Latest news with #AshMorgan
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Ray Thomas's Blackbook: Five to follow from Royal Randwick on Saturday
Racing expert Ray Thomas has run the rule over Saturday's Bob Charley Stakes meeting at Royal Randwick and found a few he thinks are worth following. â– â– â– â– â– Kujenga (Race 1) was the rank outsider at $81 for the juvenile opener but gave backers of odds-on favourite Hidden Motive a real fright before losing by the narrowest of margins. Kujenga finished powerfully late to just miss but this improving filly can be placed to advantage over winter. You can exhale if you backed Hidden Motive! 🥵 The fav gets his nose down at the right moment to make it two wins in a row in the Randwick opener! @AshMorgan6 @ndoyleracing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Gentileschi (Race 3) was coming back slightly in trip and wasn't suited by the slow early tempo but she started to gain momentum late and was charging through the pack to finish a close fifth. She's only had three starts this campaign and will keep improving, particularly as she gets out to a middle distance. Where to look?! ðŸ'€ Four go to the line as one at Randwick, with Shohisha getting the bob in a thriller! @tomo_sherry @DPayneRacing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Wooloowin (Race 6) appreciated coming back in grade and ran a much improved race to finish a close third to Thunderlips at big odds. She's been improved by two runs from a spell and is working her way back to winning form. What a win by Thunderlips! 😮 âš¡ï¸� @AnnaRoper_ on board for @BBakerRacing ðŸ'� @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Quietness (Race 7) ran a blinder at her Australian debut to finish third and cap a great weekend for the John O'Shea-Tom Charlton stable. They celebrated a Queensland Derby quinella with Maison Louis and King Of Thunder and the trainers will be doing the same with Quietness, winner of five of her 11 starts in England, who ran so competitively behind Loch Eagle. Loch Eagle flies to win at Randwick! 🦅 @Leesracing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Headley Grange (Race 9) scored brilliantly first-up and was the middle leg of a Joe Pride hat-trick. Headley Grange is extremely consistent and did win at his second and third runs in last preparation. Headley Grange wins first up to give @PrideRacing a Randwick double! 🙌 @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– ON THE CLOCK Callistemon  (Race 2) was held up for a run in the straight but when clear she charged home the final 200m in 11.88s to claim third. Just hop on the Doyle/Morgan express! 🚂 Hellfire Express wins the Midway - and that's the first two Randwick races to @ndoyleracing and @AshMorgan6! @aus_turf_club @Darby_Racing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Shohisha (Race 3) was a clear last in the small field of seven on the turn but although the race developed into a sprint home, she was able to sprint her final 600m in 34.08s to score an impressive win. Where to look?! ðŸ'€ Four go to the line as one at Randwick, with Shohisha getting the bob in a thriller! @tomo_sherry @DPayneRacing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Bengal and Shropshire Lad (Race 4) broke clear of their rivals to fight out the finish of the Highway. Bengal ran his final 200m in 11.82s compared to Shropshire Lads 11.89s with the former edging clear near the line. Bengal hangs on in the TAB Highway for Luke Pepper and @brodie_loy ðŸ'° @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Loch Eagle (Race 7) finished powerfully at the end of 1600m to score a good win. He savaged the line with a closing 200m of 12.04s to run down Grebeni. Loch Eagle flies to win at Randwick! 🦅 @Leesracing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 In Flight (Race 8) sprinted her final 600m in a fast 33.73s, the best of the meeting. She ran a closing 200m split of 11.65s to run down Brudenell and win the Bob Charley Stakes. A tough win to In Flight in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes at Randwick for @PrideRacing! 🚀 @ProvenTbreds @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– WHAT THEY SAID 'In Flight is going to keep getting better with age. This time next year she will be a better horse again. But she's a pretty thing. Look at her tail, there are so many different shades of grey in it, she's a beautiful filly,' said trainer Joe Pride. 'It's easy to say now she has two stakes wins to her name but she is just oozing confidence,' said Jay Ford, rider of In Flight. 'I'm happy for Joe (Pride) because I think he's an outstanding trainer and he's got a good horse with In Flight,' Bob Charley said. ' Shohisha has been looking for the mile, if it is in their genes, they will get the trip,' said trainer David Payne. 'I've got a few doubles but it's my first city treble. I have been here seven years now and it's probably only this year it has really developed into something,' said Ash Morgan after he rode three winners. 'We feel he is a four-five lengths better horse than what he showed today. He over-raced, he got pestered in front and did a bit of work there. He will improve a lot. Wait until you see him on top of the ground. At home what he has shown us, he is absolutely electric,' said Sean Driver, part-owner of Hidden Motive. â– â– â– â– â– STEWARDS WRAP Callistemon (Race 2) was held up for clear running from the 400m and approaching the 200m was disappointed for a run between Engine Room and Allegro Miss. Callistemon remained held up until passing the 150m where it was finally able to secure clear running. Danish Prince (Race 2) was ridden by apprentice Jace McMurray who was questioned by stewards regarding a towel remaining caught around his left leg during the race. McMurray stated that he had inadvertently left the towel draped across the wither of the gelding after entering the barriers and, as such, this resulted in it remaining attached to his leg through the race. Just hop on the Doyle/Morgan express! 🚂 Hellfire Express wins the Midway - and that's the first two Randwick races to @ndoyleracing and @AshMorgan6! @aus_turf_club @Darby_Racing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Rotagilla (Race 5) came out of a wide barrier and was shifted behind runners in the early stages. After passing the 1200m was inconvenienced by Mille De Lune, which shifted out when over-racing. Rotagilla raced wide and without cover until passing the 800m where he was awkwardly placed at the heels of Elivina, which was carried out. It's Millie De Lune on the inside who gives @AshMorgan6 a Randwick treble! ðŸŒ� @mcsmithracing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Oh Diamond Lil (Race 6) travelled strongly throughout the middle stages but when expected it would quicken in the home straight she didn't respond as expected. Her rider, Jay Ford, told stewards the mare may have raced flat second-up from a spell. What a win by Thunderlips! 😮 âš¡ï¸� @AnnaRoper_ on board for @BBakerRacing ðŸ'� @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Whinchat (Race 9) reared on jumping and missed the start by six lengths. As stewards were satisfied that Whinchat reared simultaneously to the start being effected, the horse was declared a starter. Headley Grange wins first up to give @PrideRacing a Randwick double! 🙌 @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD Monday: Canterbury, Grafton Tuesday: Scone Wednesday: Kensington Thursday: Gosford, Lismore Friday: Goulburn, Muswellbrook Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Newcastle Sunday: Coonamble, Port Macquarie â– â– â– â– â– SNAPSHOT – WITH RON DUFFICY RUN OF THE DAY You have to give it to the inexperienced three-year-old filly Shohisha who sat back last in a slowly run race giving weight to the older mares. Not only that she was 1100m to 1600m second-up on a heavy track. FORGET THEY RAN Callistemon never really had a chance to balance up right down the straight in the Midway. With clearer running early she would have gone close to winning. HORSE TO FOLLOW Shropshire Lad is just out of class 1 company and lacked Highway experience but his turn is not far off. It was hard to miss the run of the imported mare Quietness who has a nice future in Australia.
Daily Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Hidden Motive triumphs in thrilling finish at Randwick
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Private Harry crew stuck again when Hidden Motive scrambled home at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Hidden Motive, the heavily backed favourite, just held off rank outsider Kujenga in a deceptively tight finish for the Precise Air Handicap (1100m). Sean Driver of Kurrinda Bloodstock was pleasantly surprised when his colt Hidden Motive was declared the winner. Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! 'To be honest we didn't think he got the bob,' Driver said. 'But he's a tough horse and was able to win in conditions that didn't suit. 'He will go home now to our farm in the Hunter Valley for two weeks and the big aim is the Coolmore (Stud Stakes) in the spring.' Talented colt Hidden Motive, trained by Nathan Doyle and ridden by Ash Morgan, was backed from $1.95 into $1.65 favouritism and just held off $81 bolter Kujenga to win by a nose with Matima ($3.80) a long head away third. Hidden Motive, a stablemate of Kurrinda Bloodstock's exciting unbeaten sprinter and The Everest contender Private Harry, scored his second successive win to complete a promising two-year-old season. 'We feel he is a four-five lengths better horse than what he showed today,' Driver said. 'He overraced, he got pestered in front and did a bit of work there. He will improve a lot. 'Wait until you see him on top of the ground. At home what he shown us, he is absolutely electric.' Morgan, who has ridden Private Harry to all five wins including the Group 1 The Galaxy this season, also has big opinion of Hidden Motive's emerging potential. 'I thought it was a very good win,' Morgan said. 'He paraded a lot better than he has been and he was very relaxed and switched off. 'Probably that first ten or fifteen metres he was a little switched off, but I let him roll up. That horse (Dubbo Boy) came to him and we just fired each other up a little bit. 'So, it was a really good win. I know it was a very small margin but he was entitled to get beaten.' Hidden Motive was born and raised at Scone nursery, Cressfield, and was offered as part of their 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale draft. Purchased by Doyle Racing and Kurrinda Bloodstock, the colt's $120,000 price-tag belies his epic pedigree. For starters, Hidden Motive is a son of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Golden Slipper winner, Capitalist. On top of that, Hidden Motive is the fourth foal of his dam, Secret Agenda, whose seven career wins included the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide and Group 2 Sapphire Stakes in Sydney. Hidden Motive is another quality descendant of the racetrack champion and broodmare gem, Denise's Joy. Driver also revealed Private Harry has returned to Doyle's Newcastle stables to begin preparations for the Group 1 $20m The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18. 'Private Harry has been back in the stables for about two weeks and has put on between 65-80kg – and it's all muscle,' Driver said. 'He has grown about an inch-and-a-half, you've got to remember he's only three so he's still got that bit of growing to do. He looks outstanding.' Driver revealed Doyle is planning to give Private Harry two lead-up races into The Everest. 'We are going to The Shorts and then the Premiere Stakes before The Everest,' Driver said. 'He will have two barrier trials but whether the first one is in Newcastle – I'll be honest, he doesn't do much at home. He's very lazy. 'He has never beaten a horse home in trackwork. Nathan will have a horse going to Port Macquarie and it will beat him. 'If you're going off his trackwork, you might not sleep at night. But his IQ is through the roof. I imagine he will have his first trial at home, his second trial we'll come to Sydney, an exhibition gallop and then we'll go first-up.' Just 35 minutes after Hidden Motive's win, Doyle and Morgan completed an early brace when Hellfire Express scored more decisively than his stablemate in the Midway Handicap (1500m). Hellfire Express ($15) led most of the way and held off the late closing Convergent ($10) to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths with the unlucky Callistemon ($5.50) third just in front of favourite Engine Room ($4.60). Morgan's breakout season has included his first Group 1 win with Private Harry and another four stakes races. His Randwick double moved him to 98 wins on all tracks this season. But the in-form jockey is not about to rest on his laurels. 'I don't want to take a break,' Morgan said. 'I feel like I have worked too hard to take it easy now, so I'm just trying to roll while the momentum is good. It has been a magic season.' Originally published as Promising colt Hidden Motive has spring Group 1 target after digging deep for narrow victory at Randwick
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Promising colt Hidden Motive has a Spring Group 1 target after digging deep to clinch a narrow victory at Randwick
The Private Harry crew stuck again when Hidden Motive scrambled home at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Hidden Motive, the heavily backed favourite, just held off rank outsider Kujenga in a deceptively tight finish for the Precise Air Handicap (1100m). Sean Driver of Kurrinda Bloodstock was pleasantly surprised when his colt Hidden Motive was declared the winner. 'To be honest we didn't think he got the 'bob',' Driver said. 'But he's a tough horse and was able to win in conditions that didn't suit. 'He will go home now to our farm in the Hunter Valley for two weeks and the big aim is the Coolmore (Stud Stakes) in the spring.' Talented colt Hidden Motive, trained by Nathan Doyle and ridden by Ash Morgan, was backed from $1.95 into $1.65 favouritism and just held off $81 bolter Kujenga to win by a nose with Matima ($3.80) a long head away third. Hidden Motive, a stablemate of Kurrinda Bloodstock's exciting unbeaten sprinter and The Everest contender Private Harry, scored his second successive win to complete a promising two-year-old season. 'We feel he is a four-five lengths better horse than what he showed today,' Driver said. 'He over-raced, he got pestered in front and did a bit of work there. He will improve a lot. 'Wait until you see him on top of the ground. At home what he shown us, he is absolutely electric.' Morgan, who has ridden Private Harry to all five wins including the Group 1 The Galaxy this season, also has big opinion of Hidden Motive's emerging potential. 'I thought it was a very good win,' Morgan said. 'He paraded a lot better than he has been and he was very relaxed and switched off. 'Probably that first ten or fifteen metres he was a little switched off, but I let him roll up. That horse (Dubbo Boy) came to him and we just fired each other up a little bit. You can exhale if you backed Hidden Motive! 🥵 The fav gets his nose down at the right moment to make it two wins in a row in the Randwick opener! @AshMorgan6 @ndoyleracing @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 'So, it was a really good win. I know it was a very small margin but he was entitled to get beaten.' Hidden Motive was born and raised at Scone nursery, Cressfield, and was offered as part of their 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale draft. Purchased by Doyle Racing and Kurrinda Bloodstock, the colt's $120,000 price-tag belies his epic pedigree. For starters, Hidden Motive is a son of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Golden Slipper winner, Capitalist. On top of that, Hidden Motive is the fourth foal of his dam, Secret Agenda, whose seven career wins included the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide and Group 2 Sapphire Stakes in Sydney. Hidden Motive is another quality descendant of the racetrack champion and broodmare gem, Denise's Joy. Driver also revealed Private Harry has returned to Doyle's Newcastle stables to begin preparations for the Group 1 $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18. 'Private Harry has been back in the stables for about two weeks and has put on between 65-80kg – and it's all muscle,' Driver said. 'He has grown about an inch-and-a-half, you've got to remember he's only three so he's still got that bit of growing to do. He looks outstanding.' Just hop on the Doyle/Morgan express! 🚂 Hellfire Express wins the Midway - and that's the first two Randwick races to @ndoyleracing and @AshMorgan6! @aus_turf_club @Darby_Racing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Driver revealed Doyle is planning to give Private Harry two lead-up races into The Everest. 'We are going to The Shorts and then the Premiere Stakes before The Everest,' Driver said. 'He will have two barrier trials but whether the first one is in Newcastle – I'll be honest, he doesn't do much at home. He's very lazy. 'He has never beaten a horse home in trackwork. Nathan will have a horse going to Port Macquarie and it will beat him. 'If you're going off his trackwork, you might not sleep at night. But his IQ is through the roof. I imagine he will have his first trial at home, his second trial we'll come to Sydney, an exhibition gallop and then we'll go first-up.' Just 35 minutes after Hidden Motive's win, Doyle and Morgan completed an early brace when Hellfire Express scored more decisively than his stablemate in the Midway Handicap (1500m). Hellfire Express ($15) led most of the way and held off the late closing Convergent ($10) to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths with the unlucky Callistemon ($5.50) third just in front of favourite Engine Room ($4.60). Morgan's breakout season has included his first Group 1 win with Private Harry and another four stakes races. His Randwick double moved him to 98 wins on all tracks this season. But the in-form jockey is not about to rest on his laurels. 'I don't want to take a break,' Morgan said. 'I feel like I have worked too hard to take it easy now, so I'm just trying to roll while the momentum is good. It has been a magic season.'
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Trainer Nathan Doyle and jockey Ash Morgan to combine with Hidden Motive at Randwick on Saturday
The Private Harry connection of trainer Nathan Doyle, syndicator Sean Driver and jockey Ash Morgan will combine with another boom young sprinter Hidden Motive at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Hidden Motive, the talented two-year-old, is at $2.40 with TAB Fixed Odds to score his second successive win and get favourite backers off to a good start in the Precise Air Handicap (1100m). A striking two-year-old colt by Newgate Farm's leading sire Capitalist, Hidden Motive notched his maiden with a runaway win at Hawkesbury last start. This came after a first-up second to classy Aerodrome at Warwick Farm then his third placing behind promising duo Grand Eagle and Akaysha at Randwick. The form around both those defeats stood up which only frustrated Doyle that he had to wait for the Hawkesbury race for Hidden Motive to finally break through. 'To be honest I was a bit disappointed Hidden Motive was beaten at Warwick Farm and Randwick,'' Doyle said. 'He shows us so much at home and I expected he would win those races but he's needed the experience and has improved with racing.'' Hidden Motive was ridden more conservatively at Hawkesbury with Morgan keeping a tight hold on the colt under well into the straight. Morgan gave Hidden Motive more rein at the 250m and the colt bounded away to win by nearly four lengths – but the margin could have been even greater if the two-year-old was put under more pressure by his rider. Despite coasting over the line, Hidden Motive was still timed to run the 1100m in 1m 03.55s (last 600m in 34.12s) even though the Hawkesbury track was rated a soft 7 that day. Hidden Motive was purchased for $120,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale last year and races in Driver's Kurrinda Bloodstock colours of white, pale blue star, striped sleeves and royal blue cap that are synonymous with unbeaten sprint sensation Private Harry. AERODROME (2 g Ole Kirk - She Shao Fly) gets the better of race favourite Hidden Motive to win on debut 🚀 The gelding by @VineryStud 's OLE KIRK was a $190,000 @GilgaiFarm @inglis_sales Easter buy and gives his sire a 9th winner ðŸ'ˆ @MFreedmanRacing — ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) April 16, 2025 Driver also shares Doyle's opinion of Hidden Motive's emerging talent. 'When he ran in the Breeders Plate at the start of the season, he should nearly have won that day,'' Driver said. 'Then, we went to Warwick Farm for his return to racing and we were thinking he just wins, nothing would beat him, but he had to carry more weight than Aerodome that day and was narrowly beaten. 'We felt he might have been a bit flat second-up with 10 days between runs so we gave him three weeks before Hawkesbury and that was the horse we have seen at home.'' Both Doyle and Driver are hoping Hidden Motive can emerge as a big-race contender as a spring three-year-old. The trainer and syndicator also have promising three-year-old filly Queen's Rhapsody lining up in a class 1 race at Newcastle on Saturday. Queen's Rhapsody, a daughter of Coolmore's champion sire So You Think, ran second in four successive races to start her career then resumed to win her maiden easily at Hawkesbury last month. 'We feel Queen's Rhapsody is a stakes class filly every day of the week,'' Driver said. 'She's still six months away but the form around her is just incredible and she is going really well.'' • Ka Ying Rising locked in for The Everest as slot details revealed Doyle has had a memorable season highlighted by Private Harry 's brilliant form including the Group 1 The Galaxy and The Sunlight, and the sprinter's selection for the $20 million The Everest at Royal Randwick in spring. Private Harry, who returned to training this week, gave Doyle his first Group 1 win and has been central to the trainer's career-best season which has yielded nearly $4.5 million prizemoney for his stable. 'You don't get much chance to reflect in this game,'' Doyle said. 'The wheels keep turning so you can't rest on your laurels or you get left behind.'' With this in mind, Doyle's focus was back on his other Randwick runners with Hellfire Express and Rush Attack in the Midway Handicap (1500m) and Wooloowin and Super Bright clashing in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1400m). Hellfire Express ran sixth behind Flying Embers in a Randwick Midway two weeks ago and Rush Attack has been freshened since finishing unplaced at Hawkesbury in early April. Rush Attack attacks the line to win the Midway second up at Rosehill for @ZacLloydx and @ndoyleracing! 🙌 @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 22, 2025 'I thought Hellfire Express was good last start, he had to carry at least 4kg more than any other horse in the race and on a very heavy track but he wasn't beaten far,'' Doyle said. 'He definitely has one of these Midway races in him. 'Rush Attack had a trial on Monday to keep him ticking along and he will either run at Randwick or play at home (Newcastle) on Saturday.'' Wooloowin has been unplaced in successive stakes grade runs in the Birthday Card Stakes during the autumn carnival and then the Dark Jewel Classic at Scone so she will appreciate the drop in grade for Randwick. 'She's a good mare and I'm expecting her to run well on Saturday,'' Doyle said. Super Bright has never raced beyond 1300m in her 33-start career but Doyle believes the mare deserves her chance. 'I want to try her at 1400m and have her ridden quietly,'' Doyle said. 'She should be competitive because she's always around the mark.'' â– â– â– â– â– Doyle's Oaks hope 'flying under the radar' Trainer Nathan Doyle believes his promising filly Churchill's Choice is 'flying under the radar' going into the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Churchill's Choice has been winless in three starts leading into the three-year-old fillies classic but Doyle said there has been merit in each of her losing efforts, particularly last start when fourth to Philia in The Roses. 'She should nearly have won first-up (fourth behind Lilac in the James HB Carr Stakes) then ran a super race to finish second (behind Depth Of Character) in the Queensland Guineas,'' Doyle said. 'But then we gave her three weeks between runs going into The Roses and she was trapped three wide with no cover. 'I thought it was a really good run last start and she seems to be flying under the radar a bit going into the Oaks.'' In latest TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Queensland Oaks, Churchill's Choice is rated at $12 behind $4.20 favourite Philia. Churchill's Choice storms home to victory at Randwick and defends her unbeaten record! @RachelK11 | @ndoyleracing | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024 Churchill's Choice won her first three starts last summer including her defeat of older horses over the Randwick mile course in December which convinced Doyle to set her for the Oaks. Although Churchill's Choice hasn't won beyond 1600m, her trainer is adamant the filly will run a strong 2200m on Saturday. 'I have no dramas with her going to 2200m,'' Doyle said. 'She shows us she can stay and is primed fourth-up for the Oaks. 'If she can get a nice, economical run in transit then she should be in the finish.'' Churchill's Choice's sire line is laden with stamina genes. She is by Churchill, who has already sired the winner of a French Derby and Oaks, and the filly's grandsire is the legendary Galileo, the former champion racehorse and winner of the 2001 English Derby before becoming arguably the most influential stallion of the modern era. Galileo, Coolmore's champion stallion who died in 2021, sired a record five winners of the English Derby and Oaks. In England this weekend, the world's most famous three-year-old classics, the Oaks (first run in 1779) and Derby (first run in 1780), are being run at Epsom Downs.
Daily Telegraph
28-05-2025
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Gosford, Inverell previews: Adam Duggan hoping for a Divine result in the wet
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Adam Duggan had a nice opinion of Divine Bene in his early trackwork and trials but a couple of unflattering runs to start his career put that into question. It wasn't until Divine Bene got onto a wet track that he started to perform to a higher level and placed in three consecutive runs as he built into his first campaign. 'He is a horse I had a bit of time for early days but didn't show a lot in his first couple of runs,' said Duggan. 'Once we got him going with a couple of runs under his belt, we worked out he didn't have much of a turn of foot but he could sustain the same speed throughout. 'We also found he had a real liking for wet track. I don't think I've had a horse who has had so many runs on a wet track.' Divine Bene has raced on wet ground in eight of the 10 career starts with seven of them on heavy where he has a win and four minor placings. He returned this campaign with a nice win first-up over 1550m on the Beaumont before a third to Lutetia at Newcastle both on Heavy 8 tracks before a second to Sirius Flyer in a Soft 5 at Quirindi last start. 'It probably wasn't wet enough for him at Quirindi the other day,' he said. The four-year-old gets his preferred conditions when steps out in the Class 1 Handicap (1200m). 'I'm happy to have Ash Morgan back on. He rode him really well to win first-up,' Duggan said. 'He's also in at Inverell. I'll discuss it with his owners but Gosford is my preferred option.' Duggan also has Purple Haze entered for the Super Maiden Handicap (1200m) on his home track. The gelding battled away for third to Yes Siree on a Heavy 10 at Wyong on debut on May 1. 'He has been a real work in progress,' said Duggan. 'He was aided by a fair few scratchings in a fairly soft race on debut if I'm being honest but in saying that, I would be surprised if he doesn't improve. 'I think the 1200m will suit him better and eventually a bit further than that.' Warwick Farm trainer Clarry Conners has been pleased with the way Okami Star has raced this campaign and gives him a change of securing another win in the Class 1 Handicap (1600m). The gelding resumed with a second to Pelosa at Hawkesbury followed by a fifth at Kembla before breaking through with a narrow win from Murphilly at Wyong. Last start, he boxed on a long neck fourth to Ocean One at Hawkesbury. 'He has come back a nice horse this time in,' said Conners. 'At Hawkesbury last start, he went around and got to the front then just eased up on him. 'He's a big striding horse and it would have been better if he kept going on him. 'I'm happy with the horse though.' Conners also feels Proclivity can bounce back from a luckless run last start when he contests the 2&3YO Maiden Handicap (1600m). After a debut second to Caltsar at Newcastle, the gelding finished sixth to Monte Veebee at Kembla. 'It was a good run at Newcastle on debut then at Kembla everything went wrong. He got knocked down and pushed back,' he said. 'Aaron Bullock rode him in his first start and was impressed with the horse. 'I'm very happy to be able to get him again this week. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ A slow start and untimely bump put paid to the chances of Angels Cloud last start but trainer Marc Quinn couldn't be happier with his mare and expects her to break through for a well-earned win when she heads to Inverell. Angels Cloud started a $1.90 favourite at Glen Innes earlier this month following three handy placings since joining Quinn's stable. Unfortunately, she was put out of business in the first couple of strides when she settled further back than expected on her way to finishing second behind Immortal Lass. 'I really thought she would have won at Glen Innes the other day but she took a backwards step when the gates opened and Cody's (Morgan) horse got a march on us and that was the end of the race for her,' said Quinn. 'She has had a good couple of weeks since then. 'Obviously last week was a bit of a washout for us. We missed trackwork for a couple of days but they are not going to lose much fitness going on the walker for a couple of days. 'Despite the weather, the horses coped with it really well and she had a lovely gallop on Saturday.' Angels Cloud has drawn ideally on barrier 4 in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m) with Matthew McGuren to again partner her. 'She has drawn well and Matthew decided to stick with her which is good,' he said. 'All she needs to do is step away and I think she will be hard to beat. Quinn is weighing up his options for Perhaps Perhaps in the Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1800m) but expects her to run a much improved race if she does start. The four-year-old debuted for Quinn with a handy fifth to Justifiably at Port Macquarie on April 19 before backing up on a heavy track there eight days later when down the order behind Imarealamerican over 1500m. She then finished a somewhat unlucky fifth to Visualise over 1400m at Glen Innes. 'Her first run for us was really good and we thought we would try and rider her handier second-up but I don't think she appreciated that and the quick back-up,' he said. 'We didn't want to come back in distance but there wasn't a lot of options for her after so we took her to Glen Innes. 'I thought the run was passable and the step up to 1800m suits her quite well.'
