Latest news with #HiddenAchievement
Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Zebra Finch eyes Group 1 JJ Atkins glory after Rosehill triumph
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Progressive Godolphin colt Zebra Finch will be given the opportunity to emulate his big-hitting stablemate Broadsiding, earning himself a crack at the JJ Atkins Stakes after lowering the boom on a couple of his more fancied rivals at Rosehill on Saturday. Yesterday's seven-horse affair held more interest than most of the other nine races on the Lord Mayor's Cup undercard given it overflowed with JJ Atkins aspirants including the Chris Waller duo Hidden Achievement and pricey Frankel colt, Sarapo. The Waller pair were expected to fight out on the finish as they had when they met at Gosford on Cup Day but were unable to make the same impact this time despite racing at home. • 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! Both horses were marked at $15 to win the JJ Atkins prior to their respective efforts yesterday. Hidden Achievement blew out to $26 while Sarapo was wound out to $51. Zebra Finch, meanwhile, had his price halved from $51 into $26 for the June 14 feature and carrying the imprimatur of one of the sport's champions. 'If he pulls up well, I'd send him up there, because he is going to get a mile,'' winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy said after the Schweppes Handicap (1300m). 'You obviously need a horse that runs a mile and you need a horse on the improve and that's possibly what he is going to be. ' It wasn't a big winning margin but I am sure with a better quality horse to aim at, he is going to be better again. 'He is the sort of colt that only does enough (but) I am sure if he got challenged there was an extra kick in the lock. 'So if James (Cummings) and the team decide to go to Brisbane for that mile race, I wouldn't be against it.' At least one of the Waller-trained runners from the race looks likely to still make his way up to Brisbane for the last Group 1 two-year-old feature of the season with a decision pending on the other. Yu Long Investments colt Hidden Achievement clocked in third behind Zebra Finch with future Guineas/Derby colt Sarapo three lengths behind in sixth. 'The race lacked tempo, it was a sit and sprint,'' assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth began. 'When Adam (Hyernonimus) won on Hidden Achievement last start, he was mindful that he probably rode him too close that day and took him out of his comfort zone. But he drew so well in a small field today that we basically had to do the same again. 'Adam's adamant that when you can put the bit in his mouth a little bit better, he'll have a better turn of foot. 'Adam is strongly pushing for Chris (to go to Brisbane with him). He said 'I don't care if I ride him or not but you should be running the horse in the JJ', that's his opinion.' As for pricey $750,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase Sarapo, Team Waller will let the dust settle on the colt's second career start before they decide on his next move. 'He was obviously a long way back off a soft tempo,'' Duckworth explained. 'He is going to be a miler at three you'd imagine, it's just whether you try and break through for that maiden win at two. 'Obviously he is by Frankel so if he ends up in the breeding barn, they're going to be worried about him if he doesn't win at two so it might be an important start for him or do we just look after him and just trust that he'll measure up at three.'' As for Zebra Finch, his own stud career will naturally hinge on the outcome of the JJ Atkins but Darley would dearly love to add another Group 1 winning son of Exceed And Excel to their roster. Not only is Zebra Finch by one of the truly global stallions of the modern era, his dam was a handy performer herself and by Lonhro who holds the rare honour of being crowned both Australian Horse of the Year and Champion General Sire. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Tough as teak gelding Mickey's Medal helped edge the former rodeo rider Braith Nock one step closer to a medal collection of his own as the race for Sydney's Champion Apprentice enters the home straight. Nock and former Riverina whiz Molly Bourke are locked in an arm wrestle to decide who will join an Honour Roll that includes the likes of Jack Thompson, George Moore, Ron Quinton, Malcolm Johnston, Wayne Harris and Darren Beadman. Nock's win on the Annabell and Rob Archibald-trained Mickey's Medal extended his lead over Bourke by five metropolitan wins with August 1 now exactly two months away. Sitting three-wide with no cover may not have been the text-book ride from Nock on Mickey's Medal but it proved to be the winning formula on a day where it paid to be away from the inside fence. 'Everyone just seemed to take their time to get their spots and all of a sudden there were people inside me,' Nock explained. '(But) it was a slow tempo and he was able to travel really good. 'Actually, he was really relaxed coming to the 600m and I had to wake him up and then I was able to idle-up and I still think he might have had a little bit of a think about it things once we got there, but he got left alone for a long time so it was a really good effort. 'He seems to be just relishing his racing and he tries his best every time.' Yesterday's Precise Air Handicap (1500m) was the gelding's sixth run of the current campaign. His $82,500 collect was a tangible reward to effort on his part, drawing some high praise from the stable. 'It was brilliant to see him win,' stable representative Megan O'Leary said. 'I was almost waiting for (runner-up) Hopper to come down the outside of us but he really deserved that win, he's been running so well this prep.' Mickey's Medal was sold twice before he ever saw a racetrack. The great-grandson of broodmare gem Shantha's Choice was secured for $70,000 as a weanling before being reoffered at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale where he fetched $225,000. Originally published as Godolphin colt Zebra Finch pushes for Group 1 JJ Atkins start after his impressive victory at Rosehill
Mercury
2 days ago
- Sport
- Mercury
Zebra Finch eyes J J Atkins glory after Rosehill triumph
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Progressive Godolphin colt Zebra Finch will be given the opportunity to emulate his big-hitting stablemate Broadsiding, earning himself a crack at the J J Atkins Stakes after lowering the boom on a couple of his more fancied rivals at Rosehill on Saturday. Yesterday's seven-horse affair held more interest than most of the other nine races on the Lord Mayor's Cup undercard given it overflowed with J J Atkins aspirants including the Chris Waller duo Hidden Achievement and pricey Frankel colt, Sarapo. The Waller pair were expected to fight out on the finish as they had when they met at Gosford on Cup Day but were unable to make the same impact this time despite racing at home. • 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! Both horses were marked at $15 to win the J J Atkins prior to their respective efforts yesterday. Hidden Achievement blew out to $26 while Sarapo was wound out to $51. Zebra Finch, meanwhile, had his price halved from $51 into $26 for the June 14 feature and carrying the imprimatur of one of the sport's champions. 'If he pulls up well, I'd send him up there, because he is going to get a mile,'' winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy said after the Schweppes Handicap (1300m). 'You obviously need a horse that runs a mile and you need a horse on the improve and that's possibly what he is going to be. ' It wasn't a big winning margin but I am sure with a better quality horse to aim at, he is going to be better again. 'He is the sort of colt that only does enough (but) I am sure if he got challenged there was an extra kick in the lock. 'So if James (Cummings) and the team decide to go to Brisbane for that mile race, I wouldn't be against it.' At least one of the Waller-trained runners from the race looks likely to still make his way up to Brisbane for the last Group 1 two-year-old feature of the season with a decision pending on the other. Yu Long Investments colt Hidden Achievement clocked in third behind Zebra Finch with future Guineas/Derby colt Sarapo three lengths behind in sixth. 'The race lacked tempo, it was a sit and sprint,'' assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth began. 'When Adam (Hyernonimus) won on Hidden Achievement last start, he was mindful that he probably rode him too close that day and took him out of his comfort zone. But he drew so well in a small field today that we basically had to do the same again. 'Adam's adamant that when you can put the bit in his mouth a little bit better, he'll have a better turn of foot. 'Adam is strongly pushing for Chris (to go to Brisbane with him). He said 'I don't care if I ride him or not but you should be running the horse in the JJ', that's his opinion.' As for pricey $750,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase Sarapo, Team Waller will let the dust settle on the colt's second career start before they decide on his next move. 'He was obviously a long way back off a soft tempo,'' Duckworth explained. 'He is going to be a miler at three you'd imagine, it's just whether you try and break through for that maiden win at two. 'Obviously he is by Frankel so if he ends up in the breeding barn, they're going to be worried about him if he doesn't win at two so it might be an important start for him or do we just look after him and just trust that he'll measure up at three.'' As for Zebra Finch, his own stud career will naturally hinge on the outcome of the J J Atkins but Darley would dearly love to add another Group 1 winning son of Exceed And Excel to their roster. Not only is Zebra Finch by one of the truly global stallions of the modern era, his dam was a handy performer herself and by Lonhro who holds the rare honour of being crowned both Australian Horse of the Year and Champion General Sire. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Tough as teak gelding Mickey's Medal helped edge the former rodeo rider Braith Nock one step closer to a medal collection of his own as the race for Sydney's Champion Apprentice enters the home straight. Nock and former Riverina whiz Molly Bourke are locked in an arm wrestle to decide who will join an Honour Roll that includes the likes of Jack Thompson, George Moore, Ron Quinton, Malcolm Johnston, Wayne Harris and Darren Beadman. Nock's win on the Annabell and Rob Archibald-trained Mickey's Medal extended his lead over Bourke by five metropolitan wins with August 1 now exactly two months away. Sitting three-wide with no cover may not have been the text-book ride from Nock on Mickey's Medal but it proved to be the winning formula on a day where it paid to be away from the inside fence. 'Everyone just seemed to take their time to get their spots and all of a sudden there were people inside me,' Nock explained. '(But) it was a slow tempo and he was able to travel really good. 'Actually, he was really relaxed coming to the 600m and I had to wake him up and then I was able to idle-up and I still think he might have had a little bit of a think about it things once we got there, but he got left alone for a long time so it was a really good effort. 'He seems to be just relishing his racing and he tries his best every time.' Yesterday's Precise Air Handicap (1500m) was the gelding's sixth run of the current campaign. His $82,500 collect was a tangible reward to effort on his part, drawing some high praise from the stable. 'It was brilliant to see him win,' stable representative Megan O'Leary said. 'I was almost waiting for (runner-up) Hopper to come down the outside of us but he really deserved that win, he's been running so well this prep.' Mickey's Medal was sold twice before he ever saw a racetrack. The great-grandson of broodmare gem Shantha's Choice was secured for $70,000 as a weanling before being reoffered at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale where he fetched $225,000. Originally published as Godolphin's promising colt Zebra Finch pushes for Group 1 J J Atkins start after his impressive victory at Rosehill
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Shayne O'Cass tips, race-by-race analysis for 2025 Lord Mayor's Cup day at Rosehill Gardens
Form expert Shayne O'Cass analyses Saturday's 10-race card at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis. • 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 P ro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! â– â– â– â– â– SARAPO (3) is a Frankel out of a Le Havre (won the French Derby) mare; thus blessed with a double cross of Sadler's Wells. Can't you just see this colt in a Guineas or Derby and whatever else in years to come? Massive debut run on a track and distance that worked against him. Stablemate HIDDEN ACHIEVEMENT (1) – who was scratched from the Sires – beat him that day. Might do again given the better draw. Set up for a really absorbing clash to start the day. BET: SARAPO (3) to win, exacta 3 to beat 1. â– â– â– â– â– ROSES IMMINENTE (12) was my bet in the Scone stand-alone Highway and while it says 10th of 16; she drew 14, was last on the corner and in a bit of traffic too. Drawn well this time and is one for one on a Heavy 9. ZOOMORPHIC (11) is a Zoustar son of Group 1 winner, Spright. Won at Mudgee by five lengths before another pretty emphatic win at Dubbo. Ready and able for a Highway debut. WARRIOR FOR PEACE (10) came from 13th of 15 to win in the last stride at Scone on Cup Day. Big win. â– â– â– â– â– EVERYONE'S A STAR (6) 's best runs are at 1100m. Wouldn't say she is an out and out muddie but she'll handle Soft if we get there on the day. This will be her sixth Midway in a row and bar that Heavy 8 one here on April 1, they've all been good. LADY EXTREME (7) has only missed a medal once in her nine starts (tick). Her two Midway runs were both seconds in better ones than this. KHUMBILAT (5) trialled well behind Ribusto and Semillion here recently. BET: EVERYONE'S A STAR (6) each-way (unless Heavy) otherwise LADY EXTREME (7) to win. â– â– â– â– â– KUNDABUNG (9) was a $450,000 MM Yearling. He's by the super sire Super Seth out of an O'Reilly mare; the same as Australian Guineas winner, Feroce and the Black Opal placegetter, Sanctified. Got quality miler written all over him. HOPPER (8) resumed with a confidence boosting win at the Farm on May 7 beating Gunroom who won at Canterbury on Wednesday. Onwards and upwards for this superbly-bred Snitzel son. The draw? Hmmm. We'll find out whether that helped or hindered on the day. BET: KUNDABUNG (9) to win. â– â– â– â– â– SUMMER FLAME (5) was $61 for no good reason when won the Denise's Joy at Scone, running 1.02.66s as it happens. This is 1100m again, only this time, she is racing at home. Not sure what the wide draw means to her, it might actually help her. We will know by now anyway. Ditto that last bit for LULUMON (1) who has drawn even wider still. This Jason Coyle-trained daughter of Vancouver is one of the best muddies on the card; don't forget she beat a decent field of Benchmark 78 Fillies and Mares here on a 10 back on December 7 last year. BET: SUMMER FLAME (5) each-way. â– â– â– â– â– KAZALARK (11) is grandson of Sarwatch who was herself a multiple stakes-winning daughter of Riverina Charm. This Chris Waller-trained son of Vadamos' lone win so far, and in only five starts, was on a Heavy 8 at Hawkesbury so he's got that boxed well and truly ticked. Take note; that was second-up as he is here. GUZUMPED (10) is first-up after contested The Wave and the 2200m MM Trophy in January. Wouldn't read much, if anything, into his 'bad' trials; he goes better on race day. BET: KAZALARK (11), GUZUMPED (10) each-way. â– â– â– â– â– UNSTOPABULL (9) finishes in the placings at a tick above 50 per cent which makes him an appealing betting proposition for each-way punters, more so given he was $8/$2.70 on Thursday morning. The Chris Waller-trained galloper ran a huge race first-up at Scone behind Zealously and Dollar Magic. His father was a mudder, his mother was a mudder and so is he. BET: UNSTOPABULL (9) to win. â– â– â– â– â– FIRST LIGHT (6) shares an honour roll with the likes of Carbine, Phar Lap, Wakeful, Flight, Gunsynd and others as a Colin Stephen winner. He actually ran rather well in a Metropolitan too which suggests he is more a 2400m horse he's only third-up into the prep and on a positive trajectory despite what the form guide suggests. Fascinated by MORMONA (12). How is it a 100/1 shot? If we get into the Soft range, this is doable for this Bagot placegetter who trialled really well behind Ingham winner Robusto the other day. BET: FIRST LIGHT (6) each-way, MORMONA (12) to place. â– â– â– â– â– KIND WORDS (7) (in the Lucia Valentina colours) was beaten three lengths in the Prov/Midway Final. She paid a big price for her 15 of 15 draw there at Randwick a fortnight later. As for last start, she drew wide again and came from a mile back again to finish inches off the winner, in third. Deserves a win; can see why she is favourite here. SEAFALL (4) was going to win a long, long way out last start. Drew well you see, but that is so far from the case this time. BET: KIND WORDS (7) to win. â– â– â– â– â– Got the emergency on top here, SUMMER FLAME (22), but expecting her to run in an earlier race. I have to admit to be a big Totoka man since she won a Two-Year-Old Maiden at Canterbury one summer night in February last year. Sad fact is, she is going to lose more races than she wins just because of her slow early/fast late pattern but when the stars align, she could win a decent stakes race. MISS JENNIFER (14) has raced without luck lately. Is barrier 23 (minus all the scratchings) actually a slice of good luck? Could be.
Courier-Mail
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Higher Achievement on cards for Chris Waller colt after his Gosford win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Hidden Achievement thrust his name into the conversation for higher honours in the Brisbane winter carnival when the smart colt led home a stable quinella for Chris Waller at Gosford on Saturday. The exciting son of I Am Invincible was strong through the line to hold out impressive stablemate Sarapo in the Ortus Financial 2YO Handicap (1200m). The two-year-old event had been turned on its head just over an hour before the race when hot favourite Sequista had to be scratched after sustaining multiple lacerations in the float en route to the track. Waller's duo took full advantage with jockey Adam Hyeronimus producing an assertive steer on Hidden Achievement ($5). Hyeronimus barged his way off the fence to get Hidden Achievement in the clear at the top of the straight and was strong late, winning by three quarters of a length from Sarapo while the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Chicama ($3.70) was back in third. 'I probably could have rode the fence and got out and he would still have been too good but I just wanted to get to the outside of that horse,' Hyeronimus said. 'He is a very nice horse. Six furlong probably isn't his distance but he was just too good for them and is only on the way up.' Hidden Achievement had put the writing on the wall on debut after getting out late at Canterbury and surging home for second. The stable hold the lightly-raced talent in high regard. 'Hidden Achievement is a lovely colt,' Waller's stable representative Zane Jones said. 'He has improved out of sight from his trials to his debut performance. 'That race at Canterbury, just good horses, only they can do that and make up that much ground at Canterbury and he was rapid through the line. 'He has taken good improvement and out of that and he was aided by a good ride today and was too strong.' Sarapo, a son of English champion Frankel, was the only first starter in the two-year-old field and produced an ominous performance for the future in defeat. The promising youngster settled near the back of the small field and was forced to loop around the field before hitting the line strongly. 'It's never easy at Gosford particularly but you had to like the way he found the line,' Jones said. 'He still presents as a green horse and will improve a hell of a lot. 'He was the only horse that hadn't so he has got a nice future and he will get a lot further in time as well.' The quinella came just a few days after fellow Waller-trained colt Regulated Affair scored an emphatic victory at Warwick Farm. All three colts have nominations for the Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes and Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes in Queensland and both races are an option for Hidden Achievement and Sarapo. 'We have just given them time to develop and sometimes that's the cheapest thing you can do and the best thing for them,' Jones said. 'They will only improve, there is still a lot of water to go under the bridge but we are very pleased with the army we could have up there this way.' Hidden Achievement saw his price slashed from $26 into $11 for the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes while Sarapo was $51 into $15. Hidden Achievement has covered plenty of territory in his short time since foaled at Yarraman Park the day after Gold Trip's win in the 2022 Melbourne Cup. The son of three-time Champion Australian Sire I Am Invincible was recorded as Passed In for $350,000 at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. He resurfaced later that year at Karaka when offered at NZB's annual Ready To Run Sale where he was knocked down for $675,000 making him the third highest priced two-year-old across all lots. Hidden Achievement is a member of the most celebrated family in both the Australian and New Zealand Studbooks given he traces in a direct line to the epic broodmare, Eight Carat. His dam, La Luna Rossa, was ranked one of the top fillies of her era after winning the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) for legendary trainer, Murray Baker. Originally published as Group 1 JJ Atkins beckons for Chris Waller's promising colts Hidden Achievement and Sarapo after Gosford quinella
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
The Group 1 J.J Atkins beckons for Chris Waller's promising colts Hidden Achievement and Sarapo after Gosford quinella
Hidden Achievement thrust his name into the conversation for higher honours in the Brisbane winter carnival when the smart colt led home a stable quinella for Chris Waller at Gosford on Saturday. The exciting son of I Am Invincible was strong through the line to hold out impressive stablemate Sarapo in the Ortus Financial 2YO Handicap (1200m). The two-year-old event had been turned on its head just over an hour before the race when hot favourite Sequista had to be scratched after sustaining multiple lacerations in the float en route to the track. Waller's duo took full advantage with jockey Adam Hyeronimus producing an assertive steer on Hidden Achievemen t ($5). Hidden Achievement makes it look effortless at Gosford! Adam Hyeronimus gets an early race-to-race double! ✌ï¸� @cwallerracing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 Hyeronimus barged his way off the fence to get Hidden Achievement in the clear at the top of the straight and was strong late, winning by three quarters of a length from Sarapo while the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained Chicama ($3.70) was back in third. 'I probably could have rode the fence and got out and he would still have been too good but I just wanted to get to the outside of that horse,' Hyeronimus said. 'He is a very nice horse. Six furlong probably isn't his distance but he was just too good for them and is only on the way up.' Hidden Achievement had put the writing on the wall on debut after getting out late at Canterbury and surging home for second. The stable hold the lightly-raced talent in high regard. 'Hidden Achievement is a lovely colt,' Waller 's stable representative Zane Jones said. 'He has improved out of sight from his trials to his debut performance. 'That race at Canterbury, just good horses, only they can do that and make up that much ground at Canterbury and he was rapid through the line. 'He has taken good improvement and out of that and he was aided by a good ride today and was too strong.' Sarapo, a son of English champion Frankel, was the only first starter in the two-year-old field and produced an ominous performance for the future in defeat. The promising youngster settled near the back of the small field and was forced to loop around the field before hitting the line strongly. 'It's never easy at Gosford particularly but you had to like the way he found the line,' Jones said. 'He still presents as a green horse and will improve a hell of a lot. ðŸ'� @mcacajamez begins the day at Warwick Farm on a winning note with the fav Regulated Affair! @cwallerracing | @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 7, 2025 'He was the only horse that hadn't so he has got a nice future and he will get a lot further in time as well.' The quinella came just a few days after fellow Waller-trained colt Regulated Affair scored an emphatic victory at Warwick Farm. All three colts have nominations for the Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes and Group 1 J.J Atkins Stakes in Queensland and both races are an option for Hidden Achievement and Sarapo. 'We have just given them time to develop and sometimes that's the cheapest thing you can do and the best thing for them,' Jones said. 'They will only improve, there is still a lot of water to go under the bridge but we are very pleased with the army we could have up there this way.' Hidden Achievement saw his price slashed from $26 into $11 for the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes while Sarapo was $51 into $15. Hidden Achievement has covered plenty of territory in his short time since foaled at Yarraman Park the day after Gold Trip's win in the 2022 Melbourne Cup. The son of three-time Champion Australian Sire I Am Invincible was recorded as Passed In for $350,000 at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. He resurfaced later that year at Karaka when offered at NZB's annual Ready To Run Sale where he was knocked down for $675,000 making him the third highest priced two-year-old across all lots. Hidden Achievement is a member of the most celebrated family in both the Australian and New Zealand Studbooks given he traces in a direct line to the epic broodmare, Eight Carat. His dam, La Luna Rossa, was ranked one of the top fillies of her era after winning the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) for legendary trainer, Murray Baker.
