From The Paddock

Farm Produce - From the Paddock to the Big Stage

This Saturday sees 3 of Kitchwin"s paddock graduates competing for $1.25m in prizemoney.

Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow) takes on the super filly More Joyous in the Group 2 Surround Stakes. The 1400m will help Hurtle so will any rain and whilst it may seem an impossible task the word is that if More Joyous doesn"t bring her A game, Hurtle will be set to ensure she will pay the price.

Patronyme (More Than Ready) is chasing back to back stakes victories in the Wiggle Quality over 1400m. She will be up against a quality field but if she can get a relatively cosy run from barrier 9 then back to back wins are on the cards.

Shellscrape (Dane Shadow) looks to bounce back after the mysterious failure in the William Reid 3 weeks agao by heading back to his favoured Flemington in the Group 1 Newmarket. Barrier 18 of 19 might actually be a stroke of luck and to win a race like this is precisely what every horse needs.

These three horses sold for a total sum of $165k. They have won a total sum of $890k and this Saturday they have the opportunity to add $1.25m or part there of. Who said there is no money in farming - ask the buyers of this particular farm produce if they agree?

This Weekend"s Smokey?

Kitchwin, a team of clients and well-regarded bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills, huddled up last year to import a last start Group 1 winning son of Southern Halo (sire of More Than Ready) - Snapy Halo (ARG). He is from a Group 3 winner and a half to two other Group 1 winners plus 3 other stakes horses, so a serious black-type family ensures he is a stallion at stud somewhere when he finishes racing in Australia. The success of More Than Ready also adds serious weight to his stallion credentials.

Whilst he has taken some time to get a grip on racing in Australia, trainer John O"Shea is now quietly confident we will see a good performance in his Australian racing debut in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup over 1300m. Snapy has run some extremely impressive times in his career to date and if he can replicate these here in Australia, then the $26 being offered by bookmakers on Saturday will be a one off event. Look for some speed to be on and if so...let it rip Snapy!

The Wombat"s Whisper

Bart"s Other Cup

Quote of the week; Peter Moody on branching out with his own licence; "I decided it was time to stop polishing other peoples.......trophies, and start polishing my own"

Some say that the VRC Derby is the best days racing of the year....I reckon the Mackinnon horses are a bit tired post the Cox Plate and the Derby is too long at that time of year. Only 3 heroes have emerged from that race in 20 years - Mahogany, Elvstroem and Efficient. Super Saturday is an altogether different proposition, it has equal or better racing and half as many people, the Wombat will have Group 1 access to "Bart"s Bar" and the bookies!

When we think of Bart, we think of Melbourne Cups, he has only won 12 of those. The great one has won 13 Australian Cups, and despite the stable losing So You Think and Viewed I think that Sirmione has a huge shot at making it 14. The Encosta gelding loves Flemington, he won this race in 2008 and this is hardly a vintage field.....Or is it; Heart Of Dreams...Peter Moody last night said "The Aust Cup" just sneaks up on you too fast post the Spring Carnival. He is a legend and from a Guineas point of view he said that Set For Fame is the only horse that can work with Black Caviar!!! When they first worked he knew they were both good OR there was a huge tailwind! I think that it would be a tragedy if Denman gets beaten, BUT from the barrier he will have to lead or sit one back and he may be a sitting shot "at the clock tower". Hopefully McEvoy has been reading the Peter Cook "Flemington diaries". I also love the look of Linton, he is out of a Centaine mare and may make my comments on Galileos look a little silly. I REALLY love the look of Hanks, Moody would not mention him last night, is that a tip? Nah his best will be in Sydney, he has come on as a type since winning the Vase and as a type he was second best only to Denman at Caulfield.

When you think of QLD in the 80s three names come to mind; Lewis, Skase and Semipalatinsk. The descendant of Noholme ruled in the Cambooya sun siring just under 500 winners of over 1700 races. He is the dam sire of All Silent and despite a terrible trial early in the week, he will be hot on Shelly"s heels 5 lengths from home, HOLD ON SHELLSCRAPE!......Lisheenowen the dam of All Silent was also the dam of "Wonder Woman" - Private Steer she was a great sort in the enclosure prior to her Stradbroke victory. It looks a little like rain here and that means "Turffy" will be showing us his usual cheek, could Super Sat be a family affair for the Cummings"?

One last thing....Shocking is 3 from 3 at Flemington, so I have mentioned every horse with a chance but we need a winner!!! On Sunday, Blacks A Fake lines up for his 5th Interdominion Final....Incredible.

Good luck all!

Easter Yearling Highlights

Cap Juluca/Commands 08

This outstanding filly has a terrific presence who is extremely strong throughout and very correct. Commands has been a great sire to date and continues to climb the banister with top fillies such as Purple (Qld Oaks Gr1), Russeting (Winter Stakes Gr1) and this season"s 2YO Demanding Miss (3rd Magic Millions) etc.

Ducks/Starcraft 08

Wow!!!!!!!

Graceful Devil/Fastnet Rock 08

By sire sensation Fastnet Rock who is on fire, sees this lovely forward individual with a striking physique. A first foal from the winning Thunder Gulch mare Graceful Devil will see this quality colt have many admirers.

Player Profile

6 questions with Michael Malone

Place of Birth - Sydney

Roll at Kitchwin - Manager

Age - 36

1. Where did you go on your last holiday? Weilmoringle Surfing

2. What is the single best thing about working at Kitchwin? The momentum

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

4. If you were Prime Minister what"s the first thing you would do? Make owning a race horse mandatory

5. Where do you see yourself in 20 years time? Kitchwin

Steve’s Question

6. If its true that a firebug shouldn"t buy shares in a matches factory - why did you buy a share in a pub? Because I don"t have a drinking problem unlike the author of the question!

Weekend Acceptances

FROM THE PADDOCK RUNNERS

Saturday March 6

Australia
2:12pm Race 3 Surround S. Gr.2, A$150000 1400m
Hurtle Myrtle (AUS) 2006 (F. by Dane Shadow-Ravenswood) - Sold at the 2008 Inglis Classic Sale for $55,000. Is a high class horse trying to beat the blue blood of Australian racing. Considering the different backgrounds and where she has come from, it is a credit to her (and also Dane Shadow) if she gets close. Good luck to her breeder Grahame Mapp.

3:42pm Race 5 Wiggle H. L, A$100000 1400m
Patronyme (AUS) 2004 (F. by More Than Ready-Descendant) - Sold at the 2007 Magic Millions for $70,000. Won the listed Triscay last start but did get an easier run on the speed than she will here. If she can overcome this she is likely to compete at Group 1 level this Autumn. Good luck to her breeders the Rohans.

Newcastle JC
12:35pm Race 1 Gerrard Murphy Plumbing Maiden, A$14000 900m
In My Shadow (AUS) 2007 (F. by Dane Shadow-Jenny"s Paddock) - Sold at the 2008 Easter Broodmare Sale for $10,000. Won her trial - tough field and who knows really. Good luck to her breeders Kitchwin.

VRC
2:35pm Race 6 Newmarket H. Gr.1, A$1000000 1200m
Shellscrape (AUS) 2006 (C. by Dane Shadow-Kisma) - He beat Starspangledbanner home last time they met after facing the breeze all the way. This time meets him 3.5kgs better off but Starspangledbanner is 8-1 vs Shelly 25-1. If you can forgive last start you would think he can win this. Good luck to his owner\breeders Geoff and Mary Grimish.

OTHER RUNNERS OF INTEREST

Saturday March 6

AJC
12:55pm Race 1 Munro Family H., A$68000 2200m
Strike One (Gb) 2004 (G. by Danehill Dancer-Intellectuelle) - The word is he wins . Good luck Neil.

3:42pm Race 5 Wiggle H. L, A$100000 1400m
Silently (AUS) 2005 (F. by Anabaa-Mica"s Pride) - This distance will set to see her closer than the Triscay. If replicates old form she can win. Good luck to her part owners John McGrath and team.

5:03 pm Race 7 Liverpool City Cup Group 3, A$125000 1300m
Snapy Halo (ARG ) 2005 (C . by Southern Halo-Esnaola ) - A new country a new lingo and 7 months since his last start Group 1 victory - should make this a bit hard first go but his track work has been very encouraging of late . Place bet only might be the go? Good luck to the Snapy team!

Centennial Park (NZ) 2005 (C. by Thorn Park - Trephina) - Centennial looks very well placed here following impressive last start Expressway. Well bred and hard to beat. Good luck to his owner John Cordina.