Black Caviar & Champagne - Moonee Valley Racing Club

Moonee valley racing clubSUMMER 2011$6.95 (inc gst)On The PulseA BrazilianBeautyArticle by Adrian DunnDESERT STARBRUCE CLARK’S DUBAILuke NolenBlack Caviar& ChampagneArticle by Andrew GarveythinkTWICEThe Rise and Rise of So You ThinkFeatures from John Costello & Tony Bourke

NIGHT RACINGAUSTRALIA STAKESfamily night outFROMTHE EDITORHappy New Year and welcome to the summer edition ofOn Track.The nights have come alive at Moonee Valley following thesuccessful launch of the Night Racing Season on Grand FinalEve and Friday nights throughout December.We look forward to more Premium Night Racing in January,February and March, with the Group 2 Essendon MazdaAustralia Stakes on 28 January and the Night Racing SeasonFinale with the Group 1 Pulse Pharmacy William Reid Stakeson 25 March.It was great to see so many of our MVRC Members here onTatts Cox Plate Day to witness one of the great momentsin racing history with So You Think, the only dual Cox Platewinner to win as a three-year-old and then again as a fouryearold. This great day of racing followed a terrific week ofTatts Cox Plate week events.In this edition of On Track, I hope you enjoy reading thewords from Andrew Garvey on Peter Moody’s speedmachine Black Caviar, Adrian Dunn’s feature on Rohan Aujardand his Oaks winner Brazilian Pulse, and Tony Bourke reflectson So You Think’s second Tatts Cox Plate victory with wordsfrom Bart Cummings.Premier jockey Luke Nolen joins us, we gain an insight intothe Dubai International World Cup with Bruce Clark, andJohn Costello covers the new arrival of the full brother to SoYou Think.We look forward to seeing you at the TGIFebruary! eventsevery Friday night in February with thoroughbred racing,entertainment, the Pure Pleasure Lounge and even more toenjoy.See you at the track.Leigh NewtonCommunications ManagerMoonee Valley Racing Club*Friday 28 JanuarySee Premium Night Racing with the Group 2 Essendon Mazda Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.This fun-filled family event features Australiana themed activities and entertainment including:Sam Kekovich | Jumping Kangaroo entertainers | Fat Flags & Wacky StockmenDarryl the Farmer Petting Zoo | Wood Chopping | Aussie flag tattoosLuke O’Connor Duo performing great Aussie songs* Estimated Div 1 Prize PoolGrab a ticket at Tatts Outlets or at tattersalls.com.auYour ticket to dreamMAXI QUICKPICKGame 1: 1 10 12 20 23 38 40Game 2: 2 12 18 23 30 33 35Game 3: 1 11 20 21 23 2Game 4: 3 16Gam

408contentsLetter from the Editor 03Chairman’s Report 06So You Think 08Tatts Cox Plate Winners Gallery 10Tatts Cox Plate Photo Gallery 14Tatts Cox Plate Week Events 18David Jones Ladies Fashion Luncheon 20Black Caviar 22Winners & Grinners 24Dubai - The World Cup of Racing 26Aujard’s Racing Pulse 30Member News 32Members & Guests Photo Gallery 34Members Japan Cup Trip 36Many An Old FiddleStill Plays A Grand Tune 38Eliza Park 46Capital Works 48Inglis 50Essendon Mazda 55 Second Challenge 56Premium Industry Rewards 58Q&A with Luke Nolen 60Night Racing Season Launch Photo Gallery 62Savewater Awards 66MVRC Season Race Dates 71On Track magazine is published by Moonee Valley Racing ClubGate 1, McPherson Street, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039Postal Address PO Box 245, Moonee Ponds, VIC 3039Phone 1300 79 79 59Fax (03) 9326 0090Web mvrc.net.auPrivacy Policy. Moonee Valley Racing Club is committed to managing your personalinformation in accordance with the Privacy Act. For a copy of our privacy policy,please go to mvrc.net.auDisclaimer. All care is taken to ensure information and prices quoted in On Trackare correct at time of printing. All artwork created by Magnum Opus Advertising.263850NIGHT RACINGTGIFEBTHANK GOD IT’S FEBRUARYENJOY THE FESTIVITIES EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT IN FEBRUARY AT MOONEE VALLEYPremium Night Racing | Pure Pleasure Lounge & DJs | Beer Garden | Live Music | Gourmet BBQFri 4 Feb – TGIFebruary! Launch (EJ Whitten Foundation Men’s Health Race Night)Support Men’s Health Awareness at this special race night.Fri 11 Feb – Valentine’s Date NightBring a date or your best friend for a fun night out at the Valley. Enjoy free salsa dance classes,have a glass of champagne & strawberries and see thoroughbred racing under lights.Fri 18 Feb – Locals NightFri 25 Feb – TGIFebruary! FinaleSportingbet MVRC Night Cup featuring the Listed Fillies StakesVISIT MVRC FROM 28 JAN - 25 FEB FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN THEULTIMATE NIGHT RACING EXPERIENCE FOR YOU & 20 FRIENDSPrize includes a private marquee and gourmet BBQ at the Night Racing Season Finale, Friday 25 MarchCollect an entry form at the gate from 28 January. Terms and conditions apply. See www.mvrc.net.au

A crowd of more than 30,000 at Moonee Valley on TattsCox Plate Day were privileged to witness one of the mostremarkable chapters in the history of our great race, with4-year-old entire So You Think making it back-to-back wins inthe race where legends are made.Twelve months earlier, So You Think was an unheralded3-year-old colt, having just his 5th race start, and coming off anunplaced run in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. The MVRCCommittee closely considered the form of the Bart Cummingstrained colt, and debated his merit of taking his place in theweight-for-age championship of Australasia. As history nowreads, the Committee allowed So You Think to run in the 2009Tatts CoxSoPlate,YouandThinkhe recordedimage courtesya dominantof Fionawin.TomlinHaving missed the 2010 Autumn Racing Carnival, So You Thinkreturned better than ever when he stepped out at Caulfieldin August to begin his Cox Plate quest. Effortless wins in theMemsie Stakes, the Underwood Stakes and the CaulfieldStakes saw So You Think installed as one of the shortest pricedCox Plate favourites.Racing needs its heroes, and for the 2010 Spring RacingCarnival, racegoers and punters had So You Think. From themoment he commenced his preparation, all eyes were on the$3 million Tatts Cox Plate, and the Club benefited enormouslyfrom the increased media coverage and interest leading intoour signature race.Having only his 10th race start, So You Think saved his bestfor Moonee Valley and the Tatts Cox Plate. A brilliant ride bySteven Arnold delivered the result that was expected, andSo You Think became the 10th horse to score back-to-backCox Plate wins, taking his place alongside the likes of Phar Lap,chairman’sreportSunline, Northerly and Tobin Bronze. Of course, only the greatKingston Town has won three successive Cox Plates.I congratulate Bart Cummings on his 5th Cox Plate, ownerDato Tan Chin Nam on his 3rd Cox Plate winner, Tunku AhmadYahaya, Duncan Ramage, Melbourne foreman Reg Fleming,track rider Joe Agresta and jockey Steven Arnold. It wasparticularly gratifying to see Steven win a Cox Plate. Steven isone of Australia’s most popular jockeys, and his ability and skillis matched by his commitment to his craft.Following the sale of So You Think to Coolmore Stud, MooneeValley Racing Club looks forward to our Cox Plate championracing with great success in Europe in 2011. Whilst wewould all love to see So You Think return to Melbourne tochallenge for the 2011 Tatts Cox Plate, it would also be a greatendorsement for our great race, and the Australasian racingand breeding industry to see So You Think compete in racessuch as the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.Racing needs its heroes, andfor the 2010 Spring RacingCarnival, racegoers andpunters had So You Think.I thank Tatts Group for their continued support of the MooneeValley Racing Club and the Cox Plate. This year marked the5th year of this great partnership, and we look forward tocontinuing this association in 2011.Thanks also to Racing Victoria and Channel 9 for theirsupport of the Club with our rescheduling of Cox PlateDay. The later time of 5:35pm for the Tatts Cox Plate wasan outstanding success, and the Club will commit to thisschedule for the 2011 Cox Plate meeting.There will be great racing under lights at Moonee Valleyover the coming months as our focus now turns to anexciting program of Premium Night Racing. I look forwardto the Essendon Mazda Australia Stakes on January 28, theTop Cut Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes on March 18, and theGroup 1 Pulse Pharmacy William Reid Stakes on March 25.I thank Members for your continued support of theMoonee Valley Racing Club.Bob ScarboroughChairmanMoonee Valley Racing Club

SO YOU THINKBy TONY BOURKEBy the time the 2011Tatts Cox Plate is runnext October, Australianchampion So You Thinkcould well be acclaimedthe best racehorse inthe world.That is the confident prediction of Michael Kirwan, manager ofCoolmore Australia whose parent company in Ireland purchasedthe four-year-old in a reported $60 million deal after he wonthe Tatts Cox Plate (2040m) and finished a gallant third behindAmericain and Maluckyday in the 150th Emirates MelbourneCup (3200m).‘’So You Think could really be the ‘King Of The Hill’ by nextOctober,’’ says Kirwan.‘’It would be wonderful to see him take on the best horses inEurope, he is a very straight-forward type of horse and as soundas a bell.’’So You Think travelled to Ireland with Coolmore’s shuttle stallionson 21 December and is now in residence at trainer AidanO’Brien’s Ballydoyle stables. As for the big chill that has hit Europethis northern winter, Kirwan said So You Think will be doing mostof his exercise in an indoor arena until the weather improves,giving O’Brien plenty of time to get a good feel forthe horse.‘’At this stage, the plan will be for him to be back in full work byApril and ready to race in May, possibly in the Lockinge Stakes(1600m) and then to Royal Ascot in June,’’ Kirwan says.The King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2400m), alsoat Ascot in August is in the mix but there is no doubt the jewelin the crown for So You Think would be the Prix de l’Arc deTriomphe (2400m) at Longchamp in Paris on the first Sunday inOctober.As the dual winner of the Cox Plate, the most prestigiousweight-for-age race in the southern hemisphere, the Arc, widelyrecognised as the premier weight-for-age race in the world is theobvious prime target for the son of High Chaparral.‘’We need a horse like him (So You Think) to go overseas andproduce the form we know he is capable of on the internationalstage,’’ Kirwan said.With only 12 starts behind him, it is reasonable to assume thatthe best is yet to come for So You Think. Although, as the manwho took him to five group one wins, including two Cox Platesto make him the most exciting horse to race in Australia formany years, Bart Cummings was not keen to take him overseasmainly because, at 83 and not being in the best of health, thetravel was likely to take more out of him than the horse.There is no doubt Cummings, who was naturally disappointed tolose to overseas interest in one of the very best of his long list ofchampions, would have liked to see So You Think attempt to atleast equal Kingston Town’s record of three successive Cox Plates.‘‘ ’’He loves Moonee Valley andMoonee Valley loves him‘’It’s bad luck for Australian racing. He loves Moonee Valley andMoonee Valley loves him,’’ Cummings said of the decision to sellthe horse to take on the world. He said So You Think had taken noharm from his run in the Melbourne Cup, which had been more ofan afterthought than the main aim of his spring campaign. ‘’We onlymade the final decision to run in the Melbourne Cup after he camethough the Mackinnon Stakes so well.”Yet So You Think would have had to do something to win the racenone of Cummings’ 12 Melbourne Cup winners had done by goinginto the race without having had a run beyond 2040m metres duringhis career.“The main thing in his favouris that he is a wonderfulathlete and it may be that wehaven’t seen the best of him”‘’As it turned out, things didn’t go right for him in the MelbourneCup and he was beaten by a better horse (Americain) on theday,’’ Cummings said. “From the start, drawing an inside barrier (3)was against him because he had to be ridden along early to hold aposition going down the straight the first time otherwise he wouldhave been out the back.’’‘’This caused him to over-race which is never ideal in a two mile race,and the jockey (Steven Arnold) had trouble restraining him. Then hewas flushed out coming to the home turn when horses started togo around him and he saw the lead too early,’’ Cummings said.‘’While this was going on, Americain was sitting behind him getting aperfect run. I’m not trying to make excuses because as, I said, I thinkthe best horse on the day won the race. When I saw Americain forthe first time in the mounting yard, I thought he ticked all the boxesas far as looks and condition were concerned.‘’He (Americain) is obviously a very good stayer and he came on thescene at the right time to have the last crack at us.”So You Think left the Cummings’ stable a few days after theMelbourne Cup and spent six weeks at Coolmore Stud at Jerry’sPlains in NSW before leaving for Ireland.As for Cummings’ opinion on how the four-year-old will handlethe transformation to the northern hemisphere, he has somereservations on how he will cope with the harsher climate in Ireland.‘’The main thing in his favour is that he is a wonderful athlete and itmay be that we haven’t seen the best of him,’’ Cummings said.In what would be a wonderful rematch, it is not beyond the realmsof possibility for So You Think and Americain to meet again in Parislater in the year.The Melbourne owned American, trained by Alain de Royer Dupre,returned to France after contesting the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin inDecember and it has yet to be decided if his main mission this yearwill be the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe or the Melbourne Cup again.Either before or after, no Melbourne Cup winner has run in the Arcand the only Cox Plate winner to contest the race was SrawberryRoad who finished third behind Sagace in 1984, the year after hewon the Cox Plate.8

Chris Symons atop That’s Not Itin the Group 3 1300 Australia StakesNash Rawiller powers to victory aboardElite Falls in the Microflight Inglis BannerMichael Walker pilotsZubbaya to win the ListedArrow Training Services StakesPrecedence salutes in the Group 2 Cathay Pacific Airways CupLady Lynette connections afterthe Group 3 Pulse Pharmacy StakesLuke Nolen aboard Black Caviarin the Group 2 Schweppes StakesSo You Think connections after the Tatts Cox Plate48 10TATTS COX PLATE DAYwinnersgallery

Connections of ZubbayaSound Journey wins theGroup 2 Patinack Farm Crystal MileRekindled Interest connectionsSteven Arnold and So You Think storming towardsthe Group 1 Tatts Cox PlateRekindled Interest wins the Group 2 AAMI VaseSir Patrick Hogan leads Precedence afterwinning the Group 2 Cathay Pacific Airways CupNick Hall and Lady Lynette winthe Group 3 Pulse Pharmacy Stakes48 12TATTS COX PLATE DAYwinnersgallery

Brent Crawford, Jacqueline Freegard & Michael Felgate2010Tatts Cox PlateChannel 9’s Giaan RooneyMegan Gale with bookmaker John DowCampbell BrownMartine AlpinsAlicia MolikLily Romano, Lewis Romano & Jesinta CampbellTony Jones with wife Anette

Taylan Aksoy, winnerof Mens Signature StyleLillian Frank with all the winnersTATTS COX PLATEDavid jonesFASHIONSON THE FIELDOverall winner Keli Odeli with her new Nissan MicraPeter Jago & friends48Fashionistas awaiting the resultsLeft to right – Annaliese Cordell,Tanya Iazavou & Ania Ligas

Emma Freedman & Gai WaterhouseBrian McFaddenLadies fashionLuncheonLewis Romano &Lily RomanoJesinta Campbell & Jules LundCaroline SearcyJessica HymetAnn Peacock & Catriona Rowntree

Shoot OutBLACKCAVIARBy ANDREW GARVEY22Despite Peter Moody’s brave faceat the media conference twodays before the William ReidStakes last February, the trainerknew the chance for groupone victory on the resume of hisoutstanding filly Black Caviarmight have passed forever.While the prognosis for her racing futurewas good, the suspensory injury she hadjust incurred, combined with her bulk andsubsequent stress on her legs, there were no guaranteesabout her future.Fast forward to Flemington on the final day of the 2010Spring Racing Carnival. With an emotional victory by BlackCaviar in the Patinack Farm Stakes, a husky-voiced Moodysounded like he had been urging on his mare with everystride.The public and indeed her owners, who Moody describesas “absolutely tremendous” in leaving the training to thetrainer, might have expected the victory at the highest levelto come eventually. But for her trainer, the win was a reliefas much as a triumph.The Patinack was Black Caviar’s eighth win in as manystarts, but such had been Moody’s initial patience with herand her then injuries. That race was the first time she hadhad more than two race starts in a preparation and thefulfillment of the trainer’s assessment of her at the InglisPremier Sale two and a half years earlier.‘’I fell in love with her and just had to have her. I thoughtI would have to pay up to $150,000 for her. I paid$210,000 and would have gone to $310,000,’’ says Moody.The trainer was initially attracted to the Bel Esprit filly by thefact that she was closely related to his former Group Onewinning sprinter, Magnus.“EVERYONE HAS DONE A GREATJOB in helping to get herback, but Michael is one ofthe unsung heroes in mystable and has done a lotof work with her”In the spring of 2009, Black Caviar had been scheduled to runin the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day.But after injuring muscles in her chest while winning first upin the Danehill Stakes, she had to be spelled just when thatgroup one appeared at her mercy and the autumn had beensomething of a deja vu.‘’I’d gone to the Australia Stakes to give her some experienceat Moonee Valley. After she missed the William Reid Stakes,I feared that if I didn’t get the opportunity to win a GroupOne with her that I’d be forever kicking myself that I hadn’tdone something different with her.‘‘ ’’Winning the Patinack was just a burden off my back.It was the pressure I’d placed on myself that I hadn’trun in and won a group one with her to that point‘’Winning the Patinack was just a burden off my back. It wasthe pressure I’d placed on myself that I hadn’t run in and won aGroup One with her to that point,’’ Moody says.Even after two outstanding wins following recovery from herinjury, the lead-up to the Patinack was not without incident. BenMelham had to replace stable jockey and regular rider, LukeNolen, who had been suspended.Such was Moody’s concern with his mare’s welfare that herequested Melham temper any celebrations (on what was to behis first Group One win) until he had dismounted.But while the trainer was happy to take any blame for possiblynot winning a Group One with his champion sprinter, he is morethan happy to share the plaudits for victory with his staff andothers who assist in getting her to the races.Every campaign for Black Caviar starts with a stint on a waterwalker with pre-trainer Peter Clarke at Murchison in northernVictoria, followed by numerous appointments with Moody’schiropractor Michael Bryant.‘’Everyone from (foreman) Tony Haydon down has done a greatjob in helping to get her back, but Michael is one of the unsungheroes in my stable and has done a lot of work with her,’’ he says.Whilst Moody has been doing the worrying, Gary Wilkie, whomanages the group of friends and family who race Black Caviar, isjust enjoying the ride. The group gets together on race days fora large lunch of up to 60 people, and continued the tradition onWilliam Reid Stakes day.‘’Around 60 of us still went for lunch after she was scratched.Moonee Valley printed the menu in her colours, which was great.You only get a minute and seven seconds or so in the race, butwe try to make the day as much fun as we can and the racingclubs have been fantastic,’’ Wilkie said.A fit Black Caviar is already back at work, preparing for an assaulton the Melbourne autumn group sprints, including this year’sPulse Pharmacy William Reid Stakes, followed by the Sydneyand Brisbane campaigns. Wilkie and his fellow owners can lookforward to some long lunches and a few more Group Onevictories.23

Hay List wins theSportingbet Manikato StakesDamien Oliver with the $90,000Golden Ticket on Tatts Cox Plate Preview DayMVRC Chairman Bob Scarborough with threetime boxing world champion, Azuma NelsonLaurence Eales & Mark Kavanagh celebrates Whobegotyou’s winin the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes on Tatts Cox Plate Preview Day48 24Winners &GrinnersMichael Rodd brings Whobegotyou back to scale aftervictory in the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes

Gloria de Campaeo defeats Lizard’s Desirein the 2010 Dubai World CupDUBAIthe world cupof racingBy Bruce ClarkImage courtesy of Dubai Racing Club &Andrew WatkinsImage courtesy of Dubai Racing Club &Sam D’AgostinoImage courtesy of Dubai Racing Club& Sam D’AgostinoThe world of international horse racing competition hasbecome an increasingly smaller one. It is a modern phenomenon.Names of fabled trainers, jockeys, horsesand racing empires have becomefamiliar and more accessible. Thecarnivals, festivals or race meetings ofHong Kong in December, Royal Ascotin June and the Breeder’s Cup in November have madethis so.But those jurisdictions had some history and tradition tobuild upon, not so Dubai which hosts the world’s richestrace meeting in March under desert skies and nowat Meydan, the world’s most striking horse racing andentertainment venue.Who would have thought that when Sheik Mohammedinvited the best horse in the world of that time – Cigar –to compete in the first Dubai World Cup at Nad Al-Shebaracecourse on March 27 1996, that this tiny Arab Emiratewould become a world racing hub. Well he did at least.With his passion for the animal and his vision for thefuture, Sheik Mohammed has driven Dubai from a dustycamel racetrack in 1981 where just three races wereconducted – a sprint, a mile, and a mile and a half – to theincomparable Meydan complex and the lure of almost$30m in prize money and some very real bragging rights.How appropriate that it is now held at Meydan. Meydanis founded on the simple guiding principles of partnership,community and sporting excellence and takes its name astranslated from an Arabic word meaning a meeting place.And each March the world’s equine and thoroughbredracing elite do meet now at Meydan - with its 1.6km longgrandstand that features a boathouse at one end and ahotel with almost peerless views of the track at the other –to seek a piece of world limelight. It is invitation only and acherished ticket at that.The first World Cup set the stage with Cigar on hisunbeaten run, holding out the fast-finishing Soul of theMatter. It was a benchmark performance that provedSheik Mohammed’s daring vision as brilliant and thefuture of the meeting as assured.Of course that was the former Nad Al-Shebaracetrack. It served the fledgling race well at thetime with its dirt and turf surfaces circling the localgolf course, and it didn’t stop the best of the worldcompeting and winning, but it has been the shiftto Meydan with the turf surface promoted as thepremium track and a new artificial Tapeta synthetic thathas taken Dubai to a new level.The World Cup itself now boasts a staggering $10mprize pool – and there are no TAB distributions orracefields legislation to fund this night.And Australians are as much a part of the Dubaisuccess story as any. Its race caller is an Australian,Terry Spargo, its director of international racing is anAustralian Martin Talty, and Elvstroem has flown theflag boldly winning the Dubai Duty Free in 2005. Manyof our best have tried and failed but to try is evenregarded as a measure of success.Just as Dubai has flourished – despite its troubledeconomic problems of today – so too has the World2627

Cup meeting. Doubts that it wouldn’t or couldn’tsurvive in a Muslim land with restrictions on much ofwhat the western world takes for granted as part ofracing, have been put aside by a brilliant strategy ofsubtly mixing the needs of all.And so the International Village was established torival the festivities of a Flemington in spring, likewisefashion became a focus and if you wanted to bet,there were telephones to do so.the world’srichest racemeetingAnd a ticket to Sheik Mohammed’s Desert Party isa must in this race week. It is a staggering display ofhis love of the horse and a show of incomparablemagnitude in desert dunes under starry skies.But in Dubai it is the horse and the participant thatare best looked after. Travel subsidies and unparalleledfacilities for horse and player are rolled out. Nothingis overlooked to ensure the horses can perform theirbest on that Saturday night when the world racesin Dubai.The strength of Dubai racing has been backed by anextended International Racing Carnival which startsin mid January and runs into the World Cup meeting.Again, Australians have had a successful dip with TonyNoonan taking moderate performers Benedetti andSmart N Mighty to win there.But it is on the final Saturday night in March that theworld meets in Meydan for the richest raceday inthe world at a venue befitting the occasion and acrowd as diverse and vast as where the horses havecome from to compete. It’s the way of the modernracing world.Images courtesy of Dubai Racing Club& Sam D’Agostino29

AUJARD’SRACINGPULSEBy Adrian Dunn30History tells us that 1992 was headlined byBill Clinton becoming the 42nd Presidentof the United States of America. PrinceCharles and Princess Di finally ended theirwedding charade. Johnny Carson handedthe chair of late night TV to Jay Leno, and Super Imposebecame the first eight-year-old to win the Cox Plate.It was also a significant year, on many fronts, in the lifeof Rohan Aujard, whose life changed dramatically in twounrelated areas.First and foremost, Aujard took what he terms a “slither”ownership stake in Pulse Pharmacy, along with the RoyYoung and Vitaminme franchises – 85 in total - that he nowmanages and secondly, he placed, for the first time, some ofhis hard earned on a racehorse.“I didn’t even have a bet until I was 25,”Aujard recalls.“I came from a non gambling, non horse owning family. I hadone bet – Mannerism in the (’92) Caulfield Cup - and I washooked. My mate made me put it on and it won and that’show it all began. It started with a few bets, then a horse andthen multiple horses.”While Aujard’s first bet was a winner, he wasn’t as fortunatein his first foray into owning racehorses. His first horse, byleading sire Zabeel, won a couple of bush races and raceduntil it was 10, but was more of a money muncher thanmoney maker. It ended up in Tamworth, better known asthe country and western capital of Australia than a racinghot spot.When Aujard hooked up with prominent Flemington trainerMike Moroney, the luck pendulum began to swing back in hisfavour.“If you have a few horses you aregoing to get some luck, aren’t you,”muses Aujard after a spring to savour.Aujard’s stable star Brazilian Pulsegraduated from a Ballarat Maidenwinner, albeit by seven lengths, on aHeavy 10 rated track in Septemberto win the Wakeful Stakes on DerbyDay before her crowning glory in theCrown Oaks. A truly stunning performance.Brazilian Pulse is now back in work with the AJC Oaks inApril her target, but that’s not Aujard’s only headline horse.Aujard’s other emerging star is King Pulse, who literally fellvictim to the biblical like storm that lashed Flemington inMarch 2010 that resulted in an emergency dash to theWerribee Veterinary Clinic where he was found to havefloating bone chips in a shoulder.King Pulse, a veteran of just four starts, has not raced sincehe finished that fateful day at one and a half length, fourthbehind Wanted in the Newmarket Handicap.“If he can get back to anywhere near what he was, he’s aserious horse,” says Aujard who hopes the four-year-old canwin the race that he sponsors – the Group 1 Pulse PharmacyWilliam Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on March 25.“We were shattered by all that, but you get back on thehorse, so to speak.”Rolling with the punches goes with the territory of owningracehorses as Aujard has discovered.“It’s the biggest upper and downer in your life. You canwin the Oaks one day and the next day another one canbreak down.“I had one bet - Mannerism in the 92Caulfield Cup - and I was hooked.”That’s how it all works and you have to be prepared for that.It’s a good teacher,” he muses.“I’ve been fairly lucky. I don’t buy too many $5,000 and$10,000 horses. Brazilian Pulse - $NZ26,000 – was probablythe cheapest horse I’ve bought.”Usually, Aujurd caps his racehorse investments between$50,000 to $200,000 although he did spend more insecuring a share in Herculian Prince, winner ofThe Metropolitan.When asked if he is a hands-on owner, Aujard quips “Iwouldn’t say I’m a pest. I’m the first to admit that I’m not ahorse buff. I just let the trainers do their job.”Aujard is now in his fourth year of sponsoring races atMoonee Valley Racing Club. Apart from sponsoring theGroup 1 Pulse Pharmacy William Reid Stakes, Aujardextended his association with the Club to the Group 3Tesio Stakes on Tatts Cox Plate Day.“Moonee Valley is good to be involved with,” says Aujard.“We get good value for money, and you are dealing withdown to earth people. It’s been a good thing. Every timeyou turn the TV on a Friday night you see your branding outthere on the fence.“Every (MVRC) member gets a discount card to the outlets,that’s an important part of it.”Rohan Aujard has no regrets about taking two bold stepsback in 1992.31

MVRC Member NewsTGIFebruary!COMPLIMENTARYGUEST PASSDATERACEThere’s much more for Members to enjoy at the Valleythis summer with TGIFebruary! events.Each Friday night in February brings fun and frivolity tothe track with live music, the Pure Pleasure Lounge withDJs spinning party tunes, music videos on the live screen,a beer garden and sensational night racing.Members can also enjoy the Friday night festivities inFebruary at the Valley with a friend for free!Your guest can enjoy complimentary entry to theracecourse and Members Reserve at all of the February2011 race meetings.Members will receive the pass in the mail early in theNew Year.FEBRUARY 2011 RACEDATES4 Friday EJ Whitten Foundation Men’s Health Race NightIn support of Men’s Health Awareness11 Friday Valentine’s Date Night. Free entry for ladies.18 Friday Locals Night.25 Friday Sportingbet MVRC Night Cup featuring the Listed Fillies StakesYARRA VALLEY CUP– MEMBERS TOURAfter the success of last year’s tour, MVRC Members are againinvited to theYarra Valley Racing Club on Sunday 20 Marchfor the 2011 NMIT Yarra Valley Cup. The day includes bustransfers from MVRC to the Yarra Valley, a lunch, racecourseadmission and more.For more information or to book, please contactMVRC Customer Service on 1300 79 79 59 oremail membership@mvrc.net.auJAPAN CUP COMPETITION– CONGRATULATIONS TO BRENDAN TUDOR!This year, the Club ran a ‘Member get member’ promotion with the grandprize a once-in-a-lifetime trip for 2 to the Japan Cup, valued at $12,000.Drawn at the Night Racing Season Launch on Grand Final Eve in a Japanesethemed cocktail party, 13 finalists were placed into a draw and assigned asaddlecloth number for a horse running in the Tatts Group JRA Cup heldthat night.New member Brendan Tudor of Ascot Vale was victorious when hissaddlecloth for the Bart Cummings trained Precedence won the race.Brendan and his brother Stephen set off to the land of the rising sun toexperience the Japan Cup. Check out his travel photos on page 36 in thisedition of On Track.The prize included return flights to Japan, accommodation for five nights atthe Tokyo Ritz Carlton Hotel, two tickets to the Japan Cup, transfers on theofficial Japan Cup connections bus to the Japan Cup and $2,000 spendingmoney.Congratulations to Brendan on his lucky win!Stay tuned for more Member competitions this year.COX PLATE LEGENDS EVENINGIn October, Members and their guests were treated to anexclusive evening with winning Cox Plate trainers MarkKavanagh, Colin Little and winning Cox Plate jockeys, Glen Bossand Luke Nolen. The evening was held in the newly refurbishedCommittee Room and was hosted by MVRC’s Bryan Martin.3233

Megan Broadley & Michelle PowellMembers & Guests at the Deck BarThe Lynch family - Left to rightLeonie Lynch, Aaron Nathan, Frances Lynch,Peter Lynch, Andre Nathan & Natalie LynchRod Wilkinson & John Mitchellmembers& GUESTSTim Ayliffe, Matt Dowling, Marcus CarmontSimon Todman & James Dorney

Brendan at the Japan CupSightseeing in TokyoBrendan sightseeing in Asakusa, TokyoBrendan in the parade ring at the Japan CupBrendan outside the Asahi building48MembersJapan cup TripJapan Cup competition winner Brendan Tudor shares photosof his November 2010 travelsSightseeing in Hiroshimawith his brother StephenSightseeing in Odaiba

Triassic with her latest addition,a full brother to So You ThinkMany anold fiddlestill playsa grandtune! ByJohn CostelloThe attention-grabbing, awe-inspiring partof the So You Think story at present is,obviously, the sheer talent of the big horse.So You Thinkwas sired byHigh Chaparral,a son ofSadler’s WellsSo You Think – OK, we’ll throw in an (NZ) there; So YouThink (NZ) – donned the champion coronet as a threeyear-oldin the spring of 2009 with his stunning win in theTatts Cox Plate. At that time he looked hugely talented.As a four-year-old in the spring of 2010, he was ... yep,awe-inspiring.As he reeled off five successive weight-for-age victoriesbetween late August and early November 2010, So YouThink was more impressive each time. By the time heachieved the fifth of them, the L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes atFlemington, he looked invincible.In his second Tatts Cox Plate victory, So You Think, thoughhis ultimate margin was a bit more than a length, had beenmade to call on courage as well as class by old wonderwarhorse Zipping. In the MacKinnon Stakes a week later, heseemingly loafed to victory with none of 11 his rivals able toget close enough to apply pressure. It was his easiest win yet.The golden run ended with So You Think’s defeat in theMelbourne Cup but the legend remained untarnished. It wasalways a big ask, setting this brilliant young middle-distancechamp at the toughest 3200 metres of them all in just his12th career start – and six million seemingly good reasonsfor having a crack.If it seemed evident to most that a horse so brilliant at 1400to 2000m was hardly going to be a genuine long-distancestayer, there equally seemed a good chance that his classmight see him through, as class did so notably with an earlierMelbourne Cup victor from the same barn, Saintly.I still believe So You Think’s great class would have comeout on top in the Cup but for the rain which turned theFlemington track into a genuine heavy. That blunted So YouThink’s turn of foot and enabled two genuine and very goodstayers, Americain and Maluckyday, to outfinish him. But hestill beat a helluva lot of good stayers home!I’m hardly breaking fresh ground in recapitulating all this.Thanks to the magic, and the international reach, of television,we were all able to follow the developing chapters of theSo You Think story through the spring of 2010, and then thedramatic but somehow not unexpected announcement thathe had been sold to Coolmore Stud’s huge internationaloperation for a reported $60 million.Since then we’ve learned with relief that our Antipodeanchampion is not yet lost to the racetrack. In 2011 Coolmoreplan a Northern Hemisphere racing campaign in which hisGroup One targets are likely to include the Irish ChampionStakes (which his father, High Chaparral, won), the Prix del’Arc de Triomphe (in which High Chaparral was twice third)and the Breeders Cup Turf (which his father won twice).It has been reported that his Australian rider Steve Arnoldmay be asked to go up to ride So You Think in his northerncampaign.So, as we wait with the keenest anticipation for the next stageof So You Think’s career, let’s consider a back story behind thechampion’s emergence from the mating of his mother andfather back in the spring of 2005.What So You Think has done, apart from delighting hisowners and trainer, fulfilling the greatest dreams of hisbreeders and thrilling a huge public, is strike a blow for theolder girl, for the more mature lady; for a group of equinematrons who do not always receive the respect they deserve.Statistics can be lying jades, and the stats which suggest oldermares are an inferior option for would-be breeders are atbest misleading.Trawling through the racehorse population at any given timewill suggest that the greatest success rate comes from horseswhich were the second through to fourth foal of their dam.(That’s the last figure I read, at any rate.)3839

What this doesn’t take into account, of course, is thatmany mares have no more than four foals. The “controlsample” reduces sharply in number as mares get older.Of course young to early-middle-aged mares will appearmore often in the pedigrees of successful racetrackperformers. In any given season there are a lot more ofthem breeding than mares 15 years or older.So You Think was sired by High Chaparral, a son ofSadler’s Wells who was in his first stud season DownUnder when he shuttled to Windsor Park Stud, nearCambridge in New Zealand’s famous Waikato breedingterritory, the year So You Think was conceived. It wasalso, now famously, the year Shoot Out, Monaco Consul,Descarado and a string of other promising horses wereconceived. High Chaparral was then just six, fresh from asplendid racetrack career in the Northern Hemispherewhich brought him multiple Group One wins includingthe English and Irish Derbys and two Breeders Cup Turfs.So You Think’s dam, Triassic ... a different story here. Shewas 15 when she was mated with High Chaparral, 16when So You Think was born. So You Think was her 10thfoal and, when he went into the Karaka sale ring at theNew Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale of 2008, his damhad produced no stakeswinners. Such a backgroundmight have made her unappealing as a broodmareproposition, and her yearling son by the unproven Sadler’sWells stallion unappealing to the Karaka buying bench.So You Think was actually, as Mike Moranpoints out, Triassic’s seventh live foal –and they are all winners.Fortunately Triassic had two years earlier been spotted in aSydney broodmare sale catalogue by two men who knowa bit about horses, about the mare and about her family -Brian Jenkins, and Mike Moran. And, a couple of years later,the High Chaparral colt Moran had bred from Triassic inpartnership with Piper Farm’s Cecile Smith was spottedin the Karaka sale ring by Bart Cummings, a man who alsoknows a bit about horses.I had to chuckle when, after So You Think’s Tatts CoxPlate tour-de-force as a three-year-old, a journalist askedCummings why he had bought (through bloodstockagent Duncan Ramage) the High Chaparral colt atKaraka. What was it about this colt in particular, I think hemeant. Cummings pointed those bristling eyebrows at hisquestioner and demanded: “Well haven’t you seen him?Have a look at him! If you’ve got an eye for a horse youcouldn’t miss him!”So You Think is indeed a handsome thoroughbred, full ofquality and that “presence” that the best horses so oftenhave. But the pedigree, even back there at Karaka nearlythree years ago, also read a good deal better than thoseflat statistics I quoted earlier. Of Triassic’s 10 foals, forexample, not all had lived. So You Think was actually, as MikeMoran points out, Triassic’s seventh live foal – and they areall winners.A former Australian, Mike crossed the ditch someyears back to join the team of Windsor Park Stud asMarketing Manager. Now living in Cambridge, he made theacquaintance of local trainer Brian Jenkins (who has sincemade the reverse move and is now training in Australia).Moran was intrigued that Jenkins, who won the MelbourneCup with Jezabeel, called his Cambridge property TriassicPark. Not Jezabeel Park. Triassic, Jenkins told him, was amore talented horse than Jezabeel. “We never saw thebest of her.”Many New Zealanders would remember Triassic, a 1990bay mare by Tights from the good South Island sprinterAstral Row (Long Row) who indeed looked really smart asa three-year-old in 1993-94. She won at New Plymouth ondebut, in September, ran second in a three-year-old 1400mat Ellerslie the following month and then an unlucky fourthin Al Akbar’s Waikato Guineas. First again in the SoliloquyStakes at Ellerslie in November, a good thing beaten whensecond in the Royal Stakes at the ARC Christmas carnivaland an easy winner in the Group Two Cambridge Stud SirTristram Fillies Classic.And that, sadly, was it. The big, strong, good-looking filly “dida tendon” and never raced again. At the time she’d lookedto at least have the New Zealand Oaks at her mercy, witha big Cup or two floating in the future. The future whicharrived, instead, was the broodmare paddock.Moran was intrigued by the Triassic story. Before he crossedthe Tasman, while assistant trainer to David Hall, Moranhad noticed a filly at the track which was owned by NewZealander Eric Watson. Named Circus Dance, she simplykept catching his eye with her good looks and manner ofmoving. Circus Dance was by Carnegie from Triassic. (Shegot injured, returned to New Zealand and won a couple ofraces before going to stud.)When Brian Jenkins’ neighbour Cecile Smith becameinterested in getting into breeding thoroughbreds, sheand Mike Moran purchased Triassic in a Sydney Easterbroodmare sale, in foal to Danehill’s lesser-known brotherNuclear Freeze, for $16,000.‘‘We never sawthe best of her’’“After we bought her,” Mike Moran recalls, “her Tale of theCat son, Hip Hip Hooray, won four on the trot in HongKong. Then her colt foal by Galileo went through a Junesale, fetched good money and, as Trigonometry, won twoand looked very promising before getting injured.”The Nuclear Freeze foal turned out to be a filly which,named La Souvenir, won on debut for her owners – Mikeand Helen Moran, Chris and Carol Chamberlain – butwas retired to stud smartly when So You Think won lastyear’s Tatts Cox Plate and it was apparent the filly was toovaluable to risk getting injured on the racetrack. She wasserved by High Chaparral – of course – on the Mondaybefore the Tatts Cox Plate and foaled a colt, a threequarterbrother to So You Think, on the morning of thefollowing year’s Yalumba Stakes.Meanwhile, following So You Think, Triassic had an ElusiveCity colt that sold for $260,000 at the Karaka 2010 sale;he is now a two-year-old in Danny O’Brien’s stable. Triassicmissed in 2008, foaled a full-brother to So You Think atWindsor Park on November 30 2010 and is due to servedby Mastercraftsman (by Danehill Dancer), the former topflightEuropean racehorse who succeeded High Chaparralas a Coolmore shuttler to Windsor Park.If So You Think had been merely a better-than-averageracehorse, instead of a superstar, it is apparent that MikeMoran and Piper Farm would still have done very wellfrom their $16,000 purchase of a 15-year-old mare. As it is,with So You Think now ranked an out-and-out champion,Triassic’s purchase has become a stroke of genius.Look out for So You Think’s full-brother at the 2012 Karakayearling sales! What do you reckon he’ll go for?I guess the moral of this particularly fairytale is: don’tdismiss an older mare if she has shown the ability to leavewinners, even if those winners haven’t so far been of toprank. She still has time and the potential to leave an eliteperformer.Or we could reword the moral, and perhaps make it anaxiom: if the pedigree or racetrack history merit furtherstudy, and a mare has shown the ability to produce winners,don’t let her age put you off.4041

El SegundoLintonEssendon MazdaAustralia StakesNEW DISTANCEfor Alister ClarkThe Essendon Mazda AustraliaStakes represents Victoria’s firstGroup 2 race in 2011. Run inassociation with Australia Daycelebrations, Moonee Valley playshost to this key sprint race underlights on Friday 28 January.In 2010, the unbeaten Black Caviar became the firstthree-year-old filly to win the race over 1200 metresat weight-for-age conditions in its 23rd running. In adominant display the bullish filly shone, beating herolder and more seasoned opposition by 2 ¼ lengths.Trained out of the all-conquering Peter Moody stable andsupremely partnered by stable hoop Luke Nolen, the filly’svictory was dominant.In the race’s short but outstanding history, the EssendonMazda Australia Stakes has been won by some ofcountry’s fastest horses including Special, Redelva, Schillaciand Hareeba. A prominent inclusion on the race’s honourroll is W.S. Cox Plate champion, El Segundo (2007).42Historically a race won by the punters elect, Black Caviar($1.70) continued the tradition and became the 10thfavourite to win the race in its 23 runnings. Piavonic(2001) and Flavour (1998) are the only winners of therace to pay double figure odds, paying $26 and $15respectively.This year’s running of the Group 2 Essendon MazdaAustralia Stakes is sure to attract Australia’s fastest horsesas they embark on a rich autumn carnival. AustralianHorse of the Year Typhoon Tracy will commence herautumn assault in the race, which will give Peter Moodyevery chance to achieve back-to-back wins.ESSENDON MAZDAAUSTRALIA STAKESFriday 28 January, 2011Premium Night RacingGates Open 5.15pmFirst Race 6.45pmThe Group 2 Top Cut Alister ClarkStakes finds a new home anddistance in 2011. Set to run underlights for the first time ever on Friday18 March, the race will cover a newdistance of 2040 metres, increasingfrom 1600 metres in 2010.The race was run over 2040 metres between 1987 and 1997.This $200,000 three-year-old event has been strategically shiftedto now fall 13 days after the Group 1 Australia Guineas overthe mile.Not only offering the best three-year-olds in the country anopportunity over the testing 2040 metres, the race now createsa direct link to the rich Sydney Autumn Carnival, in particular theGroup 1 Rosehill Guineas over 2000 metres, to be contested 8days after the Top Cut Alister Clark Stakes.The promising Linton won the Group 2 Top Cut Alister ClarkStakes in 2010 with the astute Michael Rodd aboard. The LloydWilliams owned galloper was coming off an impressive7 length maiden win at Cranbourne, before franking his classwith victory in the Group 2 Top Cut Alister Clark Stakes at histhird career start.This year’s race will also offer two-year-olds one of the lastopportunities to qualify for the $3 million Golden Slipper, withthe running of the $100,000 Listed Sportingbet St Albans Stakesover 1000 metres.Moonee Valley Racing Club is hosting Melbourne’s metropolitanmeeting on Saturday 2 April, corresponding with Golden SlipperDay in Sydney.ALISTER CLARK STAKESFriday 18 March, 2011Gates Open 5.15pmFirst Race 6.45pm

BlackCaviarTo ReturnFor PulsePharmacyWilliamReid StakesBlack CaviarThe Group 1 Pulse Pharmacy William ReidStakes will bring to a close Moonee Valley’sSportingbet Night Racing Season for 2010/2011.sNIGHT RACINGNight RacingPrivilege Passs44Traditionally contested in February, the Pulse PharmacyWilliam Reid Stakes has been strategically repositionedto run on March 25 at Moonee Valley, 13 days after theGroup 1 Newmarket Handicap and 15 days before theGroup 1 TJ Smith in Sydney. With the race now fallingafter Flemington’s Super Saturday, it offers sprintersa clear pathway and improved synergies between theMelbourne and Sydney carnivals. The Club anticipatesan enhancement to the quality of the field, whilst alsodramatically improving the end of the Sportingbet NightRacing Season.The 2011 edition of the Group 1 Pulse PharmacyWilliam Reid Stakes promises to be a vintage running,with sprinting sensation Black Caviar set to clash withtitle contender Hay List. Presenting a daunting task for allother opposition, both horses hold outstanding MooneeValley records, each having won under lights at the Valley.The $500,000 Group 1 Pulse Pharmacy William ReidStakes was won in 2010 by the Anthony Cummingstrained Turffontein in a blanket finish, holding out Wantedand Sniper’s Bullet. Supremely ridden by Glen Boss, the6-year-old entire faced the starter for one last time afterhis victory, with stud duties beckoning. The weight-for-age1200 metre race has been won by Australia’s premiumsprinters including Apache Cat (2008 and 2009) andMiss Andretti (2007) in recent times. But the race holdssignificant importance for Moonee Valley legend, Manikato.The mighty Manikato claimed the William Reid Stakesover five consecutive years between 1979 and 1983.The William Reid Stakes was first run in 1925 and hasbeen a Group 1 event since 1987. Six W.S. Cox Platewinners have won the William Reid Stakes, including TheNight Patrol, Heroic, Tranquil Star, Chanak, Star Affair andFamily Of Man. Ten mares have won the race, the lastbeing Miss Andretti in 2007. Twenty-four 3-year-olds havewon the sprint including ten fillies. The last colt to win theWilliam Reid was Yell (2003) and the last filly to do sowas Virage de Fortune in 2006.After Miss Andretti won the William Reid Stakes in 2007she then conquered Royal Ascot, winning the King’s StandStakes. Cape Of Good Hope is another Royal Ascotgraduate. After winning the William Reid in 2005, heclaimed the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Ascot 4 months later.The Group 1 Pulse Pharmacy William Reid Stakes hasa rich pedigree of past champions and is a must for allracing enthusiasts to be on-course at Moonee Valley toenjoy the speed and thrills of thoroughbred racingunder lights.PULSE PHARMACYWILLIAM REID STAKESFriday 25 March, 2011The night will also host the $200,000 Group 2Sportingbet Sunline Stakes (1600m) and the$100,000 Stayers Final (3000m).Moonee Valley Night RacingSeason FinaleGates Open 5.15pmFirst Race 6.45pmfor only $50Give the gift of live entertainment with a specialMoonee Valley Night Racing Privilege Pass and you’ll receive:Entry to the Racecourse and Members’ Reserve on these three Friday night race meetings:• Essendon Mazda Australia Stakes, Friday 28 January 2011 (Group 2)• MVRC Night Racing, Friday 11 February 2011• Pulse Pharmacy William Reid Stakes, Friday 25 March 2011 (Group 1)On sale now!To purchase, please contact Moonee ValleyCustomer Service on 1300 79 79 59Email customerservice@mvrc.net.auWeb www.mvrc.net.au

Moshe as a yearling46ELIZAPARKThe resounding successof Melbourne’s sprintsensations – Black Caviarand Hay List – has establisheda huge milestone for leadingstud farm, Eliza Park.Regarded as Victoria’s preeminent breedingfacility with its 11-strong stallion roster andvast array of services, Eliza Park now standsthe sires of the world’s two fastest horsesin Bel Esprit (Black Caviar) and Statue ofLiberty (Hay List).Hay List got the ball rolling in the spring with his commandingvictory in the Group One Sportingbet Manikato Stakes atMoonee Valley on 24 September, while Black Caviar claimedvictory in the Group Two Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield and GroupTwo Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley before maintaining herunbeaten record – and grabbing No. 1 billing – with a romp inthe Group One Patinack Farm Classic on the final day of theMelbourne Cup carnival.To stand the sire of one top sprinter is an achievement in itself,but the sires of two is something else altogether. Bel Espritassumed duties at Eliza Park in 2003 following an outstandingracing career that realised victories in the Blue Diamond andDoomben 10,000.Now, with just five crops of racing age, Bel Esprit is the reigningChampion Sire in Victoria for the fourth successive season withhis runners including Bel Mer, Gabbidon, Vivacious Spirit, TruePersuasion and Mooring to name but a few.Statue of Liberty – also the sire of the multipleGroup winner Mic Mac – continues to go from strengthto strength and has again covered a full book ofquality mares.We have sponsored anumber of races overthe yearsat Moonee ValleyAs a son of Storm Cat, the hottest sireline property in theworld today, Statue of Liberty boasts a remarkable stakeswinners to runners strike rate in this part of the globe and thelikes of Hay List and Mic Mac will only enhance that profile inthe seasons to come.The rise and rise of Black Caviar though is particularly sweet forall those involved with Eliza Park as, in a sense, the flashy marechronicles the farm’s history.Prior to ‘creating’ Eliza Park, third generation breeder and NSWbusinessman, Lee Fleming, raced a brilliant sprinter by the nameof Scandinavia, winning multiple Group races and placing inseveral Group Ones with the mare.Bel Esprit“Eliza Park is proudof its associationwith Moonee ValleyRacing Club”Shortly after in 1999, Lee determined to stand – as Eliza Park’sfoundation stallion – the remarkable Desert Sun who, despiteproducing 31 stakes winners in five countries, will forever beremembered as the sire of racing immortal Sunline.By the time Desert Sun arrived at Eliza Park from New Zealand,Sunline had taken out just one of her 13 Group Ones: grabbingthe first of her two Cox Plates while her sire was in the midst ofcovering 139 mares.By the time Sunline had won her second Cox Plate, DesertSun’s second Australian ‘book’ included Scandinavia, the result ofwhich was a bonny filly named Helsinge.Although unraced, Helsinge has risen to tremendous heights asa broodmare with her only two foals to race being Black Caviar(eight from eight) and her exciting full brother Moshe who alsomaintained his unbeaten record with a win at Moonee Valley inlate November.And, although the recently pensioned Desert Sun is now livingout his days in a lush paddock, Helsinge’s half brother – theGroup One winning sprinter Magnus – is poised to make hismark at Eliza Park with the first of his yearlings appearing atmajor sales throughout Australasia in 2011.“Eliza Park is proud of its association with Moonee Valley RacingClub,” Eliza Park’s CEO Cameron Croucher enthused. “We havesponsored a number of races over the years at Moonee Valley –including the Sunline Stakes on a number of occasions.“In October we sponsored one of Moonee Valley’s mostprestigious events – the Statue of Liberty Stutt Stakes which,fittingly, was on the same program as the Manikato won byHay List.“Not surprisingly, we celebrated the night’s events on course inthe Eliza Park Sunline Suite which is open to all ownersand trainers.”47

Committee RoomCAPITAL WORKSMoonee Valley ContinuesTo Upgrade FacilitiesAn extensive schedule ofrefurbishments at Moonee Valleywas undertaken during the2009/2010 season.Whilst some renovations of the Committee Room werealready scheduled, the settlement of the storm claimallowed a more comprehensive renovation of the room,including the relocation of bathroom facilities, new carpet,refurbished bar and tote facilities, upgraded audio visual,a higher ceiling and upgraded air conditioning.These improvements mean that one of the most utilisedand highest earning rooms for non-raceday events hasbeen elevated to a level that competes with the best inthe region, affording the Club more non-raceday functionopportunities.The trackside Dining Boxes were also refurbished withnew carpet, fresh paint, upgraded audio visual and a newkitchen at the rear of the Phar Lap dining box, enabling anenhanced raceday dining service to dining box patrons.Other areas refurbished also included the ChampionsRoom, the Cox Plate Room, Members’ Jockey Bar, JR’s Bar,the Catering Offices and the third floor Inner Circle area.These are all areas which are sure to add commercialreturns to the Club and memorable experiences forMembers and patrons.Major demolition and landscaping works were alsocompleted to the south end of the main tote building.These works secured the retention of a major functionscustomer and have resulted in a great improvement tothe usable space in that area, which will be of particularbenefit on Tatts Cox Plate day.Majordemolitionandlandscapingworkswere alsocompletedto the southend of themain totebuilding.Dining BoxesMembers Jockey Bar Dining Room

INGLISGRADUATESPROVE THEFORMLINETatts Cox Plate Day 2010 proved a strongstepping stone for many gallopers, noneso more than Inglis Melbourne PremierYearling Sale pin-up mare, Black Caviar.The day began with trainer John O’Sheaand owner Keith Biggs combining withMore Than Ready filly Elite Falls to takeout the $250,000 Microflite HelicoptersInglis Banner (1000m).Renamed in honour of inaugural winnerStarspangledbanner back in 2008, the Inglis Banner isthe first race in the $2.6 million Inglis Race Series forInglis yearling sale.Those behind Elite Falls ($300,000 2010 Easter, 2fMore Than Ready-Niagara Falls) included subsequentGroup 3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Arctic Command($55,000 2010 Premier, 2g Freeze-General Resolve)and runner-up Aashiq ($90,000 2010 Premier, 2cGeneral Nediym-Crevice), who had finished fourthand sixth respectively on debut at Moonee Valley.Black Caviar ($210,000 2008 Premier, 4m Bel Esprit-Helsinge) took her last step towards Group 1 glorywith her seventh win from seven starts, over ahigh-class field in the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes.The daughter of Eliza Park Stud resident Bel Espritgalloped to a 5-1/2 length victory over fellow Inglisgraduate Hot Danish ($32,000 Scone), who was verygame in her first run around Moonee Valley.Tony Santic’s Makybe operation will offer a halfbrotherto the star mare at the 2011 Inglis AustralianEaster Yearling Sale by Group One winning milerCasino Prince.In other results on the day, Sound Journey addedanother Group 2 win to his record in leading homean all Inglis trifecta in the Patinack Farm Crystal Mile,while That’s Not It stamped himself as a horse ofconsiderable potential when taking out the Group 31300 Australia Stakes.The Mark Kavanagh trained Sound Journey ($6,000March TB, 6h Good Journey–Written By Sound),defeated fellow Inglis graduates Trader ($600,000Easter) and Drumbeats ($350,000 Easter).Inglis’ 2011 SelectYearling Sales Serieskicks-off with theSydney ClassicYearling Sale onJanuary 24 to 26.Grasslands Thoroughbred Farm will offer a half-sisterby Lindsay Park Stud stallion De Beers to That’s NotIt ($16,000 Classic, 3c Foreplay-Imco Resource) at the2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.Inglis’ 2011 Select Yearling Sales Series kicks-off with theSydney Classic Yearling Sale on January 24 to 26.The 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale will beconducted on February 28, March 1, 2 & 3 in 2011.Then all eyes will be on the 2011 Inglis Australian EasterYearling Sale at Newmarket in Sydney on April 6 to 8.Inglis Premier Yearling Sale50Inglis Premier Yearling Sale

10% discountfor MVRC MembersFriday NightsMove Your OfficeTo The ValleyCelebrate the end of the working week - get your work mates together for a Friday night with a twist at Moonee Valley’s Premium Night Racing.You’ll enjoy great food, drinks and the excitement of live thoroughbred racing under lights. With a vibrant, friendly atmosphere, it’s the perfect way towrap up your week at work and we can even arrange to pick you up from the city. Make your Friday night come alive at the Valley.turning functions intoEventsExperience style and sophistication with Valley Events at Moonee Valley Racecourse. Offering a truly unique venuefor raceday and non-raceday events with over 14 function rooms, open spaces and dining options to suit anyoccasion, Valley Events is ideally located to host the most intimate gathering or large event.Make your next function an event to remember.Friday Night Group Package(4.5 hours for 40 people)^• Gourmet hot & cold canapés• Racecourse admission• Beer, wine, sparkling wine and soft drinks • Race book for all attendees• Private function room• CBD bus transfers*$99 per person (Standard Night Race Meetings)$109 per person (Feature Night Race Meetings)*CBD return bus transfers quote upon request.^ minimum 40 peopleUpgrades available (includes spirits, desserts, cheeses and guest tipster).To make a booking, please contact:Jasmin.Fisher@mvrc.net.au (03) 9373 2370 | Bridie.Mallard@mvrc.net.au (03) 9373 2374Weddings I Conferences I Events I Corporate HospitalityFor more information visit mvrc.net.au/functions or call 1300 67 23 00Moonee Valley Racecourse McPherson Street, Moonee Ponds

Moonee ValleyNight CupZavite wins the Sportingbet MV Night CupThis racehas ahistory ofproducingGroup 1performers.Typhoon Tracy wins her third careerstart in the 2009 Fillies Plate& ListedFillies PlateMoonee Valley To Produce Early StarsOn Friday 25 February 2011, Moonee Valley Racing Clubwill host the $150,000 Sportingbet Night Cup over 2500metres, which is sure to be loaded with staying potential.Prizemoney for this race has been elevated from$100,000 in 2010 and offers a true staying test, as mostare on Adelaide Cup/Sydney Cup campaigns. Last year’swinner Zavite added an international flavour, travelling theTasman to secure the Group 1 Auckland Cup after hisbrave Night Cup victory.The night’s race card also presents Moonee Valley’snewest black-type event, the Listed $100,000 Fillies Plateover 1200 metres. The Australian Pattern Committeerubber stamped the upgrade last July on the strength ofits recent results. In 2009, the race was won by TyphoonTracy at her third career start, and since her MooneeValley victory under lights has achieved 5 Group 1 winsand been crowned Australian Horse of the Year. In 2010,we saw the promising Europa Point fend off the latechallenging Response in an exciting contest. Response hassince claimed the Group 1 Rupert Clark and Group 3Matron Stakes. This race has a history of producing Group1 performers.54

The Essendon Mazda 55 Second Challengeis a pure test of speed over a new racedistance of 955 metres.The barriers are positioned in the 1000 metre chuteand the challenge will be to see which horse and jockey canbreak the 55 second mark across the Sportingbet NightRacing Season.On each of the 18 night meetings in season 2010/2011,Moonee Valley will stage an Essendon Mazda 55 SecondChallenge heat, with each heat carrying prizemoney of$55,000. The Essendon Mazda 55 Second Challenge raceis programmed as Race 4 at 8:15pm at each of the nightmeetings.The Essendon Mazda 55 Second Challenge is an exciting newinitiative for the 2010/2011 Sportingbet Night Racing Seasonat Moonee Valley. The big question is will the 55 second markbe broken? The only way to find out is to be on track atMoonee Valley.The trainer of the horse that runs the quickest time across the18 races within the series will win a Mazda CX9 Classic valuedat $55,000 from Essendon Mazda. The jockey that posts thequickest time will receive $10,000 cash from Essendon Mazda.Essendon Mazda 55 Second Challenge ResultsHeat Winner Trainer Jockey Time @ 55 Seconds from WP1 Sunday Rose Bart Cummings Michael Rodd 56.13 936 metres 19 metres2 Tully Dreamer Matthew Hyland Damien Oliver 55.83 941 metres 14 metres3 Waltzes Jarrod McLean Dwayne Dunn 55.62 944.5 metres 10.5 metres4 The Fugitive David Hayes Brad Rawiller 56.70 927 metres 28 metres5 Act of Faith Robbie Griffiths Ryan Maloney 57.20 918 metres 37 metres6 Esprit de Bullet Mark Lewis Craig Newitt 55.75 942 metres 13 metres7 Éclair Flyer Robert Smerdon Glen Boss 57.08 920 metres 35 metres8 One Last Dance Peter Moody Luke Nolen 56.71 926 metres 29 metres9 La Bella Roo Peter Boynton Jake Noonan 55.48 947 metres 8 metresTrainer Peter Boynton with jockey Jake Noonan aftervictory aboard La Bella Roo and new Essendon Mazda55 Second Challenge leader in a time of 55.48.Essendon Mazda 55 Second Challenge HeatsHEAT DATE RACE10 Friday 14th January $55,000 NMW Hcp 955m11 Friday 28th January $55,000 Mares 0-78 Hcp 955m12 Friday 4th February $55,000 0-82 Hcp 955m13 Friday 11th February $55,000 3yo Open Hcp 955m14 Friday 18th February $55,000 3yo Fillies 0-72 Hcp 955m15 Friday 25th February $55,000 3yo Open Hcp 955m16 Friday 4th March $55,000 0-78 Hcp 955m17 Friday 18th March $55,000 Mares 0-72 Hcp 955m18 Friday 25th March $55,000 0-78 Hcp 955m

PremiumIndustryrewardsprogramJohn McNairNIGHT RACING SEASONRIDE OF THE NIGHTThroughout the Sportingbet Night Racing Season at Moonee Valley, the TVN broadcast panel will judgethe Ride of the Night. The jockey deemed to have achieved the most outstanding individual effort will beawarded a gift valued at $500.Moonee Valley’s new Premium Industry Rewards Programhas been designed to deliver unparalleled benefits for trainersand jockeys competing in the 2010/2011 Sportingbet NightRacing Season.Trainers and jockeys will earn reward dollars based on actualprizemoney generated at Moonee Valley night meetings. Thepremiership table will accumulate across the season andwill integrate Super VOBIS bonuses into running totals forindividual trainers and jockeys. Prizes are allocated on end ofseason totals within stated categories.The 2010/2011 Premium Industry Rewards Programcommenced with the meeting on Friday 24 September, 2010and is inclusive of the entire night season, concluding Friday25 March, 2011.Top 5 Trainers & JockeysRide of the Night Jockey HorsE sponsor24.09.2010 Glen Boss Lone Rock Microflite Helicopters01.10.2010 Damien Oliver Magnifique Soleil Mont Blanc29.10.2010 Dwayne Dunn Waltzes Harrolds12.11.2010 Jordan Mallyon Blooded Heritage Country Club26.11.2010 Lisa Cropp nostoppinthemusic Pulse Pharmacy03.12.2010 craig Newitt Verdasco Schweppes10.12.2010 Ben Melham You’rejokingme Heritage Country Club17.12.2010 Steven King Annlea Harrolds31.12.2010 Jake Noonan Silver Bullion Mont BlancRank Trainers Prizemoney1. John McNair $300,0002. David Hayes $230,1363. Robert Smerdon $187,7764. Peter Moody $174,4955. Bart Cummings $164,613Rank Jockeys Prizemoney1. Craig Newitt $356,4132. Glyn Schofield $326,4633. Damien Oliver $311,3214. Blake Shinn $280,9005. Luke Nolen $234,920Jockeys ChallengeTRAINER REWARDSCategory 1: Mercedes-Benz GL 350 ($134,000 value) $1,000,000 & over in prizemoney (inc. VOBIS)Category 2: Hong Kong Travel Experience ($25,000 value) $750,000 - $999,999 in prizemoney (inc. VOBIS)Category 3: Harrolds Gift Certificate ($10,000 value) $600,000 - $749,999 in prizemoney (inc. VOBIS)Category 4: Classic Timepiece ($5,000 value) $450,000 - $599,999 in prizemoney (inc. VOBIS)JOCKEY REWARDSCategory 1: Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 7-55 ($33,500 value) $1,000,000 & over in prizemoney (inc. VOBIS)Category 2: Travel Voucher ($10,000 value) $750,000 - $999,999 in prizemoney (inc. VOBIS)Category 3: Adriatic Furniture ($5,000 value) $600,000 - $749,999 in prizemoney (inc. VOBIS)Category 4: Classic Timepiece ($3,500 value) $450,000 - $599,999 in prizemoney (inc. VOBIS)The Nights Come Alive At The Valley with the inaugural TAG Heuer Jockeys Challenge.The TAG Heuer Jockeys Challenge will stage 23 races in the 2010 / 2011 Night RacingSeason that will carry prizemoney of $100,000 or more, including 11 black-type races.In total, there will be $4 million in prizemoney on offer across the TAG Heuer JockeysChallenge races. The jockey that accumulates the most prizemoney across this 23 raceSeries will win the TAG Heuer Jockeys Challenge.The winning jockey will receive a TAG Heuer timepiece valued at $6,000, and thewinning jockey of each of the 23 races in the TAG Heuer Jockey Challenge will eachreceive a $1,000 Gift Certificate towards a TAG Heuer timepiece. The Gift Certificateis redeemable only at the TAG Heuer Boutique, 330 Collins Street, Melbourne.TOP 5 JOCKEYSRank Jockey Prizemoney1. Glyn Schofield $300,0002. Blake Shinn $279,5003. Craig Newitt $210,0004. Craig Williams $95,1005. Glen Boss $79,000

Luke Nolen aboard Black CaviarQ&Awith Luke NolenFirst winner riddenFirst city winnerFavourite horseBest horse(s) riddenBest horse seenPrice Hike, 28th March 1998 at AlburyTraf Eire, 29th April 1999 at Moonee ValleyDoolam Gem, Typhoon Tracy, Black CaviarTyphoon Tracy, Black CaviarMakybe DivaYour 2007 Cox Plate victory on El Segundo was a great momenton the racecourse. How would you describe the hours followingyour win?It was a long drinking session with a lot of people. It was a great to bepart of such a wonderful horse and race.Congratulations on winning the Melbourne Jockey’s Premiership.Is this a career defining achievement for you?It gave me great satisfaction to win the Premiership although the hardwork doesn’t stop. The most successful people are the ones that stay atthe top for a long period of time.What was your experience at Ascot in representing Australia as partof the Rest of the World team in the Shergar Cup?It was a great experience to be part of such a great event. To rideagainst some of the best jockeys in the world was a great feeling. Thetracks there are so different compared to our tracks here.Explain the feeling watching Ben Melham and Black Caviar claim theirmaiden Group 1 wins.Very happy for Ben and the mare but very hard to watch when youare suspended.“The mostsuccessfulpeople arethe onesthat stay atthe top for along periodof time”SPEEDY SIXWITH LUKE NOLENFavourite pastime (other than racing)? Golf/ Water skiingFavourite food? Love a good steakFavourite drink? Corona or Jim BeamFavourite film? Lonesome DoveFive people you’d invite to a dinner party? Depends who’spaying! As long as it’s good company I’m happy to have anybody.Motto in life? Winning is habit.6061

Executive PA’s functionJapan Cup competitionwith geishasKevin Bartlett & Russell RobertsonBrendan Tudor celebrates as Precedence wins theTatts Group JRA Cup & a trip to the Japan CupRussell RobertsonEmma Freedman & Pete LazerFanfare entertainers48Night RacingSeason Launch -Grand Final EveNaomi Robson

MOONEE VALLEY RACING CLUBPLEASURE LOUNGETGIFebruary!FRIday 4, 11, 18 & 25MEMBERS FREE | GENERAL ADMISSION $10Purepleasurelounge

2010 Nationalsavewater! awards®Moonee Valley Racing Club Wins Overall Award For ExcellenceAt the 2010 National savewater! awards® held in Sydney on 12November 2010, Moonee Valley Racing Club was awarded theLarge Business Award and the Overall Award for Excellence.In all, some 1200 entries were evaluated across 7 categories from38 countries for the “Overall Award for Excellence” with MooneeValley Racing Club declared the winner amongst the internationaljudging panel.Panelist and environmental figure Rob Gell acknowleged MVRC’swater saving achievements.Overall Awardfor Excellence“Moonee Valley Racing Club has developed a comprehensivewater saving program that goes well beyond the normalexpectations of a racing club and at a time when water useexemptions were available.Overall, MVRC has taken enormous steps to ensure it is as waterefficient as possible, saving many million litres of Melbourne’sprecious water supply.Parallel benefits in reduction of environmental impacts inpollution reduction and greenhouse gas emissions reductionswere also achieved.Importantly, the water management program was stronglycommunicated to all suppliers, stakeholders and racegoers.”It is a great achievement for MVRC to be acknowledged at anational level for an award of such prestige. The program, whichtook more than four years of strategic developmentand implementation across the entire racecourse, now reduceswater consumption whilst ensuring an independent supply forracetrack irrigation.MVRC’s Operations Manager, Brian Masters is proud of thework accomplished.“We set about reducing our water consumption during one ofthe worst droughts, while still maintaining a world renowned turfracetrack that hosts the iconic Tatts Cox Plate.It was a collaborative effort with the help from MVRC Members,staff and the support of City West Water and the results arestaggering. There was a 70% reduction in drinking waterconsumption, which equates to 60 million litres of water savedin just 12 months.”Moonee Valley also won the ‘Large Business’ award beating otherfinalists including Woolworths Limited and Murray GoulbournCo-operative Co. Limited.Kids under 12eat free!every nightIN THE BISTRO*Moonee Valley LegendsBar | Bistro | Lounge | CafÉDINING SPECIALSMONDAYBUY 1, GET THE 2ND FOR 50% OFFPurchase any main meal and receive the second main meal for half price.Valid at the Terrace Café for lunch & dinner. 2nd meal must be equal or lesser value.TUESDAYSTEAK DAYYour choice of Porterhouse or Scotch Fillet, served with chips & salad or veggies. Only $15.00.Valid at the Trackside Bistro lunch & dinner.WEDNESDAYSENSATIONAL SEAFOOD DAYChoose from Garlic Prawns, Chilli Prawns, Fish and Chips, Spaghetti Marinara, Dozen Oysters Kilpatrick.Only $15.00. Valid at the Trackside Bistro for lunch & dinner.THURSDAYPARMA DAYChicken parmigiana served with chips & salad or veggies.Only $10. Valid at the Trackside Bistro for lunch & dinner.FRIDAYRace night smorgasbordJan 28. Feb 4, Feb 11, Feb 18 & Feb 25Adults $40 | Seniors $33.50 | Kids 10-16 $18.50 | Kids 10 & under $12Bookings essential.SATURDAYA LA CARTE DINING FROM $9.90Join us in the Trackside Bistro for A La Carte Dining from $9.90#. Bookings essential.66Moonee Valley Racing Club’s, Brian Masters,Operations Manager & Nicole Hare, AssistantOperations Manager with Will Guthrie of Victoria’sDepartment of Sustainability and EnvironmentSUNDAYCARVERY LUNCHTwo course carvery lunch plus a glass of house wine, pot of beeror soft drink. Only $16.90. Valid at the Trackside Bistro for lunch.BOOK NOW CALL 9326 1277Moonee Valley Legends, Moonee Valley Racing Club Cnr. Thomas & Wilson Streets, Moonee Ponds*Kids under 12 eat free every night in the Bistro only. Not Valid in on Mondays. Excludes smorgasbord lunches and dinners.#Terms & Conditions apply. $9.90 dining not applicable on Moonee Valley Night Racing nights.Specials change regularly. A la cate menu is available lunch and dinner.

Dine For AMoonee Valley MerchandisesaleGreat CauseEJ Whitten Foundation Race Night & CHAIRMAN’SCLUB DINNER - Friday 4th February, 2011TATTSCox Plate LadiesPolo Shirtnow$59$40nowtattsCox Plate MensPolo Shirt$59$40Supporting Men’s Health AwarenessSince its inception in 1995 to commemorate the memory of EJ Whitten, the EJ Whitten Foundationhas raised in excess of $3.5 million for prostate cancer research and awareness through its fundraisingactivities and campaigns. More importantly, it has made many Australian men more awareof prostate cancer and potentially helped save many lives.The E.J. Whitten Foundation Race Night is an innovative initiative to support Men’s Health and prostatecancer awareness. Featuring - themed races, guest speakers, dinner and entertainment, auction, major raffle withracing panel, race course entry and race book. This is an all inclusive premium night racing experience!Time: 6.15pm – 11.00pm First Race: 6.45pmCost: $185 per head - $1750 per table (10 people per table - includes racecourse entry & race book)Dress: Jacket. No tie required (no denim)Where: Committee Room, Level 4, Moonee Valley Racing ClubCutter & BuckTattsCox Plate Jacketnow$99$70nowSo You ThinkMaxwell &Williamscollection$85$50Includes dinner plate,entrée plate & mugtattsCox Plate StubbyHoldersnow$5MVRC T-Shirtsnow$25$2$15BOOKINGS & INFORMATIONContact Moonee Valley Racing Club Customer Serviceon 1300 79 79 59 or visit www.mvrc.net.auPlease visit the merchandise shop on race days/nights.*Various sizes and colours available. Some sizes not available in all styles.

MOONEE VALLEY RACING CLUB2010/2011 SEASONDATE RACE DAY/NIGHTFriday 28 January Essendon Mazda Australia Stakes (G2) Premium Night RacingFriday 4 February TGIFebruary! LaunchEJ Whitten Foundation Day Premium Night RacingFriday 11 February TGIFebruary! Valentines Date NightFree Entry For The LadiesFriday 18 February TGIFebruary! The Best Friday Local In Town Night RacingFriday 25 February TGIFebruary Finale!Sportingbet MVRC Night CupListed Fillies Stakes Premium Night RacingFriday 4 March Sportingbet Fillies Classic (G2) Premium Night RacingMonday 14 March Labour Day RacingFriday 18 March Top Cut Alister Clark Stakes (G2)Listed St Albans Stakes Premium Night RacingFriday 25 March Pulse Pharmacy William Reid Stakes (G1)Sportingbet Sunline Stakes (G2) Premium Night RacingSaturday 2 April MVRC Saturday Racing (Golden Slipper Day) Day RacingWednesday 8 June Free Entry Mid-week Day RacingSaturday 18 June Winter Racing Day RacingSaturday 2 July Winter Racing Day Racing71

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