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News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Annabel Archibald can build on recent Melbourne success with Nellie Leylax and I Am The Empire at The Valley
Trainer Annabel Archibald could build on a recent Melbourne hot streak on Saturday at The Valley with Nellie Leylax and I Am The Empire. A light weight and bold racing style, which should suit The Valley, could help Nellie Leylax upstage Sayedaty Sadaty in the Travis Harrison Cup (2040m). Nellie Leylax placed fourth last start at Flemington, two lengths behind in-form Sayedaty Sadaty. Nellie Leylax has a 6kg advantage on Saturday – 4.5kg better off compared to last start. The four-year-old Calyx gelding settled behind the speed at Flemington, crossed from a wide draw, and maintained the gallop as the pacier Sayedaty Sadaty surged clear late. Sayedaty Sadaty is $3 favourite to complete a hat-trick of Saturday wins, with Nellie Leylax ($5) and Charterhouse ($6.50) next best in the market. 'He's a horse up on speed, very genuine, tough horse, quite one-paced,' Archibald, who trains in partnership with husband Rob, said. 'We thought be interesting to try The Valley with him, I thought his run was good last start. 'He came again on the line … he looks a nice horse.' • Melbourne Cup plans grow for US stayer Imported stayer Nellie Leylax ploughed through preferred Heavy ground to run third on debut for the stable in May. He rebounded from a flat second-up run to place fourth the past two starts at Rosehill and Flemington respectively. Sayedaty Sadaty has found his rhythm ðŸ'° Definitely a horse to keep an eye on going into the Spring. — Mitchell Bazley (@MitchellBazley) July 19, 2025 Nellie Leylax is also accepted at Randwick, albeit as sixth emergency for an 1800m race. 'I was actually hoping to send him to Sydney because he loves bottomless ground but he's sixth emergency, so he'll probably stay here,' Archibald said. 'All his form in Europe is on bottomless ground … he's far superior on that sort of ground. 'But a light weight (Saturday) … if he can roll along up on the pace, he's a genuine horse and that sort of horse should suit The Valley.' Archibald has I Am The Empire in the 2500m Benchmark 78 at The Valley. The last-start Sandown winner also likes to 'lead and dominate'. 'He's hard to catch (form wise),' Archibald said. 'But when he's on song and can get his own way like that (led last start), he's a nice genuine horse.' Sydney-based Archibald has saddled a winner the past three Melbourne metropolitan race cards. The Group 1 trainer, based out of Warwick Farm and a satellite Scone yard, recently opened a 'game changer' Flemington stable. Archibald has a smaller footprint at Flemington, 24 boxes and sand yards, compared to Pakenham previously but the Melbourne location is more convenient from Sydney. 'I've been down here way more now, just because it's easier to get to,' Archibald said. 'We haven't been there long but I feel like (the horses have) been running really well, started to get a few winners out of there.' Archibald saddled Duke Atreides to win at Sandown last Wednesday under jockey Ethan Brown. The Written Tycoon colt is half-brother to multiple Group 1-placed Best Of Bordeaux. Duke Atreides will now be aimed at the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on August 30. The next start could act as a potential springboard to stallion-making Group 1 features, the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) or Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington. 'Ethan said he feels like he's got quite a lot of quality and will probably stretch out in trip,' Archibald said. 'He's a half to Best Of Bordeaux (Golden Slipper and Manikato Stakes placed), whose a stallion, so you've got that dream alive with him. 'He's got to keep progressing, which I think he will … he ran that whole race (at Sandown) with ears pricked.'
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Melody Cunningham to delay One Long Day return after terrible Caulfield draw
Ballarat trainer Melody Cunningham might have to wait a little longer to start working towards her hometown dream with stable star One Long Day. One Long Day was a revelation in Melbourne racing over the summer months, progressing from two provincial wins in the winter to saluting in Saturday class at Flemington in January. Cunningham has pencilled in the $500,000 Ballarat Cup at the end of the spring carnival as One Long Day's major goal. 'We'll see where he goes but the long term plan is that we'd like to see him get to the Ballarat Cup,' Cunningham said. 'That's our aim. 'We'll just place him where he fits in and if he goes all right in this prep, he can have a little freshen up and, if his rating is high enough, we can get him into the Ballarat Cup.' Caulfield before the infamous barrier draw computer intervened. One Long Day drew barrier 18 for the $130,000 race, prompting Cunningham to assess her options. 'I'll have to talk to the owners but I'll probably say he won't run from barrier 18,' she said. Cunningham said she had limited options with One Long Day with races in which the gelding would carry a hefty weight the possible opportunities to start the rising five-year-old's preparation. 'There's not a lot around for him,' Cunningham said. 'I found that race on Saturday then there's one next week at Sandown but he'd have to carry a bit of weight in that too.' She said One Long Day was in terrific condition for his upcoming preparation and had improved mentally in recent months. 'He went to the water walker when he came back for a month and did really well there,' Cunningham said. 'He had a nice trial since and I'm really happy with him going into wherever he does race. 'He's still a big kid and everything is still a joke to him but his racing manners are getting better each time he goes to the races.'
News.com.au
09-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Best to pivot and move on': John Kanga announces removal of Tom Reilly as CEO of Melbourne Racing Club
Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga has revealed the sudden removal of chief executive Tom Reilly. Reilly, the former Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse chief executive, joined the MRC in January. 'Sometimes it just doesn't work out,' Kanga said in a statement on Monday night. 'Tom was only CEO for three months and when things don't go as well as they should, it is best to pivot and move on.' • 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! Kanga has appointed Tanya Fullerton, vice chairman of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners' Association, as chief operating officer. Fullerton has more than 30 years of corporate, racing and administrative experience. 'Everyone can be assured that we have put a management structure in place to ensure a smooth transition,' Kanga said. 'Tanya has an excellent reputation and deep experience and relationships across the racing industry.' Reilly's departure comes in a period of relative stability at the MRC, following board room and administrative unrest last year. Kanga last year led a successful take over of the board and quickly went about actioning key election promises, including the retention of racing at Sandown. Kanga also announced that the manager of private training centre Pinecliff would be employed as a consultant 'for the next few months to help us work out the best approach and protocols' to improve the club's race tracks. Originally published as 'Best to pivot and move on': John Kanga announces removal of Tom Reilly as CEO of Melbourne Racing Club
