Latest news with #Whinchat
New Paper
01-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Barrier concerns but Winter Stakes up Whinchat's alley
SYDNEY - For a quirky horse like Whinchat, keeping him calm and relaxed is half the battle won. For that reason, trainer David Pfieffer is likely to run the son of Russian Revolution in the Listed Winter Stakes (1,400m) at Rosehill on July 5. The five-year-old gelding, who is also nominated at Sunshine Coast in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1,400m) on July 5, has certain idiosyncrasies, especially in the barriers, that can make things tricky for riders. His eccentric behaviour was on full show two starts back in the Singapore Pools Handicap, a Benchmark 94 race (1,300m) at Royal Randwick on June 7. Ridden by regular partner Jay Ford, the 23-10 favourite missed the start by six lengths and elected to come from behind instead, but he did not threaten at all, finishing second-last to the Joseph Pride-trained Headley Grange. Pfieffer could not hide his disappointment. "I think the horse is flying," said the New South Wales trainer. "It was highly unfortunate he reared in the gates second-up because I thought it was his to win." Three weeks before that underwhelming run, Whinchat led first-up after a 14-month spell, and finished a close second to the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained The Instructor in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1,300m) at the Scone Carnival on May 17, when he was drawn in barrier 13. In fact, the six-time winner has always won by leading, over distances ranging from 1,100m to 1,400m around New South Wales, even if he had to overcome wide draws at two of his wins. While Whinchat has led at fast tempos from wide barriers, Pfieffer is still hoping the brown gelding can draw better and find a race with less pressure as he leads. A good example of wide gates being a dampener came when Whinchat was again beaten into fifth by Headley Grange at his last start in the Listed Civic Stakes (1,400m) at Royal Randwick on June 21, albeit by less than two lengths, when he jumped from barrier 16. "Last start, we had four leaders in the race and I thought he put in a very good effort," said Pfieffer. "A few of the speed horses I thought might be there (on Saturday) aren't there, and with his history in the barriers, I'd be terrified of travelling interstate." An injury forced Whinchat to miss a year of racing - after his last win in the Rosehill Bowling Club Benchmark 88 handicap (1,400m) on March 16, 2024 - leading into this campaign, and Pfieffer said he has taken a bit more time to come to hand as an older gelding. "He came back for a preparation, had two trials and then did a ligament behind his knee. Nothing overly dramatic, but it was just enough to give him a few months off," he said. "We've taken it slow, but like all of us, when you're getting old, you hold a bit more weight and it takes a little bit longer to get fitter. "He's come through that tough run well. Jay Ford worked him Tuesday morning on the course proper and he went great, recovered well. "He just needs a bit of breathing time. I think it's achievable to win a stakes race with him, and the race on Saturday should be right up his alley." Known for steering one of Australia's most iconic horses, Takeover Target, to victory in the 2008 Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1,200m) at his first ride at Kranji, the Sydney-based Ford has partnered Whinchat in all his six wins. He will be taking the reins on Whinchat - who is rated a 12-1 chance across all-in markets - again in the Winter Stakes. SKY RACING WORLD
News.com.au
19-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Barrier rogue Whinchat can bounce back to his best in 2025 Civic Stakes at Royal Randwick
Jockey Jay Ford has seen the best and worst of Whinchat and knows the right version of David Pfieffer's bold frontrunner will have him right in Saturday's Listed $200,000 Civic Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick. Whinchat gave a reminder of his bad boy behaviour when Ford last jumped aboard the talented sprinter, with the son of Russian Revolution playing up in the gates and missing the start by six lengths. • It's not the first time Whinchat has played up at the races but the talented barrier rogue had been on his best behaviour in recent times with significant dividends. He impressively won three times in the city last preparation, all with Ford aboard, and first-up finished a narrow runner-up to The Instructor in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes before his unfortunate mood swing. 'He has come a long way but you never know what you are going to get with him,' Ford said. 'From where he was two years ago, he has come a long way but there is always a chance if he has a bee in his bonnet, what happened last start can happen. 'He is not bombproof by any means but had a good little run there for a while where he was well behaved and manageable. 'That was the old Whinchat there the other day so we will see what mood he turns up on Saturday.' • ' You dream about getting to 100 wins': Baker eyes historic milestone Stewards sent Whinchat back to the trials after his barrier mishap where the gelding won his heat over 1050m. He gets another opportunity to snare a Stakes victory in a competitive addition of the Civic Stakes which has drawn a capacity field of 16. Whinchat will jump from the outside gate in the feature but Ford doesn't see it as a negative. 'He is pretty one-dimensional so draw is not a real worry for him,' he said. 'It's probably a positive with less time in the barrier for him. 'It's a good race for him, I suppose it just comes down to how quick we have to go early because there is a bit of speed in numbers there. 'They are out there with us so hopefully he can behave and jump clean. 'He takes 100m to get going so outside gates also help because a couple of the others might be quicker in the first 50m or so and he just takes 100m to get rolling and then he can come across and build, flow and get in rhythm.' Dominant! Whinchat was just far too good out in front today. @DavidPfieffer — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 31, 2024 Whinchat isn't the only on pace runner drawn out with Willaidow one to his inside and Iknowastar also jumping from a double digit gate. 'Both Willaidow and Iknowastar have similar styles to Whinchat but the only problem with Whinchat is he is not really adaptable,' Ford said. 'If he can't find himself in front, he starts to over race and pull hard. 'It upsets the apple cart for him. 'He is a free flowing horse that likes to run but it will be a matter of how much work we have to do to get him in a favourable for him.' WHAT A FINISH! 😮 The Instructor wins on the line to beat Whinchat in the Luskin Star Stakes! 🙌 @GaiWaterhouse1 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 Joe Pride 's Headley Grange a firm $3.20 favourite. Headley Grange's main rival in early betting was Warnie however trainer Ciaron Maher has instead elected to send his galloper to Queensland to tackle the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich. Ford is chasing his second Civic Stakes after first winning the race aboard the Chris Waller -trained Liapari in 2018. The Group 1 -winning hoop has five rides across the Civic Stakes card, with long odds chances Rogue Bear ($71) and Time Quest ($81) in race 6 and race 10 respectively. He kicks off his day with veteran campaigner Dr Evil ($34) in the Midway Handicap (1600m) while Everlasting Stars ($19) makes up part of a heavy-handed Danny Williams assault in the TAB Highway Class 3 Handicap (1200m).
New Paper
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Pools' Pride and joy in Sydney
Sydney racing was the latest international venue to honour Singapore Pools at one of its metropolitan meetings on June 7. The Singapore gaming company has been regularly named after races from around countries where it offers horse racing wagering in the last two years. After Korea Racing Authority, Hong Kong Jockey Club, 4Racing of South Africa and Perth Racing, Tabcorp was the next to host Pools' delegation at Royal Randwick. The Pools team comprised board member Lee Kwok Cheong, who was accompanied by his wife Sachiko Tamamura, chief product officer Simon Leong and senior manager (product content) Steven Tan. "Singapore Pools is pleased to partner with Tabcorp to bring more variety and quality racing content to our customers," said Leong. "With Tabcorp's extensive simulcast rights across Australia and key global racing jurisdictions, this collaboration enables us to deliver a richer and more exciting racing experience for fans in Singapore." As per custom, a race was picked to commemorate the collaboration. The ninth event on the card of 10, the A$160,000 (S$134,000) BM94 (1,300m) was named the Singapore Pools Handicap. "We would also like to thank Tabcorp for naming a race in honour of Singapore Pools," added Leong. "It is a gesture that affirms the strong and long-standing partnership between our organisations." The race was not without its fair share of drama when favourite Whinchat bombed the start. As Whinchat has won all his six races by leading, backers knew they had burned their fingers. Jockey Jay Ford tried to salvage the situation by restraining Whinchat at the rear instead of playing catch-up with the early pace, but it was to no avail. He beat one home. With the main threat out, $16 second-elect Headley Grange won. Under jockey Adam Hyeronimus, the Exosphere four-year-old dashed to the line a slashing 3/4-length winner from outsiders Green Shadows (Braith Nock) and Dark Glitter (Molly Bourke) to knock in his seventh career win. The win also brought up the middle pin of a treble for trainer Joseph Pride, who sensationally swept the last three races on the card. Earlier, the Warwick Farm handler took the A$200,000 Listed Bob Charley Stakes (1,100m) with $9 favourite In Flight (Ford). Not content with a running double, Team Pride recombined with Hyeronimus in the last, a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1,000m), to wrap up the day in style with Storm The Ramparts ($15). Up north at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, Pride had less joy with his sole runner at the Queensland riches, Lekvarte, who was well beaten by Adiella in the Magic Millions National Classic (1,400m). The three rained-off Group 1 races from last weekend went to an assortment of squads. The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar (James McDonald, $8) was the only favourite to salute, nabbing Zarastro late in the A$1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1,300m). You Wahng (Tommy Berry) then won the A$700,000 Queensland Oaks (2,200m) at $114 for trainer Kris Lees. Maison Louis (Ryan Maloney, $194) sent more favourite backers licking their wounds in the A$1 million Queensland Derby (2,400m) by beating better-fancied stablemate King Of Thunder (Mark Zahra) for a John O'Shea and Tom Carlton quinella. manyan@
New Paper
06-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Ford for thought in Sydney Pools race
Horses' past form is universally the first factor to look at when poring through an overseas race card which may not be so familiar to punters. The penultimate race at Royal Randwick on June 7 will be no different to Singapore fans who love a flutter on Australian races. But, before they start running a slide rule through each horse, they may notice the name of the event carded as Race 9 at Sydney's premier racecourse, and Race 13 (1.40pm Singapore time) on the Singapore Pools tote. Cast as the highlight of the 10-race programme, the A$160,000 Benchmark 94 Handicap is named after the Singapore Pools - a first for the gaming company in Sydney, after having lent their names at other jurisdictions like Hong Kong, South Korea, South Africa, Malaysia, and even Perth in Australia. A cursory scan to spot a familiar link with Kranji or even Bukit Timah days may help narrow down the shortlist of winning prospects, even if form purists may frown at the whimsical concept. Among the trainers, none have sent runners to Singapore during the heyday of international racing, but Grand Impact's co-trainer Michael Kent Jr (partner with Mick Price), does have a connection. His father, Mick Kent, who still trains, was a punter's favourite in Bukit Timah and Kranji in the 2000s through the deeds of Carry The Flag and The Jolly Roger. However, a glance at the riding list unearths a "winner". Zac Lloyd, who rides Godolphin's Pereille, did cameo for one day at Kranji's farewell season in 2024, but did not ride any winners. On the other hand, Jay Ford not only rings a louder bell, having notched up seven winners at Kranji in 2008. But, at his very first ride, he also won aboard one of Australia's most iconic horses, Takeover Target, in the 2008 Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1,200m). Now 41 and well established in the top echelon of Sydney's competitive riding ranks, Ford rides the David Pfieffer-trained Whinchat, who happens to be fancied by most pundits to take the inaugural Singapore Pools Handicap. First off, Ford has partnered the Russian Revolution five-year-old to all his six wins, registered over distances ranging from 1,100m to 1,400m around New South Wales. They did not score at their last start, in the last race of the Scone carnival on May 17, but the bold go-forward sort was in front everywhere bar the post in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1,300m). Adding more merit to the run was the fact that he was coming off a long 14-month spell since his last start on March 16, 2024, when he won a Benchmark 88 (1,400m) at Rosehill. Two starts earlier on Feb 17, 2024, he won the Kia Ora Handicap over Saturday's course and distance, but perhaps the biggest box he ticks is the soft ground. Sydney weather has been wet of late, and even if the sun has peeked through, the chilly mornings have not allowed the tracks to dry out. With many believing Whinchat will come on from his last-start second, he has been installed as the 14-5 favourite ahead of Accredited (5-1) and Headley Grange (11-2). Pereille and Grand Impact are also in single figures at 8-1 and 17-2 respectively. manyan@
