Latest news with #KnightsArmour
Sydney Morning Herald
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Baker looks to spring targets after Robusto rises to Winter Challenge
The $12 Sportsbet chance overcame the consistent Joe Pride-trained sprinter, which made life difficult for him and jockey Tom Sherry in a messy finish. It followed a heavy track win at Warwick Farm carrying 61 kilograms when first up off a 17-week spell and one trial. The five-year-old now has seven wins and 15 placings from 36 starts. 'He's not one of these million-dollar horses, he was just bred in a back paddock with the owners, and it's just wonderful for them and that these stories can happen,' Litt said. 'He'll go on with this, and I'm hoping there's a couple of races coming up, maybe in listed grade, that he can be competitive in.' It was part of a treble for Sherry, who earlier won on Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Yoshinobu, which was first-up off a gelding operation. Sherry finished the day with victory on Peter Snowden-trained King Of Roseau. Storm The Ramparts' jockey Reece Jones was fined $400 for an audible obscenity in the scales area after the defeat. He said his frustrations had boiled over, and the breach was out of character. He said he had been 'absolutely hammered' by race goers on the way in. Roper lucky to walk away Jockey Josh Parr labelled wayward country galloper Highway Strip 'dangerous' after its part in the fall of apprentice Anna Roper and Rob Agnew-trained Pony Soprano at Rosehill. Roper, who was stood down by the club doctor from the rest of the day, was fortunate to walk away from the fall. Pony Soprano appeared to escape serious injury. The pair fell near the 750m mark of the 1100m Highway Handicap when Danny Williams-trained Highway Strip shifted out, forcing Roper's mount onto the heels of Never Fails. Roper said Highway Strip was racing ungenerously on her inside, and she believed the fall came from a combination of him hanging out and Never Fails cutting across. Parr told stewards he expressed his disappointment to the stable about the horse's poor racing manners and said 'at no point did I feel I had control of that horse'. 'There was no response from the horse from any command that I gave him, and I'd go as far as to say it's a dangerous horse,' Parr said. Highway Strip, the race favourite, hung out on the turn but finished strongly for fourth. Highway Strip had been sent back to the trials previously for its poor racing manners, and Williams told stewards the horse had worked and trialled well since his last-start second at Randwick on January 25. Stewards ordered that Highway Strip trial twice to their satisfaction before being allowed to race again. Three-year-old Shropshire Lad ($8.50) won the race, breaking through for his first Highway win. Knights Armour Knights Armour provided a career highlight for Braidwood cattle farmer and hobby trainer Ross Lavis and Swedish apprentice Rebecca Bronett Prag when the six-year-old gave both a first Saturday city win. Bronett Prag raced Knights Armour ($12) into second-last spot in the 2400m benchmark 78 handicap before cutting the corner with an inside run on the home bend. Knights Armour, the only horse Lavis trains, made the most of the economical trip to land a half-length victory over Good Banter. 'He tries his heart out, and I knew the 2400, he was going to see it out no worries at all,' Lavis said. Bronett Prag, who came to Australia as a teenager, also scored her first metro midweek win with Knights Armour. Maher 2YO scores surprise win Ciaron Maher-trained Without Peer will race into the spring after scoring a surprise win on debut at Rosehill on Saturday. Coming off two unplaced trials, the Pierata gelding was a $12 Sportsbet chance and near last in the 1200m two-year-old handicap before storming down the centre of the track for jockey Chad Schofield to hold off Spice Prawn by a short neck. Maher assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said the win 'surprised us a bit'. 'He's a gelding, so we will just go through the grades with him and space his runs heading into the spring,' Gerard-Dubord said. 'He's got a lot of talent, but he's still very raw, and we saw that in both of his trials, especially his first one. 'I don't think it was the deepest two-year-old Saturday race, which is why he ran today. 'We just felt 1200 around Rosehill would be a very good starting point. We just wanted him to have a good experience. 'He's still doing a few things wrong, so I think there's a lot more to come.' Loading Big talent on way to success Premier trainer Chris Waller expects Useapin to kick on after she was strong late to win second up at Rosehill on Saturday. The three-year-old daughter of Waller's Everest winner, Yes Yes Yes, fought off Scott Singleton-trained Dollar Magic to claim the benchmark 78 handicap over 1200m for fillies and mares. It was a 14th runner-up effort from Dollar Magic. Waller expected more success after Useapin's fourth victory in 11 starts. 'It was a long straight and Zac [Lloyd] got her out into plenty of air, but she looked like she was going to be vulnerable with 200 to go, but she did enough and she was brave the last bit,' Waller said. 'She's a big girl and she's always shown us promise, but through that big size has struggled to put it together every start, but she's on her way and she should have a good six months.'
The Age
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Baker looks to spring targets after Robusto rises to Winter Challenge
The $12 Sportsbet chance overcame the consistent Joe Pride-trained sprinter, which made life difficult for him and jockey Tom Sherry in a messy finish. It followed a heavy track win at Warwick Farm carrying 61 kilograms when first up off a 17-week spell and one trial. The five-year-old now has seven wins and 15 placings from 36 starts. 'He's not one of these million-dollar horses, he was just bred in a back paddock with the owners, and it's just wonderful for them and that these stories can happen,' Litt said. 'He'll go on with this, and I'm hoping there's a couple of races coming up, maybe in listed grade, that he can be competitive in.' It was part of a treble for Sherry, who earlier won on Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Yoshinobu, which was first-up off a gelding operation. Sherry finished the day with victory on Peter Snowden-trained King Of Roseau. Storm The Ramparts' jockey Reece Jones was fined $400 for an audible obscenity in the scales area after the defeat. He said his frustrations had boiled over, and the breach was out of character. He said he had been 'absolutely hammered' by race goers on the way in. Roper lucky to walk away Jockey Josh Parr labelled wayward country galloper Highway Strip 'dangerous' after its part in the fall of apprentice Anna Roper and Rob Agnew-trained Pony Soprano at Rosehill. Roper, who was stood down by the club doctor from the rest of the day, was fortunate to walk away from the fall. Pony Soprano appeared to escape serious injury. The pair fell near the 750m mark of the 1100m Highway Handicap when Danny Williams-trained Highway Strip shifted out, forcing Roper's mount onto the heels of Never Fails. Roper said Highway Strip was racing ungenerously on her inside, and she believed the fall came from a combination of him hanging out and Never Fails cutting across. Parr told stewards he expressed his disappointment to the stable about the horse's poor racing manners and said 'at no point did I feel I had control of that horse'. 'There was no response from the horse from any command that I gave him, and I'd go as far as to say it's a dangerous horse,' Parr said. Highway Strip, the race favourite, hung out on the turn but finished strongly for fourth. Highway Strip had been sent back to the trials previously for its poor racing manners, and Williams told stewards the horse had worked and trialled well since his last-start second at Randwick on January 25. Stewards ordered that Highway Strip trial twice to their satisfaction before being allowed to race again. Three-year-old Shropshire Lad ($8.50) won the race, breaking through for his first Highway win. Knights Armour Knights Armour provided a career highlight for Braidwood cattle farmer and hobby trainer Ross Lavis and Swedish apprentice Rebecca Bronett Prag when the six-year-old gave both a first Saturday city win. Bronett Prag raced Knights Armour ($12) into second-last spot in the 2400m benchmark 78 handicap before cutting the corner with an inside run on the home bend. Knights Armour, the only horse Lavis trains, made the most of the economical trip to land a half-length victory over Good Banter. 'He tries his heart out, and I knew the 2400, he was going to see it out no worries at all,' Lavis said. Bronett Prag, who came to Australia as a teenager, also scored her first metro midweek win with Knights Armour. Maher 2YO scores surprise win Ciaron Maher-trained Without Peer will race into the spring after scoring a surprise win on debut at Rosehill on Saturday. Coming off two unplaced trials, the Pierata gelding was a $12 Sportsbet chance and near last in the 1200m two-year-old handicap before storming down the centre of the track for jockey Chad Schofield to hold off Spice Prawn by a short neck. Maher assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said the win 'surprised us a bit'. 'He's a gelding, so we will just go through the grades with him and space his runs heading into the spring,' Gerard-Dubord said. 'He's got a lot of talent, but he's still very raw, and we saw that in both of his trials, especially his first one. 'I don't think it was the deepest two-year-old Saturday race, which is why he ran today. 'We just felt 1200 around Rosehill would be a very good starting point. We just wanted him to have a good experience. 'He's still doing a few things wrong, so I think there's a lot more to come.' Loading Big talent on way to success Premier trainer Chris Waller expects Useapin to kick on after she was strong late to win second up at Rosehill on Saturday. The three-year-old daughter of Waller's Everest winner, Yes Yes Yes, fought off Scott Singleton-trained Dollar Magic to claim the benchmark 78 handicap over 1200m for fillies and mares. It was a 14th runner-up effort from Dollar Magic. Waller expected more success after Useapin's fourth victory in 11 starts. 'It was a long straight and Zac [Lloyd] got her out into plenty of air, but she looked like she was going to be vulnerable with 200 to go, but she did enough and she was brave the last bit,' Waller said. 'She's a big girl and she's always shown us promise, but through that big size has struggled to put it together every start, but she's on her way and she should have a good six months.'
The Age
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Race-by-race tips and previews for Saturday's meeting at Randwick
There doesn't look to be much between this field of stayers, especially after the scratching of Knights Armour, which won impressively on Wednesday at Warwick Farm. 7. Ahuriri relished the conditions at Canterbury last start on April 30 in a benchmark 72 over 1900m. It turned into a test of stamina on a heavy track. However, the form through that race has not stacked up and she loses Nash Rawiller. Third up and looks well found with a solid record on rain-affected tracks, but has always promised plenty. 5. Philipsburg closed off well at Gosford two weeks ago despite finishing ninth. He had to concede too big a start. Still has to win at 2400m, but he's only had two tries. A trip to Queensland rejuvenated this stayer. Loves heavy tracks. Hard fit. How to play it: Ahuriri to win. Race 6 – 1.55PM TAYLOR CONSTRUCTION HANDICAP (1000 METRES) 10. Winning Proposal jumped awkwardly at Gosford two weeks ago and settled second last. It proved costly. She fanned widest in the straight, finding the line behind Lulumon. She tackled that race six weeks between runs and it was her first for the Bjorn Baker stable. The filly had trialled well on two occasions prior, but there would be natural improvement to come. Earlier in her career she handled heavy tracks, winning at Warwick Farm having settled handy. The daughter of Shalaa stays at 1000m, but that's offset by the testing track. A cleaner getaway should let her settle closer. 13. Miss Jennifer was luckless in that same Lulumon 1000m race. She attempted to go through the field but struck traffic. Zipped home in fast closing splits. That was despite being 38 weeks between runs. Handles wet ground, but it dulls her turn of foot. 12. Storm The Ramparts beat both of those runners home last start. Loves wet ground and Joe Pride elects to put the blinkers on again. 5. Epic Proportions kept chasing at Hawkesbury first up when second to Able Willie on a heavy track. How to play it: Winning Proposal each way. Race 7 – 2.30PM FUJITSU AIRSTAGE HANDICAP (2000 METRES) 2. Hopeful hasn't won for three years. However, he loves heavy tracks. In his five runs in Australia on heavy tracks, he has never finished worse than second. The latest three being seconds to Sir Lucan, Eliyass and Circle Of Fire. He arguably should have beaten Eliyass, too, if not for being held up in the straight. The eight-year-old failed to let down on a firm track in the Sydney Cup before reappearing four weeks later in the Gosford Cup. His run wasn't as bad as it appears on paper. Drops back to BM88 company and gets in well after Braith Nock's claim. 8. Zaphod was seven weeks between runs at Randwick last start, when second to Les Vampire, the subsequent Gosford Cup winner. The lightly raced gelding strips fitter for that and looks perfectly placed out to 2000m now. Handles all going. 5. Bear On The Loose's four career wins have come on wet tracks. He was impressive in his first Australian start, winning at Rosehill. That is the only time he has raced on a heavy track. Led up the Wagga Cup field before weakening late. How to play it: Hopeful each way. Race 8 – 3.05PM THE CHARITY CHALLENGE HANDICAP (1600 METRES) 3. Green Fly did not get a lot of room to let down at Randwick last start. Once he angled into the clear the race was over. There was no catching Punch Lane regardless, but he should have finished closer. The six-year-old brings that upon himself given his lack of tactical speed, but he should be able to use the inside draw to settle handier. Drawing barrier one at Randwick on a heavy track may pose different problems again, pending on the pattern of the day, but he loves wet ground and well set up out to the mile now third up. He ran down 6. Cool Jakey first up from a seemingly impossible position. He'll need to do the same again on Saturday. However, Cool Jakey is on trial at the mile. Green Fly has won out to 1900m. Will need luck at the right time, but if he gets it, he'll take holding out. The timing is right to find out with Cool Jakey over this trip. Fought back to beat Gallant Star at Hawkesbury last start. May have been a touch flattered by the way the track played, but he's hard fit and you know exactly where he'll be in the run. How to play it: Green Fly to win. Race 9 – 3.45PM MAGNOLIA LANE FINANCIAL SERVICES HANDICAP (1400 METRES) 5. King Of Roseau is banging the door down to win another race. The three-year-old remains stuck on one win from 14 starts, but he was tried in better company earlier in his career. He resumed a gelding this time back and has built nicely into his campaign. The son of Capitalist has gone down narrowly in three runs back. The latest was behind Raikkonen at Gosford. The margin flattered King Of Roseau, given the winner was throttled down late, but the way he ran through the line suggests he wants 1400m now. The Peter Snowden-trained galloper is unknown on heavy ground. He's run well on soft in the past, including last start, but this is uncharted territory. 18. Spione is untapped and improving sharply with just the four starts to his name. He won in a busy finish at Pakenham first up before running a luckless second at this track over this trip a month ago behind Yankee One. He is still doing things wrong, yet still fighting out finishes. 4. Thunderlips dropped back to the midweeks last start and got the job done. He's a Saturday class horse. How to play it: King Of Roseau to win. Loading Race 10 – 4.25PM WILSON ASSET MANAGEMENT HANDICAP (1400 METRES) 13. Miss Kim Kar has not had much luck with barriers in her two runs back. That has seen her get back in the field, setting her a task too big. Despite that she has rattled home into third on both occasions. Again she draws wide on Saturday, but that might not be a disadvantage come the last race at Randwick on a deteriorating track. Keep an eye on any patterns. This filly has come back in really good order. This is a filly that has won from in front before. She has tactical speed. The daughter of Pierata has also won out to 1550m so the step out to 1400m suits now and her form lines tie in with the main chances here. Just has to handle a heavy track. 10. She's Unusual does not have to answer the heavy track query. She loves the ground. Resumed with an eye-catching second to Thunderlips first up. Stays at 1400m, but is four weeks between runs. 7. Flying Thinker was six weeks between runs when fourth at Warwick Farm behind 3. Drift Net last start. Comes on from that. She also loves heavy tracks. How to play it: Miss Kim Kar to win.
