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Trainer Matt Smith to saddle up Fioprospero at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

Trainer Matt Smith to saddle up Fioprospero at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

News.com.au15 hours ago
Saturday shapes as an important day in the career of staying prospect Fioprospero at Rosehill Gardens.
A son of 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, Fioprospero only joined the team of trainer Matt Smith at the start of his current preparation and he's done nothing but please his trainer.
'I went through his form and watched his tapes when I got him, my first thoughts were he'll stay this horse, and he looks like a stayer,' Smith said.
'The more we've done with him the more he's impressed me.
'I like him as a horse. He's a good style of a horse, got a good brain on him and he's always worked well.'
Fioprospero heads into his upcoming assignment off an unlucky second at the same track over 2000 metre three weeks ago.
This time the four-year-old gelding steps up to the 2400m trip for the first time in his career when he tackles the Mostyn Coopper Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m).
Natural Deduction holds off Fioprospero to win for @JohnOSheaRacing and @ZacLloydx at Canterbury! ðŸ'¨ @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/yiSzhDmL3T
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 18, 2025
'He's going great,' Smith said.
'You never know until they do it but he gives me every indication he's going to run the trip.
'Last start he was badly held up in the straight, lost momentum but when he got into the clear he closed off so to be able to pick himself up, dust himself off and still find the line is a good indicator he might get further.
'This is the right race to try.'
Fioprospero is an $8.50 chance with TAB.com.au while his last start conqueror Good Banter is the $4.40 favourite.
'If he shows us he can run the mile and a half on Saturday, it's going to open up plenty more options for the horse going forward,' he said.
'He has the makings of being a nice horse for the stable in the new season.'
Fioprospero makes it two wins in a row at Eagle Farm! 2�⃣ @baileywheeler05 | @mcsmithracing | @BrisRacingClub pic.twitter.com/lqQ2O7lG3f
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025
Meanwhile, Smith also revealed his big spring hopefuls Headwater and Waltham have returned to work as they continue to build towards their spring campaigns.
Headwater has The Everest aspirations and the plan is to resume in the at Royal Randwick on September 6 while Waltham is chasing a berth in the Melbourne Cup.
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Trainer Matt Smith to saddle up Fioprospero at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday
Trainer Matt Smith to saddle up Fioprospero at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

News.com.au

time15 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Trainer Matt Smith to saddle up Fioprospero at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

Saturday shapes as an important day in the career of staying prospect Fioprospero at Rosehill Gardens. A son of 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, Fioprospero only joined the team of trainer Matt Smith at the start of his current preparation and he's done nothing but please his trainer. 'I went through his form and watched his tapes when I got him, my first thoughts were he'll stay this horse, and he looks like a stayer,' Smith said. 'The more we've done with him the more he's impressed me. 'I like him as a horse. He's a good style of a horse, got a good brain on him and he's always worked well.' Fioprospero heads into his upcoming assignment off an unlucky second at the same track over 2000 metre three weeks ago. This time the four-year-old gelding steps up to the 2400m trip for the first time in his career when he tackles the Mostyn Coopper Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m). Natural Deduction holds off Fioprospero to win for @JohnOSheaRacing and @ZacLloydx at Canterbury! ðŸ'¨ @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 18, 2025 'He's going great,' Smith said. 'You never know until they do it but he gives me every indication he's going to run the trip. 'Last start he was badly held up in the straight, lost momentum but when he got into the clear he closed off so to be able to pick himself up, dust himself off and still find the line is a good indicator he might get further. 'This is the right race to try.' Fioprospero is an $8.50 chance with while his last start conqueror Good Banter is the $4.40 favourite. 'If he shows us he can run the mile and a half on Saturday, it's going to open up plenty more options for the horse going forward,' he said. 'He has the makings of being a nice horse for the stable in the new season.' Fioprospero makes it two wins in a row at Eagle Farm! 2ï¸�⃣ @baileywheeler05 | @mcsmithracing | @BrisRacingClub — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025 Meanwhile, Smith also revealed his big spring hopefuls Headwater and Waltham have returned to work as they continue to build towards their spring campaigns. Headwater has The Everest aspirations and the plan is to resume in the at Royal Randwick on September 6 while Waltham is chasing a berth in the Melbourne Cup.

Mcgaw to launch spring carnival assault in Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on August 30 after temperature hiccup for trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne
Mcgaw to launch spring carnival assault in Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on August 30 after temperature hiccup for trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne

News.com.au

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  • News.com.au

Mcgaw to launch spring carnival assault in Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on August 30 after temperature hiccup for trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne

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2025 The Everest: Private Harry, Briasa step up preparations with scintillating trial wins
2025 The Everest: Private Harry, Briasa step up preparations with scintillating trial wins

News.com.au

time15 hours ago

  • News.com.au

2025 The Everest: Private Harry, Briasa step up preparations with scintillating trial wins

Private Harry and Briasa began their trek to the $20 million The Everest with equally impressive barrier trial efforts on Monday. The Nathan Doyle -trained Private Harry monstered his rivals in a 1000m heat at Gosford, racing clear from the turn to win by more than four lengths under a 'stranglehold'' by jockey Ashley Morgan. Then a few minutes later at Canterbury, Team Hawkes ' stable star Briasa contested a Group trial over 900m and led throughout under Zac Lloyd to win with his ears pricked by one-and-a-half lengths. • 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! Both outstanding sprinters were having their first barrier trial hit-outs of the new season and demonstrated why they are so high in betting for The Everest at Royal Randwick on October 18 – Private Harry is second favourite at $6 and Briasa next at $8 behind Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising ($1.80 favourite). Although unbeaten Private Harry's Gosford trials rivals were only moderate, the four-year-old's speed, acceleration and sheer class were obvious. 'Ash (Morgan, jockey) was speechless, he couldn't believe how good Private Harry horse felt,'' Sean Driver, of part-owner Kurrinda Bloodstock, said. 'The horse was in second gear through the trial, he has come back better.'' "Private Harry coasts down to the line under his own steam." The #TABEverest campaign for the unbeaten @ndoyleracing 4yo is underway with an easy trial win at @gosford_races on Monday over Gogmagog and Bernen Win. @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 17, 2025 Private Harry, winner of his five starts including the Group 1 The Galaxy last autumn, is due to have another barrier trial before his likely return to racing in the Group 2 $1 million The Shorts (1100m) at Royal Randwick on September 20. 'Nathan plans to give Private Harry another trial in two weeks in Sydney and then the horse will have an exhibition gallop before going first-up in The Shorts,'' Driver added. Global racing and breeding giant Yulong purchased a half-share in Private Harry earlier this year and has selected the sprinter to run in its Everest slot. The 'Grey Flash' Briasa is at the same stage of his preparation as Private Harry and also looked in great order as he dominated his Canterbury trial, easily defeating a classy line-up with stablemate Airman working home nicely for second ahead of promising three-year-olds Rivellino and North England. 1⃣ Briasa 2⃣ Airman 3⃣ Rivellino Birthday boy @ZacLloydx guides the #TABEverest third favourite to a comfortable trial win over 900m at Canterbury on Monday. Others to trial were North England, Commemorative, West Of Africa & Shadizi. @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 17, 2025 Briasa has won seven of his 10 starts including the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes last autumn and has been picked up for The Everest by slot-holders Max Whitby, Neil Werrett, Col Madden and Steve McCann. Ka Ying Rising (Hong Kong Jockey Club) and Jimmysstar (TAB) are the only other sprinters with confirmed slots for the 12-horse Everest field.

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