Latest news with #JamieMelham
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Apprentice jockey Rochelle Milnes set to win 2024-25 Adelaide jockeys' premiership
Rochelle Milnes doesn't crave the limelight or dwell on individual accolades but her brilliance in the saddle has her destined for both. The rising star of South Australian racing is poised to win this season's Adelaide jockeys' premiership and become the first apprentice to secure the title since Jamie Melham in 2012-13. The 23-year-old from Port Lincoln has 44 city wins – a lead of four over nearest rival Lachlan Neindorf heading into Saturday's Lightning Stakes Day at Morphettville, as the curtain closes on the 2024-25 season. Milnes ' first full season at metro-level has been remarkable, with three city trebles and a bold frontrunning ride aboard Silent Surrente to win the Group 2 Adelaide Cup. • SA recap: Small stable on fire, gelding finally salutes two years on The young gun has the statewide jockeys' premiership sewn up and will become just the second apprentice in 30 years to win that title after Jason Holder achieved the feat in 1995-96. But with nine races still to be run at Morphettville on Saturday, Milnes won't be caught looking too far ahead. 'It's nice to have a little bit of a buffer,' Milnes, who is indentured to John Dunn & Krystal Bishop, said. 'I'd say four is a good amount, but to be honest, you never count your chickens before they hatch – I definitely won't go the early crow.' "Oh yes Rochelle!" A bold front-running ride from Rochelle Milnes sees Silent Surrente make it a local winner in the 2025 Adelaide Cup! ðŸ�† @Clarken_Racing @MilnesRochelle — (@Racing) March 10, 2025 What loomed as a battle between Milnes and fellow apprentice Taylor Johnstone has been infiltrated by Neindorf, who has torpedoed into second courtesy of a late season surge. 'I've felt like a bit of a frontrunner that has started to lose some legs late,' she said. 'If anyone can do it, it's definitely Lachy, he's making a good charge late. It was nice to chip one away (Saturday) and keep my head above water.' Milnes won't lose sleep over the premiership, however – she handles the pressure, which is a good trait to have in an industry in which the stakes are high and the pressure enormous. 'It's (premiership) not the be-all and end-all with my goals, but it's a nice goal to achieve,' Milnes said. 'I've tried not to worry too much about it. Win, lose or draw, to get a big season out of the way (will be good), obviously I can't complain with the season I've had. 'Even if I did come second or third, I'm not upset in any way – I've had a really good year.' • Enver chasing final flourish in Bletchingly Stakes Milnes was awarded Dux of the SA Apprentice Academy in January. She's also the face of Racing SA's national advertising campaign, galloping down the causeway of Lake MacDonnell aboard one of her ex-thoroughbreds. Milnes' achievements have surpassed anything she could've imagined and the origin of her success is a passion for horses that began as a youngster. She is simply doing what she loves. It just so happens that she's very, very good at it. 'I just love the horses, they have the old saying, 'do a job you love and you never work a day in your life', and that's really how I feel … being in the horse industry and even better being in the racing industry,' she said. '(The success) wasn't in my wildest imagination. 'Having my first race ride, I was just hoping to get a winner, it's happened so fast. 'I've really enjoyed the ride, I think all the achievements along the way have been above anything I could have hoped or asked for really.'
News.com.au
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Bridal Waltz's stunning upset over She's An Artist in Creswick Stake no surprise to Peter Moody
Bridal Waltz flipped the script on hot favourite She's An Artist to win the Listed AR Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington Saturday. The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained filly led the field up and refused to wilt as She's An Artist chipped away late. Bridal Waltz finished third behind She's An Artist the start prior but could not be headed on Saturday as jockey Jamie Melham indicated a two-week turnaround potentially worked against the favourite. 'She went into that (last start) probably slightly underdone and was ready to peak today,' Moody said. 'Obviously respectful of the two that beat her comfortably the other day (She's An Artist and Fieldelo) but we thought we were in the wrong part of the track too. 'We were quietly confident we could turn it around, we just had to hope the favourite maybe wasn't as good as the hype.' Bridal Waltz 😲😲 The Melhams battled it out down the straight as odds-on favourite She's An Artist loomed to win for Jamie, but couldn't get past Bridal Waltz for Ben! You couldn't script it (and most punters didn't!) ðŸ'°ðŸ'ƒ @BMelham @moodyracingpgm â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 5, 2025 She's An Artist started $1.30 favourite but could not reel in $13 chance Bridal Waltz. Duchess Zou finished off nicely to grab third from Fieldelo. Moody said Bridal Waltz would be freshened up for early spring targets. 'We'll let the dust settle and then pick our mark carefully through the spring,' Moody said. 'We won't get too excited, Listed (today) if we could work on Group 3, Group 2, we know she can run down the Flemington straight. 'The Bobbie Lewis is a nice race where some other horses are maybe getting ready for bigger targets if you're ready for the day you can maybe sneak one of those.' Jockey Ben Melham controlled the race from the outset. 'We drew the right barrier to control the speed, I felt from that draw I'd be able to dictate the rest of the field,' Melham said. 'That was probably the difference, in saying that though, my filly dug really deep when I needed her to. 'I was able to control the race, control the speed, she's a fit horse, and let down too good for them in the end.' Melham joked about the potential repercussions of upstaging wife Jamie, the rider of She's An Artist. 'I'd be a fair chance of sleeping in the spare room, I'd imagine,' Melham laughed. Jamie Melham told stewards She's An Artist raced well but two weeks between runs blunted her finish being only a small filly.
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
On The Punt: Flemington best bets for Saturday, July 5, 2025
News Corp form analyst Chris Vernuccio takes a look at the Flemington meeting on Saturday. â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET OH TOO GOOD (R8 No.10): Oh Too Good went forward from a wide draw last start and was a dominant winner over Jimmy The Bear at the track and distance. She should adopt similar tactics from barrier 13 in a race where there are only a few frontrunners on paper. NEXT BEST KNOBELAS (R4 No.9): Knobelas has dominated from the front in her past two, winning both by more than three lengths, and looks an exciting prospect. She could get her way again stepping up to Saturday city class. MOLLYNICKERS (R9 No.3): Mollynickers gets another chance after getting too far back from the wide draw last start, and can settle closer here from an inside barrier. LAY OF THE DAY CAPTAIN ELECTRIC (R5 No.10): Captain Electric is backing up after a poor run in a BM78 last Saturday and now takes on some tough stayers. THE JOCKEY JAMIE MELHAM Jamie Melham has landed a few top rides in her return from holidays.
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Quadzilla, Four-Play: Gilbert Gardiner's betting strategy for Sandown Hillside on Saturday
Form analyst Gilbert Gardiner presents his $200 betting strategy plus Quadzilla for racing at Sandown Hillside on Saturday. â– â– â– â– â– FOUR-PLAY: Gilbert Gardiner's $200 betting strategy $50 win LOSESOMEWINMORE (3) win at $3.20 Built a nice record, four wins from eight starts, including two at Flemington. Last start winner at Headquarters should appreciate the Sandown Hillside circuit and hard to beat again despite the wide barrier. Star jockey Jamie Melham has stuck with the Richard and Chantelle Jolly -trained South Australian raider. Wary of race fit pair HARRY GOT STYLES (6) and FASUTO (1), well back in grade and poised to get last crack at them. Losesomewinmore sneaks up on them & salutes to get back into the winner's circle ðŸ'° @jamieleekah07 posts an Anzac Day double ✌ï¸� @RJollyRacing — (@Racing) April 25, 2025 $25 each-way ARRAN BAY (1) at $8/$2.60 A model of consistency, placed the past three starts at 1600m in similar races in Adelaide most recently and previously at Bendigo. The Phillip Stokes -trained galloper is hard fit and the extra distance looks ideal despite giving up weight to key rivals. Arran Bay has won nine of 38 starts and placed on 13 occasions. Should be around the mark again. Finished ahead of favourite AIR ASSAULT (5) the past two starts but worse off on the weight scale. Another Flemington win for the All Too Hard gelding ðŸ'¥ Arran Bay takes his career prizemoney earnings north of $500k with today's victory ðŸ'° @pstokesracing @DanielStack33 — (@Racing) March 30, 2024 $25 each-way RUAKAKA RAIDER (17) at $8.50/$3.20 First emergency needs a scratching to make the cut but if fortunate enough to sneak into the field could take this out. The Cindy Alderson -trained four-year-old gelding rattled home late first-up at Caulfield and produced the best closing sectionals of the race. Ruakaka Raider won second-up last campaign. Handles all conditions and a horse to follow going forward. Ruakaka Raider continues his impressive run of form to take out the opener in a photo! ðŸ'¸ It's his third win from his last four starts for Cindy Alderson 🙌 @DanielStack33 — (@Racing) November 16, 2024 $25 each-way THE OPEN (12) at $8/$2.60 Unbeaten third-up (2-2) and looks poised to strike after two solid hit-outs at Cranbourne and Caulfield respectively. Last start fourth behind the in-form War Machine, favourite to take out a Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap qualifier in Brisbane on Saturday. Drawn wide but good speed in the race should suit The Open, nicely weighted with apprentice Tom Prebble taking two kilograms off. Prebble has ridden The Open four times previously for two wins. The Open swoops through on the outside to cap off a stellar 2024 with his 6th win of the year 🙌 @mj_payne @TheBeeegan — (@Racing) December 7, 2024 â– â– â– â– â– QUADZILLA LEG 1, RACE 6 ARRAN BAY (1) has placed the past three starts and despite a big weight should be right in the finish again. Favourite AIR ASSAULT (5) has finished behind Arran Bay the past two starts in Adelaide but better off on the weight scale on Saturday. SABAN (11) touched off last start at Caulfield. Should go close again. SAYEDATY SADATY (10) drawn to be prominent and could run a cheeky race first-up, especially if allowed to dictate on speed. 1ST LEG 1, 5, 10, 11 LEG 2, RACE 7 OTAGO (15) finished like a train first-up at Flemington after a long break to get within two lengths of race fit and in-form King Zephyr. Showed above average ability last season and anything close to potential would be good enough here. Emergencies RUAKAKA RAIDER (17) and PERSIAN SPIRIT (18) loom as the biggest threats although unlikely both scrape into the field. Include NATION'S CALL (11), who is suited by a rise in distance. 2ND LEG 11, 15, 17 LEG 3, RACE 8 THE OPEN (12) has been just outside of the places the past two starts and boasts a perfect third-up record (2-2). Last start fourth behind the in-form War Machine, not beaten far. Watch for him late. Respect Sydney raider ACCREDITED (10) with jockey Jamie Melham aboard. Accredited placed fifth in a blanket finish at Gosford last start, beaten half a length in the Listed Takeover Target (1200m). Has won at 1400m previously and need only hold form to be competitive again. Include OSCAR'S FORTUNE (1), hard fit with three runs under the belt. A decision on favourite ELOUYOU (13) is likely to be made on Saturday as trainer Scott Cameron wants a rain-affected track. 3RD LEG 1, 10, 12, 13 LEG 4, RACE 9 SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET (4) has won five of eight career starts including two of his past four. Drawn wide but talented galloper with plenty of upside to come. OH TOO GOOD (7) placed third in a similar race first-up at Caulfield. Has not missed a place in nine career starts, including four wins. Include STEP ASIDE (8), who arrived in time to win first-up at Randwick. The Chris Waller-trained gelding has placed in four of five previous second-up appearances. 4TH LEG 4, 7, 8 SANDOWN QUADDIE Race 6: 1, 5, 10 11 Race 7: 11, 15, 17 Race 8: 1, 10, 12, 13 Race 9: 4, 7, 8 Cost: $100 for 69 per cent SKINNY QUADDIE Start with ARRAN BAY (1) and SABAN (11). In the second leg take OTAGO (15) and RUAKAKA RAIDER (17). Then in the third leg take OSCAR'S FORTUNE (1), ACCREDITED (10) and THE OPEN (12). Come home with SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET (4) and OH TOO GOOD (7).
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Best bets and value play for Sandown Hillside races Wednesday
News Corp form analyst Brad Waters looks at Wednesday's meeting at Sandown. â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT (Race 3 No.3): The three-year-old wasn't far from the smart Biancelli at Caulfield last time out. He can improve on the bigger Sandown Hillside circuit. NEXT BEST VERHOEVEN (Race 1 No.4): Verhoeven closed well when beaten less than a length first-up and will be fitter. Expecting him to run on well again. DIWALI (Race 5 No.10): The stayer was a touch unlucky not to place in Saturday grade last time. He drops in class here and will be around the mark. VALUE BET PEEL THE STICKERS (Race 7 No.8): Peel The Stickers didn't quite see out the 1600m on the Lakeside track. He's back to 1500m on Wednesday and could overcome a tricky draw. THE JOCKEY Jockey Jamie Melham heads to Sandown for seven rides on Wednesday. SKY SISTA (Race 1 No.9 – $5.50), CONICAL NET (Race 2 No.8 – $11), EXPRESS YO'SELF (Race 3 No.7 – $10), DIVINO CAVALLO (Race 4 No.10 – $5.50), BOARDRIDER (Race 6 No.13 – $4.60), SURPRISE COMING (Race 7 No.12 – $9.50), LOWLANDS (Race 8 No.17 – $8).
