Latest news with #Melbourne Cup
News.com.au
16 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Queensland stars Knight's Choice and Antino on a collision course for 2025 Cox Plate
Knight's Choice and fellow Queensland star Antino could be on a Cox Plate collision course as the Melbourne Cup champion prepares to kick off his much-anticipated spring campaign with a trial at Bendigo on Tuesday morning. It will be the first time since February that six-year-old gelding Knight's Choice has run in an official trial due to southeast Queensland's horror stretch of wet weather. 'He's a little bit hairy but he'll clean up in the next few weeks,' John Symons, who trains his partnership with his wife Sheila Laxon, said. 'He's actually bouncing out of his skin. We couldn't be happier with him. 'He never trials that well though, it's not his caper. Traditionally he always takes a few runs to come right.' Symons and Laxon have nominated Knight's Choice for both the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate this spring as last year's $91 Cup roughie looks to defend his crown on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington. 'Obviously getting back to the Melbourne Cup will be the ultimate goal,' Symons said. 'We haven't got anything set in concrete for how we're going to do that. 'We just want to bring him along to where we're happy, and tomorrow (Tuesday) is the first stepping stone in that process.' Brisbane's premier trainer Tony Gollan is targeting the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 25 as Doomben Cup champion Antino's grand final. Antino and Knight's Choice are battling for favouritism to be crowned Queensland Horse Of The Year at a gala ceremony in Brisbane on Sunday week. Antino is an absolute star! The Queenslander dominates the Doomben Cup for @tonygollan ðŸ�† @blake_shinn — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 • Last year's Cox Plate champion Via Sistina is considered a lock for the Australian Horse Of The Year award. 'I suppose it's out of him (Knight's Choice) and Antino but it depends what people want,' Symons said about the Queensland award. 'For the first Queensland horse to win the Cup in 130-odd years, it's a pretty big achievement. 'I don't know how you line that up with a Doomben Cup or a Toorak Handicap (which Antino won last spring). 'I know what I'd do but I'm in his (Knight's Choice) corner.' Asked about a possible Cox Plate tilt for Knight's Choice, Symons said: 'It's a possibility but the best way we get to the Melbourne Cup will determine what we do. 'I'm not going to say we've got some big plans. We'll let the horse do the talking to us and then we'll run him where we have to, like last spring, to have him ready for the ultimate and that's the Melbourne Cup. 'We were always happy with him last year, even though his form looked terrible on paper, and thank god it was dry on Melbourne Cup Day. 'I suppose the weather will play a big part again because we know he's not competitive when it's wet.' What did we just witness?! 🤯 KNIGHT'S CHOICE holds on to win the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup! 🎥 @wwos | #MelbourneCup | #MelbCupCarnival — Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 5, 2024 The spring campaign for Knight's Choice last year went Underwood Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Cup and Bendigo Cup before Brisbane-based Irish jockey Robbie Dolan steered him to the ultimate prize in Australian racing. 'We might need to race him a bit more, not that we want to but that's just how it's turned out with him missing the winter up here (in Queensland) because it's been so wet,' Symons said. 'We've been frustrated for all the winter carnival because we looked at some of those results and we thought he could've beaten those horses.' Symons said Knight's Choice would likely go first-up into the Group 1 $750,000 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield (1400m) on August 30 and then possibly the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 13. 'It'll be a similar program to last year but we might swing it around a little bit because he hasn't raced for so long (since last year's Melbourne Cup) and there's going to be some cobwebs there,' Symons said.
Daily Mail
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Elizabeth Hurley opens up about 'traumatic' first trip back to Melbourne since ex-fiancé Shane Warne's shock death
Elizabeth Hurley has opened up for the first time about her emotional reunion with the family of her late ex-fiancé Shane Warne. The actress and model, 60, travelled to Melbourne last November for the first time since Shane's sudden death - reuniting with his parents, brother and children during a 'bittersweet' few days. Elizabeth combined the visit with a day at the races to soften the impact of what became a 'very traumatic' trip. Speaking on Tuesday's episode of Travel Secrets podcast, Elizabeth explained: 'Last November we went to the Melbourne Cup and it was the first time I'd been back to Melbourne since Shane died. 'We knew it was going to be a very traumatic trip, so we linked it into going racing and also an opportunity to get some closure in other ways.' Elizabeth and cricket legend Shane, widely regarded as one of the greatest spin bowlers in history, began dating in 2010 and were engaged the following year. They split in 2013 but remained close until his untimely death from a suspected heart attack in March 2022 while he was on holiday in Thailand. Shane was 52 years old when he died, and left behind three children - Brooke, 28, Jackson, 25, and Summer, 23 - from his marriage to his ex-wife, yoga teacher Simone Callahan. 'All his family are there [in Melbourne],' Elizabeth added. 'So I could see his mum and dad and brother - and it was the first time I've seen them since. I've seen the kids before because they've come to England. 'That [trip] was really full of disturbing… It wasn't good but I'm really glad I've done it.' She continued: 'Going back was very bittersweet. I got very upset, but then I was very glad that I went. 'And I know when I next get back to Australia, it'll be fine.' Elizabeth had been unable to attend Shane's state funeral at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 2022 due to work and travel commitments. The brunette beauty, who is now dating American country singing legend Billy Ray Cyrus, was pictured at Flemington Racecourse last year with her son Damian, now 23, warmly embracing Shane's family, including Shane's parents Bridgette and Keith and his brother Jason. Damian's biological father, American businessman Steve Bing, died by suicide in 2020. Last year, Elizabeth said the grief of both Shane and Steve's deaths made them closer than ever. 'We have suffered loss,' she told The Telegraph. 'It was appalling losing Shane; it was a terrible thing. And it's a sadness, you know, that stays with you a long time. 'I know as we get older we're going to experience more and more loss, but Damian as a young man has experienced probably more than most and I think it does affect you. I think it affects his writing and it does affect him as an artist.' Shane said of his romance with Elizabeth in 2018: 'Who knows what the future holds. There's a difference between in love with someone and loving someone. 'I'll always love Elizabeth but I don't think we'll ever get back together. When we were together we both had a great time. Unfortunately it didn't work out. 'It wasn't something that she or I did wrong, it just fizzled out. We're still great friends, we still stay in touch, we're good for each other and our kids get along great.' He also told the Mirror: 'I was more in love with Elizabeth than I'd realised I could be. I miss the love we had. My years with Elizabeth were the happiest of my life.' Elizabeth has maintained a strong relationship with her former fiancé's children, Brooke, Jackson, and Summer. While Damian also maintains a tight bond with Shane's kids, sharing photos of their childhood holidays together and commenting on their posts.
The Australian
10-08-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Melbourne Cup fancies Vauban and Sir Delius trial strongly ahead of spring returns
They were only barrier trials but there was a lot to like about the efforts of stayers Vauban and Sir Delius. This was the summation of their trainer Adrian Bott after the $11 equal favourites for the Melbourne Cup went through their paces in Sydney last week. Vauban, the former Irish stayer, was particularly impressive showing surprising speed and holding off champion mare Via Sistina to win a 1000m trial at Randwick on Thursday. Then at the Warwick Farm trials on Friday, boom French import Sir Delius closed off his 1200m heat strongly for a close third. • 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! Bott, who trains in partnership with Hall of Famer Gai Waterhouse, said Vauban and Sir Delius are on target to resume racing in the Group 2 $300,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 6. 'Vauban was excellent in his trial, he is showing good signs that is back feeling well and in great order,'' Bott said. 'The plan is to trial him again and then we will see him first-up in the Chelmsford. 'Sir Delius also trialled well with more improvement to come. He will have another trial and go first-up into the Chelmsford, too.'' Bott said Vauban and Sir Delius are likely to have at least two runs in Sydney this spring before going south to be prepared for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4, Via Sistina, the Horse of the Year-elect, also shares Melbourne Cup favouritism but is a most unlikely starter in the Flemington two-miler on November 4. Trainer Chris Waller has indicated Via Sistina is being set to defend her Cox Plate title and will follow a similar spring program to last year, beginning with her comeback in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 23. • Trainers question Missile Stakes call after Randwick washout Via Sistina won the Winx Stakes 12 months ago and is $2.80 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting to go back-to-back in the $1m weight-for-age race. Fangirl, a stablemate of Via Sistina, ran fourth in the Vauban trial and is also set to resume in the Winx Stakes, a race she won two years ago. The Randwick trials session last Thursday was loaded with potential spring carnival contenders with another of Waller's all-star team, Lady Shenandoah, tuning for her Winx Stakes return with a third placing behind Palmetto. Waterhouse and Bott prepared six trials winners on Thursday, a feat equalled by the Michael Freedman stable. Freedman's classy mare Manaal impressed in her trial win against a classy field including Wodeton, Clean Energy and Stefi Magnetica. 'I was very happy with Manaal's trial and she goes to the Toy Show Quality (Randwick, August 23),'' Freedman said. 'From what she has shown us so far, she is in for a good spring. There are a lot of options for her but I am looking at The Invitation and maybe the Golden Eagle.'' Freedman's other trial winners were from his talented three-year-old team including promising Pallaton and emerging duo Extractor and Ruination. Pallaton, the one-time Golden Slipper favourite last season, is set to resume in the Listed $200,000 The Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill next Saturday. 'I've always had a good opinion of Pallaton but things went pear-shaped for him in the autumn for a couple of reasons,'' Freedman said. 'But he had a long spell and a nice build-up to this campaign with two trial wins. He's coming up well and the plan is to go to The Rosebud.'' Freedman's other Rosehill entries for Saturday include Ninja, a three-year-old part-owned by My Racehorse Syndications, who won his maiden at Kembla Grange by a stunning 11 lengths last start. Apocalyptic, owned and trained in the same interests as Ninja, is shaping as one of the main contenders in the feature three-year-old fillies races this spring on the evidence of her eye-catching effort at last Friday's Warwick Farm trials. After being clear last on the turn in her 795m heat, Apocalyptic zoomed home wide out to finish a half-length away in fifth position even though jockey Tommy Berry never asked the filly for maximum effort. 'Apocalyptic is a lovely filly,'' Freedman enthused. 'She was one of our top seeds for the autumn but we had to stop with her. 'But she has returned in great order and I may look to trial her again before she kicks off again.'' Although Pallaton and Apocalyptic never made it to the Golden Slipper last autumn, Freedman was still able to win the world's richest two-year-old race with Marhoona. Freedman said Marhoona is still about two weeks from having her first trial with the plan for the filly to go first-up into the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at the Chelmsford meeting next month. 'Marhoona will trial at Randwick on Tuesday week,'' the trainer said. 'We have ruled out the Silver Shadow Stakes (August 23) as it is set weights with penalties which is not ideal so she will go to the Furious Stakes at level weights.'' Freedman hasn't ruled out setting Marhoona for Group 1 The TAB Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 18. 'We haven't been approached for The Everest yet but I guess if she is in good form during the spring she might attract some slot-holder interest,'' he added.
News.com.au
09-08-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott pair Vauban and Sir Delius trial strongly as they begin their Melbourne Cup campaigns
They were only barrier trials but there was a lot to like about the efforts of stayers Vauban and Sir Delius. This was the summation of their trainer Adrian Bott after the $11 equal favourites for the Melbourne Cup went through their paces in Sydney last week. Vauban, the former Irish stayer, was particularly impressive showing surprising speed and holding off champion mare Via Sistina to win a 1000m trial at Randwick on Thursday. Then at the Warwick Farm trials on Friday, boom French import Sir Delius closed off his 1200m heat strongly for a close third. Bott, who trains in partnership with Hall of Famer Gai Waterhouse, said Vauban and Sir Delius are on target to resume racing in the Group 2 $300,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 6. 'Vauban was excellent in his trial, he is showing good signs that is back feeling well and in great order,'' Bott said. 'The plan is to trial him again and then we will see him first-up in the Chelmsford. 'Sir Delius also trialled well with more improvement to come. He will have another trial and go first-up into the Chelmsford, too.'' 1⃣ Vauban 2⃣ Via Sistina 3⃣ Golden Century All the way for the @GaiWaterhouse1 & Adrian Bott import in a 1000m Randwick trial on Thursday, just holding the champ Via Sistina. Also behind them were Fangirl, More Territories & Kinesiology. @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 6, 2025 Bott said Vauban and Sir Delius are likely to have at least two runs in Sydney this spring before going south to be prepared for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4, Via Sistina, the Horse of the Year-elect, also shares Melbourne Cup favouritism but is a most unlikely starter in the Flemington two-miler on November 4. Trainer Chris Waller has indicated Via Sistina is being set to defend her Cox Plate title and will follow a similar spring program to last year, beginning with her comeback in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 23. Via Sistina won the Winx Stakes 12 months ago and is $2.80 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting to go back-to-back in the $1m weight-for-age race. Fangirl, a stablemate of Via Sistina, ran fourth in the Vauban trial and is also set to resume in the Winx Stakes, a race she won two years ago. The Randwick trials session last Thursday was loaded with potential spring carnival contenders with another of Waller's all-star team, Lady Shenandoah, tuning for her Winx Stakes return with a third placing behind Palmetto. Waterhouse and Bott prepared six trials winners on Thursday, a feat equalled by the Michael Freedman stable. 1⃣ Encap 2⃣ Glint Of Silver 3⃣ Point And Shoot @TommyBerry21 gives the @GaryPortelli trained gelding a solid hit out in winning a Warwick Farm trial on Friday. Behind the placings were Sir Delius and Alalcance. @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 24, 2025 Freedman's classy mare Manaal impressed in her trial win against a classy field including Wodeton, Clean Energy and Stefi Magnetica. 'I was very happy with Manaal's trial and she goes to the Toy Show Quality (Randwick, August 23),'' Freedman said. 'From what she has shown us so far, she is in for a good spring. There are a lot of options for her but I am looking at The Invitation and maybe the Golden Eagle.'' Freedman's other trial winners were from his talented three-year-old team including promising Pallaton and emerging duo Extractor and Ruination. Pallaton, the one-time Golden Slipper favourite last season, is set to resume in the Listed $200,000 The Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill next Saturday. 'I've always had a good opinion of Pallaton but things went pear-shaped for him in the autumn for a couple of reasons,'' Freedman said. 'But he had a long spell and a nice build-up to this campaign with two trial wins. He's coming up well and the plan is to go to The Rosebud.'' Freedman's other Rosehill entries for Saturday include Ninja, a three-year-old part-owned by My Racehorse Syndications, who won his maiden at Kembla Grange by a stunning 11 lengths last start. MANAAL looking super impressive taking out Trial 4 at Randwick this morning. WODETON, CLEAN ENERGY & STEFI MAGNETICA all finishing together behind the winner ðŸ'€ — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 7, 2025 Apocalyptic, owned and trained in the same interests as Ninja, is shaping as one of the main contenders in the feature three-year-old fillies races this spring on the evidence of her eye-catching effort at last Friday's Warwick Farm trials. After being clear last on the turn in her 795m heat, Apocalyptic zoomed home wide out to finish a half-length away in fifth position even though jockey Tommy Berry never asked the filly for maximum effort. 'Apocalyptic is a lovely filly,'' Freedman enthused. 'She was one of our top seeds for the autumn but we had to stop with her. 'But she has returned in great order and I may look to trial her again before she kicks off again.'' Although Pallaton and Apocalyptic never made it to the Golden Slipper last autumn, Freedman was still able to win the world's richest two-year-old race with Marhoona. Freedman said Marhoona is still about two weeks from having her first trial with the plan for the filly to go first-up into the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at the Chelmsford meeting next month. 'Marhoona will trial at Randwick on Tuesday week,'' the trainer said. 'We have ruled out the Silver Shadow Stakes (August 23) as it is set weights with penalties which is not ideal so she will go to the Furious Stakes at level weights.'' Freedman hasn't ruled out setting Marhoona for Group 1 The TAB Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 18. 'We haven't been approached for The Everest yet but I guess if she is in good form during the spring she might attract some slot-holder interest,'' he added.
