Latest news with #LordMayor'sCup
Mercury
3 days ago
- Sport
- Mercury
Zebra Finch eyes J J Atkins glory after Rosehill triumph
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Progressive Godolphin colt Zebra Finch will be given the opportunity to emulate his big-hitting stablemate Broadsiding, earning himself a crack at the J J Atkins Stakes after lowering the boom on a couple of his more fancied rivals at Rosehill on Saturday. Yesterday's seven-horse affair held more interest than most of the other nine races on the Lord Mayor's Cup undercard given it overflowed with J J Atkins aspirants including the Chris Waller duo Hidden Achievement and pricey Frankel colt, Sarapo. The Waller pair were expected to fight out on the finish as they had when they met at Gosford on Cup Day but were unable to make the same impact this time despite racing at home. • 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! Both horses were marked at $15 to win the J J Atkins prior to their respective efforts yesterday. Hidden Achievement blew out to $26 while Sarapo was wound out to $51. Zebra Finch, meanwhile, had his price halved from $51 into $26 for the June 14 feature and carrying the imprimatur of one of the sport's champions. 'If he pulls up well, I'd send him up there, because he is going to get a mile,'' winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy said after the Schweppes Handicap (1300m). 'You obviously need a horse that runs a mile and you need a horse on the improve and that's possibly what he is going to be. ' It wasn't a big winning margin but I am sure with a better quality horse to aim at, he is going to be better again. 'He is the sort of colt that only does enough (but) I am sure if he got challenged there was an extra kick in the lock. 'So if James (Cummings) and the team decide to go to Brisbane for that mile race, I wouldn't be against it.' At least one of the Waller-trained runners from the race looks likely to still make his way up to Brisbane for the last Group 1 two-year-old feature of the season with a decision pending on the other. Yu Long Investments colt Hidden Achievement clocked in third behind Zebra Finch with future Guineas/Derby colt Sarapo three lengths behind in sixth. 'The race lacked tempo, it was a sit and sprint,'' assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth began. 'When Adam (Hyernonimus) won on Hidden Achievement last start, he was mindful that he probably rode him too close that day and took him out of his comfort zone. But he drew so well in a small field today that we basically had to do the same again. 'Adam's adamant that when you can put the bit in his mouth a little bit better, he'll have a better turn of foot. 'Adam is strongly pushing for Chris (to go to Brisbane with him). He said 'I don't care if I ride him or not but you should be running the horse in the JJ', that's his opinion.' As for pricey $750,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase Sarapo, Team Waller will let the dust settle on the colt's second career start before they decide on his next move. 'He was obviously a long way back off a soft tempo,'' Duckworth explained. 'He is going to be a miler at three you'd imagine, it's just whether you try and break through for that maiden win at two. 'Obviously he is by Frankel so if he ends up in the breeding barn, they're going to be worried about him if he doesn't win at two so it might be an important start for him or do we just look after him and just trust that he'll measure up at three.'' As for Zebra Finch, his own stud career will naturally hinge on the outcome of the J J Atkins but Darley would dearly love to add another Group 1 winning son of Exceed And Excel to their roster. Not only is Zebra Finch by one of the truly global stallions of the modern era, his dam was a handy performer herself and by Lonhro who holds the rare honour of being crowned both Australian Horse of the Year and Champion General Sire. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Tough as teak gelding Mickey's Medal helped edge the former rodeo rider Braith Nock one step closer to a medal collection of his own as the race for Sydney's Champion Apprentice enters the home straight. Nock and former Riverina whiz Molly Bourke are locked in an arm wrestle to decide who will join an Honour Roll that includes the likes of Jack Thompson, George Moore, Ron Quinton, Malcolm Johnston, Wayne Harris and Darren Beadman. Nock's win on the Annabell and Rob Archibald-trained Mickey's Medal extended his lead over Bourke by five metropolitan wins with August 1 now exactly two months away. Sitting three-wide with no cover may not have been the text-book ride from Nock on Mickey's Medal but it proved to be the winning formula on a day where it paid to be away from the inside fence. 'Everyone just seemed to take their time to get their spots and all of a sudden there were people inside me,' Nock explained. '(But) it was a slow tempo and he was able to travel really good. 'Actually, he was really relaxed coming to the 600m and I had to wake him up and then I was able to idle-up and I still think he might have had a little bit of a think about it things once we got there, but he got left alone for a long time so it was a really good effort. 'He seems to be just relishing his racing and he tries his best every time.' Yesterday's Precise Air Handicap (1500m) was the gelding's sixth run of the current campaign. His $82,500 collect was a tangible reward to effort on his part, drawing some high praise from the stable. 'It was brilliant to see him win,' stable representative Megan O'Leary said. 'I was almost waiting for (runner-up) Hopper to come down the outside of us but he really deserved that win, he's been running so well this prep.' Mickey's Medal was sold twice before he ever saw a racetrack. The great-grandson of broodmare gem Shantha's Choice was secured for $70,000 as a weanling before being reoffered at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale where he fetched $225,000. Originally published as Godolphin's promising colt Zebra Finch pushes for Group 1 J J Atkins start after his impressive victory at Rosehill
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
McMurray has turned heads in Sydney. Now for a first stakes win
In less than a month of riding in Sydney, 18-year-old apprentice Jace McMurray has already ticked off a few firsts. A first city-level ride, anywhere, then a win at Scone's standalone card, followed by a maiden metro double in his first trip to Canterbury on Wednesday, which took him past 100 career victories in just over a year in the saddle. Next is a debut at Rosehill on Saturday, and a first chance at stakes level. With most of the senior Sydney jockeys at Eagle Farm on Saturday, McMurray has got the job on Greg Hickman-trained Private Legacy in the listed Lord Mayor's Cup (2000m), where he is unable to use his three-kilogram claim. The feature race booking is one of possibly nine rides on the 10-race program for McMurray, who is apprenticed to Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton but is now based at Randwick with Michael Freedman on a three-month loan. He is hoping to make a big enough impression to extend his stay and push for the Sydney apprentices' premiership next season. And he knows an early stakes win will go a long way to building even more support from trainers and owners in town. Private Legacy, a $5.50 Sportsbet chance on Thursday, was a last-start winner of the listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m) for fillies and mares at Morphettville and has drawn gate one for Saturday.
The Age
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
McMurray has turned heads in Sydney. Now for a first stakes win
In less than a month of riding in Sydney, 18-year-old apprentice Jace McMurray has already ticked off a few firsts. A first city-level ride, anywhere, then a win at Scone's standalone card, followed by a maiden metro double in his first trip to Canterbury on Wednesday, which took him past 100 career victories in just over a year in the saddle. Next is a debut at Rosehill on Saturday, and a first chance at stakes level. With most of the senior Sydney jockeys at Eagle Farm on Saturday, McMurray has got the job on Greg Hickman-trained Private Legacy in the listed Lord Mayor's Cup (2000m), where he is unable to use his three-kilogram claim. The feature race booking is one of possibly nine rides on the 10-race program for McMurray, who is apprenticed to Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton but is now based at Randwick with Michael Freedman on a three-month loan. He is hoping to make a big enough impression to extend his stay and push for the Sydney apprentices' premiership next season. And he knows an early stakes win will go a long way to building even more support from trainers and owners in town. Private Legacy, a $5.50 Sportsbet chance on Thursday, was a last-start winner of the listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m) for fillies and mares at Morphettville and has drawn gate one for Saturday.
7NEWS
15-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight suddenly retires after trial race
Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight — who was preparing for a winter campaign in Brisbane — has suddenly been retired. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained import narrowly won a 1500m trial at Caulfield Heath on Thursday morning, but soon after the call was made to retire the gelding. Without A Fight was united with jockey Mark Zahra (who famously rode him at Flemington and Caulfield in 2023) at the trial yesterday. But it has been reported that he suffered a bleed afterwards which forced the trainers to take immediate action. Without A Fight won the 2023 Caulfield Cup–Melbourne Cup double to etch his name into racing history and, in a statement, Anthony and Sam Freedman said it had been a privilege to train the gelding for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. Having started his career in the UK with Simon and Ed Crisford, Without A Fight came to Australia to run in the 2022 Melbourne Cup, finishing 13th behind Gold Trip. Left in the care of the father-and-son Freedman training duo, Without A Fight won the Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup and Group 2 Q22, both at Eagle Farm, the following winter before embarking on his successful 2023 spring campaign that saw him complete the Cups double. Without A Fight spent the majority of 2024 on the sidelines following a tendon injury, returning for a third-place finish behind Via Sistina in the Group 1 Champions Stakes at Flemington last November before a trip to Hong Kong that saw the gelding beat one runner home in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) the following month, his final race start. Thursday's trial at Caulfield Heath had been in preparation for a trip to Brisbane where Without A Fight held an entry in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday week. 'He has been an absolute gentleman to have in the stable and will be remembered as one of the finest stayers of his generation,' the Freedman's said in a statement. 'His Cups double not only delivered the pinnacle of our training careers but also created unforgettable memories for all involved – from our dedicated track riders, stable hands, vets, farriers, to those at the spelling farms. 'He has left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to be a part of his journey. 'We extend our heartfelt thanks to his owner, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, for entrusting us with the privilege of training such a remarkable horse in Australia. We are truly indebted to him for the opportunity. 'As Without A Fight begins the next chapter of his life, we wish him the very best in his retirement. 'He has given us all so much – and for that, we are forever grateful.' It is a sad and unceremonious end to a spectacular career. The news also left racing fans with a heavy heart. 'Sad news, dead set superstar in his prime,' one fan said on social media. And another: 'Sad how it all ended. Tarnished his legacy.' Without A Fight retires having registered 11 wins from his 24 starts with career prize money of just over $9.7 million.
