Latest news with #Caballus
The Australian
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Caballus back with a bang to claim Ortensia Stakes
Caballus announced his return as a sprinting force with a commanding comeback win at Scone on Saturday. Trainer Bjorn Baker, who once held Everest ambitions for Caballus, has reason to aim high with the four-year-old again after his dominant win in the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m). This was the same Caballus who showed considerable promise last season but lost his way during the spring with five unplaced runs. He was then gelded and also underwent throat surgery. • 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! Baker wasn't at Scone on Saturday but his stable foreman Glen Lobb said Caballus had been hinting for some weeks that he was ready to finally realise his potential. 'Josh Parr has been riding Caballus in his work and about a month ago he said this horse was airborne, he's a different horse after his two surgeries,' Lobb said. 'Caballus had been trialling well and we were confident he would be hard to beat today. 'He had a good run from the inside barrier but he slightly missed the start and had to do a bit of work to get up there. 'Then he over-raced a bit and I was a little worried but when he let down, he let down good. 'The race opened up beautifully for him and he was very impressive. He's in for a good preparation, he's a very nice horse.' Caballus, ridden by Ashley Morgan, was confidently backed into $5.50 equal favouritism and he powered past early leader The Novelist ($13) to win by three-quarters of a length with Firestar ($26) just over a length away third. • Summer Flame ignites with boilover stakes win Ostraka and Pisanello were also sent out $5.50 equal favourites and ran fourth and fifth respectively. Caballus continued the breakout seasons for Baker and Morgan. Baker, who is second the Sydney trainers premiership with 77 wins, has now prepared 25 stakes winners for the season including three at Group 1 level, for stable prizemoney for nearly $24.5 million. Morgan has also had a sensational season. He is nearing a century of wins on all tracks, he rode the first Group 1 winner of his career on Private Harry in The Galaxy, and Caballus was his sixth stakes win. 'It was good to see this horse do that today and hopefully he gets some confidence from that win,' Morgan said. 'I rode him work during the week and when you get the chance to sit on him, you understand why they have such a high opinion of the horse. 'There was so much to like about his effort today, particularly the way he attacked the line. He really wanted to win.'
The Age
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Our Melbourne Cup': Local trainer savours special victory at Scone
Reith, a group 1 winner, spent a year on the sidelines after fracturing vertebrae in a fall in 2022. Fiorsum Fred earlier gave Singleton a hat-trick of wins on Scone's biggest day of the year when he claimed the class 3 Highway Handicap (1600m). Singleton won benchmark handicaps on the standalone program the past two years with Dollar Magic and Comonic, and Fiorsum Fred added to the record with a strong finish for a three-quarter length victory. Former Gold Coast apprentice Jace McMurray rode Fiorsum Fred, giving him a first Sydney metro win. He has joined Randwick trainer Michael Freedman on loan. Filly shows star potential Zoustar filly Stardom is set to chase more black type at the Queensland winter carnival after securing a valuable win in the Woodlands Stakes (1100m) as part of a listed double for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. The Torryburn Stud talent, out of Snitzel mare Diddums, raced outside leader Rainbow Glow before taking over at the top of straight for jockey Adam Hyeronimus and finding late to hold off Kris Lees-trained Wollzeile by a half length. Favourite Akaysha was strong late for third after getting too far back. The Instructor later gave Hyeronimus and the Waterhouse-Bott yard another big win, overhauling Whinchat in the final metres of the Luskin Star Stakes. The son of Russian Revolution is also set to hunt stakes wins in Queensland. Caballus comeback soured Throat and gelding operations proved pivotal for Caballus when he returned with victory in the listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m), only to suffer a bleeding attack. The Bjorn Baker-trained four-year-old, last year's Eskimo Prince Stakes winner, got the sit behind leader The Novelist from gate one. Jockey Ash Morgan then took the $5.50 favourite up the inside in the last furlong for a two-thirds of a length victory. Caballus, which raced at group 1 level before his breathing problems prompted the throat operation, was set to chase bigger targets in Queensland before he was found to have bled from both nostrils post-race, triggering a mandatory suspension. Godolphin's Renosu also bled in the same race. Long shot lifts for Penza Experienced provincial jockey Jeff Penza was rewarded for a long day's work when $61-shot Summer Flame lifted late to win the listed Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m). Penza gave the Chris Waller-trained daughter of Written Tycoon from Rosemont Stud an ideal run behind leader Overfull before hitting the front 100m out to beat Gerringong by a neck. Summer Flame resumed in the 3YO fillies feature after recording a win and two placings in Victoria in her first preparation. Waller assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said the win was great reward for Penza. 'Whenever he's asked, he'll come in [for trackwork],' Duckworth said. 'He came in this morning and galloped four for us, then went home and rode his two show-jumpers, then got in the car and came here, so he's a hard worker.' He said the performance of Summer Flame was not a surprise for Waller. 'Chris was tipping it, so he might be happy because she was obviously a crazy old price,' he said. Archibald import finds edge Annabel Archibald believes she may have found a key to Cormac T after the import edged out Gentileschi following an unusual lead-in. Cormac T was scratched on vet's advice last Saturday at Gosford with abrasions to his near-hind leg after becoming fractious in the gates. He bounced back in the benchmark 78 (1700m), hitting the front late for jockey Tom Sherry then holding out Gentileschi and Kind Words in a thriller. Gentileschi's co-trainer Paul Messara and stewards reviewed the photo before correct weight was declared. 'He obviously didn't gallop last Saturday and we went pretty steady with him early in the week because we wanted to check he was OK,' Archibald said. 'So maybe he's shown us that he likes to be kept slightly on the fresh side.' It was part of a great day for the Annabel and Rob Archibald yard, which later won the group 1 Doomben 10,000 with Sunshine In Paris. Snowden has Eagle eye on next race Champion trainer Peter Snowden was eyeing the listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) on June 7 at Eagle Farm with Zealously after the three-year-old cruised to victory in the 1100m benchmark 78. Loading A $3.50 favourite after Snowden scratched him last week at Gosford in the hope of firmer ground this week, Zealously relished the drying soft 5 going, kicking clear at the top of the straight and beating Dollar Magic by one and three-quarter lengths. The winning time of 1:02:13 was inside the track record but may not be official because it was hand timed. 'I'll go to Brisbane with him,' said Snowden, who was born and bred in Scone. 'There's a three-year-old race for him in about three weeks, so I'll head to that, if we get good ground.' Freedman and Collett find key Trainer Richard Freedman praised in-form jockey Alysha Collett after she produced a perfectly timed front-running ride to score a breakthrough win on import Walking Painting at Scone in the Midway Handicap (1700m). Freedman, who trains in partnership with his son, Will, and has stables in Scone, wanted the six-year-old to lead after seven fruitless starts in Australia. Collett, who had a winning double at Gosford last Saturday, found the front then stacked them up before Walking Painting held on narrowly Northern Eyes and Highborn Harry. 'I said to Alysha, you just go forward and lead, and I said to Kerrin [McEvoy on Let's Fly], you follow her,' Freedman said. 'I said, you slowly ease down and then wait until they straighten up and let him go.'
Sydney Morning Herald
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Our Melbourne Cup': Local trainer savours special victory at Scone
Reith, a group 1 winner, spent a year on the sidelines after fracturing vertebrae in a fall in 2022. Fiorsum Fred earlier gave Singleton a hat-trick of wins on Scone's biggest day of the year when he claimed the class 3 Highway Handicap (1600m). Singleton won benchmark handicaps on the standalone program the past two years with Dollar Magic and Comonic, and Fiorsum Fred added to the record with a strong finish for a three-quarter length victory. Former Gold Coast apprentice Jace McMurray rode Fiorsum Fred, giving him a first Sydney metro win. He has joined Randwick trainer Michael Freedman on loan. Filly shows star potential Zoustar filly Stardom is set to chase more black type at the Queensland winter carnival after securing a valuable win in the Woodlands Stakes (1100m) as part of a listed double for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. The Torryburn Stud talent, out of Snitzel mare Diddums, raced outside leader Rainbow Glow before taking over at the top of straight for jockey Adam Hyeronimus and finding late to hold off Kris Lees-trained Wollzeile by a half length. Favourite Akaysha was strong late for third after getting too far back. The Instructor later gave Hyeronimus and the Waterhouse-Bott yard another big win, overhauling Whinchat in the final metres of the Luskin Star Stakes. The son of Russian Revolution is also set to hunt stakes wins in Queensland. Caballus comeback soured Throat and gelding operations proved pivotal for Caballus when he returned with victory in the listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m), only to suffer a bleeding attack. The Bjorn Baker-trained four-year-old, last year's Eskimo Prince Stakes winner, got the sit behind leader The Novelist from gate one. Jockey Ash Morgan then took the $5.50 favourite up the inside in the last furlong for a two-thirds of a length victory. Caballus, which raced at group 1 level before his breathing problems prompted the throat operation, was set to chase bigger targets in Queensland before he was found to have bled from both nostrils post-race, triggering a mandatory suspension. Godolphin's Renosu also bled in the same race. Long shot lifts for Penza Experienced provincial jockey Jeff Penza was rewarded for a long day's work when $61-shot Summer Flame lifted late to win the listed Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m). Penza gave the Chris Waller-trained daughter of Written Tycoon from Rosemont Stud an ideal run behind leader Overfull before hitting the front 100m out to beat Gerringong by a neck. Summer Flame resumed in the 3YO fillies feature after recording a win and two placings in Victoria in her first preparation. Waller assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said the win was great reward for Penza. 'Whenever he's asked, he'll come in [for trackwork],' Duckworth said. 'He came in this morning and galloped four for us, then went home and rode his two show-jumpers, then got in the car and came here, so he's a hard worker.' He said the performance of Summer Flame was not a surprise for Waller. 'Chris was tipping it, so he might be happy because she was obviously a crazy old price,' he said. Archibald import finds edge Annabel Archibald believes she may have found a key to Cormac T after the import edged out Gentileschi following an unusual lead-in. Cormac T was scratched on vet's advice last Saturday at Gosford with abrasions to his near-hind leg after becoming fractious in the gates. He bounced back in the benchmark 78 (1700m), hitting the front late for jockey Tom Sherry then holding out Gentileschi and Kind Words in a thriller. Gentileschi's co-trainer Paul Messara and stewards reviewed the photo before correct weight was declared. 'He obviously didn't gallop last Saturday and we went pretty steady with him early in the week because we wanted to check he was OK,' Archibald said. 'So maybe he's shown us that he likes to be kept slightly on the fresh side.' It was part of a great day for the Annabel and Rob Archibald yard, which later won the group 1 Doomben 10,000 with Sunshine In Paris. Snowden has Eagle eye on next race Champion trainer Peter Snowden was eyeing the listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) on June 7 at Eagle Farm with Zealously after the three-year-old cruised to victory in the 1100m benchmark 78. Loading A $3.50 favourite after Snowden scratched him last week at Gosford in the hope of firmer ground this week, Zealously relished the drying soft 5 going, kicking clear at the top of the straight and beating Dollar Magic by one and three-quarter lengths. The winning time of 1:02:13 was inside the track record but may not be official because it was hand timed. 'I'll go to Brisbane with him,' said Snowden, who was born and bred in Scone. 'There's a three-year-old race for him in about three weeks, so I'll head to that, if we get good ground.' Freedman and Collett find key Trainer Richard Freedman praised in-form jockey Alysha Collett after she produced a perfectly timed front-running ride to score a breakthrough win on import Walking Painting at Scone in the Midway Handicap (1700m). Freedman, who trains in partnership with his son, Will, and has stables in Scone, wanted the six-year-old to lead after seven fruitless starts in Australia. Collett, who had a winning double at Gosford last Saturday, found the front then stacked them up before Walking Painting held on narrowly Northern Eyes and Highborn Harry. 'I said to Alysha, you just go forward and lead, and I said to Kerrin [McEvoy on Let's Fly], you follow her,' Freedman said. 'I said, you slowly ease down and then wait until they straighten up and let him go.'
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Two surgeries have enabled Caballus to turn promise into success with a smart victory in the Listed Ortensia Stakes at Scone
Caballus announced his return as a sprinting force with a commanding comeback win at Scone on Saturday. Trainer Bjorn Baker, who once held Everest ambitions for Caballus, has reason to aim high with the four-year-old again after his dominant win in the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m). This was the same Caballus who showed considerable promise last season but lost his way during the spring with five unplaced runs. He was then gelded and also underwent throat surgery. Baker wasn't at Scone on Saturday but his stable foreman Glen Lobb said Caballus had been hinting for some weeks that he was ready to finally realise his potential. ' Josh Parr has been riding Caballus in his work and about a month ago he said this horse was airborne, he's a different horse after his two surgeries,' Lobb said. 'Caballus had been trialling well and we were confident he would be hard to beat today. 'He had a good run from the inside barrier but he slightly missed the start and had to do a bit of work to get up there. 'Then he over-raced a bit and I was a little worried but when he let down, he let down good. 'The race opened up beautifully for him and he was very impressive. He's in for a good preparation, he's a very nice horse.' Caballus, ridden by Ashley Morgan, was confidently backed into $5.50 equal favouritism and he powered past early leader The Novelist ($13) to win by three-quarters of a length with Firestar ($26) just over a length away third. Caballus is too good in the Ortensia Stakes at Scone! ðŸ'¥ @AshMorgan6 | @BBakerRacing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 • Summer Flame ignites with boilover stakes win Ostraka and Pisanello were also sent out $5.50 equal favourites and ran fourth and fifth respectively. Caballus continued the breakout seasons for Baker and Morgan. Baker, who is second the Sydney trainers premiership with 77 wins, has now prepared 25 stakes winners for the season including three at Group 1 level, for stable prizemoney for nearly $24.5 million. Morgan has also had a sensational season. He is nearing a century of wins on all tracks, he rode the first Group 1 winner of his career on Private Harry in The Galaxy, and Caballus was his sixth stakes win. 'It was good to see this horse do that today and hopefully he gets some confidence from that win,' Morgan said. 'I rode him work during the week and when you get the chance to sit on him, you understand why they have such a high opinion of the horse. 'There was so much to like about his effort today, particularly the way he attacked the line. He really wanted to win.'
