Latest news with #PaulMessara
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Scone preview: Two promising fillies lead local trainer Rod Northam's charge towards career milestones
Scone trainer Rodney Northam can edge himself closer to two professional milestones with a potential swag of winners at his home town card. Northam 's career tally of wins currently stands at 690; of which 193 have come at Scone. Northam is represented by seven runners on the program including in the opener where he restarts the respective second campaigns of the stylish and promising three-year-old fillies, Nova Centauri and Smart Buy. 'There are two nice fillies,' Northam said. 'I quite like them. 'Smart Buy was very green and very immature at her first preparation but she's had a good spell and she has come back bigger and stronger. 'She ran second in a couple of those $50,000 races. I was very pleased with her.' Mount Bona strides away for a convincing win! ðŸ'° The @Paulmessara and @LGavranich stable score a double! ✌ï¸� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 21, 2025 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! Rubick filly Nova Centauri was duly spelled after her impressive debut at Mudgee in February when coming from last on the turn to clock in second in the 1000m maiden. 'The home track will suit her a lot better,' Northam said. 'She's got a nice bit of ability as well so there is really not a lot between them. 'I wanted to split them up. I had Nova Centauri in the 1100m but they scrapped the race.' Northam's $37,500 Inglis Classic purchase Move She Can can take her earnings beyond $60,000 should she take out another race at her preferred track. 'Her run was pretty good last time and I expect her race well but it looks a strong race though,' said Northam. Ballinderry Sal, Northam's April 19 TAB Highway winner, will resume in the Scone RSL Benchmark 66 Handicap (1400m). And while her current personal best was lodged at Royal Randwick, her three other wins are all at Scone. 'I had her nominated in Newcastle, Sydney and here and I just thought when she drew well here, it would be the best option to run her at home,' Northam explained. 'She's got a got a good record at Scone so it looks quite a nice race for her to kick off in. 'Obviously she has got a bit of weight but Leeshelle (Small) will help with that. Ballinderry Sal makes it two wins in a row in the TAB Highway for @rodnortham and @djgibbons22! 🙌 @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025 'I expect her to race well. She's a nice little freshen-up but I am confident she is fit enough for the 1400m.' Northam can lay claim to presenting one of the most fascinating horses racing at the track via the strikingly handsome Sipping Shamus. The unraced three-year-old is a near replica of his Cox Plate winning father Shamus Award. Better still, he boasts a 'champions pedigree' with the great Horlicks as his third dam. 'He's a good looking horse,' Northam said. 'I sort of thought he would be more a miler but he showed a good bit of speed in his trial so 1200m should be okay for him first up.' There aren't too many equines at Northam headquarters in better form than Grandini who charges in on a hat-trick when she lines-up in The Gables Benchmark 58 Handicap (1700m). 'She had been quite luckless in previous preps but she's struck a bit of luck this time in,' said Northam. 'Hopefully she has taken confidence from the wins and 1700m looks the right trip for her.' Northam's day ends with Casino Stage seemingly bound for the last crack in the last race. 'Being fresh, 1300m is probably the right distance for him. 'The track will suit. He'll just get off the speed and launch late,' said Northam. â– â– â– â– â– Local trainer Michael Gatty is well placed to lead in a treble at Moruya with a trio of horses that have a combined value of almost $1 million. Thankfully, Gatty was able to get them while they were essentially 'on-sale' and has turned each and all of them into much beloved money-spinners. 'They' being Gorush Lightning, bought by Gai Waterhouse for $540,000, as well as the Gerry Harvey-bred pair Selhurst Park (a $325,000 yearling) and the $80,000 baby, Peruno. All three acquisitions are now well and truly Moruya locals, track specialists even, with 11 home course wins between them, more than half of them belong to Gatty's cherished Gorush Lightning. 'He's our old warhorse,' Gatty said. 'I've had him since he was a late two-year-old before he had a race so we've had him on the family for a long time. Gorush Lightning just loves Moruya! Olivia Chambers with a great ride for Michael Gatty. â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 5, 2023 'He is older now but I can't see why he won't put in a lovely big run.' An interesting fact to excite the breeding buffs. Gorush Lightning's fourth dam is a daughter of Bernborough who stood at stud in the USA after being sold to movie producer Louis B. Mayer. A resident stallion at Three Chimneys in Kentucky, Bernborough stood alongside another famous Australian expat champion, Shannon. Gatty, meanwhile, could not have found a better race for Selhurst Park when he makes his 20th Moruya appearance. As it stands, he has finished on the podium nine times in those 19 runs including a now typical barnstorming win there as recently as June 27. 'We haven't done much with him since the other day,' Gatty explained. 'He's been over to the beach for a walk and then out the back in the bush for a bit of a stroll around and over some cavalletti's (on Thursday morning). 'That's him done and ready to go.' One Tree Inn Handicap (1650m). 'I really like the horse, I always have,' said Gatty.
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Country star Know Thyself to get chance in Listed Scone Cup
Hometown hero Know Thyself will get his chance to capture his second feature in less than a week after sneaking into Friday's Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) field. The Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich -trained galloper was touch-and-go to make Scone 's Big Dance qualifier on Monday but gained a start after acceptances with a capacity field of 16 runners and four emergencies. Know Thyself is hunting a fifth consecutive victory in the feature event and will be on the six-day back-up following his victory last Saturday in Gosford 's $500,000 The Coast (1600m). He is attempting to emulate the feats of 2022 The Coast winner Rustic Steel, which backed up successfully to prevail in the Scone Cup while also scoring in the Big Dance later the following year. Ashley Morgan, set to ride at 54kg, will retain the steer on this year's Country Championships winner with Messara looking to add another Scone Cup 15 years after he won the race on his home track with Obvious Choice. Know Thyself opened as a clear $3.50 favourite with the bookies. Know Thyself makes it four on the trot and wins The Coast! ðŸ'¥ @AshMorgan6 | @Paulmessara | @LGavranich — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 The Scone Cup field is dominated by the Annabel and Rob Archibald yard with the stable a chance to saddle up as many as five starters. The stable didn't accept with My Oberon but have a strong hand with the likes of West Of Africa ($11) and Group 1 winner Port Lockroy ($11) is among them. Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has both Tavi Time ($6) and Loch Eagle ($26). All five stakes races on Saturday's feature card have drawn capacity fields with emergencies in what is a huge for the Scone carnival's second day of racing. Messara and Gavranich will go in search of a stakes double across the weekend with Clear Thinking in line to make her return from a short freshen-up in the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m). The Archibalds could be set for a massive weekend with Written In Code the horse to beat in the Group 3 $250,000 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m). The mare landed among the emergencies in the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) where a competitive field of 16 runners will line up, likewise the Listed $200,000 Woodlands Stakes (1100m). Unbeaten filly Soft Love, trained by Matt Laurie, will attempt to start her career with a fourth consecutive victory in a full field of 16 runners in the Listed $200,000 Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m). â– â– â– â– â– The Scone track was rated a soft (5) at acceptance time. The rail will be in the true position on Friday and then moved out to the 2-metre position from the 800 to the 400m for Saturday's meeting. The Bureau Of Meteorology forecast for Scone is. Wednesday – Partly cloudy. 23. Thursday – Mostly cloudy (70% chance of 0-7mm of rain). 20. Friday – Partly cloudy. 21. Saturday – Partly cloudy. 22.
News.com.au
12-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 Scone Cup favourite Know Thyself in danger of missing a start
Know Thyself, the form four-year-old, is a firming favourite for the Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) on Friday – but is in very real danger of missing a start. The Scone Cup has attracted a bumper 43 entries and Know Thyself is only 23rd in the order of entry, with the race having a maximum of 16 starters. But so impressive has Know Thyself been this autumn – reeling off four successive wins including the Country Championships Final during the Sydney carnival and then The Coast at Gosford last Saturday – TAB Fixed Odds price assessors are taking no risks with the gelding, installing him a dominant $5 favourite for the Scone Cup. Paul Messara, who trains in partnership with Leah Gavranich, is sweating on Know Thyself squeezing into the Scone Cup field. 'Know Thyself has pulled up well after his win in The Coast and we are going to proceed this week as if he is in the race,'' Messara said. 'But it doesn't look good and if he misses out on a Scone Cup start, I won't take him to Brisbane, I'll send the horse for a spell and set him for the spring carnival. 'He's had a great preparation and it would be nice if we could get the chance to run in his hometown Cup on Friday but we will have to wait and see if he gets into the race.'' Know Thyself makes it four on the trot and wins The Coast! ðŸ'¥ @AshMorgan6 | @Paulmessara | @LGavranich — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 • If Know Thyself gets into the Scone Cup, he will carry only 53.5kg. Top jockey Ashley Morgan, who rode the gelding to his The Coast win, is on standby for Friday's race. The Scone stand-alone meeting on Saturday has attracted a massive 298 entries for the 10-race program. Clear Thinking, the classy imported mare trained by Messara and Gavranich, has been entered for two races, the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m) and the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m). WOW! 🤯 How did Clear Thinking get there? @zaclloydx looked to be in a world of trouble on the short-priced favourite, but once clear she attacked the line to take the @tabcomau Highway! @PaulMessara @ArrowfieldStud — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 6, 2024 Messara said he was leaning towards starting Clear Thinking in the Ortensia Stakes in which the mare had firmed from $8 to $4.50 favouritism. 'The 1100m race is probably the race we will target with Clear Thinking. She's freshened up nicely and she is unbeaten in two starts at Scone,'' Messara said. #Meanwhile, Brisbane winter carnival contenders Private Eye, Flying Bandit, Kimochi and Verona Rose will have important barrier trials at Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning.
News.com.au
11-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Paul Messara keen to get Big Dance winner Know Thyself into the Big Dance
Trainer Paul Messara believes Know Thyself is an ideal $3 million Big Dance contender and plans to decide early in the week if The Coast winner will get his chance to qualify via Friday's Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m). Know Thyself scored his fourth straight victory and second feature success this preparation with a sustained performance to prevail in the $500,000 The Coast at Gosford on Saturday. The son of The Autumn Son also captured the $1 million Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick last month. Messara, who trains alongside Leah Gavranich, is open to backing him up six days after his The Coast win on home turf at Scone. 'We will know a bit more midweek and see if there is much bounce in his legs and take it from there,' Messara said. 'That (The Big Dance) would be a lovely race for him to run in, it's perfect for him really. 'It might not be this preparation because he has done a great job already with four wins in a row but we will just see how he comes through.' Know Thyself makes it four on the trot and wins The Coast! ðŸ'¥ @AshMorgan6 | @Paulmessara | @LGavranich — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 The Kris Lees-trained Rustic Steel successfully backed up from his The Coast victory in 2022 and captured the Scone Cup before going on to salute in the inaugural Big Dance later in the same year. Know Thyself's victory in The Coast provided the ratings boost needed to guarantee him a start in the Scone Cup. Messara plans to nominate Know Thyself for Scone on Monday before making a decision. Meanwhile, trainer Mack Griffith will set his sets on the second leg of a country feature hat-trick when his speedster Compelling Truth contests Saturday's Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m). Compelling Truth took out the $200,000 Wagga Town Plate earlier this month for the biggest victory of his career and will be hunting a winning hat-trick at Scone's two-day carnival. Both the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) and Ortensia Stakes were options at Scone. 'He is going to be nominated for both races but I am thinking the 1100m on the big long Scone straight will be the better race for him,' Griffith said. ' Braith Nock will ride. 'He went back to the farm for a few days after his win at Wagga which is his normal routine and he's done really well. 'We will see where he ends up (in terms of a Kosciuszko) but more short term we are looking at this and then a Ramornie with him.' The Listed Ramornie Handicap is held at Grafton in July.
Daily Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
'It's perfect for him really': Know Thyself's ideal target
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Paul Messara believes Know Thyself is an ideal $3 million Big Dance contender and plans to decide early in the week if The Coast winner will get his chance to qualify via Friday's Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m). Know Thyself scored his fourth straight victory and second feature success this preparation with a sustained performance to prevail in the $500,000 The Coast at Gosford on Saturday. • 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 son of The Autumn Son also captured the $1 million Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick last month. Messara, who trains alongside Leah Gavranich, is open to backing him up six days after his The Coast win on home turf at Scone. 'We will know a bit more midweek and see if there is much bounce in his legs and take it from there,' Messara said. 'That (The Big Dance) would be a lovely race for him to run in, it's perfect for him really. 'It might not be this preparation because he has done a great job already with four wins in a row but we will just see how he comes through.' READ: Dream team to continue as Shinn makes tough suspension call The Kris Lees-trained Rustic Steel successfully backed up from his The Coast victory in 2022 and captured the Scone Cup before going on to salute in the inaugural Big Dance later in the same year. Know Thyself's victory in The Coast provided the ratings boost needed to guarantee him a start in the Scone Cup. Messara plans to nominate Know Thyself for Scone on Monday before making a decision. Meanwhile, trainer Mack Griffith will set his sets on the second leg of a country feature hat-trick when his speedster Compelling Truth contests Saturday's Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m). Compelling Truth is also headed for Scone. Picture: Bradley Photos Compelling Truth took out the $200,000 Wagga Town Plate earlier this month for the biggest victory of his career and will be hunting a winning hat-trick at Scone's two-day carnival. Both the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) and Ortensia Stakes were options at Scone. 'He is going to be nominated for both races but I am thinking the 1100m on the big long Scone straight will be the better race for him,' Griffith said. 'Braith Nock will ride. 'He went back to the farm for a few days after his win at Wagga which is his normal routine and he's done really well. 'We will see where he ends up (in terms of a Kosciuszko) but more short term we are looking at this and then a Ramornie with him.' The Listed Ramornie Handicap is held at Grafton in July. Originally published as Trainer Paul Messara keen to get Big Dance winner Know Thyself into the Big Dance
