Latest news with #filly
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Promising filly Tropical House won't be overlooked again by punters at Murray Bridge
The market has underestimated promising filly Tropical House early in her career, but she'll be respected on Saturday when she lines up at Murray Bridge. Trainer Jake Stephens prepared the three-year-old to blowout wins at Balaklava ($21) and Morphettville ($31), but it won't be an upset if she wins again on Saturday, currently at $9 with Sportsbet for a Benchmark 68 (1400m) assignment. • 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! The filly finished sixth on debut, beaten three lengths, and while Stephens was surprised to see her at generous odds second time out at Balaklava, he had no doubt she could make a mockery of that figure, which she did, winning by 1¼ lengths. 'It was a funny one, the market normally gets it right,' Stephens said. 'I said to the owners, 'whatever she does in this first start, she'll improve a hell of a lot on, she'll improve at least five lengths off that'. 'I think a few of them were pretty happy because they backed her each-way at Balaklava. 'Some guys got $45, she was $41 at Morphettville.' A lack of market support surprised Stephens pre-race at Morphettville, to his eye the filly was indicating she could win again. The Victor Harbor conditioner's confidence was well-founded, as Tropical House accounted for $1.90 favourite Storm Season, running out a 1½-length winner over 1533m. 'I told them (owners) she should be very hard to beat, she's in good order now, and then when I saw the price, you get less confident, don't you?' he said. 'You think, does the market know something I don't? But it was an easy watch.' • Dual license holder nails first win with $600 bargain buy A pesky cough saw Stephens choose not to accept with his home-bred filly for a 1500m contest at Gawler last Saturday. The filly is over that a week later, and Stephens rated her a strong chance ahead of her fifth-career start. 'It's like us, if there's any issues with the lungs, they often go well below average, it's not one of those things you want to do,' he said. 'When they're not right, I hate running them. 'I think 1400m, she'll be right in it and should run really well. 'She's still got improvement in her, but I still think she will be hard to beat. She's very tractable, she's got a super turn of foot. 'The other day in the trial (July 3), they went hard and she just blew them away at the end.' Jockey Andrew Stead, and Stephens (right) celebrate Tropical House's win at Morphettville. Picture: Makoto Kaneko Stephens believes Tropical House will relish further ground, despite a speed gene test suggesting that she would be suited to shorter trips. The filly is a daughter of the versatile Omaha Beach, who won Group 1's over 1200m and 1800m, her half sister Exopipi, who Stephens has also trained, is a winner over 2121m. • Mare back for overdue stakes test after 'farcical' barrier drama If she impresses again on Saturday, Stephens may target a race in Melbourne. 'If she goes really well this week, we might head there, otherwise there's two weeks time here,' he said. 'She's a really good doer and eater, we could give her another freshen up and go to something in the spring maybe. 'Those mare's mile plus races are pretty enticing over the spring carnival, I think with her tractability, she would be pretty versatile on any track over there.' Originally published as Promising filly Tropical House won't be overlooked again by punters at Murray Bridge
News.com.au
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Mothers' group having a ‘fabulous time' with brilliant filly She's An Artist who returns to Flemington as Creswick Stakes favourite
She's An Artist has transformed a school mothers' social WhatsApp group chat into a resource for racing replays and insights as a cohort of largely first-time owners delight in their unbeaten filly. Sursum Corda, a 20-strong female syndicate, will be in full voice Saturday as She's An Artist returns to Flemington favourite to win the Listed AR Creswick Stakes (1200m). The flashy chestnut with striking baldy face roared to an emphatic victory at Headquarters last start. The brilliant performance followed a five-length Bendigo romp on debut. She's An Artist, trained by Ciaron Maher, has won her two starts to date by a combined 8¾ lengths and done so in electric time. Sursum Corda member Megan Burges has watched the Flemington replay 'probably 100 times'. 'We'll be there on Saturday making a lot of noise, I'd imagine, hopefully anyway,' Burges said. 'We had boys who finished school together two years ago, when we were getting towards the end of the school year we said wouldn't it be great to find a way to stay in touch. 'It was a bit of a joke at the start, I said 'why don't we buy into a racehorse' and then it got legs. 'We spoke to Louis (Le Meteyer of Astute Bloodstock) and the first horse he brought to us was She's An Artist … it's been a fabulous experience. 'The girls have gone from knowing literally nothing (about racing) to buying Best Bets and talking about sectionals and race planning, how the track is, is it going to dry out for Saturday et cetera. 'I got on a plane two weeks ago, so my phone was turned off for an hour, and when I turned it back on there was 27 unread WhatsApp messages. 'Every newsagency in the local area has now sold out of Best Bets.' Sursum Corda own a 20 per cent share in the filly. Astute Bloodstock purchased She's An Artist for $175,000 out of the 2023 Premier Yearling Sale. The Trapeze Artist filly showed early speed and promise but needed time to develop. Sydney-based managing owner Le Meteyer will be glued to a screen from Deauville, France on Saturday (AEST). 'I've actually got big FOMO (fear of missing out) not being there,' Le Meteyer said. 'I'll be watching … she's $1.60 favourite, the only thing I'm a little bit concerned with is the two week back-up, she's pulled up beautifully, worked really well. 'She's only little and the two weeks backup could be a bit testing for her, Ciaron wouldn't race her if she wasn't right and she's a filly with a lot of talent. 'The market says it's a one-horse race, I don't know about that, I've got a lot of respect for a couple of the others, but look, it's very exciting.' Le Meteyer has enjoyed great success with boutique Astute Bloodstock, Group 1 winners include Harlem and Amelia's Jewel, and loves sharing the ownership ride. 'When you see the joy a good horse can bring to people it's quite infatuating,' Le Meteyer said. 'There's probably a total of 30 owners in the horse and they're all having an amazing time. 'The banter and the chat, that's what racing is all about, the shared excitement and shared passion.'
News.com.au
07-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Best bets and value play for Pakenham Thursday night
A John McArdle-trained filly can post a deserved win in the last race while a promising stayer can make a winning return at Thursday's Pakenham meeting.
