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News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Grahame Begg mare Splash Back returns for Flemington Group 3 test in Aurie's Star Handicap
Splash Back has delighted trainer Grahame Begg going into the Group 3 Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. The reinvented lightly-raced five-year-old mare, now being trained particularly for speed, has won three of four starts since she joined the Begg yard. Splash Back scored arguably the win of the winter season with a barnstorming result at Flemington last start, charging from an impossible position to win a 1400m Benchmark 90. Begg has freshened up the mare for an early spring campaign, starting in the Aurie's Star – her first look down the straight. 'We're delighted the way she's prepped up,' Begg said. 'Certainly going up a grade (to Group 3) and she hasn't been up the straight before but we're very happy with the way she's going.' Apprentice jockey Tom Prebble retained the ride on Splash Back after back-to-back wins at Caulfield and Flemington. Prebble has maintained an association with the mare in recent work outs including a jumpout. 'He hasn't done anything wrong on her so you got to reward him,' Begg said. 'He's come and done the hard yards, ridden her around in between time … and he can ride 54kg.' SPLASH BACK FROM THE CLOUDS 🤯 🤯 She might be pretty good! Splash Back comes from nowhere to the delight of the punters, giving Tom Prebble a race to race double! @Grahame_Begg — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 21, 2025 Splash Back, formerly trained by Andrew Bobbin, opened her account for Begg with a win last year then finished midfield in a 1400m Group 3 at Flemington. The rising six-year-old has thrived in her second preparation with a focus on sharper workouts. 'We got a bit of a handle on her now, changed a few things up as far as the training goes,' Begg said. 'Training her to run over shorter distances … I feel she's more dynamic around the 1400m mark.' • Bigger, stronger' My Gladiola primed for spring Begg flexed spring muscle at the Caulfield jumpouts on Wednesday, with Group 1 winner Magic Time, emerging top class mare Niance and progressive King Zephyr stretching their legs in respective 800m hitouts. Begg welcomed the opportunity to gallop on the grass with turf tracks unavailable at Cranbourne of late due to recent wet weather. 'We've been hamstrung as far as facilities to gallop on grass the last couple of weeks,' Begg said. 'It's very good of the MRC to come to the party and put jumpouts on for the better class horses.' Caulfield Jump Out 1 | Mornington Glory Last year's Moir Stakes champ was in full flight this morning, proving too slick for the likes of Stretan Angel, Desert Lightning & Magic Time ðŸ'¥ REPLAYS: — (@Racing) July 29, 2025 Magic Time will resume in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 30 before the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on September 18. Magic Time won the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in 2023. Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) on September 6 at The Valley. Begg has enjoyed a stellar season with 67 Victorian winners at a staggering state-best 27.5 per cent strike rate. The tally includes 33 city triumphs at 26.5 per cent winners to runners. 'One thing you can't eat is stats,' Begg laughed. 'You just got to keep on getting results. We try to place (our horses) where they can win, put them in the right scenario (race, track and conditions). 'Always need luck, whatever you do, but the number one thing is trying to put the horses in the right scenario.'
Mercury
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Mercury
Kimochi heads into unknown for Queensland Group 1 double shot
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Gary Portelli is striving for his first Queensland Group 1 and is set to give strong mare Kimochi two chances in quick succession to pull off the heist. The Stradbroke Handicap has been the main goal for the Yulong-owned Group 1 winner right from the start of her preparation which included a trio of runs in the Sydney autumn carnival. • 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! Best laid plans have been tweaked with the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup rescheduled to Saturday after being one of the races washed out last Saturday when jockeys complained of poor visibility. But Warwick Farm trainer Portelli said Kimochi will still race in the Kingsford Smith on Saturday as a pipe-opener to the Stradbroke seven days later. He admits the seven-day back-up is a step into the unknown for Kimochi, but feels it could even suit her. • $8000 filly who 'walks like a duck' spices up Stradbroke field 'She will run on Saturday, it's a Group 1 race, and I couldn't go to the 1400(m) of the Stradbroke with her straight away given she has had a big gap between runs,' Portelli said. 'A high pressure handicap like the Stradbroke, they have got to be fit. 'We have never had to back-up before, the program has never had us having to back-up. 'But she is a very tough mare, whenever she races she is normally primed the week afterwards. Gary Portelli is confident Kimochi will handle the back-up into the Stradbroke Handicap. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images 'You actually think to yourself that she looks better the week after, than what she did leading into the race. 'She does cope with pressure, she's a big strong mare and she has been in work for ages. 'It's not like she's coming out of a spell and she's going to be too fresh or underdone. 'She has got a good fitness core.' • Waller gives hobby trainer reason to believe in Stradbroke fairytale Craig Williams rode Kimochi to Group 1 glory in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield last spring and the pair will reunite at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Kimochi is rated an $11 chance in the Kingsford Smith and is the same price for her main mission of the Stradbroke seven days later. Nine-time Group 1 winner Portelli has had some terrific horses campaign in Queensland, including Rebel Dane who finished seventh in the 2014 Stradbroke which was won by Queensland bolter River Lad. But he hopes Kimochi can give him his first Sunshine State Group 1. 'The plan is she will take her place in the Stradbroke, unless we race below expectations this Saturday,' Portelli said. Gary Portelli with Craig Williams and Yulong's Sam Fairgray after Kimochi won the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images 'From the time she came into work this preparation, the Stradbroke was in my mind the goal. 'We have drawn a fantastic barrier (three) in the Kingsford Smith, so she is going to get a soft run. 'That's important because going into the Stradbroke, she is not going to have a gut-buster and be trapped wide or doing work. 'She will get a nice run and accelerate in the straight, if she runs top three then I would be over the moon from a Straddy point of view.' • Maher filly making right noises for Oaks upset repeat Lindsay Park co-trainer Ben Hayes has indicated Rise At Dawn – the winner of eight from 15 starts – will take his place in the Kingsford Smith before being unleashed on the back-up in the Stradbroke. The Lindsay Park dynasty may have its best chance to crack its Stradbroke duck, with raging favourite War Machine ($3) set to be joined by Rise At Dawn ($11) in Queensland's most prestigious race. Originally published as Kimochi set for back-to-back Queensland Group 1 challenges in Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap
News.com.au
30-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Good gate has Kimochi poised for Group 1 Kingsford Smith boilover
Trainer Gary Portelli has Kimochi primed to enhance her 'giant-killer' reputation in the Group 1 $1m Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Kimochi is an outstanding mare, having earned over $2m prizemoney with four wins and 10 minor placings during her 21-start career. • 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! But in each of her four wins, Kimochi has never started shorter than $6.50 and was at $26 when she won the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes last spring. TAB Fixed Odd price assessors have Kimochi at generous odds again of $10 for the star-studded Eagle Farm sprint that includes Joliestar ($3 favourite), Giga Kick ($5), Benedetta ($7.50) and Private Eye ($8.50). But Kimochi has shown repeatedly during her race career that she is very competitive at this level although more often than not her chances have been impacted by wide barriers. So, Portelli was relieved when Kimochi finally drew a favourable barrier with gate three for the Kingsford Smith Cup. • Ray and Duff's Rosehill Saturday tips, analysis: $3 best bet 'Kimochi always seems to draw double-digit gates so it's nice to draw an inside barrier for a change,'' Portelli said. 'I'm really happy with her. I've basically set her for the Kingsford Smith Cup and then the Stradbroke Handicap virtually from the moment she came back into work. 'Weight-for-age races probably don't quite suit her and she is better at handicap level but from that barrier this does look a race where she can be very competitive.'' Portelli will be at Eagle Farm for Kimochi's Group 1 bid but the master trainer will be watching with interest when his two-year-olds Queen Of Clubs and Kilbrannan race at Rosehill Gardens and Kembla Grange respectively. Queen Of Clubs, a daughter of leading Arrowfield Stud stallion Maurice, was unplaced in two runs last spring and resumes in the Rosehill opener, the Schweppes Handicap (1300m). But Portelli has a very health regard for Queen Of Clubs' emerging ability. 'I like her as a classics type of filly later on,'' Portelli said. 'This is part of the process about getting her educated and although it's pretty strong race I want to see her running through the line with a view to getting her ready for the spring three-year-old fillies races.'' Kilbrannan is making his debut at the provincials over 1000m but is also a two-year-old Portelli believes has a bright future. By top sire Pierata out of Mull Over, Kilbrannan is a half-brother to Portelli's 2022 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn. 'Kilbrannan goes pretty good,'' Portelli enthused. 'I like the way he has been trialling, even though he has wanted to get a bit keen in his trials. 'But I feel the Kembla race will be run at a good 'clip' so we should have no trouble getting him to settle. 'He will be ridden quietly and look for him to be finishing off well, he's a nice colt.''
