Latest news with #CoxPlate
The Age
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Insightful Award heads to Warren in latest step of lengthy campaign
A mare who refuses to shirk her task despite a long and drawn-out campaign is primed to take her winning strike rate to nearly 30 per cent at Monday's Warren meeting. Insightful Award, a sparingly raced five-year-old daughter of 2013 Cox Plate winner Shamus Award in the Scott Singleton stable at Scone, tackles an open Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1200m. Apart from a six-week break through March and April, it will be her eighth run in this preparation since she returned from a long spell on January 2. Since an unplaced effort that day in a deeper BM 58 at Muswellbrook, Insightful Award has mixed her form, but connections and punters are well aware of what she's capable of with some luck on her side. That wayward ability was on show nearly three months ago when she destroyed similar opposition at Scone by six lengths after tracking the speed. That led to the six-week freshen-up before she tackled a tougher BM 64 at Wyong where little or nothing went her way. Loading Insightful Award was then very stiff not to win a BM 58 at Quirindi; flooding home late to be beaten under a length before again doing her best work late, covering plenty of ground in a tougher race at that track three weeks ago. If ever a galloper needed some overdue breaks, it's Insightful Award, and that looms at Warren after she drew a softer gate, and will be suited getting on to the bigger course, with early cover in the race.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Insightful Award heads to Warren in latest step of lengthy campaign
A mare who refuses to shirk her task despite a long and drawn-out campaign is primed to take her winning strike rate to nearly 30 per cent at Monday's Warren meeting. Insightful Award, a sparingly raced five-year-old daughter of 2013 Cox Plate winner Shamus Award in the Scott Singleton stable at Scone, tackles an open Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1200m. Apart from a six-week break through March and April, it will be her eighth run in this preparation since she returned from a long spell on January 2. Since an unplaced effort that day in a deeper BM 58 at Muswellbrook, Insightful Award has mixed her form, but connections and punters are well aware of what she's capable of with some luck on her side. That wayward ability was on show nearly three months ago when she destroyed similar opposition at Scone by six lengths after tracking the speed. That led to the six-week freshen-up before she tackled a tougher BM 64 at Wyong where little or nothing went her way. Loading Insightful Award was then very stiff not to win a BM 58 at Quirindi; flooding home late to be beaten under a length before again doing her best work late, covering plenty of ground in a tougher race at that track three weeks ago. If ever a galloper needed some overdue breaks, it's Insightful Award, and that looms at Warren after she drew a softer gate, and will be suited getting on to the bigger course, with early cover in the race.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Japanese stars on Melbourne Spring Carnival hit list
Leading Victorian racing officials spearhead a 'united' Melbourne spring carnival recruitment drive to Japan. Paul Bloodworth (Racing Victoria), Leigh Jordon (Victoria Racing Club) and Charlotte Mills (Moonee Valley Racing Club) will meet with major Japanese owners, trainers, breeders and officials during the week-long trip in a bid to secure greater spring carnival participation. The success of Japanese runners last year, Prognosis and Warp Speed placed second respectively in the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, has emboldened the touring party. 'It's good we're all going together,' Jordon said. 'A united front is much better than everyone going separate ways.' • The Valley has conducted its own recruitment missions past with strong success, but Mills welcomed the new approach. 'You're selling Victorian racing, as a trio that's got to be better,' Mills said. 'There's far more synergy now in terms of the program connection … you see horses go Cox Plate into Champions Stakes or the Champions Mile.' The Valley has invited connections of multiple Group 1-placed Prognosis back for a second attempt at the Cox Plate. 'He's still racing well and still racing lightly, just cannot crack that elusive Group 1 and I know Shadai would definitely like to see that horse get a Group 1 win,' Mills said. 'He's already experienced quarantine at Werribee and raced so well here, second in a track-record breaking run to Via Sistina, we'd love him to come back and go one better.' Potential Cups targets include the top five in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m) last month at Kyoto. Warp Speed, who placed fifth in the Tenno Sho last year, contested the Caulfield Cup (unplaced) and missed by the barest margin in a pulsating Melbourne Cup finish. 'Usually the winner (Redentor this year) goes to the Arc over the years,' Jordon said. 'Second (Byzantine Dream), third (Shonan La Punta), fourth (Sunrise Earth) and fifth (Meiner Emperor) are definitely on the list … we'll see them all, get feedback and answer any questions.' Jordon would also love to attract an emerging star out of the Japanese Derby this Sunday in Tokyo.
Herald Sun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
2025 Kingsford Smith Cup: Private Eye thrills trainer Joe Pride
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Joe Pride maintains Private Eye is 'going as well as ever' after the $11.9 million prizemoney earner cruised through a crucial barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Monday. Private Eye, who was trialling without blinkers, was kept wide and under a tight hold by jockey Nash Rawiller as he finished fifth behind Glenbower in his 800m heat. Pride was using the Warwick Farm hitout – the gelding's third barrier trial this preparation – to ready his evergreen sprinter for a comeback in Saturday's Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm. • 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! 'Private Eye is going super and was only out to have a quiet trial,'' Pride said. 'He is thriving. I said to Jamie (Walter, part-owner) the other day, 'I'm going to say something outlandish here but I think he is going better than he has ever gone'. 'I realise that is a stupid statement to make about a horse of his age but Nash came in after riding him and said something similar. 'Private Eye's an amazing horse, he has more than done his job, but to still have him around at his age is great – and he's not around to make up the numbers, he is going really well.'' In early TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Kingsford Smith Cup, Private Eye is at $11 behind brilliant mare Joliestar at $3.50. • Richard Callander: C'mon Queenslanders, settle down about Antino in the Cox Plate Private Eye hasn't raced since finishing fourth to the Bjorn Baker-trained Robusto in the Group 2 The Ingham last December but he does have a very good first-up record and Pride has specifically prepared the sprinter for Saturday's race. Robusto, who was in career-best form last summer with his win in The Ingham and second placings in the Festival Stakes (to Private Eye), The Buffering and The Lakes, impressed winning the first heat over 1208m of the Warwick Farm trials session by nearly three lengths. Originally published as 'He's going better than he's ever gone': Private Eye thrills trainer Joe Pride ahead of 2025 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm
7NEWS
24-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Antino blitzes the field in Doomben Cup stunner
Antino has confirmed his status as one of the best horses in Australia with a breathtaking win in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m). Now a dual Group 1 winner, $3 favourite Antino was as impressive as his 6-½ length victory in last year's Toorak Handicap, Blake Shinn once again circling the field to score by four lengths over $8.50 chance Fawkner Park, with Kovalica ($7) just edging Militarize ($19) for third. Relishing the typically punishing tempo set by Pride Of Jenni, who was a noted betting drifter and a spent force early in the straight after being dug up to lead, Antino backed up his 3-½ length win in the Hollidale Stakes to confirm his position as one of the top horses in Australia. This was Tony Gollan's eighth career Group One win and third in his home state of Queensland, and 'special' was the word he felt best described the win. 'He's been the best horse I've trained for some time,' Gollan said. 'Took until last year to win the Toorak, win the Group One and from then, I think we've all just got better as a team, haven't we? We've done things better and he's gone to another level. 'What we've seen today is pretty special. It's a pretty good Doomben Cup field. He's won impressively and we can set our sights now on Melbourne in the spring. 'He's a very good horse, a world class jockey, and I've got a world class team to help me get him ready.' Now clearly proven over 2000m, targets don't come much bigger than the race Gollan has set his sights on, suggesting the Cox Plate would be his Spring goal. 'We'll put him away now for the Cox Plate. I think his style of racing, suits a race like that, that amphitheatre there, where they can build and build and build,' Gollan said. 'I just said to Blake today, I couldn't get him any better than what he is today and when it's time to go, he'll give it to you today. He's really spot on. 'At the Gold Coast he was a little bit soft. Today, he's rock fit and that's pretty impressive. That's as good a win as I've been involved in. It means a lot to the whole team.'
