Latest news with #HawkesburyGoldCup
Sydney Morning Herald
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Blue-blood mare leads way in stakes double for Pride at Hawkesbury
Dragonstone gave Pride a stakes double when he edged out stablemate In Flight in the listed Gold Rush (1100m). Cool Jakey made it a treble overall when he led all the way in the last. FREEDMAN WEIGHS UP OPTIONS Trainer Anthony Freedman said Punch Lane may race on to the Queensland winter carnival after sealing a place in the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) in November at Randwick with victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m). Racing for a third consecutive Saturday, Punch Lane repeated his front-running effort from last week at Randwick, when he dominated the benchmark 100 handicap (1500m) by four lengths on soft going. Again under Nash Rawiller, Punch Lane led on Saturday before kicking clear in the straight as the $2.30 favourite. He finished one-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Osipenko. It gave Rawiller a double on the day after earlier winning on Able Willie for Chris Waller in a benchmark 78 (1100m). 'He's tough as nails and it's been a great training effort,' Rawiller said. 'Three weeks in a row, not many can do that, and he's come here today and first out of the gates and first into the bridle ... he was better than last time.' COLT DELIVERS HEADLINE WIN Randwick trainer Paul Snowden was eyeing the Fred Best Classic and a potential shot at the group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in Queensland with Media World after the decision not to geld the $1.4 million buy paid off in the group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m). The Written Tycoon colt, a Yulong purchase at the 2023 Inglis Easter Sale, led the $250,000 race under Tyler Schiller and looked to have kicked away late before Just Party launched in the final 100m. Media World held on by a half-head to hand Snowden a fifth Hawkesbury Guineas. The win followed a first-up midweek victory at Warwick Farm. Media World's only other win in 10 starts came a year ago in the 2YO Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury. 'It's been a good ride with him. He's been a nice horse all the way through and it was a good result today,' Snowden said. 'I think he's come back a better horse. We were very tempted to geld him, but Yulong wanted to give him one more chance as a colt and I'm glad they did. He's paid dividends. He's won a group race and hopefully he can go on to Brisbane and do something else. 'He'll go to the Fred Best and, if he runs well in that, I definitely will think about [the Stradbroke].' It was also an exciting win for prominent owners Frank and Christine Cook, who bred the horse then bought back into him after Yulong's purchase. The victory capped a good day for the Snowden family, after Peter's son and former training partner, Paul, had his first win since going out on his own when Lunaite powered to a four-length victory at Newcastle. GROUP 1 ON RADAR FOR AERODROME Randwick trainer Michael Freedman was looking to the Queensland winter carnival with Aerodrome after he continued his stable's stellar season with two-year-olds on Saturday at Hawkesbury. A $2.10 favourite in the 2YO Clarendon Stakes (1400m) after winning his debut at Warwick Farm over 1200m, Aerodrome raced outside David Payne-trained Hereward before wearing it down late to win by three quarters of a length for Freedman, who won the Golden Slipper with Marhoona. The group 1 JJ Atkins over 1600m at Eagle Farm on June 14 was now a target for Aerodrome. Jockey Regan Bayliss said the Ole Kirk gelding would have no trouble running out a strong mile. Aerodrome was into an equal $6 favourite with Sportsbet for the JJ Atkins. The May 31 group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m), also a $1 million race at Eagle Farm, was another likely goal. NOCK RIDES INTO THE LEAD Braith Nock powered to the lead of the Sydney apprentices' premiership with an early double at Hawkesbury on Saturday. The Scone-based former professional bull rider went to 23 city wins for the season, one ahead of Molly Bourke, with victories on Jason Deamer-trained Jumeirah Beach ($6) in the Midway Handicap and Matt Dale-prepared favourite Canadian Ruler ($4.40) in the Highway Handicap. Nock saved ground on both horses, finding a late split on Jumeirah Beach to score a narrow win before coming down the inside to hit the front on Canadian Ruler at the 200m on the way to a half-length success. 'It's good,' Nock said of leading the apprentices' race. 'I think most of my rides today are right up there.' Nock picked up a two-meeting suspension from his ride on Jumeirah Beach. Former title leader Zac Wadick later went to 20 wins with victory on John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Jamberoo, which survived a late surge from Nash Rawiller-ridden Quantum Cat then a protest from the runner-up.
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Punch Lane earns Big Dance qualification by winning the Hawkesbury Gold Cup
Punch Lane, Sydney racing's iron horse, delivered another knockout blow to his chasing rivals at Hawkesbury on Saturday. Champion jockey Nash Rawiller sent Punch Lane straight to the front early in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) and from that moment their opponents were racing for second prize. This was Punch Lane's third start in as many weeks and he was backing up after leading throughout to win at Randwick last Saturday. It was a case of 'rinse and repeat' for the Anthony and Sam Freedman -trained Punch Lane in the feature race at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting. 'Tough as nails this horse, it's been a great training effort,'' Rawiller said. 'Three weeks in a row, not many can do that, but he has come here today and was first out of the gates and first onto the bridle. 'You could expect him to half not want to be here but he was better than last week.'' Punch Lane ($2.30 favourite) gave nothing else a chance in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup as he maintained his advantage throughout to win by 1-1/4 lengths from Osipenko ($9) with My Oberon ($14) a half-length away third. Matcha Latte, winner of the Provincial-Midway Championships Final, was a brave fourth just in front of Tavi Time. Punch Lane leads all the way in the G3 @hawkesburyrc Gold Cup and wins in style!ðŸ�† That's also a double to @nashhot ðŸ'° @FreedmanRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025 Rawiller, who rode a brace of winners after scoring earlier on Able Willie, won his second successive Hawkesbury Gold Cup following his win on Just Folk 12 months ago. In fact, Rawiller has had a lot of success at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting over the years having also won three Hawkesbury Crowns on Coco Jamboo (2024), Sweet Deal (2021) and More Strawberries (2012), and two Hawkesbury Guineas on Hawaii Five Oh (2023) and Royal Discretion (2008). Rawiller predicted the Freedman father and son training partnership will make a huge success of their decision to open a 24-box Sydney satellite stable at Randwick to complement their main stable base at Mornington in Victoria. 'Anthony hasn't been up here for long and is learning the ropes, I guess, in Sydney a little but I'm sure he will get good support, he's a top trainer,'' Rawiller said. Rawiller's racing colours of royal blue, gold armbands and cap of the William Street Syndicate are also synonymous success. The ownership group has raced many outstanding gallopers including 1982 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups winner Gurner's Lane, trained by the late Geoff Murphy. The Freedman family has trained for the syndicate of mainly Melbourne-based businessmen for many years including most notably the outstanding sprinter Santa Ana Lane who Anthony prepared to win five Group 1 races including the 2018 TJ Smith Stakes and Stradbroke Handicap, and 2019 VRC Sprint Classic. Hall of Famer Lee Freedman trained Paris Lane for the syndicate to win the 1994 Caulfield Cup and Mackinnon Stakes. Punch Lane's Hawkesbury Gold Cup win ensures the gelding is qualified for the $3 million The Big Dance at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day in November. A rising six-year-old by champion racehorse and sire So You Think, Punch Lane scored his eighth win from just 20 starts and took his career earnings to nearly $670,000. Anthony or Sam Freedman weren't on track for Punch Lane's Hawkesbury Gold Cup win but stable representative Shane Hourigan said the five-year-old was the 'perfect horse' to back up quickly and still perform at his best. 'This wasn't an afterthought to back up from Randwick into the Hawkesbury Gold Cup – and he is probably the right horse to do it with,'' Hourigan said. 'He does his work, eats, sleeps, then goes out in the morning and does it all again. 'We didn't have to do too much with him during the week, he's fit and this was his third week in a row. 'So, we just kept him ticking over during the week, making sure the horse was happy. Fresh is best as they say.'' Hourigan said Rawiller was able to dictate terms to suit on the front-running Punch Lane. 'In his races, this horse makes his own luck,'' he said. 'Nash gave him a great ride, jumped nicely, controlled the pace then kicked and had too much for them. 'He was always doing things on his own terms.''
The Age
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Blue-blood mare leads way in stakes double for Pride at Hawkesbury
Dragonstone gave Pride a stakes double when he edged out stablemate In Flight in the listed Gold Rush (1100m). Cool Jakey made it a treble overall when he led all the way in the last. FREEDMAN WEIGHS UP OPTIONS Trainer Anthony Freedman said Punch Lane may race on to the Queensland winter carnival after sealing a place in the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) in November at Randwick with victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m). Racing for a third consecutive Saturday, Punch Lane repeated his front-running effort from last week at Randwick, when he dominated the benchmark 100 handicap (1500m) by four lengths on soft going. Again under Nash Rawiller, Punch Lane led on Saturday before kicking clear in the straight as the $2.30 favourite. He finished one-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Osipenko. It gave Rawiller a double on the day after earlier winning on Able Willie for Chris Waller in a benchmark 78 (1100m). 'He's tough as nails and it's been a great training effort,' Rawiller said. 'Three weeks in a row, not many can do that, and he's come here today and first out of the gates and first into the bridle ... he was better than last time.' COLT DELIVERS HEADLINE WIN Randwick trainer Paul Snowden was eyeing the Fred Best Classic and a potential shot at the group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in Queensland with Media World after the decision not to geld the $1.4 million buy paid off in the group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m). The Written Tycoon colt, a Yulong purchase at the 2023 Inglis Easter Sale, led the $250,000 race under Tyler Schiller and looked to have kicked away late before Just Party launched in the final 100m. Media World held on by a half-head to hand Snowden a fifth Hawkesbury Guineas. The win followed a first-up midweek victory at Warwick Farm. Media World's only other win in 10 starts came a year ago in the 2YO Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury. 'It's been a good ride with him. He's been a nice horse all the way through and it was a good result today,' Snowden said. 'I think he's come back a better horse. We were very tempted to geld him, but Yulong wanted to give him one more chance as a colt and I'm glad they did. He's paid dividends. He's won a group race and hopefully he can go on to Brisbane and do something else. 'He'll go to the Fred Best and, if he runs well in that, I definitely will think about [the Stradbroke].' It was also an exciting win for prominent owners Frank and Christine Cook, who bred the horse then bought back into him after Yulong's purchase. The victory capped a good day for the Snowden family, after Peter's son and former training partner, Paul, had his first win since going out on his own when Lunaite powered to a four-length victory at Newcastle. GROUP 1 ON RADAR FOR AERODROME Randwick trainer Michael Freedman was looking to the Queensland winter carnival with Aerodrome after he continued his stable's stellar season with two-year-olds on Saturday at Hawkesbury. A $2.10 favourite in the 2YO Clarendon Stakes (1400m) after winning his debut at Warwick Farm over 1200m, Aerodrome raced outside David Payne-trained Hereward before wearing it down late to win by three quarters of a length for Freedman, who won the Golden Slipper with Marhoona. The group 1 JJ Atkins over 1600m at Eagle Farm on June 14 was now a target for Aerodrome. Jockey Regan Bayliss said the Ole Kirk gelding would have no trouble running out a strong mile. Aerodrome was into an equal $6 favourite with Sportsbet for the JJ Atkins. The May 31 group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m), also a $1 million race at Eagle Farm, was another likely goal. NOCK RIDES INTO THE LEAD Braith Nock powered to the lead of the Sydney apprentices' premiership with an early double at Hawkesbury on Saturday. The Scone-based former professional bull rider went to 23 city wins for the season, one ahead of Molly Bourke, with victories on Jason Deamer-trained Jumeirah Beach ($6) in the Midway Handicap and Matt Dale-prepared favourite Canadian Ruler ($4.40) in the Highway Handicap. Nock saved ground on both horses, finding a late split on Jumeirah Beach to score a narrow win before coming down the inside to hit the front on Canadian Ruler at the 200m on the way to a half-length success. 'It's good,' Nock said of leading the apprentices' race. 'I think most of my rides today are right up there.' Nock picked up a two-meeting suspension from his ride on Jumeirah Beach. Former title leader Zac Wadick later went to 20 wins with victory on John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Jamberoo, which survived a late surge from Nash Rawiller-ridden Quantum Cat then a protest from the runner-up.
Sydney Morning Herald
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Blueblood mare leads way in stakes double for Pride at Hawkesbury
Dragonstone gave Pride a stakes double when he edged out stablemate In Flight in the listed Gold Rush (1100m). Cool Jakey made it a treble overall when he led all the way in the last. FREEDMAN WEIGHS UP OPTIONS Trainer Anthony Freedman said Punch Lane may race on to the Queensland winter carnival after sealing a place in the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) in November at Randwick with victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m). Racing for a third consecutive Saturday, Punch Lane repeated his front-running effort from last week at Randwick, when he dominated the benchmark 100 handicap (1500m) by four lengths on soft going. Again under Nash Rawiller, Punch Lane led on Saturday before kicking clear in the straight as the $2.30 favourite. He finished one-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Osipenko. It gave Rawiller a double on the day after earlier winning on Able Willie for Chris Waller in a benchmark 78 (1100m). 'He's tough as nails and it's been a great training effort,' Rawiller said. 'Three weeks in a row, not many can do that, and he's come here today and first out of the gates and first into the bridle ... he was better than last time.' COLT DELIVERS HEADLINE WIN Randwick trainer Paul Snowden was eyeing the Fred Best Classic and a potential shot at the group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in Queensland with Media World after the decision not to geld the $1.4 million buy paid off in the group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m). The Written Tycoon colt, a Yulong purchase at the 2023 Inglis Easter Sale, led the $250,000 race under Tyler Schiller and looked to have kicked away late before Just Party launched in the final 100m. Media World held on by a half-head to hand Snowden a fifth Hawkesbury Guineas. The win followed a first-up midweek victory at Warwick Farm. Media World's only other win in 10 starts came a year ago in the 2YO Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury. 'It's been a good ride with him. He's been a nice horse all the way through and it was a good result today,' Snowden said. 'I think he's come back a better horse. We were very tempted to geld him, but Yulong wanted to give him one more chance as a colt and I'm glad they did. He's paid dividends. He's won a group race and hopefully he can go on to Brisbane and do something else. 'He'll go to the Fred Best and, if he runs well in that, I definitely will think about [the Stradbroke].' It was also an exciting win for prominent owners Frank and Christine Cook, who bred the horse then bought back into him after Yulong's purchase. The victory capped a good day for the Snowden family, after Peter's son and former training partner, Paul, had his first win since going out on his own when Lunaite powered to a four-length victory at Newcastle. GROUP 1 ON RADAR FOR AERODROME Randwick trainer Michael Freedman was looking to the Queensland winter carnival with Aerodrome after he continued his stable's stellar season with two-year-olds on Saturday at Hawkesbury. A $2.10 favourite in the 2YO Clarendon Stakes (1400m) after winning his debut at Warwick Farm over 1200m, Aerodrome raced outside David Payne-trained Hereward before wearing it down late to win by three quarters of a length for Freedman, who won the Golden Slipper with Marhoona. The group 1 JJ Atkins over 1600m at Eagle Farm on June 14 was now a target for Aerodrome. Jockey Regan Bayliss said the Ole Kirk gelding would have no trouble running out a strong mile. Aerodrome was into an equal $6 favourite with Sportsbet for the JJ Atkins. The May 31 group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m), also a $1 million race at Eagle Farm, was another likely goal. NOCK RIDES INTO THE LEAD Braith Nock powered to the lead of the Sydney apprentices' premiership with an early double at Hawkesbury on Saturday. The Scone-based former professional bull rider went to 23 city wins for the season, one ahead of Molly Bourke, with victories on Jason Deamer-trained Jumeirah Beach ($6) in the Midway Handicap and Matt Dale-prepared favourite Canadian Ruler ($4.40) in the Highway Handicap. Nock saved ground on both horses, finding a late split on Jumeirah Beach to score a narrow win before coming down the inside to hit the front on Canadian Ruler at the 200m on the way to a half-length success. 'It's good,' Nock said of leading the apprentices' race. 'I think most of my rides today are right up there.' Nock picked up a two-meeting suspension from his ride on Jumeirah Beach. Former title leader Zac Wadick later went to 20 wins with victory on John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Jamberoo, which survived a late surge from Nash Rawiller-ridden Quantum Cat then a protest from the runner-up.
Daily Telegraph
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Sara Ryan has Group 1 plans if Matcha Latte can continue winning streak in Hawkesbury Gold Cup
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Sara Ryan has every reason to aim high with the rejuvenated Matcha Latte and hinted at a possible Stradbroke Handicap start if he wins the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) at Hawkesbury on Saturday. Matcha Latte's race career has been punctuated by serious leg issues but Ryan has persevered when others may not have and the gelding rewarded her with his win in the $1m Provincial Midway Championships Final at Royal Randwick last month. • 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! As Ryan was being congratulated immediately after the Randwick race, she gave an insight into the problems Matcha Latte has had to overcome just to get back to the race. 'Matcha Latte's broken my heart more times than once but we love him,'' Ryan said after the Provincial-Midway Championships Final. 'I've always known his ability, and for him to go and do that, it's just fantastic. A big thanks to my team to get a horse like him back to perform at his absolute top. 'As a Provincial trainer, this is our championship so to come out here and win it with a horse like him after so many issues is fantastic.'' If Matcha Latte can make it three wins in succession in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup, then Ryan has ambitions to set her stable star for the Group 1 $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14. 'I will see how he goes at Hawkesbury but if he wins then we will probably take him to Queensland for the Stradbroke,'' Ryan said. Matcha Latte is a rising six-year-old but was having only his 15th start when he held off Lord Of Biscay to win the Provincial Midway Championships Final, his third career win to take his prizemoney to over $1.1m. Sara Ryan has Provincial-Midway Championships Final winner Matcha Latte back to his best. Picture:• Ray and Duff: All Aged 'good form' for $9 value bet at Hawkesbury 'We have him back to his best after all his issues so why not keep going with him,'' Ryan said. 'He's got his confidence up at the moment, he's racing well.'' Matcha Latte will start from barrier four and is into $4.80 in latest TAB betting for the Hawkesbury Gold Cup. There's a lot in Matcha Latte's favour at Hawkesbury including the barrier draw, he has tactical speed and will make his own luck in running, drops to 53.5kg a and the soft-heavy track conditions won't trouble him, either. 'He gets through everything – wet, soft, hard tracks,'' Ryan enthused. 'He's a very versatile horse.'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ HAWKESBURY BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS RACE 1: Starboard $4.60-$4, Vintage Choice $6-$5, Prince Of Sorts $8-$7.50 RACE 2: Call Me Terry $15-$7, Straight Fire $15-$9.50, Craft $26-$10 RACE 3: Damien $4.40-$4, One Step Closer $11-$10, Wentworth Falls $15-$8.50, Fortissimo $26-$15 RACE 4: Iron Man $8-$3.40, World Alliance $6-$4, Able Willie $15-$7.50, Spanish Fox $15-$6 RACE 5: Perfect Play $6-$4.40, Phillipsburg $26-$8.50, Awesome Wonder $11-$9 RACE 6: Candlewick $11-$5, Media World $11-$8, Modella $15-$9.50 RACE 7: Lady Laguna $6-$4.80, Written In Code $11-$7.50, City Of Lights $11-$7.50 RACE 8: Punch Lane $4.60-$3.50, Tavi Time $8-$7.50, Mare Of Mt Buller $15-$9, Osipenko $11-$9.50 RACE 9: Celui $11-$5, Fire Star $11-$9 RACE 10: Gallant Star $4.60-$2.80 EARLY QUADDIE Race 3: 1, 3, 7 Race 4: 1, 3, 4, 7 Race 5: 2, 3, 4, 6 Race 6: 1, 2, 9, 14 QUADDIE Race 7: 1, 2, 10, 12 Race 8: 5, 9, 12, 15 Race 9: 1, 4, 9, 12 Race 10: 3, 7, 10, 13 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ PRICE CHECK PUNCH LANE (race 8), trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, is very effective on soft-heavy conditions and he has been the big firmer for the Hawkesbury Gold Cup, coming in from $4.60 to $3.50 favouritism. There has also been good moves for the Chris Waller-trained duo of Mare Of Mt Buller $15 into $9 and Osipenko $11 into $9.50. SECTIONAL STARS OSIPENKO (race 8) only ran ninth when resuming in the All Aged Stakes but it was a very good effort. He was back near last on the turn but ran on strongly to be beaten just over four lengths. His final 600m of 34.01sec was bettered only by the winner, Jimmysstar, and runner-up, Joliestar, both legitimate Group 1 sprinters. Osipenko also sprinted his closing 200m sectional in 11.87sec as he really attacked the line. MOBY DICK (race 10) got a long way back and was held up for a few strides before storming home late to finish a sixth to Need Some Luck at Randwick. The true merit of Moby Dick's effort is underlined by his sectional times with an impressive 33.32sec final 600m and a closing 200m sectional of 11.52sec as he powered to the line. • Stand-alone pioneer deserves a big-money feature TRIAL POINTERS JUST PARTY (race 6) has only one win from 10 starts but is a multiple stakes placegetter and a three-year-old of considerable promise. A son of 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Justify, Just Party has been gelded since he was last in work and readied for his Hawkesbury Guineas comeback with two barrier trials. He was particularly impressive on the most recent trial coming from near last and zooming down the outside to comfortably win his 1045m heat. He's trained up for his return. BUBBA'S BAY (race 9) struck a rich vein of form when last in work, winning four of her last six starts including two at stakes level before her spell. She resumes in the Hawkesbury Rush but has trialled brilliantly twice at Newcastle in recent weeks, winning both with ease on heavy ground. Bubba's Bay is very effective on wet tracks and races well fresh. BEST BET QUANTUM CAT (race 5) was moving into the race nicely when he ran into a dead end and lost all momentum when he finished unplaced when resuming at Warwick Farm. Striking chestnut who gets out to 1800m at Hawkesbury which is more to his liking and will strip fitter for that luckless first-up effort. This former English galloper is yet to win in Australia but he has run a series of competitive races and gets his chance at Hawkesbury. VALUE BET MEDIA WORLD (race 6) won the Clarendon Stakes at the Hawkesbury stand-alone last year and returns to attempt a feature race double in the Hawkesbury Guineas. Media World showed plenty of determination to endure a tough run and still beat older horses when resuming at Warwick Farm. He's going to be fitter for that run, he's won over the course and distance, handles wet tracks and is good value around $8. Originally published as Hawkesbury inside mail: Sara Ryan has Group 1 plans if Matcha Latte can continue winning streak in Gold Cup
