VICTORIAN DERBY WIN BY LAZARUS - ONE FOR THE AGES

Outstanding 3yo Lazarus produced one of the great Victorian Derby victories in the top races rich history when he contested the event at Melton. Afforded no favours at any stage of the race, the son of champion stallion Bettor’s Delight was wide early and sat in the chair through a punishing final half to score an outstanding victory. He paced his final half in 54.7 and closing quarter in 26.4. Put in perspective, he paced 0.7 seconds quicker for his last half than the winner of the Victoria Cup and sat in the death in doing so. He has clearly stamped himself as the best 3yo ‘down under’. For Bettor’s Delight other good winners included Ohoka Punter who won the Pure Steel at Melton, which is a key lead up race to the Hunter Cup, Have Faith In Me sat parked to win the Group 2 Paleface Adios at Menangle and he is now nominal favourite for the Chariots of Fire and champion pacer Beautide is headed towards the Miracle Mile following an effortless victory at Menangle. American Ideal’s top son Bling It On, became his first millionaire ‘down under’ when he ran a gutsy race in the Victorian Cup. He has been at all the races along the way and has always bought his ‘A Game’. American Ideal’s son Star Of Dionysis remains undefeated in Australia, following his victory in the Central Victorian Pacing Championships. The Andy Gath trained pacer defied all challengers to the $20,000 race. American Tart was an impressive Invercargill winner and looks headed for bigger things, she paced home in 55.5. Pegasus Spur enjoyed a good week with winners in Southland Reflector, Sarah Lindenny and Monty Python who all won in the shaky isles. With February here, the annual round of yearling sales commences in Melbourne on February 7th, we wish all vendors the best of luck.  

LAZARUS LOOK SHARP IN VICTORIAN DERBY HEAT

Outstanding 3yo pacer Lazarus, bought his ‘A’ game across the ditch to easily win his heat of the Victorian Derby at Ballarat. The son of champion stallion Bettor’s Delight will be nominal favourite for the blue riband classic to be held at Melton on Victoria Cup night. Lazarus sat in the chair to win his heat and did so in a 1.56.5 mile rate. This was win number 11 in a career of just 13 starts and he has bankrolled over $500,000 in stakes. Lazarus’s stablemate Have Faith In Me crossed the ditch also but was in Sydney to prepare for the Chariots of Fire, he too was an effortless winner in 1.52 and change against his older rivals, he was one of three winners sired by Bettor’s Delight on the same card, the others to greet the judge where Ivegottalife and Express Stride. American Ideal had a very good week on both sides of the Tasman, with a number of winners. American Spirit remains undefeated following a tough win at Wyndham, American Tart was a very impressive winner on debut at Marlborough in the hands of John Dunn, she scooted home in 56.4. In the Sunshine state he sired winners in American Legend at Albion Park and Margins at Redcliffe. Out west, the Woodlands Stud bred That’s Rite was an easy winner at Bunbury and American Angel scored at Albany and at Rotorua he sired a double when Wave Song and Hartofdixie both won on the grass. For resident trotting stallion Pegasus Spur, Fiftyshadesofbrown was a winner at Warrugal.  

WOODLANDS STALLIONS DOMINANT FEATURE AUSTRALIAN RACES

The key Australian racing features have been dominated by the Woodlands Stud stallion’s in recent weeks and that theme continued through this past week with stunning success. The $450,000 Western Australian Pacing Cup was won by American Ideal’s top son My Hard Copy who recorded back to back victories in this time honoured race. In an outstanding staying effort, he broke the track record for the 2936 metre feature and he has now bankrolled over $900,000 in stakes. Congratulations to the Hall team who have made a big habit of winning the race. On the same card American Ideal produced other very good winners in That’s Rite and Mohegan Sun was a winner of the $50,000 Nights of Thunder final. Other good winners for American Ideal included smart 3yo Soho Tribeca who paced 1.53.3 to win at Melton, Aztec Bromac was a Menangle winner and Overboard Again won at Invercargill. For world champion stallion Bettor’s Delight, his son Ohoka Punter crossed the ditch to win the $75,000 Group 2 Shepparton Cup. In the hands of Anthony Butt, he broke the track record in the provincial feature, returning a 1.57 mile rate for the 2690 metre race. Ohoka Punter has now earned over $700,000 in stakes. Great to see outstanding 3yo filly Our Dream About Me resume in style at Menangle. She remains undefeated in nine lifetime starts and despite traffic difficulties was simply too good for her rivals in the Group 3 Raith Memorial. Other winners to greet the judge by the leviathan stallion included Maverick at Addington, Alotbettor at Charlton, Yackandandah at Cranbourne and Kia Kaha won at Banks Peninsula.  

FLAMING FLUTTER GRABS GROUP ONE GLORY

There was no more rewarding victory than Flaming Flutter’s victory in the South Australian pacing cup at Globe Derby. The son of Bettor’s Delight has plied his trade amongst Australia’s best free for allers in recent times, with consistent results but got his deserved Group One glory with a great big race drive by Greg Sugars. Able to control the race from the chair, Flaming Flutter outstayed his rivals over 2645 metre journey. He has now banked over $600,000 in stakes. Bettor’s Delight had now fewer than thirty winners down under this week, amongst them were Chase The Dream who won the Waikato Guineas, Murano made it five on the bounce with victory at Albion Park, God Send paced 1.52 and change to win at Menangle and Emmanuel was a winner at Melton. American Ideal’s daughter The Orange Agent put her rivals to the sword with victory in the Cambridge Flying Mile, in moderate conditions, she still paced home in 55.8, at Roxburgh Tas Man Bromac was a winner of the local Roxburgh Cup, scooting home in 56.1 and his ace son Bling It On was a Menangle winner. Other good winners for American Ideal included Milia’s Ideal at Tamworth and he sired a double at Bendigo when Spinner’s Boy and Novena Rose greeted the judge. Pegasus Spur continued his recent run of good winners when his top flight son Speeding Spur was a winner of the Cambridge Trotters Flying Mile, he is now headed for Australia to contest a number of key feature races, Unico Pegasus won the Group 3 Horsham Trotters Cup, Marvellous Max won at Melton and Dauntless won at Thames. Ace trotting stallion Crazed sired his winner down under when She’s Allthe Craze won at Roxburgh. She will certainly be the first of many winners as the son of Credit Winner has been well patronised this breeding season.

BETTOR’S DELIGHT CONTINUES HIS DOMINANCE OF BIG RACE DAYS

Bettor’s Delight’s unsurpassed siring dominance continued when his outstanding four year old son, Have Faith In Me was a winner of the 2015 Auckland Cup. His performance in outstaying his rivals over the 3200 metre trip, was sign of bigger things to come, he has now earned over $710,000 in stakes. This was his 5th Group One win.  His driver Tim Williams handled the horse with aplomb and the All Stars stable continued their recent dominance of New Zealand feature races. On the same card, Bettor’s Delight sired the 3yo Sales Series winner in Lazarus, he has now won over $480,000 in stakes and is clearly New Zealand’s best 3yo and will take his unbelievable closing speed across the ditch to contest the Victorian Derby. Other good winners for the champion stallion included Kept Under Wraps who was impressive in winning the Intercity Pace final at Maitland in record time, Burnaholeinmypocket is headed for the Chariots of Fire following a first up victory at Cranbourne and Emmanuel was a winner at Geelong. American Ideal saw the new year in with style with a number of winners including Seel The Deal who was an impressive winner twice at the West Coast meetings conducted over the holiday period, Barry Purdon’s classy mare Democratic Party was a winner on Auckland Cup Day, Novena Rose was a 1.55 winner at Melton for Andy Gath and Luisanabelle Midfrew won in trying conditions at Rangiora. Wilma’s Mate was a shining light for Pegasus Spur, with multiple victories on West Coast circuit, Never Fear and Donna May provided the leading trotting stallion with a double at Banks Peninsula and Sarah Lindenny was a winner at Rangiora.