Grand Eagle takes flight as Rawiller pulls the right rein
After pinching a breather, Punch Lane gapped his rivals to win by more than four lengths. The stable was looking at backing him up again next Saturday in the Hawkesbury Cup (1600m).
'He's led before and won, but I just thought he needed wetter [track],' Anthony Freedman said.
'But he's come on from last week, and he's backed up before and won.
'I might throw him in at Hawkesbury even because it will be wet, I think. Whether he can take three runs in a row, I don't know. We'll probably nominate and see what happens.'
Lees considers Target for Memoria
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was thinking of a shot at the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on May 10 with Memoria after she led all the way to win on Saturday.
Under Lees' apprentice Ben Osmond, the five-year-old mare stole a gap early in the straight before finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Pajanti. It was a 20th city success for Osmond, whose claim now drops from three kilograms to two.
'It was a really well-judged ride, he knows her well,' Lees said.
'She's very honest. We'll keep trying to place her right and at some stage, give her a chance in better company.'
Lees is eyeing a benchmark race at the Coast meeting at Gosford in two weeks, but said the listed Takeover Target could also be an option.
Hyeronimus proves the difference
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable looks set to test 'dork' Les Vampires over even more ground after the four-year-old Pierro gelding won at 1800m in Benchmark 94 level on Saturday.
Now a winner four times in 12 starts, Les Vampires stepped up from 1500m and was strong late to hold off Lees-trained Zaphod.
Adam Hyeronimus gave Les Vampires an economical run just off the pacesetters.
'He's a nice horse, but he's just very quirky,' Hyeronimus said.
'I'm very good friends with the owners, and I'm allowed to say this, but I labelled him as a dork.
'I want to get left, he wants to go right. He's not a hassle, but he just does little things that are a bit annoying.
'The biggest thing with him is to find that rhythm, get him comfortable.'
Stable representative Neil Paine said the rise in distance 'was the worry'.
Beer sets Sunrise for Scone
Kembla trainer Mitch Beer will have a crack at the listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone on May 17 with bargain buy Sunrise after she easily claimed the 1100m benchmark 72 Midway Handicap on Saturday at Randwick.
A $45,000 buy at the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale after one win in six starts in New Zealand, Sunrise took her earnings in Australia past $100,000 with the front-running victory under Rachel King. It came after a seven-length demolition first-up in a Kembla class one.
Laurie extends Sydney streak
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Matt Laurie's golden autumn in Sydney continued when Miss Icelandic booked her spot in the listed Ortensia Stakes with victory at Randwick on Saturday in her first run back for the Victorian trainer.
Miss Icelandic ($10), first-up and having her maiden NSW start, overhauled Passeggiata late by a half neck under Chad Schofield in the benchmark 78 handicap (1000m).
Laurie, who won three group 1s from three starts at the Sydney autumn carnival with Treasurethe Moment and Vinrock, was eyeing a black-type result with Miss Icelandic in the Ortensia at Scone on May 17.
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The Advertiser
21 hours ago
- The Advertiser
A horse stud, a trip to Egypt and selling perfume: Ben Talty's NRL journey
BEN Talty grew up on a horse stud near Denman. He is a life member of the Muswellbrook Rams. The Brisbane Broncos forward is not the type of man you expect to be promoting, let alone selling, Egyptian fragrances. But that's just a small part of rugged Talty's story in what has been a long haul to playing NRL football. Talty toiled away in reserve grade for the best part of eight years. After almost five seasons with his home-town club Newcastle, he moved to North Sydney where he continued chasing his NRL dream for a further three seasons. Plenty of others gave up on their own and pursued other careers, and Talty admits he considered it on numerous occasions. Every Christmas and at other gatherings with extended family or friends, it would be a topic of conversation: 'How's your footy going?' "Good" would be a regular answer, but it wasn't ever "great" because a first-grade debut had still eluded him. That was until Broncos coach Michael Maguire came calling this year. A couple of months ago, Talty was playing for the Bears in NSW Cup. Today, he has five NRL appearances to his name and has become a regular in Brisbane's NRL side. "Around Christmas and everything, they always spoke about it," Talty said of family asking about whether he would make the NRL. "It was always the topic of discussion: 'How's your footy going?'. "To be in this position now, I'm forever grateful for it. "I grew up on a horse stud outside Muswellbrook. My parents always had to take me to [Knights] training. It was a four-hour round trip - Monday, Wednesday and Friday. "So being able to repay them for this, and be in this position and make them proud, is just such an honour to do that." A Rams life-member who also played some junior footy with Denman Devils, Talty will go full circle this week when he returns to Newcastle with Brisbane to face the Knights on Sunday. The 26-year-old, who came right through the Knights' development system, always aspired to debut for the club but left to try and get a crack somewhere else. "I'm certainly looking forward to it," Talty said. "That happens. "I was a Knights junior from when I was 15, and they helped pave the way for this as well. "I have great mates there, I have a lot of close friends at that club as well. I'm looking forward to going down there and [playing] them. "It should be a great experience." Talty is the latest former Knights lower-grade player and Hunter product to begin his NRL career at another club, following in the footsteps of the likes of Canberra forward Zac Hosking and Melbourne back Grant Anderson in making the most of a train-and-trial deal. At Brisbane, Talty has fitted in seamlessly, living with best mate and fellow Muswellbrook junior Fletcher Baker, and Scone-born Jock Madden. Baker is Brisbane's 18th man this week, while Madden, who is returning to Wests Tigers next season, is in the extended match squad. Talty credits the duo, and the likes of Brisbane skipper Pat Carrigan and coach Maguire, for helping him hit the ground running. "You've just got to do the little things right," Talty, who played in the 2018 Newcastle Rugby League grand final for Lakes United, said. "Madge really respects people who have those effort areas off the ball and things like that. "That's what I'm trying to do here, just keep my role simple and work really hard." A seasoned reserve-grade player who is now showing he can match it at NRL level, Talty shapes as a prime recruit for incoming expansion franchise Perth Bears. Given his North Sydney connection, there has already been speculation about him linking with the new side. With his future beyond this season still up in the air, he hasn't ruled out a move west. "All I ever wanted to do was to play first grade, and the Broncos made that come true, so I'm quite content with where I am at currently," Talty said. "But the Bears will always play a deep place in my heart, because they helped build the foundation of where I'm at now." In his long journey to first grade, Talty has also made the most of his time off the field, completing a business degree and launching a fragrance company with Baker called Nefertum. Inspired by a trip to Egypt, it won them the NRL's 'Entrepreneur of the year' award this week. But while the brand might be taking off, regardless of where he ends up, Talty is desperate to ensure he remains in first grade, which is no surprise given how hard he worked, and how long it took, to get there. "I've always had that hunger to play NRL," Talty said. "I chipped away for 26 years. It's really all I wanted to do. I just really wanted to take the opportunity with both hands. "But I can't get too complacent with where I'm at now. I'm still a long way away from where I want to be. "It's a great start, but I'm looking further ahead." BEN Talty grew up on a horse stud near Denman. He is a life member of the Muswellbrook Rams. The Brisbane Broncos forward is not the type of man you expect to be promoting, let alone selling, Egyptian fragrances. But that's just a small part of rugged Talty's story in what has been a long haul to playing NRL football. Talty toiled away in reserve grade for the best part of eight years. After almost five seasons with his home-town club Newcastle, he moved to North Sydney where he continued chasing his NRL dream for a further three seasons. Plenty of others gave up on their own and pursued other careers, and Talty admits he considered it on numerous occasions. Every Christmas and at other gatherings with extended family or friends, it would be a topic of conversation: 'How's your footy going?' "Good" would be a regular answer, but it wasn't ever "great" because a first-grade debut had still eluded him. That was until Broncos coach Michael Maguire came calling this year. A couple of months ago, Talty was playing for the Bears in NSW Cup. Today, he has five NRL appearances to his name and has become a regular in Brisbane's NRL side. "Around Christmas and everything, they always spoke about it," Talty said of family asking about whether he would make the NRL. "It was always the topic of discussion: 'How's your footy going?'. "To be in this position now, I'm forever grateful for it. "I grew up on a horse stud outside Muswellbrook. My parents always had to take me to [Knights] training. It was a four-hour round trip - Monday, Wednesday and Friday. "So being able to repay them for this, and be in this position and make them proud, is just such an honour to do that." A Rams life-member who also played some junior footy with Denman Devils, Talty will go full circle this week when he returns to Newcastle with Brisbane to face the Knights on Sunday. The 26-year-old, who came right through the Knights' development system, always aspired to debut for the club but left to try and get a crack somewhere else. "I'm certainly looking forward to it," Talty said. "That happens. "I was a Knights junior from when I was 15, and they helped pave the way for this as well. "I have great mates there, I have a lot of close friends at that club as well. I'm looking forward to going down there and [playing] them. "It should be a great experience." Talty is the latest former Knights lower-grade player and Hunter product to begin his NRL career at another club, following in the footsteps of the likes of Canberra forward Zac Hosking and Melbourne back Grant Anderson in making the most of a train-and-trial deal. At Brisbane, Talty has fitted in seamlessly, living with best mate and fellow Muswellbrook junior Fletcher Baker, and Scone-born Jock Madden. Baker is Brisbane's 18th man this week, while Madden, who is returning to Wests Tigers next season, is in the extended match squad. Talty credits the duo, and the likes of Brisbane skipper Pat Carrigan and coach Maguire, for helping him hit the ground running. "You've just got to do the little things right," Talty, who played in the 2018 Newcastle Rugby League grand final for Lakes United, said. "Madge really respects people who have those effort areas off the ball and things like that. "That's what I'm trying to do here, just keep my role simple and work really hard." A seasoned reserve-grade player who is now showing he can match it at NRL level, Talty shapes as a prime recruit for incoming expansion franchise Perth Bears. Given his North Sydney connection, there has already been speculation about him linking with the new side. With his future beyond this season still up in the air, he hasn't ruled out a move west. "All I ever wanted to do was to play first grade, and the Broncos made that come true, so I'm quite content with where I am at currently," Talty said. "But the Bears will always play a deep place in my heart, because they helped build the foundation of where I'm at now." In his long journey to first grade, Talty has also made the most of his time off the field, completing a business degree and launching a fragrance company with Baker called Nefertum. Inspired by a trip to Egypt, it won them the NRL's 'Entrepreneur of the year' award this week. But while the brand might be taking off, regardless of where he ends up, Talty is desperate to ensure he remains in first grade, which is no surprise given how hard he worked, and how long it took, to get there. "I've always had that hunger to play NRL," Talty said. "I chipped away for 26 years. It's really all I wanted to do. I just really wanted to take the opportunity with both hands. "But I can't get too complacent with where I'm at now. I'm still a long way away from where I want to be. "It's a great start, but I'm looking further ahead." BEN Talty grew up on a horse stud near Denman. He is a life member of the Muswellbrook Rams. The Brisbane Broncos forward is not the type of man you expect to be promoting, let alone selling, Egyptian fragrances. But that's just a small part of rugged Talty's story in what has been a long haul to playing NRL football. Talty toiled away in reserve grade for the best part of eight years. After almost five seasons with his home-town club Newcastle, he moved to North Sydney where he continued chasing his NRL dream for a further three seasons. Plenty of others gave up on their own and pursued other careers, and Talty admits he considered it on numerous occasions. Every Christmas and at other gatherings with extended family or friends, it would be a topic of conversation: 'How's your footy going?' "Good" would be a regular answer, but it wasn't ever "great" because a first-grade debut had still eluded him. That was until Broncos coach Michael Maguire came calling this year. A couple of months ago, Talty was playing for the Bears in NSW Cup. Today, he has five NRL appearances to his name and has become a regular in Brisbane's NRL side. "Around Christmas and everything, they always spoke about it," Talty said of family asking about whether he would make the NRL. "It was always the topic of discussion: 'How's your footy going?'. "To be in this position now, I'm forever grateful for it. "I grew up on a horse stud outside Muswellbrook. My parents always had to take me to [Knights] training. It was a four-hour round trip - Monday, Wednesday and Friday. "So being able to repay them for this, and be in this position and make them proud, is just such an honour to do that." A Rams life-member who also played some junior footy with Denman Devils, Talty will go full circle this week when he returns to Newcastle with Brisbane to face the Knights on Sunday. The 26-year-old, who came right through the Knights' development system, always aspired to debut for the club but left to try and get a crack somewhere else. "I'm certainly looking forward to it," Talty said. "That happens. "I was a Knights junior from when I was 15, and they helped pave the way for this as well. "I have great mates there, I have a lot of close friends at that club as well. I'm looking forward to going down there and [playing] them. "It should be a great experience." Talty is the latest former Knights lower-grade player and Hunter product to begin his NRL career at another club, following in the footsteps of the likes of Canberra forward Zac Hosking and Melbourne back Grant Anderson in making the most of a train-and-trial deal. At Brisbane, Talty has fitted in seamlessly, living with best mate and fellow Muswellbrook junior Fletcher Baker, and Scone-born Jock Madden. Baker is Brisbane's 18th man this week, while Madden, who is returning to Wests Tigers next season, is in the extended match squad. Talty credits the duo, and the likes of Brisbane skipper Pat Carrigan and coach Maguire, for helping him hit the ground running. "You've just got to do the little things right," Talty, who played in the 2018 Newcastle Rugby League grand final for Lakes United, said. "Madge really respects people who have those effort areas off the ball and things like that. "That's what I'm trying to do here, just keep my role simple and work really hard." A seasoned reserve-grade player who is now showing he can match it at NRL level, Talty shapes as a prime recruit for incoming expansion franchise Perth Bears. Given his North Sydney connection, there has already been speculation about him linking with the new side. With his future beyond this season still up in the air, he hasn't ruled out a move west. "All I ever wanted to do was to play first grade, and the Broncos made that come true, so I'm quite content with where I am at currently," Talty said. "But the Bears will always play a deep place in my heart, because they helped build the foundation of where I'm at now." In his long journey to first grade, Talty has also made the most of his time off the field, completing a business degree and launching a fragrance company with Baker called Nefertum. Inspired by a trip to Egypt, it won them the NRL's 'Entrepreneur of the year' award this week. But while the brand might be taking off, regardless of where he ends up, Talty is desperate to ensure he remains in first grade, which is no surprise given how hard he worked, and how long it took, to get there. "I've always had that hunger to play NRL," Talty said. "I chipped away for 26 years. It's really all I wanted to do. I just really wanted to take the opportunity with both hands. "But I can't get too complacent with where I'm at now. I'm still a long way away from where I want to be. "It's a great start, but I'm looking further ahead." BEN Talty grew up on a horse stud near Denman. He is a life member of the Muswellbrook Rams. The Brisbane Broncos forward is not the type of man you expect to be promoting, let alone selling, Egyptian fragrances. But that's just a small part of rugged Talty's story in what has been a long haul to playing NRL football. Talty toiled away in reserve grade for the best part of eight years. After almost five seasons with his home-town club Newcastle, he moved to North Sydney where he continued chasing his NRL dream for a further three seasons. Plenty of others gave up on their own and pursued other careers, and Talty admits he considered it on numerous occasions. Every Christmas and at other gatherings with extended family or friends, it would be a topic of conversation: 'How's your footy going?' "Good" would be a regular answer, but it wasn't ever "great" because a first-grade debut had still eluded him. That was until Broncos coach Michael Maguire came calling this year. A couple of months ago, Talty was playing for the Bears in NSW Cup. Today, he has five NRL appearances to his name and has become a regular in Brisbane's NRL side. "Around Christmas and everything, they always spoke about it," Talty said of family asking about whether he would make the NRL. "It was always the topic of discussion: 'How's your footy going?'. "To be in this position now, I'm forever grateful for it. "I grew up on a horse stud outside Muswellbrook. My parents always had to take me to [Knights] training. It was a four-hour round trip - Monday, Wednesday and Friday. "So being able to repay them for this, and be in this position and make them proud, is just such an honour to do that." A Rams life-member who also played some junior footy with Denman Devils, Talty will go full circle this week when he returns to Newcastle with Brisbane to face the Knights on Sunday. The 26-year-old, who came right through the Knights' development system, always aspired to debut for the club but left to try and get a crack somewhere else. "I'm certainly looking forward to it," Talty said. "That happens. "I was a Knights junior from when I was 15, and they helped pave the way for this as well. "I have great mates there, I have a lot of close friends at that club as well. I'm looking forward to going down there and [playing] them. "It should be a great experience." Talty is the latest former Knights lower-grade player and Hunter product to begin his NRL career at another club, following in the footsteps of the likes of Canberra forward Zac Hosking and Melbourne back Grant Anderson in making the most of a train-and-trial deal. At Brisbane, Talty has fitted in seamlessly, living with best mate and fellow Muswellbrook junior Fletcher Baker, and Scone-born Jock Madden. Baker is Brisbane's 18th man this week, while Madden, who is returning to Wests Tigers next season, is in the extended match squad. Talty credits the duo, and the likes of Brisbane skipper Pat Carrigan and coach Maguire, for helping him hit the ground running. "You've just got to do the little things right," Talty, who played in the 2018 Newcastle Rugby League grand final for Lakes United, said. "Madge really respects people who have those effort areas off the ball and things like that. "That's what I'm trying to do here, just keep my role simple and work really hard." A seasoned reserve-grade player who is now showing he can match it at NRL level, Talty shapes as a prime recruit for incoming expansion franchise Perth Bears. Given his North Sydney connection, there has already been speculation about him linking with the new side. With his future beyond this season still up in the air, he hasn't ruled out a move west. "All I ever wanted to do was to play first grade, and the Broncos made that come true, so I'm quite content with where I am at currently," Talty said. "But the Bears will always play a deep place in my heart, because they helped build the foundation of where I'm at now." In his long journey to first grade, Talty has also made the most of his time off the field, completing a business degree and launching a fragrance company with Baker called Nefertum. Inspired by a trip to Egypt, it won them the NRL's 'Entrepreneur of the year' award this week. But while the brand might be taking off, regardless of where he ends up, Talty is desperate to ensure he remains in first grade, which is no surprise given how hard he worked, and how long it took, to get there. "I've always had that hunger to play NRL," Talty said. "I chipped away for 26 years. It's really all I wanted to do. I just really wanted to take the opportunity with both hands. "But I can't get too complacent with where I'm at now. I'm still a long way away from where I want to be. "It's a great start, but I'm looking further ahead."
The Australian
a day ago
- The Australian
Shayne O'Cass's Scone, Albury tips: Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Racenet form analyst Shayne O'Cass previews Tuesday's NSW meetings at Scone and Albury, presenting his best bets and quaddie leg analysis. • 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! ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ SCONE TIPS BEST BET Race 1 No.4 SCATPAK: Big run on debut on April 1, trialling like the winner here. NEXT BEST Race 7 No.2 OAKFIELD NEPTUNE: Impressive winner then chased two good ones home in the Class 1. VALUE Race 6 No.10 PENINSULA: Two wins either side of the spell contain considerable merit. QUADDIE Race 4: 1,2,7,9 Race 5: 1,7,8,11,12 Race 6: 10 Race 7: 2 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Aaron Bullock can add to his Scone tally of 124 wins on Monday. LAY OF THE DAY Race 1 No 8 LEOVNANNI: Has some serious competition from the (other) locals not least Scatpak. SCONE INSIDE MAIL RACE 4: Benchmark 66 (1000m) NATION CHANGING (9) is the most interesting, exciting and promising horse in at Scone IMHO owing to the fact that the son of Cosmic Force is unbeaten in his two runs from last preparation, beginning with that easy win here where he rolled an odds-on favourite. Nation Changing finished third of three, five-odd lengths, behind Tuesday rival SARATOGA POWER (2) in a trial here the other day but was just going around for a spin more or less. BET: NATION CHANGING (9) to win, exacta 9 to beat 2. RACE 5: Maiden Handicap (1300m) BE MORE PACIFIC (8) was a $27,500 HTBA Yearling purchase. He is from the first crop of North Pacific out of a three-quarter-sister to four-time Appearance. Trialled twice and both contained merit. Drawn 1 on debut has got to help. SMART BUY (7) has the race-experience and the home-ground advantage. Good form too. Not sure both of the Archibald debutantes will run but SIMPLY GOLD (11) and TACITLY (12) are both nice horses. BET: BE MORE PACIFIC (8) each-way, box trifecta 1,7,8,11,12 DD 1st Leg 8, 2nd Leg 2 (or if scratched 4). RACE 6: Benchmark 66 (1300m) PENINSULA (10) was passed in at Easter with a $300,000 reserve. The now 4YO gelding is a son of Snitzel from the same family as the Japanese star, Mikki Isle. Peninsula has won twice now, either side of a spell. He bolted in first-up and keep in mind, he beat subsequent Grafton Guineas winner Ronny be to win his Maiden. RURA PENTHE (11) has finished on the podium at 12 of his 21 starts but only two of them are wins. At least one of them was first-up but he has been pretty costly to follow. DEEBO (8) hasn't – he's won 4 from 11! BET: PENINSULA (10) to win. RACE 7: Class 1 Handicap (1200m) Oakfield versus Oakfield here? OAKFIELD NEPTUNE (2) and OAKFIELD PLUTO (4) are so similar in that their records thus far are '13' and '12'. They are almost impossible to split. Me? I am with 'Neptune' mostly because the two that beat her last start, Tickle Me Pink and Expido, are way better than your average Class 1 horses. Outside of the two Oakfields, one has to be hugely wary and respectful of the locally trained pair of CRESTA RUN (7) and NOVA CENTAURI (8). The latter is one for one at Scone whilst Cresta Run has four starts there for three seconds and a third. BET: OAKFIELD NEPTUNE (2) to win or if scratched OAKFIELD PLUTO (4) to win. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ALBURY TIPS BEST BET Race 6 No.5 PARTHENOPE: Spelled after an impressive debut win. Top shelf trialler on Aug 11. NEXT BEST Race 7 No.2 DEEPWATER ARTIST: Won first start; took a Highway winner to beat him the next time. VALUE Race 4 No.10 SAPPHIRES SON: Last start winner in a similar style race to this. ALBURY INSIDE MAIL RACE 4: Benchmark 58 (1500m) SAPPHIRES SON (10) was rewarded for his efforts this campaign with a win at home at Goulburn last start in a mile benchmark 58. It wasn't the world's strongest 58 and he went around with 51kg on his back. Still, you can never knock a winner and he's in another suitable assignment today. JUST LIKE LIAM (2) was 1500m to back to 1200m one start to the next but is back to 1500m this time which is prime territory for the son of Magic Albert. He loves it here at home too. BET: SAPPHIRES SON (10), JUST LIKE LIAM (2) each-way, quinella 2,10. RACE 5: Benchmark 66 (1000m) GETTY (8) is such a cleverly-named horse; he is by Capitalist! Long story short, he started off at Randwick with the Snowdens and had form behind the likes of Estriella, Bases Loaded, Spring Lee, In Flight. He's hardly run a bad race for Matthew Kelley, in fact, his last run was excellent under his crushing weight. If it stays Heavy, keep in mind that SHEILA (3) is 5 for 5 on Heavy! Soft form is good too; this is her trip and she has won twice at Albury. BET: GETTY (8) to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 8, 2nd Leg 2. RACE 6: Class 1 Handicap (1000m) PARTHENOPE (5) is trained by the nine-times Highway winner, Danielle Seib. It would be no surprise to see this mare in a Highway one day. She led throughout to win a 1200m Goulburn Maiden on Oct 8. Resurfaced in an 800m trial down there finishing a nose second to Highway Strip! YOUR MAGIC (1) is a huge player. AMERICAN RUSS (4) somehow has only 1 win from 40 starts. He is so much better than that and keep in mind that his solitary win was here at Albury and only three runs ago. BET: PARTHENOPE (5) to win (best bet). RACE 7: Class 1 Handicap (1400m) DEEPWATER ARTIST (2) will, IMHO, make it in midweek grade. Well, more importantly, his trainer Matthew Kelley said it first when we rang him on his way to Bathurst races on Monday morning. First off, the debut win was outstanding. As for the follow up run, it took a past-Highway winner, Salute Again, to beat him. Shamus Award's daughter SISTER SHAY (4) has a win and three seconds in her four runs for Craig Widdison. Raced here twice for a win and a second. Has to be respected. BET: DEEPWATER ARTIST (2) to win.
The Australian
a day ago
- The Australian
Trainer Mark Milton saddles up Miss Couver at Scone
Trainer, owner and breeder Mark Milton is hoping his 'internet speck' Miss Couver can win back her meagre purchase price and start building a bank to pay for a stallion partner some time this spring or the next when she steps out at Scone today. The daughter of Golden Slipper winner Vancouver was originally housed at Leilani Lodge with Anthony Cummings who trained Miss Couver's Group 1-winning 'uncles' Outback Prince and Hotel Grand. Her most recent three starts were under the Ciaron Maher banner, prior to being put out to tender. Enter Milton, the former Mudgee trainer now firmly ensconced at the nation's thoroughbred capital. • 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! 'It was a bit of an afterthought to buy her when I was playing on the Inglis Digital,'' Milton said. 'I thought why not have a bid on this one? 'I only paid $3,500 for her which is not a lot when you consider what we are racing for. 'And she'd won at the provincials and had run a couple of placings at the metros and that.' Miss Couver's 13th and last run came on July 9 where she finished down the order in a Benchmark 72 at Canterbury. Her first assignment for Milton comes on Monday in the One Agency Scone Class 1 Handicap (1200m) with Kody Nestor to steer. 'I haven't done a real lot with her,'' Milton says. 'She hasn't had any hard gallops but she is certainly coming back in class a bit. 'She is a nice big, strong mare who came to me in good nick.' • RICHARD CALLANDER: Racing's rumour mill trips up punters with Shenandoah shenanigans Given how well-bred Miss Couver is, Milton is seriously considering breeding from the genetically blessed mare. 'Everyone keeps telling me, even down at Ciaron's that she would make a lovely broodmare,'' Milton said. 'She is a really big scopey horse. If you send her to the right stallion, she should throw a cracking sort of a foal. 'It's up to her to win her service fee.' Milton, meanwhile, has found another ideal race for Flying Molly who has the opportunity to collect $15,000 if successful in the Arrowfield Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m). Born and bred at Kingstar Farm, just like 2021 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside, Flying Molly turned six on August 1 yet has just five runs under her belt. In fact the time between her third and fourth starts was a staggering 86weeks, or 602days. 'I moved from Mudgee over to Scone and then there was a rigmarole to be able to train at Scone for a while so she just sat in the paddock and in no time at all, nearly two years had gone past,'' Milton explained. 'There was no injury problem or anything like that, it was just a change of location and the moving process and everything else.' The break has, it seems, worked wonders for Flying Molly who has posted back-to-back PBs at her two runs since her return to racing. Both were at Scone, one a closing third to the handy Kris Lees-trained galloper Herman Said. • Private Harry, Briasa step up Everest preparations with scintillating trial wins The other was a three-quarter-length second to the Rodney Northam-housed Nova Centauri who goes around in the last on Monday's Scone card. 'I am guessing this race is probably a bit harder looking at the prices on the TAB but she has been pretty consistent and a little bit green in her runs too but even though she is a little bit older, she doesn't have a lot of experience,'' Milton said. Flying Molly, a $10,000 Inglis weanling purchase in 2020, can lay a rare claim to boast a Golden Slipper winner hanging on her family tree. Her fifth dam, Light Of Peace, was the mother of 1987 Slipper hero, Star Watch.
