Latest news with #Japanese-bred
New Paper
5 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Problem trio pass test in style
On a track rated "good", the winners of the three trials run on the turf on the morning of Aug 12 came mighty close to breaking the minute mark for the 1,000m. All three had to settle for times which were just a tick above 60 seconds. Given they were all trialling for various troubles, the trio certainly passed their tests with flying colours. Quickest of the trio was Kim Kim. The mare ran the trip in 1min 0.38sec. Following up in the second trial, Kitsune went out and did the distance in 1:00.45. And, not to be outdone, the third trial of the morning saw Jazz Band stop the clock at 1:00.98. In the fourth and last trial which was run on the sand at Sungai Besi, Blue Jay took the honours in 1:03.1, a slower time which is par for the course for the alternative surface. Blue Jay (Joe Kamaruddin) beat Vittoria Perfetta (Oscar Chavez) by a neck. Unfortunately for Vittoria Perfetta, the gallant 10-year-old veteran of eight wins collapsed and died after the winning post. That sad incident aside, the run of the morning had to be the show put up by Kim Kim in the opening trial. The seven-year-old mare came with a strong run from midfield under Firman Yap to beat the early front runner Tornado Pegasus (Andre da Silva) by two and a half lengths. Kim Kim was at the trials by order of the club's veterinary team after she pulled up lame (near fore) when running a distant ninth to Pacific Star in a 1,600m race on Aug 2. The way is now clear for Kim Kim to pick up from where she left off - which is, trying to add to the three wins she has already secured for trainer Nick Selvan and the one she won for Tim Fitzsimmons at Kranji on Jan 23, 2023 when known as Ahorsewithnoname. The daughter of Adelaide has had four unplaced runs since her last victory on May 3. But aside from that issue of lameness at her last start, nothing else seems to be amiss. As for runner-up Tornado Pegasus, he too was at the trials after pulling up lame when finishing down the course in the race won by Pacific Hero on Aug 3. On the strength of his showing in this latest trial where he attempted to lead all the way, Tornado Pegasus can now resume racing. But, proceed with caution as at nine years of age, he is no spring chicken. If you had fancied Kitsune at his last start on Aug 2, you would have been roughly brought down to earth when he played up at the start, fly-jumped when the gates opened and messed it all up. As it turned out, when he began racing in earnest, he made up loads of ground to run sixth in that race won by Make You Happy. Those errant manners warranted a test which he too passed quite admirably. After the Japanese-bred four-year-old by Henry Barows cleared the gates rather effortlessly, he led the field to the first turn on the far side and continued to control the tempo when the seven runners straightened up for the run home. A furlong and a half out and Grand Supreme began to eat into his lead. Under Marc Lerner's urgings, he looked like he would catch Kitsune. But the momentum was with the leader who held off the challenge to win by a neck. The pair left the Jerome Tan-trained Benbo (Akmazani Mazuki) wallowing in third spot, some 3 ¾ lengths in arrears. After such a fine run, Kitsune looks to be in a good place to finally break through for a win. Then there was Jazz Band (Shazmin Sudin) who tracked the early leader Mega Titan (da Silva) before taking out the third trial, beating newcomer Sir Ruby (Clyde Leck) by half-a-length. Sabah Win (Chavez) filled in that third spot, a neck away. Mega Titan, who was having a barrier practice, was eventually eased down to the line to finish sixth. As for Kim Kim, Kitsune and Jazz Band, they are all set to slip back into their racing plates very soon. brian@
New Paper
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Maynard's pair turning up the heat in Selangor
Trainer Frank Maynard drew a blank at the just-concluded Selangor meeting on May 25, albeit with only two runners. But the 2006 Malaysian champion trainer will come into the races on June 1 with a solid team of 12, including two Emergency Acceptors. Among the dozen of them are a couple who could make it a good day for him. From their work on the morning of May 27, Kitsune and Tommy Gun could be Maynard's standard bearers in the 12-race meeting at Sungai Besi. Kitsune turned on the style to run the 600m in a brisk 37.2sec while Tommy Gun stopped the clocks at 39.2sec for his gallop over the same distance. A Japanese-bred four-year-old, Kitsune is winless after four outings in Kuala Lumpur. But he did turn in his best showing at his last start, when running a close-up fourth to Limitless Stout in a Class 5A race over the 1,300m on May 17. That day, when neglected in the betting and sent off as a prohibitive outsider, the son of Henry Barows came from last to charge home late under Lim Shung Uai. The stewards' report also stated that he was "unable to secure clear running until the concluding stages" of the race. In Japanese mythology, Kitsune refers to a creature with supernatural abilities, but this Kitsune, now residing at his Australian handler's yard, is far from supernatural - or super at anything. Yet, as a racehorse, he seems to be coming along nicely and, come June 1, the track and the 1,400m trip in the Class 5A contest should suit. As for Tommy Gun, his work on the training track is indicative of his chances in that Class 4B sprint over the 1,020m. Like his stablemate, Kitsune, he, too, put up a good showing in his last start. In that Class 4B event (1,200m) on May 4, the son of Flying Artie was coming home at full steam under jockey Nuqman Rozi. That was despite losing the use of his stirrup shortly after the start. Tommy Gun sprinted home under Nuqman's strong urgings but left his run too late to finish third, just two lengths behind the Simon Dunderdale-trained Imperial Genie. To date, Tommy Gun has had 10 starts in Malaysia and Singapore for only one win - at his debut at Kranji on May 4, 2024 when trained by another Australian handler, Tim Fitzsimmons. The Australian-bred was ridden by Ruan Maia and disposed of the Restricted Maiden race (1,200m) in style, beating Lucky Goal by two lengths. With five starts in Kuala Lumpur while under the tutelage of Maynard, the four-year-old galloper looks due for a win soon. Another one who richly deserves a winning break is Spicy Babe. Previously with Australian trainer Daniel Meagher when racing under the name Lim's Jinba in Singapore, she has had three starts for Kuala Lumpur-based trainer Lawson Moy and she seems to be on the right path. The Jukebox mare drew attention to her chances when she turned in a good gallop, running the 600m in 37sec on the morning of May 27. Still a four-year-old, she pulled off a second-placed finish in an Open Maiden race (1,200m) on Feb 9. Racegoers expected her to build on that but she only managed fifth in both starts after that. She deserves better and could be one to follow in the Max 2 race (1,300m) on June 1. Malaysian trainer Lim Shung You pulled off a double with Paletas and Joyee Go at Sungai Besi on May 25. The good work could continue for Lim, who has entered a tight team of six for the meeting on June 1. Most of his runners were out on the training track and Arigato stood out from the pack. The Charm Spirit six-year-old has picked up one win and one fourth from six starts, and although his last four runs would have done little to inspire confidence, he is coming along nicely. Toss him into the mix. He clocked 38.4sec for the 600m on the training track and, should he bring it to the races, he could be the surprise package in the Metro A sprint over the 1,020m. Finally, from the training track, there was Bold Runner. The Ananthen Kuppan-trained galloper impressed with a strong canter. At his last start in the Class 4A event (1,200m) on May 18, he was involved in a tight finish with Yes Man and Wins One. In the end, the photo finish showed that Yes Man won by a short head from Wins One, while Bold Runner was edged out into third by another head. The son of Contributer will line up with 13 other three-year-old peers in the highlight race, the 3-Year-Old Sprint Championship (1,200m) on June 1, and he could be right in the mix should he bring that same dogged spirit along. brian@
Herald Sun
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Mystery Island's hopes in Warrnambool Cup hinges on weather
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The weather has a firm hold over Mystery Island's hopes of a second straight Warrnambool Cup win on Thursday. Mystery Island last year's Warrnambool Cup on Soft 6 ground from barrier one but faces tougher circumstances for his bid for back-to-back triumphs. • 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! A heavy shower on Wednesday pushed the track down into the heavy range for the last three races with cold conditions to hinder any track improvement on Thursday. 'We don't want it really wet, a Soft 5 or Soft 6 would be perfect,' Mystery Island's trainer Shane Jackson said. Mystery Island won from barrier one in 2024 but jockey Harry Coffey will contend with gate 17 this time. Jackson said Coffey would not change the way he rode the Japanese-bred stayer because of the barrier. • Cat-like Fox prevails in Galleywood 'dogfight' 'He's flying but he's one of those horses that everything needs to play out in his favour,' Jackson said. 'He's drawn a terrible gate but Harry can work that out. 'You can't force him to be in a winning spot anyway. He has to be ridden where he's happy.' Mystery Island has had four runs in 2025, finishing two lengths from the winner at Caulfield in March before a strong second in the Terang Cup on April 15. Jackson said the Terang Cup run was an indication Mystery Island was racing in terrific form. 'His run in the Terang Cup was huge,' Jackson said. 'If he was a pair closer, he wins the Terang Cup. 'Everytime we run in a race we think he can win, they go too slow then he gets outsprinted.' • Savvy slot-holder reveals secret to Archer success Mystery Island will carry 54kg on Thursday, the same weight he carried to his first win in the feature event. However, Jackson said Mystery Island was not the only well-weighted horse in the Warrnambool Cup. 'He's back in on 54(kg) so he's well weighted,' Jackson said. '(Mornington Cup winner) Bankers Choice not accepting also helped because he was getting in well with 60kg. 'But there's still a couple well in at the weights.' Mystery Island is on the fourth line of Warrnambool Cup betting at $8.50. Immediacy is the favourite at $2.80 ahead of the Terang Cup winner Ziryab at $6. Mystery Island will attempt to give Jackson a win on each of the three days of the Warrnambool May carnival after winning jumps races with Highland Blaze on Tuesday and Jekyll'n'hyde on Wednesday. Originally published as Mystery Island will need track to stay in soft range in bid for back-to-back Warrnambool Cup wins
News.com.au
30-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mystery Island will need track to stay in soft range in bid for back-to-back Warrnambool Cup wins
The weather has a firm hold over Mystery Island's hopes of a second straight Warrnambool Cup win on Thursday. Mystery Island last year's Warrnambool Cup on Soft 6 ground from barrier one but faces tougher circumstances for his bid for back-to-back triumphs. A heavy shower on Wednesday pushed the track down into the heavy range for the last three races with cold conditions to hinder any track improvement on Thursday. 'We don't want it really wet, a Soft 5 or Soft 6 would be perfect,' Mystery Island's trainer Shane Jackson said. Mystery Island won from barrier one in 2024 but jockey Harry Coffey will contend with gate 17 this time. Jackson said Coffey would not change the way he rode the Japanese-bred stayer because of the barrier. • Cat-like Fox prevails in Galleywood 'dogfight' 'He's flying but he's one of those horses that everything needs to play out in his favour,' Jackson said. 'He's drawn a terrible gate but Harry can work that out. 'You can't force him to be in a winning spot anyway. He has to be ridden where he's happy.' Mystery Island has had four runs in 2025, finishing two lengths from the winner at Caulfield in March before a strong second in the Terang Cup on April 15. Jackson said the Terang Cup run was an indication Mystery Island was racing in terrific form. 'His run in the Terang Cup was huge,' Jackson said. 'If he was a pair closer, he wins the Terang Cup. 'Everytime we run in a race we think he can win, they go too slow then he gets outsprinted.' Mystery Island will carry 54kg on Thursday, the same weight he carried to his first win in the feature event. However, Jackson said Mystery Island was not the only well-weighted horse in the Warrnambool Cup. 'He's back in on 54(kg) so he's well weighted,' Jackson said. '(Mornington Cup winner) Bankers Choice not accepting also helped because he was getting in well with 60kg. 'But there's still a couple well in at the weights.' Mystery Island is on the fourth line of Warrnambool Cup betting at $8.50. Immediacy is the favourite at $2.80 ahead of the Terang Cup winner Ziryab at $6. Mystery Island will attempt to give Jackson a win on each of the three days of the Warrnambool May carnival after winning jumps races with Highland Blaze on Tuesday and Jekyll'n'hyde on Wednesday.
