Jockey rewarded for lean week

A punishing week for Jake Bayliss had its reward at Ellerslie when he partnered On the Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) to victory in the G2 Rich Hill Mile.

The Matamata jockey had to waste hard to ride the 4-year-old at 52.5kg and his dedication paid off handsomely when the entire proved too strong for Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

“I said I would give it my best shot and it’s really worked out for me,” Bayliss said.

“I’m surrounded by great people and it’s been a lot of hard work. Basically, I’ve been a vegetarian for a week.

“I really wanted to ride him, he’s one of my favourite horses.”

On The Rocks, who won last season’s G2 Avondale Guineas at Ellerslie, is trained by Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard.

“It was a great ride by Jake who has wasted pretty hard for the ride,” Moroney said.

“Pam has done a great job with this colt and I did want to take him to Australia, but we decided to leave him here.

“He’ll go to the Thorndon Mile and be saved from Australia at this stage. He’s not very big, but he’s got a giant stride on him.

“He had bone chips going into the Derby, although he was still free as a bird, but the firm ground found him out and we took the chips out after it.

Beach work pays off

A change in training regime was instrumental in the upset victory of Prince Jabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G3 Pencarrow Stud City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.

In the colours of breeders and part-owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the 5-year-old showed his staying ability with a dogged win for trainer Lance Noble.

“It’s amazing,” Lindsay said. “We thought he had a chance, but gosh, he’s just won easy, I can’t believe it.

“We sent him over to Moira Murdoch’s at the beach last week and it obviously works. I think I’d better go there for a week myself.

“That’s the third stakes winner for the mare which is so exciting.”

Prince Jabeel is out J’Adane (NZ) (Danehill {USA}, who was placed on seven occasions at stakes level including a runner-up finish in the 2007 G1 Kelt Capital S.

J’Adane is also the dam of Group 3 winners Von Tunzelman (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ})and Sherrif (NZ) (High Chaparral {IRE})..

Noble was delighted with the result as he looks ahead to a two-mile challenge for his charge.

“It’s amazing to be able to do that for Brendan and Jo and the whole team,” he said.

“It’s a big team effort so to get a win on a day like this is fantastic.

“He’s a 2400-metre to 3200-metre horse that we are trying to get to the Wellington Cup and this race set-up for him to be honest.”

European does it in a canter

Naval Warfare (IRE) (Born To Sea {IRE}) has opened his black-type account with an effortless win in the Listed New Year’s Day Cup at Randwick.

He is yet another example of trainer Chris Waller’s success with imported European stayers.

“He is in his second preparation with us,” he said. “He did race in the Brisbane Cup as a colt. He is now a gelding and a happier horse for it.

“It's nice to win big races, but he is an example of the horses who keep the system going.”

Rider Corey Brown had Naval Warfare behind the leaders and stoked him up 600 metres from home.

He lengthened stride and had the race won a long way out, eventually coasting home by six-and-a-quarter lengths.

“I ran second to him at Warwick Farm on a soft track,” Brown said.

“On top of the ground he was electric for the last 600 metres. He put them to the sword and really lengthened on top of the ground.”

Import creates an impression

Schabau (GER) (Pastorius {GER}) has made a sparkling Australian debut at Flemington with a runaway win in the George Watson H.

Trainer Robert Hickmott prepared G1 Melbourne Cup winners Green Moon (IRE) (Montjeu {IRE}) and Almandin (GER) (Monsun {GER}) and he was also with owner Lloyd Williams when Efficient (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) was successful.

Hickmott is planning a light summer campaign with a view to the spring and the Melbourne Cup for Schabau, who won three times up to 2200 metres in his homeland.

“There's plenty of improvement in the horse,” Hickmott said.

“That was his first Australian start and he can bounce off that and I'm sure he's got a bright future.

“We'll probably keep him to 2000 metres, maybe 2200 metres, and maybe give him two or three more runs and tip him out in March and get him back for the spring carnival.

“I'd like to set him for the Bart Cummings and if he can win that, that gives him a free ticket into the Melbourne Cup.”

Last-gasp chance for Lubuk

Promising colt Lubuk (I Am Invincible) will be one of a host of 2-year-olds entered in a last-ditch effort to make the Magic Millions Classic field through a race at the Gold Coast.

Trainer Chris Waller's Queensland manager Paul Shailer said the colt would most likely contest the Clan O'Sullivan H. at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Lubuk will have to claim the $61,000 first prize to make the Magic Millions field on Saturday week.

“I think he can make a Group horse, but the Magic Millions might be a bit too soon for him as he is still immature,” Shailer said.

“But if he makes the Millions field he will obviously run in it.”

The Gold Coast Turf Club has been rewarded for increasing the prize money for the Clan O'Sullivan to $100,000 with 30 entries.

Super effort from 3YO

Classic aspirations are held for the technically unbeaten Super Gee (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}).

The 3-year-old was a winner on debut only to be relegated to second and he made no mistake at Ellerslie on Tuesday where he beat the older horses in the Mainstream Plumbing & Gasfitting special conditions maiden.

“He’s a bit special. He just needs to mature in the head a bit more and I’d like to think he’ll be back here for the Derby,” said Chris Gibbs, who trains the gelding in partnership with Michelle Bradley.

Super Gee is also eligible for the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, having been purchased out of Haunui Farm’s 2017 Festival Sale draft for NZ$10,000 by an ownership group that includes the Singapore-based Donna Logan and former New Zealand Olympic equestrian representative Blyth Tait.

He is a son of Arctic Heights (NZ) (Johar {USA}), who was successful on two occasions, and it’s the family of the G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Caulfield Cup winner Viewed (Scenic {IRE}) and G1 Telegraph H. winner Adventador (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous).

Haunui will offer a half-brother, Lot 1008, by Showcasing (GB) during the Book 2 session at Karaka later this month.

Super Gee raced midfield on the fence and willingly pushed his way into the clear in the straight to officially break his maiden.