Stars To Clash In 2009 Liston Stakes
Damien Oliver will ride 2009 Cox Plate favourite Whobegotyou in Saturday’s J J Liston Stakes at Caulfield, while Zarita kicks off her spring campaign with new rider Brad Rawiller aboard.
With regular rider Michael Rodd sidelined with sprained ligaments in a wrist after a trackwork fall, trainer Mark Kavanagh opted for Oliver who has ridden the Caulfield Guineas winner just once when he was beaten a short-half-head in a Listed 1400m event at Flemington in March.
Oliver rode Whobegotyou in a jumpout on the inside grass at Flemington last Friday week when he settled back and ran on well to finish a length from the winner.
The four-year-old was timed to run the 800 metres in 47.85, the final 400m in 23.38.
Rawiller, the regular rider of Weekend Hussler who is sidelined indefinitely with a leg injury, was aboard Zarita in an exhibition gallop at Cranbourne on Sunday when she settled back before running home behind younger stablemate My Girl Helen who will start in Saturday’s Quezette Stakes (1100m).
“My Girl Helen is no hack and is more of a sprinter than Zarita is but it was really good work and Brad Rawiller was very excited about her work so that was good enough for me,” Hyland said.
Hyland said he could not wait for a commitment from Dwayne Dunn who is attached to the Lee Freedman stable and will be required to ride Marchelle Belle if she starts in the Liston.
Zarita hasn’t won since making it four straight victories in the 2008 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville 12 starts back.
But Hyland pointed to some of her creditable efforts since including her second to Weekend Hussler in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
She was beaten only 1-1/2 lengths when fourth in both the 2008 Cox Plate (2040m) behind Maldivian and again when fourth in the Australian Cup (2000m) won by Niconero.
Hyland said the five-year-old’s main mission this spring at this stage was the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
“But if she appears to be getting dour as horses can do when they get older we can always change tack,” he said referring to the fact that she is also nominated for the Caulfield Cup 2009 and the Melbourne Cup 2009.
“She’s bred to stay and she is an Australasian Oaks and South Australian Derby winner.
“But I think the best two runs of her career were in the Cox Plate and the Australian Cup and they were both in the 2000 metre range.”
There were 23 entries for the Group Two Liston (1400m) including Group One winners Gallica, Heart Of Dreams, Ista Kareem, Master O’Reilly, Mr Baritone, Orange County, the unbeaten Typhoon Tracy, Whobegotyou and Zarita.
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3- 2009 J.J. LISTON STAKES Field (1400 METRES)
For Three-Years-Old and Upwards. Standard Weight for Age. (GROUP 2).
No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 16 + 4 EM
No Horse Trainer Ballot Weight Penalty Handicapper Rating
1 MASTER O’REILLY (NZ) Danny O’Brien 1 59 110
2 ISTA KAREEM (NZ) Colin Little 4 59 108
3 MR BARITONE (NZ) Michael Moroney 5 59 102
4 ORANGE COUNTY (NZ) Brian Mayfield-Smith 8 59 109
5 RED RULER (NZ) John Sargent 9 59 106
6 STICKPIN (NZ) Brian Mayfield-Smith 13 59 101
7 SAND SWEEPER (NZ) John Wheeler 16 59 105
8 RED LORD Anthony Cummings 17 59 102
9 VIGOR (NZ) Danny O’Brien 18 59 103
10 MIDNIGHT MUSTANG Tony Noonan 19 59 103
11 JUNGLE RULER Peter White 20 59 95
12 BENELLI (NZ) Bevan & Richard Laming 21 59 102
13 READY WHEN YOU ARE Shaun Dwyer 22 59 86
14 MAXISUN Tony Vasil 23 59 89
15 WHOBEGOTYOU Mark Kavanagh 2 58.5 110
16 VON COSTA DE HERO David Hayes 6 58.5 100
17 HEART OF DREAMS Mick Price 10 58.5 108
18 PREDATORY PRICER Paul Murray 12 58.5 98
19 ZARITA (NZ) Pat Hyland 3 57 106
20 FIFTH AVENUE LADY Danny O’Brien 14 57 97
21 GALLICA Mick Price 7 56.5 108
22 TYPHOON TRACY Peter G Moody 11 56.5 106
23 MARCHELLE BELLE Lee Freedman 15 56.5 95
Article by Mark Ryan Aapracing
Filed under: Australian Horse Racing Blog
