Latest news with #Dundeel
The Australian
21-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
It's A Knockout stuns rivals with dominant victory
It's A Knockout dealt rivals an emphatic blow to put a Winter black type tilt on the agenda following his first-up demolition job at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare packed plenty of punch as she floored rivals in a sensational Traffic Warden @ Darley Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) triumph. Star apprentice Braith Nock said the hardest thing about the race was 'pulling her up' as It's A Knockout ($6) spaced rivals by four-and-a-quarter lengths with Oh Diamond Lil ($4.60) and Glad You Think So ($31) filling the minor placings. • 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! The Maher stable had come to Randwick expecting a bold fresh showing and It's A Knockout delivered. 'We did learn a bit about her last prep,' Maher's assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said. 'Because she is a Dundeel, we always thought stepping over a trip would suit but I think she is just a good fresh horse and she is a bit sharper than we thought she would be in time. 'She proved that today and it was a beautiful ride. He ended up in a great spot from a trickier barrier. 'He took his time and exposed her at the right time and she was dominant late.' It's A Knockout is building an excellent record in a short amount of time with three wins and three placings from eight starts. She was placed in a Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m) during the autumn and is destined to get another crack at stakes grade next month. Maher plans to target the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on July 19. • Brave One's wide run no obstacle in Randwick triumph 'It's in four weeks over 1500m,' Gerard-Dubord said. 'She has some black type already but not a stakes winner yet so it's probably the right race.' Meanwhile, Quantum Cat ended a frustrating run of outs to break his Australian duck in The Living Turf Benchmark 88 Handicap (1800m). Quantum Cat won three of his first five starts to begin his racing career in the UK but hasn't been able to replicate that form since moving to Australia in 2024. The Chris Waller-trained import put the writing on the wall with a pair of placings in the lead-up before snaring his first win at his 13th attempt on Australian soil. 'It was a good win,' Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said. 'I think the last couple of races we have ummed and aahed whether he has been applying himself fully. 'At Hawkesbury two starts ago he was a little bit unlucky where he got struck across the nose so we gave him the benefit of the doubt. 'Time and time again the jockeys keep saying he is applying himself, he just needs conditions to suit and he got exactly that today.' • Lulumon bounces back with stunning win Jockey Zac Lloyd had Quantum Cat in striking distance behind the leaders and looked to have plenty to offer in the run. Quantum Cat ($3) was able to go through his gears from the top of the straight and was strong late to hold off the fast-finishing Hollywood Hero ($12) by three quarters of a length. Kirkeby ($81) ran on for third. Lloyd felt a favourable draw proved pivotal to helping Quantum Cat finally return to winning ways. 'I was able to use that barrier which helped,' Lloyd said. 'The first furlong was a little bit tricky whether to utilise our speed or come back in behind Braith (Nock) but I opted to roll forward and it enabled me to dictate the race from third. 'The horse was good today. 'We took a bit of winding up from about the 500m but once I balanced up and straightened up, he got outside Zaphod, and I thought I was going to be hard to run down.' Duckworth said the stable will keep the door open for Quantum Cat to back-up next week in the Listed $200,000 McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens.
News.com.au
21-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
An impressive first-up win by It's A Knockout sets up a tilt at next month's Listed Winter Challenge
It's A Knockout dealt rivals an emphatic blow to put a Winter black type tilt on the agenda following his first-up demolition job at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher -trained mare packed plenty of punch as she floored rivals in a sensational Traffic Warden @ Darley Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) triumph. Star apprentice Braith Nock said the hardest thing about the race was 'pulling her up' as It's A Knockout ($6) spaced rivals by four-and-a-quarter lengths with Oh Diamond Lil ($4.60) and Glad You Think So ($31) filling the minor placings. The Maher stable had come to Randwick expecting a bold fresh showing and It's A Knockout delivered. 'We did learn a bit about her last prep,' Maher's assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said. 'Because she is a Dundeel, we always thought stepping over a trip would suit but I think she is just a good fresh horse and she is a bit sharper than we thought she would be in time. 'She proved that today and it was a beautiful ride. He ended up in a great spot from a trickier barrier. 'He took his time and exposed her at the right time and she was dominant late.' It's A Knockout is building an excellent record in a short amount of time with three wins and three placings from eight starts. She was placed in a Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m) during the autumn and is destined to get another crack at stakes grade next month. Maher plans to target the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on July 19. It's A Knockout KO's them first up at Randwick! 🥊 @cmaherracing @NockBraith @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 • Brave One's wide run no obstacle in Randwick triumph 'It's in four weeks over 1500m,' Gerard-Dubord said. 'She has some black type already but not a stakes winner yet so it's probably the right race.' Meanwhile, Quantum Cat ended a frustrating run of outs to break his Australian duck in The Living Turf Benchmark 88 Handicap (1800m). Quantum Cat won three of his first five starts to begin his racing career in the UK but hasn't been able to replicate that form since moving to Australia in 2024. The Chris Waller -trained import put the writing on the wall with a pair of placings in the lead-up before snaring his first win at his 13th attempt on Australian soil. 'It was a good win,' Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said. 'I think the last couple of races we have ummed and aahed whether he has been applying himself fully. 'At Hawkesbury two starts ago he was a little bit unlucky where he got struck across the nose so we gave him the benefit of the doubt. 'Time and time again the jockeys keep saying he is applying himself, he just needs conditions to suit and he got exactly that today.' It's Quantum Cat's day today! ðŸ�± The striking @cwallerracing -trained galloper gets his first Australian win with @ZacLloydx in the saddle! @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 • Lulumon bounces back with stunning win Jockey Zac Lloyd had Quantum Cat in striking distance behind the leaders and looked to have plenty to offer in the run. Quantum Cat ($3) was able to go through his gears from the top of the straight and was strong late to hold off the fast-finishing Hollywood Hero ($12) by three quarters of a length. Kirkeby ($81) ran on for third. Lloyd felt a favourable draw proved pivotal to helping Quantum Cat finally return to winning ways. 'I was able to use that barrier which helped,' Lloyd said. 'The first furlong was a little bit tricky whether to utilise our speed or come back in behind Braith (Nock) but I opted to roll forward and it enabled me to dictate the race from third. 'The horse was good today. 'We took a bit of winding up from about the 500m but once I balanced up and straightened up, he got outside Zaphod, and I thought I was going to be hard to run down.' Listed $200,000 McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens.
News.com.au
29-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Femminile chasing South Australian and Queensland Derby double at Eagle Farm Saturday
A day's detour is unlikely to hinder Pakenham trainer Phillip Stokes 's bid for a second Queensland Derby triumph at Saturday's Eagle Farm meeting. The Stokes-trained Femminile will run in new colours in the Queensland Derby after Yulong Investments paid $1.5m for the South Australian Derby winner at a Gold Coast auction on Tuesday. Thankfully for Stokes, Femminile's preparation was not disrupted by days spent parading at the Magic Millions sales complex. I was very happy when they (Yulong) rang me straight after the sale to tell me we'd better get her back into her box,' Stokes said. 'She only had to spend one day at the sales, she didn't have to be there any longer.' The Queensland Derby wasn't on Stokes's mind when Femminile returned to work for her autumn campaign. The Group 1 Australasian Oaks was Femminile's initial target but Stokes decided to give the Dundeel filly a crack at the boys in the South Australian Derby. • 'She got beaten in the Oaks but I actually thought the fillies were better than the colts,' Stokes said. 'We were going to run her in the other 2500m feature (the Group 3 SA Fillies' Classic) the week after so thank God my racing manager pushed the button and nominated her for the Derby. 'She got a peach of a ride and got the job done. 'It wasn't the initial plan to go to the Queensland Derby but when she won the South Australian Derby, I thought, 'let's try and do this again'.' Stokes said recent history was on Femminile's side in the Queensland Derby. He noted several Queensland Derby winners, including his own galloper Mr Quickie, were beaten in the South Australian Derby before heading north. 'History tells you the South Australian Derby has been a good pointer for the Queensland Derby,' Stokes said. 'Last year, Warmonger was beaten in the SA Derby and won the Queensland Derby. 'Mr Quickie got beaten in the South Australian Derby and won the Queensland Derby and there's been a few others as well.' Magicool and Ruthven reinforce Stokes's point. Both horses were beaten in the South Australian Derby before claiming the Queensland Derby in 2015 and 2017 respectively. Femminile is a $8 chance to become the first filly to win the Queensland Derby since the Bart Cummings-trained Dariana prevailed in 2010. 'She's very clean-winded and Ethan Brown galloped her on Tuesday at the Gold Coast and he was really taken by her,' Stokes said. 'If we get any rain, which I think is forecast, she'll love it.'
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Shayne O'Cass's tips, inside mail for Hawkesbury, Albury on Tuesday
Form analyst Shayne O'Cass presents his best bets, value selection and quaddie picks for NSW racing at Hawkesbury on Tuesday, plus his tips for Albury. â– â– â– â– â– HAWKESBURY TIPS BEST BET Race 4 No.3 SUPER NUI: Has won at the venue; won by eight on a Heavy 9 last start. NEXT BEST Race 7 No.3 HOVLAND: Lightly-raced Dundeel who broke his maiden here by four lengths. VALUE Race 1 No.4 LIKE ANYTHING: Caught the eye late at Canterbury on debut last month. QUADDIE Race 4: 3 Race 5: 1,2,4,5 Race 6: 1,2,9 Race 7: 3,4 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Kerrin McEvoy will be rightfully popular in the TAB Jockeys Challenge. HAWKESBURY INSIDE MAIL LIKE ANYTHING (4) is trained by Ron Quinton who won two races at Canterbury with the dam, Duchess Pedrille, and 11 races all over the place with her dam, Mamzelle Pedrille. Like Anything was $31/$41 back into $31 when she fifth, beaten six-lengths, at Canterbury on debut over 1250m. Everything about the run said next time and 1400m. BELLA CAVALLO (1) is a well-bred colt by Russian Revolution out of the Tasmanian Oaks winner, Iggimacool. Has trialled rather well too. ALL TOO CLEVER (7) is back to provincial grade off a good city run. BET: LIKE ANYTHING (4) to win, quinella 1,4. ZING TO ME (4) is a sister to Peter Snowden stablemate Ka Bling. Every foal out of the mare can gallop, this one included. Ran a super race on debut here behind Agenda Setter. Smashing trial win on May 5 at HQ. COLUMBIA BLUE (1) was runner-up to Pierolite on debut; that horse was placed at the midweeks straight after. Jockey Adam Hyeronimus has ridden 11 winners in May so far! HARRY'S EVIDENCE (2) has trialled right up to the mark. BET: ZING TO ME (4) win or is scratched, COLUMBIA BLUE (1) to win. DIAMOND SHOW (7) is undoubtedly one of the most valuable horses racing today. Her dam is by Zabeel. Her fifth dam is none other than Eight Carat whose Zabeel offspring include Octagonal and Mouawad. Bred to get better with each passing day and so far, that is the case. MURPHILLY (9) has probably run what you would say are six good races in seven starts. Could even say her last start was her best given she was beaten a lip, and on a Heavy 10 too. BET: DIAMOND SHOW (7) to win, quinella 7,9. SUPER NUI (3) has a tidy strike-rate of two wins, two seconds and a third in her nine starts. Her record at this venue is one win, one second from four visits. She is one for one at the distance and perhaps most significantly, given the conditions, she won her last start on a heavy 9 by eight-plus lengths. Another good muddie here is RATHORAN (4), a dual acceptor on the card. CELTIC SIN (6) ploughed across the Heavy 8 at Wyong first-up to win. Always had talent; maybe this is 'her prep'? BET: SUPER NUI (3) to win (best bet). OUI OUI OUI (2) is a daughter of who else but Yes Yes Yes and was tipped after a creditable debut fourth to Shangri La Spring at Kembla on Cup day last year. She resumed there on April 15 this year and ran right over the top of her rivals to win, As for last start, she finished midfield in the 16-horse Guineas here on May 3. EXOTHRILL (4), another local, got a copybook ride by Chad Lever to win at Wyong but credit to the horse; he was easing down the last bit – and it was a Heavy 10 too. ICEMAN (1) is racing his way to a peak. BET: OUI OUI OUI (2) to win, box trifecta 1,2,4,5, DD 1st leg 2, 2nd Leg 3. CLIFTON SPRINGS (9) has won four races, three of them were on good tracks but he has finished runner-up twice in four runs on heavy and his soft numbers are very compelling relative to his price today. His last runs on heavy going were among his best. Sure to be prominent for a long way. INOUE (1) is two from two on soft. This pedigree is instantly recognisable as one of the late Don Storey's best and from memory, most of them were swimmers. BET: CLIFTON SPRINGS (9) each-way. HOVLAND (3) is quite a promising 3YO. Trained by O'Shea and Charlton, he was a $600,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase by Dundeel out of Rimraam who won a Vanity Stakes and was third in a Surround. As for Hovland, he broke his maiden at this track, by four lengths no less. Good signs at Wyong first-up. Stablemate MAXIMUM DIVIDEND (4) really hasn't missed a beat in his five runs. Has the makings of a really nice miler/2000m-type (as well). SPACE ACE (8), the son of Pierro, has a win and three seconds from five starts. Importantly, the win was a Heavy 8. Will likely be the one they all have to pass. BET: HOVLAND (3) to win. â– â– â– â– â–
