Latest news with #G1TySchil

News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Media World wins the Hawkesbury Guineas for Peter Snowden
Media World enhanced champion trainer Peter Snowden 's already outstanding record at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting with a courageous frontrunning effort to win on Saturday. The superbly-bred Media World held off the late surge of Just Party to win the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m). Snowden has a real affinity with the iconic Hawkesbury meeting with Media World giving him a record fifth win in the Guineas after previous successes with Exoboom (2021), Military Zone (2019), Limes (2013) and Free Wheeling (2012). The master trainer has also won five Clarendon Stakes including with Media World last year. Media World becomes a rare dual winner at the Hawkesbury stand-alone and joins Royal Discretion (2007-08) as winners of the Clarendon Stakes-Hawkesbury Guineas double. 'This is a very good race meeting and I like to target it with the right type of horse,'' Snowden said. 'We deliberately held Media World back with the Hawkesbury Guineas in mind for him. 'It's great that he can come here and win another nice race.'' Media World ($9), ridden by Tyler Schiller, held off the fast-finishing ($5.50 equal favourite) to win the Guineas by a nose with Zeitung ($12) one-and-a-half lengths away third. ðŸŒ� Media World hangs on in the G3 @hawkesburyrc Guineas and makes it two in a row! @SnowdenRacing1 | @G1TySchil | @YulongInvest — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025 Candlewick ($5.50 equal favourite) had the run of the race but she faded late to finish sixth, beaten just over there lengths. Schiller said he was able to give Media World a 'breather' in the middle stages of the race which proved crucial in the sprint to the line. 'Once he did quicken from the top of the straight, although the challengers were there he always felt like he was toughing it out,'' Schiller said. 'When it counted he was in front on the line, which was good. He is a very sharp horse. 'Pete was more worried about second-up after having a tough run first-up that he was going to be a bit soft but to see him strong right through the line was great. 'I know that other horse dashed at him but he felt like he kept going through the line. He is going to improve into his preparation again, he's a really honest horse.'' â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– Snowden said he was concerned that Schiller might have made too much use of Media World early to get across from his wide barrier and find the front. 'Media World was a touch slow to jump and I thought he might have made a bit too much use of him early to get there but once he did, the horse relaxed really well,'' Snowden said. 'He got into a lovely rhythm. He's got that really good skipping action and he quickened nicely so it was a good result.' Media World is by champion sire Written Tycoon out of the stakes-winning Meryl and was purchased by Yulong for $1.4 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale two years ago. Breeders Francis and Christine Cook kept a share in Media World and were rewarded with the colt's valuable Group 3 win. 'This colt was Meryl's first and it was Written Tycoon's last service at Arrowfield and we got it at a good price there before he went down to Yulong,'' Francis Cook said. 'We ran second with Dalchini beaten a nose (to Mr Mozart in the 2022 Hawkesbury Guineas) but to get across the line with a horse we bred, I'm a bit teary.'' Snowden said there was some thought given to gelding Media World last year. 'We were very tempted to geld him but Yulong wanted to give me one more chance with him as a colt and I'm glad they did,'' Snowden said. 'Already its paid dividends, he's won a Group race here today and I hope he can go on further and go to Brisbane and do something else. 'I will take him to Brisbane for the Fred Best (Classic) next. I'm hoping he could emerge as a Stradbroke Handicap – he's heading in the right direction, that's for sure.'

News.com.au
22-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Matt Smith already eyeing The Everest for star sprinter Headwall as he prepares for The Quokka
Trainer Matt Smith is adamant Headwall deserves a crack at this year's $20m The Everest as his star sprinter prepares to chase a win in Australia's second richest slot race at Ascot this Saturday. Headwall can complete his meteoric rise up the Australian sprint ranks with victory in Perth's richest race, the $5m The Quokka (1200m). Despite not winning, the son of Dream Ahead has still been a revelation this campaign with a string of excellent performances at Group 1 level. Smith's emerging talent followed up a first-up fourth in the Oakleigh Plate by finishing runner-up in the Newmarket Handicap and a fast-finishing third in the TJ Smith Stakes. 'He has gone to another level this preparation,' Smith said. 'You never know if horses are going to take that next step but he has. 'He has got the turn of foot to win a Group 1 and is clearly tracking in that direction based on his three runs this preparation. 'They've been outstanding so I am just delighted. He wouldn't have done this before because he wouldn't relax but now he is starting to relax in his runs and gives himself every chance to win one of these races.' Briasa is brilliant in the G1 T J Smith Stakes! He makes it 7 wins from just 9 starts as he races away for @HawkesRacing and @G1TySchil! ðŸ'¨ @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025 Headwall ($6) is one of three NSW raiders in Perth for the Quokka with two-time winner Overpass ($2 favourite) and country weapon Front Page ($9) also lining up. Both Overpass and Front Page have drawn double-digit gates while Headwall jumps from barrier eight with Zac Lloyd aboard. • 'The draw is fine for us, we can't be unhappy with the draw,' Smith said. 'The horse seems to be happy, I can't fault him really. 'He has been here a little over a week now but he settled in fine and seems fine. 'He has had a few runs so we just need to tick him over and keep him happy.' Smith said Headwall will go for a break straight after his trip to Perth to prepare for a spring assault he hopes will end up in The Everest. 'We will go through those Everest lead-up races,' Smith said. 'You can line all the form up now since we've had the three big sprints and you can see they are four or five of them within a length of each other. 'I think he well and truly deserves a crack at The Everest.' Only one horse has been locked in for this year's The Everest with The Galaxy winner Private Harry locked in to run in new owner Yulong's slot. Aethelflaed. Aethelflaed, a runner up in the Group 1 VRC Oaks, made her comeback from a long lay-off with victory in a 2000m event at Canberra last Friday.