Latest news with #CaulfieldCup
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Richebourg descendant Maison Louis triumphs in Queensland Derby
Pencarrow Stud's foundation mare, Richebourg, has left a lasting impression on the Australasian thoroughbred landscape, with Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) victor Maison Louis further adding to that legacy with his Classic triumph at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The likes of Gr.1 Melbourne (3200m) and Caulfield Cup (2400m) heroine Ethereal, five-time
Mercury
4 days ago
- Sport
- Mercury
Laurie plots spring plans for Group 1 stars Treasurethe Moment and Vinrock
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Group 1 stars Treasurethe Moment and Vinrock continue to impress astute trainer Matt Laurie, as spring campaigns sharpen into focus. The Mornington trainer has a traditional spring path being considered for triple Group 1-winner Treasurethe Moment, with Yulong boss and owner Yuesheng Zhang to decide on a Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate grand final. 'It's got to be confirmed and agreed by the boss … Memsie (Stakes), Makybe (Diva Stakes), Turnbull (Stakes) and they're deciding whether she goes to the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate,' Laurie said. Treasurethe Moment has won nine of 11 starts in a stellar career to date, including the Group 1 VRC Oaks, Vinery Stud Stakes and Australian Oaks. 'If she doesn't win another one (Group 1) we got to be pretty happy with what she has done so far,' Laurie said. 'She has obviously got to take on the older horses now, it's a different league, so we'll see. 'Nine of 11 you'd think she's got something to offer.' Treasurethe Moment is $8 and $11 respectively in Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup markets. Yulong has a stranglehold on the Cox Plate with reigning champion Via Sistina ($2.50) and new acquisition Carl Spackler ($26), a multiple American Grade 1 winner being aimed at Australia's best race. Treasurethe Moment is ready to start trot and canter work under saddle after a week on the treadmill. 'She's come back looking better than she did last time,' Laurie said. 'She's buzzing like she's ready to have a canter, so she must be feeling well.' Group 1 Sires' Produce winner Vinrock has also returned in great shape. 'I've been doing some flat, dressage work in the arena,' Laurie said. 'He had his first trot and canter around our track at the farm (last Saturday) and he felt great.' Laurie has the Group 1 Golden Rose (1600m) earmarked as the first spring target for Vinrock but there are many other options following the September feature at Rosehill. 'I'm not sure. I felt he should be running in a Golden Rose and you're deciding whether you're going up to eight (1600m) or coming back to the six (1200m) furlongs,' Laurie said. Meanwhile, Laurie has Sun Setting chasing a hat-trick in a 1200m Benchmark 64 on King's Birthday Monday at Mornington. Laurie saved Sun Setting from a tougher assignment at Flemington last Saturday, saddled Soft Love in race instead and missed by the barest margin. Sun Setting finished second in two summer outings at Mornington before a short break. The promising daughter of Pierata returned with a Moe maiden win and repeated the effort last start on Mornington home turf. 'She's going really well and she looks well placed,' Laurie said. 'I don't know what price she is but she'd be short enough … I thought no point running them against each other (Soft Love and Sun Setting), as they were both good chances. 'I think she would've given the Flemington race a good shake … we thought a midweek meeting at Mornington, where she has run well before, was a smart move.' Sun Setting is a $3.40 favourite in the 1200m Benchmark 64 at Mornington. Originally published as Mornington trainer Matt Laurie plots spring plans for Group 1 stars Treasurethe Moment and Vinrock
Herald Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Laurie plots spring plans for Group 1 stars Treasurethe Moment and Vinrock
Group 1 stars Treasurethe Moment and Vinrock continue to impress astute trainer Matt Laurie, as spring campaigns sharpen into focus. The Mornington trainer has a traditional spring path being considered for triple Group 1-winner Treasurethe Moment, with Yulong boss and owner Yuesheng Zhang to decide on a Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate grand final. 'It's got to be confirmed and agreed by the boss … Memsie (Stakes), Makybe (Diva Stakes), Turnbull (Stakes) and they're deciding whether she goes to the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate,' Laurie said. Treasurethe Moment has won nine of 11 starts in a stellar career to date, including the Group 1 VRC Oaks, Vinery Stud Stakes and Australian Oaks. 'If she doesn't win another one (Group 1) we got to be pretty happy with what she has done so far,' Laurie said. 'She has obviously got to take on the older horses now, it's a different league, so we'll see. 'Nine of 11 you'd think she's got something to offer.' Treasurethe Moment is $8 and $11 respectively in Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup markets. Yulong has a stranglehold on the Cox Plate with reigning champion Via Sistina ($2.50) and new acquisition Carl Spackler ($26), a multiple American Grade 1 winner being aimed at Australia's best race. Treasurethe Moment is ready to start trot and canter work under saddle after a week on the treadmill. 'She's come back looking better than she did last time,' Laurie said. 'She's buzzing like she's ready to have a canter, so she must be feeling well.' Group 1 Sires' Produce winner Vinrock has also returned in great shape. 'I've been doing some flat, dressage work in the arena,' Laurie said. 'He had his first trot and canter around our track at the farm (last Saturday) and he felt great.' Laurie has the Group 1 Golden Rose (1600m) earmarked as the first spring target for Vinrock but there are many other options following the September feature at Rosehill. 'I'm not sure. I felt he should be running in a Golden Rose and you're deciding whether you're going up to eight (1600m) or coming back to the six (1200m) furlongs,' Laurie said. Meanwhile, Laurie has Sun Setting chasing a hat-trick in a 1200m Benchmark 64 on King's Birthday Monday at Mornington. Laurie saved Sun Setting from a tougher assignment at Flemington last Saturday, saddled Soft Love in race instead and missed by the barest margin. Sun Setting finished second in two summer outings at Mornington before a short break. The promising daughter of Pierata returned with a Moe maiden win and repeated the effort last start on Mornington home turf. 'She's going really well and she looks well placed,' Laurie said. 'I don't know what price she is but she'd be short enough … I thought no point running them against each other (Soft Love and Sun Setting), as they were both good chances. 'I think she would've given the Flemington race a good shake … we thought a midweek meeting at Mornington, where she has run well before, was a smart move.' Sun Setting is a $3.40 favourite in the 1200m Benchmark 64 at Mornington. Originally published as Mornington trainer Matt Laurie plots spring plans for Group 1 stars Treasurethe Moment and Vinrock
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mornington trainer Matt Laurie plots spring plans for Group 1 stars Treasurethe Moment and Vinrock
Group 1 stars Treasurethe Moment and Vinrock continue to impress astute trainer Matt Laurie, as spring campaigns sharpen into focus. The Mornington trainer has a traditional spring path being considered for triple Group 1-winner Treasurethe Moment, with Yulong boss and owner Yuesheng Zhang to decide on a Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate grand final. 'It's got to be confirmed and agreed by the boss … Memsie (Stakes), Makybe (Diva Stakes), Turnbull (Stakes) and they're deciding whether she goes to the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate,' Laurie said. Treasurethe Moment has won nine of 11 starts in a stellar career to date, including the Group 1 VRC Oaks, Vinery Stud Stakes and Australian Oaks. 'If she doesn't win another one (Group 1) we got to be pretty happy with what she has done so far,' Laurie said. 'She has obviously got to take on the older horses now, it's a different league, so we'll see. 'Nine of 11 you'd think she's got something to offer.' An epic win by Treasurethe Moment in the G1 Australian Oaks! She nabs the Victorian-Australian Oaks double in the final strides! 🙌 @mattlaurierace | @LaneDamian | @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 12, 2025 Treasurethe Moment is $8 and $11 respectively in Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup markets. Yulong has a stranglehold on the Cox Plate with reigning champion Via Sistina ($2.50) and new acquisition Carl Spackler ($26), a multiple American Grade 1 winner being aimed at Australia's best race. Treasurethe Moment is ready to start trot and canter work under saddle after a week on the treadmill. 'She's come back looking better than she did last time,' Laurie said. 'She's buzzing like she's ready to have a canter, so she must be feeling well.' Group 1 Sires' Produce winner Vinrock has also returned in great shape. 'I've been doing some flat, dressage work in the arena,' Laurie said. 'He had his first trot and canter around our track at the farm (last Saturday) and he felt great.' 🤩 Vinrock makes it a Sires double, winning the G1 Sires' at Randwick, adding to his VRC Sires' win at Flemington, and what a carnival it could be for @mattlaurierace! @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025 Laurie has the Group 1 Golden Rose (1600m) earmarked as the first spring target for Vinrock but there are many other options following the September feature at Rosehill. 'I'm not sure. I felt he should be running in a Golden Rose and you're deciding whether you're going up to eight (1600m) or coming back to the six (1200m) furlongs,' Laurie said. Meanwhile, Laurie has Sun Setting chasing a hat-trick in a 1200m Benchmark 64 on King's Birthday Monday at Mornington. Laurie saved Sun Setting from a tougher assignment at Flemington last Saturday, saddled Soft Love in race instead and missed by the barest margin. Sun Setting finished second in two summer outings at Mornington before a short break. The promising daughter of Pierata returned with a Moe maiden win and repeated the effort last start on Mornington home turf. 'She's going really well and she looks well placed,' Laurie said. 'I don't know what price she is but she'd be short enough … I thought no point running them against each other (Soft Love and Sun Setting), as they were both good chances. 'I think she would've given the Flemington race a good shake … we thought a midweek meeting at Mornington, where she has run well before, was a smart move.' Sun Setting is a $3.40 favourite in the 1200m Benchmark 64 at Mornington.
7NEWS
15-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight suddenly retires after trial race
Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight — who was preparing for a winter campaign in Brisbane — has suddenly been retired. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained import narrowly won a 1500m trial at Caulfield Heath on Thursday morning, but soon after the call was made to retire the gelding. Without A Fight was united with jockey Mark Zahra (who famously rode him at Flemington and Caulfield in 2023) at the trial yesterday. But it has been reported that he suffered a bleed afterwards which forced the trainers to take immediate action. Without A Fight won the 2023 Caulfield Cup–Melbourne Cup double to etch his name into racing history and, in a statement, Anthony and Sam Freedman said it had been a privilege to train the gelding for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. Having started his career in the UK with Simon and Ed Crisford, Without A Fight came to Australia to run in the 2022 Melbourne Cup, finishing 13th behind Gold Trip. Left in the care of the father-and-son Freedman training duo, Without A Fight won the Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup and Group 2 Q22, both at Eagle Farm, the following winter before embarking on his successful 2023 spring campaign that saw him complete the Cups double. Without A Fight spent the majority of 2024 on the sidelines following a tendon injury, returning for a third-place finish behind Via Sistina in the Group 1 Champions Stakes at Flemington last November before a trip to Hong Kong that saw the gelding beat one runner home in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) the following month, his final race start. Thursday's trial at Caulfield Heath had been in preparation for a trip to Brisbane where Without A Fight held an entry in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday week. 'He has been an absolute gentleman to have in the stable and will be remembered as one of the finest stayers of his generation,' the Freedman's said in a statement. 'His Cups double not only delivered the pinnacle of our training careers but also created unforgettable memories for all involved – from our dedicated track riders, stable hands, vets, farriers, to those at the spelling farms. 'He has left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to be a part of his journey. 'We extend our heartfelt thanks to his owner, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, for entrusting us with the privilege of training such a remarkable horse in Australia. We are truly indebted to him for the opportunity. 'As Without A Fight begins the next chapter of his life, we wish him the very best in his retirement. 'He has given us all so much – and for that, we are forever grateful.' It is a sad and unceremonious end to a spectacular career. The news also left racing fans with a heavy heart. 'Sad news, dead set superstar in his prime,' one fan said on social media. And another: 'Sad how it all ended. Tarnished his legacy.' Without A Fight retires having registered 11 wins from his 24 starts with career prize money of just over $9.7 million.
