Latest news with #GoldenRose
7NEWS
a day ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Trainer Chris Waller quietly rolls out star mare Via Sistina at Randwick trials
Star mare Via Sistina has made her first public appearance of the campaign in a Randwick barrier trial as she warms up for a return in the Group One Winx Stakes. As expected, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner was given a quiet hitout, finishing at the back of the field along with high-profile stablemate Fangirl. Trainer Chris Waller is preparing both mares for a return in the opening major of the Sydney season on August 23, while his Australian Derby winner Aeliana and top filly Lady Shenandoah, who is set to barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Friday, could also resume there. Tuesday's 850m heat was taken out by The Novelist with Godolphin pair Tom Kitten and Zardozi finishing fifth and sixth respectively. Aeliana was given an easy time in her heat, finishing at the tail of the second Group Trial taken out by Palmetto, with the former's stablemate Autumn Glow third and Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton sixth. Waller is looking forward to seeing the progression Wodeton can make into his three-year-old season and has earmarked the Golden Rose (1400m) as a likely target for the Coolmore colt. 'It's exciting for the two-year-olds turning into three,' Waller said. 'He looks like he has come back really well and he'll go towards a Golden Rose. 'I think 1400 will suit him.' Wodeton had five starts as a juvenile, scoring at Rosehill on debut in January and placing at his next three starts before rounding out his preparation with a fourth in the ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) in April. Waller has still to settle on where Wodeton will run first-up but anticipates he will be ready to resume next month.
Time Out
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
More reasons to shop in Midrand: New Shoprite store opens
The Midrand shopping scene has just expanded. An exciting new Shoprite store is opening on Old Pretoria Road. "The store will is opening this week on the 24th," says Wonder Wattie, the branch manager. Wonder says the action is intended to help the retail brand to reach a wider audience and lower the nation's unemployment rate. "We are just trying to grow our business," says the branch manager. "We are the number one South African leading employing company. We are trying to assist people who are not working," he adds. This will be the second Shoprite store in Halfway House. Wattie says the old Shoprite located at Boulders Shopping Centre will still be operating. "The store opens from 7 am until 7 pm on weekdays, on Saturday from 7 am until 6 pm, and on Sundays from 7 am until 4 pm." Boulders is not the only shopping centre in Midrand which expanded recently. San Ridge Square recently welcomed two restaurants - Bao & Tea and Golden Rose. In April, Waterfall Walk shopping centre also opened on the corner of Allandale and Bekker Road next to Mall of Africa.
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Early spring carnival contenders in action at Rosehill barrier trials
Sydney's first two stakes races of the upcoming 2025/26 racing season are in the sights of some trainers who put candidates through their paces at the Rosehill Gardens barrier trials on Tuesday. The Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 9 and the Listed Rosebud (1100m) seven days later at Rosehill Gardens starts the black-type action in the new racing season. A handful of next season's three-year-olds that stepped out on Tuesday could head towards the Rosebud which is the first lead-up race for the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) which is also run at Rosehill Gardens on September 27. Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup plans to charge out of the blocks in the new season with two emerging gallopers Nashville Jack and Savvy Hallie which both won their respective 900m trials. The two-year-olds are still maidens but Nashville Jack finished fourth on debut in the Group 2 Silver Slipper while Savvy Hallie is two-time Group placed. 'I was really happy with the way both horses trialled,' Widdup said. 'That was Nashville Jack's second trial and he's really developed and is coming up well this prep. 'I'd like to give him a taste of winning and then if everything's going how we want, maybe he's one for the Rosebud. 'Savvy Hallie will have another trial then I want to find the easiest race I can for her. 'She's still a maiden so that box needs to be ticked first and then she'll step up to tackle the good fillies races.' West Of Swindon, now with Ciaron Maher, contested the same trial as Nashville Jack, finishing fifth, and the Silver Slipper and Group 3 Golden Gift runner-up pleased his jockey Dylan Gibbons during the workout. 'He was still a bit woolly and had a bit of a sweat up but he trialled OK and gave me a lovely feel,' Gibbons said. 'The one I did like was his stablemate Stormfront. He felt great.' A horse that missed much of the autumn was the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou -trained Blitzburg which was in the paddock after winning the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes in February. He too was on display for the first time of the preparation on Tuesday and was never allowed off the bridle finishing fourth in his 900m trial. 'He's never been a brilliant trialler but I was happy with what I saw from him,' Ryan said. 'He was only out there to have an easy time because he's trialling again. 'He'll probably head to the Rosebud first-up and then we'll go from there.' Two trainers indicated the Missile Stakes could be on the agenda. , signalled the race as a potential start point for Elettrica and Bjorn Baker is considering it for Perfumist. Freedman also trialled Group 2 Tulloch Stakes winner Pocketing ahead of his four-year-old season while Baker put Point And Shoot through his paces. Both horses are Epsom Handicap candidates and the $10m Golden Eagle is also on the table. Meanwhile, two of Chris Waller and Yulong's high class imported mares Anisette and Moira made their first public appearance ahead of the spring as did last year's Group 1 Metropolitan winner Land Legend and 2022 New Zealand Derby winner Asterix. Moira, the winner of last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mares Turf (2200m), was the pick of those performers.
Courier-Mail
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Tamworth previews: Bowen's Zakor set for success
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Muswellbrook housed galloper Zakor will make the trip out to Tamworth for the eighth time in his career chasing what would be his third win at the track and distance set aside for the feature event. The six-year-old's first run at Tamworth coincided with his first win; Aaron Bullock steering the then Jan Bowen-trained two-year-old to an easy triumph in the April 6, 2021 maiden immediately prior to his honourable fourth in the annual Romantic Dream Plate. Fast forward to the present and while Zakor is still owned by his breeder, Jan Bowen, he has switched stables to her grandson, Justin, for whom the horse has raced nine times. During that sequence, Zakor posted an emphatic win at his home track last centred in between four other minor placings. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'He was tops,' Bowen said. 'You take the winner (Flame Of Hestia) out and he's right there fighting it out for the finish. The winner was just a class above them on the day and we won't find one of them at Tamworth, that's for sure. 'The Wyong track is a little tight and he is a big boy so by the time he winds-up it's all over but a track like Tamworth will definitely suit him. 'He is always highly competitive and back to his own grade on Friday, it is certainly one of races that with the right run and a bit of luck, he'll be right there. 'If we can find the right race, which I think we have, he is ready to break through again.' Zakor has been ridden by some of the best in the business in his time with Justin Bowen, namely Aaron Bullock, Ashley Morgan, Clayton Gallagher, Darryl McLellan and Josh Parr. This week, it will be the turn of highly regarded young apprentice Bronte Simpson in the TLE Electrical Benchmark 74 Handicap (1000m). 'I have followed her for a while and she is riding really well,' Bowen said. 'She is always messaging me every time we've got a runner asking if we have anything and we finally got the right one for her. 'Zak is pretty tractable. He is pretty easy just to jump and be on speed and the way Bronte rides, she does such a good job, so I think she'll get along with him pretty well.' For the record, Zakor is a son of Golden Rose and Doomben 10,000 winner Epaulette who was exported to Turkey in 2021 to continue his stud duties. Bowen heads to Tamworth with a second Epaulette foal, this one named Atoka who is raced in partnership by Jan Bowen and the Hunter Valley living legend, Pat Farrell. The four-year-old Atoka is rated a $71 chance to win the Anytime Self Storage Units Class 1 Handicap (1200m) but is given a much better hope of securing a rare (second) win by her trainer. 'It is a nice race for her,' Bowen said. 'She gets through the wet and she enjoys Tamworth. 'I can see her bouncing back and running a good one.' Atoka will need a few scratchings to make the cut, stablemate Thirteen Under will need a flood of absenteeism in the same race, but is not without hope of a medal should he be granted the opportunity. 'He is his own worst enemy. He gets too far back and misses the kick but if he can jump clean and put himself in a position, he is also one that can just pipe up and run a blinder on the day,' he said. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Ace race broadcaster Anthony Manton can add another winner to his tally should the Waikato Stud graduate Imezaaki find his old spark in the Warnelec Electrical Services Benchmark 58 Handicap (2100m). Manton is no stranger to the winner's stall, most often with company from others in one of his Patriot Bloodstock ventures. As for Imezaaki, he was originally sold for $200,000 at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale to Bjorn Baker. It was during his stay there that Imezaaki recorded his career personal best when finishing third in the Group 3 BRC Grand Prix (2100m) in December 2023. This week's assignment is over the exact same trip, third-up off a 1400m and mile run for his new handler, Craig Clegg. 'He has run over a trip a few times before,' Clegg said. 'I have been happy enough with him. I would have loved to have had another mile under his belt, just to be more satisfying, but we'll know on Friday whether that's true or not. 'I have looked through his form, he's run places on Soft but it is going to be Heavy (this week) but they have all got to plough through it.' Clegg, meanwhile, takes two of his string into the rich and rewarding Anytime Self Storage Units Country Boosted Class 1 Handicap over 1200m with Rembroy and Cascan fighting it out for the enhanced purse. 'It's a $30,000 Country Boosted race,' Clegg said. 'It terrific what Racing NSW are doing for up here.' Clegg is leaning the way of Rembroy and hardly surprising given the powerful nature of the gelding's June 16 win at Tamworth under Aaron Bullock. 'The last 50 to a 100 metres was nice the other day and Aaron said the same thing,' Clegg said. 'He's drawn (barrier) 3 so Aaron will put him in a nice comfy spot, you'd think.' And while Rembroy has been dealt a 'winning draw', his stablemate will be one of the last of the runners called up. 'Cascan is drawn wide but it's a get back type who will hopefully run home,' Clegg said. 'It might be a bit short for her but I had to give it a run somewhere to get a bit of match fitness under her belt.'
Sydney Morning Herald
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sunnier weather to give talented Like Lukey a chance to shine
An overdue run of clear weather can pave the way for a talented albeit wayward mare to return to her very best at Thursday's Gosford meeting. Like Lukey, a gifted four-year-old daughter of 2009 Group 1 Golden Rose winner Denman in the Kris Lees stable at Newcastle, hasn't won since capping an ultra-exciting campaign late last year with a third successive win. A frustrating and interrupted first half of 2024 eventually gave way to a very exciting galloper early last November. She opened her account by coming from near last to win a Maiden at Scone over a mile by more than four lengths before setting closer but still easily winning a BM 58 at Muswellbrook, despite not being overly suited on soft ground. Like Lukey then produced another dominant display in BM 64 company at Hawkesbury over 1800m just two weeks before Xmas, charging home from the trail to win by nearly two lengths. She then missed narrowly zooming home again in deeper grade at Port Macquarie (2000m) before a tilt at metropolitan opposition all went wrong after a tough run in BM 72 grade back over 1800m on the Kensington track. Given a lengthy spell, Like Lukey returned with a serious eye-catching run, flashing home from well back to miss by under a length in a strong Country Cup renewal on Scone Cup day five weeks ago. Again she tackled deeper city company, but didn't fire a shot in unsuitable heavy going behind in-form Mickey's Medal. But the constant rain over the past month has seemingly met its match with clear and drying weather, and Like Lukey looks ideally placed when she tackles a BM 64 Hcp for fillies and mares over 1600m on what should be a Soft 5 rating.
