Warwick Farm trials to feature spring's finest, including Lady Shenandoah and Ceolwulf
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 pic.twitter.com/Hr3IR1vG2x
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.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Daily Telegraph
32 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
NRL 2025: Wayne Bennett tells Lewis Dodd he's free to leave the Rabbitohs, NRL 360, Braith Anasta, player transfers
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Braith Anasta has described the Rabbitohs' signing of Lewis Dodd as 'one of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history' as reports emerged that coach Wayne Bennett had told the youngster he was free to leave the club. Bennett apparently had a meeting with the Englishman on Tuesday and told him he was free to look elsewhere in the NRL or overseas. Dodd has played just six NRL games in 2025, and just 68 minutes in the No. 7 jersey, despite signing a $2 million, three-year deal and a huge injury crisis at the club. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > Anasta, the host of NRL 360, gave a frank assessment of the Rabbitohs' decision to sign Dodd, who won a Super League title and a World Club Challenge title with St Helens. 'It's one of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history,' Anasta said on Wednesday night. 'I just can't get my head around how (CEO) Blake Solly, (football manager) Mark Ellison are the ones flying to England to sign a premier half for your club without the permission of a coach. Lewis Dodd's signing has been a disaster. NRL Photos 'I can't get my head around it.' Co-host Gorden Tallis believes the club would have run the signing of Dodd past coach Wayne Bennett. 'You would think (Bennett) would have been asked (about Dodd),' Tallis said. Anasta said Solly and Ellison needed to take responsibility for the decision to sign Dodd. 'The fact of the matter is 'Ello' and Blake have got their hands all over it, it's just whether Wayne knew or not,' Anasta added. 'Wayne might have had one fingerprint on it,' Tallis said. Anasta said he was always surprised by the Rabbitohs' decision to sign Dodd, given there were others playing in the Super League who seemed more suitable to join an NRL club. 'Everything I have heard out of the Super League, from coaches, players over there and even recruitment back here, is that there's four or five better candidates that could be better in our game over here, in the NRL,' Anasta said. 'I think there's just some accountability that needs to be taken there.' Tallis said he was 'shocked' the Rabbitohs are in last spot on the ladder, with Bennett rejoining the club this season. 'Probably shocked with the injuries, and I know Wayne, and normally Wayne Bennett coached sides compete really hard, they win against the odds, don't give up,' Tallis said. 'The way that they've sort of fallen apart, I think I am shocked, and if you went to every Souths fan, they wouldn't believe that they'd be in this position, no way.' Originally published as 'One of the greatest recruitment blunders': Blame game over who made $2m, 68-minute signing

The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
Hawthorn vs Collingwood teams: Breust, Mitchell among key changes
Hawthorn has recalled veteran Luke Breust for its must-win clash against Collingwood on Thursday night. The crafty forward has not played in the senior side since round 9 and has played just five AFL games this year. But he is one of two inclusions into the side, and will likely be deployed as the substitute, in a game against the Magpies. The Hawks will also recall Changkuoth Jiath for the clash after a strong VFL performance last week, replacing Harry Morrison on a wing. Hawthorn will be without Will Day, but instead of replacing him with a midfielder the coaching staff have opted to promote James Worpel from the substitute role last week to a spot in the best 22. Collingwood has made three changes for the clash as the Magpies desperately try to cling onto top spot on the ladder. The Pies dropped off the top perch with a loss to Brisbane last week, but have stocked their backline with experienced duo Billy Frampton and Jeremy Howe. Tom Mitchell has also been recalled and will face his old side, with Charlie Dean and Oleg Markov dropped for the clash. Bobby Hill made his return to the AFL last week but will miss again, this time due to illness. Matthew Forrest AFL Chief of Staff Matthew Forrest is the AFL Chief of Staff for News Corp's national sports team. He has worked at News Corp since 2021 in a variety of sports journalism roles including at the Mackay Daily Mercury and the Geelong Advertiser. Previously, Matthew was the Chief Football Writer at the Geelong Advertiser until 2024, when he started in his current role. @mattforrest29 Matthew Forrest

The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
‘I'm like an Allies girl': Why this footy superstar would turn her back on the Big V
Molloy wants more footy and more chances to put the game's elite players in the spotlight, and has long wanted the All-Australian side to play together each year. 'I'm lucky to have a couple of All-Australian blazers and I think to myself, God, I'd love to see this team play,' Molloy said. 'I don't know where we play or who we play against, but I always thought to myself that it would be intriguing. 'We've seen so many exciting formats in the men's game, we've seen Origin in the past [in AFLW] and I'd love it. I'd absolutely love it. 'Any way we can showcase talent and put them all together – I'd love to see it in any format.' Some captains also expressed interest in an Australia v Ireland series between AFLW and Gaelic football stars, given the influx of Irish talent. But whatever the format, it must be a good product. 'We need to make sure it is something people want to watch and really build it up,' Crows captain Sarah Allan said. The teams If State of Origin were to return, Molloy believed the teams should be decided based on where a player's club is located, not where they were raised. But there is still strong state allegiance from those who would don an Allies jumper. Collingwood skipper Ruby Schleicher was already picking her WA side mid-interview – Ebony Antonio and Emma Swanson were among her selections – and hatching a plan to claim Chelsea Randall from South Australia's clutches. 'It would be great to get the old gang back together of people we used to play against in the WAFL,' Schleicher said. 'There is that state pride, there is nothing like putting your own colours on. But whatever it looks like, I'll put my hand up.' Carlton captain Abbie McKay said she would jump at the chance to play for Victoria or Australia. 'It would be awesome,' McKay said. 'I played one year for Vic Metro [at under-18 level] and it would be an honour to do it again.' Queensland could also field a strong side considering Brisbane Lions are a perennial contender and the Gold Coast are producing a host of talented players. 'There is that much talent that Queensland could have our own team – I'd probably say Queensland, South Australia and Victoria could all give it a red-hot crack,' Hawthorn captain Emily Bates said. The standard The AFLW played a State of Origin game in September 2017, when a Debbie Lee-coached Victoria thumped the Allies by 97 points at Marvel Stadium. Daisy Pearce, Ellie Blackburn and Jasmine Garner were among the stars for the Vics. Schleicher was adamant such a result wouldn't be repeated. 'Hey, hey, hey, you are talking to a WA girl here – of course not,' Schleicher exclaimed. Bates was a part of the Allies team in 2017. 'We got absolutely pumped, so that wasn't a great memory,' she recalled. 'But I think it would be great for the game and showcase the best talent available, I'm keen to see it happen again.' Richmond captain Katie Brennan was also on that Allies side and said the talent is far better than in 2017. 'The talent from all the different states is extraordinary now,' Bates said. 'I'm a Queenslander, born and bred, and that talent pathway has gone from strength to strength. There would be more competitive balance out there and it would be an awesome sight to see.' Molloy was more pragmatic about the format. 'The under-18s is where we display our state talent. I would take a more holistic view and have the Allies playing Victoria as Victoria is like the footy capital,' she said. The timing The league's continued expansion is written into the CBA – with the current 18-team competition only playing for 12 rounds plus finals. While Origin would be a way to get more games in the calendar, the same issues that plague discussions of the return of the competition for the men's game would be problematic for the women. Playing a series on the eve of the season could see star players injured ahead of their club campaigns; playing at the end or in the off-season would interrupt their breaks. Playing representative football in the middle of the regular season – for example, making the game a showcase event on AFL grand final day or eve – is also likely to be unpopular with clubs. 'The only trouble [in 2017] was the injuries that came from the game, so that would be a risk. But I think we should do it,' Bates said. 'Timing is tricky. Girls often travel in the off-season and whatnot, I think the perfect time would be straight after the season when you still have your match fitness.' Molloy ruled out a mid-season Origin. 'I don't think fixturing it during the season is appropriate. We want to win the premiership, every team wants to win the premiership, so you don't want to take away from that journey.'