Greece lightning: Efharisto poised to storm home again after stunning return
Efharisto hadn't raced since beating all but the winner on debut as a two-year-old in the Max Lees Classic at Newcastle in mid-November 2023.
But she was found to have bled from both nostrils, enforcing an automatic ban followed by other setbacks.
After a very long and frustrating stint in the paddock, Efharisto got back on track with a steady trial in January.
She was spelled for a further 16 weeks before two improving trials on both synthetic and turf from late autumn.
Finally, late last month, after more than 80 weeks away, the daughter of fashionable Irish sprint sire Blue Point stepped up in a Maiden at Hawkesbury, and the market took very few chances, firming her from $2.05 into a hot $1.80.
Despite an awkward jump and some early buffeting; Efharisto settled down in the second half before cutting loose over the final 300m with a barnstorming finish to win by more than two lengths, giving the impression she could have won by much further.
It was the sort of eye-catching return that has Godolphin eyeing off some early spring targets if that ability, together with natural improvement, holds together.
She lines up in a Benchmark 64 Hcp for the fillies and mares over 1100m at Gosford from a draw where she can obtain cover back in the field, with Rachel King keeping the ride.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
7 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Izak Rankine gifted contentious 50-metre penalty in dying stages of thrilling Adelaide win
Controversy erupted after a contentious 50-metre penalty during the thrilling last quarter between Adelaide and Hawthorn on Friday night. Before eventually going on to win by 14 points, the Crows were gifted a certain goal when Izak Rankine was walked to the goal line because James Sicily encroached on the mark. Sicily and his nearby teammates Massimo D'Ambrosio and Jack Scrimshaw protested that it should have been play on because Rankine appeared to run off his mark. Replays later showed the reason Rankine moved off his mark was because the ball was in fact touched before it got to him, meaning it shouldn't have been a mark in the first place. But it was paid as one, and the umpire wasn't satisfied that he moved enough to call play on. 'Hawthorn thought it was play on — it wasn't,' James Brayshaw said. Matthew Richardson added: 'Izak Rankine thought it was play on', and Kane Cornes said, 'He played on!' Sicily could be heard pleading his case to the umpire after the goal was kicked, which extended the Crows' lead at the time to 12 points, giving them the buffer they needed to hang on with 14 minutes left. 'Even he thought he played on,' Sicily said of Rankine, to which the umpire responded, 'He (the controlling umpire) didn't call play on, the umpire didn't call play on.' Cornes couldn't believe it: 'It's just a disgraceful 50-metre penalty. 'The player on the mark reacts to the player with the ball. He's allowed to move because he's played on. 'And we'll have a look at it — it's touched anyway, so that's the reason Izak Rankine played on, that's the reason Sicily reacted. 'How can you miss that? Crows spearhead Riley Thilthorpe slotted four goals in the comeback win, which returns them to top of the AFL ladder. The fast-finishing Crows kicked six goals to two in the last quarter for a gutsy 15.11 (101) to 13.9 (87) triumph. The Crows slipped 32 points down late in the first term before a sell-out 50,654-strong crowd at Adelaide Oval. They recovered to take the lead, only to lose it and trail by eight points at three-quarter time. The Crows, with stars Rankine and Taylor Walker kicking two goals each in a final term, then finished with a flourish. Walker converted two long-range set shots to seal victory — he kicked three goals for the game, as did Rankine. Adelaide sit top with a 15-5 win-loss record but Collingwood could reclaim pole position with a victory over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night. Hawthorn (13-7) remain in fifth — only a win ahead of ninth spot — and hold fresh concern over influential midfielder Will Day, who limped from the field late. The Hawks were gallant but ultimately overpowered by the Crows who were well-served by Irish-born defender Mark Keane (21 disposals, six marks), halfback Wayne Milera (19 touches) and winger Dan Curtin (20). Key forward Thilthorpe's four-goal haul was complemented by Rankine and Walker while captain Jordan Dawson kicked two majors from his 21 disposals. Hawthorn stalwart Jack Gunston booted four goals and Jack Ginnivan (19 disposals) two. Hawk duo D'Ambrosio (25 possessions) and Karl Amon (23) were standouts and skipper James Sicily dominated in the air with 11 marks. In a wildly fluctuating fixture, Hawthorn raced to a 32-point lead late in the first quarter. The Crows hit back with 6.6 to nothing in the second term for a 16-point advantage at halftime. Adelaide went 18 points up before a steely response from the Hawks returned six of the next seven goals as the visitors edged eight points clear at the final change. The Crows then jumped 12 points up before two goals from Gunston, both from holding free kicks, out the Hawks one point up. Adelaide responded with the last three goals of the game, with Walker's two long bombs sending the sell-out crowd into raptures.
Sydney Morning Herald
8 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Horse racing: Godolphin Australia and James Cummings part ways, launching new era with the likes of Chris Waller, Ciaron Maher, Anthony Freedman
Cummings, the grandson of Melbourne Cup legend Bart, has accepted a lucrative training position in racing mecca Hong Kong from next year. Of Godolphin's headline horses, the group 1-winning Tom Kitten has been placed with Anthony and Sam Freedman, Melbourne Cup fourth-place getter Zardozi has joined Maher, Golden Mile went to Pride, while Waller also picked up Commemorative and Beiwacht. Godolphin trainer James Cummings with retired star Anamoe. Credit: Louise Kennerley Several of the Godolphin horses have already trialled for their new stables. As part of its shift in approach, Godolphin sold 25 ready-to-race horses for almost $2.2 million on Inglis Digital a fortnight ago, including South Australian Derby place-getter Lavalier for $380,000 and group 3-winner Pisces for $330,000. While the father-son Freedman combination has prepared a number of young horses for Godolphin in the past, including 2022 Blue Diamond winner Daumier, Sam Freedman sees the racing giant's change in strategy as a winning move. 'It's an exciting change for the whole Godolphin brand, and exciting for Australian racing to see their stock spread out,' Freedman said. Sam Freedman with the 2023 Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight. Credit: Getty Images 'I have no doubt it will be a success. There's obviously a lot to work through and there will be little hiccups on the way, I'm sure, but on the whole it feels like a really positive change. 'I think, ultimately, the one-trainer model is becoming more and more rare.' While Freedman said they did not lobby for any horses, they felt privileged to be handed ready-made group 1 star Tom Kitten. Loading 'He'd be the highest-rated horse we've got,' the 2023 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer said. 'As an established weight-for-age horse, he's right at the top. 'It's very rare that you get a horse like that in the stable that's able to compete from 1400m to 2000m at weight-for-age against the best horses in the country. It's exciting.' Freedman said the four-year-old gelding would likely resume in the group 1 1400m Memsie Stakes At Caulfield on August 30 before heading to the group 1 1600m Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington a fortnight later. 'If he's really flying along, and it looks like a realistic target, that could mean he'll line up in the Cox Plate,' Freedman said. 'But his first two runs are sort of pencilled in, and then we are just going to assess him after that.' Godolphin Australia managing director Andy Makiv and racing and bloodstock manager Jason Walsh oversaw the mass relocation of their horses. 'It certainly wasn't an easy decision, and it doesn't preclude opportunities for others (trainers) in the future,' Makiv said. Godolphin's breeding arm Darley will continue to stand stallions, including those that raced during Cumming's tenure such as Anamoe, Bivouac, Broadsiding and Cylinder. But their number of runners has fallen away significantly in recent years. After a high of 1276 starters in the 2018/19 season, those figures have dropped to 804 in 2023/24 and 680 last season. But Makiv denied this will be an ongoing trend. 'Moving away from a private training model gives us greater business agility,' he said at the end of April. 'We will continue to have the same number of horses in training — it's fundamental to what we do.' News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
Fast-finishing Adelaide pip Hawthorn in AFL thriller
Izak Rankine has helped the Crows overcome Hawthorn in Adelaide to go top of the ladder. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS) Izak Rankine has helped the Crows overcome Hawthorn in Adelaide to go top of the ladder. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Adelaide spearhead Riley Thilthorpe has slotted four goals in a comeback 14-point win over Hawthorn which returns them to top of the AFL ladder. The fast-finishing Crows kicked six goals to two in the last quarter for a gutsy 15.11 (101) to 13.9 (87) triumph in a Friday night thriller. The Crows slipped 32 points down late in the first term before a sell-out 50,654-strong crowd at Adelaide Oval. They recovered to take the lead, only to lose it and trail by eight points at three-quarter time. The Crows, with stars Izak Rankine and Taylor Walker kicking two goals each in a final term, then finished with a flourish. Walker converted two long-range set shots to seal victory - he kicked three goals for the game, as did Rankine. Adelaide sit top with a 15-5 win-loss record but Collingwood could reclaim pole position with a victory over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night. Hawthorn (13-7) remain in fifth - only a win ahead of ninth spot - and hold fresh concern over influential midfielder Will Day, who limped from the field late. The Hawks were gallant but ultimately overpowered by the Crows who were well-served by Irish-born defender Mark Keane (21 disposals, six marks), halfback Wayne Milera (19 touches) and winger Dan Curtin (20). Key forward Thilthorpe's four-goal haul was complemented by Rankine and Walker while captain Jordan Dawson kicked two majors from his 21 disposals. Hawthorn stalwart Jack Gunston booted four goals and Jack Ginnivan (19 disposals) two. Hawk duo Massimo D'Ambrosio (25 possessions) and Karl Amon (23) were standouts and skipper James Sicily dominated in the air with 11 marks. In a wildly fluctuating fixture, Hawthorn raced to a 32-point lead late in the first quarter. The Crows hit back with 6.6 to nothing in the second term for a 16-point advantage at halftime. Adelaide went 18 points up before a steely response from the Hawks returned six of the next seven goals as the visitors edged eight points clear at the final change. The Crows then jumped 12 points up before two goals from Gunston, both from holding free kicks, out the Hawks one point up. Adelaide responded with the last three goals of the game, with Walker's two long bombs sending the sell-out crowd into raptures.
