Latest news with #DarbyRacing
Courier-Mail
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Robusto too tough in Winter Challenge as Bjorn Baker eyes Group 1 target
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Bjorn Baker is considering giving Robusto another Group 1 crack in early spring after his tough galloper came out on top in a dogfight with Accredited at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Robusto and Accredited went nose-and-nose for much of the straight as Baker's gelding got the nod in a photo finish to the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m). The tough performance had Baker ready to raise the bar higher again with a fit horse in the early spring. • 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! 'We might even go to the (Group 2) Missile Stakes back to 1200m and then look at a race like the (Group 1) Winx Stakes if he was to run well there,' Baker said. 'He is up and going and fit and well.' Baker caused a boilover to win the Winx Stakes in 2019 with Samadoubt, who also wore the white and navy blue colours of Darby Racing. Robusto has already been valuable horse since joining Baker's stable after Darby purchased the gelding online for $160,000. The son of Churchill won the $2m The Ingham in his first preparation for Baker last December and banked another $109,000 for his win in the Winter Challenge. 'He has been a bit of a revelation,' Baker said. 'Another horse Darby Racing have purchased and they just find them at all levels and found another two (online) during the week. 'I am lucky enough to get both of those and I am excited about that but he has been a really good horse and was unlucky last time. 'Of course he won The Ingham and it was good to see him back today with the big weight. • Home-bred cheapie scores knockout win in July Sprint 'We can definitely try to hit the spring with a bit of fitness on our side. 'I am glad he fell in because I tipped him to the world.' Robusto put the writing on the wall second-up when a luckless second in the Listed Winter Stakes after returning to Sydney looking to bounce back from a failed Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap run. But the five-year-old was set a weighty task in his third-up assignment. No horse had carried more than 58kg to victory in the Winter Challenge in its short 15-year history but Robusto was set the task of lugging 60kg on Saturday. He was afforded an energy conserving run after jockey Josh Parr settled on the fence, in behind the leader Accredited. Parr launched off Accredited's back early in the straight and the duo paired off to fight it out with Robusto ($3.10) doing enough to score by a half-head. Chris Waller's Saltcoats ($5.50) was one-and-a-quarter lengths back in third. 'He has had to carry the weight and has earned that weight but we got through there and it turned out to be somewhat of a dogfight,' Parr said. • 'Put my neck on the line': Online buy repays Archibald gamble 'I had in the back of my mind all day, when Tim Clark won The Ingham on him, the fight he showed in the battle. 'I was relying on that but thank God we got him to win.' Robusto's victory gave Baker a personal best ninth Listed winner of the season and 24th stakes triumph in a career best season that has delivered 154 winners. It denied trainer Joe Pride a cleansweep of Sydney's sprinting-middle distance winter stakes races after he won the AO Bob Charley Stakes (In Flight), Civic Stakes (Headley Grange) and Winter Stakes (Estadio Mestalla). However, Accredited, who finished third in the Winter Stakes at his last start, lost no admirers in defeat with Pride more than happy with his performance. 'He was good,' he said. 'It just highlights the difference with this fella on a wet track and a dry track. 'He is at least a two or three lengths better horse. 'There is a 1500m here in a couple of weeks' time so we will have a think about it and see how he pulls up.' Pride's Winter Stakes winner Estadio Mestalla couldn't replicate his last start success after being caught deep in the run and battling on for fifth. Originally published as Trainer Bjorn Baker considering Group 1 target for Robusto after his fighting win in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill
News.com.au
19-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Bjorn Baker considering Group 1 target for Robusto after his fighting win in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill
Trainer Bjorn Baker is considering giving Robusto another Group 1 crack in early spring after his tough galloper came out on top in a dogfight with Accredited at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Robusto and Accredited went nose-and-nose for much of the straight as Baker 's gelding got the nod in a photo finish to the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m). The tough performance had Baker ready to raise the bar higher again with a fit horse in the early spring. • 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! 'We might even go to the (Group 2) Missile Stakes back to 1200m and then look at a race like the (Group 1) Winx Stakes if he was to run well there,' Baker said. 'He is up and going and fit and well.' Baker caused a boilover to win the Winx Stakes in 2019 with Samadoubt, who also wore the white and navy blue colours of Darby Racing. Robusto has already been valuable horse since joining Baker's stable after Darby purchased the gelding online for $160,000. The son of Churchill won the $2m The Ingham in his first preparation for Baker last December and banked another $109,000 for his win in the Winter Challenge. 'He has been a bit of a revelation,' Baker said. 'Another horse Darby Racing have purchased and they just find them at all levels and found another two (online) during the week. 'I am lucky enough to get both of those and I am excited about that but he has been a really good horse and was unlucky last time. 'Of course he won The Ingham and it was good to see him back today with the big weight. A robust win to Robusto! A thrilling battle in the Listed Winter Challenge, with the @BBakerRacing galloper victorious! â›'ï¸� @JoshuaParr8 @Darby_Racing @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 19, 2025 • 'We can definitely try to hit the spring with a bit of fitness on our side. 'I am glad he fell in because I tipped him to the world.' Robusto put the writing on the wall second-up when a luckless second in the Listed Winter Stakes after returning to Sydney looking to bounce back from a failed Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap run. But the five-year-old was set a weighty task in his third-up assignment. No horse had carried more than 58kg to victory in the Winter Challenge in its short 15-year history but Robusto was set the task of lugging 60kg on Saturday. He was afforded an energy conserving run after jockey Josh Parr settled on the fence, in behind the leader Accredited. Parr launched off Accredited's back early in the straight and the duo paired off to fight it out with Robusto ($3.10) doing enough to score by a half-head. Chris Waller 's Saltcoats ($5.50) was one-and-a-quarter lengths back in third. 'He has had to carry the weight and has earned that weight but we got through there and it turned out to be somewhat of a dogfight,' Parr said. "He's been a revelation!" Hear from @BBakerRacing and @JoshuaParr8 after Robusto's win in the Listed Winter Challenge ðŸ'� @Darby_Racing @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 19, 2025 • 'Put my neck on the line': Yoshinobu repays Archibald gamble 'I had in the back of my mind all day, when Tim Clark won The Ingham on him, the fight he showed in the battle. 'I was relying on that but thank God we got him to win.' Robusto's victory gave Baker a personal best ninth Listed winner of the season and 24th stakes triumph in a career best season that has delivered 154 winners. It denied trainer Joe Pride a cleansweep of Sydney's sprinting-middle distance winter stakes races after he won the AO Bob Charley Stakes (In Flight), Civic Stakes (Headley Grange) and Winter Stakes (Estadio Mestalla). However, Accredited, who finished third in the Winter Stakes at his last start, lost no admirers in defeat with Pride more than happy with his performance. 'He was good,' he said. 'It just highlights the difference with this fella on a wet track and a dry track. 'He is at least a two or three lengths better horse. 'There is a 1500m here in a couple of weeks' time so we will have a think about it and see how he pulls up.' Pride's Winter Stakes winner Estadio Mestalla couldn't replicate his last start success after being caught deep in the run and battling on for fifth.
Sydney Morning Herald
17-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Darby Racing ready to cash in again with Robusto
Robusto has certainly paid his way for trainer Bjorn Baker and owners Darby Racing. The famous Ingham family sold the gelding for $160,000 at an online sale in September. Should Robusto win Saturday's feature Winter Challenge at Rosehill, his earnings for the new connections will pass $1.5 million. If the sight of Robusto being chopped out at a vital stage of the race last start was not enough to convince punters to stick with him this weekend, Baker's glowing appraisal of his work this week should. 'He looks fantastic and his work on Tuesday morning was exceptional,' Baker said of the race favourite. 'Her worked over 1000m, but the way he finished off his work for Josh [Parr], he was very, very good late. If you go off that work alone, he's a very good chance. 'He also has a good gate on Saturday, and the 1500m is ideal. I think he's a big chance. 'He had a big weight last time, and the way he picked himself back up [after being blocked for a run], it shows you how well he is going. 'We do know he can continue to get better [the longer the preparation goes], so we'll look at the new season if he runs well.'
The Age
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Darby Racing ready to cash in again with Robusto
Robusto has certainly paid his way for trainer Bjorn Baker and owners Darby Racing. The famous Ingham family sold the gelding for $160,000 at an online sale in September. Should Robusto win Saturday's feature Winter Challenge at Rosehill, his earnings for the new connections will pass $1.5 million. If the sight of Robusto being chopped out at a vital stage of the race last start was not enough to convince punters to stick with him this weekend, Baker's glowing appraisal of his work this week should. 'He looks fantastic and his work on Tuesday morning was exceptional,' Baker said of the race favourite. 'Her worked over 1000m, but the way he finished off his work for Josh [Parr], he was very, very good late. If you go off that work alone, he's a very good chance. 'He also has a good gate on Saturday, and the 1500m is ideal. I think he's a big chance. 'He had a big weight last time, and the way he picked himself back up [after being blocked for a run], it shows you how well he is going. 'We do know he can continue to get better [the longer the preparation goes], so we'll look at the new season if he runs well.'
News.com.au
06-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from Winter Stakes day
Daily Telegraph racing writer Mitch Cohen has analysed all the action from Saturday's Listed $200,000 Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens and found a few worth following. FIVE TO FOLLOW RAGING FORCE (1st, race 1) Punters saw the most exciting young galloper in the opener and he didn't disappoint, bringing up a hat-trick of wins this preparation in emphatic fashion. He's got stakes quality written all over him. A dominant win from Raging Force in the Rosehill opener - that's three from three, and he's living up to his name! ðŸ'¥ @TommyBerry21 @SnowdenRacing1 @Darby_Racing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 5, 2025 POWDER MAN (2nd, race 3) It's now been back-to-back Highway runs where he's got back in the field and rocketed home, this time closing off strongly for second. If he can get the breaks, there's a Highway win in him soon. USEAPIN (6th, race 6) There is no doubt this filly should have finished a lot closer in her first run back from a freshen up after running into dead ends in the straight when she had plenty to offer. Stay with her. Bounced back in a big way from his tough Stradbroke Handicap run with an unlucky second in the Winter Stakes. He can go close next start, perhaps in a race like the Winter Challenge on Saturday week. SACRED ROCKS (2nd, race 10) The winner Brave One was excellent after racing three-wide throughout but don't drop off this mare either. She is a mare on an upward trajectory and tipping stakes races beckon for her in the future. It's @djgibbons22 's world, we're just living in it ðŸ'' A treble for the young star as Brave One makes it two on the trot, he's progressing nicely for Team Hawkes! @HawkesRacing — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 5, 2025 STEWARDS SAY Just Awesome (race 1): Jockey Regan Bayliss reported the colt raced flat and may have come to the end of his prep. He was found to be 3/5 lame in the near foreleg and will now be spelled. Lull (race 1): Found to be slow to recover post-race. Will undergo a veterinary and endoscopic examination before racing again. Sequista (race 1): Jockey Jason Collett could offer little explanation for the filly's disappointing finishing effort. She will now be spelled. Let's Go Brandon (race 3): After weakening in the straight, the gelding was found to have bled in both nostrils for the first time and is now banned from racing for three months. Tarpaulin (race 5): Slow to begin. Raced too keenly through the early and middle stages and jockey Rachel King felt it impacted his finishing effort. Fleet Commander (race 7): Jockey Josh Parr said near the 450m mark the gelding's action deteriorated and he became badly unbalanced so retired him from the race. The gelding was found to be stiff and short in its action. Whinchat (race 9): Fractious in the barriers before beginning awkwardly. Jockey Jay Ford reported he never travelled well, raced flat and was disappointing in the manner in which he finished off. He will now be spelled. CRUNCH TIME Raging Force (race 1): Settled in the box seat and unleashed a powerful last 600m of 34.08 seconds for the 1100m test. His closing splits of 11.16 and 11.45 were the clear best of the race. Powder Man (race 3): Didn't have a runner behind him at the 600m before closing off in a clear race-best 35.09 seconds from that point. His last 200m of 11.90 got him within a length of the winner Lordster. Lordster rules the TAB Highway first up for @AnnaRoper_ and Brett Bellamy! ðŸ'' @aus_turf_club @larneuk — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 5, 2025 Lonhro's Queen (race 6): The only horse at the meeting to break the 34 second barrier for the last 600m, coming home from last in 33.98 seconds while still only beating a runner home. Brave One (race 10): Went back from a wide draw before making a long sustained run to win, clocking 35.70 seconds for his last 600m. Only fellow back marker Sacred Rocks (35.64) came home better but position in running was key. TRACK TALK 'I have been telling the jockeys, 'watch him going to the gates because he'll pull and be a bit ferocious' but at his first two runs back he has gone around to the start like a kid's pony. Today, he took off a bit on the rider and I thought, 'this is better'.'' Joe Pride after Estadio Mestalla's Winter Stakes win. 'Punters' obsession with weight is ridiculous and sometimes they ignore the obvious.' Pride after Storm The Ramparts carried 62.5kg to victory. 'He still has to make more improvement which I think he will. He's improving with every start and you don't see how good they are until they race against the better quality of horses because that brings the best out of them.' Tommy Berry on emerging star Raging Force. 'When a jockey is in form and confident, things just happen and they happen without you even thinking about it.' Josh Parr after his Rosehill Gardens double. 'We would love to get black type with her. There are a couple of those early mares races in August-September that might be alright for her.' Gerald Ryan on Diddle Dumpling. Diddle Dumpling does it at both ends in The Agency Real Estate Handicap ðŸ�‡ @clarkyhk pulls off a great frontrunning ride for @RARacing_ — Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) July 5, 2025 THIS WEEK IN NSW RACING Monday: Wagga Tuesday: Goulburn, Muswellbrook Wednesday: Canterbury Park Thursday: Gosford, Dubbo
