December, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Twelve Questions: Cathy Grassick

What was you first job in the Thoroughbred industry?

I trailed around sales after my father from a young age learning the ropes, but you couldn't really call that a job. My first job on a farm was in Mount Armstrong Stud in Co Kildare when it was owned by Noel O'Callaghan. I used to cycle there every day and learned to prep yearlings with Eddie O'Learys sister, Ashley.

The biggest influence on your career?

My father Brian and my grandfather Christy who taught me everything I could hope to know about horses. Eimear Mulhern and my mother, Sheila, who both showed me that women could be successful in business and encouraged me in my chosen career.

Favourite racehorse of all time, and why?

San Sebastian. I used to ride him out when I was starting to ride racehorses as a teenager for my uncle, Michael Grassick, and he was a 42-rated handicapper with a habit for disappearing out from under me. He got gelded and started a miraculous rise from there, winning six races and finishing second three times in nine starts, culminating with in victory at Royal Ascot. I followed him every step of the way and my passion for racing was ignited. I loved him even if he mostly only tolerated me.

Who will be champion first-season sire in 2023?

Wow, what a year to have to answer this question with so many high-class two-year-olds having their first runners. My heart will say Phoenix Of Spain as I was involved with buying his dam and selling him for his breeder, Arild Faeste, as a foal. My head says Blue Point as I have purchased a couple of very smart fillies by him. That said, I have been very impressed with the first crop of Invincible Army at the sales. It's such a tough year to call.

Greatest race in the world?

Oh a 50-50 between the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Melbourne Cup – incredible races with incredible horses and huge atmospheres. Going to either of them is a life-changing experience for a racing enthusiast.

If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why?

Ryan Moore: just for a day to be able to ride the best horses and to understand that level of talent and to see inside that incredible tactical racing brain. For me that would be heaven.

Emerging talent in the industry (human)?

I have two cousins who are really starting to make their mark in the training ranks – Michael Grassick in Ireland and Chris Grassick, in partnership with William Muir, in the UK. Another eye-catching young trainer is Kevin Philippart de Foy, who has also made a great start.

Horse TDN should have made a Rising Star and didn't?

Enable.

Under-the-radar stallion?

Gleneagles.

Friday night treat?

Dinner in a nice restaurant, usually the Brown Bear in Two Mile House, with my husband, Jamie Lowry.

Guilty pleasure outside racing?

Sport horses, riding, competing and judging them. Even when I'm not racing, I'm surrounded by horses.

Race I wish I had been there for…

Sea The Stars, Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe. I had only missed his 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in his three-year-old career as I was riding in a charity race that day at Punchestown and watched him win on the big screen. After that I was there for all of his other starts and he really was the most incredible horse to follow. I was at the sales in Tattersalls cheering him home in the Arc on television and I was sorry to miss his swan song.

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Kimura Takes Woodbine Jockey Title, Casse Tops Trainer Standings

Kazushi Kimura earned his second consecutive Woodbine jockey crown with 152 wins at the meet, which concluded Sunday while his mounts earned combined purses of US$6,786,062.

Born in Hokkaido, Kimura joined the Woodbine jockey colony as a 19-year-old apprentice in 2018 and made a strong first impression. He finished his first Woodbine campaign sixth in the standings with 89 wins and his mounts totaled more than $2.3 million in earnings. His first victory came aboard 70-1 longshot Tornado Cat, and his first stakes win came aboard Speedy Soul in the Muskoka. The Eclipse Award winner as North America's outstanding apprentice, Kimura also won the Sovereign Award equivalent in both 2018 and 2019. He won the 2021 Sovereign as Canada's outstanding rider.

This year, Kimura won 15 stakes, six of them graded, at the Toronto oval, including the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor with Rougir, the Grade 2 King Edward aboard Filo Di Arianna, the Grade 3 Dominion Day with Frosted Over, and the Cup and Saucer with Philip My Dear.

Rafael Hernandez, who finished second with 122 wins, led the way with 17 stakes victories, including the Queen's Plate (now known as the King's Plate) with Kevin Attard trainee Moira.

Mark Casse topped the trainer leaderboard for the 14th time courtesy of 119 wins and more than $7.4 million in purse earnings.

Casse recorded 22 Woodbine stakes victories, 13 of them graded. A lifetime winner of over 3,400 races, the dual Hall of Fame member took the Breeders' Stakes, third jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown Series, with Sir for Sure. His graded scores included the Grade 2 King Edward and Connaught Cup with Filo Di Arianna, and three with Who's the Star (Grade 2 Autumn, Grade 3 Valedictory, Grade 3 Durham Cup), who also won the Niagara.

Al and Bill Ulwelling were the leading money-winning owner of the meet for the first time with more than $1.2 million in purses. Bruno Schickedanz led all owners with 45 wins.

Epilogue and Who's the Star led all horses with five wins each at the meet.

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‘She Ran Dynamite’: Munnings Filly Cast Member Stays Unbeaten With Soviet Problem Score

Ridden with confidence by jockey Ramon Vazquez, favored Cast Member remained undefeated with a 1 ¼ length victory in the $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Trained by Tim Yakteen for owner-breeder George Krikorian, the 2-year-old daughter of Munnings and the Artie Schiller mare Be My Baby tracked the pace while kept in the clear over the wet fast track, took over from pacesetter Cocktail Princess with less than quarter of a mile to run, and held 9-2 third choice Grazed My Heart safe in the final furlong.

Trying two turns for the first time after a pair of sprint wins – including the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Oct. 29 – Cast Member, the 7-10 favorite in a race restricted to fillies bred or sired in California – completed the mile in 1:38.26. She paid $3.40. The $60,000 winner's share of the Soviet Problem purse pushed her bankroll to $213,000.

“We had a perfect trip,'' said Vazquez, who rode Cast Member for the first time in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies.” We just followed the leaders on the outside. I just wanted to wait with her until the final quarter to make a move. She handled the track well. When I asked her she responded very well. I definitely think she's better around two turns.''

A winner over three different main tracks – with Los Alamitos following Del Mar and Santa Anita – Cast Member will now move to the turf for her next start, according to Yakteen.

The plan is to run the bay filly in the $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks Jan. 7. The race is at one mile on the Santa Anita grass.

“We're very happy with her race,'' he said. “She ran dynamite. The big question was how was she going to handle the track and she seemed like she absolutely enjoyed it. The California-bred program is a great one and we're looking forward to see what she does on the turf now.''

Grazed My Heart, who had defeated state-bred maidens at the Soviet Problem distance on grass Oct. 23, finished five lengths clear of 6-1 shot Cocktail Princess.

Big Celebration and Loyal to a Fault completed the order of finish.

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Avoman Prevails In Hard-Fought Battle For Steady Growth Triumph On Closing Day At Woodbine

Avoman, sent off at 13-1, pulled out all the stops to win Sunday's $100,000 Steady Growth Stakes, the headliner on the final card of the 2022 Woodbine Thoroughbred season.

Lac Macaza, also at 13-1, broke sharply and took the lead in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds and up, while Justin Stein, aboard Avoman, tucked the 4-year-old son of Old Forester into second spot as the field of eight passed navigated the opening turn.

Reaching the opening quarter in :25.08, Lac Macaza held a two-length advantage over Avoman, who was followed by Dun Drum and Artie's Storm. That lead ballooned to three lengths after a half reached in :49.76, as Avoman continued to track in second.

Rounding the turn for home, the two leaders began to separate themselves from the pack and started a throwdown that would last the length of the stretch, Lac Macaza digging in on the inside, and Avoman keeping pace with every stride to the outside of his rival.

At the wire, it was Avoman who prevailed by a hard-fought half-length in a time of 1:44.89. Multiple stakes winner Artie's Storm was third and even-money choice Candy Overload, supplemented to the race, finished fourth.

Stein, who has enjoyed another strong season in the saddle, was happy to come out on top at the end of the grueling stretch battle.

“I got great position early with my horse,” said Stein. “We were watching the horse [Lac Macaza] that Daisuke [Fukumoto] was riding. His horse was cruising along pretty easily, but he looked like he was maybe putting in a bit more energy than what I wanted to keep up with. So, my horse was comfortable and when I asked him to run, the other horse kicked on a little bit more and they really duked it out down the lane. It was fun. It was pretty awesome to be a witness to, and as a rider, when you come out on the better end of the stick, it's always nice. It is thrilling watching two horses really slug it out and really try to get the best of each other. You know they're real racehorses and it's a privilege to be on them.”

Claimed for $40,000 in May, trainer John Charalambous wasn't quite certain how Avoman would fare after he missed out on his last scheduled race.

“He got sick before his last race, so we had to scratch him. And he only had one work coming into this race, but he trained really strong last week. We were fortunate, everything worked out. He had a great trip. He had a little bit of racing luck, which he hasn't had for a few races.”

Charalambous was also pleased to see owners Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch celebrate a stakes victory at the Toronto oval.

“They are American owners, but they put a lot of money in this game. Not just racing horses, but breeding horses, and I'm happy for them.”

Bred by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds, Avoman won the Bull Page Stakes in 2020 and the Plate Trial Stakes in 2021.

The dark bay paid $28.50.

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