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Thexton Racing News.
THEXTON RACING'S WONDERFUL LONG WEEKEND
7 races , 3 wins and 2 thirds. Connections of the stable have had a great weekend. It commenced with Zedzed finding form with a fast finishing third for new stable apprentice Matthew Chadwick. Matthew has only been race day riding for 3 weeks and Maryann elected to support him by sending Zedzed and Grand Corso to Beaudesert for him to ride. Zedzed got back out of his ground but Matthew guided him home strongly to be narrowly beaten. Our next runner Grand Corso romped home under Matthew's steerage to win his Class 3 by a comfortable Margin, Matthew also rode a 2nd for trainer Brian Gentle, his only other ride.
Next up was Za Magic , a first starter by Magic Albert and purchsed by Maryann as a weanling for connections. Despite lack of race day experience , this good looking chestnut son of Zab Watch (Zabeel) accelorated stronlgy in the straight to win the Magic Millions $100,000 2yo plate defeating the proven Power of George and Hyde Park.
Minutes later , Omnitrader headed to the barrier for his final race in the Group 1 $1,000,000 Stradbroke Handicap. It was a very sad but exciting occassion and many people felt the same way. He ran a career best performance being beaten 2lengths by Mr. Baritone and officially placing 7th ahead of Casino Prince. The question was asked several times would you retire him on such a strong performance, however connections are adamant that he retire given the weight penalties he will receive.
Saturday was capped off by an impressive win in the last at the Gold Coast by My First Affair who romped home for young Mitchell Spears. Connections were thrilled and she will head to metropolitan meetings shortly.
Monday saw Dane Rhythm run a solid 3rd at Eagle Farm on Brisbane Cup day in the $100,000 2yo race. He has had 2 wins and a third from 4 starts in his 2yo career and has won nearly $90,000 in stakes. He is going to the spelling paddock and will return a very competitve 3yo.
Omnitrader set to run his his last race next sat in the Group 1 Stradbroke.
It will be a bitter sweet day for Maryann and the Nelmes family who have decided to retire their gallant war horse , Omnitrader , win lose or draw on Saturday. Omnitrader earned his way into the prestigous Group 1 Stradbroke through a string of consistent wins while climbing through the weights. While this earned him a start in the big one , he is now left to lumber 60kg plus in Saturday Metropolitan races. Connections agreed that the rising 10yo should not be asked to carry such imposts , having earned in excess of $500,000 in 27 career wins to date. While expectations of a win Saturday are more of a dream ending , there will be no disgrace for the old boy , having earned the right to bow out gracefully in a Group 1 race. Not to say he cannot win , odds have tumbled in the last 48 hours as he is a mudlark , having had 8 starts on a heavy track for 4 wins and 4 places! Bring it on , rain dance every day! The old boy has been in Maryann's care since she purchased him for $120,000 at the Sydney Easyer Sales in 2000. He has been part of her team since she commenced her career and was her first Australian winner, and also her 100th Queensland winner a couple of years ago! The future holds many options for Omnitrader , who has been keenly pursued by race clubs and showjumping stables. No matter what , Omnitrader (aka Snippy) has a permenent 5 star home at the Nelmes family's boutique spelling farm Nelmes Lodge. While Nelmes Lodge has been home to dozens of stakes winners including Takeover Target , Duelled, Bush Honey , Pentathon, Patezza , Activation , Royal Ascher Warriori Trader,Tornado Alley etc, Omnitrader will hold a special place at Nelmes. Not many horses win 27 races. That's why Nelmes Lodge has named its entertainment area "The Omnitrader Bar". He has given so much pleasure to so many people Australia wide. We will all miss him.
Raceahorse.com are on track for thier first crack at Stakes win with the Raceahorse.com owned horse Rightson flying. After smashing the Ipswich track record for 1350m , he then backed up next weekend in town on prestigous Doomben 10,000 day impressing Maryann with a barnstorming run from behind to narrowly miss Sir Xaar by 1/2 head. Rightson will now contest the listed Eyeliner Stakes at Ipswich. His times in both 1350m races have been excellent times giving connections a genuine chance at landing a listed win in the first few weeks of racing with Raceahorse.com
Another Big week for the Thexton Stable.
Rightson smashes the track record at Ipswitch running the 1350 in 1-18.70.
Nomads is off to stud on a winning note after winning at the Gold Coast by a solid length.
2yo Harold ran a gallant second given big weight turnaround and will be given his opportunity in town.
Five Runners for 2 wins , a second and third showng the consistancy that keeps the strike rate of Thexton Racing up there at the top.
Big week for the Thexton Stable.
Aladdin's Lion The speedy Aladdin's Lion proved to strong over 1040m at Doomben with Jim Byrne in the saddle. Winning by 1.5 lengths.
Harold Smart 2yo Harold won over 1350 at only his second race start, picking up the winners cheque and the QTIS bonus. Well ridden by our Apprentice Luke Dittman, congratulations Luke.
Encosta Tszyu Exciting Encosta de Lago colt Encosta Tszyu (pictured above) toyed with his opposition at the Sunshine Coast and is on his way to Derby. Ridden by Daniel Griffin and winning by close on 4 lengths.
My First Affair and Nomads both finished a close second at Ipswitch.
Dane gets into the Rhythm of winning
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Dane Rhythm's connections enjoy another win (Noel Pascoe photo) |
The Maryann Thexton-trained Dane Rhythm made it two from two after following up his maiden win at Ipswich with the Superior Pak QTIS 2YO Handicap 1200m at City Pacific Doomben on Saturday, March 29.
Dane Rhythm (G2 King of Danes-Princess Amalie USA) got a great start and went straight to the lead. He dropped back but started up again in the straight to come after them on the outside. He won by a length ridden by apprentice jockey Adrian Coome.
It was a photo finish between second and third with Zahite (Ben Looker) taking second by a nose ahead of Lifebuoy (Tony Pattillo).
Thexton was very happy with Coome's ride. “The horse jumped well, he let him settle and he travelled. I got a little bit worried when Lunar Chimes came up outside him and pocketed him in. I thought ‘oh we're in trouble here' but he got out really well and found that extra gear he's got, even though it was a bit late in the run, he certainly hit the line nice and strong. It was very encouraging to see him win like that,” she said.
“I had left it up to Adrian to a degree, I wanted him on the pace or just tucked in behind it and Adrian rode a terrific race so I'm happy that he put him where he did. If it had gotten much further back I think we might have been in a spot of bother but he rode a good race and kept the horse in a position where he could win from. I was very happy.”
The gelding has earned $76,000 for connections from his two starts including $28,000 in QTIS bonuses.
“He was bought in the Magic Millions sale. He's a really smart type of horse, he's not a big horse, but he's very neat. You'd almost call him cute. He wasn't an expensive horse, I think he was around the $50,000 mark, that's a lot of money in anyone's terms but he wasn't sort of a top end purchase. Just a very neat correct style of horse and looked a runner. He's a lovely horse.”
“When he won at Ipswich his times were really credible and he had to work hard to maintain the lead and then he kicked away at the end. So we've always known that he's something a bit special I think.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – March 31