Cyberhorse Virtual Formguide

War Ends Earns A Trip To Queensland

2010-03-17T06:45:42Z

Promising three-year-old War Ends is likely to race at the Queensland winter carnival after breaking through for his first win at his third start at Sandown on Wednesday.

The Redoute's Choice colt is raced by a group of six including New Zealand-based syndicator Rob McAnulty and the colt's breeder Bob Scarborough.

He had finished runner-up to subsequent Sandown winner Amaethon in a Ballarat maiden (1000m) and to the smart Launay over 1200m at Caulfield, both last month.

Backed from $2 to start $1.75 favourite in the $75,000 High Caste Hcp (1400m) on Wednesday, a race transferred from the Flemington meeting last Saturday to make room for the Australian Cup and Australian Guineas, he put up an impressive performance.

After racing outside the leader Cross Street ($4.60), War Ends, ridden by Michael Rodd, was left two lengths behind when Cross Street kicked strongly at the top of the straight.

But he picked up that Jeune colt quickly and went on to score by 1-3/4 lengths from Cross Street with Tee Emar ($18) 2-3/4 lengths away third.

"We've always known he's one of our better three-year-olds. We might give him a bit of a rest now and he might turn up at the Queensland carnival," Kavanagh said.

"The penny hasn't quite dropped with him. He's still a work in progress, the other horse dropped him off but he knuckled down and chased and got the job done.

"He's an interesting horse. He's got a fair way to go but once he learns to put it all together he'll be a pretty serious horse I reckon."

Embattled jockey Danny Nikolic, fined $5,000 for refusing a stewards' directive to hand over his mobile phone to them for the purposes of an inquiry, was again on the receiving end of a stewards' decision going against him at the Lakeside meeting.

Nikolic was first past the post by a short head on the Michael Templeton-trained Family Bliss ($3.60) in the Lavendo Hcp (3100m).

However Luke Currie, rider of the Robbie Griffiths-trained Mr Riggs ($2.15 fav), fired in a protest alleging interference in the straight.

Racing Victoria stewards, chaired by Mark Hill, ruled that Family Bliss interfered with the runner-up when he shifted out in the straight and that it had cost Mr Riggs the race so the objection was upheld.

Nikolic was to meet with stewards - now in possession of his phone contacts after the jockey handed over his phone to them on Tuesday - after the Sandown meeting to continue an inquiry into 10 of his losing rides which were laid to lose by professional punter Neville Clements.

Pictures: Sportpix

Zipping: Group One Champion

2010-03-13T05:43:44Z

Through seven years of racing, forty starts and whilst accruing almost three million in prizemoney Zipping had failed to do one thing - win a Group One.

Today that changed.

Many racegoers have considered Zipping a champion for a long time but after winning the $1,000,000 Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) that status has been confirmed.

Zipping ($5,$6) was trapped out on a limb throughout with cover his only respite and, as is customary with the eight-year-old, when they sprinted he was left flat footed with other runners such as Littorio storming past him 600m from home.

But Zipping's biggest asset is his courage and he never gave up slowly clawing his way back to the front before withstanding a strong finish from the Cummings trained Sirmione ($7,$7.50) who clearly headed Zipping 100m out but who was shaded by the narrowest of margins when it mattered.

The run of Moatize ($31) was eye-catching with the Cummings Cups hope flying from last at the 400m mark to go down just over a length finishing third.

Nick Williams, the face of Macedon Lodge, and one of racing's most sucessful families embraced tearful staff after the race highlighting how much not just the win, but the horse, meant for the team.

"Well he is a tough horse isn't he," chuffed Williams after the win.

"I was sure Sirmione had him but he wouldn't get beaten."

In his usual style Williams praised the whole Macedon team and gave credit to the individuals closely involved with the horse.

"It's terrific day for the whole Macedon team," said Williams.

"Particularly two people though, Rodney Miller and Jason Chandler, who have looked after this horse forever, I can't speak highly enough for what they have done for this horse," he added.

Nicholas Hall, Llyod Williams godson, made the most of a difficult position throughout bringing up his second Group One for the Williams team.

"Nick has now won four Group One races and two of those for us which is great," said Williams.

Hall observed the eight-year-olds toughness noting that he was clearly headed in the straight.

"He is such a tough horse," said Hall.

"Sirmione headed us in the straight and he just toughed it out and fought back."

Racing in career best form Williams is predicting Zipping will give a bold showing in the Group 1 Weight-For-Age BMW over 2400m.

"He will be hard to beat in the BMW," he said.

A son of Danehill, Zipping was bred by Swettenham Stud in Victoria and since beginning his racing career in 2004 has now won in excess of $3.2 million.

Photos by Fiona Tomlin.