Latest news with #Group1AllAgedStakes
Daily Telegraph
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Wagga, Wyong previews: Nickson chasing a Majestic win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. An interrupted preparation for Felix Majestic could provide trainer Gary Nickson the opportunity to claim a second win in the Wagga Town Plate 37 years after his first with Grand Gaelic. The Wagga Town Plate (1200m) on day one of the carnival wasn't on the agenda for Felix Majestic but a missed run in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes and a lack of suitable options in Sydney has forced Nickson to look further afield. 'His preparations always seem to get interrupted,' said Nickson. 'I was getting him ready for the All Aged Stakes but it was going to be a wet track which he doesn't like so we didn't accept. 'He is screaming to go back the races and this is the only suitable race for him at the moment.' The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! Felix Majestic resumed this campaign with an eye-catching fourth behind Eagle Nest in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill back on March 15. The gelding normally jumps quickly to take up his favoured frontrunning role but was slow out that day and settled a conspicuous last. 'The 1100m was too short but he absolutely rattled home from last at the top of the straight,' he said. 'Then we couldn't find anything for him so I had to trial him. That was over 1200m and went to the line with his head on his chest. 'It was the fastest time of the day and Molly Bourke was just sitting on him.' Josh Parr rode the gelding first-up but Bourke reunites with him this week where they have drawn ideally in barrier 6. 'He's a good horse. You just have to know how to ride him,' Nickson said. 'Molly knows exactly what to do and he goes very well for her. 'He's got a high cruising speed and can maintain it for the whole race anywhere from 1200m to 1400m. 'If anyone wants to take him on, they do so at their own peril. He will break their hearts.' Queanbeyan trainer Nick Olive doesn't have a runner in the Town Plate but saddles up two leading chances on the card in the Extravagant Choice and Exceedingly Hot. Extravagant Choice only joined Olive's stable at the start of this preparation after being purchased of Inglis Digital last October for the princely sum of $3,000. In nine starts for Olive, he was won three races and has won over $65,000. 'He has been a little ripper for us. He has definitely exceeded our expectations and I just love the horse,' said Olive. 'He is so easy to train, he just goes through everything really nicely.' Two of his three wins have come in his last three starts over 1610m at the Sapphire Coast and 1800m at Bathurst and he looks like he will relish the step up to 2000m in the Benchmark 66 Handicap. 'He is in a rich vein of form. He has been so consistent and is absolutely thriving within himself,' Olive said. 'I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes over the 2000 metres. 'He won very well last start and was given a good ride by Caitlin (Sinclair).' Olive has Final Comment in the same race but said he will likely be scratched after drawing the outside gate. Exceedingly Hot scored a tough win at Wagga on March 1 followed by two good placings and is a leading chance in the Benchmark 66 Handicap (1600m). 'He is another horse who is really happy. He has just thrived the last couple of months,' Olive said. 'Drawing barrier 1 is ideal for him. He will should get a lovely run and hopefully he's right there in the finish.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Circumstances have just been against Titanium Miss at her past two starts but trainer Tracey Bartley is banking on a big drop in class and a return to her home track to get the filly back into winning form. Titanium Miss was caught three-wide without cover on a sizzling speed when ninth behind French Ruler in the Provincial-Midway Wildcard at Wyong two starts ago. She then went to Randwick for the Group 3 James H B Carr Stakes on April 19 where she finished last behind Lilac, beaten just over four and-a-half lengths. 'The other day, I think it just the quality of the race that told on the end result,' Bartley said. 'She was whacking away alright and just stopped the last little bit. 'I had a blood test dome and couldn't find anything wrong. 'She faced the breeze out wide at Wyong and they went 10 lengths faster than standard for the first 1000m that day. 'It was a ridiculous speed and she had to stop. 'Her two runs before that were really good and on those performances, she is right in this race.' The three-year-old filly has drawn barrier 7 in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1350m) with Tim Clark to ride. 'The barrier is ideal and she can roll forward at her own tempo,' he said. 'I think we might have fought her a little bit hard when holding her up. 'We will just let her roll forward and if she leads, she will lead on her ear and can dictate the race. We will do a Gai Waterhouse. 'She drops considerably in class so she should be able to go into this race and perform to her best.' Earlier in the day, Bartley expects Think Of One to figure prominently in the Midway Maiden Plate (1600m). The son of So You Think resumed over 1400m at Scone when sixth behind Spenzalot and will relish the step up in distance. 'Aaron Bullock come back after the race and said get him out over a mile. He will appreciate that,' Bartley said. 'They were just a bit nippy got him over the 1400m. Under the circumstances, he was quite happy with him.' 'I think he finds himself in the right race. 'Going up to the mile, on a wet track, he will roll up on the speed and I think he will be hard enough to beat around his home track.'
Herald Sun
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Herald Sun
Moonee Valley track manager Tony Salisbury's hospital pass
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Mother Nature has given The Valley track manager Tony Salisbury another hospital pass leading into Saturday's nine-race card. The Valley copped plenty of stick from punters and participants for the way it raced at last month's William Reid Stakes meeting, many suggesting the track heavily favoured runners near the inside rail. Rain on the eve of the meeting caused the track to race like a heavy track on the day. The weather bureau has forecast up to 25mm of rain on Friday after weeks of unseasonal warm and dry weather in Melbourne. • 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! 'You wouldn't read about it would you?' Salisbury said. 'It's been 30 degrees and 26 degrees leading up to Easter and on Friday night at midnight, the bottom falls out of the sky.' Salisbury said he analysed the way The Valley track raced on the day, noting horses could run on when circumstances allowed, including Jimmysstar, who charged home for third in the William Reid Stakes before saluting in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes in Sydney last Saturday. 'As bad a wrap as the track got, it stood up quite well and all of the horses came out of it well,' Salisbury said. He said specialist testing of The Valley surface revealed other issues that contributed to the track's performance. • Wolfe sprinter out to rebound in The Quokka 'We had the 12mm (on the Friday) but it was the worst case scenario,' Salisbury said. 'We knew the track wasn't 100 per cent with the roots and there were some things that caused that. 'We got some testing done post William Reid day and found several diseases within the grass canopy and root zone.' The Valley's track staff immediately got to work to eradicate the diseases from the affected areas of the course while a four-week break between meetings with mostly fine weather also helped the track recover. Salisbury walks the track twice a day and said he had been amazed at The Valley's recovery from the issues that plagued the William Reid Stakes meeting.
News.com.au
23-04-2025
- Climate
- News.com.au
Up to 25mm of rain forecast for The Valley leading up to Saturday's meeting
Mother Nature has given The Valley track manager Tony Salisbury another hospital pass leading into Saturday's nine-race card. The Valley copped plenty of stick from punters and participants for the way it raced at last month's William Reid Stakes meeting, many suggesting the track heavily favoured runners near the inside rail. Rain on the eve of the meeting caused the track to race like a heavy track on the day. The weather bureau has forecast up to 25mm of rain on Friday after weeks of unseasonal warm and dry weather in Melbourne. 'You wouldn't read about it would you?' Salisbury said. 'It's been 30 degrees and 26 degrees leading up to Easter and on Friday night at midnight, the bottom falls out of the sky.' Salisbury said he analysed the way The Valley track raced on the day, noting horses could run on when circumstances allowed, including Jimmysstar, who charged home for third in the William Reid Stakes before saluting in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes in Sydney last Saturday. 'As bad a wrap as the track got, it stood up quite well and all of the horses came out of it well,' Salisbury said. He said specialist testing of The Valley surface revealed other issues that contributed to the track's performance. • Wolfe sprinter out to rebound in The Quokka 'We had the 12mm (on the Friday) but it was the worst case scenario,' Salisbury said. 'We knew the track wasn't 100 per cent with the roots and there were some things that caused that. 'We got some testing done post William Reid day and found several diseases within the grass canopy and root zone.' The Valley's track staff immediately got to work to eradicate the diseases from the affected areas of the course while a four-week break between meetings with mostly fine weather also helped the track recover. Salisbury walks the track twice a day and said he had been amazed at The Valley's recovery from the issues that plagued the William Reid Stakes meeting. Schwarz was utterly brilliant in the William Reid Stakes, finding the lead from the outset & pounding his opposition into the turf ðŸ'« Where to next for @JohnOSheaRacing 's Group 1 winning son of Zoustar? — (@Racing) March 22, 2025 'We've adjusted those issues and the track itself looks 10 times better than it did leading into the William Reid, plus a break of four weeks off with no racing gave us some opportunities to do some remedial works that we don't otherwise get a chance to do with seven meetings in seven weeks,' Salisbury said. 'Those remedial works after the William Reid took about a week and a half for the guys to get around and do those repairs. 'The taking care of those diseases and the recovery time of the track has taken about two-and-a-half to three weeks. 'There's much thicker canopy of grass on the track. I've cut it at four inches and will just let it grow out for the rest of the week.' Hosting a nine-race card rather than William Reid Stakes Day's 11-race meeting will also help the track stand up to Saturday's meeting.
Daily Telegraph
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
Horse racing: The top five moments of the Sydney autumn carnival
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. From champion mare Via Sistina to boom fillies Lady Shenandoah and Treasurethe Moment, Sydney's autumn carnival delivered more unforgettable highlights. Saturday's Group 1 All Aged Stakes meeting at Royal Randwick brought another sensational carnival to a close so this week's Blackbook looks back at the five biggest moments on the track. 1 – VIA LA VIDA Anytime a horse can emulate an achievement of former superstar mare Winx, it deserves significant recognition. Via Sistina did just that with an awesome autumn carnival that included three Group 1s, headlined by her all-important Queen Elizabeth Stakes triumph that was enhanced by a masterful James McDonald ride. It took her tally to seven Group 1s for the season, equalling the record of Chris Waller's greatest ever horse Winx. Via Sistina is a lock to win Australian Horse of the Year and she was the star of the autumn. 2 – BAKER GOODS This was the autumn Bjorn Baker has been craving. The affable Warwick Farm conditioner has been one of Sydney's best for some time but solidified his standing among Australia's elite trainers with stellar carnival. Stefi Magnetica gave Baker his 'major' in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile before Arapaho produced a performance for the ages to win the Group 1 Sydney Cup. It could have been even better with Group 1 near misses of Overpass (TJ Smith Stakes) and Within The Law (Champagne Stakes). 3 – LAURIE LEAVES MARK A year after he went within a whisker of claiming the Golden Slipper, Victorian trainer Matt Laurie returned to Sydney with a bang. While he only saddled up three starters in the autumn, he finished with three Group 1 winners. Treasurethe Moment did the Vinery Stud Stakes-Australian Oaks double while unbeaten colt Vinrock's ATC Sires' Produce Stakes win was industry defining. Vinrock, the first Australian two-year-old winner by I Am Invincible, was quickly snapped up by Yulong and is now one of the most valuable stallion prospects in the country. 4 – FILLIES FILL UP It's hard to remember a more exciting crop of three-year-old fillies than what we witnessed this autumn. An embarrassment of riches stepped out in Sydney over the autumn with Lady Shenandoah, Treasurethe Moment, Aeliana and Autumn Glow all leaving a lasting impression. It was two Group 1s each for Treasurethe Moment and Lady Shenandoah while Aeliana put the boys with a dominant Australian Derby win. In one start, Autumn Glow lived up to her substantial boom. The Australian three-year-old of the year is destined to be a filly, the only question is, which one? 5 – NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK The Australian sprint ranks 'next gen' have arrived and all eyes now look to The Everest. Nathan Doyle's unbeaten boom colt Private Harry is already locked in for the world's richest race on turf after his impressive The Galaxy win. Brilliant TJ Smith Stakes winner Briasa is sure to join him as will Saturday's All Aged Stakes victor Jimmysstar. Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising may dominate Everest betting but the challenge Down Under may be greater than many think. Special Mentions: Nathan Doyle, Ash Morgan, Hawkes Racing, Michael Freedman, Damian Lane, Tom Charlton. Originally published as Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: The five stories that defined Sydney's autumn carnival
News.com.au
22-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Four-time Group 1 winner Broadsiding retired to begin his career at stud
Godolphin star Broadsiding has run his last race, with the four-time Group 1 winner set to join Darley's stallion roster in 2025. The James Cummings -trained colt was a notable addition to Darley's 14-strong roster for the new breeding season and will stand for $66,000 at Kelvinside, NSW. Broadsiding is the star colt of his generation, claiming the Group 1 Champagne Stakes and Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes at two before capturing the Group 1 Golden Rose and Group 1 Rosehill Guineas at three. He finished 10th in his final start in last Saturday's Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick. Champion jockey James McDonald paid tribute to Broadsiding following the All Aged Stakes. 'He's done a really good job. He has been a super horse to be a part of,' he said. Broadsiding! The @godolphin colt becomes the first horse to win the G1 Golden Rose first-up and he is now a three-time G1 winner. That's a third Golden Rose for @mcacajamez ðŸ'µðŸ'µðŸ'µ — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 28, 2024 His first season at stud will coincide with the return of his sire, Too Darn Hot, to Australia with the star stallion set to headline the Darley roster at $275,000. Broadsiding will also be joined at stud by dual Group 1 placegetter Traffic Warden. Traffic Warden was a winner of the Group 2 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes and Group 2 Run To The Rose while he was placed in the Group 2 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes and runner-up to Broadsiding in the Golden Rose. He will also stand at Kelvinside for $22,000. Joining the two newcomers at Kelvinside will be Anamoe ($110,00), Harry Angel ($66,000), Bivouac ($55,000), Pinatubo ($38,500), Native Trail ($27,500) and Victor Ludorum ($11,000). Street Boss ($66,000) will lead Darley's Northwood Park roster alongside Cylinder ($44,000), Brazen Beau ($2.7,500), Kermadec ($13,750) and Paulele ($11,000). 'This is an outstanding group of stallions - a world-class line-up,' Darley's Head of Stallions, Alastair Pulford said. 'The results they've achieved this year, both in the yearling market and on the racetrack, have been incredibly encouraging. These fees reflect the success we've seen and have been set with breeders firmly in mind.'
