Latest news with #GoldTrip
The Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Fruit market king Noel Greenhalgh eyes another Melbourne Cup with Chris Waller stayer
Well-known Brisbane owner and fruit market king Noel Greenhalgh has had horses finish first, second, third and fourth in Melbourne Cups and is excited about a potential Cup contender he has as part of his 2025 spring arsenal. Greenhalgh was a part-owner of 2022 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip and finished runner-up and third the following year with Soulcombe and Sheraz. • 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! He was also in the ownership of Finche who finished fourth in 2018. It is European import Birdman, trained by Chris Waller, who has Greenhalgh up and about as a 2025 Cups contender. Earlier in the week, Waller said he was impressed by Birdman's two recent Sydney trials and said he had clearly matured since arriving in Australia as a northern hemisphere three-year-old. Birdman, co-owned by other heavy hitters including Ozzie Kheir, Brae Sokolski and Neil Werrett, hasn't won in five Australian starts but did finish runner-up in a 20-horse Group 2 Chairman's Quality (2600m) field during the Sydney autumn carnival. Noel Greenhalgh with wife Maria after Gold Trip won the Melbourne Cup in 2022. Picture: Michael Klein Greenhalgh said only now is the penny starting to drop for the promising stayer who he believes can turn potential into performance this spring. 'Birdman was purchased with the intention of being a Melbourne Cup horse,' Greenhalgh said. 'He has really needed the starts he has had in Australia so far, as coming from the northern hemisphere he is basically a year behind. 'His trials have been huge, for a stayer, and he is going really well. 'He has fully acclimatised now and there won't be any excuses for him this spring. 'He will be a Caulfield and Melbourne Cup horse. 'I've had horses run first, second, third and fourth in Melbourne Cups. 'It's quite amazing really, I don't know too many owners would have done that.' • Show us the money: New global jockeys league hunts private funding Birdman, who has been accepted for a 1400m handicap at Rosehill on Saturday, is currently a $51 Melbourne Cup chance and a $26 to win the Caulfield Cup in TAB's early fixed odds markets. Noel Greenhalgh selling fruit at the Brisbane Markets. Picture: Ben Dorries Asked for another galloper from his squadron of horses that punters could follow during the spring, Greenhalgh nominated three-year-old maiden filly Enviable. Enviable, who races in Greenhalgh's distinctive colours with a green shamrock, has only had two starts and hasn't won. • 'I almost had to have a beer to function': How hoop won booze battle But Greenhalgh said the daughter of Frankel, who resumed when finishing third in a Warwick Farm maiden last month, has terrific ability. 'We have got a big opinion of her,' he said. 'She has shown us plenty and she could even be a (Group 1) Flight Stakes type of horse. 'Keep an eye on her during the spring. 'But whatever she does in the spring, she will be even better in the autumn.' Enviable is a $26 chance in early markets for the Flight Stakes. Wootton Verni, a Waller-trained French import who trialled exceptionally well at Randwick last week, is another that Greenhalgh has flagged with exciting potential. 'He could potentially even be an Epsom horse, but Chris (Waller) will wait and see,' Greenhalgh said.
Herald Sun
06-08-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Moonee Valley revolution a passion project for racing enthusiast and developer Joe Bartolo
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Developer and racing enthusiast Joe Bartolo has personal and professional interests to ensure The Valley transformation is successful. Symal Group, founded by managing director Bartolo, won a circa $70m contract in June through an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process to complete the civil and infrastructure works. • 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 Symal works, starting after the Cox Plate on October 25, includes bulk earthworks, the full track reconstruction, upgraded underpasses, landscaping and lighting, before a May 2027 target. Bartolo, introduced to the racing through cousin and former jockey Aaron Spiteri, praised The Valley board and administration for its 'sustainable' vision to future-proof the entire precinct. 'You often do think about all the tradition (at The Valley) and the past but you can't help but look to the future and what this is going to bring to the west of Melbourne and to racing,' Bartolo said. 'I think what they're doing is unbelievable, an amazing change for Moonee Valley and puts the club in position for future growth and the next 40-50 years. 'It's sustainable with all the other infrastructure there as well, it's a really good revenue stream to ensure The Valley is around forever … infrastructure to stand the test of time and provide forever.' Joe Bartolo (left) enjoyed the JRA Cup win of Future History at The Valley last year. Picture: Racing Photos Bartolo has strong industry links through now US-based real estate agent cousin Spiteri, including dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey and friend Mark Zahra and prominent owner Rupert Legh. Bartolo owned a share in Melbourne Cup runner-up Emissary, ironically defeated by Zahra on Gold Trip in 2022. • Mornington Glory on track for Moir defence The current crop includes Future History, a JRA Cup winner at The Valley, Theblade and Airman. 'The best for us was Emissary, running second in the Cup was pretty exciting and I thought we had a chance of winning that, watching that day,' Bartolo laughed. 'Nice of ol' Mark on Gold Trip … we ran up the butt of Gold Trip and lost all momentum … it was such an amazing feeling to even come second, so imagine how the owners of Gold Trip felt.' An apartment high-rise being built at Moonee Valley. Picture: Getty Images While no longer on the tools, Bartolo, who started Symal as a small landscaping business with a ute, wheelbarrow and shovel borrowed from his father in 2001, has kept close tabs on The Valley project. 'Projects of significance you always keep an eye on,' Bartolo said. • Laurie eyes spring carnival success with Group 1 star 'Always trying to understand what's happening, where they're going and what's going on, especially with an interest in racing as well. 'Sporting precincts in general is a big part of what Symal do, we understand the works required and we'll be finishing in May 2027 … the works will be completed from our part. 'The plan for us is always beating the works … we build major infrastructure throughout the country and got very tight time constraints to get projects completed, and we just don't miss those targets. 'It's very important to hit what we say we're going to hit.' Symal, an employer of more than 1400 people, joined the Australian Stock Exchange last year. Originally published as Developer Joe Bartolo says Moonee Valley redevelopment will future-proof racetrack
Herald Sun
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Imperialist reigns with an upset win in Rough Habit
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Sydney's premier trainer Waller had four horses in the 2000m race, headlined by three-year-old filly Belle Detelle, who started the contest as the $3 favourite but got too far back at the start and was never in contention as $71 shot Imperialist pulled off a massive upset. With Tommy Berry riding, the three-year-old gelding finished ahead of fellow roughie, Queenslander Deep Focus ($81), and the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained King Of Thunder ($7.50) on the Heavy 8 track. • 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! Imperialist, by Churchill, races in the colours of Brisbane larrikin owner Noel Greenhalgh, who won the 2022 Melbourne Cup as a part-owner of Gold Trip. The gelding was coming off a disappointing ninth in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) this month at Eagle Farm so punters can be excused for steering well clear of him. 'We didn't know what to do with him after his last start, we tried blinkers and it didn't work,' Waller said. 'So we took them off and suggested to Tommy that we ride him a bit closer to the speed today. 'He had a nice soft time up front and it sparked some interest. He brought some good form to Sydney from Melbourne, but then didn't quite stay the 2400m. 'We'll try to make him stay now. I'll have a chat to Tommy (Berry) to see what he says, but I do have some concerns over the 2400 metres. 'The Churchills tend to be slightly speedier horses, so we'll have a think over the next few days about whether or not we go there (to the Queensland Derby).' Imperialist has firmed to $15 for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31. Berry said he was happy to finish Doomben 10,000 day on a high note after riding his first winner in this year's Queensland Winter Carnival. 'Full credit to the team at home, this horse has always had ability but it hasn't been easy to get the best out of him,' Berry said. 'Chris took the blinkers back off and we just changed things up a little bit in the hope that we'd get a result. 'He's the best trainer of stayers around, so if he thinks he can get the horse to stay, then he can get the horse to stay. 'I've had a bit of luck in these colours in the past but it's been a while, so it was nice to salute in them again today.' Trainer Paul Shailer was delighted with the outstanding run of Deep Focus, who started big odds but charged home and is now a $15 chance for the Queensland Derby. Originally published as Chris Waller produces masterstroke with gear change and drop in distance as Imperialist win the Rough Habit
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Chris Waller produced a masterstroke with a gear change and a drop in distance as Imperialist win the Rough Habit
Most punters were probably hoping that a Chris Waller -trained horse won the $250,000 Group 3 Rough Habit Plate at Doomben on Saturday but they wouldn't have expected it to be Imperialist. Sydney's premier trainer Waller had four horses in the 2000m race, headlined by three-year-old filly Belle Detelle, who started the contest as the $3 favourite but got too far back at the start and was never in contention as $71 shot Imperialist pulled off a massive upset. With Tommy Berry riding, the three-year-old gelding finished ahead of fellow roughie, Queenslander Deep Focus ($81), and the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton -trained King Of Thunder ($7.50) on the Heavy 8 track. Imperialist, by Churchill, races in the colours of Brisbane larrikin owner Noel Greenhalgh, who won the 2022 Melbourne Cup as a part-owner of Gold Trip. The gelding was coming off a disappointing ninth in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) this month at Eagle Farm so punters can be excused for steering well clear of him. 'We didn't know what to do with him after his last start, we tried blinkers and it didn't work,' Waller said. 'So we took them off and suggested to Tommy that we ride him a bit closer to the speed today. 'He had a nice soft time up front and it sparked some interest. He brought some good form to Sydney from Melbourne, but then didn't quite stay the 2400 metres. 'We'll try to make him stay now. I'll have a chat to Tommy (Berry) to see what he says, but I do have some concerns over the 2400 metres. 'The Churchills tend to be slightly speedier horses, so we'll have a think over the next few days about whether or not we go there (to the Queensland Derby).' Imperialist adds some value to the Doomben quaddie, taking out the last at Doomben at a big price! ðŸ'° @TommyBerry21 @cwallerracing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 Imperialist has firmed to $15 for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31. Berry said he was happy to finish Doomben 10,000 day on a high note after riding his first winner in this year's Queensland Winter Carnival. 'Full credit to the team at home, this horse has always had ability but it hasn't been easy to get the best out of him,' Berry said. 'Chris took the blinkers back off and we just changed things up a little bit in the hope that we'd get a result. 'He's the best trainer of stayers around, so if he thinks he can get the horse to stay, then he can get the horse to stay. 'I've had a bit of luck in these colours in the past but it's been a while, so it was nice to salute in them again today.' Trainer Paul Shailer was delighted with the outstanding run of Deep Focus, who started big odds but charged home and is now a $15 chance for the Queensland Derby.
