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News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Oh Too Good secures first metro win for trainer Kevin Daffy at Flemington
Kevin Daffy, 'Australia's smallest trainer with one horse', is now also a Flemington winner. Oh Too Good avenged a costly Flemington defeat last spring, touched off in the lucrative Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final, with a dominant victory on Saturday in the 1600m Benchmark 100. Oh Too Good could now return to Flemington next month for the Listed Winter Championship Final. 'It's indescribable. My first metro winner and to do it here at Flemington,' an emotional Daffy said. 'I wasn't really sure how she would go on the soft track. We all found out together today on a soft track – very pleasing it was a bit unknown – she's never run on a track other than a Good 4. A big win for trainer, owner and strapper Kevin Daffy who has one horse in work - Oh Too Good gives Ben Allen a Flemington double! @bennallen44 @FlemingtonVRC â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 7, 2025 'Not in my wildest dream (train a Flemington winner), winning her first race … (Pakenham maiden) was enough for me. 'Everything she has done since has been a bonus. I know how fortunate I am, as I know how tough this game is. I'm the smallest trainer in Australia with one horse. It's indescribable.' Oh Too Good has won five of 11 starts and banked $569,450 for part-owner Daffy and connections. The mare travelled sweetly in the run and burst clear in the straight to space Jimmy The Bear and Regal Vow. Favourite Jimmy The Bear, trained by Patrick and Michelle Payne, went back from a wide barrier and ultimately had too much ground to make up. Jockey Ben Allen, who sealed a double with the win after victory earlier on Miss Ole, endorsed Oh Too Good's Winter Championship Final potential. 'I was a little concerned coming up in trip because she didn't run out a strong 1400m (last start) but she had a few little issues that weren't right,' Allen said. 'Kev has done a great job, got her spot on. She was a different horse today, relaxed a lot better for me, handled the track perfect and when I went for her she was strong right to the line. 'Jimmy The Bear obviously looked like the one to beat, but he drew awkward and he can step slow so I thought he might have to go back, I always felt we might be in the better spot. 'It was going to take a good horse to pick us up especially with how strong she was.' â– â– â– â– â–
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Pride Of Jenni books her ticker for Queensland winter carnival with Anniversary Vase victory
Pride Of Jenni has beaten tougher opposition but the mare still notched a crucial win in Saturday's Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield. A Brisbane winter carnival trip hinged on Pride Of Jenni showing a semblance of her imperious best in the Anniversary after her last-start flop in the Group 1 Australian Cup in March. Another moderate performance would have prompted questions about the multiple Group 1 winner's future but the Ciaron Maher -trained Pride Of Jenni did what was required despite being short of peak fitness. While enjoying favourable weight terms under the quality conditions of the Anniversary Vase, Pride Of Jenni still needed to give her rivals up to 7kg at her first run for six weeks. Tactics remained the same as jockey Craig Newitt persevered for the lead after early opposition from Regal Zeus before Pride Of Jenni got into her work from the 1200m. Pride Of Jenni carved out strong mid-race sectionals before rounding the home turn with only a two-length break on her rivals. However, that was enough as placegetters Scheelite ($5) and Pounding ($5) could get no closer than 2¼ lengths from the bold frontrunner on the line. SHE'S BACK! ðŸ˜� Pride Of Jenni is back to her best with a win in the Anniversary Vase at Caulfield! Bring on the Doomben Cup. @cmaherracing @craig_newitt â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 3, 2025 Newitt said Pride Of Jenni didn't quicken in the second half of the race but showed little sign of fatigue in the last 200m. 'She never quickened any more but she never weakened. She just kept up her gallop,' Newitt said. 'Her stamina really kicked in. 'I sensed there was something there at the top of the straight so I thought, 'today's the day we'll find out what is there' and, to my surprise, she really kept her gallop through the line.' Newitt said he was more relieved than jubilant about Pride Of Jenni bouncing back to winning ways after the disappointing Australian Cup run. 'She's always fun to ride,' Newitt said. 'The ground was very quick today and she's obviously very effective on wet ground, which she'll get in Brisbane. 'It's just a relief really because we know how good she is on her day.' Owner Tony Ottobre said the Group 1 Doomben Cup would be Pride Of Jenni's next appearance but Maher would determine the rest of her Brisbane winter program. 'She's got a bit more condition than we hoped but obviously she got more (fitness) to come,' Ottobre said. 'She's just a superstar. 'There's more improvement to come, so that's good. 'She's got no niggling issues or anything like that so she's perfect and that's what you see when she's 100 per cent right.'
News.com.au
02-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mornington trainer John McArdle confident Regal Zeus can hold his own against Pride Of Jenni
When Pride Of Jenni lobs as a rival in Monday's nominations, you could be forgiven for raising an eyebrow. But not if your trainer John McArdle, the Group 1-winning handler remains unfazed as he prepares Regal Zeus for Saturday's Listed Anniversary Vase at Caulfield. 'It's got nothing to do with me, I only race what's there,' McArdle said. 'Was I surprised? No. She was in the nominations so there was always a chance she would run.' Pride Of Jenni is a $2.15 favourite for Saturday's mile feature, with Regal Zeus a $5.50 second elect. The tough gelding was a gutsy winner in the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo last start, a maiden stakes win. He's in career-best form, but the son of Zoustar will have to rise to another level if he's to upset the champion mare on Saturday, as she gears up for a possible Queensland winter carnival campaign. • 'Obviously she likes to go out and lead hard, we'll just run our own race, if she's going hard out in front, I'd presume we would be sitting second,' he said. 'She's got to carry a big weight (61kg), she's obviously a multiple Group 1-winning mare, if she's at her best, she's probably too good for us. 'If there's a chink in her armour, our bloke will be there, he'll be trying his hardest, he's tough – we'll be doing our best to try and catch her.' • First Moroney horse to step out for Hayes brothers Regal Zeus has drawn the widest gate in Saturday's field of nine, and will be piloted by Zac Spain. 'He begins very, very quickly, I would've thought he will jump and roll across, the way I've got the race mapped is that he'll be sitting second, and we'll get rolling at around the 400-500m like always,' he said. 'If it's good enough to catch her, great, if not, we've been beaten by a superstar – there's no harm in that.' McArdle knows he will get another honest showing from his gelding on Saturday, Regal Zeus has missed a placing just once in 10 previous starts. Regal Zeus can't be run down in the Golden Mile! 😤 Jamie Mott is having a day to remember at Bendigo with a treble! @jamieleemott @RedgumRacing — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) April 12, 2025 The Mornington-based conditioner has been pleased with how Regal Zeus came through his last-start Golden Mile win. 'He's ran first or second in nine of his last 10, he fights all the time, he's a very tough horse,' McArdle said. 'It's just been his standard routine, a lot of times he goes to the water walker at Fulmen Park, he did that, then he's just been home and gone through his normal routine. 'He seems to be in good order.'
News.com.au
29-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Gear change to help Hedged settle in Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool
A little relaxation could propel Hedged back to the winner's circle in Wednesday's Wangoom Handicap (1200m) at Warrnambool. The well-travelled Hedged has raced in three states and built a solid record but will chase his first stakes win in the race known as 'the Newmarket of the Bush'. Hedged went within a half-length of breaking through when third in the Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington at his last outing. But co-trainer Michael Kent Jr said Hedged didn't have much luck while not helping his own cause in that race. 'He ran quite well at Mornington on what was probably a firm track and he got posted three-wide from the half-mille,' Kent Jr, who trains Hedged in partnership with Mick Price, said. 'We did apply the black (ear) muffs at The Valley two runs back and they came off again at Mornington. 'It was going to be beautiful but the pace slackened and he just got keen again so Ben (Melham) got him out wide and flowing. 'He wasn't beaten far without having the most economical run.' • Jenni marks Caulfield Anniversary ahead of Qld mission Price and Kent Jr have decided to add a crossover nose band to Hedged's gear in the Wangoom Handicap. The pair also believes a shorter period between runs might ease Hedged's tendency to overrace. Well Done! ðŸ'� Jett Stanley has just won the Hareeba Stakes with The Instructor on the last day of his apprenticeship! @GaiWaterhouse1 @stanley_jett — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) April 19, 2025 'We just need to get him back travelling a bit more quietly in the run,' Kent Jr said. 'We're hoping that on the 10-day back-up, he might drop his head a bit better.' While Hedged has not won at stakes level, Kent Jr noted the son of Capitalist had performed well in some good races in his 16-start career. 'At this time last year, he got beat a nostril behind Joliestar in the Group 2 Arrowfield (Stud Stakes at Randwick),' Kent Jr said. 'He's got really good form all around him and if we get, which we'd expect at Warrnambool as they keep it well watered for the jumpers, then he's going to run well. 'He'll like the bit of give in the ground and, class-wise, he's suited in a Wangoom.' Ben Melham will stick with Hedged in the Wangoom Handicap. The Instructor ($5) and last-start Bendigo winner Marble Nine. Jamie Melham's mount, the Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans-trained Fortunate Kiss, has firmed from $15 into $10 in the first 24 hours' betting on the feature sprint.
News.com.au
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Jokers Grin wins The Quokka for the locals
Jokers Grin became the first Western Australian galloper to win the state's biggest race – the $5 million Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. The victory was by the biggest win of 70-year-old trainer Bernie Miller's career while it was redemption for winning rider Pat Carbery, who was aboard Amelia's Jewel when beaten a nose in the inaugural running of The Quokka in 2023. 'It's absolutely brilliant, how can you put that into words,' Miller told the 'I'll wake up tomorrow and still won't be able to talk about it. 'A dream come true. 'A lot of belief from a lot of people that have backed me and helped me out throughout the years, your vets, your staff at home, my farrier. 'It's just fantastic, a big dream.' The only previous Quokka winner Overpass was sent out a commanding favourite to make it three straight wins in the race and after being made to work early, he crossed the field and took up the running but this year, his winning kick wasn't there and it was left to the swoopers. At the 200m, Sydneysider Headwall emerged and looked the winner but tagging him was Jokers Grin and late in the piece he got the better of Headwall to score with another local, Generosity in third while Overpass weakened into fifth. SOMETHING TO GRIN ABOUT! 😊 Jokers Grin has won the 2025 edition of The Quokka for 70-year-old trainer Bernie Miller. — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) April 26, 2025 'It was about the 150 when I saw him fan out and I thought 'we'll just use the old camber and we'll be right',' Miller said. 'I stood where I've never watched him before and the trill of watching him go past, it was tremendous.' The win was also provided Carbery with the biggest victory in the career of the five-time Group 1-winning veteran. He and Miller are best mates, and the victory was a dream come true on a personal level for the pair of racing stalwarts. 'I don't have to talk about Bernie, everyone knows what I think of him, we're best mate,' Carbery said. 'Not because we've had success together, we're just best mates. 'I'm really lucky. A lot of people don't get to work with someone that is really close to you and I'm just blessed for one, to ride for Bernie but to also be his best mate. 'This is just the pinnacle of my career.' The winning slot holder was the Ladbrokes Racing Club which on Thursday night also won greyhound racing's version of The Quokka, The Sandgroper with Deadly Avenger.
