Latest news with #Flemington
Daily Telegraph
13 hours ago
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Diwali springs a surprise in Sandown Cup
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Developing stayer Diwali caused a minor upset in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) on Sunday. Diwali, aptly-named and trained for success on Australian Steeplechase race day, capitalised on the slowly-run Sandown Cup and finished better than favourites Through Irish Eyes and Alma Rise. A horse named Diwali, trained by the late Rick Hore-Lacy, won the 1982 Australian Steeplechase. Former jumps jockey-turned-trainer Gavin Bedggood, who trains the current Diwali, rode three Australian Steeplechase winners including Mazzacano (2007 and 2009) and Vindicating (2011). 'He presented well, he'd (Diwali) been running well… and the race was there,' Bedggood said. 'We thought it was probably going to end up like it was, horses from the Andrew Ramsden, a few jumpers… we were untried at the distance range but we thought with the right run in transit it should work well for him.' Diwali won a 2400m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Moe three back and most recently placed second at Sandown over the same distance in a midweek Benchmark 70. The four-year-old worked smartly last week, which convinced Bedggood to go for the Sandown Cup. 'We came here today with reasonable confidence, obviously a horse with a low benchmark rating but on fresh legs I suppose,' Bedggood said. Bedggood said the Deane Lester Flemington Cup (2800m) on July 19 at Flemington could be viable winter finale for Diwali. 'We got six weeks, we'll probably send him to the beach tomorrow and give him a week to freshen up a little bit,' Bedggood said. 'Maybe look for a 2500m run at Flemington in between time, we might get three weeks, three weeks into that race (Flemington Cup) and use it as our final.' Experienced jockey Joe Bowditch praised Bedggood's placement of Diwali. Gavin Bedggood with Joe Bowditch celebrate Diwali's win in the Sandown Cup. Photo:. 'Can't this bloke train a racehorse? Never put anything past Gavin,' Bowditch said. 'I won a Benchmark 58 at Moe on (Diwali) three starts back, he was impressive but I wouldn't have thought we'd be here… full credit to Gavin.' Bowditch had the race won a long way out on Diwali, who turned for home with plenty to offer. 'Once we came past the winning post (the first time) the anchor went out and everything steadied up,' Bowditch said. 'I was quite glad to see Linda (Meech) take off and get going and that just allowed me to get away from the fence and get off the back of Glentaneous. 'Bided my time and once Declan (Bates) got going I was able to get a beautiful cart up… I was a bit worried I was going to get there a little bit too soon. 'The horse was travelling that well I didn't want to stop his momentum over this trip, stop start on him, I just kept letting him flow and he was too good.' Originally published as Diwali relishes the step up to two miles in the Sandown Cup
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Rise At Dawn primed to spring upset in Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup
Kingsford Smith Cup contender Rise At Dawn is the Hayes brothers' 'ugly duckling' who has done what superstar stablemate Mr Brightside couldn't. Will Hayes, who trains alongside his brothers Ben and JD, pointed out that Rise At Dawn won the Listed The Elms Handicap (1400m) at Flemington in February first-up in his preparation, an achievement that even the great Mr Brightside couldn't pull off in 2022. 'By no means is this an easy race,' he said about the Group 1 $1m Kingsford Smith, which offers a golden ticket to the Stradbroke Handicap for the winner. 'He's certainly going to be right there to the finish because he's a horse with tremendous high-cruising speed and he does get pretty quick to the corner. 'I remember what he did first-up in The Elms in the autumn. He goes pretty good first-up so we're very excited for the weekend. 'Mr Brightside actually kicked off one preparation in The Elms and wasn't able to do it so he's certainly in pretty good company.' Four-year-old Rise At Dawn is a $17 chance for the Kingsford Smith Cup, well behind favourite Joliestar ($2.90), Giga Kick ($5), Benedetta ($7.50) and Bosustow ($8.50) in the market. The gelding that co-trainer Ben Hayes last month described as an 'ugly duckling, but he's all heart' was initially slated to run in last weekend's Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) but a bad barrier draw led to his scratching. 'We decided to bide our time and I'm glad we did because we've come up with a very good barrier (one) in what looks to be a competitive race,' Will Hayes said. 'It's a weight-for-age path as well so if we win, it doesn't change our weight in the Stradbroke (52.5kg).' Asked about the 'ugly duckling' reference, Will said: 'He's certainly not a picture by any means. 'It's a bit like there's no such thing as an ugly rich bloke and there's no such thing as an ugly fast horse. 'He's by Almanzor and he keeps rising to every occasion.' A Kingsford Smith Cup victory would not only secure a spot in the Stradbroke, but the $600,000 winner's cheque would push Rise At Dawn's prizemoney well beyond the $1m mark. 'I think you can make a case for probably eight horses in the race,' Hayes said. 'They'll more than likely be having to give us a decent start but we're meeting them all at set weights so it's going to be a very good barometer as we head towards the Stradbroke.' Rise At Dawn flopped in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington in the autumn before his last start, an impressive fourth in the $4m Group 1 Doncaster Mile, which was won by last year's Stradbroke Handicap champion Stefi Magnetica on April 5.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘We've had a good season': Team Hawkes on verge of surpassing stable prizemoney record
Team Hawkes are on the verge of a personal stable milestone at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The training partnership of Hall of Famer John Hawkes and his sons Michael and Wayne have already prepared 58 winners on all tracks during 2024-25, including three at Group 1 level, for stable earnings of $10,721,795. The stable's trio of Group 1 wins with Briasa (TJ Smith Stakes), Nepotism (Champagne Stakes) and Devil Night (Blue Diamond) is the most majors they have trained in one season since All Too Hard won four elite level races in 2012-13. • But with only two months of the season remaining, Team Hawkes is certain to break its previous best season's prizemoney return of $10,809,625 set in 2021-22 – and it could happen as early as Saturday's home track Rosehill meeting. The Hawkes stable has starters in four races including fancied duo Furious in the Ranvet Handicap (1500m) and Brave One in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1200m). 'We've had a good season because we only have a small team in work these days with 35 at Rosehill and 25 at Flemington,'' John Hawkes said. 'We keep chipping away and we were lucky to win a few big races which always helps.'' The Rosehill track was rated a Heavy 9 late on Friday with the likelihood of an upgrade on race day. 'The weather seems to have come good for a few days but the track is not going to dry out too much,'' Hawkes said. 'Our horses should handle the track but you don't want it too heavy.'' Furious is the pick of the Hawkes stable runners at Rosehill if TAB betting is any guide as he is challenging for favouritism at $5 behind only Enter The Dragon at $4.80. Hawkes said Furious, part-owned by Rupert Legh of Chautauqua fame, has trained on well after his close second to Pippie Beach at a Kensington meeting earlier this month. 'Furious has 60.5kg and it's never easy when carrying big weights on wet tracks,'' Hawkes said. 'But the horse is well in himself and certainly we feel he will be competitive.'' Brave One, who is also part-owned by Legh, resumed with a close second to Cruel Summer in heavy conditions at Canterbury a month ago. But the Hawkes-trained sprinter gets in with only 54kg for his Rosehill race and is firm in betting at $6 behind Godolphin sprinter Kerguelen at $3.10. 'Brave One has had time to get over his first-up run,'' Hawkes said. 'This is a harder race but we are happy with him.'' Hawkes has also entered Allapercanto ($23) and Liberty State ($26) for the TAB Handicap (1200m) and Catahoula ($17) is in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1100m). At Eagle Farm, the Hawkes stable can secure another feature two-year-old race with promising Gallo Nero ($4.20 favourite) for the Group 2 $1m BRC Sires Produce Stakes. Meanwhile, Hawkes said the 'grey flash' Briasa and boom two-year-old Nepotism are still out spelling and won't return to the Rosehill stable for another two weeks. Briasa has been selected by slot-holders Max Whitby, Neil Werrett and Col Madden for the $20m The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on October 18 while Nepotism is likely to be aimed at the Group 1 three-year-old classics, Golden Rose (1400m) and Caulfield Guineas (1600m). 'We haven't locked in their spring programs but with Briasa he will only have one or two runs into The Everest,'' Hawkes said. 'He won't have too many runs each preparation, that way we can keep him racing for longer. 'Nepotism we will take along quietly and hopefully get him to races like the Golden Rose and the Caulfield Guineas.'' â– â– â– â– â– On the subject of significant achievements, Chris Waller and James McDonald can challenge national Group 1 records at Eagle Farm. Waller goes into the meeting having already trained 18 Group 1 winners this season, equalling the all-time record he set in 2018/19. McDonald has ridden 14 Australian Group 1 winners during 2024-25 and has the opportunity to edge closer or even equal '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 ($3 favourite) in the Group 1 $1m Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) and Belle Detelle ($5.50) in the Group 1 $1m Queensland Derby (2400m). Waller has multiple runners in both Group 1 races with Democracy Manifest ($41) in the Kingsford Smith Cup, while in the Derby the trainer is also saddling up Imperalist ($19), Existential Bob ($41) and possibly emergency Liberty Park ($101). Meanwhile, Waller will pass the $50 million prizemoney stable for the season on Saturday. The Hall of Fame trainer has already prepared the winners of $49,987,130 to trail only Ciaron Maher with a record $55,737,500 (and counting) on this season's prizemoney rankings. â– â– â– â– â– Bacio Del Mist might be the rank outsider at $81 for the Listed $200,000 Lord Mayor's Cup (2000m) at Rosehill but trainer Cherie Curtis expects the grey mare to run a 'competitive race'. 'She ran well at Scone last start, it was only 1700m and she was just run off her legs,'' Curtis said. 'But we are getting her ready for some of the winter staying races and she is much better for the run.'' Interestingly, the only mare to win the Lord Mayor's Cup in more than two decades was a grey – Polly Grey in 2021. â– â– â– â– â– Dave Morrison will officiate at his first Sydney Saturday meeting as Rosehill track manager. The experienced Morrison was appointed earlier this month to replace Shaun Patterson. Morrison spent 30 years on the track staff at Royal Randwick and the last two at Rosehill so his transition to the top job has been seamless. The official track rating for Rosehill late on Friday was a Heavy 9 after more than 110mm of rain fell on the track over the last seven days but Morrison will be hoping for an upgrade on race day.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Flemington breaks with New Year's Day tradition and will stage meeting on New Year's Eve
Victoria Racing Club will break with tradition and host a landmark twilight meeting on New Year's Eve. Flemington has historically held feature races on New Year's Day, but the opportunity to draw a larger crowd and potentially new audience – with fireworks on and off the track – warranted the change. While planning for the NYE race card is in a formative stage, this masthead has established the last race could be held at about 7.30pm – two hours before the family-friendly early fireworks display at nearby Footscray Park. Flemington has the luxury of multiple grandstands with sweeping views of the Melbourne skyline, including the The Club Stand rooftop. VRC chief executive Kylie Rogers welcomed the New Year's Eve fixture. 'We are excited to introduce a twilight New Year's Eve format that expands our opportunity to welcome VRC members, the local community, families and our regular racing participants to bring in the New Year at spectacular Flemington and make the most of our outstanding facilities,' Rogers said. 'It is important that we continue to add new and engaging innovations to a well-established format of racing and events at Flemington.' Racing Victoria on Thursday announced a suite of changes to the 2025-26 fixture, starting August 1. As previously reported, Caulfield, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Geelong racecourses will host reallocated meetings during the Moonee Valley redevelopment. A decision on the 2026 Cox Plate host – a choice between frontrunner Flemington and Caulfield – is set to be announced after an RV board meeting next month. RV will also unveil the prizemoney schedule next month for the upcoming season. RV chief executive Aaron Morrison announced the fixture on Thursday. 'With up to three tracks (The Valley, Bendigo and Benalla) offline for an extended period following their spring features, we've had to make a spread of changes to the schedule across both metropolitan and country meetings next season,' Morrison said. 'We have a great network of tracks and customer facilities to accommodate these transfers, while we continue to invest in upgrades for the long-term benefit of the sport.' The 2025-26 season includes 530 Victorian race meetings, including 106 metropolitan fixtures, 368 country cards, 17 country non-TAB and 33 picnic meetings. There are 17 race-free days scheduled, the same as the current season. RV has cut 18 meetings from December to May as part of a 'strategic reduction' to improve field sizes and wagering 'with more night and event meetings'. The total number of night meetings has reduced from 57 to 52 meetings. 'We've built a schedule of 530 race meetings that best caters for the active racing population and balances our volume of meetings in summer and autumn where field sizes have been under stress,' Morrison said. 'Our goal is always to maximise returns to the industry and the 2025-26 Race Dates are structured to best achieve that in the knowledge that we'll have up to three tracks offline for a large portion of it. 'We are continuing to consult with stakeholders on the prizemoney schedule for next season and beyond that the active horse population. This includes discussions on an appropriate reallocation of prizemoney from those meetings removed from the schedule.'
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘She's come on big time': Clinton McDonald-trained filly Miss Ole rewards faithful punters with Sandown victory
Clinton McDonald was feeling sick soon after the start of Miss Ole's debut outing but was on much better terms with himself after the filly's Sandown outing on Saturday. Miss Ole was heavily backed but finished fifth after bungling the start on debut at Warrnambool last month but the filly showed the benefit of experience in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1000m). Punters were again keen to support Miss Ole, backing her from $3.60 to $2.60, but the daughter of Ole Kirk gave her backers few worries under jockey Ben Melham. Miss Ole sprinted well from midfield to defeat the previously unbeaten Saluted ($3.80) by three-quarters of a length while Espana ($14) made an encouraging debut when running on for third. McDonald said a Cranbourne jumpout between runs also helped Miss Ole's racing manners but the two-year-old had plenty of improvement left in her. 'She's learning all the time,' McDonald said. 'From the run at Warrnambool to today, what she's shown us at home, she's come on big time. 'She was just a little bit fierce early and I knew she'd be very strong late. 'We gave her a little jumpout in between, a maintenance trial, and she jumped out well there so it wasn't a concern. 'We just tried to teach her to use herself, to go through her gears, and we saw that today.' McDonald said Miss Ole would probably have another run at Flemington on June 7 before a break ahead of a spring three-year-old preparation. 'I think she's a stakes horse for sure on what she shows at home,' McDonald said. 'She's just going to keep improving.' Following a luckless run at Warrnambool, Miss Ole lands an important metro victory ✌ðŸ�» @cmcdonaldracing — (@Racing) May 24, 2025 McDonald went on to endear himself to racing radio listeners when emerging filly Ahha Ahha completed a stable double in the ive > Handicap (1400m). The Cranbourne trainer suggested punters take the Miss Ole / Ahha Ahha double on Saturday radio before Jamie Melham steered the $4 chance to a comfortable win. McDonald said Ahha Ahha had been unlucky at her previous two starts but had the perfect run at Sandown. Ahha Ahha utilises a beautiful trip, pouncing at the top of the straight & sprinting away for a comfortable win ðŸ'° @cmcdonaldracing @jamieleekah07 — (@Racing) May 24, 2025 'I thought she probably should have won her last two,' McDonald said. 'She should have won at Cranbourne and there's merit to say, she probably would have won at Caulfield. 'She gets it wrong. Sometimes in behind, she's very green. 'But today, with Jamie's beautiful hands, she travelled sweetly, the run came and she was explosive again.'
