Latest news with #MisterBianco

News.com.au
09-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Paul Shailer hits back at criticism to scratch Winx Guineas favourite Mister Bianco
Paul Shailer has hit back at criticism of his decision to scratch Mister Bianco from last weekend's Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m), with the Gold Coast trainer insisting there were no suitable jockeys to ride the temperamental gelding. Shailer refuted suggestions that there were senior riders available to steer Mister Bianco in the Winx Guineas following a back injury to Ryan Maloney in an earlier race at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday, adding that he was 'comfortable' with the decision. in an industry that relied heavily on wagering turnover. However, Shailer insisted he had no option but to scratch Mister Bianco given the lack of experienced jockeys available on the day. The gelding's regular riders Michael Rodd (broken hand) and Andrew Mallyon (holidays) were unavailable to ride a horse that needed a jockey with 'quiet hands'. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained The Three Hundred ended up taking out the Winx Guineas, thanks to a superb ride from in-form hoop Angela Jones. 'He was the favourite in a $300,000 race so obviously we had every intention of running the horse,' Shailer said. After learning of Maloney's injury, Shailer approached stewards, who told him there were only three jockeys available to ride Mister Bianco – apprentice Corey Sutherland, Adam Sewell and Scott Sheargold. Three hundred reasons to cheer! 🥳 The Three Hundred leads all the way in the G3 Winx Guineas at @SCTurfClub! Ange Jones with a winning double. @GaiWaterhouse1 @TrilogyRacing1 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 5, 2025 'Corey has ridden for me before and I've got no problem with him,' Shailer said. 'He's an apprentice who's just been granted his metropolitan licence so I certainly didn't think he'd be a suitable replacement. 'I say this with the utmost respect but these are the facts – Adam Sewell hasn't ridden a winner in his last 50 rides and he's only had one metropolitan ride in his last 50 rides. 'Scott has ridden two winners in his last 50 rides – one at Dalby and one at Kilcoy. 'He's had one metropolitan ride in his last 50, being at the Sunshine Coast on a Saturday on a horse that was 200-1. 'I've got nothing against these jockeys, I'm sure they're great human beings. 'But when they've got 100 rides between them and they've ridden two winners and they're riding the favourite in a $300,000 race on a horse that's been a work in progress and has its vices, I felt it wouldn't be fair to the punters or my connections that the horse goes around. 'My connections and myself were all in agreement that it was best for the horse's welfare and benefit that we scratch and save him for another day. 'Whether that's our right or not, people have their views on it and they're entitled to that, but we're entitled to our views on it.' Kyle Wilson-Taylor Doomben, before going for a spell.

News.com.au
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
2025 Winx Guineas: Owner Peter Tighe's Mister Bianco trying to win the race that started mighty mare's winning streak
Winx's part-owner Peter Tighe won't be in Australia when his gelding Mister Bianco contests the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday but trainer Paul Shailer still likes the 'romance' in the story. Tighe is spending a few weeks on holiday in the United States, where he will attend a screening of the Janine Hosking-directed movie A Horse Named Winx at the end of this month in Arizona. But it will still be a momentous occasion for Tighe if three-year-old Mister Bianco can take out the $300,000 race named after the mighty mare who captured the hearts of racing fans on a global scale. • 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! In 2015 Winx produced a remarkable last-to-first surge to secure the race, then known as the Sunshine Coast Guineas, marking the start of the superstar's amazing 33-race winning streak before her retirement in April 2019. That was the last time Tighe had a runner in the field and it would be an emotion-charged victory if Mister Bianco can salute in the owner's Magic Bloodstock colours in the Winx Guineas, although the task was made a bit tougher after the $3.30 favourite drew barrier 17 out of 18 on Wednesday. Winx's incredible win in the Sunshine Coast Guineas (now the Winx Guineas) in 2015 was the start of her 33-win streak! 🤩 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 2, 2025 • 'He's in Arizona, he's having a month over there,' Gold Coast -based Kiwi trainer Shailer said about Tighe. 'He's having a good time, although he told me it's about 44C over there. The Winx movie is on over there at the end of the month so he'll be going to the screening of that. 'He hasn't had a runner (in the Winx Guineas) since Winx so there's a bit of romance to the story.' Shailer turned to jockey Ryan Maloney to steer Mister Bianco this Saturday after regular riders Michael Rodd (broken hand) and Andrew Mallyon, who had joined Craig Williams on a humanitarian mission to Ukraine, were unavailable. Three wins on the trot to Mister Bianco as he wins at @IpswichTurfClub today! ðŸ'�ðŸ'�ðŸ'� @mallyon_andrew @RacingShailer @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 • Kosciuszko build-up begins without defending champ 'He's one of only three jockeys who have won on him and it's pretty important with that horse that he gets a rider who's familiar with him so we're pretty happy to engage him,' Shailer said. 'He's just a horse that lacks confidence and you've got to go with him and trick him into thinking that he's in control. 'The more you fight him, he just gets aggressive and resents it, so he always needs a rider with lovely quiet hands. 'Andrew, Michael and Ryan are those sort of riders and they really suit him.' Mister Bianco is shooting for his fourth straight victory this weekend following his last-start triumph in the $150,000 TL Cooney (1350m) at Ipswich on June 21. The son of Zousain leads the Winx Guineas betting market ahead of the only other horses in single figures – Millie De Lune ($4.60) and Apuntar ($8.50). 'Most horses get better with time and with another prep under his belt, he should be no exception,' Shailer said. 'Once he has this run and then goes for a break, he'll come back a better horse, I'm sure of it. 'He's racing well. There's still a question mark about him ticking the 1600m box. 'The weather shouldn't affect his chances because he goes well on both dry and rain-affected tracks so he's pretty versatile in that manner. 'It's important there's a genuine tempo for him to sit off because that's when he races at his best.'

The Australian
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Australian
Mister Bianco books Winx Guineas bid with winning hat-trick
Peter Tighe will now get a golden chance to win the Winx Guineas with a horse wearing the colours of his legendary champion. Winx's part-owner Tighe knows Mister Bianco is no Winx, but he was more than happy to win the $150,000 TL Cooney (1350m) at Ipswich as the three-year-old gelding made it a hat-trick of wins. Mister Bianco, which races in Tighe's Magic Bloodstock colours made famous by Winx, will now attack the Group 3 Winx Guineas over 1600m on the Sunshine Coast in a fortnight. In 2015, Winx won the race which was then known as the Sunshine Coast Guineas and it marked the start of the mighty mare's incredible 33-race winning streak. • 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! 'The Winx Guineas is on the table, I haven't won that race since we won it with Winx and in fact I haven't even had a runner in it since,' Tighe said. 'The idea was if he keeps improving, we would give it a crack. 'But I won't be on the Sunshine Coast for the Guineas, I am just about to head to America for a month so I will have to keep an eye on it from afar.' Mister Bianco started the $3.40 equal favourite at Ipswich and he and fellow betting pick Stay Focused settled down to fight it out from a long way out with Mister Bianco being stronger on the line. READ: 'Didn't think she get to the races': $5500 filly delivers on debut Andrew Mallyon scored a late pick-up ride on Mister Bianco after Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd fractured his hand at track work in Brisbane on Saturday morning. 'I feel for Michael Rodd who was meant to ride this horse,' Shailer said. 'He'll be out of play for a little bit but Andrew was a great replacement. He is familiar with the horse and has done a wonderful job. 'The penny is starting to drop with Mister Bianco and he is racing with confidence. 'Three months ago, he wouldn't have won that race. 'He would have found a way to get himself beaten so it is good that he's got that killer instinct about him and he was really good off what was a strong tempo today.' Meanwhile, Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton struck a blow at big odds when mare Zouperb ($17) won the BM80 Handicap (1100m). Campton had been considering aiming the five-year-old mare at the Gai Waterhouse Classic but instead opted for the easier assignment over the shorter trip. 'She was purchased online for $30,000 and she's now got a Saturday metro win next to her name,' Campton said. 'Around the turn I was quietly confident but I knew we had to chase down a couple of handy horses and I was seeing (runner-up) End Assembly coming late,' Campton said.

News.com.au
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Mister Bianco will carry the colours made famous by Winx when he looks to win the race named in her honour
Peter Tighe will now get a golden chance to win the Winx Guineas with a horse wearing the colours of his legendary champion. Winx's part-owner Tighe knows Mister Bianco is no Winx, but he was more than happy to win the $150,000 TL Cooney (1350m) at Ipswich as the three-year-old gelding made it a hat-trick of wins. Mister Bianco, which races in Tighe's Magic Bloodstock colours made famous by Winx, will now attack the Group 3 Winx Guineas over 1600m on the Sunshine Coast in a fortnight. In 2015, Winx won the race which was then known as the Sunshine Coast Guineas and it marked the start of the mighty mare's incredible 33-race winning streak. 'The Winx Guineas is on the table, I haven't won that race since we won it with Winx and in fact I haven't even had a runner in it since,' Tighe said. 'The idea was if he keeps improving, we would give it a crack. 'But I won't be on the Sunshine Coast for the Guineas, I am just about to head to America for a month so I will have to keep an eye on it from afar.' Mister Bianco started the $3.40 equal favourite at Ipswich and he and fellow betting pick Stay Focused settled down to fight it out from a long way out with Mister Bianco being stronger on the line. Andrew Mallyon scored a late pick-up ride on Mister Bianco after Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd fractured his hand at track work in Brisbane on Saturday morning. Three wins on the trot to Mister Bianco as he wins at @IpswichTurfClub today! ðŸ'�ðŸ'�ðŸ'� @mallyon_andrew @RacingShailer @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 'I feel for Michael Rodd who was meant to ride this horse,' Shailer said. 'He'll be out of play for a little bit but Andrew was a great replacement. He is familiar with the horse and has done a wonderful job. 'The penny is starting to drop with Mister Bianco and he is racing with confidence. 'Three months ago, he wouldn't have won that race. 'He would have found a way to get himself beaten so it is good that he's got that killer instinct about him and he was really good off what was a strong tempo today.' Meanwhile, Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton struck a blow at big odds when mare Zouperb ($17) won the BM80 Handicap (1100m). Campton had been considering aiming the five-year-old mare at the Gai Waterhouse Classic but instead opted for the easier assignment over the shorter trip. 'She was purchased online for $30,000 and she's now got a Saturday metro win next to her name,' Campton said. 'Around the turn I was quietly confident but I knew we had to chase down a couple of handy horses and I was seeing (runner-up) End Assembly coming late,' Campton said.