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The Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Ownership group split over Front Page's bid for Stradbroke glory
The Matt Dale-trained Front Page scored a ticket into the $3m Stradbroke with his thrilling victory in last Saturday's Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm. Some of the owners were concerned about the short back-up and the extra 200m that Front Page would have to run in a fast-paced Group 1 at Eagle Farm on Saturday. • 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! However, 55 per cent of the owners voted to push on and pay the $90,000 late entry fee to compete for the $1.8m winner's cheque, with local jockey Damien Thornton to ride the eight-year-old this weekend. 'I voted no,' said 73-year-old Geoff Duryea, who bred and trained Front Page until handing the reins to Dale in mid-2023. 'Our vision was originally to take him up there (to Brisbane), run him in that big race (the Moreton Cup), give him a month off and then head towards the Kosciuszko again. 'We got outvoted but that's the way it goes.' Duryea said it was the first time the ownership group had been split over the direction of Front Page, which had stress fracture problems as a youngster. 'We've gone six years without a disagreement because he had a fair few issues when he was young so we've had to nurse him a fair bit before he matured properly,' Duryea said. 'It's the first time we've ever had a vote on where he's going to run. 'He's more than repaid us for our patience. I hope like hell he puts his boof-head out and wins the Stradbroke.' READ: * Read: Mates will be shaken and stirred if Straddie horse wins at $201 The owners had to pay a $90,000 late entry fee to get Front Page into the Stradbroke, where Thornton will ride at 52.5kg. 'He's absolutely eating everything up every feed, he's bright, happy and very sound,' trainer Matt Dale said on Wednesday. 'The decision was made based on that and a favourable weather forecast.' But not everyone was on board to race the winner of more than $3.5m in prizemoney in Queensland's premier race. 'I was a 'no',' part-owner and Geoff's son Paul Duryea said. 'The seven-day backup, which we've never done with him, and the fact that the Stradbroke was never on the radar. The 1400m on a quick back-up in a Group 1 (was another concern). 'Throughout his whole life we've always put him first, hence why he's only had 29 starts. 'It's never been about the money for us, it's always been about trying to find the right race that we think he can win. 'Everyone's super proud of what he's done. What he's done for us has been huge, it's unbelievable.' Horse Racing In the wake of trainer James Cummings' flagged departure to Hong Kong, Godolphin has confirmed 'interested parties' are inquiring about its Sydney facilities … but Winx's part-owner isn't one of them. Horse Racing Big-time owner Rupert Legh has won three Stradbrokes but says he won't be backing his favourite War Machine at the short odds on offer in the 2025 edition of Queensland's greatest race.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Front Page's former trainer Geoff Duryea has concerns over the gelding backing up in Saturday's Stradbroke Handicap
It can be revealed that Geoff Duryea, the former trainer of two-time The Kosciuszko champion Front Page, and his son Paul were two of the owners who voted against the veteran gelding running in Saturday's Stradbroke Handicap because of the short turnaround between races. The Matt Dale -trained Front Page scored a ticket into the $3m Stradbroke with his thrilling victory in last Saturday's Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm. Some of the owners were concerned about the short back-up and the extra 200m that Front Page would have to run in a fast-paced Group 1 at Eagle Farm on Saturday. • 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. However, 55 per cent of the owners voted to push on and pay the $90,000 late entry fee to compete for the $1.8m winner's cheque, with local jockey Damien Thornton to ride the eight-year-old this weekend. 'I voted no,' said 73-year-old Geoff Duryea, who bred and trained Front Page until handing the reins to Dale in mid-2023. 'Our vision was originally to take him up there (to Brisbane), run him in that big race (the Moreton Cup), give him a month off and then head towards the Kosciuszko again. 'We got outvoted but that's the way it goes.' Duryea said it was the first time the ownership group had been split over the direction of Front Page, which had stress fracture problems as a youngster. 'We've gone six years without a disagreement because he had a fair few issues when he was young so we've had to nurse him a fair bit before he matured properly,' Duryea said. 'It's the first time we've ever had a vote on where he's going to run. 'He's more than repaid us for our patience. I hope like hell he puts his boof-head out and wins the Stradbroke.' The owners had to pay a $90,000 late entry fee to get Front Page into the Stradbroke, where Thornton will ride at 52.5kg. 'He's absolutely eating everything up every feed, he's bright, happy and very sound,' trainer Matt Dale said on Wednesday. 'The decision was made based on that and a favourable weather forecast.' But not everyone was on board to race the winner of more than $3.5m in prizemoney in Queensland's premier race. 'I was a 'no',' part-owner and Geoff's son Paul Duryea said. 'The seven-day backup, which we've never done with him, and the fact that the Stradbroke was never on the radar. The 1400m on a quick back-up in a Group 1 (was another concern). 'Throughout his whole life we've always put him first, hence why he's only had 29 starts. 'It's never been about the money for us, it's always been about trying to find the right race that we think he can win. 'Everyone's super proud of what he's done. What he's done for us has been huge, it's unbelievable.'
