Latest news with #PartyCrasher
Courier-Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
SA trainer Michael Hickmott says winning Group 1 Queensland Derby will be ‘pinnacle of my career'
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. And the planets are aligning for the gelding to notch his fourth victory in just his sixth race this weekend, with champion jockey Craig Williams riding from barrier one. Party Crasher is an $8 chance with bookmakers in the 2400m feature, behind South Australian Derby runner-up Statuario ($6) and the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained King Of Thunder ($7). • 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! 'It was fantastic to get Craig booked on the horse. He'd done a fair bit of research and seemed pretty keen to ride the horse,' said Hickmott, the younger brother of two-time Melbourne Cup-winning training Robert. 'I'm very happy with how the horse is. The biggest step is how he travels. 'He's in good order and he's very fit. It looks like he'll run 2400m and if it's a wet track that's no disadvantage either.' Party Crasher travelled from Adelaide to Melbourne by truck and then flew to Brisbane on Tuesday. Asked what it would mean to collect the $600,000 winner's cheque in his first crack at a Group 1, Hickmott was unequivocal in his response. South Australian stayer Party Crasher is among the leading chances in the Group 1 Queensland Derby on Saturday. Picture: Makoto Kaneko • Queensland Derby tips, runner-by-runner form analysis 'It would certainly be the pinnacle of my career. I've won a South Australian metropolitan premiership (2020-21) but I haven't even had a runner in a Group 1,' he said. 'My business model had always revolved around selling horses to Asia if they've kind of identified anywhere near that grade. 'It was fantastic for the ownership group to elect to run Party Crasher on and not look at offers coming in for the horse. 'They're really excited about this weekend. We've got mums and dads, corporate businessmen in Melbourne to lawyers in Sydney to an accountant in Alice Springs. 'There's a broad group of owners from all around the country.' Hickmott's nephew Josh, with the help of former presenter Jayne Ivil and her partner Brad Taylor, identified Party Crasher as a potential recruit from New Zealand. • Femminile chasing Derby double in new colours His uncle was suitably impressed when the horse won an 800m trial on a heavy track at Rotorua last September and once he had negotiated a deal, it didn't take long for the three-year-old to be syndicated. 'He went out to a good group of our current clients and he was syndicated very quickly,' Hickmott said about the son of Ocean Park. 'We've got a good record purchasing horses from New Zealand.' Hickmott said he knew he had a Group 1 contender on his hands when Party Crasher won a Benchmark 66 (2009m) by 1½ lengths on SA Derby Day early this month. 'It's an extremely strong race,' he said about the Queensland Derby, won last year by Warmonger. 'It'd be a big thrill for the ownership group – win, lose or draw – but I suspect if the horse travels well then he will perform really well.' Originally published as South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott says winning Group 1 Queensland Derby with Party Crasher will be career high
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott says winning Group 1 Queensland Derby with Party Crasher will be career high
South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott says it will be the 'pinnacle of my career' if his high-flying gelding Party Crasher can salute in Saturday's Group 1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm. And the planets are aligning for the gelding to notch his fourth victory in just his sixth race this weekend, with champion jockey Craig Williams riding from barrier one. Party Crasher is an $8 chance with bookmakers in the 2400m feature, behind South Australian Derby runner-up Statuario ($6) and the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained King Of Thunder ($7). 'It was fantastic to get Craig booked on the horse. He'd done a fair bit of research and seemed pretty keen to ride the horse,' said Hickmott, the younger brother of two-time Melbourne Cup-winning training Robert. 'I'm very happy with how the horse is. The biggest step is how he travels. 'He's in good order and he's very fit. It looks like he'll run 2400m and if it's a wet track that's no disadvantage either.' Party Crasher travelled from Adelaide to Melbourne by truck and then flew to Brisbane on Tuesday. Asked what it would mean to collect the $600,000 winner's cheque in his first crack at a Group 1, Hickmott was unequivocal in his response. • Queensland Derby tips, runner-by-runner form analysis 'It would certainly be the pinnacle of my career. I've won a South Australian metropolitan premiership (2020-21) but I haven't even had a runner in a Group 1,' he said. 'My business model had always revolved around selling horses to Asia if they've kind of identified anywhere near that grade. 'It was fantastic for the ownership group to elect to run Party Crasher on and not look at offers coming in for the horse. 'They're really excited about this weekend. We've got mums and dads, corporate businessmen in Melbourne to lawyers in Sydney to an accountant in Alice Springs. 'There's a broad group of owners from all around the country.' Hickmott's nephew Josh, with the help of former presenter Jayne Ivil and her partner Brad Taylor, identified Party Crasher as a potential recruit from New Zealand. His uncle was suitably impressed when the horse won an 800m trial on a heavy track at Rotorua last September and once he had negotiated a deal, it didn't take long for the three-year-old to be syndicated. 'He went out to a good group of our current clients and he was syndicated very quickly,' Hickmott said about the son of Ocean Park. 'We've got a good record purchasing horses from New Zealand.' Hickmott said he knew he had a Group 1 contender on his hands when Party Crasher won a Benchmark 66 (2009m) by 1½ lengths on SA Derby Day early this month. 'It's an extremely strong race,' he said about the Queensland Derby, won last year by Warmonger. 'It'd be a big thrill for the ownership group – win, lose or draw – but I suspect if the horse travels well then he will perform really well.'
Daily Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Party Crasher set for Queensland Derby tilt after comfortable Morphettville win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Murray Bridge handler Michael Hickmott has his sights set on the Queensland Derby with rising stayer Party Crasher after the gelding scored a commanding win at Morphettville on Saturday. Settling fifth off a slow tempo, Party Crasher hugged the rail in the field of seven, before a move at the 800m saw jockey Jake Toeroek swing out, latching on to the back of High Society Girl. • 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! The Kiwi gelding peeled off heels at the 500m, charging away with a two-length win over 2250m. Hickmott laid bare his grand plans for the gelding post-race, while his initial ploy was to bypass Saturday's Adelaide run in favour of a Handicap (2000m) at Flemington. 'I actually thought he would win at Flemington today, I said to the guys 'we'll just accept in Adelaide just in case he draws 20 at Flemington', he drew 19,' Hickmott said. 'Poor old Joey Bowditch, I think he was more upset than anyone. I needed to run him today with the thought of going to Queensland with him in two weeks. 'Todd (Pannell) was the one who identified the Queensland Derby awhile ago, Adelaide Cup Day was a good indicator, today is probably a better one. 'Not heaps went right, they walked, sprinted up quick, he looks like he's going to run 2400m and if it's a wet track he'll get even better.' It was a third race win for the son of Ocean Park, who is yet to finish further back than second in five career starts. The Group 1 $1m Queensland Derby (2400m) will be run at Eagle Farm on May 31. 'A lot of credit to Josh my nephew who works with me, he was the one who pushed me to buy this horse out of New Zealand,' he said. 'He syndicated him to a great group of clients, we've got a good crew of people in him, we're gonna have a lot of fun. 'I think the phone will be going off in a minute, Toddy will want to know when his tickets for Queensland are getting booked.' Party Crasher's win was the first of a training double for Hickmott, who later secured success with Synchro in a Handicap (1400m). Blue-blood filly Esha upstaged heavily-backed favourite Chisholm in Saturday's opener, the daughter of Extreme Choice was a $900,000 purchase at the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast. The two-year-old was nicely handled by Jess Tzaferis, who made it a successful hit and run mission for Mornington trainer Shane Nichols. Stakes winner Colmar returned to racing in emphatic style for trainers Ron Daniel and Trish Stanbury. The son of Strasbourg ran away with an impressive two and a half length win under Connor Murtagh in a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m). Sir Now was also a dominant winner of a Benchmark 78 (1000m). The Darryl Hewitt-trained gelding dispatched a quality field of sprinters under the riding of Maggie Collett. In-form hoop Ben Price secured riding honours on Saturday's nine-race card with victories aboard Synchro and Merchant Boss. Originally published as Party Crasher set for Queensland Derby tilt after comfortable Morphettville win
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Party Crasher set for Queensland Derby tilt after comfortable Morphettville win
Murray Bridge handler Michael Hickmott has his sights set on the Queensland Derby with rising stayer Party Crasher after the gelding scored a commanding win at Morphettville on Saturday. Settling fifth off a slow tempo, Party Crasher hugged the rail in the field of seven, before a move at the 800m saw jockey Jake Toeroek swing out, latching on to the back of High Society Girl. The Kiwi gelding peeled off heels at the 500m, charging away with a two-length win over 2250m. Hickmott laid bare his grand plans for the gelding post-race, while his initial ploy was to bypass Saturday's Adelaide run in favour of a Handicap (2000m) at Flemington. 'I actually thought he would win at Flemington today, I said to the guys 'we'll just accept in Adelaide just in case he draws 20 at Flemington', he drew 19,' Hickmott said. 'Poor old Joey Bowditch, I think he was more upset than anyone. I needed to run him today with the thought of going to Queensland with him in two weeks. 'Todd (Pannell) was the one who identified the Queensland Derby awhile ago, Adelaide Cup Day was a good indicator, today is probably a better one. 'Not heaps went right, they walked, sprinted up quick, he looks like he's going to run 2400m and if it's a wet track he'll get even better.' Party Crasher launches down the straight to justify the short quote to register his third career win 🎉 @mhbloodstock — (@Racing) May 17, 2025 It was a third race win for the son of Ocean Park, who is yet to finish further back than second in five career starts. The Group 1 $1m Queensland Derby (2400m) will be run at Eagle Farm on May 31. 'A lot of credit to Josh my nephew who works with me, he was the one who pushed me to buy this horse out of New Zealand,' he said. 'He syndicated him to a great group of clients, we've got a good crew of people in him, we're gonna have a lot of fun. 'I think the phone will be going off in a minute, Toddy will want to know when his tickets for Queensland are getting booked.' Party Crasher's win was the first of a training double for Hickmott, who later secured success with Synchro in a Handicap (1400m). Blue-blood filly Esha upstaged heavily-backed favourite Chisholm in Saturday's opener, the daughter of Extreme Choice was a $900,000 purchase at the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast. Colmar bolts in for a strong win first-up to get into the winner's circle in his first race this year 🙌 @murtagh_connor — (@Racing) May 17, 2025 The two-year-old was nicely handled by Jess Tzaferis, who made it a successful hit and run mission for Mornington trainer Shane Nichols. Stakes winner Colmar returned to racing in emphatic style for trainers Ron Daniel and Trish Stanbury. The son of Strasbourg ran away with an impressive two and a half length win under Connor Murtagh in a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m). Sir Now was also a dominant winner of a Benchmark 78 (1000m). The Darryl Hewitt-trained gelding dispatched a quality field of sprinters under the riding of Maggie Collett. In-form hoop Ben Price secured riding honours on Saturday's nine-race card with victories aboard Synchro and Merchant Boss.
