Latest news with #LindsayPark
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
The curious case of the Stradbroke Handicap betting market
It's a Stradbroke Handicap betting market like few have ever seen. With just over a week to go before Queensland's most prestigious race, there is only one horse in single figures in betting in the TAB fixed odds market. After his dominant win in the Group 3 BRC Sprint, War Machine was promoted to $5 Stradbroke Handicap favouritism as the famed Lindsay Park dynasty tries to win its first Stradbroke. Since then, without even racing, War Machine has been slashed even further and is now a pronounced $3 Stradbroke favourite. It's not just the fact that punters have continued to warm to War Machine, but there are other factors at play. Benedetta, a one-time Stradbroke fancy, will now not contest the race and will only run in Saturday's Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup. Other potential Stradbroke contenders have either fallen by the wayside or been disappointing. Three-year-old colt Bosustow was considered a strong Stradbroke chance but then failed to flatter in Wednesday's rescheduled Fred Best Classic where he appeared to have every chance but could only finish sixth as the $2.45 favourite. Bosustow has now blown out to be a $21 Stradbroke chance but co-trainer Rob Archibald confirmed the colt would tackle the race and said last year's Stradbroke winning jockey Zac Lloyd had been booked to ride. Others, such as Rothfire, are in doubt. Giga Kick, weighted with 58.5kg in the Stradbroke, almost certainly wouldn't back up after racing in Saturday's Kingsford Smith Cup. While Private Eye will attack the Stradbroke as a $15 chance, he will avoid the Kingsford Smith. It would mean he would have to snap decades of Stradbroke tradition and land the race first-up. Could Chris Waller pull a rabbit out of a hat and race boom three-year-old Angel Capital in the Stradbroke first-up? Angel Capital sits 26th in the order of entry but with the attrition rate above him he would be close to being assured a Stradbroke berth if Waller wanted to pull the trigger. It would be almost unprecedented for a three-year-old to run first-up in a Stradbroke, the Yulong trained youngster is currently a $21 chance. There still remains a lot to play out, key decisions to be made and some things could change after some races at Eagle Farm on Saturday. But only two things seem sure in the 2025 Stradbroke and that is there will be two fairytale stories. And there is another amazing story playing out, with Toby Edmonds securing one-time $8,000 yearling filly Spicy Martini a Stradbroke start after an emotional triumph in the Fred Best Classic at Doomben on Wednesday. 'She has pulled up great,' Edmonds said on Thursday.
New Paper
2 days ago
- Business
- New Paper
Jenni's Meadow all set for G1 Queensland Oaks
BRISBANE - An excellent lead-up run on May 24 has given Lindsay Park every indication Jenni's Meadow is one of the horses to beat in the A$700,000 (S$584,000) Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2,200m) at Eagle Farm on June 7. For all its success in Victoria, the famous Lindsay Park Racing operation - now run by the Hayes brothers, Ben, and twins J.D. and Will - has not yet won a Group 1 race in Queensland since the days of their father, David, and grandfather, Colin. Jenni's Meadow will spearhead a strong team for the Hayes brothers, on a day where the A$1 million Group 1 Queensland Derby (2,400m), A$1 million Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1,300m) and the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1,200m) will also be run. Due to the ongoing wet weather and jockeys' concerns over the kickback and poor visibility, authorities decided to postpone the remaining four races - the Queensland Derby, Kingsford Smith Cup, Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1,400m) and Helen Coughlan Stakes - from the Queensland Derby day on May 31. While three of the races will be run on June 7, the Fred Best Classic will be held at Doomben on June 4. The Hayes brothers will be represented in all three Group races on June 7, with Rise At Dawn in the Kingsford Smith Cup and filly Chase Your Dreams taking on the boys in the Queensland Derby. Ben Hayes believes Jenni's Meadow - a daughter of Brutal - has been trained to the minute for the Queensland Oaks off her slashing last-start second to Philia in the Group 2 The Roses (2,000m) at Doomben on May 24. "We're very happy with her," Hayes said of the three-year-old filly. "It was a huge run in The Roses, and I think, arguably, she was probably the run of the race. She was strong to the line, made a long, sustained run, and it looked perfect for 2,200m." After Jenni's Meadow drew outside barriers 13 and 14 in her last two starts, Hayes thought she could have beaten the David Vandyke-trained Philia in The Roses, and is looking forward to a rematch, especially after pulling out marble one this time. "She's been a bit unlucky this prep with wide barriers, and it has cost her. I think with a couple of better barriers and better runs in transit, she would have gone close," said Hayes. "I don't think the barrier is all important, but a gate would definitely help, and I know (jockey) Ethan (Brown) was rapt with her run in The Roses. "But she's building up beautifully. This has always been the target with her; to hopefully try and get her to a race like the Queensland Oaks. So we're arriving fourth-up, ready to go. "She's a Listed winner as a young horse, placed in a Group 3 last preparation and now she's placed in a Group 2, so we need to get that good 'black type' win. "She deserves to be there and has a great chance." Jenni's Meadow, who finished second in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2,000m) in 2024, is a 6-1 chance on the third line of betting for the Queensland Oaks. Brown will take the ride on her again. Philia, who holds favouritism at 5-2 despite drawing barrier 16 for jockey Kerrin McEvoy, will jump from gate 13 if the emergency acceptors fail to get a run. The Glen Thompson-trained Benagil is the second favourite at 5-1, and has drawn barrier 5 with regular jockey Mark Zahra aboard. While Jenni's Meadow prepares for her first shot at Group 1 glory on Saturday for connections of Cape Schanck Racing, managed by owner Tony Ottobre, her better-known stablemate Pride Of Jenni is returning to Melbourne for a spell after her last unplaced run in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2,000m) on May 24. Trained by Ciaron Maher, the 2024 Australian Horse of the Year led in the field of 12 but quickly capitulated upon turning into the straight, fading to run 10th behind eventual winner Antino. Pride Of Jenni also did not fare well in her other Group 1 assignment, the Australian Cup (2,000m), in 2025. She finished ninth to stablemate Light Infantry Man at Flemington on March 29. Ottobre has dispatched one of his staff members to Queensland to accompany Pride Of Jenni back to his property on the Mornington Peninsula. The memorable runaway winner of the 2024 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,000m) will be joined by stablemate Jennilala on the trip home. Ottobre wants to get the seven-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai back to his farm to assess her before a final decision is made on her future. But retirement plans are the furthest thing from his mind at this stage as he hopes to have the 10-time winner in Sydney for the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1,600m) at Randwick in October. "I know she's really good at 1,600m. We're in it for racing. We're not in it for anything else but we'll be making sure the horse is fine," said Ottobre. "But to go to something like the King Charles, she has to be in great order, and she has to be in a mood of wanting to race. "If she's in that way, I will ask Ciaron's permission to train her for that. At this stage, nothing is off the deck." Since resuming this year, Pride Of Jenni has produced one of her finest performances first-up in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1,800m) at Caulfield on March 15, followed by another win in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1,600m) at Caulfield on May 3. SKY RACING WORLD
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Trainer Ben Hayes chasing Stradbroke Handicap win before the birth of his first child
Family patriarch Colin Hayes adopted the motto 'the future belongs to those who plan for it' and Lindsay Park's current crop is upholding the tradition. Ben Hayes is the latest of Colin's grandsons to start a family on his own as he confirmed his wife, racing media personality Grace Ramage, is expecting the couple's first child later this year. Hayes's twin brothers and training partners Will and JD became fathers to sons last year but he said he and Ramage were expecting a daughter. 'We've got a little girl on the way. It's so exciting,' Hayes said. 'She's the first girl.' Hayes said time would tell whether the Hayes dynasty would stretch to a fourth generation. 'It really depends on the next generation,' Hayes said. 'If they want to do it, we'll certainly support them.' • 'It jeopardises the Stradbroke': Benedetta back-up gamble While the Hayes family will have cause for celebration in a few months' time, the training trio could take Lindsay Park into uncharted territory in the Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 14. Neither Colin nor their father David has prevailed in Queensland's most famous race but recent stable recruit War Machine raced to Stradbroke favouritism with his dominant win the Group 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben. Bookmakers promoted War Machine to the $4 favourite in Stradbroke betting with that quote set to tighten should Chris Waller withdraw Newmarket Handicap winner Joliestar from the $3m event. Hayes said War Machine had progressed well since his Doomben win but the camp had to finalise one important detail for the four-year-old's Stradbroke Handicap bid. 'We've got to find a jockey and that will probably be after this week,' Hayes said. 'He gets into the Straddie really well with only 53 (kg). 'I think he's a deserved favourite and his form is great. 'Hopefully he can have a bit of luck with the barrier.' A race-to-race double for @blake_shinn as War Machine wins the last at Doomben in impressive fashion! @lindsayparkrace — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 • Group 1-winning jockey facing six weeks on the sidelines War Machine will be out to give prominent Melbourne owner Rupert Legh his third Stradbroke Handicap win. The late Mike Moroney prepared Mr Baritone (2008) and Tofane (2021) to win the event carrying Legh's navy and yellow silks. Tofane went on to win another two Group 1 events. Hayes said War Machine could also develop into a consistent Group 1 performer in the spring. 'We don't want to think too far ahead and we'll just focus on the Straddie but he would be an excellent Toorak horse and I think they moved the Rupert Clarke back to where it was as well,' Hayes said. 'There's heaps of that type of race for him so there's plenty of options. 'He's hard to get a guide on at home because he's a lazy worker, just like Mr B but he just turns up race day. 'We love horses that do it and that's what he's done for us so far.'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Group 1-winning jockey Luke Currie to undergo knee surgery, faces six weeks on sidelines
Surgery will halt jockey Luke Currie's impressive recent form. Currie rode a double for the Hayes brothers at last Saturday's Caulfield meeting to accompany his double at Flemington on May 17 as he built a solid partnership with the Lindsay Park operation. However, a knee issue sustained in a mishap will force Currie to soon go under the surgeon's knife. 'I've done the meniscus in it at the jumpouts,' Currie said. 'It's been sore all the time and they said, at some point, you've got to get it done.' The meniscus acts as a 'shock absorbing' cartilage between femur and tibia bones, producing pain and stiffness in the knee when damaged. Currie said it was the second time he had undergone the minor surgery. 'I did the other one but worse when one flipped over in the gates years ago but they said this one has got a tear in it and had other wear and tear from over the years,' he said. Currie said he expected to be away from racing for about six weeks. However, he said the operation was necessary in order to have him ready for the richer period of the year. 'I just thought, I was always staying here getting going again, so it was the right time to have it done so I'll be right for the spring,' Currie said. Currie has ridden 22 winners in Melbourne in the 2024/25 season. Currie will join Melbourne jockeys' premiership leader Blake Shinn on the sidelines. Shinn last week confirmed he would miss the remainder of the season after sustaining heavy bone bruising in an incident at the Cranbourne jumpouts last month.
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 BRC Sprint: War Machine books Stradbroke Handicap berth with dominant win
The Lindsay Park dynasty has a golden chance to win its first Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap after War Machine proved he was a machine by blowing away his opposition in the Group 3 BRC Sprint. With the race offering a golden ticket into next month's Stradbroke, War Machine was sent out the well-backed $2.40 favourite and did the business under Blake Shinn. It was the icing on the Doomben cake for Shinn who not long earlier had won a record-breaking fourth Group 1 Doomben Cup, riding Queensland freak Antino to glory. War Machine's BRC Sprint triumph prompted bookmakers to elevate the four-year-old – who had been trained by the late Mike Moroney prior to his death – to outright $5 Stradbroke favourite. Lindsay Park founder Colin Hayes never won the Stradbroke Handicap, nor did his son David but grandsons Ben, Will and JD Hayes will now chase Queensland's biggest race. 'That was an unbelievable effort by the horse,' JD Hayes said. 'We've only had him a short time. 'He came in incredible condition from Ballymore and we've been very lucky to inherit him. 'It looked like we'd get a beautiful run from the barrier and he's let down well. 'He had his ears pricked on the line and we're really looking forward to the Stradbroke.' A race-to-race double for @blake_shinn as War Machine wins the last at Doomben in impressive fashion! @lindsayparkrace — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 • Man of the moment Shinn paid tribute to the late Moroney. 'I had a little bit to do with this horse when Mike Moroney trained him and he did a great job nurturing him in his early days,' Shinn said. 'The Hayes boys are the beneficiary of that. 'If he runs in the Straddy, I think he'll be hard to beat.' While War Machine was dominant, Far Too Easy also stood up to be counted in finishing runner-up and Murwillumbah trainer David McColm indicated a Stradbroke mission was on the cards. Far Too Easy is the fairytale horse who has survived deadly floods and bacterial infections and surged to glory in last year's $2m The Kosciuszko at Randwick. He has since produced a couple of lacklustre runs but his BRC Sprint effort was much better and his rating will almost certainly get him a Stradbroke berth. 'The winner was too good today but I thought my horse's effort was great,' McColm said. 'He did what we know he can do. 'Assuming he goes to the Stradbroke, the weight difference in that race will be a big difference for him. 'He needed to do something today to go towards the Stradbroke. 'We had been disappointed with his last two runs but we have had a lot of wet weather in New South Wales and it's been a hard slog these last six months 'I think we have got him back.'
