Billy unpacks his Game III selection choices
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Courier-Mail
7 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Hawkesbury preview: Rain brings optimism for Stephen O'Halloran
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Local trainer Stephen O'Halloran was quite happy to see the rain this week and the track enter the heavy range for his in-form gelding Mal Coupe. The three-year-old was good on the soft when a close second at Canberra first-up this preparation but excelled on the heavy ground when he won his maiden at Bathurst by four-and-a-half lengths. He then followed it up with a solid length second behind Hawker Hall on a Soft 6 at Gosford. With that big win on his resume, Mal Coupe has been a popular on TAB Fixed Odds where he firmed from $5.50 second elect into a $3.20 favourite ahead of Duke Of Bronte ($2.80 to $3.60) in the Essential Asset + Fire Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1100m). 'He loved getting on the heavy track and he was impressive winning at Bathurst,' said O'Halloran. Trainer Stephen O'Halloran is looking for another strong performance from Mal Coupe at Hawkesbury. Picture: Grant Guy The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'Even when he got beat at his next start at Gosford, he was pretty good there as well where he ran into a nice horse of Kris Lees'. 'He's very honest and gives a hundred per cent every time he goes around. You can't ask for any more than that. 'I know it's in the heavy range again this week so he's going to get conditions to suit. 'Obviously this race is a benchmark 68 which is stronger than what he has been up against but I don't think he is out of place. 'He's rock hard fit and only carriers 55 and a half kilos. He has ticked the 1100 metres box and the heavy track box. 'It's his home track and hopefully he can get across the line in front. The son of Xtravagant raced well in his first campaign including a debit fifth behind Lady Zodiac and Gunroom at Hawkesbury last October but O'Halloran always knew he would be better this preparation. 'He has definitely come back more mature than he was last preparation and he hasn't put a foot wrong in his three runs so far,' he said. 'He's a home-bred for his owners, Gary and Kay Stevenson, who have been very patient with him. 'He was very immature as a young horse so we have taken our time with him. 'Last preparation was more about education but he showed us a little bit. 'We gave him a nice break and hopefully they reap the rewards with him this preparation.' O'Halloran and the Stevenson's also combine with Rule Of Faith who makes her race debut in the Davo's Dash 2YO Maiden Handicap (1000m). The daughter of Hellbent finished in the second half of the field in her two trials but O'Halloran has seen enough in her trackwork to suggests she has nice ability. 'She is only a two-year-old and was very new when she first came in so she had a couple of short preparations. This campaign is the furthest she has got but she is a nice filly,' he said. 'We gave her two trials. The first at Rosehill when there weren't any in the provincial area and she met good horses there. 'Then she had another trial here where she was caught wide. 'I worked her in blinkers last week and she went really well so she will start with them on. 'Emma Ly has been on in her two trials and knows her well so she will ride her. 'She's an emergency at the moment but I expect there to be a few more scratchings with the way the track is. 'I know she has drawn wide but you probably want to be out there when the track is in the heavy range.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Trainer Amanda Turner said her promising gelding Point Score had genuine excuses for the last start defeat and is ready to bounce back. The striking black colt suffered interference on the home turn which led to further complications when fourth behind Zouripper at Kembla 12 days ago. Prior to that, Point Score sat outside the leader before racing away to an impressive win by nearly two lengths from Mysterious Master and Kilbrannan when resuming on a Heavy 8 at Kembla on May 31. 'He was very good winning at Kembla. He seems to be pretty comfortable on the heavy ground,' said Turner. 'I was disappointed last start, not in his performance but rounding the turn, he was just looming in to it lovely when he was hampered and all but came down. 'He got going again and went to sprint but his race plate shifted and he got two nails stuck in his foot. 'He could have dropped right out but to run fourth was a good effort. 'I really looked after him to make sure nothing came from that. His foot is as good as gold so he is right to go now.' The two-year-old son of Blue Point will again get a heavy track when he lines up against older horses in the Brad Widdup Racing Class 1 Handicap (1000m) with Mollie Fitzgerald to continue her association with him. 'Mollie galloped him last Saturday morning and we were very happy with him,' Turner said. Turner will head to Hawkesbury with another youngster in Over The Limit who makes his debut in the Davo's Dash 2YO Maiden Handicap (1000m). The first crop son of Anders trialled nicely when a length third to Warson in his first heat at Warwick Farm on May 26 and followed up with a win from War King in his second heat there on June 10. 'He is doing well (to get to this point) because this is his first serious preparation,' said Turner. 'His nickname is Tiny because he was so small and last time in, we didn't get to do much at all. 'We gelded him and tipped him out for a good break and he is now almost 16 hands so he has really grown. 'I just want him to have a very good race day experience this week. 'I expect he will be much better next time in.'
7NEWS
7 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Fresh details emerge in Josh Papalii's stunning State of Origin return
Billy Slater's State of Origin stunner Josh Papalii has revealed fresh details about his shock selection to the Queensland squad. Speaking exclusively to 7NEWS, Papalii admitted that — after three years out of the Queensland set-up — he never imagined he would come out of Origin retirement. 'Feels good (to be back in the SOO team),' Papalii, 33, told Seven. Asked directly if he thought he would ever 'come out of retirement', Papalii said 'no'. 'It's all pretty surreal for me right now,' he said. 'Yeah, just can't wait to go into camp and see the lads, and see Slatts and all the boys. '(Looking forward to seeing) everyone ... I obviously watched the first two games and just, yeah, (enjoyed) watching how exciting they are and I just want to be a part of it.' Overcoming flight delays down south to make it to the Maroons Twin Waters base just in time for their first major field session on Wednesday, the man — affectionately known as Big Papa — entered camp early in the afternoon. But it was a bittersweet moment for Big Papa as he left his newborn child behind in Canberra. Papalii was also asked about his immediate thoughts when his phone rang and he realised Slater was on the line. 'I was still in hospital for my son and my wife, and I missed the first couple of calls and, yeah, after speaking to Bill there was no doubt I'd come out of retirement and hopefully do a job,' he said. Papalii spoke to Seven at the airport where a secret handwritten message (USO ASO UMA KEFSSS) was spotted on his suitcase. The message in Samoan translates to something similar to, 'Friends are for everyday, brothers are for the hard days' (or 'friends for every day, brothers for the bad days'). Papalii's presence made an immediate impact at training with his fellow forwards still not quite believing Slater convinced the 23-game Origin veteran to pull on the Maroon one last time. It's a sacrifice that will no doubt inspire his teammates who are still in shock. Lindsay Collins shared Queensland's front row with Papalii in his original retirement match, the 20-22 decider. 'I don't know how Billy done it, but he pulled it off,' Collins said. 'I think he just brings that calmness. '(But) he can flip a switch. You don't want to see him angry but he has a beautiful nature about him.' The Bodyguard: Papalii hailed as Maroons' new protector Recalled prop Josh Papalii will protect Queensland from harm and return fire to NSW like Kevin Costner did in the hit film The Bodyguard. That's the word from Maroons captain Cameron Munster who is a fan of the film and Costner's part as the bodyguard who protected Whitney Houston, playing the role of a famous actress and singer, from a deranged stalker. The Blues will be stalking Queensland in the State of Origin decider in Sydney and Canberra giant Papalii is the antidote in his first game for the Maroons since 2022. 'It's great to have him back. He brings a lot of that belief and steely eye when you have him beside you,' Munster said. 'It brings a bit of fear in people's faces. You don't want to be running around annoying Big Papa. 'He's a bit of a Kevin Costner. I don't know if you've seen that movie, Kevin Costner's The Bodyguard ... with Whitney Houston? 'He's probably our bodyguard and he's one of those enforcers. Taking him down to foreign territory, it's going to be good for us.' Former Maroons captain Trevor Gillmeister, known as 'The Axe' and a bodyguard of sorts in his own right as a player, said Papalii was in career-best form and would sort the Blues out. When asked what his advice would be for Papalii in his Maroons swansong, Gillmeister got a gleam in his eyes. 'Just blow your gasket in the first 20 or 30 minutes and go hard,' Gillmeister said. 'When the shit hits the fan he will be there in the middle of it. 'We have got Alpha males here in Tino (Fa'asuamaleaui) and Lindsay (Collins) and other blokes as well but Papa is the older, settling influence. 'Nothing seems to rattle him and he plays like that. How good is he playing for the Raiders at the moment? Outstanding.' Maroons hooker Harry Grant, who played alongside Papalii when he made his Origin debut in 2020, said his arrival was much anticipated. 'Everyone is really looking forward to big Paps getting back in camp and the presence and aura that he brings to the team,' Grant said.'He's a scary man to play against and one of the hardest blokes I've had to tackle because he is so wide and has got so many options to his game.'He's a protector and warrior of the team and has been for so many years. You know how much Queensland means to him. Every series he has been messaging and saying 'good luck and go well' to the boys and now he is back. 'It's pretty cool that he never lost that attachment to the group and how much the Origin series means even though he wasn't in the team for a couple of years.' Maroons squad for Origin III 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Xavier Coates, 3. Robert Toia. 4. Gehamat Shibasaki, 5. Valentine Holmes, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Tom Dearden, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, 11. Reuben Cotter, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Trent Loiero, 14. Kurt Mann, 15. Lindsay Collins, 16. Jeremiah Nanai, 17. Pat Carrigan, 18. Reece Walsh, 19. J'maine Hopgood, 20. Josh Kerr.
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- News.com.au
Hawkesbury preview: Heavy track conditions ideal for Stephen O'Halloran's promising gelding Mal Coupe
Local trainer Stephen O'Halloran was quite happy to see the rain this week and the track enter the heavy range for his in-form gelding Mal Coupe. The three-year-old was good on the soft when a close second at Canberra first-up this preparation but excelled on the heavy ground when he won his maiden at Bathurst by four-and-a-half lengths. He then followed it up with a solid length second behind Hawker Hall on a Soft 6 at Gosford. With that big win on his resume, Mal Coupe has been a popular on TAB Fixed Odds where he firmed from $5.50 second elect into a $3.20 favourite ahead of Duke Of Bronte ($2.80 to $3.60) in the Essential Asset + Fire Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1100m). 'He loved getting on the heavy track and he was impressive winning at Bathurst,' said O'Halloran. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'Even when he got beat at his next start at Gosford, he was pretty good there as well where he ran into a nice horse of Kris Lees'. 'He's very honest and gives a hundred per cent every time he goes around. You can't ask for any more than that. 'I know it's in the heavy range again this week so he's going to get conditions to suit. 'Obviously this race is a benchmark 68 which is stronger than what he has been up against but I don't think he is out of place. 'He's rock hard fit and only carriers 55 and a half kilos. He has ticked the 1100 metres box and the heavy track box. 'It's his home track and hopefully he can get across the line in front. The son of Xtravagant raced well in his first campaign including a debit fifth behind Lady Zodiac and Gunroom at Hawkesbury last October but O'Halloran always knew he would be better this preparation. 'He has definitely come back more mature than he was last preparation and he hasn't put a foot wrong in his three runs so far,' he said. 'He's a home-bred for his owners, Gary and Kay Stevenson, who have been very patient with him. 'He was very immature as a young horse so we have taken our time with him. Jumps, leads, & wins eased down on the line 😮â€�ðŸ'¨ HAWKER HALL looks another progressive sort for @NewgateFarm ’s Russian Revolution & the @Leesracing stable ðŸ'ˆ Well found in The Chase’s 2023 @mmsnippets draft by @bevanbloodstock / @AWilliamsBldstk ðŸ'�ðŸ'� #CHCbred #ChaseTheDream â€' China Horse Club (@Chinahorseclub) June 12, 2025 'Last preparation was more about education but he showed us a little bit. 'We gave him a nice break and hopefully they reap the rewards with him this preparation.' O'Halloran and the Stevenson's also combine with Rule Of Faith who makes her race debut in the Davo's Dash 2YO Maiden Handicap (1000m). The daughter of Hellbent finished in the second half of the field in her two trials but O'Halloran has seen enough in her trackwork to suggests she has nice ability. 'She is only a two-year-old and was very new when she first came in so she had a couple of short preparations. This campaign is the furthest she has got but she is a nice filly,' he said. 'We gave her two trials. The first at Rosehill when there weren't any in the provincial area and she met good horses there. 'Then she had another trial here where she was caught wide. 'I worked her in blinkers last week and she went really well so she will start with them on. ' Emma Ly has been on in her two trials and knows her well so she will ride her. 'She's an emergency at the moment but I expect there to be a few more scratchings with the way the track is. 'I know she has drawn wide but you probably want to be out there when the track is in the heavy range.' â– â– â– â– â– Trainer Amanda Turner said her promising gelding Point Score had genuine excuses for the last start defeat and is ready to bounce back. The striking black colt suffered interference on the home turn which led to further complications when fourth behind Zouripper at Kembla 12 days ago. Prior to that, Point Score sat outside the leader before racing away to an impressive win by nearly two lengths from Mysterious Master and Kilbrannan when resuming on a Heavy 8 at Kembla on May 31. 'He was very good winning at Kembla. He seems to be pretty comfortable on the heavy ground,' said Turner. 'I was disappointed last start, not in his performance but rounding the turn, he was just looming in to it lovely when he was hampered and all but came down. 'He got going again and went to sprint but his race plate shifted and he got two nails stuck in his foot. POINT SCORE (2 c Blue Point - Hill of Grange) runs away from his rivals at @kemblaraces for Amanda Turner, giving @DarleyStallions BLUE POINT a 6th SH 2yo winner this season ðŸ'µ The colt was a $150k buy for his trainer from @Middlebrookstud at the @mmsnippets Gold Coast Yearling… â€' ANZ News (@anz_news) May 31, 2025 'He could have dropped right out but to run fourth was a good effort. 'I really looked after him to make sure nothing came from that. His foot is as good as gold so he is right to go now.' The two-year-old son of Blue Point will again get a heavy track when he lines up against older horses in the Brad Widdup Racing Class 1 Handicap (1000m) with Mollie Fitzgerald to continue her association with him. 'Mollie galloped him last Saturday morning and we were very happy with him,' Turner said. Turner will head to Hawkesbury with another youngster in Over The Limit who makes his debut in the Davo's Dash 2YO Maiden Handicap (1000m). The first crop son of Anders trialled nicely when a length third to Warson in his first heat at Warwick Farm on May 26 and followed up with a win from War King in his second heat there on June 10. 'He is doing well (to get to this point) because this is his first serious preparation,' said Turner. 'His nickname is Tiny because he was so small and last time in, we didn't get to do much at all. 'We gelded him and tipped him out for a good break and he is now almost 16 hands so he has really grown. 'I just want him to have a very good race day experience this week.
