Gosford preview: Trainer David Pfieffer is banking on two key factors to land Our Little Star in the winners circle
The four-year-old raced keenly in fourth spot before finishing a two-and-three-quarter length third behind The Unique Star in a three and four-year-old Benchmark 64 Handicap over 1100m at Warwick Farm.
'It was a good run first-up. The slow tempo probably just caused her to get up on the bridle a little bit too much midrace,' said Pfieffer.
'She still hit the line well and looks to be in for a good preparation.'
Our Little Star drops back to a Midway Class 1 Handicap over 1000m, a distance she has placed in each of her three runs over.
✨ Our Little Star breaks through for her first win for Jason Collett and @DavidPfieffer! @hawkesburyrc pic.twitter.com/3lSrun1n4L
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 12, 2025
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!
'Coming back to 1000m should help her settle better and Gosford usually generates a bit of tempo,' he said.
'It's a decent drop in grade so she should be very competitive.'
In the same race, Pfieffer also saddles up Explosive Torpido.
The five-year-old mare showed she is building towards another win with a length second to Russian Zarina at Hawkesbury before a length third behind Pratt and Harlex at Wyong.
'I wanted to try and split them but it was the right race for the pair.
'The draw looks like it will be the deciding factor.
'They are in good order, they look good, will present well and hopefully fight out the finish.
'I'm hoping they can run the quinella.'
Pfieffer's third and final runner for the day is Miss Firestar who will make her race debut in the Nova Coast Services Pty Ltd Super Maiden Handicap (1200m).
The daughter of Press Statement showed good early speed in her Warwick Farm barrier trial on April 29 to be among the leaders early before easing round the bend.
Kerrin McEvoy kept her under a hold in the straight in finishing sixth behind Columbia Blue.
'She has improved from last time in work and trialled alright the other week,' Pfieffer said.
'The 1200m will suit her better than the 790m trial. Ultimately, she will want seven furlongs down the track but this a good starting point.
ðŸ'¥ Explosive Torpido takes the opener at @newcastleraces_ today! @DavidPfieffer @AlyshaCollett pic.twitter.com/zmi8UgGm9G
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 8, 2024
'I think there will be a couple of scratching from this race which will help.
' Josh Parr gets on-board and he should give her nice ride and give us some nice feedback.
'I think she could herself running into the placings.'
Pfieffer also has two runners at Randwick on Saturday with Oh Diamond Lil in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) and Whinchat in the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m).
Oh Diamond Lil was impressive winning first-up at Scone at the stand-along meeting on May 17 before fading to ninth behind Thunderlips at Randwick on June 7.
'Jay (Ford) got on her for the first time last start and it didn't look like they suited each other well but also, I may have been too easy on her after Scone,' he said.
'You are worried about the big trip up there and back plus the effort to win.
'Maybe I had he her a fraction too fresh the other week.
'I really think she can bounce back.'
Whinchat almost made it a double for Pfieffer when he was beaten a half-head by The Instructor in the Listed Luskin Star at Scone.
He then cost himself when he reared in the gates at Randwick two weeks ago when second last behind Headley Grange.
'He was sent back to the trials by the stewards where he performed satisfactorily and is back to the races this weekend.
'He will do his thing. Bounce out of the gates and go forward.'
â– â– â– â– â–
Scone horseman Rod Northam is looking for promising gelding Speedy Henry to make use of his nice barrier to get back to winning form.
The son of Hellbent made a winning start to his career at Dubbo last December before a spell and kicked off this campaign with a Class 1 win at home but has had mixed fortunes sin his three runs since.
Speedy Henry was making ground late when sixth in a Highway at Randwick on April 26 before a third to Tasoraay at Scone and a safely held sixth behind Hammering Away at Dubbo last time out.
'He's still leaning and is still very green. He's field shy and timid among horses,' said Northam.
'When horses go around him, he baulks off them and he's been shuffled back in a couple of his races where you would think he'd hold a spot.
Speedy Henry runs away with Race 5 at Scone for @rodnortham! pic.twitter.com/7FKYiq36ur
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 14, 2025
'The key to him is getting him away and up near the speed and try to not get crowded.'
Northam is looking to jockey Reece Jones to have Speedy Henry in a forward position from barrier 4 in the Class 2 Plate (1200m) where he gets in well with 57.5kg.
'He has drawn nicely so if he can begin well and put himself somewhere handy, not cluttered up on the fence, he should be able to race really well,' he said.
Grandini was rewarded for her consistent form when she broke through for her first win at Dubbo on June 6.
The daughter of Toronado had finished in the top four in eight of her first 10 starts.
'She has been a great money-spinner for her owners,' Northam said.
'I was quite confident going into that race. I thought her first-up run was good.
'She just needed a good ride which she got from Leeshelle and they got the job done nicely.'
The four-year-old is striving to make it back-to-back wins when she contests the Class 1 Handicap (1400m).
'Hopefully she takes a bit of confidence out of that win.
'There looks to be nice pace in this race so she should be able to camp just off the speed and be strong late again.'
Northam has been pleased with the progress of Bawnaglen who will appreciate stepping up in distance in the Maiden Plate (1400m).
'If Reece can be positive and have him handy, he should be strong late,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
16 minutes ago
- ABC News
NRL live: Cronulla Sharks vs Gold Coast Titans, Brisbane Broncos vs Dolphins, South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Parramatta Eels
After a disappointing loss to the Dragons, Cronulla is lurking dangerously close to the bottom of the eight and matches up with the last-placed Titans, who get Keano Kini and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui back from injury. Later, the new-look Broncos and Dolphins face off in the Battle of Brisbane, before the injury-hit Rabbitohs take on a resurgent Eels outfit. Follow all the action in our live blog below, check out all the stats in the full ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
I played backyard cricket with Bob Simpson. He made one of the greatest comebacks in Australian sport
To start with, Simpson fielded in the deep in first-class cricket. It was the legendary Keith Miller who spotted Simpson's talent to field in the slips. Simmo took two diving catches to establish his position as a slip fielder throughout his Test career. He made his first-class debut for NSW against Victoria in 1952-53 as a 16-year-old. When Simpson was introduced to his teammates, the legendary Australian batter Arthur Morris joked as to where his nappies were! Simpson was grateful to another Aussie legend, vice-captain Neil Harvey, for his climb to the top. On Harvey's advice he tried opening the batting to replace Jim Burke, who had retired. When he found runs getting difficult he took Harvey's help, who advised the youngster that he was playing too square-on while defending on the back foot. He became one of the most consistent openers at Test level. In 62 Tests from 1957 to 1978 he amassed 4869 runs at an average of 46.81, hitting 10 centuries – his highest score being 311 against England at Old Trafford, Manchester in 1964. He also took 71 wickets at 42.26 (grabbing five wickets in an innings twice, his best spell being five for 57) and 110 catches. He was an astute rather than a dynamic captain. Simpson's 311 in the Old Trafford Test took 760 minutes, and he was criticised for his slow batting. The Daily Mail called it the 'murder of Test cricket'. At one stage, six journalists in the press box were seen dozing while he was batting. Simpson defended his tactics, asserting that with a series lead, batting England out of the match was the best way to retain the Ashes. In that same Test, he added 201 runs for the opening wicket with Bill Lawry. They did even better in the Barbados Test against West Indies in 1964, when they put on 382 runs for the first wicket, skipper Simpson scoring 201 and Lawry 210. They became the first opening pair to register double centuries in the same Test innings. Between them, they added 3596 runs in Tests at an average of 61. Simpson became the second Australian, after Don Bradman, to make a Test triple century in England. He was also the second batsman after Garry Sobers to record a triple century as his first Test hundred. A prolific scorer, Simpson recorded another triple century in first-class cricket: 359 for NSW against Queensland at Brisbane in 1963-64. He was also a strict but inspiring coach like Justin Langer. When Australia was looking for a full-time coach in the mid-1980s, Simpson was the Australian Cricket Board's choice. He gave Allan Border's team a taste of the discipline to which he had always submitted himself as a player. To quote writer Gideon Haigh, 'A martinet where fitness, fielding and batting technique were concerned, he held the job for a controversial but successful decade, during which time the team won the World Cup and regained both the Ashes and the Frank Worrell Trophy.' Simmo remained Australia's coach until he was replaced by Geoff Marsh in 1996. Under Simpson as coach, Australia improved from being a weak team to the strongest in the world. Apart from winning the 1987 World Cup, Australia regained the Ashes in England in 1989 and defeated the then-invincible West Indies in the Caribbean in 1995. Simpson later coached English counties Leicestershire and Lancashire, and also Rajasthan in India. I was privileged to sit next to Bob Simpson and his daughter Debbie at a function held by the Cricketers' Club of NSW in 1984, for the Richie Benaud Award for the Best Under-19 cricketer of the year. When schoolboy Mark Waugh won, Simpson was full of praise for the then 18-year-old Mark and his twin brother Steve. When I finished my book The Waugh Twins in 1998, I requested Bob write a foreword. He readily agreed, starting with: 'First, as the book is by Kersi Meher-Homji, I know it will be accurate, honest and a very good read. Secondly, the Waugh twins were a major part of my life for over a decade and I had the good fortune to be able to see and perhaps oversee their development from talented youngsters to champions.' His own biography, Simpson's Safari, was authored by R.S. Whitington in 1967. Simpson also wrote several books – my favourites being Simmo (1979) and Captain's Story (1966). He said of his career: 'It took me many years to become an overnight success.' Loading Simpson was made Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1965 and inducted as Order of Australia (AO) in 1985. He was also made Member of the Order of British Empire (MBE). He dedicated his autobiography, Simmo, to his wife and two daughters: 'To my three girls – Meg, Kim and Debbie'. Kim is married to former Test cricketer and chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
I played backyard cricket with Bob Simpson. He made one of the greatest comebacks in Australian sport
To start with, Simpson fielded in the deep in first-class cricket. It was the legendary Keith Miller who spotted Simpson's talent to field in the slips. Simmo took two diving catches to establish his position as a slip fielder throughout his Test career. He made his first-class debut for NSW against Victoria in 1952-53 as a 16-year-old. When Simpson was introduced to his teammates, the legendary Australian batter Arthur Morris joked as to where his nappies were! Simpson was grateful to another Aussie legend, vice-captain Neil Harvey, for his climb to the top. On Harvey's advice he tried opening the batting to replace Jim Burke, who had retired. When he found runs getting difficult he took Harvey's help, who advised the youngster that he was playing too square-on while defending on the back foot. He became one of the most consistent openers at Test level. In 62 Tests from 1957 to 1978 he amassed 4869 runs at an average of 46.81, hitting 10 centuries – his highest score being 311 against England at Old Trafford, Manchester in 1964. He also took 71 wickets at 42.26 (grabbing five wickets in an innings twice, his best spell being five for 57) and 110 catches. He was an astute rather than a dynamic captain. Simpson's 311 in the Old Trafford Test took 760 minutes, and he was criticised for his slow batting. The Daily Mail called it the 'murder of Test cricket'. At one stage, six journalists in the press box were seen dozing while he was batting. Simpson defended his tactics, asserting that with a series lead, batting England out of the match was the best way to retain the Ashes. In that same Test, he added 201 runs for the opening wicket with Bill Lawry. They did even better in the Barbados Test against West Indies in 1964, when they put on 382 runs for the first wicket, skipper Simpson scoring 201 and Lawry 210. They became the first opening pair to register double centuries in the same Test innings. Between them, they added 3596 runs in Tests at an average of 61. Simpson became the second Australian, after Don Bradman, to make a Test triple century in England. He was also the second batsman after Garry Sobers to record a triple century as his first Test hundred. A prolific scorer, Simpson recorded another triple century in first-class cricket: 359 for NSW against Queensland at Brisbane in 1963-64. He was also a strict but inspiring coach like Justin Langer. When Australia was looking for a full-time coach in the mid-1980s, Simpson was the Australian Cricket Board's choice. He gave Allan Border's team a taste of the discipline to which he had always submitted himself as a player. To quote writer Gideon Haigh, 'A martinet where fitness, fielding and batting technique were concerned, he held the job for a controversial but successful decade, during which time the team won the World Cup and regained both the Ashes and the Frank Worrell Trophy.' Simmo remained Australia's coach until he was replaced by Geoff Marsh in 1996. Under Simpson as coach, Australia improved from being a weak team to the strongest in the world. Apart from winning the 1987 World Cup, Australia regained the Ashes in England in 1989 and defeated the then-invincible West Indies in the Caribbean in 1995. Simpson later coached English counties Leicestershire and Lancashire, and also Rajasthan in India. I was privileged to sit next to Bob Simpson and his daughter Debbie at a function held by the Cricketers' Club of NSW in 1984, for the Richie Benaud Award for the Best Under-19 cricketer of the year. When schoolboy Mark Waugh won, Simpson was full of praise for the then 18-year-old Mark and his twin brother Steve. When I finished my book The Waugh Twins in 1998, I requested Bob write a foreword. He readily agreed, starting with: 'First, as the book is by Kersi Meher-Homji, I know it will be accurate, honest and a very good read. Secondly, the Waugh twins were a major part of my life for over a decade and I had the good fortune to be able to see and perhaps oversee their development from talented youngsters to champions.' His own biography, Simpson's Safari, was authored by R.S. Whitington in 1967. Simpson also wrote several books – my favourites being Simmo (1979) and Captain's Story (1966). He said of his career: 'It took me many years to become an overnight success.' Loading Simpson was made Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1965 and inducted as Order of Australia (AO) in 1985. He was also made Member of the Order of British Empire (MBE). He dedicated his autobiography, Simmo, to his wife and two daughters: 'To my three girls – Meg, Kim and Debbie'. Kim is married to former Test cricketer and chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch.
