Latest news with #FirstMission
Gulf Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Tough task awaits First Mission in Group 1 Stephen Foster Stakes
First Mission hopes to confirm his place among North America's top older middle-distance stars in a blockbuster edition of the G1 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The nine-furlong contest has attracted a stellar field that includes Dubai World Cup hero Hit Show, Breeders' Cup Classic scorer Sierra Leone, the 2024 Kentucky Derby victor Mystik Dan and recent G1 winner Mindframe. First Mission was fourth in the Stephen Foster 12 months ago but disappointed on his two other G1 appearances last year, failing to run any race at Gulfstream Park in the Pegasus World Cup and fading on a muddy track in the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. Trained by Brad Cox, the Street Sense entire has posted four Graded Stakes wins, including a four-length verdict at Churchill Downs in the 2024 G2 Alysheba Stakes and comfortably taking the G2 Oaklawn Handicap on his latest start in April. Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin US, said: 'First Mission is coming into the Stephen Foster in excellent shape and Brad couldn't be more pleased with him. He had a very nice breeze last Saturday, which should set him up nicely to take on the heavy hitters of the older colt's division. 'This is a strong renewal of the Stephen Foster featuring last year's Breeders' Cup Classic winner, the Kentucky Derby winner and 2025 Dubai World Cup winner, plus the winner of last month's G1 Churchill Downs Stakes. 'We expect a big performance from First Mission and hope that this will be his coming out party at G1 level.' Siesta Key makes his three-year-old return for the same trainer in the American Derby later on the card. The Into Mischief colt, who is out of dual G1 winner Cocoa Beach, scored on debut before taking the Kitten's Joy Stakes at Colonial Downs but could only finish eighth in the G2 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland's Fall Meet. Elsewhere, Speedy Godolphin galloper Austmarr returns to Eagle Farm for Saturday's G3 WJ Healy Stakes looking to atone for an unlucky defeat in the Listed Lightning Handicap three weeks ago. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained mare, who has run all her best races from in front, appeared to dwell slightly at the start in the Lightning and then overraced three-wide back in the field under jockey Kerrin McEvoy. Austmarr turned for home in ninth place but was still able to accelerate when McEvoy found clear running and only just failed to overhaul the winner, Vodka Martini, in the final 50m of the 1,000m scamper. Back to 1,200m on Saturday, and with a clean getaway from her ideal barrier one, Austmarr only needs to replicate her Rosehill Gardens victory three starts back to claim a third victory at Stakes level. Austmarr burst from the gates at Rosehill and led all the way to win the G3 Birthday Card over 1,200m on 22 March with McEvoy in the saddle. The daughter of Exosphere was then caught wide early when she tried to repeat that effort in the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville five weeks later before being beaten 4.6 lengths by Charm Stone. Freshened-up prior to the Lightning, Austmarr again showed her quality with a great finish and, with even luck, must be one the leading Healy Stakes contenders on the limit weight. Her performance could decide whether the five-time winner races on next season. The Freedmans will also saddle-up promising three-year-old Trembles for Godolphin in the Sportsbet Race Previews Handicap over 1,000m at Caulfield. A winner at Mornington and Sandown in recent weeks, the daughter of Too Darn Hot and former G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Earthquake will be chasing her winning hat-trick with Jye McNeil in the saddle.
The Age
08-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Tips and race-by-race guide for Canterbury on Monday
How to play it: Blue Willow to win. Race 4 3. Bengal Boy is an underrated provincial-based five-year-old which impressed when surging home from well back to win a BM 68 at Newcastle third-up. Thrives in the ground for a race that isn't much harder, and any extra trip is a plus being a typical son of Dundeel. 2. Naval Commission was very disappointing second-up over the mile after being well backed. Gets some weight relief, again from an ideal trailing draw, but suggesting he's under the odds stepping up in distance. 1. Monarch's Brae can improve sharply third-up over more ground, especially if the track improves a couple of ratings, after drifting a mile back in two runs so far this campaign. Finds a weaker race here, but a query whether he'll get enough speed on to run over them. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Fay's Angels, an honest country mare who is well into her campaign. How to play it: Bengal Boy to win. Race 5 Not much between several runners here, but 1. First Mission can make it two wins from three starts this prep, coming back 150m in distance. Landed a good betting move when a comfortable winner against similar opposition when resuming. He was then taken to the front in deeper Saturday Midway company and boxed on OK behind a smart winner. Distance and track are the keys, despite being asked to carry 61kg. 2. Gatekeeper is a big watch first up behind two improving trials, and returning to where he won on debut in mid-January after being backed from $6 into $4.40. Keep safe 9. Spaceballs, a talented filly which comes to hand quickly, and draws the inside resuming off a quiet trial. 8. Queen's Rhapsody scored an overdue and dominant first-up win at Hawkesbury as a hot favourite and drops in weight, but has to get in from a wide barrier. How to play it: First Mission to win. Race 6 3. Apex is a smart son of Exceedance who can put two wins together having easily got the maiden out of the way when resuming at Warwick Farm 19 days ago. Always shown ability, right at home on rain-affected ground, and the extra 150m is no concern. 4. Puntin resumes from the inside draw behind two trials. Has natural speed and won three straight up to BM 64 grade last prep before a game unplaced effort when trying to lead over a mile in much tougher company at Randwick. Would likely prefer the track a little drier, but sure to give a big sight. 9. Metaphorically is a big market watch at good odds, resuming as a gelding for the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton camp off two progressive trials. Stablemate 10. Straand Beauty is also right in the mix rolling forward, having missed narrowly in two runs back in weaker grade. How to play it: Apex to win. Race 7 7. The Black Cloud is a smart mare, and terrific value resuming off an easy trial. Has already won twice from four attempts fresh and is unbeaten on soft ground from three starts. Drawn to get a cosy run with cover right behind the speed and just needs a clear crack at them from the 300m. 4. Zealously is a talented customer which fought on strong to claim a BM 78 third-up on the stand-alone Saturday meeting at Scone. Carries a kilo less here, but this is a deeper race and he has a task on this tighter track getting over from near the outside draw. 13. Dollar Magic chased home the former at Scone first-up and wasn't far away from pulling off a big-value move firming from $7.50 into $5.50. Normally holds her form into the next run and from a handy draw is right up to this. Be surprised if the winner comes from anywhere else, but 6. Flying Destiny, down sharply in weight first-up behind two trials, and 11. World Alliance, five weeks between runs via a trial win; are both capable of running into the money at good odds. How to play it: Black Cloud to win. Race 8 3. Who Ever Thought is a tough country-based six-year-old which has earnt a start in a metropolitan race second-up. Dug in hard from the front to claim the Country Cup on Scone Cup day 24 days ago and will carry only 1.5kg over the minimum weight after the jockey's claim in what is a suitably much smaller field. 2. Pink Shalala chased home a smart winner here second-up in heavy ground and has the conditions and the draw to suit again. 6. Sacredarro is a lightly raced and progressive four-year-old stepping up in grade and distance from a dominant country Class 1 win when resuming. 1. Forecaster is over the odds dropping in grade fourth-up. 7. Line Of Fire is the best of the rest deep into the prep with blinkers back on.
Sydney Morning Herald
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Tips and race-by-race guide for Canterbury on Monday
How to play it: Blue Willow to win. Race 4 3. Bengal Boy is an underrated provincial-based five-year-old which impressed when surging home from well back to win a BM 68 at Newcastle third-up. Thrives in the ground for a race that isn't much harder, and any extra trip is a plus being a typical son of Dundeel. 2. Naval Commission was very disappointing second-up over the mile after being well backed. Gets some weight relief, again from an ideal trailing draw, but suggesting he's under the odds stepping up in distance. 1. Monarch's Brae can improve sharply third-up over more ground, especially if the track improves a couple of ratings, after drifting a mile back in two runs so far this campaign. Finds a weaker race here, but a query whether he'll get enough speed on to run over them. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Fay's Angels, an honest country mare who is well into her campaign. How to play it: Bengal Boy to win. Race 5 Not much between several runners here, but 1. First Mission can make it two wins from three starts this prep, coming back 150m in distance. Landed a good betting move when a comfortable winner against similar opposition when resuming. He was then taken to the front in deeper Saturday Midway company and boxed on OK behind a smart winner. Distance and track are the keys, despite being asked to carry 61kg. 2. Gatekeeper is a big watch first up behind two improving trials, and returning to where he won on debut in mid-January after being backed from $6 into $4.40. Keep safe 9. Spaceballs, a talented filly which comes to hand quickly, and draws the inside resuming off a quiet trial. 8. Queen's Rhapsody scored an overdue and dominant first-up win at Hawkesbury as a hot favourite and drops in weight, but has to get in from a wide barrier. How to play it: First Mission to win. Race 6 3. Apex is a smart son of Exceedance who can put two wins together having easily got the maiden out of the way when resuming at Warwick Farm 19 days ago. Always shown ability, right at home on rain-affected ground, and the extra 150m is no concern. 4. Puntin resumes from the inside draw behind two trials. Has natural speed and won three straight up to BM 64 grade last prep before a game unplaced effort when trying to lead over a mile in much tougher company at Randwick. Would likely prefer the track a little drier, but sure to give a big sight. 9. Metaphorically is a big market watch at good odds, resuming as a gelding for the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton camp off two progressive trials. Stablemate 10. Straand Beauty is also right in the mix rolling forward, having missed narrowly in two runs back in weaker grade. How to play it: Apex to win. Race 7 7. The Black Cloud is a smart mare, and terrific value resuming off an easy trial. Has already won twice from four attempts fresh and is unbeaten on soft ground from three starts. Drawn to get a cosy run with cover right behind the speed and just needs a clear crack at them from the 300m. 4. Zealously is a talented customer which fought on strong to claim a BM 78 third-up on the stand-alone Saturday meeting at Scone. Carries a kilo less here, but this is a deeper race and he has a task on this tighter track getting over from near the outside draw. 13. Dollar Magic chased home the former at Scone first-up and wasn't far away from pulling off a big-value move firming from $7.50 into $5.50. Normally holds her form into the next run and from a handy draw is right up to this. Be surprised if the winner comes from anywhere else, but 6. Flying Destiny, down sharply in weight first-up behind two trials, and 11. World Alliance, five weeks between runs via a trial win; are both capable of running into the money at good odds. How to play it: Black Cloud to win. Race 8 3. Who Ever Thought is a tough country-based six-year-old which has earnt a start in a metropolitan race second-up. Dug in hard from the front to claim the Country Cup on Scone Cup day 24 days ago and will carry only 1.5kg over the minimum weight after the jockey's claim in what is a suitably much smaller field. 2. Pink Shalala chased home a smart winner here second-up in heavy ground and has the conditions and the draw to suit again. 6. Sacredarro is a lightly raced and progressive four-year-old stepping up in grade and distance from a dominant country Class 1 win when resuming. 1. Forecaster is over the odds dropping in grade fourth-up. 7. Line Of Fire is the best of the rest deep into the prep with blinkers back on.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Race-by-race tips and previews for Saturday's meeting at Randwick
Race 1 – 11AM SPORTING CHANCE CANCER FOUNDATION HANDICAP (1200 METRES) 5. Agarwood could not have been any more impressive on debut at Warwick Farm. It was a win that ticked every box. The daughter of Wooton Bassett jumped on terms, but once she was cleared, she was happy to settle in behind the speed. She dropped her head and when asked to quicken put a margin on her rivals. What also stands out is that she clocked a time half a second quicker than the colts and gelding's 1000m race at the same meeting. That was won by 2. Regulated Affair. Her time was even quicker, marginally, than the BM72 won by Pokerjack. Two-year-olds running a faster time than the older horses is a big tick. How she handles the jump straight out to 1200m on a heavy track is the punt. 3. Sequista has been scratched several times since she tackled the Percy Sykes. That leaves her to tackle Saturday's race six weeks between runs. She came from well back to run third on debut behind Within The Law before finishing two lengths away from Tempted, arguably the season's best two-year-old. How to play it: Agarwood to win. Race 2 – 11.35AM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1400 METRES) 9. First Mission returned as a gelding at Canterbury over 1200m and landed confident late bets to win like a horse that should go through his grades. This Midway looks a perfect stepping stone out to 1400m. He still isn't the finished article, but the operation looks to have him on the right path given the way he executed three weeks ago. It's no easy task winning in any grade first up on a heavy track and that's what this three-year-old achieved. He had only one official trial prior, too. Zac Wadick takes the ride on Saturday, and the son of Snitzel will carry 53.5kg. 14. Bend The Knee made up late ground to run third at the midweeks last start. The run was better than the form guide reads. It wasn't easy work for backmarkers at that meeting. The wetter the better for the six-year-old given how he won at Wyong on a heavy 10 two back. 15. Oui Oui Oui is another untapped three-year-old. Was deep ended in the Hawkesbury Guineas where he was only beaten four lengths. How to play it: First Mission to win. Race 3 – 12.10PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1200 METRES) If a dry track awaited, you'd be happy to take the short odds about 2. So You Pence. The lightly raced five-year-old is making up for lost time having spent over two years on the sidelines before this campaign. She raced like she needed it first up. Since then, she had recorded two wins by a combined margin of 10 lengths. She was sent around $1.35 at Goulburn, winning by near seven lengths before starting a similar price at Wagga. Has good tactical speed, race sense and a turn of foot. The unknown on Saturday is how the daughter of So You Think handles a heavy track. She has only raced on good tracks. If Matt Dale is happy to run, that might be a push in itself. 1. My Last Hooray has improved with each run this time back. Has a heavy-track win already to his name, albeit in easier grade. He overachieved relative to his starting price at Warwick Farm last start in BM72 company. After settling out the back he made late ground behind Secure. How to play it: So You Pence to win. Race 4 – 12.45PM CHALOUHI HANDICAP (1800 METRES) 5. Hurstville Zagreb was eight weeks between runs when resuming at Gosford. The O'Shea and Charlton-trained galloper had to be stoked up early but kept finding the line to go down in a photo finish. A dropped whip in the straight may have proved costly. The progression out to 1800m looks perfect now as he lopes towards the Queensland Derby. The son of Divine Prophet is an imposing three-year-old. He just needs time to wind up. The Randwick expanses and a heavy track should at least ensure he isn't outsprinted. He won on a heavy track at Goulburn in maiden grade and looked very comfortable in the going. 4. Duvana had excuses through that same race at Gosford last start, yet was still beaten less than a length. He didn't get the chance to build into the race. Gosford is a momentum track. He had to make his run underneath the field, too. That was inferior ground in the straight. Duvana also has a heavy-track win to his name. 9. Sisu Spirit wasn't given much early peace at Wyong last start but kept running through the line to win well. How to play it: Hurstville Zagreb to win.
