Latest news with #Mudgee
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mudgee preview: Trainer David Smith optimistic despite rain threatening Lockdown Gamble's Cup campaign
It will be the rain and not a crushing weight that denies local idol Lockdown Gamble a win in the much anticipated XXXX Cup (1400m). The David Smith -trained gelding boasts an exemplary record at the Mudgee 1400m and towers over his rivals in the Benchmark ratings department. Add in a four kilo claim and Lockdown Gamble seems to have all bases covered, but for one, the weather. 'I am not sure he will get out of third or fourth gear here with the wet conditions but if the track improves, he will be terribly hard to beat,' Smith said. 'He needed the run (last start at Canterbury). He was about five or six weeks between runs and he just got away from us fitness-wise. LOCKDOWN GAMBLE wins the Wellington Cup! Consolation from the Country Championships for @DJSRacing6 as Lockdown Gamble survives a protest from Danish Prince to win the @WellingtonRaces Cup and earn Big Dance ðŸ'ƒ eligibility. Sizzle Minizzle ran a close third. @tabcomau â€' Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 14, 2024 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'It was just a sit and sprint over the last 600m and I am quite pleased with how he has come through the run.' Given all of Lockdown Gamble's past heroics, it was only fair to the others that he was afforded 64kg in the XXXX Cup. Not that Smith saw it as an impossible task but has managed to cut the impost down to a manageable 60kg thanks to the whopping claim of young apprentice jockey, Nicholas Hyde. 'I saw an article on him on the Racing NSW (website). I watched him on Cumboogle there at Narromine and I thought he was quite strong for a four kilo kid being able to ride one out,' Smith said. 'That's pretty much what we're after. Once we dropped a few points after that Canterbury run, we thought if we could find a half decent kid who is going to be able handle him, we can pick up another Cups race out here with him.' Smith, meanwhile, is suitably bullish about the prospects of the supremely well-bred mare Champers Girl when steps out in the Oriental Hotel Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200m). Smith's mare was nothing short of the eye-catcher in the race when she finished second to one of Dubbo's most in-form horses - Midnight Dream - at her most recent outing. 'I'm extremely happy with her too,' the trainer declared. 'I think she is probably my best chance on the card.' Borrowed Luck cruises to victory at HUGE odds at Tamworth! ðŸ'° â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 9, 2025 Champers Girl, as her name may suggest, is a great granddaughter of Champagne who won the 1998 Mackinnon Stakes, four days prior to her close second to Jezabeel in the Melbourne Cup. Smith's stable of blue bloods doesn't end there. His Mudgee digs are home to Instead who was once part of Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin racing string. A daughter of Lonhro, Instead is a very close genetic relative of the Hong Kong champion Vengeance Of Rain, AJC Oaks winner Dizelle and her VRC Oaks winning daughter, Pinot. Instead has been holding her form admirably, evidenced by her determined fourth in a deep 2200m Benchmark 58 at Dubbo last weekend. 'I have no hesitation in her backing up and the reason for it is she just likes the wet track,' Smith said. 'The only time I have done it, she was coming off a Coonabarabran win when she stepped up to the mile for the first time at Dubbo and she was only just nabbed on the line there.' Fans of Johnny Cash will be drawn to Smith's participant in the final race, the Wild Oats Country Boosted Class 2 Handicap (1400m), namely A Boy Named Soo. The son of the now Indonesia-based stallion Sooboog has been somewhat hot and cold over his career but is warming up to another win says Smith. 'He is going much better than his record suggests this time in,' Smith offered. SHAYNE O'CASS' TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 4 No. 1: LAST LALIQUE Half-sister and stablemate of Dollar Magic. Might just be better than these. NEXT BEST Race 6 No. 6: RED SPECTOR Left a lasting impression when he won at Coffs Harbour back in December. VALUE BET Race 7 No. 2: THE IMPECKABLE Third-up; good draw, good jockey, good prospects. QUADDIE Race 4: 1 Race 5: 1, 4, 8, 10 Race 6: 2, 6 Race 7: 2, 3, 6, 9 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW AARON BULLOCK has a 20.7 per cent winning strike-rate at Mudgee. INSIDE MAIL - MUDGEE DE LOUVIERE (3) is a Matthew Smith trained son of the German Derby winner Sea The Moon who was scheduled to race at Beaumont on Tuesday, only the meeting was washed out. Smith's Irish-bred import blotted an otherwise exemplary copybook with that fading seventh of eight at Wyong last start but he did plenty of overtime up there in a no holds barred 2000m. AVION FURY (1) boasts a plethora of provincial form. Failed last start too but this looks a lovely race for him to bounce back. Maybe BUSH TELEGRAPH (2) wants 2000m now. Bet: De Louviere to win, exacta 3 to beat 1 â– â– â– â– â– RACE 2: McGrath Country Boosted Mdn Plate 1200m GREAT IDEA (2) is a rising six-year-old with just one start on his resume this far; that was on March 9 this year when an eye-catching fourth at Tamworth in a 1200m race at $61. Resurfaced at Scone on June 25 winning a 1000m trial. Good draw, Grant Buckley rides, nice race for him. ANOTHER PEACH (9) has been blessed with what might be a 'winning draw'. She should do no work and thus have no excuses if she can't run up to her best from box three. Mack Griffith's local SILENT ACE (6) is a massive watch. Bet: Great Idea each-way â– â– â– â– â– RACE 3: XXXX Cup (Bm82) 1400m LOCKDOWN GAMBLE (1) has won seven times with six placings in his 31 starts. He is of course trained here at Mudgee where his record at this track and trip is rather impressive; five runs, one win and two thirds. The win was in an 82 and the thirds were in the Mudgee Cup and the CDRA Championships Qualifier. ZULFIQAR (2) was scratched from the Midway at Rosehill to run here. Hasn't been far away his last two. MEDINAH (7) is a Mack Griffith-trained local whose own record at the Mudgee 1400m is almost faultless being three starts for two wins. FLORINO (3) should be very prominent in the run from that alley. Bet: Lockdown Gamble to win â– â– â– â– â– RACE 4: Goree Super Mdn Hcp 1400m LAST LALIQUE (1) is a half-sister to stablemate Dollar Magic. This three-year-old daughter of Star Witness has raced three times so far for a fifth, a fourth and lastly a third, that one at Scone when closing off willingly. That was 1300m, this is 1400m. How perfect could it be. GHAZNAVI (5) remains winless after 16 starts but he has placed five times; two of them have been since he joined the Cameron Crockett. He does look to be getting close but we've said that before. BONNIE AND BRUCE (2) can figure. Bet: Last Lalique to win â– â– â– â– â– RACE 5: Oriental Hotel (Bm66) 1200m CHICO CASINO (8) is a handy horse. The Dean Mirfin-trained four-year-old was an easy winner on debut at home. His record as it stands is 15 starts for two wins and nine seconds, four of them are seconds. We should also point out that he ran in the 2025 CDRA Qualifier and wasn't awful either. Drawn wide but has Aaron Bullock to assist. Stablemate DE FORERUNNER (1) has raced at Mudgee twice for a win and a third. He is the top-rater in the race which has to count for something and the trial was a beauty. GRINS (4), CHAMPERS GIRL (10) and VOIGNER (3) are in medal contention. Bet: Chico Casino to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 8, 2nd Leg 2 â– â– â– â– â– RACE 6: Bisec Hcp (C1) 1200m RED SPECTOR (6) is one of the handful of progeny of Red Henno to have raced so far and all of them can gallop. None better, or faster, than this Jake Hull-trained three-year-old who was just so impressive when he won that 1205m maiden at Coffs Harbour on December 30. Brilliant again in his June 16 trial. PRESSNELL (2), the horse named in honour of the great man himself (Max) has his first run at Mudgee after some tidy efforts away from home. Has plenty of wins in him. WILD SENSATION (5) has drawn well and is in good shape off a recent second at Nowra. â– â– â– â– â– THE IMPECKABLE (2) sent out signs that a win was imminent when he came from well back at the 400m to finish third in a 1400m Benchmark 58 at Tamworth on June 16. That was second-up so it stands to logic that he should be at his peak now for this very suitable race. Gets Chad Lever, good draw and 1400m. PODCAST (3) wasn't too bad in his first Highway attempt at Rosehill on June 14. This is easier of course but made slightly harder than it could have been given a very wide draw, Still, he gets back anyway and has Aaron Bullock to help out.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside Aussie model Dominique Elissa's glamorous hens party in Mudgee ahead of big Italian wedding to fiancé Tom Bull... after the pair quickly got married in the hospital so her dying mother could walk her down the aisle
Following the heartbreaking loss of her mum, Dominique Elissa was showered with love and bridal festivities by her friends in celebration of her upcoming European nuptials. The popular model, who is set to wed Tom Bull a second time around in a big Italian ceremony, and her Aussie A-lister pals descended on Lowe's Winery in Mudgee on Saturday as they toasted the bride-to-be. In a slew of snaps uploaded to Instagram, Dominique could be seen wearing a $1,200 white mini-dress at her glamorous hens party. The fancy frock boasted a corseted bodice, accentuating the model's tiny waist, and a ruffled skirt that showed off Dominique's long, trim pins. She finished off the bridal ensemble with a lace veil, a sequined bag and a natural makeup look as she danced with her friends and posed for pictures. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The popular model, who is set to wed fiancé Tom Bull in a big Italian ceremony, and her Aussie A-lister pals descended on Lowe's Winery in Mudgee on Saturday as they toasted the bride-to-be Also in attendance at the hens do were models Natalie Roser, Aisha Jade, Tilly Jac Smith, Jordan Simek and Shannon Lawson. 'Feeling so lucky today,' she captioned the post, which has garnered nearly 8,000 likes. She went on to say that the girls who couldn't make her upcoming ceremony in Italy had created her 'dream' hens party. 'The sun was out for us, so many big belly laughs and deep chats about life and the future.' She finished off the post: 'My heart feels so full from the incredible girlhood we've created.' Despite the excitement for her European nuptials, Dominique sadly will marry her beau a second time around without her mother, who passed away just a few weeks after walking her daughter down the aisle in a hospital ceremony. The Aussie model made headlines in March after she was forced to move her wedding ceremony to the Prince of Wales Hospital after her mother Odile Faludi's health began to decline following a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. She revealed on Instagram she was initially 'upset, angry and a mess' when she received the heartbreaking news, but decided she would stop at nothing to have her mother walk her down the aisle. Sharing images and videos of the bittersweet ceremony with her followers, Dominique and Tom made the best of their union as they celebrated with their families, who met for the first time on the big day. Dominique was all smiles as she slipped into a white off-the-shoulder gown which featured a fitted corset and sheer pleated skirts. She covered her long brunette tresses with a white lace veil which matched the lace detailing at the bust of her gown. The blushing bride kept her makeup minimal, opting for a nude lip and bronzed eye shadow. Meanwhile, now-husband Tom donned a classic black tuxedo and put a black bow tie on their golden retriever dog, and ring-bearer, Crumble. Dominique spent her day swinging between laughter and tears as she shared heartbreaking videos of her nuptials and her mother's first look at her wedding dress. One tear-jerking clip saw the model struggling to hold back tears as she hugged her mother in her hospital room. 'Don't make me cry,' Dominique sobbed as her father pressed a kiss to her forehead while her mother slowly pulled herself out of bed. Odile wore a beautiful turquoise strapless gown for the big day, walking her daughter down the aisle as her husband pushed along her wheelchair. 'My mum's dream since I was born was to walk me down the aisle and we did everything to make it happen, even if it meant getting married at the hospital,' Dominique told her followers. 'Mum always said the biggest decision you'll ever make is who you spend the rest of your life with, and that always stuck with me. 'The most emotional 48 hours of my life. I'm in awe of this incredible woman. It's international woman's day as well, and she will forever be my greatest teacher and inspiration.' Elsewhere, Dominique detailed how heartbroken she first was when she learned she had to have her wedding ceremony at the hospital. 'When we were told the day before that we had to move our ceremony to the hospital, every part of me didn't want to do the reception anymore,' she said. 'I was upset, angry and a mess. I took time away to think [about] the decision and realised it was more important than ever that our families could have time to unite and get to know each other.
ABC News
30-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
EPA takes 'milestone' action against PFAS company 3M Australia
The New South Wales environmental watchdog has taken "milestone" action against a global chemicals manufacturer after discovering PFAS chemicals at an old testing site in the Central West. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA) has issued a clean-up notice to 3M Australia after the forever chemicals were found in soil and water across the 100-hectare Brogans Creek Quarry, south-east of Mudgee. The inactive limestone site was historically leased by the subsidiary of the US-based company for testing firefighting foams containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances between 1980 and 2000. It is the first time the EPA has taken regulatory action against the Wall Street giant that began manufacturing the chemicals in the 1950s. The environmental regulator described the contamination as "significant" but said the quarry's remote setting meant there was "limited potential for human exposure". The World Health Organisation has determined PFOA as carcinogenic to humans, while it classified PFOS as potentially carcinogenic. Both types of PFAS are found in firefighting foams. The foams are widely considered to be the biggest contamination source of PFAS in Australia's environment, with high concentrations found at sites where they were formerly used, such as defence force bases. They were also recently identified as the most likely source of PFAS chemicals in the Blue Mountains' drinking water supply. The Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) have been slowly phased out of use in Australia since 2003 but were used for more than three decades since the 1970s. The NSW EPA has banned their use except for in "catastrophic" circumstances or for fires on a watercraft. According to the clean-up notice, the current owner of the contaminated Brogans Creek site, Graymont, alerted the EPA to the contamination in January 2022. The company's site investigation found PFAS was present at elevated concentrations in soil, surface water, sediment, concrete structures and groundwater beneath the site. It also found the substances at levels above safe drinking water guidelines about eight kilometres downstream in the upper reaches of the Capertee River, within the Capertee National Park. NSW National Parks and Wildlife has installed signage at the location, warning people not to use the water for drinking or cooking purposes. But it advised the water was safe for swimming. The EPA investigations concluded it had reason to believe the global chemicals maker was responsible for the contamination as it "tested large volume of AFFF on the land" for two decades. 3M Australia has been given 60 days to submit an investigation management plan or risk a maximum non-compliance penalty of $2 million. "Though this is only the first step in what will likely be a complex and lengthy remediation process, 3M Australia has so far been cooperative — voluntarily offering to conduct investigations to better understand the extent and nature of legacy PFAS contamination at the site," Mr Gathercole said. The chemicals are known to be pervasive in the environment and can take hundreds, if not thousands of years to break down. Due to their heat, water and oil resistance qualities, they are found in everyday products such as non-stick pans and microwave popcorn bags. A recent study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found three types of PFAS could be found in the blood of 85 per cent of the population. In 2024, a US federal court approved a settlement that would result in 3M Company paying more than $US10 billion to assist America's public water suppliers remove the chemicals. The chemicals maker has announced it would stop manufacturing PFAS by the end of 2025. The ABC has contacted 3M for comment.
ABC News
26-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Approval for Glencore Australia's Ulan Coal Mine expansion near Mudgee
One of Australia's largest coal mines has received approval to expand its operations despite the project's potential impacts on the environment and endangered native wildlife. The Ulan Coal Mine near Mudgee in the New South Wales central west has been allowed by the state's planning department to increase its underground operation. It will be able to extract a further 18.8 million tonnes of coal and extend the life span of the site for a further two years until 2035. The mine has approval to extract almost 330 million tonnes of ore over the next two decades. A spokesperson for Glencore Australia, the mine's owners, said the company welcomed the state planning department decision. "The modification will provide ongoing employment opportunities for people at Ulan Coal Complex," the spokesperson said. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water had identified 21 native species that could suffer significant impacts as a result of the development, with 17 hectares of native vegetation to be cleared. Biodiversity assessment reports found the endangered koala, brush-tailed rocky wallaby and a number of microbats among the native species likely to experience direct impacts on their habitat. Mudgee District Environment Group president Rosemary Hadaway said the mine's expansion had become "a death by a thousand cuts". The existing and extended mining area contains rocky sandstone cliffs that have been identified as suitable habitat for threatened microbat species. More than 630 hectares of land is expected to gradually sink in the surrounding area due to the project. Surveys found the large-eared pied bat and large bent-winged bat within the subsistence zone, which they used for roosting and breeding. The report found subsidence-related rockfalls would impact breeding caves and roosting colonies, having an "adverse impact" on the endangered species. "There's a breeding colony and that should receive maximum protection," Ms Hadaway said. A condition of the approval will require Glencore Australia to introduce a "comprehensive bat monitoring program" and acquire offsets for predicted impacts on threatened microbat habitat. However, Ms Hadaway said offsetting the impact on the bat's habitat would not work. She said they would have "nowhere else to go" due to their unique sandstone environment. A spokesperson for the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure said Glencore Australia must identify any bat sites above mining areas, with the operations to be separately assessed and approved by the department prior to mining. The NSW Department of Planning determination said the development's impacts on native wildlife could be "avoided, managed and offset". It has imposed 13 conditions on the approval to mitigate impacts on biodiversity, water, greenhouse gas emissions and Aboriginal cultural heritage. Ms Hadaway said there was no way the project could mitigate against its effect. "Monitoring tells you when damage has occurred and that's beyond the point of no return," she said. The assessment determined that emissions from the project would reflect less than 0.1 per cent of the state's greenhouse gas targets in 2030 and 2035. Glencore Australia will be required to prepare a Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Plan, in consultation with the Environment Protection Authority, within the next six months.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Young Mudgee father allegedly stabbed to death in a late-night street fight is identified - as cops make a major breakthrough more than 700km away
A man killed during an late night altercation has been identified as a young father. Samuel Allen, 22, was driven to hospital after he was allegedly stabbed in the stomach outside a home in Mudgee in central west NSW at about 11pm on Saturday night. He died a short time later. Homicide detectives spent much of Sunday examining the crime scene as a manhunt for Mr Allen's alleged attacker was launched. On Sunday afternoon, a 28-year-old man was arrested by Queensland Police after he attended Toowoomba Police Station. NSW detectives are currently on route to Queensland to apply for an extradition warrant. Investigations are continuing.
