Latest news with #ChampionsSprint


Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘His rapid improvement shows no sign of stopping' – Templegate's 7-2 Saturday NAP
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TEMPLEGATE takes on a busy Saturday of racing confident of bashing the bookies. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up PABORUS (2.25 York, nap) Has won four of his past five starts and can keep his excellent run of form going here. He signed off last season clocking a fast time while winning in good company on the Southwell sand. That was over this trip and he struck on comeback at Thirsk last time out in April. He went through the gears with the minimum of fuss there and could have won by a lot more than the official margin of two lengths. He takes a fair hike in class here but looks well up to it for trainer Ed Bethell who really put himself on the map with a couple of big wins at Royal Ascot last week. With William Buick in the saddle he will take a lot of beating even at Group 3 level. KIND OF BLUE (2.10 Newcastle, nb) We'll stick with Wathnan Racing and their speedster in the Chipchase Stakes. He's a proven Group 1 sprinter who needed the run after a long break in France last time. James Fanshawe's flyer looks a cut above these rivals. PAPPANO (3.15 Newcastle, treble) Has success on a Northumberland Plate! Jumps legend Willie Mullins is starting to make his mark on the level too and this former Gosden runner will relish this challenge in the big one at Newcastle. He stays and looks on a fair weight. Templegate's verdicts NEWCASTLE 1.40 ARAMRAM ran well in the Wokingham last week, finishing like a train after missing the kick. He's best over this trip and could have more to offer. He's gone well on the all-weather before. Pocklington goes well here and is best after a break so don't worry about his 311 days off. He looks solid each-way. Durham Castle is progressive and had a bit up his sleeve when going in at Windsor last time. This trip suits and he's another with tapeta form. Arctic Thunder came home strongly into second at Haydock on just his second run for Ed Walker and is another to note. 2.10 KIND OF BLUE is a proven Group 1 performer who should be much too good. He finished last season winning the Champions Sprint at Ascot and can be forgiven his comeback in France last time when missing the break by half a furlong. He doesn't usually do that and will be much smarter away today. Ferrous is a classy handicapper who deserves a crack at this level. He won well here last time and is best over today's trip. Fair Angellica took Listed honours at Salisbury when enjoying the drop to this distance and can hold her own again. Spycatcher is proven in this grade and is capable of hitting the frame wisely dropping back from seven furlongs. 2.40 CONTACTO went close at Goodwood last time on his first crack at this two-mile trip. He should come on for that first outing in nine months and he looks capable of better over extreme trips. Godsend was well backed for the Plate but didn't quite get in. He's a typical Sir Mark Prescott improver who made it four in a row at Nottingham last time. This is his toughest assignment yet from another 7lb higher but he'll be right there. Humble Spark has four Newcastle wins on his CV and stays well. He was far from disgraced in this grade at Haydock last time and looks a player. Savrola is consistent over slightly shorter trips and went close at Hamilton last time. He's got place claims. Gibside won over 2m2f at Chester last month and is another serious contender. 3.15 PAPPANO was useful on the level for the Gosdens and can take a step forward on this Flat debut for Irish genius Willie Mullins. He has gone well in Listed company and looks on a fair weight under Jamie Spencer who can time his run right. East India Dock hit traffic issues when running a cracker in the Ascot Stakes and the Chester Cup winner looks a real threat. Zanndabad is a proven stayer from the Tony Martin yard that has won this race before. He had a nice warm-up for this at The Curragh last time. Last year's winner Onesmoothoperator has a lot more weight this time but his liking for trip and track can take him into the frame. Who's Glen was a solid fifth to East India Dock at Chester and has place prospects. 3.45 NATIVE WARRIOR has some smart form over a mile and should enjoy Newcastle's straight over 7f which takes some getting. He's dropped close to the mark that saw him go close in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot last year and he was a solid second at Windsor 33 days ago. He can have a say in this wide-open contest. City Walk is interesting despite coming back from 540 days off. He won the Gosforth Park Cup sprint here but has stamina too and Saeed Bin Suroor should have him ready. Zip looks a big price considering he was a solid second over course and distance last time. The veteran could easily make the frame again. Eldrickjones was ahead of him here in May and has gone close in hot company twice since. He's another with an each-way say. Dosman is back from nine months off and looks on a fair mark with trainer Roger Varian in decent form. Telemark ran better than seventh suggests at York last time and likes this trip. YORK 1.55 ARCHIVIST relished this decent ground when scooting in by more than four lengths at Leicester earlier this month. That was just his second run for William Haggas and he can improve on this handicap debut over an ideal distance. Cadarn is going the right way and landed back-to-back wins at Redcar before a little break. He showed good pace on the front end last time and relishes this trip. He looks a big danger under William Buick. Madame De Sevigne may just be better over seven furlongs but was just edged out over this mile at Nottingham and can't be written off. Barley may not have been entirely at home on soft ground in the Carlisle Bell on Wednesday after two decent runs on quicker going. Shamrock Bay has few miles on the clock and has place claims for the Kublers despite going up in class. 2.25 PABORUS is improving with every run and had plenty in hand at Thirsk last time out in April. That was his first run in six months and he's had another little break since. This seven-furlong trip on fast ground is ideal and he looked well up to Group 3 standard last time. William Buick can land a rare win in the Wathnan Racing colours for trainer Ed Bethell who is having a big season. Lethal Levi was just collared on the line in a Curragh Group 2 last time and has some hot handicaps on his CV. The slight worry is the extra furlong he tackles today but he'll take some pegging back from the front. Formal deserves this hike in grade after taking a Listed prize at Epsom's Derby meeting. She goes on any ground and gets a big weight allowance as a three-year-old filly. Lake Forest was a good fifth in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot 11 days ago. He tried to come from a long way back there and this drop in grade will definitely boost his chances. 3.00 JM JUNGLE has a formidable record at York and comes here on the back of winning the red-hot Dash at Epsom last time. He's up 5lb for that but is in excellent form and should be well drawn in stall four. He can be relied on to go close again. Habooba went from the front when winning here last month ahead of the tip and the form has been franked. A 6lb rise may not stop him from following up. Regal Envoy has a brilliant strike-rate for a sprinter and made it five wins from his past six runs at Windsor 19 days ago. This trip is ideal on any ground and he's in the mix under Oisin Murphy. Azure Angel clocked a personal best when scoring at Redcar last time. She had the best of the draw but beat the track record so it was still a good effort. Squealer has been knocking on the door and was touched off at Doncaster three Saturdays ago. A 3lb rise is fair and he likes quick ground. Templegate's tips FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.


New Paper
09-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Giga Kick is Good to go
On weights and measures alone, Giga Kick should street his 12 rivals in the A$1 million (S$833,000) Group 1 The Goodwood (1,200m) at Morphettville on May 10. With a top rating of 116, and Charm Stone the next best on 108, he should be the top-weight and give 4kg or more to the rest. But The Goodwood is a set-weights race where the handicapper sifts through performances in the last two years. As awesome as his second at his penultimate start in the 2024 The Everest (1,200m) was, the lightly raced chestnut has not won since the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1,200m) in May 2023, when his rating peaked to 117. The Scissor Kick five-year-old's next five starts have not been without merit. Trainer Clayton Douglas' seven-time winner never finished worse than three lengths off, with his head-second to Bella Nipotina in The Everest prompting the handicapper to shave only one point off his rating. But six months have elapsed since his last outing - a 2.4-length seventh in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1,200m) at Flemington on Nov 9. The 2022 Everest winner's rustiness could offset the 55kg (Mark Zahra will ride him ½kg over), but three solid barrier trials have topped him off nicely. Gate 12 is also tricky, but Morphettville's wide straight gives horses ample time to find room. On class, Giga Kick should win, but do not ignore the in-form Reserve Bank, last year's runner-up Stretan Angel and last-start Group 1 Robert Sangster (1,200m) winner Charm Stone. manyan@


South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Ka Ying Rising set to dodge Flemington in favour of second run in Sydney
The world's best sprinter will be set for the Russell Balding Stakes at Rosehill, with Racing Victoria's tough protocols prompting the move away from the Champions Sprint David Hayes has revealed plans to give Ka Ying Rising another run in Sydney after The Everest (1,200m), with Racing Victoria's strict veterinary protocols prompting the move to bypass the Group One Champions Sprint (1,200m) at Flemington. Rated the world's best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising will be set for the A$3 million (HK$15 million) Russell Balding Stakes (1,300m) at Rosehill on November 1 – two weeks after the world's richest race on turf, the A$20 million The Everest at Randwick. Adding to the lure of the Russell Balding Stakes is an A$1 million bonus if a horse wins that race after snaring The Everest. While Ka Ying Rising has to pass scans to depart Hong Kong for Sydney, Racing Victoria's tough procedures – introduced in 2021 after a spate of fatal injuries suffered by internationals in the Group One Melbourne Cup (3,200m) – would force the superstar to undergo further scans and assessments to be cleared to race in Melbourne. HE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚀 Ka Ying Rising makes it 12 straight wins, four Group 1s and a HK$5 million Speed Series bonus with victory in the 2025 Chairman's Sprint Prize... @zpurton #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025 'The race after The Everest carries a bonus for The Everest winner. It means he doesn't have to do any extra travelling and doesn't have to go through the protocols again to run in Melbourne, so the protocols made my decision very easy,' Hayes said. 'It's a rule that needs to be looked at and reviewed, but it's the rule at the moment so while the rule's in place, I won't consider Melbourne. I would understand if it's his first run in Australia but it's not. 'I would have dearly loved to have shown him off in Victoria – it's my hometown and it would have been great to run there, but the protocols aren't making it favourable. 'I'm not asking for any favours, but I think they should review the rule. I think it's overkill. The horse has to go to hospital to have the tests, which normally healthy horses aren't in hospital, he has to travel which is another risk, have a day away from his routine feed and be tranquillised to have it done, so it's quite an ordeal.' Fresh from 12 consecutive wins in Hong Kong, capped by his Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) success last month, Ka Ying Rising is the odds-on favourite in overseas markets for The Everest. Negotiations for a slot in the mega-rich sprint are set to heat up, with the Jockey Club a potential player in buying a slot in the race. Ka Ying Rising departed Sha Tin on Monday, with the four-time Group One winner set for a six-week break up at Conghua. Hayes also confirmed his Classic Cup (1,800m) winner Rubylot will continue his campaign in the final Group One of the Hong Kong season, the Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) on May 25. Hugh Bowman will again ride the four-year-old after his unlucky sixth to Tastiera in the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m). 'I think he could have easily run a place – he didn't get much luck. Hughie thought he'd stay a mile and a half very easily because he relaxes so well,' Hayes said. Zac Purton has been booked for the Champions & Chater Cup ride on John Size's consistent galloper Ensued, who was the first local horse home when fourth in the QE II Cup. 'He'll be a good chance. It looks as if it's going to be a stronger race than we thought it was going to be with the internationals coming, but he's honest,' Purton said.