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Grand Orator surges at Mornington for strong win

Grand Orator proved too strong on his home track for Mornington-based trainer Tony Noonan who is having a stellar week with his third winner in five days.

Settling at the back of the field in the Chadwick Grimmond Engineers Handicap over 1200m under New Zealand apprentice Michael Dee, Grand Orator created a few nervous furlongs for Noonan and connections.

“Coming into the turn, you’d have probably ripped your ticket up but on his home track, we knew he was capable of doing that uphill work in the straight and Michael rode him with good confidence,” Noonan said.

“He’s still only lightly raced for a 6-year-old and he’s one of the most honest workers you can find in a stable.

“It’s just a great win for Louis (Mihalyka) at Laurel Oak and his entire team.”

Grand Orator 11-02-2015

Giving the leader eight lengths at the top of the straight, Dee pulled Grand Orator out to be the widest runner upon straightening.

Once balanced up, Dee pulled for the whip 100m from home where the Grand Orator ($6) responded gallantly to produce an electric burst of speed to score by half-a-length from Spencer Street ($8) and Count The Interest ($13) in third.

The win was Dee’s second metropolitan win for Noonan from as many rides for the stable since the apprentice’s arrival in Australia.

“We watched him (Dee) a lot in New Zealand and were amazed that he could claim 3(kg) in the city,” Noonan said.

“He did the job for us on Saturday and again today so I have no doubt he is going places.”

Today’s win brought Grand Orator’s prize money earnings to $119,223 from 22 starts.

News from Tony Noonan Racing

Classic Yearling Sale Purchases

At this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Laurel Oak Bloodstock were fortunate enough to secure four yearlings.

Three of the lots secured were fillies that were purchased by clients and the opportunity could present itself later in the year for Lease Share opportunities.

The remain lot purchased was a Smart Missile colt for the Keith Dryden Stable that is currently being filled by laurel Oak and Dryden Stable clients.

Below is a brief outline of each of the purchased lots and if you would like any further information, please touch base with the Laurel Oak Bloodstock office by clicking here.

Lot 180: Bay Filly, Domesday x La Belle Chataigne, Amarina Farm – Pedigree

Lot 180 - Laurel Oak Bloodstock

The second foal from the stakes placed Catbird mare, herself a half-sister to Luskin Star’s stakes placed gelding Galileo, as well as the Rory’s jester colt Marcel. This is also the family of the Group Three winner Chez Paree, the Listed-winning, Group One placed Prophet’s Kiss and the Listed winning sprinter Juggling Time.

By Darely’s Group Two-winning son of Red Ransom in Domesday, he is a tough and consistent site, having produced the Group One winner Pressday, which was sold through the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale ring a few years back.

Lot 216: Brown/Black filly, Manhattan Rain x Lynstel, by Elusive Quality, Marquee Stud (as agent) – Pedigree

Lot 216 - Laurel Oak Bloodstock

This filly is the first foal of the winning Elusive Quality mare Lynstel, a daughter of the Listed VRC Chubb Stakes winner Sojustrememberthis, who is herself a half-sister to the dual Group Three winner Fouardee.

From a pedigree that also includes the Champion Sun Classique, and Australian bred who raced with success in South Africa as well as in the UAE, our filly is by Encosta de Lago’s Group One winner Manhattan Rain, whose progeny are highlighted by the Group Two winner Moonovermanhattan.

Lot 441: Bay Colt, Smart Missile x Surfer Rosa, by Encosta de Lago, Rheinwood Pastoral Co, (as agent) – Pedigree

Lot 441- Laurel Oak Bloodstock

This classy specimen is the third foal of the Encosta de Lago mare Surfer Rosa, a half-sister to Zabeel’s Group Two performer Sunnah, as well as a half-sister to the dam of the Group Three-winning, Group One placed Full Of Spirit and the Group Three winner Lady Cumquat.

From the family of Champions St Reims and Champagne, who between them won four Group One races, this colt is from the first crop Fastnet Rock’s Group Two-winning, Group One placed son Smart Missile, the colt who put an end to Sepoy’s unbeaten juvenile winning streak.

Lot 534: Bay Filly, Oratorio (IRE) x Aussie Enchantee, by Alhaarth, Middlebrook Valley Lodge (as agent) – Pedigree

Lot 534 - Laurel Oak Bloodstock

The fourth foal of Aussie Enchantee, who is already the dam of the ever consistent filly Doubtfilly, the winner of the Listed BRC Ascot Handicap, as well as finishing a gallant fourth in the Group One Golden Slipper of her year behind Pierro, Snitzerland and Samaready.

Swiftly Does It!

If you take a look through the Steward’s Report of Swiftly Red (Testa Rossa) you can see that she has had excuses in many of her races, but in what was a great effort, the mare finally produced the goods to win the Sale Signtorque Maiden Plate over 1205m (even though the jockey lost the whip!!)

The now four-year-old mare appears to have matured and could be back on track to show the promise that everyone always felt she has possessed.

Jumping away well from barrier 6 in the large field of 16 runners, it looked as if the Swiftly Red was going to have a hard luck story once again as she started to over race, but jockey Nick Hall managed to get her to settle and she started to travelled well once she went forward.

Getting some clear running, a gap appeared and the mare raced through it, accelerating away to hit the lead with about 150m to go before holding off Sequins ‘N’ Spice to record a nice length and three-quarter victory.

rsz_feb_15_-_swiftly_red

Trainer Tony Noon had set the mare for this race, and was reward with the win.

“With the VOBIS bonus available here, we targeted the mare at this race and it’s just a great feeling when plans come to fruition like this because we knew she had the ability to win and it was just a matter of getting her to focus.

“At the start of the prep, I was confident that she would be racing in the city by the end of this prep so I look forward to seeing her work through the grades.”

A special congratulations to trainer Tony Noon and to her patient owners; Laurel Oak Jane Syndicate (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), A N Fitzgerald, Mrs M D Turnbull, Boeara Holdings Syndicate (Mgr: Mrs D A Dunphy), D A Jeffery, Mrs C J Jeffery, Miss A L Goble, K E O’Brien, Mrs T O’brien, P W Hickey, Mrs A M Hickey, Mrs M V Horrigan, P Sutton and Mrs R C Fitzgerald.

Now that she has broken through, fingers and toes are crossed that she can continue her winning ways!

Mighty Maygrove All Class In Wellington Cup

Having always shown staying ability, as was evident by his path to the Group 1 New Zealand Derby during his Classic season, it is as four-year-old that Maygrove, a product of the Laurel Oak Zhivago Breeding Syndicate has really come into his own, having record six top three placed efforts prior to his start in the Group 2 staying contest.

By Darley’s Epsom Derby winner Authorized, out of the former Laurel Oak Bloodstock raced Zabeel mare Lady Zhivago, it was always evident that Maygrove was bred to stay, and stay he did.

MG1A narrow second last time out in the Listed Marton Cup over 2200m, the step up to the 2400m of the Wellington Cup say the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained grey started the race favourite once again, and after jumping away well from the gates, he settled just ahead of mid-field.

Challenging when it was clear he was going better than anyone else in the race, jockey Matthew Cameron allowed his mount to stride forward, and he pulled his way clear of the rest of the field to record a commanding two length victory.

“He has been very impressive,” commented Forsman.

“Even when he raced in the Derby he was a very immature horse and is still a bit immature now but he is slowly getting there.”

“He has always shown ability and we always thought he would be up to this level, it was just a matter of waiting for him and letting him do it in his own time. The key has been not rushing him and letting him come through the grades and finding soft options for him on his way through.”

When he was a yearling and going through the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales, we were actually the under bidders on the colt, but the good news for the Lady Zhivago Breeding Syndicate was that the other party was too strong at $NZ120,000, so they had a good result in the sale ring.

Currently in foal to Reliable Man, a winner of the Group 1 French Derby (2100m) and the Group 1 ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), we wait with anticipation until next Spring, where the resultant foal will have a nice and healthy black type pedigree behind it come sale time!

To view a race replay, please click on the below image.

Maygrove wins

Exciting Win by Exciting Stayer

Exciting young stayer Maygrove (Authorized) achieved an impressive first stakes victory in the $200,000 Group 2 Platinum Homes Wellington Cup (2400m) at Trentham yesterday.

Maygrove WC Trish

From the stable of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Maygrove has produced five wins from his 20 starts. The four-year-old gelding has had a stellar season, placing in seven of his nine starts this campaign including four wins with his last result running second in the Listed Gallagher Marton Cup.

“He has been very impressive,” commented Forsman. “Even when he raced in the Derby he was a very immature horse and is still a bit immature now but he is slowly getting there.

“He has always shown ability and we always thought he would be up to this level, it was just a matter of waiting for him and letting him do it in his own time. The key has been not rushing him and letting him come through the grades and finding soft options for him on his way through.”

Jockey Matthew Cameron rode Maygrove to victory after a steady start to the race with the pair going forward from barrier five. Cameron and Maygrove sat comfortably ahead of mid-field throughout the 2400m journey.

Challenging the rest of the field, Maygrove progressed forward and confidently headed for home for a two-length victory. Powering along the outside was Perfect Start (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) who took second place and She’s Insatiable (NZ) (Ustinov) finished in third position.

The son of Authorized earned $118,750 in yesterday’s victory, increasing his total stakes to $189,260 for Lib Patenga’s JML Bloodstock Ltd & P W O’Rourke.

“There are no immediate plans for him,” said Forsman. “He will go to the paddock for a couple of weeks now. There are no firm plans but the owners are keen to have a go in Australia at some point.

“We are very lucky to have the backing of Lib (Patenga) and Bruce (Perry), it is a big boost to us. Bruce buys very good horses, he does his homework and he is a good judge so you are a very good chance when you get one of their horses into the stable.”

Maygrove was purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $110,000 at the 2012 Karaka Select Yearling Sale from Haunui Farm. Haunui Farm has 13 horses catalogued in this year’s Karaka Premier Sale which commences tomorrow.

Bred by Laurel Oak Lady Zhivago Syndicate, Maygrove is out of winning Zabeel mare Lady Zhivago (Zabeel), who is a three-quarter-sister to stakes winner Zaza (Zabeel), winner of the Listed South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.

Story from New Zealand Bloodstock

Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.