Group 1 roughie king Ryan Maloney strikes again in Queensland Derby with Maison Louis
It wasn't quite the blowout result that Maloney conjured in last year's Group 1 Queensland Oaks when Socks Nation shocked everyone including Maloney as a $101 winner.
Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro!
But Maison Louis, trained by O'Shea and his training partner Tom Charlton, was sent out at $21 in a Derby which was set alight by a mid-race move by James McDonald on favourite Belle Detelle who shot to the lead.
Belle Detelle couldn't go on with it, finishing seventh, as the O'Shea team grabbed the quinella with King Of Thunder ($12) finishing runner-up.
The Derby had been meant to be raced seven days earlier with Ben Melham poised to ride Maison Louis.
But with Melham pre-planning a family holiday, Maloney made the most of his opportunity to score another Group 1.
The former Victorian jockey now has six career Group 1 wins and four of them have come in his adopted Queensland home.
O'Shea was born and raised in Mareeba, Queensland, and loves few things more than having Group 1 success in the Sunshine State including winning the Stradbroke Handicap with Private Steer in 2003.
• What the jockeys said: 2025 Queensland Derby
'I'm a proud Queenslander, not just a Queenslander, so it's a big thrill today,' O'Shea said.
'He's just a tough, resilient little horse and he's come from obscurity to win a Queensland Derby so we're very excited.
'He's just been a progressive horse by a top young stallion in Super Seth.
'I think the key was that he was able to cope with the workload.'
The rescheduled Derby lost a runner before the start with one of the fancies, South Australian visitor Party Crasher, being taken out at the barriers.
It meant Craig Williams was without a ride.
But there was a hungry Queensland jockey looking to seize his chance on Maison Louis.
Ryan Maloney returns to the winner's stall on Maison Louis. Picture: Trackside Photography
• Dale ponders shot at Stradbroke with Front Page
'It was a very dawdling run Derby, and when J-Mac sort of made his move at the half-mile, he increased the tempo, but not by a hell of a lot,' Maloney said.
'When he got the gap, he pinned his ears back and was just tough as nails.
'Last week, my (Derby) emergency got a run.
'But this week, I didn't have a Derby ride initially and luckily I picked it up.
'It is amazing what a week can do.'
Mark Zahra, riding the winner's stablemate King Of Thunder, thought he had the race at his mercy.
'He ran really well, I thought we had it won but the stablemate just beat him,' Zahra said.
Statuario, trained by Emma-Lee and David Browne, started well fancied at $5 but was never in the picture and finished 14th and beaten 10 lengths.
'Very disappointing,' jockey John Allen said.
'We never got into a good rhythm, and we were always just on one rein.
'We struggled from the 500m mark.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
14 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘I'm the f**king strongest': Hafthor Bjornsson's 505kg deadlift shatters world record
Champion strongman Hafthor Bjornsson has smashed the deadlift world record, lifting an absurd 505kg at the Eisenhart Black event. The man known as The Mountain from HBO's Game of Thrones, pulled off the incredible feat in competition, putting debate over the validity of his previous world record in 2020 officially to bed. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Bjornsson broke long-time strongman rival Eddie Hall's world record of 500kg set at the 2016 World Deadlift Championships, going 501kg in 2020. But plenty had questioned if it was really the world record considering Bjornsson had set his record in a private gym outside of competition. However, the 206cm giant made no mistake this time, lifting 505kg at the Eisenhart Black event, sending the assembled crowd into hysterics. Immediately after breaking the record, Bjornsson screamed 'I am the f**king strongest' as fireworks erupted around him. For comparison, if half a ton is too esoteric, it's the equivalent of the weight of a Harley Davidson trike, or the middle-range of the average adult male polar bear. It's the second time Bjornsson has attempted to lift more than 500kg this year, having missed 501kg at the Arnold Strongman Classic, although he attempted it raw — which means with a weightlifting belt, wrist wraps and chalk only. However, he's not going to rest on his laurels, having already planned to beat his new record at the 2025 World Deadlift Championships in Birmingham, England on September 6. Powerlifter Ventsislav Dimitrov, who pulled 505kg at the same event in 2023 but in a sumo stance with lifting straps, tried 507.5kg in a sumo stance but failed to lock out the lift. Lifting straps are banned in powerlifting competitions, while the sumo stance is banned in strongman competitions, according to strength and fitness website Barbend. Despite long being bitter rivals and having faced off in a boxing match that Bjornsson won, Hall was quick to react to the Icelander's incredible feat. 'Massive respect to Thor for making history & setting the official WR at 505kg. That's one hell of a pull. Records are made to be broken,' he wrote on Instagram with a video of the feat. 'Big respect, big love.' Arnold Schwarzenegger responded: 'Congratulations, my friend.' Brooklyn Nine-Nine and America's Got Talent star Terry Crew posted: 'Congrats man!!!!! INCREDIBLE.' Last week, Bjornsson revealed he had hit 200kg on the scales but said: 'I haven't felt this strong since 2020. I'm ready for 505kg.' Bjornsson was the 2018 World's Strongest Man as well as runner up three-times and third-place getter another four times. Having taken a two-year hiatus from powerlifting to pursue boxing, Bjornsson lost over 60kg for his grudge match against Hall. After returning to strongman events, he suffered a brutal setback when he tore the pectoral muscle off the bone while trying for his bench press PB of 252kg in April 2023. The Icelandic strongman was sharing his journey to 505kg across his social media channels, revealing he eats 8000 calories a day to maintain his intimidating physique over three meals and three 'snacks'.
News.com.au
24 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Wallabies intent on avoiding losing series 3-0 to the British and Irish Lions
Barbs that the Wallabies were unworthy opponents for the British and Irish Lions have the Australians desperate to avoid losing a series 3-0 to the tourists for the first time since 1904. Pride will well and truly be on the line in Sydney on Saturday night when the Wallabies attempt to prevent the Lions going home with wins in all three Tests after victories in Brisbane and Melbourne. That hasn't happened since it occurred 121 years go when the Lions, then called British Isles, won two Tests in Sydney and one in Brisbane, and restricted Australia to just three points for the entire series. If that's not enough motivation for the Wallabies to win at Accor Stadium, there is also the hurt of the second Test loss at the MCG, where Australia led for almost the entire match only be beaten 29-26 via a last-minute try that came after a controversial decision not to award the hosts a penalty for an alleged infringement by Lions forward Jac Morgan, who seemed to illegally strike Wallabies replacement Carlo Tizzano in the back of the net. It hurts but your support means everything ðŸ'›ðŸ'š We can’t wait to play for you again in Sydney. #Wallabies #ACheerAndAHalf #LionsTour2025 — Wallabies (@wallabies) July 27, 2025 Also driving the Wallabies to win in Sydney will be the pre-series talk that Lions should have toured South Africa to face the world champions rather than meet a weak Australia. 'It's another thing to add into the pot for things to get up for the game,' Wallabies lock Nick Frost said. 'We're definitely keen to rip in. Going out there, playing in front of your friends, for your family and for your nation, and on top of that, playing against the Lions – it's a massive game. 'We know there are so many things that we've got to improve on, but there are some really good parts to our game, and we're really looking forward to it. 'We're starting to play a better brand of rugby and a more attacking brand of rugby that suits some of our skilled players. 'The more games we can put together for longer periods of time, we're going to start to see some improvements on the scoreboard, and some more wins. It is a process.' Winger Max Jorgensen said while the Wallabies were 'gutted' to loss at the MCG, attention had switched to winning the final Test of the series. 'We put in such a big effort – it's a tough pill to swallow,' Jorgensen said. 'Everyone knows that, but there's a big focus on this weekend now and winning this game on Saturday.' The Wallabies have added prop Aidan Ross to their extended squad ahead of Saturday's clash, while winger Harry Potter has remained in Melbourne after injuring his hamstring in the weekend loss.
News.com.au
34 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Shayne O'Cass's Wellington, Wagga Tuesday tips, inside mail
Form analyst Shayne O'Cass presents his best bets and inside mail for Wellington on Thursday, plus his tips for the Wagga meeting. â– â– â– â– â– WELLINGTON TIPS BEST BET Race 1 No.4 HANNAH'S BRIDGE: Has shown improvement from one run to the next; so close now. NEXT BEST Race 4 No.14 THE GIT UP: Placed at 10 of her 16 starts; this could be the day for breaking through. VALUE Race 7 No.8 PODCAST: Be right in the finish if she can bounce back to her pre-Highway form. QUADDIE Race 4: 3,5,6,14 Race 5: 1,4,5,11 Race 6: 5,6,10 Race 7: 8,13,14 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Two-times SA Jockeys Premiership winner Chad Lever has some good rides out west today. WELLINGTON INSIDE MAIL HANNAH'S BRIDGE (4) was bred by her trainer Derek Piper and is a half-sister to her handy stablemate named Cheap Gas. As a daughter of Caulfield Guineas winner Divine Prophet, she should relish the 1400m for the first time on Tuesday. Her debut was good, her follow up was very good. Just has to handle the wet conditions. LOVE AIN'T FREE (1) handed in a PB last start when third at Dubbo. Drawn well. WINNING REIGN (12) is an 18-start maiden and the wet form is a worry but back to 1400m is a plus. BET: HANNAH'S BRIDGE (4) to win (best bet). ANGIE'S SISTER (5) was $21 into $71 on debut in a 1000m Country Maiden on September 29 last year and ran a very cheeky race; she led and came in fourth of 14 at the finish behind a pretty handy winner in Taormina Sailor (see race 3 below). Market the guide again. MERE MORTAL (3) made his Michael Lynch-stable debut on July 15 at Warren, finishing second on the Heavy 8. Go well again. UFANA (9) is yet to win in 19 starts but hasn't run many bad races at all since Sharon Jeffries has had her. BET: ANGIE'S SISTER (5) to win, box First 4 Nos. 3,5,7,9,11. AORNINA SAILOR (7) will turn seven on August 1 but has only raced 10 times for one reason or another. What we do know about him is that he has talent. He's won twice with two placings and a handful of fourths and fifths. Comes off a smashing rival behind a good horse (Nimble Star, see race 5 below). CAPITAL DANCER (8) should feel comfortable in 'country grade'. HARD TOO IMPRESS (10) is very much on the right trajectory this campaign. Third-up, drawn well, good jockey, has handled the Heavy before. BET: TAORNINA SAILOR (7) to win, HARD TOO IMPRESS (10) to place. THE GIT UP (14) remains winless after 16 starts but keep in mind that he has placed 10 times and five of them are seconds. There are no easy maidens in racing these days but this one looks well within his reach based on what he medalled in the past. NORTHERN EXPOSURE (3) is one for the pedigree buffs; in short, his third dam, North Fleur, is the granddam of the great Northerly. A veteran of four starts, he was placed at Dubbo on debut and has 'next time/more ground' written all over first-up at Muswellbrook. The 2023 Silver Goblet placegetter DUREN (5) has claims. BET: THE GIT UP (14) to win, box trifecta 3,5,6,14. LIGHTNING SPEED (5) is ready to strike first-up BUT with nominations for two races at home at Scone on Thursday, one wonders if she will make the trip on Tuesday, more so given that all her form is on Good tracks. In her absence, all you can wind-in NIMBLE STAR (1) a few points; that said, he was always going to be popular given he is a Brett Robb-trained galloper who has won two of three and lost the rider at the other one. Stablemate DENMAN DEPUTY (4) is the one with the race fitness. More than that, he is a last-start winner. BET: LIGHTNING SPEED (5) to win or if scratched, DENMAN DEPUTY (4) and MISS KARIS (11) to place. THE IMPECKABLE (6) has 16 starts for three wins, three seconds and four thirds. He goes on anything; his record on Heavy is two starts for a win and a third. One thing about him, from the outside looking in, is that he might not win every time but he does hold his form really well. BLUE GUITAR (5) has some seriously compelling numbers. Two of his four career wins are at a mile, he has placed on Heavy and is one for one at Wellington (should the meeting be at this venue). Building up to something and this could be it. BET: THE IMPECKABLE (6) to win, BLUE GUITAR (5) each-way, quinella 5,6. PODCAST (8), a $330,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase in 2025, sold again for $3,000 online in February this year was going great guns prior to her two '00's at the last couple. That said, one was a TAB Highway and she actually wasn't that bad. Warren last start was harder to forgive but then again, they aren't machines and can have bad days. Mudgee mare KOBOLD (14) 's last two by contrast have been very encouraging, she beat a decent line-up at home on July 6 then was huge from near last to finish a length off the winner in a Class 1 at Bathurst. BET: PODCAST (8) each-way, KOBOLD (14) to place. â– â– â– â– â–
