Latest news with #springracing
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Warwick Farm trials to feature spring's finest, including Lady Shenandoah and Ceolwulf
Boom filly Lady Shenandoah, King Charles III Stakes victor Ceolwulf, two-time The Everest placegetter Private Eye and gun stayer Alalcance are just a few of the spring stars set to step out at Warwick Farm on Friday morning. The big names - including horse of the year in-waiting Via Sistina – have been out in force this week tuning up for the spring with the next lot of stars to have barrier trials in Sydney's west. Lady Shenandoah, Chris Waller 's winner of three Group 1s this season, will contest a 900m Group trial on the course prosper alongside Joseph Pride 's stars Ceolwulf and Private Eye. Alalcance steps out in a 1000m Group trial on the course proper with Adam Hyeronimus aboard in her first appearance since her run of three straight autumn victories came to an end abruptly in the Sydney Cup. Highly-promising stablemate Sir Delius is in the same heat with Doncaster Mile placegetter Encap. â– â– â– â– â– Champion trainer Chris Waller's move into Godolphin's Carbine Lodge base at Flemington has opened the door for father-son duo Tony and Calvin McEvoy to open up a base at the track. Waller announced this week he would be relocating his Melbourne team to iconic Flemington complex, which boasts 50 boxes at the premier racing venue. His 31-box stable came up for grabs as a result with the McEvoys taking the opportunity to have another location. The McEvoys will continue to operate their main base out of Ballarat. Meanwhile, Godolphin's prized properties of Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm and Osborne Park at Agnes Banks are yet to be snapped up. â– â– â– â– â– Punters shouldn't expect to see Golden Eagle runner-up Lazzat running in the $20 million The Everest – at least not this year. The star galloper Lazzat is an $8 chance in betting for the richest race on turf but a second trip to Australia isn't likely this spring. Trainer Jerome Reynier revealed plans to keep Lazzat's focus in Europe this carnival with an eye on returning to Australia in the future. ðŸ'� @WilliamHaggas has done it again! Lake Forest wins the $10 Million Golden Eagle with Cieren Fallon in the saddle! @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 2, 2024 'Maybe next year The Everest for him if six furlongs is really his trip,' Reynier told Nick Luck Daily. 'You never know. This year we want to make him the best European sprinter and needs to win a couple more Group 1s races at that level.' Lazzat highlighted his quality with victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes during the Royal Ascot carnival. Only four horses have been locked in for this year's The Everest after Jimmysstar was announced as the TAB's runner for 2025 earlier this week. The world's best sprinter Ka Ying Rising remains a firm $1.80 favourite.
News.com.au
24-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Adelaide River to make winter cameo in McKell Cup at Rosehill before Kris Lees turns focus to spring
Trainer Kris Lees is taking a one-and-done approach with classy import Adelaide River this winter as he looks to use Saturday's Listed $200,000 W J McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens as a launching pad to the spring. Adelaide River, a former Aidan O'Brien-trained galloper that's raced by Melbourne Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams, was forced to miss Sydney's autumn carnival due to bone bruising. The 2023 Irish Derby runner-up came into Lees' yard last year and has so far had five starts for the stable without a win. But Adelaide River showed a glimpse of his talent at his last start in October when finishing fourth in behind Deny Knowledge in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m). Lees is hoping the son of Adelaide can measure up at an elite level again this spring ahead of his highly-anticipated return this weekend. 'We will only give him this one run and then back off him until the spring,' Lees said. 'He has had a long time off and seems to be coming up well. 'He was taking a little bit to acclimatise with a bit of bone bruising but it's settle down and he seems to have responded well.' âšœï¸� WOW! Yulong-owned Deny Knowledge (Pride Of Dubai x The Paris Shrug) strikes with a bold front-running performance in the G1 Might And Power S. under a brilliant Mark Zahra ride for @FreedmanRacing at Caulfield. She was bred by Mylestown Farms ðŸ'Œ #aworldofopportunity — Yulong Investments (@YulongInvest) October 12, 2024 Adelaide River has been well-prepared for his first-up assignment with a pair of trials victories in the lead-up, including a 6½-length success at Wyong over 1200m on June 16. But Lees is wary of tackling a 2000m event fresh from a break. 'In an ideal world, if there was a mile race on he would have been in it but he is a mile-and-a-quarter, mile-and-a-half horse,' Lees said. 'He has trialled nicely. 'It looks to be a nice race for him.' • Gollan marching towards another training milestone Lees is prepared to give in-form galloper Loch Eagle another chance over 2000m following his strong second-up victory over the Royal Randwick mile last time. The son of Lonhro has only raced once previously over more than 1800m when he finished near the rear over 2200m at Magic Millions on the Gold Coast. 'Loch Eagle won at 1800m quite well last preparation but when he got to the Sunshine Coast he had had enough,' Lees said. 'He is going well so we thought we'd give him a try in this kind of race.' Apprentice Ben Osmond will pilot Loch Eagle while Jay Ford is aboard Adelaide River. Lees is hunting his second McKell Cup after winning the race with Frankely Awesome in 2020.
The Australian
15-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Charlotte Littlefield eyes Royal Ascot-Goodwood with She's Bulletproof
Charlotte Littlefield has an early and light spring set for sprinter She's Bulletproof, as part of a long-range Royal Ascot-Glorious Goodwood homecoming dream. The Group 1-placed She's Bulletproof is well into pre-training now after a welcomed two-month break. Pakenham-based UK expat Littlefield, who grew up in Goodwood, has Australian Group 1 aspirations first ideally for Oakleigh Plate runner-up She's Bulletproof. 'We'll be certainly targeting the early part of spring with her,' Littlefield said. 'Whether we go to Sydney or stay in Melbourne and aim at something like the Moir Stakes. 'There is a long-term goal to get She's Bulletproof to Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood … it would be a dream come true to get a horse back to my home country.' • 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! Littlefield would be a major drawcard for UK racing authorities as an expat returning home with an Australian sprinter. She's Bulletproof has won four of 13 starts and placed on seven occasions. The rising five-year-old broke out last campaign with a Group 3 win and slashing Group 1 second in the Oakleigh Plate. A wet track thwarted Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) ambitions although She's Bulletproof, placed fifth, had by them come to the end of her campaign. • 'He was a legend': Bedggood, Bates dedicate Sandown win to Laing 'We'd ideally like to get a Group 1 win with her before we travel,' Littlefield said. 'But if you look at what Asfoora has done, she hadn't won a Group 1 when she went over (to Royal Ascot last year, so it's definitely a possibility. 'It depends how the sprinting ranks are going over there … we'd obviously want to go over there knowing we've got a horse rated suitably to win a race.' The Henry Dwyer-trained Asfoora last year became the eighth Australian-trainer horse to win at Royal Ascot with a brilliant performance in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes. Asfoora is $5 equal favourite to defend her King Charles III crown on June 18. • Big Bets review: War Machine delivers for punters Littlefield's 'pipeline dream' 2026 UK odyssey would also include the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood. Asfoora placed second in the 1005m sprint last year. 'I went there (Goodwood twilight races) with my mum and stepdad growing up,' Littlefield said. 'Had my one pound on each race and to be honest I had no … care in the world if we won. 'It was so fun to see the horses and jump up and down and scream. That was my little thing as a kid, I used to love going to Goodwood. 'To win at Goodwood, in a Group race, would mean more than a Group 1.' The five-day Royal Ascot Carnival starts on Tuesday night (AEST). Melbourne Cup-winning jockeys James McDonald and Mark Zahra will ride at Royal Ascot while champion trainer Ciaron Maher has new acquisition, Yulong-bought Carl Spackler – a multiple Grade 1 American star with Cox Plate ambitions – in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday. Gilbert Gardiner Sports reporter Gilbert Gardiner is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun. @gilbertgardiner Gilbert Gardiner
