Latest news with #FredBest
Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Zac booked for mission to score consecutive Stradbroke Handicaps
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Young Sydney riding gun Zac Lloyd has a golden opportunity to become the first jockey since the great Jimmy Cassidy more than three decades ago to win back-to-back Stradbroke Handicaps. But Lloyd, who scored his first Group 1 when pinching last year's Stradbroke on Stefi Magnetica, must help haul three-year-old colt Bosustow back to the imposing form which saw him be a six-length winner two starts ago. Bosustow, the three-year-old colt who destroyed his opposition in the Gold Coast Guineas, was single figure odds in Stradbroke betting markets before he was well beaten in the rescheduled Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Doomben last Wednesday. Bosustow started the $2.45 Fred Best favourite but finished sixth, 1-1/2 lengths behind the Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean-trained filly Spicy Martini which qualified for the Stradbroke with the win. Annabel and Rob Archibald are pushing on with Stradbroke plans for Bosustow which has now drifted to be a $15 chance in Queensland's greatest race next Saturday. Managing owner Anthony Mithen points out that Bosustow was beaten about the same margin in the Fred Best as Stefi Magnetica was a year earlier, before that horse came out and won the Stradbroke with Lloyd on board. Lloyd has been booked for Bosustow and now gets a chance to be the first jockey since Cassidy won the Stradbroke on the mighty Rough Habit in 1991 and 1992 to score consecutive Stradbroke triumphs. Lloyd will link with Bosustow for the first time and Rob Archibald remains convinced the colt can be a major player in the Stradbroke. 'Maybe the Fred Best run was just a little bit below what we expected, but we weren't too disappointed,' Archibald said. 'He was a month between runs and the race was rescheduled and things were mucked around a little bit. 'He may have been just a touch underdone second-up, but he can certainly bounce back third-up in the Stradbroke. 'He gets into the Stradbroke with a nice weight (51.5kg) although it's all relative I suppose. 'Zac hasn't ridden him before, but he did win the Stradbroke last year and we are really happy to have him on.' Bosustow wins the Gold Coast Guineas. Picture: Bethany Allday/Trackside Photography. Lloyd will jet into Brisbane on Tuesday morning and give Bosustow a spin around Eagle Farm at the Stradbroke 'Breakfast With The Stars' trackwork session. There is a week of fine weather forecast for Brisbane and the prospects of a rain-affected Eagle Farm track on Stradbroke day look slim. Bosustow was dominant in the Gold Coast Guineas on a heavy (9) track but the camp say he is much more than just a wet tracker. On the morning of the Guineas, they had even been considering scratching Bosustow because they weren't convinced he would handle the sloppy surface. 'He ended up handling the wet track on the Gold Coast really well,' Archibald said. 'But I don't think we can really say yet what his preferred track conditions are, because he is fairly lightly raced.' Originally published as Zac Lloyd on rare quest to score consecutive Stradbroke Handicaps
Mercury
6 days ago
- Business
- Mercury
$8000 filly earns shot at Stradbroke Handicap with Fred Best Classic win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Stradbroke Handicap has its latest rags to riches fairytale … and she walks like a duck. Three-year-old filly Spicy Martini, who was snapped up for a barely believable price of just $8000 as a yearling by Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds, surged into Queensland's most prestigious race by scoring the Fred Best Classic at Doomben on Wednesday. Spicy Martini went through an online sale and was sold at a bargain-basement rate because of concerns over her X-rays, despite being a daughter of US champion Justify. • 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 Toby Edmonds backed his judgement and secured the filly for a fraction of Justify's $250,000 yearling sales average at the time. Spicy Martini now has a shot at the $1.8m first prize of the Group 1 Stradbroke at Eagle Farm on Saturday week, with her win in the Fred Best earning her a golden ticket into Queensland's most prestigious race. Edmonds has won the Stradbroke before, snaring his first Group 1 when Tyzone claimed the 2020 edition although that was a vastly different race with Covid restrictions playing their part. Toby Edmonds trained the 2020 Stradbroke winner with his son Trent but now Toby and new training partner Stephen McLean have a shot at claiming Queensland racing's biggest prize. Spicy Martini's Stradbroke odds were slashed from $101 to $21 after her Fred Best win and the filly will carry the featherweight of just 49.5kg. Spicy Martini will need a new jockey with Craig Williams unable to make 49.5kg but that was the least of Edmonds' worries on Wednesday as he was overcome with emotion. 'If you have a look at her, she walks like a duck,' Edmonds said. 'She has quite a few issues and takes a lot of managing, but she is very quick. 'We found her online, a Justify filly, which we generally weren't able to buy because they were too dear, but this one just came up. 'This one was one that (breeding giants) Coolmore couldn't put through the sales. 'She is workmanlike, there's nothing flash about her at all. 'She is honest, she is in the Stradbroke now with 49.5 (kg) and I'm very keen to run her as long as she pulls up well.' The Fred Best for three-year-olds was rescheduled from last Saturday when an Eagle Farm downpour and poor visibility caused several races to be called off. Champion jockey Williams said the rescheduling of the race added to the stature of the win. He predicted Spicy Martini would make her presence felt in the Stradbroke. Craig Williams with trainer Toby Edmonds after the win of Spicy Martini. Picture: Trackside Photography 'Everyone that was in this race today had the challenge of being there last Saturday but coming back today,' Williams said. 'It's a great intuitive by Racing Queensland to have this race exempt from ballot from the Stradbroke. 'Toby and his team now have 10 days to get this filly to the Stradbroke in good form. 'Toby asked if I could ride at 49.5 (kg), I said I could have when I was 18 but I can't now.' There had been strong late money for Spicy Martini in the Fred Best, backed from $15 into $10. Bosustow, who won the Gold Coast Guineas by six lengths at his previous start, finished a disappointing sixth after appearing to have every chance. Annabel and Rob Archibald's Queensland stable foreman Todd Pollard said there were no post-race issues found with the colt. Bosustow eased from $9 to $21 in Stradbroke betting and now connections must decide whether to tackle the Stradbroke. Exciting Lindsay Park galloper War Machine firmed even further as Stradbroke top pick on Wednesday without even racing, now a $3 favourite after starting the day at $4. Originally published as $8000 filly earns shot at Stradbroke Handicap with Fred Best Classic win
Courier-Mail
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Boom youngster Bosustow on new path to Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Connections of key Stradbroke Handicap fancy Bosustow have tweaked their thinking and will strongly consider a fresh plan to tackle another Group 1 race on the way to the Stradbroke. With his triple-figure rating, the three-year-old colt who trounced his opposition by six lengths in last Saturday's Gold Coast Guineas seems assured of getting a start in the Stradbroke next month. • 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! After that booming win, and with two career Group 1 placings to his name as well as the Magic Millions Guineas in January, Bosustow is the equal second pick at $11 for the 2025 Stradbroke. Bosustow is named after Australian Rules great Peter Bosustow who passed away recently. Rarely has a three-year-old zoomed into Stradbroke contention with such a high rating. • 'I already miss her terribly': Feature win would Sure be emotional It had been intended the colt would next be seen in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm on May 31, with that race offering the winning three-year-old a golden ticket into the Stradbroke. But with his Stradbroke spot seemingly assured, it now appears likely the plan will change and Bosustow would have a crack at the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup which is on the same day as the Fred Best. Bosustow is not among nominations for the Kingsford Smith, meaning connections of the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained youngster would have to fork out a $25,500 fee when final nominations are due on May 27. Bosustow is equal second favourite for the Stradbroke Handicap following his Gold Coast Guineas demolition last Saturday. Picture: Bethany Allday/Trackside Photography • Wet the key to Wealth in Group 1 Doomben 10,000 'I have spoken to the (Queensland) chief handicapper who has suggested with his rating it would be enough to get him into the Stradbroke as it stands,' Bosustow's managing owner Anthony Mithen said. 'Given that we have already tested him at weight-for-age level – albeit in New Zealand where he ran second to Here To Shock – we have probably got a little bit of confidence to say he could be up to that level. 'We have to think, why would we be running in the Fred Best given it looks like he is already in the Stradbroke? 'There's no apparent reason really not to run in Kingsford Smith, as our springboard into the Straddy.' Given he does not hold a nomination for the Kingsford Smith, Bosustow is not currently included in wagering markets on the race which have Giga Kick and Joliestar as the equal $4.50 favourites. • Melbourne Cup-winning hoop shines at Ipswich … again Bosustow was rated 101 before his Guineas romp on the Gold Coast last Saturday – made even more meritorious by the fact his trainers were considering scratching him on race morning as they didn't think he would enjoy the heavy track. He is receiving a further ratings bump. After Bosustow's dominant win, Rosemont Stud boss Mithen received a text message from Peter Bosustow's widow Shelley. It read, simply, 'Pete would be so happy to see the Bosustow horse win today. Congratulations.' Originally published as Boom youngster Bosustow on new path to Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap
Mercury
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Mercury
Boom youngster Bosustow on new path to Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Connections of key Stradbroke Handicap fancy Bosustow have tweaked their thinking and will strongly consider a fresh plan to tackle another Group 1 race on the way to the Stradbroke. With his triple-figure rating, the three-year-old colt who trounced his opposition by six lengths in last Saturday's Gold Coast Guineas seems assured of getting a start in the Stradbroke next month. • 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! After that booming win, and with two career Group 1 placings to his name as well as the Magic Millions Guineas in January, Bosustow is the equal second pick at $11 for the 2025 Stradbroke. Bosustow is named after Australian Rules great Peter Bosustow who passed away recently. Rarely has a three-year-old zoomed into Stradbroke contention with such a high rating. • 'I already miss her terribly': Feature win would Sure be emotional It had been intended the colt would next be seen in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm on May 31, with that race offering the winning three-year-old a golden ticket into the Stradbroke. But with his Stradbroke spot seemingly assured, it now appears likely the plan will change and Bosustow would have a crack at the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup which is on the same day as the Fred Best. Bosustow is not among nominations for the Kingsford Smith, meaning connections of the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained youngster would have to fork out a $25,500 fee when final nominations are due on May 27. Bosustow is equal second favourite for the Stradbroke Handicap following his Gold Coast Guineas demolition last Saturday. Picture: Bethany Allday/Trackside Photography • Wet the key to Wealth in Group 1 Doomben 10,000 'I have spoken to the (Queensland) chief handicapper who has suggested with his rating it would be enough to get him into the Stradbroke as it stands,' Bosustow's managing owner Anthony Mithen said. 'Given that we have already tested him at weight-for-age level – albeit in New Zealand where he ran second to Here To Shock – we have probably got a little bit of confidence to say he could be up to that level. 'We have to think, why would we be running in the Fred Best given it looks like he is already in the Stradbroke? 'There's no apparent reason really not to run in Kingsford Smith, as our springboard into the Straddy.' Given he does not hold a nomination for the Kingsford Smith, Bosustow is not currently included in wagering markets on the race which have Giga Kick and Joliestar as the equal $4.50 favourites. • Melbourne Cup-winning hoop shines at Ipswich … again Bosustow was rated 101 before his Guineas romp on the Gold Coast last Saturday – made even more meritorious by the fact his trainers were considering scratching him on race morning as they didn't think he would enjoy the heavy track. He is receiving a further ratings bump. After Bosustow's dominant win, Rosemont Stud boss Mithen received a text message from Peter Bosustow's widow Shelley. It read, simply, 'Pete would be so happy to see the Bosustow horse win today. Congratulations.' Originally published as Boom youngster Bosustow on new path to Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap
