3 minute read
HOLDER’S BIG DAY
Jason Holder had a day to remember at Morphettville on Derby Day in May winning five of the nine races on the program.
Holder claimed three winners in combination with Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas, including two Stakes victories with Air Assault in the SA Sires Produce Stakes and his last feature race in combination with his old boss when Party Princess scored a brilliant win in the Adelaide Guineas.
It was a Carnival of what could have been for Holder, narrowly beaten aboard local sprinting mare Another Award in both the Group 1 Sangster Stakes and Goodwood.
USUAL COUNTRY GLORY
Former Kiwi galloper Not Usual Glorious continued his success on Australian soil across the 2022-23 season.
Following on from last season, trainer Travis Doudle was again forced to look interstate for the soft tracks with the middle distance performer winning a Benalla Cup, Terang Cup and Swan Hill Cup, running second in the Warrnambool Cup and being placed in the Onkaparinga Cup at Oakbank somewhere in the middle.
It's set up an exciting spring for the galloper who is a finalist for the Country Racing Victoria Horse of the Year Award and guaranteed starter in a $500,000 feature at Caulfield in the spring restricted to country cup performed horses.
DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
Chris Bieg's talented mare Diamonds had a big end to 2022 winning the City Of Marion Stakes in November and Christmas Handicap at Morphettville in December with Teagan Voorham in the saddle.
It set up a trip to the Gold Coast for connections and while she struggled to regain her brilliant form during the Adelaide Racing Carnival, connections struck pay day when she was sold for $560,000 at the Magic Millions Online Auction in June.
NEXT GEN IN SADDLE
South Australia's apprentice riding ranks are in good shape following a host of highlights last season.
Ben Price and Alana Livesey both landing riding trebles at Morphettville on the same day in July, while Rochelle Milnes, touted as the next big things from SA, rode no short of five winners at Ceduna in January.
Livesey finishing fourth on the South Australian Jockey Premiership with 65 wins, two in front of Price, who rode more than half (32) winners at city level last season.
HASTA LA VISTA
We can't wait to see what talented South East stayer Hasta La War can produce during the upcoming spring.
There was no more popular Morphettville win last season then when the Sue Murphy trained galloper regained winning form in the Listed Port Adelaide Cup in April, his eighth win and amazingly all coming with Teagan Voorham in the saddle.
The horse, who was on the verge of a Melbourne Cup start in 2021 before succumbing to injury, will again go down that path this year after he followed his Port Cup win with a brave third behind Lunar Flare and White Marlin in the $500,000 Listed Andrew Ramsden at Flemington.
