Latest news with #FrontPage
Herald Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
2025 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm: Front Page early favourite
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. If Front Page is judged on his genetics, then the veteran gelding is likely to be fighting to the finish in Saturday's Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm. The Matt Dale-trained sprinter is the $3.50 favourite in the race that offers the winner a golden ticket into the upcoming $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m). But Front Page is lucky to be even in this world after his late mother Stacey Lee suffered horrific leg injuries in the paddock nine years ago. 'She was in foal and just rolled too close to the fence, got her legs stuck in the fence and sort of shredded both her back legs,' the eight-year-old's part-owner Paul Duryea recalled. • 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 exposed all the tendons and everything. We got her to Shepparton and they said to put her down, we couldn't save her. 'She was in-foal with Front Page. We bought her as a weanling so we had her all our life and raised her and she was super tough. 'We found a lady, Suzanne Royal at Asscher Park near Violet Town, who was a vet nurse and she took her on and did a remarkable job in fixing her. 'She not only came good with barely any scarring but she kept her foal as well. 'Every one of her progeny has won. I strapped her nearly every start of her life and she was a very good racemare. 'She could run times that Front Page can't run. She hurt her knee at Caulfield one day early in her career and she was never really the same, even though she won five races.' The Duryea racing family has fond memories of their smart racemare and producer Stacey Lee. • Queensland Oaks tips, runner-by-runner form analysis Stacey Lee also survived floodwaters at broodmare farm Noorilim Park near Nagambie, Victoria in November, 2022 so her toughness and tenacity are undeniable. 'They put her foal (Corningstone) in a boat and Stacey Lee actually swam a kilometre by the boat to get out of the floods so she's had a few dramas,' Duryea said. 'Not only did she save herself but she saved her foal too. Unfortunately about six months later Stacey Lee got crook and we couldn't save her, she had to be put down. 'What Stacey Lee has done for us is unbelievable.' In an amusing sidenote to what could have been a tragic story, the rescued foal was named after the movie character Veronica Corningstone, portrayed by Christina Applegate in the blockbuster hit comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Fast-forward to Saturday and Front Page, who has won $3.4m in prizemoney, has a golden opportunity to continue her mum's legacy in the $300,000 Moreton Cup. • 'We were very confident': Payline can again defy odds in Kingsford Smith Cup He is also accepted for the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday but Duryea said he would instead likely race in Brisbane where Tim Clark will ride. Asked about potentially running in the Stradbroke, Duryea said: 'If he was to win (the Moreton Cup) then we would consider it but it depends on how he pulls up. 'But, touch wood, he hasn't had any dramas or niggles for 12 months or more now. 'But being an automatic entry for the winner, we would consider the Straddie and hopefully we get that option.' Goulburn's Dale took over the training of Front Page from Duryea's dad Geoff in mid-2023. The winner of seven races from 28 starts, Front Page has twice placed in Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m), including a runner-up behind Private Harry on March 22 at Rosehill Gardens. He finished a disappointing 11th in the $5m The Quokka (1200m) in Perth in late April but Dale said the gelding didn't appreciate running 'the Melbourne way'. Originally published as Veteran gelding Front Page is likely to be fighting the finish in Saturday's Group 2 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Veteran gelding Front Page is likely to be fighting to the finish in Saturday's Group 2 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm
If Front Page is judged on his genetics, then the veteran gelding is likely to be fighting to the finish in Saturday's Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm. The Matt Dale -trained sprinter is the $3.50 favourite in the race that offers the winner a golden ticket into the upcoming $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m). But Front Page is lucky to be even in this world after his late mother Stacey Lee suffered horrific leg injuries in the paddock nine years ago. 'She was in foal and just rolled too close to the fence, got her legs stuck in the fence and sort of shredded both her back legs,' the eight-year-old's part-owner Paul Duryea recalled. 'It exposed all the tendons and everything. We got her to Shepparton and they said to put her down, we couldn't save her. 'She was in-foal with Front Page. We bought her as a weanling so we had her all our life and raised her and she was super tough. 'We found a lady, Suzanne Royal at Asscher Park near Violet Town, who was a vet nurse and she took her on and did a remarkable job in fixing her. 'She not only came good with barely any scarring but she kept her foal as well. 'Every one of her progeny has won. I strapped her nearly every start of her life and she was a very good racemare. 'She could run times that Front Page can't run. She hurt her knee at Caulfield one day early in her career and she was never really the same, even though she won five races.' • Queensland Oaks tips, runner-by-runner form analysis Stacey Lee also survived floodwaters at broodmare farm Noorilim Park near Nagambie, Victoria in November, 2022 so her toughness and tenacity are undeniable. 'They put her foal (Corningstone) in a boat and Stacey Lee actually swam a kilometre by the boat to get out of the floods so she's had a few dramas,' Duryea said. 'Not only did she save herself but she saved her foal too. Unfortunately about six months later Stacey Lee got crook and we couldn't save her, she had to be put down. 'What Stacey Lee has done for us is unbelievable.' In an amusing sidenote to what could have been a tragic story, the rescued foal was named after the movie character Veronica Corningstone, portrayed by Christina Applegate in the blockbuster hit comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Fast-forward to Saturday and Front Page, who has won $3.4m in prizemoney, has a golden opportunity to continue her mum's legacy in the $300,000 Moreton Cup. Front Page and @G1TySchil go back-to-back in the #TheKosciuszko! 🙌 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 14, 2023 He is also accepted for the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday but Duryea said he would instead likely race in Brisbane where Tim Clark will ride. Asked about potentially running in the Stradbroke, Duryea said: 'If he was to win (the Moreton Cup) then we would consider it but it depends on how he pulls up. 'But, touch wood, he hasn't had any dramas or niggles for 12 months or more now. 'But being an automatic entry for the winner, we would consider the Straddie and hopefully we get that option.' Goulburn's Dale took over the training of Front Page from Duryea's dad Geoff in mid-2023. The winner of seven races from 28 starts, Front Page has twice placed in Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m), including a runner-up behind Private Harry on March 22 at Rosehill Gardens. He finished a disappointing 11th in the $5m The Quokka (1200m) in Perth in late April but Dale said the gelding didn't appreciate running 'the Melbourne way'.
New Paper
23-04-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Lloyd keen on Headwall in $4.2m Quokka
A first Perth ride in Ascot is the next chapter on young jockey Zac Lloyd's meteoric rise. With Overpass the sentimental favourite to annex a third The Quokka (1,200m) in as many runs of Western Australia's richest race at A$5 million (S$4.2 million) on April 26, Lloyd's ride Headwall, and Front Page (to be ridden by the other Sydney gun rider, Tyler Schiller), have flown a little under the radar for the interstate trio. But Lloyd, who was born in South Africa but moved to Australia at the age of four to follow his father, former champion jockey Jeff Lloyd, is not writing off his chances of marking that new milestone in the best possible way. Lloyd, whose elder brother Jaden rode three winners at Kranji in 2024, is no stranger to flying starts. His very first ride at Dalby, Queensland on Nov 27, 2020, on a horse named Satine was a winner when he was only 17. While Headwall's third to Briasa in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1,200m) at Randwick on April 5 was his only time in the reins, he liked what he saw when he dug up his past runs - be it his six wins or close defeats in 16 starts for Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith. "He went fantastic in the TJ. Obviously, he was an outsider (30-1) in the race, but he still gave me a good feeling in his trial the week prior," said Lloyd. "I knew he was going to run a big race. Ultimately, there was no tempo and he got stuck behind a few struggling horses. "I was really stiff at the top of the straight, but when he got out, he quickened well. "His run was still full of merit. He's got a turn of foot that can win Group 1s." Smith must have shared the same sentiments as he did ship his charge down south in Melbourne for two daring stabs at elite level. While the Dream Ahead five-year-old did not score, he lost no marks against two Australian stars. He ran fourth to Jimmysstar in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1,100m) at Caulfield on Feb 22 and second to Joliestar in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1,200m) at Flemington on March 8. Lloyd said the efforts were even more laudable given that he still performed to his best at weight-for-age level. "He's done everything but winning. He ran two massive races in handicap conditions and people doubted how he'd go weight-for-age," he said. "He's proven he's definitely up to it now that he's matured. "He goes to Perth with a big chance. Obviously beating Overpass is not going to be easy, but I'm very happy with the ride I have." Lloyd's hopes to get on a few earlier rides to get the lay of the land have been heard by local trainer Luke Fernie. The Ascot conditioner has booked him on two rides, including one in the other feature race of the day for good measure, Just Too Fly in the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1,200m), slated one race before The Quokka. Lloyd's baptism of fire around Ascot will come on Tawkin' Jibberish in Race 2. "The best thing for me is to get a few earlier couple of rides in the day, no matter if they're fancied or not," said Lloyd who rode at the EW Barker meeting at Kranji in 2024, with two seconds on Energy Baby and Lim's Dreamwalker as his best results. "It's just to learn my way around, so that, come The Quokka, I got a bit more familiarity." Should Lloyd's three rides come up short, he has an earlier strong chance of hitting another landmark in his budding career. On 399 wins, many for his main supporter, powerhouse outfit Godolphin, he has a full book at the eight-race programme on the Randwick-Kensington track on April 25 to reach the 400-win mark. manyan@
