New Website and Blog

Khamsin Warrior has his own website and new blog at http://khamsinwarrior.geraldryanracing.com.au/
New entries will be posted there except videos which will still appear here.

Another win at Kembla

KW (no. 1) wins over 1600m at Kembla on 10.10.09 with his trademark finishing burst.

Last to First at Kembla

Watch KW (No. 3) come from last soon after the jump to win running away at Kembla Grange 19.09.09.

Mr Consistency does it again

Canterbury 30.9.09
KW again performed at his consistent high standard in a race that was not run to suit him. The slow early pace set by the leader and eventual winner and the fact that he was boxed in on the rails at a stage when others were moving forward around him, meant that he was not able to make his long sustained run as in his memorable Kembla victory.

Nevertheless he fought on well all the way to the line and jockey Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins commented after the race that he felt strong beneath him and thought he could handle longer races of, say, 1800m.

As predicted there was plenty of money for him late and he started at $2.60 fav.

As always Gerald's magic touch was evident. He looked terrific and shone in the coat. He has muscled up well this preparation and Gerald is looking to races like the Winter Cup next year.

Big Day Today

Gerald describes KW's chances today as "hard to beat". Certainly on form and at the weights he is in it up to his ears.
Early market rates him a $4 chance but if Kembla is anything to go by there will be smart money late so get on early if not betting on the tote.
Win or lose, one thing is for cetain; he'll be trying. He always does. That's just one thing we love about this horse.

Canterbury - with a big chance

Accepted up at Canterbury on Wednesday 30th September 2009


3 - 2:25 FREEWAY'S GREAT STEAKS HANDICAP (3)                               
                  1550 M
Of $27000. 1st $17550, 2nd $5400, 3rd $2430, 4th $1080, 5th $540. Starter Subsidy:
$200 for non-prize earning runners. FOR Three-Years-Old and Upwards 0 - 71.
BOBS Bonus available: $10,000 Apprentices can claim. Field Limit: 10+4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No   Horse Trainer Jockey Barr  Wgt   Pen  Rtg

1    Kubrick's World  Gwenda Markwell    1  58.5    (68)
2    The Zeebac   Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes  Jay Ford  3  58    (66)
3    Super Hawk  Bill Prain  Chris Munce  6  57.5    (65)
4    Gold Mount(NZ)  Kevin Moses    4  57    (64)
5    Validated(NZ)  Bart Cummings  Peter Robl  9  57    (64)
6    Khamsin Warrior  Gerald Ryan  Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins (a3)  2  56.5  
(63)
7    Magic Eagle(NZ)  Lyndall Olson  Luke Cumberland (a3)  7  56    (67)
8    Forever Grateful  Wayne Andrews    8  55    (60)
9    Zeta  Les Bridge  Michael Palmer (a2)  5  55    (64)

Invincible Spirit hits the front

As if in tune with his son's first win at Kembla, Invincible Spirit has hit the lead in the European sire's premiership by winners with 92 winners out of 201 runners (46%).

Yeehah!

Khamsin Warriors run of bad luck finally turned today with an impressive last-to-first win in the Jim McGee Memorial Cup at Kembla Grange.

After jumping awkwardly jockey Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins didn't panic. He had been instructed to settle midfield and save his run for the straight but after the poor jump and being faced with the options of either moving forward to probably race three wide for most of the trip or easing back onto the rails to settle at the rear of the field, he thankfully chose the latter. Taylor's patience at this point had a significant bearing on the result and he deserves credit for his judgement.

He then pinched a couple of places in the middle stages of the race before asking KW for his trademark burst of acceleration coming out of the turn for home. To the delight of his owners and the punters who backed him into $2.50 favouritism, KW obliged and powered home down the middle of the track to win running away by half a length.

Time for the race was a very creditable 1.23.82 with the last 600m officially in 34.36. KW's last 600 must have been much quicker than that though, as he spotted the leader many lengths at that point in the race.

Trainer Gerald Ryan was tending his charges at Rosehill, but when told the result by phone said that since he seems to like Kembla, we'll return for another bite at the cherry in a fortnight.

The manner of the win suggests that KW will handle both longer and better class races in the future.

Kembla Grange this Saturday

Gerald has nominated KW for the Jim McGee Memorial Cup over 1400m this Saturday at Kembla Grange.

He will be ridden by Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins, who rode 52 winners last year to finish 6th in the NSW & ACT STATE APPRENTICE RIDER PREMIERSHIP. He is still a 3 kilo claim apprentice, so KW will carry only 53kgs and start from barrier 9 in a field of 11.

For the first time KW will carrythe colours of owner/breeder Eddie Cassar, who informs us that "KW’s mum, Coquette, broke her maiden over 1400m at this track carrying my same colours". An omen, perhaps?

The One that Got Away

Opinion is varied about how much bad luck viz a less than perfect ride contributed to KW not winning Wednesday's race. see results

After covering more ground than any other runner and hitting the lead briefly in the straight, he ran on well to finish only 0.7 lengths from the winner who had a far easier (and shorter) run home.

Until the starter released them however, luck was running uncanningly and uncharacteristically in our direction. Several of the fancied runners were scratched overnight and then at the barriers the hot favourite was a late scratching after dislodging a tooth on the framework. One could be forgiven for thinking that our luck had changed and this was to be OUR day.

All that changed when he flew out of the barriers a clear leader and rather than capitalize on this continuing good fortune, Tim Clark restrained him and allowed two others to take up the running. Tim was not to know that the one that lobbed in front of him would race erratically and threaten to come down in front of him.

Before you could say "here we go again" we were back midfield and being hooked five wide on the bend to grab the lead momentarily on straightening. However the effort told as two of the inside runners steadily made ground on our gallant steed to grab first and second from a far more deserving horse.

Once again KW showed dash and courage aplenty and if horses were as reflective as owners he would be in his stall right now telling Sta Volando, Melito, Blackbriar, Regal Banter et al about the 'one that got away'.

Another one for the stable.

Trainer Gerald Ryan's ability to get a horse just right was to the fore yesterday when Melito won the Furious Stakes in race record time.

For a just-turned 3yo filly to run within half a second of Grande Armee's track record she must not only be very good but very fit.

Congratulations Gerald.... and to Melito too of course.

Fleeting Spirit Second

Fleeting Spirit finished a half length second to 14/1 shot Regal Parade in the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup last night.

Trackwork Star

Gerald has KW maintaining peak fitness on the sand track at Rosehill. He worked over 1200m on both Monday and Thursday last week. On Monday he recorded 1.24.07 (last 600m in 37.91) and on Thursday ran the fastest 1200m of the morning on that surface by over 3 seconds in recording 1.22.84 (38.86).

Canterbury next Wednesday

As forecast by Gerald, KW will next start in the 1550m Maiden at Canterbury next Wednesday.

Emulating Dad

Fleeting Spirit is set to emulate her sire by winning the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup (6f) tomorrow.

From http://jeremynoseda.com
FLEETING SPIRIT looks set to take her place in the line up of the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.

The daughter of Invincible Spirit suffered a couple of setbacks which forced her to miss last month’s Nunthorpe Stakes but her trainer Jeremy Noseda believes her to be in good order now.

He said: “She will run if the ground is good or faster. We would not run if the ground was to come up soft. Ideally I could have done with another two weeks preparation for this as she has suffered a couple of setbacks since her win in the July Cup. However, I have been delighted with her work and feel with a bit of luck she can run well.”

Fleeting Spirit is currently paying about $6.60 on Betfair

The Form

Stephen, our resident form watcher, says that form around KW's last start at Hawkesbury, where he finished an unlucky second, is proving a sound source of winners.
Flying Spin (3rd H'bury) won the race that KW was scratched from today at Wyong, while his victor at H'bury won yesterday at Randwick.
That means that 1st, 3rd, 4th and 8th past the post in KW's last race have gone on to win next start.
Fingers crossed KW can continue the trend.
TIP: Stair (6th placed H'bury) is nominated for 1400m at Newcastle this Saturday.

Change of Plans

KHAMSIN WARRIOR
02/09/09
As stated yesterday he will be scratched tomorrow (Thursday) to run at Canterbury next Wednesday the 9th in a 1550m maiden.

Regards,
Gerald Ryan

Invincible Spirit still firing

Now with four crops racing in the Northern Hemisphere, KW's sire Invincible Spirit continues to mix it with the best. He is currently a clear fourth in the European sires tables by winners with 83 winners so far this year (NH year starts Jan 1). His progeny have won $2,932,838 in Europe so far this year.

In the racing year just completed in Australia Invincible Spirit finished 13th on the Third Season Sires table. He sired the winners of 37 races from 69 runners who earned $1,172,203 in prizemoney. These included I Am Invincible (pictured), who led the charge with $236,000.

Wyong next Thursday

Gerald has nominated KW for a 1600m Maiden at Wyong next Thursday.
The form around his last start looks encouraging. Encosta Fortune who finished a well beaten fourth to KW's fast finishing second at Hawkesbury, has come out and easily won the 1400m Maiden at Kembla today.

Unlucky Second...again

KW kept his Maiden staus intact with another unlucky second today at Hawkesbury.
Graham's summary is below-

A gutsy if unlucky run from KW today.

Corey apologised for the result but he was a bit unlucky getting back a bit and then not finding much room to manouvere in the run home. He ran in as a horse on his inside ran out and they bumped costing us a length and we were only beaten a neck or so.

Gerald summed it up: a good draw turned out to be a minus.

The Warrior looked magnificent and a bigger track will certainly benefit him. Kembla or Newcastle. We found a good track, a good jockey but no good luck.

Graham

Hawkesbury again; third time lucky.

KW has run twice at Hawkesbury for a third and a second and will return next Thursday in an attempt to go one better again. Gerald's notice of nomination is below and sounds encouraging.

KHAMSIN WARRIOR

14/08/09
Has trained on good since Hawkesbury, has improved, looks terrific and will run next Thursday 20th at Hawkesbury in a 1400m maiden. Corey Brown has been booked to ride.

Regards
Gerald Ryan

PROUD TO BE AN OWNER

The patience and care for the horse's welfare that owners and trainer have shown with KW over the past two years have born fruit today. His gutsy second in fast time to an obviously very good horse, is a sign that soon his time too will come.

Gerald told us many times last preparation that "Whatever he does as a three-year-old, he'll be better as a four-year-old". The Master was right again.

Some owner comments:

"It was a top ride from Tim and he was full of praise for the horse. Both he and Validated drew wide and the way they finished off was a huge thrill. Gerald has done a great job with Khamsin Warrior and Brad and the staff deserve a lot of credit for turning out The Warrior looking so well. Thank you to all who called and to Steve and David for coming out today. We may have been beaten but it was a thrill to see Khamsin flash home." Graham

"Top run and obviously loves Hawkesbury......can't wait to see him over 1600m plus. I believe we DO HAVE a serious race horse as he does PUT IN !!" Eddie

"I thought it was an outstanding performance. Graham, you have summed it up perfectly. I sent an email to Amber in Gerald's office asking her to pass on my thanks and appreciation. I think we should look around for a mid-week race at Rosehill or even Canterbury for the big guy next run. A 1300 metre there would be ideal? Take it steady is what I think. KW is a very nice horse. I too am proud." Cheers Warren.

Calling Lady Luck

A study of the stats at Virtual Form Guide for progeny of Invincible Spirit shows that most factors are right for KW tomorrow.
The state of the track, the distance, his age, weight carried, days since last run and barrier position are at or near optimal.
Now for Lady Luck to be on our side this time.

Barrier 12

KW will start from barrier 12 on Thursday. If he misses the start...again, at least he will have the option of making up ground on the outside rather than having a wall of horses cross in front of him as at Wyong.

Hawkesbury Thursday confirmed

KHAMSIN WARRIOR
03/08/09
Has trained on well since Wyong, worked extra well on Saturday morning and will run at Hawkesbury this Thursday 6th over 1200m.
Regards
Gerald Ryan

Next Thursday at Hawkesbury

Gerald has nominated KW for a 1200m Maiden at Hawkesbury next Thursday 6th Aug.
Let's hope the 4 year-old KW can jump on terms this time and break his duck.

Unlike Wyong, Hawkesbury has a good run to the turn and a nice long straight so he should get every chance.

Left at the start

There are many ways a horse can find to lose a race. One is to blow the start and that's exactly what KW did today. Jockey Jay Ford reported that he was very toey in the barriers and when the gates opened he went up more than forward and got left badly. Jay said that if he had jumped well he would have certainly been the likely winner.

His effort to work home for fifth from the tail of the field was very good in the circumstances.

Perhaps a slightly longer race on a bigger track with a longer straight will suit him better for his second start this preparation.

Stewards Comment: "Slow to begin (2L). App the 700m had to be steadied when crowded. For some distance in the middle stages had to be restrained when awkwardly placed close to heels and was unable to improve."

Some pics from today-

Light rain will not dampen Spirits

Light rain is falling at Wyong (7.30pm Wed) but is expected to only total a few mm then clear to a fine day Thursday.

The horse is fit, thanks to Gerald's care and patience; the barrier and jockey are to suit and with an ounce of luck we should be cheering Our Boy home about 1.11 pm tomorrow.

Win or lose, we are confident he'll give us a show.

Looking forward to Thursday

KHAMSIN WARRIOR
21/07/09
Accepted up at Wyong on Thursday 23rd July 2009
The horse has come along really well; very much stronger and showing a lot more speed on the track and his two jump outs have been very good. From barrier 2 he should not be far away through the run and I expect him to be very hard to beat.
Gerald Ryan

THURSDAY'S THE GO!

Earlier today Gerald nominated KW for both a trial on Tuesday and a race start at Wyong on Thursday.

Just got off the phone to Gerald: he favours a start at Wyong on Thursday.

Jockey to be confirmed but looks like we go straight in to the fray. And who better to succeed for us but A Warrior?!!

More soon,

Graham

Check out the field and form- click here

ZOOM

I got a text from Eddie. He said KW went 'Zoom' in his jump out today. I like the Z word; sounds faster than the T word we've been using lately.

Graham got a call from Gerald. He says the horse came through the jump out with flying colours this morning and Gerald was delighted with the effort.

He plans to either Trial KW on Tuesday of next week or race at Wyong on Thursday of next week. He feels that although the race at Wyong is only over 1000m he can win first up over that distance and handle Wyong. But he will make a decision and let us know when he gets back from Grafton on Friday.

That's Our Girl

If blogs had page 3's then Fleeting Spirit would have to be our Page 3 Girl.

After finishing a closing second to Scenic Blast in the Kings Stand Stakes over 5 furlongs she ran away with the Group 1 July Cup, 6 flgs, last night to undoubtably propel herself to the position of world's number 1 sprinting mare.

As a three-year-old, Fleeting Spirit won the Betfred.com Temple Stakes (Eng-G2) at Haydock Park last May and then finished third in the King’s Stand. She finished 2¼ lengths behind upset winner Desert Code in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on October 25 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

“This is a Group 1 she deserves as I feel when my horses got sick just before Ascot last year that she was robbed of winning the King’s Stand,” said trainer Jeremy Noseda, who mentioned the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Eng-G1) on August 21 at York as the next objective for the filly.

Bred in Ireland by Bernadette Hayden, Fleeting Spirit is by Invincible Spirit out of Millennium Tale, a Sir Gaylord line mare as is KW's dam.

Fleeting Spirit completed the six furlongs in 1:09.58 on good to firm turf. Main Aim finished second, and South African Group 1 winner J J the Jet Plane followed another half-length back in third.

Watch the race here and to find other Fleeting Spirit videos- click here

Update

KHAMSIN WARRIOR
09/07/09
Continues to please and do well, will have a jump out next Tuesday and may trial on the 21st or go straight to the races depending on his fitness.
Regards
Gerald Ryan

Graham reports-

Hi All
Saw The Warrior at Gerald's this morning. Couldn't fault his condition or his attitude.
He could go to a Trial on the 21st or have a jumpout and if all 100%, go to a race on the 29th at Canterbury.
Gerald will keep us informed

Graham

That T word again

KHAMSIN WARRIOR
01/07/09
Really happy with the horse. Had an easy jump out on Tuesday morning and went terrific, was strong all the way and was not knocked about. Will have another on Tuesday 14th and should be ready to race by the end of the month.
Regards
Gerald Ryan

Graham reports-

Hi All
At stables today and very pleased with what I saw: a big strapping Tough Guy who looks great and has impressed his trainer with what he is doing on the track every morning.
Gerald is delighted with him and after looking over The Big Fella I can understand why!
Gerald will keep us up to speed when a Trial looms.
Hope you are all well,

Graham

Fleeting Spirit a fine 2nd to Scenic Blast

Whilst all the hype has been focussed on Scenic Blast's win in the King's Stand Stakes, let's not overlook Fleeting Spirit's great second, beaten only 3/4 of a length.
Starting first up after 230 days off she droppped out to near last early before winding up along the rails at the 2 furlong post to almost spoil the Australian party.
Watch the race here. She starts from the inside barrier.

From http://jeremynoseda.com
FLEETING SPIRIT ran a blinder on her seasonal bow to finish second to Aussie speedball Scenic Blast in this afternoon's King's Stand.
Just as she did last year in the same Royal Ascot Group 1, the daughter of Invincible Spirit went down by three parts of a length, but she ran her heart out.
Held up on the stands' side rail, Fleeting Spirit fizzed past horses through the closing furlong and a half.
But Scenic Blast, drawn on the other side, always had the upper hand in the duel and prevailed in the end.
Trainer Jeremy Noseda said: "I can't have any quibbles - we got beaten by a very, very good horse. She ran hard to the line.

Stable Visit

Graham and Geoff visited KW at Gerald's stables last Friday and were very pleased with his development.

Gerald reports that he is "Going good".

He has obviously matured as evidenced by the fact that he has filled out, especially behind.

He still throws more to the mare's (Zabeel) side so Gerald is looking for him to do his best at 1400-1600m rather than a sprint distance.

First start this preparation is expected before he turns four on Aug 1.

Excuse the poor pose in the photo but his increased muscling is still evident.

KW is just T

Trainer Gerald Ryan, a man of few words and not prone to exaggeration, has used the T word for the first time to describe Khamsin Warrior's progress so far this preparation.

20/05/09

Settled in good, nice and relaxed and is coming up 
terrific.

Regards
Gerald Ryan

Invincible Spirit battles the big boys.

With a little over 1/3rd of the Northern Hemisphere racing year gone, Invincible Spirit has passed the $1 million barrier and now ranks 9th in the General sires list with 37 winners from 120 runners. Another Green Desert stallion, Cape Cross, leads the way with $1.7 million from 39 winners from 114 runners.

This is Invincible Spirit's first season as a fully-fledged General Sire having won or placed second in the first, second and third season sires premierships the last three years.

Fleeting Spirit to take on Takeover Target

Invincible Spirit mare Fleeting Spirit will again be a foe for Takeover Target at Royal Ascot, with plans confirmed for her to start first up in the G1 King's Stand Stakes.

Fleeting Spirit was third, a neck behind second placed Takeover Target in last year's Kings Stand, which was won by Equiano. She later ran fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (LR).

Takeover Target toppled another Invincible Spirit galloper, I Am Invincible, to land his eighth career Group 1 when taking Saturday's Goodwood.
The following report on Fleeting Spirit's progress was compiled by Racing Post:

FLEETING SPIRIT is set to make her seasonal bow in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot after connections decided to skip a prep run.

The four-year-old, who was last seen finishing fourth at the Breeders' Cup meeting, had been pencilled in for the Betfred.com Temple Stakes - a race she won impressively in 2008.

However, trainer Jeremy Noseda is happy to head straight to Royal Ascot for the Group 1 on June 16, a race in which she finished third last year.

The trainer told jeremynoseda.com: "We have had a discussion and decided to head straight to the King's Stand with Fleeting Spirit.

"We felt that as she put up such a huge effort first time out last season, we would keep her in reserve to make her first start of this season at Ascot. It is a positive decision to take that course of action.

"She has just done her first easy piece of work and I am very happy with her."

KW back at Rosehill- Gerald reports

"Arrived at Rosehill on Monday straight from Carramar Park so did no
pre-training.
Hasn't grown which he didn't need to do but has thickened and
deepened and looks well."
Gerald

Back on track

Khamsin Warrior is expected back at Gerald's stables, Ascot Lodge, this week to begin his next preparation. His owners are quietly confident that after some 12 weeks spelling in which he apparently ate for two horses, he will have grown both physically and mentally.

Last preparation he showed good speed during his races but seemed to lack the toughness to finish them off. Let's hope the now more mature KW can do it.

I Am Invincible was almost just that.

I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit-Cannarelle by Canny Lad) led the field for most of the Group 1 Goodwood in Adelaide yesterday until the class of champion sprinter Takeover Target kicked in.

I Am Invincible stole a 2 lengths break at the turn and only lost by a length in fast time to an absolute freak so his effort was full of merit and augers well for a successful tilt at some of the country's big sprints.

I Am Invincible had only once previously run over 1200 metres, as a two-year-old, when last to Meurice in the group 2 Todman Stakes at Rosehill for Sydney trainer Toby Edmonds.

The four-year-old entire has won two of his three starts for Peter Morgan since being transferred after a stint with the Hawkes stable and flew in front when he defeated Goodwood rivals Augusta Proud and Blahnik in the group 3 D. C. Mackay Stakes (1100 metres) at Morphettville on April 18.

Invincible Spirit on the boil

News items below courtesy Australian Breeding and Racing Magazine-

Invincible Spirit Adds Italian Black-Type
In Italy overnight, former European Champion 1st Season Sire & Chatswood Stud shuttler Invincible Spirit (Green Desert-Rafha, by Kris) added a black-type success when Irish-bred daughter Laguna Salada (Invincible Spirit-Flying Flag, by Entrepreneur) scored by a neck in the €61,000 (A$116,000) Listed Premio Alberto Zanoletti Di Rozzano (1800m) for 3YO fillies at San Siro in Milan. Laguna Salada (ridden by Mario Esposito for trainer Roberto Feligioni) defeated fellow Irish-breds Queen Sensazione (King Charlemagne-Sensazione, by Cadeaux Genereux) & Aloe (Fantastic Light-River Hill, by Danehill). Last year Laguna Salada won Italy's Listed Premio Coolmore (1500m) at San Siro, as well as also finishing 2nd in the Listed Premio Gino Mantovani (1500m) at San Siro & 3rd in the Listed Premio Vittorio Crespi (1200m) at San Siro. Overall she now has 3 wins & 4 placings from 8 starts.

Invincible Spirit (Green Desert-Rafha, by Kris) added a group success when front-running 4YO entire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit-Cannarelle, by Canny Lad) won the $100,000 Gr3 evright.com Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville. I Am Invincible (ridden by Jason Benbow for trainer Peter Morgan) defeated 3YO filly Augusta Proud (More Than Ready-Kadasha, by Langfuhr) & 6YO entire Blahnik (Jeune-Gift Bouquet, by King's High). I Am Invincible (a $62,500 yearling at the 2006 Inglis Classic Sale) took his record to 4 wins & a placing from 9 starts for $151,750 earnings.

Invincible Spirit (Green Desert-Rafha, by Kris) added a UK black-type success when Irish-bred 4YO gelding Staying On (Invincible Spirit-Lakatoi, by Saddlers' Hall) scored a front-running 0.75-length victory in the £40,000 (A$82,000) Listed Doncaster Mile (8 furlongs) for 4YOs & up at Doncaster. Staying On (ridden by Adam Kirby for trainer Walter Swinburn) defeated French-bred 4YO entire Unnefer (Danehill Dancer-Mimalia, by Silver Hawk) & Irish-bred 5YO gelding Dream Lodge (Grand Lodge-Secret Dream, by Zafonic). Staying On took his overall record to 4 wins & a runner-up (in 2008's UK Listed Hampton Court Stakes over 10 furlongs at Royal Ascot) from 9 starts for £111,553 (A$230,000) earnings.

Invincible Spirit (Green Desert-Rafha, by Kris) added a black-type success when 4YO entire Kargali (Invincible Spirit-Karliyka, by Last Tycoon) scored a 1.25-lengths victory in the €45,000 (A$85,000) Listed Heritage Stakes (8 furlongs) for males 4YOs & up at Leopardstown. Kargali (ridden by Mick Kinane for trainer John Oxx) defeated fellow 4YO entire Three Rocks (Rock Of Gibraltar-Top Crystal, by Sadler's Wells) & 5YO gelding Celtic Dane (Danetime-Quelle Celtique, by Tel Quel). At his previous start Kargali finished 3rd in Ireland's Gr3 Gladness Stakes (7 furlongs) at The Curragh on April 5 & overall now has 3 wins & 2 placings from 5 starts.

UK Tatts 2YOs Day-1: $484k Invincible Spirit Filly
Agent Jamie McCalmont paid 220,000 guineas (A$484,000) for a filly by former European Champion 1st Season Sire & Chatswood Stud shuttler Invincible Spirit (out of Alydar mare Tathkara) consigned by Paddy Twomey's Hawthorn Villa Stud in Ireland. The price represented a significant pin-hooking profit, having been purchased at the 2008 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 77,000 guineas (A$169,000).

Good Luck Gerald

Trainer Gerald Ryan has a great chance to win his first Golden Slipper this weekend with his star filly Melito (Redoute's Choice x Cloister (Marauding (NZ). She's a $21 chance as I write this and represents great value having won or finished second at her only three starts.

The wild card this year looks to be the state of the track. The rain is falling quite hard on our tin roof at the moment and the forecast is for more to come in the next few days. This may take the edge off speedy sprinters like More Joyous and favour those who later in their careers will be contesting an Oaks or a Derby.

Some argue that the Slipper has resulted in Australian breeders producing speedy squibs who don't race on but a soft track will make the Rosehill 1200m race like at least 100m more, so the winner this year will more than likely have a tough edge to him/her.

So best of luck to Gerald and Melito's owners. The KW team will be cheering for you.

In the money

Invincible Spirit progeny are having a good run of late in Australia. The last month has seen 19 starters in 29 races record 8 wins, 4 seconds and a third. Of the 29 starts, 22 were first five finishes.

Well earned rest

KW has succumbed to a stone bruise which was not responding to treatment and has been sent for a spell. All owners were expecting a bold showing at his sixth start but appreciate Gerald's 'no risks' approach and support his decision to end his first racing preparation rather than push on.

KW ran 4th, 4th, 5th, 5th and 3rd at his five starts and whilst still a maiden has already achieved more than many horses do in a racing career.

We are confident that when he returns he will be a more mentally and physically mature horse who proves to be a handy and hardy 'miler'.

Change of plans

KW has pulled up so well after his unlucky third at Hawkesbury it has been decided to postpone his spell and give him another chance to break his maiden status. He has been nominated for a 1400m Maiden at Hawkesbury next thursday. This will be his longest race to date and if they go a little slower early and he settles well then he may get a chance to show his stuff at the business end of the trip.

Eddie's Comment

"Saw the replay and I agree KW was stiff in not getting the run when Orphelia came out ahead of him. His 1st and last run this preparation were his best and consistent with his breeding. Mental and physical strengthening on hilly paddocks will do wonders for his large frame. It does look as if KW can run on all type of ground as well which is a bonus. Gerald has him sorted out and deserves 3 cheers! We must remember KW is VOBIS nominated so a preparation in Melbourne next time around could help syndicate play catchup in $stakes ( huge increases in prizemoney in Vic as of next month)."
Best regards
Eddie

A Good Third

He didn't win but it was not for lack of trying. KW showed more tenacity than in previous starts in coming from near the tail of the field to finish only just over a length from the winner.
The field was not strong and on form he looked a likely winner. Certainly someone thought so as they backed him in from $8.70 to $4.50 fav in the last few minutes of betting.

Graham's report summed it up nicely-

"A very good run from The Warrior today. Looked great and Gerald and Brad and the Team have done a good job with him. If he gets the run on the turn that the winner got, we win the race. Jay was a bit unlucky in that Orphelia got the run first and pushed in on us. As it was we were only beaten a length and we could have easy won by that length.

I would not be surprised if Gerald decides to give him a break now and we will have a very nice 1600m horse on our hands next prep. He is definitely a horse worth persevering with." Graham

HORSE PROGRESS NOTES

Just got this from Gerald-

KHAMSIN WARRIOR
20/01/09

Accepted up at Hawkesbury on Thursday 22nd January 2009

Does look better in himself and his work has improved, if the horse runs up to his work he'll be winning a maiden easy. After this race win, lose or draw I'd like to spell him and give him a good break of 8 to 10 weeks but will get over Thursday first.


3 - 2:25 HILLS NEWS MAIDEN HANDICAP (3)
1300 M
Of $16000. 1st $10400, 2nd $3200, 3rd $1600, 4th $800. Starter Subsidy: $200
for non-prize earning runners. MAIDEN. BOBS Bonus available: $5,000 Apprentices
can claim. Field Limit: 14+4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt
1 Kirribilli John Holgate Blake Spriggs (a3) 2 58
2 Crowd Control Brian Firth Josh Adams (a3) 4 56
3 Greenfield Rise Garry White Tye Angland 8 55.5
4 Slippery Madam Anthony Cummings Grant Buckley 3 55.5
5 Super Samaurai Tommy Wong Kanichiro Fujii 1 55.5
6 Monte Rocket Vic Bates Craig Agnew 6 55
7 Benny da Loup Terance Rae Nathan Cumberland 10 54.5
8 In Private Lee Curtis Jeff Penza 13 54.5
9 Jewel King Rod Craig Glyn Schofield 9 54.5
10 Khamsin Warrior Gerald Ryan Jay Ford 11 54.5
11 Miss Reiby Noel Mayfield-Smith Jon Grisedale 7 54.5
12 Orphelia Gabrielle Englebrecht Ms Kathy O'Hara 5 54.5
13 Paddo Princess James Bester Nathan Berry (a2) 12 54.5

Put the Moet on ice..........

Start No. 5

Khamsin Warrior's fifth start will be in a 1300m maiden at Hawkesbury next Thursday, 22nd Jan.

KW's form made look good

Khamsin Warrior's fifth at Gosford has been put into perspective by fourth placegetter Soulima, who was only just caught on the line in the $100,000 MAGIC MILLIONS 3YO+ MDN PLATE over 1200m at the Magic Millions raceday at the Gold Coast track yesterday.
Soulima beat KW by only 0.4 lenghts at Gosford so on form his time must be near.

Aussie Spirit going strong too

Invincible Spirit had a productive day today in Australia with a winner (Our Lona) and a fourth (Spirit Bay)in race 5 at Caulfield whilst Invincible Doll won her maiden at Stony Creek. A 3yo, like KW, Invincible Doll ran third, fifth and fourth before breaking through today.
Invincible Spirit has now had four winners, five seconds, five thirds and four fourths in the last month.

That's the Spirit

The Northern Hemisphere racing season has just concluded and as expected the Champion All European, third-season sire was KW's dad Invincible Spirit with progeny prizemoney totalling $4,445,159.
Invincible Spirit finished a close second to Rock of Gibraltar in 2007 after winning in 2006 in sensational fashion when he set a new world record for the most winners in his first season.
The race to become leading third-season sire of Great Britain for 2008 went right down to the wire. With days to go Invincible Spirit inched in front of Kyllachy but the son of Pivotal fought back to win by a mere $7153.
Invincible Spirit was also leading third-season sire of Ireland with $ 1,197,706 (def. Rock of Gibraltar, $697,275) and Italy with $632,694 (def. Sakhee, $586,365).
In all he produced 80 winners from 182 runners (an impressive 44%).

Spot On

Steve, your commentary is "spot on". I agree with every aspect of your summary and Josh Parr's thoughts.
Yes, Gerald wanted the shorter race to teach him to come on strong at the end and yes, I too noted the erratic last 150m.
I think Josh Parr will be an ideal rider for KW. It was the perfect ride despite KW's other ideas.
I'm very confident of the future and more so the long term future in the better longer races!!!
All the best and I hope we see another run or two before a spell?
All the best to the Group
David

Lessons from Gosford

I went to Gosford on Monday to watch KW run and I thought I would pass on a few comments. After all the stormy weather, the track was rated a slow 6 but was upgraded to a dead 5 before KW's race. His first race on a wet track was a good one (the Zabeel coming out of him). After the race, jockey Josh Parr said he was confident that KW "should have easily run 3rd". After being switched to the outside, KW was making good ground but ducked in over the concluding stages and lost all momentum. Josh said the 1100m was too short for KW: "he wanted to plod along in the straight whilst the others sprinted". It is good to note that whilst the others were sprinting, KW was able to keep up with them whilst he was plodding along as Josh put it. Josh Parr’s other comment was that he "feels like a good 1400m or 1600m horse" and he "would love to ride KW over the mile". He said KW showed him that he has the ability, he is just not getting everything right yet.

The negatives were that Josh said KW wanted to do everything at a 100 miles per hour. Josh was struggling to hold KW back when they were running down to the barriers. Whilst in the barriers, KW also got a bit worked up. Whilst he settled better this time, he didn't settle 100%. Josh suggested giving KW another couple of runs over the shorter distances for education purposes. Gerald seemed more inclined to spell him but if he recovers well, he said he might have another run.

Gerald commented to me that KW has more talent than he is showing on the racetrack so far (this seems to be justified by the comments of Josh Parr and Rod Quinn). I think he expected KW to have won a decent race by now. Hopefully he can have a one more run where he can show more of his talent. We can then spell him and bring him back after the autumn carnival.

I think Mondays race was further evidence that being ridden quietly at the beginning of the race is definitely the right way to ride him. He reminds me a bit of Sam Sung A Song (also trained by Gerald a few years ago). He needed to be ridden stone cold and if he was, he had an amazing turn of foot in the straight. With KW getting fired up very easily in his races, I think that if he is ridden stone cold out the back, he may be better prepared mentally to have a greater finishing burst. The idea being to keep him relaxed until the final 200-300m of the race. That will also allow him to get over a bit more distance eventually.

I hope to see you all in the winners stall soon... all the best for 2009!!

Kind regards,
Steve