Latest news with #CountryCup
Sydney Morning Herald
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sunnier weather to give talented Like Lukey a chance to shine
An overdue run of clear weather can pave the way for a talented albeit wayward mare to return to her very best at Thursday's Gosford meeting. Like Lukey, a gifted four-year-old daughter of 2009 Group 1 Golden Rose winner Denman in the Kris Lees stable at Newcastle, hasn't won since capping an ultra-exciting campaign late last year with a third successive win. A frustrating and interrupted first half of 2024 eventually gave way to a very exciting galloper early last November. She opened her account by coming from near last to win a Maiden at Scone over a mile by more than four lengths before setting closer but still easily winning a BM 58 at Muswellbrook, despite not being overly suited on soft ground. Like Lukey then produced another dominant display in BM 64 company at Hawkesbury over 1800m just two weeks before Xmas, charging home from the trail to win by nearly two lengths. She then missed narrowly zooming home again in deeper grade at Port Macquarie (2000m) before a tilt at metropolitan opposition all went wrong after a tough run in BM 72 grade back over 1800m on the Kensington track. Given a lengthy spell, Like Lukey returned with a serious eye-catching run, flashing home from well back to miss by under a length in a strong Country Cup renewal on Scone Cup day five weeks ago. Again she tackled deeper city company, but didn't fire a shot in unsuitable heavy going behind in-form Mickey's Medal. But the constant rain over the past month has seemingly met its match with clear and drying weather, and Like Lukey looks ideally placed when she tackles a BM 64 Hcp for fillies and mares over 1600m on what should be a Soft 5 rating.
The Age
18-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Sunnier weather to give talented Like Lukey a chance to shine
An overdue run of clear weather can pave the way for a talented albeit wayward mare to return to her very best at Thursday's Gosford meeting. Like Lukey, a gifted four-year-old daughter of 2009 Group 1 Golden Rose winner Denman in the Kris Lees stable at Newcastle, hasn't won since capping an ultra-exciting campaign late last year with a third successive win. A frustrating and interrupted first half of 2024 eventually gave way to a very exciting galloper early last November. She opened her account by coming from near last to win a Maiden at Scone over a mile by more than four lengths before setting closer but still easily winning a BM 58 at Muswellbrook, despite not being overly suited on soft ground. Like Lukey then produced another dominant display in BM 64 company at Hawkesbury over 1800m just two weeks before Xmas, charging home from the trail to win by nearly two lengths. She then missed narrowly zooming home again in deeper grade at Port Macquarie (2000m) before a tilt at metropolitan opposition all went wrong after a tough run in BM 72 grade back over 1800m on the Kensington track. Given a lengthy spell, Like Lukey returned with a serious eye-catching run, flashing home from well back to miss by under a length in a strong Country Cup renewal on Scone Cup day five weeks ago. Again she tackled deeper city company, but didn't fire a shot in unsuitable heavy going behind in-form Mickey's Medal. But the constant rain over the past month has seemingly met its match with clear and drying weather, and Like Lukey looks ideally placed when she tackles a BM 64 Hcp for fillies and mares over 1600m on what should be a Soft 5 rating.
The Age
04-06-2025
- Climate
- The Age
Tough conditions set to suit rugged Rebel's Edge
Rebel's Edge is as tough as old boots, and gets conditions to suit tackling the feature Wingham Cup at Thursday's rain-hit Taree meeting. On an expected Heavy 8 or 9 rating, the Muswellbrook-based six-year-old is primed to capture a seventh career win at his 53rd start, deep into a drawn out and sparingly raced campaign. Stabled with Cassandra Stummer, Rebel's Edge is on an 11-day back-up after a game closing effort from last in the tougher Benchmark 78 Gunnedah Cup, finishing only five lengths from the winner despite that torrid run. And that already looks a strong country form line, given second-placed Fiorsum Fred was coming off a dominant Highway win at Scone on the Stand-Alone Saturday meeting on May 17. Prior to the Gunnedah run, Rebel's Edge was only a bit over three lengths from a smart winner of the Country Cup over 1400m, run on the opening day of the Scone Cup carnival. Over the testing mile at Taree, connections quickly booked leading jockey Aaron 'Raging Bull' Bullock to ride. While he hasn't won for nearly a year, Rebel's Edge has a sound wet track record, with four of his six career wins coming on either soft or heavy tracks. But there's no shortage of well-placed challengers here on the Mid North Coast. Wyong five-year-old Wealthy Investor has placed in two from three runs this prep against deeper opposition; tough mare Veandechance reloads four weeks after failing to run home in a BM 82 over 1435m on the North Coast; while progressive home tracker Otium is out to capture a fourth win from just 17 starts.
Sydney Morning Herald
04-06-2025
- Climate
- Sydney Morning Herald
Tough conditions set to suit rugged Rebel's Edge
Rebel's Edge is as tough as old boots, and gets conditions to suit tackling the feature Wingham Cup at Thursday's rain-hit Taree meeting. On an expected Heavy 8 or 9 rating, the Muswellbrook-based six-year-old is primed to capture a seventh career win at his 53rd start, deep into a drawn out and sparingly raced campaign. Stabled with Cassandra Stummer, Rebel's Edge is on an 11-day back-up after a game closing effort from last in the tougher Benchmark 78 Gunnedah Cup, finishing only five lengths from the winner despite that torrid run. And that already looks a strong country form line, given second-placed Fiorsum Fred was coming off a dominant Highway win at Scone on the Stand-Alone Saturday meeting on May 17. Prior to the Gunnedah run, Rebel's Edge was only a bit over three lengths from a smart winner of the Country Cup over 1400m, run on the opening day of the Scone Cup carnival. Over the testing mile at Taree, connections quickly booked leading jockey Aaron 'Raging Bull' Bullock to ride. While he hasn't won for nearly a year, Rebel's Edge has a sound wet track record, with four of his six career wins coming on either soft or heavy tracks. But there's no shortage of well-placed challengers here on the Mid North Coast. Wyong five-year-old Wealthy Investor has placed in two from three runs this prep against deeper opposition; tough mare Veandechance reloads four weeks after failing to run home in a BM 82 over 1435m on the North Coast; while progressive home tracker Otium is out to capture a fourth win from just 17 starts.
The Age
31-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Cavanough confident wet track specialists can shine at Muswellbrook
Scone horseman Brett Cavanough is banking on race fitness and abilities to handle a wet track for his strong team of horses engaged to contest events at Muswellbrook on Sunday. The top trainer has high hopes for his pair of runners in the Shorty Cribb Aberdeen Cup Benchmark 82 Handicap (1280m) when Two Ya Got, to be ridden by Mikayla Weir, and Indfference, with Mitchell Bell in the saddle, go around. 'Two Ya Got is rock hard fit and loves a wet track,' said Cavanough. 'He won the Town Plate at Wellington on the heavy four starts ago and has finished second in two of his three runs since then. 'He's up in the weights which is the main concern, but he gets conditions to suit and that gives him a good chance.' Cavanough has Indifference lining up against Two Ya Got on the back of a resuming eighth at Scone in the Country Cup over the two-day carnival when he was first-up from a spell. 'He's not really a [1280m] horse but his resuming run was good, and he also goes well on wet tracks,' Cavanough said. 'He'll be hitting the line well, I'd like to think.' Cavanough had Navy Steel and Sirius Flyer engaged to run in the JTS Realty Country Boosted Class 2 Handicap (1450m).
