Latest news with #HorseRacing
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘What about the Kingsford Smith Cup horses?': Trainer Joe Pride disappointed Group 1 not rescheduled to Wednesday
Trainer Joe Pride admitted he was 'disappointed' the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup wasn't rescheduled for midweek before ruling his elite sprinter out of the $1 million Eagle Farm race on Saturday. The Kingsford Smith Cup and Queensland Derby were added to the Oaks Day program at Eagle Farm after heavy rain last Saturday resulted in the final five races being washed out. But Pride questioned why only the Group 3 Fred Best Classic was moved to the Doomben meeting on Wednesday and not the Kingsford Smith Cup, too. Pride said Private Eye 's preparation would be compromised if the gelding ran first-up in Saturday's Kingsford Smith Cup and then the Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14. 'I'm not going to run Private Eye in the Kingsford Smith Cup and then back up a week later in the Stradbroke Handicap,'' Pride said. 'I don't want to give him a compromised preparation and have a half-hearted go at two Group 1 races. 'I'm disappointed he has to miss the Kingsford Smith Cup but this way we can give him his best chance in the Stradbroke.'' Pride revealed Private Eye returned to Sydney over the weekend as the gelding preferred his training and stable routine at Warwick Farm. 'We will trial Private Eye on Friday at Rosehill and that will give him four barrier trials before his first-up run so I'm not worried about his fitness,'' Pride said. Private Eye will bypass the Kingsford Smith @EagleFarmRacing this Saturday to concentrate on the Stradbroke with @nashhot on board @ProvenTbreds star is in great shape and will trial this Friday — Pride Racing (@PrideRacing) June 1, 2025 'But I feel they could have run the Kingsford Smith Cup on Wednesday. They have added the Fred Best Classic to the Doomben meeting to give the three-year-olds their best chance of getting to the Stradbroke. 'But that is only for one horse (Fred Best Classic winner) so what about all the Kingsford Smith Cup horses?' Joliestar 's owner Brendan Lindsay has already suggested his brilliant mare was likely to go for a spell after the Kingsford Smith Cup and not stay in training for the Stradbroke. This is more to do with giving Joliestar a long enough break before the spring carnival comes around rather than having to race her twice in seven days. 'I think she's 50-50 for the 'Straddie', I don't think she'll carry on,'' Lindsay said
Daily Telegraph
21 hours ago
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Diwali springs a surprise in Sandown Cup
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Developing stayer Diwali caused a minor upset in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) on Sunday. Diwali, aptly-named and trained for success on Australian Steeplechase race day, capitalised on the slowly-run Sandown Cup and finished better than favourites Through Irish Eyes and Alma Rise. A horse named Diwali, trained by the late Rick Hore-Lacy, won the 1982 Australian Steeplechase. Former jumps jockey-turned-trainer Gavin Bedggood, who trains the current Diwali, rode three Australian Steeplechase winners including Mazzacano (2007 and 2009) and Vindicating (2011). 'He presented well, he'd (Diwali) been running well… and the race was there,' Bedggood said. 'We thought it was probably going to end up like it was, horses from the Andrew Ramsden, a few jumpers… we were untried at the distance range but we thought with the right run in transit it should work well for him.' Diwali won a 2400m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Moe three back and most recently placed second at Sandown over the same distance in a midweek Benchmark 70. The four-year-old worked smartly last week, which convinced Bedggood to go for the Sandown Cup. 'We came here today with reasonable confidence, obviously a horse with a low benchmark rating but on fresh legs I suppose,' Bedggood said. Bedggood said the Deane Lester Flemington Cup (2800m) on July 19 at Flemington could be viable winter finale for Diwali. 'We got six weeks, we'll probably send him to the beach tomorrow and give him a week to freshen up a little bit,' Bedggood said. 'Maybe look for a 2500m run at Flemington in between time, we might get three weeks, three weeks into that race (Flemington Cup) and use it as our final.' Experienced jockey Joe Bowditch praised Bedggood's placement of Diwali. Gavin Bedggood with Joe Bowditch celebrate Diwali's win in the Sandown Cup. Photo:. 'Can't this bloke train a racehorse? Never put anything past Gavin,' Bowditch said. 'I won a Benchmark 58 at Moe on (Diwali) three starts back, he was impressive but I wouldn't have thought we'd be here… full credit to Gavin.' Bowditch had the race won a long way out on Diwali, who turned for home with plenty to offer. 'Once we came past the winning post (the first time) the anchor went out and everything steadied up,' Bowditch said. 'I was quite glad to see Linda (Meech) take off and get going and that just allowed me to get away from the fence and get off the back of Glentaneous. 'Bided my time and once Declan (Bates) got going I was able to get a beautiful cart up… I was a bit worried I was going to get there a little bit too soon. 'The horse was travelling that well I didn't want to stop his momentum over this trip, stop start on him, I just kept letting him flow and he was too good.' Originally published as Diwali relishes the step up to two miles in the Sandown Cup
Daily Telegraph
21 hours ago
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Stern Idol gives Steven Pateman the full set in Australian Steeplechase win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Star jumper Stern Idol produced a sublime display – under a modern weight-carrying record – to win the Australian Steeplechase (3900m) at Sandown on Sunday. Champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman rated the Ciaron Maher-trained 73kg top weight perfectly in pursuit of a personal milestone, the previously elusive Australian Steeplechase crown. Pateman boasted just about every other domestic jumps feature, including Australian Hurdle (four), Grand National Steeple (four), Grand National Hurdle (four) and Grand Annual Steeple (three), but an Australian Steeplechase win had eluded him before Sunday. He largely dictated the Australian Steeple aboard Stern Idol from on or close to the speed and then fended off the gallant runner-up Leaderboard, trained by Mark Walker, in the home straight. Not Usual Dream and Heir To The Throne rounded out the top four. Leaderboard enjoyed an economical steer from Will Gordon and 7kg weight advantage on Stern Idol. Pateman lauded Stern Idol's performance. 'I wasn't leading from the get go and I was happy for that to unfold,' Pateman said. '73kg leading all the way could've been his undoing. He was awesome. 'It was pretty lonely after the last with 73kg, knowing the second horse had (seven) kilos less. 'He was weighed down, he maintained the gallop but couldn't go any faster because of the weight. 'I was thinking 'I'd never won this race' … the Australian Hurdle and Australian Steeple are absolutely time-honoured events, it's super special.' Steven Pateman gives Stern Idol a pat after winning the Australian Steeplechase. Photo:. Bit Of A Lad, saddled by Maher and former co-trainer David Eustace at the time, carried 70kg to win the 2020 Australian Steeple. Mazzacano (2009) lumped 69.5kg, while Thubiaan (2015) and Vindicating (2011) had 69kg handicaps. Pateman said Stern Idol benefited from a campaign – a flat run and two hurdle starts – tailored to the 'target' Australian Steeple. 'He could've run in steeplechases earlier in the year and carried big weights and might've won one but too hard all the time,' he said. 'Today was a target, the way he settled he knew where he was, he knew the trip he had to run out and he was really chill.' Sadly, Treasured Crown failed to finish and was humanely euthanized due a catastrophic leg injury. The second favourite sustained the injury upon landing after the second last jump. Jockey William McCarthy was uninjured. The Cunning Fox launches over a hurdle on his way to winning the Australian Hurdle. Photo:. Meanwhile, Australia's emerging jumps star The Cunning Fox claimed the Australian Hurdle (3900m) from Highland Blaze and Affluential. The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained jumper is undefeated in six starts over the obstacles. The six-year-old gelding was ridden to victory by his regular rider Tom Ryan. Originally published as Stern Idol does it in style in the Australian Steeplechase
Herald Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Diwali springs a surprise in Sandown Cup
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Developing stayer Diwali caused a minor upset in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) on Sunday. Diwali, aptly-named and trained for success on Australian Steeplechase race day, capitalised on the slowly-run Sandown Cup and finished better than favourites Through Irish Eyes and Alma Rise. A horse named Diwali, trained by the late Rick Hore-Lacy, won the 1982 Australian Steeplechase. Former jumps jockey-turned-trainer Gavin Bedggood, who trains the current Diwali, rode three Australian Steeplechase winners including Mazzacano (2007 and 2009) and Vindicating (2011). 'He presented well, he'd (Diwali) been running well… and the race was there,' Bedggood said. 'We thought it was probably going to end up like it was, horses from the Andrew Ramsden, a few jumpers… we were untried at the distance range but we thought with the right run in transit it should work well for him.' Diwali won a 2400m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Moe three back and most recently placed second at Sandown over the same distance in a midweek Benchmark 70. The four-year-old worked smartly last week, which convinced Bedggood to go for the Sandown Cup. 'We came here today with reasonable confidence, obviously a horse with a low benchmark rating but on fresh legs I suppose,' Bedggood said. Bedggood said the Deane Lester Flemington Cup (2800m) on July 19 at Flemington could be viable winter finale for Diwali. 'We got six weeks, we'll probably send him to the beach tomorrow and give him a week to freshen up a little bit,' Bedggood said. 'Maybe look for a 2500m run at Flemington in between time, we might get three weeks, three weeks into that race (Flemington Cup) and use it as our final.' Experienced jockey Joe Bowditch praised Bedggood's placement of Diwali. 'Can't this bloke train a racehorse? Never put anything past Gavin,' Bowditch said. 'I won a Benchmark 58 at Moe on (Diwali) three starts back, he was impressive but I wouldn't have thought we'd be here… full credit to Gavin.' Bowditch had the race won a long way out on Diwali, who turned for home with plenty to offer. 'Once we came past the winning post (the first time) the anchor went out and everything steadied up,' Bowditch said. 'I was quite glad to see Linda (Meech) take off and get going and that just allowed me to get away from the fence and get off the back of Glentaneous. 'Bided my time and once Declan (Bates) got going I was able to get a beautiful cart up… I was a bit worried I was going to get there a little bit too soon. 'The horse was travelling that well I didn't want to stop his momentum over this trip, stop start on him, I just kept letting him flow and he was too good.' Originally published as Diwali relishes the step up to two miles in the Sandown Cup
The Australian
a day ago
- General
- The Australian
Next 48 hours important for Rothfire's Stradbroke fate
Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote concedes his old warrior Rothfire remains in doubt to take his place in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap on Saturday week. Heathcote says the next 48 hours will be crucial as Rothfire recovers from a stone bruise suffered last Tuesday, forcing his scratching from Saturday's Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup, which was postponed due to persistent heavy rain at Eagle Farm on Queensland Derby Day. The Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) and the Queensland Derby (2400m) will now be run this week, in conjunction with the Queensland Oaks (2200m) feature, in a 'Super Saturday' of racing at Eagle Farm featuring three Group 1s. But seven-year-old gelding Rothfire won't be there and he remains under an injury cloud for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap over 1400m at Eagle Farm. * Read: Brisbane gets unexpected Super Saturday after Derby Day washout 'It's frustrating because with a stone bruise, it's not a simple thing,' Heathcote said. 'The laminae in their hoofs are like the nails of our fingers. They can be very painful and can take time to heal. 'We're hoping that in the next 48 hours something develops, either he gets better or he gets worse. 'Now getting worse might sound crazy but if it's going to develop into an abscess, then we want it to happen quickly so we can get him over it. 'Fortunately I've got two weeks (until the Stradbroke) so in the next 48 hours I want something to happen. 'He's still very tender in the near fore hoof. We're hoping and praying that something good happens in the next few days.' Rothfire showed he was back to his devastating best when he delivered a tremendous fight against star mare Sunshine In Paris to just miss out in the $1.5m Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on a heavy track on May 17. The 2020 JJ Atkins champion has won just under $3.5 million in prizemoney, despite suffering a litany of injuries during his illustrious career, including a sesamoid fracture in September 2020 that threatened to end his career. Meanwhile, the Chris Waller-trained filly Belle Detelle is battling to be fit for the Queensland Oaks on Saturday. Bookmakers have rated Belle Detelle as a $9 hope in the Oaks, but she was scratched as the race favourite in the rescheduled Queensland Derby, which was meant to be run last Saturday, after suffering a foot abscess. Asked whether the injury would heal in time for the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes winner to run in the $700,000 Oaks on Saturday, Waller said 'I don't know'. Sydney's premier trainer also has $8 chance Movin Out running in the Oaks. She produced a barnstorming surge from last to finish third in The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 24 in a Group 2 race won by Oaks favourite Philia.
