Article from: Sunday Herald Sun
Tony Reed and Rod Nicholson
March 22, 2009 12:00am
CAULFIELD trainer Mick Price and jockey Craig Newitt clinched the Adelaide Group 1 double yesterday with wins in the Australasian Oaks and Robert Sangster Stakes.
And adding to his golden run in big races, Price also celebrated the victory of Heart Of Dreams in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill.
Smart filly Gallica ($2 fav) won the 2005m Oaks and now will head to Sydney for the AJC Oaks and maybe the Derby.
The absence of champion filly Samantha Miss because of injury makes the Sydney carnival a nice option for the quality stayer by Redoute's Choice. Gallica, last-start winner of the Kewney Stakes at Flemington on March 7, easily accounted for the Lee Freedman-trained Estee ($5).
Newitt's venture to Adelaide was great compensation for not heading to Sydney yesterday.
His regular mount, Heart Of Dreams, was ridden to victory by Damien Oliver, who is the regular rider for Gallica.
Newitt completed the double for Price in the Sangster Stakes (1200m) when Bel Mer ($8) stole a big break on the turn and hung on for victory.
The two $300,000 Group 1 victories took Price's wins in the elite company to 14, as he becomes one of the major players in Australian racing.
Newitt, who lost his father, Guy, in a car crash earlier this month, has been riding in outstanding form, as his partnership with Price bears fruits.
Bel Mer, who drew barrier 13, in the Robert Sangster Stakes was aiming for a first-up win.
The four-year-old mare held on to win by a length from $101 chance Hidden Wonder, with strong-finishing Impressive Eagle ($31) a further long neck away, third.
Bel Mer had always shown she had talent - she ran second to Weekend Hussler - and although reasonably consistent, Price believed the mare had often peaked too soon.
"I probably had made the blue in the past of running her in a race like this with a run under her belt," Price said.
"When we came over here last year, she had had enough. We did our homework and decided to set her for this race first-up."
Price sharpened her for a Group 1 tilt with a four-length trial win over 800m at Cranbourne on March 10, with her scorching over the distance in 44.29 seconds.
He admitted being concerned when Newitt took the mare to the front early in the home straight saying: "She only has a sprint of about 200m and she took the lead 300m out. Fortunately, once she got there, she held on well."
Price said he would now stick to a similar plan and freshen Bel Mer to have her ready for another Group 1 attempt in the $350,000 The Galaxy (1000m) at Randwick on April 11.
Another milestone was created when Bel Mer won Bel Esprit's 1st G1, it was the 100th win for his 1st crop
Group 1 Breakthrough For Bel
Story By Nathan Exelby
Saturday, 21 March 2009: Australia's busiest stallion of 2007 landed his first Group 1 winner when top mare Bel Mer proved too speedy in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville.
A $110,000 Magic Millions graduate, Bel Mer was specifically set for the race by Mick Price, who was aiming to capitalise on the four-year-old's outstanding fresh record.His meticulous planning was rewarded with the Group 1 win.Bel Mer is from the stakes winning At Talaq mare Drop Anchor and her second dam Marine Park (Sir Dapper) was also a Listed winner.The four-year-old is now the winner of four races in 16 starts for earnings of almost $600,000. Bel Mer had showcased her Group 1 credentials as a spring three-year-old, when running second in the 2007 G1 Ascot Vale Stakes - splitting Weekend Hussler and Scenic Blast. That race has proven a handy form reference!Price has a good affinity with progeny of Bel Esprit, also preparing the top class mare Vivacious Spirit.Bel Mer and Vivacious Spirit are among four career stakes winners to date for Bel Esprit – each of them of the fairer sex and each from his first crop.Bel Esprit is one of the great fairytale stories of Australian racing this decade.Deemed to have too many faults as a yearling, Macedon Lodge snapped him up for just $9000 at the 2001 Inglis Classic Sale.He became Melbourne's best two-year-old, winning the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes, before training on at three to land a second major in the Doomben 10,000. Retired to Eliza Park Stud at an initial fee of $18,150, he has covered books of 100+ in each of his six seasons to date, with his fee rising to $33,000 last year.He covered a massive book of 266 during the EI affected 2007 season, with another 110 mares visiting him last year.
Group 1 Double For Newitt
Saturday, 21 March 2009:
Jockey Craig Newitt put a testing couple of weeks behind him with a Group 1 double at Morphettville today – winning both the Schweppes Oaks and Robert Sangster Stakes for the Mick Price stable.
Newitt, who tragically lost his father Guy in a car accident just three weeks ago, partnered the classy Gallica in the Schweppes Oaks who proved a class above.But half an hour later, Newitt was at his brilliant best as he steered Bel Mer ($8.00) across from her wide gate to sit just off the pace, before hitting the front at the top of the straight and setting up a winning break.While she tired late, the mare had enough in hand to score a first-up win over longshots Hidden Energy ($100.00) and Impressive Eagle ($31.00).Newitt declared Price a genius following the win, having specifically set the speedy mare for a first-up tilt at the race.“Mick Price is an absolute genius,” Newitt said. “She can only run 1200m when she's rock hard fit and he trained her up for this first-up. Once we got over she had a lovely run and it was all over from there.“I always believed she had a Group 1win in her – it was only a matter of time.”It was a great day for Newitt, who scored a winning treble having earlier won on Cerberus Gal.Price said Bel Mer, a Vinery Stud owned daughter of Bel Esprit, had been difficult to place as she possessed a very sharp but equally short sprint.It was a personal triumph for Price, who had run the mare in the race last year but she was well held when pulling up lame. She was also well beaten at her only other start at Morphettville in last year's Goodwood.Despite her poor record at the track, Price remained adamant the race, restricted to fillies and mares, was the ideal target for Bel Mer and tuned her for today's assignment with an easy Cranbourne trial win.“We specifically wanted her at her top first-up,” Price said. “There's no improvement in her but there doesn't have to be. “She hit the front very early and I was worried because she only has a short sprint but she's got the group 1 win on her CV now.”
Newitt, who tragically lost his father Guy in a car accident just three weeks ago, partnered the classy Gallica in the Schweppes Oaks who proved a class above.But half an hour later, Newitt was at his brilliant best as he steered Bel Mer ($8.00) across from her wide gate to sit just off the pace, before hitting the front at the top of the straight and setting up a winning break.While she tired late, the mare had enough in hand to score a first-up win over longshots Hidden Energy ($100.00) and Impressive Eagle ($31.00).Newitt declared Price a genius following the win, having specifically set the speedy mare for a first-up tilt at the race.“Mick Price is an absolute genius,” Newitt said. “She can only run 1200m when she's rock hard fit and he trained her up for this first-up. Once we got over she had a lovely run and it was all over from there.“I always believed she had a Group 1win in her – it was only a matter of time.”It was a great day for Newitt, who scored a winning treble having earlier won on Cerberus Gal.Price said Bel Mer, a Vinery Stud owned daughter of Bel Esprit, had been difficult to place as she possessed a very sharp but equally short sprint.It was a personal triumph for Price, who had run the mare in the race last year but she was well held when pulling up lame. She was also well beaten at her only other start at Morphettville in last year's Goodwood.Despite her poor record at the track, Price remained adamant the race, restricted to fillies and mares, was the ideal target for Bel Mer and tuned her for today's assignment with an easy Cranbourne trial win.“We specifically wanted her at her top first-up,” Price said. “There's no improvement in her but there doesn't have to be. “She hit the front very early and I was worried because she only has a short sprint but she's got the group 1 win on her CV now.”
MAGIC MILLIONS - BEL MER GIVES PRICE AND NEWITT A 'MAGIC' DOUBLE
Media ReleaseFor immediate release
Bel Mer made it a magical Group One double for trainer Mick Price and jockey Craig Newitt when she won the $300,300 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville today.
The daughter of Bel Esprit, who earlier in her career was Group One placed behind reigning Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler, shot well clear at the top of the straight and then easily held out a crack field for a deserved big race victory.
The win was the second by a Magic Millions Yearling Sale graduate in a Group One race on the card that was trained by Price and ridden by Newitt.
Just over half an hour earlier they teamed up to win the Australasian Oaks (2005m) with the Redoute's Choice filly Gallica.
At the post Bel Mer ($9-$11-$8) held a one length margin over the Sangster representative Hidden Energy ($101), a long shot for Paul Gatt and David Hayes .
Another long neck back in third place was the fast finishing Impressive Eagle ($31) for locals Chad Lever and Leon Macdonald.
The favourite Absolut Glam ($3.20) wound up in sixth place - 2.3 lengths from the winner.
"It's a long straight here for a horse like her," a red hot Mick Price said.
"She hit the front at the top of the straight which was a little bit of a concern because we think she's got a 250 or 300 metre sprint on her."
"But she was there and she hung on and she gets a Group One on her name."
"It's fantastic for Craig and Vinery and all of the guys - it's super!"
"I couldn't be happier."
Price said the key to her victory today was the fact she was nice and fresh for the Group One feature.
"We sort of messed things up with her in a couple of the big races," he added. "Probably by having her raced into the (main) races."
"I spoke to (senior part owner) Peter Orton and we specifically wanted her tuned to run her first up."
"She had a couple of trials at Caulfield and one at Cranbourne to get her ready to go."
"There was no improvement in her - but there didn't have to be."
Bel Mer, who cost $110,000 from the draft of Eliza Park at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, boosted her earnings to $588,950 following today's win.
A beautifully bred galloper and the first Group One winner for her sire Bel Esprit, Bel Mer is one of the country's most valuable broodmare prospects.
She is one of five winners from the Sandown stakes winning At Talaq mare Drop Anchor.
Drop Anchor in turn is a daughter of the Flemington stakes winning Marine Park.
Bel Mer made it a magical Group One double for trainer Mick Price and jockey Craig Newitt when she won the $300,300 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville today.
The daughter of Bel Esprit, who earlier in her career was Group One placed behind reigning Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler, shot well clear at the top of the straight and then easily held out a crack field for a deserved big race victory.
The win was the second by a Magic Millions Yearling Sale graduate in a Group One race on the card that was trained by Price and ridden by Newitt.
Just over half an hour earlier they teamed up to win the Australasian Oaks (2005m) with the Redoute's Choice filly Gallica.
At the post Bel Mer ($9-$11-$8) held a one length margin over the Sangster representative Hidden Energy ($101), a long shot for Paul Gatt and David Hayes .
Another long neck back in third place was the fast finishing Impressive Eagle ($31) for locals Chad Lever and Leon Macdonald.
The favourite Absolut Glam ($3.20) wound up in sixth place - 2.3 lengths from the winner.
"It's a long straight here for a horse like her," a red hot Mick Price said.
"She hit the front at the top of the straight which was a little bit of a concern because we think she's got a 250 or 300 metre sprint on her."
"But she was there and she hung on and she gets a Group One on her name."
"It's fantastic for Craig and Vinery and all of the guys - it's super!"
"I couldn't be happier."
Price said the key to her victory today was the fact she was nice and fresh for the Group One feature.
"We sort of messed things up with her in a couple of the big races," he added. "Probably by having her raced into the (main) races."
"I spoke to (senior part owner) Peter Orton and we specifically wanted her tuned to run her first up."
"She had a couple of trials at Caulfield and one at Cranbourne to get her ready to go."
"There was no improvement in her - but there didn't have to be."
Bel Mer, who cost $110,000 from the draft of Eliza Park at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, boosted her earnings to $588,950 following today's win.
A beautifully bred galloper and the first Group One winner for her sire Bel Esprit, Bel Mer is one of the country's most valuable broodmare prospects.
She is one of five winners from the Sandown stakes winning At Talaq mare Drop Anchor.
Drop Anchor in turn is a daughter of the Flemington stakes winning Marine Park.
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