gold Lining, Ricky’s second leg of the double. The plan was to go forward. But others in the race had the same plan. Exiting the straight during the 1,900 metre event Gold Lining found himself eight wide without cover. Craig quickly devised plan B – to go back. Coming to the home turn after travelling at the rear, Craig pushed the gelding wide again. Gold Lining responded and despite doing it at both ends was a runaway winner on the line.  

The wins were Ricky’s eleventh and twelfth for the season from just thirty-six runners.

In the first race at Seymour yesterday, Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm produced their 41st individual home bred winner.

Rambert, from Marie Rambert by King Charlemagne was sent out at long odds to contest the 2000 metre Maiden by young Corinella based trainer Shea Eden.

The 6yo gelding bounced well and jockey, Jack Hill, had no hesitation in taking Rambert to the front as they passed the post the first time around. From that point on it was a procession with Rambert extending his lead at the turn and then running away over the last 300 metres to win by 9 lengths.

It was a great achievement for Shea, as he had persevered with this horse for many months, learning and then adapting to the horse’s idiosyncracies.

Yet, he was super confident that the horse was ‘spot on’ after an impressive jump out at Cranbourne earlier in the week and Jack Hill reasserted that confidence in the ride.

Well done, Shea and congratulations to our farm manager, Paul Eden and his wife Kathy and son Colin, (who, by the way, is our farrier), for believing in this son of Marie Rambert, who Paul & Kathy foaled down just 6 years ago.

Rapidement is a French adverb that means speedily or quickly. And that is how Rapidement raced yesterday at Warracknabeal.

She had been beaten by the narrowest of margins in her previous two starts. At Geelong she was edged out by 0.1 length by Holy Brom over 1100 metres. At Tatura, Sandler prevailed over Rapidement by the same margin, over the same distance.

Yesterday at Warraknabeal in a 0-68 rating race over 1000 metres, Ricky Maund’s instructions to apprentice jockey Brittany Hussey were clear – lead, rate and win. And that is exactly how Brittany rode the grey mare. Urging her forward during the early stages, Rapidement crossed to lead and was soon two lengths in front of the rest. She was speedy, she was quick, she was rapidement.

Brittany rated the mare well, and although tiring in the later stages, was never in doubt. Rapidement won by 0.8 length from a fast finishing wall of horses.

It was Rapidement’s fifth career win. She is by Iglesia from Paris House mare Tres Rapide. Tres Rapide is also  the dam of Sir Monashee, who has won seven races and nearly $500,000 and Monashee Dancer, who has won ten races and more than $250,000.

The win made it four in a row for trainer Ricky Maund and was his tenth for the new season from just 31 runners.

Ricky Maund’s two runners raced in the two legs of  today’s Mornington’s Daily Double. They both saluted.

Gold Energy had not won for more than a year, and seemed to have lost his zest for competition. Not doubting the gelding’s ability, Ricky set about getting Gold Energy’s mind back on the job. Ricky changed the bay’s training routine, he put him over some jumps and even switched to a left handed hoop. The effort paid dividends.

The hoop was none other than Craig Newitt. From the back of the field, Craig and the gelding masterly picked their way through the field. Gold Energy ran with a revitalised interest. Race favourite Yavanna had missed the kick and raced wide throughout.  The Redoute’s Choice mare flew home – but the race was over.  Gold Energy had won the first leg of the daily double by just under half a length.

Ricky had accepted with Bedouin Express in the second leg of the daily double, the last for the day, over 1500 metres. Danny Nikolic, who had partnered Bedouin Express at his win at Geelong, was on board. Bedouin did not muster early speed, but Danny was unflustered. Three wide, he allowed the gelding to work into the race and had him ideally positioned at the turn.  Bedouin Express pounced. Well fancied runner Medal Day emerged as a late threat, but Bedouin Express, despite being allotted top weight with 59 kilograms, was strong on the line. He won by a length and a half.

Bedouin Express, by Desert King is from Lauriston Success Express broodmare, Gal Express. It was his fifth win and raised his career earnings to more

than $70,000.

The double was Ricky Maund’s eighth and ninth for the season, lifting his winning strike rate to 30% for the season.

Swift Sands was given a long spell by trainer Ricky Maund at Corinella before commencing her Victorian campaign. Struggling to find suitable conditions, Ricky opted to start her preparation at Geelong’s thorough track. In her first outing she dead heated for third missing by less than a length. She followed that by finishing runner up in three successive runs at the same venue. In one of those she stormed home to just miss in a photo to stable mate Tango Express. In another she made up late ground to miss by less than half a length to Tai Tai Tess despite giving the winner a 1.5 kg advantage in weights. Form analysts would have noticed that Tai Tai Tess was impressive in her next start victory at city level where she won by more than three lengths.

Ricky placed Swift Sands at a showcase race at Cranbourne yesterday for fillies and mares over 1200 metres. Katelyn Mallyon was up and she used the prized inside alley to her advantage, pushing up a touch to ensure any wannabe leaders would not cross too cheaply. Craig Williams, aboard the race favourite Your Grace did cross, and Katelyn had Swift Sands in the box seat. Swift Sands travelled comfortablyto the turn, and after rounding the bend a gap opened and Katelyn took the run. For a split second, Swift Sands was tightened for room and it appeared the mare hesitated, but then she was through and from there it was effortless. Katelyn sat up on

Swift Sands as they coasted to the line more than a length in front of Pass The Post who had sprouted wings late.

 It was Swift Sands’ fourth win and took her prize money to more than $90,000. Swift Sands is by Dubai Destination from Group one placed New Zealand mare Quite Astute. The win was Ricky’s seventh for the season and lifted his winning strike rate to 25%.