Latest news with #KingOfThunder
NZ Herald
07-06-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Bold Maison Louis resolute in Queensland Derby
The training partnership of John O'Shea and Tom Charlton continues to flourish as evidenced by a stable quinella in Saturday's Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) as Maison Louis defeated King Of Thunder in a perfect result for the Sydney trainers. Charlton joined O'Shea in partnership this season and Maison Louis becomes
The Australian
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Group 1 roughie king Ryan Maloney strikes again in Queensland Derby with Maison Louis
Jockey Ryan Maloney seized a sliding doors moment to again prove the king of the Group 1 roughies, as Maison Louis pinched the Queensland Derby for proud former Queenslander John O'Shea. It wasn't quite the blowout result that Maloney conjured in last year's Group 1 Queensland Oaks when Socks Nation shocked everyone including Maloney as a $101 winner. Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! But Maison Louis, trained by O'Shea and his training partner Tom Charlton, was sent out at $21 in a Derby which was set alight by a mid-race move by James McDonald on favourite Belle Detelle who shot to the lead. Belle Detelle couldn't go on with it, finishing seventh, as the O'Shea team grabbed the quinella with King Of Thunder ($12) finishing runner-up. The Derby had been meant to be raced seven days earlier with Ben Melham poised to ride Maison Louis. But with Melham pre-planning a family holiday, Maloney made the most of his opportunity to score another Group 1. The former Victorian jockey now has six career Group 1 wins and four of them have come in his adopted Queensland home. O'Shea was born and raised in Mareeba, Queensland, and loves few things more than having Group 1 success in the Sunshine State including winning the Stradbroke Handicap with Private Steer in 2003. • What the jockeys said: 2025 Queensland Derby 'I'm a proud Queenslander, not just a Queenslander, so it's a big thrill today,' O'Shea said. 'He's just a tough, resilient little horse and he's come from obscurity to win a Queensland Derby so we're very excited. 'He's just been a progressive horse by a top young stallion in Super Seth. 'I think the key was that he was able to cope with the workload.' The rescheduled Derby lost a runner before the start with one of the fancies, South Australian visitor Party Crasher, being taken out at the barriers. It meant Craig Williams was without a ride. But there was a hungry Queensland jockey looking to seize his chance on Maison Louis. Ryan Maloney returns to the winner's stall on Maison Louis. Picture: Trackside Photography • Dale ponders shot at Stradbroke with Front Page 'It was a very dawdling run Derby, and when J-Mac sort of made his move at the half-mile, he increased the tempo, but not by a hell of a lot,' Maloney said. 'When he got the gap, he pinned his ears back and was just tough as nails. 'Last week, my (Derby) emergency got a run. 'But this week, I didn't have a Derby ride initially and luckily I picked it up. 'It is amazing what a week can do.' Mark Zahra, riding the winner's stablemate King Of Thunder, thought he had the race at his mercy. 'He ran really well, I thought we had it won but the stablemate just beat him,' Zahra said. Statuario, trained by Emma-Lee and David Browne, started well fancied at $5 but was never in the picture and finished 14th and beaten 10 lengths. 'Very disappointing,' jockey John Allen said. 'We never got into a good rhythm, and we were always just on one rein. 'We struggled from the 500m mark.'
News.com.au
07-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Queensland Derby
Proud Queenslander John O'Shea landed the quinella in the $1 million Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. O'Shea trains in partnership with Tom Charlton and the Sydney training team delivered first and second in the blue ribband with Maison Louis defeating King Of Thunder with Victorian filly Chase Your Dreams in third. The favourite Statuario was beaten early in the straight and finished well back in 14th. He's home! The G1 Queensland Derby belongs to Maison Louis thanks to a lovely ride by @RMaloney_Jockey - and @JohnOSheaRacing get the quinella with King Of Thunder in second spot! ðŸ'¥ ðŸ'° @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Maison Louis was having his seventh run of his first racing campaign and was ridden by Ryan Maloney and provided his stallion Super Seth with a third Australian Group 1 win this season. Maison Louis' fourth from seven starts and took his earnings to more than $670,000. This is what the riders thought of their mount's performance in the Queensland Derby. â– â– â– â– â– 1st – MAISON LOUIS (Ryan Maloney) Unbelievable, his breeding suggests he shouldn't get the trip, but he's a beautiful ride, he conserves his energy so well. It was a very dawdling run Derby, and when J-Mac (James McDonald) sort of made his move at the half mile, he increased the tempo, but not by a hell of a lot. We were sort of on the fence and everyone was starting to want to get to that better ground, and John wanted me to get one off, but after the scratchings, we ended up drawing one. But that's why I wanted to be three back the fence, so I had two options when I wanted to stake my claim. I was given the opportunity to come out and it ended up on the back of Waller horse (Imperialist) and yeah he was just too tough. When he got the gap, he pinned his ears back and was just tough as nails. 2nd – KING OF THUNDER (Mark Zahra) He ran really well, I thought we had it won but the stablemate just beat him. 3rd – CHASE YOUR DREAMS (Rachel King) She's absolutely flying this filly. If she'd drawn a gate or had a bit more luck, then she might have been tough to hold out but she couldn't be going any better. 4th – LAVALIER (Kerrin McEvoy) Great effort by James (Cummings) and the horse to travel up from two good runs in Adelaide. He stays and is very genuine, so he'll keep improving. 5th – IMPERIALIST (Tommy Berry) He tried really hard today. There was a question over whether he stays the trip or not, and he doesn't. But it was the perfect opportunity to test him and he'll come back nicely next prep. 6th – DEEP FOCUS (Michael Rodd) He ran enormous. We just copped a squeeze at the 400-metre mark, and that took our momentum away. But he picked himself back up and did a great job, especially for a horse having his first prep. 7th – BELLE DETELLE (James McDonald) It was a really good race. 8th – POLITELY DUN (Jordan Childs) I was really proud of his efforts. We had to go back from the wide gate and he finished off as well as he could. 9th – OUR BENEFACTOR (Joshua Parr) He's a lovely horse, he is just quite unsure of himself in certain situations. But next prep he'll be really nice. 10th – EXISTENTIAL BOB (Jason Collett) The distance is probably a bit far at this level. 11th – FEMMINILE (Tim Clark) She's probably come to the end of her prep. 12th – ROGAN (Koby Jennings) That run will help him grow up a lot. He had to come through the shifty part of the track, but he hit the line really well. 13th – BEAU DAZZLER (Jag Guthmann-Chester) Unfortunately he had a tough run, we were three wide punching the breeze the whole way, so probably didn't get the chance to stay the trip. 14th – STATUARIO (John Allen) Very disappointing. We never got into a good rhythm, and we were always just on one rein. We struggled from the 500-metre mark. 15th – SCINTILLANTE (Billy Egan) It's time for him to go for a spell. 16th – THE MUFFIN MAN (Ethan Brown) That was an end of prep run. 17th – FIRM AGREEMENT (Jamie Mott) He had a fantastic run through the race, he probably just came to the end of his prep. N/A – PARTY CRASHER (Craig Williams) Late scratching at the barriers.
The Age
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Kiwi jockey Wiremu Pinn ready for fresh Sydney start after injury woes
'It's been a shame. I would have ridden a lot more winners this season, the way I was riding. I've just had so many injuries and I've had a lot of time off.' His focus was now building connections and momentum in Sydney. 'I'm fit, healthy and ready to go,' he said. 'I want to make a good impression and if I do get the support, hopefully I'll stay for longer. I believe 90 per cent of being a good jockey is riding good horses. It doesn't matter if you're James McDonald or an apprentice who hasn't had a ride before, if you are on a good horse, you are more of a chance to win. 'It's just about getting support, and I'll spread my wings and work hard, and see who wants to give me rides.' Pinn starts his push with Lenape Vibe ($41) in the sixth and Speycaster ($61) in the feature Lord Mayors Cup, both for Waller. He also picked up the ride on Matt Dale-trained Acappella Sun ($19) in the last. 'On these wet tracks, anything can happen,' he said of Speycaster, one of three Waller runners in the listed race. 'I've very competitive and I'll be trying, don't worry about that. Lenape Vibe, it will probably need the run, but the one in the last is probably my best chance. 'I'm looking for a manager, so it's been a bit of a slow start, but I'm sure it will only take that one winner for trainers to see how I ride and hopefully I'll get a few more. Especially with these better riders heading to Queensland for the carnival, there are more opportunities for us young fellas.' Trainer Tom Charlton hopes Derby contender can prove him wrong Randwick trainer Tom Charlton didn't imagine Maison Louis joining main stable hope King Of Thunder as a chance in the Queensland Derby (2400m). That was before the pair hit the line strongly together in third and fourth last start in the group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m). Now Charlton believes Maison Louis could prove him wrong. Charlton, a co-trainer with John O'Shea, will chase his third group 1 win when King Of Thunder ($9.50 Sportsbet) and Maison Louis ($19) tackle the staying test on Saturday at Eagle Farm. King Of Thunder has long been on a path to the race for three-year-olds after finishing a close third in the group 2 Tulloch Stakes and fifth in the group 1 ATC Derby over the Sydney autumn. Maison Louis, though, jumped into consideration off a 1900m benchmark handicap win at Canterbury on April 21, which followed maiden and class 1 wins at Goulburn over 1500m and 1600m. He should hold a forward position under Ben Melham with a draw in gate four. 'King Of Thunder obviously has had a lot more racing experience at this level,' Charlton said. 'He probably seems like the more natural stayer out of the two and Maison Louis, it's all sort of happened in his first campaign. He's taking his racing very well, but we're yet to try him at this trip. 'Off his last run, you'd be very confident that he would handle the distance. I personally thought he was never going to be a strong stayer, so let's hope he can prove me wrong. I thought he was more a 2000m horse, but I guess three-year-olds at this grade, they can probably get a bit more forgiveness at that trip. 'He's just progressed more and more with each race. We gave him a little break after he went to Canterbury, and he's answered all the questions he's been asked.' King Of Thunder (Mark Zahra), third in the Rough Habit, has barrier 14. Charlton and O'Shea also have Candlewick in the group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m). 'She probably showed a bit of inexperience in the Hawkesbury Guineas [when sixth],' he said. 'Just probably took the wrong option of going inside the eventual winner, and she ended up rolling down off the fence to the inferior ground.'
Sydney Morning Herald
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Kiwi jockey Wiremu Pinn ready for fresh Sydney start after injury woes
'It's been a shame. I would have ridden a lot more winners this season, the way I was riding. I've just had so many injuries and I've had a lot of time off.' His focus was now building connections and momentum in Sydney. 'I'm fit, healthy and ready to go,' he said. 'I want to make a good impression and if I do get the support, hopefully I'll stay for longer. I believe 90 per cent of being a good jockey is riding good horses. It doesn't matter if you're James McDonald or an apprentice who hasn't had a ride before, if you are on a good horse, you are more of a chance to win. 'It's just about getting support, and I'll spread my wings and work hard, and see who wants to give me rides.' Pinn starts his push with Lenape Vibe ($41) in the sixth and Speycaster ($61) in the feature Lord Mayors Cup, both for Waller. He also picked up the ride on Matt Dale-trained Acappella Sun ($19) in the last. 'On these wet tracks, anything can happen,' he said of Speycaster, one of three Waller runners in the listed race. 'I've very competitive and I'll be trying, don't worry about that. Lenape Vibe, it will probably need the run, but the one in the last is probably my best chance. 'I'm looking for a manager, so it's been a bit of a slow start, but I'm sure it will only take that one winner for trainers to see how I ride and hopefully I'll get a few more. Especially with these better riders heading to Queensland for the carnival, there are more opportunities for us young fellas.' Trainer Tom Charlton hopes Derby contender can prove him wrong Randwick trainer Tom Charlton didn't imagine Maison Louis joining main stable hope King Of Thunder as a chance in the Queensland Derby (2400m). That was before the pair hit the line strongly together in third and fourth last start in the group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m). Now Charlton believes Maison Louis could prove him wrong. Charlton, a co-trainer with John O'Shea, will chase his third group 1 win when King Of Thunder ($9.50 Sportsbet) and Maison Louis ($19) tackle the staying test on Saturday at Eagle Farm. King Of Thunder has long been on a path to the race for three-year-olds after finishing a close third in the group 2 Tulloch Stakes and fifth in the group 1 ATC Derby over the Sydney autumn. Maison Louis, though, jumped into consideration off a 1900m benchmark handicap win at Canterbury on April 21, which followed maiden and class 1 wins at Goulburn over 1500m and 1600m. He should hold a forward position under Ben Melham with a draw in gate four. 'King Of Thunder obviously has had a lot more racing experience at this level,' Charlton said. 'He probably seems like the more natural stayer out of the two and Maison Louis, it's all sort of happened in his first campaign. He's taking his racing very well, but we're yet to try him at this trip. 'Off his last run, you'd be very confident that he would handle the distance. I personally thought he was never going to be a strong stayer, so let's hope he can prove me wrong. I thought he was more a 2000m horse, but I guess three-year-olds at this grade, they can probably get a bit more forgiveness at that trip. 'He's just progressed more and more with each race. We gave him a little break after he went to Canterbury, and he's answered all the questions he's been asked.' King Of Thunder (Mark Zahra), third in the Rough Habit, has barrier 14. Charlton and O'Shea also have Candlewick in the group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m). 'She probably showed a bit of inexperience in the Hawkesbury Guineas [when sixth],' he said. 'Just probably took the wrong option of going inside the eventual winner, and she ended up rolling down off the fence to the inferior ground.'
