Latest news with #Pakenham
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Pakenham Monday tips: $11 tip to start the week on the right foot
Form analyst Gilbert Gardiner presents his best bets and jockey to follow for Monday's Victorian meeting at Pakenham on the Synthetic track.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Queensland Derby second emergency The Muffin Man gains start for Pakenham trainer Charlotte Littlefield
Pakenham trainer Charlotte Littlefield has locked in Saturday plans after The Muffin Man secured a start in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) field. Littlefield, with important starters also at Caulfield on Saturday in Big Swinger and Regal Vow, braced to sweat until 7.30am scratching time to cancel a 10am Brisbane flight. However, the withdrawal on Friday of Eclair Encore, a second and most welcomed French-inspired irony for Littlefield in as many days, has cleared the runway for another trip to Melbourne Airport. Littlefield has accumulated frequent flyer points this week and kilometres behind the wheel, shuttling between Pakenham and Tullamarine. She landed back in Melbourne last Monday, having visited father, Roger, 86, in Bordeaux, France, and went straight to Brisbane to watch The Muffin Man gallop on Tuesday. The scratching of Saint Emilion on Thursday gave second emergency The Muffin Man a chance to scrape into the Queensland Derby field. 'The irony, Saint-Émilion is where my parents live in Bordeaux,' Littlefield said. 'He's fighting fit the horse, he's in super order, his gallop (on Tuesday) was sensational. 'Everything is spot on.' The Muffin Man won a maiden three starts back at Sandown and raced consistently – albeit luckless – since with minor places at Flemington and Caulfield respectively. 'His last start he was posted wide throughout and had a tough run and to his credit he still fought on,' Littlefield said. 'If you're a good form analyst and look at the race you go that horse has run out of his skin and should've won the race. 'He's primed and ready for the 2400m.' The Muffin Man is rated a $21 chance. A first Group 1 win on Saturday would cap an already milestone racing season for Littlefield after breakthrough Listed and Group 3 stakes successes. The Pakenham has saddled a personal best 26 winners from only 136 starters. Littlefield shared a special moment a fortnight ago in Bordeaux with father Roger, cheering from afar the Pakenham winner Feeling Dusty. 'I'd never got to experience a win with my Dad… he loved it,' Littlefield said. 'He doesn't really have any background or clue about horses, bless him, but he does follow us avidly from the computer… he tries to watch the races as much as possible. 'We got it (Pakenham race) up on the screen, I mirrored it from my phone onto the TV and he loved it, he was cheering him (Feeling Dusty) home, it was really lovely to see.' Littlefield and company pulled up a little dusty too after a bubbly celebratory dinner. 'We got into the Crémant (sparkling wine), which is so much better and so much cheaper (than the French champagne),' Littlefield laughed. 'It was lovely to actually get to experience a win and celebrate it (with dad)… made the trip special.' Littlefield has Regal Vow in the 1600m Benchmark at Caulfield on Saturday and Big Swinger in the 1200m 3YO Handicap.
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Basilinna books Melbourne Cup date with Andrew Ramsden victory
Emma-lee and David Browne could be the only ones praying for a wet Melbourne Cup after bonny mare Basilinna on Saturday qualified for the race that stops a nation. Basilinna, who placed third in the 2023 VRC Oaks, relished the soft track at Flemington to claim the Melbourne Cup -qualifying Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) from Glentaneous and Fernao. Favourites Berkshire Breeze and Athabascan finished midfield. 'I'm a little bit overwhelmed actually, a horse that means a lot to me, I can't believe she did it,' Emma-lee Browne said. 'When the rain came we were pretty confident but I thought 'she's a proper princess, might be too much rain', but she did it so well. 'To think, now we just wrap her in cotton wool and we're back here in November … it's massive for our whole stable, we've got a tiny stable and I can't believe it.' Basilinna travelled sweetly, just worse than midfield under jockey Dean Yendall, and emerged at the top of the straight as a major contender once past Berkshire Breeze at the 350m. 'Right from the start I thought she's handling this track great,' Browne said. 'I think I'll be the only one wanting rain in November, it's a little overwhelming actually.' See you in the Melbourne Cup! ðŸ�† Basilinna heads straight to a Melbourne Cup after winning the Andrew Ramsden! @Em_spartaracing â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 17, 2025 The husband and wife Pakenham-based team, who moved from New Zealand in 2021, have enjoyed a stellar season, including success in the $1m The Showdown with smart two-year-old McGaw. Statuario won the Listed Galilee Series Final and ran second in the Group 1 South Australian Derby. 'We've had a great season but this (Melbourne Cup entry) has really topped it off,' Browne said. David Browne bought Basilinna's dam, Shinko King mare So Royal, for Emma-lee after she lost her favourite horse, Monarch Chimes, a son of the Japanese stallion. 'I laughed (at the time), I said you can't replace him (Monarch Chimes) but I think he's done a pretty good job,' Browne said. Basilinna was added into pre-nominations Melbourne Cup markets as a $51 chance. Yendall appreciated the opportunity to qualify Basilinna for the Browne team and connections. 'To get this horse into a big race is a great thrill for them and also for myself to secure another ride if it's there, she's been knocking on the door a while this mare,' Yendall said. 'Found some hard races there, probably unsuitable tracks for her, but relishes the soft ground. 'She had a great run in transit from the wide barrier, back to the fence, followed the field, niggled out (wide) when I needed to get out and found the line really easily.' Basilinna is the 16th mare to win the Andrew Ramsden and fifth in the past six years including three on the bounce to secure Melbourne Cup ballot exception through the winter Flemington feature.
Daily Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Brad Waters' Pakenham tips: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News. Form expert Brad Waters analyses Thursday's meeting at Pakenham, presenting his best bets, value selection and jockey to follow. • 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! ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ BEST BET SIOUX SPIRIT (Race 5 No.1): Chased solidly when not far away at Mornington first-up. She'll be much fitter again has drawn to have the perfect run. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ NEXT BEST TASSRON (Race 1 No.6): Tried hard behind an all-the-way winner at his first crack at 1600m at Cranbourne. He'll be better for it and will be harder to beat. NASRAAWY (Race 7 No.2): Solid under 60kg at Sale second-up after scoring when resuming. He'll be fitter again and staying at 1000m suits. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ VALUE BET LINKVUE (Race 6 No.2): Led throughout to score at Geelong but wasn't able to lead last time. If he finds the front, he could be hard to run down this time. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ THE JOCKEY — ETHAN BROWN The Group 1-winning hoop heads to Pakenham for five rides on Thursday. QUEENSBURY (Race 1 No.4 – $4.40), BRING FORTH (Race 2 No.2 – $1.50), ILLYIVY (Race 4 No.7 – $4), THE GRUMPY BEAR (Race 6 No.1 – $2.50), NUTS 'N' BOLTS (Race 8 No.5 – $9.50). Originally published as Brad Waters' best bets and value play for Pakenham races on Thursday, May 15, 2025
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brad Waters' best bets and value play for Pakenham races on Thursday, May 15, 2025
Form expert Brad Waters analyses Thursday's meeting at Pakenham, presenting his best bets, value selection and jockey to follow.
