Gear change to help Hedged settle in Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool
A little relaxation could propel Hedged back to the winner's circle in Wednesday's Wangoom Handicap (1200m) at Warrnambool.
The well-travelled Hedged has raced in three states and built a solid record but will chase his first stakes win in the race known as 'the Newmarket of the Bush'.
Hedged went within a half-length of breaking through when third in the Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington at his last outing.
But co-trainer Michael Kent Jr said Hedged didn't have much luck while not helping his own cause in that race.
'He ran quite well at Mornington on what was probably a firm track and he got posted three-wide from the half-mille,' Kent Jr, who trains Hedged in partnership with Mick Price, said.
'We did apply the black (ear) muffs at The Valley two runs back and they came off again at Mornington.
'It was going to be beautiful but the pace slackened and he just got keen again so Ben (Melham) got him out wide and flowing.
'He wasn't beaten far without having the most economical run.'
• Jenni marks Caulfield Anniversary ahead of Qld mission
Price and Kent Jr have decided to add a crossover nose band to Hedged's gear in the Wangoom Handicap.
The pair also believes a shorter period between runs might ease Hedged's tendency to overrace.
Well Done! ðŸ'�
Jett Stanley has just won the Hareeba Stakes with The Instructor on the last day of his apprenticeship! @GaiWaterhouse1 @stanley_jett pic.twitter.com/K5kMSiau7m
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) April 19, 2025
'We just need to get him back travelling a bit more quietly in the run,' Kent Jr said.
'We're hoping that on the 10-day back-up, he might drop his head a bit better.'
While Hedged has not won at stakes level, Kent Jr noted the son of Capitalist had performed well in some good races in his 16-start career.
'At this time last year, he got beat a nostril behind Joliestar in the Group 2 Arrowfield (Stud Stakes at Randwick),' Kent Jr said.
'He's got really good form all around him and if we get, which we'd expect at Warrnambool as they keep it well watered for the jumpers, then he's going to run well.
'He'll like the bit of give in the ground and, class-wise, he's suited in a Wangoom.'
Ben Melham will stick with Hedged in the Wangoom Handicap.
The Instructor ($5) and last-start Bendigo winner Marble Nine.
Jamie Melham's mount, the Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans-trained Fortunate Kiss, has firmed from $15 into $10 in the first 24 hours' betting on the feature sprint.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
22-05-2025
- The Age
Hyeronimus happy to stay in Sydney as more winners beckon at Randwick
'It probably just creates more of a volume of rides, more so than going to the races for two or three, which always helps,' he said of the winter carnival. 'Barring a few rides here or there, the rides I'm getting, I'd get anyway, so I think just picking up those extra ones helps trying to get runs on the board. 'I think I've been riding great for the last 12 months or so, so very happy. 'Obviously, James [McDonald] is the premier jockey and probably deserves a lot of the rides that he gets, but after that, it is a level playing field and I think it's good. 'It's competitive, and it would be a different story if there were four James McDonalds – that would be pretty difficult. So I think it does create a lot of opportunities for everyone else.' Hyeronimus has several good chances to continue his streak on a wet Randwick track on Saturday with Agarwood ($2.60, race one), Sisu Spirit ($4.60, four), Sun God ($6.50, five), Storm The Ramparts ($7.50, six), Bear On The Loose ($9, seven) and Cool Jakey ($2.70, eight). 'I've got some good rides,' he said. 'I think there's four or five of them that will handle it wet, and it just makes things a hell of a lot easier in testing conditions.' Co-trainers Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse provided Hyeronimus' stakes double last Saturday at Scone with The Instructor and Stardom, and they have him aboard Agarwood, Sisu Spirit and Bear On The Loose at Randwick. Bott expected three-year-old Sisu Spirit to challenge after winning on heavy going last start at Wyong. 'It looks a nice race for him,' Bott said. 'He should relish getting out in trip. He's been good and versatile in the conditions and is proven on a heavy track before.' Agarwood was an impressive winner on debut last start on a soft Warwick Farm track. 'She was excellent the way she won,' Bott said. 'She handled the conditions on that day, so I'd like to think she's capable of handling the conditions there on Saturday, and she's open to nice improvement off that. She's definitely a smart filly.' The stable has Bear On The Loose and last-start winner Collect Your Cash ($8) in the seventh. 'Bear On The Loose probably just went out a bit strong in that Wagga Cup last start [when sixth], but I thought he stuck on very well, being just second up, and I think he's a horse who should relish the conditions,' he said. 'Collect Your Cash is a funny horse; he's hard to get a real line on at home. He doesn't show you a lot. He's just a real tradesman, which is how he's run and won his races, but he handles the conditions, he should appreciate the trip and is in good form.' Loading Eliyass leads the stable's charge in Queensland and is a $9.50 chance from gate 13 in the $1 million Doomben Cup. He finished well back in the Hollindale Stakes last start on a heavy Gold Coast track. 'It's probably a little bit of a sticky draw for him, but probably in a race where you expect them to be strung out, given some of the opposition there, so that might give him a chance to be prominent and find a spot you want to with him,' Bott said. 'But it was obviously a bit of a forgive run there last start. You would like to be going in with a bit more confidence off a run, but it was just a difficult race to be competitive in under those conditions for him.'
Sydney Morning Herald
22-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Hyeronimus happy to stay in Sydney as more winners beckon at Randwick
'It probably just creates more of a volume of rides, more so than going to the races for two or three, which always helps,' he said of the winter carnival. 'Barring a few rides here or there, the rides I'm getting, I'd get anyway, so I think just picking up those extra ones helps trying to get runs on the board. 'I think I've been riding great for the last 12 months or so, so very happy. 'Obviously, James [McDonald] is the premier jockey and probably deserves a lot of the rides that he gets, but after that, it is a level playing field and I think it's good. 'It's competitive, and it would be a different story if there were four James McDonalds – that would be pretty difficult. So I think it does create a lot of opportunities for everyone else.' Hyeronimus has several good chances to continue his streak on a wet Randwick track on Saturday with Agarwood ($2.60, race one), Sisu Spirit ($4.60, four), Sun God ($6.50, five), Storm The Ramparts ($7.50, six), Bear On The Loose ($9, seven) and Cool Jakey ($2.70, eight). 'I've got some good rides,' he said. 'I think there's four or five of them that will handle it wet, and it just makes things a hell of a lot easier in testing conditions.' Co-trainers Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse provided Hyeronimus' stakes double last Saturday at Scone with The Instructor and Stardom, and they have him aboard Agarwood, Sisu Spirit and Bear On The Loose at Randwick. Bott expected three-year-old Sisu Spirit to challenge after winning on heavy going last start at Wyong. 'It looks a nice race for him,' Bott said. 'He should relish getting out in trip. He's been good and versatile in the conditions and is proven on a heavy track before.' Agarwood was an impressive winner on debut last start on a soft Warwick Farm track. 'She was excellent the way she won,' Bott said. 'She handled the conditions on that day, so I'd like to think she's capable of handling the conditions there on Saturday, and she's open to nice improvement off that. She's definitely a smart filly.' The stable has Bear On The Loose and last-start winner Collect Your Cash ($8) in the seventh. 'Bear On The Loose probably just went out a bit strong in that Wagga Cup last start [when sixth], but I thought he stuck on very well, being just second up, and I think he's a horse who should relish the conditions,' he said. 'Collect Your Cash is a funny horse; he's hard to get a real line on at home. He doesn't show you a lot. He's just a real tradesman, which is how he's run and won his races, but he handles the conditions, he should appreciate the trip and is in good form.' Loading Eliyass leads the stable's charge in Queensland and is a $9.50 chance from gate 13 in the $1 million Doomben Cup. He finished well back in the Hollindale Stakes last start on a heavy Gold Coast track. 'It's probably a little bit of a sticky draw for him, but probably in a race where you expect them to be strung out, given some of the opposition there, so that might give him a chance to be prominent and find a spot you want to with him,' Bott said. 'But it was obviously a bit of a forgive run there last start. You would like to be going in with a bit more confidence off a run, but it was just a difficult race to be competitive in under those conditions for him.'
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- News.com.au
Pride Of Jenni books her ticker for Queensland winter carnival with Anniversary Vase victory
Pride Of Jenni has beaten tougher opposition but the mare still notched a crucial win in Saturday's Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield. A Brisbane winter carnival trip hinged on Pride Of Jenni showing a semblance of her imperious best in the Anniversary after her last-start flop in the Group 1 Australian Cup in March. Another moderate performance would have prompted questions about the multiple Group 1 winner's future but the Ciaron Maher -trained Pride Of Jenni did what was required despite being short of peak fitness. While enjoying favourable weight terms under the quality conditions of the Anniversary Vase, Pride Of Jenni still needed to give her rivals up to 7kg at her first run for six weeks. Tactics remained the same as jockey Craig Newitt persevered for the lead after early opposition from Regal Zeus before Pride Of Jenni got into her work from the 1200m. Pride Of Jenni carved out strong mid-race sectionals before rounding the home turn with only a two-length break on her rivals. However, that was enough as placegetters Scheelite ($5) and Pounding ($5) could get no closer than 2¼ lengths from the bold frontrunner on the line. SHE'S BACK! ðŸ˜� Pride Of Jenni is back to her best with a win in the Anniversary Vase at Caulfield! Bring on the Doomben Cup. @cmaherracing @craig_newitt â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 3, 2025 Newitt said Pride Of Jenni didn't quicken in the second half of the race but showed little sign of fatigue in the last 200m. 'She never quickened any more but she never weakened. She just kept up her gallop,' Newitt said. 'Her stamina really kicked in. 'I sensed there was something there at the top of the straight so I thought, 'today's the day we'll find out what is there' and, to my surprise, she really kept her gallop through the line.' Newitt said he was more relieved than jubilant about Pride Of Jenni bouncing back to winning ways after the disappointing Australian Cup run. 'She's always fun to ride,' Newitt said. 'The ground was very quick today and she's obviously very effective on wet ground, which she'll get in Brisbane. 'It's just a relief really because we know how good she is on her day.' Owner Tony Ottobre said the Group 1 Doomben Cup would be Pride Of Jenni's next appearance but Maher would determine the rest of her Brisbane winter program. 'She's got a bit more condition than we hoped but obviously she got more (fitness) to come,' Ottobre said. 'She's just a superstar. 'There's more improvement to come, so that's good. 'She's got no niggling issues or anything like that so she's perfect and that's what you see when she's 100 per cent right.'
