Zebra Finch eyes Group 1 JJ Atkins glory after Rosehill triumph
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Progressive Godolphin colt Zebra Finch will be given the opportunity to emulate his big-hitting stablemate Broadsiding, earning himself a crack at the JJ Atkins Stakes after lowering the boom on a couple of his more fancied rivals at Rosehill on Saturday.
Yesterday's seven-horse affair held more interest than most of the other nine races on the Lord Mayor's Cup undercard given it overflowed with JJ Atkins aspirants including the Chris Waller duo Hidden Achievement and pricey Frankel colt, Sarapo.
The Waller pair were expected to fight out on the finish as they had when they met at Gosford on Cup Day but were unable to make the same impact this time despite racing at home.
• 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 horses were marked at $15 to win the JJ Atkins prior to their respective efforts yesterday.
Hidden Achievement blew out to $26 while Sarapo was wound out to $51.
Zebra Finch, meanwhile, had his price halved from $51 into $26 for the June 14 feature and carrying the imprimatur of one of the sport's champions.
'If he pulls up well, I'd send him up there, because he is going to get a mile,'' winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy said after the Schweppes Handicap (1300m).
'You obviously need a horse that runs a mile and you need a horse on the improve and that's possibly what he is going to be.
' It wasn't a big winning margin but I am sure with a better quality horse to aim at, he is going to be better again.
'He is the sort of colt that only does enough (but) I am sure if he got challenged there was an extra kick in the lock.
'So if James (Cummings) and the team decide to go to Brisbane for that mile race, I wouldn't be against it.'
At least one of the Waller-trained runners from the race looks likely to still make his way up to Brisbane for the last Group 1 two-year-old feature of the season with a decision pending on the other.
Yu Long Investments colt Hidden Achievement clocked in third behind Zebra Finch with future Guineas/Derby colt Sarapo three lengths behind in sixth.
'The race lacked tempo, it was a sit and sprint,'' assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth began.
'When Adam (Hyernonimus) won on Hidden Achievement last start, he was mindful that he probably rode him too close that day and took him out of his comfort zone. But he drew so well in a small field today that we basically had to do the same again.
'Adam's adamant that when you can put the bit in his mouth a little bit better, he'll have a better turn of foot.
'Adam is strongly pushing for Chris (to go to Brisbane with him). He said 'I don't care if I ride him or not but you should be running the horse in the JJ', that's his opinion.'
As for pricey $750,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase Sarapo, Team Waller will let the dust settle on the colt's second career start before they decide on his next move.
'He was obviously a long way back off a soft tempo,'' Duckworth explained.
'He is going to be a miler at three you'd imagine, it's just whether you try and break through for that maiden win at two.
'Obviously he is by Frankel so if he ends up in the breeding barn, they're going to be worried about him if he doesn't win at two so it might be an important start for him or do we just look after him and just trust that he'll measure up at three.''
As for Zebra Finch, his own stud career will naturally hinge on the outcome of the JJ Atkins but Darley would dearly love to add another Group 1 winning son of Exceed And Excel to their roster.
Not only is Zebra Finch by one of the truly global stallions of the modern era, his dam was a handy performer herself and by Lonhro who holds the rare honour of being crowned both Australian Horse of the Year and Champion General Sire.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Tough as teak gelding Mickey's Medal helped edge the former rodeo rider Braith Nock one step closer to a medal collection of his own as the race for Sydney's Champion Apprentice enters the home straight.
Nock and former Riverina whiz Molly Bourke are locked in an arm wrestle to decide who will join an Honour Roll that includes the likes of Jack Thompson, George Moore, Ron Quinton, Malcolm Johnston, Wayne Harris and Darren Beadman.
Nock's win on the Annabell and Rob Archibald-trained Mickey's Medal extended his lead over Bourke by five metropolitan wins with August 1 now exactly two months away.
Sitting three-wide with no cover may not have been the text-book ride from Nock on Mickey's Medal but it proved to be the winning formula on a day where it paid to be away from the inside fence.
'Everyone just seemed to take their time to get their spots and all of a sudden there were people inside me,' Nock explained.
'(But) it was a slow tempo and he was able to travel really good.
'Actually, he was really relaxed coming to the 600m and I had to wake him up and then I was able to idle-up and I still think he might have had a little bit of a think about it things once we got there, but he got left alone for a long time so it was a really good effort.
'He seems to be just relishing his racing and he tries his best every time.'
Yesterday's Precise Air Handicap (1500m) was the gelding's sixth run of the current campaign.
His $82,500 collect was a tangible reward to effort on his part, drawing some high praise from the stable.
'It was brilliant to see him win,' stable representative Megan O'Leary said.
'I was almost waiting for (runner-up) Hopper to come down the outside of us but he really deserved that win, he's been running so well this prep.'
Mickey's Medal was sold twice before he ever saw a racetrack.
The great-grandson of broodmare gem Shantha's Choice was secured for $70,000 as a weanling before being reoffered at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale where he fetched $225,000.
Originally published as Godolphin colt Zebra Finch pushes for Group 1 JJ Atkins start after his impressive victory at Rosehill
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
38 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Oscar Piastri wins Spanish GP as Max Verstappen loses his head
Australian Formula 1 superstar Oscar Piastri has saluted for the fifth time this season after winning the Spanish Grand Prix. The McLaren driver edged out his teammate Lando Norris to secure a one-two finish for the team and move further ahead on the constructors standings. Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. While it was rather clear out in front for the McLaren duo, carnage was unfolding behind with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen losing his mind. After closing to third place, Verstappen was left seething at his own team after having a set of hard tyres put on after the safety car. He was instantly caught out by Charles Leclerc before later being advised to hand a position back to George Russell. That directive didn't sit well with the four-time world champion who slowed down, allowing Russell to pass before he jumped back on the accelerator and rammed into the Mercedes driver. Drama in the closing stages of the race! 😱 Max Verstappen drops to P10 following a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with George Russell #F1 #SpanishGP — Formula 1 (@F1) June 1, 2025 Russell was blunt in his assessment of the incident, getting on the radio and shouting: 'What the f***!'. The incident saw Verstappen slapped with a 10-second time penalty that dropped him from fifth down to tenth. Sky Sports' Nico Rosberg labelled the moment from Verstappen 'completely unacceptable' and believed the Red Bull driver should have been shown a black flag which would have been a disqualification. Recap how the entire race unfolded below.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Dance Life
ABC iview Home Watch all your favourite ABC programs on ABC iview. More from ABC We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Property prices lift in May as interest rates fall, analysts expect rises of up to 10pc by early 2026
House prices have continued rising across the country amid interest rate cuts and expectations are that as more buyers return to the market, property values will keep rising. Property analysts think capital city combined dwelling prices could rise between 6 per cent to 10 per cent by late this year or early next year. Data from Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) shows that house prices trended higher in May. Its national Home Value Index recorded another 0.5 per cent in May, taking the national index 1.7 per cent higher over the first five months of the year. The gains were broad-based, with every capital city posting a rise of at least 0.4 per cent through the month. Cotality's head of research, Eliza Owen, says house prices are being fuelled by interest rate cuts — both those that have already happened, but also potential cuts in the coming months. "At the moment another two rate cuts are expected over the course of the year by most of the major banks, and the influence on the market is likely to be higher values and higher sales activity. "Yes you will get a boost to borrowing capacity from lower interest rates, but that still puts an affordable purchase price for many households much lower than where property prices actually are especially when you consider the median house value in the combined capitals is now over $1,000,000. "And I think other factors like rising unemployment, softer wages growth could put a bit of a lid on that growth rate as well." Ms Owen said, off the back of Labor policies aimed at helping first time buyers, there could also be a further rise in buyer sentiment. She noted that while the government's expanded 5 per cent deposit guarantee doesn't 'go live' until next year, some first home buyers may look to get into the market this year to beat the rush of buyers expected next year. SQM's head of research Louis Christopher said he also expects more rate cuts and house prices to rise amid more buyer demand and tight supply of housing. The property research firm is forecasting a rise in capital city combined dwelling prices of 6 per cent to 10 per cent next year. Mr Christopher said the RBA would cut the cash target rate at its next board meeting, scheduled for July 8 by another 0.25 per cent, but it could cut by as much as 50 basis points "if there are any further softening signs for the economy such as a weak GDP growth number and/or a weakening jobs market". He said this will put upward pressure on prices from as early as the September quarter. He expects dwelling values per capital city by next year of: Sydney +3 per cent to +7 per cent, Melbourne +2 per cent to +6 per cent, Brisbane +11 per cent to +16 per cent, Perth +15 per cent to +20 per cent, Adelaide +10 per cent to +14 per cent, Hobart +1 per cent to +5 per cent, Canberra +2 per cent to +6 per cent. He noted SQM research has been recording a firming of auction clearance rates and higher volume activity in very recent weeks. "Other factors contributing to this present increase in buyer demand include the end of the federal election and ongoing increases in underlying demand for accommodation given our ongoing surging population growth rates. "This, combined with ongoing low levels of dwelling completions, are all fuelling the conditions for a short-term surge in dwelling prices." He said while the federal government have also committed to building new homes to boost supply, its target of 1.2 million dwellings completed by FY29 "is very likely to be missed by an estimate of between 250,000 to 400,000 dwellings", which would mean supply relatively to demand remains weak for some time yet. Gino Farina is the founder of mortgage broking business Bondi Broker based in Sydney but services clients across the country. He says rate cuts are already factoring into buyer decisions and another two rate cuts expected this year will see more people be able to get a home loan. He thinks that could further push up demand for housing and thereby prices. "It does increase peoples borrowing capacity … that increased confidence is helping," he said. "We're seeing a mix [of buyers]. We're still seeing the first home buyers … and we [help them] really leverage a lot of the government programs to help those people get into the market. "Investors are still out there but it's obviously more challenging for investors, and also for people looking to upgrade. "What were finding now is buyers are realigning their expectations to what they can afford." Ms Owen said the monthly rise in Cotality's house price index values comes after a short-lived decline of just 0.4 per cent over the three months ending January 2025, with the February rate cut a key factor supporting property price rises. However, she noted that the annual pace of gains in the national index slowed to 3.3 per cent, the slowest twelve-month change since the year ending August 2023. Only Melbourne (-1.2 per cent) and Canberra (-0.7 per cent) have recorded an annual fall in dwelling values. Capital city dwelling value trends are converging, with the gap between the highest and lowest annual changes narrowing to 9.8 percentage points, and it hasn't been this narrow since March 2021. "Markets like Brisbane, Adelaide that were going really, really strong this time last year have slowed down your quarterly growth rate of about 1 to 1.5 per cent. "Meanwhile, cities that were seeing more consistent declines like Melbourne and Canberra are now into positive territory for the Sydney market, which are quarterly uplift of 1.1 per cent." Regional markets are also showing a positive trend, with each of the 'rest of state' markets recording a rise in values through the year-to-date. The strongest gains recorded were in regional South Australia, where values are up 3.8 per cent over the first five months of 2025. Ms Owen said the largest capitals, Sydney and Melbourne, are now among the softest rental markets in the country following a period of extreme rental growth. The slowdown in rental growth across most markets comes despite rental vacancy rates remaining close to historic lows. Every capital city continues to see rental vacancy rates below 2 per cent compared with a decade average of 2.7 per cent across the combined capitals. "The rental market has grown about 3 to 3.5 per cent over the past 12 months and it's a slow down in the pace of growth. "That's down from about 8 per cent in the previous 12 month period. We would expect that that growth [in rental prices] will continue to slow, maybe we'll get a stabilising.
