14 To Start

Fourteen will start in KW's second race at Canberra on Sunday. Unfortunately he has drawn wide (12) and with a short run to the first turn will have to get away better than at Canterbury to take up a forward position.
Gerald has Tommifrancs and Ready to Lift engaged in the Canberra Cup so let's hope the stable can top off a great day with a good result there too.

Things Looking Up

The weather forecast for Canberra continues to be upgraded in our favour. ie less rain predicted than first thought.
What great news about Gerald's first born grandchild. As a grandfather twice over myself I can assure him it's a great time to be alive.
Let's hope his luck continues on the weekend and that KW becomes even a small blip on the radar. -Geoff

Grandpa Gerald

As you may or may not know, Warren (Wruck) and I publish Turf Monthly. As part of this we do a daily newsletter and I source a lot of the news from AAP. I posted an interesting story this morning on Gerald and his upcoming week - no mention of KW though as he is still under the radar but interesting nonetheless. - Liam

23 Nominated

Twenty three horses have been nominated for KW's race on Sunday. Check the form of the nominated runners here

Weather Watch

The weather seems to have reverted to winter, just days from the official start of summer. Rain is predicted for the next several days in Canberra but Sunday is expected to be fine. Let's hope the rain is not too heavy and the track stays ok for KW's second start.
Check Canberra's weather forecast here.

Canberra, here we come.

Just got this from Gerald-

KHAMSIN WARRIOR

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19/11/08

Has improved and done well since Canterbury. On track to go to Canberra in a maiden on Sunday week.

Regards

Gerald Ryan

Desert Wind Launches

Team Khamsin experienced a glimpse of things to come from this young 3yo. The trainer needs to be acknowledged given the gelding's focus and tracktability in his 1st race start on an unsuitable turning track. The gelding was able to race amongst,around and outside his competitors without stargazing or loss of direction which must reflect on his mental maturity as well as Gerald Ryan's good training. If the jockey had greater hands and strength Khamsin could have held the fence behind the pace rather than being asked to do an impossible and come out on the turn into the straight in an 1100m scamper: I guarantee a 2nd placing would have resulted if he was kept in the pack. There are however positives in the ride the gelding was given in so far as he had very useful lessons from Rodney Quinn which will prove to be extremely valuable in the gelding's future starts. The gelding needs a stronger jockey and a minimum 1400m race to really shine as he needs to get into his fabulous rhythm and big stride as shown in this 1st start.This is not to say a fast pace 1200m maiden win in Canberra is beyond him : far from it so bring it on. Cheers to all...Eddie

Great first run

KW's first start went smoothly with a satisfying 4th today at Canterbury.
After jumping away slowly and settling about 8th in the field of 12 he was looking for somewhere to go in the middle stages of the race. When switched to the outside, across the heels of several slower runners as the field rounded the turn, he accelerated into third before being beaten into 4th by the fast finishing King of Drift, a veteran of two previous starts.
All owners agreed with trainer Gerald Ryan that KW's effort was an indication that he will win races soon.

Photos courtesy of Liam and Turf Monthly Magazine. Click on image to see full size image

1st start coming up

Just got the news that KW came through his jumpout OK and will start next Wed, 12th Nov at Canterbury over 1100m.
KW will be ridden by Rod Quinn. He is horse number 6 and will start from barrier 5 in race 4. Post time is 3.00pm
For full form click here.
The Canterbury track is small and turning and unsuited to long-striding horses who get back. As a larger than average horse he will have to jump well and take up a forward position before the first turn to figure in the placings.
In any event it is only his first start and without the benefit of a recent barrier trial we shouldn't be overconfident.
Latest betting click here

Fleeting Spirit impresses again

Fleeting Spirit, KW's half-sister, continues to impress. Following her 5th in the re-run of the farcical Prix de l'Abbaye at the Arc de Triomphe meeting in France, she has finished a gallant fourth, after looking like the winner in the straight, in the $1,000,000 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, California.

Her jockey John Murtagh said, "She ran well. I took her inside and got through the gap. The horse on the outside (Desert Code) was just too good. She's just a 3-year-old filly. She'll be a top-class sprinter next year."

Watch the race here