Latest news with #BartCummings
Daily Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Kembla preview: Claire Lever's patience pays off with Yes Siree
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. As legendary trainer Bart Cummings once said, 'Patience is the cheapest thing on racing and the least used.' Hawkesbury trainer Claire Lever is one person who follows that ideology with her horses and her latest subject is the three-year-old Yes Siree. From his early days the stable, the gelding showed Lever he was blessed with nice ability and even after he won a Hawkesbury barrier trial last November, she put him away knowing he wasn't ready to take the next step. 'He showed nice ability from the time he came into the stable but he was really slow to mature,' said Claire Lever. 'He kept growing and took a long time to come together to where you want him to be. Trainer Claire Lever with her jockey/husband, Chad. Picture: Bradley Photos The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'He grew more than we expected and took time to mature. 'I know he trialled well last time around but we just wanted to see him develop a bit more so we tipped him out. 'It wasn't until this preparation that he got to where we could do a bit more with him.' Returning for a late autumn and winter campaign, Yes Siree rewarded Lever and his owners with a debut win at Wyong on May 1. 'He trialled well then went to the races and won his first start,' Lever said. 'It probably wasn't an overly strong form race but it was over an unsuitably short distance for him and he did a few things wrong so he's progressing. 'It nice to have a horse in the stable that will keep improving that has been looked after.' That Wyong win came on a Heavy 10 but it was no surprise he handles the conditions so well being a son of Everest winner and Randwick 1200m track record holder Yes Yes Yes from an O'Reilly mare. Yes Siree is looking to make it two from two when he steps out on the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) at Kembla on another heavy track with Grant Buckley to ride. 'It's a heavy track again but the Yes Yes Yes' have won all well on heavy tracks,' she said. 'The fact he ticked that box off, you can go to the races with that little bit more confidence that the track is not going to worry him too much. 'Down the track, I think 1400m will be is best distance but stepping up to 1200 metres this weekend will be good for him.' Four-year-old gelding Casanova has been a model of consistency in his two campaigns for Lever with a win and two placings in the first and he has a win and two placings so far this time in. He is looking to improve on that when he lines up in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) with Lever husband, Chad, to ride. The gelding scored a tough win on his home track in March before a rare blip when well back behind Monkhena there a month later. A drop in grade saw him return his usually form with a third behind Exceedingly Hot at Queanbeyan on May 11. 'He is very honest, he puts himself up on speed or thereabouts and just tries really hard,' Lever said. 'His run at Hawkesbury was out of character but he pulled up okay. 'He bounced back with a better effort last start although it was at Queanbeyan in weaker grade. 'Back to provincial grade, on a nice track and down in weight, I think he will run well again. 'His form on wet tracks in good so I'm going to Kembla confident he will handle the conditions.'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Kembla preview: Trainer Claire Lever's patient approach yields success as Yes Siree aims for second win
As legendary trainer Bart Cummings once said, 'Patience is the cheapest thing on racing and the least used.' Hawkesbury trainer Claire Lever is one person who follows that ideology with her horses and her latest subject is the three-year-old Yes Siree. From his early days the stable, the gelding showed Lever he was blessed with nice ability and even after he won a Hawkesbury barrier trial last November, she put him away knowing he wasn't ready to take the next step. 'He showed nice ability from the time he came into the stable but he was really slow to mature,' said Claire Lever. 'He kept growing and took a long time to come together to where you want him to be. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'He grew more than we expected and took time to mature. 'I know he trialled well last time around but we just wanted to see him develop a bit more so we tipped him out. 'It wasn't until this preparation that he got to where we could do a bit more with him.' Returning for a late autumn and winter campaign, Yes Siree rewarded Lever and his owners with a debut win at Wyong on May 1. 'He trialled well then went to the races and won his first start,' Lever said. 'It probably wasn't an overly strong form race but it was over an unsuitably short distance for him and he did a few things wrong so he's progressing. 'It nice to have a horse in the stable that will keep improving that has been looked after.' That Wyong win came on a Heavy 10 but it was no surprise he handles the conditions so well being a son of Everest winner and Randwick 1200m track record holder Yes Yes Yes from an O'Reilly mare. Yes Siree is looking to make it two from two when he steps out on the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) at Kembla on another heavy track with Grant Buckley to ride. 'It's a heavy track again but the Yes Yes Yes' have won all well on heavy tracks,' she said. 'The fact he ticked that box off, you can go to the races with that little bit more confidence that the track is not going to worry him too much. Casanova just finds enough to win at Hawkesbury for @leverracing! ðŸ'� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025 'Down the track, I think 1400m will be is best distance but stepping up to 1200 metres this weekend will be good for him.' Four-year-old gelding Casanova has been a model of consistency in his two campaigns for Lever with a win and two placings in the first and he has a win and two placings so far this time in. He is looking to improve on that when he lines up in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) with Lever husband, Chad, to ride. The gelding scored a tough win on his home track in March before a rare blip when well back behind Monkhena there a month later. A drop in grade saw him return his usually form with a third behind Exceedingly Hot at Queanbeyan on May 11. 'He is very honest, he puts himself up on speed or thereabouts and just tries really hard,' Lever said. 'His run at Hawkesbury was out of character but he pulled up okay. 'He bounced back with a better effort last start although it was at Queanbeyan in weaker grade. 'Back to provincial grade, on a nice track and down in weight, I think he will run well again.
News.com.au
25-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Ray Thomas reviews a big Saturday of racing at Royal Randwick
The Australian Turf Club board must deal with two significant issues this week – which trainer is allocated Leilani Lodge at Royal Randwick and the outcome of the members vote on the Rosehill sale proposal. The board is understood to be meeting Monday and one of the agenda items is to discuss who gets the keys to the vacant Randwick stables. At least three trainers have made application for Leilani Lodge including Godolphin's James Cummings. The Cummings family has trained out of the famous stable complex since James's grandfather, the legendary Bart Cummings moved in there more than 50 years ago. James Cummings is understandably sweating on the ATC's call after announcing plans last month to become a public trainer when Godolphin Australia decided to move away from its private training model. Cummings has enjoyed phenomenal success with Godolphin over the last eight years, preparing 50 Group 1 winners for the 'Blue Army' with the likes of Anamoe, Broadsiding, Cascadian, Hartnell, Alizee and Bivouac. He will continue training some of Godolphin's horses next season including Group 1 winners Tom Kitten and Zardozi, and gifted rising three-year-old filly Tempted. But if the ATC decides not to give Cummings Leilani Lodge then the club must find another set of stables for at least 50 horses to keep the young trainer in Sydney racing. Cummings is one of the nation's elite trainers, he's media savvy and popular with punters, and Sydney racing is more competitive if he has a permanent stable presence here. Then on Tuesday, it is the ATC board's time to sweat as it awaits the result of a crucial members vote on the $5 billion Rosehill sale proposal. This issue has split the board and the racing industry, and was the talk of the track at Royal Randwick last Saturday. The pros and cons of selling Rosehill, home of the Golden Slipper, has for months prompted robust debate. If members vote in favour of selling Rosehill, the land will be used to build 25,000 new homes while ATC has unveiled plans to redevelop Warwick Farm and build a new training facility near Penrith. But the 'no' vote is still favourite with many leading industry figures against selling Rosehill, the ATC's core asset. ATC expects at least half of the club's membership base of nearly 11,500 to vote on the issue. â– â– â– â– â– Meanwhile, outstanding seven-year-old Private Eye will finally get to barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Monday ahead of his return in the Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm next Saturday. Private Eye, winner of $11.9 million prizemoney, was due to trial last week but wet weather forced the scheduled Canterbury trial session to be cancelled twice. Trainer Joe Pride has already given Private Eye two barrier trials and said the sprinter will only be out to 'stretch his legs' in the 800m Warwick Farm heat to prepare for Saturday's big race. Private Eye is currently at $13 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Kingsford Smith Cup behind Joliestar at $3.50 and Giga Kick at $4. Sunshine In Paris, winner of the Doomben 10,000, is at $6 for the Eagle Farm sprint but the brilliant mare has already been sent to the spelling paddock and will be aimed at the $20 million The Everest in spring. â– â– â– â– â– FIVE TO FOLLOW Grand Larceny (race 6) was aiming for his fourth consecutive win and although his streak ended, his fast finishing second was a full of merit. The Team Hawkes-trained sprinter was racing in restricted room early in the straight but once he worked into the clear, he produced the fastest closing sectionals of the meeting to lose narrowly. Agarwood (race 1) is only a small filly but she is big on ability. She made it two starts for two wins and like she did on debut at Warwick Farm, the best part of her race was her finishing speed. Agarwood, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, is a natural talent and will only improve with physical maturity. Let's Fly (race 4) had to do a bit of work early to eventually settle outside the leader but then coming to the turn, it was apparent she was still full of running. Let's Fly exploded clear of her rivals to win by nearly six lengths, relishing the heavy track conditions. She deserves her chance in the Queensland Oaks. Flying Embers (race 2) was never closer than three-wide and raced without cover throughout the race but still forged clear to win decisively. There was no fluke about the win and she improved her record to four wins from eight starts. Under-rated filly who can be placed to advantage again. Miss Kim Kar (race 10) went very wide on the home turn and probably found betting going near the outside rail but she accelerated brilliantly to zoom past Flying Thinker near the line with that duo gapping their rivals CRUNCH TIME - Grand Larceny (race 6) charged home from back in the field to finish a close second to Storm The Ramparts. With the extremely heavy track conditions, this was not a day conducive to fast times but Grand Larceny's final 600m of 35.63s and closing 200m of 12.64s were the best sectionals of the meeting. - Agarwood (race 1) led early and controlled the tempo before sprinting her final 600m in 37.24s to win easily. Her sectional was the fastest all meeting by a race winner with the exception of the 1000m race won by Storm The Ramparts. Agarwood's 200m split from the 400m of 11.94s was also one of the fastest of the day. Agarwood leads all the way and dominates in the first at Randwick! ðŸ'¥ @GaiWaterhouse1 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 - Let's Fly (race 4) settled outside the leader then ripped her home final 600m in 37.36s, an impressive burst of closing speed at the end of an 1800m race in very testing conditions. - Miss Kim Kar (race 10) made her run wide out on the track but her effort to run her final 600m in 37.55s to win the final race of the afternoon was very good. - Hollywood Hero (race 8) took the short way home along the inside rail but his final 600m of 13.90s was the slowest by any winner at the meeting and emphasised how heavy the track was on the inside late in the day. WHAT THEY SAID - 'I came back at a tricky time during the (autumn) carnival but everything happens for a reason. This is the best I have ever felt on a horse, physically and emotionally, and I'm really enjoying my riding,'' said jockey Dylan Gibbons after his wins on Hollywood Hero and Miss Kim Kar. - 'Hollywood Hero is a strange horse as he just has to be completely switched off early in his races. I emphasised that to Dylan and he was on the same page. It was a great ride,'' said trainer Bjorn Baker. Hollywood Hero takes the inside alley and wins well at Randwick! ðŸ'� @BBakerRacing | @djgibbons22 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 - 'It was a very easy watch. Adam (Hyeronimus, jockey) controlled it in front, the track raced beautifully and she's a terrific filly. This was only her second run, we know she handles wet tracks so she ticked that box, and was drawing away on the line,'' said Tulloch Lodge stable representative Neil Paine after Agarwood's easy win. - 'This horse is a very good wet-tracker, that was the big ace up his sleeve today,'' said Joe Pride, trainer of Storm The Ramparts. - 'I have no doubt in time he will make a very nice horse,'' said Michael Hawkes, trainer of Spione. STEWARDS SAY â– Providence (race 1) was ridden by replacement jockey Tyler Schiller after Rory Hutchings was overweight. Subsequently, Hutchings pleaded guilty to a charge that he intentionally presented to scales to weigh out without his safety vest in an endeavour to make the allotted weight. Hutchings was also found for making an inappropriate comment to the Clerk of Scales. Hutchings was found guilty of both charges and issues with two suspensions, to be served concurrently, starting June 1 and ending June 29. â– Flying Embers (race 2) began awkwardly then near the 1300m was steadied after improving onto the heels of First Mission. She raced wide and without cover throughout the event but still scored a tough, deserving win. â– A Pound Of Salt (race 3) was held up for clear running in the early part of the home straight, then passing the 200m was momentarily held up when being shifted to the outside to find clear running where he finished fast to win. A Pound Of Salt ducks and weaves through the pack to win at Randwick! 🙌 @ZacLloydx | @Howlettracing_ — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 â– Sisu Spirit (race 4) came under heavy pressure from the 700m and did not respond to his riding, losing ground rounding the home turn. Jockey Adam Hyeronimus eased Sisu Spirit down over the final 300m and felt that the effects of a tough run at Wyong on a heavy tack may contributed to the gelding's disappointing performance. â– Wuddzz (race 5) was slow to begin and from a wide barrier then was shifted behind runners in the early stages. Held up rounding the home turn before running on strongly to finish second. â– Collect Your Cash (race 7) did not respond to her riding in the testing going and when out of contention was eased down over the final 400m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed Collect Your Cash to be lame (2/5) in the near-hind leg. RANDWICK SNAPSHOT WITH RON DUFFICY RUN OF THE DAY Obviously with the very testing conditions its hard to identify what was the run of the day but you have to like the look of the two-year-old filly Agarwood who has now done the job twice on wet and dry. She's still untapped. FORGET THEY RAN This track was so wet even proven wet trackers failed. Treat this form with care as its rare we race on a track as heavy as this. HORSE TO FOLLOW I like the look of Grand Larceny who was beaten but far from disgraced considering circumstances. He is still early in his preparation and I'm convinced he has much more to offer moving forward. RIDE OF THE DAY It was great to see Dylan Gibbons go home with a winning double. He has been off with injury of late and this is what he needed to get back on track with more opportunities. NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD What's on in NSW racing this week: Monday: Newcastle, Bathurst Tuesday: Hawkesbury, Albury Wednesday: Canterbury Thursday: Gosford, Armidale Friday: Casino, Goulburn
