Classy Performance by Logan's Choice

A hip injury prevented Logan's Choice from contesting the National Sprint on her home track a few days earlier, but nothing could stop the classy mare from recording a good tough win in the Benchmark 75 for Fillies and Mares over 1250m at Canterbury.

After jumping away reasonably well from the barriers, not much went right for Logan's Choice and her apprentice jockey, Tommy Berry. They went forward and tried to come back, but everywhere they went, Berry just couldn't get in on Logan's Choice. As a result the mare was forced to sit three wide for the entire journey. Despite the tough run she managed to stay relaxed, and remained in touch with the leading horses for the majority of the run. However, as they entered the home straight, there were a few worrying signs when her rivals got a little break on her. For most horses that would have been the end of the section, but not Logan's Choice. She was only just warming up for the fight, and called on all of her qualities to raise another effort in the final furlong. Stretching her neck right out and putting in the bid bounds, she loomed up again and started to gather in her rivals. In the end she was simply too good, drawing away for a very impressive win and leaving her opposition with absolutely no excuses.

Logan's Choice was all set to line up in the National Sprint at Canberra a few days earlier, but was a late scratching after a minor incident in the raceday stalls, where she bumped her hip. The arrogant nature of this win at Canterbury indicates that she could well have been a major player in the feature race on her home track. That is something that we'll never know for sure, but the stable will now look to other races over the Sydney Autumn Carnival to try get some black type with her.

Winning Double at Queanbeyan

The Joseph stable has recorded a winning double at Queanbeyan through Utopia Miss and Turf Music. It was a fantastic start to the racing career of Utopia Miss, with the 3yo Elusive Quality filly proving too slick for a Maiden Handicap field over the 900m dash. Turf Music joined his stablemate as a winner on the day, and could not have done it in a more exciting fashion, getting the nod in a three-way photo finish at the conclusion of the Benchmark 65 over 1460m. Both horses were ridden by Brendan Ward.

First to salute was Utopia Miss. She jumped away quickly from barrier 6 to settle in the first half of the field in the early stages. Over the 900m scamper there's not too much time to take a breather, and with Ward continuing to urge the filly along, she found herself just off the leaders and in a great position to strike as heads turned for home. Halfway down the home straight the whips were cracking with several winning chances, but Utopia Miss didn't yield under the pressure. In fact, she did quite the opposite, accelerating nicely over the concluding stages to surge away from her rivals. In the end she won by just under one and half lengths in what was a very solid debut performance. Utopia Miss had not set the world on fire in her two barrier trials leading into this event, but what she had done was improve with each outing. This momentum continued into her race debut where she simply did everything right and proved too good for her rivals. With this race experience now under her belt she should continue to improve heading into the future.

While the connections of Utopia Miss were celebrating their first win, Turf Music came out a few races later to record the fourth win of his career, and he did so courtesy of an absolute gun ride by Ward. The 5yo Distant Music gelding was one of the first to spring out of the barriers, with Ward electing to ease back to take a lovely trail in fifth position, and one off the fence. At the halfway mark of the race a few other jockeys then became impatient and started their runs a long way from home, but not Ward. He simply bided his time and watched it all unfold in front of him. By the time the field had reached the home straight Ward had ensured that Turf Music had saved every ounce of energy, and had been given every possible chance of finishing his race off. He did just that, driving strongly at Granite Bluff and Kariz, and forcing the judge to split them in a very close three-way photo finish. After a brief wait, confirmation that Turf Music had done enough to get there on the line. Turf Music has been a consistent commodity for his owners, recording four wins and five placings from his 19 career starts, with the promise of more to come.

Al Ahmar Produces the Goods at Bathurst

Al Ahmar recorded his first career win at only his second race start by taking out the Maiden Plate over 1100m. His stablemate, Red Hot Lava produced an encouraging debut run to finish third in the same event, while Addicted To Wealth and Clear Cat finished third and fourth respectively in a race later in the day.

The honours on the day however belonged to Al Ahmar. The Al Maher youngster was beaten for pace early and settled at the tail of the small five horse field. For the first half of the race he continued to slowly lose touch with the field, as experienced jockey Jon Grisedale felt that keeping Al Ahmar comfortable on the heavy track was more important than pushing him along to stay in touch with the field. At various stages around the back of the track Al Ahmar was some four lengths off the second last horse, and even as heads turned for home he was still a good three lengths away from his rivals. However, once Grisedale balanced him up and asked him for the supreme effort in the home straight, he quickly made up the margin and put himself right into the picture. Revelling in the wet conditions he had a good duel with equal favourite in the race, Anima, before putting his nose out where it mattered most to get the judge's verdict.

Al Ahmar had one start as an early 3yo before being put away for a spell. The education he received in his previous preparation, as well as being given the time to mature, have both played a big part in his successful return to the racetrack. What would be even more encouraging for the owners of this Shelley Hancox syndication, is that despite winning Al Ahmar ran the race of a horse that was looking for more ground. His breeding would also suggest that he will improve as he gets out to further distances. Only time will tell whether this proves to be the case, but all the indications are good for now.

Easy Work for Follow The Command

Barbara can't remember ever having a runner at Parkes, but she might make the trip more often in future after Follow The Command easily disposed of a Benchmark 65 field over 1400m. The tough 7yo Commands gelding has been in work for a year, but continues to try his best and race well wherever he is placed. This win at Parkes was his tenth career win from 50 starts, and he took his prizemoney earnings over the $100,000 mark.

In the small six horse field, Follow The Command didn't have to excerpt too much energy to get to his favourite role of pacemaker. Once in the lead, he settled beautifully for jockey Kody Nestor, putting his head on his chest and bowling along at his own pace. With the run he'd had, it was obvious a long way from home that Follow The Command was going to take a power of beating, but Nestor decided to make a good thing of it, applying the heat on the opposition at the 600m mark. Giving Follow The Command a little bit more reign he edged away from his rivals, and by the time the field had reached the home turn, he was off and gone. With the race safely in his keeping, Follow The Command maintained his margin all the way up the home straight, eventually winning by three lengths in what was little more than a track gallop.

Follow The Command was purchased by Barbara at the Inglis 2004 Classic Yearling Sale, and has been with the stable ever since. He only had two starts as a 2yo, before telling the world all about his ability with a seven and a quarter length win in his first start as a 3yo. Since those early days, the tough old campaigner has gone on to win races as a 4yo, 5yo, 6yo and 7yo. While other horses have come and gone from the stable he has continued to churn out the wins, and on the evidence of his most recent form, there may still be more to come.

Gisele has Stable Dancing
Dancing Gisele topped off a great few weeks for Joseph runners, winning for the second time in six career starts. Her latest win came in the Benchmark 57 Handicap over 1200m at Cowra and is the eighth winner for the stable in the first few weeks of 2010. Just Opposite and Follow The Command continued their recent good form, both finishing third in their respective races on Cowra Cup Day.

Ridden by Brendan Ward, Dancing Gisele used a blinding start to dictate terms from the outset of this tricky race. Leading clearly on the tight turning Cowra track is always an advantage and as they rounded the final bend it was soon evident that whatever ran down the 3yo Exceed And Excel filly would win. Early in the home straight the heavily backed favourite, General's Sniper, poured on the pressure. As the two combatants went head to head down the short straight it was going be a mini war with the rest of the field nowhere in sight. There was seemingly a new leader with each stride, but in the shadows of the post Ward lifted Dancing Gisele, and the filly lunged at the perfect time to secure victory and a BOBS bonus. Despite the heart flutters on the track, connections then had to endure some more anxious moments with the rider of the second horse lodging a protest. However, just as she had done on the track, Dancing Gisele was able to hold off the challenge to claim victory.

Dancing Gisele has always shown some promise with the stable thinking highly enough of her to race in Sydney on a number of occasions. On the evidence of the win at Cowra her connections may be heading back up the highway soon for a another tilt at city success.

Onaclearday You Can See the Wins Keep on Coming
The Joseph stable headed to Wagga with Onaclearday first up, who duly saluted in the Class 1 Handicap over 1200m. Earlier in the day the ever consistent Fab Cat recorded his third placing from his past four starts.

The star of the day for the stable was undoubtedly the lightly raced 3yo, Onaclearday. The Not A Single Doubt gelding is a half brother to Group 1 winner Duoro Valley and has a real touch of class about him. This win was his second from just five career starts, and the manner of his efforts suggest that just like his half brother, the step up over longer distances will only benefit his style of racing.

Allowed to settle midfield by Nick Souquet, Onaclearday divided the strung out field. With leaders being favoured throughout the day, it was always going to be a question of how far Onaclearday's class would carry him. Around the turn it was soon clear that Souquet had brought the gelding into the race at the right time. He loomed large and in three strides he had most of the field covered, except for Biancalaura who fought on solidly. As the two knuckled down to fight out the finish, Onaclearday gradually gained the upper hand and forged away to make it two wins from two starts at Wagga.

The signs were there last preparation that the stable may have a smart horse on their hands in Onaclearday, but he was a bit green and wayward on occasions. He seems to have benefited from his spell and could not have been more impressive first up. The stable will now test him against tougher company in the up coming weeks, and on what we've witnessed so far there is every reason to believe he will be up to the challenge.

Joseph Stable Sizzles at the Sapphire Coast
On the back of a winning double at the previous day, the Joseph stable went one better at the Sapphire Coast with three winners greeting the judge. Forever Canny, Just Opposite and Zassi, all ridden by Brendan Ward give the stable a dominate day at the picturesque track. The unlucky runner of the day was third placed Follow The Command.

The first winner of the day was Forever Canny who was first up from a spell. The Canny Lad filly started a short priced favourite in the 900m event, on the back of two placings in her previous preparation. After jumping well to lead the 3yo snuck away after a short fight down the straight to win by one and a half lengths on the line.

The second winner was Just Opposite who also recorded his his first career win. Like his younger stablemate, he jumped handy and was in a prominent position the entire race sitting just outside the leader, Glowing Gift. While Glowing Gift was running a cheeky race, Ward knew what he had under him and it was evident soon after straightening that he was going to be hard to hold out. He loomed up, gained the ascendancy, and he charged away to win by two lengths.

The final win on a successful day went to the ever consistent Zassi, who recorded her fifth career win. She has been racing reasonably well without winning this preparation, but the addition of blinkers for this race certainly did the trick. Tracking the early leaders the 4yo Zedative mare got a saloon passage along the rails on the point of the home turn. Ward was only too happy to drive Zassi through the gap and she slipped away and never looked in danger of defeat, kicking clear for a two and a half length win.

Back to Winning Ways at Canberra
The Joseph stable recorded a winning double at Canberra with Back To Zero and Catch The Light giving the Baroness a race to race double. Back To Zero was first to salute coming from last in the Class 2 Handicap over 1200m, while Catch The Light led from start to finish in the Benchmark 65 Handicap over the same course and distance.

Back To Zero benefited from a patient ride from apprentice jockey Lauri Wray, who settled the 4yo Reset gelding at the tail of the field. After travelling well throughout the run, Wray then worked Back To Zero to the outside of the field and allowed him plenty of time to wind up down the long Canberra straight. Back To Zero was still at the tail of the field at the 300m mark, but so quickly did he hit his straps that by the 200m mark he looked the obvious winner. He went on with the job over the concluding stages, charging home to win easily with two lengths to spare. It was his third career victory from just 12 starts and on the evidence of this performance, it certainly won't be his last.

The next race saw Catch The Light salute. He jumped straight to the lead and used every bit of the 4kg claim for apprentice jockey Nicole Vuille. The 5yo Fantastic Light gelding was in control the entire race, before kicking clear on the turn. Despite getting tired late, the hard work had been done and he went on to record another win. This continues a rich vein of form for Catch The Light who has now recorded five career wins, with four of them coming this preparation. In fact, in his nine runs since joining the Joseph stable, Catch The Light is yet to miss a place. His record for the stable is nine starts for four wins, three seconds, and two thirds. His latest win was also very significant for Nicole Vuille as it was her first ever win as a jockey. The Joseph stable wish her every success in the future, and the way she handled Catch The Light there is little doubt that there will be more winners to come.

In this Section
Logan's Choice
Utopia Miss
Turf Music
Al Ahmer
Red Hot Lava
Addicted To Wealth
Clear Cat
Follow The Command
Dancing Giselle
Just Opposite
Onaclearday
Fab Cat
Forever Canny
Zassi
Back To Zero
Catch The Light