Nicole Irwin joins Gary Newton on At The barriers to talk about her Owner of the Month win with Vexatious Dancer and her experiences with racing on Kangaroo Island Click here
The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winner for November is Harry Perks with Goldrush Guru. Harry shared this with us: I am a classic case of the old adage that it has taken me almost 50 years of racing & breeding to be an overnight success. Goldrush Guru’s story started in 1982 when I purchased the in-foal broodmare Belubula 1975 by Folkestone (USA) from Leloch (NZ). Belubula won 3 races at 1900m & 2000m in Sydney and was Gr 3 placed in the AJC Surround S (Gr3). In 1987 my partners and I purchased the stallion Don’t Say Halo (USA) to stand at our 100-acre Macclesfield property Toorak Park. Mated with Don’t Say Halo (USA) Belubula produced the filly Proud Halo in 1987 who we raced. Proud Halo won 4 races from 1200m to 2000m inclding 3 in Adelaide from only 24 starts. She became a wonderful broodmare for my partners and I and produced 6 winners (2 Group winners and 2 Group Placed winners) including Australia’s Champion 3yo 1997-98 in Gold Guru (by Geiger Counter). Gold Guru raced against Champions and won 8 races incl the Australian Derby (Gr1), (Tie The Knot was second), STC Ranvet S (Gr1) defeating Might & Power (NZ) and the MVRC AAMI Vase (Gr2) on Cox Plate day in faster time than the Cox Plate over the same distance (which was won by Dane Ripper). If only? He is the best horse I have bred & raced up till now. Proud Halo when served in 2002 by the Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) produced the filly, Glory Guru. She was unraced but is now the dam of 8 winners to date incl Gamblin’ Guru (Gr3) and in 2014 she produced the filly Glam Guru by Medaglia D’Oro (USA). She is a great looking mare, hence her name and had good ability winning 2 races in a short career and beaten a bob of the head in the VRC Wakeful Stakes (Gr2) by Luvaluva. At Stud, Glam Guru lost her first foal, a colt by American Pharoah (USA). Returning to him the next year in 2021 she produced a magnificent bay colt by the Kentucky Derby winner. (American Pharoah in fact won the US triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup Classic all in 2015 and his record stands at 11 starts for 9 wins and a second. It really comes as no surprise that he has been able to sire a quality stayer and he is also the sire of the brilliant but ill-fated Riff Rocket) That colt is now Goldrush Guru. His bloodlines are bursting with stamina and winning the Victorian Derby with him in such a dominant way was a fantastic thrill and great achievement by all involved. Having bred 2 previous Victorian Derby winners in Warning (by Declaration of War) who I sold as a yearling and Rebel Raider (by Reset) who I bred and raced I think maybe Gold Rush Guru with his handsome looks and huge heart lung capacity might be the best of them yet. We have much to look forward to and can only dream. Harry has done most of my breeding analysis for me, with the family tree for Goldrush Guru laid out for us back to his foundation mare Belubula. Goldrush Guru’s record sits at 8 starts for 4 wins, 2 seconds and a third and earnings of a touch over $1.5 million. Rebel Raider went on to have a very successful stud career and one imagines that Goldrush Guru may have that in store for him after he completes his racing career. We congratulate Harry for bringing another Victoria Derby trophy back to South Australia. As an aside, Don’t Say Halo, sired 24 stakes-winners of 42 stakes races around Australia, a great selection by Harry and his partners.
The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winners for October are Rachel and David Cunningham with Run On. Trainer Paula Trenwith sent us this nomination. I nominate Dave and Rachel Cunningham for Owner of the month in October with Run On. Run On won 2 races at Balaklava in October and has now won 7 races in total for Rachel and Dave. Run On was purchased through the Inglis online auction in April 2021 and was the second horse Rachel and Dave had bought as they were new to the sport of racing. We travelled him to Darwin to have a winter campaign along with 4 other horses. He was luckless up there, running well but not winning. He also had a start in Alice Springs on the way home that year. Run On didn’t win his first race for the Cunninghams until Kangaroo Island in January 2022 where he was one of the winners in my first ever treble as a trainer. He was diagnosed with a condition called PODS (Palmar/plantar osteochondral disease) and it was recommended that we spell him for 6 months. We took that advice and since returning he hasn’t looked back. His record since Jan 1st this year is 16 starts for 4 wins 2 seconds and 2 thirds. Rachel and Dave now own or have shares in 20+ horses all over Australia and have definitely been bitten by the racing bug! (It happens doesn’t it, you owners out there!) They proudly sponsor the Arthur Daw Memorial Trainers Challenge during the Kangaroo Island racing carnival and it is named in memory of Rachel’s Grandfather. I can’t thank them enough for all the wonderful trust, support and friendship over the past few years and looking forward to many more winners to come! I think they would be well deserved owners of the month 🙂 We obviously thought so too Paula! Run On started his career in the Peter and Paul Snowden stable where he won a race and placed a number of times, racing under the name of Yulong Stride He then transferred to Toby and Trent Edmonds and raced in Queensland where he won another race before being bought for Paula’s stable. He has now won nine races from 69 starts with seven seconds and eight thirds and total stakes earnings of just shy of $175,000 He was bred in New Zealand and is by Savabeel out of a Fast ‘N’ Famous mare Youtoofast a winner of three races. The dam has left amongst others Molto Veloce (by Pins) a four time winner in New Zealand, her full brother Screaming Eagle a two time winner also in New Zealand and three time Per Incanto winner, Hasstobefast. The Granddam is the unraced O’Reilly mare You Too whose best progeny was the Savabeel mare Savette who won twice and is now at stud. Congratulations to Rachel and David
Since its inception, our Owner of the Month Award has been known simply as the SAROA Owner of the Month. Over the years, we’ve acknowledged the support of our various sponsors, but the award name has remained unchanged. Recently, Terry Hann from Atkins Photography approached us with a thoughtful suggestion for enhancing the prize. He offered to create a personalized bottle of wine featuring a photo of the race winner. After discussing this idea with our other sponsor, Magic Millions, we are excited to announce the award’s new name: The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month. The revamped award will continue to include the $200 voucher from Magic Millions, redeemable at the Glenelg BBQ Inn. In addition, the winner will now receive a personalized bottle of wine valued at $95 from Atkins Photography. Below is a preview of the label for our first winner.
John Kelton showcased his expertise in punting and form analysis at the recent SAROA end-of-year event, captivating attendees with his journey and insights into the racing world. Fresh off the plane from Melbourne, where he had been filming GetOn SA, John shared stories of his early days in racing. Inspired by his grandfather, he immersed himself in the sport, accompanying him to trackwork and race meetings across South Australia. Despite starting his career as an engineer, John’s passion for racing led him to the Northern Territory, where he worked as an analyst for All Sports. Eventually, he returned to South Australia to pursue a career focused on the punt. At the gathering, John provided a rare look into his family-built database and the meticulous process he follows to gather intelligence from various sources. This data, combined with his unmatched attention to detail, enables him to frame markets and assess runners’ chances with remarkable accuracy. It’s no surprise that John is regarded as one of Australia’s premier form analysts and tipsters. SAROA members were grateful for the time he generously shared, and with his lessons in mind, they’ll no doubt be looking to land a few extra winners in the weeks ahead. 60 seconds with ‘Kelts’ 1. Favourite horse (that you don’t own): Winx 2. Which horse would you like a share in? Via Sistina 3. Jockey to ride for your life? Matthew Neilsen 4. Best track to punt? Morphettville (outer) 5. What track haunts you as a punter? Mornington 6. What horse haunts you as a punter? Redzel 7. Which track do you miss more, Cheltenham or Victoria Park? Cheltenham 8. How valuable is trained on track in SA provincials? Very valuable at Strathalbyn and Oakbank but less so the others. 9. Superstitions? None 10. Favourite Group 1 race? The Goodwood 11. A race meeting worldwide you’d like to go to? A big UK jumps carnival 12. SA apprentices on the rise? Alan Lai & Brooke King 13. Favourite gear change? Blinkers off 14. Black Caviar or Winx? Winx
Our Owner of the Month award winner for September is Nicole Irwin for Call Me Vexatious. Her husband David sent us this nomination I would like to nominate Nicole Irwin as owner of the month with her/our horse Call me Vexatious The home bred gelding by America has always been consistent but in September he shone with 2 wins and a second in city – one win by 5.5 lenghts. He is a tough individual and a true example of an honest SA bred horse Although he can be a handful at the races and has some quirky attributes, we believe this only makes him a more honest racehorse We look forward to heading to a few more Racing Rewards races and the Skybeau series in the Spring At the time of writing Call Me Vexatious’ record stood at 32 starts for 6 wins 8 seconds and 3 thirds for earnings of almost $240,000 which includes Racing Rewards bonuses to the tune of $28,700 and hopefully more to come. Call Me Vexatious is a home bred by the beautifully bred but ultimately ill-fated stallion America (by Snitzel out of Alinghi) who has left one stakes winner to date in Lingani. The dam of our winner is the Reset mare Circadian who placed twice during her career and left only one other progeny Vexatious Boy (by Legion) who was able to win once. Cleverly name Circadian is out the Rhythm mare Sense of Rhythm, who raced only once. None of her progeny have been outstanding. On the other hand, the third dame Fearless Dancer (by Danzatore) who during her time in New Zealand produced a stakes winner in Dipping (by Straight Strike) who won the listed STC Triscay Stakes. Another of her progeny is the Lord Ballina mare Sazende who produced several nice horses for fellow SAROA member Lynette Day including Wotzitworth (by Face Value) and See Me Rollin (by Good Journey). Call Me Vexatious is one of the stars of the Irwin stable and we wish them luck with him, the other Vexatiouses and the rest of their stable.
SAROA President Allie Umoff and I attended the opening of the stunning new Apprentice Academy at Somerton Park. Congratulations to all involved with Racing SA in creating this state of the art set up.
Listen to James Cleveland with Gary on the At The Barriers podcast click here
Our friends at The Highway have two sports lunches coming up in September that could be of interest to SAROA members. Thursday September 5th – Peter Moody of Black Caviar fame – for details click here September 13th AFL Hall of Fame Inductee Chris McDermott for details click here
