Latest news with #LesVampires
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Les Vampires books berth in The Big Dance with Gosford Gold Cup win
Racing's First Lady Gai Waterhouse turned back the clock, 32 years to be precise, to where it all started, collecting her fourth Gosford Gold Cup with Les Vampires joining an esteemed Tulloch Lodge honour roll. On April 29, 1992, Waterhouse combined with Kevin Moses to take out the Group 3 Central Coast feature with the Queensland-bred gelding Moods. • 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! Waterhouse won two more Gosford Gold Cups in quick succession with Sprint By three years later and the aptly-named Iron Horse after that. That pair would go on to win the Doncaster and Epsom respectively. No doubt either or both of the dynamic duo, would have won a Big Dance had it been around then. The $3m Big Dance over the Randwick mile on the first Tuesday in November is now the confirmed spring target for Pierro son Les Vampires according co-trainer Adrian Bott. 'He's a nice progressive type who has done an excellent job. 'He was quite dominant in the end,'' Bott said. • Briasa confirmed for The Everest 'He had a good time down the back, Winona (Costin) probably needed to get going a little bit sooner than she was expecting but it's probably what he needed. He can hit a bit of a flat spot in his races and he looks vulnerable. 'He's never won by big margins but today he was able to put them away well over this trip so it has opened up more options for him going forward.'' Winning jockey Winona Costin played an instrumental role in Les Vampires Gosford Cup win, with a now trademark display of frontrunning riding. 'He had it his own way in front and Rachel (King) made a very smart move on her horse and put pressure on quite sharply but all credit to my horse, he was able to absorb that pressure and still finish off,'' Costin said. 'He is a lovely horse and he showed great acceleration when I needed it.' Costin's efforts saw her own tally of winners for Tulloch Lodge rise to 120 out of her total 627 rides. Les Vampires' weekend win took his earnings beyond $500,000 which marks a healthy return on investment on his $200,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase price. Born and raised at Coolmore, Les Vampires was the tenth foal of his Group 3 VRC Vanity Stakes winning mother, Musidora, who was herself sold for $1,000,000 at 2008 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. • Higher Achievement on cards for Waller colt Les Vampires fighting finale denied Chris Waller what would have been his fourth Gosford Gold Cup yet the 14-time Premiership winning trainer would have been suitably pleased with the efforts of stablemates and placegetters, Etna Rosso ($13) and Mr Waterville ($51). Former rodeo rider Braith Nock edged closer to milestones, one of them career defining, when steering French import Asgoodassobertgets to his sixth career win on Gosford Gold Cup undercard. The win takes Nock's personal tally to 197. More importantly, the victory edged him another win clear of Molly Bourke in what has become an arm-wrestle to decide who will be crowned Sydney's Leading Apprentice for the 2024/25 season. Nock's Gosford victory was considerably more decisive by comparison; horse and rider streaking away late to win by 2½ lengths ahead of the local Kosuke ($31) with Archibald stablemate Junebug ($8) a further half-length away. 'He just did everything right today,'' Nock said. 'He travelled up into the race and put them away quite well. 'I was getting a few bumps from that three-wide runner, it got a bit tight once we started bending but I was able to get him out into the clear and just be really patient on him.' The race wasn't without its share of drama, particularly for newlywed, absent, trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald. The pair watched on from the Gold Coast as their race favourite Cormac T got himself cast in the barriers prior to the start and was duly scratched, albeit with no lasting injury done to himself. Originally published as Les Vampires books berth in The Big Dance with Gosford Gold Cup win
News.com.au
26-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Victorian trainer Matt Laurie bags fourth consecutive win in Sydney with Miss Icelandic at Randwick
Mornington trainer Matt Laurie has forgotten how to lose on Sydney racetracks. After plundering the Sydney autumn carnival with three Group 1 wins from as many starters, Laurie struck again with Miss Icelandic in the Jeff Pendlebury Handicap (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Miss Icelandic's jockey Chad Schofield summed it up best when he said, 'Matt goes good in Sydney.' Laurie wasn't on track for Miss Icelandic's win but Schofield said after talking tactics with the trainer on Saturday morning, he was more confident about the mare's chances. 'When I spoke to Matt he said the mare was going really well,'' Schofield said. 'The race looked to map well for us on paper and it worked out exactly as we though with the favourite (Zealously) three-wide and Miss Icelandic settling on the outside of the leader, Passeggiata. 'I knew where Zealously was, I was happy he was three-wide, and I thought at the 300m we had the race pretty well sewn up. 'But credit to the leader, she gave a good kick and my mare had to dig deep but she always felt like the winner.'' Miss Icelandic ($10) wore down Passeggiata ($3.10) to win by a half-neck with Zealously ($2.20 favourite) fading late for third, beaten two lengths. Laurie has had a remarkable run of success in Sydney this autumn with his wonder filly bagging a Group 1 double in the Vinery Stud Stakes and ATC Australian Oaks. Miss Icelandic wears down a game Passeggiata to win Race 4 at Randwick! @SchofieldChad @mattlaurierace â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025 The trainer's top two-year-old Vinrock capped an unbeaten debut season when he won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes. Miss Icelandic also kept Laurie's perfect Sydney autumn race record intact with the trainer preparing four winners from as many starters. Laurie is considering setting Miss Icelandic for the likely to aim Miss Icelandic at the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone on May 17. Scone is also a likely next start for Les Vampires after his resolute win in the Tom Bingle Handicap (1800m). A clever Adam Hyeronimus ride paved the way for Les Vampires ($6) to edge out Zaphod ($7) by a neck with Miracle Spin ($10) one-and-a-quarter lengths away third. Favoured duo Flying Bandit ($3.20 favourite) and Saganti ($3.60) seemed to have their chance before finishing fourth and fifth respectively. Les Vampires relishes the 1800m and wins Race 5 at Randwick! ðŸ'° @GaiWaterhouse1 â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025 Flying Bandit ran on without really threatening the placegetters while the heavily-backed Saganti settled on speed but faded under pressure. With trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott overseas, Tulloch Lodge stable representative Neil Paine said Les Vampires is a chance to line up in the Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) next month. 'The worry was the 1800m, there was a question mark if he would get the trip but Adam Hyeronimu rode him a treat – the ride won the race,'' Paine said. 'He's a nice, little horse, he tries every race and he's a good money-spinner. I think Gai and Adrian might even look at testing the horse over 2000m now.'' Les Vampires, a four-year-old son of champion Pierro, has proven an astute investment since being purchased for $200,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale three years ago. His Randwick win was his fourth win from 12 starts, taking his career earnings to nearly $340,000. â– â– â– â– â– Sunrise first then daylight Sunrise, the topical tip for the Anzac Day long weekend, put daylight between herself and the chasing pack with a stunning display of sustained speed at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Trainer Mitchell Beer is considering setting Sunrise for a stakes race next start after her runaway win in the Midway Handicap (1100m). Beer said Sunrise is one of the fastest horses he has trained but the filly has needed to learn how to harness her sheer speed. 'Last preparation, we knew how fast she was and how good she was but she just wasn't physically or mentally ready,'' Beer explained. 'All she wanted to do in her trackwork and races was bolt so we had to teach her to settle.'' Sunrise goes whooshka! Way too good in Race 2 at Randwick. @MitchBeerRacing @RachelK11 â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025 Sunrise has obviously learned her 'lessons' well as she resumed with a brilliant all-the-way win at Kembla Grange by more than seven lengths, dashing over the 1000m in 55.58sec, a new course record. Jockey Rachel King used similar frontrunning tactics on Sunrise ($1.80 favourite) and gave her backers no cause for concern winning by a widening margin of nearly three lengths form Oakfield Badger ($8.50) with Everyone's A Star ($5.50) close up in third placing. 'Sunrise is very fast but it's funny, she doesn't feel like she is going at a silly speed because she has such a naturally big stride,'' King said. 'They have done a good job to teach her to race sensibly. I gave her a squeeze early then she came back underneath me and gave a good kick in the straight.'' Sunrise, who is by Charm Spirit out of Daily At Dawn, had a head start in life of being born and raised at Windsor Park in New Zealand in the same paddocks as past alumni including champions Might And Power and So You Think. Originally sold for $30,000 at Karaka as a yearling, she was secured by Beer at the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $45,000. Beer said he will consider aiming Sunrise at the Listed $200,000 Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone on May 17.
Sydney Morning Herald
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Grand Eagle takes flight as Rawiller pulls the right rein
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained five-year-old raced keenly early from gate 15, and Rawiller allowed him to roll to the lead. After pinching a breather, Punch Lane gapped his rivals to win by more than four lengths. The stable was looking at backing him up again next Saturday in the Hawkesbury Cup (1600m). 'He's led before and won, but I just thought he needed wetter [track],' Anthony Freedman said. 'But he's come on from last week, and he's backed up before and won. 'I might throw him in at Hawkesbury even because it will be wet, I think. Whether he can take three runs in a row, I don't know. We'll probably nominate and see what happens.' Lees considers Target for Memoria Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was thinking of a shot at the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on May 10 with Memoria after she led all the way to win on Saturday. Under Lees' apprentice Ben Osmond, the five-year-old mare stole a gap early in the straight before finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Pajanti. It was a 20th city success for Osmond, whose claim now drops from three kilograms to two. 'It was a really well-judged ride, he knows her well,' Lees said. 'She's very honest. We'll keep trying to place her right and at some stage, give her a chance in better company.' Lees is eyeing a benchmark race at the Coast meeting at Gosford in two weeks, but said the listed Takeover Target could also be an option. Hyeronimus proves the difference The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable looks set to test 'dork' Les Vampires over even more ground after the four-year-old Pierro gelding won at 1800m in Benchmark 94 level on Saturday. Now a winner four times in 12 starts, Les Vampires stepped up from 1500m and was strong late to hold off Lees-trained Zaphod. Adam Hyeronimus gave Les Vampires an economical run just off the pacesetters. 'He's a nice horse, but he's just very quirky,' Hyeronimus said. 'I'm very good friends with the owners, and I'm allowed to say this, but I labelled him as a dork. 'I want to get left, he wants to go right. He's not a hassle, but he just does little things that are a bit annoying. 'The biggest thing with him is to find that rhythm, get him comfortable.' Stable representative Neil Paine said the rise in distance 'was the worry'. Beer sets Sunrise for Scone Kembla trainer Mitch Beer will have a crack at the listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone on May 17 with bargain buy Sunrise after she easily claimed the 1100m benchmark 72 Midway Handicap on Saturday at Randwick. A $45,000 buy at the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale after one win in six starts in New Zealand, Sunrise took her earnings in Australia past $100,000 with the front-running victory under Rachel King. It came after a seven-length demolition first-up in a Kembla class one. Laurie extends Sydney streak Loading Matt Laurie's golden autumn in Sydney continued when Miss Icelandic booked her spot in the listed Ortensia Stakes with victory at Randwick on Saturday in her first run back for the Victorian trainer. Miss Icelandic ($10), first-up and having her maiden NSW start, overhauled Passeggiata late by a half neck under Chad Schofield in the benchmark 78 handicap (1000m). Laurie, who won three group 1s from three starts at the Sydney autumn carnival with Treasurethe Moment and Vinrock, was eyeing a black-type result with Miss Icelandic in the Ortensia at Scone on May 17.
The Age
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Grand Eagle takes flight as Rawiller pulls the right rein
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained five-year-old raced keenly early from gate 15, and Rawiller allowed him to roll to the lead. After pinching a breather, Punch Lane gapped his rivals to win by more than four lengths. The stable was looking at backing him up again next Saturday in the Hawkesbury Cup (1600m). 'He's led before and won, but I just thought he needed wetter [track],' Anthony Freedman said. 'But he's come on from last week, and he's backed up before and won. 'I might throw him in at Hawkesbury even because it will be wet, I think. Whether he can take three runs in a row, I don't know. We'll probably nominate and see what happens.' Lees considers Target for Memoria Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was thinking of a shot at the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on May 10 with Memoria after she led all the way to win on Saturday. Under Lees' apprentice Ben Osmond, the five-year-old mare stole a gap early in the straight before finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Pajanti. It was a 20th city success for Osmond, whose claim now drops from three kilograms to two. 'It was a really well-judged ride, he knows her well,' Lees said. 'She's very honest. We'll keep trying to place her right and at some stage, give her a chance in better company.' Lees is eyeing a benchmark race at the Coast meeting at Gosford in two weeks, but said the listed Takeover Target could also be an option. Hyeronimus proves the difference The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable looks set to test 'dork' Les Vampires over even more ground after the four-year-old Pierro gelding won at 1800m in Benchmark 94 level on Saturday. Now a winner four times in 12 starts, Les Vampires stepped up from 1500m and was strong late to hold off Lees-trained Zaphod. Adam Hyeronimus gave Les Vampires an economical run just off the pacesetters. 'He's a nice horse, but he's just very quirky,' Hyeronimus said. 'I'm very good friends with the owners, and I'm allowed to say this, but I labelled him as a dork. 'I want to get left, he wants to go right. He's not a hassle, but he just does little things that are a bit annoying. 'The biggest thing with him is to find that rhythm, get him comfortable.' Stable representative Neil Paine said the rise in distance 'was the worry'. Beer sets Sunrise for Scone Kembla trainer Mitch Beer will have a crack at the listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone on May 17 with bargain buy Sunrise after she easily claimed the 1100m benchmark 72 Midway Handicap on Saturday at Randwick. A $45,000 buy at the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale after one win in six starts in New Zealand, Sunrise took her earnings in Australia past $100,000 with the front-running victory under Rachel King. It came after a seven-length demolition first-up in a Kembla class one. Laurie extends Sydney streak Loading Matt Laurie's golden autumn in Sydney continued when Miss Icelandic booked her spot in the listed Ortensia Stakes with victory at Randwick on Saturday in her first run back for the Victorian trainer. Miss Icelandic ($10), first-up and having her maiden NSW start, overhauled Passeggiata late by a half neck under Chad Schofield in the benchmark 78 handicap (1000m). Laurie, who won three group 1s from three starts at the Sydney autumn carnival with Treasurethe Moment and Vinrock, was eyeing a black-type result with Miss Icelandic in the Ortensia at Scone on May 17.
