Latest news with #CasualConnection
Sydney Morning Herald
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Race-by-race tips and previews for Randwick Kensington on Wednesday
Selections based on a soft track Race 1 8. Albany Road didn't run up to expectation when in the market on debut back in December but he's come back in good order looking at his two trial wins in the past month. Will roll forward and is the likely leader and should give a good account. 1. Cold Brew was runner-up at his first three starts before failing at Warwick Farm in January. Another who has returned with some nice trial performances, finds J-Mac to ride and draws to get every chance. 4. Harry's Evidence was well supported into odds-on at his debut and found one a bit speedier over the 1000m at Hawkesbury. Better for it and a bit firmer ground is a plus. One of the chances. How to play it: Albany Road WIN. Race 2 8. Oso Spirited is an interesting ex-NZ filly having her first local start for the Waterhouse/Bott stable. She trialled strongly when scoring at Rosehill in her latest and should get a nice run in or near the lead at this trip. Any market support would be a good push. Go well. 9. Sister Daae likely gives away a start from the outside barrier as she's done in her past couple when drawn wide. Kicking off at 1400m might suit her, though, and if the race pans out in her favour she should be hard to beat. 4. Vetwelve had support when placed at this track and trip first-up then favourite and may have been on the wrong part of the track when a battling fourth at Kembla. Entitled to another chance. How to play it: Oso Spirited WIN. Race 3 6. Wuddzz found himself in a tricky position at Randwick last time and attacked the line hard once clear but the bird had flown. Solidly supported favourite there and looks to have every chance to atone with a smaller field and softer gate. Entitled to go close. 1. Casual Connection has beaten Wuddzz twice and is 2.5kg worse off for the latest win but he does have that on pace style which helped him out in his latest victory. It might well see him home again and he's a logical danger. 5. Rattle And Hum has worked his way back to form with his past couple and he gave a good sight when narrowly beaten at Warwick Farm last week over 2200m. On pacer who has won at this track and trip and can give a sight. How to play it: Wuddzz WIN. Race 4 2. Vanessi is a lightly raced filly who looks suited with gate one behind what should be a solid speed over the 1000m. Wasn't disgraced in a handy field before a spell and she sailed around to win her latest trial last week. Expect she'll be in the finish. 8. O'Invincible hasn't raced since scoring on protest at Wyong in December and both her wins now have been at this trip. Trialled in early April then a small setback didn't see her resurface until two weeks ago where she won a trial at Warwick Farm. Could easily measure up. 3. Columbia Blue was too speedy in the heavy ground when an all the way winner at Hawkesbury at his second start. Looks a horse on the way up and is one of the chances. How to play it: Vanessi WIN.
The Age
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
Race-by-race tips and previews for Randwick Kensington on Wednesday
Selections based on a soft track Race 1 8. Albany Road didn't run up to expectation when in the market on debut back in December but he's come back in good order looking at his two trial wins in the past month. Will roll forward and is the likely leader and should give a good account. 1. Cold Brew was runner-up at his first three starts before failing at Warwick Farm in January. Another who has returned with some nice trial performances, finds J-Mac to ride and draws to get every chance. 4. Harry's Evidence was well supported into odds-on at his debut and found one a bit speedier over the 1000m at Hawkesbury. Better for it and a bit firmer ground is a plus. One of the chances. How to play it: Albany Road WIN. Race 2 8. Oso Spirited is an interesting ex-NZ filly having her first local start for the Waterhouse/Bott stable. She trialled strongly when scoring at Rosehill in her latest and should get a nice run in or near the lead at this trip. Any market support would be a good push. Go well. 9. Sister Daae likely gives away a start from the outside barrier as she's done in her past couple when drawn wide. Kicking off at 1400m might suit her, though, and if the race pans out in her favour she should be hard to beat. 4. Vetwelve had support when placed at this track and trip first-up then favourite and may have been on the wrong part of the track when a battling fourth at Kembla. Entitled to another chance. How to play it: Oso Spirited WIN. Race 3 6. Wuddzz found himself in a tricky position at Randwick last time and attacked the line hard once clear but the bird had flown. Solidly supported favourite there and looks to have every chance to atone with a smaller field and softer gate. Entitled to go close. 1. Casual Connection has beaten Wuddzz twice and is 2.5kg worse off for the latest win but he does have that on pace style which helped him out in his latest victory. It might well see him home again and he's a logical danger. 5. Rattle And Hum has worked his way back to form with his past couple and he gave a good sight when narrowly beaten at Warwick Farm last week over 2200m. On pacer who has won at this track and trip and can give a sight. How to play it: Wuddzz WIN. Race 4 2. Vanessi is a lightly raced filly who looks suited with gate one behind what should be a solid speed over the 1000m. Wasn't disgraced in a handy field before a spell and she sailed around to win her latest trial last week. Expect she'll be in the finish. 8. O'Invincible hasn't raced since scoring on protest at Wyong in December and both her wins now have been at this trip. Trialled in early April then a small setback didn't see her resurface until two weeks ago where she won a trial at Warwick Farm. Could easily measure up. 3. Columbia Blue was too speedy in the heavy ground when an all the way winner at Hawkesbury at his second start. Looks a horse on the way up and is one of the chances. How to play it: Vanessi WIN.
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Let's Fly puts herself in contention for next month's Group 1 Queensland Oaks with a dominant victory at Randwick
Let's Fly lived up to her name with a runaway Royal Randwick win that just might have earned her a start in the Queensland Oaks. Then 45 minutes later, Casual Connection also put daylight between himself and his chasing rivals to put himself into the Brisbane Cup conversation. For a Saturday Sydney off-carnival meeting without a stakes event, some of the dominant and classy winners including Let's Fly and Casual Connection showed they were on target for interstate feature race raids. Promising three-year-old filly Let's Fly made a mess of her rivals in the Chalouhi Handicap (1800m), scoring by a widening margin of nearly six lengths. Let's Fly ($31) raced in a forward position, took the lead around the turn then exploded away to win by five-and-three-quarter lengths from classic hopefuls She's A Dealer ($10) and Hurstville Zagreb ($4.20 favourite). Will Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father Richard, said Let's Fly's win has given connections reason to consider setting her for the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 7. 'I thought she ran really well last week when she over-raced for the large majority of it and we thought, on a heavy track and a week back-up she might settle better,' Freedman said. 'I know the question will be, will we go to Queensland for the Oaks but we will make that decision in the next week or so. 'We have always had a high opinion of her, she ran in the Thousand Guineas last spring, and she has matured a lot this preparation. 'But she has come to hand a lot quicker than I thought. I thought an Oaks was way too ambitious but she has beaten them like a good thing.' ✈ï¸� Let's Fly makes a mess of them all at Randwick! @NockBraith | @R1CHARDFREEDMAN | @willfreedman â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 • Let's Fly is part-owned by Sky Sports Radio's Racing HQ presenter Dave Stanley who for once was almost lost for words after the race. 'This is my first Saturday winner in town, it's a great thrill,' Stanley said. Master New Zealand trainer Roger James is still hopeful of getting She's A Dealer to the Oaks despite being well-beaten by Let's Fly. 'My jockey, George Rooke, said She's A Dealer normally sprints and puts the race to bed quickly but she couldn't today,' James said. 'She's a high class filly, we like her a lot, but we have only ever seen her on much better tracks than this. She got weighed down on that track and the winner had taken flight by then. 'But we came here to try and do a job to get into the Queensland Oaks and she's earned another $29,000 for her second. 'They have changed the entry qualification for the Oaks to average earnings per start and she has only had four starts now so that might get us quite close. 'What we will do is prepare her here and then go up Wednesday night before the Oaks. If she doesn't make the field she will get on the plane to go home.' ðŸ¤� Casual Connection relishes on the heavy track and brains them at Randwick! @jsargentracing | @MollyBourke7 â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 • 'Very easy watch': Agarwood dominates juvenile opener Then it was Casual Connection's turn to make a statement with his strong staying effort to win the PF Civil Handicap (2400m). Ridden by star apprentice Molly Bourke, Casual Connection ($11) raced away to score by three lengths from Wuddzz ($4.80 favourite) with just over a length to Asgoodassobergets ($6.50). Trainer John Sargent revealed Casual Connection won the same Randwick race last year before earning a start in the Group 2 $400,000 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm only to finish unplaced behind Alegron. Sargent said Casual Connection could go back for a second crack at the Brisbane Cup on June 14 if the track is rain-affected. 'We ran him in the Brisbane Cup last year but the track was too firm for him,' Sargent said. 'If we happen to get a wet track for the Brisbane Cup next month, then I would give him another chance in the race. 'He's a tough stayer but he's at his best on rain-affected going. Molly rode him very well because the horse needs plenty of galloping room to build his momentum. 'He's not a sit-sprint type, he needs to get into his rhythm because he stays all day.'
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer John Sargent aiming to again win Randwick staying feature with Casual Connection
Trainer John Sargent is ready to go back to the future with Casual Connection in the PF Civil Handicap (2400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Casual Connection, a resolute stayer who revels on wet tracks, won this race 12 months ago to earn his chance in the Brisbane Cup. But a firm Eagle Farm track meant Sargent's stayer struggled when only eighth in the Group 2 race, won by the Bjorn Baker -trained Alegron. Sargent hasn't ruled out giving Casual Connection another crack at a Brisbane Cup but the trainer has heeded the lessons from last year. 'I will only run him in the Brisbane Cup if he gets a wet track,'' Sargent said. 'This horse loves it soft or heavy so Randwick on Saturday will be ideal for him.'' Sargent was also buoyed by the barrier draw which has Casual Connection out in gate 15 but he will come in a few barriers after scratchings as the field size is restricted to 13 starters. 'Casual Connection has drawn the rails barrier his last two starts which doesn't suit him,'' the trainer said. 'He is the type of stayer that needs to get his momentum going and make a long, sustained run. 'He's not a sit-and-sprint type so the wider barrier will give him enough room.'' Casual Connection is at $12 and stablemate So Dazzling $19 with TAB Fixed Odds for the Randwick staying race in which the Chris Waller -trained Ahuriri is the $3.80 favourite. So Dazzling has had two runs back from a spell and Sargent is expecting a more competitive run now the mare gets onto her preferred heavy track surface. Sargent is also considering a Brisbane carnival campaign for three-year-old filly Bearings if she runs well in the Chalouhi Handicap (1800m). Bearings is also entered for a race at Newcastle on Saturday but the trainer confirmed she would start at Randwick in a bid to increase her rating enough to get into the Queensland Oaks field next month. 'If Bearings can win at Randwick we will take her up for the Oaks,'' Sargent said. 'She won her maiden at Goulburn then we had to go back from a wide draw at Kensington but she got home strongly. She's a promising staying filly.''
