Latest news with #EstadioMestalla
New Paper
17-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Robusto ready to mount solid Winter Challenge
Falling mercury levels may keep Sydneysiders at home these days, but its racegoers would have more than the crisp and bracing air to lure them out of their couches to Rosehill Gardens on July 19. The hot racing action at the city track will feature its last "black type" contest of its racing calendar, the Listed Winter Challenge (1,500m) which has drawn a smallish but competitive field of 10 vying for the thicker end of the A$200,000 (S$168,000) stakes up for grabs. For those who claim cold weather can numb the brain cells, they will have no excuse this time, with the task of spotting a winner made easier by the "Winter" form line. Seven of the Winter Challenge contenders came out of the Listed Winter Stakes (1,400m) at the same course a fortnight ago on July 5. On face value, surprise but comfortable winner Estadio Mestalla will not fly under the radar this time. But without taking anything away from in-form trainer Joseph Pride's Irish-bred and a gutsy ride by young gun Dylan Gibbons, the circumstances of the race served the 60-1 long shot the victory on a platter. Other than go-forward customer Whinchat spearing over from his wide alley to camp on his haunches during the middle stages, Estadio Mestalla was untroubled and got away with some cheap sectionals. Besides, the ease of the cheeky win has not come without a price. The Galileo Gold six-year-old is the only one of the Winter Stakes sevens to cop a hefty penalty from the Sydney handicapper - from 54.5kg to 57.5kg. The weight surcharge is not the only reason why he may not go back-to-back on Saturday. Among the beaten brigade, tellingly, the next threesome past the line, Robusto, his better-fancied stablemate that day, Accredited, and Thunderlips will be among those favoured to turn the tables on him, especially the Bjorn Baker-trained Robusto. A 12-1 chance that day, he was a tragedy beaten. As jockey Joshua Parr got on his bike at the 300m, the doors closed on the A$2 million Group 2 The Ingham (1,600m) winner twice at a crucial stage, once by the laying-in Accredited and the second time when tightened for room by Welwal. By the time, the Churchill five-year-old saw daylight, the bird had already flown, but he still took stacks of ground off the winner to cut the margin back to 1½ lengths. While he shoulders the top weight of 60kg again, the 3kg swing on Estadio Mestalla as well as the extra 100m should help him exact revenge towards an eighth success. Among the three non-Winter Stakes runners who could upset the applecart, Fortunate Kiss stands out. The Adelaide challenger is at her first Sydney raid, but is unlikely to be all at sea as she did go around the clockwise way in Brisbane at her last three starts. At the last one, she even sprang a 25-1 shock in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1,400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 5 for Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans and a winning pick-up ride for underrated jockey Luke Tarrant. That day, the ride on the Divine Prophet mare was meant to go to Ronnie Stewart, but the three-time Singapore Gold Cup-winning jockey was ruled out through an injury picked up earlier in the day. Kennewell has this time engaged a safe pair of hands around Rosehill for his 9-1 chance in local veteran hoop Jay Ford, who himself would be keen to snap a run of outs since returning from a fall scare at a midweek Canterbury meeting on July 9. A head knock did call for some precautionary scans, which luckily came out clear. Ford, who is better known to Singapore racegoers as the winning jockey aboard Australia's rags-to-riches champion Takeover Target in the 2008 Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1,200m) at Kranji, returned to the saddle the week after but has yet to get back on the scoresheet in three meetings. manyan@
Sydney Morning Herald
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Has there been a more consistent horse this Sydney winter than Storm The Ramparts?
'He's been going super. What generally finishes up these winter horses is the dry tracks, and he'll get one this weekend. 'He's been on two dryish tracks and run well, but sooner or later one of them will pull him up. It's also his first start out of 78 grade, he steps up to a [benchmark] 88, but he's very consistent, and makes his own luck up in front. He'll be hard to beat again.' Storm The Ramparts is by Headwater, a stallion whose progeny are a bit like a poorly brewed beer – fizz and excitement early on, but prone to going flat quickly. Pride, however, said Storm The Ramparts had been able to improve with each preparation because of his mare, Quick's The Word. 'He's out of a really good mare, he's a half-brother to Dragonstone, which is probably what's carrying him along,' Pride said. 'He's a dream horse to own. A lot of people don't like that 'wet-tracker' term for their horses, but it doesn't bother me. If he's a wet-tracker, he's a wet-tracker.' Pride also starts Estadio Mestalla and Accredited in the feature Winter Challenge, with his pair, and favourite Robusto, the three horses that all slugged it out in a finish a couple of weeks ago in Sydney. 'I think they've got the market right, and I'll be shocked if my two or Robusto doesn't win,' Pride said. 'He's a dream horse to own ... If he's a wet-tracker, he's a wet-tracker.' Joe Pride on Storm The Ramparts 'Estadio Mestalla is racing well and will make his own luck up front again, while Accredited, the turnaround from wet tracks to dry tracks, it's massive when you look at his record. He's a different horse on top of the ground. He raced on a soft 7 last start ... he got through it, but not well. 'Saturday's track will be much firmer, and he'll love it. They're both in their grade now, and I'm happy to pick off races in their grade.' Meanwhile, Pride has a lot of time for two-year-old Reflect, the first horse he has trained for the Think Big Stud, whose white, black and yellow colours were made famous by late owner Dato Tan Chin Nam. The $310,000 Magic Millions purchase has already had one race start, but the big black filly has enormous upside, said Pride, which punters will see over time. Pride also confirmed several Godolphin horses that would be headed to his stable next month, including Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile, and Comedy, a two-year-old Snitzel colt that ran in the major lead-up races to the Golden Slipper. Thompson gives his Blessing Randwick trainer John Thompson won't have a runner in the feature Winter Challenge – a race he won last year with $31 shot Jojo Was A Man – but he is counting on the form and impressive fresh record of With Your Blessing to give him a winner at Rosehill on Saturday. With Your Blessing resumes in the July Sprint, an open 1100m handicap, after a 14-week spell and three sharp trials. The six-year-old raced just off the leaders before hitting the line in all three trials, winning the past two at Canterbury and Hawkesbury. The encouraging return follows an excellent summer campaign which included wins at Randwick over 1100m and 1300m in benchmark 78 and 88 respectively on good going, and a photo-finish second to Iowna Merc in the group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at the track on March 1 in his most recent outing. Thompson believed With Your Blessing was 'a great chance' to return with a win on Saturday. 'He's won a couple of trials, and he's going really good,' Thompson said. 'He had a great prep last prep, and he is first up, and he normally goes well fresh. He's had three trials waiting for this race, so he's ready to go.' Loading With Your Blessing, a $70,000 buy as a yearling, has won $568,205 across 29 starts, including six victories and 10 placings. Three of those wins and two placings have come when the son of Vadamos and Super Trouper was resuming. Thompson's stable will be searching for back-to-back Saturday city successes after Bundeena won first-up at Randwick last week in a 1000m benchmark 78 handicap. The five-year-old Spirit Of Boom gelding, plagued by wide draws last preparation, made the most of an inside barrier and trouble-free run to win by one and a quarter lengths. He has drawn barrier eight with Alysha Collett to steer.
The Age
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Has there been a more consistent horse this Sydney winter than Storm The Ramparts?
'He's been going super. What generally finishes up these winter horses is the dry tracks, and he'll get one this weekend. 'He's been on two dryish tracks and run well, but sooner or later one of them will pull him up. It's also his first start out of 78 grade, he steps up to a [benchmark] 88, but he's very consistent, and makes his own luck up in front. He'll be hard to beat again.' Storm The Ramparts is by Headwater, a stallion whose progeny are a bit like a poorly brewed beer – fizz and excitement early on, but prone to going flat quickly. Pride, however, said Storm The Ramparts had been able to improve with each preparation because of his mare, Quick's The Word. 'He's out of a really good mare, he's a half-brother to Dragonstone, which is probably what's carrying him along,' Pride said. 'He's a dream horse to own. A lot of people don't like that 'wet-tracker' term for their horses, but it doesn't bother me. If he's a wet-tracker, he's a wet-tracker.' Pride also starts Estadio Mestalla and Accredited in the feature Winter Challenge, with his pair, and favourite Robusto, the three horses that all slugged it out in a finish a couple of weeks ago in Sydney. 'I think they've got the market right, and I'll be shocked if my two or Robusto doesn't win,' Pride said. 'He's a dream horse to own ... If he's a wet-tracker, he's a wet-tracker.' Joe Pride on Storm The Ramparts 'Estadio Mestalla is racing well and will make his own luck up front again, while Accredited, the turnaround from wet tracks to dry tracks, it's massive when you look at his record. He's a different horse on top of the ground. He raced on a soft 7 last start ... he got through it, but not well. 'Saturday's track will be much firmer, and he'll love it. They're both in their grade now, and I'm happy to pick off races in their grade.' Meanwhile, Pride has a lot of time for two-year-old Reflect, the first horse he has trained for the Think Big Stud, whose white, black and yellow colours were made famous by late owner Dato Tan Chin Nam. The $310,000 Magic Millions purchase has already had one race start, but the big black filly has enormous upside, said Pride, which punters will see over time. Pride also confirmed several Godolphin horses that would be headed to his stable next month, including Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile, and Comedy, a two-year-old Snitzel colt that ran in the major lead-up races to the Golden Slipper. Thompson gives his Blessing Randwick trainer John Thompson won't have a runner in the feature Winter Challenge – a race he won last year with $31 shot Jojo Was A Man – but he is counting on the form and impressive fresh record of With Your Blessing to give him a winner at Rosehill on Saturday. With Your Blessing resumes in the July Sprint, an open 1100m handicap, after a 14-week spell and three sharp trials. The six-year-old raced just off the leaders before hitting the line in all three trials, winning the past two at Canterbury and Hawkesbury. The encouraging return follows an excellent summer campaign which included wins at Randwick over 1100m and 1300m in benchmark 78 and 88 respectively on good going, and a photo-finish second to Iowna Merc in the group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at the track on March 1 in his most recent outing. Thompson believed With Your Blessing was 'a great chance' to return with a win on Saturday. 'He's won a couple of trials, and he's going really good,' Thompson said. 'He had a great prep last prep, and he is first up, and he normally goes well fresh. He's had three trials waiting for this race, so he's ready to go.' Loading With Your Blessing, a $70,000 buy as a yearling, has won $568,205 across 29 starts, including six victories and 10 placings. Three of those wins and two placings have come when the son of Vadamos and Super Trouper was resuming. Thompson's stable will be searching for back-to-back Saturday city successes after Bundeena won first-up at Randwick last week in a 1000m benchmark 78 handicap. The five-year-old Spirit Of Boom gelding, plagued by wide draws last preparation, made the most of an inside barrier and trouble-free run to win by one and a quarter lengths. He has drawn barrier eight with Alysha Collett to steer.
Courier-Mail
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Pride follows Rosehill double with Group 1 win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Everest winning trainer Joe Pride can add another title to his ever growing racing resume – now a Group 1 winning greyhound owner. Pride, who had a winning double at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, had a weekend to savour after his emerging sprinter Gus The Jet produced a commanding performance to win the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic (520m) at Wentworth Park on Saturday night. It came just a few hours after Pride had been on track in Sydney's west to watch Estadio Mestalla cause a boilover in the Listed $200,000 Winter Stakes with stablemate Storm The Ramparts also saluting on the metropolitan card. Gus The Jet is the first greyhound Pride has ever owned and the Group 1 conditioner races the emerging talent with his son Brave and Hong Kong-based star jockey Brenton Avdulla. 'I reckon there would be a few jealous dog owners that have been in the game for years and never had a Group 1 winner so we've just walked straight in and got one but that's thanks to Brenton Avdulla, he knows what he's doing and a good trainer Michelle Sultana,' Pride said. 'It's my first greyhound and he's named after my Corgi and I've just got a horse called Gus The Great as well, so I might need a trotter now as well.' With wife Kylie away, Pride spent the night watching the Group 1 from the comfort of his own home with his children. 'I've actually never been to Wentworth Park,' he said. 'I am not sure what I am missing but I am sure it would have been a buzz last night. 'We gave him a cheer at home.' Pride had plenty to cheer about at Rosehill Gardens with Estadio Mestalla bouncing back to his best as a $61 outsider in the Winter Stakes while stablemate Accredited was third in the same race. The Warwick Farm conditioner has a long term plan for Estadio Mestalla with the aim of gaining eligibility for the Big or Little Dance via upcoming country cups. 'We will probably look at something like Coffs (Harbour Cup) to give him his chance to get to the Big or Little Dance,' he said. 'He was in the Little Dance last year and ran second so it seems like a nice goal for him to try and line-up on Melbourne Cup day there again this year.' Pride's stable has dominated the winter feature sprint circuit in Sydney with In Flight claiming the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes and Headley Grange scoring in the Listed Civic Stakes last month. Originally published as Trainer Joe Pride had a weekend to remember with a Rosehill Gardens double and maiden Group 1 victory as a greyhound owner
News.com.au
05-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Joe Pride's decision to add blinkers to Estadio Mestalla proves a masterstroke produces a career-best performance in Winter Stakes
Trainer Joe Pride sensed rank outsider Estadio Mestalla was back on his game from the sprinter's mannerisms before his race at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. 'I couldn't understand Estadio Mestalla 's two average runs to start this campaign because he's a very genuine horse, he hasn't got a poor run in him,'' Pride said. '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'.'' Estadio Mestalla's jockey Dylan Gibbons, who rode a winning treble at the Rosehill meeting, was very aware of Pride's advice before the Listed $200,000 Winter Stakes (1400m). 'I noticed Estadio Mestalla had the spark in him going to the gates today,'' said Gibbons, who also won on the impressive Brave One and Good Banter. 'I thought we were going to see a good performance from the horse and with his 'million' owners, I didn't want to be the most hated man at Rosehill so I had to get him home. 'The horse had no weight, Joe looked like he had him primed for today and I rode him accordingly. It was a tough effort.' Estadio Mestalla, a $61 bolter, began well from his wide barrier, eventually worked his way to the early lead and was never headed to score by one-and-half lengths from Robusto ($13) with another Pride-trained galloper, Accredited ($5.50) a close third. Whinchat was sent out the $4 favourite and was slow to begin but after 400m was able to settle outside Estadio Mestalla but was under pressure from the turn and faded to finish 12th. Pride decided to add blinkers to Estadio Mestalla for the Winter Stakes and the rising seven-year-old was able to score a career-best win. Estadio Mestalla is the star player in the Listed Winter Stakes and wins at big odds! âš½ï¸�â�'ï¸� That's separate doubles to @PrideRacing and @djgibbons22 at Rosehill today! 🙌 @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 5, 2025 • 'He is a very competitive horse. I know the market has forgotten about him today and for good reason, his two runs back have been plain,'' Pride said. 'But if you go back to last preparation, he ran second in the Little Dance, second in a South Grafton Cup. He's a good horse on his day and it's just nice to see him return to that. 'I went a little bit early with the blinkers than what I normally would in a preparation but I felt like I had to do something and make a change. 'It was good to see the horse out there rolling along, he looked happy and comfortable and gave a really big kick. You wanted to be closer to the pace today, the track played a little bit like that. 'It was a great ride from Dylan to get him across and keep him interested and it's a big result.' Estadio Mestalla, purchased as a tried horse for $70,000, is raced by The Racing League's NSW Tycoons Syndicate where owners have micro shares in a large team of horses. Popular media Personality Terry Kennedy manages the NSW Tycoons and he had nothing but praise for the roles Pride and Gibbons played in turning around Estadio Mestalla's form. 'Estadio Mestalla is ultra-consistent so that is why it was a bit of a mystery with his first two runs as that is not what we usually see from this horse,'' Kennedy said. 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 â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 5, 2025 • Parr continues hot form with a Rosehill double 'It was a masterstroke from Joe to put the blinkers on today and Dylan rode it very well. 'Dylan didn't just sit there three-wide with no cover, he decided to go to the front. He rode it a treat and the horse really wanted to win. 'This is up there with our biggest wins for the NSW Tycoons. 'Estadio' just got beaten in The Little Dance last year so will try to qualify the horse for that Little Dance again and hopefully go one better this time.'' But Pride has more immediate goals in mind for Estadio Mestalla now that the gelding is back in form, suggesting he will be back at Rosehill in two weeks for the final Sydney stakes race of the season, the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m). 'Estadio Mestalla usually holds his form so now that he is back to his best, we will look at the Winter Challenge in two weeks,'' Pride said. 'Accredited ran really well for third because he needs a firmer track. I'd say he will be back here for the Winter Challenge, too.'' The final word to Kennedy who hopes the NSW Tycoons win is an omen for Game Three of rugby league's State of Origin between NSW and Queensland at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night. 'I would like to think NSW and their coach Laurie Daley can win the Origin decider,'' Kennedy said.
