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The Australian
04-08-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Forbes preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, August 3, 2025
Brad Widdup is a Group 1 winner and a leading provincial trainer but he is still a country boy at heart and loves getting back to his roots when the right opportunities are there. The Albury raised Widdup heads wet with a trio of capable runners ready to shine, none more so than High Dandy in the Bankstown Sports Forbes Cup (1600m) which is also a Big Dance Qualifier. The John Camilleri-bred and owned gelding has improved with each run this campaign starting off with a seventh to Nana's Wish at Canterbury before a fourth to Walking Painting and a second to Glad You Think So both in Randwick Midways over 1600m. • 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! 'He has taken a while to get to his peak for one reason or another but his last two runs have been really good,' said Widdup. 'Hopefully he can continue on with that now. The son of Camilleri's own Group 1 winner Ace High looks well placed in the Cup being a 71 rater with 56kg, just a kilo above the minimum. Heading the weight for the race is Another One with 65kg although he comes down to 62kg after the claim. 'He gets in well at the weights which is not often the case when you take a horse out to the country,' Widdup said. 'He has good Sydney form and the fact he gets quite a bit of weight off those couple of well-performed, higher benchmark rated horses, I would like to think he will be very competitive. Widdup has gained the services of Hawkesbury-based jockey Chad Lever who has been on great form since returning to the saddle late last year. 'I was surprised that he is going out there but when we seen his name down for some rides, we were lucky to be able to get him,' Widdup said. Widdup and lever will also team up with lightly-raced mare Initiate in the Walker Family Showcase Super Maiden Handicap (1300m). The four-year-old is closing in on her first win after a close second to Divo and third to Capital Jicinta at Wyong before a last start fourth behind Denial at Kembla. 'She is only a little filly but she tries very hard,' he said. 'She is probably still another preparation away from really being at her best but she is going well. 'Hopefully she can knock her maiden off this weekend. 'I don't think barrier eight is a bad draw for her. 'She's doesn't have real early toe so drawing there, hopefully she can slot in somewhere midfield or maybe a bit closer.' Widdup's final runner for the day is Party Doll in the Club Forbes Showcase Class 2 Handicap (1100m) who will be ridden by stable apprentice, Poppie Gorton. Gorton was having her first day riding at Bathurst two weeks ago when fourth on Party Doll. 'She drew awkward at Bathurst last start and was slow to begin before she took off around them,' said Widdup. 'She just did a lot of work but it was a good effort to finish where she did. 'She is better on top of the ground and is finding it hard to win a race but John (Camilleri, owner) has been good enough to give Poppie a couple of rides on her and her four kilo claim brings her into this race. 'Hopefully she can begin well and be in the race and I'm sure she will run really well if that's the case.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ADAM SHERRY'S TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 3 No. 3: INITIATE Has strong provincial form and gets his chance to break through. NEXT BEST Race 4 No. 10: ZOUTASTIC Good win last start and can go back-to-back. VALUE BET Race 2 No. 11: LOST YA SOCK Nice efforts at both runs from a spell. Chance to break through. QUADDIE Race 5: 1, 4, 5 Race 6: 1, 2, 3 Race 7: 3, 11, 13 Race 8: 1, 5, 6, 7 Chad Lever looks set for a good day at Forbes. Picture: Bradley Photos JOCKEY TO FOLLOW CHAD LEVER has a strong book of rides and looks a top chance on the TAB Jockey Challenge. LAY OF THE DAY Race 8 No. 5: ROMANTIC LOVE Safely held in both runs this time in, the latest on a heavy track. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ INSIDE MAIL – FORBES RACE 1: Shead & Nicholson / Daikin / Seeley International Country Boosted Mdn Plate 1100m CARAVANSERAI (1), the half-brother to Alizee and Astern, resumed for the Natalie Jarvis stable with a second to Spice Baby at Moruya when coming from well back on the turn. Will strip fitter for the run. PERFORMING DIVA (4) over did it in front on debut when fourth at Nowra. Took a sit and ran on well when second to Lombardi Lass at Goulburn. Resumes here and looks for a forward showing. RITA RED (5) has placed in three of her four runs this campaign and will be thereabouts again. Bet: Caravanserai to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 2: Bankstown Sports Since 1995 Showcase Mdn Plate 1600m LOST YA SOCK (11) resumed with a handy second behind Highland Eightgee over 1300m at Dubbo before leading when a half-length third to Gioia River at Corowa. Suited up to 1600m. DANTAINS PRIZE (7) finished close seconds at Narrandera and Wagga before missing the start by three lengths when seventh to Pride Of Jezza. Backed up six days later when fourth at Narrandera. PONTIAC (3) settled near last before motoring home to finish third to Darken over 1660m at Moruya last start. Bet: Lost Ya Sock to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 3: Walker Family Showcase Super Mdn Hcp 1300m INITIATE (3) followed a length second to the promising Divo with a third to Capital Jicinta at Wyong after being bumped at the start. Forced to race wide early when fourth to Denial at Kembla last start. Solid form for this. THE CONTRACTOR (2) was spelled after a neck fourth on debut at Dubbo on Apr 7. Handy third at Dubbo first-up then races wide and pulled up lame when fourth at Bathurst on July 21. BLACKFISH (6) makes his NSW debut for the Brett Robb stable. Has claims in three placings in Victoria. Bet: Initiate to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 4: Club Sydney The Amazing Ben Hall Bullet (Bm82) 1200m ZOUTASTIC (10) resumed with a fourth at Hawkesbury behind Regimental Colours who won at Randwick last weekend. Went to Grafton and scored a solid win from Stratafy. DEION (6) has had a long campaign but continues to race consistently with two wins and four placings from his last six starts. Led all-the-way to beat Eilrahc at Warren before a third to Smooth Esprit in the Coonamble Cannonball. Carried big weights last two starts and drops to 54kg. CASTLEBAR ROAD (3) was a month between runs when fourth to Durova over 1000m last start. Loves it heavy. Bet: Zoutastic to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 5: Forbes Shire Council Showcase Country Boosted (Bm58) 1400m SORRY SUNSHINE (1) ran home nicely under 61kg to beat Freddy's Shock over 1400m on a Heavy 10 at Wagga two starts back. Sat closer and laid out in the straight when fourth to Sunray Lass at Albury. STREET SWAGGER (5) is racing well with a win and two thirds. That Cowra win was his fourth from five ruins on heavy ground. MOTORBOAT (4) raced wide without cover when down the order behind Shropshire Lad in a Highway at Rosehill on July 19 at his first run for a new stable. Bet: Sorry Sunshine to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 6: Forbes Scrap Metal / Carlton & United Breweries Showcase Hcp (C1) 1400m DEEPWATER ARTIST (2) defied a betting drift from $5 out to $10 when he came with a closing run down the outside to beat Speed Of Thought over 1175m at Albury. His last 100m suggests he will appreciate the step up to 1400m. UNREAL EXPECTATION (1) followed back-to-back placings on the Acton track at Canberra with a handy win from Metal Magic over 1400m at Bathurst. THOUGHTFUL (3), a relation of fan favourite Happy Clapper, was fourth over 1100m in a Bm58 on the heavy at Goulburn last start. Blinkers off and nose roll on. Bet: Deepwater Artist to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 7: Bankstown Sports Forbes Cup 1600m HIGH DANDY (3) ran a nice fourth behind Walking Painting in a Midway at Randwick second-up. Led and just caught late when runner-up to Glad You Think So in another Randwick Midway. Drawn well and will give this a shake. LOUIE'S LEGACY (11) resumed in Federal Open at Canberra without a trial when a half-length second to Craving magic over 1280m. Stepped up to 1600m with a third to Hot Bandit in the Narrandera Cup. Is a winner on the heavy. 13. MORITZ GIRL (13) was doing her best late over 1400m on the Kensington last start. Loves the 1600m. Bet: High Dandy to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 8: Club Forbes Showcase Hcp (C2) 1100m ABSTRUSE (6) was held up rounding the home turn when a length third to Selhurst Park at Moruya before coming from a long way back when runner-up to Sutton Vella there last start both over 1010m. The 1100m helps. ROYAL BOMBADIER (7) raced ungenerously in the straight when resuming at Port Macquarie. Much better effort last start when a half-length second to Calido Magic at Gosford. PARTY DOLL (1) did it tough when fourth last start. Handy provincial form before that. Bet: Abstruse to win
New Paper
05-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
The Wild Goal all set to score
Former Kranji trainers Jason Ong and Richard Lim may well have another two potential winners going on the barrier trials at Sungai Besi on June 4. The current runaway leader in the trainers' premiership with 43 winners, Ong sent out The Wild Goal to take the opener while Storm Titan took the third for Lim, who sits sixth on 15 after saddling a treble on June 1. Both impressed with their performances. The Wild Goal (Akmazani Mazuki), who beat Hypeman (Marc Lerner) by a length, would be remembered for breaking the minute mark for the 1,000m dash on grass. He stopped the clock at an impressive 59.82 seconds. Not to be outdone, Storm Titan (Uzair Sharudin), though unable to come under the minute mark, did catch the eye with a five-length romp. Here is how the scenes unfolded. In Trial No. 1, when the starter sent them off, the The Wild Goal scooted away and quickly put a length between himself and the chasing pack, led by the Simon Dunderdale-trained Hypeman, with the Sharee Hamilton-trained Sweet N Sour holding down third. Keeping up a strong gallop, The Wild Goal refused to be intimidated by Hypeman and when push came to shove, he dug in to win by a length. Formerly known as Lucky Goal when racing at Kranji where he won two races, The Wild Goal made himself known to Malaysian racing fans when winning a Class 4 (B) race over the 1,020m on March 23. It was an Ong Stable queue-up with Outfit dropping in for second, some 4½ lengths away. While the margin was impressive, The Wild Goal has yet to put together another victory. Indeed, the best the Shalaa four-year-old could do in four subsequent starts was a second-place finish behind Baby Twins on April 24. But with Ong's stable churning out winners like water from a tap, we could see The Wild One salute sooner rather than later. As for Storm Titan, that win was his third victory from as many barrier trials going back to May 14 when he won in a time of 1min 1.64sec. He was at it again on May 27, beating Captain Pegasus by half a length while clocking 1:00.82. And in that latest hit-out, the unraced Ace High three-year-old led from barrier to box, never allowing his rivals to get a look-in, stopping the clock at 1:00.68. Yes, Storm Titan is getting better with every outing and, when Lim does send him to the races, he is going to be a treat to watch. Then, and also from the morning of June 4, we had Big Business. Schooled by Lim Boon Thong, Big Business was another big winner - coasting in by a massive six lengths in Trial No. 2. Big Business - who was racing with blinkers - was never troubled. He cleared the chute easily and quickly got into stride. The others tried to eat into his lead but he never allowed them to get within swishing distance of his tail. He was unstoppable over the concluding stages and ran away from them to win in a time of 1:00.83 - easing up. Big Business was down to make his grand debut on June 7, but for some medical reason, he will not start in the Open Maiden sprint for which he was nominated. The Shalaa three-year-old was withdrawn on the advice of the club's veterinarians. Watch for the day Lim decides he ticks all the boxes to be sent to the races. He seems to be working towards a decent debut. In the last trial, which was run on sand, Kim Legend was all-conquering. Ridden by track rider Lukman Mohamed, the Nostradamus four-year-old came with a huge run over the last 200m to claim victory. Until then, it appeared like Royal Commission (Nazir Aiman) had it signed, sealed and delivered. But Kim Legend was not to be intimidated. Having just his second trial at Sungai Besi, he swamped the leader to win going away. Trained by Wayne Lim Woei Chet, Kim Legend has had two unplaced outings - one at Ipoh and one at Sungai Besi. Both starts were held in Class 4A company, first over 1,300m before being stepped up to 1,400m. Granted, he did not set the track ablaze, but on his brilliant trial form on June 4, he could be the real deal at his third start. brian@
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Lightly-raced Kiwi filly She's A Dealer and her little known jockey George Rooke are set to spring a surprise on Randwick
A mystery New Zealand filly and her unknown English rider are set to make a statement in their Australian debuts at Royal Randwick on Saturday. She's A Dealer and jockey George Rooke are set to continue their winning momentum in the Chalouhi Handicap (1800m). Champion Kiwi trainer Roger James has Queensland Oaks ambitions for She's A Dealer after she won her two most recent starts impressively at Ellerslie and Te Rapa with Rooke in the saddle. James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood, has a big opinion of the three-year-old filly and her jockey. 'She's A Dealer hasn't got enough prizemoney to qualify for the Queensland Oaks (Eagle Farm, June 7),' James said. 'So, we thought by bringing her to Sydney, it might give her the chance to get into the Oaks. 'People in New Zealand had not heard of George Rooke nine months ago but he's a talented jockey and he knows this filly very well.' She's A Dealer, who is by 2017 Spring Champion Stakes-Victoria Derby winner Ace High, has only had three starts and is in her first race preparation. TAB Fixed Odds price assessors are keeping She's A Dealer 'safe' in betting, rating her an $8 chance behind Sisu Spirit, the $4.20 favourite. 'She's A Dealer is a filly we have liked for a long time but she got a lung infection in the spring and we lost three months with her,' James revealed. Race 3 at Te Rapa goes to the @Kingsclere_Nz trained Filly She's A Dealer The 3yo by Ace High (@RichHillStud) broke her maiden last start, and backed it up with another win at the hands of @GeorgeRooke6 Replay: #BigSaturday | @TeRapaRacing â€' Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) April 26, 2025 • Randwick predicted to go ahead despite dire forecast 'Then at her first start in March, she did a lot wrong which was unusual for her. 'But then she has come out and won her next two starts easily and we feel she is a very promising filly.' James said Rooke was recommended to him by Mark Todd, New Zealand's two-time Olympic Equestrian gold medallist. 'Mark is an old friend of mine and he was at Royal Ascot last year where he saw George riding,' James said. 'George wasn't getting a lot of opportunities in England so he made the move to New Zealand last October and has already ridden 55 winners, he's in the top 10 in the jockeys premiership and is basically our stable rider now.' She's A Dealer hasn't raced on a heavy track so far in her three-start career but James is confident his filly will handle the very wet conditions at Randwick on Saturday. 'She has trialled on a heavy track at home and handled it pretty well,' James said. 'Whether that was because of her ability I'm not sure but I think she will get through it okay. She arrived in Sydney last weekend and has not missed a beat since so we are looking forward to Saturday's race.'
