Latest news with #WinterChampionship
News.com.au
05-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Winter warrior Jimmy The Bear delivers again in Winter Championship Final at Flemington
Jimmy The Bear capped a near faultless campaign with victory in the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington. The Patrick and Michelle Payne -trained winter warrior defied a wide barrier and big weight to win the feature in a blanket finish from Munhamek and Forgot You. Reigning Winter Championship winner Munhamek motored into contention late as a $41 outsider. Favourite Oh Too Good travelled outside the leader Magnaspin and looked a winner in the straight but ultimately felt the early race pressure. Jimmy The Bear has won three of his past five starts and been runner-up twice in brilliant campaign. 'Patrick focuses on this time of year and he's just an old marvel,' Michelle Payne said. 'Big thanks to Mike Hirst (owner breeder Jimmy The Bear and former Racing Victoria chairman) and his support of our stable and family for many, many years. 'He's (Jimmy The Bear) is just an old marvel, his win last start put the writing on the wall … brilliant again today. '(Jockey) Billy (Egan) did the best from the barrier, caught a bit wide but a nice resting run from where he was. 'He was looking a good chance all the way down the straight but he had to fight for it, as Jimmy does, he doesn't know how to run a bad race and he fought it out well.' JIMMY THE BEAR ðŸ�»ðŸ'° The Winter Championship Final goes to Patrick and Michelle Payne's warhorse! Forgot You was a mighty run for third at $61 for Team Busuttin/Young in honour of Peta Tait ðŸ'– @TheBeeegan @mj_payne â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 5, 2025 Jimmy The Bear completed a double for the Payne partnership. 'I'm sure Patrick is sitting at home with his arms crossed, very, very happy,' Payne said. Egan reunited with Jimmy The Bear on Saturday for the first time this campaign and got the result. Rising star apprentice jockey Tom Prebble had partnered the horse the past four starts but could not finish the job on Saturday due to an untimely suspension. Egan paid tribute to Prebble after the race. 'Tom Prebble is here on-course, shows he's in the game for all the right reasons,' Egan said. 'He's a good kid, this is one of his favourite horses, so good to see him here. 'I admire Tom in a lot of ways, I wish I could've done what he did when I was his age and had his discipline and his good attitude.' Egan enjoyed the win on Jimmy The Bear. 'It's a bit like riding a Group (1) winner then, because how much every in the stable loves this horse.' Egan summed up the situation perfectly on Jimmy The Bear, wide and midfield with a bit of cover. In doing so, Egan had Oh Too Good in his sights the whole way. 'I was three wide but still probably one off with two inside me there, trying to save as much ground as I could,' Egan said. 'With his big weight, Patrick made a good point, we don't want to be giving (Oh Too Good) too big of a head start, he really wore them down … it was a very tough win.' Jockey Ben Allen, who rode Oh Too Good, lamented the eventual race shape. Allen had to use up Oh Too Good early to settle on speed and paid the price late. 'The way I had to ride her I don't think is ideal for her,' Allen said. 'She needs a bit of cover … a bit of a strong head on breeze and she's still learning, so was a bit keen. 'She just felt the pinch late, I still reckon she ran well but she needs circumstances to go her way.'
Herald Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Herald Sun
Oh Too Good owners will celebrate a Winter Championship Final win with a party in Bali
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Oh Too Good could inspire a rebrand of the Winx Sports Bar in Bali on Saturday, with victory in the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington. One-horse trainer Kevin Daffy, wife Christine and daughters Jade and Amber will be trackside while Rick Bayliss, a long-time friend and part-owner of Oh Too Good, will be cheering from afar. 'He'll be watching it from the Winx (Sports) Bar in Bali (Seminyak) … hopefully we might be able to rename it to the Oh Too Good Bar tomorrow,' Daffy said. 'The 16 of them (Bayliss family) are going to be cheering her on from there.' • 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! Oh Too Good is $2.80 favourite to win the Listed Winter Championship Series Final from Jimmy The Bear ($6), Cafe Millenium ($6.50) and Yellow Sam ($9.50). Daffy, 'Australia's smallest trainer', was compelled to target the Winter Championship after Oh Too Good won brilliantly last start at Flemington. Jimmy The Bear, who finished second, has won since. 'I guess you can't get much smaller than one horse,' Daffy laughed. 'It's a bit of a novelty for some people … they can't believe it really, it is quite unique, quite special.' • Egan chasing more success with Payne team on Finals day Oh Too Good has earned $569,450 with five wins and five minor places from 11 starts. The five-year-old, affectionately known as 'GiGi' at home, has also become a social media sensation, thanks to Daffy's eldest daughter, Jade. 'Jade started a bit of social media with her this week, and it went nuts. She's quite clever,' Daffy said. 'She came up with a couple cute little videos on Instagram and TikTok … one had 50,000 views and 5000 likes, with people from all over the world commenting.' The viral 72-second clip on the Ohtoogoodracehorse TikTok account celebrates Daffy's dedication to the 'diva' with behind the scenes footage and a witty script. 'GiGi only likes two things,' the video voiceover states. 'Winning (and) Kevin … everyone else, tolerated at best.' Daffy is rarely too far from the mare. 'No one else touches this horse, ever, that's why I never let her out of my sight,' Daffy said. 'I do hire a strapper to come with me race day but that's more to go and get the saddle, run the colours up, and help do a few little things I need done. 'She frets if I get too far away from her … she's getting better. When she first went to the races I couldn't walk across from the stall to the fence to talk to anybody, she wouldn't be happy. 'She does at least let me do that a bit now.' • Flemington Saturday tips, analysis: $9.50 best bet Despite saddling the favourite, Daffy has respect for the entire field on Saturday. 'No matter what the market says, they're all good horses,' Daffy said. 'I'd be foolish to think I'd be going to a Listed race at Flemington with confidence of winning … I'm happy I'm going there with a horse in the best shape, as happy and as healthy as I could have her. 'With some luck in running, she'll definitely be right in the finish and hopefully winning.' Trainer Kevin Daffy with Oh Too Good and jockey Ben Allen at Flemington last month. Picture: Getty Images He also praised jockey Ben Allen for his commitment to stick with Oh Too Good. Allen brought forward a suspension, had to forgo bulk rides to do so, and all but made the 54kg cut. 'He will be riding her a little bit over the 54kg … that will depend on how he is tomorrow.' Daffy said. 'She could potentially be carrying 55kg, worst case. He's been so committed to wanting to ride her, I didn't ask him to do that because I know how difficult it is for jockeys but he wanted to do it. 'Set himself the task to get down to ride … I really appreciate that and hopefully she can repay him.' Originally published as Oh Too Good becomes social media sensation ahead of Winter Championship Final bid at Flemington
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Oh Too Good becomes social media sensation ahead of Winter Championship Final bid at Flemington
Oh Too Good could inspire a rebrand of the Winx Sports Bar in Bali on Saturday, with victory in the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington. One-horse trainer Kevin Daffy, wife Christine and daughters Jade and Amber will be trackside while Rick Bayliss, a long-time friend and part-owner of Oh Too Good, will be cheering from afar. 'He'll be watching it from the Winx (Sports) Bar in Bali (Seminyak) … hopefully we might be able to rename it to the Oh Too Good Bar tomorrow,' Daffy said. 'The 16 of them (Bayliss family) are going to be cheering her on from there.' Oh Too Good is $2.80 favourite to win the Listed Winter Championship Series Final from Jimmy The Bear ($6), Cafe Millenium ($6.50) and Yellow Sam ($9.50). Daffy, 'Australia's smallest trainer', was compelled to target the Winter Championship after Oh Too Good won brilliantly last start at Flemington. Jimmy The Bear, who finished second, has won since. 'I guess you can't get much smaller than one horse,' Daffy laughed. 'It's a bit of a novelty for some people … they can't believe it really, it is quite unique, quite special.' Oh Too Good has earned $569,450 with five wins and five minor places from 11 starts. The five-year-old, affectionately known as 'GiGi' at home, has also become a social media sensation, thanks to Daffy's eldest daughter, Jade. 'Jade started a bit of social media with her this week, and it went nuts. She's quite clever,' Daffy said. 'She came up with a couple cute little videos on Instagram and TikTok … one had 50,000 views and 5000 likes, with people from all over the world commenting.' @ohtoogoodracehorse Meet GiGi (Oh Too Good) 🐎✨ She's fiery, unapologetic and has that 'main character energy' that lights up a track! 🩷💛 #horseracing #australianhorseracing #winterracing #horsetraining #horses #horse #narratortrend #narrator #narration #fy #fypage #ohtoogood #horsesoftiktok #horseriding #horsetok #horselover #racing #thoroughbred #trending #narration #viral #viraltiktok #viralvideo #viralvideos ♬ original sound - Oh Too Good The viral 72-second clip on the Ohtoogoodracehorse TikTok account celebrates Daffy's dedication to the 'diva' with behind the scenes footage and a witty script. 'GiGi only likes two things,' the video voiceover states. 'Winning (and) Kevin … everyone else, tolerated at best.' Daffy is rarely too far from the mare. 'No one else touches this horse, ever, that's why I never let her out of my sight,' Daffy said. 'I do hire a strapper to come with me race day but that's more to go and get the saddle, run the colours up, and help do a few little things I need done. 'She frets if I get too far away from her … she's getting better. When she first went to the races I couldn't walk across from the stall to the fence to talk to anybody, she wouldn't be happy. 'She does at least let me do that a bit now.' • Despite saddling the favourite, Daffy has respect for the entire field on Saturday. 'No matter what the market says, they're all good horses,' Daffy said. 'I'd be foolish to think I'd be going to a Listed race at Flemington with confidence of winning … I'm happy I'm going there with a horse in the best shape, as happy and as healthy as I could have her. 'With some luck in running, she'll definitely be right in the finish and hopefully winning.' He also praised jockey Ben Allen for his commitment to stick with Oh Too Good. Allen brought forward a suspension, had to forgo bulk rides to do so, and all but made the 54kg cut. 'He will be riding her a little bit over the 54kg … that will depend on how he is tomorrow.' Daffy said. 'She could potentially be carrying 55kg, worst case. He's been so committed to wanting to ride her, I didn't ask him to do that because I know how difficult it is for jockeys but he wanted to do it. 'Set himself the task to get down to ride … I really appreciate that and hopefully she can repay him.'
News.com.au
03-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Fred Kersley keen to deliver another Winter Championship Final for trainer Lindsey Smith on Yellow Sam
Jockey Fred Kersley has the 'right horse in the right form' to win the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) on Saturday at Flemington aboard Lindsey Smith -trained Yellow Sam. Kersley endorsed Smith's call to back-up Yellow Sam after the 'ultimate racehorse' arrived in time to win a 1440m Open Handicap last Saturday at Caulfield. Smith has won the Winter Championship twice previously with Reykjavik (2019) and Tuvalu (2022). 'My initial comments to (managing owner) Chris Wells and Lindsey was she's looking for the mile,' Kersley said. 'She's going there a mare in form.' The five-year-old mare, an eight-time winner from 17 starts, surged to a half-length win last Saturday. 'Initially, I thought when we got clear running at the top of the straight we were going to put them away easily,' Kersley said. 'Probably ended up putting them away 100m-150m after I thought I would've but we'll take it and I think moving forward she's going to be well-placed at the mile. 'She's drawn a nice barrier and I can see us being just in behind the speed and her running into it.' Yellow Sam is $9.50 behind Oh Too Good ($2.90), Jimmy The Bear ($6) and Cafe Millenium ($6.50). Kersley would love to reward Smith with an important win on Saturday. The jockey has grown close to Smith off the track, being in a relationship with his daughter Mia. Smith has spoken openly of late about a recent battle with mental health. 'Lindsey is an astute horseman,' Kersley said. 'Very much similar as a jockey, when the results aren't there you blame yourself. 'He's probably his biggest critic and quite harsh on himself. 'The last few months hasn't been easy but his horses are all running well and I think we're going into the Winter Championship with the right horse in the right form.' Kersley has battled for continuity but like Smith, remains determined on the task ahead. 'It has been (tough) there's no lie there,' Kersley said. 'I'm really looking forward to having good health and hopefully ride out a full season. 'I feel as if I'm doing the right track work for the right people. 'It is a time of year I should be riding consistently well and I'd like to think the majority of horses are getting their opportunity and let's hope we can continue to build on recent successes.'
News.com.au
03-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Apprentice jockey Logan Bates eyes stakes success with Hughes in Winter Championship Series Final at Flemington
Breakout seasons – for horse and rider – could be rewarded with Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) success at Flemington on Saturday. In-form Hughes, trained by Gavin Bedggood, has graduated from Benchmark 70 to Listed grade the past five starts, including four wins, with leading Victorian apprentice jockey Logan Bates aboard. 'Many thanks to Gavin and the (syndicator) Roll The Dice (owners of Hughes) crew for sticking by me and giving me the opportunity to have one of my first stakes rides on Saturday,' Bates said. 'It will be my first day riding in stakes races, I'll try not to dwell too much into it, ride like any other race and take the accolades after (hopefully). 'I've had a great season and the three people I'm riding for in stakes races Saturday have been my main supporters, Bedggy (and) Lloyd (Kennewell) and Lucy (Yeomans). 'It would be amazing to get one for them.' Madame Maserati in the She's An Artist ($1.65) and Fieldelo ($4.80) dominated Listed A.R Creswick Stakes (1200m). Madame Maserati is a $23 chance. 'She's An Artist will be pretty hard to topple but Lloyd has done a great job with his filly,' Bates said. 'She's earned her crack now, she's proven up the straight … I'm sure she'll be in the finish.' Hughes is $10 for the Winter Championship behind Oh Too Good ($2.90), Jimmy The Bear ($6), Cafe Millenium ($6.50) and Yellow Sam ($9.50). The market leaders, Oh Too Good and Jimmy The Bear in particular, are all drawn outside Hughes. 'I'm going into the race pretty confident … he's going to get a soft run, if he can show that turn of foot up to the mile at Flemington I think he can be a big hope,' Bates said. Hughes sustained a brilliant gallop last start from the back in the field to win at Sandown. Bates has ridden the hard-fit gelding in track work twice since and been impressed. 'I galloped him straight after his last run and he gave me the feel he was still there,' Bates said. 'I did his final piece of work on Tuesday, with his galloping partner, and he cruised up nicely under a hold, all good signs leading into Saturday. 'He's only a little horse but he holds quite good condition … if Bedggy had seen any inkling he's a bit different in demeanour (end of preparation) he wouldn't go to the mile.'
