Latest news with #Cranbourne
Daily Telegraph
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Griffiths Racing mourns Moonee Valley legend Dandy Kid
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Robbie Griffiths stable is lamenting the loss of a stable favourite that became an integral part of history at The Valley. Griffiths Racing confirmed the passing of the former smart sprinter Dandy Kid, who won a record 15 races at The Valley in a terrific career that included 19 wins from 87 starts between 1999 and 2006. 'He was an amazing horse to everyone,' Griffiths said. 'To race for eight years, everything changed so much and there were weddings, kids and grandkids among the ownership group while he was racing.' Dandy Kid died just short of his 29th birthday in a year in which racing will cease under the current configuration at The Valley as the track undergoes redevelopment. • 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! Griffiths said he and the late form expert Deane Lester picked out Dandy Kid from a paddock at Berrigan but the stable favourite spent most of his life in Cranbourne and spelling at Cloverdale agistment property that was operated by the late sports broadcaster Drew Morphett and his wife Kaz. 'He retired to that property and lived there for the last 19 years of his life,' Griffiths said. 'He was beautiful and sound all the time he was enjoying retirement. He never needed the vets, just the stock-standard maintenance a horse needs. 'He started his career as a winner of his first four and he finished as a winner as a 10-year-old. 'They can't beat his record at Moonee Valley now as the track is changing. 'I'm glad he chose Moonee Valley to be great at, not Manangatang.' • O'Brien star shakes up Melbourne Cup market after Curragh romp Dandy Kid was also good enough to win the Listed Vain Stakes during his run of four straight wins to start his career. He also claimed the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield in 2000, beating that year's Newmarket Handicap winner Miss Pennymoney. Seven riders won on Dandy Kid with the now Queensland-based jockey Ryan Maloney topping the tally with five wins on the grand sprinter while Rikki Cartwright was aboard for the gelding's first four wins. Griffiths said Dandy Kid was a handful on the training track but a great horse for apprentices to ride early in their careers, noting several Group 1-winning jockeys, including Luke Currie and Craig Newitt, won on the speedster as apprentices. 'He was a prick to ride at trackwork,' Griffiths said. 'I'd ride him in all his gallops and he'd pull like crazy. But he was a gentleman on raceday. 'Not many senior riders rode him but some superstar jockeys won on him as apprentices.' Originally published as Moonee Valley win record holder Dandy Kid dies aged 28
News.com.au
16-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Best bets and value play for Cranbourne races Thursday
Form expert Brad Waters analyses Thursday's Cranbourne meeting, presenting his best bets, value selection and jockey to follow.
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
New York Lustre returns for Group 3 Monash Stakes after ‘farcical' barrier drama
New York Lustre looms as an X-factor in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) on Saturday. The progressive five-year-old mare, trained by Enver Jusufovic, last raced in late April and missed an opportunity in Group 3 company, scratched at the barriers before the Proud Miss Stakes in Adelaide. New York Lustre was kicked multiple times standing in the barrier, as runners around her in the stalls reacted to a fractious horse nearby. • 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! Fortunately, lightly-raced New York Lustre, a five-time winner from eight starts, escaped unscathed. New York Lustre has been freshened up to target the Monash and while Jusufovic preferred to trial in preparation, the five-year-old mare completed a solid gallop at Cranbourne last Tuesday. Star jockey Jamie Melham has ridden New York Lustre to victory twice previously and partnered the mare in the Cranbourne pipe-opener. New York Lustre is $9 for the Sir John Monash Stakes from Sydney raider In Flight ($2.70), Cleo Cat ($5), Kallos ($6) and Recommendation ($8.50), who bolted in the race last year. Jusufovic said fresh legs could be a force or factor on Saturday with New York Lustre potentially a bit vulnerable late. 'She might be a little bit underdone, but she might not be either,' Jusufovic said. 'She's been extremely well placed (winning) benchmark races. 'She's entitled to try and go to that next step now. 'Normally I get a good gauge in a jumpout, as to how they're going, this is a little bit different but she's nice and bright, and I'm hoping there's a bit of residual fitness and she's good to go.' Cleo Cat, trained by Tom Dabernig, won the Proud Miss coincidently and Jusufovic fancied New York Lustre on the day before the 'farcical' barrier incident. New York Lustre was forced to stand in her barrier for about 10 minutes as attendants worked on the fractious eventual non-starter. Cleo Cat has trained on to place second her past two starts at Caulfield and Flemington respectively. Jusufovic has sights on a promising spring campaign with Group 1-winner Pinstriped set to return in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) next month at Caulfield. Jusufovic has also been pleased with up and comers Proved and Mytemptation. 'I'm happy with Pinstriped,' Jusufovic said. 'He's ahead of schedule … I've been able to take my time with him. 'Proved has come back into work, she's put on weight and looks great. 'Mytemptation, I think he can develop into a really nice horse. 'I've got a few there I'm hopeful can measure up to spring races.'
The Sun
02-07-2025
- The Sun
‘One in a million' former jockey dies aged 43 after being kicked in head by horse as pal says ‘we lost our little girl'
A 'ONE in a million' former jockey has died aged 43 after being kicked in the head by a horse. Heartbroken friends said they had 'lost their little girl' as they came to terms with the shock passing of Australian Peta Tait. 2 2 Tait rode 48 winners between 1998 and 2019 and had been working as a stable lass and work rider since giving up race-riding. She was going about her normal business for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young when struck in the head at Cranbourne Training Centre in south-east Melbourne earlier this week. Paramedics rushed to the scene and performed CPR but she could not be saved. The trainers said in a statement: "Peta was an incredible person who was dedicated to her role and will leave a longstanding legacy. We are heartbroken by her loss." Jockey Daniel Moor wrote on X: "It's difficult to find the words to describe a one in a million person, but that's exactly who Peta was. "So dedicated to her job and always so helpful. Constantly putting others before herself. She will be very sadly missed." Police are investigating the circumstances around the incident - although it was believed to be a 'tragic accident'. Tait rode her first ever winner for trainer Reg Manning aged 16 and he said: "It was just a freak accident. "It was not as if she did anything wrong, or it was a bad horse, it just kicked out for whatever reason. "I couldn't have kids, but I have got three girls that all call me 'Dad' from different families. "We helped all of them growing up and Peta was no different - we were very close. "Fellow trainers Ian and Jan Hutchins were like family to her as well. She learnt a lot from them. "They treated her very well, and they will be just as sad as I am that we have lost our little girl." Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison said: "This terrible accident serves as an untimely reminder of the thousands of unsung heroes working in stables each day to provide the best possible care to our racehorses. "Like all within our industry, Peta loved horses and she forged a career working with them, helping numerous trainers prepare their horses as a trackwork rider or strapping them on race day. "Peta made a valuable contribution to Victorian racing over more than 25 years and her sudden passing will be felt by many, particularly in Cranbourne where she was based."
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Pictured: Woman who died when she was kicked in the head by a horse in tragic accident
Jockey turned strapper Peta Tait is being mourned by the Australian racing industry after she died in a freak accident at a leading stable on Tuesday morning. Peta Tait couldn't be saved by paramedics after she was kicked in the head by a horse while working as a stable hand at Cranbourne Training Centre in south-east Melbourne. Tait was struck by the horse at around 7.30am while in the stables of trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. The 'much loved' 43-year-old was remembered as an 'incredible person' by her employers in a statement made on Wednesday. 'It is with tremendous sadness that Busuttin Racing confirm the passing of much loved team member Peta Tait following a tragic accident at our Cranbourne stable yesterday morning,' the statement read. 'At this time our thoughts are with those nearest and dearest to Peta, her immediate family and many friends, both inside and outside of the racing industry, as well as her team of colleagues of whom she had maintained strong personal and professional relationships. The 43-year-old (pictured) has been remembered as an 'incredible person' who became a highly regarded member of the racing community she was a part of for almost 30 years 'Peta was an incredible person who was dedicated to her role and will leave a long-standing legacy. We are heartbroken by her loss.' Tait had been a highly regarded member of Victoria's racing community for almost 30 years. She started working as a jockey aged just 16 and rode 48 winners and more than 120 place-getters before retiring in 2019. Tait also worked as a stable employee and track rider from 2006, in addition to being a strapper on race days. Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison also paid tribute in a statement. 'On behalf of the Victorian racing industry, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Peta's family, friends and work colleagues on the tragic news of her passing,' Morrison said. 'This terrible accident serves as an untimely reminder of the thousands of unsung heroes working in stables each day to provide the best possible care to our racehorses. 'Like all within our industry, Peta loved horses and she forged a career working with them, helping numerous trainers prepare their horses as a trackwork rider or strapping them on raceday. 'She was also a popular member of the picnic racing circuit, enjoying the unique thrill of competing in races as an amateur jockey and doing so with success.' Paramedics performed CPR on Tait after responding to a call at about 7.50am but were unable to save her, Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia. 'Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a woman in Cranbourne on 1 July,' the statement read. 'Emergency services were called to a training facility on Cemetery Road just after 7.30am following reports a woman had been kicked by a horse in stables. 'CPR was performed but the yet to be formally identified woman has died at the scene. 'The death is not being treat as suspicious and WorkSafe has been notified.'
