Latest news with #NewZealand-bred
New Paper
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Selvan's team toss in serious gallops
On the morning of May 28, Nick Selvan was a busy man trackside - and why not? The trainer, who is currently sitting second on the premiership table has entered a strong team of 13 for the upcoming Kuala Lumpur races on June 1 and, like his crew, he was up bright and early to watch the bulk of his gallopers being put through their paces. Names like Prince Lonhro, Uptown Girl and Delilah are some of the horses who could spearhead his assault on the races coming up. Next in line, God's Gift, Big Bad Mama and Single Warrior are the ones to keep a watchful eye on. Taking it from the top, the work put in by Prince Lonhro was the most impressive. The son of Lonhro did not break any speed records but he did the 600m in a nice time of 40.2sec. If anything, it would have told Selvan and track-watchers that he was holding the form which saw him record the second of his two wins at his last start on May 11. Granted, that was over the Perak Turf Club's 1,300m. But we know from his race records that he is very much at home at Sungai Besi. In 10 starts at Kranji when prepared by Donna Logan, a second place was his best showing. At his fifth Malaysian outing, at Sungai Besi on Feb 16, he did not give his rivals a whiff of his withers. He romped in by 5¾ lengths. Prince Lonhro may not yet be "royalty" in racing circles, but he is still a five-year-old and, quite definitely a work in progress. One that is getting on in years but is not yet ready to lie down is Uptown Girl. An eight-year-old mare, she worked well, running the 600m in 41sec after some serious cantering on the yielding track. The New Zealand-bred by Shamoline Warrior came close to putting together a seventh victory on May 17. Alas, it was not to be. Even though there was no economy in effort, she found one to beat in rank outsider Roger Roger, who charged home to win that 1,300m contest for Class 5A gallopers at Sungai Besi by 1¼ lengths. That day, her connections would have screamed themselves hoarse as, at the 100m mark, their lady looked like she was going to bring it home. Uptown Girl goes over the shorter 1,020m on June 1. The jump-and-run races may not be her forte as five of her six wins have been in races over 1,200m and longer. But, in her defence, we saw her sprint hard on April 5 when she beat Diamond Ring by 1½ lengths in a race over the short and sharp 1,150m. So, keep her on your shortlist and watch for her when she lines up in Race 11 on June 1. Her trackwork does suggest that she has the form to turn in a good showing. Then there was Delilah. She would have warmed Selvan's heart when she turned in a good gallop, running the 60m in 39.8sec. Until racing shut down in Singapore on Oct 5, 2024, Delilah was under the care of trainer Leslie Khoo who saddled her to three victories. That last win was in a 1,000m race at Kranji on Aug 25. To date, she has had four starts for Selvan and the last two were over the 1,300m. Selvan has picked a 1,020m race for Delilah and, if she can bring her training form to the races, she could be something else. Among his remaining three horses, Big Bad Mama clocked the fastest time in 38.4sec, while Single Warrior and God's Gift did the 600m in 41.6sec and 42sec respectively. Admittedly, at eight years of age, Big Bad Mama is getting long in the tooth, but Selvan has been meticulous in getting the mare ready for her next assignment. Indeed, it was as recent as May 20 that he sent her to the trials where she acquitted herself well, running second to Joey. Selvan has entered her for Race 8. It is the Metro A sprint over the flying 1,020m. The daughter of former Singapore 3YO Triple Crown champion Gingerbread Man will be in her element and, if she manages to overcome her outermost alley in 10, do what she does best in her races - which is to run like the hounds of hell are after her - she might just give her rivals something to chase. brian@
New Paper
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Storm Titan blows them away in trials
With 12 wins for the season, Richard Lim's takings so far have been modest. But, he does have some good ones in the yard. One of them has yet to face the starter, Storm Titan. Right now, he is shaping up as a three-year-old with absolute potential. The faithful who usually take in the gallops and the morning trials at Sungai Besi will know him. After all, he has been to the trials twice and, like that first one on May 14, this latest one on May 27 was a treat to watch. Here is how it all unfolded. As the runners took their spots in the gates, Storm Titan was, like a bantam rooster - all strut and style. Fitted with pacifiers and jumping from the innermost chute, he was quickly into his stride. Prominent in his red headgear, he led the way with Born To Win (Khairil Zulkiflee) and Wan Legacy in close attendance. Taking the shortest route home, he led them by three lengths at the top of the stretch and looked to have done enough until Captain Pegasus (Fikri Ismail) threw out a challenge at the furlong mark. The four-time winner got close but Storm Titan had enough in the tank to wrap it up by half-a-length. Bingo Master slotted in third. Storm Titan clocked a decent time of 1min 0.82sec. It was a repeat of that first trial on May 14 when Storm Titan jumped cleanly and took the lead after just 300m. The three-year-old stayed there, not allowing any of his rivals to get close to him. He eventually coasted in a two-length winner and he did the trip in 1min 1.64sec. That day, like on the morning of May 27, Lim elected to allow apprentice Uzair Sharudin do the piloting and, by the looks of things, the youngster will be doing everything in his power to retain that seat when Storm Titan does make his raceday debut. Yes, Lim has got a really good one in the barn. A New Zealand-bred by Ace High, Storm Titan has the makings of an honest brawler. Sure, he is competitive. Then again, so are most - if not all - thoroughbreds in this business. But, the thing about Storm Titan is the fact that he does not like to lose. We saw it in this latest trial when Captain Pegasus tossed in a challenge. Storm Titan took the bit between his teeth and, in that last throw of the dice, he had more desire than Captain Pegasus and the rest of the beaten brigade. That said, Captain Pegasus was hardly disgraced. To have run second at Sungai Besi was, in itself an achievement as all of Captain Pegasus' four career wins were on the track at the Perak Turf Club and when the Shamexpress seven-year-old was under the care of trainer Kevin Coetzee. Now with Siva Kumar, he has yet to appear for him at the races. And yes, it has been a long time between drinks for the connections as Captain Pegasus' last win was on April 7, 2024. However, and on the strength of his run at the trials, he deserves some thought when Siva does send him into the mix. Earlier in the opening trial of the morning, the Winson Cheng Han Yong-trained Thousand Mile Eye seemed content to stay third for most of the early part of the 1,000m trip as Pacific Empire (Clyde Leck) and Shinjuku (Laercio de Souza) traded blows up front. Just when it looked like he was going to settle for a "minor placing", his rider Haikal Hanif asked him for an effort and Thousand Mile Eye responded. Stepping on the gas at the furlong mark, he caught the leaders by surprise and his turn of foot swept him to the front. To his credit, Shinjuku refused to give up the fight and he rallied. But the momentum was with Thousand Mile Eye and he went on to take the trial by a short head, clocking 1min 0.41sec for the sharp sprint. A two-time winner from 17 starts, his last win was on July 21. But his last three runs have been commendable and he could be worth a punt at his next start. brian@
Herald Sun
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Scone preview: Time for Lees' gelding to stand up and be counted
Trainer Kris Lees has already won a Big Dance and can take a step towards winning the 2025 edition with Tavi Time and Loch Eagle in the Scone Cup. Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Inaugural Big Dance winning trainer Kris Lees is hoping to fast track one, potentially, two of modern-day string into the 2025 edition via the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) in the nation's thoroughbred capital. The 2021 Scone Cup was Rustic Steel's ticket to the first Tuesday in November, the Ron and Judy Wanless galloper cashing in and earning the honour of distinction of inaugural Big Dance winner. Lees' Scone Cup duo, Tavi Time and Loch Eagle, are at different stages of their respective campaigns ahead of the feature, one of them race-fit, the other kept fresh for the occasion. Tavi Time, the New Zealand-bred son of Tavistock is third-up off a recent 'fading' fifth in the Hawkesbury Cup on a testing Heavy 8 surface. â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 26, 2024 'I was happy enough with the horse,' Lees said. 'We probably rode him out of his comfort zone for two reasons; how the track was playing and the alley (nine of 10) so we decided to push forward, sit outside the leader and taking on that hard-fit horse (Punch Lane). 'And to be fair to my horse, I think he likes it probably one or two grades firmer than what it presented so the run was okay under the circumstances. 'You would think, third run, he is ready to run to his best with two conditioning runs under his belt. 'It's a strong race but one I think he can figure in.' Loch Eagle, meanwhile, aims to maintain his compelling fresh record in what will be his first visit to Scone but his 11th run over the mile. In fact, his record at the 1600m stands up against any, or all, of his rivals. 'He's an Ingham winner and he has run in Doncasters and so forth,' Lees said. 'He is starting off straight at his trip but he's trialled up nicely. He always reacts well fresh over shorter course. 'The only other option was to run in the Luskin Star and I just thought 1300m would find him out, he'd be off the bit chasing throughout. 'So at a mile, he gets a chance to travel deep into the race.' Lees is down to saddle-up as many as 14 of his Newcastle residents across the two day carnival. Few of them hold more intrigue and interest than the Irish-born, English-raced gelding Brave Call. Brave Call boasts broodmare sires the ilk of Camelot, Sadler's Wells, Ile de Bourbon and Vaguely Noble that together account for his 2011m Maiden win at Windsor in England. That said, his Newmarket mile placing stands him in good stead when Tommy Berry steers him around in the Kia Ora Class 1 Handicap (1600m). 'He's a nice horse,' Lees said. 'He'll be better for the run. 'He'll be strong late if he can come through them and have a bit of luck.' Lees can end day one of the Scone carnival on a high when the progressive Denman mare strives to build on her tidy resume of three wins and four placings from just 10 runs so far. 'I think she is genuinely city class over the winter,' Lees said. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Canberra trainer Todd Smart is as confident about Cashbook's prospects in the rich Inglis 2YO Challenge as he was ahead of his 2023 race winner, Love Shuck. That's despite Cashbook's Wagga debut last month where he was backed in from $3.20 to $2.35 yet only managed to beat two others to the line but with substantial excuses. 'He did have a pretty hard run, he was three and four-wide the trip, and he got cardiac arrhythmia out of that as well,' Smart revealed. 'So we decided just to give him an easy week and a couple of gallops into a trial. 'His trial was really good. He never left the bridle and he pulled up well and hasn't missed a beat since. 'I am probably more confident in the horse going into this run than I was at Wagga.' Cashbook is racing for the lion's share of a $200,000 purse in the Inglis 2YO Challenge which is restricted to those bought at the firm's annual HTBA Yearling Sale in 2024. Smart found Cashbook there among Widden Stud's draft, paying $28,000 to take him home to Canberra with a view to returning to the nation's horse capital. 'As soon as you buy a horse at that sale, we buy it thinking that this is the race,' he said. 'We get up (to the sale) most years and we bought Love Shuck and it won a few years ago and I think this horse is a really good chance. 'From the gate, he will just need to go back and find cover and they can finish off at Scone.' Cashbook could be one of the bargains of a lifetime for Smart but even a win in the Inglis 2YO Challenge won't see him overtake Love Shuck in that department. Already a winner of $278,150, Love Shuck was knocked down at the 2022 HTBA Yearling Sale for just $6,000. Smart, meanwhile, will be a participant on day two on the Scone Cup carnival as well when the barnstorming Gerry Harvey-bred descendant of Skating, Straight Fire, contests the TAB Highway on Saturday. Horse Racing Kris Lees looks set for a memorable Scone carnival with numerous chances across the two days including import Brave Call on Friday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL Horse Racing A pair of events has presented Craig Williams with an opportunity to win the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 for the third year in a row.
News.com.au
04-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Best bets and value play for Kilmore races Monday
News Corp form analyst Brad Waters looks at Tuesday's meeting at Kilmore. â â â â â BEST BET FIRE TRIBE (Race 5 No. 6 – $4.40) Fire Tribe chased well in a pleasing first-up effort at Benalla. He'll be much fitter for that and should be harder to hold out. â â â â â NEXT BEST KNOBELAS (Race 4 No. 14 – $5.50) The New Zealand-bred filly has had a bit of time leading up to her debut and has gone well at the jumpouts. She could fire on debut. FLITGROVE (Race 8 No. 6 – $5) Flitgrove has raced handy and been thereabouts at both runs this time in. She's down in class and will be harder to run down. â â â â â VALUE BET HOT ONE (Race 2 No. 8 – $17) Hot One placed first-up last time in and raced consistently in the spring. She's had more time and has trialled well leading up to this. â â â â â THE JOCKEY BILLY EGAN Jockey Billy Egan heads to Kilmore for five rides on Tuesday. VAIN CHAMPAGNE (Race 1 No. 10 – $2.40), EX MACHINA (Race 3 No. 2 – $7), BELLS OF STEEL (Race 4 No. 5 – $4.80), ANCHOR DOWN (Race 5 No. 5 – $8), CROATIAN ART (Race 8 No. 5 – $12). Originally published as Best bets and value play for Kilmore races Monday
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Dubbo preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday May 4, 2025
It took plenty of time and effort from trainer Scott Singleton and his team to get Zoomorphic to show his best but it was worthwhile when he blitzed his rivals to finally break his maiden. The son of Zoustar and Group 1-winning mare Spright took until start 10 to land that maiden win at Mudgee two weeks ago but he certainly did it in style. After racing outside the leader, Zoomorphic went into another gear after straightening and raced away to score by just over five lengths. 'When we got him, it took a lot of time and work to get him to want to win and put horses away,' said Singleton. 'He's a very intelligent horse and would only do what he wanted to do. 'He lives out at the farm in a yard now and is much happier.' Singleton is quite confident the four-year-old can win again when he lines up in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m) with Mitchell Bell to again partner the gelding. 'I think he will be hard enough to beat on the way he won the other day and the way he seems to have come though the run,' he said. 'He is owned by a couple of big studs here at Scone – Cressfield and Robrick Lodge – and if he wins this weekend, we will run him in the Highway at Scone over the carnival. 'If he gets beat but still runs well, I will run him on the Friday meeting at the carnival in a Class 1.' Singleton is also keen on the chances of Deemee in the opening race on the card, the Benchmark 58 Handicap (2200m) with Mitchell Bell on her as well. Like Zoomorphic, Deemee has only been with Singleton since the start of this preparation. After two runs in unsuitably short races, the four-year-old New Zealand-bred daughter of Preferment really appreciated getting out to a staying trip when she broke her maiden in a Class 1 set weights race over the 2200m at Dubbo on April 7. She then backed it up with a nose second behind Wittelsbach on her home track of Scone. 'She is bred for the journey and once she got to it, she has found form,' Singleton said. 'She had a bleed in her last run at Newcastle last campaign so she went to the paddock and had quite a while off before she came to me. 'It's a slow maturing breed so naturally she has taken time and it takes a couple of runs to get them up to a suitable trip. 'She hasn't gone backwards in any way, shape or form since her last run at Scone and I expect her to be hard to beat.' The third of Singleton's runners for the day is Wanavan in the Maiden Plate (1000m) with Bell onboard him as well. The son of Wandjina resumed from a 10 month break with a long had second to Enniroc at Muswellbrook before a failed on a wet track second-up run at Scone. He raced wide without cover when a 2½-length fifth at Dubbo on April 7 before a length third to Rail Trail at Scone after racing wide at Scone a week later. 'I was happy with his last run at home. Reece (Jones) got caught four-deep on him and he was working a little bit around the corner but he stuck to his task OK,' he said. 'This race is no stronger and I'd say he has to be in the mix somewhere as long as the track isn't too wet which I don't think it will be.' â– â– â– â– â– DUBBO TIPS BEST BET Was good in both Victorian starts. Drawn the pole and hard to beat. NEXT BEST Race 1 No.5: DEEMEE Nice win at her first go at this trip before a close second last start. Can bounce back. VALUE BET Race 7 No.2: CANAMBLE Both wins have come first-up including one this track and trip. Good chance again. QUADDIE RACE 5: 1, 6, 7 RACE 6: 1, 2, 6 RACE 7: 2, 4, 8, 10 RACE 8: 2, 3, 4, 10 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW MITCHELL BELL looks a good chance the TAB Jockey Challenge. â– â– â– â– â– DUBBO INSIDE MAIL DEEMEE (5) appreciated getting up to a staying trip when she closed nicely to beat Casino Diva over 2200m here on Apr 7. Almost made it two in-a-row when a nose second to Wittelsbach over the same trip at Scone. Can bounce back. D'ORO CHOICE (1) made a mid-race move to go to the front near the 600m when a big winner at Wellington. Was down the order in the Orange Cup then was wide when sixth at Mudgee over 2000m. Runner-up in both runs this track and distance. RUFUS WAINRIGHT (3) has place claims. BET: DEEMEE to win. PRESSNELL (3) raced keenly on debut and wasn't disgraced when runner-up to Quick Sharp at Scone then raced wide without cover when fifth at Warren. Resumes here off an impressive five-length trial win at Mudgee. WANAVAN (5) raced wide without cover when fifth at Dubbo on Apr 7 and backed up at Scone a week later and again did it tough out wide when a length third to Rail Trail. A win isn't far away. I DON'T THINK SO (8) is first-up for over two years. Nice trial here on Apr 12. BET: PRESSNELL to win. COLONEL LIGHT (1) was three-wide and pushed wider on the bend when sixth to Davikar on debut ta Muswellbrook on Mar 14. Then back and wide from the outside gate when second to Spenzalot at Scone a month later. PIERONIMO (3) raced inside Colonel Light and tracked him around the bend to finish third when resuming in that Scone race. Will be better for the run but has a wide gate to overcome. JEFFO (5) has placed in two of his three runs here and was fourth on the other. BET: COLONEL LIGHT to win. Former Victorian gelding PROPER TWELVE (7) was carried wide at the 1000m when beaten under two lengths into fifth behind Barbie'sdreamworld on debut at Terang. Raced outside the leader and tried hard when a half-length second to Harrumph Harrumph at Geelong on Mar 15. LORD VETTORI (4) boxed on well when runner-up to Imperial State when resuming from a lengthy spell at Gosford. Disappointed when second last at Wyong second-up. Worth another chance. WENDOUREE (9) has place claims on his first-up second at Coonabarabran. Made up ground from last at Armidale last start. BET: PROPER TWELVE to win. ZOOMORPHIC (7) ran a couple of close seconds to start his campaign then failed to handle the heavy track at Scone. Was dominant on breaking his maiden by five lengths at Mudgee on Apr 20. With that confidence-boosting win, he can go on with it. RICH STREET (6) is in terrific form with two wins and three placings from her last five starts. Came wide on the bend and was game in running down Extravagant Choice at Orange last start. MAZITA (1) has a big weight and wide gate but is more than capable. BET: ZOOMORPHIC to win. CROP DUSTER (2) will take improvement from his first-up seventh behind Extravagant Lad in the Cup Day Sprint over 1000m at Orange on Apr 11. Will appreciate the sting out of the track and the step up to 1200m where he has scored three of his six wins. LIFE'S A PARTY (6) closed strongly to win the Bill Aspros Cup from Outback Angel at Bathurst first-up. Is a second-up winner and drawn to get a nice run. THE DRAMATIST (1) got well back from a wide gate and closed well between horses when sixth to Annie's Rose at Muswellbrook second-up. BET: CROP DUSTER each-way. CANAMBLE (2) has won two of her seven and both wins have come first-up. Beat Brutal Love on the Wellington Boot Prelude on debut in March last year. Kicked off last preparation with an all-the-way win from the Mooch over this track and distance. Resumes off a nice trial second behind stablemate Bare To Witness on the Beaumont. CUMNOCK (4) battled away for fifth to Cumboogle when resuming at Orange and will take improvement. Had solid form last campaign including a fourth to Clear Thinking in a Randwick Highway. D'ARPANO (10) and KORA MAGIC (8) have claims. BET: CANAMBLE to win. PRESS FORWARD (4) was rewarded for his solid form with a good win over this track and distance last start. Went back to last before coming down the middle of the track to beat D'Arpano. Will gain confidence from the win and can go back-to-back. THIS ONE TIME (10) took benefit from his first-up fourth at Scone with a handy win from Maxandus at Tamworth. Good chance again. BARE TO WITNESS (2) and ROCK 'N' REIGN (3) have claims.
