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REGALLY BRED FILLY GIFTED TO CATWALK TRUST April 17, 2019 In an act of generosity, Valachi Downs principals Kevin and Jo Hickman have gifted a regally bred filly to the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust, founded by Little Avondale Stud’s Catriona Williams. The weanling filly is by Darley stallion Brazen Beau, who will stand at a fee of A$49,500 this coming season. She is out of Stepanova, a Danehill Dancer mare whose dam, Dance On By, is a full-sister to six-time Group One winner and champion sire High Chaparral. “It’s a beautiful, strong family,” Valachi Downs Stud Manager Jonathan Scully said. “Hopefully Kevin gets another filly (out of the mare), because he loves to keep his fillies and sell his colts. “Not only is it a massive gesture giving her away, but how Kevin operates, to give this one away is pretty substantial.” In a double dose of generosity towards the charity, the Hickmans also purchased the Brazen Beau service at a CatWalk Trust charity event a few of years ago. The service fee was donated by Godolphin’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has been a great supporter of the CatWalk Trust for more than a decade. “Godolphin have had a reasonably long association with the CatWalk Trust. It is a foundation that we have taken seriously and appreciate the work they do,” Godolphin Head of Sales Alastair Pulford said. “Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin have always provided something worthwhile to help with their fundraising, because we obviously feel it is very important. “We were very happy to donate a nomination to Brazen Beau back in 2017. I was there for the auction and witnessed a very spirited bidding duel between Kevin Hickman, whose generosity is unbelievable, and Tony Rider, who was the underbidder. “Brazen Beau, at the time, had an advertised service fee of A$40,000, so it was a tremendous act of generosity both Kevin and Tony showed towards the CatWalk Trust. Godolphin are very grateful to them as well.” Hickman selected Stepanova for the mating and at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Yearling Sales earlier this year he decided to gift the resulting filly back to the CatWalk Trust. “Kevin has always wanted to do something for CatWalk and for Catriona with all the work she has done,” Scully said. “Kevin came to me at Karaka this year and said he had come up with a cunning plan. “We went around to see Catriona. I left Kevin to it to tell her (that he was gifting her charity the filly) and when I went back she was crying, she couldn’t believe what he was doing.” The filly is earmarked to go through Valachi Downs’ draft at Karaka next January and Scully is over the moon with the amount of support this incentive is receiving from a number of people. “We are hoping to put her through Karaka next year in Book 1,” Scully said. “New Zealand Bloodstock have confirmed that they will waive the entry and commission fees, which is great, so all proceeds will go directly to the CatWalk Trust. “Hopefully we might get someone prepared to stump up and pay top dollar for a quality horse and hopefully we can get them to go a bit further because it’s all going to a charity. “Our vets and farriers are all coming onboard and everything they do for the horse is going to be at no charge, as a donation from them. We have got the full support across the board, so that is a great asset.” Scully said Hickman has had a longtime interest in the CatWalk Trust and his close friendship with Snow Reardon was a driving factor for his support for the charity. “One of Kevin’s great mates, Snow Reardon, has been in a wheel chair since he was 18 or 19 when he was injured in a car accident. Kevin has always been a great supporter of Snow his entire life,” Scully said. “That’s probably given him that close affinity with the CatWalk Trust and Catriona. Snow is actually the one who came up with the name Valachi for the farm.” Williams has been overwhelmed by the generosity shown by the Hickmans, which she said would help the Charity’s cause tremendously. “CatWalk cannot thank Valachi Downs enough for their incredible generosity of gifting their stunning Brazen Beau filly to CatWalk. “I’ve been fortunate to spend time with a number of former jockeys who have spinal injuries, most recently Sophie Grant and Sophia Malthus. “Like me, they would give anything to be back on their feet again. “Research is CatWalk’s focus and that’s exactly where the proceeds from the auction of this filly will go. “CatWalk’s aim is to get Sophie, Sophia and anyone who dreams of walking back on their feet again.” – NZ Racing Desk

Dexter drove Bettor Joy. God I hate Yonkers, as I hate half mile tracks. Replays below, Race 9 is what you need https://www.empirecitycasino.com/racing/live-video/

Rev...I was expecting the photo to be of a grey gelding with bad conformation?

Ironically JL, Rarely see a good horse with such a name.

Shartin and Better Joy friken rule! had to laugh Tetrick called her a 'tough SOB' ah dude she's a Kiwibred hulloooo Cheers Iraklis

SOMERVELL the Time for War- Cinecitta 2 year old debuts tomorrow. An unlikely combination of J McDonald , Waller and Star Thoroughbreds will present him from barrier 4. R 1. 1000m. He was a 2018 MM GC LOT 614 purchased for chicken feed.($110 K). My family wish this magically named Thoroughbred every success and great fortune. We will not involve litigation of our family name if he is a dud. BUT :: We will claim full responsibility when he wins a Group One. (Disclaimer: ) TRAINER : I have never met Sir Chris Waller:I have txed Him: He replied : My Brother has known Chris for decades: OWNERSHIP: None of my immediate family have a share in this horse called SOMERVELL JOCKEY : The rider tomorrow ( J McDonald) . I knew well and he thought he had meaningful conversations with me until he was 8: I know the rider's father and mother. The Jockey's father was at Gary Tim's funeral 6th March 2019. He may have mentioned a Waller trained Time for War unraced 2 year old.The Waller Stable may have 8 by that Stallion: BREEDING: The grand dam of this horse racing tomorrow SOMERVELL is by Barathea. She is called Malagara Miss. She won Twice. I invested $50 win on her 3 times for two wins.

Brilliant stuff Scooby. I know the feeling only too well. I gave my bloke a freshen up but it made no difference whatsoever in the last round of the comp and he still finished worse than midfield after being handy early. Looking for the wet tracks maybe (he said hopefully). Have a great Easter for those punting.

I think a couple of my pics must have been bred like this the way they ran....

Ted ,you are a Legend distant runner.Saw your times: I was a Sprinter: Matamata College 1967: Terry Morrison became an All Black : Played for France: We Had great coachers.: George Simpkin : Warren Jowett >>>>We won the 4 X 110m relay ( Seddon Park ) > Post Picture later ) I Was home in a University 100 yard (metreS?) in CH CH and a bloody big black bugger zoomed from lane 3 and beat me George Skudder. He never beat me again. more soon::

Well I hope he can run faster than two brothers with the same last name can. However if he is as genuine as those two brothers then he could well be a nice horse.

As always thank you to Maria for her wonderful blow by blow updates and scoring in these competitions. Congratulations to every one who scored yesterday ! However you did it. Korio and Memphis great results. Insider's form is improving: Ponderosa Paul will come right when the tracks soften. I had noted no previous form for Common Sensical who finished just behind two A Grade players in Ivan The Great and Bazza 54. Fair runs yesterday by( Fiji )Paige Zim. She is obviously waiting for something more touristy. Decisive previous top liners Houlahand's Dream and Cabbage with just 33 points had obviously eaten their Easter Eggs on Friday night with a bottle of Rum. Regarding the below par scores yesterday from Jenlove, Cabbage , Swoopa, Kloppite and Stoyd My sources say that you lot, will be receiving a Ben Currie style letter from Racing Queensland (Chief?) Integrity Officer Ross Barnett . The letter will be just two words. "Please Explain". Scooby and Chestnut you are managing the Race Cafe site brilliantly. I agree with you Scoobie that more input from some of the newer and maybe Younger RC Members would be fantastic. We will work out how to bolster The Cat Walk cause with the lucky Kirrama win. Rev

Catholic Churches in Sri Lanka attacked a short time ago by suicide bombers with over 158 dead and hundreds injured. The death toll sure to rise. Whilst no one has claimed responsibility IS or a Muslim group are strongly suspected as behind all this. If Muslims are responsible: Will we see our Prime Minister don a nun's habit, carry a cross and state "they are not us after all."?

I always thought Sell A Bit was well named as she was out of a mare called No more nookie

Hi Tim, I watched the race online. I was a co owner of Bettor Joy here in NZ. Didn’t really want to sell her but the top mares here mostly have to run against the boys and it makes it very hard. If they ran regular mares races here it would be great and more of them would stay here which would boost breeding industry also. Mind you it would deplete the mares for the Matchmaker series. As for Dexter, we miss him here, please send him back.

Dexter just won the last two races I didn't bet but the late double paid $185 and change for a $1

Had a look on the site and could only find the previous weeks episode. Will try looking again

Lot of them race at Yonkers. Dexter is back at the Big M now. He just ran second in race 10. Yonkers is in NY and Meadowlands in NJ but just across the river so it's a hop, skip and a jump. He's been winning a bunch of races. I have been on this other message board (Horseplop.com) where you will find the worst posters in the world. They attacked me when I said Dexter is a world class driver three months ago and now the fuckers are hiding as he is proving himself to be very good here. Took awhile to adjust., They go hard early in these miles and I have always criticized our guys back home there for not going hard all the way. You would see some amazing times there like at Ashburton where I am originally from.

SO, I just watched the replay and Bettor Joy ran a hell of a race. Getting that far back is the kiss of death. Shartin is the best female over here but IMO Bettor Joy draws beside her, she beats her. In fact next time they race together, I think she beats Shartin.

Thank you for the reply...its good to get feedback so we know how we are going. We are always looking for new concepts for comps and we find the weekend comps very popular and we will also continue Chestnuts Tour over a few more weeks too I believe. I know some only come for the comps and it is a good interest for many on a Saturday...but it would be great for more to participate in the discussions too as this is a very serious time for the industry we all love...Leigh.

Thanks so much to Chestnut, Maria and Scooby. The contests add some interest/enjoyment for me on Saturdays and especially so since I don't bet any more (I've pulled the plug after 55 years of involvement in the industry). It's my private protest at the contempt the TAB shows for punters. Their new website is a disgrace and I'm tired of battling the broken 'machine' that masquerades as a betting agency. What other betting agency produces some fields without form, riders or even track conditions in some instances and yet still expects people to bet on them? The faux pas that took the cake for me was the horse in some field from the USA who had allegedly not raced since 2009. It was listed as a three-year-old!

She is paper thin and ducks the hard questions everytime because she understands sweet FA about the economy. And as for being "one of the most gifted communicators of her generation..." Really....??? If you like platitudes perhaps..... Enough holes in this mob to drive a bus or two through....trouble is nobody is stepping up the pressure on the other side.

Intresting at auckland yesterday when a dog runs 2nd in a c1 sprint and wont pee for a swab ...gets 30mils of blood taken ....yet in the feature colden chase.the 3rd place getter wouldnt pee and no bloods done.....same stipe at both meetings???

Final Race of the Comp - Comp R10 Caulfield R8 6.35pm Easter Cup G3 Handicap 2000 First: 8 Plein Ciel Second: 5 Furrion Third: 7 Morton's Fork Sub: 8 Scrs: 3,9 Thoughts go out to the connections of Magnapal, very sad. Koriokaramea and Memphis2 launched a beaut challenge in the last both selecting the Mamool 6YO gelding as their BB but Black Kirrama managed to sneak a place with his selection Furrion, a Camelot gelding earning 3 points and giving him a buffer to the second placegetters. Well done to Black Kirrama, our Autumn Racing Easter Cup comp winner. Also beaut effort from Koriokaramea and Memphis2, you both had 3 winners and 3 seconds today and no thirds.. which means you share second place and the prize - you'll need to sort out a bet between you for next Saturday! Competitor Comp Points Black Kirrama …. 52 Koriokaramea …. 49 Memphis2 …. 49 ivanthegreat …. 44 bazza54 …. 42 Rusty …. 41 CommonSensical …. 40 moz1047 …. 36 paigezim …. 34 Houlahan's Dream …. 33 Cabbage …. 33 Swoopa …. 33 Insider …. 32 Ohokaman …. 32 Peter R S …. 31 RacingJimmy …. 30 Plovdiv …. 28 Wrinkles …. 27 Beecee …. 27 Southland …. 27 Jenlove …. 26 Nearco …. 26 Kundalini …. 24 Seddon …. 24 jack …. 24 Peter Jenkins …. 24 TurnyTom …. 23 Floyd Pink …. 23 redrew2000 …. 22 Kloppite …. 22 crustyngrizzly …. 20 1PRESIDENTGARY …. 20 richie …. 19 jayar …. 18 mrzim …. 17 Sir Castleton …. 17 orphanpete …. 17 Cubes …. 17 TARANTULA …. 17 arjay …. 15 Thecaptain …. 15 High Sparrow …. 12 Ponderosa8 …. 12 Al Feilding …. 11 Basil brush …. 11 Punter Pete …. 10 lynzim …. 9 Camacho …. 9 scooby3051 …. 8 Trump …. 8 Diver Dan …. 7 Jape …. 7 Stoyd …. 6 Pegasus 9 …. 6 Archer …. 4 Thanks all for playing today Have a happy and safe Easter weekend!

Bazz we should start a new Thread " Champions I Bid on ". I bet it would be an all time high for Race Cafe ! To get every one to lighten up on how trivial this thread is. And indeed Life ! I will do it soon and lead with the first crop story about Otehi Bay .

I would like to thank Leigh,and the sponsors, of the trip to Fiji.The whole trip was amazing.The resort is very peaceful and relaxing.We had a deluxe seaside Bure with a beautiful view of the ocean.The staff at the resort and very friendly and will do anything for you.The whole atmosphere at the resort is to relax and chill.They have activities to do if you want to.It was great being there when the Honk Hong sevens were on as they were showing them in the bar area.I sat with the locals when the qualifying games were on.On the next day when the quarter finals were on ,I had a call in my room to tell me they were about to start.They even had a seat saved for me right in front of the tv.They were very vocal when Fiji won.The food was very nice also.I can honestly recommend Crusoes Resort as a very nice place to stay.Leigh had everything organised very well.If anyone wants to know any thing more about the resort,just pm me and I will try and help.Thanks again Leigh for the awesome prize.