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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Trainer Carly Thomas chasing first city win at Caulfield on Saturday
The circumstances weren't ideal but Carly Thomas knew the time had arrived to finally secure her trainers' licence. Thomas's partner Kane Harris was suspended for six months, leaving her to dive into training in her own right. However, Thomas had a deep grounding working for Group 1-winning trainers Pat Carey and Jason Warren on the Mornington Peninsula and spent time caring for a former star sprinter on his travels. 'I got my trainers' licence last September,' Thomas said. 'We'd originally bought the horse together as a yearling and we worked together but unfortunately Kane sustained a suspension so I took over the training. • Decision on 2026 Cox Plate host delayed 'I spent 10 or 11 years at Pat Carey's and five or six years at Jason Warren's. 'I travelled around with old Bel Sprinter and that was a fantastic experience to travel around Australia and to Singapore with him and have that responsibility. 'It was always something in the pipeworks and it has definitely been a different perspective having your name on everything but I guess it's the next progressive step when you've been in the industry so long.' Thomas has produced five winners from 55 starters in the early months of her training career but will chase her first city success in Saturday's Sportsbet Race Previews Handicap (1000m) at Caulfield. Just Remember It has won two of his three starts this time in, breaking his maiden at Pakenham last month before saluting on the Ballarat Synthetic track at his last appearance on June 11. Thomas decided against running Just Remember It at Flemington last Saturday and nominated the son of Hellbent for interstate contests before settling on the Caulfield option. 'It turned out to be a good choice because I don't think anything would have beaten that She's An Artist (at Flemington) last Saturday,' Thomas said. 'I think he deserves a crack at the stumps at Caulfield on Saturday.' Just Remember It has firmed from $23 to $19 in early betting on the $150,000 race in which he will take on eight rivals with jockey Craig Newitt aboard. Thomas said Just Remember It could exploit a fitness advantage on most of his opposition should a strong early speed prevail in the three-year-old sprint. 'I think he's a really nice horse but he just does a few things wrong,' Thomas said. 'This prep, I think he's learned a lot and he's definitely a city type of horse. 'It's a strong race as you'd expect but there's a lot of speed in it so if he can just sit off them and finish it off. 'He's the fit horse in the race and he'll have a nice crack at them.' The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Manolo Bling is the well-backed favourite to post her second win this time in, firming from $3.50 to $3.10.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday
Form expert Shayne O'Cass analyses all 10 races at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis. • 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! â– â– â– â– â– PRETTY TAVI (12) has a very famous seventh dam, none other than Chicquita who was a champion on and off the track. He had quite good form in Victoria but was never what you call 'city class'. That's not the case now that he is in NSW, Hawkesbury to be precise; three Midway runs, all of them very good. KHUMBILA (6) is ready, in fact is crying out for 1300m (and more) third-up. Has finally drawn a good alley and that could make all the difference. ROLLING MAGIC (2) has 'Championships form'. BET: PRETTY TAVI (12) to win. â– â– â– â– â– RED RAGS TO BULLS (10) has contested two Highways prior to this, finishing third to Super Norwest in the first and fourth to the same horse here at Rosehill two weeks ago. If he is going to win one, probably be this one. THINK LIKE PADDY (1) ticks all the boxes so let me just throw in a bit of trivia regarding the name. He is by So You Think and was bred by Patrick Hogan (who used to call Sir Tristram Paddy). This is Sir Patrick's amazing Gay Poss family. BET: RED RAGS TO BULLS (10) each-way. â– â– â– â– â– PRETTY POWERFUL (12) 's 11th of 12 at Randwick last Saturday was best summed up by the Stewards; Began awkwardly. Held up over the final 400m and, as a result, was unable to be fully tested. End quote. And that's putting it mildly. Can't imagine the same thing happening this weekend with barrier 11 of 12. Always been a fan of AGITA (11). This is a nice race for the son of Adelaide to resume in. KADALL (6) has finished on the podium at 15 of 21 starts. Deserves another win and is getting close too. BET: PRETTY POWERFUL (12) each-way, box trifecta 6,8,11,12. â– â– â– â– â– PAJANTI (6) was a $500,000 yearling not so much because she is a Pierro, but the fact that her third dam is the broodmare gem of all gems, Shantha's Choice. Gerald Ryan co-trains Pajanti, he trained her (handy) mother too namely Crystal Flute. As for Pajanti, she can't get to 1400m fast enough. WEEPING WOMAN (5) has been a very costly conveyance at her two runs this time; but in her defence, she struck a Heavy 8 first-up then drew 12 of 12 the next time and was only beaten a neck. CHANGING COLOURS (7) hasn't missed a medal in eight starts! BET: PAJANTI (6) each-way, quinella 5,6. â– â– â– â– â– USEAPIN (8) is a Chris Waller-trained filly by one of his two Everest winners (Yes Yes Yes). She's won three of her nine starts, albeit at the NSW provincials but she has run some honourable races when tried in town against the likes of More Territories and Aeliana no less. She was never let loose in either trial. Market watch advised. RANTAN (6) had no luck there at Gosford there on Cup day in what has turned out to be a very, very strong form race. SPYWIRE (1) is almost certainly the best horse in the race. Just have to see if 'they' back him. BET: USEAPIN (8) to win (best bet). â– â– â– â– â– TESTATOR SILENS (5) was rock solid, even fancied in the betting stakes, when third-up here two weeks ago. He looked primed to peak in what was the perfect race for him. As it turned out, he never passed a horse. Nothing in the stewards' report to shed light on the poor performance so we just have to write it off to horses not being machines. Me? I do think the 4kg reduction in weight will help. THUNDERLIPS (2) is '121' coming onto this. He deserves so much praise for that win at Randwick last start. GREEN SHADOWS (1) is all but pitched in her with 57kg. BET: TESTATOR SILENS (5) each-way. â– â– â– â– â– MORMONA (6) has been on my radar since before, and after, he resumed in the Lord Mayors Cup where he ran an eye-catching 7th of 14. He followed that up with a 6th of 14 in the Winter Cup up against a fair few of this weekend's Stayers Cup rivals. By the way, this race should be 3200m if you ask me! HOPEFUL (3) is a player. BET: MORMONA (6) each-way. â– â– â– â– â– Just for some text, I was moderately keen on LENAPE VIBE (14) second-up, when few were it seems given he drifted from $51 to $61. Might have been a run short but there is no doubt that he should have finished closer and higher up the order than he did. Take note he comes back from 2000m to 1800m, mindful that he is one for one at the track and trip. KAZALARK (13) has raced himself into peak fitness now and gets to 1800m off his best run this time in. FEDERER (12) will be fitter on Saturday for his 'second serve'. BET: LENAPE VIBE (14) each-way, KAZALARK (13) top place. â– â– â– â– â– ADELAIDE RIVER (1) boasts an absolutely fascinating CV. He is a son of Australia who won the English and Irish Derbies; just like his own father, Galileo did. Adelaide River didn't win them but he ran in the English and Irish Derbies (second) as well as the French classic (which he ran second in as well). All we can say about the present day is that he is trialling like he is back in business. BELVEDERE BOYS (5) is 2 for 2 at the track and distance including a big win in the Country Classic. BET: ADELAIDE RIVER (1) each-way. â– â– â– â– â– UNSTOPABULL (9) has a commendable overall record of 12 podium finishes from 20 starts and four of them are wins. I would venture to say a few of those eight placings could have been wins but for his pattern and/or circumstances beyond the horse's own control. This is more or less 'his trip' and with Jeff Penza on from a wide gate, it could be down the middle and over the top. FLYING DESTINY (5) has massive excuses for the first-up 'last' at Canterbury; wide throughout being the gist. Drawn 3 this time.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
After being hit with a $2000 fine for giving the bird to the umpires, Damien Hardwick delivered a not-so-subtle response
Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick concedes he has to 'be better' but found a cheeky, two-fingered way to put his $2000 fine for delivering the bird to umpires in last week's loss to GWS in comedic perspective. Hardwick said he'd pay the fine, which only arose after vision was showed during his appearance on AFL 360 this week, not during the broadcast of the game, and it would be matched by a charitable donation from Fox Footy. But at the start of his weekly press conference on Thursday, Hardwick gave a brief two-fingered salute, reflecting the two-year-deal signed by Suns star Matt Rowell, then quickly turned his fingers around before later declaring 'the AFL and humour, I'm not sure they could be used in the same sentence'. 'Great news it's a two-year deal,' Hardwick said as he vigorously whipped his two fingers up in the air. 'Oh, sh*t, I should turn them around.' After much laughter, Hardwick ploughed on with his excitement at Rowell's extension, knowing the midfield bull had spoken to at least four Victorian clubs, something the Suns are also doing. 'We've got some really exciting players we are talking to that we are really excited at the prospect of coming,' he said. 'It's not something any coach feels overly comfortable about, but we are all big boys.' He said Rowell had shown he believed in the direction the Suns were heading, with a maiden finals berth in sight despite slipping out of the top eight following the loss to the Giants. 'Anytime you are an interstate club and he's a Victorian boy and he's got the overtures at home, it will come calling,' he said. 'What Matt sees, he's very close to the playing group … he can see what this club will eventually become. We've got some work to do, but he sees the possibility of what may be.' That includes an emphasis on goalkicking against Melbourne this week, and more controlled emotions in the coaching box from Hardwick, who said he had to get back to the 'Truman Show mentality' of being on camera all the time. 'I've got to be better, no question about that,' he said. 'I make mistakes in games and every now and then the umpire is going to make a blue. They have a tougher job than me to be perfectly honest. 'They do a pretty good job. Unless you are prepared to put up your hand and do it yourself, just shut up and cop your whack.'
