logo
Gai Waterhouse shows faith in leading Adelaide apprentice Rochelle Milnes for Group 1 Australasian Oaks assault with Phenom

Gai Waterhouse shows faith in leading Adelaide apprentice Rochelle Milnes for Group 1 Australasian Oaks assault with Phenom

News.com.au25-04-2025
Adelaide's star apprentice Rochelle Milnes prefers to let her riding do the talking, and her riding has caught the attention of racing's first lady, Gai Waterhouse.
Milnes, 23, will pilot the aptly named Phenom in Saturday's $1m Australasian Oaks at Morphettville, a Zoustar filly trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
• 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!
It's the biggest race of Milnes' fledgling career, but her daring Adelaide Cup win aboard Silent Surrente in March, proved she has right temperament for the elite stage.
'I think you could call it the next challenge, whether or not I feel as prepared as I could be, is another thing,' Milnes, who grew up in Port Lincoln, said.
'I guess that's how my career has always been, kind of jumping in before I felt ready and taking on the challenge as it comes.'
It's an approach that has served Milnes effectively, she won the Dux of the Racing SA Apprentice Academy in January, and leads the Adelaide jockeys' premiership with 37 wins.
Milnes is unearthing herself as latest female prodigy to emerge from South Australia, and riding in her first Group 1 for 'Gai', the doyenne of racing, is an opportunity that isn't lost on Milnes.
'It's definitely a privilege, to have someone of Gai's status and respectability in the game have faith in me,' she said.
'Especially being an apprentice, that's something I go on about a lot, not only is it a great opportunity as a jockey, but as an apprentice jockey, it's even more special to me.
'It is a Group 1, and even though she's had plenty of Group 1 success, every (Group 1) is important – to be a part of that is pretty special.'

Milnes has been given the brief by Waterhouse, who saddles up two runners in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m), Phenom ($27 Sportsbet) and Too Darn Lizzie ($4.80).
'I've spoken to Gai a few times now, I've been riding her horses trackwork,' she said.
'I was up against her in the Adelaide Cup, and now I get to ride for her, so that's pretty cool. She makes me want to be better, she's not afraid to tell you what you're doing right or wrong, she's very well spoken, very well-mannered.
'Everyone knows that she's very flamboyant, she's a real character but a lovely, lovely lady and giving me an opportunity like this, it's very cool to be a part of.'
An Adelaide Cup win was naturally good for self belief, but Milnes has maintained a level head throughout her achievements.
'I guess it's given me confidence in myself, but that never takes away from the challenges you face, there's plenty of room for improvement,' she said.
Milnes got the better of star jockey Jamie Melham on the day, another South Australian, who finished second aboard Newfoundland.
The pair meet again on Saturday with Melham piloting equal third favourite, Polymnia, for John O'Shea and Tom Charlton.
Milnes holds a fond recollection of what Melham said to her after the Adelaide Cup.
'She definitely said some things I'm not allowed to say,' Milnes said.
'They were used in a good way, she's a really good sport, it came across in a very friendly, personal manner – we had a laugh after.
'I think that made it even sweeter. She's had lots of success herself, she could look at it and relate, she knew what it would mean to me, I had a lot of respect for her from that.'
Milnes piloted Phenom to third last start in the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m), and the hoop has been pleased with the filly's trackwork since. 
'She's another class of horse that I've never ridden before,' she said.
'That last start, she was a little flat-footed mid-race but she stormed home really good, she picked up really nicely under riding and finished off so strong.
'Her work since then has given me nothing but confidence in her, she's quite a fizzy little mare, it would be nice to see her settle in her run and finish off strong like she did in the last race.
'It's been nice getting to know her not on race day, seeing a little personality and having that rapport with the horse.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Saints storm home in crazy finish against Demons
Saints storm home in crazy finish against Demons

The Advertiser

timean hour ago

  • The Advertiser

Saints storm home in crazy finish against Demons

St Kilda have pulled off the greatest three-quarter-time comeback in VFL/AFL history, storming home from 46 points down to stun Melbourne in a crazy finish at Marvel Stadium. Off-contract star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was the hero, slotting two goals in a frantic climax to pinch a miracle six-point victory. The Saints slotted nine unanswered goals in the final term to win 15.6 (96) to 13.12 (90). It pips the previous the best last quarter revival, when the Brisbane Bears came from 45 points down at the final break to beat Hawthorn in 1995. Wanganeen-Milera calmly slotted his third goal after flying for a soaring mark with less than 20 seconds remaining. That levelled the scores, before a 6-6-6 penalty in the middle was paid against the Demons, to the confusion of all players. Saints ruck Rowan Marshall was able to perfectly pick out Wanganeen-Milera running inside 50 to take a mark just before the siren sounded. Any score would have given the Saints victory, but Wanganeen-Milera went back and kicked the goal, to a raucous reaction from the crowd. "Underneath the exterior, I can get emotional," St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said, who was in disbelief watching in the box. "A little bit watery when Nas took that mark. "I think it's just that emotion, just for the players, just for them. "Our young players never gave up, and our leaders never gave up, and they found a way." Lyon also revealed Wanganeen-Milera, who had a game-high 34 disposals alongside his match-winning four goals, was in doubt to play due to a stye in his eye. "I had a sleep-in this morning. Got up, make my coffee. I see four missed calls from the doctor," Lyon said. "Experience tells me this can't be good. "He said 'Nas has come in' and they upped his antibiotics, given him an injection. "I rang him (Wanganeen-Milera), he goes, 'No, I'll be right'. "I just said, 'If you're not right, no pressure, we'll tap you out'. "He just let us know so it was a good story." St Kilda are desperate to keep Wanganeen-Milera as he entertains large offers from both South Australian clubs. This performance, one of the best individual efforts of the season, will only lift his value even further. Melbourne forward Bayley Fritsch broke the game open with three first-quarter goals, giving his side a 25-point buffer. The Demons, inspired by tackling machine Jack Viney (16 tackles) extended their lead during every quarter to cruise into the last break seemingly destined for a seventh-straight win. Instead, their capitulation ended a six-game losing run for the Saints, with their last victory also against Melbourne in June when they pipped the inaccurate Demons in Alice Springs. Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin was left gobsmacked at losing from such a position of dominance. "Devastating loss, clearly," he said. "We didn't defend and pressure as well as we were early in the game. "Then basically late in the game, we didn't handle the pressure, we didn't handle the moment, and we didn't handle the tight game scenarios like we should have, and that's on all of us. "We'll own that together." St Kilda youngster Lance Collard injured his foot in the first quarter, tried to play on, but was subbed out in the second term for Hugh Boxshall and ended the match on crutches. Melbourne defender Jake Bowey could be in some trouble with the match review officer after a potential dangerous tackle on St Kilda forward Jack Higgins just before halftime. St Kilda have pulled off the greatest three-quarter-time comeback in VFL/AFL history, storming home from 46 points down to stun Melbourne in a crazy finish at Marvel Stadium. Off-contract star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was the hero, slotting two goals in a frantic climax to pinch a miracle six-point victory. The Saints slotted nine unanswered goals in the final term to win 15.6 (96) to 13.12 (90). It pips the previous the best last quarter revival, when the Brisbane Bears came from 45 points down at the final break to beat Hawthorn in 1995. Wanganeen-Milera calmly slotted his third goal after flying for a soaring mark with less than 20 seconds remaining. That levelled the scores, before a 6-6-6 penalty in the middle was paid against the Demons, to the confusion of all players. Saints ruck Rowan Marshall was able to perfectly pick out Wanganeen-Milera running inside 50 to take a mark just before the siren sounded. Any score would have given the Saints victory, but Wanganeen-Milera went back and kicked the goal, to a raucous reaction from the crowd. "Underneath the exterior, I can get emotional," St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said, who was in disbelief watching in the box. "A little bit watery when Nas took that mark. "I think it's just that emotion, just for the players, just for them. "Our young players never gave up, and our leaders never gave up, and they found a way." Lyon also revealed Wanganeen-Milera, who had a game-high 34 disposals alongside his match-winning four goals, was in doubt to play due to a stye in his eye. "I had a sleep-in this morning. Got up, make my coffee. I see four missed calls from the doctor," Lyon said. "Experience tells me this can't be good. "He said 'Nas has come in' and they upped his antibiotics, given him an injection. "I rang him (Wanganeen-Milera), he goes, 'No, I'll be right'. "I just said, 'If you're not right, no pressure, we'll tap you out'. "He just let us know so it was a good story." St Kilda are desperate to keep Wanganeen-Milera as he entertains large offers from both South Australian clubs. This performance, one of the best individual efforts of the season, will only lift his value even further. Melbourne forward Bayley Fritsch broke the game open with three first-quarter goals, giving his side a 25-point buffer. The Demons, inspired by tackling machine Jack Viney (16 tackles) extended their lead during every quarter to cruise into the last break seemingly destined for a seventh-straight win. Instead, their capitulation ended a six-game losing run for the Saints, with their last victory also against Melbourne in June when they pipped the inaccurate Demons in Alice Springs. Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin was left gobsmacked at losing from such a position of dominance. "Devastating loss, clearly," he said. "We didn't defend and pressure as well as we were early in the game. "Then basically late in the game, we didn't handle the pressure, we didn't handle the moment, and we didn't handle the tight game scenarios like we should have, and that's on all of us. "We'll own that together." St Kilda youngster Lance Collard injured his foot in the first quarter, tried to play on, but was subbed out in the second term for Hugh Boxshall and ended the match on crutches. Melbourne defender Jake Bowey could be in some trouble with the match review officer after a potential dangerous tackle on St Kilda forward Jack Higgins just before halftime. St Kilda have pulled off the greatest three-quarter-time comeback in VFL/AFL history, storming home from 46 points down to stun Melbourne in a crazy finish at Marvel Stadium. Off-contract star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was the hero, slotting two goals in a frantic climax to pinch a miracle six-point victory. The Saints slotted nine unanswered goals in the final term to win 15.6 (96) to 13.12 (90). It pips the previous the best last quarter revival, when the Brisbane Bears came from 45 points down at the final break to beat Hawthorn in 1995. Wanganeen-Milera calmly slotted his third goal after flying for a soaring mark with less than 20 seconds remaining. That levelled the scores, before a 6-6-6 penalty in the middle was paid against the Demons, to the confusion of all players. Saints ruck Rowan Marshall was able to perfectly pick out Wanganeen-Milera running inside 50 to take a mark just before the siren sounded. Any score would have given the Saints victory, but Wanganeen-Milera went back and kicked the goal, to a raucous reaction from the crowd. "Underneath the exterior, I can get emotional," St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said, who was in disbelief watching in the box. "A little bit watery when Nas took that mark. "I think it's just that emotion, just for the players, just for them. "Our young players never gave up, and our leaders never gave up, and they found a way." Lyon also revealed Wanganeen-Milera, who had a game-high 34 disposals alongside his match-winning four goals, was in doubt to play due to a stye in his eye. "I had a sleep-in this morning. Got up, make my coffee. I see four missed calls from the doctor," Lyon said. "Experience tells me this can't be good. "He said 'Nas has come in' and they upped his antibiotics, given him an injection. "I rang him (Wanganeen-Milera), he goes, 'No, I'll be right'. "I just said, 'If you're not right, no pressure, we'll tap you out'. "He just let us know so it was a good story." St Kilda are desperate to keep Wanganeen-Milera as he entertains large offers from both South Australian clubs. This performance, one of the best individual efforts of the season, will only lift his value even further. Melbourne forward Bayley Fritsch broke the game open with three first-quarter goals, giving his side a 25-point buffer. The Demons, inspired by tackling machine Jack Viney (16 tackles) extended their lead during every quarter to cruise into the last break seemingly destined for a seventh-straight win. Instead, their capitulation ended a six-game losing run for the Saints, with their last victory also against Melbourne in June when they pipped the inaccurate Demons in Alice Springs. Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin was left gobsmacked at losing from such a position of dominance. "Devastating loss, clearly," he said. "We didn't defend and pressure as well as we were early in the game. "Then basically late in the game, we didn't handle the pressure, we didn't handle the moment, and we didn't handle the tight game scenarios like we should have, and that's on all of us. "We'll own that together." St Kilda youngster Lance Collard injured his foot in the first quarter, tried to play on, but was subbed out in the second term for Hugh Boxshall and ended the match on crutches. Melbourne defender Jake Bowey could be in some trouble with the match review officer after a potential dangerous tackle on St Kilda forward Jack Higgins just before halftime.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera produces AFL performance for the ages as 6-6-6 confusion rocks final eight seconds
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera produces AFL performance for the ages as 6-6-6 confusion rocks final eight seconds

7NEWS

time12 hours ago

  • 7NEWS

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera produces AFL performance for the ages as 6-6-6 confusion rocks final eight seconds

St Kilda superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has produced two of the greatest moments the game has ever seen to lead his side to the single biggest three-quarter time comeback in VFL/AFL history. Inside the space of about 60 seconds of game time, Wanganeen-Milera took a screamer and kicked the final two goals of the game to give the Saints the lead after the final siren. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera wins the game for St Kilda. At just 22 years of age, Wanganeen-Milera has already established himself as a Saints legend with his effort at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, in a sequence of play to which words cannot do justice. The St Kilda freakshow, already with 32 disposals and two goals to his name, was released into the forward 50 in the dying stages of the game as his side trailed by six points. Wanganeen-Milera climbed on the back of Melbourne's Bayley Fritsch to take an screamer about 30 metres out from goal before going back to slot the goal and level the scores with eight seconds left on the clock. 'Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera! What a mark! Name your price!' Alister Nicholson said of the South Australian, who is yet to decide on his future beyond this year, with Adelaide clubs circling. 'He is utterly unbelievable.' Then, in confusing, unprecedented, and utterly extraordinary scenes, Melbourne were penalised at the next centre bounce for a 6-6-6 infringement when they only had three insdie the centre square, their second of the day, which incurs a free kick. When the free kick was paid by the central umpire, players from both sides started bolting towards St Kilda's forward 50, but had to be brought back before Saints ruck Rowan Marshall could be given the ball. 'Wait, wait! You've got to have four in the middle, we've got to wait, we've got to set it up,' the umpire could be heard saying while players all bolted in the same direction before realising they weren't yet allowed to move. 'We must set up the positions!' To give a free kick for a 6-6-6 infringement, the ground must reset to the correct formation, which created chaos and confusion on the ground with players running everywhere, despite the clock being locked at eight seconds. When Marshall was eventually handed the ball, he looked straight for Wanganeen-Milera, who had burst forward into the Saints' 50. Just as the script writers would have it, Wanganeen-Milera took the courageous mark going back with the flight of the ball and gave himself a shot after the siren to win the game. And of course he kicked it, writing the Saints into the record books as having achieved the greatest three-quarter time comeback in the history of the game — 46 points.

'Bit of a feel about her': New level Within reach for Baker filly
'Bit of a feel about her': New level Within reach for Baker filly

Courier-Mail

time12 hours ago

  • Courier-Mail

'Bit of a feel about her': New level Within reach for Baker filly

Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Bjorn Baker is quietly confident exciting filly Within The Law can go to another level in the spring as he sets his sights on the upcoming Princess Series. Within The Law is one of several spring contenders set to step out at Tuesday's barrier trials at Rosehill Gardens with the filly set to line up in a 900m heat. 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! The daughter of Lucky Vega is on the third line of betting at $8 for the Group 1 Flight Stakes with Baker keen to follow the tried and true three-year-old fillies path through the spring, which kicks off with the Group 2 $300,000 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) on August 23. 'She is going super,' Baker said. 'We will go through the fillies series and I think she has come back a little bit bigger and stronger. 'You don't get carried away but she has the temperament and everything about her suggests maybe she can be a filly that can go on to that next level. 'With two-year-olds, it's always a bit of a question mark but I have a bit of a feel about her.' It was a remarkable two-year-old season for Within The Law that could have ended in disaster. She won the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes before escaping serious injury when she went through the running rail and lost her rider in the Group 1 Golden Slipper. Within The Law was able to get back to the races to finish third in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes and then came a close second to Nepotism in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes. 'She did a great job and is more of a raceday racehorse rather than a trackworker,' Baker said. 'From that point of view I think, she may be able to step up another level.' She won't be the only two-year-old stepping out on the morning with a plethora of youngsters lining up, including Skyhook, West Of Swindon, State Visit, Blitzburg, King Of Pop, Memo and North England. Baker also has last start Group 1 Sydney Cup winner Arapaho having his first trial over 1000m in a heat that also includes stablemate Perfumist. Group 1 performer Lindermann is among the Chris Waller-trained spring hopefuls set to step out while Canadian Group 1 winner Moira is in the same 900m heat. Waller will also saddle up his first trialist in the Godolphin royal blue with Commemorative in a 900m heat. Originally published as Bjorn Baker predicting big things for exciting filly Within The Law this spring

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