From The Paddock

Resisting Temptation

As a 2YO there was the temptation for trainer Matt Smith to take Hurtle Myrtle on an extensive race campaign. She had shown him plenty and had performed admirably from the widest gate in the Inglis Classic running third at only her second start, however the astute horseman could see this filly had some serious growing to do. She was put straight in the paddock for a long spell and hence handled perfectly by her trainer. As a result Hurtle Myrtle came back in the Spring to beat the $1.5m Little Surfer Girl at Canterbury then subsequently ran 3rd over 1200m in the Silver Shadow (Gr3), 2nd in the 1400m Furious Stakes (Gr2), 4th behind More Joyous, Melito and Deer Valley in the 1500m Tea Rose (Gr2) and then 3rd in the 1600m Flight Stakes (Gr1) behind More Joyous and Sister Madly. A very consistent campaign competing at the highest level but perhaps the best is in front of this daughter of Dane Shadow.

Hurtle Myrtle is from the four time city winning Woodman mare, Ravenswood. Ravenswood was one of the better pedigreed mares that Dane Shadow saw in his first year. There wasn"t many of them but it seems whenever there was some pedigree, sensational outcomes have followed - look out when Dane Shadow"s class of 2009 hits the track.

The Wombat"s Whisper

The focus in Saturday"s Blue Diamond will be like all diamonds, Cut Colour and Clarity;

Cut is the most obvious
Beneteau the million dollar baby cut up the track last start, ran great time and is Cut like Cassius Clay.

Colour - Double Danehill
Despite running a slower time, I think the Psychologist will take plenty of improvement out of her last run given it was her first! I am sure there is nothing wrong with double Danehill either, I know his gene pool is a little tight with Natalma 3x3 but plenty of tighter inbreeding has occured in the past and did you really think that this was not going to succeed in this part of the world??

Clarity - Waikato Style
I will be focused on the Starcraft colt in the bad barrier Star Witness who I believe will be the biggest improver of the three. His sire Starcraft won as a late 2YO however he did blossom at 3 and 4 so it is incredible from a sire line that this colt won well as a pre-Santa 2YO. But focusing on his female family, this one is built for speed and has given Danny O"Brien great success in the past. Leone Chiara the 1st dam was a flying Lion Hunter mare who won 2 stakes races at 1100m and she is a full sister to the Ascot Vale Champion Ferocity and the good mare Chinchilla Rose. They all hail from the Last Tycoon mare Chiara.

There is one thing that this pedigree "lacks" and I am captivated by it. There is something going on between Last Tycoon and Pompeii Court the dam sire of Starcraft. You may recall that the "Prince of Waikato", O"Reilly is built on this cross. There is also something major in it for a bloke at KWH - Dane Shadow... CENTAINE.

O"Reilly LOVES Centaine mares, an incredible 25% of his Group and Stakes horses are from this dam sire. You can create a similar cross by sending O"Reilly mares to Dane Shadow, OR Starcraft mares as they get older will suit the Pompeii Court requirement and Centaine/Pompeii Court works equally as well (does Century Kid still have the Eagle Farm 1200m track record)??

So follow Star Witness; the kid in the bad barrier and dream of what Dane Shadow could do for the right O"Reilly mare!

Easter Yearling Highlights

Tor"s Dancer/Flying Spur 08

This colt is a 1st foal of the ultra consistent Thunder Gulch mare Tor"s Dancer. She was trained by Anthony Cummings and was a winner in town who also ran 2nd on 7 occasions. This colt is that neat, strong-running type of Flying Spur that we all love - very correct with good bone.

Tully Thunder/Redoute"s Choice 08

A Redoute"s Choice filly out of the Group 1 winning Thunder Gulch mare Tully Thunder. This filly has a tonne of quality and has that walk of a super star. Tully Thunder has a couple of serious progeny on the rise, the promising Bidthemobgooday and her two year old with Peter Moody by Commands has trialed well and has a bright future. They are sure to like this filly.

Waihora"s Lass/Pins 08

Quality, that"s what they"ll be saying about this filly! From the Group 2 winning mare Waihora"s Lass (by Tights), this filly has the scope, size and strength to catch the eye. Waihora"s Lass has proved her worth as a brood mare, Legible a Group 2 winner by Zabeel was the mare"s 2nd foal. Legible proved a top race mare and like her mum, has now gone on to produce. 3YO Trusting (by Tale of the Cat), owned by Patinack Farm, oozes potential - only lightly raced, his 2nd to Denman in the Golden Rose was super and this stamped him as one of the best 3YOs of this season.

Farm Conditions Update

18mm was recorded from one heavy downpour

Player Profile

6 questions with Johnno Byrne

Place of Birth - Mackay, Queensland

Roll at Kitchwin - Farrier

Age - 34

1. Where did you go on your last holiday? Borneo

2. What is the single best thing about working at Kitchwin? Tac"s damper at Smoko

3. What mare at Kitchwin would you most like to own? Ducks

4. If you were Prime Minister what"s the first thing you would do? Three day weekends

5. Where do you see yourself in 20 years time? Starting to wind back work and sitting on the veranda drinking beer

Mick"s Question

6. What made you become a farrier and where did you gain your experience? I tagged along with a mate to a farrier school in America, I enjoyed it and went on to do a four year apprenticeship with Link Baumann.

Weekend Acceptances

FROM THE PADDOCK RUNNERS

Saturday February 20

Australia
Newcastle JC
2:00pm Race 3 Nor"east Restaurant Maiden H., A$14000 1200m
Benaura Girl (AUS) 2006 (F. by More Than Ready-Benaura Lass) - Sold at the 2008 Magic Millions Winter Sale for $200,000. First starter but trialled super and could win this on that trial. Good luck to her breeders Kitchwin.

STC
1:07pm Theraces.Com.Au H., A$68950 1500m
Shadow Minister (AUS) 2006 (F. by Dane Shadow-Zabere) - A genuine middle distance horse making her return here after a number of washouts. Don"t get on this time but watch her when she gets 2000m. Good luck to his breeder/owner Grahame Mapp.

5:40pm Race 8 Triscay S. L, A$100000 1200m
Hurtle Myrtle (AUS) 2006 (F. by Dane Shadow-Ravenswood) - Sold at the 2008 Inglis Classic Sale for $55,000. Group 1 placed and bigger plans than this. Will run well but hard to imagine being ready to win. Good luck to her breeder Grahame Mapp.

Patronyme (AUS) 2004 (F. by More Than Ready-Descendant) - Sold at the 2006 Magic Millions Sale for $70,000. She is another one of those tough consistent products of the Hills of Kitchwin. From 10 starts only missing a place once and that was a 4th. Has ran second twice at Listed level and deserves the BOLD. Good luck to her breeders the Rohans.

Macau
Macau JC
16:05 Race 5 Macau Guineas Prelude, M$400000 1400m
Vetinari - Bowl Brothers (Mac.) (AUS) 2005 (G. by Hussonet-They Say) - Passed In at the 2007 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $55,000 - a half to the champion Hasna who has won twice and seems to be getting better with age. Good luck to his breeder Carl.

16:35 Race 6 The Lai See, M$230000 1400m
Telecom Boom (AUS) 2003 (G. by High Yield-Tears for Tristram) - Sold at the 2005 William Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $135,000 - a half to Group 2 winning Danabaa - has won 6 now! Good luck to his breeder Carl.

Sunday February 21

Australia
Wyong RC
1:25pm Race 1 Bluetongue Brewery 2yo Maiden H., A$16000 1200m
Go Go Dancer (AUS) 2007 (F. by Dane Shadow-Ta Ta) - Sold at the 2009 Inglis Classic Sale for $30,000. Has shown genuine speed at her trials. Wouldn"t surprise to see her convert. Good luck to her breeders Kitchwin.

OTHER RUNNERS OF INTEREST

Saturday February 20

STC
1.47pm Race 2 Rosehill Gardens Event Centre Handicap A$70000 1200m
Conturbar (AUS) 2007 (C. by Oratorio-Rainbow Lover) - Won like a horse with a serious future at his only start. Looks to be a major go here. Well bought by his owner Bill Ouston. Good luck Troy and Bill.

Kingfisher (AUS) 2007 (C.Catbird-Memorised) - Ran an impressive first up race hitting the line hard. Her part owner Paul Manning is a very astute punter. Watch out for any market moves here as he is likely to add to his fortunes at some stage with this horse.

2:22pm Race 3 McGrath Foundation Ladies Lunch H., A$70000 1100m
Foreign News (AUS) 2006 (G. by Danehill Dancer-Breaking News) - Was very disappointing last start but sure does have ability and will likely catch us out at some stage. Good luck to his breeder/owner Grahame Mapp.

3:40pm Race 5 Parramatta Cup L, A$100000 2000m
Voice Coach (ire) 2005 (G. by Alhaarth-Drama Class) - Won three on the trot mid prep last time in. Maybe getting closer. Good luck Neil.

5:40pm Race 8 Triscay S. L, A$100000 1200m 
Silently (AUS) 2005 (F. by Anabaa-Mica"s Pride) - There is a bit of a whisper for Silently. The Kitchwin pair of Patronyme and Hurtle Murtle will have to be very wary here. Good luck to her owner John McGrath and connections.