Simply Gorgeous

Gorgeous Amelia has broken her maiden status at only her second race start with a dominant win in the Maiden Plate over 1080m at Canberra. The 3yo Stratum filly backed up her solid debut performance two weeks earlier over the same course and distance, where she ran a very creditable third.

With the claim for apprentice jockey Jason Collins, Gorgeous Amelia came into this event with the feather weight of 52kg on her back. The tactics were to make use of this advantage, and starting from the outside barrier in the 12 horse field, Gorgeous Amelia was fired out of the gates to sit at the quarters of early leader, Thunderali. The two horses matched motors for a few hundred metres with Collins sitting very quietly on the filly. At the 300m mark Collins then decided to get serious on Gorgeous Amelia, and she quickly dropped off Thunderali Chasing hard down the outside, Arty's Noverre then loomed as a possible danger halfway down the home straight, but he was never really any threat, as Gorgeous Amelia maintained a margin of a few lengths on her rival at all times. In the end the Stratum filly was eased down to win by two lengths.

It's always encouraging when a 3yo can take on the older horses and win, particularly an early season 3yo filly. Both of Gorgeous Amelia's career runs have been under these conditions and she has performed very well on both occasions. Her next challenge now will be to keep running well in higher grade races. However, on the evidence of her first two performances she looks more than capable of doing this, and with any sort of natural improvement, the future looks very bright.

Zassi Too Flashy

Aided by a superb Willie Pearson ride, Zassi has proven too nippy for her rivals in the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1200m at Cowra. Earlier in the day stablemate Poetic Justice, returning first up since March, put in a solid effort to run second and should take improvement from the run.

Generally a front-running type of horse, jockey Willie Pearson certainly had no intention of changing tactics with Zassi on this occasion, firing her out of the barriers and putting her in a prominent position along the rails. One of her main rivals in the event, Imbolc, was then looking to get to the front and dictate, but Pearson would have nothing of it. Without excerpting too much energy he allowed Zassi to stride out along the rails, always sitting three-quarters of a length behind Imbolc and not allowing him to cross and get to the rails. Although her first visit to the tricky circuit, Zassi was handling the conditions with aplomb, and looked extremely comfortable throughout the event. It was obvious a long way from home that she was going to take a power of beating and that became even more evident when Pearson released the brakes on Zassi and asked her for the supreme effort. Still sticking to the rails like glue she cornered magnificently and established a little break on her rivals early in the home straight. That would prove decisive. As others were trying to get clear galloping room, Zassi was off and gone, and under the urgings of Pearson, she fought off all late challenges to win by just under a length.

If ever a track was made to suit a horse, then Cowra would have been made for Zassi. The course favours horses that can get on the pace and handle the tight and tricky turns, and Zassi certainly had no trouble in doing that on this occasion. It takes her overall career prizemoney earnings over the $80,000 mark, with six wins from 25 starts. A very decent strike rate, and on the evidence of this latest effort, it won't be the last time she's adding to this winning record.

Outstanding Performance by Onthelookout

Onthelookout has produced a career best performance in taking out the Benchmark 85 Handicap over 1200m at Warwick Farm. In what was a very strong form race on Warwick Stakes Day, Onthelookout defeated rising star Tromso, with New Day Rising third, the half brother of multiple Group winner, Swift Alliance.

Jumping away from a wide barrier, apprentice jockey Tommy Berry didn't have much luck early on, and was forced to sit three wide and midfield throughout the run. Despite things not going entirely to plan, Berry didn't panic on the 5yo Beautiful Crown gelding, just making sure that he kept the horse travelling comfortably and in a position to strike at the business end. On the home turn, Onthelookout then became momentarily involved in a bumping duel with a rival runner, before balancing up and attacking the line with vigour. At the 200m mark he loomed large and appeared to have his rivals covered, but against this class of horse a race is never over. Tromso started to emerge out of the pack on the inside and New Day Rising wouldn't go away on the outside. In a driving finish Onthelookout and Tromso hit the line together, and it took the judge some time to separate them. Thankfully for Onthelookout, he'd managed to hold off the odds on favourite by the barest of margins, with New Day Rising finishing about a length and a half behind in third place.

In the end it proved to be a smart choice of jockey by the Joseph and Jones stable, with Berry's claim giving him a 5.5kg advantage over Tromso. This proved to be crucial in deciding the race. That's not to take anything away from Onthelookout though, who didn't have the easiest of runs and still managed to charge to the line. He is a very smart horse himself, as demonstrated by his 20 career starts, where he has now recorded four wins, ten placings, and nearly $200,000 in prizemoney.

Thereheiz First Winner for New Partnership

Thereheiz has provided the Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones training partnership with their first winner, by storming home in the Benchmark 64 Handicap over 1080m at Canberra. It's fitting that their first winner is at Canberra, given the success Barbara has had on her home track over several seasons. It's also fitting that the first winner is Thereheiz. The partnership had originally planned to commence on 1 July, however paperwork delayed the commencement date of their partnership by a week. Thereheiz was a convincing winner at Wagga on 2 July and would have provided the partnership with their first winner then, but keen to be the pin up horse, he's backed up to win again a few weeks later.

Ridden by Brendan Ward, Thereheiz got out smartly and could well have challenged for the early lead, however Ward elected to take a sit on the Zariz gelding on this occasion. Thereheiz had led at his previous start at Canberra and was run down in the shadows of the post as a short priced favourite. There was to be no such misfortune on this occasion though as Ward gave Thereheiz the gun run in third position, one out and one back. On the point of the home turn he then ominously peeled out around heels and set about finding the line. Given a clear run and plenty of galloping room, he accelerated quickly to strike the front halfway down the home straight. Those behind him looked like potential dangers for a couple of strides, but Thereheiz was only kidding to them. He found another gear when it mattered most to win comfortably in the end, by just under two lengths on the line.

Thereheiz has been remarkably consistent this time in, finishing in the top three in seven of his eight starts this preparation, including three wins. In his 11 career starts to date he's yet to venture to town for a run, but on recent form a trip may be imminent.

Thereheiz Too Slick

Thereheiz has produced a faultless front running display to record an easy win in the 3yo Country Plate over 1200m at Wagga. In a repeat performance of his effort at the same venue during the Wagga Gold Cup Carnival, Thereheiz simply gave nothing else in the race a chance.

Starting from the extreme outside barrier in the 11 horse field, jockey Brendan Ward wasted little time in making his intentions known, firing Thereheiz out of the barriers and straight to the early lead. It didn't end there though, and with Ward allowing the 3yo Zariz gelding to stride out freely he opened up a three and four length lead during the middle stages of the event. As he circled the home turn, Thereheiz still had four lengths on his rivals and was showing no signs of stopping. Urged along by Ward, Thereheiz continued to maintain his big advantage for the majority of the home straight. With the hard work done and the race well and truly within his keeping, Thereheiz was eased down over the final 50m and still had just under two and a half lengths to spare on his rivals when the judge called a halt to proceedings.

It was a dominant display by Thereheiz who did not look in any danger of defeat at any stage throughout the race. It takes the consistent gelding's race record to nine starts, for three wins and three placings, and on the evidence of this latest win at Wagga it won't be long before he's adding to his already impressive record.

Direct Debit Scores on Queanbeyan Cup Day

Direct Debit has continued his consistent form by taking out the Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1600m at Queanbeyan. The 3yo Lion Heart gelding was just edged out by St Emilion at his previous start at the Sapphire Coast, and that proved to be a good form line with St Emilion backing up that performance with another win at Canberra at his next start.

With Brendan Ward in the saddle, Direct Debit jumped away with the early pacesetters but had no interest in challenging for the front. As others jockeyed for positions, Ward was content to just allow Direct Debit to get into his own rhythm. This resulted in the gelding gradually drifting back through the field to eventually settle just worse than midfield. Having travelled comfortably throughout the run, Ward then started to urge Direct Debit forward just before the point of the home turn. As the field entered the straight Ward then guided the gelding towards the centre of the track, and he set about reigning in his rivals. Direct Debit was trying very hard and giving everything he had, but so were a number of his competitors. In what was an extremely busy finish with horses all over the track, it was Direct Debit who managed to find the lead at just the right moment. In fact, so competitive was the race that less than three lengths separated the first 10 horses across the line.

It is a credit to Direct Debit's tenacity that he continues to race well deep into his first preparation as a racehorse. This race at Queanbeyan was his eighth start, and he has now recorded two wins and three placings in that time. Throughout the preparation he has continually improved with each run, and looking ahead the fact that he has now won over a mile adds another string to his bow.

Wagga Win for Thereheiz

Thereheiz has recorded an impressive win on Day Two of the Wagga Gold Cup Carnival, proving too good in the Class 1 Handicap over 1200m. The 3yo Zariz gelding put the writing on the wall at his previous start with a good third behind stablemate Delabombell. This proved to be a very solid form line with Delabombell coming out and winning again on Day One of the Wagga Carnival. Other Joseph runners to perform well over the Carnival included Catch The Light and Monzero, who both ran second in their respective races.

However, Thereheiz was the star for the stable on Wagga Gold Cup Day. Ridden by Blake Shinn, he exploded out of the barriers to run straight to the early lead. From there Shinn was able to control the tempo, allowing Thereheiz to bowl along under his own steam. As they swung into the home straight Shinn still hadn't moved a muscle on the gelding and it was obvious at that point that he was going to take some running down. At the 300m mark Shinn then started to get busy, and Thereheiz responded magnificently, giving a good kick and establishing a break on his rivals. The long Wagga home straight can often result in leaders being vulnerable late in races, but not Thereheiz. In fact, the further they went the more comfortable he looked. He powered home and hit the line full of running, never really looking in any danger of defeat in registering a comfortable victory by just under a length and a half.

Thereheiz has now won two races from only five career starts. His maiden win came at Queanbeyan at only his second race start as a 2yo, before going out for a spell. He then had one run as an early 3yo, before another spell. The patience of his owners may now be rewarded as he seems to have returned this preparation in great order. This is evidenced by his two cracking first up runs, and he'll now look to continue his good form over the coming weeks.

Impressive Run Continues for Delabombell

The Joseph stable struck an early blow during the two-day Wagga Gold Cup Carnival, winning the first race on Day One with Delabombell. The 3yo Zariz filly overpowered a Class 2 Handicap field over 1000m, and remains unbeaten in three career starts. She has been very well placed by the stable to date, and has had the ability to take advantage on every occasion. In the process she has been able to collect three BOBS bonuses for her connections within a matter of weeks.

They say if it ain't broke don't fix it, so it was of little surprise that Brendan Ward retained the ride on Delabombell after guiding her to her first two wins. There was also no need to change tactics, and just as she had done at Moruya and Wagga previously, Delabombell jumped away quickly and put herself right in the firing line early. With Delabombell leading them up, the field had gone along at a reasonable clip and soon after they reached the home straight, it was obvious that it was going to be a matter of which horse could tough it out best. With those around her starting to wilt under the pressure, Delabombell was quickly able to establish a race winning break on her rivals. Over the concluding stages, Duplify was the only horse that looked like it could mount any sort of serious challenge, but under the urgings of Ward, Delabombell was able to hold Duplify at bay by three-quarters of a length, with a further two and a quarter lengths back to the third placed horse, The Invincible One.

It is a credit to the horse and stable that Delabombell has been able to do all of this in her first racing preparation. While it takes most horses a number of race starts to work out what the caper is all about, Delabombell has been a thorough professional in every run. She jumps well, settles well, can accelerate off a good tempo, and is prepared to tough it out and fight when required. These are all ingredients for a good career ahead.

In this Section
Gorgeous Amelia
Zassi
Poetic Justice
Onthelookout
Thereheiz
Direct Debit
Catch The Light
Monzero
Delabombell