Around the traps...

Above: Some very excited Hedged owners braving the heat to watch their horse win impressively first up at Flemington!  

Plenty of action on and off the track last week and an exciting week ahead for all concerned. Highlights included a great performance by Unthinkable at The Valley on Friday night, who ran a gallant second, and Hedged who won first up at Flemington on Saturday. Off the track we have been busy with horse updates and movements all across Australia. It was great to see Copperfield have his first run in Adelaide and Sacred Feeling also went around in Brisbane. Both ran well and represented our silks admirably on a national scale. 

This week is huge for the group with two runners at Caulfield on Saturday with Peace Treaty and then Ayrton in the All Star Mile, along with a host of other runners across Victoria later in the week. We are rapt to have so many horses hitting the track of late and are averaging 4 winners a month for the last 4 months, which is terrific for our owners. Long may it continue!  

No sales last week but shares are selling fast so if you are twiddling the thumbs, stop and get onto it as our Justify colt from Inglis Premier is nearly gone, our Capitalist filly (all girls syndicate) is gone, our Shamus Award filly is gone, and our Churchill colt is also selling fast. Jump on the website and get involved before it's too late! 

Check out our Inglis Classic Bargain a colt by Zousain for only $50K! 

Above - bargain clot of the Inglis Classic Sale, Lot 728, a cracking Zousain colt who has it all 

We were rapt to secure Lot 728, this cracking colt from Inglis Classic Sale last month. This son of the exciting new stallion Zousain is everything we are hoping for when buying a colt. He is correct, perfect size, great attitude, very athletic, has a terrific pedigree, and to pick him up for only $50K... you should read on! 

Zousain is the son of the amazing Zoustar. Zousain was a Group 2 winner himself and multiple Group 1 placed as a 2YO and 3YO. His first progeny were late to hit the track, forcing the price of his yearlings down as they went through the ring, with every owner wanting an early 2YO type. This was where we made our move and capitalised on value. 

Lo and behold, since January when his first crop hit the track he has had 5 winners and a stakes placed getter from 9 runners, and all of those runners have run top 3 in their races. Hmmm...maybe they were too early to judge him, but we see the magic that awaits. We swooped on this lovely colt and now you have the chance to get in at an entry level price for a horse we valued at around $90 - $100K. 

The colt's dam is by legendary broodmare sire, More Than Ready, and she won twice over 1000m and ran fourth in a Group 3, so safe to say she had some ability. She has had two foals to the track and both have won between 1000m and 1300m. This cross of speed on speed doesn't guarantee us an earlier runner, but you only have to look at the page, his photo and video to see that he is in a hurry in everything he does. 

Only 30% remaining and a cost of only $4,750 for 5% all inclusive.  

Get onto Rob on 0448 462 824 to secure your share as he won't last through the weekend! 

Ayrton and owners ready to go
in the All Star Mile this weekend! 

Above: Ayrton owners enjoying the launch, barrier final field, and ambassador announcement at Caulfield on Thursday (our ambassador Peter in the middle and his daughter Anita far left) 

It's a huge week for the team this weekend with a live chance in the $4m All Star Mile and it's a dream come true that Ayrton is our first representation in the race. From where this horse has come from to him lining up in the barriers tomorrow, it really doesn't matter where he finishes, tomorrow will be an emotional day for everyone involved. The ownership group, Mick Price, Michael Kent Jnr, Shona Dreschler, her handler Jordan, regular rider Timmy, and the whole Price Kent team have done an amazing in saving this horse's life and getting him back to the pinnacle of racing events. 

For those that don't know, Ayrton was spruiked as being a Group 1 winner in waiting. He and I'm Thunderstruck were the two pin up boys at Price Kent Racing. Ayrton was going to the Gr1 Epsom and was having a freshen up at the water walker when tragedy struck, a spider bite and massive infection nearly took his life. The rehab was long and slow, and the effects of the massive amount of antibiotics took a heavy toll. Mick and Shona nursed him back to health at their property, and he continued to fight and return to full health. 

His first prep back was underwhelming and we were all wondering if he had the fight to return to the top level, and it was understandable if he didn't. We decided to give him one more prep and the big fella had a slow and steady build up at Darren Weir's property and he felt the horse was going great. Mick and Junior have managed Ayrton to perfection this prep, keeping him fresh, spacing his runs and finally getting him to the mile last time where he ran super in the Gr2 Blamey and should have won. Ayrton has amassed a tick under $1m and just by finishing the race tomorrow he will surpass that. 

How far the horse has come, and the journey he has taken us all on from his early promise, to nearly losing him, to now running in the richest 1600m race in Australia is nothing short of a fairytale for all involved. 

To add to tomorrow's thrill, we have an ambassador Peter and his daughter Anita as part of the All Star Mile promotion joining the owners in cheering Ayrton home. Let's hope he can stick his neck out at the right time, but if he doesn't it doesn't matter. He's still going to feel the same love and will most likely have a nice break in the paddock, he sure has earned it! 


Below - Ayrton recovering from his spider bite at Mick Price's property and the transformation he has undertaken in the last 18 months to get back to racing's top level 

Unthinkable went around at The Valley Friday night and ran another bottler, finishing second in the series final. From the barrier she positioned herself nicely in third off a slow tempo, but unfortunately the favourite got across from the wide barrier and was able to get the gun run and looked the winner a long way out. We were gallant in defeat and will look for another 2000m race in a couple of weeks.  

Hedged made his long awaited return to the track on Saturday and was super winning very impressively over 1100m down the famous Flemington straight. He will be set for a $500K  race in a couple of weeks back down the straight, and all things being equal head to Sydney for the riches of the autumn carnival and some wet tracks where he seems to excel. Exciting times! 

 Our Silver Linings went around at Stony Creek rather than Towong and went well again but just can't get that win we are looking for. She finished third and was ridden a little too close off a hot speed and tired late. Trainer, Matt Laurie said the mare is holding her condition well and should be hard to beat. She is not far away and we will assess her next week before making a decision on what is next for her. 

 Tymon went around on Sunday at Echuca Cup Day in a maiden over 1200m  and it was a pass mark for him. He was in need of a run and we know he will improve in fitness off that effort. Trainer, Toby Lake was happy with him and we can already see the progression he has made since the weekend. He will get some blinkers next start and we expect him to be a lot more competitive. 

Copperfield ended up going to Murray Bridge on Saturday mainly due to the heat and getting the races over with early. He went around in an unsuitable 1200m race and went great hitting the line hard. He will be ready to step out to his favoured 1400m next time out, and with natural improvement and back in grade a touch, he will be hard to beat wherever he goes. 

Sacred Feeling was a bit of a horror watch with the rail out 10m at Doomben and an onspeed bias. She got back to last from the wide barrier and they walked early and she just had too much to do. In saying that we wanted to see her savage the line late and she didn't quite run through the line. Either way we have burned a run and let's hope she gets her chance wherever she goes next. 

Getting over the disappointment of Peace Treaty's scratching last week, the team have found a great race for her this week at Caulfield on Saturday. It's a race for the older horses but we get in with 52kgs, barrier 3 and guess who? J Kah in the saddle. It will be catch us if you can in a $200K race and we are confident she will be very hard to beat on Saturday. 

The Big A, Ayrton lines up in the All Star Mile at Caulfield and we are stoked he has even made it into the race. He has had a wonderful campaign so far and thoroughly earned his place in the field. He's fit and well and ready to run the race of his life. With J Kah in the saddle from barrier 5 he maps to get a lovely run in transit. Let's get around him and cheer him home! 

Nova Lights is ready to go back to the races and the team are really happy with the way she has come along. She has accepted at Geelong on Saturday but unfortunately has drawn the car park in barrier 16. We will have to assess whether to go around or look for another option and hope we draw a better gate. Regardless where she goes we are looking forward to her first up run.  

A Blue Star will head to Kyneton on Tuesday in another 1850m high weight race, let's hope the jockey keeps him going straight this time. He certainly owes us one and this looks the ideal race for him to get the win we have been looking for. He has trained on well since last time and will be hard to beat going forward and will be making his own luck. 

Rhapsody Chic was also ridden poorly last start and should have won. He will go back to Sandown and go around in a 1300m BM64 and try and get the result we are looking for. It will include a rider change and let's hope we can draw a nice gate again and he will be going close to winning.