Latest news with #HallowedCrown
New Paper
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Veteran Big Hearted has not lost the spark
KUALA LUMPUR - Former Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2,000m) winner Big Hearted has finally landed his first win in Malaysia, coming from a long way back in the running to take out the RM53,000 (S$16,000) Stayer Stakes A race (1,800m) at Sungai Besi on July 27. The Hallowed Crown son enjoyed a phenomenal rise when trained by Michael Clements at Kranji. He won on debut in Restricted Maiden company in 2019, and kept raising the bar, until he claimed the Singapore Gold Cup at his 12th start on Nov 21, 2020. Big Hearted picked up one win in 2021 but struggled with fitness - and was lightly raced - in the next two years, until his comeback win in a Class 2 race (1,600m) on Jan 20, 2024, which was also his eighth and last win when under the care of James Peters. He was sidelined for eight months, and had two more starts at Kranji, including his last Kranji race in the Singapore Gold Cup on Oct 5, 2024, when he ran unplaced to Smart Star. Big Hearted was transferred to Frank Maynard, but struggled to find his form in four runs for the 2006 Malaysian champion trainer. The Australian-bred was sold to the Team Cheval Stable and placed in the care of two-time Singapore champion trainer Jason Ong. The rising nine-year-old began to show glimpses of his former self with two seconds in three starts. Now, 18 months after his last triumph, Big Hearted showed that he still has what it takes to win. After being caught wide from his outside barrier 9, Big Hearted was dropped back to second last by Jerlyn Seow, who has also ridden him in his last three runs. Up front, Imperial Sabre (Khaw Choon Kit) led by a huge margin, while 2024 Singapore Gold Cup winner Smart Star (Clyde Leck) trailed behind in second. Turning for home, Big Hearted ($21) was switched to the outside by Seow and began looming large. Under a well judged ride from the two-time Singapore champion apprentice, Big Hearted raced past Imperial Sabre with 100m to go. The Lim Shung You-trained galloper held on for second, 1¼ lengths away, beating Haleeda (Mohd Zaki) into third. The winning time was 1min 50.8sec for the 1,800m on the long course. "He (Big Hearted) lived up to his name," said Ong's apprentice. "The horse has a big heart, ran well in the last few starts and improved this week to win well." Seow went on to land a race-to-race double with the David Kok-trained Pacific Rainbow ($36), who broke through for his first win in the penultimate RM38,000 Class 5 race (1,700m) at his 22nd start. SELANGOR TURF CLUB/TURFONLINE
New Paper
01-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Hypeman, The Star can take centre stage
On the strength of their hit-outs at Sungai Besi on the morning of July 1, two last-start winners signalled their intentions rather clearly. Both Hypeman and The Star turned in impressive gallops and, if they can carry that form to the races on July 6, they could be looking at race-to-race doubles. Hypeman, from the stables of trainer Simon Dunderdale, clocked 39sec for the 600m while Lawson Moy's The Star caught the eye when running out the same trip in 41.6sec. Hypeman, who is down to contest the Max 2 sprint over 1,200m, won on debut in good fashion. The Dundeel four-year-old came off fourth spot at the 400m mark to win going away by two lengths in that Class 4A event (1,100m) on June 15. After going under the hammer for A$42,500 (S$35,500) at the 2024 Inglis December online sale, Hypeman arrived at his new quarters in Malaysia, knowing what it took to win races. Trained by Matt Laurie in Australia previously, Hypeman ran 11 times on the tracks around South Australia and Victoria, where he scored once over 1,300m at Cranbourne on May 3. He also had three seconds and three thirds to his name. The bay galloper is a progressive sort and Dunderdale - who also owns the gelding - would have big plans for him. As for The Star, he has a date with the starter in the Class 4A race (1,020m). Unlike Hypeman, who is one-from-one in Malaysia, The Star was at his seventh Malaysian run for Moy at his last-start win in a Class 4B contest (1,100m) on June 15. Before that, he was under the care of trainer Tim Fitzsimmons at Kranji. While there, the Buffalo Stable-owned gelding raced 26 times and won two races over 1,200m, first on Nov 5, 2022 and the next on Oct 28, 2023. After finishing third at his last race at Kranji on March 30, 2024, The Star moved to his new base in Selangor and immediately caught the attention of racegoers when he got up by a head from Race For Fame in a nail-biting finish at his first test in Malaysia on Oct 12, 2024. To date, the Hallowed Crown six-year-old has picked up four wins in Kuala Lumpur and placed in three other runs. His last win, on June 15, was a gem. Ridden by Laercio de Souza and having to clear that disadvantaged gate 10 in the field of 11, The Star soon found a spot behind the leader, Cool Sixty-One. He was content to play a stalking role, but the fun began at the furlong mark when de Souza said "go". Off went The Star and, at the post, he had put 5½ lengths between himself and the chasing pack. The Star will turn seven on Aug 1. On paper, he might seem old, but on his current form, there is still loads of racing left in that tight and taut frame of his. Then, there was Te Akau Ben. Another one from the Dunderdale yard, he clocked a smart 38.4sec for his training gallop over the 600m. That, after a spot of cantering on a track rated "good". While the Tavistock seven-year-old won his previous six races in Singapore when prepared by Donna Logan, he also saluted in a Metro A event (1,600m) at Sungai Besi on March 1. It could have been eight, but he had to settle for third at his last two runs on June 22 and May 17. The reigning champion trainer in Malaysia will be looking to have more good seasons with the New Zealand-bred, who will turn eight on Aug 1. Finally, from the morning trackwork on July 1, we suggest you take note of Achilles Pegasus. A resident at trainer Wayne Lim's yard since August 2024, Achilles Pegasus turned in a pleasing workout, running the 600m in 41.2sec. The son of Per Incanto had five trials before Lim sent him to the races. He made his debut in the Betmakers Cup (1,400m) on Dec 1, 2024, and repaid part of his purchase price of NZ$100,000 (S$77,400) when he took third in that race won by Rocky Bhai. The three-year-old galloper finished third on two other occasions before breaking through for his first win. That was in the UPBH Platinum Horse Club Trophy (1,400m) on March 16, and Achilles Pegasus beat Pulse Bomb by 1¼ lengths. It was an untidy finish as he laid in in the straight, and had to survive an objection by the second-placed runner before he could claim his maiden victory. Granted his last two runs in open company were dismal, but he takes on Class 4 runners over 1,400m on July 6 and, on the strength of his training gallop, we should see a much improved performance. brian@
Daily Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Exciting talent King Zephyr showing his former trainer fun side of racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Chris Hyland is finally enjoying the fun side of racing with exciting galloper King Zephyr. Hyland did the hard yards as a trainer for almost two decades before getting sick of the grind and handing in his licence in 2023. Hyland took a job as assistant trainer to Group 1-winning horseman Grahame Begg, thriving in the freedom of being able to step away from racing a couple of times a week. • 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! 'I was scrapping and it was just very hard,' Hyland said. 'I was doing nine or 10 horses with one employee and it was just a very manic way to live your life. 'I think I'd had three runners at Moe that all went horribly and I came home and thought, 'I've had enough of this'. 'I'm still working hard but I've got constant income and not having to chase money all the time. 'You know you can train yourself but it's great going to work for a good trainer with good horses all the time.' King Zephyr was the last horse Hyland bought at a yearling sale, paying $48,000 for the son of Hallowed Crown at an Inglis sale in 2022. The gelding was also the only horse Hyland kept when he gave up training in his own right even though the stable's last two runners were winners. • Mouthwatering Doomben Cup clash set to provide cheers all around 'He had one preparation under my care and, of the 10 horses I had in training at that time, he was the only horse I kept. I sold all the rest,' Hyland said. 'There were a couple of others that were untried but I didn't keep them. 'We had done enough to suggest that I should hang on to him. 'My last two runners were winners but I put them on the online auction because I wanted to get out and regroup.' Hyland said Begg has done a great job with King Zephyr, who has won five of his first six starts and will attempt his first stakes win in Saturday's Listed Straight Six at Flemington. King Zephyr has taken Hyland and his long-time friends in the horse on a great early ride, culminating with an easy win over 1400m at Flemington. King Zephyr will have a crack at his first stakes win in Saturday's Listed Straight Six at Flemington. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images The gelding's outstanding start to his career has led to the syndicate having big dreams with the developing performer. • Melbourne Cup hero likely to miss Qld winter carnival 'The dream is to own a Group 1 winner because I never trained a Group 1 winner but it's just been great fun with him,' Hyland said. 'He's just a no-fuss horse. I suppose he's got to do it on Saturday but not much worries him and whatever Grahame asks him to do, he does. 'If he won on Saturday, that might get his rating up to possibly have a go at a Stradbroke and have a break up in Queensland.' But Hyland said Begg would have the sole say on whether King Zephyr headed north should the four-year-old win again at Flemington. 'He's a multiple Group 1-winning trainer and the best I had was a third in a Group 1 so I'll leave it to the boss, he knows what he's doing,' Hyland said. Originally published as King Zephyr to shoot for five straight wins in Listed Straight Six at Flemington
News.com.au
13-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
King Zephyr to shoot for five straight wins in Listed Straight Six at Flemington
Chris Hyland is finally enjoying the fun side of racing with exciting galloper King Zephyr. Hyland did the hard yards as a trainer for almost two decades before getting sick of the grind and handing in his licence in 2023. Hyland took a job as assistant trainer to Group 1-winning horseman Grahame Begg, thriving in the freedom of being able to step away from racing a couple of times a week. • 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! 'I was scrapping and it was just very hard,' Hyland said. 'I was doing nine or 10 horses with one employee and it was just a very manic way to live your life. 'I think I'd had three runners at Moe that all went horribly and I came home and thought, 'I've had enough of this'. 'I'm still working hard but I've got constant income and not having to chase money all the time. 'You know you can train yourself but it's great going to work for a good trainer with good horses all the time.' King Zephyr does it again to make it four wins in a row in the last at Flemington ðŸ'¥ @Grahame_Begg @jchilds47 — (@Racing) April 25, 2025 King Zephyr was the last horse Hyland bought at a yearling sale, paying $48,000 for the son of Hallowed Crown at an Inglis sale in 2022. The gelding was also the only horse Hyland kept when he gave up training in his own right even though the stable's last two runners were winners. 'He had one preparation under my care and, of the 10 horses I had in training at that time, he was the only horse I kept. I sold all the rest,' Hyland said. 'There were a couple of others that were untried but I didn't keep them. 'We had done enough to suggest that I should hang on to him. 'My last two runners were winners but I put them on the online auction because I wanted to get out and regroup.' Hyland said Begg has done a great job with King Zephyr, who has won five of his first six starts and will attempt his first stakes win in Saturday's Listed Straight Six at Flemington. King Zephyr has taken Hyland and his long-time friends in the horse on a great early ride, culminating with an easy win over 1400m at Flemington. The gelding's outstanding start to his career has led to the syndicate having big dreams with the developing performer. • Melbourne Cup hero likely to miss Qld winter carnival 'The dream is to own a Group 1 winner because I never trained a Group 1 winner but it's just been great fun with him,' Hyland said. 'He's just a no-fuss horse. I suppose he's got to do it on Saturday but not much worries him and whatever Grahame asks him to do, he does. 'If he won on Saturday, that might get his rating up to possibly have a go at a Stradbroke and have a break up in Queensland.' But Hyland said Begg would have the sole say on whether King Zephyr headed north should the four-year-old win again at Flemington. 'He's a multiple Group 1-winning trainer and the best I had was a third in a Group 1 so I'll leave it to the boss, he knows what he's doing,' Hyland said.
