The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winner for January is Jo Eltringham with Cork Harbour joins Gary Newton on the At The Barriers podcast – listen here

The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winner for February is Sam Scaffidi-Muta part owner of Sabaj. We spoke to Sam about his time in racing. Sam has bred and raced horses for many years tasting early success with three times black type winner Let Him Ride (by Mustin Lake). Other good performers Sam has been involved with over the years include Gamblin Guru (by New Approach) another three-time black type winner and Follow The Ride (by Don’t Say Halo) who won an SAJC Christmas Handicap. Several of Sam’s horses have been owned in partnership with Harry Perks and most have been bred on the limestone pastures of Mill Park Stud. Indeed, Sam bred stakes winner and promising stallion Peltzer (by So You Think). Currently Sam has around fifteen mares at stud including Sabaj’s dam Bouzy Sabaj is a three-year-old gelding by Manhattan Rain from the Uncle Mo mare Bouzy, at the time of writing he has won three and placed second in his four starts earning  a touch over $110,000. He his trained by Richard and Chantelle Jolly with Richard having won on Let Him Ride back in his riding days. Bouzy was unraced and has also produced the handy mare Tipsy Vixen who is by Foxwedge and is also raced by Sam. Tipsy Vixen has won three from 17 and just shy of $150,000. Sam sent Bouzy to Peltzer and that mating has produced the yet to race Bred ‘Em All, she has returned twice more to Peltzer. The granddam is Champagne Jane (by Starcraft) she was very lightly raced for one win but has left Pimm’s Party (by Street Boss) winner of three, and Legless Lady (by Foxwedge) another three-time winner amongst others. The third dam Victory Cry (by General Nediym) is the dam of listed winner Guard Of Honour (by Northern Meteor) and Run Fox Run (by Foxwedge) winner in South Africa. Like most breeders Sam is still searching for that elusive Group I winner, here’s hoping that Sabaj can take him some way down that path.

The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month SA Owner of the Month for December Dennis Gardiner chats with Gary Newton on the At The Barriers podcast. Listen here

The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winner for January is Jo Eltringham with Cork Harbour. Jo share her racing story with us: My journey with Dean Saxon and the Stormy Park stable started 5 years ago, before I knew that COVID was going to step in and thwart any attempts to actually watch my own horses run for the best part of two years! But it’s a decision I’ll never regret as the stable offered everything I was looking for and prioritising as an owner, kept us fully up to date with excellent communications during that difficult period (as they still do now), and I feel lucky to have started my ownership journey the way I have with this crew. In mid 2022, we acquired Cork Harbour as a 3 year old, having commenced his racing career in Sydney. (Where he had 4 starts with Chris Waller for a maiden win)  Knowing Snitzel’s can be late maturing, we were ready to wait, but he did surprise us all with a win early in his 4 year old season – so we knew the talent was there to work with. As was a lack of luck, with Corky being the expert at consistently drawing the worst barriers possible.  It’s his special talent to date, but he makes up for it by leaving the barriers like an absolute rocket – it’s a joy to watch him fly out as we know he is feeling good and loving his racing. It was however a lean 5 year old season as an owner, while he did some growing and maturing, and Dean patiently went about building him up, tweaking the gear and generally working out how to get the best from him.  Ben (Price) and Alana (Livesey) have also been essential during this period, providing feedback and working with the team to get the best results. And with two wins so far this summer, plus him rarely placing outside the top 4, it’s certainly done the trick – he is our stable stalwart now! I am very much looking forward to seeing what the rest of summer and early autumn brings, both for Corky and for the rest of the Stormy Park family – which I truly love being a part of.  And I value being able to enjoy doing this, with the knowledge that when the time comes for him to stop racing, hopefully not for a long time yet, we’ll also be supporting Racing SA’s ‘whole of life commitment’ as Corky moves onto his next career. Cork Harbour by Snitzel out of a Pins mare Maritimo has a career record of 4 wins, 2 seconds and three thirds from 56 starts and earnings of just shy of $142,000. His wins have all been over sprint distances with the best being a win at Morphettville. His sire, Snitzel, has been a wonder at stud producing at the time of writing 148 stakes winners of 282 Black type races. His dam, Maritimo raced 4 times in New Zealand for 1 win at listed level over 1400 m. As well as Corky she has produced Molly Nails (by Tavistock) winner of 5 races and over $232,000 and three other fillies who are either lightly raced or yet to race. She has unfortunately deceased. The grand dam Miracle Miss (by O’Reilly) also produced Shirley’s Secret (by No Excuse Needed) in turn dam of Spot On Time (by Time Test) who has won 4 from nine starts. The third dam Mandate (by Sound Reason) produced the three time New Zealand Stakes winner Dating (by O’Rielly) a full sister to Miracle Miss. We love to see owners who persist with their horses and get as much enjoyment from them as Jo does. We wish her and the Saxon stable the very best going forward.

Listen to Alana and Gary here

 The SAROA ‘Above and Beyond’ Award Apprentice Award for 2024 went to Alana Livesey. SAROA members were asked to nominate apprentices for this award against the following criteria Putting in extra work with a horse or horses who need that to perform theirbest or for their well-being; Good communication with owners; Demonstrating a commitment to their profession despite setbacks orchallenges; Demonstrating a commitment to equine welfare; Demonstrating leadership and/or sportsmanship; and/or Any other particular circumstances that the nominator considers relevant tothe nomination. SAROA received five nominations for the award this year with Alana receiving all five. She was praised for her excellent communication with owners and her work ethic and professionalism. A worthy winner of our award, she also was recognised as Runner Up to the Dux of the Academy. Congratulations Alana on these well deserved accolades.

The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winner for December is Dennis Gardiner with Harley’N’Rose. Dennis told us: Harlyn N Rose is a 4 year old gelding, purchased in March22 at the Magic Millions in Adelaide by Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle from Summerset Park stud. He has had success with 2 wins in 19 starts with a record 2-1-5 with winnings of $146000. His first win was on the 21st January 2023 at Gawler ridden by Lachlan Neindorf in the $55000 2 year old Plate. The second win came in the Happy Birthday Brendan Plate on the 8th December 24 at Murray Bridge ridden by Alana Livesey. Also as a 2 year old he ran 3rd in the Breeders Stakes and 3rd in South Australian. Sires Produce both Group 3 races Harley had time off after this to have surgery on both knees to remove bone chips, his return to racing with his recent win was much more creditable. His journey has had its ups and downs but we all hope he can go on to bigger and better things.  Harley was bred by former SAROA treasurer Rob McBryde and is by Holler out of the Hawk Wing mare Zaraya Rose. The mare won twice up to 2100 m and has left several talented progeny including Saccharo (by Magnus) who has won over $430,000 and eleven races. He raced successfully in Melbourne before being sold to the Phillip Cole stable and going on to win good races in Darwin and Alice Springs and picking up both the Birdsville and Bedourie Cups along the way. The promising, if somewhat enigmatic Knightstown (by Valentia) is also out of Zaraya Rose, he has won three races and run a second and five thirds and earnt just over of $240,000 which includes a very healthy $80,000 in Racing Rewards bonuses. He has now retired The granddam Summer Magic (by Eagling) has produced several handy gallopers including Surmato (by Belloto) and Brewski (by Bel Espirt)   Harley has picked up over $40,000 in Racing Rewards Bonuses along the way and will hopefully bring more good fortune to Dennis and his other connections.

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

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.