09/04/16
LIBRAN2nd in the SCHWEPPES SYDNEY CUP (GROUP 1 HANDICAP) (3YO+) (TURF),
02/04/16
LIBRAN
SCHWEPPES CHAIRMAN’S HANDICAP (GROUP 2) (3YO+) (TURF), Randwick, AUS
(3yo+) 1m5f Good To Soft
£90,099.01, £29,702.97, £14,851.49, £7,425.74, £2,970.30, £1,485.15, £1,485.15, £1,485.15
TOP jockey Brenton Avdulla described Libran as “my little champion” after the promising stayer continued his winning momentum at Royal Randwick yesterday.
Libran scored his third successive feature race win when he wore down his rivals to take out the Group 2 $300,000 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m).
Despite Libran’s narrow winning margin, he was impressive enough to retain favouritism for the Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m) next Saturday.
“He’s my new favourite horse this bloke,’’ Avdulla said. “This year I’m very grateful Chris has given me the opportunity to ride such a talented stayer. I’ve been with this horse from day dot and he progressively just gets better and better, he’s attitude is getting better and better and today he went like a dead set two miler.
“He’s a little marvel, he’s my little champion at the moment.’’
The Chairman’s was run at a pedestrian pace early and the overall winning time was eight seconds outside the course record.
Zac Purton on Café Society turned the staying test into a sprint home and Libran, shouldering 58kg and conceding weight to all his rivals, was left a little flat-
But Libran continued to grind away, slowly gaining momentum before finishing strongly to win narrowly and impressively.
Libran, winner of the Randwick City Stakes and Manion Cup at his previous two starts, escapes a penalty for his Chairman’s Handicap win and drops 6kg to 52kg for the Sydney Cup.
Trainer Chris Waller has a powerful entry in the Sydney Cup next Saturday with Libran and stablemate Who Shot Thebaman joint favourites at $3.50 with 6 rites at ovutrites e Babtaurt oersire ChriDespite the narrow winning margin, Libran did enough to retain Sydney Cup favouritism at $3.50 with stablemate Who Shot The Barman. Another Waller-
“Libran gets a big drop in the weights for the Sydney Cup,’’ Waller said. “In a few of his runs he has raced a bit keen over shorter distances so the key is to switch him off which he did really well today.’’
Libran is now on track to join Marooned (1986), Major Drive (1987), King Aussie (1990), Linesman (1997), Henderson Bay (2002), No Wine No Song (2008), Jessicabeel (2010) and The Offer (2014) as winner of the Chairman’s Handicap-
18/03/16
Libran (Highclere Racing) winner The 2016 NE Manion Cup, Rosehill, GROUP 3, Aus(photo right by Steve Hart)
What the jockeys said
RESULT
Video
Jumping odds on favourite after defeating a number of the same opposition he faced on Saturday when winning the Randwick City Stakes, Libran didn’t disappoint with the gelding a two length winner of the Irresistible Pools Manion Cup (2400m).
Whilst somewhat wayward over the final stages, the UK import was still a class above placegetters Café Society and Another Cocktail.
“I would just like to see him switch off more again that’s now the big thing towards the Sydney Cup hence the reason we will probably run again in the Chairman’s the week before the Sydney Cup,” Waller said.
In the small field hampered by scratching’s, the son of Lawman was able to settle in the one out one back position for Avdulla.
“When I was there and was able to pop off down the mile I was always in control. I had to slow him down at about the 1000m because I was always going so well,”Avdulla said.
He produced a strong claim outside the lead on straightening and once stoked up was able to sprint strongly to win by two lengths on Cafe Society with Gallante a ½ length of him in third.
“He has probably got a bit more dour in him, Chris is starting to pour the work into him. He (Chris Waller) is a top class trainer and there is just a sense of timing about him. He is on the limit (weight) in the Cup and he was pretty good today, ” Brenton Avdulla said.
The Sydney Cup is due to run on day two of the Championships at Royal Randwick on April 9 for which Libran now the $3.50 favourite with tab.com.au.
Libran (Highclere Racing)
March 5th 2016
Sydney Cup now for Randwick City Stakes winner Libran
(Libran, sky blue, black cap, holds off the challenge of Allergic, blue, to win the Randwick City Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart)
English import Libran stamped himself as a definite Sydney Cup contender with a tough win in the Listed $125,000 Girvan Waugh Randwick City Stakes (2000m) at Randwick today.
Libran, sky blue, black cap, holds off the challenge of Allergic, blue, to win the Randwick City Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Libran, sky blue, black cap, holds off the challenge of Allergic, blue, to win the Randwick City Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller will give Libran one more run in the Group 2 $300,000 Schweppes Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick on April 2, the first day of ‘The Championships’ before confirming a start in the Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick seven days later.
“The writing has been on the wall that he is a promising stayer and today he got the job done,” Waller said.
“The second horse Allergic is pretty smart and he held him off late when he made a late challenge and it was good to see.”
“I’ve said to the owners that we will settle for the Chairman’s Handicap. It might be a bit obscure, it’s the week before the Sydney Cup.”
“It is all good to dream about ‘The Championships’ races, Sydney Cups, Queen Elizabeths, realism is you can miss out on them too.”
“So we will get some good prizemoney along the way. The Chairman’s is a really good race, it is the first day of ‘The Championships’ and if he won that he is a Sydney Cup chance.”
Libran was having his third run back from a spell and winning jockey Brenton Avdulla had him travelling smoothly back on the fence in fourth spot for most of the trip before easing over the heels of the leader Beyond Thankful.
Avdulla was left in front a long way from home but the $3.90 second favourite was able to hold off the late challenge of the $2.70 favourite Allergic to score a long head win.
Maurus ($7) ran on well for third, a further three lengths away.
Hugh Bowman on Beyond Thankful ($17) made sure it was a solidly run race when he set up a commanding six lengths lead in the middle stages, but the topweight with 59kg faded in the straight to be a well beaten eighth.
Avdulla has been with Libran for his three runs this campaign and will stick with the five year old who has been weighted on 50kg in Sydney Cup.
FUll Result
Hey Mr (previouslry Dr Phibes)
Now racing in New Zealand, Dr Phibes is successful for his new trainer Emily Holmes, winning on June 7th 2014
View Result
View race win video
We wish him every success.
Cool Luke
2008 b g Piccalo –
Previously owner by Guy Reed, Cool Luke was exported to Sweden, he has gone on to win 2 races at Taby in 2012/13 for his new trainer Ryszard Borko
June 26th 2013
Red Dancer previously named Elnadancer took the Wyndham Handicap at Happy Valley, Hong Kong, HK$ 950.000
He was a credit to the yard and please that he is fulfilling his new owners expectations.
March 10 2013
Silver Ying formally Silver Blaze takes his second win this year.
Winning the Kreta Ayer Hcp at Sha Tin over 1800m for a $950,000 prize
Silver Ying previously won the Siu Lek Yuen Handicap at Sha Tin over 1800m, $950,000 on February 2nd
Hong Kong Form with video
Uramazin 2006 bay colt Danehill Dancer – Uriah (Acatenango)
Name changed to (King Dancer)
A winner in 2008 of the European Breeders’ Fund Maiden Stakes at Nottingham before being sold abroad.
Winning the Mercedes-
April 21st 2012
Supreme Flight won the Dedication to the Community Stakes Handicap, HK$900,000 at Sha Tin (winner HK$513,000 –
Supreme Flight (name changed from Silver Trees) was sold to Hong Kong after winning at Haydock on his debut in 2010, then finished second in the Acomb Stakes, GP2. Supreme Flight is now trained by A T Millard
January 2012
LOUKAS landed a valuable allowance race at Santa Anita,
A promising juvenile who had lost his maiden tag on second asking at Ayr, was then sold to race in the USA. He had made his debut there a couple of months later, in the coveted Norfolk Stakes Gr.1, where he had finished an honourable fifth. This victorious 2012 return shows the bay colt is back on top of his game, winning the $58,000 Allowance by a comfortable length and a quarter.
Tarkheena Prince
2005 b g Aldebaran (USA) (9.9f) — Tarkheena (USA) (Alleged (USA) (11.6f))
German form with video
A 4 time winner before racing in Germany and taking the Hamburg-
Prince Kalamoun 2005 ch g
Desert Prince (IRE) (9.2f) — Grenouillere (USA) (Alysheba (USA)
Hong Kong Form with video
Won 3 races before being sold to Hong Kong. Trained by Sean Wood he went on to take Macau-
Val Benny 2004 B M Val Royal (Fr) –
American Form with video
Winner in England of the European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes at Ayr in 2006 before going on to take the Miesque Stakes (Grade 3) (Fillies), Hollywood Park, Blue Nother Stakes (Fillies), Santa Anita, Senorita Stakes (Fillies) (Grade 3), Hollywood Park, Honeymoon Breeders’ Cup Handicap (Grade 2) (Fillies) (Turf) , Hollywood Park,
Formal Decree capitalizes on lead 25/10/08
American Form with video
ELMONT, N.Y. –
Formal Decree seized control of the 1 1/8-
“When I was turning for home, I was extremely happy –
Other wins incude, Strawberry Burrah Stakes, Belmont Park, Dubal Al Rashidiya (Group 3) (Turf), Nad Al Sheba, Sahm Trophy (Handicap) (Turf), Nad al Sheba, totesport Cambridgeshire (Heritage Handicap), Newmarket, Blandford Bloodstock Joss Collins Stakes (Heritage Handicap), Newmarket, Dixons Renault Handicap, Pontefract, Pontefract Irish Night Monday 12th June Handicap, Pontefract
