Latest news with #BenAllen
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Big Swinger bails out favourite backers with stunning burst in Caulfield win
Favourite backers were poised to write off their money with 200m to run in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (1200m). The Charlotte Littlefield -trained Big Swinger carried the hopes of thousands of punters in win bets and multis but they had a tough watch throughout the $150,000 race. • 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! A combination of Big Swinger's racing manners and goings on ahead of him left jockey Ben Allen to negotiate a difficult trip from the start. Big Swinger got up on to the heels of other runners at least twice midrace as the strong galloper looked for racing room. Big Swinger was still held up behind a wall of horses halfway down the straight, leaving Allen searching for options. However, Allen managed to ease Big Swinger off heels from where the smart prospect charged to a narrow win over the $21 chance Flyer. Big Swinger was enormous at Caulfield! @HayfieldsRacing @bennallen44 @MelbRacingClub â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 Big Swinger's finishing burst was a relief to the gelding's band or owners on course as well as those that took the short odds about the three-year-old son of Trapeze Artist. 'About 100(m) to go, we were going to run an unlucky fifth,' Littlefield's husband Julian Hay said. 'It takes a good horse to do that.' Hay said Big Swinger's finishing burst was no surprise, adding the gelding clocked some 'scary' trackwork times at Littlefield's Pakenham base. Big Swinger's win left the Creswick Series of three-year-old sprints as ideal winter targets for the winner of four of six starts. However, Hay said Big Swinger was still 'soft-boned', meaning Littlefield was more likely to give the emerging prospect more time to develop. 'He's the best horse we've ever trained, we think, he's got that much ability,' Hay said. â– â– â– â– â– PREBBLE REPAYS PAYNES Apprentice jockey Tom Prebble sealed a Saturday double at Caulfield with victory on Jimmy The Bear for his uncle and aunty Patrick and Michelle Payne. Prebble, who by his own admission did not give Jimmy The Bear the best steer first-up when second to the in-form War Machine, more than made amends on Saturday. Jimmy The Bear finished over the top of tenacious leader Regal Zeus, courtesy of a perfectly-timed and economical Prebble steer. Prebble faced the potential of being posted wide again on Jimmy The Bear but the rising star found cover at a crucial stage in the 1600m Benchmark 100 JRA Handicap to set up the win. Jimmy The Bear gives Tom Prebble a double at Caulfield, even better when it's a win for family! @mj_payne â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 'The race probably didn't unfold exactly how I planned, I didn't want to repeat the same thing that happened last start, being caught three deep on a fast tempo,' Prebble said. 'I was able to get in and he was good … 1400m up to 1600m, second up, his record is pretty impeccable, so I knew he would be strong. 'He's a complete and utter fighter, he wants to race and I'm very fortunate Patrick has given me the opportunity now to ride him twice after probably not giving him the best of steers first ride.' Prebble piloted the impressive winner Splash Back earlier on the card for Grahame Begg. WHITE LINE FEVER LANDS JOURNAL ANOTHER WIN A touch of 'white line fever' brought imported galloper Dublin Journal victory in the Ian Miller Handicap (2000m). Dublin Journal has been a good money spinner for connections, especially after trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes worked out the gelding loves the cut and thrust of racing among other horses. Luke Currie rode the seven-year-old in that fashion at Caulfield, opting against going out wide when held up on the home turn, instead driving Dublin Journal ($9) along the inside to beat I Am The Empire ($26). Dublin Journal gives Luke Currie and the Hayes team a double at Caulfield @lindsayparkrace â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 'He requires a lot of luck and Luke executed it perfectly,' JD Hayes said. 'He's a funny horse. As soon as he gets outside them, he gives up but he loves the crash and bash and pokes through late.' Earlier, Currie combined with the Hayes brothers in Madiyya 's third straight win in the Rod Griffiths Handicap. Madiyya sustained a long run from the rear of the field before the $1.75 favourite defied the late challenge of the $10 chance I ONLY WISH. PRESS THE BUTTON Trial By Press answered the call to run down Extreme Virtue in the Selangor Turf Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield. The Greg Eurell -trained five-year-old daughter of Danerich preserved a perfect second-up record – now three from three – with the win under apprentice jockey Ryan Houston. Trial By Press is two from two this preparation! @GregEurell @HoopHouston @MelbRacingClub â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 Extreme Virtue looked set to pinch the race around the bend, the Lindsay Park-trained mare skipped clear under apprentice jockey Dakotah Keane, but Trial By Press would not be denied. 'I thought coming into the turn the leader started to skip away a little bit and thought gee we might struggle to run this down and to her credit she dug deep,' Eurell said. 'Typical of the mare, as I said to Ryan, she's very push button, the more you ask the more she gives and that's exactly what she did today.'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Spring races on radar for two-year-old Caulfield winner Salty Pearl
Spring discussions could start for Salty Pearl after the unmissable filly broke through for her first win in the Sportsbet More Places Handicap (1200m). The eye-catching grey had finished in the minor money in her first two autumn races, including when a well-held third in a Group 3 race in Adelaide second-up. • Trainer Ciaron Maher decided to give the daughter of Tagaloa an easier time between runs, which left Salty Pearl fresher for Saturday's Caulfield assignment. 'We didn't think she was probably at her best over in Adelaide but she had a nice three-week gap between runs,' Maher's representative Jack Turnbull said. 'We kept her really fresh.' Salty Pearl eased from $6 to $8.50 in betting as punters supported Millennium Blade from $7 to $3.90 and Warrior Smile from $4.80 to $3.50. However, a cool ride from jockey Ben Allen helped to derail those market moves as he steered Salty Pearl to a long neck win over Millennium Blade while $51 chance Eton Affair was four lengths away in third spot. âšœï¸� New winner for #Tagaloa ðŸ'� 2YO filly Salty Pearl (ex Leaven Of Malice) rallies home and claims her maiden for @cmaherracing under Ben Allen at @MelbRacingClub Caulfield. Congrats to her breeder, @brideoakeracing! #aworldofopportunity â€' Yulong Investments (@YulongInvest) May 31, 2025 Turnbull said Allen did well to resist the early pressure, preferring to let Salty Pearl relax off the speed. 'She got a little further back than we thought she would but it was a lovely steer by Ben to get the split inside and she had the good turn of foot,' Turnbull said. 'We thought we'd be behind the speed but there was more intent from other riders so he let the speed go. 'He didn't panic.' Turnbull said the manner of Salty Pearl's win indicated minor stakes races during the spring were worth considering. 'She is professional. She's had a few goes at it now and she's tractable,' Turnbull said. 'Without having a chat to Ciaron, you'd now have to have a really good think about the spring. 'She obviously goes well and she's on an upward trajectory. 'Races like the Cap D'Antibes and the Scarborough (Stakes), they're those three-year-old sprints that you would look at.'
News.com.au
4 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Best bets and value play for Cranbourne races Friday
News Corp form analyst Brad Waters looks at Friday's meeting at Cranbourne. â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET OLIVE BAGUETTE (Race 4 No.4): Olive Baguette impressed when an easy winner at Mornington second-up. He'll push forward again and should go well. â– â– â– â– â– NEXT BEST LUCKY CHANCE (Race 1 No.5): The Alex Rae-trained stayer worked home steadily at Geelong last time and should enjoy a bit more ground at Cranbourne. MISHARE (Race 7 No.2): Mishare enjoyed a good trial when a strong first-up winner and will be fitter again. Expecting her to be thereabouts again in the last. â– â– â– â– â– VALUE BET TALK OF DAKOTA (Race 5 No.10): Talk Of Dakota faded over 1100m at Pakenham but drops back to 1000m and might find her Cranbourne assignment a touch easier. â– â– â– â– â– THE JOCKEY Jockey Ben Allen heads to Cranbourne for six rides on Friday. ONE BROTHER (Race 1 No.6 – $2.05), STORMRISER (Race 2 No.7 – $5.50), PARISH PRIEST (Race 3 No.11 – $7.50), BON TO RICHES (Race 4 No.2 – $16), DRAMATICUS (Race 6 No.7 – $4.20), THUNDER HAWK (Race 7 No.8 – $11).
CBS News
23-05-2025
- CBS News
PCH in Malibu opens Friday, security increases for Pacific Palisades neighborhood
The 11-mile stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu that had been closed since January reopened to all commuters Friday morning. The reopening comes as the Palisades Fire-ravaged communities continue to recover and rebuild. Access into Pacific Palisades will remain restricted to residents, business owners, employees and contractors, with an increased police presence and more checkpoints. "The reopening of Pacific Coast Highway marks an important step forward in our recovery effort in the Palisades, which is on track to be the fastest in state history," Mayor Karen Bass said. Two lanes in each direction have opened, with a 25 mph speed limit between Temescal Canyon Road in Pacific Palisades and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu, according to the California Highway Patrol. Stopping in the burn areas is not permitted. The monthslong closure of the scenic coastal roadway caused hardship for businesses in Malibu and Pacific Palisades, as many residents and business owners pleaded for officials to reopen it. Malibu Dive Shop owner Carter Crary said before Friday's reopening, he considered it lucky if even one person came to his store in a day. "We went from full speed to nothing," he said. "I'm happy having the public having access to our shop again." "The reopening of PCH is an important milestone that will relieve badly impacted businesses—maintaining important security and safety measures will continue to be a focus for the area," Senator Ben Allen said. The National Guard will remain in the Palisades through the end of the month, as the CHP and LAPD will increase patrols in the community, and man 16 checkpoints into the area.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Show Us The Money: When Can Productions Expect To Reap Benefits Of California's Proposed $750M Film & TV Tax Credit Expansion?
Amid the swirl of the Trump administration's nascent plans to 'Make Hollywood Great Again,' California is on the verge of revamping its Film & TV Tax Credit Program in the hopes of reinvigorating the state's production pipeline. But, it could be more than a year before production workers begin to feel the affects of the proposed changes, if they are approved by the Legislature. After years of strife for the California film and television industry, Gov. Gavin Newsom in October proposed a significant increase to the overall cap on incentives, more than doubling it from $330 million to $750M annually. The sister bills currently making their way through the state Senate and Assembly, SB630 and AB1138 — a hot topic of conversation at this past week's Deadline-hosted SAG-AFTRA event gathering politicians and industry labor leaders — seek to do more than just provide additional finance incentives to studios who bring physical production back to California. More from Deadline Newsom To The Rescue: Governor Supersizes California's Film & TV Tax Credits To Get Hollywood Back To Work CA Film & TV Tax Credit Expansion Bills Clear State Assembly, Senate Committees: 'Motion Picture's Last Hope For California' — Update Sweetened New York Production Incentives A Go As State Budget Passes The bills, sponsored by state Sen. Ben Allen and Assembly members Rick Chavez Zbur and Isaac Bryan, respectively, are also meant to 'amend, update, and modernize' the program. In other words, lawmakers are trying to remove some of the red tape that makes California less accommodating to production than it once was. Deadline understands that the refresh is high on Newsom's priority list, and the prospects for the eventual passage of these bills are positive. So, when can Californians expect to reap the benefits? Since their introductions to both chambers February 20, both bills have successfully made it to the Appropriations committees, where they currently remain. While lawmakers expressed some skepticism early on about the proposed amendments to the program, and whether more than doubling the current incentive cap is the best use of those funds in the state budget, they have passed fairly easily through committee votes thus far. Next up is Newsom's 'May Revision,' when he will release an updated budget proposal that reflects the latest economic forecasts and revenue projections for the year. Sources tell Deadline that the tax-credit funding is expected to survive that revision process, given how much the governor is prioritizing this issue. After the May Revision comes a period of intense negotiations that are likely to result in some changes to the bills as they are currently written as lawmakers work toward agreeing upon a unified budget. If all goes well, additional funding could be available to productions as soon as July 1. There's also a scenario where funds don't come available until January 1. Then, there's a middle option. Option 1: In the best-case scenario, the proposed changes to the program will be signed into law in June along with the new budget. Sources tell us this is the most ideal outcome, since it would mean the rejuvenation of the state's film and television industry can begin sooner rather than later. It's also the most politically and structurally complicated, because it would likely mean attaching the proposed changes to the program in the actual budget bill, which can often cause hiccups with the Legislature. Option 2: It's more likely the funding will remain separate from the proposed amendments to the program, which could lead to two outcomes. First, the budget passes in June and the other structural changes come at a later date. As one source notes that 'everybody feels a sense of urgency' to solve this issue within the state, the goal would be to inject at least some energy into the production pipeline as quickly as possible. Option 3: Newsom waits to sign the funding into effect until the bills get approval from both chambers. Sources predict the bills will be approved sometime between September and January. This is both the least likely and the least desirable outcome. If the bills are signed into law, the California Film Commission will need to go through a regulatory process to develop guidelines for implementation. This process can take between six months to a year. This means that, while the $750M in funding could be earmarked for the Film & TV Tax Credit Program by July 1, it would likely be several more months before that money is distributed. The application window for Program 4.0, which does not include the additional funding or updated provisions, begins in mid-June. For that cohort, the funding cap will remain at $330M, with a 20% base credit for individual productions. Sources don't seem to know what to expect with this version of the program. On one hand, it could entice some of the major studios now that they have the option of up to 90% refundability, meaning they can get cash back if they don't have sufficient state tax liability (which many of the major studios do not). However, with much of Hollywood waiting with bated breath for the new program updates, some sources wonder whether there will be an underwhelming response to the upcoming application process. 'Is anyone going to apply if they wait three months longer and get 35% [credit]?' one source asked. One potential solution is to offer productions the ability to retroactively receive a 35% credit on qualified expenditures, pending approval from the state. However, this comes with obvious risks considering that, as one source familiar with the process notes, 'nothing is guaranteed.' In any case, the application review process can take between 4-5 weeks, putting at least another month on the clock. AB1138 and SB630 would expand the definition of a qualified motion picture, allowing additional projects to apply for the program including series with episodes averaging 20 minutes or more; animated films, series, and shorts; and large-scale competition shows. Additionally, the bills propose increasing the available credit amount for an individual project from 20% to 35% for amounts paid or incurred in Los Angeles, also giving the California Film Commission leeway to allow for additional credit percentages of 5% in other areas of economic opportunity. While there haven't been many objections to the bills' current contents, there has been discussion about what is missing from them. The two glaring omissions are post-production and commercials. Even in the newly proposed bills, California Film & TV Tax Credit Program does not currently allocate specific funds to post-production, a lucrative part of the production pipeline that has been drawn away from the state due to program provisions elsewhere. New York, for example, offers $45M annually specifically to fund post-production. Some parties are also pushing for commercials to be considered eligible projects, as they are in many other territories, for similar reasons. Both are expected to become topics of discussion as the bills make their way to the Senate and Assembly floors, which could potentially slow the approval process. When can California production workers expect any sort of reprieve? The short answer is it depends. The longer answer is that, pending a host of regulatory processes, it could take anywhere from about nine months to more than a year for the proposed changes and expanded funding to take effect — and even longer for projects to actually be accepted into the program. So, while help is certainly on the way, just about the only thing that is absolutely clear is that it won't come overnight. Best of Deadline All The Songs In Netflix's 'Forever': From Tyler The Creator To SZA 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
