Wednesday, February 5, 2003

LATEST TOTE BETTING AND MARKET MOVERS

FREEPHONE STANLEY LINCOLN TARGET FOR INTERNATIONALGUEST

The four-year-old, given 8st 3lb for this prestigious handicap which kick-starts the Flat season, is currently a 25/1 chance with the sponsor, Stanley Racing.

A maximum of 24 horses are allowed to compete in the mile event and, while there is a chance that Internationalguest could be balloted out, meaning he will be eligible for the consolation Freephone Stanley Spring Mile the day before, Friday, March 21, he is likely to get a run in the main event.

The Newmarket trainer said: "Internationalguest is definitely being aimed at the Lincoln - he's been kept on the go since November and he's very well in himself. He's due to start galloping in two weeks' time."

Internationalguest won three handicaps last season, with two of the successes coming on his final two starts of 2002 which were both at Nottingham in October. Margarson is currently contemplating whether to give the four-year-old an outing before Doncaster.

"It would depend on Internationalguest - he's a horse who would probably run better with a previous outing. I might take him for racecourse gallops rather than a race as there aren't many races which are suitable for him as he's really a soft ground horse," explained the handler.

"I don't think that the way the races are being run at Lingfield would suit him and there's only one suitable opportunity and that's a £50,000 race at Wolverhampton [on Saturday, March 8] which is a tight left-handed track.

"He's a big strong galloping horse - I think that he'd be ideally suited to Southwell as that would be his type of track. He's got to get into the Wolverhampton race as I think it's a maximum field of 12 there and that could be a problem.

"So I would be geared up ready for a couple of racecourse gallops - perhaps once at Lingfield and once at Southwell. He'll be fit for the day, let's put it that way."

All three of Internationalguest's successes in 2002 came with some give in the ground. Asked if it's a case of the softer the better for the Petardia colt, Margarson replied: "Yes but he's a decent horse, probably just as good, on good ground and that wouldn't worry me - he's also shown form on good to firm.

"Obviously, what helps him on a heavy surface is the fact that a lot of horses don't go on it, which would cut out a big chunk of the field at Doncaster. If the ground went heavy, I'd be over the moon because I know that he goes on it whereas some of the others won't.

"When he won by eight lengths on his first win at Nottingham, I said to the handicapper that half of them had been running all summer on good/good-to-firm ground and he annihilated them on ground that he loves.

"He had already won in very soft ground at Windsor [when a 20/1 outsider] which quite surprised me as he's a good moving horse. I did back him though that day because he'd worked super at home - I'd have had a heavier bet if I had known!"

Internationalguest won at Nottingham the first time off a mark of 78, the second time off 83 and he has now risen to a rating of 89. Margarson is under no illusions as to the difficulty of the task which awaits his charge in the very competitive Freephone Stanley Lincoln.

"Internationalguest has gone up 11lb since that win and he is vulnerable off that mark," added the trainer.

David Evans reports that Gallant Boy is a possible for the Freephone Stanley Lincoln, despite his next target being the 12-furlong handicap at Lingfield on Saturday (February 8).

The four-year-old, who was formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute, was impressive when winning a 10-furlong handicap at Lingfield last Saturday, proving one and a quarter lengths too strong for Dream Magic after appreciating the strong pace. On his previous start, he had come second in a mile handicap at Lingfield.

The Grand Lodge gelding has been remarkably consistent during the course of his career, winning twice and being placed five times in nine outings, while never finishing out of the first six.

Gallant Boy was originally given a weight of 7st 11lb for the Freephone Stanley Lincoln, but the recent victory means he has accrued a 5lb penalty. He is a 20/1 chance with Stanley Racing.

Evans said: "The Lincoln is a possible for Gallant Boy. I entered him in the Lincoln to have a look but I think he might want further than a mile."

After Gallant Boy's race at Lingfield this weekend, Evans intends running him at least once more prior to Doncaster, possibly in the most prestigious race on the sand this winter.

"I think Gallant Boy is well handicapped," enthused the Monmouthshire trainer. "He might go for the Winter Derby [at Lingfield in March] if he goes up enough in the weights."

After the forfeit stage on January 21, 134 of the record 137 original entries for the Freephone Stanley Lincoln go forward for the big handicap. The second forfeit stage is on March 4.

BETFAIR ANNOUNCE MORE HORSE RACING SPONSORSHIP

SPORTING OPTIONS PLC APPLIES FOR A JUDICIAL REVIEW OF 42ND LEVY SCHEME

Kevin Griffiths, the Managing Director of Sporting Options said:

"We have been forced to take this drastic step because the new proposed scheme is wholly unfair and the process by which it was determined was totally unsatisfactory.

Under the previous scheme – still in force until 31st March 2003 – as betting exchanges, we pay 10% of our income – our commission - in Levy. This puts us on the same basis as the traditional bookmakers who pay 10% of their income – their gross profits – in Levy.

However, the new Levy scheme, which is due to come in on 1st April 2003, requires that exchanges pay in Levy 10% of the profits of their profitable layers with no reduction for loss making layers. We have a number of serious concerns regarding this as follows:

It means that the Levy we would have to pay would bear no relation to our income, which is solely commission.

Instead of paying the Levy at 10% of our income as we have been doing and as the traditional bookmakers will continue to do, on present figures, the new scheme would mean we will have to pay some 40% of our income in Levy.

It puts exchanges on an uneven playing field with bookmakers who will still pay Levy on the basis of 10% of their gross profits in Levy.

Because the proposed scheme would have a disproportionately harmful effect on small, new companies, it would represent a major barrier to entry for new entrants to the exchange industry.

The charge would put UK exchanges at a significant disadvantage to any off-shore entrants to the market place.

It would allow for an exchange's Levy bill to be artificially raised by abuse from two or more users who wish to do so. This is because the proposed scheme involves Levy being charged relating to a client's business even if that client has no economic interest in the result of a horse race.

Moreover, the level of consultation offered by the Levy Board for such a radical change was totally inadequate. Even though we pay a substantial Levy already every month, we were never told about these proposals in advance by the Levy Board, we had to read about them in the press. This was only a few days before the final meeting of the Bookmakers' Committee which recommended the scheme and before it was adopted by the Levy Board. We had no proper opportunity to prepare and put forward our very real concerns.

If introduced the new Levy would set back immeasurably the notion that the UK is the home of the betting exchange. We hope that the Levy Board will reconsider and refer the scheme to the Secretary of State for a fair determination."

MORPHINE UPDATES AND JONJO O'NEILL HEARING DATE

JONJO O'NEILL hearing is to be held on Thursday 13th February. The running and riding of TOP OF THE LEFT, trained by Jonjo O'Neill and ridden by Tom Siddall, was referred by the Exeter stewards to the Disciplinary Panel following their enquiry after the Sparkle Cleaning Services Novices' Hurdle (E) Div II on 27th January 2003.

NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK NEWS

After last weekend's racing, Volksraad has jumped from fifth position to wrestle the lead off Zabeel at the top of the New Zealand sires' premiership.

Volksraad's progeny have won $742,408 to date in the 2002-03 season giving him a lead of more than $65,000 over Zabeel. The arch rivals are set for another titanic battle in the race for the New Zealand sires' title.

Volksraad was champion New Zealand sire last season for the first time.

Two seasons ago Zabeel pipped Volksraad for the title after the pair went stride-for-stride over the final stages of the season.

Volksraad gained the lead last weekend thanks to his promising two-year-old fillies, Shadowfax Babe and Eftee One, who finished second and third respectively in the $500,000 Mercedes Super Bonus Classique (1200m) at Te Rapa.

More riches appear to be in store for these two Cambridge-trained fillies in the coming weeks.

Trainer Richard Dee confirmed Eftee One will line up next in the $120,000 Ford Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on March 1.

Murray Baker-trained Shadowfax Babe is having a brief let-up but hopefully will return in time for a tilt at the $120,000 Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes at Awapuni.

This season Volksraad is not only ahead on prize-money but he is also the leading sire on stakes-winners, wins and winners. His progeny have already won five stakes races in New Zealand this season.

Volksraad is also currently second on the New Zealand two-year-old sires' table.

The Windsor Park resident sire has just completed a very successful Karaka sales series - highlights include:

Highest price of $260,000 for a filly ex Field Nymph – a half-sister to dual Group One winners Field Dancer and Just A Dancer and to Group Three winner Blanchard. Bought by leading trans-tasman trainer Graeme Rogerson.

Progeny fetched more than $2 million during the sales series.

Sale average of $75,928 in the Premier Session compared to $45,444 last year.

A filly from Honeymoon Belle sold for $82,500 in the Select Fillies Sale – the fourth highest price of the session – and was purchased by trans-tasman trainer Paul O'Sullivan.

The third leading sire by average in the Select Fillies Sale.

Yearlings bought by such top trainers and respected buyers as Graeme Rogerson, Trevor McKee, Brian Mayfield-Smith, Bruce Elkington, Gai Waterhouse, David Ellis, John Wheeler, Paul Moroney, Paul O'Sullivan, Ray Coupland, John Sargent, Paul Harris and Richard Dee.

WINDSOR PARK TOPS $4 MILLION IN SALE PROCEEDS

Windsor Park Stud has sold more than $4 million worth of yearlings at New Zealand Bloodstock's Karaka sales series this year.

The final figure for the combined Windsor Park-Mapperley Stud drafts from the three Karaka sale sessions in 2003 was $4,011,950.

This has confirmed Windsor Park's position the second leading commercial vendor at the New Zealand National Yearling Sales Series.

The sale started with a bang for the stud on the first night with its six lots sold for $1,040,000 at an average price of $173,333. That placed Windsor Park as the leading vendor after the first day's selling.

Topping the list on the first day was the Zabeel-Fleur de Chine filly which was sold for $375,000 – the third highest price for a filly in the Premier Sale.

She was bought by Sydney-based racing manager Tim Boland on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. It represented Sheikh Khalifa's first yearling purchase in New Zealand.

Windsor Park's second highest price this year was $260,000 for a Volksraad-Field Nymph filly. She is a half-sister to dual Group One winners Field Dancer and Just A Dancer and to the Group Three winner Blanchard.

The successful purchaser was leading trans-tasman trainer Graeme Rogerson.

Windsor Park sold 25 yearlings in the Premier Sale for a total of $2,658,000 and sold a total of 13 yearlings that fetched $100,000 or more.

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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