Latest news with #DavidPfieffer
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Rocks or Diamonds? Classy mare tests trainer David Pfieffer's patience
Oh Diamond Lil might be a slow maturing mare but she just happens to be an extremely fast racehorse. Trainer David Pfieffer spoke about the two very different sides of Oh Diamond Lil on the eve of the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. 'She is probably an owner's nightmare and a dream at the same time,'' Pfieffer explained. 'Because she has been such a slow maturer, she has taken a long time to grow into herself and I still don't think she is there yet. 'Although she is nearly a five-year-old, she's still not fully matured but her owners have been patient and they are reaping the rewards now.'' Oh Diamond Lil, a daughter of Coolmore's champion racehorse and sire So You Think, has only had nine starts but she has already won four races and only once has she missed a top three finish. At the Scone stand-alone meeting three weeks ago, Oh Diamond Lil resumed with a powerful win over 1300m and Pfieffer was confident his mare would handle the class rise at Randwick. Even the likelihood of a heavy track surface doesn't overly concern the trainer. Randwick was rated a heavy 8 late on Friday. 'Ideally, I would like to see it between a soft 6-7 as she is only second-up, but I think it will be an improving heavy,'' Pfieffer said. 'She is a horse that puts a lot into her work so she naturally gets herself fit anyway. 'The way she raced last start it was like a horse that is wanting more ground and the soft-heavy track is going to make it more of a test. 'But she's in great form and is improving every preparation.'' ðŸ'Ž Oh Diamond Lil gets the perfect run and wins at Scone! @KPMcEvoy | @DavidPfieffer — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 In latest TAB Fixed Odds betting, Oh Diamond Lil is challenging for favouritism at $3.90 behind the Ciaron Maher-trained Federer at $3.50. Pfieffer is taking two horses to the Randwick meeting with Whinchat lining up in the Singapore Pools Handicap (1300m). Whinchat resumed after a long spell at Scone last month and ran a blinder to beat all but The Instructor in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m). 'It would have been a nice feat to get a win first-up with Whinchat after such a long break,'' Pfieffer said. 'But he's pulled up well and is going great. Jay (Ford) galloped him during the week and said the horse is ready to fire. 'The barrier (10) probably works out well for him and he will appreciate the improving track, too. 'He has raced well on wet tracks in the past and 1300m second-up with three weeks between runs looks ideal.'' • 'I'll be moving to Vaucluse!': It's all in the name for Sargent filly â– â– â– â– â– Private trial shows Pride gelding on song for Stradbroke "Nash is certainly giving him a good sound out." A solid gallop for @PrideRacing star Private Eye under @nashhot as he leads all the way in a 900m trial at Rosehill on Friday beating Starman with the winner's stablemate City Of Lights third. @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) June 6, 2025 Private Eye, winner of $11.9 million prizemoney, tuned up for next week's Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap by taking out a Rosehill barrier trial on Friday. The Joe Pride -trained Private Eye began brilliantly out of the barriers and went straight to the front in the 900m heat and comfortably held Starman and City Of Lights at bay. This was Private Eye's fourth barrier trial in recent weeks as Pride prepares the gelding for an audacious first-up Stradbroke bid at Eagle Farm on June 14. â– â– â– â– â– Baker in hot form in country Jack Baker, the 3kg claiming apprentice, is starting to make a name for himself on the NSW country circuit. Baker, 21, is in only his second season of riding but scored his 35th career win and his first at the provincials on Hot Bandit at Kembla Grange earlier this week. The young apprentice rides next at Sapphire Coast on Sunday on the Luke Pepper -trained Fifty Five Mustang. For racing historians, Jack Baker's name might be familiar – and with good reason. The apprentice shares his name with the jockey who rode the legendary Phar Lap to his very first win as a two-year-old at Rosehill in 1929. The great Phar Lap only won once in his first 10 starts but during the spring of his three-year-old season, he started to turn into a famous winning machine. Phar Lap won 36 of his final 41 starts including the 1930 Melbourne Cup. Champion jockey Jim Pike became Phar Lap's regular rider and the combination won 27 of their 30 races together. The mighty chestnut went to America to win the 1932 Agua Caliente Handicap only to die weeks later after contracting a sudden but mysterious illness. â– â– â– â– â– Waller, J-Mac shooting for history Chris Waller and James McDonald are joining forces to try and break national Group 1 records at Eagle Farm. Waller is aiming to train his 19th Group 1 win of the season, which would set a new standard after equalling his all-time record of 18 majors he first achieved in 2018-19. McDonald has ridden 14 Australian Group 1 winners during 2024-25 and has the opportunity to equal or even break 'Miracle' Mal Johnston's longstanding national riding record of 16 major race winners he established in 1979-80. Waller and McDonald team up with brilliant mare Joliestar ($2.30 favourite) in the Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m), Movin Out ($8) in the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) and Belle Detelle ($7) in the Group 1 $1 million Queensland Derby (2400m). Waller has multiple runners in the three Group 1 races with Democracy Manifest ($41) in the Kingsford Smith Cup, Real Class ($51) and Lovey Dovey ($81) in the Oaks, while Imperialist ($16), Existential Bob ($34) and Liberty Park ($81) are in the Derby. â– â– â– â– â– Moore pumps for Delocroix in English Derby Ryan Moore has chosen to ride Delacroix and not stablemate The Lion In Winter as their trainer Aidan O'Brien bids to win an incredible 11th English Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday night. O'Brien has three runners in the famous English classic with Moore deciding to stay with the in-form Delacroix over The Lion In Winter, the long-time Derby favourite until his first-up defeat last month. 'It was always going to be hard for him not to ride Delacroix,'' O'Brien said of Moore's Derby choice. 'He is classy and we always thought he would be a Derby horse. 'The Lion In Winter went to the trial and did everything wrong but he has come forward a lot since. ' Lambourn is a lovely, straight forward horse he has a lovely draw in the middle, and he's a genuine, tough stayer.'' In TAB Fixed Odds betting, Delacroix is the Derby favourite at $4.20 just ahead of Godolophin's English 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court at $4.40 with The Lion In Winter at $6. â– â– â– â– â– 5 YEARS AGO Classique Legend, the brilliant sprinter trained by Les Bridge, missed the autumn carnival but returned for the Bob Charley AO (June) Stakes and despite carrying topweight of 60kg scored by a half length from Southern Lad at Royal Randwick. Later that year Classique Legend won the world's richest turf race, The Everest. The Brisbane winter carnival was impacted by the Covid pandemic and the Queensland Derby and Oaks, and Kingsford Smith Cup were not run in 2020. Welcome back Classique Legend! @KPMcEvoy teams up with the much-loved grey to take out the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes @royalrandwick — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 6, 2020 10 YEARS AGO The mighty Winx, trained by Chris Waller, won her first Group 1 race when she stormed home to take out the Queensland Oaks, run that year at Doomben. This was Winx's second successive win and she was just starting her famous 33-race winning streak to close out her extraordinary career that included a world record 25 Group 1 wins. Snitzel, trained by Peter Snowden, scored an upset win at odds of $26 in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (then called the BTC Cup). Ridden by Blake Shinn, Hot Snitzel defeated Knoydart for a career-best win. There were more upsets with the Mark Kavanagh-trained Magicool winning the Queensland Derby at odds of $14. Wouldn't It Be Nice denied top mare Avoid Lightning a second straight win in the June Stakes. The 2015 Queensland Oaks was the start of something special. Winx notched up her first of 25 career Group 1s. Connections have confirmed the champion mare will visit Too Darn Hot this season. â'‚ï¸� @HugeBowman @RaceQLD @winx_horse @cwallerracing @DKepitis — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 3, 2025 20 YEARS AGO Spark Of Life, trained by Allan Denham and ridden by Chris Munce, won the Kingsford Smith Cup (then called the BTC Cup). Hall of Fame jockey Glen Boss won two Queensland Derbys and both were for trainer John Morrisey including Lachlan River in 2005. Boss also won on Camarena in 1999. Vitesse Dane, trained by Kris Lees, won the Queensland Oaks. For Valour won the June Stakes.
News.com.au
18-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Ray Thomas' Blackbook: Five to follow from Scone on Saturday
Ray Thomas reviews Saturday's stand-alone meeting at Scone, revealing the horses punters can follow with confidence at their next starts. • â– â– â– â– â– FIVE TO FOLLOW OH DIAMOND LIL (0.9-length 1st of 12, Race 4) had been trialling up a storm prior to her return at Scone. She had never won first-up previously and was vulnerable at 1300m but she settled nicely in behind the leaders until the top of the straight where she seized control of the race and drew clear for a comfortable win. Oh Diamond Lil is an emerging mare and will only improve the deeper she goes into her preparation. ðŸ'Ž Oh Diamond Lil gets the perfect run and wins at Scone! @KPMcEvoy | @DavidPfieffer — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 SPANISH FOX (2-length 3rd of 15, Race 6) won five races in succession when last in work and his second-up effort at Scone when third to ZEALOUSLY in very fast time was encouraging. He is ready to win in the right grade next start. Zealously with a big win after leading all the way at Scone! ðŸ'¨ @NockBraith | @SnowdenRacing1 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 AKAYSHA (1.4-length 3rd of 16, Race 3) drew wide and was ridden conservatively early, drifting back to near last in the Woodland Stakes. On the home turn, she was in front of only one horse and simply had too much to do but still ran on strongly to finish third. Talented filly and is a stakes-winner in waiting. â� Stardom holds on to win at Scone with Adam Hyeronimus doing the steering! @GaiWaterhouse1 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 GENTILESCHI (0.1-length 2nd of 15, Race 5) was having only her second run back and was out to 1700m but her effort to finish the closest of seconds was eye-catching. She charged home wide out to just miss at Scone and will be at her peak next start. Cormac T wins by a whisker in a very tight finish at Scone! ðŸ'� @ANeashamRacing | @tomo_sherry — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 Godolphin fillies THAMES (0.6-length 3rd of 15, Race 7) and PHOTOGRAPH (1.8-length 9th of 15, Race 7) had no luck in the Denise's Joy Stakes. Thames struck trouble on the turn before charging home to lose by only a half length. Photograph never got clear galloping room in the straight and wasn't tested before finishing ninth, beaten less than two lengths. Summer Flame wins the Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone in a boilover! ðŸ'° @cwallerracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 WHINCHAT (0.2-length 2nd of 15, Race 10) was having his first start in over a year and set track record-breaking pace in front only to be collared in the final few bounds by the race-fit and in-form THE INSTRUCTOR in the Luskin Star Stakes. Whinchat can only be improved by his game comeback run. WHAT A FINISH! 😮 The Instructor wins on the line to beat Whinchat in the Luskin Star Stakes! 🙌 @GaiWaterhouse1 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 • â– â– â– â– â– CRUNCH TIME ZEALOUSLY (Race 6) gave a brilliant display of sustained speed to score a commanding win. He was hand-timed to run the Scone 1100m in 1m 02.13s – no horse has ever gone faster over the course and distance. CABALLUS (Race 8) showed impressive acceleration to reel in tough frontrunner The Novelist to win the Ortensia Stakes. Caballus was timed to run his final 300m in a tick over 33s. Caballus is too good in the Ortensia Stakes at Scone! ðŸ'¥ @AshMorgan6 | @BBakerRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 MELODY AGAIN (Race 9) broke the race record to win the Dark Jewel Classic, recording 1m 21.23s for the Scone 1400m. Her winning time was only a tick outside the track record of 1m 21.12s that was set by Cavalier Charles three years ago. . @CoreyGoodSkillz pick of the yard gets up! Melody Again storms home on the inside and wins the Dark Jewel Classic! ðŸ'Ž — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 STARDOM (Race 3) set a new race record for the Woodland Stakes when she ran the 1100m in 1m 03.07s, breaking the previous standard set by dual Group 1 winner In Secret of 1m 03.75s. THE INSTRUCTOR (Race 10) set another race record when he won the Luskin Star Stakes, stopping the clock at 1m 14.41s for the Scone 1300m. He broke the previous mark by 0.08s. â– â– â– â– â– WHAT THEY SAID 'That is like our Melbourne Cup. 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.' — Trainer Scott Singleton. "That's like our Melbourne Cup" An emotional Scott Singleton speaks on the massive win from Melody Again! â�¤ï¸� @singletonracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 'I always love riding for Scott, I respect him as a trainer and more so as a friend. 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.' — Jockey Christian Reith. 'I rode Caballus work during the week and when you get the chance to sit on him, you understand why they have such a high opinion of the horse.' — Jockey Ashley Morgan. 'In this class of race we expected Summer Flame to get back and I was just going to hold her together. But she jumped so well and got into a lovely rhythm. The further we went the better she travelled. Coming to the turn she was on the bit looking for somewhere to go. We got the run through on straightening and away she went.' — Jockey Jeff Penza. 'If you look at Oh Diamond Lil, physically she still has to develop which makes it so exciting as there is more improvement in her.' — Trainer David Pfeiffer. 'Generally, Gai and Adrian's horses progress out over further once they start racing so they deserve a lot of credit for bringing Stardom back to 1100m.'' — Jockey Adam Hyeronimus. A â�ï¸� is born âš°ï¸� â�¤ï¸� STARDOM ran up to her name and took out the Listed Woodlands Stakes in decisive fashion ðŸ'�ðŸ�¼ ðŸ�† This @torryburnstud bred and owned daughter of @widdenstud Zoustar is going from strength to strength and has a very bright future ✨ 🥂 — Gai Waterhouse AO (@GaiWaterhouse1) May 17, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– STEWARDS SAY CABALLUS (Race 8) was found to have bled from both nostrils after winning the Ortensia Stakes and has incurred a three-month ban from racing. RENOSU, who ran eighth behind Caballus, was also found to have bled and is out of racing for three months. THAMES (Race 7) improved into a tight run between WAVE BREAKER and SHOHISHA on the turn then was buffeted between those runners. Due to contact on its hindquarter Shohisha was then turned out into the running of Thames, resulting in Thames becoming badly unbalanced before that filly ran on strongly for third. PHOTOGRAPH (Race 7) ran only ninth but was very unlucky. After passing the 200m she was checked when disappointed for a run between LADY OLENNA and GERRINGONG. Photograph then had difficulty obtaining clear running, before being held up over the final 50m and went to the line without being fully tested. GENTILESCHI (Race 5) finishing powerfully wide out to just miss behind Cormac T. Prior to the declaration of correct weight, the connections of Gentileschi requested to view the official photo finish for first placing. Once Stewards were satisfied there was a margin between Cormac T and Gentileschi, correct weight was declared. JUMEIRAH BEACH (Race 1) was slow to begin and was then shuffled back near the rear of the field when awkwardly placed on heels. Jumeirah Beach was not suited when the race developed into a sprint home from the 600m. â– â– â– â– â– RON DUFFICY'S SCONE SNAPSHOT RUN OF THE DAY: Caballus had been nurtured back to health and was terrific winning with dominance first-up looking like a possible Stradbroke type. Unfortunately his campaign come to an abrupt halt with him being found to have bled from both nostrils so they have to start from scratch again. FORGET THEY RAN: Thames didn't have the best of luck in the Denise's Joy Stakes never really getting balanced and should have made it interesting. HORSE TO FOLLOW: Oh Diamand Lil and been carefully handled by trainer David Pfieffer working through the grades. She is a mare that is ready to take the next step into black type grade. RIDE OF THE DAY: Jace McMurray is a new name to Sydney racing after having a good grounding with nice success on the Gold Coast. He looked very polished with his winning ride on Fiorsum Fred and should get more opportunities fall his way. Fiorsum Fred finds the gap and powers home at Scone! ðŸ'¥ @singletonracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 â– â– â– â– â–
