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News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Warren, Corowa Monday previews: Country Champs winner chasing a treble
COUNTRY Championships-winning trainer Doug Gorrel shapes up for a treble at Corowa on Monday with three horses all blessed with a direct connection to a Melbourne Cup winner. First of the Wagga-housed visitors to race is Dantains Prize, which sports the same predominantly bottle green colours of Gorrel's Country Championships heroine, Asgarda. Like her, Dantains Prize was born and raised at the historic Lamont family farm, Kooringal Stud, which is also home to her sire Prized Icon. Dantains Prize's Melbourne Cup connection dates back 80 years to her eighth dam, Rainbird. As for Gorrel's filly, she is still searching for her first medal of any kind after half a dozen starts. That said, she did manage to hand in her current personal best at her most recent outing when clocking in fourth in an Albury 1400m Country Maiden. 'She's not a bad little pony in trackwork but she's yet to produce it on race day so it was good to see her run that race the other day,'' Gorrel said. 'We've taken the shades (blinkers) off to see if that helps, but she's going well, and if she wants to do it, she has certainly got some wins in her. 'It just concerns me she hasn't put one away yet but she's only had the six starts so here's hoping Monday is the day 'It's really up to her, she's cherry ripe and she's ready to win.' Gorrel meanwhile is rightfully more bullish about the winning prospects of stablemate Tycoon Artie which just happens to claim the aforementioned 1945 Melbourne Cup winner Rainbird as his ninth dam. Tycoon Artie's four white feet have carried him to four wins in his 18 starts including two of his last four appearances. His most recent victory was a comfortable win at the very same venue over the very same trip as Monday's Carlton & United Breweries Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m). 'He's in top form and probably deserves the paddock but we're going to give him one more and then he can go and have a break,'' Gorrel said. 'He is creeping up in the weights, but I think he'll be pretty hard to beat with John Kissick on. 'He hasn't got enormous ability, but he does try.' All three of Gorrel's Corowa bound trio will be ridden by Kissick, rounded out aboard Sorry Sunshine in the final race on the card. Sorry Sunshine was bred by Gorrel, using a stallion that he says 'no one has ever heard off'. That stallion is Apologia which won once in 11 starts: an 800m maiden at Wingatui, ironically on Melbourne Cup Day in 2006. But that's not Apologia's only connection with the race that stops a nation. His fourth dam is the celebrated broodmare Taiona whose four stakes-winning offspring include Gurner's Lane which famously ran down the immortal Kingston Town in the 1982 renewal. As for Sorry Sunshine, he tackles the eminently suitable Balldale Hotel Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600m) with a solid, recent, fourth still fresh in his trainer's mind. 'I normally space his runs back he can back-up,'' Gorrel said. 'He's done it before. He backed up and won at the Wagga carnival ten days after a non-TAB meeting at Deniliquin so he can do it. 'He probably deserves the paddock too but I think there's one more in him. 'He's just starting to winter up a bit in the coat but his work has been good and it looks a good race for him.' â– â– â– â– â– DUBBO master Michael 'Mick' Mulholland aims to maintain his current hot streak when Warren hosts its first winter meeting of 2025 on Monday. Mulholland is closing in on 200 winners, nine of which have come at the track widely accepted to be the 'Randwick of the West' thanks to its long straights and sweeping bends. Two of Mulholland's last four runners are winners and while his last runner – Jasper's Way – was officially 10th of 13 at Gunnedah, it could and should have been so much different. 'He had no luck at all actually,'' Mulholland said. 'I thought he could have run in the first three if he could have kept going up the fence. 'He was running into it nicely and the 1600m will suit him right down to the ground on Monday. 'He hasn't got a real lot of gate-speed, so he'll sit back a little bit and work into it. 'He's just a big three-year-old that is still learning more than anything.' Jasper's Way is sure to start considerably shorter than his $61 Gunnedah starting price when he fronts-up on Monday for the Warren Showgrounds Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1600m). Jasper's Way is a son of the former crack two-year-old Pariah and member of one of the most notable families in the Australian Stud Book. His fourth dam is Stage Hit whose seven wins include the now Group 1 features; the Coolmore Classic and Canterbury Stakes. There is sure to be a great deal of interest centred on Mulholland-trained gelding The Impeckable which will partner Jasper's Way on the hour-long drive, west from Dubbo. A striking brown/black coloured gelding, The Impeckable hasn't raced since winning at Orange on November 22 last year but has put in the groundwork for his return with a couple of trials at Narromine and Mudgee respectively. 'I was getting him ready for a TAB Highway but a few little niggly things came into play and the weather and things like that,'' Mulholland said. 'This will be his first run back. He's fit enough but I'm just not a hundred per cent if he's a hundred per cent there though, that's all. 'Even though he has trialled good both times, I'm just not convinced myself. 'He has been against some pretty handy horses, and he's hasn't been far away all his runs, he has been very honest right through.'
New Paper
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Waller eyeing 4th Queensland Derby
BRISBANE It has been anything bar a conventional lead-up for Chris Waller's trio of runners in the A$1 million (S$829,000) Group 1 Queensland Derby (2,400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31. The master trainer has won the race three times, first with Hawkspur in 2013 followed by Kukeracha in 2021 and Kovalica in 2023. The multiple Sydney champion trainer will again travel to the Sunshine State, sending up leading hope Belle Detelle as well as Imperialist and Existential Bob this year. Belle Detelle already boasts a famous lineage. She is a three-quarter sister to Waller's 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant. The two share the same sire Zed while Verry Elleegant's dam Opulence is the mother of Belle Detelle's dam, Black Lace. Belle Detelle, whose two wins include the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2,000m), is aiming to become just the third filly after Riva San (2008) and Dariana (2010) to win the Queensland Derby this century, with Waller preferring the true mile-and-a-half journey over the 2,200m of the Queensland Oaks. She finished sixth to stablemate Imperialist in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2,000m) at Doomben on May 17 at her last start. She was the favourite while Imperialist was unwanted at 60-1, but Waller said that Belle Detelle's run was more than acceptable given the circumstances. "It was solid, it was a very wet track," said Waller. "She got a long way back and she finished off well. The barrier draw (is important), whether it's Eagle Farm or Doomben, doesn't matter where you're at." Unfortunately for connections, Belle Detelle has drawn barrier No. 21, which will come into 17 of 18 if emergencies fail to get a run, with champion jockey James McDonald booked to ride. The pairing combined only once, in the Rough Habit Plate. While tactics remain a query for Belle Detelle, Waller confirmed Imperialist would be ridden similarly to last start when leading throughout to spring a surprise in the Rough Habit Plate, named after the champion New Zealand galloper, himself a Queensland Derby winner in 1990. "Imperialist surprised us a little bit. In the Australian Derby, we went back to last and he never made an impact, so we just sort of formed the opinion that he might not stay," said Waller of the Churchill gelding who had shown mixed form in the run-up. "I asked Tommy Berry after the Rough Habit and he said 'no, he'll get further'. So, (as he was) obviously ridden close to the speed the other day, we'll ride him similarly on Saturday." The trio is rounded out by last-start Ipswich winner Existential Bob, a two-time victorious Ocean Park gelding whom Waller himself owns alongside wife Stephanie. "Existential Bob won at Ipswich the other day. He's come up here to run in the Derby and he'll stay," said Waller who has handed the reins to Jason Collett, who was Existential Bob's winning partner at his maiden win at Wyong. "He's by Ocean Park, he needs to improve but he's in there (with a chance) as well." At 6-1, Belle Detelle is the second favourite in an open market headed by 4-1 shot Statuario, who ran second to Femminile in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2,500m) at Morphettville on May 3. Wife-and-husband training duo Emma-Lee and David Browne are hoping Statuario can go one better in their hunt for a first Group 1 win. Besides Belle Detelle, the Phillip Stokes-trained and just Yulong-acquired Femminile is one of four fillies in the Queensland Derby, alongside Lindsay Park's Chase Your Dreams and standby starter Eclair Encore who got in following the scratching of Saint Emilion. Gun Melbourne jockey Blake Shinn had to forfeit the plum ride on Femminile after hurting his left foot in a jumpout on May 26. As a result, Tim Clark, who was booked on the Ciaron Maher-trained Saint Emilion, will partner Femminile. SKY RACING WORLD
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy The Kid looks out of bullets as Maroons faces another Origin defeat
As the State of Origin teams were read out in front of 54,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, the loudest cheer accompanied the final name on the announcer's list. That roar was bigger than for Kalyn Ponga or Cameron Munster. Throatier than the one reserved for Patty Carrigan. And the face who inspired it hasn't seen a tackle in seven years. To say Billy Slater is well-loved by Queenslanders is an understatement. As if Romeo had only a passing interest in Juliet. Or, to a fresh batch of biscuits, the Cookie Monster wouldn't say no. Related: State of Origin 2025 Game 1: NSW Blues deliver blow to Qld Maroons with win in Brisbane There is good reason, too. Slater's playing career sparkles with highlights as much as honours. Millions followed his journey as humble roustabout from Nambour to the heights of rugby league, never losing his endearing identity as Billy 'The Kid'. He proved himself to be a Maroons great, one of the symbols in Queensland's most successful Origin era. Since retiring in 2018, his legend has only grown. He has shown to be an adept analyst on broadcasts, often speaking in front of AAMI Park's Billy Slater Stand. His business as a thoroughbred breeder goes from strength to strength. His performance as a horse-riding TV compère at last year's Melbourne Cup carnival was the highlight of Channel Nine's coverage. And of course, as a rookie coach, he masterminded Queensland victories in his first two Origin series. In this context, the crowd's affection for him on Wednesday night is to be expected. But after New South Wales' largely one-sided victory in the State of Origin opener, it's clear love can only do so much. 'I feel pretty flat, to be honest, about our performance', he said after the 18-6 defeat. The result was hardly a thrashing, and for Slater there were positive signs. Winger Xavier Coates was a constant aerial threat and backrower Jeremiah Nanai was a willing combatant. Debutant Robert Toia was targeted by the Blues and forced into 24 tackles (the Maroons' other centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow made just seven) but the rookie missed just three and was tidy with the ball. 'I thought his debut was great, so he can hold his head up high,' Slater said. But in truth, there is just as much cause for concern. The Blues went in as favourites, and were far from their best themselves. Five-eighth Mitch Moses, catalyst for the Blues' resurgence in last year's series, was mostly a bystander. Latrell Mitchell ran for just 58m, Liam Martin even less. Spencer Leniu played just 26 minutes. The Maroons coach believes the fans at Suncorp 'didn't see the best of this Queensland team' on Thursday. That 'it's definitely not a personnel thing'. That he knows 'what this team's capable of'. But it's becoming difficult to understand what he sees. In the past four Origin matches, the Maroons have scored 10 tries. Half of those came in the one match, after the Joseph Aukuso Sua'ali'i send-off in Sydney last year. Another three came in the second half of the MCG clash in which they trailed 34-0 at half-time. Wednesday's lone try came directly from a Latrell Mitchell handling error. The last time the Maroons crafted their own a four-pointer in a tight contest against a full Blues contingent was in the fifth minute of last year's series, when Ben Hunt crossed from Daly Cherry-Evans' blindside sneak. The 36-year-old halfback became the oldest Origin player on Wednesday, but admitted the poor attacking return means his place in the team is now a matter of debate. 'We've opened ourselves up to these sorts of questions,' Cherry-Evans said. 'But yeah, I'd love the opportunity to come back and correct it.' The coach said he too faces the same pressures. 'It's not just the players, it's everyone, and we'll all look at ourselves.' He said he still believes in the group, that the attitude of the squad was right even if their indiscipline let them down. And he said he feels responsible to help them find their best football. Slater has spent two decades taking rugby league by the scruff of the neck. But after three straight Origin defeats, this series might be out of his hands. 'At the end of the day,' he admitted, 'it's got to come from the players'.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Cool Archie chasing fourth straight win in BRC Sires' Produce Stakes as he follows Sizzling path to Group 1
Brisbane trainer Chris Munce has compared his high-flying colt Cool Archie to one of his favourite gallopers Sizzling, who he enjoyed enormous success with as a champion jockey. Munce also said many people still did not respect Cool Archie, who will chase his fourth straight victory in the Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. • Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg Polson and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! The now 56-year-old trainer formed a special bond with Group 1 winner Sizzling, who took out the Sires' Produce in 2012 with Munce on board. 'I've got quite attached to him,' Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Munce said about Sizzling in June 2013. 'He was a little beauty right from the start.' Munce had a golden run with Sizzling in the 2012 Queensland winter carnival, winning successive Group races the Champagne Classic (now Spirit of Boom Classic), Sires' Produce and the TJ Smith (now JJ Atkins). The following year Sizzling finished seventh in the Stradbroke Handicap as a three-year-old. Cool Archie is following a similar trajectory and Munce is hoping history can repeat with a victory in the Sires' Produce this week. 'He reminds me a little bit of Sizzling, who had an early Magic Millions preparation and then he came back to win those same sort of races,' Munce said of Cool Archie. 'Sizzling won the Ken Russell (in 2012) and then won the Champagne Classic, the Sires' and JJ Atkins. 'They're a similar mould of horse so you never know.' Bookmakers have rated Cool Archie as a $15 chance for the Sires' Produce Stakes, with the winner guaranteed entry into the JJ Atkins (1600m) on June 14 at Eagle Farm. Team Hawkes' Gallo Nero is the $3.80 favourite ahead of Aerodrome ($6.50), Prince Tycoon ($8) and Beskar ($8.50). Munce bristles somewhat at those odds for Cool Archie, knowing full well that the classy colt can't do any more to impress him. 'I'm sure he'll run the seven furlongs strong, he'll do it on his ear,' said Munce, who trains in partnership with his son Corey. 'The horse is exposed now, his form is there with people to do what they want with it. 'Obviously they don't respect his ratings I suppose, for whatever reason, but I can only go on my horse and what I see in the stables and he's done everything right. 'He looks great and he's doing extremely well. I've got no reason to think he won't run good again for us.' Munce said he would chat to Irish jockey Martin Harley before deciding whether to take the blinkers off Cool Archie for Saturday's $1m Sires' Produce. The trainer also has Brookhaven running in the Lord Mayor's Cup (1800m), Payline in the Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) and Ruins Of Rom e in the Fred Best Classic (1400m). The latter two races both offer a golden ticket into next month's $3m Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy The Kid looks out of bullets as Maroons faces another Origin defeat
As the State of Origin teams were read out in front of 54,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, the loudest cheer accompanied the final name on the announcer's list. That roar was bigger than for Kalyn Ponga or Cameron Munster. Throatier than the one reserved for Patty Carrigan. And the face who inspired it hasn't seen a tackle in seven years. To say Billy Slater is well-loved by Queenslanders is an understatement. As if Romeo had only a passing interest in Juliet. Or, to a fresh batch of biscuits, the Cookie Monster wouldn't say no. Related: State of Origin 2025 Game 1: NSW Blues deliver blow to Qld Maroons with win in Brisbane There is good reason, too. Slater's playing career sparkles with highlights as much as honours. Millions followed his journey as humble roustabout from Nambour to the heights of rugby league, never losing his endearing identity as Billy 'The Kid'. He proved himself to be a Maroons great, one of the symbols in Queensland's most successful Origin era. Since retiring in 2018, his legend has only grown. He has shown to be an adept analyst on broadcasts, often speaking in front of AAMI Park's Billy Slater Stand. His business as a thoroughbred breeder goes from strength to strength. His performance as a horse-riding TV compère at last year's Melbourne Cup carnival was the highlight of Channel Nine's coverage. And of course, as a rookie coach, he masterminded Queensland victories in his first two Origin series. In this context, the crowd's affection for him on Wednesday night is to be expected. But after New South Wales' largely one-sided victory in the State of Origin opener, it's clear love can only do so much. 'I feel pretty flat, to be honest, about our performance', he said after the 18-6 defeat. The result was hardly a thrashing, and for Slater there were positive signs. Winger Xavier Coates was a constant aerial threat and backrower Jeremiah Nanai was a willing combatant. Debutant Robert Toia was targeted by the Blues and forced into 24 tackles (the Maroons' other centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow made just seven) but the rookie missed just three and was tidy with the ball. 'I thought his debut was great, so he can hold his head up high,' Slater said. But in truth, there is just as much cause for concern. The Blues went in as favourites, and were far from their best themselves. Five-eighth Mitch Moses, catalyst for the Blues' resurgence in last year's series, was mostly a bystander. Latrell Mitchell ran for just 58m, Liam Martin even less. Spencer Leniu played just 26 minutes. The Maroons coach believes the fans at Suncorp 'didn't see the best of this Queensland team' on Thursday. That 'it's definitely not a personnel thing'. That he knows 'what this team's capable of'. But it's becoming difficult to understand what he sees. In the past four Origin matches, the Maroons have scored 10 tries. Half of those came in the one match, after the Joseph Aukuso Sua'ali'i send-off in Sydney last year. Another three came in the second half of the MCG clash in which they trailed 34-0 at half-time. Wednesday's lone try came directly from a Latrell Mitchell handling error. The last time the Maroons crafted their own a four-pointer in a tight contest against a full Blues contingent was in the fifth minute of last year's series, when Ben Hunt crossed from Daly Cherry-Evans' blindside sneak. The 36-year-old halfback became the oldest Origin player on Wednesday, but admitted the poor attacking return means his place in the team is now a matter of debate. 'We've opened ourselves up to these sorts of questions,' Cherry-Evans said. 'But yeah, I'd love the opportunity to come back and correct it.' The coach said he too faces the same pressures. 'It's not just the players, it's everyone, and we'll all look at ourselves.' He said he still believes in the group, that the attitude of the squad was right even if their indiscipline let them down. And he said he feels responsible to help them find their best football. Slater has spent two decades taking rugby league by the scruff of the neck. But after three straight Origin defeats, this series might be out of his hands. 'At the end of the day,' he admitted, 'it's got to come from the players'.
