2025 Gai Waterhouse Classic: Gerringong for John Singleton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The party-style atmosphere on Ipswich Cup day may not be the ideal sweet spot for a 'delicate' filly but it is where John Singleton's youngster Gerringong can make a spring carnival statement.
Larrikin owner Singleton has slashed his racing interests in recent years but thought enough of Gerringong to keep her to race, in partnership with some rugby league greats including Mick Cronin, Bob O'Reilly and Peter Wynn.
The three-year-old filly is favourite for the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) as Waterhouse tries to win the race named after her for the second time in six years.
• 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!
Gerringong has won two of her five career starts and what stands out on stalks is her effort in the $3m Sunlight 3YO slot race on the Sunshine Coast in January.
She finished only 4½ lengths off subsequent Group 1 winner Private Harry, with 2024 Golden Slipper champ Lady of Camelot the runner-up that night.
'The first and second horses in that race were two proper Group 1 horses and she wasn't too far off them, having a luckless run,' co-trainer Adrian Bott said.
• Lipp out to fulfil $40m Lotto winner's spring carnival dream
'She was only having her third race start and also probably coming to the back end of her preparation.
'She did a remarkable job in that one campaign and she has shown improvement this time in.
'She is quite a delicate sort of horse but she has got plenty of natural talent.
'As she keeps getting deeper into her career and matures and becomes seasoned, hopefully we can see a nice progressive filly.
'She was showing promise in her early days so Singo was more than happy to hold onto her and some of the other partners (owners) he put into the horse were keen to race her as well.'
Gerringong will have plenty of admirers in Saturday's Gai Waterhouse Classic. Picture: Bradley Photos
• Warnie can honour cricket legend with consolation victory
Gerringong has had two starts this campaign for two runner-up finishes, in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone and the Listed Queensland Day Stakes at Eagle Farm.
At Eagle Farm, she got well back and rattled to the line.
From a wide barrier around the tricky Ipswich track, Bott is hoping the filly can be closer in the run and show she can be a spring carnival player.
'We should be able to give her a nice freshen up after this and find something in the spring for her,' Bott said.
• EXPERT TIPS: Graeme Carey's best bets, quaddie picks and race-by-race analysis for Ipswich on Saturday
'Last start, she was a bit slow into stride when I thought she might have been a bit more forward in the run.
'She does have tactical speed, so she may have an opportunity to be a bit more forward at Ipswich to try to offset the barrier.
'This race used to be raced over 1350m and I wouldn't have minded if it still was.
'I think we could stretch this filly to 1400m-1600m going forward, but she will still be good at 1200(m) at this point.'
Adrian Bott. Picture: Getty Images
• Uncommon James on spring mission after passing 'make or break' prep
Sydney jockey Regan Bayliss will have the job of working some magic with Gerringong from the wide barrier.
Bayliss has a strong book of rides on Ipswich Cup day including Osmose for Waterhouse and Bott in the Ipswich Cup and Eye Liner Stakes favourite Warnie for Ciaron Maher.
Originally published as John Singleton's 'delicate' filly Gerringong to rock Ipswich as Gai Waterhouse bids to win her own race
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
2 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Supercars Darwin: Barry Ryan's frank verdict on fall of Erebus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motorsport. Followed categories will be added to My News. Erebus chief executive Barry Ryan has offered a frank reflection on a crippling 18 months that has seen his title-winning team slip to last in the Supercars standings. After a fairytale start to the Gen3 era, which saw Erebus win both the drivers' and teams' titles in 2023, the squad has endured a string of well-publicised internal struggles. Will Brown defected to Triple Eight at the end of 2023, while reigning champion Brodie Kostecki missed the start of the 2024 season while in dispute with the team, which coincided with big name sponsors such as Coca-Cola walking away. Kostecki would later return and win the Bathurst 1000, however left to Dick Johnson Racing at the end of last season – along with both Erebus race engineers George Commins and Tom Moore. Will Brown left Erebus at the end of 2023. Picture: Brendan Radke Brodie Kostecki was another high-profile departure. Team principal Brad Tremain also left the squad at the end of 2024 with plans to pursue an opportunity in IndyCar in the US. That has prompted a significant, and ongoing, internal rebuild, highlighted by Ryan himself needing to take the race engineer role on Jack Le Brocq's car. It's been tough going for Le Brocq and rookie teammate Cooper Murray, too, with Erebus slumping to last in the teams' standings ahead of this weekend's Darwin Triple Crown. 'There's no hiding behind it; the last 18 months have been really hard on our team. Really hard,' said Ryan at Hidden Valley on Friday. 'Losing key people … our last rebuild was 2021 and we got Brodie and Will and no one believed, really, in that. And we won a championship two years later, and we won Bathurst the year after. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY 'We've gone back to where we were [in 2021]. 'It's hard on the team. To replace people like George, Tom and Brodie is really hard. Brad Tremain is going to kick goals in America. That's four key people out of the team, it's really tough to replace that. 'It's going to take time. We can't hide behind that. I can only do so much and the boys that I've had there for six, seven years can only do so much. 'Unfortunately I'm still race engineering, and I say that because I shouldn't be. I should be running the business. But until we can get the right person to do that role; we're trying to self-promote from within, we're trying to find an engineer we can just put in and be really successful. Cooper Murray was 11th in the second practice session in Darwin. 'It's a balancing act and I can't say I'm really enjoying it. We got to a point where we were beating Triple Eight and we wanted to be that team that was the best year in, year out. 'Massive respect to Roland Dane for what he did for that whole time he was there, and what they're still doing. We got there and we just couldn't keep the momentum. 'No matter what everyone thinks the reason is why. We just couldn't keep that momentum that teams like that can do. 'Anyway, it's a lesson learned, this whole situation. We'll try not to go through it again. 'We'll get there again. We're confident in our team. We've got a great bunch of loyal staff that want to stay on and want to see us get there again and win championships and Bathursts. 'We're still going to go to Bathurst trying to win there this year. We'll have the belief and we'll have the drivers than can do it.' Erebus showed signs of improvement on track on Friday, with Murray 11th in the second practice session and Le Brocq in 19th as Andre Heimgartner led the way for Brad Jones Racing ahead of Ryan Wood and Will Brown. This story was written by Speedcafe Originally published as Supercars Darwin: Barry Ryan's frank verdict on fall of Erebus
Herald Sun
6 hours ago
- Herald Sun
West Australia left seeing red in Perth State of Origin blunder, rugby league, AFL, NSW Blues, Queensland Maroons
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Oh WA media, give it a rest will you? Like it or not, rugby league is here to stay. The state's paper The West Australian did its best this week to try to make citizens forget one of the country's biggest sporting spectacles was happening in the heart of their city, State of Origin. That didn't exactly work out how they'd hoped. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The paper virtually refused to promote the game at all in the lead-up, with only a small story at the back-end of the sport section on Monday, and not a single mention of it at all one day out. The event was also missing from Channel 7's news bulletin. The 'State of Origin's back' header finally appeared on the front page on Wednesday, which at first glance was a nod to the game. But on closer look it appeared to poke fun at the event, promoting WA's Fremantle Dockers against Victoria's Essendon Bombers clash on Thursday night instead. Not to mention the strategic placement of their only game day story beside the ads for escort services. But not even The West Australian's blatant disregard and mockery of rugby league was enough to deter its state from churning out in numbers for Wednesday night's blockbuster. Of the 57,000 crowd in the downpour of rain at Optus stadium — which was almost a 62,000 sellout — around 47,000 were Perth locals. Ironically the next night, for The West's 'state of origin' battle between Fremantle and Essendon, the AFL could only manage 37,570 fans at the same venue. The best the paper could do? A salty response the next morning: 'One bunch of East Coasters beat another at rugby in Perth last night.' That's got to feel like a bit of egg on your face. But it seems not much will change as the state media continues to virtually deny the code exists despite growing admiration for it among fans and the announcement of new NRL franchise the Perth Bears coming in 2027. The angst is possibly the ugly ramification of a rift between Seven West media boss Kerry Stokes and the NRL's Peter V'landys, as well as the media organisation's bid to reduce any threats to stay atop the code war in an AFL dominated region. V'landys recently appointed former West editor Anthony De Ceglie as the inaugural Bears chief executive to overlook the new franchise's success in the state. That may not be as difficult a job as the newspaper wants the country to believe, with Wednesday's game bringing in almost 200,000 Perth TV viewers atop the crowd, proving broadcast interest is all on the rise. The paper's editor Chris Dore was adamant when he told The Sydney Morning Herald the appetite for rugby league was non-existent in WA. 'No one outside of rugby league writers in Sydney cares. The point is rugby league is simply not a mainstream sport in this town,' Dore said. 'Just the facts. Good on them for having a crack here. We have nothing against the game despite the carry-on from [Peter] V'landys' acolytes in the Sydney media about our coverage. 'It's just not remotely main game and never will be.' But the numbers say otherwise Chris. Don't fight it, this is happening It's time to accept WA craves rugby league. Originally published as West Australia left seeing red in State of Origin blunder
News.com.au
9 hours ago
- News.com.au
Kembla best bets, inside mail for Saturday, June 21, 2025
Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Kembla and best bets for Queanbeyan on Saturday. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. â– â– â– â– â– KEMBLA BEST BET Race 4 No. 3: SPACEBALLS Will benefit from her first-up run and well placed down in grade. NEXT BEST Race 3 No. 3: CUBAN RAIN Broke through with a nice win last start and can go back-to-back. VALUE BET Race 7 No. 7: ALLEGRO MISS Back to provincial grade after two runs in town. QUADDIE Race 4: 1, 5 Race 5: 3, 7, 11 Race 6: 1, 5 Race 7: 2 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Comeback jockey BROCK RYAN has good book of rides and looks hard to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge. â– â– â– â– â– QUEANBEYAN BEST BET Race 1 No. 11: VESCOVI Narrowly beaten at Wagga last start. Can go one better. NEXT BEST Race 5 No. 9: MISS INDI Broke her maiden in good fashion last start. Chance again. INSIDE MAIL – KEMBLA JAMARNI (2) was runner-up behind his stablemate Cuban Rain over 1300m on a heavy track here on June 3 and followed with a solid third to Caelus at Hawkesbury. Good chance to break through. WHY WHY WHY (4) was good on debut when third to Jared at Goulburn. Battled away okay when sixth to Shalaa Jet at Wyong. Gets in well with the 4kg claim. SO LONG FAREWELL (3) has claims on his second to Kundabung on the Kensington. GAMBLER (3) has always trialled well but hasn't delivered. He was caught wide at Newcastle last start. Won both recent trials nicely and time to show it on race day. CODENAME (2) is a first starter by Hanseatic. Was okay when third in his first trial here on May 12. Took benefit from the experience and was very good leading all-the-way to a near four length win in his second 17 days later. COSMIC EAGLE (6) was a handy third to First Landing on debut at Newcastle. CUBAN RAIN (3) showed a glimpse last preparation when a strong closing second to Rybakina over 1400m here. Kicked off this campaign with a third to Winner Of Kowloon before a smart win from Jamarni. Good chance again. JARED (2) had been runner-up six times with a number of close finishes. Finally broke through at Goulburn first-up before failing on the heavy track at Newcastle. Can bounce back. BUTTERFLY STYLE (5) dug deep to run down Rubilace in a tight finish at Sapphire Coast last start. SPACEBALLS (3) will take improvement from his first-up fourth to Mia Ballerina in a Bm64 at Canterbury. Scored a good win at Warwick Farm first-up last time in followed by a close third at Rosehill. Well placed dropping back to a Class 1. POINT SCORE (6) started third favourite on debut when down the track behind Rivellino at Randwick in January. Returned with a stylish win over 1000m here on May 31. HIPPOLYTE ROCK (2) has claims on his Super Maiden win at Newcastle before a spell. RAINBOW GODDESS (3) had a tough run out wide and was no match for Ninagloo Reef but held on for second when resuming at Hawkesbury. Had a bit of trouble getting a clear run on straightening when a nose second to Inncourt at Wyong. Can give this a shake. WILD THOUGHTS (1) did a nice job on debut when third behind Modella here back on Jan 29. Resumes here off a hard held all-the-way trial win. Wide gate the concern. BORDER TOWN (9) will take improvement from his first-up third here on June 3. UP AND UNDER (1) will appreciate a drop back in grade from two placings at Warwick Farm. Led from a wide gate when third to Knights Armour then tracked leader when third to Trapalanda over 2200m. Gets in well with the 4kg claim. PIPLUP (4) finished seventh in that race behind Trapalanda beaten two-and-a-half lengths. His two wins were over this trip, one of the at The Valley last November. ANT (5) got home well for a close third to Dark Arts at Canterbury second-up before a win over this track and trip. ALLEGRO MISS (7) scored a strong closing win in a Class 1 at Newcastle before jumping up to Midway company and not beat far in both goes. Best form is on wet tracks but she has placed on a Good 4. DIAMOND SHOW (6) followed a second to Bella Montagna here before back-to-back wins at Hawkesbury and Wyong. Chance for the hat-trick. TOM CRUISING (9) produced a good effort for second over 1212m at the Sapphire Coast first-up. Will appreciate stepping up to the mile where he has won twice. AUDENZIA (9) was wide early before getting outside the leader then going to the from on turn when just caught by Twilight Elegance here two runs back. Similar story here two weeks later when just beaten by Charleroi. Due for a win. STEEL RAIN (6) is also closing in on a win after three placings this time in. Narrowly beaten at Goulburn before a two length second to Unusual Prospect in a Gosford Super Maiden. CHEEKY DANCER (10) was third at Hawkesbury before being beaten a nose on a Good 4 in a Super Maiden at Tamworth. Not far behind the placegetters at her two runs since.
