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New Paper
22-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
OnTrack to get behind French connection again
BRISBANE - Reigning Doomben Cup champion Bois D'Argent boasts an obvious French name, but the team behind the big grey galloper believe he is as Queensland as it gets these days. The now eight-year-old led all the way under Blake Shinn in the Group 1 staying event over 2,000m from Doomben this time last year to shock plenty as an outsider. Though a four-time winner in France when trained by Marco Botti, including one at Listed level in a mile race at Longchamp in October 2021, Bois D'Argent - which means Silver Woods in French - did not quite set Australia alight with only one win in the Listed Mayors Cup (2,000m) until his Doomben Cup coup. He has since struggled in Group 1 races, but did notch a Group 3 win in the JRA Plate (2,000m) at Randwick on April 19 before a sixth place to Antino in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1,800m) on the Gold Coast at his last start on May 10. He is now aiming to go back-to-back in the Doomben Cup, but is again likely to be unpopular in a market skewed towards the Pride Of Jenni v Antino duel in the A$1 million (S$831,000) race this year. But, with a big band of local owners cheering on their adopted Queenslander at the track, the price counts for little as they believe he has had a smoother preparation this time around. Bois D'Argent is raced by top syndicator Grant Morgan and his OnTrack Thoroughbreds operation, better known for racing Brazen Beau, now a leading sire. There are around 40 different owners in the seven-time career winner with the majority of those residing in the Sunshine State. "We think of ourselves as Queenslanders, we're a bit like Bois D'Argent. We weren't born here, but we've become part of the furniture here in Queensland," said Morgan. "We're very proud to have the majority of our horses in Queensland - it's our home - and we're proud to play a good part in the winter carnival each year. "Our owners are spread out across Australia, but they're predominantly in Queensland. "There will be a big lot of them at Doomben on Saturday, just as there was last year." Bois D'Argent was originally secured in a private sale by Stuart Boman - who is a long-time friend of Morgan's - of Blandford Bloodstock for OnTrack Thoroughbreds from France. Gavan Ryan, one of Bois D'Argent's new owners, travelled to Europe with an OnTrack Thoroughbreds tour in 2024, visiting where the English-bred son of Toronado was prepared before he was bought and moved to Australia. "I said to Grant that one day I was eventually going to win a Group 1 and he has got it for me inside the first few years that I have been with him," said Ryan. "There is nothing like it, getting a Group 1 here last year. Who knows, maybe we can go again for a second time on Saturday." One of the persons Morgan and Ryan praised for Bois D'Argent's handling was trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald's Brisbane front man Todd Pollard. The assistant trainer believes Bois D'Argent ran well in the recent Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1,600m) when sixth to Antino, and said he would be cherry-ripe for Saturday. "They have been great supporters of Annabel and Rob from the early beginning," said Pollard of the OnTrack Thoroughbreds team. "They do import a few horses from Europe, which Annabel has had a lot of success with following the deeds of Zaaki. "European imports are suited by the way she trains, getting some speed and life back into these older horses. "Grant and his team have been fantastic and we have been lucky to have Bois D'Argent who has really gone on with it since he has been here. He has been a really nice horse for the stable." Stablemates Fawkner Park and My Oberon will also represent the Archibalds in the Doomben Cup. Morgan said the task is stiffer on Saturday, but his horse is a fighter. "He'll have to go up to another level, but he doesn't know how to run a bad race this guy. He tries his heart out and I'm sure he'll do the same this year," he said. Bois D'Argent is a 17-1 chance in pre-race market. Ryan Maloney takes the ride while Shinn is unsurprisingly sticking with his winning Hollindale ride, Antino. The Archibald team have already had a stunning winter campaign so far in 2025, claiming last week's Group 1 Doomben 10,000 with Sunshine In Paris as well as the recent Group 2 Queensland Guineas with Depth Of Character and Group 2 Victory Stakes with Libertad. SKY RACING WORLD
Sydney Morning Herald
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Schofield backs veteran to fire in Gosford Cup defence, whatever the weather
Rain, hail or shine for the Gosford Gold Cup, jockey Chad Schofield and trainer Mick Price agree veteran Hezashocka is ready to step up for his title defence on Saturday. But there's no doubt they want a wet track. Last year, Hezashocka relished a heavy track at Newcastle to win the 2200m listed $300,000 race. Back to Gosford, and 2100m, this year, the Big Dance qualifier could again be held on rain-affected ground. The track was rated a soft 7 on Thursday, and with a high chance of showers to come, it could stay that way, which would please Price. 'Last year the race was moved to Newcastle, and it was a very heavy track,' Price said. 'He needs it wet, but he ran well the other day, and he's on the improve that horse. 'We've got him looking better, eating better and he's a bit stronger.' The seven-year-old was seventh but making ground late in the group 2 Ajax (1500m) and Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) to start this campaign before finishing well as best of the rest behind Bois D'argent in the group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) last time out. Price was happy with the performances and was eyeing another crack at the Gosford Cup-group 3 Premier's Cup double. 'We've had this plan because then he goes to the mile and a half race in Queensland that he won last year,' he said.
The Age
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Schofield backs veteran to fire in Gosford Cup defence, whatever the weather
Rain, hail or shine for the Gosford Gold Cup, jockey Chad Schofield and trainer Mick Price agree veteran Hezashocka is ready to step up for his title defence on Saturday. But there's no doubt they want a wet track. Last year, Hezashocka relished a heavy track at Newcastle to win the 2200m listed $300,000 race. Back to Gosford, and 2100m, this year, the Big Dance qualifier could again be held on rain-affected ground. The track was rated a soft 7 on Thursday, and with a high chance of showers to come, it could stay that way, which would please Price. 'Last year the race was moved to Newcastle, and it was a very heavy track,' Price said. 'He needs it wet, but he ran well the other day, and he's on the improve that horse. 'We've got him looking better, eating better and he's a bit stronger.' The seven-year-old was seventh but making ground late in the group 2 Ajax (1500m) and Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) to start this campaign before finishing well as best of the rest behind Bois D'argent in the group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) last time out. Price was happy with the performances and was eyeing another crack at the Gosford Cup-group 3 Premier's Cup double. 'We've had this plan because then he goes to the mile and a half race in Queensland that he won last year,' he said.
News.com.au
07-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Hezashocka hunting modern-day history with back-to-back Gosford Gold Cup wins
Co-trainer Michael Kent Jr knows defending champion Hezashocka faces a vastly different challenge in Saturday's Listed $250,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) as his talented stayer chases a 53-year first at Gosford. Hezashocka won the Gold Cup for the first time last year when the meeting was moved to Newcastle due to a wet forecast with the race staged over 2200m instead. In 2025 it returns to its traditional home course and distance as Hezashocka chasing a piece of modern-day history in the feature event. No horse this century has won the Gosford Gold Cup twice with Dark Diamond the last winner of the staying test back-to-back in 1971-71 has a horse. 'We really thought last year the transfer to Newcastle played into his hands being a bigger track, allowing him to gobble up the competition late in the piece and Gosford is a tighter track but he's certainly in great form,' Kent Jr, who trains with Mick Price, said. 'We are happy with the way he is going and he is arguably going as well as ever the horse. 'I thought his run in the JRA Plate was terrific running on. 'The wetter the better for him.' Hezashocka has had an identical lead-up to the Gosford Cup as he did 12 months ago after running in the Ajax Stakes, Neville Sellwood Stakes and JRA Plate in the lead-up. He was third in last year's JRA Plate before winning the Cup while finishing runner-up in the same Group 3 behind Bois D'argent this year. Hezashocka reels in Sir Lucan to win the Gosford Gold Cup 🎣 — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 11, 2024 'We have gone with the exact same program and build up,' Kent Jr said. 'He is going great the big boy so it would be no surprise to win this if the race shape works out for him. 'When he won this race last year, we went to Brisbane and he won the Premier's Cup. 'It will depend on that race shape and he will certainly prefer the 2400m on a big track (Eagle Farm) next start.' Jockey Chad Schofield will get the opportunity to chase consecutive Cups on Hezashocka, which has opened as a $4.60 second elect with the bookies. A near capacity of 14 runners accepted for the Gosford Gold Cup with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott set to saddle up New Endeavour ($3.60 favourite) and Les Vampires ($4.60) while Chris Waller has accepted with five contenders, including Scarlet Oak ($15) and Medatsu ($15). The Listed $500,000 The Coast (1600m) has drawn a capacity field of 14 runners with Depth Of Character and Know Thyself sharing $4.50 favouritism for the feature event. Les Vampires ($8) was also among the acceptors for The Coast alongside stablemate Townsend ($12). The Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes field was reduced to 14 runners following the early scratchings of Terra Mater and Need Some Luck.
