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Courier-Mail
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Canterbury preview: No Drama set for more success at favourite track
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The old saying 'horses for courses' holds firmly for Goulburn trainer Matthew Dale, which is why he has patiently waited for Wednesday's meeting at Canterbury. Dale's five-year-old gelding No Drama has shown a real love for the circuit with two wins and a close second from three starts. His first win at Canterbury came July last year at just his second start for Dale while his other win and second placings came in his last three starts. He led all-the-way to beat Naval Commission over 15050m on April 30 and was just caught late by Nana's Wish over the same distance on June 18. • 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! 'He's got a real liking for those sort of rolling, tight-turning tracks. He seems very suited to them,' Dale said. 'He's got a good record at Canterbury and he's also won at Moonee Valley as well. 'He nearly pinched it at Canterbury last start and the horse who beat him, has come out and won again since so the form if very solid.' 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! The son of Ghibellines can add to that record in the All Too Hard @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1550m) despite his top weight of 62.5kg. 'We have targeted these races with him but with his benchmark, he is just up in the weights a bit,' Dale said. 'He has ticked over well and stayed nice and sharp with a number of weeks between runs waiting for this race.' Dale was happy with Ringarosa when fourth to Romeo's Choice over 1000m at Warwick Farm on July 2 at her first run in nearly eight months and first for the stable. 'I thought she would be well placed first-up and she ran accordingly,' he said. 'It was a funny day. It was a Heavy 10 and usually they come down the outside at Warwick Farm but they were coming up the rail and through the ruck that day. 'The form out of her race has obviously stood up too with Romeo's Choice winning again at Rosehill on Saturday.' Ringarosa was an acceptor in two races but Dale has elected for the Benchmark 64 Broadsiding @Darley Handicap (1250m) where she has drawn barrier 3. The six-year-old daughter of Sebring hasn't won for over two years but she is a winner over this track and distance. 'She has won at Canterbury and I think the step up in trip looks suitable.'
Courier-Mail
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Gosford, Ballina previews: Golden Smile seeks redemption
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Imported mare Golden Smile faced a stiff challenge when she stepped up to city company last start but trainer Kris Lees looks to have found an ideal race back in provincial company Golden Smile placed in her first three starts this campaign before breaking through with a big all-the-way win in a Newcastle Maiden on a Heavy 10 over 1890m before stepping up to a Benchmark 64 on the Kensington 11 days later when fifth to Rotagilla over 1800m. 'She was very good in winning but the wet track may have aided her,' said Lees. 'It was a big jump going to town last start and coming back a little in distance could have been detrimental to her. 'Going up to 2100 metres this week looks a nice option for her. 'She is still going to get a winter track this week and she seems to be in good order.' 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! The daughter of Sea The Stars drops back to a Class 1 and Maiden Plate and steps up to 2100m. 'This looks a nice race for her. A bit of a gap between runs may suit her as well being a European-bred mare,' he said. Lightly-raced three-year-old Hawker Hall kicked off his campaign with a three-and-a-half length win over 900m on his home track on April 23 and wasn't seen on raceday again until May 26 when fifth to Prima Bella on a Heavy 10 over the same track and distance. He steps up to 1100m this week in the Class 1 Handicap with Jason Collett back on board. 'We wanted to find the right track and run him at home again,' Lees said. 'The other day, it might have just been a bit too heavy for him. 'He's a big, heavy horse and he does like a bit of cut in the ground but not really testing like it was. 'It was just a bit waterlogged that track and made a bit of hard work for him. 'He might be better suited now getting out over just a little bit further to get a more controlled run (in front).' Lees has been pleased with the form of Surreal I Am in Queensland this preparation where he has won two of his three starts and feels he deserves a chance back in New South Wales. The gelding lines up in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) where he will make his presence felt. 'His two wins on the Sunshine Coast were on the polytrack but that said, I can't fault him at home,' he said. 'He will be a place chance.' Joining him in that race is Oakfield Mamselle who is resuming from a spell. While she has a win and a second from three first-up runs, Lees feels she will be improved by this run. 'She seems to be coming up well. Her trials were only fair but her work since has been pleasing,' he said. Lees' other runner for the meeting is Enchanted World in the opening race, the 2&3YO Maiden Handicap (1100m). The daughter of Ardrossan debuted on her home track on May 26 where she settled last and came between runners in the straight to finish a three-and-a-quarter length second behind Pratt. 'She was okay on debut and will appreciate stepping up a little in trip,' said Lees. Lees also has Denuto and Irish Thunder running at Ballina and feels they will be competitive in their respective assignments. 'Denuto hasn't been far away and is close to getting a result. Hopefully he can break through,' he said. 'Irish Thunder ran well first-up. He just got hampered a little. 'He has improved from that and should run well.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The week started well for trainer Scott Henley when stable star Volcanic Love trialled stylishly at Grafton and he hopes it can end on a high note with a winning double. Henley was pleased when the meeting originally set for Lismore was moved to Ballina when his promising filly Confederate Lady races so well. The three-year-old had her first three starts at the track where she recorded an impressive maiden win over 1012m at just her second career start and placed in her other two runs at the venue. 'I'm definitely not disappointed they moved the meeting to Ballina. She loves the joint,' said Henley. Since resuming with a close third in a Class 1 on a Heavy 10 at Ballina on April 8, Confederate Lady has finished third behind the promising Seymour Stars at Port Macquarie and an unlucky fourth to Takemine at Inverell. 'She was just a gallop short going into that run because we'd had plenty of rain up here and couldn't get her tied right down. 'Then she ran into a good horse at Port Macquarie. 'Last start she got back further than we expected and was a bit stiff. The daughter of Supido is out to add to her record when she steps out in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) where she has drawn barrier 15 although she will come in after scratchings. 'I had her in a couple of Class 1 races that were washed out and the only available race at the next meeting has been a Benchmark 58,' he said. 'Each time in those Class 1s, to my way of thinking, she was a good thing. 'In the (benchmark) 58s, we go from a good thing to just a chance. 'From a wide gate this week, she is just a good chance with luck in running.' Henley has been pleased with the two runs of former Victorian three-year-old Zouandme and gives him a good chance in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1000m). The gelding raced on a hot speed when seventh at Grafton first-up before being beaten just over a length when sixth at Inverell. 'He has those two runs,' he said. 'He was big in condition first-up and had a good blow after the race. 'He improved a fair bit off that going into the race at Inverell and has come on nicely since then. 'The only reservation I have is the very heavy track.'
Courier-Mail
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Kembla preview: Claire Lever's patience pays off with Yes Siree
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. As legendary trainer Bart Cummings once said, 'Patience is the cheapest thing on racing and the least used.' Hawkesbury trainer Claire Lever is one person who follows that ideology with her horses and her latest subject is the three-year-old Yes Siree. From his early days the stable, the gelding showed Lever he was blessed with nice ability and even after he won a Hawkesbury barrier trial last November, she put him away knowing he wasn't ready to take the next step. 'He showed nice ability from the time he came into the stable but he was really slow to mature,' said Claire Lever. 'He kept growing and took a long time to come together to where you want him to be. Trainer Claire Lever with her jockey/husband, Chad. Picture: Bradley Photos 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 grew more than we expected and took time to mature. 'I know he trialled well last time around but we just wanted to see him develop a bit more so we tipped him out. 'It wasn't until this preparation that he got to where we could do a bit more with him.' Returning for a late autumn and winter campaign, Yes Siree rewarded Lever and his owners with a debut win at Wyong on May 1. 'He trialled well then went to the races and won his first start,' Lever said. 'It probably wasn't an overly strong form race but it was over an unsuitably short distance for him and he did a few things wrong so he's progressing. 'It nice to have a horse in the stable that will keep improving that has been looked after.' That Wyong win came on a Heavy 10 but it was no surprise he handles the conditions so well being a son of Everest winner and Randwick 1200m track record holder Yes Yes Yes from an O'Reilly mare. Yes Siree is looking to make it two from two when he steps out on the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) at Kembla on another heavy track with Grant Buckley to ride. 'It's a heavy track again but the Yes Yes Yes' have won all well on heavy tracks,' she said. 'The fact he ticked that box off, you can go to the races with that little bit more confidence that the track is not going to worry him too much. 'Down the track, I think 1400m will be is best distance but stepping up to 1200 metres this weekend will be good for him.' Four-year-old gelding Casanova has been a model of consistency in his two campaigns for Lever with a win and two placings in the first and he has a win and two placings so far this time in. He is looking to improve on that when he lines up in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) with Lever husband, Chad, to ride. The gelding scored a tough win on his home track in March before a rare blip when well back behind Monkhena there a month later. A drop in grade saw him return his usually form with a third behind Exceedingly Hot at Queanbeyan on May 11. 'He is very honest, he puts himself up on speed or thereabouts and just tries really hard,' Lever said. 'His run at Hawkesbury was out of character but he pulled up okay. 'He bounced back with a better effort last start although it was at Queanbeyan in weaker grade. 'Back to provincial grade, on a nice track and down in weight, I think he will run well again. 'His form on wet tracks in good so I'm going to Kembla confident he will handle the conditions.'
Herald Sun
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Kembla preview: Claire Lever's patience pays off with Yes Siree
As legendary trainer Bart Cummings once said, 'Patience is the cheapest thing on racing and the least used.' Hawkesbury trainer Claire Lever is one person who follows that ideology with her horses and her latest subject is the three-year-old Yes Siree. From his early days the stable, the gelding showed Lever he was blessed with nice ability and even after he won a Hawkesbury barrier trial last November, she put him away knowing he wasn't ready to take the next step. 'He showed nice ability from the time he came into the stable but he was really slow to mature,' said Claire Lever. 'He kept growing and took a long time to come together to where you want him to be. Trainer Claire Lever with her jockey/husband, Chad. Picture: Bradley Photos 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 grew more than we expected and took time to mature. 'I know he trialled well last time around but we just wanted to see him develop a bit more so we tipped him out. 'It wasn't until this preparation that he got to where we could do a bit more with him.' Returning for a late autumn and winter campaign, Yes Siree rewarded Lever and his owners with a debut win at Wyong on May 1. 'He trialled well then went to the races and won his first start,' Lever said. 'It probably wasn't an overly strong form race but it was over an unsuitably short distance for him and he did a few things wrong so he's progressing. 'It nice to have a horse in the stable that will keep improving that has been looked after.' That Wyong win came on a Heavy 10 but it was no surprise he handles the conditions so well being a son of Everest winner and Randwick 1200m track record holder Yes Yes Yes from an O'Reilly mare. Yes Siree is looking to make it two from two when he steps out on the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) at Kembla on another heavy track with Grant Buckley to ride. 'It's a heavy track again but the Yes Yes Yes' have won all well on heavy tracks,' she said. 'The fact he ticked that box off, you can go to the races with that little bit more confidence that the track is not going to worry him too much. 'Down the track, I think 1400m will be is best distance but stepping up to 1200 metres this weekend will be good for him.' Four-year-old gelding Casanova has been a model of consistency in his two campaigns for Lever with a win and two placings in the first and he has a win and two placings so far this time in. He is looking to improve on that when he lines up in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) with Lever husband, Chad, to ride. The gelding scored a tough win on his home track in March before a rare blip when well back behind Monkhena there a month later. A drop in grade saw him return his usually form with a third behind Exceedingly Hot at Queanbeyan on May 11. 'He is very honest, he puts himself up on speed or thereabouts and just tries really hard,' Lever said. 'His run at Hawkesbury was out of character but he pulled up okay. 'He bounced back with a better effort last start although it was at Queanbeyan in weaker grade. 'Back to provincial grade, on a nice track and down in weight, I think he will run well again. 'His form on wet tracks in good so I'm going to Kembla confident he will handle the conditions.'
Courier-Mail
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Gosford, Inverell previews: Adam Duggan hoping for a Divine result in the wet
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Adam Duggan had a nice opinion of Divine Bene in his early trackwork and trials but a couple of unflattering runs to start his career put that into question. It wasn't until Divine Bene got onto a wet track that he started to perform to a higher level and placed in three consecutive runs as he built into his first campaign. 'He is a horse I had a bit of time for early days but didn't show a lot in his first couple of runs,' said Duggan. 'Once we got him going with a couple of runs under his belt, we worked out he didn't have much of a turn of foot but he could sustain the same speed throughout. 'We also found he had a real liking for wet track. I don't think I've had a horse who has had so many runs on a wet track.' Divine Bene has raced on wet ground in eight of the 10 career starts with seven of them on heavy where he has a win and four minor placings. He returned this campaign with a nice win first-up over 1550m on the Beaumont before a third to Lutetia at Newcastle both on Heavy 8 tracks before a second to Sirius Flyer in a Soft 5 at Quirindi last start. 'It probably wasn't wet enough for him at Quirindi the other day,' he said. The four-year-old gets his preferred conditions when steps out in the Class 1 Handicap (1200m). 'I'm happy to have Ash Morgan back on. He rode him really well to win first-up,' Duggan said. 'He's also in at Inverell. I'll discuss it with his owners but Gosford is my preferred option.' Duggan also has Purple Haze entered for the Super Maiden Handicap (1200m) on his home track. The gelding battled away for third to Yes Siree on a Heavy 10 at Wyong on debut on May 1. 'He has been a real work in progress,' said Duggan. 'He was aided by a fair few scratchings in a fairly soft race on debut if I'm being honest but in saying that, I would be surprised if he doesn't improve. 'I think the 1200m will suit him better and eventually a bit further than that.' Warwick Farm trainer Clarry Conners has been pleased with the way Okami Star has raced this campaign and gives him a change of securing another win in the Class 1 Handicap (1600m). The gelding resumed with a second to Pelosa at Hawkesbury followed by a fifth at Kembla before breaking through with a narrow win from Murphilly at Wyong. Last start, he boxed on a long neck fourth to Ocean One at Hawkesbury. 'He has come back a nice horse this time in,' said Conners. 'At Hawkesbury last start, he went around and got to the front then just eased up on him. 'He's a big striding horse and it would have been better if he kept going on him. 'I'm happy with the horse though.' Conners also feels Proclivity can bounce back from a luckless run last start when he contests the 2&3YO Maiden Handicap (1600m). After a debut second to Caltsar at Newcastle, the gelding finished sixth to Monte Veebee at Kembla. 'It was a good run at Newcastle on debut then at Kembla everything went wrong. He got knocked down and pushed back,' he said. 'Aaron Bullock rode him in his first start and was impressed with the horse. 'I'm very happy to be able to get him again this week. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ A slow start and untimely bump put paid to the chances of Angels Cloud last start but trainer Marc Quinn couldn't be happier with his mare and expects her to break through for a well-earned win when she heads to Inverell. Angels Cloud started a $1.90 favourite at Glen Innes earlier this month following three handy placings since joining Quinn's stable. Unfortunately, she was put out of business in the first couple of strides when she settled further back than expected on her way to finishing second behind Immortal Lass. 'I really thought she would have won at Glen Innes the other day but she took a backwards step when the gates opened and Cody's (Morgan) horse got a march on us and that was the end of the race for her,' said Quinn. 'She has had a good couple of weeks since then. 'Obviously last week was a bit of a washout for us. We missed trackwork for a couple of days but they are not going to lose much fitness going on the walker for a couple of days. 'Despite the weather, the horses coped with it really well and she had a lovely gallop on Saturday.' Angels Cloud has drawn ideally on barrier 4 in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m) with Matthew McGuren to again partner her. 'She has drawn well and Matthew decided to stick with her which is good,' he said. 'All she needs to do is step away and I think she will be hard to beat. Quinn is weighing up his options for Perhaps Perhaps in the Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1800m) but expects her to run a much improved race if she does start. The four-year-old debuted for Quinn with a handy fifth to Justifiably at Port Macquarie on April 19 before backing up on a heavy track there eight days later when down the order behind Imarealamerican over 1500m. She then finished a somewhat unlucky fifth to Visualise over 1400m at Glen Innes. 'Her first run for us was really good and we thought we would try and rider her handier second-up but I don't think she appreciated that and the quick back-up,' he said. 'We didn't want to come back in distance but there wasn't a lot of options for her after so we took her to Glen Innes. 'I thought the run was passable and the step up to 1800m suits her quite well.'
