Latest news with #Caulfield
News.com.au
21 hours ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Group 1-winning jockey Luke Currie to undergo knee surgery, faces six weeks on sidelines
Surgery will halt jockey Luke Currie's impressive recent form. Currie rode a double for the Hayes brothers at last Saturday's Caulfield meeting to accompany his double at Flemington on May 17 as he built a solid partnership with the Lindsay Park operation. However, a knee issue sustained in a mishap will force Currie to soon go under the surgeon's knife. 'I've done the meniscus in it at the jumpouts,' Currie said. 'It's been sore all the time and they said, at some point, you've got to get it done.' The meniscus acts as a 'shock absorbing' cartilage between femur and tibia bones, producing pain and stiffness in the knee when damaged. Currie said it was the second time he had undergone the minor surgery. 'I did the other one but worse when one flipped over in the gates years ago but they said this one has got a tear in it and had other wear and tear from over the years,' he said. Currie said he expected to be away from racing for about six weeks. However, he said the operation was necessary in order to have him ready for the richer period of the year. 'I just thought, I was always staying here getting going again, so it was the right time to have it done so I'll be right for the spring,' Currie said. Currie has ridden 22 winners in Melbourne in the 2024/25 season. Currie will join Melbourne jockeys' premiership leader Blake Shinn on the sidelines. Shinn last week confirmed he would miss the remainder of the season after sustaining heavy bone bruising in an incident at the Cranbourne jumpouts last month.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Pride of Jenni's owner Tony Ottobre to keep his lips sealed on retirement talk for champion mare
Scarred by the keyboard warriors who criticised Pride Of Jenni 's second coming, prominent owner Tony Ottobre has vowed to keep his lips sealed when he decides the time is right to retire the champion mare for good. Ottobre made what he admitted was an emotional decision to call time on the triple Group 1 winner's career after she bled when last in the Champions Mile at Flemington in November. But Ottobre changed his mind in the new year and in March, Pride Of Jenni returned with a bang, winning the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield under 61kg. The seven-year-old then flopped in the $2.5m Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington before a 2.25-length victory in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield early this month. She was then sent to Queensland for the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), won by local hero Antino, but faded badly to finish 10th out of 12 runners. It prompted further questions over whether it was time for Ottobre to again hang up the saddle for the Ciaron Maher -trained mare, but the owner insisted Pride Of Jenni would be the one to make that call, not him. 'When she's ready, then we'll retire her. And there won't be any fanfare,' said Ottobre, who told Racenet recently that he had banned himself from social media. 'One day she just won't turn up to the races and that'll be it. 'I've already made an announcement and I tried to apologise to say that 'look, I did get it wrong' but it was 'boo-hoo to you Tony, we're still going to give it to you'. 'Well it'll be 'boo-hoo to you guys' because I'm not going to tell them when she's going to retire so it works both ways. 'I've always talked the truth but now I just have to clam up a little bit because it's not good for my family. 'I don't care, you can bag the s*** out of me but my family – my wife, my son, my grandchildren and my friends – they don't like to see that kind of stuff. 'I just can't believe how bad some people are with their thoughts about horses. It's pretty rank.' Pride Of Jenni returns with a bang at Caulfield as she goes all the way to take out the Listed Anniversary Vase 🙌 @cmaherracing @craig_newitt — (@Racing) May 3, 2025 • Ottobre said he felt vindicated in bringing Pride Of Jenni, who had won almost $10.5m in prizemoney, back to the racetrack. 'Because I mentioned that she was going to retire last year, ever since then everyone's been jumping on my case saying 'you should retire her',' he said. 'Then she won the Peter Young Stakes. She was just outside the course record that was 20 years old and had to carry 61kg. 'We did the right thing and people have got to give us some sort of credit for that because we don't retire her just because people say that we should. 'We have a judgment call to make and nine times out of 10 we make the right call. 'As far as I'm concerned, bringing her back and winning two out of the races she's raced in was vindication enough to say we were on the money.' The great mare is back! ðŸ'« Pride Of Jenni picks up where she left off, stringing her opposition out & trouncing them in the Peter Young Stakes. @cmaherracing @craig_newitt — (@Racing) March 15, 2025 Pride Of Jenni left Brisbane on Monday on a truck bound for Melbourne, where she will enjoy a spell before a likely spring carnival campaign. But just don't mention the R-word to Ottobre because he's had a gutful of the negativity surrounding his champion mare. 'They all talk about retiring and age but horses can run up until they're 13,' he said. 'I'm not saying I'll do that with her but it's no big deal that seven or eight-year-olds keep running. ' Chautauqua is the perfect example. He just told everyone that he didn't want to run.'
News.com.au
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner's follow and forgive files from Caulfield
FIVE TO FOLLOW No match for top two but best work late. Travelled nicely behind the speed before a flat spot around the bend and lost ground. Once clear again inside the last 75m worked through his gears again. Bring on 1400m next start. SALTY PEARL (1st) and MILLENNIUM BLADE (2nd) impressed, especially runner-up forced to do the donkey work early outside the leader and bloused only late with a big gap to third. Salty Pearl gets out late & picks up speed down the straight to take out the opener at Caulfield & her maiden victory ðŸ'¥ @cmaherracing @bennallen44 — (@Racing) May 31, 2025 ILLATIVE (unplaced, Race 2) Did a bit wrong, slow into stride and raced keenly, and then jockey Beau Mertens told stewards the mare made an abnormal respiratory noise post-race. Despite all this, Illative recorded the second best 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m sectionals bettered only by the impressive winner SPLASH BACK. Splash Back gets the cash at Caulfield, a great ride by in form apprentice Tom Prebble @Grahame_Begg @MelbRacingClub — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 STYLISH (unplaced, Race 4) Held up from the 500m and never tested as a result. Won nicely at Bendigo first-up and expected to go on with the job but cluttered up behind traffic, as the tempo slackened at about the 900m, and ended up further back than anticipated. Trial By Press is two from two this preparation! @GregEurell @HoopHouston @MelbRacingClub — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 WATCHME WIN (4th, Race 8 ) Flew home behind fellow South Australian sprinter AVIATRESS to run third and fourth respectively. The Andrew Gluyas-trained Watchme Win recorded the fastest closing sectionals on the card including a 22.06 sec last 400m and 11.25 sec final 200m burst in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes. Niance is back in a big way taking out the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes giving the Begg stable a Caulfield double! @Grahame_Begg @daniel_moor @AceBloodstock — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 CAFE MILLENIUM (5th, Race 9) First start for Lindsay Park and suspect the second could be even more fruitful. Next to last in the run and charged home to run fifth, first time the Melbourne way. Plenty of upside and potential. Namesake splits the gap then holds off a fast finishing pack to pick up his second win from his last three starts in the last at Caulfield 🙌 @cmaherracing @jaylahkennedy — (@Racing) May 31, 2025 FORGIVE WONDER KID (unplaced, Race 7) Looking for further? Wide early and rolled forward to settle outside the leader. Travelled nicely and took over around the bend but one-paced. Dublin Journal gives Luke Currie and the Hayes team a double at Caulfield @lindsayparkrace — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 RECOMMENDATION (unplaced, Race 8) Travelled nicely first-up but then held up from the 400m to 250m and then one-paced to the post. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be lame in the left foreleg. Niance is back in a big way taking out the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes giving the Begg stable a Caulfield double! @Grahame_Begg @daniel_moor @AceBloodstock — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 HARD TO CROSS (unplaced, Race 9) First start since June 2024 and raced keenly through the early and middle stages. Held up on the heels of PRANCING SPIRIT (unplaced) late and could not be ridden out fully to the finish. Should benefit immensely from the hitout. Might need another one to blow out the cobwebs but 1600m on a rain-affected track a sweet spot going forward. Namesake splits the gap then holds off a fast finishing pack to pick up his second win from his last three starts in the last at Caulfield 🙌 @cmaherracing @jaylahkennedy — (@Racing) May 31, 2025
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Niance returns with dominant win in Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield after recovering from mystery skull fracture
Aspiring top class sprinter Niance picked up where she left off last spring – albeit without infected bone fragments in her skull – for a dominant Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1200m) victory at Caulfield. The Grahame Begg -trained flyer comfortably accounted for race-fit Cleo Cat and Aviatress in her first start back from a mystery cracked skull. Niance was being rested for an Oakleigh Plate campaign when staff discovered the significant injury. 'She cracked her skull and had fragments taken out,' Begg said. 'The problem was we didn't know how she injured herself. She was in the paddock and they found her, she had swelling to her skull. 'There wasn't any sign of any head trauma or anything, we were a bit miffed what happened to her. 'We had to do surgery on her to remove the (infected bone) fragments, once we got all that cleaned up and looked after he very well … she's bounced through it and onwards and upwards.' Niance is back in a big way taking out the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes giving the Begg stable a Caulfield double! @Grahame_Begg @daniel_moor @AceBloodstock â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 • Niance powered to victory on Saturday, cruised wide in the run and took over quickly in the straight. 'She's a gun,' Begg said after favourite Niance sealed a Caulfield double for the stable. 'Never knows how to run a bad race. 'She was in a good rhythm all the way through, I just said to (jockey) Daniel (Moor) keep it smooth, it doesn't matter if you're wide because … she's got a great will to win this mare. 'I'm sure there's better things in store for her.' Begg has a Group 2 option in Queensland to consider but indicated the Group 3 The Heath 1100 at Caulfield in August could parlay better into the spring with ultimate Group 1 aspirations. Niance has won seven of 11 starts including the past three in stakes' company. • Big Swinger's stunning burst bails out favourite backers 'To be able to bounce back and come through that (injury) … she hasn't missed a beat,' Begg said. 'She gave us all the indication she prepped up really well for today, it was the ideal race for her. 'She's done a good job to come back and do what she has done today.' Moor appreciated the pick-up ride on Niance and nailed the brief. 'She's not a huge horse but she's got a great length of stride,' Moor said. 'In a matter of two strides we'd gone from being two lengths off them to right at them and I just wanted her to harness that in the right way … wanted to give her that balanced up set up to let rip.' Begg's first winner on Saturday's card, Splash Back, was equally impressive, charging to victory in the 1200m Fillies and Mares Benchmark 78.
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.'
