Latest news with #DarkJewelClassic
Daily Telegraph
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Scone preview: It Stays In Vegas can kickstart another big day for Scott Singleton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Local trainer Scott Singleton will again be a force at Scone's first meeting since their annual Cup day/stand-alone carnival where he posted his 400th career win and won the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic. Singleton is represented by three of his string on Tuesday starting with the lightly-raced three-year-old It Stays In Vegas who tackles the Arrowfield Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1000m). The son of one-time Arrowfield resident stallion Shalaa resumed in the coveted Red Crown at Muswellbrook on June 1 but proved no match for the long odds-on winner, Raging Force. • 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! 'I was happy enough for him to run second to that horse there but I was disappointed that he couldn't,'' Singleton said. 'I thought he was just a little bit plain but admittedly, he was first-up and he had to sit outside the leader. 'And it was a funny track that day, it was really gluey and a lot of horses didn't like it so I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that those couple of things might have played against him. 'I think he is a better horse than he went the other day so I am wanting to see him bounce back and do something there on Tuesday.' It Stays In Vegas is a third generation Australian thoroughbred but does indeed have some American blood and via the likes of two epic stallions, one of them an immortal. His third dam was a daughter of Seeking The Gold while her fourth was by Seattle Slew, who this week 48 years ago, completed the US Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes. Singleton, meanwhile, has the honour and distinction of saddling up one of the shortest-priced favourites racing at Scone on Tuesday in Ritzsun ($1.85) in the third race on the eight-event program. Ritzsun has been a model of consistency throughout his nine starts, winning twice (both of them at Scone) together with four placings, three of them seconds. The son of Rosebud winner Sebring Sun's most recent performance was a brave and determined on-pace second in the 1200m TAB Highway conducted at Gosford on the Gold Cup and The Coast day. His Tuesday assignment is the Scone CWA Centenary Benchmark 82 Handicap (1000m). 'Up in grade but down in weight,'' Singleton said. 'He's in an 82 there but he is only carrying 55(kg) so from a good draw and the way he has been working, I would be expecting him to win to be honest.' Ritzsun has already contested three Highways inside his nine starts and win, lose or draw on Tuesday, there will be a fourth somewhere down the road. 'That would be the plan,'' Singleton said. 'He has only won the two (races) so he can win again and still go to a Highway. 'He is definitely good enough to win a Highway if all the stars align.' Singleton is naturally eager for the well-bred mare Insightful Award to post her fourth win in the Darley Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m) having placed at two of her last three 'away' runs. 'I am hoping that given when she won at Scone earlier in the prep, she bolted in, and that was down to the home-track and she can repeat that because it sort of came from nowhere,'' Singleton said. 'But she has remained in good order. 'She a little bit keen the other day at Warren but she certainly seems in good shape and she'll run well.' Originally published as Scone preview: Three-year-old It Stays In Vegas can kickstart another big day for Scott Singleton
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Scone preview: Three-year-old It Stays In Vegas can kickstart another big day for Scott Singleton
Local trainer Scott Singleton will again be a force at Scone's first meeting since their annual Cup day/stand-alone carnival where he posted his 400th career win and won the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic. Singleton is represented by three of his string on Tuesday starting with the lightly-raced three-year-old It Stays In Vegas who tackles the Arrowfield Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1000m). The son of one-time Arrowfield resident stallion Shalaa resumed in the coveted Red Crown at Muswellbrook on June 1 but proved no match for the long odds-on winner, Raging Force. • 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! 'I was happy enough for him to run second to that horse there but I was disappointed that he couldn't,'' Singleton said. 'I thought he was just a little bit plain but admittedly, he was first-up and he had to sit outside the leader. 'And it was a funny track that day, it was really gluey and a lot of horses didn't like it so I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that those couple of things might have played against him. 'I think he is a better horse than he went the other day so I am wanting to see him bounce back and do something there on Tuesday.' It Stays In Vegas is a third generation Australian thoroughbred but does indeed have some American blood and via the likes of two epic stallions, one of them an immortal. His third dam was a daughter of Seeking The Gold while her fourth was by Seattle Slew, who this week 48 years ago, completed the US Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes. Singleton, meanwhile, has the honour and distinction of saddling up one of the shortest-priced favourites racing at Scone on Tuesday in Ritzsun ($1.85) in the third race on the eight-event program. Ritzsun has been a model of consistency throughout his nine starts, winning twice (both of them at Scone) together with four placings, three of them seconds. The son of Rosebud winner Sebring Sun's most recent performance was a brave and determined on-pace second in the 1200m TAB Highway conducted at Gosford on the Gold Cup and The Coast day. Mckeon wins the TAB Highway at juicy odds in a tight finish at Gosford! ðŸ'¥ @AlyshaCollett — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 His Tuesday assignment is the Scone CWA Centenary Benchmark 82 Handicap (1000m). 'Up in grade but down in weight,'' Singleton said. 'He's in an 82 there but he is only carrying 55(kg) so from a good draw and the way he has been working, I would be expecting him to win to be honest.' Ritzsun has already contested three Highways inside his nine starts and win, lose or draw on Tuesday, there will be a fourth somewhere down the road. 'That would be the plan,'' Singleton said. 'He has only won the two (races) so he can win again and still go to a Highway. 'He is definitely good enough to win a Highway if all the stars align.' Singleton is naturally eager for the well-bred mare Insightful Award to post her fourth win in the Darley Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m) having placed at two of her last three 'away' runs. 'I am hoping that given when she won at Scone earlier in the prep, she bolted in, and that was down to the home-track and she can repeat that because it sort of came from nowhere,'' Singleton said. 'But she has remained in good order. 'She a little bit keen the other day at Warren but she certainly seems in good shape and she'll run well.'
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Trainer Scott Singleton achieves personal milestone and biggest win of his career with Melody Again in Group 3 Dark Jewel
Scott Singleton scored his biggest success as a trainer with Melody Again's popular hometown win at the Scone stand-alone meeting on Saturday. Melody Again overcame a slow start and an interrupted run to take out the Group 3 $250,000 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) in a thrilling finish. It was another boilover feature race result with Melody Again unwanted in betting at $41 – Summer Flame won the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at $61 earlier on the program – but Singleton 's mare had the Scone faithful cheering for another local win against the leading city stables. Singleton trains on the track and had cause for dual celebration after preparing a brace of winners with Fiorsum Fred taking out the TAB Highway to give the trainer his 400th career success only for that milestone moment to be trumped by Melody Again. Scone-based trainers Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, Brett Cavanough, Rodney Northam and Jeremy Gask also trained winners over the two-day carnival. 'That is like our Melbourne Cup,' Singleton said after winning the Dark Jewel Classic. 'I thought if Melody Again had any chance of winning a race like this it would be at home and when she was at the top of her game. 'When she walked into the yard, I thought if how she is prepared speaks for anything, she will run a good race because she looked so well.' Melody Again ($41), under an inspirational Christian Reith ride, burst between runners to run down favourite Written In Code ($3.50) near the line for a half-length win with Dark Glitter ($17) a length away third. Singleton admitted he was concerned when he noticed Melody Again was full of running on the home turn but was buried back in the field. . @CoreyGoodSkillz pick of the yard gets up! Melody Again storms home on the inside and wins the Dark Jewel Classic! ðŸ'Ž â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 • Caballus back with a bang to claim Ortensia Stakes 'She missed the start and then was bolting on the turn,' Singleton said. 'I thought this was going to need a good ride and which she got from Christian. 'I put Christian on this mare when she was being very difficult the preparation before last because he has such great hands. 'He has stuck with me and only came here today for the one ride. He's a very underrated jockey.' Singleton revealed Reith rode his very first winner as a trainer on a horse called Reginald at Bathurst 20 years ago. It was very apparent Melody Again's win meant a lot to both men. 'I always love riding for Scott, I respect him as a trainer and more so as a friend,' Reith said. 'He's been very good to me. I haven't been riding a lot but he is always giving me opportunities so it's a special moment to win this race on Melody Again.' Reith produced a masterful piece of navigation on Melody Again after the mare blew the start. 'That is just her – and she is getting worse at it,' Reith said of the mare's slow getaway from the barriers. "That's like our Melbourne Cup" An emotional Scott Singleton speaks on the massive win from Melody Again! â�¤ï¸� @singletonracing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 • Summer Flame ignites with boilover stakes win 'When she does that, you can't kick her up to try and hold a spot because you won't hold her. 'If you get room you can't let her slide into the run because if you give her a bit of rein she will just charge. 'You have to have confidence in her, keep her balanced and if you do that, then that is what she can do.' Singleton revealed Melody Again is closely related to his other Group 3 winner, Shazee Lee (2017 Hawkesbury Guineas). 'They are enigmatic horses,' Singleton said. 'But on any given day, they are very good. With Melody Again it was just a matter of getting everything right and today was that day.' Singleton admits Melody Again is a tempestuous mare who can be difficult to manage. 'She is not easy to deal with so I have to thank my team who look after her,' Singleton said. 'It is not easy when you are going around in the bush and you are trying to dream big. 'You don't want to kid yourself either but we had the belief this mare was good enough to do that one day, particularly if we had chance on her home track. 'We are only a small team so this is pretty special for us.'
Sydney Morning Herald
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Written In Code primed for valuable farewell in Dark Jewel Classic
Trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald are counting on the spacious, typically even Scone track to give Written In Code every chance to add valuable black type to her CV on Saturday in the group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) before heading to the sales ring. The five-year-old I Am Invincible mare, a $4.60 Sportsbet favourite for the feature race on Scone's annual standalone program, is set to go to the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale on May 27-28, making Saturday's run a likely farewell. Written In Code's only black type placing was a second in the listed Denise's Joy Stakes on the same card two years ago, and Rob Archibald hopes she can bow out with an even better result at Scone, where the training operation now has stables. In-form Scone apprentice Braith Nock has the ride from gate three. 'She's drawn well, and we've been really happy with her, so if she goes there in her best order, then she should be hard to beat,' Archibald said. Written In Code had her biggest result when finishing her spring campaign with victory at Moonee Valley in October, and she returned with midweek wins on the Kensington track and at Hawkesbury. She then came with a wide run in the Hawkesbury Crown last start to finish fourth on a day horses struggled to make ground on that section of the wet course. 'She closed off really nicely last time out in the Hawkesbury Crown,' Archibald said. 'They were going through one part of the track, and we ended up a little bit wide.
The Age
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Written In Code primed for valuable farewell in Dark Jewel Classic
Trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald are counting on the spacious, typically even Scone track to give Written In Code every chance to add valuable black type to her CV on Saturday in the group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) before heading to the sales ring. The five-year-old I Am Invincible mare, a $4.60 Sportsbet favourite for the feature race on Scone's annual standalone program, is set to go to the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale on May 27-28, making Saturday's run a likely farewell. Written In Code's only black type placing was a second in the listed Denise's Joy Stakes on the same card two years ago, and Rob Archibald hopes she can bow out with an even better result at Scone, where the training operation now has stables. In-form Scone apprentice Braith Nock has the ride from gate three. 'She's drawn well, and we've been really happy with her, so if she goes there in her best order, then she should be hard to beat,' Archibald said. Written In Code had her biggest result when finishing her spring campaign with victory at Moonee Valley in October, and she returned with midweek wins on the Kensington track and at Hawkesbury. She then came with a wide run in the Hawkesbury Crown last start to finish fourth on a day horses struggled to make ground on that section of the wet course. 'She closed off really nicely last time out in the Hawkesbury Crown,' Archibald said. 'They were going through one part of the track, and we ended up a little bit wide.
