Around the traps....

What a start to 2023/24 

It's been a terrific start to the new season as we head into week 4 of August. The team have already had 6 individual winners for the month including Clovelly (above right), Sacred Feeling (above left), Motitsi, Headlock, Hedged (above) and Crown Waters, with five of these maiden winners. Our strike rate is already sitting at a whopping 41% winners to runners and while we won't remain at this rate all year, our owners will notice we are gearing up for spring to see whether our horses will measure up. 

While we are getting winners, all of our horses have been ultra competitive with narrow placings to  Anahita, Rhapsody Chic and Copperfield ensuring our place percentage is over 66%, which is again showing us that we are on the money when it comes to placing our horses in the right races. 

Spring is in the air and we can't wait!  Spring is only a week away and things are heating up. We have already seen a number of spring contenders come out last week in Mr Brightside, Cylinder, and the smart Charm Stone to name a few, and this weekend at The Valley the sprinters will all go around in the Listed Carlyon Stakes.   This is the time of year that we are all up and about and we can't wait to test some of our horses during the spring carnival as it is the highest standard of racing in Australia. We get the opportunity to see what level they are currently at and where they measure up in the short term.

RTD Breeding information session changed to online session...  Huge thanks to all of our owners and subscribers who logged into our Zoom call last night. It was terrific to see so many interested parties hearing from our team of experts.   Also special thanks to Ryan Arnel from Stonehouse Thoroughbreds where our broodmares agist, Sam Matthews the General Manager of Swettenham Stud, and our own bloodstock agent Jeremy Rogers for making the time to chat with us. It was a very insightful session and if you want a recording of last night please email rob@rollthedice.com.au

Crown Waters made a terrific debut at Ballarat winning her maiden comfortably last Friday. Ridden by Dec Bates she settled in a lovely spot and followed the leader. Dec brought her out in the straight and she hit the line hard to record a comfortable 2 length victory. She will be aimed at a midweek city race second up in a couple of weeks. 

Anahita went around at Caulfield on Saturday in a BM84 over 1400m and she just missed getting the choccy's running 2nd by a neck. This mare is flying and trainer Matt Laurie is doing a great job managing her racing. She will head to Wyong next Friday for a listed race for mares on Wyong Cup Day and with a bit of luck the weather gods are on our side with a wet track. 

Copperfield ran super at Cranbourne last Sunday without a lot of luck. He was bottled up on the fence a few pairs back and you certainly don't want to be there at Cranbourne. When he did get out in the straight he hit the line well to run third. He has had a long campaign and come to the end of the prep. He will spell now and come back for another prep off season. 

Rhapsody Chic made his debut for RTD on Sunday  and barrier 1 turned out to be a nightmare for Mark Zahra. We got shuffled back after a couple pressed on from wide barriers and when he finally got out he worked to the line well to finish third. He will step out to 1400m in a  couple of weeks and be very hard to beat wherever he goes. 

Clovelly heads to Doomben on Saturday in a Class 3 over 1050m for the Matt Smith team. She was good winning her Class 1 second up last start and Matt couldn't be happier with the mare. She has drawn barrier 3 and has the services of Jaden Lloyd in the saddle. With some luck in running she looks to have a great each way chance. 

Rebel Love has accepted at Nowra and has drawn perfectly in barrier 3 on Sunday. She was good first up despite being keen and overracing three wide. She has improved for her second up run and the race maps perfectly for her. All things being equal, we think she will be hard to beat if she brings her best form for this race. 

Checkendon will go around in a BM58 over 1200m at Pakenham synthetic on Monday. This horse has improved a lot from his disappointing first up run. The Price/Kent team are really happy with the way he has worked since and he looks to have a very good chance in a winnable race. 

Crown Waters will go around at Sandown next Wednesday in a 3YO fillies BM64 over 1400m. Her debut win was strong and she has pulled up great after it, which has prompted trainer Archie Alexander to back her up for this race. Acceptances will come out early next week with barriers but expect Dec Bates to take the ride again. 

Sacred Feeling has been nominated for a 2060m BM68 at Doomben next Saturday and Team Gollan couldn't be happier with where she is at. There are other options including an 1800m Class 1 the following week and Tony will make a call early next week which way he is going to go. Wherever she goes, follow her, she is a lovely stayer in the making. 

Motitsi is ready to go back to the races and guess where? That's right, Bendigo next Thursday in a BM64 over 1000m  looks the obvious choice. She clearly loves her old home track and trainer Maddie Raymond has her airborne at the moment. Again, acceptances aren't out until next week but make sure you have something on her.