Latest news with #TheQuokka
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.'
Courier-Mail
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
2025 Doomben 10,000: Overpass heads to Brisbane
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Group 1 star and seasoned traveller Overpass may have lost his $5m The Quokka crown, but will now add extra star power to the early stages of the Queensland winter carnival. Trainer Bjorn Baker and syndicator Scott Darby confirmed the $10.5m earner would attack the $1.5m Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on May 17. Overpass was striving to score his third consecutive The Quokka last Saturday but finished fifth, beaten a length-and-a-half by fairytale winner Jokers Grin, who is trained by 70-year-old Bernie Miller. • 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! Overpass, rated a $6 chance in the Doomben 10,000, will now add some extra snap and crackle to the early stages of the winter carnival. 'For sure, he will go to the Doomben 10,000, we are definitely going that way as long as all goes well,' Baker told Racenet. 'He has got a bit of a travel in front of him, but that's what we will do. 'It will just be the one run in Queensland. 'In The Quokka, I thought he was OK and still ran well and didn't get beaten that far. 'Maybe, it was a little bit of a risk going in second-up and maybe that took its toll. 'We thought we could get away with it, three weeks between runs, given he is a little bit older. 'Next year, we would look at going to The Quokka first-up.' • Better than Black Caviar? Dye's big call on The Everest favourite Ka Ying Rising Overpass has raced in the Doomben 10,000 before, finishing second behind Giga Kick in 2023. As the Queensland winter carnival stars start to align, Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith indicated there was a chance The Quokka and Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes placegetter Headwall could also head north for the winter. 'I won't make a decision until I get him home, I will probably know what we are doing with him early next week,' Smith said. Meanwhile, Glen Thompson indicated last Saturday's Group 1 Australasian Oaks winner Benagil could be set for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 7. Benagil was an emphatic Oaks winner in South Australia and there were emotional scenes given the passing of co-trainer Michael Moroney earlier this year. Bjorn Baker. Picture: Getty Images • What the jockeys said: 2025 Australasian Oaks Benagil is the $4.50 favourite for the Queensland Oaks and Thompson told Racenet: 'She is a chance of coming to Queensland, depending on the next week and how she is after her (South Australian) trip.' Maiden filly Sweltering finished runner-up behind Benagil in Adelaide on Saturday and will almost certainly embark on a Queensland campaign, according to co-trainer Trent Busuttin. Originally published as Dethroned The Quokka champion Overpass set for 2025 Doomben 10,000
News.com.au
28-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Dethroned The Quokka champion Overpass set for 2025 Doomben 10,000
Group 1 star and seasoned traveller Overpass may have lost his $5m The Quokka crown, but will now add extra star power to the early stages of the Queensland winter carnival. Trainer Bjorn Baker and syndicator Scott Darby confirmed the $10.5m earner would attack the $1.5m Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on May 17. Overpass was striving to score his third consecutive The Quokka last Saturday but finished fifth, beaten a length-and-a-half by fairytale winner Jokers Grin, who is trained by 70-year-old Bernie Miller. • 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! Overpass, rated a $6 chance in the Doomben 10,000, will now add some extra snap and crackle to the early stages of the winter carnival. 'For sure, he will go to the Doomben 10,000, we are definitely going that way as long as all goes well,' Baker told Racenet. 'He has got a bit of a travel in front of him, but that's what we will do. 'It will just be the one run in Queensland. 'In The Quokka, I thought he was OK and still ran well and didn't get beaten that far. 'Maybe, it was a little bit of a risk going in second-up and maybe that took its toll. 'We thought we could get away with it, three weeks between runs, given he is a little bit older. 'Next year, we would look at going to The Quokka first-up.' "I think he might have got the winning hand." JOKERS GRIN storms home from the clouds & wins the $5 million Quokka! ðŸ'¥ — (@Racing) April 26, 2025 • Overpass has raced in the Doomben 10,000 before, finishing second behind Giga Kick in 2023. As the Queensland winter carnival stars start to align, Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith indicated there was a chance The Quokka and Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes placegetter Headwall could also head north for the winter. 'I won't make a decision until I get him home, I will probably know what we are doing with him early next week,' Smith said. Meanwhile, Glen Thompson indicated last Saturday's Group 1 Australasian Oaks winner Benagil could be set for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 7. Benagil was an emphatic Oaks winner in South Australia and there were emotional scenes given the passing of co-trainer Michael Moroney earlier this year. Benagil is the $4.50 favourite for the Queensland Oaks and Thompson told Racenet: 'She is a chance of coming to Queensland, depending on the next week and how she is after her (South Australian) trip.' Maiden filly Sweltering finished runner-up behind Benagil in Adelaide on Saturday and will almost certainly embark on a Queensland campaign, according to co-trainer Trent Busuttin.
Herald Sun
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Jokers Grin has last laugh with victory in The Quokka
Jokers Grin became the first West Australian galloper to win the state's biggest race – the $5m Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. The victory was by the biggest win of 70-year-old trainer Bernie Miller's career while it was redemption for winning rider Pat Carbery, who was aboard Amelia's Jewel when beaten a nose in the inaugural running of The Quokka in 2023. • 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! 'It's absolutely brilliant, how can you put that into words,' Miller told the 'I'll wake up tomorrow and still won't be able to talk about it. 'A dream come true. 'A lot of belief from a lot of people that have backed me and helped me out throughout the years, your vets, your staff at home, my farrier. 'It's just fantastic, a big dream.' The only previous Quokka winner Overpass was sent out a commanding favourite to make it three straight wins in the race and after being made to work early, he crossed the field and took up the running but this year, his winning kick wasn't there and it was left to the swoopers. Headwall emerged at the 200m and looked the winner but tagging him was Jokers Grin and late in the piece he got the better of the Sydneysider to score with another local Generosity in third while Overpass weakened into fifth. 'It was about the 150 when I saw him fan out and I thought 'we'll just use the old camber and we'll be right',' Miller said. 'I stood where I've never watched him before and the trill of watching him go past, it was tremendous.' The win also provided Carbery with the biggest victory in the career of the five-time Group 1-winning veteran. He and Miller are best mates, and the victory was a dream come true on a personal level for the pair of racing stalwarts. Joker's Grin (white cap) proves too strong for Headwall (pink cap) and Generosity (orange cap). Picture: Western Racepix 'I don't have to talk about Bernie, everyone knows what I think of him, we're best mate,' Carbery said. 'Not because we've had success together, we're just best mates. 'I'm really lucky. A lot of people don't get to work with someone that is really close to you and I'm just blessed for one, to ride for Bernie but to also be his best mate. 'This is just the pinnacle of my career.' The winning slot-holder was the Ladbrokes Racing Club which on Thursday night also won greyhound racing's version of The Quokka, The Sandgroper with Deadly Avenger. Originally published as Jokers Grin delivers for the locals in The Quokka at Ascot
News.com.au
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Jokers Grin wins The Quokka for the locals
Jokers Grin became the first Western Australian galloper to win the state's biggest race – the $5 million Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. The victory was by the biggest win of 70-year-old trainer Bernie Miller's career while it was redemption for winning rider Pat Carbery, who was aboard Amelia's Jewel when beaten a nose in the inaugural running of The Quokka in 2023. 'It's absolutely brilliant, how can you put that into words,' Miller told the 'I'll wake up tomorrow and still won't be able to talk about it. 'A dream come true. 'A lot of belief from a lot of people that have backed me and helped me out throughout the years, your vets, your staff at home, my farrier. 'It's just fantastic, a big dream.' The only previous Quokka winner Overpass was sent out a commanding favourite to make it three straight wins in the race and after being made to work early, he crossed the field and took up the running but this year, his winning kick wasn't there and it was left to the swoopers. At the 200m, Sydneysider Headwall emerged and looked the winner but tagging him was Jokers Grin and late in the piece he got the better of Headwall to score with another local, Generosity in third while Overpass weakened into fifth. SOMETHING TO GRIN ABOUT! 😊 Jokers Grin has won the 2025 edition of The Quokka for 70-year-old trainer Bernie Miller. — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) April 26, 2025 'It was about the 150 when I saw him fan out and I thought 'we'll just use the old camber and we'll be right',' Miller said. 'I stood where I've never watched him before and the trill of watching him go past, it was tremendous.' The win was also provided Carbery with the biggest victory in the career of the five-time Group 1-winning veteran. He and Miller are best mates, and the victory was a dream come true on a personal level for the pair of racing stalwarts. 'I don't have to talk about Bernie, everyone knows what I think of him, we're best mate,' Carbery said. 'Not because we've had success together, we're just best mates. 'I'm really lucky. A lot of people don't get to work with someone that is really close to you and I'm just blessed for one, to ride for Bernie but to also be his best mate. 'This is just the pinnacle of my career.' The winning slot holder was the Ladbrokes Racing Club which on Thursday night also won greyhound racing's version of The Quokka, The Sandgroper with Deadly Avenger.
