Latest news with #MartinHarley
News.com.au
23-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Abounding is due for some luck in Tuesday's barrier draw for the 2025 Group 1 Tatt's Tiara
Tatt's Tiara contender Abounding is surely bound to get some luck in Tuesday's barrier draw for the $700,000 Group 1 at Eagle Farm. The numbers aren't pretty for the Robert Heathcote -trained mare – 12, 13, 12, 13, 15, 10 and 16 are the gates she's jumped from in her past seven races. In fact, Abounding hasn't drawn a single-figure barrier since June last year when she placed fourth in the $300,000 Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm. A frustrated Heathcote insisted punters hadn't seen the best of the daughter of Rich Enuff due to her horrendous draws. Her most recent victory came in the $160,000 Listed Tatt's Classic (1200m) at Doomben last November when Irish jockey Martin Harley rode her with cover from gate 10 before getting a split and charging home. • 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! 'I actually contacted Racing Queensland and said 'how is it possible that a horse can draw half-a-dozen bad barriers in a row?',' Heathcote said. 'And the double-digit barriers that she's been drawing have been giving her really disadvantaged runs. 'Her runs have all been good, with zero luck. We've had to go back, leaders win. We go forward and she's caught wide and that's a big disadvantage. 'We firmly believe she's good enough to win a Group race and every rider has said 'give her a run and she'll be in the finish'.' Abounding over the top in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas! @mmsnippets @GCTurfClub @FirstLight_FLR — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2024 • If Heathcote's bad luck continues, he can take solace in the fact that plenty of Tatt's Tiara winners have won from wide barriers at the roomy Eagle Farm, including last year's champion Bella Nipotina (gate 15 of 17). Heathcote said he was yet to book a jockey in the Tatt's Tiara for Abounding, who is a $15 chance for the 1400m race for fillies and mares. Firestorm ($3.50), Floozie ($4.50) and Tashi ($6) dominate the market, with that trio filling out the top three in the traditional lead-up race, the Dane Ripper Stakes, on June 14. Harley has been a regular rider for Abounding, although Tommy Berry was in the saddle for last month's Group 3 BRC Sprint (sixth) and then Jason Collett for the Dane Ripper (sixth). Abounding lunges and finishes best in the Gold Edition Plate. — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2023 'We tried to change our luck by putting Tommy Berry on but he's already got a Sydney ride for this Saturday,' Heathcote said. 'He would've happily taken the ride if he was available. I don't know yet, I'll work on that during the week. 'I'm just hoping we have a change of fortune with barriers but she's good enough to win the Tatt's Tiara, don't worry about that.' Abounding has won five races from 22 starts and earned almost $2.4m in prizemoney, with the bulk of that haul coming from her thrilling triumph in the $3m Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on the Gold Coast in January last year.
News.com.au
15-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley recalls ‘dark days' when he feared neck injury would end his career
Newly crowned JJ Atkins champion Martin Harley remembers the 'dark days' when he feared his career as a jockey was over. In January 2023, the popular Irishman suffered multiple fractures to his neck in a sickening fall during a midweek race. Fast-forward to the Queensland Winter Carnival, and the 35-year-old hoop broke a 10-year Group 1 drought to take out the JJ Atkins (1600m) on Champion Two Year Old of the season contender Cool Archie at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Chris and Corey Munce -trained colt capped an incredible season with his fifth straight victory in a sensational campaign that began with a maiden win at Doomben in mid-April and ended with a major win on Stradbroke Handicap Day. Harley has taken a short break from riding to visit his family in Ireland and watch the races at famous racetrack Royal Ascot in England this week as a spectator. But his frightening fall in 2023 left him wondering whether he'd even be able to walk again, let alone make a comeback to riding – particularly given he was forced to wear a neck halo for several weeks during a long stint on the sidelines. 'Certainly there were dark days during that four-and-a-half month period,' he told Racenet. "I'm glad to get back on that Group 1 board." Martin Harley gets his first Group 1 win on Australian soil! — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 14, 2025 'I think the big key was that I never had any operations during that period and it was all natural healing. 'Everything went back for scans and the healing was going in the right direction. 'That was a big boost for me to even make a comeback. I didn't know if I even wanted to get back on a horse. 'When I had my first winner in my comeback – Sunfall for Barry Lockwood at Doomben (in May 2023) – I'll never forget it. 'I wasn't meant to give it up just yet and I got a big thrill out of my first winner back from the injury and to now ride a Group 1 winner (on Cool Archie), that's very special. 'He wears his heart on his sleeve. He's just the whole package and he can do it all.' Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 • The well-travelled Harley has now won six majors since 2012 – three in France and one each in Ireland, England and Australia. Asked where the JJ Atkins victory rated among his six Group 1s, the 35-year-old said: 'It's hard to split them. 'When I came out of my apprenticeship, my first Group 1 winner back in Ireland (in 2012 in the Irish 1,000 Guineas) for Mick Channon on Samitar was very special. 'Going back to my homeland to ride a Group 1 winner was unbelievable and then a Royal Ascot winner with Goldream (in 2015). 'One thing I will say, this (the JJ Atkins) is up there with the best.' JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley celebrating in style ✈ï¸� ðŸ�¾ Via Instagram / djzoro27 — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 14, 2025 Chris Munce, who will fly out to England on Sunday night with son Corey and Cool Archie's owner Max Whitby to also attend the Royal Ascot Carnival, praised Harley's ability to stay composed under pressure. 'He's very confident in his opinion and he backs himself, which is something I like,' Munce told Radio TAB on Sunday. 'He rarely gets it wrong and he's calm under pressure in the bigger races.'
The Australian
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Australian
Cool Archie delivers Group 1 milestones with fifth straight win in JJ Atkins
Almost 10 years after winning his last Group 1 at Royal Ascot, Irish jockey Martin Harley will head to the famous racetrack in England next week as the JJ Atkins champion after producing a peach of a ride on local hero Cool Archie at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Harley thought he had got to the front too soon but he need not have worried as he sustained the pace to secure the winner's cheque in the $1m major over 1600m for father-and-son trainers Chris and Corey Munce. 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! 'He's going home to Ireland tonight so I'm tipping he'll be pretty pissed,' colourful owner Max Whitby said about Harley at the post-race presentation. Harley, who suffered a potentially career-threatening broken neck in a sickening mid-week race fall in January 2023, will return home to Ireland on Saturday night and then visit Royal Ascot in London for their big summer carnival races. Martin won the last of his now six Group 1 victories in the 2015 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and has added majors in France, Ireland and now Australia. • What the jockeys said: 2025 JJ Atkins 'It's been almost 10 years to the day that I had my last Group 1 winner at Royal Ascot so I'll take the anniversary over here,' Harley said. 'I'm on a plane tonight going back for Royal Ascot. And I might fly that plane myself tonight after that.' The racing wheel turned full circle with Cool Archie's win, given Chris Munce had won the race as a jockey when he partnered Sizzling in 2012. The stirring victory was the first Group 1 triumph as a training team for father-and-son combination Chris and Corey Munce. Outside the winner, the run of the race was runner-up Hidden Achievement, the Chris Waller-trained, Yulong-owned colt. Hidden Achievement was slow away and rattled home from the back with James McDonald, who had been battling illness during the day, saying the colt was a hard-luck story. Hidden Achievement, wearing blinkers for the first time, was an eye-catcher and so too was third-placed Bevan Laming-trained youngster Call Da Vinci who gave young jockey Jaden Lloyd a first Group 1 placing. • 'Would have been a Straddie force': Pier wins consolation in style 'You can't do it without the horse, he wears his heart on his sleeve. ' Harley said. 'Team Munce have been massive supporters of mine and we came across a good two-year-old this year. 'I think the horse has done most of the talking. He's taken a big step forward each run and that's what the good ones do. 'But to transform from a Heavy 10 to a Good 4 there today, which I knew he would handle, I never had any doubt in that. But what a superstar he is.' Chris Munce said Harley deserved more recognition for his abilities as a jockey and should be talked about as one of the top riders in Australia. Harley celebrates with trainers Corey and Chris Munce and owner Max Whitby. Picture: Trackside Photography 'Oh, what about that? So good, so good,' a jubilant Munce said. 'I was saying before it's not just about Corey and me, it's the whole team, the staff, and I don't think Martin (Harley) has had enough recognition either, the whole way along. 'He's five from five (On Cool Archie). 'When you put a rider like Martin on, you've got so much confidence. He walked the track yesterday. He told us exactly how he was going to ride the horse. 'He knew they weren't making ground, so we had to ride him a little bit out of his comfort zone, but what a win.' Victorian trainer Danny O'Brien explained his reasons for running his colt Brave Design in the earlier Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m), which he won with ease to break his maiden status, rather than the JJ Atkins. 'I was concerned about the 1600m,' O'Brien said. 'I was happy enough to stick to the 1200m. If he ran fourth or fifth in the JJ Atkins, then you'd be kicking yourself that he could've won this race. 'He's got a good future. He ran second in the VRC Sires' to Vinrock (at Flemington in March) and ran a good race here two weeks ago (fourth in the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm). 'He's been in stakes races his whole life. He'll win a decent race. He's absolutely grown up and he's become a real racehorse.'
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 JJ Atkins
Local hope Cool Archie gave father/son training team Chris and Corey Munce a first Group 1 winner as partners in the $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Chris Munce, who win the race as a jockey aboard Sizzling, won his only previous Group 1 as a trainer with Palaisipan in the Tatts Tiara back in 2023 but Cool Archie victory was Corey's Group 1 win. Ridden by Martin Harley, Cool Archie stalked the speed throughout, strode to the front at the top of the straight and was never in danger of defeat down the running. Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 Cool Archie defeated the well supported Hidden Achievement with roughie Call Da Vinci claiming third. Cool Archie is a two-year-old colt by Cool Aza Beel (NZ), the win was his fifth from nine starts and took his earnings to more than $1.6 million. This is what the riders thought of their mount's performance in the JJ Atkins. 1st - COOL ARCHIE (Martin Harley) I think the horse has done most of the talking. He's taken a big step forward each run and that's what the good ones do. But to transform from a heavy (10) to a good (4) there today, which I knew he would handle, I never had any doubt in that. But what a superstar he is. 2nd - HIDDEN ACHIEVEMENT (James McDonald) He's a beautiful horse who acquitted himself very well today. Just got a check out of the gates that put us two spots further back than expected. He's done a marvellous job to get as close to the winner who has had a terrific carnival. Full credit to the winner but my bloke is a horse to follow. 3rd - CALL DA VINCI (Jaden Lloyd) Terrific run. Very proud of him. Just unlucky that we drew wide. If we got a gate then we'd go close to winning. 4th - PROVIDENCE (Tommy Berry) He drew wide, we had to go back. It was a messy race, as you would expect. Lucky we had a nice three to four wide line pressing forward at the 600m which gave us a nice cart into the race. He's done a good job in his first prep. 5th - AERODROME (Regan Bayliss) No comment provided. 6th - GRAFTERBURNERS (Craig Williams) He displayed a very bad temperament pre-race. He ended going to give me a lovely run inside of the eventual winner who is a bit of a star this carnival and probably beyond. I thought my horse acquitted himself well. The question mark going out of today is whether this horse is a solid 1600-metre horse. It will be interesting to see when he comes back next time. He does have very good ability. 7th - NAVY PILOT (Ryan Maloney) Just stepped away a bit slow and couldn't muster. I wanted to be at least midfield but it was very messy. He finished off the race very well. 8th - TORQUE TO BE SURE (Mark Zahra) His racing manner don't help him. 9th - FARNICLE (Tim Clark) Ran ok. If felt the edge was off him a little bit. Maybe that run on the heavy track just took it out of him. 10th - MORTAL HALO (Zac Lloyd) Nice colt. Messy run race for him but I think he'll come back a nice three-year-old. 11th - THEE CREEK (Mark Du Plessis) He got a lovely run behind the winner. Travelled really well. I thought he was going to be competitive going in. He's probably just had enough. 12th - MEET GEORGE (Ron Stewart) Up to the mile today, I think he's probably not ready mentally and physically. Maybe next prep he'll get the mile. We learnt a lot today and he'll be a nice horse next prep. 13th - THE BEAR (Justin Stanley) He ran well. Just a wide gate and if he draws well he probably runs top ten. He tried hard. 14th - ZEBRA FINCH (Kerrin McEvoy) Got a nice trail. He travelled along nicely. Just off the bridle he didn't enjoy that ground. Nice colt in the making next prep. 15th - SWEET PRETENDER (Cejay Graham) That was a bit tough. She didn't run the mile out. She'll be better next preparation.
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 BRC Sprint: Robert Heathcote poised to spring upset with luckless $2.3m earner Abounding
After almost conjuring a Group 1 big-odds blowout for the ages last Saturday, Rob Heathcote has confidence he can spring a mighty upset in the Group 3 BRC Sprint. Fresh off only narrowly being denied with evergreen warrior at $41 in the Doomben 10,000, the Eagle Farm trainer has $2.3m earner Abounding in Saturday's race at Doomben which offers the winner a golden ticket into the Stradbroke Handicap. Abounding resumed in the Group 2 Victory Stakes earlier this month but the filly was out in the cheap seats from a wide barrier and finished 10th, beaten four lengths. It continued a run of shocking gates for Abounding, the Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner of last year. In her past five starts, Abounding has drawn barriers 12, 13, 15, 10 and 16. Martin Harley has ridden Abounding in her past 13 starts including the 2024 Magic Millions triumph, but Sydney jockey Tommy Berry takes the mount in the 1350m race on Saturday. Abounding over the top in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas! @mmsnippets @GCTurfClub @FirstLight_FLR — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2024 'I am delighted with this filly, she had zero luck first-up,' Heathcote said. 'She was caught wide but I can probably say that for nearly all of her recent runs. 'She has had no luck dating right back to the (2024) Magic Millions, but she is definitely Group class. 'Whether she is Group 1 or not, we will find out down the track. 'She will head towards the (Group 1) Tatt's Tiara and we have nominated her for the Stradbroke. 'Her rating already has her close to getting into the Stradbroke and this race on Saturday will tell us more. 'My track work rider gave her a whiz around Doomben this morning and she went super. 'Hopefully the track will continue to dry out for her. 'I think she is in the same sort of form that won her the Magic Millions last year.' • 'They'll have to carry me back': Cejay dreams of Doomben Cup upset Four-year-old mare Abounding is a $26 chance in the BRC Sprint but the Heathcote camp feels she is a far better chance than her price suggests, especially if she finally gets a favourable barrier draw. Rothfire is also a $26 chance for his next assignment – Saturday week's Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm. After almost knocking off favourite Sunshine In Paris in the Doomben 10,000, the ageless sprinter has continued to thrive. 'Rothy is fantastic,' Heathcote said. 'I had him under saddle this morning for the first time this morning since Saturday. 'I could not be happier with him and he will go into the Kingsford Smith Cup a better chance than his $26 price reflects.' Sir Delius impresses in his Australian debut, surging to victory at Doomben! @GaiWaterhouse1 @clarkyhk — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained import, who won his first race Down Under, will be set for a spring Cups campaign including in the Melbourne Cup where he is now a $15 chance.
