Latest news with #DonnaGrisedale
The Australian
01-08-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Coffs Harbour preview: Donna's chasing a hometown Cup win
Ostracised, once touted a Kosciuszko horse, could in fact be a Big Dance horse if he can deliver a hometown boilover in the Coffs Harbour Cup. Apart from its prestige and a whopping $150,000 purse, the added incentive of Big Dance Eligibility has drawn together a first class field of New South Wales, Queensland and Canberra housed gallopers. So deep is this year's Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) that Ostracised went up as a $51 shot. • 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! A mission which his part owner and trainer Donna Grisedale acknowledges is a difficult one but not impossible. 'I wouldn't put him in it if I didn't think he would run a decent race,' Grisedale said. 'Home track, wet track, good barrier, he has got a few things in his favour but there are some outstanding city-class horses in the race. 'He has gone up 19 points in two runs so I have kind of been forced into these sort of situations with him.' One of those benchmark accruing performances came as a result of Ostracised's emphatic on-pace win in the Maclean Cup (1425m). What made the gelding's victory all the more important; the outcome - and the manner of it - was inspiration enough for a tilt at the Cup. That said, Ostracised running a mile is not something anyone would have expected, least of all Grisedale herself. 'We only had him down as a 1000m, 1100m horse completely and then everything just sort of changed because he was just getting run off his legs,' she said. 'So we just stepped him up 1100m to 1200m and it has just gone from there. 'He was strong through the line (in the Maclean Cup) so 1600m is certainly worth a try. 'Six is a good barrier for him, he should be up there on the speed for sure.' Grisedale will also have a runner in the co-feature Daniel Baker Showcase Sprint (1200m), namely Bow. A son of Black Caviar's sire, Bel Esprit, Bow will require a further upgrade in the track it seems to have any chance of capturing the time-honoured annual event. 'He hasn't drawn too bad and again the home track is always good for him,' Grisedale said. 'It is a suitable race for him, it's just that it is going to be wet.' The Coffs Harbour Cup Day meeting coincides with the start of the new season. Grisedale is rightfully looking forward to what the stable's raw but talented now four-year-old Piedi Veloci can deliver in the Rob Young Country Boosted Showcase Maiden Plate (1400m) and throughout 2025/26 up to an including even the Country Championships. 'He is going to go out after Friday's run and I dare say he will come back a more furnished horse and certainly a lot more switched on and hopefully not doing so many things wrong,' says Grisedale. 'He just needs to mature. 'He'd have to win a couple of races and he is certainly capable of doing that so if he can come back and put one or two wins together (the Country Championships) would be ideal for him.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The weather, the weight and the lure of a crack at a $3 million race on the first Tuesday in November are the three reasons why It's A Knockout will be at Coffs Harbour and not at Rosehill this weekend. The Ciaron Maher-trained It's A Knockout is a red-hot favourite for both her city and country (proposed) missions off the back of a booming first-up win at Royal Randwick followed by her honourable third there at her subsequent start. While the daughter of Triple Crown winner Dundeel will have a 1000km round trip on the first day of the new season, it could pay off in spades both in the immediacy and later in the year, November 4 to be exact. 'It's a business decision,' said Dean Watt, the founder of Dynamic Syndications, who bought the stakes-placed mare at the Gold Coast for $150,000 as a yearling. 'First of all, we have got one eye on the weather but that's not the be all and end all however, whether Rosehill gets all-the-way through on Saturday is a question mark. 'And Coffs (Harbour) at this stage has only had a sprinkle of rain that Sydney has had so you know the races are going to go on up there.' Watt, who has won a Golden Slipper and a Blue Diamond (among other features), was also keen to shield It's A Knockout from any potential huge rise in her benchmark rating should she have won in Sydney on the weekend. 'The Coffs Harbour Cup is Big Dance eligible and if you don't win it but you run second, you're Little Dance eligible,' he added. 'And there is only six grands worth of difference (between Rosehill and Coffs Harbour). 'Her benchmark is still going to go up but the horse becomes eligible to run in a $3 million or $1 million race.' The 2024/25 season concludes the 20th season that the ubiquitous Dynamic Syndications silks have been worn (including in this year's Everest). Watt's clients shared in 61 winners for the season, 20 of them city winners, taking his firm's overall tally close to 1000. In that time, Dynamic horses have returned a 90 per cent winners to runners while a phenomenal 98.1 per cent of the string earned prizemoney.
News.com.au
31-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Coffs Harbour preview: Wet conditions and home track advantage can help Ostracised in his Cup bid
Ostracised, once touted a Kosciuszko horse, could in fact be a Big Dance horse if he can deliver a hometown boilover in the Coffs Harbour Cup. Apart from its prestige and a whopping $150,000 purse, the added incentive of Big Dance Eligibility has drawn together a first class field of New South Wales, Queensland and Canberra housed gallopers. So deep is this year's Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) that Ostracised went up as a $51 shot. A mission which his part owner and trainer Donna Grisedale acknowledges is a difficult one but not impossible. 'I wouldn't put him in it if I didn't think he would run a decent race,' Grisedale said. 'Home track, wet track, good barrier, he has got a few things in his favour but there are some outstanding city-class horses in the race. Ostracised claims the Maclean Cup! ðŸ�† â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 20, 2025 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'He has gone up 19 points in two runs so I have kind of been forced into these sort of situations with him.' One of those benchmark accruing performances came as a result of Ostracised's emphatic on-pace win in the Maclean Cup (1425m). What made the gelding's victory all the more important; the outcome - and the manner of it - was inspiration enough for a tilt at the Cup. That said, Ostracised running a mile is not something anyone would have expected, least of all Grisedale herself. 'We only had him down as a 1000m, 1100m horse completely and then everything just sort of changed because he was just getting run off his legs,' she said. 'So we just stepped him up 1100m to 1200m and it has just gone from there. 'He was strong through the line (in the Maclean Cup) so 1600m is certainly worth a try. 'Six is a good barrier for him, he should be up there on the speed for sure.' Grisedale will also have a runner in the co-feature Daniel Baker Showcase Sprint (1200m), namely Bow. Ostracised wins the Woolgoolga Diggers Cup! ðŸ�† @mallyon_andrew â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 20, 2025 A son of Black Caviar's sire, Bel Esprit, Bow will require a further upgrade in the track it seems to have any chance of capturing the time-honoured annual event. 'He hasn't drawn too bad and again the home track is always good for him,' Grisedale said. 'It is a suitable race for him, it's just that it is going to be wet.' The Coffs Harbour Cup Day meeting coincides with the start of the new season. Grisedale is rightfully looking forward to what the stable's raw but talented now four-year-old Piedi Veloci can deliver in the Rob Young Country Boosted Showcase Maiden Plate (1400m) and throughout 2025/26 up to an including even the Country Championships. 'He is going to go out after Friday's run and I dare say he will come back a more furnished horse and certainly a lot more switched on and hopefully not doing so many things wrong,' says Grisedale. 'He just needs to mature. 'He'd have to win a couple of races and he is certainly capable of doing that so if he can come back and put one or two wins together (the Country Championships) would be ideal for him.' â– â– â– â– â– The weather, the weight and the lure of a crack at a $3 million race on the first Tuesday in November are the three reasons why It's A Knockout will be at Coffs Harbour and not at Rosehill this weekend. The Ciaron Maher -trained It's A Knockout is a red-hot favourite for both her city and country (proposed) missions off the back of a booming first-up win at Royal Randwick followed by her honourable third there at her subsequent start. While the daughter of Triple Crown winner Dundeel will have a 1000km round trip on the first day of the new season, it could pay off in spades both in the immediacy and later in the year, November 4 to be exact. 'It's a business decision,' said Dean Watt, the founder of Dynamic Syndications, who bought the stakes-placed mare at the Gold Coast for $150,000 as a yearling. 'First of all, we have got one eye on the weather but that's not the be all and end all however, whether Rosehill gets all-the-way through on Saturday is a question mark. It's A Knockout KO's them first up at Randwick! 🥊 @cmaherracing @NockBraith @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 'And Coffs (Harbour) at this stage has only had a sprinkle of rain that Sydney has had so you know the races are going to go on up there.' Watt, who has won a Golden Slipper and a Blue Diamond (among other features), was also keen to shield It's A Knockout from any potential huge rise in her benchmark rating should she have won in Sydney on the weekend. 'The Coffs Harbour Cup is Big Dance eligible and if you don't win it but you run second, you're Little Dance eligible,' he added. 'And there is only six grands worth of difference (between Rosehill and Coffs Harbour). 'Her benchmark is still going to go up but the horse becomes eligible to run in a $3 million or $1 million race.' The 2024/25 season concludes the 20th season that the ubiquitous Dynamic Syndications silks have been worn (including in this year's Everest). Watt's clients shared in 61 winners for the season, 20 of them city winners, taking his firm's overall tally close to 1000. In that time, Dynamic horses have returned a 90 per cent winners to runners while a phenomenal 98.1 per cent of the string earned prizemoney.
News.com.au
19-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Coffs Harbour previews: Trainer Donna Grisedale focuses on mental mastery with Piedi Veloci for racing success
His name translates as 'fast feet' but right now it's Piedi Veloci's brain that trainer Donna Grisedale is working hardest on. A three-year-old son of Widden Stud's flying machine, Supido, Grisedale 's gelding left an immediate and lasting impression when winning a barrier trial at home at Coffs Harbour in the middle of September last year. Piedi Veloci has raced three times since, and while unplaced at each of them, there was merit in all, albeit hidden from those outside his orbit. 'He's getting there,' Grisedale said. 'He is a massive work in progress this horse. Mentally not there yet, or physically, but plenty of ability. Success at @InverellRaces1 to Four Degrees who breaks his madien at start number 3! ðŸ'� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 23, 2025 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'He's just got to put it all together still. He did a few things wrong there at Grafton but ran home nicely. 'Once he gets balanced and in a straight line, he just goes, but you can't be slow away and give them that much start like he did.' Piedi Veloci's assignment this week is the Northern Beaches Blues AFL Country Boosted Maiden Handicap over 1205m. 'Ideally, the 1400m would have been better suited to him, however, here at Coffs Harbour on the Heavy 9 or Heavy 10, I thought the 1200m would pull him up and test him out a bit so I'll stick to the 1200m,' Grisedale explained. Grisedale, meanwhile, is taking both a quantity and quality approach to the feature race, the Woolgoogla Diggers Cup Benchmark 82 Handicap (1305m) where he saddles-up lively trio Bow, Ostracised and Mallee Boy Express. 'Bow doesn't really appreciate the Heavy going, Soft is fine, Heavy is not really ideal for him but he's not a very good traveller so for me to just take him over the road here is an opportunity too good to knock back,' Grisedale said. This will be the second time in the space of eight days that sees stablemates Ostracised and Stage Hit descendant Mallee Boy Express square off on race day. Last Thursday at Ballina, Mallee Boy Express edged out his more fancied stable companion to win an uncommonly strong Benchmark 58 Handicap. 🚂 A tight finish at Ballina sees Mallee Boy Express get home! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 12, 2025 'Mallee Boy Express is a hard one to get a gauge on,' Grisesdale said. 'His form is up and down a lot but he just relished that Heavy track. I don't normally back any of my horses up that quickly but how could I knock it back. 'They're going to get the Heavy track again. 'And especially Ostracised, he's coming right down from 62kg down to 55kg, so that will bring him right into contention. 'It is definitely a stronger grade race, that's why we've got the 55 kilos, but hometrack, Heavy track, there are a few ticks.' Ostracised has covered more ground and had more change of address than most horses. Born at Rothwell Park in Scone, Ostracised was originally housed at Team Hawkes' Victorian lodgings. After that he went to Kody Nestor at Dubbo, Cody Morgan at Tamworth, Bjorn Baker in Sydney and now north to Grisedale's headquarters at Coffs Harbour. 'When I saw Cody Morgan at Inverell, he said this horse was a Kosciuszko horse and a Championships horse on a Heavy track,' the trainer revealed. Grisedale has 'multiple runners' in the last of the eight races on her hometown card with Speedy Target and Another Balconyboy engaged. Both are owned by former trainers with Another Balconyboy racing in Jim Jarvis' hot pink colours while Speedy Target sports the colours made internationally famous by Joe Janiak's four-legged fairytale, Takeover Target. â– â– â– â– â– Blame me, not the horse. So said trainer Todd Payne in the wake of Desert Cougar 's disappointing performance at Grafton 11 days ago. The Coffs Harbour bound chestnut's fading ninth (of 12) came 20 days after she shed her maiden status in the most emphatic fashion at Tamworth with Luke Rolls in the saddle each time. 'Definitely excuses,' Payne said. 'It was trainer error. Luke came out of the jockeys room and said we might snag her back to last and get a run up the fence and I said no, no, jump her out and push her forward and try and see if you can get the one-one. 'Silly me, in hindsight it was the wrong thing to do. It was all on me. Anyway, I'll cop that on the chin. 'She's drawn a bit wide there again but Luke will know exactly what to do and I won't give him instructions like I did last week, because they just did not work. 'It is the right sort of race for her.' Desert Cougar is the third foal of her six-time winning dam, Kalahari Princess. A granddaughter of Lion Hunter, Kalahari Princess's second foal is Payne's stable captain, Lisztomania whose second-place in this year's Country Championships Final all but guarantees him a spot in the Kosciuszko at Randwick this October. Payne, meanwhile, will make the 600km round trip from Inverell to Coffs Harbour with the former Newcastle housed gelding, Soobooco, as a partner for Desert Cougar. First sold for $100,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in 2021, the grandson of Snitzel next appeared at the Inglis April Online Sale in 2024 when knocked down for $9,000. The son of the now Indonesian-based stallion Sooboog, Soobooco's Payne stable debut was underwhelming to say the least, clocking in last at Tamworth on May 20. Soobooco improved dramatically when he resurfaced at Grafton 18 days later when runner-up in a Class 3 over 1120m. 'He's just an older type of horse with a few little issues,' Payne explained. 'I think he likes the wet. 'I thought he went a lot better the other day at Grafton. He just didn't show that zip that I thought he would so we have gone back to a 1000m which is his preferred distance and Luke suggested to put shades on too so we put a set of visors on him this week. 'I'm happy with him going into this, that's for sure.'
