Tuesday, January 25, 2005
EIGHT FOR PILLAR PROPERTY CHASE
Bowen Aiming Ballycassidy at £80,000 contest
A total of eight entries have been received for the £80,000 Grade Two Pillar Property Chase (3.10pm) at Cheltenham on Saturday, January 29, after the race was reopened until 9.15am this morning.
Included among the octet are last season's totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Rembrandt, trained by Robert Alner, while Martin Pipe is responsible for Therealbandit, successful four times at Cheltenham in the past including in the Mears Group Chase on December 10 when he defeated Royal Auclair, also entered in the Pillar Property Chase, by three lengths.
Other possibles include the tough performer Grey Abbey, last season's Scottish National winner and triumphant on his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. Trainer Howard Johnson told The Times today that he hopes to aim the popular grey at the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after Saturday and that he will also enter him in the Grand National.
Nigel Twiston-Davies has entered leading novice Ollie Magern, last seen out when taking the Grade One Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, while Peter Bowen could be represented by Ballycassidy, second under 11st 10lb to Stormez on his most recent appearance on November 13 in the Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, where he was making his seasonal reappearance.
Last season the nine-year-old Ballycassidy was successful three times in novice company last season, including in a Grade Two contest at Newbury and was also second to Strong Flow in the Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton in December, 2003.
Pembrokeshire-based Bowen said today: "Ballycassidy is a definite runner in the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday.
"He coughed quite a bit after his last run behind Stormez at Cheltenham in November but is fine again now and ready to run.
"If he goes well on Saturday, he will go on to the AON Chase at Newbury next month and then hopefully he will go on to the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"I'm hoping that the ground will not be too soft on Saturday, as he is a better horse on good ground."
Completing the field are the Irish challenger Cloudy Bays, trained by Charles Byrnes and successful on his last two starts at Tramore and Leopardstown, and Strong Magic from the John Cornwall yard.
The Pillar Property Chase is one of four races on Saturday's tremendous card that are part of the British Horseracing Board's Order of Merit competition, offering a good opportunity to earn some valuable points. The Victor Chandler Chase, the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle and the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase are the other three Order of Merit contests on January 29.
BENRAJAH GOES FOR DONCASTER'S SKY BET CHASE
Ad Hoc and Horus head the weights on 11st 12lb for the £60,000 Sky Bet Chase (3.25pm), Doncaster's richest jump race of the year which is run on Saturday, January 29.
Supreme Prince, trained by Philip Hobbs and likely to be partnered by Paul Flynn, comes next on 11st 11lb, with Tikram, another due to run, on 11st 9lb.
Martin Todhunter revealed today that Benrajah, the winner of a Newcastle chase in November who has 9st 10lb and is a 25/1 chance with the sponsor, is set to take his chance in the famous three-mile Listed handicap.
The Penrith-based trainer said: "Hopefully, Benrajah will run in the Sky Bet Chase - he'll love the fast ground and that's why we're going to try him in a big race at a lower weight."
The eight-year-old stayed on well on his most recent start in a Catterick handicap chase last month, just failing to reel in the length winner Forest Dante.
"Benrajah has come out of his last race well - I was quite pleased with him there but the downside is that he went up 4lb in the handicap because of it," continued the handler.
"Catterick is a sharp track while Doncaster is a big galloping racecourse and that should suit him. The faster the going the better for our fellow."
Clerk of the Course Jon Pullin today explained that the ground could be in Benrajah's favour. He commented: "We've had four millimetres of rain in total yesterday and last night and the going remains good to firm, good in places, though it is drizzling at the moment.
"There isn't a great deal of rain forecast up to the end of the week - we're due a frost tonight and just some light, wintry showers really for the next couple of days and we'll just have to wait and see what we get."
Your A Gassman, Sky Bet's ante-post favourite for Saturday's big race, has 11st 1lb while Colourful Life, who will be ridden by Joe Tizzard and is one of four entries from Paul Nicholls, will race off 10st 12lb.
Your A Gassman, trained by Ferdy Murphy and the intended mount of Brian Harding, has been backed with Sky Bet and is now the 4/1 (from 5/1) market leader.
The Sue Smith-trained Little Big Horse has also attracted support and is currently a 12/1 chance (from 20/1).
Sky Bet's full betting on the Sky Bet Chase is as follows:
Your A Gassman 4/1 (from 5), Le Duc 8/1, Baron Windrush 9/1 (from 8), Europa 10/1, Itsonlyme 10/1, Tikram 12/1, Run For Paddy12/1, Fields Of Home 12/1, Little Big Horse 12/1 (from 20), Rosie Redman 14/1, Ad Hoc 16/1, Horus 16/1, Supreme Prince 16/1, Buckby Lane 16/1, Colourful Life 16/1, Spring Margot 16/1, The Kew Tour 16/1, Carryonharry 20/1, Artic Jack 25/1, Skippers Cleuch 25/1, Tacolino 25/1, Tipsy Mouse 25/1, Benrajah 25/1, Red Striker 33/1.
Owen Brennan entered Tacolino in the Sky Bet Chase but is more likely to aim the 11-year-old at a Doncaster race the day before.
The Worksop-based trainer said today: "Tacolino probably won't run in the big race - he'll go for the skybet.com Handicap Chase (3.55pm) at Doncaster on Friday.
"He's come out of his last race [when third to Kalca Mome in the Vulrory's Clown Handicap Chase at Doncaster last month] OK but he's got plenty of weight nowadays.
"He had some leg trouble and has had a couple of runs since. If he comes down in the weights, he might win another race."
2004 ECLIPSE AWARD WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) today released the names of the winners for the 2004 Eclipse Awards. The Eclipse Awards are voted on and presented by the NTRA, Daily Racing Form (DRF) and National Turf Writers Association (NTWA). The votes are tabulated and certified by Ernst & Young LLP. Winners in all categories will be announced tonight at the 34th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony, to be held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, Calif. This information is embargoed until 12:45 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday, January 25.
Horse of the Year: Ghostzapper
* Two-Year-Old Male: Declan's Moon
* Two-Year-Old Female: Sweet Catomine
* Three-Year-Old Male: Smarty Jones
* Three-Year-Old Female: Ashado
* Older Male: Ghostzapper
* Older Female: Azeri
* Sprinter: Speightstown
* Male Turf Horse: Kitten's Joy
* Female Turf Horse: Ouija Board (GB)
* Steeplechase: Hirapour (IRE)
* Owner: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
* Breeder: Adena Springs
* Jockey: John Velazquez
* Apprentice Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr.
* Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Eclipse Awards are bestowed upon the Thoroughbred horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements have earned them the title of Champion in their respective divisions. The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbys.
Voting Overview
In voting that concluded Dec. 27, 2004, Eclipse Awards voters cast their ballots to rank the top three horses and individuals in each Championship division. This voting established the top three finalists in each division, the names of which were released on Jan. 5, 2005. Eclipse Award winners were determined by first-place votes only.
The tallies below represent only first-place votes from members of the consolidated voting entities, NTRA/Equibase, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers Association.
Two-Year-Old Male (Name, First-Place Votes)
Declan's Moon, 188; Afleet Alex, 44; Wilko, 22; Rockport Harbor 17;
Roman Ruler 1. Voter Abstentions, 2.
Two-Year-Old Filly
Sweet Catomine, 273; Runway Model, 1. No abstentions.
Three-Year-Old Male
Smarty Jones, 265; Kitten's Joy, 7; Birdstone, 2. No Abstentions.
Three-Year-Old Female
Ashado, 257; Ouija Board (GB), 14; Stellar Jayne, 1. Voter Abstentions,
2.
Older Male
Ghostzapper, 269; Pleasantly Perfect, 4; Roses in May, 1. No
Abstentions.
Older Female
Azeri, 179; Sightseek, 91; Storm Flag Flying 3; Adoration, 1. No
Abstentions.
Sprinter
Speightstown, 157; Pico Central (BRZ), 101; Ghostzapper, 15. Voter
Abstentions, 1.
Male Turf Horse
Kitten's Joy, 247; Singletary, 12; Better Talk Now, 9; Soaring Free, 2;
Sulamani, 2; Leroidesanimaux, 1; Nothing to Lose, 1. No Abstentions.
Female Turf Horse
Ouija Board (GB), 235; Ticker Tape (GB), 24; Intercontinental (GB), 6;
Light Jig (GB), 2; Megahertz (GB), 2; Wonder Again, 2; Commercante (FR),
1; Lucifer's Stone, 1. Voter Abstentions, 1.
Steeplechase Horse
Hirapour (IRE), 216; Sur La Tete, 10; McDynamo, 8; Preemptive Strike, 2;
Tres Touche, 2; Cherokee in the Hills, 1. Voter Abstentions, 35.
Horse of the Year
Ghostzapper, 174; Smarty Jones, 95; Ashado, 1; Kitten's Joy, 1. Voter
Abstentions, 3.
more
Outstanding Owner
Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, 100; Michael Gill, 79; Someday Farm, 41; Adena
Springs/Stronach Entities, 27; Juddmonte Farms, 12; Gary Tanaka, 2,
Eugene and Laura Melnyk, 2; Sam-Son Farm, 2; Robert Bone,1; Robert and
Beverly Lewis, 1; Louis O'Brien, 1. Voter Abstentions, 6.
Outstanding Breeder
Adena Springs, 166; Juddmonte Farms 26; John Franks, 18; Someday Farm,
16; Aaron and Marie Jones, 13; Farnsworth Farms, 9; Kenneth and Sarah
Ramsey, 9; William S. Farish, 3; Arthur Appleton, 1; Mr. and Mrs. Martin
J. Wygod, 1. Voter Abstentions, 12.
Outstanding Trainer
Todd Pletcher, 155; Steve Asmussen, 71; Robert Frankel 35; John Servis
12; Voter Abstentions, 1.
Outstanding Jockey
John Velazquez, 241; Edgar Prado, 14; Rafael Bejarano, 6; Jerry Bailey,
4; Stewart Elliott, 4; Ramon Dominguez, 3; Alex Solis, 1. Voter
Abstentions, 1.
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey
Brian Hernandez, Jr., 164; Pablo Fragoso, 84; Mick Ruis, 5; James
Graham, 2; Eric Camacho, 1; Brandon Whitacre, 1. Voter Abstentions, 17.
Voter participation rate: 274/329 = 83%
The winner of the Eclipse Award of Merit, voted on by a panel of representatives from the three presenting organizations and previously announced, is Oaklawn Park and the Cella Family. The Eclipse Award of Merit is presented to an individual or entity displaying outstanding lifetime achievement in, and service to, the Thoroughbred industry.
The winner of the Special Award, voted on by a panel of representatives from the three presenting organizations and previously announced is Dale Baird. The Special Award is presented to honor outstanding individual achievements in, or contributions to, the sport of Thoroughbred racing.
Media Eclipse Awards also are given in the categories of photography, audio and multi-media Internet, news/commentary, feature/enterprise writing, local television, national television-feature and national television-live racing programming to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing. The 2004 Media Eclipse Awards winners, determined by a judges' panel for each category and previously announced, are:
* Photography: Cindy Pierson Dulay, "Stephan's Angel Leaps," Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred, July 2004.
* Writing - Feature/Enterprise: Mike Jensen, "Smarty Jones Series," Philadelphia Inquirer, May 1- August 6, 2004
* Writing - News/Commentary: Bill Christine, "Kayak II," Los Angeles Times, December 24, 2003
* TV - Live Racing: NBC Sports, David Michaels, Belmont Stakes, June 5, 2004.
* TV - Feature: ESPN, ESPN Original Entertainment, Fritz Mitchell, "Smarty Jones: America's Horse," October 31, 2004
* TV - Local: WAVE 3 TV, Louisville; "Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs," Dan Foos; May 1, 2004
* Audio and Multi-Media Internet : Premiere Radio Networks, Shelby Whitfield, Belmont Stakes, June 5, 2004
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