Latest news with #MaidenHandicap
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Kembla Grange stables unveil pair of exciting fillies at Moruya
A pair of Kembla-based two-year-old fillies, both on debut, can steal the show when they travel south to tackle the older horses at Monday's Moruya meeting. Spice Baby, an exciting daughter of 2018 Golden Gift winner Tassort in the Joseph Isle stable and drawn the inside, is likely to jump favourite in a Maiden Handicap over 1020m. But drawn just two places further out, the Kerry Parker yard unveils Miss Steffi, a well-bred and aptly named daughter of Group 2-winning Graff. Spice Baby has been strong through the line in two lead-up trials and draws to get a cosy run, while Miss Steffi also starts behind two recent trials, winning the first at home before given a quieter time at Rosehill only six days ago. Named after the tennis great, Miss Steffi is bred to get much further being out of a Carnegie mare, and will be aimed at some feature middle-distance affairs in early spring if she heads in the right direction. Spice Baby, out of a mare by 2005 Golden Slipper winner Stratum and to be ridden by Louise Day, is more the sprinting type and opened about $3.70 in early betting alongside Canberra-based Caravanserai, an ex-Godolphin three-year-old having his first run in six months for the new Natalie Jarvis stable. Miss Steffi, to be ridden by Adrian Layt, was further out about the $7 mark. Meanwhile, the far-reaching success of Canberra stables is set to continue, headed by the Matthew Kelley yard which heads to the South Coast eyeing off a double. Loading
The Age
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Kembla Grange stables unveil pair of exciting fillies at Moruya
A pair of Kembla-based two-year-old fillies, both on debut, can steal the show when they travel south to tackle the older horses at Monday's Moruya meeting. Spice Baby, an exciting daughter of 2018 Golden Gift winner Tassort in the Joseph Isle stable and drawn the inside, is likely to jump favourite in a Maiden Handicap over 1020m. But drawn just two places further out, the Kerry Parker yard unveils Miss Steffi, a well-bred and aptly named daughter of Group 2-winning Graff. Spice Baby has been strong through the line in two lead-up trials and draws to get a cosy run, while Miss Steffi also starts behind two recent trials, winning the first at home before given a quieter time at Rosehill only six days ago. Named after the tennis great, Miss Steffi is bred to get much further being out of a Carnegie mare, and will be aimed at some feature middle-distance affairs in early spring if she heads in the right direction. Spice Baby, out of a mare by 2005 Golden Slipper winner Stratum and to be ridden by Louise Day, is more the sprinting type and opened about $3.70 in early betting alongside Canberra-based Caravanserai, an ex-Godolphin three-year-old having his first run in six months for the new Natalie Jarvis stable. Miss Steffi, to be ridden by Adrian Layt, was further out about the $7 mark. Meanwhile, the far-reaching success of Canberra stables is set to continue, headed by the Matthew Kelley yard which heads to the South Coast eyeing off a double. Loading
Sydney Morning Herald
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Navy Pier returns primed to atone for disappointing debut
An untapped provincial-based three-year-old is primed to kick-start his career when he gets his first taste of drier ground at the Taree meeting on Monday. Navy Pier, a son of Divine Prophet in the David Atkins stable at Newcastle, returns for only his second start in a Maiden Handicap over 1400m. Back in March, despite trialling well and surrounded by plenty of hype before his debut outing on the Beaumont track, Navy Pier was disappointing for his sole owner. He was heavily backed from $5 into $2.90 that day, but drawn low on what quickly turned out to be inferior ground, was never comfortable on the heavy rating finishing five lengths from the winner. But the form around that race was strong, although connections abruptly tipped Navy Pier out for another break, and more time to strengthen and mature. He was given one easy trial in heavy ground four weeks ago, and connections have been deliberate and patient in waiting for the right race and distance on a drier surface. Loading Although rain is forecast for the Mid North Coast later this week, Monday's rating should be about a good 4 or soft 5, and Navy Pier drew to get a cosy run with cover just off the speed. He opened around $3.80 in early betting and is set to challenge both resuming three-year-old Zainstar ($3.30), which hasn't raced for 11 months, and Epic Statement ($3.60), which is second-up, for ultimate favouritism. Significantly, Navy Pier is Atkins' only runner on the eight-race program, after he scratched Rockbarton Max from the opening maiden after he drew the outside barrier, and promising three-year-old Expido opened a hot $1.45 favourite.
The Age
29-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Navy Pier returns primed to atone for disappointing debut
An untapped provincial-based three-year-old is primed to kick-start his career when he gets his first taste of drier ground at the Taree meeting on Monday. Navy Pier, a son of Divine Prophet in the David Atkins stable at Newcastle, returns for only his second start in a Maiden Handicap over 1400m. Back in March, despite trialling well and surrounded by plenty of hype before his debut outing on the Beaumont track, Navy Pier was disappointing for his sole owner. He was heavily backed from $5 into $2.90 that day, but drawn low on what quickly turned out to be inferior ground, was never comfortable on the heavy rating finishing five lengths from the winner. But the form around that race was strong, although connections abruptly tipped Navy Pier out for another break, and more time to strengthen and mature. He was given one easy trial in heavy ground four weeks ago, and connections have been deliberate and patient in waiting for the right race and distance on a drier surface. Loading Although rain is forecast for the Mid North Coast later this week, Monday's rating should be about a good 4 or soft 5, and Navy Pier drew to get a cosy run with cover just off the speed. He opened around $3.80 in early betting and is set to challenge both resuming three-year-old Zainstar ($3.30), which hasn't raced for 11 months, and Epic Statement ($3.60), which is second-up, for ultimate favouritism. Significantly, Navy Pier is Atkins' only runner on the eight-race program, after he scratched Rockbarton Max from the opening maiden after he drew the outside barrier, and promising three-year-old Expido opened a hot $1.45 favourite.
Sydney Morning Herald
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Singleton stable set for Lovely trip away to Narromine
A trip away and return to the flying short course are set to pay dividends for a tough Scone filly at today's Narromine meeting. And punters have seemingly been given a decisive leg-up from the Scott Singleton stable, with front-running Too Darn Lovely by-passing a home meeting on the same day to zero in on a weaker target in the central west. Dropping back from a higher-graded race at Muswellbrook over 1000m three weeks ago when she faded after leading, Too Darn Lovely reloads in a Benchmark 58 Handicap over the 800m scamper course on a tighter and more advantageous track for on-speed sprinters. The start before in a better BM 58 at Quirindi (1000m), Too Darn Lovely ran a quick time in beating a handy sprint field. She again draws to control the race under regular apprentice Leeshelle Small, and back on her preferred firmer ground, looks set to take her strike rate to five wins from 14 starts. A speedy daughter of fashionable sire Too Darn Hot, Too Darn Lovely could be aimed at a more challenging provincial sprint, or even a Saturday Highway if she takes care of this moderate field. While Singleton has accepted for seven runners at the Scone meeting, Thor's Lightning, second-up in a Maiden Plate over 1300m, is his only other runner at Narromine. The meeting, though, is set to be dominated by Dubbo stables. Loading The Clint Lundholm yard, among its better chances, will run exciting debutant filly Miss Rapide in a Maiden Plate over 800m, along with resuming My Boy Scout in a Maiden Handicap (1100m), and promising filly Matilda Of Tuscany shooting for back-to-back wins after a dominant Maiden breakthrough at Warren.
