Giga Kick trainer Clayton Douglas queries Joliestar ‘best horse' tag in Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup
Clayton Douglas has heard it … but he won't cop it.
'I know everyone keeps saying Joliestar is the best horse in the race, but I don't know how they work that out?' Douglas queried.
'I think it's fairly evident that Giga Kick is, he's won an Everest. What he has done is amazing.
'Yeah, Joliestar is a good mare. But I think Giga Kick should be held at least in the same regard as her.
'I would be thinking she would have to run past us to beat us, although we will wait and see.
'Tactics will be a big thing on Saturday.'
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So sets the tone for a thrilling clash between the two betting fancies in Saturday's Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup which was rescheduled from a washed out Eagle Farm card seven days earlier.
Bookies have pencilled it in as pretty much a clash in two.
Joliestar, who counts this year's Newmarket Handicap among her two Group 1 wins and $3.9m in prizemoney, is the $2.30 favourite.
Giga Kick, also boasting two Group 1 wins but also an epic triumph in the 2022 The Everest as well as $12.8m in prizemoney in the bank, is the second pick at $4.
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Giga Kick does have the points against Joliestar from last year's Everest, with Giga Kick finishing runner-up and Joliestar seventh although admittedly racing without much luck.
Both have had to cool their jets for an extra seven days after last Saturday's postponement.
Giga Kick has not raced for a month since resuming when he was a victim of circumstances, finishing third in the Group 1 Goodwood in Adelaide when he was the $2.10 favourite.
Douglas isn't fazed by the Kingsford Smith Cup racing seven days late and said Giga Kick had an important track gallop at Doomben on Wednesday.
'There were horses galloping on the course proper at Eagle Farm on Tuesday but I thought it was better waiting an extra day to gallop at Doomben when things had dried out a bit more,' Douglas said.
'I was able to get a really good gallop into him as well, he worked terrific.
'I don't think the increased gap between runs is any problem for him at all.
'This looks a really good race for him.'
Win or lose on Saturday at Eagle Farm, it is likely Giga Kick will be on his way to the spelling paddock next week rather than the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
With Giga Kick weighted with 58.5kg in the Stradbroke and now having to back-up to compete in Queensland's most prestigious race, a Stradbroke mission may not be probable.
But the Giga Kick camp paid up at the latest round of Stradbroke acceptances this week and Douglas says he has left the window slightly ajar.
'If he was absolutely no chance for the Stradbroke, we wouldn't have accepted in the latest round of acceptances,' Douglas said.
'We probably just accepted just in case something interesting happened.
'But we will just wait and see.
'We are leaving our options open until after Saturday.'
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News.com.au
19 minutes ago
- News.com.au
THE LAST SAY: Tips, big bets, inside mail for today's racing at Randwick, Eagle Farm, Flemington and more
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. 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. Joe Pride has three favourites in the quaddie legs at Randwick on Saturday. — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 6, 2025 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. â– â– â– â– â– 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. â– â– â– â– â– 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. â– â– â– â– â– 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. Aerodrome gets the last few strides and wins well for @MFreedmanRacing! ðŸ'� — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 16, 2025 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. A great battle between Cool Jakey and Gallant Star in the last at @hawkesburyrc, with Cool Jakey the winner - giving @PrideRacing a treble and Adam Hyeronimus a double! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025 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. Convergent wins on debut for Jim & Greg Lee with @Reganbayliss in the saddle ðŸ'° @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 25, 2025 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. In Flight finds clear air to win the Magic Millions Bright Shadow for @PrideRacing! ✈ï¸� — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– 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. It's Pisanello who flies down the outside to win race 7 at Canterbury with J-Mac in the saddle! ðŸ'� @mcacajamez @JamesCummings88 @godolphin — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2025 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. He gave the others a crisis! Existential Bob is too good for them at @IpswichTurfClub 🥳 @RMaloney_Jockey | @cwallerracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 21, 2025 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. She's a star alright! â�ï¸� JOLIESTAR takes out the 2025 Newmarket Handicap & collects her 2nd Group 1 victory ðŸ'�ðŸ�» @cwallerracing @LaneDamian â€' (@Racing) March 8, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– 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 The big bookies give their best and value tips as well as top selections in the Kingsford Smith Cup, Queensland Derby and Queensland Oaks ðŸ'‡ What are you really gambling with? — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 6, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– 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: Talbragar $12-$9.50 â– â– â– â– â–
ABC News
29 minutes ago
- ABC News
Changes at Licola's caravan park and store prompt 'intimidating' threats
Nestled on the banks of the picturesque Macalister River, Licola is a popular stop for four-wheel drivers, motorcyclists and caravanners heading bush to explore Victoria's rugged Alpine National Park. But changes to how the town's store and caravan park will be managed have upset locals and tourists. With a population of about 15, the entire town — including store and caravan park — is privately owned by the Lions Club. Earlier this year, the Licola Wilderness Village board announced it would not renew the lease held by shopkeeper Leanne O'Donnell. And at the caravan park, guests can no longer pay an annual fee to leave their van year-round. "We're trying to keep Licola going," board secretary Stephen Boyes said. Mr Boyes said the changes had caused so much anger that staff at a nearby camp run by the Lions Club had been threatened. Mr Boyes acknowledged the previous operator Leanne O' Donnell had run the shop well, but said the lease had been financially unsustainable for the board. "We're on track to lose about $50,000 this year just maintaining that side of the road," he said. Mr Boyes said the change in management would include introducing 24-hour access to fuel at the store. "We are looking to put an after-hours card payment in on fuel," he said. "The operations will be very much the same. Fuel will remain a major part." The caravan park will temporarily close next year for upgrades, including a new layout for tourist stays, an upgraded power system and a modern camp kitchen. There will be 40 powered sites and 10 riverfront camp sites available by early next year, but annual sites will be removed. "We will be looking to run it as a tourist caravan park … it wouldn't have annuals in [it]. It would be just for short-term stays," Mr Boyes said. "We're doing this to improve viability. "When sites are permanently taken but not occupied, that limits how many visitors we can actually host." Licola is about three hours' drive east of Melbourne and is the only privately owned town in Victoria. All of the facilities in Licola were bought by Lions Club New South Wales and Victoria in 1969 to keep the town alive. The group established Licola Wilderness Village, a camping site that hosts camps for disadvantaged students, which is separate from the caravan park and sits opposite the shop. Mr Boyes said the changes at the general store and caravan park had prompted anger and backlash directed at innocent staff. Mr Boyes said staff at the Licola Wilderness Village camp were getting threats in emails and in person. "We are getting close to a point where we think we may have to remove our staff from the village for a while," he said. Mr Boyes said he wanted locals to understand the board was working in the best interest of Licola. "We have a responsibility under the Corporations Act to act in the best interests of the entity," he said.
ABC News
43 minutes ago
- ABC News
With a 'direct ear' to the treasurer, have police outranked paramedics as the SA government's top priority?
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Hundreds of millions of dollars for more police officers, firearms and infrastructure formed part of what Mr Mullighan described as "the largest boost to police funding in the state's history". As ABC News previously noted, there was no mistaking the budget message the government was trying to send, with photos of police officers splashed across the budget papers and projected onto screens around the budget lock-up room. But turn the clock back three years, and the government was keen to spruik a different kind of frontline worker, whose presence was keenly felt at the last state election, and whose absence from the latest budget front-page raises questions about the government's priorities going forward. "Labor will fix the ramping crisis." It was an election mandate that brought the party to government in March 2022, and which has since become an annoying itch for MPs forced to defend the government's progress. When the Malinauskas government handed down its first budget in June 2022, a photo of a nurse, paramedic and doctor graced the front-page — a nod to the $2.4 billion in health spending budgeted that year. But in 2025, ramping remains high. Ambulances spent 3,700 hours waiting outside emergency departments in April, a decrease on the month before but still much higher than the worst month under the previous government. Despite the government's latest budget tipping an additional $1.9 billion into the health system over the next five years — $1.7 billion of which is just to address increasing demand — health unions were not too pleased. "This budget is strong on crime but soft on health," Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation CEO Elizabeth Dabars said. "We know that they've put additional investment into health, but the reality is that the demands in the system on nurses and midwives are far too great to endure." Paramedics were equally scathing. 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Last year alone, we increased it by over 300 over and above attrition." When questioned on his progress on "fixing the ramping crisis", Mr Malinauskas pointed to ambulance response times. "They're rolling up to triple-0 calls on time and that is the difference between life and death," he said. "We have made inroads (in fixing the ramping crisis), notwithstanding the fact that clearly, we still would like to see ramping improve. "As those new beds come online that we've invested in so heavily and quite dramatically — and there are hundreds coming online over the next couple of years — we hope it improves." So, if health is still a priority for the government, what has prompted it to deliver a budget so heavily focused on law and order — especially when overall crime rates have dropped across the state? According to Mr Malinauskas, SA Police has a "genuine need" for more resources. "They've seen demand grow not in crime in the traditional sense and how we might think of it, but more through the burden of increasing demands around domestic violence responses … also with call-outs to mental health cases," he said. "We've seen that demand grow and we've also got a growing population. "We haven't had that big uplift in police numbers in our state now for quite a long period of time." "Tough on crime" policies are considered politically popular, but Mr Malinauskas denied crime would become an election focus for his government. "I'd much rather have elections focused on other matters — education for instance, rather than crime — but that doesn't mean there isn't a need that we have a responsibility to address." But that is also the case for the health system, which continues to struggle through ambulance ramping and bed block. Without a "direct ear" to the treasurer, it is yet to be seen whether doctors, nurses and paramedics will receive the same level of attention from Labor in the months leading up to March 2026, as they did ahead of the last state election.
