logo
‘Our Melbourne Cup': Local trainer savours special victory at Scone

‘Our Melbourne Cup': Local trainer savours special victory at Scone

Reith, a group 1 winner, spent a year on the sidelines after fracturing vertebrae in a fall in 2022.
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.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from Royal Randwick
Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from Royal Randwick

Daily Telegraph

time8 hours ago

  • Daily Telegraph

Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from Royal Randwick

Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Daily Telegraph racing writer Mitch Cohen has analysed the Royal Randwick meeting on Saturday and found a few worth following. 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! FIVE TO FOLLOW KOIBITO (race 1, 4th) The winner Nashville Jack is a horse you will see in better races but this filly did a terrific job on debut, doing her best work late. She might be a prep away but has potential. SO YOU ARE (race 3, 2nd) This lightly-raced son of So You Think is still learning his craft and hit the line nicely over 1800m in the Highway. He will come into his own over 2000m plus. GLORIOUS MOMENTS (race 4, 1st) It was only a Benchmark 72 but it's easy to see the son of Brutal landing in better races soon. He's got stakes quality and will go through his grades quickly. SLINKY (race 7, 3rd) Put a line through her run two starts ago when she landed too close, she produced a far better run ridden cold. If she finds herself in a race with speed on next start she's worth backing. TRAVOLTA (race 10, 1st) He's won two of his three starts this preparation and can steadily go through his grades in his second preparation in Australia. Back him with confidence if the track is wet. STEWARDS SAY Open Secret (race 1): Did not feel comfortable on the soft track. Was found to be coughing post-race and will undergo further veterinary checks, including an endoscopic examination. Forecaster (race 2): Apprentice William Stanley was fined $500 for striking the gelding nine times before the 100m, four more than permitted. In Summer (race 3): Jockey Jason Collett felt the prevailing racing surface hampered her ability to close off as expected. Ruby Flyer (race 5): Did not travel comfortably on the soft track and failed to fire. Was found to be slow to recover post-race. Storm The Ramparts (race 8): A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding was slow to recover and lost his off-fore plate. He will be spelled. The Black Cloud (race 8): Did not let down under pressure and weakened in the straight. Another horse that was slow to recover post-race. Kazalark (race 10): Late scratching at 9.55am on vets advice after being found lame in the off-foreleg. CRUNCH TIME Nashville Jack (race 1): Surged home along the inside to finish his last 600m in 36.09 seconds. Wisnierska (36.08) and Koibito (36.03) both got home well in behind. Investment (race 6): She was last at one stage but relished the conditions as she was a race best split for every furlong from the 1000m to the finish. Her last 600m of 38.90 seconds was a clear best. Cigar Flick (race 8): Only had a couple of runners behind her in the run before doing her best work down the outside to finish her last 600m in 35.45 seconds. Her last 200m of 12.45 was the best of the race. Regimental Colours (race 9): Showed a terrific finishing burst, running the best final three furlongs of the race to win with splits of 11.62, 11.71 and 12.61 seconds. Her last 600m totally 35.94. TRACK TALK 'He is a nice horse, he has a bit of substance to him.' - Jockey Jason Collett on Nashville Jack. 'I was actually watching the race with Charlie (Duckworth) and said 'I don't know what this Tommy is doing, we said we were going to come through them and have the last crack at them'. Then I said after the race 'that's why Tommy is a jockey and I am a trainer'. - Chris Waller after Cigar Flick's win. 'He's a lovely horse. It's taken a fair while for us to get to this point but finally he's starting to show what we've known he has.' - Stable rep Keith Lam on Glorious Moments. 'If I get offered the chance I'll jump on a plane to come back and ride this horse. I'd go anywhere to ride him.' - Jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven, who moved to Brisbane on Sunday, on Glorious Moments. 'I thought she could improve a bit today. I said to a few people she had a sneaky chance.' Joe Pride after $61 shot Investment saluted. THIS WEEK IN NSW RACING Monday: Kempsey Tuesday: Wagga, Wellington Wednesday: Warwick Farm Thursday: Scone Friday: Kembla Grange, Coffs Harbour Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Newcastle, Cobar, Tuncurry Sunday: Wyong, Forbes Originally published as Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from Royal Randwick

Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from Royal Randwick
Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from Royal Randwick

News.com.au

time9 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from Royal Randwick

Daily Telegraph racing writer Mitch Cohen has analysed the Royal Randwick meeting on Saturday and found a few worth following. FIVE TO FOLLOW KOIBITO (race 1, 4th) The winner Nashville Jack is a horse you will see in better races but this filly did a terrific job on debut, doing her best work late. She might be a prep away but has potential. SO YOU ARE (race 3, 2nd) This lightly-raced son of So You Think is still learning his craft and hit the line nicely over 1800m in the Highway. He will come into his own over 2000m plus. GLORIOUS MOMENTS (race 4, 1st) It was only a Benchmark 72 but it's easy to see the son of Brutal landing in better races soon. He's got stakes quality and will go through his grades quickly. GLORIOUS 🙌 How good was that from Glorious Moments and @HeavelonVan! Utterly dominant in the fourth at Randwick ðŸ'°ðŸ'° — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 26, 2025 SLINKY (race 7, 3rd) Put a line through her run two starts ago when she landed too close, she produced a far better run ridden cold. If she finds herself in a race with speed on next start she's worth backing. TRAVOLTA (race 10, 1st) He's won two of his three starts this preparation and can steadily go through his grades in his second preparation in Australia. Back him with confidence if the track is wet. SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER FOR JASON COLLETT 🕰🰩 He makes it a quartet to finish the day at Randwick on TRAVOLTA 😎 Who was Stayin' Alive in the Quaddie until then? — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 26, 2025 STEWARDS SAY Open Secret (race 1): Did not feel comfortable on the soft track. Was found to be coughing post-race and will undergo further veterinary checks, including an endoscopic examination. Forecaster (race 2): Apprentice William Stanley was fined $500 for striking the gelding nine times before the 100m, four more than permitted. In Summer (race 3): Jockey Jason Collett felt the prevailing racing surface hampered her ability to close off as expected. Ruby Flyer (race 5): Did not travel comfortably on the soft track and failed to fire. Was found to be slow to recover post-race. Storm The Ramparts (race 8): A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding was slow to recover and lost his off-fore plate. He will be spelled. The Black Cloud (race 8): Did not let down under pressure and weakened in the straight. Another horse that was slow to recover post-race. Kazalark (race 10): Late scratching at 9.55am on vets advice after being found lame in the off-foreleg. CRUNCH TIME Nashville Jack (race 1): Surged home along the inside to finish his last 600m in 36.09 seconds. Wisnierska (36.08) and Koibito (36.03) both got home well in behind. Investment (race 6): She was last at one stage but relished the conditions as she was a race best split for every furlong from the 1000m to the finish. Her last 600m of 38.90 seconds was a clear best. Cigar Flick (race 8): Only had a couple of runners behind her in the run before doing her best work down the outside to finish her last 600m in 35.45 seconds. Her last 200m of 12.45 was the best of the race. Regimental Colours (race 9): Showed a terrific finishing burst, running the best final three furlongs of the race to win with splits of 11.62, 11.71 and 12.61 seconds. Her last 600m totally 35.94. Regimental Colours strikes late! ðŸ'¥ The @BBakerRacing filly wins race 9 at Randwick, that's three wins today for Jason Collett! ðŸ'¥ — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 26, 2025 TRACK TALK 'He is a nice horse, he has a bit of substance to him.' - Jockey Jason Collett on Nashville Jack. 'I was actually watching the race with Charlie (Duckworth) and said 'I don't know what this Tommy is doing, we said we were going to come through them and have the last crack at them'. Then I said after the race 'that's why Tommy is a jockey and I am a trainer'. - Chris Waller after Cigar Flick's win. 'He's a lovely horse. It's taken a fair while for us to get to this point but finally he's starting to show what we've known he has.' - Stable rep Keith Lam on Glorious Moments. 'If I get offered the chance I'll jump on a plane to come back and ride this horse. I'd go anywhere to ride him.' - Jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven, who moved to Brisbane on Sunday, on Glorious Moments. 'I thought she could improve a bit today. I said to a few people she had a sneaky chance.' Joe Pride after $61 shot Investment saluted. THIS WEEK IN NSW RACING Monday: Kempsey Tuesday: Wagga, Wellington Wednesday: Warwick Farm Thursday: Scone Friday: Kembla Grange, Coffs Harbour

Trainer Chris Waller praises Tommy Berry's tactical mastery as Cigar Flick storms home to victory at Randwick
Trainer Chris Waller praises Tommy Berry's tactical mastery as Cigar Flick storms home to victory at Randwick

News.com.au

timea day ago

  • News.com.au

Trainer Chris Waller praises Tommy Berry's tactical mastery as Cigar Flick storms home to victory at Randwick

Trainer Chris Waller had jockey Tommy Berry to thank after his well-bred mare Cigar Flick scored her first victory in more than a year at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Waller had a different plan in mind for his daughter of Churchill before Berry went off script to produce her with a barnstorming run down the outside to win the ATC Thank You Owners Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m). 'I was actually watching the race with Charlie (Duckworth) and said 'I don't know what this Tommy is doing, we said we were going to come through them and have the last crack at them',' Waller said. 'Then I said after the race 'that's why Tommy is a jockey and I am a trainer'. He knew what he was doing.' Berry settled Cigar Flick in her customary position towards the rear of the field and ensured the daughter of Churchill kept momentum as they rounded the turn in a four-wide line. Cigar Flick ($13) unleashed a powerful burst down the outside to run over the top of the Matthew Smith -trained World Alliance ($11) to prevail by one-and-a-quarter lengths. John Thompson 's Bundeena ($8) gave them something to catch inside the final furlong before finishing third. 'She is one that you have to ride for bad luck and hope for a bit of good luck,' Berry said. 'Today the opportunity presented to get her to the outside. 'I still had a bum to follow and be patient on her and she reaped the rewards of what's been a consistent preparation without any luck. 'She is in at the right time of year.' Cigar Flick lights it up! ðŸ'¥ The @cwallerracing trained galloper flies down the outside to win giving @TommyBerry21 a race-to-race double! ✌ï¸� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 26, 2025 • Nashville Jack in fine tune with slashing win Cigar Flick hadn't won for more than a year heading into Saturday but Waller is hoping to win another race with the mare before she is retired to stud later this year. 'She is a lovely horse, beautiful,' Waller said. 'She won't have too much more racing. Her mum is a sister to Fangirl so she is well bred and she will go to stud this year. She has done a great job. 'We will see what else we can find. 'This type of distance and these type of conditions and she can win another one of them.' The win came less than an hour after Berry produced a vastly different ride to score on the Ciaron Maher -trained Lugh. His decision to push forward early on the son of Snitzel in the Marcellin College Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m) proved decisive. Lugh ($9) travelled well outside the lead and kept finding over in the straight to hold off Chris Waller's Starman ($16) by three-quarters of a length with the Bjorn Baker -trained Slinky ($21) working home strongly for third. It's @TommyBerry21 and @cmaherracing combining in race 7 at Randwick as Lugh salutes! ðŸ'� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 26, 2025 • 'Sneaky chance': Pride mare shocks rivals at $51 Lugh is still only lightly-raced and has highlighted his considerable talent in just a handful of starts, winning four of six. 'He doesn't have much of a turn of foot but has a big action,' Maher's assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said. 'On a bigger track here at Randwick was going to suit him better. 'He enjoyed the conditions and I thought Tommy (Berry) rode him really well. 'He is a horse that needs a bit of encouragement, he is very casual and has the best attitude. 'The way Tommy rode him, he kept him on his job.' Stablemate Sacred Rocks was expected to be the horse to beat but was a drifter in betting out to $3.50 and never looked likely. Apprentice Anna Roper made a mid-race move to settle closer on the daughter of Sacred Falls, which ran out of gas over the concluding stages to miss the placings. 'I don't it really work out for Sacred Rocks,' Gerard-Dubord said. 'She was slow away and just had to make that move mid-race. 'She got going early so was always going to be soft late.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store