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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 24, 2016 - Page 33
Observer Victorian Sport Melbourne
Showbiz Extra ■ From Page 28
Top 10 Lists
It could take two to tango
■ I feel the two yearold sprint classic, the Blue Diamond Stakes, to be run at Caulfield this Saturday, is a race in two, and both from the same stable. Top Caulfield trainer Mick Price has two outstanding colts vying for the honour, and they are the two favourites for the rich event. Extreme Choice, who has started twice for two brilliant wins, the first in Sydney in the Inglis Classic over 1000 metres winning by two lengths in easy fashion in the very good time of 56.85 seconds. He was then was produced at Caulfield scoring in effortless fashion by five lengths, ridden by top postillion Damien Oliver also over 1000 metres. Oliver then piloted another of the Mick Price runners, Flying Artie, who was drawn out very wide, and was kept out there for most of the 1100 metre trip, but when Damien Oliver went for him he showed great fight and tenacity to win narrowly, but in good style. He gave the impression that the 1200 metres of Saturday's Blue Diamond will be more to his liking than the favourite and stablemate Extreme Choice, who is yet to go beyond 1000 metres. So much so that after much deliberation, Oliver, decided on Flying Artie Chiller, feeling he would get the distance and stronger that the brilliant front runner, Extreme Choice. Flying Artie ran slightly slower that the fillies edition of the Blue Diamond Preludes, but showed plenty of strength. Of the others the filly who won her division was most impressive, likewise Concealer who came from a long way back. However it is hard to see any of the others including the fillies of troubling the top two. It certainly is a pressure race, and with Oliver aboard Flying Artie and the powerful rider Craig Newitt now taking the mount on Extreme Choice, it will be interesting to see who will give in first. All along I have
NEW RELEASE AND RE-RELEASE CLASSICS ON DVD THIS WEEK: None Listed for This Week.
Ted Ryan
● Extreme Choice Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
been very impressed with the way Extreme Choice went about his business, but his trainer, Mick Price, said that Flying Artie could be stronger over the longer 1200 metres. There is not much between them in the markets. I have tossed and turned and still I am not too sure, I can't split them, my advice, back both, they could run one-two.
Winx of an eye
■ Champion race mare, Winx, proved once again she will be a force to be reckoned with, whatever race her trainer, Chris Waller, decides to set her for. She started off her new year in racing with a strong win in the Apollo Stakes over 1400 metres at Randwick beating another very good mare, Solicit. Winx was racing for the first time since her record breaking win the Cox Plate last
October at Moonee Valley. She will now be set for the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes. A $230,000 purchase from the Coolmore Stud Draft at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Cast Yearling Sale she has now earned $ 3,781,925 in stake earnings with 10 wins and three sec- breeders, trainers, onds from her only 16 owners and international buyers coming starts. for all parts of the globe after there ever elusive champion like Black Caviar. One particular ■ The time honoured yearling caught my Inglis Premier Year- eye from Blue Gum ling Sales will swing Farm. Lot 66, a bay colt, into action on Sunday February 28, the next beautifully bred by top day, and finishing on sire Exceed and Excel March 2 at their mag- from the brilliant race nificent Oaklands mare, Innovation sales complex near Girl. Innovation Girl Tullamarine Airport. A total of 150 lots won ten races and was will, go under the ham- impeccably bred by mer from 12 noon on the great sire, RubSunday, on Monday iton, from another February 29 sees lots good race mare in 151-362 enter the sale Bright Gleam and ring and the final day throws back to the March 2nd Lots 363- champion American sire, Northern Dancer. 755. If you are looking The sales are extremely popular with for a great day out
Inglis sale
● C Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 [Animated/Comedy/ Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Mel Brooks]. HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 - 3D [Animated/ Comedy/Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Mel Brooks]. MR. ROBOT: Season 1.
NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: THE ODD COUPLE (2015): Season 1. MYSTERIOUS CITIES OF GOLD: Complete Collection. TIM MINCHIN: Box Set. MOUNT EVEREST: Collector's Set. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GRIZZLY ADAMS: Season 1. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GRIZZLY ADAMS: Season 2. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRE: Season 8. THE WIGGLES: Wiggle Town. PETER RABBIT: Brave and Strong. APOCALYPSE: STALIN. QUANTUM LEAP: Season 1. SEAQUEST: Season 2. THE LOOK OF SILENCE. BORN TO FISH: Collector's Set. ROSS NOBLE: Nobleism. ROSS NOBLE: Unrealtime. ROSS NOBLE: Things. MR. ROBOT: Season 1. - James Sherlock ■ From Page 28
Double Blind
● Flying Artie Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
Racing Observer
drop out to Oaklands and catch all the action, with eating areas and bars, to, keep you happy as you wander around the magnificent complex.
heading for the Karrakatta Plate after his rich win at Pinjarra. Later in the evening Singapore based owner, Constance Chang, also went to $ 135,000 to secure the Snitzel■ A pair of colts Royale Harvest colt shared the top billing from Amelia Park on the opening day of Racing and Breeding. the Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sales at Belmont. The youngsters by first season sire, Your Song, and proven ■ In recent times a champion sire, number of racing perSnitzel, both sold for sonalities have passed $135,000 during a ses- on. First Marie sion in which slight increases were re- O'Brien, the wife of corded across the the late Frank O'Brien, who was the board. The action started course caller and on early in proceedings the ABC for many when Lot 3, the Your years. John Baker, a long Song half-brother to recent Magic Millions serving foreman with Western Australian Greg Eurell,passed on two year-old classic and now Gavan winner, The River, Bourke, of the famous was sold to Trevor Bourke family in Pakenham. Andrews. All particularly The colt offered by Western Australian good friends over Breeders Alliance will many years, may they join the stable star, The rest in peace. - Ted Ryan River, who is now
Magic
Sad news
■ The group dynamics was tight and they each brought their own personality to the piece. I found Alisdair’s speed test with the metronome particularly amusing. Amber’s final solo showed her incredible strength as a performer. Kyle and Alana added their own styles to the mix and it all worked. Stephanie captured the subject matter with expert use of the music and sound designed by Robin Fox. I particularly loved the use of lighting in the final sequence, but Bosco Shaw’s lighting design worked well throughout. Costumes by Harriet Oxley have the dancers wearing the best-looking hospital style clothes, confirming the ‘experiment’ atmosphere. This was a great collaboration which this reviewer would like to see more of in the future. - Review by Lyn Laister ■ From Page 24
Sulky Snippers
■ Cudgee part-owner/breeder John Meade has for years had a handy trotter or two and may have unearthed another in 4-Y-0 Great Success/Diamond Insitu gelding Sparkling Success which produced an unbelievable performance to land the 2Construct Trotters Final for T0 & T1 class over 2240 metres at Melton on Friday. Coming off an eye catching third at Terang a week earlier, Sparkling Success galloped away from gate two as the starter despatched the field, settled a "mile" off the leader Mister Chisholm. Still a long way back racing for the bell, Sparkling Success gave chase in the back straight on the final occasion and despite being very wide approaching the final bend, rattled home in the straight to score a runaway 1.4 metre victory over Annies Life and the favourite Belts which assumed control mid race. The mile rate 2-02.5. ■ Ardmona's Donna Castles has a terrific record at Swan Hill and added another winner to her tally there when 6-Y-0 Our Sir Vancelot/MisTeq mare Eliska scored in the HR Products Hunter PGP Pace for C1 class over 2240 metres in 2-00.4. Bottled up three back along the markers from gate four, Eliska rattled home along the sprint lane in the shadows of the post to register a 1.9 metre victory over One Golden Day which raced wide from the bell and Jimbaran which followed the runner-up home. - Len Baker