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West Australian
11-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Fancy Red anything but expensive for favourite followers as in-form filly takes on Belmont Oaks field
Fancy Red has been anything but expensive for punters in the lead-up to Saturday's Listed $125,000 Belmont Oaks (2019m) at Bunbury where she will again start favourite. The daughter of Sessions has started the market elect in four of her last six runs and emerged successful each time, with her most recent win just seven days prior to this clash. From gate one, Fancy Red sat midfield before William Pike squeezed her home along the fence to win by a length and a half going away from her graduation-class rivals. But despite her winning form and followers' confidence, trainer Adam Durrant says her even-money price is way too short. 'We're under no illusions; $2 is ridiculous,' Durrant told TABradio. 'She's got the Pike tax because she won her last start but when you start breaking down the field… they're never generally that strong. 'I've won them before with horses that aren't genuine stayers and never see that distance again. 'We've got to plan how we can hopefully just ride her quiet, which is how she seems to race best. 'Hopefully she can just get away with it but we're under no illusions and it should be $5 the field; she shouldn't be $2. 'If it was 1400m or 1600m, perhaps, but it is what it is, and we'll take our chance to get some black type.' Durrant has a rich history with the Oaks going back almost two decades when he prepared Kia Ora Miss to win in 2006. He had to wait until 2013 before Summah's Touch provided him with a second but collected the trophy the following year with the Pike-ridden Tick Tick Bloom. He again shared the spoils with Pike in 2023 with Ihts Closing Inn, the fifth of the champion hoop's six wins in the event after scoring with the Grant and Alana Williams-trained Petrouchka last year. Fancy Red steps into unknown territory having her first start beyond a mile in distance, however, that is the case for the bulk of her opponents, too. 'Distance wise, it's a roll of the dice,' Durrant said. 'She certainly wouldn't have been taking on the boys over this trip and we'll rely on a filly that's in the zone. 'She ran through the line strongly the other day, so we'll have a crack. 'The run last Saturday, that was her bonus run. We knew she was going really well and in good form and wasn't looking for the paddock. 'We thought she could win that race, and that's a bonus race, and then it was a good trial hit-out for this week.' Showlas ($5.50) is the only other horse in the field is at single-digit odds after competing in last fortnight's Belmont Guineas with credit, finishing a four-length fifth to Opportunistic. + West On Sidney ($1.36) is a red-hot prospect in The Westcha$e Final (520m) at Cannington after overcoming a chequered passage to land his heat last week.
West Australian
01-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Young apprentice jockey Holly Nottle experiencing incredible run after starting career just a month ago
The sultry climates of Carnarvon and Port Hedland are a long way from the farm where Holly Nottle grew up, but that's exactly where the promising apprentice jockey is making her mark. On a property between Brookton and Corrigin, Nottle was riding horses from toddler age but until as recently as a few years ago, the 21-year-old had no connection with racing. That psychological moment came only in the last few years when she began a casual employment with the famous Kersley family. 'About three years ago, I started trackwork, but I was really on and off with it,' Nottle told TABradio. 'I'd move to my parents' farm and work there and then come back up to Perth for a month and do a bit more trackwork. 'At the end of 2023, I thought that this is something that I really want to give a go.' After satisfying officials with more than 40 trials, Nottle was offered her first race ride from boss Greg Kersley aboard Buckland at Pinjarra on May 28, reining the galloper into second place. Three weeks later, she was rewarded with her first winner as the Kersley-trained Leetron led all the way and began a whirlwind run for the apprentice. With a double at Port Hedland two days later and another brace at Carnarvon less than a week on, she even bagged a Northam winner in between for good measure. Further success at Kalgoorlie on Sunday took her tally to seven victories from her last 24 rides, with only a weighting mishap reducing that number from eight. 'I didn't think this is how my career would start,' she said. 'It's been different. I definitely haven't had this much attention before, so I don't really know how to feel about it all. 'I actually really enjoy riding on the dirt. Port Hedland would be my favourite track because it goes to grass in the straight; I like that change. 'It was really hard at the start. I've noticed a few people that weren't answering my calls are now starting to answer. 'A few people ring and ask if I can ride, so that makes me feel good. 'I still think I've got a lot to learn, and I definitely think it's a challenge riding against the other jockeys that are really good and at a top level, but my confidence is definitely growing.' Despite hailing from a family of farmers and fisherman, it should come as no surprise that Nottle has an aptitude for racing given her lifelong affinity with horses. 'I did a lot of gymkhanas and ag shows where you do a lot of jumping,' she said. 'In the last five years, I was competing in rodeos around WA. Barrel racing and steer decorating where you get a ribbon off the steer's back. 'If you're barrel racing, it's the thrill of going really fast and taking quick turns. It's the same with racing; going really fast and making quick decisions as you go. With guidance from trailblazing senior hoops such as Holly Watson, Tash Faithfull and Lucy Fiore, even greater success seems assured for the burgeoning talent, who rides Tropical Sun ($26) at Northam on Wednesday.
West Australian
06-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Magnificent Andy predicted by punters to become only the fourth dual winner of the Hyperion Stakes
Magnificent Andy is in line to join a select group of dual Hyperion Stakes winners when the hardy gelding contests the $200,000 Group 3 feature at Pinjarra. Only Cambana Lad (1974, 1975), Heron Bridge (1984, 1986) and Marasco (2008, 2010) have been repeat winners of the event, though Magnificent Andy would become the first since it was changed to be a 1600m contest. The chestnut has firmed to $2.90 TABtouch favouritism and his regular jockey Brad Parnham eagerly awaits the clash. 'I'm obviously pretty confident going into the race. His runs of recent times have been really great, and he gives 100 percent every time,' Parnham told TABradio. 'The last two starts, we've drawn awkward and have been caught wide. 'The other day, I managed to get across, but I rode him a little closer than I would've if I'd drawn a gate. 'Now we're up to a mile and we're drawn a good gate, I can probably position him where I want. 'I give him quite a big chance to go back to back.' A one-length fourth to Jokers Grin in The Quokka, Magnificent Andy has followed that performance with valiant runner-up performances in both the Northam Stakes and Belmont Sprint. Despite having 37 starts under his belt, the six-year-old has only raced over 1600m twice in his career for last year's Hyperion victory and a later fourth in the Railway Stakes. 'He's very strong at 1400m but think he's the sort of horse who might be better at the mile,' Parnham said. 'His effort last start was great. He got challenged by West Star and he started to pull him back and managed to get in front. 'To me, it seemed like The Boss Lady's turn of foot was a bit too sharp for him and she was able to get over the top of him. 'I think he's developed into that horse that's better at a mile. We'll see what he can do but he should be going very close.' His main rival could be $3.10 second fancy Western Empire, who missed the Belmont Sprint with a hoof abscess. 'It's still a bit of an ask going from 1200m to a mile but I'm pretty happy with how he is,' his co-trainer Grant Williams told SEN. 'We got to put in an extra couple of gallops. I would've liked one more, but he had a really good hit-out on Wednesday.' Williams also prepares $12 fourth fancy Hemlock Stone who he suggests will belie the maligned 'second-up syndrome', a metaphorical condition where horses underperform at their second start for a preparation after impressing at their first. 'I have got that in the back of my head about second-up syndrome because he's a stayer but generally we don't have that in our stable,' he said. 'Our stable, they generally bounce through the first one and their second one's a good run.'
West Australian
30-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Bohemian Diamond a strong favourite for $100,000 clash but Dyson says Kelvinater can surprise
Two weeks ago, Bohemian Diamond showed she had the wood over most of her rivals in the WestSpeed Platinum Autumn Final (1400m) and should again assert her superiority on her rivals in the $100,000 Pinjarra feature. This week's $1.85 TABtouch fancy improved her impressive first-up record when scoring a comprehensive two-length win over Royal Gap and Cheryl's Shout (both $13 this weekend) on May 17. From that race, fourth placegetter Hammarmill ($8.50), seventh Major Mario ($12), ninth Why Me ($14), 10th Zac Luvs To Fly ($41) and 11th finisher Storm Commander ($51) will all reoppose. Whilst she has expressed an edge over those rivals, Kelvinater ($8.50) brings a different form-line and shapes as a logical challenger to the strong favourite. The $280,000 earner disappointed when finishing almost 10 lengths from Hammarmill two starts ago before rebounding just a week later to win on May 10. His rider, Taj Dyson, believes he can upstage the hotpot and says any overnight rainfall will be no object. 'I think he can (win). I actually really do like him tomorrow,' Dyson told TABradio. 'He just tends to be a different horse when he's in front and freewheeling a bit. 'I don't think the weight bothers him; the last start put that to bed. 'His wet form is pretty good, so I think if he can find the front and control, I think he'll be hard to beat. 'If we can lead (Cheryl's Shout) without doing too much work… he'll be extremely hard to beat.' Prior to last start, Kelvinater had not won since July 2023 when winning a 61+ rated race at Belmont. The gelding clearly has an affinity for Dyson having been partnered by him for three of his five career wins, with the jockey only returning to race riding in January after retiring in September 2023. 'He's definitely got the class on his side and it's a big mental game with him,' Dyson said. 'When a rider tries to tell him what to do, he throws the towel in pretty quick. 'He's a temperamental horse and even at trackwork, he's a handful, so Pop (trainer Fred Kersley) does a very good job with him. 'The drop in grade has obviously helped but he does have the ability to do it, it's just all in his head.' The five-year-old is by little known stallion Heritage – a half-brother to champion Northerly - from Fred Kersley's unraced mare Sheer Royalty. Just months before Sheer Royalty's birth, a pacer by the same name proved herself to be WA's best filly by capturing two Group 1s within two weeks, including the 2009 WA Oaks. + Speedy mare Joliestar ($3f) remains outright elect for the Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm, while Statuario ($6) just leads Belle Detelle ($10 to $6.50) for the other Group 1, the Queensland Derby (2400m).
West Australian
27-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Williams stable celebrate whopping $1.1 million Alsephina sale ahead of Western Empire's Belmont Sprint tilt
Grant and Alana Williams have a chance to cap an already remarkable week with Western Empire in Pinjarra's transferred Group 3 $200,000 Belmont Sprint (1400m). On Tuesday, the Williams' bonny mare Alsephina sold for $1.1 million to Katsumi Yoshida of Japan at the Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, ending her whirlwind tenure for the husband-wife training duo. Her sale price almost matched her deeds on the track, retiring with stakes of over $1.1 million after running in March's Group 1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. ' Ï thought she could make $1 million. The reserve was a lot lower, but I said to them, 'put a realistic, conservative reserve on her and get her on the market' and the market took care of the rest,' her consigner Julian Blaxland said. 'She's a beautiful mare, great physical and she rated really well with all the ratings guys. She was a proper mare, she might have only been a Group 2 winner, but she was certainly Group 1 calibre.' Despite the excitement, Grant Williams remains all business at the stable's Karnup property to ready Western Empire for the Belmont Sprint. After the latter half of Belmont's Saturday fixture was postponed due to track issues, Williams had to take evasive action to ensure the gelding's preparation was spot on. 'On Sundays, every horse in our place has the day off,' Williams told TABradio. 'They have a light day on the Friday and just go on the water walker, so we couldn't afford to give them an easy day Saturday as well. 'We galloped a few of those horses that weren't able to race on Saturday, on Sunday. 'We took him to the old hill on Sunday just for a change and he worked really good. '(Alana) is happy with him, so that's good enough for me.' A $4.20 TABtouch second elect trailing favourite West Star ($3), Western Empire is awkwardly drawn in gate 14 but will be suited to the rise to 1400m. 'We'll still be three deep with cover at some stage,' Williams said. 'Belmont does suit the horse; it's a big open track. It's not ideal (to be at Pinjarra), but at least we're going around. 'The only way we could be at 1200m again (like last start) would be because we needed a run or something like that. 'That won't happen again and we'll change our course next time, and go back to the longer races.' The son of Iffraaj is the defending champion of the Belmont Sprint having beaten Searchin' Roc's by a nose last year. He went on to run in the Hyperion and Strickland Stakes (1600m and 2000m) subsequent to that run, with Williams indicating that may again be the case. This Saturday's Belmont meeting has also been shifted to Pinjarra with further extensive testing commissioned to external consultants Ground Science and Living Turf, who will analyse both the surface of the track and soil and sand profiles beneath.
