Latest news with #AustralianOaks
Mercury
3 days ago
- Sport
- Mercury
Kris Lees filly You Wahng claims Queensland Oaks after marathon float trip
Recent floods nearly left You Wahng stranded in NSW, but the Kris Lees filly overcame travel challenges to take out the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm. Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Kris Lees-trained filly You Wahng was lucky to be even running in Saturday's Queensland Oaks (2200m), let alone winning the Group 1 at Eagle Farm. But that's exactly what she did in a stirring performance, although it nearly didn't happen because of the recent floods on the NSW Mid North Coast. • 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! Lees said it took a marathon 16 hours of travel, comprising two trips, to even get the filly to Brisbane and didn't the waiting game pay off. In an exciting fight to the line, $19 chance You Wahng held on grimly to defeat the James Cummings-trained Pinito ($6), with Group 1 Australasian Oaks champion Benagil a distant third in the $700,000 contest for 3YO fillies. • What the jockeys said: 2025 Queensland Oaks 'There were floods at Taree so I had to spend the night at Armidale and then come across,' a jubilant Lees said. 'Each trip was like eight hours, so it was two lots of eight hours just to get here (to Brisbane). 'It doubled the travelling time. 'She was very stirred up in The Roses (at Doomben) and I thought 'oh we're off here' and I was thinking she'd be going to the paddock. 'But she actually ran super and came out of it well so she's a tough filly.' â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 You Wahng finished a creditable fifth in The Roses (2000m) on May 24 in a Group 2 race won by Queensland Oaks favourite Philia, who struggled to cope with the extra 200m on Saturday. Philia dropped out to finish eighth, ending her four-race winning streak, after starting as the $4.20 favourite. • Dale ponders shot at Stradbroke with Front Page Lees admitted he was a little surprised at the victory, although he knew You Wahng was capable of an upset following her excellent third in the Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 12 behind super filly Treasurethe Moment and Sun 'N' Sand. When You Wahng finished last in the Listed The Coast at Gosford last month, Lees wasn't exactly brimming with confidence. 'Look we lost confidence after she went to Gosford for a prep run to get her back on track but she was a bit plain,' he said. • Sunrays ends stellar campaign as trainer resists Group 1 lure '(Jockey) Andrew Gibbons suggested putting a tongue-tie on and she's reacted really well to that. 'It was a lovely ride from Tommy. He was able to get us straight across from the gate and got into a lovely position in running. 'He had a lot of horse coming to the corner, but I was always just a little guarded that last furlong when she presented, but she was able to find under pressure. 'She probably got to him a bit early in The Roses, so Tommy was adamant we just needed to hold her up for a furlong sprint and he produced her at the right time today. 'She looked the winner a long way from home. 'She was on her last legs late but she found something extra under pressure so that was very pleasing.' You Wahng will now head to the paddock for a 'well-deserved' spell. 'That's her first city win, actually,' Lees said. 'She'll have a well-deserved rest because she's had a good prep. She's been up all throughout and we thought after the Oaks in Sydney we were a chance and she's delivered.' Originally published as You Wahng claims Queensland Oaks after marathon float trip Horse Racing David Payne, renowned for his unconventional training methods, once again demonstrated his expertise as Shohisha claimed an upset victory at Randwick. Horse Racing Trainer Matt Dale faces a tough decision on whether to give Moreton Cup winner Front Page a crack at the Stradbroke Handicap or send the veteran sprinter for a spell.
News.com.au
26-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Robert Sangster Stakes
Top Victorian rider Mark Zahra made it a Group 1 double on Saturday when sending Charm Stone to victory in the $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville. Forty minutes prior, Zahra claimed the Australian Oaks with Benagil. Charm Stone's win was the fifth time her trainer Mick Price has won the race and his fourth Group 1 win since starting a training partnership with Michael Kent (Jnr). Charm Stone came from well back, making her run down the centre of the track to finish too well for the three-year-old Ameena with the well supported favourite Commemorative in third. ZAHRA DOES THE DOUBLE! Mark Zahra has picked up his second Group 1 of the afternoon riding Charm Stone to victory in the Robert Sangster Stakes! @MickPriceRacing — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) April 26, 2025 Price indicated Charm Stone would now progress to the Group 1 Goodwood over the same distance at the same track in a fortnight. Charm Stone is a four-year-old mare by I Am Invincible and the win was her fourth from 11 start and took her earnings to more than $1.3 million. This is what the riders thought of their mount's performance in the Robert Sangster Stakes. 1st - CHARM STONE (Mark Zahra) I drew wide. I just said I'm going to leave her alone, get her a nice rhythm, and I managed to get the back of Commemorative. I didn't travel that well, actually. I sort of had to give her a little click up to tack up, and she did. She got to the back of them, the further the race went, the more with confidence she grew. I was able to save the best for the finish. It was a busy enough finish, but I thought I won pretty convincingly in the end. 2nd - AMEENA (Jamie Melham) Fantastic run, we just had no option other than to go back to the inside, the fence is obviously a bit rougher than the outside but a great run. 3rd - COMMEMORATIVE (Blake Shinn) Had a nice run, presented to win, first two were better but she was great. 4th - A LITTLE DEEP (Ethan Brown) Career best run. That'll be good for her confidence, she's certainly improved this prep. 5th - PRAIRIE FLOWER (Kayla Crowther) Rapt with her, obviously followed the winner the whole way, she was superb. 6th - ROLL ON HIGH (Daniel Stackhouse) She ran super. Nice, pleasing run for the owners. 7th - ASFOORA (Mitchell Aitken) Drew awkward, raced flat. 8th - ESTRIELLA (Ben Allen) She was okay. She relaxed well, a little bit too relaxed. I think maybe some head gear would help her. 9th - STRETAN ANGEL (Thomas Stockdale) She burrowed her head down as soon as the gates opened. Our chances were gone after that. 10th - AUSTMARR (Jamie Mott) Yeah, the plan was to bowl along as she likes to do. She didn't step the greatest, copped a check off Asfoora shortly after that, it took her a bit to build momentum after that but she ran as good as she could considering. 11th - SHE'S GOT PIZZAZZ (Jordan Childs) Had a nice run. She was probably just a bit close to her top the whole way and might be looking for a bit further. 12th - CLIMBING STAR (Lachlan Neindorf) Nothing wrong with her effort, she just got hampered a lot quite early in the first couple furlongs of the race and it was game over from there, but she can bounce back. 13th - AVIATRESS (Jake Toeroek) Disappointing. Only jumped fairly, never really travelled, was never in her comfort zone the whole way, so very disappointing.
News.com.au
26-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Charm Stone gives Mark Zahra a Group 1 double in the Robert Sangster Stakes
Top Victorian rider Mark Zahra made it a Group 1 double on Saturday when sending Charm Stone to victory in the $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville. Forty minutes prior, Zahra claimed the Australian Oaks with Benagil. Charm Stone's win was the fifth time her trainer Mick Price has won the race and his fourth Group 1 win since starting a training partnership with Michael Kent Jr. 'It's very satisfying to get a Group 1 for the owners,' Price told 'The mare has deserved it and Zahra is Zahra. 'He lives in the Group 1 world.' Charm Stone came from well back, making her run down the centre of the track to finish too well for the three-year-old Ameena with the well supported favourite Commemorative in third. ZAHRA DOES THE DOUBLE! Mark Zahra has picked up his second Group 1 of the afternoon riding Charm Stone to victory in the Robert Sangster Stakes! @MickPriceRacing — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) April 26, 2025 'It's special,' Zahra said. 'Everything went my way today. 'I managed to get on the back of Commemorative. 'I gave her a click up to tack up and the further the race went the more her confidence grew and I was able to get there in the finish.' Price indicated Charm Stone would now progress to the Group 1 Goodwood over the same distance at the same track in a fortnight. Charm Stone is a four-year-old mare by I Am Invincible and the win was her fourth from 11 start and took her earnings to more than $1.3 million.
