South Australian Derby could be next for American Wolf after VRC St Leger win
One giant leap could springboard to a Group 1 win for American Wolf after Friday's VRC St Leger at Flemington.
Co-trainer Natalie Young put next Saturday's Group 1 South Australian Derby on American Wolf's agenda after he outslugged Litzdeel in the Anzac Day feature.
American Wolf won a maiden at Ballarat before stepping up sharply in class in the Listed VRC St Leger, answering Young and co-trainer Trent Busuttin's questions about the son of Tivaci seeing out the 2800m trip.
'Sometimes you just have to throw these horses into a bit of a deep end,' Young said.
'Third-up after 2800(m), sometimes you just have to have a crack at it.
'He had a beautiful run, he sat out the back third-last and relaxed beautifully.
' John Allen just rode him an absolute treat. He was tough late.'
Bookmakers promoted American Wolf to $15 in South Australian Derby betting after his VRC St Leger win.
American Wolf storms home to take out the listed VRC St Leger in a gripping contest ðŸ'¥ @busuttin @JohnnyA_24 pic.twitter.com/TTVjgCCaS5
â€' Racing.com (@Racing) April 25, 2025
Young said American Wolf would have every chance to prove to connections he could handle the eight-day back-up into the SA Derby.
'He's going on the right path and winning here at Flemington means he's going to be a three, four or $5 favourite and hopefully he can take the back-up,' Young said.
'If he pulls up well, eats up well and does all the usual things, they're only three once.
'You don't have to do much with them. He's run 28 (00m) today and he'll run 25 (00m) next week so you've just got to tick them over basically.
'He's on the up and he's still coming up to his peak.'
Earlier, Highvol lived up to trainer Nick Ryan's opinion of him with his debut win in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes.
It's an unbelievable debut performance from Highvol who starves them off to win the listed Anzac Day Stakes 🙌 @nryanracing @jamieleekah07 pic.twitter.com/X3nq1JHgs1
â€' Racing.com (@Racing) April 25, 2025
Jamie Melham steered Highvol ($9) to a determined win over favoured runners Stay Cosmic ($4.40 equal favourite) and Just Kick ($5.50).
'From day dot, we've always had a big opinion of him,' Ryan's representative Damian Kefford said.
'Nick decided, 'look, we'll roll the dice here'. Nick always thought he'd be a 1400m-plus horse.
'It is a big task to come to Flemington for your first start over 1400m, but the raps that we had on him were warranted today.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘It's not true': Winx owner Debbie Kepitis shoots down Crown Lodge rumours amid Godolphin restructure
Godolphin Australia supremo Andy Makiv has revealed there are 'interested parties' wanting to secure some of their training and stabling facilities as the racing and breeding giant restructures its business in the wake of trainer James Cummings' departure to Hong Kong. There has been ongoing speculation about whether Godolphin would retain and continue to operate all three of their state-of-the-art stable complexes, Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm, Osborne Park near Agnes Banks and Carbine Lodge at Flemington. Racing's rumour mill was in overdrive on Wednesday and there was even a suggestion leading Sydney racing identity Debbie Kepitis of Winx fame wanted to buy Crown Lodge, which were built by her father Bob Ingham and his brother Jack in 1988 before they sold the stables to Godolphin in 2007. 'I've had a few phone calls about this but I can tell you it's not true,'' Mrs Kepitis told News Corp. 'This is not something we are going to do.'' But Makiv confirmed there has been interest from 'various parties' looking to acquire the Godolphin training facilities. 'There has been plenty of interest in those (three) properties,'' Makiv said. 'We will work out in time how to deal with them. They are great assets and there is interest from those parties looking to purchase or lease them. These are decisions we are still working through.'' The Crown Lodge stables and the Agnes Banks training facility were among the best of their kind and it is hoped they will not be lost to Sydney racing. CUMMINGS' SHOCK HONG KONG SWITCH Trainer @JamesCummings88 will withdraw his application for the famous Leilani Lodge stables at Royal Randwick after accepting an offer to train at @HKJC_Racing. Story: @RayThomas_1 ðŸ'‡ — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 10, 2025 • 'We're all devastated': Super stallion Snitzel dies Cummings' announcement on Wednesday that he wouldn't continue to train this year after his current tenure with Godolphin expires on July 31 poses challenges for Makiv and his management team as they prepare to spread their racehorses between a number of stables. But Makiv said Godolphin has already begun the process of recruiting trainers for next season. 'At the end of the day we are moving away from the employed in-house trainer,'' Makiv said. 'We were happy to support James going forward, he was going to get a number of the horses. 'But there is also going to be a number of other trainers that would be training a lot of the horses as well. In terms of our operation, it (Cummings leaving) won't impact on us too dramatically.'' Cummings was going to prepare Godolphin's Group 1 stars Tom Kitten and Zardozi and boom rising three-year-old filly Tempted for their spring carnival campaigns but Makiv said it was still to be determined who would be training that talented trio in the new season. WHAT A RACE! â�ï¸� Tom Kitten defeats Mr Brightside in a thrilling edition of All-Star Mile 7 😰 @godolphin @BMelham â€' (@Racing) March 8, 2025 'We are working through who our trainers will be and how it will look in the new season,'' Makiv said. 'We have little bit of time and there is plenty of well-credentialed trainers in Sydney and Melbourne to fill the void.'' Makiv said Godolphin enjoyed a very successful period with Cummings as trainer they could add to their Group 1 record with Golden Mile (Stradbroke Handicap) and Zebra Finch (JJ Atkins) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. 'We are delighted for James, Monica and their family, this is a great opportunity for him,'' Makiv said. 'Clearly, it (Hong Kong) is a wonderful jurisdiction to be involved in and for James, it is a feather in his cap. We congratulate him.''
News.com.au
17 hours ago
- News.com.au
Gosford, Ballina best bets, inside mail for Thursday, June 12, 2025
Form expert Adam Sherry analyses Thursday's card at Gosford, presenting his best bets, value selection, quaddie and jockey to follow as well as his best bets for Ballina. • GOSFORD BEST BET Race 4 No. 2: GOLDEN SMILE Big all-the-way win two runs back. Back to provincial grade and hard to beat. NEXT BEST Has improved with each run and scored a good win last start. Strong chance again. VALUE BET Race 2 No. 2: DONWON Coming off a nice win here last start. Nice chance again. QUADDIE Race 4: 1, 2 Race 5: 1, 2, 6 Race 6: 2, 6 Race 7: 1, 3, 6 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW KERRIN MCEVOY looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge. BALLINA BEST BET Race 7 No. 4: RAINBOW LASS Just beaten here before winning her next two all on heavy ground. Can bring up the hat-trick. NEXT BEST Race 6 No. 2: YALLA Solid winner two starts ago. Back slightly in trip from his fourth over the mile. INSIDE MAIL – GOSFORD ZING TO ME (3) debuted with a closing second behind Agenda Setter at Hawkesbury last August and has been off the scene until stepping out in a Randwick trial on May 5. She shared the lead and held Glorious Moments. Led for a big win in her second trial at Rosehill from Infusion. JIMMY RECARD (5) was given a shot at the listed Debutant Stakes at Caulfield in the spring where he was eighth to Miss Celine. Closed nicely late for third to Quietly Arrogant in his May 30 Randwick trial. JUST LEGENDARY (6) is a first starter by Justify from the Waterhouse and Bott stable. Sat very wide in winning his Randwick trial then led all-the-way in his Rosehill heat. DONWON (2) resumed with a handy second behind Secure over 1100m at Canterbury. Battled away when fifth to the progressive Queen's Rhapsody at Hawkesbury before scoring a smart win from Hard Rattle over 1000m here last start. Drawn well and will give this a shake. HAWKER HALL (3) kicked off his campaign with a three-and-half length win from He's Cool over 900m at Newcastle on Apr 23. Didn't race again until a fifth to Prima Bella over the same track and distance on May 26. HONEY PERFUME (6) broke her maiden with a big win at Goulburn and followed with a nose second to Shropshire Lad at Scone and a second to Divine Bene here. LOUISBURGH (4) battled away when second behind Ninette in a Wyong Super Maiden first-up on May 8 before going don by a nose to Whispering Rupert over this track and distance three weeks later. Winkers go on. SIGNOR TORTONI (6) was pressured in front before going down by just over a half-length to Octa De Lago when resuming as a $1.35 favourite on a Heavy 9 at Goulburn on May 22. Given three weeks to get over the run. Was a close runner-up in two races on soft ground at Canterbury last time in. GOLDEN SMILE (2) ran nice placings at her first three runs back from a spell. Appreciated stepping up to 1890m with a big maiden win at Newcastle before a fifth on the Kensington. Back to provincial grade and up to 2100m looks ideal. BOLD SPLENDOR (1) returned from a let-up with a fourth over 1600m at Coonabarabran before a two-and-a-half length fourth to Okami Star over the same trip here on May 29. Ready to step up to the 2100m. MR CONSPIRACY (5) closed from near last when fourth to Ant over 200m at Kembla. UNUSUAL PROSPECT (1) was a close second over 2000m at his only run in England last November. Kicked off his Australian career with a strong closing head second to Gwendie over 1600m at Kembla on Jan 29. Hit the line smartly when third to Oso Spirited in his 1030m Rosehill trial. STEEL RAIN (8) boxed on okay for second behind Pick Up The Tab when resuming over 1200m at Kembla. Stepped up to 1500m and led when a head second to Fairhead at Goulburn last start. THE BEAST (3) has placed third in both run this campaign but hasn't looked entirely comfortable on the heavy tracks. He will appreciate getting back on a better surface. COVERT THINKING (6) settled last and made ground along the rails on debut at Hawkesbury before closing nicely for a half-length second to Elivina over 1500m at Newcastle. Backed it up with a handy win over this track and distance on May 29. Gets in well with the 3kg claim. SURREAL I AM (2) kicked off his campaign with a good win at Sunshine Coast before a fifth at the Gold Coast. Bounced back with another nice win at the Sunshine Coast. OAKFIELD MAMSELLE (1) resumes here. Is a first-up winner and unbeaten at the trip. BURJ (6) raced well in her first campaign including a debut win over 1300m in a Newcastle Super Maiden and a half-length second to C'mon mate at Kembla. Wasn't pushed when second to Sovereign Hill in her May 30 Randwick trial. DIDDLE DUMPLING (3) won her maiden over 1400m at Hawkesbury before a seventh in a Randwick Bm72 and fifth to Wooloowin at the Gold Coast. Kept under a hold with plenty to offer in both recent trials. POWER BALLARD (1) will appreciate a drop back to provincial grade and a claim.
News.com.au
18 hours ago
- News.com.au
Cranbourne Racecourse to host the wake for the late Robbie Laing next Wednesday
Robbie Laing's family will hold a 'low-key' funeral but Jack Laing says his father's life will be celebrated in the trainer's own inimitable style at his Cranbourne stomping ground next week. Robbie Laing's death at the age of 66 last weekend stunned the Victorian racing industry as it came hours after the veteran horseman trained El Soleado into second placing in the final race of last Saturday's Flemington meeting. Jack Laing said he and some of his seven siblings were working through the process of transferring his father's racing and breeding stock. He said the industry and public's response to Robbie's death continued to amaze his family. 'The public response has been overwhelming,' Laing said. 'We knew it would be significant but even he would be surprised with how big it has been. It has just been massive.' Laing said his grandfather Eddie, who was also a successful trainer, suggested the family hold a small funeral for the gifted horseman. However, Laing said Cranbourne racecourse would be the scene of a huge celebration next Wednesday. ðŸ�† Roman Arch - 2006 Australian Cup ðŸ�† Polanski - 2013 Victoria Derby Robbie Laing’s final two Group 1 successes occurred at Flemington ðŸ�‡ðŸ�¼ He was a brilliant trainer & horseman & he will be missed by many in the racing industry 🕊ï¸� — (@Racing) June 8, 2025 • 'We're all devastated': Super stallion Snitzel dies 'As per Eddie's request, we're going to have a low-key funeral with just immediate family in Cranbourne,' Jack said. 'It's still going to be pretty big as Dad had a high offspring count with eight of us. 'We're going to have something low-key towards the end of this week. 'Then on Wednesday, all of his friends and compatriots in racing can say a few words, if they like, at a place where he trained hundreds of winners and won a Cranbourne Cup.' Laing said his stable would also have a fitting tribute to his late father at Sandown on the same day. The young trainer will run handy sprinter Speir in a 1000m race, which will be a fitting tribute as Robbie Laing bred the speedster and trained his sire Lord Of The Sky, who was one of the fastest horses in Australia during his racing career. Speir's rider will also don Robbie's black, red and white silks for the race. ðŸ�† Roman Arch - 2006 Australian Cup ðŸ�† Polanski - 2013 Victoria Derby Robbie Laing’s final two Group 1 successes occurred at Flemington ðŸ�‡ðŸ�¼ He was a brilliant trainer & horseman & he will be missed by many in the racing industry 🕊ï¸� — (@Racing) June 8, 2025 'If he's right, he'll just about win there and it would be awesome to have a winner while Dad has his wake,' Laing said. 'It will be the perfect send-off if a horse he bred wins.'
