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News.com.au
26-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘We have to focus on the positive things about our sport': Trainer John O'Shea calls for unity after Rosehill sale decision
John O'Shea is looking forward to getting out to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday – and not just because his stable has some strong winning chances. The champion trainer is sensing Sydney racing is finally starting to put behind it months of controversial, divisive and negative debate over the Rosehill sale proposal which was rejected in a vote by Australian Turf Club members. O'Shea, who trains in partnership with Tom Charlton, felt there was a turning of the tide at Royal Randwick last Saturday. 'It was the middle of winter but there was a really good feel to the meeting,'' O'Shea said. 'I got enjoyment out of going to the races last Saturday, it was like we are starting to take away the negativity that was associated with the whole Rosehill sale issue.'' O'Shea is no shrinking violet and isn't afraid to voice his opinion. He was against the Rosehill sale from the outset. But he also provides intelligent and thoughtful insight into an issue which has fractured friendships and divided the racing industry. • 'The most disappointing thing about the Rosehill issue to me was the negativity it brought to our industry as a whole,'' O'Shea said. 'It did a lot of damage to our brand because our industry became the focus of mainstream media in a negative manner. 'Whether you were for or against it (Rosehill sale), we were looked upon in a negative manner irrespective of anything else. 'I think we have to focus more on the positive things about our sport. We need to concentrate on getting people back to the races, building the membership base and racing good horses.'' When it comes to 'racing good horses', O'Shea and Charlton have been doing just that over the last 12 months since their first runner together, Bartolf, won at Scone on July 2. The trainers have prepared 73 winners during the 2024-25 season including three Group 1 wins with Linebacker (Randwick Guineas), Maison Louis (Queensland Derby) and Schwarz (William Reid Stakes). Stable Talk 🎥 The boys look back on the Queensland Derby win, how it played out and what was going through their heads as it happened. #StableTalk #QueenslandDerby #RaceReplay — O'Shea & Charlton Racing (@JohnOSheaRacing) June 13, 2025 O'Shea and Charlton are equal sixth on the Sydney trainers premiership with 34 city races at a strike-rate of an outstanding 15.7%. 'It's been a pretty good 12 months, we can't complain,'' O'Shea said. 'But I think we haven't really changed that much in the way we do things because Tom's involvement was pretty substantial anyway. It's just made it official on the job sheet.'' O'Shea revealed the stable strategy has been to develop a team that is going to be competitive at the elite level. 'It has been a building process and getting quality animals into the yard,'' he said. 'We have a group of nice young horses coming through.'' But leading the stable charge at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday is one of their older horses, rising seven-year-old imported mare Awesome Wonder in the Stayer's Cup (2400m). Just awesome 🙌 Awesome Wonder wins the TAB Hcp for @stanley_jett and @JohnOSheaRacing! @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 10, 2024 • Awesome Wonder is out of the former brilliant filly, Nechita, winner of the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, but she hasn't inherited her dam's natural speed. Instead, Awesome Wonder throws to her sire, the great Galileo, arguably the most influential European stallion of the modern era. Galileo, who was superbly bred by the mighty Sadler's Wells out of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Urban Sea, won six of his eight starts including the 2001 English Derby. But as good as Galileo was on the racetrack, he has been even better at stud. He was leading sire in Britain a record 12 times and is the only stallion to sire over 100 individual Group 1 winners, including a record five English Derby winners. Awesome Wonder hasn't won since scoring over 2400m at Randwick in August last year but she has been improved by three runs from a spell. 'She had a long time out but is coming along well,'' O'Shea said. 'We are trying to get her to the Grafton Cup next month.'' O'Shea and Charlton also have the promising Livin' Thing lining up in the TAB Handicap (1100m). Livin' Thing, a three-year-old son of The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, has won three of his six starts and impressed at his most recent run scoring easily at Kensington. Livin' Thing records an impressive win in Race 4 at Randwick Kensington. @JohnOSheaRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 11, 2025 'He's a really nice horse,'' O'Shea said of Livin' Thing. 'He won well the other day with a bunch of weight. 'The step to 1100m will suit him, he maps well, and comes in nicely at the weights with Jace McMurray 's claim so we are looking forward to Saturday with him, to be fair.'' The trainers also have smart mare Captain Amelia going third-up in the Precise Air Handicap (1400m). 'Both her runs have been good this time in,'' O'Shea said. 'She is back to mares grade on Saturday and also has Jace's claim which helps.'' What a thriller! Captain Amelia gives @Loughnane_blly his first Randwick winner! @JohnOSheaRacing | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024 The O'Shea-Charlton stable had Quietness entered for the Listed $200,000 WJ McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill but have withdrawn the promising former English mare and will start her instead in the Listed $200,000 Tattersall's Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm. 'Quietness is a really nice, little mare, she has been a delight to train,'' O'Shea said. 'She will go to Brisbane and hopefully add to her performances that she had before coming to Australia. We like her a lot and feel she is a very good staying mare.'' With the subject on a race north of the border, we couldn't let the opportunity pass without asking O'Shea his view on the State Of Origin decider between his beloved Queensland and NSW at Accor Stadium on July 9. The Maroons, playing with an 8-0 penalty count in their favour during the first half of Game 2, defeated the Blues 26-24 to level the series. Although O'Shea was happy with the result, he was honest in his appraisal of the quality of the game and, in particular, the match officials. 'This is not a criticism of the referee (Ashley Klein) but I don't enjoy Origin as much with that referee as opposed to (Adam) Gee,'' O'Shea said. 'I think Gee lets the game flow a lot more. He usually has say five penalties but this guy (Klein) has up to 10 or more (per game). 'I don't think that is what State Of Origin is about, I think it is better left alone. 'It's not that he is a bad referee but he has a different way of refereeing State Of Origin and I don't think that is as conducive to making it a better game as to when Gee referees and just lets it flow. 'I would be interested to watch Gee referee at Origin and see if it is not a better game. But I can't wait for Game 3 and I believe it will be a lot closer than most people think.'' â– â– â– â– â– O'Shea backs star gelding against Group 1 elite Linebacker will be given his chance in Sydney's biggest races but Maison Louis is unlikely to be tested at the highest level during the spring carnival. This was trainer John O'Shea's initial assessment of spring carnival plans for his stable's two Group 1 stars ahead of their four-year-old seasons. The talented Linebacker underlined his quality during autumn holding off Broadsiding, Swiftfalcon and Aeliana in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas before he was luckless when beaten just over a length into eighth position in Stefi Magnetica 's Doncaster Mile. But the striking chestnut has shown he is not out of place against racing's elite which gives O'Shea and training partner Tom Charlton every reason to aim high with the gelding in the coming spring carnival. Linebacker has WON the G1 Randwick Guineas for @JohnOSheaRacing! ðŸ�† @ZacLloydx with a flawless performance to land Linebacker his first G1! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025 'We have to go to the Epsom Handicap with Linebacker and play ball after that,'' O'Shea said. 'We will just be guided by what happens in the Epsom but we feel he could be a horse that might run in the King Charles (III Stakes) and then the Golden Eagle.'' Although their brilliant sprinter and winner of the William Reid Stakes, Schwarz has been retired to stud, O'Shea and Charlton have unearthed an exciting young stayer in Maison Louis who defeated stablemate King Of Thunder in the Queensland Derby earlier this month. But O'Shea and Charlton are likely to take a 'softly-softly approach' with Maison Louis who won the Derby at the end of a seven-start debut race campaign. He's home! The G1 Queensland Derby belongs to Maison Louis thanks to a lovely ride by @RMaloney_Jockey - and @JohnOSheaRacing get the quinella with King Of Thunder in second spot! ðŸ'¥ ðŸ'° @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 'Maison Louis is a horse we are going to have to bring along steadily,'' O'Shea said. 'He was able to achieve so much in his first preparation but he wouldn't be ready to start butting heads with those European imports in open company. 'So we are just going to use the next 12 months or so to try and 'season' him more. 'Obviously a horse that can win a Group 1 race in his first preparation is very progressive but he needs to get some miles under his legs. He's only rated 100 so we will poke along with him next season.'' Maison Louis was too good for stablemate King Of Thunder in the Eagle Farm classic but the latter is also a stayer of considerable potential.
News.com.au
19-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘You dream about getting to 100 wins': Trainer Bjorn Baker eyes historic milestone
The remarkable rise and rise of Bjorn Baker has the trainer closing in on a historic century of Sydney wins this season. With 12 city meetings remaining this season, Baker is on 83 wins and trails only Chris Waller with 130 wins in the Sydney trainers premierships. 'You dream about getting to 100 wins, it would be fantastic,'' Baker said. 'It is not completely out of the question although I'm probably going to struggle to get there but I will be doing my best.'' There has only been five occasions in Sydney racing history when two trainers have passed 100 city wins in the same season and that was during the era when John Hawkes and Gai Waterhouse were the dominant stables two decades ago. The two Hall of Fame trainers swapped Sydney premiership wins over a 16-year period and their rivalry, albeit friendly, pushed them to new heights. In 2002-03, they both broke the 150-win barrier with Waterhouse training 156 wins to claim the title from Hawkes on 150.5 wins. The two trainers first managed the feat in 1999-2000 when Hawkes, with 112 wins, took out the premiership from Waterhouse on 101 wins. Hawkes then won titles from Waterhouse in 2003-04 (113 wins to 103) and 2005-06 (133-104) while Waterhouse reversed the order in 2001-02 (137-115). • Ciaron Maher given keys to Leilani Lodge at Royal Randwick Waller is about to claim his 15th consecutive Sydney premiership and his dominance doesn't look like ending any season soon even with Ciaron Maher 's increasing stable numbers and Baker's sudden emergence. It was only six years ago when Baker trained 23 city winners for the 2018-19 season and was just outside the Sydney top 10 rankings. But Baker has climbed into the top five Sydney trainers every year since with 2024-25 his career- best season by some margin over his previous best return of 56 city wins in 2019-20. By all the metrics, Baker has had a breakout season. He's trained the winners of 147 races on all tracks this season, easily eclipsing his previous best of 128 wins set in 2019-20. He's prepared a stable-best 23 stakes winners – including three at Group 1 level – and his starters have already earned nearly $25 million prizemoney and counting, almost doubling the $14.8 million his horses won last season. The Warwick Farm -based trainer's focus now is to 'raise the bat' for a century of city wins before the season ends with the final metropolitan meeting scheduled for his home track on July 30. "Massive thrill, so many of my great friends in this horse." Bjorn Baker with a second Group 1 across the Championships! @BBakerRacing — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) April 12, 2025 Some of the batsmen in the Australian cricket team which lost the World Test Championship Final to South Africa at Lord's last weekend would like to boast Baker's numbers. The trainer is readying 11 starters across seven races at Royal Randwick on Saturday including topweight Iknowastar and promising young sprinter Raikkonen in the Listed $200,000 Civic Stakes (1400m). 'I'm trying to get to that figure (100 wins),'' Baker said. 'I'm even looking at having Point And Shoot and Perfumist ready to start racing again next month.'' Point And Shoot reeled off three wins in Sydney over summer while during the same period, Perfumist won at Mudgee before recording a city hat-trick of her own. Perfumist makes it 3 in-a-row with a great ride from @Costin_Winona! ðŸ'Œ @BBakerRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 4, 2025 Baker said even if he doesn't quite get to the century of city wins, he 'couldn't be happier' with his stable's results this season. 'In the last five of six years, I have been in the top five each season and come third a couple of times, so to finish second will be a great achievement,'' he said. 'The prizemoney our horses have won this year was also a big kick along.'' Baker said his stable's stunning season has been the combination of a number of factors. 'I've got a great team around me, great facilities and track riders, and I think Luke (Hilton, racing manager) and myself have got better when it comes to the placement of our horses,'' he said. 'We are trying to put them in races where they are competitive, and we are know a lot more about our horses and their racing patterns. 'Luke and I have spent a lot of time on recognising how best to have our horses ridden, where they are in their preparation and their fitness levels. All the little things add up to improved results.'' In a season stacked with success, selecting the highlight might seem difficult but Baker didn't hesitate when the question was asked. 'Definitely winning the Doncaster Mile with Stefi Magnetica,'' Baker said. The filly Stefi Magnetica wins an epic G1 Stradbroke - and it’s @ZacLloydx with his first Group 1 winner! 🙌 @BrisRacingClub @BBakerRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2024 'I hadn't done well at The Championshps over the years so to win one of Sydney's great races was very special. 'Then to back it up a week later with Arapaho winning the Sydney Cup was something you dream about.'' The trainer said both Group 1 stars were back in work with Stefi Magnetica being aimed at the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes on Everest Day and Arapaho set for the $8 million Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November. Baker has a stable laden with carnival talent including $10.5 million earner Overpass and classy rising three-year-old fillies, O' Ole and Within The Law. Overpass has contested two The Everest s, finishing unplaced in both, before winning the Group 3 Sydney Stakes on Everest Day last year. 'We are bringing Overpass back into pre-training next week and our main aim is to hit the Sydney Stakes nice and fresh but we would like to think he's in the mix for The Everest,'' Baker said. 'Then, we will go back to Perth and try and win another Winterbottom Stakes. We just have to find a good track for him.'' “I’m the luckiest man in the world!â€� This interview with @BBakerRacing after Stefi Magnetica’s win in the Doncaster Mile has it all - passion, emotion and laughs! ðŸ'• @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025 Baker is excited about the new season prospects of the fillies, O' Ole who won on the Magic Millions before she was injured, and Within The Law, winner of the Sweet Embrace Stakes and a close second to Nepotism in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes. 'O' Ole has just resumed pre-training but we are taking one step at a time with her, there are no set plans,'' he said. 'She might be a bit behind for the Sydney fillies races but we are mindful of getting her back to her best. 'Within The Law came back in on Monday and we will aim her at the big fillies races. She is a proper racehorse. 'I also have a lot of time for a filly called Horseshoe Hill that won at Hawkesbury earlier in the week. I'm looking at a race at Randwick for her next month. She is very good.'' HORSESHOE HILL, already listed placed, chose a provincial maiden to make a statement Green yet gifted; guided by @RachelK11 she held 2nd off & buried the rest at @hawkesburyrc ðŸ'� The All Too Hard 2YO filly was a $200k @mmsnippets buy for @ClarkeBStock, @RidgmontFarm & me — Bjorn Baker Racing (@BBakerRacing) June 17, 2025 Baker currently has just over 100 horses in work and concedes he would need to increase that number if he was to consistently challenge for the Sydney premiership. 'There is a bit of volatility in the Sydney trainers ranks with James (Cummings) going to Hong Kong,'' Baker continued. 'We will see what the new season brings but in terms of where I'm at, I'm comfortable with my numbers. 'We do have a bit more capacity there, with the team around me and my systems, we could handle a few more. 'But I have no real plans to have a satellite stable, I'm happy to be solely based at Warwick Farm – I'm Sydney-centric.'' â– â– â– â– â– Sprinter will need to be a star to fulfil Civic duties Iknowastar will have to achieve something no sprinter has managed in 50 years to win the Listed $200,000 Civic Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The Bjorn Baker-trained Iknowastar is burdened with 60kg – a hefty handicap that hasn't been shouldered to success in the feature winter sprint since Gilt Pattern in 1975. In fact, only four other horses have carried 60kg or more to win the Civic Stakes since the race was first run 75 years ago. The outstanding duo of Triton (1973) and Fine and Dandy (1961) also carried 60kg (9st 6lbs) to success while the race weight-carrying record is shared by Zambari (1972) and Foresight (1969) who both won under 60.5kg (9st 7lbs). 'Iknowastar gave the stable one of our highlights for the season when he won the Five Diamonds Prelude,'' Baker said. 'He's had that first-up run at Doomben but has improved since and his barrier trial (six lengths win at Rosehill) was very good. He's going really well again.'' â�ï¸�â�ï¸�â�ï¸�â�ï¸�â�ï¸� A five star win! Iknowastar leads all the way at Randwick, giving @RachelK11 a double! @aus_turf_club @BBakerRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 25, 2024 Baker also has Raikkonen as fifth emergency for the Civic Stakes but still needs another four scratchings for the young sprinter to get into the start. 'Raikkonnen might be lucky to get in,'' Baker said. 'But he's in very good order and if he drew a barrier last start he probably wins. He's a young horse with a lot of ability.'' In early TAB Fixed Odds betting on the Civic Stakes, Raikkonen is at $5.50 and Iknowastar is at $10 behind the Joe Pr ide-trained Headley Grange at $3.30 favouritism. Baker has also entered Raikkonen ($3.10 favourite) for the Traffic Warden At Darley Handicap (1400m) in which the gelding has topweight of 63kg, with the trainer booking 2kg-claiming apprentice Anna Roper. The trainer has elected to start Miss Kim Kar ($5.50) alongside stablemate Stallone ($23) in QMS Media Handicap (1600m). 'Miss Kim Kar is racing in great form,'' Baker said. 'She won well at this track and then the race wasn't run to suit her last time. 'Stallone was disappointing last start but he's definitely better than that and we've put a tongue tie on him for Saturday.'' Miss Kim Kar storms home on the outside and wins the last at Randwick! ðŸ'¥ @djgibbons22 & @BBakerRacing get their double to close out the day! ✌ï¸� — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 Baker is optimistic about the chances of consistent Hollywood Hero in the Living Turf Handicap (1800m). 'Hollywood Hero is another horse who is having a really good preparation,'' Baker said. 'He's right at his peak and 1800m suits him.''
News.com.au
13-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Syndicator Steve Vardy says his four runners at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday are ‘proof you don't need to pay big money to have a chance in racing'
Sydney racing needs a good news story so welcome to the stage syndicator Steve Vardy's 'Fab Four' of Winning Proposal, Crafty Eagle, Hell Of A Fox and Hellbent For You. In the last few weeks, the racing news cycle has been dominated by the failed Rosehill sale proposal, talk of boardroom coups and industry disunity but these four racehorses are a welcome and positive advertisement for the sport. Winning Proposal, Crafty Eagle, Hell Of A Fox and Hellbent For You were each acquired for a modest price, have already returned a profit with considerable interest for their owners, and are winning chances at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. 'I only set up the syndication business (Vardy Thoroughbreds) five years ago and this is the first time we have had four runners at a Sydney Saturday meeting,'' Vardy said. 'For a syndicator, it is a dream to have your colours going around in Sydney racing and these four horses are proof you don't need to pay big money to have a chance in this game. 'We try to buy horses at value prices and hopefully provide our clients with some fun at the races and a return on their investment.'' The cheapest of the 'Fab Four' is Winning Proposal, a $50,000 purchase from the Inglis Premier Sale who has already amassed $217,900 prizemoney. She's a $13 chance in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1100m). Then there's Hell Of A Fox, a $60,000 Inglis Classic Sale graduate who has amassed $95,600 in earnings. She's chasing a fourth consecutive win in the TAB Highway (1400m). Vardy purchased Crafty Eagle for $70,000 at an Inglis Ready2Race sale and he's the clubhouse leader of the quartet with prizemoney of $235,625. He's at $19 for the Captivant At Kia Ora Handicap (1300m). Hellbent For You was the most expensive Vardy purchase although she was knocked down for only $75,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale. She has won four races and $167,850 already, and is rated a $15 chance in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1300m). Be honest... who had given up on Hellbent On You before she snuck through to win with @mcacajamez in the saddle for @JTRacingRwik?! That's a win and a half ðŸ'° @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 14, 2025 Vardy said all four were 'good each-way chances'' at Rosehill. 'Winning Proposal ran really well at Gosford first-up, she ran third and was unlucky not to have won, then she couldn't pick her feet up in the very heavy going at Randwick last start,'' Vardy said. 'Hell Of A Fox took a while to break her maiden but she has been such a success story since we sent her to Luke Pepper to train. 'Crafty Eagle is a quirky horse but John Thompson has taken the winkers off and mixed his training. If he's on his game, he can run a really good race. 'Hellbent For You is another who found the track like glue at Randwick last start but she never stopped trying. She's such a genuine mare and we expect her to run a competitive race.'' Hell Of A Fox with a hell of a finish! ðŸ'¥ The Luke Pepper trained filly makes it back-to-back wins! ✌ï¸� — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 18, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Bookies cold on Smith galloper's chances Icebreaker is undefeated in three starts this season, he's drawn the rails barrier, is trialling well – but he's the rank outsider at $41 for the Racing And Sports Handicap (1400m). Trainer Matthew Smith isn't worried the price assessors have dismissed Icebreaker's chances as the grey four-year-old has done everything right in preparation for his Rosehill return. 'He's trialling nicely, I can't fault him, he's coming up 'good','' Smith said. 'He likes wet tracks which is a help to him, too.'' Icebreaker is resuming after reeling off three successive wins over the Canberra 1600m course late last year. 'There was a perfect sequence of races for him so we kept going back to Canberra,'' Smith explained. 'He started off in a class 1, then he ran in two (benchmark) 70 races. They just fitted nicely into his preparation. 'After he won his third race in a row, we gave him a good spell and he's come back in great order. 'The 1400m on Saturday might be a bit short but it might not either as he's nice and fresh. I think he can run well.'' Jockey challenge favourite @djgibbons22 kicks off the @WyongRaceClub card with a win on Icebreaker 🧊 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 11, 2024 Icebreaker is Smith's solo Rosehill runner while the trainer also has just the one starter at Eagle Farm – tough stayer True Marvel in the Group 2 $400,000 Brisbane Cup (3200m). True Marvel, rising 10-year-old, is a specialist at the marathon trip and two years ago ran second in the Sydney Cup behind Explosive Jack, third in Selino's Brisbane Cup, and ran a commendable eighth in the Melbourne Cup won by Without A Fight. But after missing all of 2024 with injury, True Marvel has had six starts this preparation and indicated he was close to his best again with his fourth behind Diwali in the Sandown Cup at 3200m last start. Diwali relishes the two-mile test of the Listed Sandown Cup â�ï¸� @GavinBedggood 's strong form continues ðŸ'¥ — (@Racing) June 1, 2025 • 'True Marvel is going super, he's a true stayer and needs those genuine staying trips,'' Smith said. 'He ran well last start when nothing really went right for him during the race and I think he can run a very good race in the Brisbane Cup. 'He's been a ripping old horse, he loves training and racing but there are not enough 3200m races for him. But he's won a lot of money for his owners ($942,715) and it would be great if he could get to $1 million on Saturday.'' â– â– â– â– â– Another Group 1 win? That'd be Cool Max Whitby has enjoyed plenty of success as an owner-breeder in racing but admitted it would be 'next level' if his brilliant two-year-old Cool Archie can win the Group 1 $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm. 'I can't tell you what it would mean to me if Cool Archie can win the JJ Atkins,'' Whitby said. 'I've waited 20 years since Savabeel to get another potential stallion and if Cool Archie wins the Group 1 it would be really special. 'Cool Archie is a grandson of Savabeel and he's trained by Chris Munce, who used to ride Savabeel, so it's all there. I'm just super proud of this colt.'' After reeling off four successive wins including the Listed Dalrello Stakes and back-to-back Group 2 wins in the Champagne Classic and BRC Sires Produce Stakes, Cool Archie is the $3.60 favourite for the JJ Atkins. A barnstorming win by Cool Archie in the G2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes, and that's four in a row to the @munceracing galloper! 🙌 @BrisRacingClub — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 • 'I'm never short of confidence in anything I try to do in life but I'm trying to rein myself in a little with Cool Archie,'' Whitby said. 'All I can tell you is my trainer is very happy, the horse is the same weight as he was last start, he's drawn OK in nine, he handles good tracks and we think he will run the 1600m easily. 'And my jockey, Martin Harley, is so optimistic it is unbelievable. He's going over to ride at Royal Ascot after this weekend so I hope we can give him a Group 1 win before he leaves for England.'' • 2025 JJ Atkins tips, runner-by-runner form analysis â– â– â– â– â– 5 YEARS AGO Tyzone, runner-up in the Stradbroke Handicap to Trekking the previous year, went one better when he scored a popular win in Queensland's premier race for trainers Toby and Trent Edmonds, defeating Madam Rouge at Eagle Farm. It was a dual celebration for local trainers when Rob Heathcote's brilliant Rothfire raced away with the JJ Atkins. Love You Lucy, a $41 outsider, won the Dane Ripper Stakes but the Brisbane Cup was not run that year due to the Covid pandemic. At Rosehill, the Chris Waller-trained Wu Gok won the Winter Cup. • A thrilling finish in the TAB Stradbroke Handicap as Tyzone who ran second in last year's race has come back to win the 2020 edition for @EdmondsRacing and Robbie Fradd @TrentEd1 @RaceQLD @BrisRacingClub — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 6, 2020 10 YEARS AGO The Ciaron Maher-trained Srikandi scored a career-best win over Boban in the Stradbroke Handicap, run that year at Doomben. Srikandi backed up two weeks later to make it successive Group 1 wins in the Tatt's Tiara. Chris Waller's Press Statement maintained his unbeaten record in the JJ Atkins. Later that year, Press Statement won a second Group 1 in the Caulfield Guineas. Jetset Lad was an upset winner of the Brisbane Cup and the Lee Freedman-trained Hazard won the Dane Ripper Stakes. Kerrin McEvoy rode Kapour, also trained by Maher, to win the Winter Cup. 20 YEARS AGO St Basil saved the best for last with the 13th and final win of his race career in the Stradbroke defeating Perfect Promise and Shamekha. Darci Brahma finished powerfully to win the TJ Smith Stakes (now JJ Atkins), the first of five Group 1 wins during his career. Darci Brahma then became a leading New Zealand-based stallion. Portland Singa, trained by Neville McBurney, won the Brisbane Cup and Gerald Ryan's Our Sweet Moss won the Dane Ripper. The late Jack Denham prepared Verb to win the Winter Cup.
News.com.au
12-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Racing Confidential: Friday is D-Day for Australian Turf Club's call on new Leilani Lodge tenant
The Australian Turf Club board will meet on Friday to determine which trainer will be given the famous Leilani Lodge stables at Royal Randwick. James Cummings was in the running to return to the vacant stables which have been in his family for more than 40 years before his shock announcement on Wednesday that he accepted an offer to train in Hong Kong. This leaves the nation's premier trainer Ciaron Maher and the high profile Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott training partnership vying for the Leilani Lodge stables. Both are outstanding candidates and deserve the opportunity to increase their investment in Sydney racing which leaves the ATC board confronted by a very difficult decision. â– â– â– â– â– Golden send-off for Cummings? 🗣ï¸� "We're really looking forward to the challenge ahead, taking this opportunity as a real now or never opportunity." Hear from @JamesCummings88 following the recent announcement of his move to Hong Kong for the 2026/27 season... ðŸ‡ðŸ‡° #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 12, 2025 As the dust settles on Cummings's bombshell move to Hong Kong, it is only fitting if he could provide some more big-race success with Godolphin before his tenure there ends on July 31. Since Cummings took over at Godolphin in 2017, he has trained 48 Group 1 winners for the racing and breeding giant. The champion trainer could 'raise the bat' for a half century of Group 1 winners with Godolphin at Eagle Farm on Saturday with Golden Mile in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap and Zebra Finch in the $1 million JJ Atkins. â– â– â– â– â– Number's up for Warnie in Stradbroke ðŸ'€ What a start to TAB Turnbull Stakes Day!! Photo finishes all round. Well bowled, WARNIE. Takes out the TAB We're On. ðŸ'½ @7HorseRacing — Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) October 5, 2024 Warnie, the talented Maher-trained sprinter, is fifth emergency and needs a lot to go his way just to gain a start in the Stradbroke. But if Warnie does squeeze into the field for the big race, he will carry the 23 saddlecloth which will be a number significant to cricket fans. The late, great Shane Warne, or 'Warnie' as he was known, wore number 23 when he played for Australia in one-day cricket. • â– â– â– â– â– Stayer chasing rare back-to-back feat Sir Lucan wins the Listed @kiaaustralia Winter Cup for @GaiWaterhouse1 & Adrian Bott with a winning ride by Adam Hyeronimus at Rosehill Gardens. — Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) June 15, 2024 Sir Lucan is attempting to become the first horse to win successive Winter Cups in more than 60 years at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Since the Winter Cup was first run in 1957, the only horse to go back-to-back was Royal Bark in 1962-63. The only other multiple Winter Cup winner was the remarkable Destiny's Kiss – but his wins were six years apart in 2013 and 2019. The former Joe Pride-trained stayer also ran second (2018) and third (2017) in the feature Rosehill staying race. • â– â– â– â– â– What might have been Arrowfield Stud's super sire Snitzel, the nation's four-time champion stallion, has died aged 23. — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 11, 2025 With Snitzel's passing this week, what would his colt out of mighty mare Winx be worth now? Winx missed to Snitzel in 2022 but went back to Arrowfield Stud's champion stallion in 2023 and successfully got in foal. She produced her invaluable Snitzel colt in November last year and was not served again that breeding season. Although Winx's owners have not decided whether they will retain or sell their Snitzel colt next year, there is speculation if he does go to auction he could challenge the Australian record for a yearling colt of $5 million that was paid for a Redoute's Choice half-brother to Black Caviar in 2013. Winx set a world record for a yearling filly when her first foal by Pierro was knocked down for $10 million at the Inglis Easter Sale last year. Earlier this month, Winx's owners confirmed their mare will visit Darley's champion sire Too Darn Hot this spring breeding season.
News.com.au
07-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Australian Turf Club partners with Hong Kong Jockey Club in landmark deal for their slot in The Everest
The Australian Turf Club's decision to lease their Everest slot to Hong Kong Jockey Club for at least two years is a coup for Sydney racing. The deal ensures that barring injury or some unforeseen circumstance, the world's number one-ranked racehorse, Hong Kong's superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising, will contest the Group 1 $20 million The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on October 18. Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes has also indicated Ka Ying Rising will stay in Sydney for the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens two weeks later. ATC will benefit financially from the World Pool, the international commingling parimutuel betting operation which is managed by HKJC and will be available to punters on Everest Day. There is also speculation the World Pool will be added to more Sydney race meetings next season, most notably Golden Slipper Day which boasts five Group 1 races. HKJC executive director of racing, Andrew Harding, told Hong Kong media the club has secured the ATC's Everest slot for two years with an option to extend. 'For this year, the club will use the slot to enable Ka Ying Rising to take part in The Everest,'' Harding told South China Morning Post. 'In future years, we will use the slot to either facilitate a Hong Kong horse running or to target Australian or New Zealand sprinters to come onto the Hong Kong International races after The Everest.'' â– â– â– â– â– Ka Ying Rising joins Briasa (slot holders Max Whitby, Neil Werrett and Col Madden) and Private Harry (Yulong) as confirmed Everest starters. Sunshine In Paris, owned by Everest slot-holder John Camilleri of Fairway Thoroughbreds, is also being set for the big race. The world’s best sprinter is coming to Australia! Ka Ying Rising will race for new slot-holder the Hong Kong Jockey Club ðŸ¤� Here he is making it 12-straight wins, dominating the Chairman’s Sprint ðŸ'¥ â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 4, 2025 This leaves eight slots remaining and competition for an Everest start will be fierce – but not everyone is happy. A leading Sydney trainer contacted At The Track incensed that ATC had not used their slot for an 'ATC trained horse'. 'Surely that's the idea of a slot,'' the trainer said. 'That's like Wayne Bennett picking a player from another club for the grand final. What a disgrace.'' The trainer's disappointment is understandable but the financial benefits to ATC for leasing their slot HKJC and having the World Pool alignment on Everest Day is considerable, and the club wants the best possible field for the world's richest turf race so securing Ka Ying Rising was the number one priority. â– â– â– â– â– Is Coolmore's three-year-old filly Minnie Hauk, winner of the English Oaks yesterday, the most valuable potential broodmare still racing? Minnie Hauk, a daughter of English superhorse Franke l and closely related on her dam's side to another champion, Kingman, was purchased for about $A4 million as a yearling at the Goffs Orby Sale and her Oaks win means she is now a priceless broodmare once her racing days are over. Minnie Hauk takes the Oaks (G1)! â€' IFHA's Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (@worldsbesthorse) June 6, 2025 The regally-bred Minnie Hauk gave Irish training genius Aidan O'Brien his 11th Oaks win when she defeated her stablemate Whirl. â– â– â– â– â– The US triple crown isn't on the line but the final leg of the famous series, the Belmont Stakes, takes on special significance with the return clash of Godolphin's Sovereignty and Coolmore's Journalism in New York on Sunday morning. Sovereignty won an epic Kentucky Derby from Journalism last month but missed the second leg, the Preakness Stakes. In his absence, Journalism scored an incredible Preakness win and is early favourite with TAB Fixed Odds for the Belmont at $2.60 with Sovereignty pressing at $2.80.
