Bullock can strengthen grip on jockeys' title with success at Scone
Originally scheduled for Quirindi, the meeting was switched early to Scone, and it presents another strong book of rides for the 'Raging Bull,' stretching from a metropolitan stable right up to Tamworth.
Despite a frustrating day at Newcastle on Saturday which only yielded short-priced winner Just In Time from four rides, Bullock has picked up a steady rate of winners through winter to keep the title chasers at bay.
A lightning treble at Newcastle in late June opened up a gap before doubles at Tamworth and Mudgee early this month confirmed him as a red-hot favourite to take the riding title.
And he has a golden opportunity to strike early at Scone aboard home track three-year-old Royal Armada, having his first outing for the Scott Singleton stable since switching from Joe Pride at Warwick Farm.
A son of Holler which will relish dropping back from deeper provincial company, Royal Armada also gets winkers for the first time in a Maiden Handicap over 1200m.
But it's with another Scone yard that Bullock can have his biggest say all day.
He hops aboard lightly raced and promising mare Zelestial for the Lyle Chandler camp in a Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1600m.
An imported four-year-old by prolific Zoustar, Zelestial has won two from three this prep on rain-affected ground and now gets her chance to prove she's just as capable on top of the ground.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
20 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘It's frustrating, but it's more fire in my belly': Campbell Graham vows to thrive in 2026 as bulging disc ends his season
A calf strain back in round 3 has been revealed as the beginning of the end for Campbell Graham's season as the luckless South Sydney centre vowed to return bigger and better in 2026 with more 'fire in the belly' than ever before. Graham has always been destined for greatness since the night he debuted as a teenager through to the 2022 World Cup where he scored five tries in two games for Australia. But a horror run of injuries has left him frustrated, with the 26-year-old missing the entire 2024 campaign following sternum surgery, while a broken hand at training affected this year's pre-season. Graham was able to play the first three games of the year but missed a month with a calf complaint that required cortisone injections to get him back on the field. That only masked the issue and things got worse over time, with Graham now officially out until 2026 with a back injury that is affecting him off the field. 'I've got a bulging disc in my lower back, so it's finished off my season,' he said, with Graham last playing in round 18. 'I saw a surgeon last week. I don't need surgery at the minute. He's pretty confident it's something that will heal in time, but it will take a fair bit of time. The goal is to be back fit and in full training by the pre-season. 'It has been tough. After last year, coming into this season I was just grateful to feel fit and healthy again. That's the place I was in at the start of the year, but that's the nature of the beast. 'It's been hard, but I've got my head around it and have accepted it. All I can focus on now is my rehab and getting ready for pre-season.' Graham has turned to gaming because he can't do anything physically taxing, while he's also working on becoming a mortgage broker as he prepares for life after footy. 'It's been pretty rough,' he said. 'Simple things like driving long distances are not great, getting out of chairs and stuff like that (are difficult), so it's not ideal. 'That's why I had honest conversations with my surgeon and the medical staff at Souths to look at the bigger picture. 'It does get you pretty down day-to-day dealing with a chronic issue like that, so my focus now is to get on top of this, not just for footy, but for myself as well. 'I've got faith that things will turn around for me, and that's something that helps my mindset. 'Although I've had a pretty unlucky run over the past few years, I know things will get better. I know if I keep doing the right things, then I'll give myself every chance to be fully fit by pre-season and roll into next year ready to go. 'It is frustrating, but it's more fire in my belly.' The lanky centre will watch Thursday's game against the Dragons from the stands, but he'll storm the field if teammate Alex Johnston breaks Ken Irvine's try-scoring record. Sydney's awful August weather means it's unlikely he'll score the four tries he needs to surpass the record of 212, but a double would set up a fascinating final round against the Roosters where the Rabbitohs will try to help the winger get there. 'I'll try to be the first one there to cuddle him. It's a matter of when, not if, so we'll see how it plays out,' Graham said. 'I know it's been a monkey on his back for a couple of years now and it seems like the only thing people talk to him about. 'I know he'll be relieved to get it done. It's such a great achievement, not only in our game but in Australian sports to have a record like that (broken). 'It couldn't happen to a better person. He's so humble and such a good guy. He really deserves it, and I know the whole club and all the supporters will be so proud of him when he does it.'
The Australian
a day ago
- The Australian
Trainer Joe Pride saddles up Gus The Great at Warwick Farm
Gus The Great is headstrong, can't be told what to do and has a touch of arrogance about him. This was how part-owner and trainer Joe Pride described the three-year-old chestnut making his debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday before refuting suggestions the racehorse was named after the well-known NRL commentator, former player and coach, Phil 'Gus' Gould. 'My pet corgi is named Gus and the first greyhound I've ever raced, Gus The Jet, who I own with (jockey) Brenton Avdulla, won the Group 1 Vic Peters Memorial the same day Estadio Mestalla won (Listed Winter Challenge, July 5),'' Pride said. 'I'm having a bit of luck with the name so I've gone with Gus The Great with this horse.'' • 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! Gus The Great, a $100,000 purchase at a New Zealand Ready To Run Sale last year, lines up in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Maiden (1100m) at the Warwick Farm midweeks. Pride, who also has another first-starter in the race, Isle of Wight, said Gus The Great showed promise with a close second in a barrier trial earlier this month. 'I like Gus The Great, he reminds me a bit of (former Group 1-winning sprinter) Tiger Tees,'' Pride said. 'You can't tell him what to do, there is a touch of arrogance about him, and a lot of good horses have an arrogance about them. 'He's trialled really well and so has Isle Of Wight. I'm happy for them both to race on Wednesday.'' With the prospect of a very heavy track on Wednesday, Pride has opted to scratch well-bred three-year-olds Attica and Lupa Capitolina from the second race on the card, the Inglis Xtra Bonus Maiden (1300m). Godolphin's Attica is by former champion racehorse and sire Lonhro, and is the first foal out of multiple Group 2 winner Savatiano. Lupa Capitolina, by leading sire Almanzor out of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas, is a half-sister to Pride's stable star, dual Group 1 winner Ceolwulf. However, wet conditions won't deter Pride from starting Investment in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1600m) and The Replicant in the Hawaii Five Oh At Vinery Handicap (1400m). 'Those older horses, Investment and The Replicant, are fit and in-form, and they get through the going,'' he added. Pride is also keen for stable star Ceolwulf to resume in the Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. 'Ceolwulf will run, as long as the races are on,'' said Pride in anticipation of a heavy track Saturday given the forecast for rain most days this week. 'I thought Ceolwulf's last trial was every bit as good as Private Eye.'' • Via Sistina faces age-old question in Winx Stakes Ceolwulf, winner of the Epsom Handicap and King Charles III Stakes double last spring, ran second to stablemate and last start Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes winner Private Eye in a Warwick Farm barrier trial earlier this month. Also for Saturday's Randwick meeting, Pride has entered Aberlour (1600m) and Kerguelen (1200m) for benchmark 78 races, and Cosmonova for the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m). 'I might run Aberlour in the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury on Thursday,'' Pride said. 'Kerguelen will go to Randwick as he's very good on heavy tracks, but I will probably save Cosmonova for another day if it's too wet.'' Pride revealed $12 million earner Private Eye returned to his Warwick Farm stables on Monday morning after a dominant first-up win at Caulfield last Saturday. • RICHARD CALLANDER: Racing's rumour mill at its best with Shenandoah shenanigans 'Private Eye is tough and he's done plenty of travelling so he handled the trip back from Melbourne really well,'' Pride said. 'But I'm going to sit back and wait to see what happens with the weather in Sydney this week before deciding what we do with him. 'There's the option of going back to Caulfield next week for the (Group 1) Memsie Stakes or we wait for the (Group 2) Tramway Stakes at Randwick (September 6).'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Formal Display, the former Irish sprinter, could break new ground for leading syndicators Triple Crown when he makes his Australian debut in the Hawaii Five Oh At Vinery Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Triple Crown has raced many outstanding horses over the last two decades, most notably dual The Everest winner Redzel, and Group 1 winners like Mazu, Hot Snitzel and Peggy Jean, but they haven't really tapped into the international market – until now. 'We have only had one import before who didn't do much out here but Formal Display does look promising,'' Triple Crown's Chris Ward said. 'He has trialled very well and might be even sharper than we anticipated.'' Formal Display won two of his seven starts in Ireland before being purchased by Triple Crown for about $200,000 at the Tattersall's October Sale in England last year. 'He's been in and out of work a couple of times with Annabel and Rob (Archibald) but he seems to have taken well to the Aussie style of training,'' Ward said. Formal Display led most of the way to win a Scone trial in mid-July then again showed plenty of speed before finishing a close third to Birdman in a strong Randwick trial on heavy ground about two weeks ago. 'He seems to be coming up well but he has a tricky gate and heavy track to contend with on Wednesday,'' Ward said. 'At this stage we are heading to Warwick Farm but we have taken the precaution of nominating him for Brisbane (Eagle Farm) on Saturday.'' Triple Crown also races promising three-year-old Without Peer, a debut winner at Rosehill late last season before his fast-finishing second to Ninja at the same track last Saturday. 'Without Peer has come through Saturday's run really well,'' Ward said. 'I know Ciaron (Maher, trainer) is very happy with the horse and we are looking at the Ming Dynasty Quality (Rosehill, September 13) next for him.''
The Australian
a day ago
- The Australian
Nikita Tszyu fight: Fight week rocked by legal threats after mysterious press conference absence
Michael Zerafa was mysteriously absent at Monday's press conference ahead of this Wednesday's pay-per-view card at the ICC Exhibition Centre in Sydney. Zerafa is due to fight American Mikey Dahlman in the co-main event of Nikita Tszyu's boxing return against Lulzim Ismaili, but wasn't present at the standard fight week presser at Moore Park on Monday afternoon. 'I have been informed that he won't be here, but I have been informed he'll be at the weigh in tomorrow,' said No Limit CEO George Rose. 'I was just informed not long ago before coming on air, but he will be coming to the weigh-ins tomorrow.' Zerafa later issued an incendiary statement claiming he had been told not to attend the press conference, and even threatened legal action. 'They went ahead and falsely told national TV and streaming audiences that I 'no showed',' Zerafa wrote on Instagram. 'That is not just dishonest it's defamation. Zerafa mysteriously didn't attend Monday's press conference. Picture: No Limit Boxing 'You cannot remove someone, then publicly shame them for not being there. 'That's a direct attack on my integrity, my professionalism, and my name. 'And that has real consequences. 'This attempt to damage my reputation is serious and it won't be ignored. 'Our legal team has now been contacted. Enough is enough.' Four years ago, Zerafa was scheduled to face Tim Tszyu on a No Limit card in Newcastle, but pulled out due to concerns around travelling interstate during Covid. Queensland's Stevie Spark was a late-notice call up then, but Rose said there were no concerns about ahead of Wednesday night. 'No, let's keep the ball rolling,' Rose dead-batted when asked if he had any worries about the co-main event. 'Mikey (Dahlman), he's got a really good energy, he's happy to be out here. 'I think he's a guy who can upset the plan too. The fight is happening.' Dahlman had a horror trip from his home in Illinois to Sydney, including 36 hours' worth of flight delays. He was eventually forced to rebook his own flights via Dubai to Australia, arriving late last week. 'It was unexpected, because I know Zerafa is a bad boy and a villain,' Dahlman said. 'We all lead different lives, and if he's got something going on, he's gotta answer those questions, not me. 'I've got a job to do. I'm not changing my game-plan just because he's not at a press conference.' Mikey Dahlman promises to cause a boilover against Zerafa. Picture: No Limit Boxing The laidback Dahlman, who arrived in Sydney with his fiancée, said he feels like a hometown fighter in Sydney. 'I was definitely expecting a much bigger hate crowd,' he laughed. 'I got much more support for sure, I love it. 'I'm here to win, I've got business to do and I think I can beat him.' If they both win on Wednesday, No Limit is expected to push for a domestic blockbuster between Nikita and Zerafa in December. Zerafa insists he isn't interested in a fight with the younger Tszyu brother though, and only has eyes on Tim. The impasse has apparently resulted in a breakdown between Zerafa and No Limit, contributing to 'The Pretty Boy's' press conference absence. No Limit and the Tszyu camp have been adamant for months that Zerafa must fight Nikita before any bout with Tim is possible. Nikita Tszyu is just focused on Lulzim Ismaili. Picture: No Limit Boxing 'The rivalry is between me and Tim, that's the one they should be going with,' Zerafa told Code Sports. 'I've got no beef with Nikita. 'They're making it out like I need them. I'm an opportunity for Tim to bounce back and for Nikita to make a name for himself. 'Realistically they need me, I don't need them.' Tim and Nikita Tszyu's manager, Glen Jennings immediately hosed down any thought of a fight between Zerafa and 'The Soul Taker'. 'He can be as adamant as he wants about fighting Tim, but you don't get everything you want in life,' Jennings told Code Sports. 'He also wants a $100,000 Bentley. 'Dream on. 'Tim Tszyu decides on who fights Tim Tszyu. 'Since Newcastle, Tim has stuck by his stance that he won't fight Michael Zerafa, and I stand by that. Brock Jarvis says he'll fight Nikita if Zerafa doesn't. Picture: No Limit Boxing 'Right now, there is an option that we'll consider, and that's Nikita. If he decides not to fight him, that's Michael dodging Nikita. 'Make no mistake about that. 'But if Michael wins on Wednesday night, we'll consider him fighting Nikita.' If Zerafa refuses to fight Nikita, and the impasse remains, Sydney boxer Brock Jarvis says he will gladly step in to face 'The Butcher'. 'I'll step in and fight Nikita, of course. I'm a fighter and I'm here to take on everything that's thrown my way,' Jarvis said. Brendan Bradford Content producer Brendan Bradford is a sports writer for CODE Sports. He primarily covers combat sports, league, union, cycling and athletics. Brendan has worked in sports media for a decade, covering world title fights, World Cups, Grand Slams and Spring Tours. @1bbradfo Brendan Bradford
