Country Championships: Great Southern ready for the heat of battle in division two despite key omissions
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The Australian
4 days ago
- The Australian
Port Macquarie preview: Trainer Robert Agnew positive on progress Show ‘Em Howl is making
Trainer Robert Agnew is already thinking about next year's Country Championships and his talented galloper Show 'Em Howl will take his next step towards that goal at Port Macquarie on Thursday. Agnew had hoped to get the son of Showtime to this year's Qualifier when lining up in the Championships Preview at Taree in January. But the local trainer admitted Show 'Em Howl had just come to the end of his preparation by that stage but the time off had done him a world of good. • 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! 'He was just at the end of his preparation when he got to that race at Taree,' Agnew said. 'But he's come back a much more mature horse and the time off has really become the making of him. 'He was really tough to deal with early on but he's just so different this time around and that's started to show in what he's producing on the track.' The four-year-old gelding hasn't won in three starts this time in but showed he's come back in career-best form by shaping up in Saturday metropolitan company. 'He was a bit unlucky first-up in a good Highway when Anna (Roper) just got a bit held up on him but she got him into the clear at the furlong and he was super through the line. 'I thought he went great again at his next start at Rosehill and then last time out at Taree, he was brave in defeat. 'He tried his guts out to reel in the winner but it can be tough to do that at Taree so hopefully getting back to his home track and jumping from a good barrier, he can bounce back.' Show 'Em Howl is one of two gallopers Agnew will be looking to qualify for next year's $1m Final at Randwick with Pony Soprano also on that path. Nothing went right for Pony Soprano first-up in Highway company when he copped a bump at the 800m mark and lost his rider in the process. Agnew reports he's come through it surprisingly good and has mapped out a plan to get him back to the Mid North Coast's qualifier in 2026. 'He'll trial next Friday at Taree and then will go into a country Class 3 at Port Macquarie on September 1,' Agnew said. 'If he wins at Port then there's a Highway over 1400 metres at Rosehill a few weeks later. 'He'll go for a spell after that and if he were to win both starts, he would arguably be favourite for our heat and will then follow the same program as Show 'Em Howl. 'With Show 'Em Howl, he'll have one more run following this one and then that gives me time to give him a good spell and go into the heat off two trials.' Show 'Em Howl opened at $2.30 with bookies for today's 1500m contest with Paul Snowden's mare Cluedo narrowly behind as a $2.80 chance. He's one of two gallopers featuring on Port Macquarie's card for Agnew with Prince Rupert looking to break his maiden status in the fifth race. 'I've been really pleased with the way he's come back this time in and the barrier gods have been kind with him too,' Agnew said. 'The horse of Nathan Doyle's (Dwayne) obviously looks hard to beat given the formlines he carries into the race when trained by Chris Waller. 'But my bloke is going good and being third-up into his campaign, should be right near his best.' Prince Rupert is rated as an $11 chance to break through for win number one with Dwayne the $2.50 favourite.
West Australian
06-08-2025
- West Australian
WA Country hockey sides filled with South West talent set for Country Championships in Queensland
WA Country hockey sides filled with South West talent set for Country Championships in Queensland
The Australian
28-07-2025
- The Australian
‘He's got some ability': Trainer Colvin's 2025 Kosciuszko hope Cambar ready to rip at Royal Randwick on Saturday
Wagga trainer Gary Colvin will be at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday with his 2022 Country Championships Final winner Another One and his 2025 Kosciuszko hopeful Cambar both in action. While he's a winner of nine races and more than $1 million, Another One hasn't saluted since capturing the Wodonga Cup in November 2023. His two winter runs have both been below what is considered his usual fare, finishing down the order at Randwick and Flemington during the month of June. 'We've sorted a few things out with him and I really expect a big improvement from him,'' Colvin says. 'It's a pretty hard race that he's in but we've got to run him in them and I just want to sort of see how he is going.' • 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! The Kosciuszko market could be in for a minor, or even major adjustment, depending on what Colvin's highly regarded Pierata son, Cambar, can deliver at his return to racing in Saturday's TAB Highway. 'I think he's got some ability,'' Colvin said. 'If he comes up to the mark where I think he will, I think he will definitely be looking at him for the Kosciuszko. 'He just had shin-soreness last time but he is back and going really well. 'I thought his trial at Albury was very good.' • Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from Royal Randwick on Saturday Colvin has another potential star of the 2025/26 season kicking off on day two of the new season, namely Party Boss, who turns three on Friday. 'I've got Party Boss in at Kembla,'' the trainer said. 'He's a nice horse on the way up. I've picked a hard race for him on Saturday but we might as well have a crack at his own age. 'He wasn't disgraced in the Black Opal. He drew wide and just never got in the race. 'He's had a good spell now and he's come back and I hope he goes alright.' Colvin's immediate focus rests with the outcome of Tuesday's scheduled meeting at Wagga which will be run on a Heavy 10, if at all. The popular local identity has several runners spread across the card namely Pride Of Jezza, Nic's Hero, Super Jules, Bonvalante, Newyork Missile, Philadelphia Storm and Kerma Art. Colvin's clear pick of the bunch is the booming last start winner, Pride Of Jezza. 'He's not bad,'' Colvin says. 'There is something about him, he won really easy last week.' Horse Racing Form analyst Shayne O'Cass presents his best bets and inside mail for Wellington on Thursday, plus his tips for the Wagga meeting. Horse Racing Mudgee trainer David Smith has a big week ahead starting on Tuesday and ending on Sunday chasing Big Dance eligibility at Forbes with his stable captain Lockdown Gamble.
