Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from Winter Challenge day
• 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!
FIVE TO FOLLOW
REFLECT(3rd, Race 1)
She was only getting into her work late after making her run from the back but was good through the line. This is a quality filly in the making and will be worth keeping an eye on as we head into the new season.
MR VERSE(3rd, Race 4)
This lightly-raced galloper went enormous despite just coming up short of delivering a brilliant last to first win. He's only lightly-raced but looks a progressive type capable of bigger things.
TUILERIES(4th, Race 6)
Back and wide off a slow tempo, the odds-on favourite was always going to find it hard to bridge the gap. She still ran with plenty of merit and is worth giving another chance next start.
CORNICHE(3rd, Race 8)
In just his second run in the past 12 months, he gave a glimpse of the talent he's always possessed when finishing off strongly behind Romeo's Choice. Disneck (sixth) was similarly good in his return.
KING OF ROSEAU(1st, Race 10)
It seems as if trainer Peter Snowden has finally unlocked this three-year-old's full potential following his second consecutive impressive win over the Rosehill 1300m. A return to stakes racing looks on the cards.
STEWARDS SAY
I Show Speed(Race 1): A late scratching on veterinary advice after he was found to be 2/5 lame in the off-foreleg.
Highway Strip(Race 3): Jockey Josh Parr reported the gelding continued to race ungenerously and hang out, resulting in clipping the heels of Pony Soprano, which came down. Will have to trial twice before racing again.
Pony Soprano(Race 3): After falling, was found to have swelling over the bridge of the nose, blood present in both nostrils and multiple lacerations to both forelegs. He will be spelled.
Maori Chief(Race 4): Found to be slow to recover post-race.
Hell To Pay(Race 4): Raced keenly in the lead. Was found to be 1/5 lame in the near foreleg.
Gentileschi(Race 7): Was found to be displaying a poor recovery rate post-race. She will now be spelled.
Our Kobison(Race 8): Failed to let down under pressure and finished a long last. Will undergo a full veterinary examination in the coming days.
CRUNCH TIME
Without Peer(Race 1): The winner made his run with Spice Prawn from the back of the field and the pair fought the finish out, running the last 600m of 34.41 and 34.33 seconds respectively.
Mr Verse(Race 4): Made up a stack of ground from the back in the field with a race-best last 600m of 33.66 seconds to finish a close third. It stacked up favourable against winner Amusing (34.04) and runner-up Sister Daae (33.89).
Tulleries(Race 6): She had it all to do back and wide off a slow tempo before surging home one of the fastest last 600m of the meeting in 32.99 seconds. She had slick closing splits of 10.67 and 11.03.
Disneck (Race 8): Rattled home first-up with the fastest last 600m of the meeting of 32.57 seconds, half a second quicker than the winner Romeo's Choice (33.07). His three final furlongs of 10.86, 10.66 and 11.05 were race best.
TRACK TALK
'I had in the back of my mind all day, when Tim Clark won The Ingham on him, the fight he showed in the battle. I was relying on that but thank God we got him to win.' Josh Parr after Robusto's Winter Challenge win.
'He surprised us a bit. He has a lot of talent but is still very raw.' Johann Gerard-Dubord discusses debut winner Without Peer.
'I slightly put my neck on the line because he went online and I persuaded OTI (Racing) to try and buy him and quite a few of the owners retained ownership in him as well. He was always a bit of a quirky colt, but we knew he had good ability.' Trainer Annabel Archibald on Yoshinobu.
'I would never think I was going to end up here so it's amazing.' Swedish-born apprentice Rebecca Bronett Prag after her maiden Saturday city winner.
'He's not one of these million-dollar horses, he's just a home-bred in the back paddock with his owners and it's so wonderful for them and it shows these great racing stories can happen.' Trainer Richard Litt after Romeo's Choice scored.
THIS WEEK IN NSW RACING
Monday: Bathurst, Moruya
Tuesday: Moree, Taree
Wednesday: Canterbury Park
Thursday: Wyong, Corowa
Friday: Lismore
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Kembla Grange, Trangie, Inverell
Sunday: Muswellbrook, Sapphire Coast
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
38 minutes ago
- ABC News
Sunshine Coast Marathon pacers help beginners reach personal best on new-look track
More than 15,000 runners will take to a new-look Sunshine Coast Marathon course on Sunday in what organisers say will be a sneak peek into what the 2032 Olympics course could look like. The course will have runners of all levels itching to give it a crack and potentially set a new personal best. But, as always, there will be a collection of runners like Ian Chang, known as pacers, who put their own ambitions aside to help others have a better run. "It was a natural calling after years of running," said Mr Chang, who has been a pacer for three years. Dressed in yellow with a helium balloon and a designated time tied above their heads, pacers are experienced runners who help guide participants towards their goals. Mr Chang, who will help runners aiming for a 4-hour 15-minute time, said he found it more rewarding after running marathons for five years. "It's more enjoyable. To help a group of people achieve their goal brings me so much happiness." Mr Chang said getting too excited was a common rookie error. "It is easy for beginners to lose their focus," he said. "Once the race starts, there are a lot of runners, and they tend to just follow someone because they're excited, and if they follow the wrong person — who is going too fast for their target — they will lose sight of the goal." He said keeping an eye on the pacer with their goal time could avoid a lot of pain and heartache. "Run with a pacer because what's the pacer's job? To make sure that you can cross the finish line easily," he said. "That is what we try to convince the runner: always follow the plan and remember you're not alone." The Sunshine Coast Marathon course was redesigned this year to feature a single-lap route taking in picturesque sights. Runners will start at Alexandra Headland and run north to Mudjimba and back, which could form a blueprint for the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic marathon course. Event managing director Jason Crowther believed it was the best course for the city. He said the 2032 course would not be confirmed by the International Olympic Committee until four years before the games, but he said the city would like to host world championship events. "Then we can bring international athletes to the event and have it as a training run for when we do know where that 2032 course is going to be," he said. It is estimated that the race weekend will generate about $10.5 million for the local economy, according to Visit Sunshine Coast. Chief executive Matt Stoeckel said the event was a major boost to tourism during the winter months, with more than half of all participants coming from outside the region. "Our hotel occupancy rate is 70 per cent this weekend and that's up more than 8 per cent year on year," he said. "We sure hope it continues to grow in future years."
SBS Australia
38 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
SBS News in Filipino, Saturday 2 August 2025
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will unveil an Indigenous economic development plan when he delivers the keynote address at the Garma festival today. Impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte sparks division in senate. Filipinas qualify for AFC Women's Asia Cup 2026; Australia gears up for the match. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST SBS Filipino 05:54 Filipino 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Best coin spent': Ginnivan responds after giving Crows fans the bird as young Hawk to be fined
Hawthorn young gun Jack Ginnivan is the latest AFL player set to be sanctioned for giving the bird to Adelaide supporters. Ginnivan was caught on camera pulling his finger to Crows fans while walking off Adelaide Oval after the Hawks' 14-point loss on Friday night. The 22-year old, who's set to cop a $1000 fine for the incident, took to Instagram to respond to a video of the act with the comment: 'Best coin spent.' FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Ginnivan would join the likes of Geelong's Bailey Smith and West Coast's Harley Reid in getting fined for the middle-finger salute in 2025. 'There was definitely a one-fingered salute from Jack Ginnivan,' Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy. 'I think we call that the Bailey Smith ... the going rate is $1000, we saw Bailey Smith double-finger salute and also Harley Reid earlier in the year. 'That's what (Ginnivan) does, that's Hok-ball for you.' Ginnivan was among Hawthorn's best players on Friday night, finishing with 20 disposals and two goals. The youngster's post-game bird weren't his only cheeky antics on the night, with Ginnivan turning to the crowd after kicking an epic goal on his left foot late in the third quarter and pointing to his ear.
