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Playing By The Rules

Mar 29, 2024

Our Racing Manager, Emma Reeves, aids us with programming and identifies who she thinks is the best placed horse each weekend. Hawaii Five Oh, Saturday 30th March, Rosehill Gardens, Race 6: I was tempted to go with a couple of my old friends in Serpentine and Anode but they aren't perfectly weighted with one or two of their rivals so I'm going to cast my net a little wider and go with Hawaii Five Oh. This is a better example of us having to be flexible with a long range plan versus one following the script beautifully. Last preparation he was a revelation as a sprinter and did an incredible job against the best weight-for-age sprinters in the country. This time in he has simply returned a little dourer so rather than start him last week in the Group 1 The Galaxy over 1100 metres, he begins his campaign here. This is the most winnable level he has raced in since this time last year so if he brings his recent form, and that's the million dollar question, he won't be beaten.

Playing By The Rules

Mar 8, 2024

  Our Racing Manager, Emma Reeves, aids us with programming and identifies who she thinks is the best placed horse each weekend. So United, Canberra, Sunday 10th March, Canberra Cup: I’m extremely excited about the two-year-olds, the return of Red Resistance and don’t give up on Jon Bon, but I had to go with So United this week. I should start by saying that there might be a percentage of bias in this one though I am trying to bring it back to the black and white facts. Every year around July and August I start to think about some of the less obvious possible Magic Millions contenders that are currently in work. They’re often older, consistent Saturday class horses, whereas the glossy two and three-year-olds aren’t hard to find. In August of last year So United had been in work for a long time was almost always running top four but I felt a spell was on the horizon so after speaking with Gai, Adrian and David Mourad from Blueblood Thoroughbreds, we devised a Magic Millions plan. As I’ve said before, few horses stick to the plan because they’re living, breathing animals and we need to react to each individual but for whatever reason, things seemed to go perfectly to script with him. He won his first Saturday race and the preparation culminated with a win in the $1mil. Magic Millions Subzero. That might not sound as exciting as winning a Golden Slipper but for my role, these are what make it all worthwhile. So United is one of only four horses in this Canberra Cup field of 11 who’s suitably weighted according to his handicap rating and with these older, exposed stayers, I do think that’s quite relevant. Each of those horses, excluding So United, are also nominated for Randwick the day before so keep an eye on the scratchings at 7.30am Saturday morning. Two of those three finished 1-2.5 lengths behind him in the Parramatta Cup which isn’t a large margin but So United was first up off a freshen in the paddock and only one trial, so I expect there to be more improvement in him. The final one of the three is dropping back from finishing fourth in a Caulfield Cup which is certainly eye catching, but he is first up. So United hasn’t won at this level but we have so much success in this race and I think this is his opportunity.

RSVP: Tulloch Lodge Yearling Parade at Evergreen Stud

Feb 21, 2024

Our not to be missed annual Tulloch Lodge Yearling Parade is set for Friday 8th March at 11am followed by 1pm lunch at Merewether Surfhouse. This is a great opportunity to meet first hand the Magic Millions, Karaka and Classic yearlings we have shares available in, with Adrian, our bloodstock team and our breaker Johnny Butler on hand to talk through each of them. Last year at the corresponding event we paraded eight yearlings for existing owners: STORM BOY (Justify x Pelican) - $3m Magic Millions winner and current Group 1 Golden Slipper favourite SHANGRI LA EXPRESS (Alabama Express x Sent From Above) - winner of the $1m Golden Gift and Kirkham Stakes and third favourite for the Group 1 Golden Slipper SHIVERMEPINK (Zoustar x Pretty In Pink) - Close second to Too Darn Lizzie in a trial a week ago, will trial again before racing in the Autumn. SHANGRI LA SPRING (Castelvecchio x Opportunity)- looked sharp in his jump-outs before a spell. Returns to the stable with a view to racing through the back end of the Autumn and Winter. I AM A ROCKSTAR (Fastnet Rock x I Am A Star) - trialled for the first time with a nice 2nd placing a fortnight ago. He has since been spelled. A horse to follow, looks progressive. CAPITALIST X ESPAANIYAH colt - he had a set back in January. Showed good speed before that. Returns to work in the Autumn.  PARIS TYCOON (Written Tycoon x Paris Match) - jumped out last preparation before a spell. Returns to work later this month. Expect to see more of her this preparation.  INVINCIBLE DUCHESS (I Am Invincible x Ben's Duchess) - returns to work later this month. Has been well educated, just physically has not been ready to trial in earlier preparations.  As you can see, attending this parade can be very worthwhile, and the group of 8 are still relatively unexposed so who knows what other race wins we can add to the CVs of these current 2YOs over the next 12 months.  VIDEO: Skip to 8.57 to hear what Adrian and Bruce had to say at last year's parade about STORM BOY in the video below. Date Friday 8th March Time 11am - Yearling Parade at Evergreen Stud 1pm - Lunch at Merewether Surfhouse   Address Evergreen Stud 2163 Pacific Hwy, Heatherbrae, NSW, 2324 Merewether Surfhouse  5 Henderson Parade, Merewether, NSW, 2291 RSVP for our 2024 Tulloch Lodge Yearling Parade to Emma Coleman at ecoleman@gaiwaterhouse.com.au by Wednesday 28th February. Please also note if you would like to join us for lunch overlooking the famous Merewether Beach (pro-rata cost per head).

Playing By The Rules

Feb 16, 2024

Our Racing Manager, Emma Reeves, aids us with programming and identifies who she thinks is the best placed horse each weekend. Jon Bon, Saturday 17th February, Newcastle, Race 6: Very difficult one this week with the Carnival starting to heat up so I thought I’d use the opportunity to give the Jon Bon story that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. I would imagine that few people were expecting to see him salute over 1200 metres on debut against the older horses, myself included. I saw it as a starting point with a view to get him over further but that win prompted us to spell and geld him, enabling us to get the timing right for the ATC Derby. Last year’s Derby winner, Major Beel, was a similar style of horse so we used his autumn program as a blueprint. Jon Bon began in the very same race this preparation and while it wasn’t the same result, we learnt a few things. Firstly, we’ve added blinkers to keep him focused and sharpen him up and secondly, he has completed some intensive barrier work. We also took him to the Randwick races on Wednesday to stand in the tie up stalls, simulating a raceday experience. Our goal is to bring his pre-race energy levels down so every ounce of energy is reserved for his race. Yes, he races older horses which is tough, but I just think that these additional ingredients combined with the step up in trip should see him be much more competitive.

Playing By The Rules

Feb 2, 2024

Our Racing Manager, Emma Reeves, aids us with programming and identifies who she thinks is the best placed horse each weekend. Lady Of Poise, Saturday 3rd Feb, Caulfield, Race 1: My story is on repeat at present, but these three-year-old fillies seem to be winning in Melbourne week after week so I’m sticking with it. A $150,000 3-Year-Old Fillies Benchmark 70 Handicap just wouldn’t exist in Sydney; you wouldn’t even find one for half the money at the midweeks. We’re therefore often forced to run these winning fillies against older mares, and that’s if we’re lucky and those contests exist, so these races we’re heading south for are much more winnable. Lady Of Poise is first up here, unlike Power Ballard and Very Sewreel, but again if you had asked me to create the race conditions for this filly, this would be it. While he doesn’t fit quite as perfectly as Lady Poise, I wanted to give a special mention to Jon Bon. We’ve purposefully timed his preparation to mirror Major Beel’s from this time last year. He kicked off in this Class 1 Handicap over 1300 metres, beating none other than Everest contender Hawaii Five Oh before he too came under our care, then went on to win the Group 1 ATC Derby two months later. Jon Bon is first up over a distance short of his best and races older horses, but I’m hopeful that he could be an interesting story that unfolds.

Descarado Partnership Departs For Karaka

Jan 22, 2024

Our inaugural Descarado partners depart for Auckland on Thursday for a fun filled few days on the land of 'the long white cloud', and there is still room for a couple or two to join us. We have two opportunities available in our $600,000 raise for three middle distance NZ-bred yearlings in our Descarado Partnership, with a trip to Karaka part of the fun and experience on the following itinerary: Thursday - Arrive in Auckland, check-in and settle into our Viaduct accommodation. Friday - Waiheke Island day trip including lunch, followed by dinner in the Viaduct. Saturday - Karaka in the morning to see some horses, enjoy some world class vendor lunch, and then back to Auckland to prepare for the Karaka Million twilight races at Ellerslie. Sunday -  Karaka for the first day of selling. Partners can leave in the evening or stay on for Day 2 of selling before flying home.  New Zealand bred racehorses have long played an important part in the success of Tulloch Lodge, and our team is excited to be back on the Karaka grounds in 2024, after missing the last three additions due to COVID and the big storms last year that flooded Auckland airport. Through our inaugural Descarado Partnership, we aim to attend the 2024 Karaka Sale well armed with $600,000 in funds to be spread across three of the best middle distance prospects we can find to win our owners a Guineas, Golden Eagle, a Derby, or one of our many rich Cups races in Australia.  We know they will be there, New Zealand breds excel when it come to races over 1600m and beyond, and between us, we have been the beneficiary of a Caulfield Cup and Caulfield Stakes (Descarado), an Australian Derby (Major Beel), a Brisbane Cup (Tullamore), The Metropolitan (Te Akau Nick, Dress Circle, In Joyment & Herculian Prince), an AJC Oaks (Coco Cobanna), a Queensland Oaks (Zacheline), a Randwick Guineas (Carnegie Express), a Sydney Cup (Linesman), a Ranvet Stakes (Electronic and Stony Bay), and a Vinery Stud Stakes (Shower Of Roses) among others. In recent times a steady stream of trophies from the Kiwis in our stable has continued to flow. Since 2020, Major Beel won the Group 1 ATC Derby, Never Been Kissed the Group 1 Flight Stakes, Cross Talk the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes, Raf Attack the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes, Goldman the Listed Roy Higgins Stakes, Tilianam the Listed Lonhro Plate, and Riodini last year's $1m Gong.  MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT Today we were given even more reason to attend Karaka 2024 with New Zealand Bloodstock and the New Zealand TAB announcing a new slot race. Named 'THE NZB KIWI', the NZ$3.5m race over 1500m will be contested for the first time in March 2025 and will be restricted to NZ bred or NZB sold 3YOs. This marks another $1m+ race on the calendar for our Karaka 2024 purchases to potentially contest in 2026. For more information, please click here: Descarado Partnership To confirm your share in our inaugural Descarado Partnership, or register your interest in our Karaka purchases, please contact our Bloodstock team: Claudia Miller - claudia@gaiwaterhouse.com.au or 0422 545 990 Emma Coleman - ecoleman@gaiwaterhouse.com.au or 0474 161 041 Bruce Slade - bruce@kestrelthoroughbreds.com.au or 0400 505 238 Happy Racing, Adrian and Gai

Playing By The Rules

Jan 19, 2024

Our Racing Manager, Emma Reeves, aids us with programming and identifies who she thinks is the best placed horse each weekend. Power Ballard, Saturday 20th January, Flemington, Race 4: I’m heading down a similar path as last week with us sending a three-year-old, city winning filly down to Flemington to race her own age group having raced consistently well against older, more seasoned mares in Sydney. The cherry on top this week is that this race is against three-year-old fillies. In addition to that, it was published as a benchmark 78 but the highest rated horse is 70 and she has been allotted 60kg, so it is now a three-year-old fillies benchmark 70 handicap which couldn’t be more perfect for Power Ballard who has a rating of 65. Again, similar to last week, my query is sticking at the same distance fourth up as our horses tend to naturally stretch out in trip to different degrees but speaking with Gai and Adrian, this filly might just be an out and out speedster. On form it looks as though she is going a month between runs, but she had a jumpout at Flemington two weeks ago, Victoria’s version of a trial, so don’t let that deter you. This may also be in her favour, helping her remain fresh for the 1100 metres again. If you’d asked me to create the perfect race conditions for this filly, this would be it to a tee with the added bonus of it being worth $150,000, so she has to be my best placed horse of the week.