Latest news with #StormTheRamparts
Sydney Morning Herald
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Has there been a more consistent horse this Sydney winter than Storm The Ramparts?
'He's been going super. What generally finishes up these winter horses is the dry tracks, and he'll get one this weekend. 'He's been on two dryish tracks and run well, but sooner or later one of them will pull him up. It's also his first start out of 78 grade, he steps up to a [benchmark] 88, but he's very consistent, and makes his own luck up in front. He'll be hard to beat again.' Storm The Ramparts is by Headwater, a stallion whose progeny are a bit like a poorly brewed beer – fizz and excitement early on, but prone to going flat quickly. Pride, however, said Storm The Ramparts had been able to improve with each preparation because of his mare, Quick's The Word. 'He's out of a really good mare, he's a half-brother to Dragonstone, which is probably what's carrying him along,' Pride said. 'He's a dream horse to own. A lot of people don't like that 'wet-tracker' term for their horses, but it doesn't bother me. If he's a wet-tracker, he's a wet-tracker.' Pride also starts Estadio Mestalla and Accredited in the feature Winter Challenge, with his pair, and favourite Robusto, the three horses that all slugged it out in a finish a couple of weeks ago in Sydney. 'I think they've got the market right, and I'll be shocked if my two or Robusto doesn't win,' Pride said. 'He's a dream horse to own ... If he's a wet-tracker, he's a wet-tracker.' Joe Pride on Storm The Ramparts 'Estadio Mestalla is racing well and will make his own luck up front again, while Accredited, the turnaround from wet tracks to dry tracks, it's massive when you look at his record. He's a different horse on top of the ground. He raced on a soft 7 last start ... he got through it, but not well. 'Saturday's track will be much firmer, and he'll love it. They're both in their grade now, and I'm happy to pick off races in their grade.' Meanwhile, Pride has a lot of time for two-year-old Reflect, the first horse he has trained for the Think Big Stud, whose white, black and yellow colours were made famous by late owner Dato Tan Chin Nam. The $310,000 Magic Millions purchase has already had one race start, but the big black filly has enormous upside, said Pride, which punters will see over time. Pride also confirmed several Godolphin horses that would be headed to his stable next month, including Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile, and Comedy, a two-year-old Snitzel colt that ran in the major lead-up races to the Golden Slipper. Thompson gives his Blessing Randwick trainer John Thompson won't have a runner in the feature Winter Challenge – a race he won last year with $31 shot Jojo Was A Man – but he is counting on the form and impressive fresh record of With Your Blessing to give him a winner at Rosehill on Saturday. With Your Blessing resumes in the July Sprint, an open 1100m handicap, after a 14-week spell and three sharp trials. The six-year-old raced just off the leaders before hitting the line in all three trials, winning the past two at Canterbury and Hawkesbury. The encouraging return follows an excellent summer campaign which included wins at Randwick over 1100m and 1300m in benchmark 78 and 88 respectively on good going, and a photo-finish second to Iowna Merc in the group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at the track on March 1 in his most recent outing. Thompson believed With Your Blessing was 'a great chance' to return with a win on Saturday. 'He's won a couple of trials, and he's going really good,' Thompson said. 'He had a great prep last prep, and he is first up, and he normally goes well fresh. He's had three trials waiting for this race, so he's ready to go.' Loading With Your Blessing, a $70,000 buy as a yearling, has won $568,205 across 29 starts, including six victories and 10 placings. Three of those wins and two placings have come when the son of Vadamos and Super Trouper was resuming. Thompson's stable will be searching for back-to-back Saturday city successes after Bundeena won first-up at Randwick last week in a 1000m benchmark 78 handicap. The five-year-old Spirit Of Boom gelding, plagued by wide draws last preparation, made the most of an inside barrier and trouble-free run to win by one and a quarter lengths. He has drawn barrier eight with Alysha Collett to steer.
The Age
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Has there been a more consistent horse this Sydney winter than Storm The Ramparts?
'He's been going super. What generally finishes up these winter horses is the dry tracks, and he'll get one this weekend. 'He's been on two dryish tracks and run well, but sooner or later one of them will pull him up. It's also his first start out of 78 grade, he steps up to a [benchmark] 88, but he's very consistent, and makes his own luck up in front. He'll be hard to beat again.' Storm The Ramparts is by Headwater, a stallion whose progeny are a bit like a poorly brewed beer – fizz and excitement early on, but prone to going flat quickly. Pride, however, said Storm The Ramparts had been able to improve with each preparation because of his mare, Quick's The Word. 'He's out of a really good mare, he's a half-brother to Dragonstone, which is probably what's carrying him along,' Pride said. 'He's a dream horse to own. A lot of people don't like that 'wet-tracker' term for their horses, but it doesn't bother me. If he's a wet-tracker, he's a wet-tracker.' Pride also starts Estadio Mestalla and Accredited in the feature Winter Challenge, with his pair, and favourite Robusto, the three horses that all slugged it out in a finish a couple of weeks ago in Sydney. 'I think they've got the market right, and I'll be shocked if my two or Robusto doesn't win,' Pride said. 'He's a dream horse to own ... If he's a wet-tracker, he's a wet-tracker.' Joe Pride on Storm The Ramparts 'Estadio Mestalla is racing well and will make his own luck up front again, while Accredited, the turnaround from wet tracks to dry tracks, it's massive when you look at his record. He's a different horse on top of the ground. He raced on a soft 7 last start ... he got through it, but not well. 'Saturday's track will be much firmer, and he'll love it. They're both in their grade now, and I'm happy to pick off races in their grade.' Meanwhile, Pride has a lot of time for two-year-old Reflect, the first horse he has trained for the Think Big Stud, whose white, black and yellow colours were made famous by late owner Dato Tan Chin Nam. The $310,000 Magic Millions purchase has already had one race start, but the big black filly has enormous upside, said Pride, which punters will see over time. Pride also confirmed several Godolphin horses that would be headed to his stable next month, including Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile, and Comedy, a two-year-old Snitzel colt that ran in the major lead-up races to the Golden Slipper. Thompson gives his Blessing Randwick trainer John Thompson won't have a runner in the feature Winter Challenge – a race he won last year with $31 shot Jojo Was A Man – but he is counting on the form and impressive fresh record of With Your Blessing to give him a winner at Rosehill on Saturday. With Your Blessing resumes in the July Sprint, an open 1100m handicap, after a 14-week spell and three sharp trials. The six-year-old raced just off the leaders before hitting the line in all three trials, winning the past two at Canterbury and Hawkesbury. The encouraging return follows an excellent summer campaign which included wins at Randwick over 1100m and 1300m in benchmark 78 and 88 respectively on good going, and a photo-finish second to Iowna Merc in the group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at the track on March 1 in his most recent outing. Thompson believed With Your Blessing was 'a great chance' to return with a win on Saturday. 'He's won a couple of trials, and he's going really good,' Thompson said. 'He had a great prep last prep, and he is first up, and he normally goes well fresh. He's had three trials waiting for this race, so he's ready to go.' Loading With Your Blessing, a $70,000 buy as a yearling, has won $568,205 across 29 starts, including six victories and 10 placings. Three of those wins and two placings have come when the son of Vadamos and Super Trouper was resuming. Thompson's stable will be searching for back-to-back Saturday city successes after Bundeena won first-up at Randwick last week in a 1000m benchmark 78 handicap. The five-year-old Spirit Of Boom gelding, plagued by wide draws last preparation, made the most of an inside barrier and trouble-free run to win by one and a quarter lengths. He has drawn barrier eight with Alysha Collett to steer.
Sydney Morning Herald
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Race-by-race tips and preview for Randwick on Saturday
The wide barrier might be a blessing for 2. Piggyback, which has likely been a victim of barrier one in her two defeats since she charged down the middle to win first up. Could arguably have won both those races, but either way, she's run very well without having things fall in her favour. Can be the master of her own destiny now and should take beating. 3. Federer was only second up when finishing not far off his stablemate at Rosehill two weeks ago, and he has the right set-up to produce his best run for the preparation so far. He's 1.5kg worse off for finishing behind Piggyback, but does look a danger. 4. Misterkipchoge brought up his long-awaited second win by claiming that race at Rosehill with a positive ride. He just got there and has to carry 3kg more, but in the small field he will get his chance to repeat. 6. Natural Deduction was scratched from Wednesday to run here and he bounced back to his best third up with a solid win at Canterbury. Comes back 100m, but capable of taking up a position and is in the mix. How to play it: Piggyback to win. Race 6 – 2.05PM EREMEIN HANDICAP (1800 METRES) 10. Pippie Beach must be the starting point in a race that really could be anyone's under the right circumstances. She's run well in all three starts this time in, including a first-up win, but the way the race was run last time out didn't give her any chance and she was outsprinted when running third behind She's Unusual. Gets a 4kg weight drop, a nice soft gate and the edge off the track is what she likes. 4. Zaphod sat up handy and had his chance when a fading fourth behind Quantum Cat over this course three weeks ago. Can't see any excuses there, but finds a similar set-up where he should be handy, and now he's fourth up he should be peaking fitness wise. 3. Salt Lake City was expected to run well last time in the same race, and he was fair in finishing just over two lengths off the winner. Again, he was third up and off a big second-up run, so perhaps an excuse there, and he could produce something. 9. Morning Sun won at 1800m first up last prep in midweek benchmark 72 company and there wasn't anything wrong with his latest trial. Can race on the handy side and a cheeky fresh effort wouldn't surprise. How to play it: Pippie Beach to win. Race 7 – 2.40PM THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1000 METRES) 2. Yiska can be a bit hit and miss – his record tells you that – but he races well fresh and seems to race best when allowed to find his feet and swoop. That's what happened first up last time in when he beat – an admittedly very unlucky – Accredited at Canterbury. He can balance up from the wide gate, and while you're banking on some early pace bringing him into it, he's an each-way chance. 3. Lulumon is another swooper that won a very good form race when she claimed Storm The Ramparts and Hi Dubai to win over the 1000m three weeks ago. Up 2.5kg, but if they are charging home from the back, it'll bring her right into the race. 8. Cassiel is an up-and-comer that has put two wins at benchmark 64 level together this time in. Races handy and while up in class he is down 5kg and that gives him the chance to be competitive. 1. Katsu is a noted on-pacer, and he'll have to carry 64kg after the claim. He was solid first up for the new stable under 60kg at Sandown a month ago and has had a jump out since. Lost his way last prep, so the fresh run is encouraging, and he stays in the mix. How to play it: Yiska each way. Race 8 – 3.20PM ASAHI SUPER DRY HANDICAP (1600 METRES) 8. Puntin looks a progressive type, and he was able to get control and hold them off to score second up at Rosehill. Steps out to the mile now, which he'll relish. He's drawn to land right there in the lead or on the pace again, and he's the one horse in this race that's very likely not reached anywhere near his ceiling just yet. Bit of a moment of truth for him, but he looks hard to beat. 12. Fiddlers Green caught everyone's eye when storming home for fourth behind Puntin after winning first up at the midweeks. Drew the outside there and went back, but you'd imagine from a kinder gate he can be that little bit closer. Yet to win beyond 1400m, but looks set to run a big race. 16. Sly Boots is another that comes through that race, and in his case, it was an excellent return after more than a year off the scene as he was beaten less than a length running on nicely. Has to be fitter, and he is not to be left out of calculations. 4. Oh Diamond Lil returned to form with a handy second behind runaway winner It's A Knockout third up and draws to get a nice run around the speed. Is a winner at this track and over this distance in Midway company earlier this year. 7. Don't Forget Jack was runner-up to Puntin and has to be thereabouts, and 11. King Ratel is getting fitter after two good runs from a two-year absence. How to play it: Puntin to win. Race 9 – 4PM TAB HANDICAP (1400 METRES) 10. It's A Knockout was awesome in winning first up at the same track and over the same distance last month. She landed in a great spot from a wide gate and simply powered away. It's a rise in class now for her to benchmark 88, but she gets a 1.5kg weight drop and a barrier perfect for her style. She's already been placed in a group 3 in mares company, so it's not foreign waters she's stepping into, and if she's anything like the horse that turned up three weeks ago, she'll be difficult to stop. The same can be said for 16. Getafix after his demolition job in midweek company at Kensington carrying 61.5kg. He enjoyed being covered up and exploded away for almost a six-length margin on the line. This is a sharper step in class, but he did start $15 in a Hawkesbury Guineas prior. 11. Mickey's Medal found himself last and facing a big task in a race run strongly up front, which likely took the finish out of him. Still did a good job to run fourth. Up in weight as he loses the claim, but has to be included. 7. Razors made an acceptable return from a year off the scene when close up behind Accredited in benchmark 94 grade. He'll be fitter for that, down a notch in class and was stakes placed at this track and trip. Keep in mind. How to play it: It's A Knockout to win. Race 10 – 4.35PM PRECISE AIR HANDICAP (1400 METRES) 5. Changing Colours was particularly dominant coming to Sydney off a month between runs and overcoming trouble to score an easy win at Rosehill two weeks ago. While she is up in the weights, she's meeting a largely similar group and, if anything, she's drawn a lot better. It's up to her to repeat that performance, but nothing is saying she can't. 15. Fairway Star could not quite match her turn of foot late, but did a good job to run second having returned with a handy effort behind Sacred Rocks. One of the each-way chances again. 10. Slinky is not too far off a win looking at her two runs back from a spell over shorter trips. Ran on strongly from last behind Lady Extreme last time out and with a big turnaround at the barriers she could be dangerous. 3. Liberty State was awesome winning first up from back and wide on a heavy track before an even effort in the same race as Slinky, finishing just ahead of her. In the conversation again. How to play it: Changing Colours to win.
The Age
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Race-by-race tips and preview for Randwick on Saturday
The wide barrier might be a blessing for 2. Piggyback, which has likely been a victim of barrier one in her two defeats since she charged down the middle to win first up. Could arguably have won both those races, but either way, she's run very well without having things fall in her favour. Can be the master of her own destiny now and should take beating. 3. Federer was only second up when finishing not far off his stablemate at Rosehill two weeks ago, and he has the right set-up to produce his best run for the preparation so far. He's 1.5kg worse off for finishing behind Piggyback, but does look a danger. 4. Misterkipchoge brought up his long-awaited second win by claiming that race at Rosehill with a positive ride. He just got there and has to carry 3kg more, but in the small field he will get his chance to repeat. 6. Natural Deduction was scratched from Wednesday to run here and he bounced back to his best third up with a solid win at Canterbury. Comes back 100m, but capable of taking up a position and is in the mix. How to play it: Piggyback to win. Race 6 – 2.05PM EREMEIN HANDICAP (1800 METRES) 10. Pippie Beach must be the starting point in a race that really could be anyone's under the right circumstances. She's run well in all three starts this time in, including a first-up win, but the way the race was run last time out didn't give her any chance and she was outsprinted when running third behind She's Unusual. Gets a 4kg weight drop, a nice soft gate and the edge off the track is what she likes. 4. Zaphod sat up handy and had his chance when a fading fourth behind Quantum Cat over this course three weeks ago. Can't see any excuses there, but finds a similar set-up where he should be handy, and now he's fourth up he should be peaking fitness wise. 3. Salt Lake City was expected to run well last time in the same race, and he was fair in finishing just over two lengths off the winner. Again, he was third up and off a big second-up run, so perhaps an excuse there, and he could produce something. 9. Morning Sun won at 1800m first up last prep in midweek benchmark 72 company and there wasn't anything wrong with his latest trial. Can race on the handy side and a cheeky fresh effort wouldn't surprise. How to play it: Pippie Beach to win. Race 7 – 2.40PM THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1000 METRES) 2. Yiska can be a bit hit and miss – his record tells you that – but he races well fresh and seems to race best when allowed to find his feet and swoop. That's what happened first up last time in when he beat – an admittedly very unlucky – Accredited at Canterbury. He can balance up from the wide gate, and while you're banking on some early pace bringing him into it, he's an each-way chance. 3. Lulumon is another swooper that won a very good form race when she claimed Storm The Ramparts and Hi Dubai to win over the 1000m three weeks ago. Up 2.5kg, but if they are charging home from the back, it'll bring her right into the race. 8. Cassiel is an up-and-comer that has put two wins at benchmark 64 level together this time in. Races handy and while up in class he is down 5kg and that gives him the chance to be competitive. 1. Katsu is a noted on-pacer, and he'll have to carry 64kg after the claim. He was solid first up for the new stable under 60kg at Sandown a month ago and has had a jump out since. Lost his way last prep, so the fresh run is encouraging, and he stays in the mix. How to play it: Yiska each way. Race 8 – 3.20PM ASAHI SUPER DRY HANDICAP (1600 METRES) 8. Puntin looks a progressive type, and he was able to get control and hold them off to score second up at Rosehill. Steps out to the mile now, which he'll relish. He's drawn to land right there in the lead or on the pace again, and he's the one horse in this race that's very likely not reached anywhere near his ceiling just yet. Bit of a moment of truth for him, but he looks hard to beat. 12. Fiddlers Green caught everyone's eye when storming home for fourth behind Puntin after winning first up at the midweeks. Drew the outside there and went back, but you'd imagine from a kinder gate he can be that little bit closer. Yet to win beyond 1400m, but looks set to run a big race. 16. Sly Boots is another that comes through that race, and in his case, it was an excellent return after more than a year off the scene as he was beaten less than a length running on nicely. Has to be fitter, and he is not to be left out of calculations. 4. Oh Diamond Lil returned to form with a handy second behind runaway winner It's A Knockout third up and draws to get a nice run around the speed. Is a winner at this track and over this distance in Midway company earlier this year. 7. Don't Forget Jack was runner-up to Puntin and has to be thereabouts, and 11. King Ratel is getting fitter after two good runs from a two-year absence. How to play it: Puntin to win. Race 9 – 4PM TAB HANDICAP (1400 METRES) 10. It's A Knockout was awesome in winning first up at the same track and over the same distance last month. She landed in a great spot from a wide gate and simply powered away. It's a rise in class now for her to benchmark 88, but she gets a 1.5kg weight drop and a barrier perfect for her style. She's already been placed in a group 3 in mares company, so it's not foreign waters she's stepping into, and if she's anything like the horse that turned up three weeks ago, she'll be difficult to stop. The same can be said for 16. Getafix after his demolition job in midweek company at Kensington carrying 61.5kg. He enjoyed being covered up and exploded away for almost a six-length margin on the line. This is a sharper step in class, but he did start $15 in a Hawkesbury Guineas prior. 11. Mickey's Medal found himself last and facing a big task in a race run strongly up front, which likely took the finish out of him. Still did a good job to run fourth. Up in weight as he loses the claim, but has to be included. 7. Razors made an acceptable return from a year off the scene when close up behind Accredited in benchmark 94 grade. He'll be fitter for that, down a notch in class and was stakes placed at this track and trip. Keep in mind. How to play it: It's A Knockout to win. Race 10 – 4.35PM PRECISE AIR HANDICAP (1400 METRES) 5. Changing Colours was particularly dominant coming to Sydney off a month between runs and overcoming trouble to score an easy win at Rosehill two weeks ago. While she is up in the weights, she's meeting a largely similar group and, if anything, she's drawn a lot better. It's up to her to repeat that performance, but nothing is saying she can't. 15. Fairway Star could not quite match her turn of foot late, but did a good job to run second having returned with a handy effort behind Sacred Rocks. One of the each-way chances again. 10. Slinky is not too far off a win looking at her two runs back from a spell over shorter trips. Ran on strongly from last behind Lady Extreme last time out and with a big turnaround at the barriers she could be dangerous. 3. Liberty State was awesome winning first up from back and wide on a heavy track before an even effort in the same race as Slinky, finishing just ahead of her. In the conversation again. How to play it: Changing Colours to win.
Courier-Mail
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Joe Pride perplexed after Storm The Ramparts wins again at Rosehill
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Storm The Ramparts continued his white-hot winter form with another easy win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Trainer Joe Pride's underrated Storm The Ramparts was simply too fast and too good for his chasing rivals in the 50 Year And Life Member Handicap (1100m). Pride said he was surprised that form analysts and punters had taken a set against Storm The Ramparts primarily because the sprinter had been burdened with 62.5kg. • 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! 'Punters' obsession with weight is ridiculous and sometimes they ignore the obvious,'' Pride said. 'Storm The Ramparts is a proper 78 grade proven horse and is flying. He's a ripper. 'We changed it up by bringing him to Rosehill as opposed to the Randwick 1000m but he went really well again. This horse is having a fantastic preparation.'' Storm The Ramparts ($4), ridden by Josh Parr, made light of his hefty handicap and led most of the way to score by just over a length from the fast finishing First Landing ($10) with Pokerjack ($13) a close third. Godolphin's Tarpaulin was backed into $1.80 favouritism and after looming as a chance half-way down the straight he faded to finish nearly four lengths away in fourth placing. Storm The Ramparts scored his third Sydney Saturday win (plus two seconds) from five starts this campaign and Pride said there is no reason not to keep the in-form sprinter in training through winter. 'He has been enjoying himself on these winter tracks of late, although he also performed very well on the dry last start,'' Pride said. • Diddle Dumpling shines with frontrunning victory 'The July Sprint back here in a couple of weeks would not be out of the question. I won it with Eduardo a few years ago and I'm sure there is no Eduardo in the race this year.'' Storm The Ramparts had gone winless for 18-months under his form surge this winter but Pride explained that the sprinter had been troubled by a shoulder complaint. 'He was diagnosed with a shoulder problem that was bothering him so we gave him a decent break and he has come back in great form,'' Pride said. 'His half-brother, Dragonstone, got better as he got older and that is exactly the pathway this horse has been on.'' Meanwhile, Pride confirmed another of his stable's form sprinters, In Flight, will be chasing a hat-trick of stakes wins in the Group 3 $200,000 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield next Saturday. Talented mare In Flight ran second to Dragonstone in the Listed Hawkesbury Rush before reeling off successive Listed wins in the Bright Shadow Quality and the Bob Charley AO Stakes. 'In Flight is super, she trialled at Kembla Grange during the week and is going great,'' he said. Originally published as Joe Pride sprinter Storm The Ramparts unstoppable again at Rosehill
