Latest news with #Class1Handicap
Courier-Mail
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Gosford, Inverell previews: Adam Duggan hoping for a Divine result in the wet
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Adam Duggan had a nice opinion of Divine Bene in his early trackwork and trials but a couple of unflattering runs to start his career put that into question. It wasn't until Divine Bene got onto a wet track that he started to perform to a higher level and placed in three consecutive runs as he built into his first campaign. 'He is a horse I had a bit of time for early days but didn't show a lot in his first couple of runs,' said Duggan. 'Once we got him going with a couple of runs under his belt, we worked out he didn't have much of a turn of foot but he could sustain the same speed throughout. 'We also found he had a real liking for wet track. I don't think I've had a horse who has had so many runs on a wet track.' Divine Bene has raced on wet ground in eight of the 10 career starts with seven of them on heavy where he has a win and four minor placings. He returned this campaign with a nice win first-up over 1550m on the Beaumont before a third to Lutetia at Newcastle both on Heavy 8 tracks before a second to Sirius Flyer in a Soft 5 at Quirindi last start. 'It probably wasn't wet enough for him at Quirindi the other day,' he said. The four-year-old gets his preferred conditions when steps out in the Class 1 Handicap (1200m). 'I'm happy to have Ash Morgan back on. He rode him really well to win first-up,' Duggan said. 'He's also in at Inverell. I'll discuss it with his owners but Gosford is my preferred option.' Duggan also has Purple Haze entered for the Super Maiden Handicap (1200m) on his home track. The gelding battled away for third to Yes Siree on a Heavy 10 at Wyong on debut on May 1. 'He has been a real work in progress,' said Duggan. 'He was aided by a fair few scratchings in a fairly soft race on debut if I'm being honest but in saying that, I would be surprised if he doesn't improve. 'I think the 1200m will suit him better and eventually a bit further than that.' Warwick Farm trainer Clarry Conners has been pleased with the way Okami Star has raced this campaign and gives him a change of securing another win in the Class 1 Handicap (1600m). The gelding resumed with a second to Pelosa at Hawkesbury followed by a fifth at Kembla before breaking through with a narrow win from Murphilly at Wyong. Last start, he boxed on a long neck fourth to Ocean One at Hawkesbury. 'He has come back a nice horse this time in,' said Conners. 'At Hawkesbury last start, he went around and got to the front then just eased up on him. 'He's a big striding horse and it would have been better if he kept going on him. 'I'm happy with the horse though.' Conners also feels Proclivity can bounce back from a luckless run last start when he contests the 2&3YO Maiden Handicap (1600m). After a debut second to Caltsar at Newcastle, the gelding finished sixth to Monte Veebee at Kembla. 'It was a good run at Newcastle on debut then at Kembla everything went wrong. He got knocked down and pushed back,' he said. 'Aaron Bullock rode him in his first start and was impressed with the horse. 'I'm very happy to be able to get him again this week. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ A slow start and untimely bump put paid to the chances of Angels Cloud last start but trainer Marc Quinn couldn't be happier with his mare and expects her to break through for a well-earned win when she heads to Inverell. Angels Cloud started a $1.90 favourite at Glen Innes earlier this month following three handy placings since joining Quinn's stable. Unfortunately, she was put out of business in the first couple of strides when she settled further back than expected on her way to finishing second behind Immortal Lass. 'I really thought she would have won at Glen Innes the other day but she took a backwards step when the gates opened and Cody's (Morgan) horse got a march on us and that was the end of the race for her,' said Quinn. 'She has had a good couple of weeks since then. 'Obviously last week was a bit of a washout for us. We missed trackwork for a couple of days but they are not going to lose much fitness going on the walker for a couple of days. 'Despite the weather, the horses coped with it really well and she had a lovely gallop on Saturday.' Angels Cloud has drawn ideally on barrier 4 in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m) with Matthew McGuren to again partner her. 'She has drawn well and Matthew decided to stick with her which is good,' he said. 'All she needs to do is step away and I think she will be hard to beat. Quinn is weighing up his options for Perhaps Perhaps in the Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1800m) but expects her to run a much improved race if she does start. The four-year-old debuted for Quinn with a handy fifth to Justifiably at Port Macquarie on April 19 before backing up on a heavy track there eight days later when down the order behind Imarealamerican over 1500m. She then finished a somewhat unlucky fifth to Visualise over 1400m at Glen Innes. 'Her first run for us was really good and we thought we would try and rider her handier second-up but I don't think she appreciated that and the quick back-up,' he said. 'We didn't want to come back in distance but there wasn't a lot of options for her after so we took her to Glen Innes. 'I thought the run was passable and the step up to 1800m suits her quite well.'
Herald Sun
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Queanbeyan preview, tips: Track stats make a persuasive case
Canberra trainer Rob Potter is just in awe of bonny mare Almost Persuaded. The seven-year-old continues to race with great zest including victories at two of her last four starts. Almost Persuaded took her record to eight wins from 40 starts when she stormed home under 60.5kg to win by two-and-a-half lengths from More Voltage at Queanbeyan 19 days ago. 'She is unbelievable. She is rising eight but I don't think she has ever gone as good as she is at the moment,' said Potter. 'Even in her trackwork she has got better and that Queanbeyan track, she just loves it.' Among those eight wins are four at Queanbeyan including a perfect three from three over the 1460m – the same distance that she tackles when she lines up in the Benchmark 82 Handicap with 52kg after the claim of Cailtin Sinclair. Almost Persuaded is looking to maintain her perfect record at the track and distance. Picture: Bradley Photos 'To be honest, she excels on wet tracks and it's a dry track this weekend. That's my only concern,' he said. 'But the way she is going and having barrier one is going to be massive for her because she can put herself in a spot. 'I have put a set of concussion plates on her just as a precaution. 'She drops eight and a half kilos on that win because she is going from a (benchmark) 58 to an 82 but she won in open company in the Tumut Cup four runs back against some pretty nice horses. 'I feel she is really well placed. If it was wet, I would declare her.' In the same race, Potter also saddles up Blow In who was a multiple city winner in Melbourne earlier in his career. 'I've only had him for this preparation,' Potter said. 'He started off in Melbourne and won a couple races at Sandown but lost his form and went to Adelaide for a little while before coming here. 'We pushed him out to a mile and he just go beat at Kembla but I believe that stretches him. 'I bought him back to 1200m at Dubbo last Sunday and he went tremendous.' The son of Fighting Sun settled midfield and worked home well to finish a length-and-a-quarter third behind The Dramatist and Crop Duster. 'I changed his work routine around. I stopped galloping him and started swimming him more and putting him on the treadmill,' he said. Blow In gets to his best distance at Queanbeyan. Picture: Bradley Photos 'It really freshened him right up and changed his attitude. 'Kody Nestor rode him last week and said he is ready to win. 'Unfortunately, they are in the same race. 'My question mark with him is the track. He is more of a big track horse because of his racing pattern. 'In saying that, he is fresh and I expect he will be really competitive. 'He is the best credentialed horse in this race by a long way. 'Hopefully they can run one-two.' Potter is looking forward to Midnight Luna making her debut for the stable in the Class 1 Handicap (1460m). The four-year-old screed a nice win before close second both at Queanbeyan for former trainer Len Hodgson late last year. 'A good mare of mine, Mick Miladinovic, owns her. 'She had a few feet issues so her brought her here so she can do a bit of swimming. 'I get the feeling she could be a Highway horse. I just want to build her rating up to get into them. 'If she drew a good gate, I would be very confident but it's a bit tricky from out there. 'She is working very well and I have her ready to go first-up. 'If she doesn't win this weekend, she will be winning shortly.' ADAM SHERRY'S TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 6 No. 2: ALL ASTERN Nice win over this trip last start and can go back-to-back. NEXT BEST Race 2 No. 2: ANA CAROLINA Racing in consistent form and can land a second career win. VALUE BET Race 7 No. 2: MIDNIGHT LUNA Showed good ability in her first campaign including a win this track and distance. QUADDIE Race 4: 4, 10, 11 Race 5: 1, 3, 4, 5 Race 6: 2, 5, 9 Race 7: 1, 2, 4 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Jess Taylor looks a good chance the TAB Jockey Challenge. Jess Taylor looks set for a good day at Queanbeyan. Picture: Bradley Photos INSIDE MAIL – QUEANBEYAN RACE 1: Navy Country Boosted Mdn Hcp 1460m IN THE NIC OF TIME (1) battled away when fourth to Group Chat over 1200m at Wagga second-up then dropped back to 1000m when fourth to Callenem Thru at Canberra. Up to 1460m. ZEEDANCE (8) is improving with each run. Made ground along the fence from last when fifth to Malinga Missile at Goulburn two runs back. Settled behind the leader and battled away for third to Chebici over this track and distance last start. CLOSETHEDOORDARCY (4) led early before finishing a nose second to Chebici in that same race. Bet: In The Nic Of Time to win RACE 2: Air Force Plate (C1) 2000m ANA CAROLINA (2) was beaten a nose by Format in a Class 1 over 2110m on the Beaumont and followed with a third to Fernao in record time at Goulburn on Feb 28. Resumed from a let-up for a new stable with a handy maiden win in a Class 1 at Gundagai before a third to Aethelflaed at Canberra. JUAN PABLO (8) ground away when third behind Casablanca Express over 1500m at Hawkesbury before stepping up to 1800m and coming from back in the field when fourth to Amplify at Bathurst. CHEVAL GRIS (7) has claims on her second at Newcastle two starts back. Bet: Ana Carolina to win RACE 3: Mars Road Services Army Hcp (C3) 1600m JULIETTE'S JOY (7) ended last campaign with a handy win from Hardazhell over 2000m here on Boxing Day under 58.5kg. Resumed with a closing second to Crucial Witness over 1200m before a third to Almost Persuaded over 1460m, both here. Step up to 1600m suits. EXCEEDINGLY HOT (1) led when runner-up behind Villasaurus at Albury before a half-length fourth to Dark Vador at Wagga on May 1. Drunken Sailor was a two length winner from Sir Sublime over this track and distance last November. Will take improvement from his first-up sixth to Jolly Good Fellow at Bathurst on Apr 25. Bet: Juliette's Joy each-way RACE 4: Peter & Audrey Sharp Memorial Mdn Plate 900m MAGIC SPEED (11) is a first starter by Bon Hoffa. Fair away before pushing to share lead and kept under a hold when runner-up to Sooboogeliscious in her first trial here on Apr 12. Stepped a little slow then mustered to settle second before running past King Gutho to win her next trial by three lengths. WEIRD GOODBYES (4) debuted with a third to Noctua at Canberra the failed to handle the heavy track when seventh at the Sapphire Coast second-up. Boxed on for third to Dollythediva on a soft track here last start. LOOKACROSSTHEWATER (10) is better than her last start seventh at the Sapphire Coast. Bet: Magic Speed to win RACE 5: Campbell & George Defence Force Cup (Bm82) 1460m ALMOST PERSUADED (4) is a Queanbeyan track specialist with four of her eight career wins here including a perfect three from three at the distance. She does prefer it wet but these days but did win on a Good 4 here last September. Stablemate BLOW IN (1) is on a quick back-up from his solid third behind The Dramatist and Crop Duster over 1200m at Dubbo last Sunday. Steps up to his pet trip and he is a multiple city winner. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3) got well back when fourth at Canberra last start. Close second at Albury before that. Bet: Almost Persuaded each-way RACE 6: Queanbeyan Rsl Coral Sea Cup (Bm58) 1000m ALL ASTERN (2) was just behind the placegetters in her first two runs back over 1200m at Cowra and Wagga before dropping back in grade and to 1000m when an all-the-way winner under 61.5kg at Canberra. Stays at the trip, drawn ideally and gets in well with the 3kg claim. ANTHRACIA (5) is chasing the hat-trick following narrow wins over this track and distance. Is another who will appreciate the 2kg claim. MOTORBOAT (6) ran her best first-up race when second to So Magnificent at Bathurst. Was three-wide throughout when last at Nowra on Apr 20. Bet: All Astern to win RACE 7: Steve Conroy Memorial Country Boosted Hcp (C1) 1460m MIDNIGHT LUNA (2) was good in her first campaign which ended with a win from King Taurus before a nose second to Artist both over this track and distance. Drawn wide but has good speed and will give this a shake. TOMMY FLYER (1) led all-the-way for a big win from Zosma over 1200m here on Apr 22. Backing-up from a third behind Spiele at the Sapphire Coast last weekend. Winkers go on. RILEYCAT (4) started a three-wide run from the 800m and was widest on the bend when a three-and-a-quarter length third to Jato at Albury last start. Will make her presence felt from gate 1. Bet: Midnight Luna each-way
