BLAZEN BOOTS scored our first win of the new season when he made a red-hot return at Doomben, which has proved a very happy hunting ground.&nbsp;
The 7YO made light of his nine-month absence from competitive action to score his fifth metropolitan win on Wednesday, with four of them coming at Doomben.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Given a perfectly executed steer by Ben Thompson, who has hit the ground running since returning from his stint in Hong Kong, BLAZEN BOOTS led all the way in the Class 5 Handicap to take his career earnings past the $150,000 mark.&nbsp;
Given the son of Tavistock has won previously over the mile, his first-up success over 1350m bodes well for the remainder of his preparation.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Because it was a long time between runs, I was a little worried about him today,&rdquo; said trainer Tony Gollan.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He looked fantastic and he&rsquo;s been improving lengths in his work at home, but my only query was where we would end up in the run. Full credit to Ben, I just left it up to him and the ride won the race. The horse did a great job because there&rsquo;s still a fair bit of improvement to come with him.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Everything about him was really good today, he was as big and as strong as he&rsquo;s ever been and he&rsquo;s really sound at the minute. This was the right time of year for him to kick off, hopefully he&rsquo;s in for a good prep and we can pick off a Saturday race with him.&rdquo;
Many congratulations to all our partners: Bad Boys Racing, Mr B Hennock, Mr C Chapman, Ms B A Cooper, Mr C R Filer, Ms L N Jaques, Mr J Kennedy, Mr C M Schulz, Mudcrab, Mr M J Quilter, Mr S K B Smith, Mr P C Sposato, Mr M D Leitch, Mr L Te Keeti, Ms M Lillecrapp, Ms J Masters, Mrs C M Mayne, Showtime and Mrs J M Bradley-Smith.

Strong Bloodstock

BLAZEN BOOTS IGNITES OUR SEASON

Shrewd buy ZARAGOZA made the most of his home track advantage at Kembla Grange on Thursday when he enhanced an already prosperous prep with a second win since joining the Strong Bloodstock stable.&nbsp;
A $47,500 Inglis Online purchase, ZARAGOZA has now amassed more than $60,000 this campaign thanks to a pair of home track victories and three further minor placings.&nbsp;
All four of the gelding&rsquo;s career wins have now come on home soil, and despite a wide run in transit he was again too strong for his rivals in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1000m) under Keagan Latham, who like trainers Rob and Luke Price celebrated a treble. 
&ldquo;He enjoyed the step up to 1200 metres today,&rdquo; said Latham post-race.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The draw looked a bit iffy so I was a little worried about where we might end up in the run, but it actually worked out perfectly. I thought there might be more speed in the race, but there wasn&rsquo;t much early tempo and we ended up three-wide. But it meant we could creep up and the horse did virtually all the work for me, I was just a passenger.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I thought he was just going to put them away quite comfortably, but he&rsquo;s a bit of a character and he did just enough to win. If he continues to win with a bit in hand then he should bounce out of his runs in the future. Overall it was a really good effort and I thought he stayed out the 1200 metres quite strongly.&rdquo;
His victory by a long neck also extended our strong recent form, with our last six starters having now produced two wins and a pair of minor placings.&nbsp;
Congratulations to all our partners: Mr S D Pleming, Mr T J Webster, SG Gilleland, Mr G Shalala, Mr L J Woodorth, Mr D Nelson, Mr M D Leitch, Mr R Cutrie, Mr A G Bloom, Mr M Bradstock, HuntyMcHud Racing, Mr P A Curran, Mr M Daniel, Mr A Youssef, Mr M Vassallo and Mr M Duncombe.

ZARAGOZA STRIKES AGAIN FOR CONNECTIONS

DUKE OF CAMDEN made a supremely stylish return to the races at Gosford on Thursday when he took his earnings past $50,000 with a second career win.&nbsp;
The 3YO had trialled nicely in the lead-up to his first-up run and promptly justified some strong market support with a two-length victory in the Class 1 Handicap (1200m).
Ridden a treat by in-form jockey Jason Collett, who was in the saddle for the first time, DUKE OF CAMDEN settled just off the early speed.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
When Collett asked our boy for the maximum effort in the straight, he swiftly responded with a burst of speed to improve his race record to two wins and one minor placing from six starts for David Pfieffer.&nbsp;
&ldquo;That was a lovely win,&rdquo; said Collett.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The gate definitely helped us today, and it was good that he was cleanly away. I could see there was some speed outside us, so I just took a sit and he travelled sweetly the whole way. He transitioned through his gears and quickened really well, and in the end it was quite a soft win.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;d probably stay at this trip for now, but you could look to extend him in time.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Many congratulations to our partners: SBS Punters Club 1, Mr B T Healy, Mr T J Williams, Mr W J Pollock, Mr J P Proctor, Mr P Walkden, Mr A Hopewell, SBS Duke, Mr P Code, Mr D Nelson, Mr J Prioste, Flying Codona Racing, Mr P Mosca, Mrs N Drysdale, Mr M E Peters, Mr K Buckley and Mr D Head.

DUKE OF CAMDEN REIGNS SUPREME AT GOSFORD

A regal return by QUEENSTAR saw the filly shed her maiden status in style at Ipswich on Friday.
The daughter of Unite And Conquer had been given an extended break after suffering a minor injury when finishing fifth on debut at the same venue last December, and she made light of the long absence from the racetrack to power to victory in the Maiden Handicap (1100m). &nbsp;
Given a confident ride by Cejay Graham, QUEENSTAR knuckled down to her task in the home straight and ultimately had too much class for her rivals who were left trailing in her wake. 
The two-length win saw QUEENSTAR justify race favouritism and rewarded the patience of our partners, who shared in a cheque for $16,800 to ensure the weekend started early. 
&ldquo;She was very dominant and did everything right,&rdquo; said Graham. 
&ldquo;We had to do a bit of work from the wide alley, but once we got there she travelled in a beautiful rhythm. The leader didn&rsquo;t take me very far, but I was still confident a long way from home. If she&rsquo;d been challenged I think she would&rsquo;ve found plenty more, so she&rsquo;ll only go on with things now.&rdquo; 
Victory broke a frustrating run of seconds for the team, with four of our five previous runners having found one too good. &nbsp; The win was extra satisfying after we purchased QUEENSTAR's half sister by Profiteer earlier this year knowing the ability her older sibling had shown during her early education. We look forward to the future with both of these fillies after a great start for the family. Congratulations to our partners: SBS Punters Club 1, SBS Punters Club 2, Hollymount Stud, Mr J J Ryan, Polglase Racing, K C M B, Mr R J Knuppe, Mr S A Marr, Mr K Sendall, Mr D Nelson, Mr B T Healy, Nobbys Nuts Syndicate, Mr A J Cuddy, Mr C D McGuire and Ms L N Fanning.

QUEENSTAR SHINES BRIGHT AT IPSWICH

Recent stable acquisition ZARAGOZA delivered a swift return for connections when he scored at just his third start for the team with a determined win at Kembla Grange on Saturday. Despite a tardy getaway, the 5YO gelding recovered to settle just behind the speed and proved too strong as he ploughed through the wet conditions under the urgings of Keagan Latham. The win marked his third career victory from 13 starts for trainers Rob and Luke Price but his first since joining the Strong Bloodstock stable this preparation, just three starts ago. Latham suggested the win would now earn the striking Street Boss gelding a tilt at Metropolitan grade after carrying 60kg to victory in the Benchmark 64. "He won like he's been working," said Latham. "I think he was unlucky last start when he got caught deep of a slow speed but they went a good speed today. "He swims in the wet, it could have been a heavy 10 today and it wouldn't have been a problem for him." Congratulations to our parters Strong Bloodstock, Mr S D Pleming, Mr T J Webster, SG Gilleland, Mr G Shalala, Mr L J Woodorth, Mr D Nelson, Mr M D Leitch, Mr R Cutrie, Mr A G Bloom,

ZARAGOZA DELIVERS FOR CONNECTIONS

KING KAPA extended his sizzling recent form when he added another black type win to his impressive CV in the Ascot Handicap (1000m).
Trainer Tony Gollan paid tribute to an &ldquo;amazing horse&rdquo; after the King gave our partners a huge thrill with a eighth career win in the Listed contest at Eagle Farm on Easter Saturday.&nbsp; &nbsp;
The son of Capitalist smashed through the $500,000 prizemoney barrier after adding the Ascot Handicap to the Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m) he claimed on his home track in June 2023.
The 6YO now has two wins and a pair of placings from his last four starts after showing great determination to get his nose in front under Cejay Graham, who is building a rich association with our boy.&nbsp; &nbsp;
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s an amazing horse, he&rsquo;s been in work in the stables for about a year now, and he just keeps fronting up on raceday,&rdquo; said Gollan.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s got some aches and pains and we weren&rsquo;t even sure if he&rsquo;d still be racing this time last year, but he seems to be loving life at the minute and he&rsquo;s a real tradesman around the yard. I said to his owners that there&rsquo;s no point spelling him, because if you did that you might as well retire him. So we&rsquo;ve just kept him ticking along, and here we are winning a Stakes race in a very strong rendition of the Ascot Handicap.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a gem of a horse to have around, and he&rsquo;s a credit to the team at Strong Bloodstock who do a fantastic job with their horses. He&rsquo;s holding up really well, and he&rsquo;s a very happy, healthy horse in great form.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
His next probable target is the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm in a fortnight, many congratulations to all our partners: Mr B Armstrong, Fremia Racing , Mr D Clifford, Mr B R Potter, K C M B, The Foyers, Mr D Campbell, Mr I S Gabriel, Mrs L A Gabriel, Mr SA Marr, Mr A Boyle, Mr D P Gilmour, Roll Away Racing, Mr T M McDermott, Mr M McGuire, Mr J P Proctor and Georges River Racing.

KING KAPA COLLECTS ANOTHER STAKES WIN

INVADE AND CONQUER embellished an already impressive home track record with a dominant display under apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
The pair ran their rivals off their feet in the Class 1 Handicap (1400m), as INVADE AND CONQUER carried his prizemoney past $100,000 with a second career victory for Team Price.&nbsp;
From his nine outings at home, the 4YO has now finished inside the top three on seven occasions after he made the most of his fast start.&nbsp;
INVADE AND CONQUER pinged the lids and took the race by the scruff of the neck, with Fitzgerald easing him down near the line for a comfortable victory by almost four lengths.
&ldquo;He was really well placed today,&rdquo; said Fitzgerald, who was in the saddle for the first time.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He jumped well, travelled super and made a mess of them really. It took me ages to pull him up after the line, so he&rsquo;s obviously feeling very well within himself and it was great to get another win on the board for the team.&rdquo;
Congratulations to all our partners: Showtime, Benchmark Racing, Ms L M Dumbleton, Mr C D McGuire, K C M B, Mr T J Crawley, Mr D Nelson, Please Joanne, Mr T l Triffitt, Last Minute Club, Mr J A Herewini, Fumakeco Racing, Mr J S Jankowski, Mr G Mende, Mr J Supple, The Thompson's, Miss O J Lowe and Mr L Christopher.

INVADE AND CONQUER ENJOYS THE COMFORTS OF HOME

KING KAPA made a regal return to the winner&rsquo;s circle with a dominant display at Doomben on Saturday.&nbsp;
The speedy son of Capitalist built on a last-start second with a three-length rout of his rivals in the Open Handicap (1200m).&nbsp;
The King&rsquo;s seventh career victory brought up a riding treble for Cejay Graham, who would also win the next race to complete her best day in the saddle.&nbsp;
The pair led all the way after a clean getaway, with KING KAPA racing well clear in the closing stages to justify his strong market support.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It looked on paper as though today was going to be his day, and it certainly worked out that way,&rdquo; said Graham.
&ldquo;He jumped well and made his own luck up front. He probably won the race in the first 200 metres, because we were able to control things and I was really happy with the way he relaxed. We were able to build from the 600-metre mark, and when he skipped down the hill I was pretty confident they weren&rsquo;t going to catch him.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;He won with a lot of authority today, and it was great to see him do it like that because he&rsquo;s certainly deserved another win.&rdquo;
The $50,000 purchase now has more than $425,000 in career earnings, many congratulations to all our partners: Mr B Armstrong, Fremia Racing , Mr D Clifford, Mr B R Potter, K C M B, The Foyers, Mr D Campbell, Mr I S Gabriel, Mrs L A Gabriel, Mr SA Marr, Mr A Boyle, Mr D P Gilmour, Roll Away Racing, Mr T M McDermott, Mr M McGuire, Mr J P Proctor and Georges River Racing.

KING KAPA PUTS THEM TO THE SWORD

VEGAS RAIDER carried his earnings past the $300,000 mark after registering his fourth career victory at Canterbury on Friday night.&nbsp;
New jockey Jay Ford made an instant impact as the pair dead-heated after leading all the way in Friday night&rsquo;s Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m).
Our partners faced an anxious wait after the second favourite Memoria dived at VEGAS RAIDER on the line, but they eventually shared the spoils after the judge was unable to split the pair.
VEGAS RAIDER&rsquo;s first victory since November 2023 moved his prizemoney bounty to $311,000, making the $38,000 we paid for him in partnership with trainer David Pfieffer look an absolute steal. &nbsp; &nbsp; 
&ldquo;It was important that we jumped well from the inside gate tonight,&rdquo; said Ford.
&ldquo;He executed his race really well, and was able to use the track to his advantage. Speed is his main asset but he also fought really hard all the way to the line, so I thought he ran out of his skin.&rdquo;
Congratulations to our partners: Mrs T A Wolfgram, Miss R Cant, Oztag Racing, Mr A R Danks, Mr D Galinec, Benchmark Racing, Mr C Jones, Mr M J Johnston, Mr S Loggie, Star Harem, Mr A C Buxton, Mrs K V Buxton, Mr A Bullow, Mr A Geaitani, Mr J S Jankowski, Mr M Kamaratos, Mr J A Livingstone, Mrs A Y Livingstone and Mr G Beves.

CHIPS IN ON VEGAS RAIDER

IMPERVIOUS showcased a brilliant turn of foot to make a triumphant start to her career at Ipswich on Wednesday.
Not everything went right for the daughter of Farnan on debut, but her class and quality shone through when it mattered as she powered clear in the closing stages.&nbsp;
Sent off the $1.55 favourite, IMPERVIOUS suffered a slightly chequered run but jockey Ange Jones was calm personified in the saddle.&nbsp;
After pulling her wide and clear of traffic, Jones stoked our girl up and she responded in style to chase down the leaders and score by a length for a soft win.&nbsp;
Having been placed in two previous trials, including behind the subsequent winner of the Magic Millions Debut, it was pleasing to see IMPERVIOUS impose herself on her first racetrack outing.
&ldquo;It was a really good win,&rdquo; said Jones.
&ldquo;She was a bit hot in the barriers but she did everything right once the gates had opened. She mustered pretty quickly and we had to take a sit after they slammed on the brakes up front. She didn&rsquo;t drop the bridle when we found ourselves behind a wall of horses, and she showed a terrific turn of foot once I let her go.&rdquo;
She will now head to Doomben on 8 February for a Saturday metro tilt, many congratulations to our partners: Mr A D Phillips, Mr M B Kerz, Mr P S Dhillon, Mr A J Cuddy, Mr J D Chevalley, Mr G J Roberts, Mr SA Marr, Mr B Hyem, Mrs L Daffy, Mr A R Madigan, Mr B W McMahon, Mr T J Williams, Mr S Mitchell, Mrs R Turner, Mr A D Taylor, Ms A Stewart, Ms K Nicholson, Ms K Schrauf and Mr R Cutrie.

Stable News

ZARAGOZA STRIKES AGAIN FOR CONNECTIONS