Latest news with #CejayGraham
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sydney-based jockey Winona Costin considering move to Queensland
The lure of riding in the warmer climate of southeast Queensland could prove too hard to resist for Sydney-based jockey Winona Costin. While she has no immediate plans to relocate north, Costin hasn't ruled out following in the footsteps of fellow female jockey Cejay Graham, who has made a success of moving from Port Macquarie in NSW to Brisbane in 2023. Costin has six rides at Doomben on Saturday – all for different trainers – with her best chance being the James Ponsonby -trained Philipsburg ($15) in a Benchmark 78 over 2000m. But Costin's work won't finish at Doomben – she will then drive up the Warrego Highway for Saturday night racing at Toowoomba where she will ride Drunken Sailor and Sonny Fella for Ponsonby. On Sunday the Hawkesbury trainer will head home, stopping at Grafton to drop off Costin, who has been booked for two rides at the NSW provincial track. 'You never know,' Costin said about the possibility of shifting to Brisbane following a string of hit-and-run missions to southeast Queensland. 'If I get good enough traction then there's always a chance. I'm not a tree so I can move. 'It's always good in the warmer weather, too. 'Cejay has gone so well up there which is very inspiring. If I can get good traction up there when I fly in and fly out, you never know what the future holds.' The 30-year-old Costin can't wait to jump back on 70-race veteran Philipsburg, who won back-to-back contests at Doomben and Eagle Farm at Benchmark 80 and 90 level respectively in the space of seven days in April. She also rode the seven-year-old gelding in his last-start, a disappointing eighth out of 13 runners in the $250,000 Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) on June 21. 'I've ridden him since he was young and he's definitely one of my favourite horses,' Costin said. 'He's got a lot of character – he's a funny old bugger – and he's in good order. 'He ran really well (in the Ipswich Cup) but the track was just playing a bit too on-pace for him. 'I was happy with the way he came home and he got a bit tightened on the corner as well.' fighting back from 12 months on the sidelines in 2017 after battling debilitating concussion symptoms. She was knocked out three times in a race or trial falls and went through a dark period when she struggled to speak, kept falling asleep and lost almost all her memory. 'Having a year off was definitely not on the cards but I'm glad I was able to ride again and be back to being 100 per cent right,' Costin told Racenet on Friday on her way to riding in Scone. 'I was always determined to come back, I wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer. 'The neurologist in Sydney wouldn't clear me so I had to fly to Melbourne to find one who would clear me. I'm thankful for that. 'It was hard. I can't even remember most of the year to be honest. I was very tired, I'd forget things a lot and I was very sensitive to light. But that's all in the past now.' And the future looks as bright as a warm winter's day in the Sunshine State for a jockey with fierce determination and a strong desire to win.
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Cejay Graham reveals suspension pain after missing out on winter carnival wins
Cejay Graham has opened up about the 'gut-wrenching' feeling of watching other jockeys grab the spoils in big races on horses that she would've been riding if not for a recent suspension. Graham returned to riding last Sunday from a 14-day suspension, using the enforced break to holiday in New Zealand with her sister Jess and brother Rory. She had plenty of fun in picturesque Queenstown on the South Island but she would've much preferred to have been riding Miss Joelene in the Tattersall's Gold Crown (2100m) and The Inflictor in the Tattersall's Mile at Eagle Farm two weeks ago. In the Listed races worth a combined $360,000, Angela Jones steered Miss Joelene to victory and then just 40 minutes later, Graham's close friend Rachel King won on The Inflictor. 'It was unreal,' Graham said about her holiday to New Zealand, where the self-confessed adrenaline junkie went bungy jumping, snowboarding and jet boating. 'It was a great place to visit and we had a really nice time, although watching all the races while I was out (suspended) was absolutely gut-wrenching. 'That was the only downside but the holiday was great and I got to spend some time with the family as well. 'There's nothing to say I would've won on those horses but it's definitely disappointing when I've been able to stick with those horses all the way through and they salute without you. 'I was definitely pretty sad but if anyone was going to win on the horse (The Inflictor), then I'm glad it was Rachel.' • 'I've learnt a lot': Sherry keen to build on breakthrough Group 1 Graham revealed that King sent her a heartwarming text message straight after the Sydney-based jockey had won the Gold Crown on the Craig Cousins -trained gelding. 'She just said, 'I'm so sorry. I told Craig to make sure he puts you back on it, you've done a great job with the horse getting him to that race'. 'But that's just the nature of the game and the way it is.' Graham, who rode The Inflictor to 11th place in last month's $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), has been booked for eight of the nine races at Saturday's Doomben meeting. Meanwhile, apprentice Emily Lang's hopes of catching leader Jones in the Brisbane metropolitan jockeys' premiership race has been dealt a savage blow after she copped an eight-day suspension this week for careless riding. Lang sits on 60 wins for the 2024-25 season, just four behind Jones, but will miss at least two metropolitan meetings after being suspended for careless riding on The Right Way during last weekend's Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast. • Queensland stewards finalised their inquiry into the matter on Wednesday, when Lang steered the Tony Gollan -trained Deep Vegas to victory at Ipswich to narrow the gap on Jones, who is currently serving a 10-day suspension for careless riding on Floozie in the Tattersall's Tiara on June 28. The 24-year-old Lang has been booked for six rides at Doomben on Saturday, including $4.40 favourite Sicilian in a Class 3 for fillies and mares and $2.60 favourite Lockyer in a 2YO Handicap. Lang will begin her suspension on Monday and be available to ride again from Tuesday, July 22.
News.com.au
28-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
The Inflictor bounces back to win Tatt's Mile at Eagle Farm
'He's the dude'. Those were the crowning three words from hobby trainer Craig Cousins after cult gelding The Inflictor bounced back from a disappointing Stradbroke Handicap to win the $160,000 Listed Tattersall's Mile at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Inflictor jumped as the $3.50 favourite and the result never looked in doubt when the four-year-old hit the lead from about the 300m mark to collect his first stakes victory. 'I've always said the horse is easy to train and there's a lot of people who have helped me,' a delighted Cousins said. • 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 would've been a bittersweet moment for jockey Cejay Graham, who was set to ride The Inflictor in the Tatt's Mile if not for a two-week suspension she is now halfway through serving. Graham also missed out on riding winning mare Miss Joelene, trained by Kelly Schweida, in the earlier Tatt's Gold Crown (2100m). Graham's close mate Rachel King was the lucky recipient of the vacant ride and she made her opportunity count with a flawless performance, finishing ahead of Sibaaq ($4.70) and Chica Mojito ($11). 'I feel for Cejay, she's one of my best friends in the (jockeys') room so I'm gutted she wasn't riding the horse today,' King said. 'She's done all the work on him and she told me everything I needed to know, so a big shout out to her. 'She's a superstar and I'm sure she'll be back on him again very soon.' Tough win! The Inflictor digs deep to score in the Listed Tatt’s Mile with @RachelK11 aboard 😎ðŸ�† @BrisRacingClub â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 28, 2025 Truck driver Cousins said the victory on Saturday was some consolation for him and connections after The Inflictor finished 11th in this month's $3m Stradbroke Handicap at the same track. 'Yeah it does make up for it,' said the trainer, who only has three to four horses in work. 'The Stradbroke was a tough race. It was his first go in a Group 1 and he didn't get any favours. 'That's just racing and today's proven that he is a Listed horse and it's my biggest win ever as far as race status goes so it's great. 'I'll give him three weeks off now and we'll head down to Sydney. 'I haven't even picked out a race but we'll see what suits him. He could go down for a Benchmark 100 down there.' Cousins paid tribute to The Inflictor's band of owners, including the syndicate Bond 007, which is essentially a group of mates who used to play together at Moreton Bay AFL club. 'They're a mob of larrikin blokes like myself and they just love it,' the 60-year-old trainer said. 'They're all happy, it's great. It's a big day in my training life for sure.' King said The Inflictor had been 'beaten up a little bit' in the Stradbroke but being drawn out wide on Saturday was a blessing in disguise because it allowed him more room to strut his stuff. 'He probably doesn't want any further than the mile, but credit to the team for getting him ready after that run in the Stradbroke,' she said. 'He got his confidence back and it's great to get a winner for Craig.' â– â– â– â– â– Relaxed Metalart too slick in Healy Stakes Eagle Farm trainer Kelly Schweida reckons his WJ Healy Stakes winner Metalart is so relaxed that you could tie him to a fence post and a week later he'd still be chilling out. But the four-year-old gelding had enough zip on Saturday at Eagle Farm to beat Austmarr ($8) and General Salute ($4.40) in the $200,000 Group 3 race over 1200m, handing Schweida a winning double for the day following Miss Joelene's success in the earlier Tatt's Gold Crown (2100m). 'You could tie him up to a fence post, come back a week later and he'd be fine,' Schweida said. 'He's a lovely horse. I don't know where his ceiling is, he just keeps winning. It's quite incredible really. 'He's a very unassuming horse, but he got a gun ride (from Jason Collett) today. 'He goes to sleep in the tie-ups, he's so quiet and lovely and he doesn't look like a racehorse, but he's a pretty good one. 'He probably should have won a stakes race by now. 'He almost came from behind the other day (in the 1000m Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm won by Vodka Martini). 'We got the saloon passage from the good gate today.' Metalart salutes in the last at Eagle Farm with Jason Collett in the saddle earning a double for the @schweidaracing stable! ðŸ'� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 28, 2025 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd is the regular rider for Metalart but fractured his hand during trackwork at Eagle Farm last week, handing Collett a golden opportunity. Collett will be enjoying his holidays on the Sunshine Coast in two weeks but he made sure he finished Tatt's Tiara day with a bang. 'He's got such a great attitude,' Collett said about four-year-old gelding Metalart, who has now won eight of his 14 races. 'Once he got going the run was easy, and he was strong late. 'I remember seeing him over the Christmas period when Michael Rodd won on him (in a Benchmark 78), and he looked impressive that day. 'I'd say 1400m is probably his best trip, so it was a good sign that he was able to win over 1200m today.' Hidden Wealth jumped at $6.50 but could only manage fourth on a disappointing day for the Tony Gollan stable after star mare Floozie finished fifth in the $700,000 Group 1 Tatt's Tiara.
News.com.au
27-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Hobby trainer Craig Cousins seeks redemption with The Inflictor at Eagle Farm as he reflects on Stradbroke heartbreak
Hobby trainer Craig Cousins couldn't bear to watch the standard replays of the $3m Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap after the story of cult galloper The Inflictor didn't follow the fairytale script. In a magical Stradbroke week that left the 60-year-old truck driver mentally and physically exhausted after being sought after by almost every media outlet on the eastern seaboard, Cousins was left feeling flat after The Inflictor finished 11th in Queensland's premier race two weeks ago. The Ben, JD and Will Hayes -trained War Machine ended up convincingly winning the Stradbroke ahead of Queenslander Yellow Brick and Sydney star Private Eye. Four-year-old gelding The Inflictor will be back on Saturday at Eagle Farm for a crack at the $160,000 Listed Tattersall's Mile, with Rachel King on board after his regular rider Cejay Graham copped a two-week suspension on Stradbroke day that she is still serving. King and Graham are close friends and used to live together when Graham was travelling regularly between her home town Port Macquarie and Sydney, where she was apprenticed to leading trainers Peter and Paul Snowden. War Machine WINS the G1 Stradbroke Handicap! ðŸ�† Tim Clark with a flawless performance in the saddle! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 • Keeping up with the Jones': From outback to Group 1 big smoke 'I'm still a truck driver,' Cousins joked this week when contacted by Racenet. 'At least he (The Inflictor) showed me that he's up to Group class because he had no luck whatsoever in the Stradbroke. 'It was a hard watch. I haven't even seen the replay, although I watched a couple of drone replays. 'Nash (Rawiller on Private Eye) cut him off early and the horse checked himself. 'He had no racing room whatsoever after that but the positives I took out of it is that he's up to competing on that level and he certainly didn't disgrace himself. 'That was the anticlimax to a great week. It was hard to take on the day. 'We were going out to The Star (casino) afterwards and I just couldn't go. It took the wind out of my sails, put it that way. It was a big fortnight, geez I had some interviews.' It stung even more that the Stradbroke prizemoney went down to 10th place ($36,000) so The Inflictor's connections were left out of pocket on the day but ahead overall, with the gelding earning almost $500,000, winning six out of his 23 races. Cousins said he was happy with drawing the widest barrier (14) for the Tatt's Mile on Saturday because $4 favourite The Inflictor could 'float across at his own steam'. 'I think Rachel will suit him,' the trainer said. 'I booked her on the Sunday after the Stradbroke once Cejay was suspended. She's excited to be on.' Cousins said The Inflictor would have a three-week break after the Tatt's Mile before being targeted for some Group races in Sydney, although he was yet to map out a firm plan. 'If you try to give him a two-month spell then he gets the sulks,' he said. 'I've had a look at the Racing NSW diary and I couldn't really cement anything but I definitely want to go to Sydney with him. 'He'll be a better horse next prep and he's been going like an absolute treat since the Stradbroke. 'He worked enormous on Tuesday so all I'll say is that they'll want to be on their bikes (in the Tatt's Mile).'
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Craig Williams cops suspension on Stradbroke Handicap pick-up ride
Craig Williams ' late Group 1 pick-up ride on Rothfire has resulted in the champion Victorian jockey being suspended for 14 days. Williams had been set to ride Gary Portelli's mare Kimochi in the Stradbroke Handicap until the Yulong-owned mare injured her tendon on Friday. He was then without a Stradbroke ride but gained one when James McDonald, who has been battling illness, was unable to make the weight on Rothfire. However, the story had a sting in its tail with Williams suspended for careless riding for a back straight incident where Spicy Martini was tightened up. Cejay Graham also came to the attention of stewards and was suspended for 14 days for careless riding on King Kapa in the Hinkler Handicap.
