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.