Candlewick well-backed for stakes test in Hawkesbury Guineas
O'Shea and Charlton will have a strong hand in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) with Candlewick joined by Getafix.
Candlewick could be considered unlucky to not still be unbeaten but boasts an outstanding record of three wins and a second in four starts.
She made the perfect return to her second racing campaign with a first-up win over 1200m that encouraged the stable to raise the bar a little higher.
Talent runs rich in her family with the highly-promising filly being a half-sister to 2020 The Everest hero Classique Legend.
'Candlewick is a lovely filly,' Charlton said.
'She is a beautiful home-bred and improving really nicely.
'You could make a case that she could potentially be unlucky not to be unbeaten at this stage of her career and this is a good point to try her on stakes grade.
'I think it's not the be-all and end-all this preparation but there are some nice races potentially in Queensland or in the spring but we will be guided by her and won't dive too deep too quickly.'
Early support has seen Candlewick backed from $11 into $5.50 favouritism while Getafix is a $19 chance.
Getafix hasn't been tested in stakes company since finishing sixth in the Group 2 Todman Stakes during his two-year-old season.
The gelding produced a bit of a head scratcher first-up when he only beat a runner home over 1200m but the stable is confident he's capable of a much-improved showing.
'It was a weird run in a way because we were expecting him to be really sharp so it was whether he just cornered a little bit weird and got slightly detached from the field in doing so, I am not quite sure,' Charlton said.
'His work has been quite good and he looks fantastic so we wouldn't be surprised if he bounced right back to form to a level that would be competitive on Saturday, particularly as he handles wet ground.
'He is similar to her and a race like the Fred Best would be appealing if he progressed back to form.'
O'Shea and Charlton will launch another two-pronged attack in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) with outsiders Athabascan ($61) and relatively new addition Strait Acer ($34).
Athabascan faces a massive drop in trip after finishing fifth in the Group 1 Sydney Cup last start with the stable eyeing off another staying target in a fortnight's time.
'He had a freshen up after the Sydney Cup and responded well,' Charlton said.
'This will be way short of his best but it might be a run that gets him on track for a race like the Andrew Ramsden (on May 17).'
Strait Acer joined O'Shea and Charlton at the beginning of this preparation and only beat a couple of runners home first-up in a 1400m Benchmark 100 at Randwick.
Countyourblessings gained a start in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown but the stable have elected to run in The Lawn Shed Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m) instead.
She will be joined by Captain Amelia in the final event on the program.
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Colt is One Step Closer to first win
Untapped colt One Step Closer is a horse of the future but trainer Tom Charlton insists he still can make his presence felt in the now at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
One Step Closer will line up for just his second career start in the Clarendon Stakes (1400m) for two-year-olds at the feature stand-alone meeting.
The son of two-time Group 1 winner Castelvecchio was a beaten favourite on debut over seven furlongs at Kembla Grange last start, finishing 1-1/2 lengths off the winner in fourth.
Despite the defeat, Charlton says his stable thought the performance had plenty of merit.
'We were happy with him on debut,' Charlton, who trains with John O'Shea, said.
'His trials and work suggested he could be a winning chance and it was a more acceptable debut.
'He should improve off that and I certainly think he isn't without a chance on Saturday.'
One Step Closer is a $10 chance to win at the second time of asking with Zac Lloyd aboard but will face significant challenges in the form of strong debut winner Aerodrome ($2 favourite) and the promising Damien ($3.90).
Aerodrome is currently one of the leading contenders for the JJ Atkins Stakes at $11 with One Step Closer in the same market as a $51 outsider.
O'Shea and Charlton are taking things one race at a time with One Step Closer but believe the lightly-raced juvenile's best is likely still a few months down the track.
'He is definitely going to be a better three-year-old for sure and will stay further,' Charlton said.
'What trip he gets to in time, I am not sure but he's potentially a 2000m-2400m horse so we will see.'
While not a stakes race, the Clarendon Stakes is undoubtedly a feature event on the program with past winners including Zardozi, Graff and Zoustar.
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News.com.au
25-07-2025
- News.com.au
Mitch Cohen, Shayne O'Cass tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday
Racing writers Mitch Cohen and Shayne O'Cass present their race-by-race tips and analysis for the 10-race meeting at Royal Randwick on Saturday. MITCH'S BEST BET Race 10 No.6 PUNTIN MITCH'S BEST VALUE Race 8 No.7 THE BLACK CLOUD SHAYNO'S BEST BET Race 8 No.4 CIGAR FLICK SHAYNO'S BEST VALUE Race 9 No.10 RANTAN â– â– â– â– â– Shayne O'Cass: We should start by pointing out the rail placement for the day; 11m out from the 1000m to the winning post; 8m the remainder. What effect that has, if any at all, will become evident pretty early on. For the record in the first I am eager to see how NAZWAH (7) makes the transition from Gosford to Randwick. Nazwah is out of a very good filly who has turned into a very good broodmare namely Najoom who has already thrown stakes-winners Charm Stone and Najmaty and the way this filly might get to black-type herself. Mitch Cohen: On speed could be the place to be with the rail where it is but we will wait a couple of races to see how it plays out. I am with NAZWAH (7) too. Interesting to hear Peter Snowden say her debut win took him a bit by surprise. It was a very impressive performance and I doubt she will be getting under anyone's guard on the weekend. SHAGGY (1) has to be a chance if he can replicate his early two-year-old form. It wasn't so long ago that he was a hot favourite in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes and a genuine Golden Slipper prospect. Wow, look at Nazwah go! 😮 An impressive win to the @SnowdenRacing1 - trained filly at @gosford_races with @tomo_sherry in the saddle! ðŸ'¨ @EmiratesPark — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 10, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: KINGSTON CHARM (2) is indeed a member of David Hains' epic family that delivered the fastest Melbourne Cup winner ever, Kingston Rule. As for Kingston Charm, she is much more a miler than a two-miler; and make that a 'Randwick Miler' Nosey Parker is known for getting back and charging late mostly in 1200m races but he actually ran a pretty respectable race at Wyong at his only 1600m run when Willie Pike rode him. CALLISTEMON (9) is the obvious, SUNSOURCE (8) might be the value at $7 the place. Mitch: We are in agreement again. I thought KINGSTON CHARM (2) was desperately unlucky not to win the other day and she finds herself in a very similar race here. She's ready for a peak performance third-up. CALLISTEMON (9) is another one that didn't have a lot go her way the other day. She's a chance but the outside draw could make things ugly. FORECASTER (3) is drawn to get every possible on speed. Charmed! Kingston Charm takes out the opener at Randwick today! @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 9, 2024 • â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: Typhoon Tracy relation IN SUMMER (6) has three wins, three seconds and a third from eight starts. She was third last start in a Highway here but was, IMHO, the moral victor. The two that beat her had all the favours whereas he had none. A lot of that goes for RED RAGS TO BULLS (7) too who was fifth in that on-pace Highway. How could those two NOT run 1800m? OFF THE SCALE (8) has already won over 'the Tchaikovsky distance' (1812m) by four then won at Scone by three over 1700m. Mitch: IN SUMMER (6) went straight in the blackbook following her strong third in a Highway race at a mile last time. She has never been tried at the 1800m but off that last run you'd expect her to lap it up. RED RAGS TO BULLS (7) is a descendant of an SA Oaks runner-up so the 1800m could prove right up her alley too. Matt Dunn can never be discounted in a Highway either so FULL OF SINCERITY (2) deserves respect. He's dropping back 430m in trip but this is significantly easier than a Grafton Cup. • Big Dance lure not enough to sway Pfieffer â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: CODETTA (1) has been most unlucky this preparation Mitchy, You could make a sane case to argue that this half-sister to Riff Rocket could have won any or all of her three starts this time in but for wide barriers and track bias and so on. Barrier 4 this time, 2kgs off, even luck she wins IMHO. Could it be the same trifecta as the July 5 race here with GOLDEN STRAAND (8) (runner-up that day) and DIDDLE DUMPLING (2) (who won) both fronting up again? Sure can. Outside of those, one has to acknowledge that SIGNOR TORTONI (3) is on a hat-trick. Mitch: GLORIOUS MOMENTS (6) has been given a month to get over his excellent first-up success at Canterbury. The smart son of Brutal hadn't raced for 59 weeks heading into that and should be advantaged by the added break between runs. He's untapped. STARDEEL (4) deserves consideration on the strength of his consistent preparation. The 1300m looks ideal for him now. SIGNOR TORTONI (3) is going through his grades nicely and should be competitive again. “I think he is the best horse we've had for a long while.â€� Co-trainer Greg Lee believes Glorious Moments can deliver on that high opinion when he turns out on home turf at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Story: @MitchRWCohen ðŸ'‡ — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) July 24, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: In case you forgot Mitchy, I was declaring RUBY FLYER (1) first-up in the Winter Stakes but the fact that he was $41 to $51 suggested that she would need the run. The long and short of it was that he was 11th of 13 but only beaten six-lengths and I thought he ran through the line with purpose. Loves the 1600m and loves Randwick. One has to be (totally) forgiving of Big Dance placegetter SUPER HELPFUL (2) first-up given he bombed the start. OH DIAMOND LIL (4) is bombproof. Mitch: No one could doubt your loyalty Shayno! I found it impossible to go around OH DIAMOND LIL (4). I know David Pfieffer was considering the Coffs Harbour Cup but with the rail out, this looks like an ideal race for her. She will settle close to the speed and I am tipping she will be too hard to run down. ABERLOUR (9) is another one that will find herself on speed and was good doing it from out in front over 1800m last time. RUBY FLYER (1) is best of the rest. She's back on the winners list! ðŸ'� Jason Collett lifts Oh Diamond Lil over the line to take out race 8 at Randwick! @DavidPfieffer — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 12, 2025 • Thompson has strong hand to cap off outstanding season â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: Tasmanian Oaks runner-up VERY SEWREEL (9) was my Black Booker from the July 12 meeting here even though she ran ninth of 13. That was her first run for Bjorn Baker but she is familiar with HQ given she came from Waterhouse/Bott. Terrible bias on the day, she has to be marked 'up' for what was an already honourable return over 1400m; 1800m this time. Boom. SHE'S UNUSUAL (5) is a last start track/distance winner. Nettoyer's little (half) sister CHANGING COLOURS (7) had no chance with the bias here two weeks back. Mitch: SHE'S UNUSUAL (5) won't get the same luxury out in front that she was afforded last start but she can win again. She gets a great draw to settle close to the speed and only has to carry a kilo more after Ben Osmond's 2kg claim. PIGGYBACK (8) has been a tad frustrating in recent starts but hasn't had a lot of luck either. She is at peak fitness and will be in the mix again. BRIGHT RED (10) is a consistent mare but doesn't win all the often. She's nice... unusual! She's Unusual wins in style for @JohnOSheaRacing with @TommyBerry21 in the saddle! 🤩 @aus_turf_club @OTIRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: Not sure if GENTLY ROLLED (7) turns up on Saturday or is saved for another day given the wide draw and the rail placement. The brief version from last start is 'beaten by the bias'. UNSTOPABULL (6) 's trainer Chris Waller mastered the art of the back-up a long time ago Mitchy. The stats say he has an 18.2 per cent winning strike-rate with horses backing up within 7 days and that increases to 46.6 per cent when placings are added. One more thing, Unstopabull had no luck last weekend. Mitch: SACRED ROCKS (4) would be odds on if she drew a gate. She's the clear class runner and only needs to overcome another wide draw here. I am convinced she is a stakes quality mare and she's unlucky not to be three from three this preparation. DRIFT NET (9) is drawn to get on speed favours from barrier one. She is going to be the one the favourite needs to catch. UNSTOPABULL (6) will run his typical race and be the best of the closers. Sacred Rocks storms home on the outside to win the last at Rosehill! 🚀 @CMaherRacing @djgibbons22 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: We all use the term 'unlucky' a lot, sometimes too much Mitchy but seriously, how unlucky was CIGAR FLICK (4) the other day! I know she is not everyone's cup of tea, for some she is poison, but honestly and truly, if the best Cigar Flick shows up, she has to be in the finish. STORM THE RAMPARTS (1) is '211212' this preparation, and I'm tipping Cigar Flick! The world's gone mad! But one last time and if she gets rolled this time with no good reason, it's goodbye. Mitch: I think THE BLACK CLOUD (7), albeit it not a huge price, still present some nice value around the $6 quote. She is a model of consistency with two close seconds already to her name this prep. If the rain hits Sydney, that's only going to help her cause. BUNDEENA (11) looked the winner a long way out first-up. He will be poised pounce from a good draw. STORM THE RAMPARTS (1) has to go in the quaddie. He's flying and has shown big weights are no concern. The Black Cloud wins and wins well for punters in the last! @ProvenTbreds @PrideRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 17, 2024 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: RANTAN (10) has been incredibly unlucky (there's that word again) this whole three start campaign. Unless this rail placement spoils it for backmarkers, I am working on the wide barrier being favourable, or at very least, not disadvantageous to her winning prospects. APACHE BREEZE (18) is $9 the place which is an inviting price about a horse in form and nearing a win. Like him at Randwick with its big straight. Mitch: I went looking for a different angle away from the favourites and landed on RANTAN (10) too. She will need the likes of ZOURIPPER (15) and REGIMENTAL COLOURS (12) to set a genuine tempo up front to get her chance but if she gets clear air late, she will be finishing strong. CASSIEL (3) is racing well and his racing pattern should help him negate the wide draw. He's got the form man Tom Sherry aboard too. LORDSTER (7) is a cheeky hope at double figures. Rantan loops the field to win Race 4 at Warwick Farm for @RonQuinton! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 18, 2024 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: KING RATEL (9) is perhaps not a guaranteed starter given the draw, but he is on top for me if he comes otherwise it is as open as the Heads – like all good Get Out Stakes should be. Maybe MIRACLE SPIN (3)? Encouraged by the trial. TRAVOLTA (5) wants 1800m now, big time. PUNTIN (6) just keeps on running good races and is 'Bjorn in the last!' Mitch: Saving the best to last Shayno and that's PUNTIN (6). This bloke couldn't run a bad race if he tried, running second, first and second this prep. He has been well prepared for a crack at 1800m here. Provided he avoids another slow getaway, I think he's going to take a power of beating. MIRACLE SPIN (3) is an interesting runner. Matt Smith has wasted no time, going first-up over 1800m. He's raced well and the same track and trip before. The Waller pair of PURE ALPHA (7) and KAZALARK (11) are in the mix.
Courier-Mail
22-07-2025
- Courier-Mail
2025 The Everest: Jimmysstar confirmed for TAB slot
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Ciaron Maher will get the chance to win The Everest in consecutive years – and so too will slot holder TAB – after freakish Group 1 winner Jimmysstar became the fourth horse signed up for the $20m race in 2025. Jimmysstar, a two-time Group 1 winner last seen storming to victory in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April, becomes the fourth horse to score a slot for The Everest in October. The horse they all have to beat, Hong Kong superstar Ka Ring Rising, is confirmed for a slot and is the hot $1.80 favourite, while Private Harry ($6) and Briasa ($8) also have slots. Champion trainer Maher won the 2024 The Everest with Bella Nipotina and will get the chance to go back to back after Jimmysstar scored the TAB slot. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Earlier in his career, Jimmysstar could be an enigmatic galloper and several times went down as raging favourite, including as a $1.26 chance at Flemington and also when starting at $1.75 at Eagle Farm. But the penny has well and truly dropped and he is now widely considered one of the most explosive sprinters in the country. He came from near last to blow away his opposition in this year's Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield and also powered over the top of his rivals in the All Aged. • David Hayes reveals the key traits that make Ka Ying Rising so special Jimmysstar races in the colours of prominent owner Ozzie Kheir who, along with his close friend Brae Sokolski, tasted Everest success when Yes Yes Yes won for Chris Waller in 2019. Kheir wasn't on track that day but said nothing would keep him away from Randwick when Jimmysstar contested The Everest later this year. 'We were in discussions with TAB for several weeks on Jimmysstar and they were fantastic to deal with and have come to the party with the ownership group's expectations,' Kheir said. • Via Sistina, Fangirl and other stars clear out cobwebs at Randwick trials 'We are very excited to have one of our favourite horses heading towards The Everest which would not have been in our thought processes only nine months ago. 'Jimmy has been a quirky horse from the outset, which has cost him winning in the past, but now he has turned into a racehorse mentally and from his recent videos of him he looks unreal 'He has so much ability. 'He is not a big horse but he is all muscle.' Originally published as 2025 The Everest: Ciaron Maher-trained, Ozzie Kheir-owned Jimmysstar confirmed for TAB slot
News.com.au
22-07-2025
- News.com.au
2025 The Everest: Ciaron Maher-trained, Ozzie Kheir-owned Jimmysstar confirmed for TAB slot
Ciaron Maher will get the chance to win The Everest in consecutive years – and so too will slot holder TAB – after freakish Group 1 winner Jimmysstar became the fourth horse signed up for the $20m race in 2025. Jimmysstar, a two-time Group 1 winner last seen storming to victory in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April, becomes the fourth horse to score a slot for The Everest in October. The horse they all have to beat, Hong Kong superstar Ka Ring Rising, is confirmed for a slot and is the hot $1.80 favourite, while Private Harry ($6) and Briasa ($8) also have slots. Champion trainer Maher won the 2024 The Everest with Bella Nipotina and will get the chance to go back to back after Jimmysstar scored the TAB slot. Earlier in his career, Jimmysstar could be an enigmatic galloper and several times went down as raging favourite, including as a $1.26 chance at Flemington and also when starting at $1.75 at Eagle Farm. But the penny has well and truly dropped and he is now widely considered one of the most explosive sprinters in the country. He came from near last to blow away his opposition in this year's Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield and also powered over the top of his rivals in the All Aged. JIMMYSSTAR FROM THE CLOUDS! 🚀 He wins his first Group 1 for @cmaherracing 🥰 @Brown_ethan8 â€' (@Racing) February 22, 2025 • Jimmysstar races in the colours of prominent owner Ozzie Kheir who, along with his close friend Brae Sokolski, tasted Everest success when Yes Yes Yes won for Chris Waller in 2019. Kheir wasn't on track that day but said nothing would keep him away from Randwick when Jimmysstar contested The Everest later this year. 'We were in discussions with TAB for several weeks on Jimmysstar and they were fantastic to deal with and have come to the party with the ownership group's expectations,' Kheir said. @cmaherracing and @Brown_ethan8! 🙌 @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025 'We are very excited to have one of our favourite horses heading towards The Everest which would not have been in our thought processes only nine months ago. 'Jimmy has been a quirky horse from the outset, which has cost him winning in the past, but now he has turned into a racehorse mentally and from his recent videos of him he looks unreal 'He has so much ability. 'He is not a big horse but he is all muscle.'
