Rather belatedly, we would like to share a photo (courtesy of Terry Hann – Atkins Photography) of our new colours in use on SAROA raceday on August 20th, Jamie Kah in the saddle riding Tunes SAROA wish to extend our grateful thanks to all connections who allowed our colours to be worn on the day – unfortunately they did not accompany a winner but hopefully they will next SAROA race day.
SAROA July 2016 Newsletter Click here
Our Owner of the Month for April is Natalie Coomber for her horse Red Dazzle trained by her dad, Strathalbyn based Peter Moody. Natalie takes up the narrative. So this is my boy, my red boy, Kracka aka Red Dazzle. Our five-year-old gelding by Husson. Kracka arrived at our Strathalbyn stables late in 2012, after the owners of Justify That purchased him. He turned up at my father – Peter Moody’s stables full of curry, with an ego to match any champion galloper, but yet to prove himself. When both my Mum, Rose and I saw him, we said ‘Wow, He’s a Cracker!” – hence his stable name Kracka. He certainly was a head turner! I had to have him but all the shares in him were taken, so I rang my brother in Alice Springs, race horse trainer – Nigel Moody, and convinced him to give me half of his share, put him on ‘lay-by’ with my Dad for 3 months and gave him to my husband as his Christmas present – the registration papers wrapped up under the Tree! At his 4th start with us, Red Dazzle won his first race, on 11th September 2013, Mum and Dad were overseas, Leaving Nigel in charge of his training. We secured one of our favourite jockeys in Libby Hopwood and she was able to steer him (hanging off of 1 rein!) across the line first. That feeling was unbelievable! I cried! Four starts later he won his 2nd race at Gawler, again I cried! Kracka had 22 starts after that, staying in the money 11 times but not quite finding his 3 year old form. My ever patient father didn’t give up on him, others probably would have. We gave him time off in the family paddock with regular visits from the chiropractor, who confirmed he had issues with his neck and back and needed rest. So after being away from the track for 260 days, and over 2 years since he’d last won, Kracka resumed with a win! With the expert guidance of Paul Gatt, Red Dazzle, chased the leaders down to score impressively. I screamed the stand down, nearly jumped the balcony and yes, cried my eyes out – again! I just knew my boy had that fire in his belly! And to prove it was no fluke Red Dazzle went on to win 2 weeks later on ANZAC Day, carrying the diggers on his back with a stencil I made saying “Lest We Forget”. This was his most significant win to date, taking his prize money to $52,000. Both of these races were heats of the SA Sprint Series, Red Dazzle qualified for the Final on May 14, at Morphettville for a shot at the prize money of $100,000. In all my years of racing, I have had numerous favourite horses, from our Darwin Cup winner Bellile, to our dearly departed Medal Contender, retired ‘Johnny’ Knoxville and my ol’ warhorse Justify That, but there’s something about the feeling of working with your own horse, their smell, the gleam in their coat, the quiver they give with excitement and the look in their eye when I unclip the lead rope just before they bounce out onto the track. If you could bottle that feeling and sell it, I’d be rich! Richer than owning a Racehorse! But that’s not what it is about, everyone should know the joy and love that these awesome beings bring to your life, I’m just one of the lucky ones. Red Dazzle part owned by Natalie Coomber with Peter Moody, Rose Moody, Nigel Moody, Chris Coomber, Craig Reid, Andrew Doyle. You have to love Nat’s passion and much of what she says here encapsulates the reason most of us own racehorses, that emotional roller coaster that is racehorse ownership.
This month’s successful nomination for Owner of the Month was Sam Scaffidi-Muta for Impulse Diavolo and Beluga Blue, both of whom won at Morphettville Parks on October 10th. Impulse Diavolo is by Myboycharlie from Elvish (Elusive Quality). Trainer by David Jolly, the 4 year old gelding has now won twice from nine starts and placed four times for stakes of $46,000. Since his win has picked up three cheques including in three starts. Lightly raced this gelding shows plenty of promise and it would be no surprise if he achieved more successes for Sam and his fellow owners. Beluga Blue, a 3 year old filly bred and part owned by another member Harry Perks is by Looking at Lucky from Choice of Colours (a Redoutes Choice mare). Her win at Morphettville Parks in the listed Hill Smith Stakes was followed by a game second to Ambience in the Wakeful Stakes (Group 2) at Flemington. Her record at the time of writing was 8 starts for 2 wins, 2 seconds and a third. She appears to be a promising staying filly and again is lightly raced. Beluga Blue is a half-sister to Burgundy Blast and is owned in similar interests. Since then the mare (Choice of Colours) has visited New Approach, Rebel Raider and has been served again by Burgundy Blast’s sire Bernadini. As mentioned both horses are lightly raced and we trust they will continue to provide excitement and success for their owners.
This month’s successful nomination for Owner of the Month was received from Alistair McFarlane who nominated Peter Katelanis for his horses Into the Mist, Miss Adele and Exciting Prospect all winners in September. Alistair wrote I would like to nominate Peter Katelanis as owner of the month for September. Last Wednesday (September 9th) he kicked off when Into the Mist which he bred and races won race 6 at Morphettville Parks by 3 lengths. Saturday (September 12th) on the Morphettville track, Miss Adele named after his lovely daughter and bred by a much better looking bloke, came from last and weaved her way through the field to snatch victory in the Hyland Race Colours Hcp by a short half head. To top it off on that Sunday Exciting Prospect won its second race in Singapore for Peter. Peter has been an enthusiastic and successful punter, owner and now breeder from his teens and now is a major sponsor at the SAJC through his company Medallion Homes. I heartily recommend him to your committee for this recognition. We thank Alistair for the nomination and agree that Peter is a worthy winner of the Owner of the Month award. In fact Alistair’s nomination for Peter was received in mid-September, later in the month Into the Mist saluted again on the Parks track before going on to run second at Caulfield in October. She is by the mighty Redoute’s Choice from an Enosta de Lago mare De Lago Mist who is also the dam of the smart stallion Instinction raced by Peter and now standing at Eliza Park Stud. Peter’s successes continued later in September when his filly Don’t Doubt Mamma won at Caulfield over 1400m. She is by Not a Single Doubt from Coconut Mamma (Fantastic Light) also dam of Peter’s stakes winner Risen from Doubt. Miss Adele who has of course bred by Alistair is by Bel Esprit from Villa Lante (Filante) who is also the dam of Stella Lante and Stravinsky Code. Exciting Prospect is by Distorted Humour from Butters (El Prado). We wish Peter continued success with his racing ventures.
Our nomination for Owner of the month for August is Wayne and Jenny Francis for their winners – Rocket Commander, Zipnotised and Cyclone Thomas. All three horses are trained by Wayne in partnership with Glen Kent (well known horse-breaker and accomplished rodeo rider). The partnership has been had a strong run of success in the last few months from their Finniss Lodge base. Of the three horses perhaps the most promising is Rocket Commander now a 4 year old (Court Command – Pinot Royale by Red Ransom). She has won 2 races and run second 4 times in her last six starts. Her full race record is 20 starts for 5 wins, 4 seconds and 4 thirds and prizemoney of a bit over $120,000. Her most recent effort was a very close second to Okahu Bay in the Gawler Cup, this followed a second at Morphettville and two wins (1 in August) on the Parks track, both over 1400m. The stable told us she was “a tough horse, not overly large but very game and has a big heart. Wasn’t expensive & we wish we had more like her in the stable”. Zipnotised is a six year old mare (Clangalang – Zipnotic by Monolith), she is a home bred, whose grand dam Eastern Charm left two stakes winners for the Francis family Goodwood winner Zip Zip Aray and Zipanese. Her recent record is quite solid having started 10 times this preparation for 2 wins, 2 seconds and a third. Her full record is 31 starts for 3 wins, 4 seconds and 6 thirds and stakes of $48020. Her win in August was over 1509m at Gawler. Cyclone Thomas started his career with David Jolly and has more recently transferred to the Francis Kent Stable – he is part owned by SAROA life member Fred Vella. He is a 5 year old gelding (Dylan Thomas – Concluding by Kenny’s Best Pal) and has won only the once over 1550m in a maiden at Morphettville Park. His record reads 12 starts for 1 win, 3 seconds and a third. He is well related being a half-brother to the four times stakes winner Moment in Time who was raced by other SAROA members in June and Bryan Terry and won almost $600,000 before being retired to stud. Wayne and Jenny have a number of other promising horses in the stable and we wish them all the best for the future and thank them for their continued sponsorship of SAROA.
Below are SAROA’s thoughts on moving the Adelaide Cup to May Adelaide Cup to May
The following document outlines our concerns regarding the shift of barrier trials at Morphettville from the Race-day stalls to the training stalls SAROA Concerns- Trials