Warwick Farm tips, inside mail for Wednesday, July 30, 2025
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WARWICK FARM TIPS
BEST BET
Race 4 No.5 TAZIMA: Nice fourth at his Australian debut. Extra trip suits.
NEXT BEST
Race 6 No.1 CASSIEL: Runner-up in Saturday grade last start. Can bounce back.
VALUE BET
Race 3 No.7 AROHA STONE: Back in grade and distance. Very unlucky here two runs back.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 5, 9
Race 5: 1, 8, 10
Race 6: 1, 5, 6
Race 7: 5, 10, 13
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
James McDonald is back in town and can take out the TAB Jockey Challenge.
LAY OF THE DAY
Race 2 No.6 THE STARS: Drawn wide in an open race. A worthy risk at anything less than $4.
WARWICK FARM INSIDE MAIL
RACE 1: 2&3yo Maiden Handicap (1600m)
INDIGO STAR (2) was no match for Stardeel but worked home okay for second over 1100m first-up on the Kensington. Raced three-wide without cover when third to Invisible Magic over 1400m last start. Looks like he will appreciate the step up to the mile. RASP (6) was third at Ballarat at his first run for a new stable before a good closing third at Bendigo over 1400m. Was fourth to Broadsiding in the Fernhill at his only go at this trip. DOLLARS (8) didn't have a lot of luck when beaten as favourite at Coffs Harbour. Handy second at Newcastle last start over this trip.
BET: INDIGO STAR (2) to win.
RACE 2: 2&3yo Maiden Plate (1100m)
DUKE ATREIDES (8), the half-brother to Best Of Bordeaux, started favourite on debut when a two-length fourth to the very promising San Giovanni who won again on the weekend. This colt will take improvement from the run and drawn to be prominent. KOKATAHI (10) was good on debut when a three-quarter length third to Central Coast over 1250m at Canterbury on June 18. Followed up with a handy third to Tomato Toastie at Randwick on July 12. Back to maiden grade. THE STARS (6) placed at her last two runs on last campaign and returned with a second to Samarelle at Newcastle.
BET: DUKE ATREIDES (8) each-way.
RACE 3: Fillies & Mares Benchmark 72 (1600m)
AROHA STONE (7) was something beaten here two runs back when badly held up before finishing a nose behind Covert Thinking. Up in grade and found a strongly run 1800m tough when seventh to Aberlour. Back in grade and back to the mile suits. AUDREY'S LANE (3) resumed from an eight month lay-off with a handy second to Bella Corazon when giving away 3kg. With the benefit of that run, she came from midfield to beat the in-form California Secret at Newcastle. AUTUMN DREAM (6) was very good winning at Kembla last start. Ready to step up to city company.
BET: AROHA STONE (7) each-way.
RACE 4: Colts, Horses & Geldings Benchmark 72 (1600m)
TAZIMA (5) settled three back on the rails before running home strongly late for a three-quarter length fourth to Sammy Conquers All over 1400m on the Kensington at his Australian debut. Won over 2011m at his second and last run in England. FIORSUM FRED (9) was very unlucky at Tamworth two starts ago when held up. He finished eighth to Rajnish but should has gone close to winning. Jumped up in grade and beaten less than three lengths behind Boys Night out in the South Grafton Cup. Drops back sharply in grade and only goes up 2kg. PINK SHALALA (4) and KAPAKIRI (2) have claims.
BET: TAZIMA (5) to win.
RACE 5: Benchmark 72 (2200m)
NAVAL COMMISSION (1) should have run a place at the very least at Rosehill last start when held at two vital stages in the last 150m and finishing fifth behind Good Banter. Placed at his previous three runs as he was building in trip. Winner at this track and distance. HOVLAND (8) was beaten a nose second-up at Gosford before a nice win from Magicon over 1800m at Hawkesbury. Stepped up in class when a length fifth to Monarchs Brae on a heavy track at Canterbury. Up to 2200m for the first time and the blinkers come off. MAGICON (10) has been racing well and scored a deserved win over this trip at Grafton last start.
BET: NAVAL COMMISSION (1) to win.
RACE 6: Benchmark 72 (1000m)
CASSIEL (1) was kicked off his campaign with a good wins at Canterbury on Apr 21 and at Hawkesbury on June 17. Denied the hat-trick when stepping up to Saturday grade when runner-up to Bundeena in a Bm78 at Randwick. Back in grade and hard to beat. MABEL (6) hasn't won since Nov 2023 but she has run some good races. Was a nose second to Angel Fund in a Randwick Midway in January and was a little unlucky when fourth to Bundeena at Randwick last start. JAMBALAYA (5) resumes after a stylish trial win here on July 8. Has a win and two placings from his three fresh runs.
BET: CASSIEL (1) to win.
RACE 7: Benchmark 72 (1300m)
GOLDEN STRAAND (10) was a little green on debut when a length second to Sapphire Rose at Wyong before breaking through with a big Super Maiden win at Gosford. Jumped up to a Bm72 with a game second to Diddle Dumpling at Rosehill. THE REPLICANT (13) hasn't won since beaten Bluff 'N' Bluster over 1400m here on Oct 2, 2023 but is rarely far away. Placed his last two at Canterbury and drawn ideally. AFRICAN DAISY (5) ended an 889-day drought in winning a Rosehill Midway last start.
BET: GOLDEN STRAAND (10) to win.
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The Australian
2 hours ago
- The Australian
Demons players 'blindsided' as coach Simon Goodwin shown the door
It took Melbourne exactly six weeks to crumble around Simon Goodwin. On February 28, interim president Brad Green provided the strongest endorsement of his premiership coach's capabilities, knowing the club needed a bridging year to change the game style and personnel in 2025. Off-field grenades had been going off for years in the boardroom and there was a split around the futures of superstar midfielders Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca. But as the summer of love concluded at Melbourne five months ago, Green hit out at the coach's critics and declared emphatically 'We have got a beauty. Players love him. He is very smart and strategic. He is a deep-thinker of the game, and he is emotive.' 'It annoys me and frustrates me that he doesn't get the respect and kudos he deserves. 'It sh-ts me, actually, that this industry bags Simon Goodwin. He gets battered and bruised by everyone.' Yet on Monday night, it was Green who delivered the left hook which sunk Goodwin and blindsided the players when four Melbourne officials knocked on the door about 7pm at Goodwin's home in the eastern suburbs. There was Green, board member Angela Williams, footy boss Alan Richardson and interim CEO David Chippindall. With grim looks on their faces, the four senior figures sat with Goodwin in his own home and said the club needed a new voice. It was the right time, they said. But there was no other detail. And nothing more forthcoming in an unconvincing press conference at the MCG on Tuesday. No explanation on the team's flaws or misgivings about coaching style or moves, inefficiencies in the forward half, midfield connection woes or differences in vision. The flummoxed and devastated looks on the faces of Melbourne's senior players were clear on Tuesday, with one of the most respected Melbourne figures labelling the decision to move on Goodwin 'unbelievable'. Another said it was 'embarrassing'. Captain Max Gawn looked forlorn. Melbourne blinked this week because it didn't want the heat that would come next year with a coach out of contract in the same way Western Bulldogs stared directly into the fire and delayed a call on Luke Beveridge's future this year. At the start of this season, Goodwin was given the imprimatur to make considerable changes to the game plan and team mix. 'A new way', Goodwin declared at the annual general meeting in December. And the coach thought he had another season in 2026, as per his contract, to complete the work. For all the team's disappointing performances this year, they still beat Fremantle at the MCG in round 6, knocked off Brisbane at the Gabba by 11 points, hammered Sydney Swans and fell one point short of Collingwood. Clearly, the team was in transition, and few experts had Melbourne in their top-eights at the start of the season. Simply, Melbourne knew themselves the team was not a quick fix this year after blowing its chances in back-to-back top-four finishes in 2022-23 and sinking down the ladder last year without Petracca, who played on with life-threatening injuries on King's Birthday and was taken to the wrong hospital. What a stuff-up, but there's a long list. The game had sped past the Demons since the 2021 premiership and the inability to convert in the forward half has been maddening for the coaches and players this season. But this is also a team with 33-year-old veteran Jake Melksham playing at centre half forward this season. But if the Demons had underperformed on the field, just as many mistakes have come off it at a club which former coach Paul Roos once said was surrounded by a 'veil of negativity'. At senior level, it had been a disastrous couple of seasons including the diabolical handling of Oliver who was put up for trade and then clawed back, Petracca's life-threatening injuries, Joel Smith's drugs charge, the facility disaster, Kate Roffey's radio interview downfall and the Glen Bartlett boardroom brawl. 'There has been a real heaviness and it seeps into your footy club,' Goodwin told the Herald Sun in February. So if Melbourne's on-field performance since the flag had disappointed the board, a quick glance in the mirror would have revealed an abysmal scorecard for the directors as well. And Goodwin pointedly said on repeat in the press conference on Tuesday teams needed off-field stability to flourish. And that is exactly what he has lacked. It was a classy exit from a man who has had four separate presidents (including Steve Smith from Tuscany) and three CEOs. The off-field leaders at Melbourne have made the most wobbly-looking Jenga towers look more stable than their own setup in recent times. And it was in Adelaide that Melbourne's Jenga tower came crashing down less than two months after Green's February love letter to his coach. But by the time the Demons had lost in Gather Round, they had done the biggest six week backflip. They'd sunk to a 0-5 start with a terrible loss to Essendon in Adelaide which prompted incoming new president Smith, (the fourth one, remember) to meet with captain Max Gawn the next morning. Alarm bells. At the same time, Melbourne issued a statement about the poor performance but made no mention of the coach or its support or otherwise for him. That is when the writing first appeared on the wall for Goodwin and he felt it. Instead of publicly backing Goodwin, they put him on the clock in mid-April just six weeks after Green's declaration of support. Even though they knew the path would be rocky given the midfield issues and lack of forward targets, and the question marks on the futures of Oliver and Petracca remained a distraction, the Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera cyclone at Marvel Stadium was the last straw for the club last week. Who knows why they waited until the 83-point win over West Coast on Saturday to pull the pin on the coach. The dysfunction at this club at the highest level has been a shambles and captain Max Gawn knows it because he has been the one to clean up every new mess in his Triple M radio interviews every week. How he has bit his tongue at times remains a mystery, but Gawn knows how jumpy his club can get. In April, the club appointed a new CEO, Paul Guerra, who couldn't start work at the club until next month, leaving the keys to Chippindall (we think) who was disappointed to be overlooked himself. Goodwin would not have known where to turn for discussions, advice or support as he attempted to fast-track a mini-rebuild of sorts with a team which was in the process of pivoting to a new style and way of playing. Instead of having a strong backing, the man who led the Demons from being a basket case to premiership team (along with Roos) was left looking over his shoulder all year. Where Melbourne heads next is anyone's guess. Clearly, clubs are targeting Petracca and the club may have to pay up to half of Oliver's salary to seal his move one year after the club should have traded him to Geelong. The deal was done by his management, and his papers were stamped to the Cattery. But the board blinked, again. Green was asked what he wanted in a new coach on Tuesday and he said the club wasn't sure yet. Hopefully, they can work it out. But there are no guarantees. The reason Goodwin simply had to go Jay Clark is a leading AFL reporter for News Corp and CODE Sports, based in Melbourne. 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News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Rumours fly over list of candidates to replace Simon Goodwin as Demons coach
The race to find a replacement for Simon Goodwin is on. Melbourne dropped a bombshell on Tuesday, sacking the 2021 premiership winning coach with three games left this season and despite Goodwin having a contract for 2026. However, club president Brad Green said the Demons wanted a change made instantly for the club to go in a new direction. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. According to Code Sports, 48-year-old Goodwin will receive a one-million dollar payout as part of the contract termination. Assistant coach Troy Chaplin will step in as caretaker coach for the remainder of the 2025 season for games against the Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn and Collingwood. Attention will now turn to the Demons' search to appoint a replacement for Goodwin, with a range of candidates believed to be in the mix. Fox Footy reports former Sydney Swans coach John Longmire is Melbourne's top choice on a list featuring as many of 22 candidates to take over as Demons coach. Veteran footy reporter Caroline Wilson said Goodwin's sacking may have been made before the end of the season to allow the Demons to get a head start on other clubs who may also be looking for a new coach in the off-season. 'The coaching landscape has rarely looked richer,' Wilson said on Channel 7's Agenda Setters. 'Fox Footy is reporting John Longmire is their No. 1 target. I'm not sure about that. He hasn't been approached yet. I do agree he is wooable, although will Melbourne be a palatable option for him? 'Do Melbourne want to jump in and get the best coach before Carlton steps in? We know Michael Voss isn't safe. There is definitely a view from Melbourne that they're not the only club (looking for a new coach).' Speaking on Fox Footy's Midweek Tackle, the Herald Sun's Jon Ralph said the leading first-time coaching candidates were Brisbane football boss Danny Daly, Essendon assistant Daniel Giansiracusa and Collingwood's Hayden Skipworth. Ralph said former Essendon coach James Hird is 'very much a person of interest' for the Demons, while premiership coaches Longmire and Adam Simpson are also in the mix, along with Port Adelaide's Ken Hinkley and ex-Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley. Hird said he was 'flattered' but ruled himself out of contention for the Demons job. On Footy Classified, Eddie McGuire described Longmire, Simpson, Buckley and Hinkley as 'the big four' candidates. 'Here's the thing. They've very aware that not many coaches have won a flag, moved clubs and won another one — Leigh Matthews and Mick Malthouse only in this century,' Ralph said. Buckley is widely viewed as the leading candidate to be Tasmania's inaugural coach when the Devils enter the AFL in 2028. A subcommittee comprised of incoming CEO Paul Guerra, Brad Green, Steven Smith and Alan Richardson will make the final call on choosing Melbourne's new coach. 'There are issues cultural, with the board and stability,' Ralph added. 'There's an enormous amount of change there. It's not an incredible gig. 'If someone like John Longmire was really thinking about it, I think he might look for a better position out there. I'm sure he'll take the phone call, but I'd probably prefer Carlton than Melbourne.' Demons legend Garry Lyon said on AFL 360 about Longmire: 'You can sell 'Horse' to anyone.' The Demons are set to have significant change off the field, with a new CEO, a new president and perhaps a new footy boss. Lyon, who was shocked by Goodwin's sacking, said a void of leadership at the club in recent times set Goodwin up to fail as he attempted to rebuild on the run. 'It was the sameness (on-field) for a long time — and that was a frustration of him … it's sort of greater than that though,' Lyon continued. 'It's a football club that's confused at the moment (with) exactly where they are. It's a football club that's disconnected; I don't think there's any doubt about that. It has been for a long time. 'It was pertinent that he mentioned it four or five times today — you must have a strong, stable off-field support mechanism. I doubt he's felt that over the past couple of years.' AFL 360 host Gerard Whateley added: 'It would have been a miracle if a coach had been successful in these circumstances … the next president is not in the job, and the chief executive was appointed in April and doesn't start until September. There's no elite program in the world that has those pillars absent, and achieves success. 'I think it undermined his capacity to do the job that he knew needed to be done.' Melbourne's off-field structure has also grabbed headlines in recent years, including tensions between former chief executive Gary Pert and key club personnel. 'When they won the premiership, they were the most selfless team in the competition and it was trotted out everywhere. I don't think they are now, and I'm not sure whether the board over the journey has been particularly selfless as well.' Lyon said. 'They are screaming out for a figurehead. A strong, strong, decisive leader of this football club — apart from the coach.'

News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Treasurethe moments: Laurie eyes spring carnival success with Group 1 star
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