Latest news with #OrtensiaStakes
The Age
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Cummings backing Pereille to lift over longer trip at Randwick
Contemporary was ninth when resuming in the listed Ortensia Stakes at Scone on May 17 and faces another 1100m test in that grade on Saturday. In-form Adam Hyeronimus has the ride from gate five on the $13 hope. 'He wasn't too bad in that race and he got home well,' Cummings said. 'I feel he's improved off that run.' Matima in the opener appears Cummings' best chance at Randwick. The Lonhro colt won on debut at Hawkesbury then was second on a heavy Randwick track behind a dominant Agarwood two weeks ago over 1200m. He was a $4.80 chance to go one better in another two-year-old race, this time back to 1100m. 'He's putting it all together and racing will do him good,' Cummings said on Thursday. 'He's found a very hot race here. He was well held by Agarwood, but I think that's good form, franked again yesterday by Penpel winning convincingly at Warwick Farm. It bumped into the same horse. Loading 'He bumps into a good one here in the impressive Hawkesbury winner, Hidden Motive, but I think he can run very well.' Cummings, who returns to the public training ranks in August, is still awaiting news on his application to takeover Randwick's Leilani Lodge stables, where he, his father, Anthony, and grandfather, Bart, have trained. At Eagle Farm, Cummings has group 1 hopes with the consistent Lavalier and Pinito in the Queensland Derby and Oaks respectively. 'Lavalier brings Derby form from Adelaide, which I really like heading into a Queensland Derby,' he said. 'He's had that good experience there racing over a mile and a half, and we've given him plenty of time. He's really gone to the next level his past couple, and with a good gap between runs, he's brighten right back up. 'We tried to do the right thing by Pinito after that huge effort at the Gold Coast on that bottomless track. There was a lot to like about the style of that victory and we've given her a good gap between runs. She's responded well and she looks fit, fresh and cherry-ripe for the Oaks.' Pride team ready to take Flight on rain-affected Randwick track Joe Pride is not sure what opposition In Flight will face on Saturday in the listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Randwick, but he is certain she 'will take some beating' on what is likely to be a wet track. In Flight was a $4 Sportsbet equal favourite on Thursday for the feature event after breaking through at stakes level last start in the listed Bright Shadow on a heavy Doomben track on May 17. That followed a second behind Pisanello when first up at Canterbury and a runner-up effort to stablemate Dragonstone in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush. Pride opted to target the Randwick sprint on Saturday rather than another Queensland feature with his four-year-old mare but others in the Bob Charley are keeping their options open. With Randwick in the heavy range, Pride was confident In Flight could again figure in the finish. 'She'll get wet again, which is good,' Pride said. 'There's a bit to play out with that field. There's a few dual acceptors in Brisbane, so we'll see, but either way, she's going to be hard to beat. 'She's a lovely little mare, loves the wet and she still looks reasonably weighted in this grade, so she'll take some beating. She's drawn off the track a little bit in 10, but on the day, I won't be surprised if they are getting off the fence anyway.' While a heavy track will be welcome for In Flight, Pride said Accredited was unlikely to run on that going in the ninth. Loading Still, the Warwick Farm trainer has a strong hand in the race with the resuming Headley Grange ($7) and Estadio Mestalla ($23), and potentially Testator Silens ($26), which was an emergency. 'Headley Grange will run really well and so will Estadio Mestalla, and Testator Silens is ready to do something after having two runs back,' he said. 'He's been going really well. He's just been crying out for a little bit further and he gets that Saturday.' He said Headley Grange and Estadio Mestalla were likely working towards country cup Big Dance qualifiers. 'I'm toying with the idea of taking Estadio Mestalla to the South Grafton Cup to get him qualified for the Big or Little Dance,' he said. 'He was second in the Little Dance last year so we'll try to give him another crack at it. Headley Grange, is a probably similar. I'll probably target another country cup.'
The Age
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Adkins aims to double down on success in town with a change in luck
Andrew Adkins savoured a career-boosting day in town last week, and he's hoping to carry that momentum into Randwick on Saturday as he aims for another change of luck with several chances. Adkins, 27, won the listed Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill with Peter Snowden-trained Touristic, after an earlier win with Joe Pride's King's Secret. Touristic, which had not won in almost a year, gave Adkins a welcome stakes victory after a tough run chasing city success. He said a change in focus this season on provincial racing had paid dividends, especially during the winter when leading city riders head to Queensland. Adkins has 56 winners in NSW this season, compared to 37 in each of the previous two. 'It was a great day,' Adkins said. 'Any doubles in town are great, especially with a Listed winner, but [after] the last couple of years, it was certainly a great day. 'I had people messaging, saying well done and that sort of thing, which was great to see. I was very appreciative.' He links again with Snowden for Saturday's feature, the Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m), this time with Fire Star, which was third last-start in the listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone. Adkins, who won on Fire Star three times last preparation, had the four-year-old gelding forward and three wide without cover from gate seven. Fire Star boxed on well to finish third to inside runners Caballus and The Novelist.
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Cummings backing Pereille to lift over longer trip at Randwick
Contemporary was ninth when resuming in the listed Ortensia Stakes at Scone on May 17 and faces another 1100m test in that grade on Saturday. In-form Adam Hyeronimus has the ride from gate five on the $13 hope. 'He wasn't too bad in that race and he got home well,' Cummings said. 'I feel he's improved off that run.' Matima in the opener appears Cummings' best chance at Randwick. The Lonhro colt won on debut at Hawkesbury then was second on a heavy Randwick track behind a dominant Agarwood two weeks ago over 1200m. He was a $4.80 chance to go one better in another two-year-old race, this time back to 1100m. 'He's putting it all together and racing will do him good,' Cummings said on Thursday. 'He's found a very hot race here. He was well held by Agarwood, but I think that's good form, franked again yesterday by Penpel winning convincingly at Warwick Farm. It bumped into the same horse. Loading 'He bumps into a good one here in the impressive Hawkesbury winner, Hidden Motive, but I think he can run very well.' Cummings, who returns to the public training ranks in August, is still awaiting news on his application to takeover Randwick's Leilani Lodge stables, where he, his father, Anthony, and grandfather, Bart, have trained. At Eagle Farm, Cummings has group 1 hopes with the consistent Lavalier and Pinito in the Queensland Derby and Oaks respectively. 'Lavalier brings Derby form from Adelaide, which I really like heading into a Queensland Derby,' he said. 'He's had that good experience there racing over a mile and a half, and we've given him plenty of time. He's really gone to the next level his past couple, and with a good gap between runs, he's brighten right back up. 'We tried to do the right thing by Pinito after that huge effort at the Gold Coast on that bottomless track. There was a lot to like about the style of that victory and we've given her a good gap between runs. She's responded well and she looks fit, fresh and cherry-ripe for the Oaks.' Pride team ready to take Flight on rain-affected Randwick track Joe Pride is not sure what opposition In Flight will face on Saturday in the listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Randwick, but he is certain she 'will take some beating' on what is likely to be a wet track. In Flight was a $4 Sportsbet equal favourite on Thursday for the feature event after breaking through at stakes level last start in the listed Bright Shadow on a heavy Doomben track on May 17. That followed a second behind Pisanello when first up at Canterbury and a runner-up effort to stablemate Dragonstone in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush. Pride opted to target the Randwick sprint on Saturday rather than another Queensland feature with his four-year-old mare but others in the Bob Charley are keeping their options open. With Randwick in the heavy range, Pride was confident In Flight could again figure in the finish. 'She'll get wet again, which is good,' Pride said. 'There's a bit to play out with that field. There's a few dual acceptors in Brisbane, so we'll see, but either way, she's going to be hard to beat. 'She's a lovely little mare, loves the wet and she still looks reasonably weighted in this grade, so she'll take some beating. She's drawn off the track a little bit in 10, but on the day, I won't be surprised if they are getting off the fence anyway.' While a heavy track will be welcome for In Flight, Pride said Accredited was unlikely to run on that going in the ninth. Loading Still, the Warwick Farm trainer has a strong hand in the race with the resuming Headley Grange ($7) and Estadio Mestalla ($23), and potentially Testator Silens ($26), which was an emergency. 'Headley Grange will run really well and so will Estadio Mestalla, and Testator Silens is ready to do something after having two runs back,' he said. 'He's been going really well. He's just been crying out for a little bit further and he gets that Saturday.' He said Headley Grange and Estadio Mestalla were likely working towards country cup Big Dance qualifiers. 'I'm toying with the idea of taking Estadio Mestalla to the South Grafton Cup to get him qualified for the Big or Little Dance,' he said. 'He was second in the Little Dance last year so we'll try to give him another crack at it. Headley Grange, is a probably similar. I'll probably target another country cup.'
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Adkins aims to double down on success in town with a change in luck
Andrew Adkins savoured a career-boosting day in town last week, and he's hoping to carry that momentum into Randwick on Saturday as he aims for another change of luck with several chances. Adkins, 27, won the listed Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill with Peter Snowden-trained Touristic, after an earlier win with Joe Pride's King's Secret. Touristic, which had not won in almost a year, gave Adkins a welcome stakes victory after a tough run chasing city success. He said a change in focus this season on provincial racing had paid dividends, especially during the winter when leading city riders head to Queensland. Adkins has 56 winners in NSW this season, compared to 37 in each of the previous two. 'It was a great day,' Adkins said. 'Any doubles in town are great, especially with a Listed winner, but [after] the last couple of years, it was certainly a great day. 'I had people messaging, saying well done and that sort of thing, which was great to see. I was very appreciative.' He links again with Snowden for Saturday's feature, the Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m), this time with Fire Star, which was third last-start in the listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone. Adkins, who won on Fire Star three times last preparation, had the four-year-old gelding forward and three wide without cover from gate seven. Fire Star boxed on well to finish third to inside runners Caballus and The Novelist.
The Australian
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Caballus back with a bang to claim Ortensia Stakes
Caballus announced his return as a sprinting force with a commanding comeback win at Scone on Saturday. Trainer Bjorn Baker, who once held Everest ambitions for Caballus, has reason to aim high with the four-year-old again after his dominant win in the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m). This was the same Caballus who showed considerable promise last season but lost his way during the spring with five unplaced runs. He was then gelded and also underwent throat surgery. • 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! Baker wasn't at Scone on Saturday but his stable foreman Glen Lobb said Caballus had been hinting for some weeks that he was ready to finally realise his potential. 'Josh Parr has been riding Caballus in his work and about a month ago he said this horse was airborne, he's a different horse after his two surgeries,' Lobb said. 'Caballus had been trialling well and we were confident he would be hard to beat today. 'He had a good run from the inside barrier but he slightly missed the start and had to do a bit of work to get up there. 'Then he over-raced a bit and I was a little worried but when he let down, he let down good. 'The race opened up beautifully for him and he was very impressive. He's in for a good preparation, he's a very nice horse.' Caballus, ridden by Ashley Morgan, was confidently backed into $5.50 equal favouritism and he powered past early leader The Novelist ($13) to win by three-quarters of a length with Firestar ($26) just over a length away third. • Summer Flame ignites with boilover stakes win Ostraka and Pisanello were also sent out $5.50 equal favourites and ran fourth and fifth respectively. Caballus continued the breakout seasons for Baker and Morgan. Baker, who is second the Sydney trainers premiership with 77 wins, has now prepared 25 stakes winners for the season including three at Group 1 level, for stable prizemoney for nearly $24.5 million. Morgan has also had a sensational season. He is nearing a century of wins on all tracks, he rode the first Group 1 winner of his career on Private Harry in The Galaxy, and Caballus was his sixth stakes win. 'It was good to see this horse do that today and hopefully he gets some confidence from that win,' Morgan said. 'I rode him work during the week and when you get the chance to sit on him, you understand why they have such a high opinion of the horse. 'There was so much to like about his effort today, particularly the way he attacked the line. He really wanted to win.'
