Locky and Wally on what went wrong for Queensland: QLDER
QLD legends Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer dive into State or Origin Game 1 and how it got away from the Maroons. They talk the difference in forwards, who were the stand-out players for Queensland, and was that Daly Cherry-Evans last game?
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News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Sunrays heads for well-earned spell after ending successful campaign with victory in Show A Heart at Eagle Farm
Champion jockey Tommy Berry believes classy filly Sunrays would have been competitive in next Saturday's Group 1 JJ Atkins but unfortunately he won't get to find out. The Kelly Schweida -trained Sunrays will now go for a spell after winning the Listed Show A Heart for two-year-olds over 1500m at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Schweida then grabbed a double early in the card, with Cejay Graham piloting $20 chance Vodka Martini to victory in the 1000m Lightning Handicap, ahead of Austmarr ($7) and the Schweida-trained Metalart ($6) Owner Peter Moran may have been tempted to run her in the JJ Atkins (1600m) but he and Schweida will stick to their guns and send Sunrays for a rest. Asked if the supremely gifted filly, who has now won five of her six races, could have been competitive in the JJ Atkins, Berry didn't hesitate in his response: 'If she didn't run today then yes. 'The aim was to run today and then go to the paddock. But running today, I felt like she was on the way down now. I don't think she was at her best today. 'She was a little bit flat in the way she raced and she didn't travel up that well for me off the bridle so she's got improvement 'At her best, if she'd missed today and had the extra week in between runs, for her to run top three (in the JJ Atkins) wouldn't have been out of her means.' ☀ï¸� Sunrays adds the Listed Show A Heart to her win list at Eagle Farm! @schweidaracing @TommyBerry21 @BrisRacingClub â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 It would have been tough for Sunrays to back-up just seven days later in a long campaign that started in late January and finished with Saturday's mighty effort when the $3.20 favourite beat Jenni Gone Bonkers ($10) and Navy Pilot ($5.50) on a Soft 5 track. 'She'll be going straight for a spell now, so that was a great way to sign off her prep,' Schweida said. 'It was a great win, I don't think I've seen a jockey look more confident than Tommy did. 'He was pretty adamant she would be hard to beat, but she still had to tick the 1500m box and also the Eagle Farm box today. 'She's just so tough and she's done it all off her first prep, which is why we elected not to take her to the Group 1 next week (JJ Atkins). She's done a super job.' Berry said he felt lucky to pick up the ride from regular jockey Cejay Graham, with the top Sydney hoop guiding her to wins in the Group 3 Ken Russell Stakes (1200m) on the Gold Coast and the Listed Bill Carter Stakes (1350m) at Doomben last month. 'Cejay had done a really good job on her before I picked up the ride,' he said. 'She gave me some really good insight into what she was like to ride, so that made things much easier for me. 'She's a lovely progressive filly, and I still think the best is yet to come with her. 'If you look at her frame she probably hasn't filled into it yet. She's still a bit narrow but there's nothing wrong with her heart, she had to dig deep today. 'It's very exciting to see what she can do over the spring.'
ABC News
3 hours ago
- ABC News
Rockhampton's Callaghan Park celebrates more than 125 years of racing
Cut from scrub on the banks of a river at the end of the 19th century, a unique Australian racecourse boasts a history like no other. From a plane crash, crocodiles taking residence during extreme flood events and bachelor and spinster — or B&S — balls, Rockhampton's Callaghan Park in central Queensland has a rich and colourful past. The present location of the racecourse, a stone's throw from the mighty Fitzroy River, was established more than 125 years ago by a dapper group of racing folk. Rockhampton Jockey Club (RJC) chief executive David Aldred said 60 hectares of thick bushland was selected for the racecourse in 1898 for its proximity to the town centre. "There were actually two racecourses in Rockhampton in those days, west of the CBD past Rockhampton Airport, but it was too far out of town to go to the races," Mr Aldred said. "They picked this site beside the river and a team of guys were engaged to carve out the track from scrub and within a few months had a racetrack." The opening of Callaghan Park was celebrated with a two-day race meeting, the first of which was on June 2, 1899. "They had 3,000 people each day for the first meeting, which is a big thing when you consider how those people had to get to the races," Mr Aldred said. The first properly constituted racing body in the Rockhampton region was the Fitzroy Jockey Club, formed in 1863, before the RJC was established in 1868. While horse racing is the club's bread and butter, colourful characters and international news stories also hold a place in Callaghan Park folklore. In 1912, a race around the track between a Bleriot monoplane and car attracted a crowd of 7,000 spectators. The main attraction was Hollywood stunt man and famous American aviator Mr A.B. "Wizard" Stone. At the conclusion of the race on the final lap, the crowd was horrified to see the plane crash land on the nearby cricket ground. Mr Aldred said patrons rushed to the site and were relieved to see Mr Stone climb from the wreckage uninjured. The course has also endured times of hardship and tragedy. Major floods over the years have engulfed Callaghan Park. In the record 1991 Rockhampton flood, the grass track was completely destroyed and rebuilt with a new type of grass to better withstand weather events. "If you have a look at the water marks we've got engraved on the buildings downstairs, they've come up to the roof of those buildings," Mr Aldred said. In the 2011 floods, authorities had to issue warnings about marauding snakes and crocodiles in the murky, brown floodwaters around the course and surrounding flood-hit suburbs. From floods to frocks, Callaghan Park hosted modern B&S balls in the 1980s and 90s before growing concerns about insurance and liquor licensing saw events dry up. "That's what people forget, racecourses are seven-day-a-week venues and we host a lot of events here," Mr Aldred said. "It's a unique facility that has catered for a lot of interesting people over many, many years." While Sydney's Royal Randwick racecourse is recognised as Australia's oldest key racing venue, established in 1833, Callaghan Park has also hosted racing royalty through the decades. Trainer Gai Waterhouse, world-class jockey Craig Williams and former Melbourne Cup winners have graced the popular country Queensland track. Racing Queensland acting chief executive Lachlan Murray said the venue was one of the state's oldest and most important regional racing hubs — hosting more than 30 meetings each year. "Callaghan Park is at the coalface of racing in the region both on race day and as a vital training facility for in excess of 30 local trainers," Mr Murray said. "Thoroughbred racing in the Rockhampton region also plays a significant role in the Central Queensland economy, contributing close to $70 million in value whilst supporting almost 450 full-time roles in the wider region. "We look forward to another 125 years of gallopers thundering down the famous Callaghan Park straight."
Daily Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
Ray Thomas' horse racing tips for Saturday, June 7, 2025
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News. Joliestar, the outstanding sprinter, can secure the third Group 1 win of her career in the $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm today. The Chris Waller-trained and James McDonald-ridden Joliestar will appreciate the drying track conditions with Eagle Farm bordering on a good 4. If Joliestar ($2.30 favourite) is successful, she will provide Waller with his 19th Group 1 winner of the season – a new Australian record for a trainer. • 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! McDonald has an outstanding book of seven rides at Eagle Farm including Belle Detelle in the Group 1 $1 million Queensland Derby (2400m) and Movin Out in the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m), both for the Waller stable. The champion jockey also links with Godolphin trainer James Cummings on exciting sprinter Pisanello ($4.60 favourite) in the Listed $160,000 Lightning Handicap (1000m). In Flight, who ran second to Pisanello at Canterbury before winning a stakes race last start, is chasing another feature race success in the Listed $200,000 Bob Charley Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick. The Joe Pride-trained In Flight is renowned as a superior wet-tracker and the heavy 8 Randwick track rating is ideal for the $3.40 favourite. There has also been a significant betting move for promising two-year-old Hidden Motive in the Randwick opener, the Precise Air Handicap (1100m). Hidden Motive has been heavily backed with Ladbrokes, firming from $2.60 to $2.45 with some big bets of $2,000 at $2.60, $2000 at $2.50 and $1379 at $2.45. • EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony's race-by-race tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ROYAL RANDWICK Weather: Cool, mostly sunny day and a forecast top temperature of 19c. Track: Heavy (8). Rail: True. EAGLE FARM Weather: Warm, sunny day with light winds and a forecast top temperature of 25c. Track: Soft (5). Rail: 2m out. FLEMINGTON Weather: Cold, cloudy day with a high chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 15c. Track: Soft (5). Rail: 8m out. MORPHETTVILLE Weather: Cold, cloudy and windy day with the high chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 16c. Track: Soft (6). Rail: 8m out from 1000m to the winning post. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ BE WARY: Royal Randwick is rated a heavy 8 with some chance of an upgrade today. The rail is back in the true position after being out 10m two weeks ago when Randwick was extremely heavy. Eagle Farm's final five races were washed out last week when heavy rain swept the course but, remarkably, the track has improved this week and is officially a soft is a likelihood the track will be upgraded to a good 4 during Super Saturday which boasts three Group 1 races. Flemington is also a soft 5 but showers are forecast today and the rail is out 8m. • LAURIE'S LONGSHOTS: Laurie Sainsbury's best value bets for Saturday, including $34 import ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ROYAL RANDWICK TIPS BEST BET: Race 1 No.1 HIDDEN MOTIVE came off minor placings in strong two-year-old form races – including a close second to Aerodrome – with a dominant win at Hawkesbury last start. Hidden Motive settled on speed but was kept under a tight hold before he cruised to the front at the 300m and raced away to win by nearly four lengths. His winning margin could have been doubled if his rider put the colt under more pressure. Promising two-year-old who handled soft 7 conditions well last start, he is drawn to get all the favours and should be too good for his rivals. THE NEXT BEST: Race 7 No.9 COOL JAKEY is very effective on wet tracks and has raced very consistently over an extended campaign including his wins at Warwick Farm and the Hawkesbury stand-alone before he stepped out to 1600m for the first time when a game second to Hollywood Hero on this track two weeks ago. The track conditions were extremely heavy that day and Cool Jakey fought hard to the line. He drops to 5.5kg to 52kg after the claim, looks likely to get complete control in front and will be very hard to run down. VALUE BET: Race 2 No.10 CONVERGENT is a rising five-year-old who only made his debut on Anzac Day where he settled a clear last in a small field, went wide on the turn, and reeled in his rivals to score an impressive win. He has had a barrier trial between runs but has been kept fresh for this 1500m race. Emerging stayer and although he is eligible for easier races, he's good each way value at $12. THE WHISPER: Race 8 No.4 IN FLIGHT broke through for a deserved stakes win in Brisbane last start but trainer Joe Pride has brought the mare back to Sydney specifically for the Bob Charley Stakes. She's effective on all types of going but particularly heavy tracks where she has won four of her six attempts. Class mare and nicely weighted just 2kg over the limit. She can win again. • RAY & DUFF: Tips, race-by-race analysis for Randwick on Saturday PLUS tips and Eagle Farm's three Group 1s ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ EAGLE FARM TIPS BEST BET: Race 2 No.2 PISANELLO is a brilliant sprinter with impressive acceleration which he demonstrated when sprinting clear of In Flight and Barber at Canterbury two starts back. The form from that race has been franked with In Flight and Barber both winning stakes races at their next starts. Trained by Godolphin's James Cummings, Pisanello went to Scone last start where he got strung up at the rear of the field in the Ortensia Stakes until well into the straight but was charging through the pack to finish a close fifth. Pisanello has to drop back to 1000m but the speed will be frenetic and the long Eagle Farm straight gives him the chance to unleash his tremendous closing speed. This will be exciting to watch. NEXT BEST: Race 10 No.6 KIN is a talented Godolphin mare improved by two runs from a spell including her closing second to In Flight in the Bright Shadow at Doomben two weeks ago. She's peaking now and did win a stakes race at Caulfield third-up last spring. The improving soft 5 conditions are ideal, James McDonald stays with the mare, she's well drawn and looks to have found her right race. VALUE BET: Race 9 No.15 EXISTENTIAL BOB is at $34 for the Queensland Derby but he's a good each way gamble. I really liked Existential Bob on the heavy track last week but the meeting was called off before the Derby. I'm going to stay with Existential Bog because he is just starting to learn what racing is all about and has struck form at the right time leading throughout to win at Wyong and Ipswich. Existential Bob makes his own luck racing on speed and he can stay. THE WHISPER: Race 7 No.10 JOLIESTAR is a dual Group 1 winner and one of the best sprinters in training. She won the Newmarket Handicap earlier this year and hasn't raced since her second in the All Aged Stakes in April but she has had a barrier trial leading into the Kingsford Smith Cup. With the scratchings, Joliestar comes into barrier 9, the improving track conditions are ideal, and she is the one to beat. • EXPERT TIPS: Graeme Carey's best bets, race-by-race tips, analysis and quaddie picks for Eagle Farm on Saturday ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS ROYAL RANDWICK Race 1: Matima $6-$4.40 Race 2: Engine Room $6-$5, Callistemon $15-$8 Race 3: Changing Colours $8-$5.50, Good Banter $11-$6.50 Race 4: Shropshire Lad $8-$5, Bengal $11-$6.50 including a bet of $1050 e/w at $10/$3.20, Carribean King $15-$8.50 Race 5: Hurstville Zagreb $6-$2.80 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $5/$2.10, Rotagilla $15-$6.50, Duvana $26-$11 Race 6: Federer $3.60-$3.50, Oh Diamond Lil $4.60-$3.90 Race 7: Cool Jakey $3.50-$2.80 with a bet of $2600 at $2.90, Mighty Ulysses $15-$10 Race 8: In Flight $3.50-$3.40, The Novelist $4.60-$4.40, Barber $8-$6.50, Contemporary $15-$10, Kazou $15-$10 Race 9: Whinchat $4.60-$3.80, Accredited $11-$6, Fleetwood $15-$7 Race 10: Gitalong $8-$7, Winning Proposal $15-$8.50 • Market movers: $10 to $5 for Eagle Farm feature race runner ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ LADBROKE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS ROYAL RANDWICK Race 1: Hidden Motive $2.45-$2.60-$2.45 with some big bets of $2,000 at $2.60, $2000 at $2.50 and $1379 at $2.45, Change My Address $14-$9 Race 2: Jumeirah Beach $13-$10 with a bet of $500 at $11, Callistemon $10-$8.50 with a bet of $222 at $10 Race 3: Miss Kim Kar $3.50-$3.60-$3.30 Race 4: Caribbean King $12-$7.50 Race 5: Hurstville Zagreb $5-$2.60 with bets of $500 at $5, $626 at $4.20, $771 at $3.60, Rotagilla $10-$6.50 with a bet of $285 at $8, Duvan $16-$18-$9.50 including a bet of $155 at $14 Race 6: Blazing Harry $18-$11 with a bet of $120 at $18, Imatruestar $35-$23 Race 7: Cool Jakey $3.50-$2.90 with bets of $870 at $3.30, $911 and $560 at $3.20, $700 at $2.90, $750 at $2.45, Phearson $20-$15, Loch Eagle $31-$20 Race 8: Barber $9.50-$11-$6.50 with a bet of $200 at $11, Kazou $13-$9, Contemporary $17-$10 and a wager of $125 at $17), South Of India $21-$13 Race 9: Headley Grange firm at $650 after bets of $750 and $700 at those odds, Shadizi $11-$12-$8.50 with a bet of $812 at $9.75), Fleetwood $17-$7.50 and a bet of $135 at $16 Race 10: Gitalong $500 at $8.75, $265 at $8.50, Winning Proposal $14-$7.50 with a bet of $165 at $13, Mabel $41-$20, Welcome Gypsy $23-$15, Not That Easy $81-$26 EAGLE FARM Race 1: Sunrays is firm at $2.95 after bets of $1,000 and $500 at those odds, Providence $5-$4.50 after bets of $500 at $5 twice, $572 at $4.50), Jenni Gone Bonkers $16-$19-$10 Race 2: Pisanello $4.80-$4.65 after bets of $527 at $4.80, $857 at $4.65, Steady Ready $5.50-$4.80 with bets of $500 at $5.50, $527 at $4.80 Race 3: Lekvarte $8.25-$7 with bets of $700 at $8.25, $500 at $7 twice, Vivy Air $500 at $8.25, Exotique Miss $14-$8.50, Thalassophile $16-$10 Race 4: Front Page $3.70-$3.30 including a bet of $800 at $3.50, Hidden Wealth $8-$6 with a bet of $2000 at $8.25 Race 5: Winnasedge firms after bets of $1,000 at $3.65, $2,473 at $3.50), Gerringong $6-$4, Coleman $8-$6 Race 6: Transatlantic $7.50-$3.60 after consistent support including bets of $308 at $7.50, $588 at $4.40, $600 at $3.50, Tavs $10-$5.50 after a bet of $222 at $10 Race 7: Joliestar $3.20-$2.30 continues to firm as favourite after bets of $1055 at $2.90, $1,000 at $2.35, Giga Kick has also been well supported with bets of $900 at $4.20, $500 at $4.20 twice, $500 at $4.15, $666 at $4, Payline has been backed at odds with bets of $500 at $17, $500 at $16 Race 8: Philia is firm at $4.40 with bets of $2000 and $1,000 at those odds, Pinito $10-$6 with a bet of $286 at $8 Race 9: King Of Thunder is firm at $7.50 after a bet of $500 at those odds, Politely Dun $27-$19 Race 10: Tashi $11-$6 after a $200 bet at $11), Zazou $17-$11 FLEMINGTON Race 1: Goldenstatewarrior remains favourite after a bet of $1,000 at $3.30, Muktamil is pressing for favouritism after bets of $714 at $3.80, $740 at $3.70, Samuel Langhorne $8-$5.50 after a bet of $285 at $8, Golden Crusader $23-$7 with bets of $135 at $16, $222 at $10 Race 2: Miss Ole $2.45-$2.20 after bets of $1,382 and $600 at $2.45), Espana $9.50-$5 with a $365 a $6.50, Sonofkirk $9-50-$7 Race 3: Jazz Affair $12-$7 after bets of $180 at $12, $1,000 w/p at $7/$2.45, Dream All Day is firm in betting after a $590 wager at $4.40, Cindy Falls $7.50-$5.50 including a wager of $310 at $7.50, Stylish $7.50-$5 after a $310 bet at $7.50 Race 4: Soft Love $4.40-$3.10 with a bet of $590 at $4.40), One Hard Lady $8-$9-$6 including bets of $285 at $8, $250 at $9, Skipjack $12-$16-$9 after a bet of $135 at $16, Romani Ite Domum $8-$10-$7.50 with a $222 bet at $10, It's A Yes has been backed at odds with a $500 wager at $11 Race 5: Regal Vow $11-$9 Race 6: Detroit City $9-$5 with bets of $250 at $9, $310 at $7.50, Taken $11-$13-$6 after bets of $165 a $13, $285 at $8, King Of Enterprise $8.50-$11-$9.50 including bets of $533 and $500 at $9.25, Narbold $16-$11 with a bet of $135 at $16 Race 7: Liberami firms as favourite after bets of $1,000 a $3.15 and $1,000 at $3.05, Ruakaka Raider has been well backed including a $1,000 w/p at $7.50/$2.50, Euphoric $10-$11-$6.50 with a bet of $222 at $10, Townsend $9.50-$7.50 after a $235 bet at $9.50, Shaiyhar $588 at $10.25, Flash Feeling $41-$20 Race 8: Shockletz $4-$5-$4.20 with bets of $500 at $5 twice, Champagne Jenni $16-$7.50 after bets of $135 at $16, $500 at $9.75, $1,000 w/p at $9/$3.10, Hot Majesty $18-$13 including a $120 wager at $18 Race 9: Marble Nine $8.50-$4.60 • EXPERT TIPS: Brad Waters' best bets, race-by-race tips and analysis for Flemington on Saturday ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ INTERSTATE MAIL Flemington Race 2 No.2 MISS OLE Flemington Race 4 No.4 SOFT LOVE Morphettville Race 3 No.4 THERE GOES MY HERO Morphettville Race 9 No.4 PROVEN CORRECT • Morphettville and Pinjarra tips: $26 chance 'totally overlooked' by market PROVINCIAL MAIL Newcastle Race 2 No.1 BOHEMIAN ART Newcastle Race 8 No.1 RUSH ATTACK • EXPERT TIPS: Greg Polson's race-by-race tips, rated prices for Randwick and Newcastle on Saturday #Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners Originally published as THE LAST SAY: Tips, big bets, inside mail for today's racing at Randwick, Eagle Farm, Flemington and more
