2010 REDWOOD CARNIVAL - A Day to remember
28th July 2010
Mid July each year in the middle of winter, Australasia's only all Trotting Carnival is run. Of course Down Under 90% of races contested are for pacers as opposed to the square gaiters. The "Redwood Classic" is a standing start Group 1 event for 2 year old trotters and this year marked its 25th running but the all trotting carnival has only been around for 15 years. It was only 12 years ago that an extra day was added to make it a 2 day carnival with 18 races in total up for grabs.
The Redwood carnival has developed into a must for every trotting enthusiast from all over Australia and New Zealand and many people make it an annual event. Since its inception, Redwood Day has grown into the most sought after Classic for the baby trotters and for the last 6 years, the oldest Blue Riband Classic in Australia, the Group One, 3 year old trotters Derby is also decided on the same day. This ensures the absolute best young trotters are on display for all to see. Being a virtual all "trotting" stable we also look forward to being a part of the action and for all trainers and owners just to have a runner during the carnival is a big thrill.
The first day of the carnival kicked off on Friday the 16th of July and the features on day one are the "Gold Bracelet" for 3 year old fillies and the "Matchmaker Mile" for mares. The stable had 5 runners engaged on the first day and after our first runner finished a struggling 7th we were hoping things would improve but having 2 runners in each of the features, we knew it wouldn't be easy. As it turned out, things did improve and in a big way. We were able to not only win both features but we were able to quinella both. A notable training achievement. I had to be content with running second in both with Chris Jnr taking the driving honours on the day.
On Sunday, the second day of the carnival, the racing really hotted up which was more than we could say for the weather. The stable had 8 runners on the day, unforunately none in the Redwood but our 2 star fillies, "Good Thanks" and "Jingling Silver" would take on the boys in the Derby. The day started well with our 2 year old filly, Aldebaran Breeze, leading all the way to win the Redwood Consolation. It was her second win in a week and being a filly that we bred it was extra special. She is by ill fated super sire and race horse, Windsongs Legacy, one of only 2 bred in Australia and a future Aldebaran Park broodmare.
Next to race was Aleppo Sunrise, a 4 year old Sundon gelding having only his 2nd start for us. Ten days earlier he created a big impression when winning a heat of the Carisbrook Racecourse Trustees Handicap by 16 metres. After an early bit of a break he was able roll to the front with a lap to travel and won as he liked. Aldebaran Illusion with Jnr aboard ran a nice race for 4th in the same race. It was a good result for me as it meant I was back on equal terms with Jnr on 2 wins apeice. The Maryborough Trotters Cup was the next feature on the 10 event card and our sole runner was Kyvalley Mirage. He was able to work to the front with 1700 metres to travel in the 2690 metre event and held on to win by a narrow margin in a very strong field. Driven by Jnr, it meant he got his nose back in front in the driving award. After that came the Free for All in which we had 2 runners engaged, Kyvalley Mac and Andy's Favourite who won the "Redwood" back in 2005. Kyvalley Mac went well and finished a good second.
This brought us to the biggest event of the day - the "Derby". In my opinion it is one of the hardest races of all to win, of any class or age. There is always one or two of the best "Kiwi" horses over and of course the best 3 year olds from all over Australia are there as well. Our 2 fillies were going well but considering only 2 fillies in the last 20 years had been able able to win it and beat the boys, history was against them. Having already trained 3 winners for the day we were on a roll though and to the delight of all concerned, "Jingling Silver" was able to upstage the boys and sprint lane to victory. It was a gutsy effort to run down the boys at the end of 2690 metres even after a nice trip.
Silver as she is known around the stable was bred and is owned by Margaret and Kelvin Davies. There son, Paul has been working for us for nearly 2 years and up until about a month prior, Paul and Kelvin had done all the work with her and had only transferred her to me for the Derby assault. It was the "Davies" family biggest success in trotting and just reward for a lifetime of involvement in the industry.
The win of Jingling Silver was the stables 4th for the day, a massive result considering only twice before had anyone been able to train more than one winner on the day, such is the level of competition. It also meant it was the stables 6 th win for the carnival and of the 5 features contested we were able to win 4, amazing. A terrific team effort and you can read all about them on the Staff profiles page. Silvers win also meant I pipped Jnr on the post for driving honours, nothing like a bit of in-stable friendly rivalry!
Redwood Day was not just about seeing the best trotters race but also on parade were the best trotting stallions. Sharon and the team from Aldebaran Park Stud next door had there 3 stallions on hand to give everyone the oportunity to see her "equine" boys. This included our home grown stallion, "Aldebaran Yankee". the Hambo heat winner, "Eilean Donon", and of course our Super Star and first season sire, "Skyvalley. The interest for the stallions was huge and Sharon and the team did a grand job of parading the "boys". You can read all about them by following the links to Aldebaran Park.
So after not only our most successful Redwood Carnival ever but the most successful carnival ever by a stable, we are still celebrating. Jingling Silver's win in the time honoured Derby was our eighth Group One victory for the season and our fifth individual Group One winner for the season also. Our best result ever, and........... Lets hope its not over yet !!!!!!!
It's All "Good Thanks"
22nd May 2010
On our quest for more Group 1 glory, (this time the NSW Trotters Oaks), at 1.am on a chilly late autumn morning, myself and my number 2 man, Paul Davies loaded our respective Oaks hopefuls onto the horse float and headed off into the blackness of the night bound for Sydney. Some six and a half hours later we arrived at the stables of Richard and Darren Hancocks at Pheasants Nest, where our 2 fillies would spend the day relaxing in a paddock before loading back onto the float for the 1 1/2 hour journey into Harold Park, Sydney's premier track.
Good Thanks, my filly, a lovely S J Photo filly had drawn perfectly in barrier 1 on the tightish 800 metre circuit. This meant she would start a short priced favourite at $1.40, a bit short for my liking but after an early tussle to hold the front she cruised to a fairly comfortable victory. Pauls filly, Jingling Silver who had finished 3rd in the Group 1 Vicbred final at her last outing draw out wide in number 6. Although she got a good run and was well driven, she didn't handle the track that well but was still able to finish 4th.
Good Thank's victory gave the stable its 3rd Group 1 victory in as many weeks and the seventh one this season so far. Our best ever result and the 4th individual Group one winner. With 3 months of the season still to come and a lot of major juvenile classics looming, hopefully we can build on this figure further. It is again a great testament to the team at home for the job they do as they keep delivering the results. You can read all about them on the staff profiles page.
On a different note, its hard to believe that it was this time a year ago that Sharon and myself were in Sweden preparing Sundon's Gift for the famed "Elitlopp". It was one of the greatest experiences of our lives and we fly back this week to experience it all again. It will be fantastic to catch up with everyone that looked after us so well last year year and not having a runner this year means we can just chill out and enjoy what must be one of the most fantastic days of "Trotting" you could wish to be a part of.
So see you at the "ELITLOPP" ..............................................
More Group 1 Glory
14th May 2010
Another good week for the Nagambie team with the running of the Final of the Vicbred Super Series 4yo Trotters Final, a $50,000 Group 1 event. The 5 heats are conducted at different venues in the weeks leading up to the final and the top placed qualifiers going through. We were able to get 2 through to the final, firstly Happy Maori ran 2nd in her heat to progress straight into the final but it didn't end up being a simple process for our more favoured runner, Let Me Thru. Last years 3yo Breeders Crown Champ started a short priced favourite in his heat after a comprehensive first up victory at Cobram but plans went astray quickly in the heat. He galloped on the first bend then again later in the run to finish an inglorious last, 112 metres from the winner. With the points system to qualify to get into the final, it meant that not only did we have to be lucky enough to get into another heat ( you are guaranteed only one run in the heats), it also meant Let Me Thru would have to win to gain a start, nothing like a bit of pressure!
Fortunately Let Me Thru did both and then drew perfectly in the final in number 2. Happy Maori also drew well in number 4. Let Me Thru was able to hold the lead after a bit of a tussle early and then had to withstand some mid race pressure from the second favourite, Down Under Muscles. He proved equal to the task though and ran away a convincing 5 1/2 metre winner over stablemate Happy Maori, who was well driven by Chris Jnr. It was a perfect result for the stable with a further 5 1/2 metres to the 3rd placegetter.
Considering I had been in New Zealand with Sundons Gift for some of this time, it is further testament to the ablility of our foreman Ben Gledhill and the rest of the team at home. You can read all about them on the Staff Profiles page. For all the news you can log on to the Harness Racing in Australia website and check out the News Room article dated 20/05/10 on Good Thanks, and on Let Me Thru 15/05/10. There is also a story on Sundons Gifts Rowe Cup victory in New Zealand, dated 10/05/10. On the same page dated 14/05/10, there is a more in depth chat titled, In The Box Seat on Mobile Rolling. And if thats not enough there is also a video podcast on "The Harness Edge" website dated 12th May with Harold Howe from Canada, recorded just after our Rowe Cup win.
Bernie Continues His Journey
8th May 2010
The "Bernie" show continues to roll on with no signs of abating and from our perspective, we are more than happy for it to continue. This time it was at "Alexandra Park", which is located on New Zealand's North Island, and is the Premier track in Auckland. The race was the time honoured "ROWE Cup". A gruelling 3200 metre standing start event. It is the type of test the "kiwi's" thrive on but for an "Aussie" it is becoming more and more foreign to our racing style.
In only 3 short weeks, we had to take "Bernie" from winning a 1720 metre mobile in 1.57.8 to competing in a Group One 3200 metre standing start marathon. At home we were very concerned that we may not be able to accomplish that, not because we didn't have the horse but after our European adventure we felt that "maybe", Bernie's new found brilliance may have come at the expense of his "toughness". When you consider that "Sundon's Gift's" last 3 starts in Australia were all from the mobile and over distances of a mile, 2240 metres and 1720 metres respectively then you can begin to appreciate what a challenge it becomes to bring an "Aussie" horse to New Zealand and try and beat them at there own game. Throw in the facts that in Auckland they race in the opposite direction, Bernie had not raced in a stand for 16 months and had never raced over 3200 metres and in my opinion Kiwi trainers are the best trainers of squaregaiters in this part of the world, then you begin to realise why it is an undertaking not attempted often.
We flew "Bernie" into Auckland en route to the stables of Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett at Waiuku. Aussies would remember that Michelle and Bernie trained 2006 Inter winner "Delft". It was not a random act to stay there, in February when we had came over for the yearling sales we purposely took time out to view their operation. And what we found was that they have one of the most amazing training tracks you would ever see in any part of the world. They are lucky enough to be able to train on Karioitahi beach. It is 12 kilometres of beachfront that has a perfect training surface which is groomed every day by the waves and ready to go. After working along the beach for as far or short as you want, you can then paddle around with your horse in the shallows. The therapeutic effects of the sea water on legs is of great benefit and was a big factor in our decision to stay at Waiuku.
The first day I floated Bernie to the beach we drove over the crest of the last hill and were confronted by the sight of a magnificent full moon just about to disappear into the horizon as a new day was dawning. "Bernie" must have thought that he was either going to be eaten by a shark or that we were going to make him swim back to Australia. He was terrified of not only the sound of the crashing waves but also of the waves themselves as they ran into shore. After only a couple of days though, he was happily splashing around in the shallows like he had been doing it for ever. Michelle informed us that this was very much par for the course with horses that were new to the beach environment.
The lead up to the Rowe Cup was quite different to any race that we have tried to win before and I was very worried what the outcome might be. This time last year we were in Sweden doing our best to get him ready for the Elitlopp. There was also the different training regime, the conditions of the race, unknown opposition, etc, etc. But as it turned out we didn't need to worry, we just needed to have more faith in our "Champ". He rose to the challenge magnificently as true champions seem to, and even though we had ventured into the "den of the lions", so to speak, Sundon's Gift proved yet again that he is the best of his time and "perhaps" our best ever!
"Bernie" will now have a well deserved rest for a month or so before returning to the training track to try and do it all "AGAIN".
To view the race just go to www.harnessracingnewzealand.com and check out the results for the 7th of May, Auckland trotting club. Kia Oro from New Zealand, (The Land Of The Long White Cloud). :-)
SKYVALLEY RETIRES
The rollercoaster ride that is what having horses is all about was very evident this week, when just 2 short weeks after winning Trotting's Holy Grail, (the Inter Dominion), Skyvalley, our budding superstar pulled up sore with a strained suspensory ligament and has been retired to stud. It is a bitter pill to have to swallow as his star was no doubt still on the rise and I believe his best still to come. A big statement when you look back at his dual Breeders Crown wins and also his 1.56.4 Bill Collins Sprint win over Sundons Gift in December.
He was an awesome talent and after having the privilege of sitting behind some great trotters in recent times like Kyvalley Road, National Interest, Jauriol, (Lester Scot) and of course stable star Sundons Gift, I can honestly say that sitting behind Skyvalley was like nothing I have ever felt before. He trotted effortlessly across the top of the ground whilst seemingly never touching it. It felt like you were sitting in a sled gliding over ice, such was the purity of his gait. It is a feeling I am going to miss.
But as one door closes another opens and the good news is that Aldebaran Park, (our breeding wing) , has purchased Skyvalley to stand at stud which is very exciting news, to not only us but to every trotting broodmare owner in the southern hemisphere. He is a trotting blue blood, being by the world number 1 sire for the last 3 years in Muscles Yankee and out of the great Chiola Hanover mare, Chiola's Lass. I know I cant wait to start winning on some of his progeny in years to come.
If you want to give yourself Goosebumps all over again by watching Skyvalley slaughtering his opposition then go to www.aldebaranpark.com and under latest news, click on Skyvalley story and it has links to a couple of his wins. Enjoy the memories!!!!!
THE INTER THAT WAS....... 2010.
Well the Inter Dominion, our biggest and most sought after race in the southern hemisphere, has been run and won for the second year in a row by our mate "Bernie", better known to most as SUNDONS GIFT. By winning the Inter for the second year in a row, he became the first Australian trained trotter to win back to back titles and only the second horse ever to achieve that feat. He is only the fourth horse to win more than one title and considering the Inter was first run for trotters back in 1948, it highlights further the enormity of his achievement.
Sundons Gift owns his own piece of history now and as we look back at his humble beginnings, it reminds me of what an amazing journey we have travelled. Many people have contributed to his rise to fame, from one side of the planet to the other. This series was in stark contrast to the lead up to his first Inter win when you remember he was placed on his last chance to race truly by the stewards after his final lead up run when he broke stride during the race. This year we had a dream run into the series with Bernie trotting effortlessly and faultless in his lead up runs. I'm not sure though whether it was easier or harder on me as trainer this year as expectations this year were very high, it was either win or fail !!!
There is no doubt he has returned from his European adventure a much more polished racehorse so perhaps I should dedicate his win to the many people we were lucky enough to meet and learn from whilst campaigning in the Elitloppet. I have thought many times it could become a life defining experience and I truly believe we have only just begun.
On the home front, we have just completed our new training tracks based on what we saw and learnt overseas. We now have a 3 km forest track, a 1000 metre straight track, in addition to our 1000 metre circular track and 950 metre sand track. These new and improved training facilities will make the development of our future stars that much simpler. We look forward now to the new generation of juveniles taking their first steps on the long road to Group 1 Glory and who knows, maybe......an Inter !!!
A BIG WEEK !
13th December 2009.
We look forward to December each year in the Lang camp for obvious reasons, not only because we behave all year so as Santa is kind to us but also 2 of our big trotting features are run. With Skyvalley having won his previous 6 starts, he was favoured to be the one to beat. His main rival and stablemate, Sundons Gift was on the comeback trail after his European adventure and after being held up in quarantine, had only 10 weeks work under his belt and after an average first up run wasn't expected to be a factor, but as they say in the classics never under estimate a champion!
The first feature was the Australian Trotting Grand Prix, the second richest trot run down under after the Inter Dominion. Sundons Gift had won the 2 previous Grand Prix' and is the only multiple winner in its 10 year history. Each year the "Kiwis" also like to come over and take our money home and this year was no exception. The recent winner of their biggest event, the "Dominion Handicap" was another Sundon gelding in Springbank Richard. He had won his previous 4 starts so was in good form. There has always been a fierce sporting rivalry between the Aussies and Kiwis and this would be no exception.
So with much fanfare on the 4th of December the best trotters in Australasia lined up to decide the best. As luck would have it, Sundons Gift drew well in barrier 3 but unfortunately Skyvalley had to contend with a dreaded back row draw of 10. The Kiwi drew well in number 1 so was favoured to win. But when the arms folded back on the mobile, the old boy.......Sundons Gift, powered to the front and try as the opposition might couldn't get close. He ran a new track record and won his 3rd Grand Prix, a feat that may never be equalled. How we love that horse here! Skyvalley ran a great race but was trapped wide and went super finishing 4th.
We didn't have much time to dwell on our win as the very next week, (11th), we all lined up again for our most prestigious sprint race, the Bill Collins Sprint, run over 1720 metres. This year sponsored for the first time by Aldebaran Park. It would be a different race though as when the barrier draws were announced it would be Sundons Gift to start from Barrier 10 and the up and comer, Skyvalley to leave from number 3 on the gate, the reverse of the week before. Skyvalley powered to the front and proceeded to run only 1/10 of a second outside the Australian record for a mile, winning in 1.56.4. We had a dream result though as Sundons Gift powered home after being 3 deep for the trip to easily run into 2nd place, a fantastic run. To view the results and watch the last lap replay simply go to www.harness.org.au click on the racing tab, then click on results, then go to either the 4th or 11th of December and under club, click on Tabcorp Park. Last lap replay icon is in the top right hand corner of the individual race results.For those who are not sick of reading about our 2 trotting stars, there is plenty of reading from the news room on the samse site, just click on the news room icon and away you go. Stories are on 12th, 8th, 4th, 3rd and 1st of December.
We may not have had the same results in Sweden on the racetrack but I am certain what we saw and learned over there is helping us no end to achieve these results at home, so thanks yet again to our many European friends, especially our hosts Torbjorn Jansson in Sweden and Anders Lindquist in France. I cant wait to get back again next year! With the Inter Dominion now only 6 weeks away, the team at Nagambie are well and truly focussed and hoping for another BIG week.
Yours Truly, Chris Lang.
HARRISBURG YEARLING SALES
It may have been the 71st Annual Standardbred Auction at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania but for yours truly it was a first. Accompanied by Duncan McPherson, Jim Connelly and Michael Taranto we travelled to America to witness first hand the largest standardbred yearling sales in America. Run over 4 days from the 2nd to 5th of November with some 1,100 lots available for purchase, it was a feast of elite level horse flesh that I had never before experienced.
We were able to secure some fine quality yearlings with bloodlines not seen in this part of the world. Duncan McPherson bought an Andover Hall filly from a Muscles Yankee mare. Her dam, Miss Winconsin won over half a million USD as a 2 and 3 year old and won in 1.55 so will a valuable asset to the Aldebaran Park broodmare band in the future. Jim Connelly bought a striking colt by 1st season sire, Chocolatier out of a Garland Lobell mare whose progeny have already earned over a million USD. Michael also bought a Chocolatier, but a filly out of a Pine Chip mare who has already left 4 winning fillies.
Duncan and Jim will be bringing their purchases straight back to Australia but Michael will leave his filly in America for her juvenile career. All in all it was a huge learning curve for us but we were very well looked after. What the future holds will be highly anticipated and we all expect to be back at Harrisburg next year looking and hopefully buying more bloodlines that can only help bolster the breeding (and racing) ranks Down Under. You can also checkout an interview with Duncan at www.aldebaranpark.com (news).
HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Sundons Gift, the reigning Inter Dominion Champion has been awarded not only the Australian Trotter of the Year award but also the Victorian Trotter of the Year for the second consecutive season, the first trotter to achieve this feat. Sundons Gift amassed over $300,000 in stakes for the season which was also a new record.
The only serious contender was his up and coming stablemate, Skyvalley who won 14 races from 23 starts during the season, the most of any standardbred in Australia.
Let Me Thru, the 3 year old Breeders Crown winner was also awarded the title of 3 Year Old Trotter of the year in what was a great night for all involved.
Sky Clearly the Best at the Valley
11 October 2009
The Skyvalley show rolled on at Moonee Valley on Saturday night when the Chris Lang-trained star made it two $20,000 Group 3s in as many weeks with an arrogant win the Freestone Trotters Cup.
http://www.harness.org.au/news-article.cfm?news_id=12589
Video available here: http://www.harness.org.au/video/vic/MVM10100907.wmv or go to http://www.harness.org.au/meeting-results.cfm?mc=MV101009&ms=vic and click on race 3, Last Lap Replay.
Sky continues to be the Limit
02 October 2009
Skyvalley was a dominant winner of the Scotch Notch Memorial...
http://www.harness.org.au/news-article.cfm?news_id=12558
Home Happenings.
Well I know that its been awhile but the team here have been working (or holidaying) very hard in the lead up to the biggest race day of the year. Of course the Breeders Crown Carnival culminated on the weekend and what a weekend it was.
The heats of this the most prestigious juvenile series are run throughout Australia and New Zealand during August (which is the last month of our season in Australia) and those lucky enough to get a horse through to the finals get to race on Super Sunday as it is called. Our quest for Breeders Crown glory started with the running of the 3 year old Trotting heats at Ballarat on the 3rd of August. Let Me Thru won his heat so automatically qualified for the final. The beaten brigade then had to line up a week later in the Repecharges for their last chance to qualify with the first 3 placed horses going into the final. Our filly Happy Maori was able to win and Go Ahead Makemyday ran 2nd so this meant we would have 3 runners in the final.
The heats for the 4 year olds were run on the 16th and with only 2 heats being run, the first 6 went straight into the final. Skyvalley was able to win his heat comfortably and our other runner ran 6th but got into the final anyway. So on Sunday the 23 rd of August we headed off to Tabcorp Park at Melton for Grand Final Day as it is now called, hoping for the best.
As it turned out we had a dream result with Let Me Thru winning the 3 year old, and the heir apparent to Sundons Gift' Crown, Skyvalley literally blowing the opposition away in the 4 year old final setting a new track record. It was a fantastic day for all associated with the stable. You can view the last lap replays by going to www.harness.org.au then going to the racing tab, click on results, go to 23 rd August and click on Tabcorp Park.... Races 2 and 3.
With our season drawing to a close it is a good time to reflect on the amazing year that we have had, Sundons Gift's achievements at home and also abroad, Skyvalley's rise to superstar status, but yet to prove he is better or even as good as "Bernie". The group 1 winning performance of Aldebaran Dream in the Oaks and of course Let Me Thru arguably the premier 3 year old but the highest stake earning 3 year old trotter in Australia anyway. In fact the 3 highest stake earning trotters in Australia are all trained by the team at Chris Lang Harness racing. Not to mention that we also set a new Australasian training record, breaking our own record for the number of trotting wins. Also the leading Metropolitan trainer on stakemoney won.
So after our most successful season ever I take this opportunity to thank all associated with the stable. To our many clients, we could not do what we do without your horses and support. Our farrier, Warren Beale and Vet, Simon Robinson and all at the Goulbourn Valley Equine Clinic. The crew at Tatura Farm Supplies for the high quality feed and service and of course everyone at home, namely my wonderful wife Sharon, our sons Chris Jnr and Michael. Our foreman Ben Gledhill, Paul Davies, Phil Collins and husband and wife team Rocky and Lisa Fazzolari.
We look forward now to the future with our new found knowledge we are putting in 3 new training tracks based on what we saw and learnt in Europe. Our way of training has been modified as well so hopefully this combination will take us to another level again. See you soon where ever you are.
Chris Lang.