Latest news with #QueenslandDerby
News.com.au
22-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
John Singleton selects Hesitate to run in his slot in 2025 TAB Eureka at Menangle
John Singleton has pinned his hopes on exciting three-year-old Hesitate to give him back-to-back wins in the world's richest harness race. Hesitate, part-owned and formerly trained in Victoria by Damien Burns and Scott Petrie, was confirmed in Singleton's $2.1 million TAB Eureka slot today. It came after Hesitate ran a terrific second to star Kiwi pacer Rubira in last Saturday night's Group 1 Queensland Derby at Albion Park. Insiders say there was strong competition from a rival slot owner to secure Hesitate. Singleton teamed with champion trainer-driver Luke McCarthy to win last year's TAB Eureka with subsequent Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo. • 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! 'Our team think Hesitate is a horse on the up at the right time and that it's a year where the three-year-olds can win the TAB Eureka,' Singleton said. 'Bay Of Biscay got close last year and the belief is this three-year-old crop is even stronger than last year. 'It was exciting to win the race (TAB Eureka) in just its second year last year and we would love to go back and do it again.' The TAB Eureka is restricted to three and four-year-old Australian-bred pacers, but a three-year-old is yet to win it. RUBIRA TOO STRONG! ðŸ'° The @AllStarsRacing_ pacer takes out the @ladbrokescomau Queensland Derby! Driver Adam Sanderson makes it back-to-back Derby’s in the bike - the first ever to do so! ðŸ'¥ #QLDisRacing — RaceQ (@RaceQLD) July 19, 2025 The Emma Stewart-trained Bay Of Biscay came closest last year when he flew home late for second to Don Hugo. For McCarthy, Hesitate securing a slot gives him the chance to remain unbeaten in the TAB Eureka. He drove the Emma Stewart-trained Encipher to win in 2023 and won with Don Hugo last year. Hesitate has raced just 23 times for 11 wins and five seconds. He ran second to exciting Kiwi pacer Rubira in last Saturday night's Group 1 Queensland Derby at Albion Park. 'I'm thrilled this horse (Hesitate) is in. I never doubted he'd get a slot, he's so good, but it's great to have it confirmed so we can just focus on the best pathway to the race now rather than having to prove anything to anyone,' McCarthy said. 'He's a genuine winning chance in a race like the TAB Eureka. He's got so much speed and the preferential draws the three-year-olds get is a big factor. 'He'll have a few easy days after the Derby run and then we'll have a look for the most suitable lead-up races between now and the Eureka. He'll be an even better horse by then than he is now.' Hesitate's managing owner Mick Harvey added: 'We were already well advanced in talks with Singo's team and they obviously liked what they saw in the Derby. 'Luke's got a huge opinion of this horse and each run is a learning curve. He should be right where we want home by TAB Eureka night. 'As many have said, there's a bit of a question mark on the depth of the four-year-olds this year, while we know this is a really strong batch of three-year-olds and Hesitate is clearly one of the best of them. 'It's also super exciting to team with somebody like Singo, who has done so much for racing and been a huge supporter of the TAB Eureka from day one.'
Herald Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Herald Sun
Beau Dazzler takes unorthodox path to Winx Guineas at Sunshine Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. It's unconventional and quirky but Tony Sears reckons dropping his colt back 800m in distance might just be a masterstroke as he prepares to line up in Saturday's $300,000 Group 3 Winx Guineas. It's not every day you see a horse dropping so far in distance but that's what Beau Dazzler will be doing as he aims up in the Guineas over 1600m after last being seen in the Group 1 Queensland Derby over 2400m. • 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! Beau Dazzler is a $14 chance in the Group 3 Guineas on the Sunshine Coast with some punters not quite sure what to make of the left-field blueprint. Beau Dazzler copped a wide run in the Derby when being beaten more than nine lengths but Sears, who co-trains with daughter Maddy, now believes the colt's sweet spot could potentially be 1800m. • 'He told me straight up I had cancer': Legendary racing doctor retires Sears feels you need a horse who runs a strong 1800m to win the 1600m Guineas given the expansive nature of the big Sunshine Coast track. 'We were going to spell him after the Derby, but he hadn't had many runs this campaign,' Sears said. 'He was only third-up into the Derby and I'm not sure whether training him for a Derby really suited him. 'We decided to set him for the Winx Guineas because we figured that you needed a horse who could run 1800m to win the Guineas and he certainly is that. 'He hasn't raced for a while and he had a few days in the paddock and he's fresh and going well. 'I am now thinking he is a really good mile to 1800(m) horse. 'I know on Saturday that the distance will be no problem at all and he handles the sting out of the track.' Regular rider Jag Guthmann-Chester will again partner Beau Dazzler who has drawn barrier nine in the Winx Guineas, the race so named because it was the start of Winx's famous 33-race winning streak in 2015. Paul Shailer-trained Mister Bianco, who wears the same colours as Winx and is part-owned by Peter Tighe, is the $3.40 favourite for the Winx Guineas off the back of three successive wins. But Mister Bianco has drawn wide and punters must also note he has never raced beyond 1400m before. • Gollan filly makes late winter return with eye to summer Meanwhile, Sears is certain his speedy sprinter Steady Ready is the one to beat as the $3.10 favourite in the $200,000 Open Plate (1000m). Steady Ready was well beaten when resuming in the Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm last month but Sears said there were clear excuses. 'He had a few issues when he last raced, he galloped on his heel and he was lame for a week afterwards,' Sears said. 'But we took him and trialled him at Beaudesert and I thought he went really good. 'If he is back to his best, which I think he is, he is the one they all have to beat.' Originally published as Beau Dazzler takes unorthodox path to Winx Guineas at Sunshine Coast
The Age
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Form stable chases winning treble at Hawkesbury
The form stable of John O'Shea and Tom Charlton are poised to continue their successful run when they head to Hawkesbury on Tuesday. The pair combined to quinella last week's Group 1 Queensland Derby with Maison Louis accounting for King Of Thunder. They won with Livin' Thing on the Kensington track at Randwick on Wednesday and backed that up with Unusual Suspect scoring at Gosford on Thursday. O'Shea and Charlton have three runners set to start at Hawkesbury with Celtic Sin down to contest the Blakes Marine Class 1 Handicap (1500m) with Andrew Adkins taking the ride. O'Shea and Charlton also have a runner in the Irresistible Pools & Spa Benchmark 64 Handicap (1800m). Zac Lloyd is booked to ride Hovland in that middle-distance event. 'Celtic Sin won well at Wyong when resuming from a spell,' O'Shea said. 'She put a good margin in them in that event. If she can repeat that effort, she will be hard to hold out again on Tuesday.' Hovland has the advantage of gate one in his event and was only just edged out at Gosford in his latest start. 'Hovland is a talented horse,' O'Shea said. 'He's only had the four starts, and he won well at Hawkesbury at his second start. His start effort at Gosford was good and he is ready to run well again.' Local trainer Brad Widdup also has a number of top chances set to go around at the Hawkesbury meeting. Widdup has Reverberates (Zac Wadick) and Jump In The Line (Dylan Gibbons) in the St Johns Park Bowling Club Maiden Handicap (1800m), while Tommy Berry will partner The Grey in the Clarendon Tavern Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m). Reverberates and Jump In The Line are both coming out of the same Provincial Maiden at Wyong in which they finished second and third respectively. Loading
Sydney Morning Herald
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Form stable chases winning treble at Hawkesbury
The form stable of John O'Shea and Tom Charlton are poised to continue their successful run when they head to Hawkesbury on Tuesday. The pair combined to quinella last week's Group 1 Queensland Derby with Maison Louis accounting for King Of Thunder. They won with Livin' Thing on the Kensington track at Randwick on Wednesday and backed that up with Unusual Suspect scoring at Gosford on Thursday. O'Shea and Charlton have three runners set to start at Hawkesbury with Celtic Sin down to contest the Blakes Marine Class 1 Handicap (1500m) with Andrew Adkins taking the ride. O'Shea and Charlton also have a runner in the Irresistible Pools & Spa Benchmark 64 Handicap (1800m). Zac Lloyd is booked to ride Hovland in that middle-distance event. 'Celtic Sin won well at Wyong when resuming from a spell,' O'Shea said. 'She put a good margin in them in that event. If she can repeat that effort, she will be hard to hold out again on Tuesday.' Hovland has the advantage of gate one in his event and was only just edged out at Gosford in his latest start. 'Hovland is a talented horse,' O'Shea said. 'He's only had the four starts, and he won well at Hawkesbury at his second start. His start effort at Gosford was good and he is ready to run well again.' Local trainer Brad Widdup also has a number of top chances set to go around at the Hawkesbury meeting. Widdup has Reverberates (Zac Wadick) and Jump In The Line (Dylan Gibbons) in the St Johns Park Bowling Club Maiden Handicap (1800m), while Tommy Berry will partner The Grey in the Clarendon Tavern Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m). Reverberates and Jump In The Line are both coming out of the same Provincial Maiden at Wyong in which they finished second and third respectively. Loading
Herald Sun
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Dixon warms up for Inter Dominion with Albion Park domination
Premier trainer Grant Dixon has more string to his bow than just champion pacer Leap To Fame heading into a huge hometown Inter Dominion Carnival. Despite Leap To Fame having a night off, Dixon and wife, Trista, flexed their muscle with a feature treble at Albion Park last night. Leap To Fame, who is already two-from-two this campaign, will be back to cap his Inter Dominion preparation at Albion Park next Saturday night. Team Dixon snared the quinella in last night's feature, the Flashing Red Discretionary, when Aroda led throughout with Trista aboard to bet Charge Ahead. Aroda's next target will be a title defence in the $106,070 Group 2 Redcliffe Cup on June 28 before the Inter Dominion starts at Albion Park a week later. • 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! Earlier, Dixon's exciting three-year-old Path To Greatness landed a huge plunge ($5.50 into $1.70) to lead throughout and easily win the Queensland Sun. The win secured the gelding a start in the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 5. Path To Greatness, who boasts seven wins from just 13 starts, beat stablemate Charge Ahead to give Team Dixon another quinella. The most exciting win of the night came from Team Dixon's recent stable addition, Captains Mistress. The glamour Kiwi filly toyed with older rivals to win by 9.1m in a slick 1min53.1sec mile rate for 1660m. Her major target is the Group 1 Queensland Oaks. The one minor disappointment of the night for the stable came when prepost Queensland Derby favourite Fate Awaits had to be content with third place behind exciting Kiwi raider, Rubira, in race nine. Rubira gave Kiwi Hall of Fame trainer Mark Purdon, who trains in partnership with son Nathan, part of a perfect start to their Queensland raid. Earlier, their star trotter Oscar Bonavena toyed with his rivals to win and stamp himself as a major player for the Inter Dominion trotting series. Rubira has the South-East and Redcliffe Derbys before the Group 1 Rising Sun on July 5 and the Group 1 Queensland Derby on July 19. 'It was great to get wins with them both because they needed the runs and will take improvement from them,' Nathan Purdon said. Champion NSW trainer Luke McCarthy will launch his Queensland raid from next week after stars Don Hugo and Hesitate won impressively at Menangle last night. Miracle Mile and Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo has easily won both starts this campaign and looms as the only serious danger to Leap To Fame in the Inter Dominion pacing series. Hesitate is likely to head to the Queensland Derby via the Rising Sun. 'I'll have a nice team in Brisbane for a month or so,' McCarthy said. The Queensland flavour extended to Melton last night where trainer-driver Chris Svanosio confirmed and impressive win by his US-bred trotting mare Aldebaran Acrux had booked her a trip to the Inter Dominion. She will accompany star stablemate Arcee Phoenix, who returns from a break at Melton next Saturday night. • Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp. Originally published as Grant Dixon warms up for 2025 Inter Dominion with Albion Park domination
