Latest news with #ExceedAndExcel

Sydney Morning Herald
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Dale puts faith in hoop Heywood to help Al Flores break duck at Goulburn
Local trainer Matthew Dale will rely on jockey Nick Heywood to get promising mare Al Flores to break through with an overdue victory at Goulburn on Tuesday when she contests the GG Engineering Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1200m). The former Ron Quinton-trained daughter of Exceed And Excel and Dixie Blossoms has had two starts since joining the Dale stable and finished second in each of them at Goulburn and Wagga. She previously finished third three times when in the care of Quinton. Heywood was aboard Al Flores when she resumed with her second at Goulburn at the end of May, while Pierre Boudvillain took the reins when she ran second as favourite at Wagga on June 22. Heywood and Al Flores are reunited in Tuesday's $30,000 event, while the jockey also has two other rides at the Goulburn meeting in the shape of Thoughtful for Dale in the Doyles Seafood Restaurant Benchmark 58 Handicap (1100m), and Wexford Miss for Danielle Seib in The Country Outfitters Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m). In addition to Al Flores and Thoughtful, Dale has one other runner at Goulburn with last start Wagga winner Loch Erin contesting the Laterals Accounting Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200m) with Ashley Morgan taking the ride. Loading Jockey Alysha Collett has a handy book of three rides at Goulburn, starting with the Blake Ryan prepared Calgary King, which lines up in Loch Erin's event. Calgary King was placed in two Kembla Grange runs after a spell before a last start Hawkesbury flop. Collett will also be on the Richard and Will Freedman trained Crimson Wings in the Divalls Earthmoving Maiden Handicap (1100m), while her last mount of the afternoon is the Matthew Smith runner Omaha Sand in the Kilpatrick Metal Recyclers Maiden Plate (1600m). Crimson Wings is on debut after winning a recent trial at Canterbury. Omaha Sand has been midfield in two runs at Scone and Wyong since resuming from a spell.

The Age
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Dale puts faith in hoop Heywood to help Al Flores break duck at Goulburn
Local trainer Matthew Dale will rely on jockey Nick Heywood to get promising mare Al Flores to break through with an overdue victory at Goulburn on Tuesday when she contests the GG Engineering Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1200m). The former Ron Quinton-trained daughter of Exceed And Excel and Dixie Blossoms has had two starts since joining the Dale stable and finished second in each of them at Goulburn and Wagga. She previously finished third three times when in the care of Quinton. Heywood was aboard Al Flores when she resumed with her second at Goulburn at the end of May, while Pierre Boudvillain took the reins when she ran second as favourite at Wagga on June 22. Heywood and Al Flores are reunited in Tuesday's $30,000 event, while the jockey also has two other rides at the Goulburn meeting in the shape of Thoughtful for Dale in the Doyles Seafood Restaurant Benchmark 58 Handicap (1100m), and Wexford Miss for Danielle Seib in The Country Outfitters Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m). In addition to Al Flores and Thoughtful, Dale has one other runner at Goulburn with last start Wagga winner Loch Erin contesting the Laterals Accounting Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200m) with Ashley Morgan taking the ride. Loading Jockey Alysha Collett has a handy book of three rides at Goulburn, starting with the Blake Ryan prepared Calgary King, which lines up in Loch Erin's event. Calgary King was placed in two Kembla Grange runs after a spell before a last start Hawkesbury flop. Collett will also be on the Richard and Will Freedman trained Crimson Wings in the Divalls Earthmoving Maiden Handicap (1100m), while her last mount of the afternoon is the Matthew Smith runner Omaha Sand in the Kilpatrick Metal Recyclers Maiden Plate (1600m). Crimson Wings is on debut after winning a recent trial at Canterbury. Omaha Sand has been midfield in two runs at Scone and Wyong since resuming from a spell.

News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Former Godolphin galloper Barber is looking to give his rivals a snip in the Takeover Target Stakes
Buying Godolphin cast-offs like Barber is a no-brainer for trainer Richard Litt and he's hoping his new addition can show exactly why in Saturday's Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford. Litt's connections Monarch Racing Syndications bought Barber for $215,000 at an Inglis Digital auction in December last year after the son of Exceed And Excel had his first 15 starts for 'The Blue Army'. • 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. Barber won a $1 million Golden Gift and Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude as a two-year-old with Godolphin before being put up for sale midway through his four-year-old season. Litt has had city success with former Godolphin gallopers like Balkans, Huon, Sedition, Destination and Morton's Fork with Barber in line to add himself to the list at Gosford's stand-alone. 'They are wonderful to buy off, they are all nice horses,' Litt said. 'They are well bred, they've had a good start to life and you know you are getting a sound horse. 'It's a no-brainer for me.' Barber was unlucky not to get his first win on the board at his first start for Litt when he got out late and surged home in Benchmark 94 grade over 1100m at Canterbury Park. It's Pisanello who flies down the outside to win race 7 at Canterbury with J-Mac in the saddle! ðŸ'� @mcacajamez @JamesCummings88 @godolphin — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2025 • 'Grey horse syndrome': Bois ignored in Doomben Cup defence 'We were very happy with his first start for us,' Litt said. 'We were expecting plenty from him and thought he could have won that race but unfortunately it didn't work out that well. 'He was unlucky there but that's alright. He's got 53kg, is drawn OK and has stripped a bit fitter. 'He likes the 1200m and loves a soft track.' Barber was also nominated for the Listed Australian Club Trophy (1200m) at the Gold Coast but a wide draw made Litt's decision to stay closer to home an easy one. Tyler Schiller will link up with Barber ($12) in the Takeover Target. The gelding also holds nominations for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in Queensland during the winter carnival. 'You never know but I would love to think he can get to those sort of races,' Litt said.

The Age
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
O'Shea hoping returning runners don't have to do heavy lifting at Kembla
Randwick trainer John O'Shea will be keeping a close eye on the weather and track condition at Kembla Grange for Tuesday's meeting as he plots the return to racing of a couple of talented stable runners. O'Shea, who trains in partnership with Tom Charlton, is hoping for the Kembla track to dry out a little from heavy to soft to boost his chances of snaring a potential winning double. O'Shea has Livin' Thing and Lady Zodiac set to contest the Racing Mates Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m), while the promising Straand Beauty is down to run in the JJJ Racing Punters Precinct 31st May Bennchmark 64 Handicap (1200m). 'Straand Beauty is a handy Exceed And Excel gelding that is having his first run for us and is first up from a spell,' O'Shea said. 'But he has already shown his fair share of talent. He's been placed in city company three times and has won a Wyong maiden. 'He's had a couple of barrier trials in preparation for his return, and he's looked good in both of them. We are just looking for a reasonable surface for him to kick off again in. He's ready to go though.' Braith Nock takes the ride on Straand Beauty, and O'Shea is impressed with the apprentice. 'He's ridden plenty of winners, and we've had a bit of luck with him and, importantly, he can still claim at the provincials, so that comes in handy,' O'Shea said. Apprentice Anna Roper is booked to ride Livin' Thing, while Tyler Schiller is down to ride Lady Zodiac. Loading

Sydney Morning Herald
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
O'Shea hoping returning runners don't have to do heavy lifting at Kembla
Randwick trainer John O'Shea will be keeping a close eye on the weather and track condition at Kembla Grange for Tuesday's meeting as he plots the return to racing of a couple of talented stable runners. O'Shea, who trains in partnership with Tom Charlton, is hoping for the Kembla track to dry out a little from heavy to soft to boost his chances of snaring a potential winning double. O'Shea has Livin' Thing and Lady Zodiac set to contest the Racing Mates Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m), while the promising Straand Beauty is down to run in the JJJ Racing Punters Precinct 31st May Bennchmark 64 Handicap (1200m). 'Straand Beauty is a handy Exceed And Excel gelding that is having his first run for us and is first up from a spell,' O'Shea said. 'But he has already shown his fair share of talent. He's been placed in city company three times and has won a Wyong maiden. 'He's had a couple of barrier trials in preparation for his return, and he's looked good in both of them. We are just looking for a reasonable surface for him to kick off again in. He's ready to go though.' Braith Nock takes the ride on Straand Beauty, and O'Shea is impressed with the apprentice. 'He's ridden plenty of winners, and we've had a bit of luck with him and, importantly, he can still claim at the provincials, so that comes in handy,' O'Shea said. Apprentice Anna Roper is booked to ride Livin' Thing, while Tyler Schiller is down to ride Lady Zodiac. Loading