Trainer keen to solve mystery of retired stallion Aylmerton after buying son for $10,000
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A win at Wodonga on Saturday could bring the answer to a question that has left Albury trainer Rob Wellington wondering.
Where is the stallion Aylmerton?
Aylmerton won the Group 2 Todman Slipper trial as a two-year-old in 2018 before losing form and heading to stand at Woodpark Stud in the Southern Highlands of NSW, who subsequently sought expressions of interest to stand the son of top European stallion Siyouni in 2023.
• 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!
Aylmerton only produced 19 live foals in four seasons at stud before he was retired from breeding last year.
'I've tried to find out a bit more about it but no luck,' Wellington said.
'It's a shame about him not getting the mares or being infertile or whatever.
'There's not many of them around.'
Aylmerton twigged Wellington's interest when he inspected Drumcondra at a Gold Coast yearling sale last year.
Drumcondra was passed in for $14,000 but Wellington secured the youngster for $10,000.
• 'Big boy now': Unbeaten youngster targets return early in new season
After showing a bit of initial early spirit, Wellington said Drumcondra has settled into his work as a professional racehorse as shown by his two trial wins in NSW.
'You don't know what you're trialling against of course but he's a sensible enough horse,' Wellington said.
'He had a bit of a spark early but he's matured and mellowed and that's why he trialled so well.'
Wellington considered making the trip to Caulfield for a two-year-old race on Saturday but decided to stay up near the Victoria and NSW border.
'There aren't many two-year-old races around so we thought we throw in a nom and hope there would be only eight or 10 in it,' Wellington said.
'But it has come up a very strong field and it's out of our class but we thought we'd stick with Wodonga and go there.'
Originally published as NSW trainer Rob Wellington keen to solve mystery of retired stallion Aylmerton after buying son Drumcondra for $10,000
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
The Back Page: Fans say same thing as beloved TV show wraps up after 29-years on air
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News. Fans are up in arms after beloved long-running sports program 'The Back Page' had its final ever episode on Tuesday night. Earlier this month it was revealed that the popular sports show had been axed after 29 years. But in that time it had become a staple of many households' Tuesday night schedules and viewers were understandably emotional after the final episode concluded just after 8.30pm AEDT. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. In those 29 years, Australia has had eight Prime Ministers and nine Test cricket captains, yet the iconic sports program has only ever had two hosts, Mike Gibson and Tony Squires, as the show beamed into households around the country on Tuesday nights since 1997. And on Tuesday, an emotional Squires signed off for the final time as he admitted he doesn't want the show to end but that is the decision that has been made and therefore he and the entire cast must accept. 'I am not going to lie it's going to be really hard to walk out tonight but go we must,' Squires began. 'We've been around a long time. Thank you for letting us into your lives for that stretch. 'Thank you to the more than 500 people who have taken a seat on the panel or as a guest. Thank you to sport for being the best live unscripted theatre. You can watch Squire's full The Back Page farewell in the player above. Tony Squires signs off for final time. Image: Kayo 'Thank you to anyone who has celebrated victory prematurely and five-putted and recorded it. Thank you so much for doing that. ' … And so from everyone at The Back Page goodbye.' Immediately after signing off social media was flooded with tributes for the beloved show as many fans voiced their displeasure at the decision to dump The Back Page. 'Seriously why in the hell is this show ending??' one loyal fan of the show wrote on X. 'I hate it when good TV shows end. Farewell 'The Back Page', what an incredible run,' another added. 'I can't believe Fox Sports has decided to end The Back Page. TBP is one of the all-time great sport shows,' a third wrote. While others said 'Shame Back Page is going. Why do all the good shows end' and 'One of the shows I've watched every week is the back page. I'm truly sad it's ending'. The Back Page has welcomed more than 500 special guests (pictured Gout Gout appearing on the show last month). Image: Fox Sports Announcing the news earlier this month Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley said the decision to axe 'The Back Page' was not due to cost cutting, instead, the company believed it was time to move in another direction. 'At Fox Sports, we have introduced a number of new shows in recent times and we have more in final planning,' he said. 'The Back Page has been entertaining audiences for nearly three decades; there are very few shows that can claim that. 'Entertainment programming is a tough business in that it's like life itself, how everything has a lifespan. Even the great shows like 'Hey Hey It's Saturday' and 'The Back Page'. 'In a big country with different codes of football and unique tastes, it's extremely rare for a sports show to survive, let alone for almost 30 years.' Originally published as Fans say same thing as beloved TV show The Back Page wraps up after 29-years on air
Herald Sun
7 hours ago
- Herald Sun
The top 50 best golfers by handicap in the AFL includes Travis Boak, Elijah Hollands, Darcy Fogarty
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. We know what they can do on the footy field but who is the best of the best with a driver in their hands? Or who has the nerves of steel required when standing over a six foot putt to walk off the final green under par? For the first time ever, Code Sports can now answer the biggest question of them all – who is the No.1 golfer in the AFL? Scroll down to see the full list of the game's top 50 golfers – with apologies to Fremantle's Andrew Brayshaw who came in at No.51. Plus click here to get more detail on your club's best golfers, their dream playing partners, favourite courses and the teammates they never want to be paired with again. Originally published as The top 50 best golfers by handicap in the AFL Hawthorn Hawthorn and the AFL have agreed to terms on a deal that will see the league own Waverley Park — and the Hawks will be well compensated. See the details here. AFL One of footy's most heartwarming stories looks set to be rewarded for some stellar form, as the footy world ponders the next big fish to chase now that Matt Rowell appears off the table.
News.com.au
9 hours ago
- News.com.au
Jockey James McDonald resumes premiership chase at Wednesday's Randwick-Kensington meeting
Champion jockey James McDonald continues his relentless march towards a seventh successive Sydney premiership with six rides at Randwick's Kensington meeting on Wednesday. McDonald has ridden 81 Sydney winners so far in the 2024-25 and with 11 metropolitan meetings remaining for the season he has a commanding premiership lead over nearest rival Zac Lloyd on 64 wins then Jason Collett on 61. In the history of Sydney racing, only one jockey has won more than six consecutive premierships and that was Hall of Famer George Moore with eight titles in a row between 1961-62 and 1968-89. Although McDonald intends taking a short break before the new season starts on August 1, he is intent on winning his seventh Sydney premiership in a row, and his ninth overall. • 'Ever since I've been back from disqualification (in 2018) I have won the premiership each year,'' McDonald said. 'It's something I am very proud of and it would be lovely to win that title again.'' McDonald hasn't ridden in Sydney since earlier this month as he has been interstate and then travelled to Royal Ascot in England last week he is the star attraction at Wednesday's winter meeting. The world's number-one ranked jockey competes as fiercely at a Sydney midweek meeting as he does in a Group 1 race which is reflected by his consistent results and premiership success in recent years. McDonald, who has ridden exactly 100 career winners at Kensington for a healthy strike-rate of 17.7%, is on favourites Frosty Girl, Pink Shalala and Getafix. Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller has also had a sensational 2024-25 season with a national record of 19 Group 1 wins and has already secured his 15th consecutive Sydney trainers premiership with 132 winners. He has booked McDonald in five races on Indigo Star, Royal Air Force, Beside The Ocean, Frosty Girl and Pink Shalala. Trainers John O'Shea and Tom Charlton have secured McDonald for the Kensington closer on Getafix. In an exclusive interview with News Corp, McDonald reflected on his outstanding 2024-25 season, his hopes of equalling the national Group 1 riding record, and his horses to watch for the coming spring carnival. â– â– â– â– â– The Group 1 record McDonald is riding favourite Firestorm in the final Group 1 of the season, the $700,000 Tattersall's Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday and if successful he will equal the longstanding national riding record of 16 Group 1 races in a season set by 'Miracle' Mal Johnston in 1979-80. 'Firestorm is definitely a runner's chance,'' McDonald said. 'It would be a huge honour if I could get the record as I have great respect for 'Miracle'. He was an amazing jockey.'' â– â– â– â– â– The season McDonald has enjoyed a career-best season with 21 Group 1 winners so far in 2024-25 including six major race wins overseas. 'It's been a season to dream of, really,'' he said. 'I don't think I could beat what I achieved in the previous years but this season has exceeded them, to be fair. 'I'm extremely proud of my results and I also think back on those near misses in the Saudi Cup and the Dubai Turf so my season could have been off the charts.'' â– â– â– â– â– The highlight ðŸ�† AN INCREDIBLE RACE!! 🇯🇵 FOREVER YOUNG DEFEATS ROMANTIC WARRIOR IN THE 2025 SAUDI CUP!! #SaudiCup | @TheSaudiCup | @netkeiba | @JRAVAN_info | @yahagistable | #サウジカップ | #フォーエãƒ�ーヤング — Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 22, 2025 McDonald could easily have nominated his spectacular wins on champion mare Via Sistina in the Cox Plate and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, or any of his successes with Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior as his season highlight – but instead he chose a narrow loss in Saudi Arabia! 'It might sound funny but my highlight was the Saudi Cup, even though Romantic Warrior was narrowly beaten,'' he said. 'Obviously, I would have loved to have won the race but I learned so much from that loss. 'It was the most respect I have ever had for a racehorse's performance, to go down fighting like Romantic Warrior did that day (second to Forever Young). The duel those two horses had, and they were 11 lengths clear of the rest of the field, was epic.'' â– â– â– â– â– Romantic Warrior History is made! ðŸ�† ROMANTIC WARRIOR becomes the first three-time winner of the Longines Hong Kong Cup for @mcacajamez and Danny Shum! #HKIR | #HKRacing | @HKJC_Racing — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 8, 2024 Hong Kong's champion Romantic Warrior underwent surgery for a fetlock injury last month but has made a complete recovery and will return to racing later this year. 'Romantic Warrior seems fine now and will be back for sure,'' McDonald said. 'He will have his first run in November (Group 2 Jockey Club Cup) and then second-up he will be going for a fourth successive Hong Kong (International) Cup in December.'' â– â– â– â– â– The travel Just so good, Voyage Bubble! ðŸ'' We can't believe it's already 11 days since the crowning our second #TripleCrown winner in Hong Kong racing history... @mcacajamez #ThrowbackThursday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 5, 2025 McDonald's hectic schedule had him riding all over the world this season, winning races in Hong Kong, Japan, United Arab Emirates and England as well as his many commitments in Australian racing. 'I knew my schedule was always going to be pretty busy – it's affected my sleep patterns for sure,'' he said. 'I think it was my trips to the Middle East that really knocked me around the most. I did three trips in a few weeks and that took its toll. 'I've had to go to Hong Kong plenty of times but that is sort of in our time-zone and I've got that down to a bit of a fine art now. 'Then to get a winner at Royal Ascot last week was very special and capped off my season. â– â– â– â– â– Horses to watch Did we just see the Golden Slipper winner?! 😮 Wodeton wins brilliantly at Rosehill for @cwallerracing and @mcacajamez! @aus_turf_club | @CoolmoreAus — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 18, 2025 McDonald got to put Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton through his paces at Rosehill trackwork on Tuesday morning which is a sure sign that the countdown to the spring carnival has begun. The champion jockey revealed the horses he believes will make a huge impact in the new season – Chris Waller's outstanding rising four-year-olds mares Autumn Glow, Lady Shenandoah and Aeliana. 'Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah look unbelievably good – I think they are the two most exciting horses in the country,'' he said. 'One is trying to keep her unbeaten record intact (Autumn Glow) and the other keeps raising the bar (Lady Shenandoah). 'I would love to get back on Aeliana for sure but that is up to her connections. These three are lightly-raced and untapped, really.''
