Briefs for 12th January 2015

Patient approach with smart filly; Former top stayer dies; Family affair flourishes.

Patient approach with smart filly

An autumn stakes target has been set for the promising southern filly Peach Cove.

“She’s still out spelling and she’s not really a two-year-old type so we never considered the Karaka Million with her,” co-trainer Matt Brown said.

Peach Cove would have been guaranteed a start in the Ellerslie feature following her runner-up finish behind Jacquetta in the Listed Welcome Stakes during the New Zealand Cup carnival in November.

“In the longer run it was better that she wasn’t pushed any further and we’ll have a look at a stakes race for her at Riccarton in April,” Brown said.

Former top stayer dies

Former Caulfield and Melbourne Cups winner Doriemus has died aged 24.

One of only 11 horses to complete the prestigious staying double, the New Zealand-bred was put down at Melbourne’s Living Legends retirement farm after suffering a hoof injury.

Bred by John Corcoran, Doriemus won two of his first three starts in New Zealand for Jim Gibbs and was sent to Lee Freedman in 1994, winning his first Australian start for his new trainer that year in Brisbane.

As a four-year-old he won just two races, but came into his own the following season to claim the 1995 cups double. He was unplaced in both races the following year and suffered a bleeding attack in the Australian Cup in March, 1997.

He bounced back in the spring to finish a distant second to Might And Power in the Caulfield Cup before running the big horse to a nose in the Melbourne Cup. Ironically, the pair later shared a paddock at Living Legends.

Family affair flourishes

Joe Pride is expanding his outstanding association with the family of Parfore.

The Warwick Farm trainer has enjoyed Group One success with her sons Tiger Tees and Terravista, as well as rising star Ball Of Muscle, and two new members will also further their careers from his stable.

Also the dam of the Hallmark Stud stallion Super Easy, Parfore is a sister to Golden Sparkle and her offspring Bonete and Champagne Rein will also be racing out of the Pride stable.

Bonete has been a winner from Scott Wenn’s stable while Champagne Rein has been successful in a brief career from Graeme and Debbie Rogerson’s yard.