Latest news with #Illyivy
The Australian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Australian
Father Ray Besanko shares special win with daughter Kasey with Illyivy before he hands over training reins
Illyivy sealed an emotional family triumph for Ray Besanko, with the veteran trainer set to hand over the binoculars and stopwatch to daughter Kasey in the new season. Illyivy made up for a last-start defeat at Caulfield with a sustained run to overhaul Mercurial Lady. Supercilious rounded out the top three. • 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! Unplaced favourite Xarpo faded in the straight after a wide run in transit. Besanko appreciated the 'unbelievable' result just weeks before a pending father-daughter training partnership becomes official. 'She's going to take over the reins,' Besanko said. 'She does all the work with this horse, she does everything with her. 'It's all her, I'm so proud of her, I couldn't be prouder.' Kasey Besanko bred the tough Flying Artie filly, a handful off the track but fighter on. 'She means a lot to me … when you breed them you don't get to choose, you get what you're given,' the aspiring trainer said. 'I remember when I first saw her I said to Dad, 'she's beautiful, just the most amazing thing ever', and Dad's like, 'here we go again'. 'She's honest, she's hard work, but she means a lot … she's just tough, she doesn't give up. 'See her in the mounting yard, she's full of it, but she's tough, you know she's going to get there.' Logan Bates gets the jobe done on Illyivy. Picture: Getty Images Rising star apprentice jockey Logan Bates nailed the brief on Illyivy. Bates's father Jamie, a former jockey, rode for Besanko early on. 'It means a lot, Ray and Kasey are unbelievable workers,' Bates said. 'I had a bit to do with this horse early and she's furnished into the horse we all thought she would. 'She's furnished in size, she's a little brute now. 'The other day I just got held up a little bit and the winner (Xarpo) got away, not saying I would've won the race but she's that sort of building type. 'If anything we hit the front too soon and she wanted to pull up, there's a lot of improvement there.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Caulfield double ideal tonic for Payne Stop The Rock went from threatening to spoil a belated 50th birthday party for trainer Patrick Payne to helping to fund the shindig on Saturday night. Stop The Rock, who dropped Payne in a gallop early in the week after being spooked by birds, sealed a race-to-race double for him and co-trainer sister Michelle at Caulfield. The rising four-year-old sustained a strong gallop under jockey Billy Egan to complete a hat-trick after wins at Swan Hill and Flemington previously. Egan also piloted the airborne Payne partnership flag-bearer Jimmy The Bear to victory in the VOBIS Gold Heath (2000m). Michelle Payne said Patrick, 'a bit beaten up' after the fall, would 'feel a lot better' on Saturday. Stop The Rock defied interference midrace to get the result. 'He's the type of horse that could do that (overcome adversity) because he's so casual,' Payne said. 'He's a beauty, shows up race day, no fuss and he's becoming a stable favourite too.' Jimmy The Bear capped a brilliant winter campaign – with a fourth win from the past six starts. 'It was as nice a watch as you could hope for,' Payne said of the $1.75 favourite. 'Billy was in a beautiful spot, settled, speed was nice and steady. 'Got a beautiful cart up and had every possible chance. A lovely watch.' Gilbert Gardiner Sports reporter Gilbert Gardiner is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun. @gilbertgardiner Gilbert Gardiner
Herald Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Horse racing tips: Caulfield betting strategy and quaddie analysis for Monash Stakes meeting
News Corp racing reporter Gilbert Gardiner gives his $200 betting strategy and quaddie analysis for Caulfield on Saturday. Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. News Corp racing reporter Gilbert Gardiner gives his $200 betting strategy and quaddie analysis for the Sir John Monash Stakes meeting at Caulfield on Saturday. • 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! ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ FOUR-PLAY: $200 BETTING STRATEGY RACE 1: 2YO OPEN FILLIES HANDICAP (1100m) $50 win SIGNATURE SCENT (2) at $2.20 Short enough but could not have been any more impressive on debut Bendigo. Jumped, led and bolted in by more than four lengths. The two-year-old Written Tycoon filly should get every opportunity to repeat the performance from barrier one on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher stable has a high opinion of Signature Scent, endorsed by the booking of jockey Craig Williams. GIN SPIRIT (4) has runs on the board and must be respected – already a Listed winner in Adelaide and runner-up in the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes at Flemington. RACE 3: 3YO OPEN FILLIES HANDICAP (1400m) $50 win ILLYIVY (4) at $4.80/$1.65 Not much separated the talented filly, trained by Ray Besanko, and favourite XARPO (3) last start at Caulfield – less than half a length. Xarpo responded under pressure first-up but Illyivy hit the line strongly in a blanket finish. Illyivy has a 1kg advantage on Xarpo on Saturday at Caulfield. Mindful Xarpo has improvement to come, only second-up, but Illyivy has barely put a hoof wrong in her three starts for the campaign, with a win and two seconds. RACE 7: BENCHMARK 100 HANDICAP (1400m) $25 each-way YELLOW SAM (3) at $6/$2.10 Held over a week after being accepted for the Listed Winter Championship Series Final last Saturday at Flemington. Back to Caulfield where the Lindsey Smith-trained mare saluted last start – a fortnight ago – and while mindful she could be looking for a bit more ground the 1400m Benchmark 100 should be suitable. Apprentice jockey Luke Cartwright has won on the mare before. Yellow Sam has won and placed three times in five starts at Caulfield. Should get a lovely run from barrier five. — 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) June 28, 2025 RACE 8: GROUP 3 SIR JOHN MONASH STAKES (1100m) $25 each-way NEW YORK LUSTRE (10) at $9/$2.50 Could be vulnerable first-up against race-fit opposition but the Enver Jusufovic-trained mare has won five of eight starts and placed twice. Earned a shot in stakes grade and this race looks suitable. Sydney raider and favourite IN FLIGHT (6) a definite threat, along with lightly-raced progressive Victorian mare CLEO CAT (9). New York Lustre has drawn to get a nice run from the barrier and could be hard to chase down. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ QUADZILLA LEG 1 - RACE 6 KEEP YOUR COOL (6) found only one better last start, collared in the shadows of the post. Fitter third up and hard to hold out despite a wide draw. VAIL MOUNTAIN (10) hard fit and drawn well. FREAK OF NATURE (2) overraced first up and choked down potentially. Better than what he displayed last start and raced well at Caulfield previously. HE'LL RIP (13) savaged the line last start but just missed. 1ST LEG: 2, 6, 10, 13 LEG 2 - RACE 7 YELLOW SAM (3) finished over the top of her opposition last start at Caulfield and could do so again. Mindful she could be looking for 1600m now but race within her grasp. RUN HARRY RUN (5) will be up in the firing line and close to top fitness wise third-up. THE OPEN (9) has raced consistently all campaign without ultimate success. Gets his chance in a wide open race. Include EL SOLEADO (4) – went super first up at Flemington. 2ND LEG: 3, 4, 5, 9 LEG 3 - RACE 8 NEW YORK LUSTRE (10) has won five of eight starts and placed twice. Earned a crack in stakes' grade and while potentially vulnerable first-up should be around the mark. Progressive mare CLEO CAT (9) has race fitness and form around Caulfield. Respect Sydney raider and favourite IN FLIGHT (6) has the form and quality to win but best form on genuine rain-affected tracks. Getting around Caulfield can be a trick for Sydney horses also, so tread carefully. LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO (1) has won third-up previously and has the quality to win this. 3RD LEG: 1, 6, 9, 10 LEG 4 - RACE 9 AZTEC STATE (5) roared to an impressive victory first-up, after a long break, and while mindful of second-up syndrome the Lindsay Park-trained galloper has plenty of quality about him. Shame about the barrier although could be OK late in the day should the inside deteriorate. HARD TO CROSS (7) would appreciate any cut in the ground, while OUTTA COMPTON (12) is in a rich vein of form – chasing a hat-trick. 4TH LEG: 5, 7, 12 COST $100 FOR 52% SKINNY QUADDIE Start with FREAK OF NATURE (2), KEEP YOUR COOL (6) and HE'LL RIP (13). In the second leg take YELLOW SAM (3) and RUN HARRY RUN (5). Then in the third leg take LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO (1), IN FLIGHT (6) and NEW YORK LUSTRE (10). Come home with AZTEC STATE (5) and HARD TO CROSS (7). FIRST LEG 2, 6, 13 SECOND LEG 3, 5 THIRD LEG 1, 6, 10 FOURTH LEG 5, 7 COST $100 FOR 277% Originally published as Four-Play, Quadzilla: Gilbert Gardiner's $200 betting strategy for Monash Stakes meeting at Caulfield Horse Racing Sydney-based jockey has a busy day in Queensland on Saturday with rides at Doomben and Toowoomba, and she isn't ruling out a move to the Sunshine State in the future. Horse Racing Tiffani Brooker was retired from riding last year but she rediscovered her love for the caper and her special bond with a galloper owned by a great mate has helped.
News.com.au
26-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Special filly Illyivy comes at the right time with trainer Ray Besanko ready to hand over reins to daughter Kasey
Veteran horseman Ray Besanko cannot wait for daughter and aspiring trainer Kasey to be officially recognised for her work in the family business, especially the special Illyivy. Kasey Besanko bred and weaned the Sandown maiden winner Illyivy, named after grandmother Ivy Lily. 'Anything (Illyivy) has done I give her (Kasey) all the credit,' Besanko said. 'If she had her licence, which hopefully she'll get soon, Illyivy could be in her name.' Besanko, 72, has dedicated more than 50 years to the craft. He tried unsuccessful to steer Kasey away from the family discipline but is now looking forward to eventually handing over the keys. 'We're only small, we do 10 or 12 horses now, we don't do any more than that,' Besanko said. 'It will be up to her if she wants to get bigger, I'm 72 now … I'm at the other end of it. 'I'm more or less finished, but she does a good job. She gets up and does most of the work.' Besanko has retained 'boss' status – for now. • Carly seeking day to Remember at Caulfield 'We work out things together,' Besanko laughed. 'I didn't want either of my kids to do it, to tell you the truth, because it's too hard a caper. 'My son went the right way, he's a builder … Kasey always showed horses and ridden horses, she came to me one day and I said, 'I want to do this'. 'I said 'I don't really want you to' and she said 'I'll go and work for somebody else'. 'Hopefully in the new season she'll have her licence and 90 per cent of these horses will be in her name. 'I'll still help her, but I want to take a bit of a backward step … I've been doing this for 52 years.' • Bad barrier delays start to trainer's Ballarat Cup dream Illyivy is $9 in a 1200m 3YO Fillies Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday. The Flying Artie filly has not missed a place in all four starts to date and launched late for a deserved 1200m Sandown maiden victory most recently. 'Blake Shinn has ridden her in trials and given us big raps about her … so far she's living up to that, hopefully she can go up to another level or two,' Besanko said. 'If she's as good as what we think she is, she's going to be hard to beat but she's got to go there and do that Saturday. 'We think she's pretty special, so we'll find out … it's not a bad race, there's other horses with a lot of form in that, we'll definitely find out. 'On what she did the other day and how she won, look, I'd prefer 1400m but there wasn't any 1400s coming up. She's fit, she's well and Kasey has got her looking enormous.'
