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2 COVER STORy
in South Africa when that colt became the first horse so far to
complete the double, is not concerned by the task ahead.
“I don’t believe in history,” he said. “Everything works out,” Payne
said.
Criterion certainly looked a genuine Golden Slipper prospect
in winning yesterday after overcoming a torrid trip from his wide
barrier (13). The colt was a little slow to begin and was last early,
in the 14 horse field, before improving very wide approaching the
home turn.
Despite his hard run, Criterion dashed up to challenge at the
200m then fought hard under Glyn Schofield to win by a half neck
from the Darley runner Sidestep (Exceed And Excel). Meticulously
(Not A Single Doubt) was three and quarter lengths further away
in third.
“The wide draw probably helped him because he’s got a big
action and they went along for him,” winning jockey Glen Schofield
said.
Criterion won his first start beating Gai Waterhouse’s Golden
Slipper prospect Sweet Idea (Snitzel) at Rosehill on 3 November
then resumed with a good third to Never Can Tell (War Pass) and
Whittington (Tale Of The Cat) in the Canonbury Stakes (Listed,
1100m) at Rosehill on 16 February.
“He beat Sweet Idea and that filly came out and won in Sydney
last week but he has got more improvement than all of them,”
Payne said.
Payne imagines the usually furious tempo of a Golden Slipper
will also suit a horse who continues to learn his trade.
“I put the blinkers on him today after what he did last start and
I think he’s going to get even better again,” he said.
Criterion (2 c Sebring – Mica’s Pride by Bite The Bullet) has now
raced three times for two wins with prize money of $215,250. He is
a son of the 2008 Golden Slipper winner Sebring (More Than Ready)
out of the Group Three winner Mica’s Pride (Bite The Bullet) who
has produced five winners from six runners including the stakes
winners Varenna Miss (Redoute’s Choice) and Silently (Anabaa).
Criterion’s second dam is the unraced mare Gainesville (Afleet)
who produced ten winners from ten runners including the stakes
winner Amah Rock (Fastnet Rock) and is the grandam of the Listed
winner Bhutane Dane (Danehill Dancer).
Mica’s Pride has a yearling colt by O’Reilly and has been covered
by Fastnet Rock (Danehill) for the last two seasons.
Canberra Cup To CourT
The Danny Williams-trained stayer Court Connection (Lonhro)
from nearby Goulburn claimed a ‘hometown’ victory in yesterday’s
Canberra Centenary Cup (Listed, 2000m).
Producing the turn of speed that has now carried him to nine
wins, Court Connection ($6.50) reached the lead at the 100m and
then staved off Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) bound Coliseo (Arena) to
win by a half neck.
The Peter Snowden-trained mare Sindarin (Redoute’s Choice)
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monday 11 march 2013 ANZ
finished three-quarters of a length away third after racing threedeep
without cover.
Williams, who trains at nearby Goulburn, said the win carried
special meaning for his stable.
“It’s a little bit close to heart. It’s close to home and it’s always a
privilege to win races here,” Williams said.
Williams, who has a strike-rate that is respected in more than
one racing jurisdiction as a regular Queensland carnival visitor and
a frequent traveler to Melbourne, says Court Connection has always
been a committed racehorse.
“He’s just been a great horse for us because he’s never been a
star in the stable yet he’s always delivered,” he added.
Court Connection (6 g Lonhro – Imperatrix by Strategic),
a $100,000 2008 Inglis Sydney Australian Easter Yearling Sales
purchase from the draft of Willow Park Stud, has now raced 31 times
for nine wins and seven placing for prize money of $305,605.
He is out of the stakes winning Strategic (Zeditave) mare
Imperatrix, and Court Connection is her only winner. His second
dam, Curator (Assert) was unraced and produced the dual Group
One winner Voile D’Or (Dieu D’Or) as well as the Group One winner
Curata Storm (Dieu D’Or).
CompliCaTed Guineas
Complicate (Commands) earned a comparison with his former
Group One winning stablemate Mental (Lonhro) after claiming
yesterday’s Canberra Guineas (Listed, 1400m).
Jumping from barrier eight, Complicate took up the lead from
his wide draw, under Kerrin McEvoy and travelled smoothly to the
turn. When asked, he quickened and set up a winning lead inside
the final 200m. The Peter Snowden-trained gelding beat Ashokan
(More Than Ready) by three quarters of a length with Brave Soul
(More Than Ready) a further length back in third.
“He will probably have a breather now,” Snowden said.
“The A grade races are coming up in Sydney but he’s not there
yet.”
Snowden took a similar approach last year with Mental who
won the Patinack Farm Classic (Gr 1, 1200m) (registered as Victoria
Racing Club Stakes) last November.
“He reminds me a bit of Mental,” Snowden said. “I’ll probably
look at the Hawkesbury Guineas at the end of the carnival and then
possibly take him to Brisbane.”
Complicate (3 g Commands – Chaparra by Canny Lad) has
now won three times and been placed second a further three
times from seven starts with his earnings totaling $155,330. His
dam, Chaparra (Canny Lad) was unplaced and has produced six
winners from six runners including the dual Group Two winner
El Cambio, who being by Commands (Danehill), is a brother to
Complicate. His second dam is the Group winner and Group One
placed mare Ochiltree (Twig Moss) who produced five winners
including the Alister Clark Stakes (Gr 2, 2040m) winner Spinney
(Octagonal).
EDITORIAL editor@anzbloodstocknews.com