‘Our Melbourne Cup': Local trainer savours special victory at Scone
Fiorsum Fred earlier gave Singleton a hat-trick of wins on Scone's biggest day of the year when he claimed the class 3 Highway Handicap (1600m).
Singleton won benchmark handicaps on the standalone program the past two years with Dollar Magic and Comonic, and Fiorsum Fred added to the record with a strong finish for a three-quarter length victory.
Former Gold Coast apprentice Jace McMurray rode Fiorsum Fred, giving him a first Sydney metro win. He has joined Randwick trainer Michael Freedman on loan.
Filly shows star potential
Zoustar filly Stardom is set to chase more black type at the Queensland winter carnival after securing a valuable win in the Woodlands Stakes (1100m) as part of a listed double for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable.
The Torryburn Stud talent, out of Snitzel mare Diddums, raced outside leader Rainbow Glow before taking over at the top of straight for jockey Adam Hyeronimus and finding late to hold off Kris Lees-trained Wollzeile by a half length. Favourite Akaysha was strong late for third after getting too far back.
The Instructor later gave Hyeronimus and the Waterhouse-Bott yard another big win, overhauling Whinchat in the final metres of the Luskin Star Stakes. The son of Russian Revolution is also set to hunt stakes wins in Queensland.
Caballus comeback soured
Throat and gelding operations proved pivotal for Caballus when he returned with victory in the listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m), only to suffer a bleeding attack.
The Bjorn Baker-trained four-year-old, last year's Eskimo Prince Stakes winner, got the sit behind leader The Novelist from gate one. Jockey Ash Morgan then took the $5.50 favourite up the inside in the last furlong for a two-thirds of a length victory.
Caballus, which raced at group 1 level before his breathing problems prompted the throat operation, was set to chase bigger targets in Queensland before he was found to have bled from both nostrils post-race, triggering a mandatory suspension.
Godolphin's Renosu also bled in the same race.
Long shot lifts for Penza
Experienced provincial jockey Jeff Penza was rewarded for a long day's work when $61-shot Summer Flame lifted late to win the listed Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m).
Penza gave the Chris Waller-trained daughter of Written Tycoon from Rosemont Stud an ideal run behind leader Overfull before hitting the front 100m out to beat Gerringong by a neck.
Summer Flame resumed in the 3YO fillies feature after recording a win and two placings in Victoria in her first preparation.
Waller assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said the win was great reward for Penza.
'Whenever he's asked, he'll come in [for trackwork],' Duckworth said. 'He came in this morning and galloped four for us, then went home and rode his two show-jumpers, then got in the car and came here, so he's a hard worker.'
He said the performance of Summer Flame was not a surprise for Waller. 'Chris was tipping it, so he might be happy because she was obviously a crazy old price,' he said.
Archibald import finds edge
Annabel Archibald believes she may have found a key to Cormac T after the import edged out Gentileschi following an unusual lead-in.
Cormac T was scratched on vet's advice last Saturday at Gosford with abrasions to his near-hind leg after becoming fractious in the gates.
He bounced back in the benchmark 78 (1700m), hitting the front late for jockey Tom Sherry then holding out Gentileschi and Kind Words in a thriller. Gentileschi's co-trainer Paul Messara and stewards reviewed the photo before correct weight was declared.
'He obviously didn't gallop last Saturday and we went pretty steady with him early in the week because we wanted to check he was OK,' Archibald said. 'So maybe he's shown us that he likes to be kept slightly on the fresh side.'
It was part of a great day for the Annabel and Rob Archibald yard, which later won the group 1 Doomben 10,000 with Sunshine In Paris.
Snowden has Eagle eye on next race
Champion trainer Peter Snowden was eyeing the listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) on June 7 at Eagle Farm with Zealously after the three-year-old cruised to victory in the 1100m benchmark 78.
Loading
A $3.50 favourite after Snowden scratched him last week at Gosford in the hope of firmer ground this week, Zealously relished the drying soft 5 going, kicking clear at the top of the straight and beating Dollar Magic by one and three-quarter lengths.
The winning time of 1:02:13 was inside the track record but may not be official because it was hand timed.
'I'll go to Brisbane with him,' said Snowden, who was born and bred in Scone. 'There's a three-year-old race for him in about three weeks, so I'll head to that, if we get good ground.'
Freedman and Collett find key
Trainer Richard Freedman praised in-form jockey Alysha Collett after she produced a perfectly timed front-running ride to score a breakthrough win on import Walking Painting at Scone in the Midway Handicap (1700m).
Freedman, who trains in partnership with his son, Will, and has stables in Scone, wanted the six-year-old to lead after seven fruitless starts in Australia.
Collett, who had a winning double at Gosford last Saturday, found the front then stacked them up before Walking Painting held on narrowly Northern Eyes and Highborn Harry.
'I said to Alysha, you just go forward and lead, and I said to Kerrin [McEvoy on Let's Fly], you follow her,' Freedman said. 'I said, you slowly ease down and then wait until they straighten up and let him go.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Trainer Peter Snowden's stable of young talent is ready to make waves this spring
The building blocks for Peter Snowden's ominous spring offensive were on full display at a nondescript winter meeting at Canterbury Park just this week. It was Wednesday afternoon when Snowden was on course to watch one of his brightest young stars chase a winning hat-trick to start her career. The filly in question was Amreekiyah. She didn't disappoint. The daughter of Justify pulled off the seemingly unimaginable, coming from a seemingly impossible position on a leaders dominated track to remain unbeaten in stunning fashion. 'You don't often see horses do that,' Snowden said. 'She had was carrying 61kg and was spotting the leader five lengths, admittedly it did stop the last 50m but when she set out after it, you just saw her claw back ground and made it look easy. 'It makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck a little bit to see a horse win like that because not many can do that.' Amreekiyah, destined for stakes company, is just the latest example of Snowden's growing spring team. The Randwick trainer is nearing the end of his first season back as a solo conditioner after his 10-year partnership with son Paul came to a close last June. In recent times he made the decision to downsize his stable to focus on quality and the decision looks set to pay significant dividends. Snowden's stable is teeming with lightly-raced and young talent – think Beadman, Raging Force, Memo, Media World and Tuileries. 'A lot of horses are only lightly-raced, only trialled and had one run and gone out so we've left them to mature a bit and they've done that,' Snowden said. Outstanding return and 3 from 3 now for this promising Justify filly. Amreekiyah (3f Justify (USA) x Marianne) for @SnowdenRacing1 1st-up, 1st city run. Half-sister to G2 winner Yaletown. Defied the pattern of the day, a mighty effort. @EmiratesPark @wj_bloodstock @CoolmoreAus … â€' Breednet (@BreednetNews) July 23, 2025 • 'Best horse we've had for a while': Lees chasing Glorious victory 'They have all come back in really good order and it is probably the best team I've had in a while. 'On paper, we've certainly got some nice horses in the yard at the moment.' Raging Force and Beadman are two of the most exciting two-year-olds in Australia and look perfectly poised to make their mark when their three-year-old season begins. Raging Force was one of the finds of Sydney's winter after putting together three straight dominant victories at Muswellbrook, Randwick Kensington and Rosehill Gardens. It was a similarly memorable campaign for Beadman with the smart son of Snitzel heading for a break after an astonishing eight-and-a-quarter length romp in the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial at the Gold Coast on May 10. 'Raging Force and Beadman certainly laid the platform for doing something special next time in so hopefully that's the case,' Snowden said. 'They are both in work now. Beadman looks fantastic and has done particularly well. 'It was Henry (Field's) call (to spell him after the Ken Russell) but looking at him now, I am glad we stopped when we did with him because he looks amazing. 'I think we will look towards the Coolmore with him as his main goal if he is good enough. We won't rush him early and pick the right races with him.' Placings 1. Beadman 2. Daylight What an incredible win from Beadman! 🤯 @SnowdenRacing1 @mcacajamez â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 10, 2025 • Snowden confirmed Raging Force is set to resume on August 16 with a crack at the Listed Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens a possibility first-up from a freshen. Another of his promising youngsters will headline his home track assault on the weekend. Nazwah races in the same green and white Emirates Park silks as her unbeaten stablemate Amreekiyah and the filly has a similarly bright future. A $2.10 favourite in the opening event at Royal Randwick on Saturday, Nazwah made a memorable first impression with a stunning debut success at Gosford last month. The performance even caught Snowden by surprise. 'We went up thinking she would be a chance but I was a bit surprised by how well she won,' he said. 'I wanted to try and win a maiden quick with her, being a very well-bred filly, the quicker you get a win on the board it's one less target to get. 'She did surprised me with how well she won. She won with a good bit of authority. 'There is a fair bit of class there on Saturday but a good gate helps a lot and she has done well since so she is a chance. 'I am hoping she can improve again on Saturday.' With the spring carnival looming, Snowden will assess after Saturday's Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2YO Open (1100m) if Nazwah can measure up in better races in weeks to come. Wow, look at Nazwah go! 😮 An impressive win to the @SnowdenRacing1 - trained filly at @gosford_races with @tomo_sherry in the saddle! ðŸ'¨ @EmiratesPark â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 10, 2025 • Shayne O'Cass's tips, analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday 'We will sum it up after the race and see how she goes rather than get too far ahead of ourselves,' Snowden said. 'She is a nice filly going forward.' Cassiel ($4.20 favourite) will give Snowden a great chance of claiming a winning double when the gelding attempts to overcome a wide draw in the ATC Thank You Owners Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m). Snowden expects the son of Harry Angel, a winner of two of his three starts this preparation, to run well again if the weather plays it's part. 'He has done well and is holding his form but the only thing that might worry him is a bit of rain around on the day,' he said. 'It might be a bit of problem but we will see what happens. 'I know not worried about the draw, I know it look bad but the sort of horse he is, at least it gives him time to find his feet at his own rate rather than being pushed hard from inside gates. 'I am not too perturbed about the gate for him but the track on the day might be a bit of a concern.' Snowden is hopeful Braveheart ($18) gets the opportunity to take his place in the same field but the emergency will need three scratchings. IT'S TASHI'S TIARAðŸ'' Tashi gives Tom Sherry his first Group 1! What a story for the Irishman 🇮🇰 @tomo_sherry @SnowdenRacing1 â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 28, 2025 • Randwick Turf Talk: Shayno's smoking hot $15 tip Jockey Tom Sherry, fresh from a winning hat-trick last Saturday at Rosehill Gardens, will continue his strong recent run alongside Snowden with the rides on Nazwah and Cassiel. â– â– â– â– â– Tashi, the brilliant winner of this year's Group 1 Tatt's Tiara, is set to head to the breeding barn this year. Trainer Peter Snowden confirmed the consistent mare had likely run her last race after ending her career on a high note with a maiden major triumph at Eagle Farm last month. 'She is going to go to stud I think,' Snowden said. 'She is five going on six and when you've won a Group 1, you don't need to do anymore. 'I am pretty sure (her owners) the Altomontes want to give her a crack at stud. 'She did an amazing job so it will be disappointing she is not racing but if she didn't go in foal, maybe she could race towards the end of the year, if not it's job done for her.' Tashi brought in more than $1 million during her terrific career with a record of five wins and 14 placings in 26 starts. Her victory in the Tatt's Tiara was her maiden stakes breakthrough after a run of seven placings in black type races. The triumph will live long in the memory of jockey Tom Sherry as it delivered the Irishman his maiden Group 1 success.

News.com.au
9 hours ago
- News.com.au
Turf Talk: Shayne O'Cass makes $15 chance his best bet at Randwick on Saturday
Form experts Mitch Cohen and Shayne O'Cass debate the chances in all the key races at Royal Randwick on Saturday in this week's edition of Turf Talk. Shayno is taking a swing at a $15 chance on Saturday, making Race 8 No.4 CIGAR FLICK his best bet of the day, while Mitch's big play comes in the last race of the day, Race 10 No.6 PUNTIN. â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: Hello Mitchy. Back to HQ on Saturday. It was unusually biased against middle and outside horses trying to run on (all my tips as it happened!) last time. I am wondering, nay, even worried about the 11m rail. Just have to hit and hope I guess. Mitch: G'day Shayno. Fun fact for you. Two horses running on Saturday won at the same meeting 12 months ago with the rail out – Race 8 No.13 TARPAULIN and Race 8 No.6 HI DUBAI. I haven't found either of them in my numbers but I know you love a bit of history. Tarpaulin runs away with it! ðŸ'¨ @mcacajamez and @JamesCummings88 combine to win the Randwick opener 🙌 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 27, 2024 • Shayno: These 2YOs in the first will all be 3YOs as of next Friday. You know yourself that lots can change for the better or for the worse when they make that step hence why it will be fascinating to see how SHAGGY (Race 1 No.1) has come back, so too OPEN SECRET (4), NASHVILLE JACK (3) and others. Mitch: The question has to be asked, what did NAZWAH (Race 1 No.7) beat at Gosford? We won't know this weekend as both placegetters are now spelling. With that said, she smashed them and looked to have plenty to offer on the line. I am with her but very wary of Shaggy. He's got the runs on the board. 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 • Shayno: Mitchy, I can't believe I am tipping CIGAR FLICK (Race 8 No.4). In fact, I must be mad because I have made her best bet. She's not the biggest certainty on the card BUT at $15, I say she is the best bet, so bet small! Mitch: I am saving the best for last this week Shayno. PUNTIN (Race 10 No.6) is as consistent a galloper as you'd find and can add another win to the 'last race Baker' tally. He stepped a touch slow in a race dominated on speed by Oh Diamond Lil the other day but expecting him to atone this time. Puntin wins on debut! 🤩 @RachelK11 @BBakerRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 15, 2024 Shayno: Might be just me, I always take a Daily Double, saves you backing one in the last if the first has already won, that's my logic. And tomorrow, I'll be taking the Bryce Heys pair to win both legs. It'll pay off big time! Mitch: That's GENTLY ROLLED (Race 7 No.7) and KING RATEL (Race 10 No.9) for those playing at home. Personally, my blackbook is going to come under the microscope this weekend. KINGSTON CHARM (Race 2 No.2), IN SUMMER (Race 3 No.6) and SACRED ROCKS (Race 7 No.4) are all horses I've got highlighted in the 'back me next start' category. Give me strength.

News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Canterbury preview: Trainer Bjorn Baker aims to close out his record season on a high note
Trainer Bjorn Baker has had by far and away his greatest season and is keen to keep adding to it at Canterbury today as he eyes more milestones in 2025/26. Baker has so far this season prepared 155 winners, topping his previous best of 128, with his runners earning in excess of $25 million. 'It's been an amazing season. I have a great team, great clients and I have a lot of nice horses around me,' Baker said. 'As good as this season has been, I'm looking forward to next season as well.' Baker is looking to get off to a quick start at Canterbury with Shalaa Gold and Olufsen kicking off their preparations in the Benchmark 64 TAB Handicap (1100m). Shalaa Gold was runner-up in his first four starts before a breakthrough win over 1100m at Warwick Farm in January. He showed he is on track to kick off his campaign on a positive note with two very good trials including a win over King Of Roseau in his Randwick heat on July 11. 'He's a promising horse. He did a good job to finally win a maiden last start after placing a number of times,' Baker said. 'He has trialled well and he is definitely forward enough so I think he's in there with a good chance. 'I'm also happy to see that the weather is pretty good this week so we will get a decent track for him.' Shalaa Gold gets the gold in the Warwick Farm opener! 🥇 @BBakerRacing ðŸ¤� @JoshuaParr8 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 27, 2025 • Olufsen doesn't have the race experience of Shalaa Gold but showed he possessed plenty of ability with a debut win at Wyong in March. He has also trialled very well with a second to Mirra Impact in his Randwick trial on June 27 and a fourth to Amreekiyah in a Hawkesbury heat on July 7. 'He is a full brother to Ozzmosis,' he said. 'He was very good in winning at his first start. 'He is still a little bit green and putting it all together but he has been good in his couple of trials. 'There probably isn't much between these two and he has drawn a lovely gate as well. 'I guess Shalaa Gold will probably be a little more forward that Olufsen but it will come down to luck in running a little bit as well.' Olufsen starts the career off right with a win for the @BBakerRacing stable at Wyong! ðŸ'Œ — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 19, 2025 Baker has O'Invincible engaged at Canterbury and Wyong on Thursday and will weigh up the two options. The daughter of I Am Invincible is in the Broadsiding @ Darley Handicap (1250m) for which she has drawn barrier 13 while she has gate 7 in the Benchmark 64 at Wyong. 'She has got a wide gate but there is already three scratchings inside of her,' Baker said. 'We will just have a think about whether she runs or we wait for the next day.' O'Invincible was below her best first-up when a well beaten sixth to Livin' Thing at Randwick's Kensington track but better when just over a length behind Divine Vicky when sixth at Gosford. 'She was too bad to be true first-up and I think she may have had atrial fibrillation but she definitely had an excuse that day,' he said. 'She was okay last time out and she is definitely fit and well. I think stepping up to the 1250 metres suits her as well.' 'I thought he was good first-up and had excuses last time out on a very wet track at Rosehill. 'His work on Saturday was good and off that alone, I think he's got a good chance.'