The All Stars barn will have close to 15  horses based in Australia for much of June, July and August with eight of them headed for the Queensland Harnes Racing Winter Carnival  managed by Natalie and the balance in Sydney under the direction of Mark.

 

While final lists have yet to be confirmed Smolda, Border Control, Hug The Wind, Have Faith In Me, Fight For Glory, Linda Lovegrace, Gentle Western and Lightfingered is the Queensland lineup at this stage.

 

"Not a bad team to have" Natalie noted with Sean pencilled in to be first assistant on the campaign.

 

"We are taking more than one age group horse in each category because there are enough good races to cater for all of them. "

 

Cash N Flow, Dream About Me and possibly High Gait will also be considered for the Breeders Crown some heats of which will be held in Queensland over the winter,but also in Sydney later.

 

The horses leave in early June and will be away until early in August when the Redcliffe Cup is run.

 

"It's a combination of factors increasing our racing in Australia but in this case the stakes are just too attractive to pass on" said Natalie.

 

Features include the  $A150,000 Queensland Derby and the $100,000 Queensland Oaks.

 

There is the Premier Cup series with a $50,000 final and a new race the Seymour Nursery Fly worth  $100,000 for two and three year olds.

 

A four and five year old championship with $50,000 would especially suit Border Control and The Blacks a Fake is $125,000 this year and the Redcliffe Cup $50,000.

 

Another open class race the Sunshine Sprint is worth $100,000.

 

Soon after joining Mark at Rolleston Natalie campaigned Best Deal Yet and O Baby in Queensland with outstanding results.

 

Best Deal Yet won the Gold Coast and Queensland Derbys and O Baby the Queensland Oaks.

 

Mark will be based in Sydney (at Belinda McCarthy's stables) with Follow The Stars, Kept Under Wraps, Golden Goddess, Waikiki Beach and Supersonic Miss.

 

"Follow the Stars is in the Vicbred Series and the others are headed for the Breeder's Challenge and hopefully the Breeders Crown all going well " Mark said. 

 

He will be away until September with the Breeder's Crown finals on August 30 this year. Mary will accompany the Sydney team.

 

"We couldn't do it without the good staff we have."

 

"Duane now acts as our foreman and does a great job and Tim and Matt are both sensible guys and ideal handling the young horses coming through."

 

"Our support staff is also terrific, probably the best we have ever had."

 

"You just couldn't do something like this without that help."

 

"Even so we might need an extra staff member to help us through at home," Mark said.