Latest news with #MichaelRodd
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘It does hurt': Paul Shailer's hunt for first Group 1 in Queensland Derby rocked by wide barrier
Striving for a defining Group 1 breakthrough, trainer Paul Shailer concedes he was deflated when the Racing Australia system spat out the barrier for Deep Focus in the Queensland Derby. Shailer, fresh off winning a $1m juvenile sprint with Isti Star, was convinced he had a huge chance to win his first Group 1 in the Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Deep Focus was arguably the run of the race in the Derby lead-up of the Rough Habit Plate (2000m) when surging home from the back to finish runner-up and he was as strong as an ox late. All Deep Focus needed was a half decent barrier to solidify his Derby prospects. Up popped barrier 18. It means Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michael Rodd is probably going to have to drop right back on Deep Focus when a kinder barrier would have meant he wasn't conceding nearly as much ground. 'The barrier is what it is, but ideally we would have drawn towards the inside somewhere and we would have just landed in the first half of the field or midfield getting a cosy run,' Shailer said. 'But now we are going to be a bit dictated to, where we end up, and I'm tipping it's going to be back in the field. 'Then we will probably have to get into a three-wide line, it's not ideal and it has certainly impacted our chances. 'Our whole preparation has been built around this race and we have been teaching him how to relax and stretch out and get home. 'The barrier does hurt, if we drew inside of seven I would have thought we would have been a really genuine chance of winning. 'Now, we just need things to go our way.' Putting the disappointing barrier to one side, Deep Focus has been tracking nicely towards the Derby and his Rough Habit effort was a real eye-catcher. Deep Focus is sired by Deep Field but there seems little issue with him staying the 2400m of the Derby trip and Shailer is convinced he will. 'From a Derby trial point of view, what we saw in the Rough Habit was what we wanted to see,' Shailer said. 'That race is a genuine lead-up to the Derby and there is a lot of history which suggests the Rough Habit is the race you want to come out of. 'I think he is the horse you would want coming out of that race, well, maybe until he drew barrier 18 in the Derby, anyway. 'One thing for sure is that I am very confident he will stay the trip of the Derby.' Heavy-hitters including Peter Tighe, Max Whitby and Neil Werrett are in the ownership of Deep Focus which has remained solid at $18 in the betting market since the Derby barrier draw. Shailer's stable has been in form and he enjoyed a huge moment recently when Isti Star scored in the $1m Magic Millions National 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast. Another of Shailer's two-year-olds – filly Ha'penny Hatch – will take her place in Saturday's $1m BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m). 'She will run from a nice barrier and be backing up from last Saturday (finishing fourth in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes),' Shailer said. 'She has gone out to the farm for three days and she will come back to us on Thursday afternoon. 'That will just keep her mind nice and sharp. 'She is a tough filly and she had no luck in the Bill Carter.'
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Isti Star delivers on her potential to take out the rich Magic Millions National Classic on Friday night
Chris Waller's former right-hand man Paul Shailer thought he could win the $3m Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January with exciting filly Isti Star, but was delighted to take a rich consolation prize on the same track on Friday night. Since starting his own training operation after more than a decade working with Waller, former Kiwi Shailer has enjoyed the backing of some powerful owners as he tries to build up his Gold Coast stable. He enjoyed a major moment in his solo training career when $110,000 purchase Isti Star made the most of an inside barrier and the services of Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michael Rodd to land the $1m Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000m) on the coast on Friday night. While easing $2.70 favourite Prince Tycoon was slow away from a wide gate and had to make a searching run, Isti Star was sitting pretty near the lead and won in fine style. There had been strong betting support for the filly which firmed from $11 to $7.50 in official fluctuations, beating the luckless Prince Tycoon while Secret Sort finished third at $41. 'I'm thrilled to bits and I'm so proud of this filly because she has been through a lot,' Shailer said. 'She was identified early on as a horse with immense talent. 'We thought we could win the Magic Millions with her, but it just went terribly wrong and she is a horse who suffers from allergies and she went shin sore. 'We just had to put her aside and be patient.' Isti Star resumed this preparation in the Listed Calaway Gal but finished out of the placings after copping a rain-affected Eagle Farm track and a wide barrier. She was then sent to an Ipswich provincial meeting for a confidence building win, smashing her opposition by more than five lengths. Shailer is hoping the win is the start of good things to come for his stable. He has Deep Focus as a $15 chance in next week's Group 1 Queensland Derby and is confident about his prospects after an eye-catching runner-up effort in the Rough Habit Plate after steaming home from the back of the field.
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sunshine Coast Polytrack race-by-race preview and tips for Sunday
Queensland form analyst Graeme Carey has provided race-by-race analysis, tips and best bets for Sunday's Sunshine Coast meeting on the Polytrack. â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET: PEE BEE NOIR (Race 5 No 9) NEXT BEST: CHARMING NIC (Race 8 No 1) VALUE BET: LIMERO (Race 4 No 9) â– â– â– â– â– Quaddie numbers are: Race 5 – 3,4,9 Race 6 – 6,9,10 Race 7 – 1,2,5 Race 8 – 1,3 $54 = 100 per cent of the dividend â– â– â– â– â– Race 1 – 2YO Maiden Plate (1000m) BOURBON COUNTY (1) is bred for speed and won his trial in dominant fashion. With Michael Rodd he will be hard to pass. ANGEL'S TRUMPET (8) did all but win here last week over this trip. She has had a few chances, but Dale Smith stays on and will be in the finish again. VAREJAO (7) will strip fitter after his solid first-up placing at Ipswich when unfancied in the market. Kyle Wilson-Taylor stays on, and he won't be far away in running. SECRET SCOUT (5) has had a couple of solid trials and while longer may be better will get every chance with Angela Jones. Verdict – Watch market, BOURBON COUNTY (1) may be the one. â– â– â– â– â– Race 2 – Maiden Plate (1600m) UNDER ARREST (8) is a two year-old taking on older horses. He steps up in journey after leading and being found out late at Ipswich but meets a moderate field and is bred for this trip. He won't have to be a star to get the job done against these. PREFER TO DANCE (4) only battled at Toowoomba but wasn't beaten far at his only previous poly outing over this trip. He meets an ordinary field, and a positive ride has him in the finish. MISSILE AWAY (1) is yet to place in ten starts but was only a length off the winner last outing when resuming. He won't find a weaker field than this and with Luke Dempsey can make his mark. A good gate and winkers replacing blinkers helps GALAXY SUNSET (3) which has shown little to date but will appreciate 1600m. With a positive ride from Jai Williams he can get in the picture. Verdict – UNDER ARREST (8) the one with upside. â– â– â– â– â– Race 3 – Maiden Plate (1100m) EQUINE ART (6) disappointed on a heavy track when resuming at Beaudesert. Luke Dempsey stays on and won't be far away in running. BRAVE COWBOY BILL (2) has been trying for a while but his only placing came on the polytrack and his recent trial was strong. He is poorly drawn, but Ryan Maloney will take no prisoners. BIT OF GRUNT (1) has been trying for a while and may want longer but has speed and Adam Sewell can take advantage of gate one. CHIARO DI LUNA (5) is fitter for two outings and wasn't beaten far at her only poly outing over this trip. With Montana Philpot's 2kg claim she won't be far away in running. Verdict – EQUINE ART (6) can get it done. â– â– â– â– â– Race 4 – Benchmark 68 Handicap (1100m) Stuart Kendrick is leading trainer here for a reason and while the gate tests LIMERO (9) has been racing in stronger races than this and only just missed at his only previous poly outing. Kyle Wilson-Taylor stays on, he gets a tongue-tie, and it will be handlebars down from the outset. The tongue-tie comes off KING YOSHI (4) which is another drawn poorly, but showed the poly holds no terrors last start and will be prominent for Angela Jones. Bad gates have tested WHISKEY DANCER (11) at recent outings. She likes the poly, all the gear comes off and from the better draw over an optimum trip can show up for Brandon Lerena. RUBY CHICKS (5) has disappointed at her past two outings but is better than that and draws to do no work. This is her first poly outing but will be given every chance by 2kg claimer Rob Thorburn. Verdict – LIMERO (9) will be hard to pass. â– â– â– â– â– Race 5 – 3YO Maiden Plate (1400m) PEE BEE NOIR (9) ran in some good races last preparation and was far from disgraced when resuming at Ipswich. The extra distance suits and from gate one will get all the favours with Mark Du Plessis. The gate tests PARO (4) which keeps finding one better but has speed and with Like Dempsey staying on will be prominent for a long way. NORTHERN EAGLE (3) needs help from the gate but wasn't disgraced in a stronger Maiden than this at Ipswich when having his first outing for the Munces since coming North. This is his first poly outing but he may have more upside than the rest. JUST WALTER (2) has been around the mark at both outings and will get the gun run with Anthony Allen. The polytrack is an unknown but if he handles it will be in the frame. Verdict – PEE BEE NOIR (9) is the one for me. â– â– â– â– â– Race 6 – Benchmark 55 Handicap (1100m) The one with fewest convictions is CIRCLE OF LOVE (5) which is resuming after a change of stables. She has speed and Kyle Wilson-Taylor will take no prisoners. INTEGRITY LANE (1) won first-up last preparation here over 1000m and while this trip is his limit, has been readied by a recent trial, gets a 2kg claim for Corey Sutherland and has the speed to overcome a wide gate. SIR MAURICE (2) also needs help with the gate but beat a better field than this two starts back and has been kept fresh by a recent trial. Now having his third outing for Jack Bruce his Southern form is up to this. MR POLAR (4) has waited a long time for his first polytrack outing but can improve on his last turf effort here and will appreciate Ryan Maloney. Verdict – CIRCLE OF LOVE (5) has more to offer. â– â– â– â– â– Race 7 – Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m) MAYNE (6) was easy in the market and worked too hard from a wide gate when resuming. His only win came when second-up and with Ryan Maloney from a good gate will get every chance to repeat the dose. BECAMO (9) has been knocking on the door and beat all but the winner here last start. Tiff Brooker stays on, and a positive ride has him in the finish again. OUT OF ACES (10) showed promise last preparation and looked good at a recent trial. He draws to do no work and can finish off for Kyle Wilson-Taylor. AMBASSADORS (8) couldn't get it done at Warwick when having his first start for Jack Bruce but has Sydney form good enough to test these and will get every chance with Angela Jones. Verdict – MAYNE (6) maps to win. â– â– â– â– â– Race 8 – Benchmark 55 Handicap (1400m) CHARMING NIC (1) has benefited from a recent trial. Blinkers come off after his moderate effort at Sandown and his facile Swan Hill maiden win has him more than competitive in this class. Winkers come off CHAPPARAL CHASE (3) which had support but only battled when resuming on the poly and has trialled since. He has less convictions than most of these, this trip suits and Corey Sutherland won't be afraid to go forward from the wide gate. WAR TOO ALL (10) led them up before fading on the polytrack last week. He has speed and with Jag Guthmann-Chester can give a sight again.  KETTLEBELL (9) won her only poly start and while this trip is an unknown has the speed to give a sight.
