Latest news with #CiaronMaher
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.'
Daily Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Stern Idol gives Steven Pateman the full set in Australian Steeplechase win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Star jumper Stern Idol produced a sublime display – under a modern weight-carrying record – to win the Australian Steeplechase (3900m) at Sandown on Sunday. Champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman rated the Ciaron Maher-trained 73kg top weight perfectly in pursuit of a personal milestone, the previously elusive Australian Steeplechase crown. Pateman boasted just about every other domestic jumps feature, including Australian Hurdle (four), Grand National Steeple (four), Grand National Hurdle (four) and Grand Annual Steeple (three), but an Australian Steeplechase win had eluded him before Sunday. He largely dictated the Australian Steeple aboard Stern Idol from on or close to the speed and then fended off the gallant runner-up Leaderboard, trained by Mark Walker, in the home straight. Not Usual Dream and Heir To The Throne rounded out the top four. Leaderboard enjoyed an economical steer from Will Gordon and 7kg weight advantage on Stern Idol. Pateman lauded Stern Idol's performance. 'I wasn't leading from the get go and I was happy for that to unfold,' Pateman said. '73kg leading all the way could've been his undoing. He was awesome. 'It was pretty lonely after the last with 73kg, knowing the second horse had (seven) kilos less. 'He was weighed down, he maintained the gallop but couldn't go any faster because of the weight. 'I was thinking 'I'd never won this race' … the Australian Hurdle and Australian Steeple are absolutely time-honoured events, it's super special.' Steven Pateman gives Stern Idol a pat after winning the Australian Steeplechase. Photo:. Bit Of A Lad, saddled by Maher and former co-trainer David Eustace at the time, carried 70kg to win the 2020 Australian Steeple. Mazzacano (2009) lumped 69.5kg, while Thubiaan (2015) and Vindicating (2011) had 69kg handicaps. Pateman said Stern Idol benefited from a campaign – a flat run and two hurdle starts – tailored to the 'target' Australian Steeple. 'He could've run in steeplechases earlier in the year and carried big weights and might've won one but too hard all the time,' he said. 'Today was a target, the way he settled he knew where he was, he knew the trip he had to run out and he was really chill.' Sadly, Treasured Crown failed to finish and was humanely euthanized due a catastrophic leg injury. The second favourite sustained the injury upon landing after the second last jump. Jockey William McCarthy was uninjured. The Cunning Fox launches over a hurdle on his way to winning the Australian Hurdle. Photo:. Meanwhile, Australia's emerging jumps star The Cunning Fox claimed the Australian Hurdle (3900m) from Highland Blaze and Affluential. The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained jumper is undefeated in six starts over the obstacles. The six-year-old gelding was ridden to victory by his regular rider Tom Ryan. Originally published as Stern Idol does it in style in the Australian Steeplechase
News.com.au
2 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Stern Idol does it in style in the Australian Steeplechase
Star jumper Stern Idol produced a sublime display – under a modern weight-carrying record – to win the Australian Steeplechase (3900m) at Sandown on Sunday. Champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman rated the Ciaron Maher -trained 73kg top weight perfectly in pursuit of a personal milestone, the previously elusive Australian Steeplechase crown. Pateman boasted just about every other domestic jumps feature, including Australian Hurdle (four), Grand National Steeple (four), Grand National Hurdle (four) and Grand Annual Steeple (three), but an Australian Steeplechase win had eluded him before Sunday. He largely dictated the Australian Steeple aboard Stern Idol from on or close to the speed and then fended off the gallant runner-up Leaderboard, trained by Mark Walker, in the home straight. Not Usual Dream and Heir To The Throne rounded out the top four. Leaderboard enjoyed an economical steer from Will Gordon and 7kg weight advantage on Stern Idol. Stern Idol soars to victory in the Australian Steeplechase! ðŸ'¥ Trained by Ciaron Maher and expertly ridden by Steve PatemanðŸ�†ðŸ�Ž — Australian Jumps Racing Association (@AusJumpsRacing) June 1, 2025 Pateman lauded Stern Idol's performance. 'I wasn't leading from the get go and I was happy for that to unfold,' Pateman said. '73kg leading all the way could've been his undoing. He was awesome. 'It was pretty lonely after the last with 73kg, knowing the second horse had (seven) kilos less. 'He was weighed down, he maintained the gallop but couldn't go any faster because of the weight. 'I was thinking 'I'd never won this race' … the Australian Hurdle and Australian Steeple are absolutely time-honoured events, it's super special.' Bit Of A Lad, saddled by Maher and former co-trainer David Eustace at the time, carried 70kg to win the 2020 Australian Steeple. Mazzacano (2009) lumped 69.5kg, while Thubiaan (2015) and Vindicating (2011) had 69kg handicaps. Pateman said Stern Idol benefited from a campaign – a flat run and two hurdle starts – tailored to the 'target' Australian Steeple. 'He could've run in steeplechases earlier in the year and carried big weights and might've won one but too hard all the time,' he said. 'Today was a target, the way he settled he knew where he was, he knew the trip he had to run out and he was really chill.' Sadly, Treasured Crown failed to finish and was humanely euthanized due a catastrophic leg injury. The second favourite sustained the injury upon landing after the second last jump. Jockey William McCarthy was uninjured. Meanwhile, Australia's emerging jumps star The Cunning Fox claimed the Australian Hurdle (3900m) from Highland Blaze and Affluential. The Patrick and Michelle Payne -trained jumper is undefeated in six starts over the obstacles. The six-year-old gelding was ridden to victory by his regular rider Tom Ryan. The Cunning Fox remains perfect â�ï¸� — (@Racing) June 1, 2025
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.'
Daily Telegraph
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Shayne O'Cass' tips, inside mail for Goulburn, Casino on Friday, May 30, 2025
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets, value selection and analysis of the quaddie legs for Goulburn and Casino on Friday. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! GOULBURN BEST BET Race 8 No. 3: ORTHIE'S BOYS Runner-up here at only visit and has recent solid provincial form. NEXT BEST Race 7 No. 3: BOMBELLEISTIC Excelled in a very strong Class 1 at Scone on Cup Day. VALUE BET Race 4 No. 6: ROUGE HOMME Lightly-raced. natural/raw talent, in good hands here at the track. QUADDIE Race 5: 1, 5, 8, 11 Race 6: 2, 3, 4 Race 7: 2, 3 Race 8: 3 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW JAY FORD has ridden 133 of his 1,408 career winners at Goulburn. Jay Ford can add to his solid record at Goulburn. Picture: Bradley Photos CASINO BEST BET Race 3 No. 9: MERAPI Could not be better placed at her second run for an astute new yard. NEXT BEST Race 2 No. 4: HOMELAND Placed four from 10. Reliable and drawn well this time. VALUE BET Race 6 No. 10: LOVE RAT Big run first-up in a much superior Benchmark 58 to what this is. INSIDE MAIL - GOULBURN RACE 5: GOULBURN POST MAIDEN HANDICAP 1500m SHE REX (1) is trained by Ciaron Maher who also trains her very close relation, Pride Of Jenni. She Rex might end up being a good investment on her $240,000 Inglis Classic Sale outlay in 2023. So far, she has placed at five of her six starts; she has been terribly costly, but in much better races than this. Zero excuses. HIDDEN MOGUL (11) doesn't know how to run a bad race. She could potentially make this favourite earn the win. Bet: She Rex to win, exacta 1 to beat 11 RACE 6: ABERNETHY GORE SOLICITORS COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1500m LETHAL LADY (2) was so unlucky it wasn't fair at Wagga during the carnival. Fast forward to her last start and she was third at the Sapphire Coast when coming from a long way back as usual. That's not easy to do there. Easier here though. Luke Pepper is flying himself but he's also got HELL OF A FOX (3) on a hat-trick. In fact, she should be going for four straight since she got down to Canberra. Bet: Lethal Lady to win, quinella 2, 3, Daily Double 1st leg 2, 2nd leg 3 RACE 7: HIBERNIAN HOTEL BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1600m BOMBELLEISTIC (3) is the fourth foal of his dam; all of her foals are housed by Team Joseph/Jones who bred the lot of them. As this for one, he has a win and two seconds from eight starts but you could argue that nothing he has done has contained as much merit as his fifth in very strong Class 1 at Scone on Cup Day. CHEBICI (2) is on a hat-trick. Easy to like with the good alley and Coriah Keatings doing the right thing by her all the time. Bet: Bombelleistic to win, box trifecta 2, 3, 5, 9 RACE 8: CAMPBELL PETROLEUM DISTRIBUTORS BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1200m ORTHIE'S BOYS (3) has been with Richard Collett for the last three of his five career starts. Those were; a barnstorming second here, another 'from last' fourth at Gosford then a fading on-pace fifth at Kembla. Maybe he didn't see out the 1400m but we're back to 1200m in weaker grade today. For what it is worth, I think COUGARS (1) is a pretty handy horse and sure, they've all got to carry big weights here, but he's got the biggest and 62kg is a big number. Bet: Orthie's Boy to win INSIDE MAIL - CASINO RACE 6: BACK TO THE ROYAL COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 SHOWCASE HANDICAP 1200m LOVE RAT (10) is a get back and run on type, perhaps better suited at Grafton but here we are at Casino. The son of Love Conquers All has a troubling second-up record but if you can overlook that and the wide draw, he is in this with as a good a chance as any and better than most. AYE AYE SKIPPER (1) is in fabulous form, and has been for a while too, but this is as bad a draw as the horse has been dealt in all that time. Bet: Love Rat each-way RACE 7: CASINO FOOD CO-OP CASINO FLYING 1000m DIS IS HEAVEN (5) is '3213' heading into the Casino Flying. They were all good quality affairs too, but none were any harder than his May 7 assignment at Warwick Farm when and where Colt Prosser's gelding was an honourable third. Stablemate and MNC Championships Qualifier placegetter BJORN IRONSIDE (4) has raced once at 1000m; that was the day he carried 62kg at Taree when he won by two lengths. Bet: Dis Is Heaven to win, quinella 4, 5, box trifecta 1, 3, 4, 5, DD 1st Leg 5, 2nd Leg 5 RACE 8: CASINO RSM CLUB BEEF WEEK CUP 1400m SECRET PLAN (1) is a Queenslander, via Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. The Bob Peters-bred galloper has been with Tony and Maddysen Sears for the last three runs, the most recent of them was a third at Eagle Farm. On-pace type with a manageable weight now after Jett Newman's claim. COLLAY'S SPIRIT (4) could very well tally up his 10th career win, third-up. Note that Luke Rolls is one win and two placings on the horse. The best CENOTES (6) is better than a lot of these. Bet: Secret Plan to win RACE 9: WAL'S CONCRETING CLASS 3 SHOWCASE HANDICAP 1400m MONTE MAXIMUS (5) probably deserves a bit more credit for his last handful of runs than would normally be afforded to a horse with a '7295' lead in. All in all, 1400m is in the right range for the Noel Mayfield-Smith-trained son of Invader and he gets a little bit of weight off on what he has been carrying lately. Former Godolphin galloper STYLISED (1) is ready to produce now that he is out to 1400m. The more scratchings the better in view of that wide alley. Bet: Monte Maximus each-way
