Hawkesbury winners are 'pampered'

Opened in April this year, I had the pleasure of visiting these plush new areas, which had a rustic look and welcoming feel.

"This area is for winning owners and sponsors," explained marketing co-ordinator of the HRC Kara Dixon.

"The director's rooms and terrace bar are also available for hire outside of race-days."

Among the winning connections to visit these rooms included long-time local conditioner Mike Van Gestal who prepared Charlie Chap to win his fourth race when taking the Killachy Equine Benchmark 64 Handicap.

It was a family affair in the director's rooms with Mike, his wife Louisa, son Paul and daughter Melissa Chapman who all joined the festivities, and also share in the ownership of Charlie Chap.

Purchased as a weaning, then failing to reach his reserve at the Inglis Ready2 Run Sale, the chestnut son is by Benfica, a Group 1 winning son of Lonhro.

At Hawkesbury last Sunday Charlie Chap again displayed ability with a fighting win over 1000 metres. It was the second successive Hawkesbury win, and second start after a spell as well as having a throat operation for Charlie Chap, who has now won five races and returned $172,000.

At the previous Hawkesbury meet Kate and Bill McCartney also had cause for celebration after Laila De Vega - winner of the Hawkesbury Motel Maiden, won the Ruse Hill residents' first race as part-owners.

Also celebrating was another part-owner Bernie Cohen and Randwick trainer John Thompson, while the filly's breeder (and part-owner) Greg De Vries was absent.

A three-year-old filly, Laila De Vega belongs to the last Australian-bred crop by Lope de Vega, an Irish bred Shamardal stallion who was originally on the shuttle service via Nathan Tinkler's now closed Patinack Farm, and who spent five stud seasons here.

He may have won the 2010 French Derby over 2100 metres, but Lope de Vega has proved to be a highly successful sire in Australia with progeny running over a wide range of distances. His 12 Australian stakes winners include two dual sprint Group 1 winners Santa Ana Lane and Vega Magic.

TALKING of Lope de Vega's near champion European sire Shamardal, his grey Irish bred but prominently Australian performed and based son Puissance de Lune was represented with his first two-year-old winner when filly Moonlight Maid won at Geelong.

While beginning his racing in Europe, Puissance de Lune should be recalled for his toughness and versatility winning seven races from 1400 to 2600 metres including the VRC Blamey Stakes-G2, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes-G3, and the MRC P B Lawrence Stakes-G2 in Melbourne.

Standing at Adam Sangster's Swettenham Stud, near Nagambie, Victoria, Puissance de Lune was produced by winning Unbridled's Song mare Princess Serena, also dam of England Group winner Zabeel Prince.

WHILE it happened late last year, I was recently prompted by a Tails' reader of the passing of well-known and well-liked Upper Hunter Valley stock and horseman identity John Morrissey.

Passing away at age 72, I used to "bump" into John regularly at either the Scone Yearling Sales or at an Inglis yearling or mixed sale when at the "Newmarket Stables" at Randwick.

While breeding a couple of mares, at times he would buy a weanling to "pin-hook" for resale at the following year's yearling sales.

These horses were further developed on his one-time Middlebrook district property "Retreat Farm" where he prepared the yearlings and which were presented at the sales in immaculate condition, and were always greatly admired.

Born in Murrurundi, John was a Hunter Valley resident all his life. A home-bred and raced horse for John in the 1990s was memorable Troyvic a tough gelding by Star Kingdom linesire River Rough, and who won four races and had five placings from 16 starts.