Latest news with #Doomben10000
News.com.au
18-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 The Everest: Sunshine In Paris to target this year's race as slot deal for Hong Kong's Ka Ying Rising draws closer
Sunshine In Paris is almost certain to stay in training and be aimed at the Group 1 $20 million The Everest next spring. And an Everest deal for Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising that will secure his place in the world's richest turf race is also imminent. John Camilleri, owner of Sunshine In Paris, suggested his outstanding rising six-year-old mare will race on next season after her tough win in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 last Saturday. 'Sunshine In Paris is not heavily raced, I think she is up to start 17 so she has no 'miles' in her legs,'' Camilleri said. 'So, we are leaning towards another crack at The Everest and maybe the Melbourne Champions Sprint, a race she won last year.'' Sunshine In Paris, trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, notched the third Group 1 win of her career when she wore down Rothfire to win the Doomben 10,000 in a thrilling finish. Camilleri revealed winning rider James McDonald told him Sunshine In Paris 'hated' the heavy 8 track conditions at Doomben. 'But she still put in,'' the owner said. 'I thought 100m out she's not going to get there but she did which is testimony to how gutsy she is.'' Too good J-Mac! He lifts Sunshine In Paris to victory in the Doomben 10,000 ðŸ'° @mcacajamez @ANeashamRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 • 'It really felt like a win': Rothfire's second coming thrills connections Sunshine In Paris is nominated for the Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 but Camilleri said the mare would be sent to the spelling paddock early this week. Camillieri's Fairway Thoroughbreds holds an Everest slot and Sunshine In Paris will now be aimed at the rich Royal Randwick sprint on October 18. Sunshine In Paris is currently at $26 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting for The Everest behind Ka Ying Rising at $1.90. The only confirmed starters for The Everest – Private Harry (slot-holder Yulong) and Briasa (Max Whitby, Neil Werrett, Col Madden) – are $6 and $8 second and third favourite respectively. Although Everest favourite Ka Ying Rising has not yet secured a slot it is understood an announcement is expected any day. HE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚀 Ka Ying Rising makes it 12 straight wins, four Group 1s and a HK$5 million Speed Series bonus with victory in the 2025 Chairman's Sprint Prize... @zpurton #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025 There is speculation the Hong Kong Jockey Club could purchase or lease an Everest slot of its own for a minimum three years and when that deal is signed, Ka Ying Rising will be locked in as a starter. It makes sense for HKJC to become involved as a slot-holder as the club hosts the World Pool which will be betting on The Everest and Ka Ying Rising's presence in the Randwick sprint will generate considerable interest from Hong Kong punters. Racing NSW late last week asked for expressions of interest to buy The Star's Everest slot while Australian Turf Club and TAB are other slot-holders who might consider selling or leasing their slot. Ka Ying Rising, trained by expatriate David Hayes, has won 12 races in succession including the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin last start to improve his official rating to 126, up from 124. This moves Ka Ying Rising alongside another Hong Kong champion, Romantic Warrior, on the official world rankings with the pair behind only Japan's Forever Young on 127.
Daily Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
2025 Doomben 10,000: Old warrior Rothfire game in defeat
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. It's not often that a trainer and connections get narrowly beaten in a $1.5 million Group 1 and are overcome emotionally with a heady mixture of ecstasy and a tinge of sadness. But that's exactly what happened to trainer Rob Heathcote and the owners of Rothfire on Saturday when majestic mare Sunshine In Paris defeated the old warrior by a head in a thrilling Doomben 10,000 (1200m). It took a now three-time Group 1-winning mare and superstar jockey James McDonald to get the better of Rothfire, who bravely fought to the line, despite being written off by many experts and bookmakers leading into the feature race. That's what created the tears of joy in the owners' enclosure after the Doomben 10,000. The sadness comes from the stark reality that the ride is almost over for Heathcote and the seven-year-old gelding's owners, given this is likely to be Rothfire's last winter carnival. • 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! 'It's quite bizarre really. For a horse that ran second, it really felt like a win, everyone was so happy,' a delighted Heathcote said on Sunday 'It is an unusual feeling because you rue missing out on the status and dollars of a $1.5 million Group 1 but yet I'm absolutely enormously proud of the effort of the horse. 'I think the fact that James McDonald made as much reference to Rothfire's courageous run than he did his own horse is testament to the quality of Rothfire's run. 'I was so confident going into that race, not of winning but of making people eat their words. 'I was confident he would run huge because he doesn't know how to not run huge. It's just ingrained in his character.' • 'Hell of a fright': J-Mac digs deep to deny local hero in Doomben 10,000 Heathcote will head to the $1m Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 brimming with even more confidence after Rothfire's Doomben heroics. Then it's likely on to the prestigious $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) two weeks later for a winter carnival swan song for the 'Thrilla From Chinchilla', the iron horse whose career nearly ended in September 2020 when he suffered a severe sesamoid injury. Heathcote revealed he had been more 'aggressive' in the preparation of the 2020 JJ Atkins champion given that this campaign would likely be his last dance. 'I've actually gone into this preparation a little more aggressive with him in terms of training,' he said on Sunday. 'I've got him a little more forward because this may be the last roll of dice so I don't tend to be as timid in his work. 'It's always a sense of relief with this horse every time he races and every time he does a track gallop. 'About nine months ago there was a bit of a push on social media that I should retire this horse but I pushed back and said 'I'll know when the time is right'. 'I don't need people to tell me. Clearly the time is not right.' • Big Bets Review: Classy import Sir Delius burns bookies with Doomben romp Heathcote is happy to compare the tenacious Rothfire to his seven-time Group 1 champion gelding Buffering, who retired in the spring of 2016 after a glittering career. 'It's a question I get asked, who would've been the better horse?' he said. 'Buffering put seven Group 1s on the board and won $7 million bucks, which is akin to $15 or $20 million these days. 'But Rothfire, with his gammy leg, he still ran second in three feature Group 1s. He's as tough as they come.' Originally published as 'Enormously proud': Mixture of joy and sadness after Rothfire goes agonisingly close to fairytale Group 1 victory in 2025 Doomben 10,000
News.com.au
18-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Enormously proud': Mixture of joy and sadness after Rothfire goes agonisingly close to fairytale Group 1 victory in 2025 Doomben 10,000
It's not often that a trainer and connections get narrowly beaten in a $1.5 million Group 1 and are overcome emotionally with a heady mixture of ecstasy and a tinge of sadness. But that's exactly what happened to trainer Rob Heathcote and the owners of Rothfire on Saturday when majestic mare Sunshine In Paris defeated the old warrior by a head in a thrilling Doomben 10,000 (1200m). It took a now three-time Group 1 -winning mare and superstar jockey James McDonald to get the better of Rothfire, who bravely fought to the line, despite being written off by many experts and bookmakers leading into the feature race. That's what created the tears of joy in the owners' enclosure after the Doomben 10,000. The sadness comes from the stark reality that the ride is almost over for Heathcote and the seven-year-old gelding's owners, given this is likely to be Rothfire's last winter carnival. 'It's quite bizarre really. For a horse that ran second, it really felt like a win, everyone was so happy,' a delighted Heathcote said on Sunday 'It is an unusual feeling because you rue missing out on the status and dollars of a $1.5 million Group 1 but yet I'm absolutely enormously proud of the effort of the horse. 'I think the fact that James McDonald made as much reference to Rothfire's courageous run than he did his own horse is testament to the quality of Rothfire's run. 'I was so confident going into that race, not of winning but of making people eat their words. 'I was confident he would run huge because he doesn't know how to not run huge. It's just ingrained in his character.' Too good J-Mac! He lifts Sunshine In Paris to victory in the Doomben 10,000 ðŸ'° @mcacajamez @ANeashamRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 • Heathcote will head to the $1m Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 brimming with even more confidence after Rothfire's Doomben heroics. Then it's likely on to the prestigious $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) two weeks later for a winter carnival swan song for the 'Thrilla From Chinchilla', the iron horse whose career nearly ended in September 2020 when he suffered a severe sesamoid injury. Heathcote revealed he had been more 'aggressive' in the preparation of the 2020 JJ Atkins champion given that this campaign would likely be his last dance. 'I've actually gone into this preparation a little more aggressive with him in terms of training,' he said on Sunday. 'I've got him a little more forward because this may be the last roll of dice so I don't tend to be as timid in his work. 'It's always a sense of relief with this horse every time he races and every time he does a track gallop. 'About nine months ago there was a bit of a push on social media that I should retire this horse but I pushed back and said 'I'll know when the time is right'. 'I don't need people to tell me. Clearly the time is not right.' The thriller from Chinchilla Rothfire is crowned King Of The Mountain for 2024! ðŸ'' â›°ï¸� @BenThompson2102 takes out the $750,000 feature for the second year running, this time combining with Rob Heathcote! #QLDisRacing ðŸ�‡ — RaceQ (@RaceQLD) January 1, 2024 Heathcote is happy to compare the tenacious Rothfire to his seven-time Group 1 champion gelding Buffering, who retired in the spring of 2016 after a glittering career. 'It's a question I get asked, who would've been the better horse?' he said. 'Buffering put seven Group 1s on the board and won $7 million bucks, which is akin to $15 or $20 million these days. 'But Rothfire, with his gammy leg, he still ran second in three feature Group 1s. He's as tough as they come.'
The Australian
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
‘Hell of a fright': James McDonald digs deep to deny local hero in Doomben 10,000
It takes a lot to surprise James McDonald but the superstar jockey conceded he got a 'hell of a fright' as he was forced to pull out all stops to deny a remarkable Queensland warrior in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000. McDonald equalled his career-best season with his 19th Group 1 win of the season and now mighty mare Sunshine In Paris looks a likely contender for the 2025 Everest after a nailbiting Doomben 10,000 triumph. • 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! But McDonald, riding the favourite who was strongly backed from $4.20 to $3.30, had to dig deep to get past ageless Queensland star Rothfire, who started $41. Another Queenslander, $51 roughie Payline, rounded out the placings to complete a big day for Chris Munce who earlier trained a pair of winners. There were huge cheers from the Sunshine In Paris camp as Rob and Annabel Archibald celebrated their first Group 1 together since their recent wedding. But it was far from easy pickings as McDonald fought out one of his tougher Group 1 wins. 'That Rothfire, he is as tough as they come,' McDonald said. 'I was worried at the furlong that I wasn't going to get to him. 'He had a tougher run than we did, but he kept surging. 'Credit to him, he gave me a hell of a fright.' • What the jockeys said: 2025 Doomben 10,000 The heavy Doomben track meant some Doomben 10,000 runners were always going to struggle to be there at the business end. But Sunshine In Paris looked to be travelling well a long way from home in the first Group 1 of the Queensland winter carnival. But Rothfire would simply not be denied and kept kicking, despite trainer Rob Heathcote knowing his seven-year-old galloper who won his Group 1 at age two was not at his best on heavy tracks. 'We've been knocked off by arguably one of the best mares in the country and he's done Queensland proud,' Heathcote declared. 'I knew he would run a big race today because I had faith in his courage and he's proven that. He's as tough as they come. 'He's been a warrior for me his entire life. 'I shudder to think what he would have been had he not suffered that injury earlier in his career. 'The old bugger, he runs on three legs but he's not lame, he's not sore.' A smiling James McDonald returns to the winner's enclosure. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography. Rob Archibald said it was full credit to Sunshine In Paris who nabbed her third career Group 1. 'I'm just so pleased for the mare, she's been great all preparation but she just hasn't had a good draw, so I'm really pleased it worked out well,' he said. 'Thanks to her owners for being brave enough and supportive enough to run her on a track which probably isn't to her liking.' Of the beaten brigade, Overpass's jockey Josh Parr blamed the heavy track conditions for a ninth-placed finish. 'It's unfortunate that we got such a putrid track here today,' Parr said. 'He tried his hardest but he couldn't go on the ground.'
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Doomben 10,000
Star mare Sunshine In Paris prevailed in a thrilling conclusion to the $1.5 million Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday. The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained mare was never on the track but she called on all reserves to outgun the gallant local veteran Rothfire with the outsider Payline charging home to grab third. Too good J-Mac! He lifts Sunshine In Paris to victory in the Doomben 10,000 ðŸ'° @mcacajamez @ANeashamRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 A daughter of Invader, the win was Sunshine In Paris's third Group 1 success and seventh from 17 starts, taking her earnings to more than $6 million. James McDonald was the winning rider and the victory was his 18th Group 1 win of the season. This is what the riders thought of their mount's performance in the Doomben 10,000. â– â– â– â– â– 1st – SUNSHINE IN PARIS (James McDonald) She thoroughly deserved this win. She's been comparing against the best horses all the way through the autumn. She was very tough and it's great to get a big result for the Archibald team. They've done an extremely good job with this mare. Rothfire was as tough as they come. I was worried at the furlong that we weren't going to get to him, but he probably had a tougher run than we did and my mare kept on surging. He gave us one heel of a fright. 2nd – ROTHFIRE (Tim Clark) He was fantastic. He was very brave and made a big improvement from his first-up run, it was an excellent performance. 3rd – PAYLINE (Justin Huxtable) He went really well. 4th – BENEDETTA (Jamie Melham) No comment provided. 5th – SCHWARZ (Craig Williams) I was really proud of his performance. He didn't really love the ground at all, but he did a good job to fight on. He dwelt a little bit at the start so that probably cost us a position I would've loved to have landed in. So under those circumstances I thought he acquitted himself really well. 6th – MAZU (Rachel King) The bad gate didn't help him today, but he was really tough and honest. 7th – LIBERTAD (Jamie Mott) He ran really well. He went well on a heavy track as a three-year-old, but I'm not sure he handled it that well today. He gave a small kick but was found wanting. 8th – JEDIBEEL (Tyler Schiller) He didn't get too much luck today, but I thought he still did a good job. He ran up some backsides and didn't get any clear air at any point, so it was a bit of a forgive run. 9th – OVERPASS (Joshua Parr) It's unfortunate that we got such a putrid track here today. He tried his hardest but he couldn't go on the ground. 10th – DESERT LIGHTNING (Thomas Stockdale) He was feeling quite fresh today. He was a bit handier than I imagined him to be, he travelled well throughout and I was happy with his last 100 metres so it should bring him on nicely for his next run. 11th – LADY LAGUNA (Mark Zahra) She wasn't up to it today. 12th – HIDDEN WEALTH (Tommy Berry) He probably just drew too well on a track that is very hard to be on the inside of. We controlled it quite well early but we ended up stuck where I didn't want to be. 13th – VEIGHT (Andrew Mallyon) He struggled to get into the race.
