3 minute read

Tallyho stays home; Let's Elope target for Annavisto; Tivaci gelding impressive;

Tallyho stays home

Star jumper Tallyho Twinkletoe  was not amongst the nominations for Sunday's Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat, with connections of the Kevin Myers-trained 11-year-old opting against a trip across the Tasman.

Coming off a successful week in Christchurch where he dominated his rivals in both the Koral Steeplechase (4250m) and Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), the relatively quick turnaround to Ballarat was deemed too much.

"It was one of the options, but we just decided against it," part-owner Jo Rathbone said.

"It was a big ask after a race like that. It was a tough race. It was so heavy and pretty taxing on them and it was only a two-week turnaround, so for the horse's sake we decided against it. I'd rather be on the cautious side and take care of him. He's got nothing to prove."

The winner of 15 of his 33 starts, including the rare feat of winning the Grand National Hurdles and Steeples on both sides of the Tasman, Tallyho Twinkletoe is unlikely to race again this preparation.

Australia remains an option next year for the top jumper.

"Hopefully we can get him across next year," Rathbone said. "We just take him as he comes. As the season progresses we decide where we are at."

Let's Elope target for Annavisto

Trainers Mick Price and Micheal Kent Jnr have elected to take a cautious approach with Annavisto with her first-up run at Caulfield on Saturday.

The local trainers were weighing up whether to line her up in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), but have elected to take the easier option of a Benchmark 90 1400m assignment first-up on Saturday.

The four-year-old mare hardly put a foot wrong last preparation, winning three of her five starts, including the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m), and placing in her other two hit-outs, including running third in the Listed Nitschke Stakes (1400m) last start.

She ran sixth in her 800m trial at Cranbourne earlier this month and her trainers are happy with her progress heading into her first hit-out of her spring preparation.

"She is flying that mare," Kent told RSN927.

"She is a big-framed horse that will keep filling out as the better weather comes.

"She jumped out fantastic last Tuesday, we had her going the fastest time of the morning.

"Ben Melham (jockey) was kind enough to come in and have a feel of her (on Tuesday). She worked on the course proper and ran a very sharp last 400m.

"I feel she is a genuine one-two chance in that race versus a very strong Cockram (Gr.3, 1200m) this year.

"Hopefully she has a nice, easy warm-up run and then we are aiming to get her towards a Let's Elope (Gr.2, 1400m)."

Bred by Greg Tomlinson, who remains in the ownership, Annavisto is by Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man out of the Tavistock mare, Avisto, a multiple stakes winner.

Tivaci gelding impressive

Young Waikato Stud stallion Tivaci continued on his upward spiral when his son Celevacci struck again at Belmont in Perth on Wednesday, this time over 1700m.

The three-year-old had made a winning debut on the course earlier this month and he was untroubled to keep his unbeaten record intact for trainer Adam Durrant.

Celevacci started a short-priced favourite and he had easily justified his support with rider Clint Johnston-Porter taking him straight to the front and they sailed home untouched to score by two-and-three quarter lengths.

In his brief career, he has also showed he is no one trick pony with his consecutive victories posted on wet and dry ground.

"He has showed good potential," Durrant said.

"He fell over the line first-up on the heavy track but I liked the way he won today, he was nice and strong. He is going to be a better horse with a bum to follow and something to chase.

"He is big and raw. I like the way he handles pressure and I like the way he finished off.

"He is a beautiful big strapping horse and you'd like to think he'd keep improving as he gets over further."

Celevacci, who was Tivaci's first winner, is out of the unraced Savabeel mare Celebrate, who hails from the famed Waikato Stud family of the dual Group One winner and Champion sire O'Reilly.

He was initially purchased off the gavelhouse.com online platform as a weanling for $14,000 by Western Australian owner Peter Caporn.

Celevacci was subsequently offered through the Western Breeders Alliance's draft at the Perth Sale where he was purchased by part-owner Durrant for A$60,000.