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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - Page 53
Melbourne
Observer Victorian Sport
Vinery stud stallion hits home ■ Vinery Stud Shuttler stallion, Congrats, opened his account with a couple of winners in the USA. Congrats (USA) has been a leading juvenile sire since capturing the North America first-season title in 2010. He also finished in the Top 10 for the second and third-season premiership despite a dramatic drop in numbers in those crops. Numbers have not been a problem for Congrats since relocating to Kentucky off the back of several Group One winners in his first two cropsCongrats covered more mares in his first Kentucky season than any other US sire, these progeny are now 2 year-olds. Congrats (A P Indy) began his stud career in Florida before moving to Kentucky after being crowned champion freshman sire in 2010 (9 per cent SWer's to runners and 89% w/ r's). His current two year-olds are the first crop bred at Vinery's Kentucky headquarters. In Australia earlier this year, Congrats had his first yearlings sell to $100,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions with David Payne,Aquanita Racing, and David Hayes purchasing young ones. His top priced Easter Graduate was a colt bought by leading trainer, John Hawkes for $120,000. Congrats has sired 33 stakes performers in his first three crops and his winners-torunners strike-rate is in the stratosphere at 73 per cent. Congrats has covered a full book in each season at Vinery and will stand for a $22,000 (including GST) fee this year. Our special thanks to Conor Phelan from Vinery for the update.
Winning formula
■ News that top filly Zanbagh has been transferred to Pat Payne's stables here in Victoria was music to the ears of the popular trainer. Zanbagh formerly trained by leading late trainer Guy Walter was moved down to
Ted Ryan
VRMA news ■ There will be a number of changes for the H.A.' Bert Wolfe' Awards this year. In the past the judges have selected a media representative for their all round contribution over the preceding 12 months. For 2014, the award will be judged on applications only. The closing date is August 1. The winner will be announced on Sunday August 17, as part of the Scobie Breasley Medal Night presentations. The Best Story/ feature awards will be announced at the Media Day along with the 2013-2014 Personality of the Year Luncheon. An interesting move by the Victoria Racing Media Association as instructed through the RVL that all media passes for the 2014-15 season
will require a photo ID. The Annual General Meeting will be on Friday August 25.
Well done ■ Congratulations are in order to one of the most popular racing men, Les Carlyon, for his Award of a Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Order of Australia. Well deserved as former Editor of the Herald Sun and a prolific writer of many a great book, not only in horse racing, but on the wars especially his book on Gallipoli and the First World War.
To the fore ■ Some interesting figures have come to light regarding the racing industry regarding the help for the community. ■ It engages close to 72,000 people as employees, volunteers, or participants, ■ Up almost 22,000 since 2006. ■ Almost 63 per cent of these participants live in eegional Victoria. ■ There are more than 50,000 owners connected with thoroughbred racing, and almost 10,000 horses being trained by more than 1000 trainers. ■ 1748 breeders and 3769 breeders’ staff are involved as 3336 foals are born each year. Who says the racing industry doesn't put in?
■ From Page 46
Top 10 Lists
HANNAH ARENDT [Drama/Janet McTeer, Alex Milberg]. THE LEGEND OF HERCULES [Action/Drama/ Scott Adkins, Kenneth Graham]. NEW & RE-RELEASE CLASSICS ON DVD HIGHLIGHTS: None Listed For This Week. NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: TRUE DETECTIVE: Season One. ORPHAN BLACK: Season 1. ORPHAN BLACK: Season 2. SOUTHLAND: Season 5. TOM AND JERRY: No Mice Allowed. LONGMIRE: Season 2. WRESTLING QUEENS. MAJOR CRIMES: The Complete 2nd Season. ANGRY BIRDS TOONS: Volume 2. DORA THE EXPLORER: Dora in Wonderland. BABY LOONEY TUNES: Baby Bugs.
● Zanbagh Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
Pat's stables after Guy's wife, Wendy, who took over his stables for a short time of his death found it too much to handle. All Guy's horses have gone to other stables as well. Zanbagh is a huge pick-up for Payne as she has run second in two Oaks second in last year's Victoria Oaks at Flemington and second recently in the Australian Oaks.. An ideal stayer, Zanbagh could be an ideal Cup horse. Payne rode several horses for her owners, the Tait family, hence the move.
Showbiz Extra
● Patrick Payne Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
TOP BLU-RAY RENTAL & SELLERS: 1. 12 YEARS A SLAVE [Drama/Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o]. 2. MANDELA: Long Walk to Freedom [Biography/Drama/Idris Elba, Naomie Harris]. 3. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET [Drama/ Crime/Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill]. 4. LAST VEGAS [Comedy/Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline]. 5. LABOR DAY [Drama/Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin]. 6. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS [Drama/Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman]. 7. BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR [Romance/Drama/Adele Exarchopoulos]. 8. FROZEN [Animated/Adventure/Comedy/ Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad]. 9. GRUDGE MATCH [Comedy/Drama/ Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Alan Arkin]. 10. SAVING MR. BANKS [Comedy/Music/ Drama/Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson]. Also: Stalingrad, Robocop, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Philomena, Winter's Tale, Nymphomaniac: Volume One, August: Osage County, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, American Hustle. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK: TRUE DETECTIVE: Season One. NEBRASKA [Drama/Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb]. OUT OF THE FURNACE [Drama/Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck]. 3 DAYS TO KILL [Action/Drama/Kevin Costner, Amber Heard]. THE LAST DAYS ON MARS [Thriller/Elias Koteas, Goran Kostic]. WOLF CREEK 2 [Horror/Thriller/John Jarratt, Shannon Ashlyn, Ryan Corr]. NYMPHOMANIAC: Volume 2 [R18+/Drama/ Charlotte Gainsbourgh, Willem Dafoe]. THE LEGEND OF HERCULES [Action/Drama/ Scott Adkins, Kenneth Graham]. TRUE DETECTIVE: Season One. - James Sherlock
Sulky Snippets
● Congrats
■ Long Forest duo Andy and Kate Gath snared the 1st Super Sires Heat for the Trotting Fillies with Endsino a daughter of Angus Hall and multiple classic winner Jauriol in a rate of 2-09.4. Settling five back the markers after drawing inside the second row, Endsino had moved to face the breeze at the bell before dropping to trail the pacemaker Val Gardena in the final circuit. Taken outside the leader on the home turn Endsino finished strongly to register a 3.8 metre victory in advance of Val Gardena and Hush Your Majesty from last who is a stablemate of the winner. ■ With Redwood Day (July 20) fast approaching - there are still vacancies available on the MACHRA Coach tour to the big day. For $70, you will receive return coach travel, a 3 course lunch, afternoon tea, admission and a racebook. Call (0401 679745) should you be interested.
Page 54 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 25, 2014
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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - Page 55