Latest news with #PreciseAirHandicap
News.com.au
26-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Nash Rawiller delivers knock out blow aboard Punch Lane
Nash Rawiller, wearing a famous set of racing colours, produced one of his trademark 'slingshot specials' to win on Punch Lane at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Punch Lane was drawn off the track in barrier 15 for the Precise Air Handicap (1500m) but that wasn't about to deter Rawiller. Despite Punch Lane getting out of the barriers quickly, Rawiller decided to keep the sprinter closer to the outside fence in the run to the first turn near the 1000m before cutting the corner slingshot-style and racing to the lead. This was the last his rivals saw of Punch Lane ($6) who careered away to win by more than four lengths from Bold Mac ($31) with former English galloper Al Mubhir ($41) running a super race for third. Punch Lane kicks clear and runs away with Race 8 at Randwick! @FreedmanRacing @nashhot — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025 Sky Thoroughbred Central's raceday presenter Greg Radley asked trainer Anthony Freedman what he was thinking early when Rawiller's radical ride kept Punch Lane so wide on the track. 'That's why you use him, you get the unexpected,'' Freedman said. 'But he rode the horse very well. 'Punch Lane has led before and won but I thought he might need it wetter so that's a good result.'' Rawiller said he was content to let Punch Lane roll along wide out on the track as the horse had got into a nice rhythm going into the first turn. 'It wasn't really the plan to lead,'' Rawiller revealed. 'But there was no stopping him, he was already full of running. 'It wasn't really until we cleared Rachel (King, Queues Likely) and got two (lengths) in front that he pricked his ears and gave himself a bit of a rest. From that point he was able to give a really good kick. 'He's a lovely fit horse off a pretty tough race. That race Sandpaper won the other day was a pretty high speed race so they would have come out of that a bit fitter.'' Rawiller's racing colours of royal blue, gold armbands and cap of the William Street Syndicate is synonymous with many outstanding gallopers including 1982 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups winner Gurner's Lane, trained by the late Geoff Murphy. The Freedman brothers have trained for the syndicate of mainly Melbourne-based businessmen for many years including most notably the outstanding sprinter Santa Ana Lane who Anthony prepared to win five Group 1 races including the 2018 TJ Smith Stakes and Stradbroke Handicap, and 2019 VRC Sprint Classic. Hall of Famer Lee Freedman trained Paris Lane for the syndicate to win the 1994 Caulfield Cup and Mackinnon Stakes. Anthony Freedman, who trains in partnership with his son, Sam, and recently has set-up a stable base at Randwick to complement their main stable base at Mornington, said he will consider backing up with Paris Lane in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) at the Hawkesbury standalone meeting next Saturday. 'We will see where we go but I might throw him in at Hawkesbury even because it will be wet, I think,'' Freedman said. 'Whether he can take three runs in a row, I don't know, but I'll probably nominate and see how we go. 'He has backed up in Queensland and won but three in a row might be a test. We will nominate and give ourselves three or four days to think about it.' Punch Lane's win made up for the race morning disappointment of having to scratch promising two-year-old Beskar from the Randwick opener. 'Beskar had a bit of mucus and we won't take any risks with him,'' Freedman said. 'There's not much here for him so we may go to Queensland. We'll see if he fits in the spring or not but he's above average.' Freedman also provided an optimistic report about his top two-year-old Tentyris, the Blue Diamond runner-up who then won the Todman Stakes defeating Wodeton and Nepotism but unfortunately being ruled out of the Golden Slipper due to injury. 'Tentyris will have another month in the paddock before he comes back in but he's fine now,'' Freedman said. 'He will be right for the spring but whether we have him ready for a race like the Golden Rose I'm not sure. 'But he's a very talented horse and all the form around him is huge.'' Wodeton came off his defeat by Tentyris in the Todman Stakes to finish a close second to Marhoona in the Golden Slipper while Nepotism trained on to win the Baillieu Handicap and the Group 1 Champagne Stakes.
The Australian
26-04-2025
- Climate
- The Australian
Ray Thomas's tips for Saturday, April 26, 2025
The carnival caravan swings by Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane while Sydney is without a Saturday stakes race for the first time in three months. But today's Royal Randwick meeting is still intriguing, most noticeably for the Australian debut of Wootton Verni in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m). A Group 3 winner in France, Wootton Verni is now with the Chris Waller stable and it could prove a significant pointer for punters that champion jockey James McDonald has decided to stay in Sydney to ride the new stable recruit. • 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! At Morphettville, Waller has the chance to bring up a record 19th Group 1 win for the season with Movin Out in the $1 million Australasian Oaks (2000m). Movin Out is currently on the third line of TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Oaks at $5.50 behind $4 favourite Benagil and $5 chances Too Darn Lizzie and Polymnia. The Group 1 $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) is similarly wide open with Climbing Star the $6.50 favourite to become the first to twice win the feature fillies and mares sprint. Overpass is used to winning feature sprints multiple times, particularly at Perth's Ascot racetrack. The Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass is the $1.95 favourite to win a third successive $5 million The Quokka (1200m). There are four stakes races on Brisbane's Eagle Farm program including the Listed $300,000 Brisbane Mile (1600m) where Port Lockroy is the $4.40 favourite. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ TRACK CONDITIONS ROYAL RANDWICK Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with high chance of showers in the afternoon and a forecast top temperature of 25c. Track: Soft (6). Rail: 9m out 1000m to winning post, 7m remainder. MOONEE VALLEY Weather: Cool, cloudy day with a high chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 19c. Track: Soft (7). Rail: 4m out. EAGLE FARM Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with a medium chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 26c. Track: Heavy (8). Rail: 5m out. MORPHETTVILLE Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with a slight chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 23c. Track: Good (4). Rail: True. ASCOT Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day and a forecast top temperature of 22c. Track: Good (4). Rail: 3m out. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ BE WARY Royal Randwick's rail has been shifted out to 9m from the 1000m to the winning post and 7m the remainder of the track after being 6m out last week. This is the fourth successive Saturday meeting at Randwick and with the track rated a soft 7, it is expected to be advantageous being away from the inside in the straight. Moonee Valley's rail is out 4m but with the track rated a soft 7, watch early races close to determine if there is any track bias to those racing on speed and near the inside. • MARKET MOVERS: Punters come for two runners in SA Group 1 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ROYAL RANDWICK TIPS BEST BET ZEALOUSLY (Race 4 No.1) stormed through his grades late last year with three successive wins, leading throughout and winning by comfortable margins each time. He was then given his chance in The Sunlight and ran very well for fourth behind subsequent Group 1 winner Private Harry back in January. Zealously resumed at Warwick Farm earlier this month and trailed leader Wondereach into the straight, ranged up to win but could not get past his race-fit rival, losing narrowly. Zealously will be fitter for that run and is not badly treated at the weights after the claim. The only concern is the track conditions as his three wins have been on good tracks but his effort in The Sunlight when he ran so competitively against a top class field was on a soft 6 surface. He looks placed to advantage. THE NEXT BEST LONHRO'S QUEEN (Race 7 No.2) is a talented mare with a very good winning strike-rate. She is chasing a hat-trick of wins this campaign after impressive efforts at Scone and Hawkesbury. Although she tends to settle back in her races, she does have a powerful finishing surge. Lonhro's Queen handles all tracks so the soft conditions won't bother her. She's at her right distance range and gets the benefit of apprentice Braith Nock's 2kg claim. Lonhro's Queen ticks a lot of boxes. VALUE BET INVADER ZIM (Race 6 No.10) is resuming but he invariably sprints well fresh as he showed at his last two comeback runs resulting in second placings, both at Randwick. Last winter he endured a wide run and was unlucky not to have won over 1300m on a heavy track then last December he was first-up at 1200m and beat all but Disneck who was in rampant form. Invader Zim last raced in early February and has had some residual fitness going into this campaign. He was given an easy trial to prepare for his return. Invader Zim handles wet tracks and is over the odds around $12. THE WHISPER WOOTTON VERNI (Race 8 No.10) won five of his nine starts in France including a Group 3 over 2100m at Saint-Cloud. He's had two barrier trials for new trainer Chris Waller and was particularly impressive at Warwick Farm last week when he came from near last, hugged the rail and finished strongly for second behind the speedy Oh Diamond Lil. Champion jockey James McDonald rode Wootton Verni in his latest trial and sticks with the horse for his Australian debut. There's some real stable confidence about this horse he continues to firm in betting. • EXPERT TIPS: James Molony's race-by-race tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ MOONEE VALLEY TIPS BEST BET ELOUYOU (Race 2 No.4) had excuses first-up then returned to top form when he led throughout and was never troubled scoring over the Valley's 1200m course last start. He hasn't raced for over a month but had a tick-over trial at Caulfield. Elouyou was scratched from a suitable Sydney race to stay in Melbourne for the Moonee Valley sprint. Clearly the one to beat. NEXT BEST NEW YORK LUSTRE (Race 4 No.3) won her maiden last winter then resumed over summer and reeled off three wins in succession at Seymour, Flemington and Sandown. She hasn't raced for nearly three months but has looked sharp in two recent barrier trials. New York Lustre is an improving mare who is chasing her fifth win on the bounce. She races on speed and makes her own luck. Hard to catch. VALUE BET WAIMARIE (Race 9 No.8) was unlucky not to win at Bendigo first-up when edged out on the line. This under-rated daughter of super sire Snitzel raced consistently without winning last spring including her close third in the Inglis Bracelet at Flemington during the Cup Carnival. Waimare won second-up when last in work, she's won over today's course and distance, but seems a forgotten runner at very generous double figure odds. THE WHISPER HAPPY LINK (Race 3 No.8) missed a place for the first time in her career when she led for home but faded late and finished fourth when resuming at Sandown. When last in work, Happy Link's form improved the deeper she got into her preparation, culminating with successive wins at Geelong and Sandown. She is versatile and can race anywhere in the field. Drops 4kg on her Sandown loss and is set to bounce back to form. • EXPERT TIPS: Brad Waters' best bets, quaddie picks, race-by-race tips and analysis for The Valley on Saturday ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS ROYAL RANDWICK Race 1: Hidden Motive $4.60-$3.90, Akaysha $11-$8, Hayek $11-$10, Grand Eagle $15-$12 Race 2: Sunrise $2.80-$1.90, Everyone's A Star $11-$6, Oakfield Badger $15-$6.50, Mad Darcey $15-$10 Race 3: Speedy Henry $4.40-$3.40 with a bet of $2000 at $3.60, Pareto $8-$6, Zampano $8-$7 Race 4: Zealously $2.30-$1.90 after a bet of $2000 at $2 Race 5: Saganti $4.60-$3.40 Race 6: Lisztomania $4.60-$3.90, Piastri $8-$5 Race 7: Martini Mumma $6-$5.50, Sparkling $11-$8.50, Extremely Rowdy $15-$9.50 including a big bet of $7500 at $11 Race 8: Ducasse $4.60-$4.40, Wootton Verni $8-$6 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $7.50/$2.60 Race 9: Colophon $8-$3.90, Engine Room $6-$5 Race 10: Know Thyself $3.50-$2.30 • BIG BETS: Last-start flop backed to win $75,000 MOONEE VALLEY Race 1: All Pink $5.50-$2.80 Race 2: Elouyou $2.30-$1.90 with bets of $4450 at $2, $4000 at $1.95, $2000 at $1.95 multiple times and $2000 at $1.85 multiple times Race 3: Happy Link $4.20-$3.80, Excess $5-$4 Race 4: New York Lustre $4.40-$2.90, Deepfloat Diva $7.50-$5.50, Port Albert $17-$7.50 Race 5: Chorlton Lane $3.60-$3.50, Suparazi $5.50-$3.60, El Rocko $10-$8, Chartes $26-$12 Race 6: Dirty Grin $7.50-$6, Ravalii $8-$6.50 Race 7: Stage 'N' Screen $6-$4.80, El Tercero $6-$5, Dreams $13-$8 Race 8: Garnacho $7-$5, Khor $8-$6.50, Denmark $8-$7 Race 9: Ambassadorial $6-$4 • Tips from the big bookies for Saturday, April 26 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ INTERSTATE MAIL Eagle Farm Race 4 No.3 NAVYONTHEHIGHWAY Eagle Farm Race 9 No.14 WARBY Morphettville Race 5 No.1 IMPERIAL FORCE Morphettville Race 6 No.9 ZLOTIES Ascot Race 3 No.4 BE BARDOT Ascot Race 8 No.6 HEADWALL • MORPHETTVILLE EXPERT TIPS: Heath Pope keen on $10 pop • ASCOT EXPERT TIPS: Aaron Mills' $12 value play for The Quokka day ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ PROVINCIAL MAIL Newcastle Race 2 No.4 BEADMAN Newcastle Race 4 No.9 DUNDEEL FLYER • NEWCASTLE EXPERT TIPS: Adam Sherry's best bets and inside mail for Newcastle, plus Grafton best bet #Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners Read related topics: Adelaide
News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Climate
- News.com.au
THE LAST SAY: Tips, big bets and inside mail for Saturday racing on April 26, 2025
James McDonald is on an intriguing import today as carnival racing moves to Adelaide and Perth. Ray Thomas gives you all the information you need to back a winner right around Australia today. The carnival caravan swings by Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane while Sydney is without a Saturday stakes race for the first time in three months. But today's Royal Randwick meeting is still intriguing, most noticeably for the Australian debut of Wootton Verni in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m). A Group 3 winner in France, Wootton Verni is now with the Chris Waller stable and it could prove a significant pointer for punters that champion jockey James McDonald has decided to stay in Sydney to ride the new stable recruit. At Morphettville, Waller has the chance to bring up a record 19th Group 1 win for the season with Movin Out in the $1 million Australasian Oaks (2000m). Movin Out is currently on the third line of TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Oaks at $5.50 behind $4 favourite Benagil and $5 chances Too Darn Lizzie and Polymnia. The Group 1 $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) is similarly wide open with Climbing Star the $6.50 favourite to become the first to twice win the feature fillies and mares sprint. Overpass is used to winning feature sprints multiple times, particularly at Perth's Ascot racetrack. The Bjorn Baker The Quokka (1200m). There are four stakes races on Brisbane's Eagle Farm program including the Listed $300,000 Brisbane Mile (1600m) where Port Lockroy is the $4.40 favourite. â– â– â– â– â– TRACK CONDITIONS ROYAL RANDWICK Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with high chance of showers in the afternoon and a forecast top temperature of 25c. Track: Soft (6). Rail: 9m out 1000m to winning post, 7m remainder. MOONEE VALLEY Weather: Cool, cloudy day with a high chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 19c. Track: Soft (7). Rail: 4m out. EAGLE FARM Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with a medium chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 26c. Track: Heavy (8). Rail: 5m out. MORPHETTVILLE Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with a slight chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 23c. Track: Good (4). Rail: True. ASCOT Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day and a forecast top temperature of 22c. Track: Good (4). Rail: 3m out. â– â– â– â– â– BE WARY Royal Randwick's rail has been shifted out to 9m from the 1000m to the winning post and 7m the remainder of the track after being 6m out last week. This is the fourth successive Saturday meeting at Randwick and with the track rated a soft 7, it is expected to be advantageous being away from the inside in the straight. Moonee Valley's rail is out 4m but with the track rated a soft 7, watch early races close to determine if there is any track bias to those racing on speed and near the inside. â– â– â– â– â– ROYAL RANDWICK TIPS BEST BET ZEALOUSLY (Race 4 No.1) stormed through his grades late last year with three successive wins, leading throughout and winning by comfortable margins each time. He was then given his chance in The Sunlight and ran very well for fourth behind subsequent Group 1 winner Private Harry back in January. Zealously resumed at Warwick Farm earlier this month and trailed leader Wondereach into the straight, ranged up to win but could not get past his race-fit rival, losing narrowly. Zealously will be fitter for that run and is not badly treated at the weights after the claim. The only concern is the track conditions as his three wins have been on good tracks but his effort in The Sunlight when he ran so competitively against a top class field was on a soft 6 surface. He looks placed to advantage. Odds-on favourite Zealously absorbs the early pressure and pulls clear late under @JadenLloyd for @SnowdenRacing1 ðŸ'� — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 23, 2024 THE NEXT BEST LONHRO'S QUEEN (Race 7 No.2) is a talented mare with a very good winning strike-rate. She is chasing a hat-trick of wins this campaign after impressive efforts at Scone and Hawkesbury. Although she tends to settle back in her races, she does have a powerful finishing surge. Lonhro's Queen handles all tracks so the soft conditions won't bother her. She's at her right distance range and gets the benefit of apprentice Braith Nock's 2kg claim. Lonhro's Queen ticks a lot of boxes. Lonhro's Queen makes it back-to-back wins for @camcrockettrace! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 9, 2025 VALUE BET INVADER ZIM (Race 6 No.10) is resuming but he invariably sprints well fresh as he showed at his last two comeback runs resulting in second placings, both at Randwick. Last winter he endured a wide run and was unlucky not to have won over 1300m on a heavy track then last December he was first-up at 1200m and beat all but Disneck who was in rampant form. Invader Zim last raced in early February and has had some residual fitness going into this campaign. He was given an easy trial to prepare for his return. Invader Zim handles wet tracks and is over the odds around $12. Invader Zim fights hard and wins Race 8 at Randwick, a great ride from @KPMcEvoy! ðŸ'Œ — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 27, 2024 THE WHISPER WOOTTON VERNI (Race 8 No.10) won five of his nine starts in France including a Group 3 over 2100m at Saint-Cloud. He's had two barrier trials for new trainer Chris Waller and was particularly impressive at Warwick Farm last week when he came from near last, hugged the rail and finished strongly for second behind the speedy Oh Diamond Lil. Champion jockey James McDonald rode Wootton Verni in his latest trial and sticks with the horse for his Australian debut. There's some real stable confidence about this horse he continues to firm in betting. Wootton Verni (front) & Birdman stretch their legs & enjoy a gallop on a Saturday morning as they adjust to Australia. — Chris Waller Racing (@cwallerracing) October 5, 2024 â– â– â– â– â– MOONEE VALLEY TIPS BEST BET ELOUYOU (Race 2 No.4) had excuses first-up then returned to top form when he led throughout and was never troubled scoring over the Valley's 1200m course last start. He hasn't raced for over a month but had a tick-over trial at Caulfield. Elouyou was scratched from a suitable Sydney race to stay in Melbourne for the Moonee Valley sprint. Clearly the one to beat. Elouyou nicks off around The Valley turn, charging into the winner's enclosure for the first time this preparation ðŸ'¨ A masterful ride by @FKersley to hold the lead from an inside barrier. — (@Racing) March 22, 2025 NEXT BEST NEW YORK LUSTRE (Race 4 No.3) won her maiden last winter then resumed over summer and reeled off three wins in succession at Seymour, Flemington and Sandown. She hasn't raced for nearly three months but has looked sharp in two recent barrier trials. New York Lustre is an improving mare who is chasing her fifth win on the bounce. She races on speed and makes her own luck. Hard to catch. New York Lustre gets the photo in the opener at Sandown Lakeside ðŸ'¸ @jusufovicracing @jamieleekah07 — (@Racing) February 1, 2025 VALUE BET WAIMARIE (Race 9 No.8) was unlucky not to win at Bendigo first-up when edged out on the line. This under-rated daughter of super sire Snitzel raced consistently without winning last spring including her close third in the Inglis Bracelet at Flemington during the Cup Carnival. Waimare won second-up when last in work, she's won over today's course and distance, but seems a forgotten runner at very generous double figure odds. We saw those silks salute in the pony race last Friday night! 😃 Waimarie scores stylishly on debut for @busuttin ✅ @daniel_moor — (@Racing) March 28, 2023 THE WHISPER HAPPY LINK (Race 3 No.8) missed a place for the first time in her career when she led for home but faded late and finished fourth when resuming at Sandown. When last in work, Happy Link's form improved the deeper she got into her preparation, culminating with successive wins at Geelong and Sandown. She is versatile and can race anywhere in the field. Drops 4kg on her Sandown loss and is set to bounce back to form. â– â– â– â– â– TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS ROYAL RANDWICK Race 1: Hidden Motive $4.60-$3.90, Akaysha $11-$8, Hayek $11-$10, Grand Eagle $15-$12 Race 2: Sunrise $2.80-$1.90, Everyone's A Star $11-$6, Oakfield Badger $15-$6.50, Mad Darcey $15-$10 Race 3: Speedy Henry $4.40-$3.40 with a bet of $2000 at $3.60, Pareto $8-$6, Zampano $8-$7 Race 4: Zealously $2.30-$1.90 after a bet of $2000 at $2 Race 5: Saganti $4.60-$3.40 Race 6: Lisztomania $4.60-$3.90, Piastri $8-$5 Race 7: Martini Mumma $6-$5.50, Sparkling $11-$8.50, Extremely Rowdy $15-$9.50 including a big bet of $7500 at $11 Race 8: Ducasse $4.60-$4.40, Wootton Verni $8-$6 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $7.50/$2.60 Race 9: Colophon $8-$3.90, Engine Room $6-$5 Race 10: Know Thyself $3.50-$2.30 • • Tips from the big bookies for Saturday, April 26 â– â– â– â– â– INTERSTATE MAIL Eagle Farm Race 4 No.3 NAVYONTHEHIGHWAY Eagle Farm Race 9 No.14 WARBY Morphettville Race 5 No.1 IMPERIAL FORCE Morphettville Race 6 No.9 ZLOTIES Ascot Race 3 No.4 BE BARDOT Ascot Race 8 No.6 HEADWALL â– â– â– â– â–
News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Randwick inside mail: Sydney race looks ideal for Ducasse after draw dents Brisbane bid
Golden Slipper-winning trainer Michael Freedman is hopeful his decision to keep the in-form Ducasse in Sydney is rewarded with victory in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Freedman had Ducasse entered for the $300,000 Listed Brisbane Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm but when the gelding drew barrier 17 he decided to race for half the prizemoney at Randwick. 'We kept Ducasse in Sydney because of the wide barrier he drew at Eagle Farm,'' Freedman confirmed. 'He seems to be in good order and the rain around won't hurt him, either. 'Randwick is his favourite track and this is about his best distance so potentially this race sets up nicely for him.'' TAB price assessors agree with Ducasse the $4.40 favourite to continue his form surge this autumn. Ducasse resumed with a strong win over 1400m at Rosehill then ran competitively at stakes level in successive starts when fifth to Iowna Merc in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes before a close third to Just Folk in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude. • Ray and Duff's Randwick tips: Best bet 'jumps out at me' Freedman, who prepared Marhoona to win the Golden Slipper during the Sydney autumn carnival, also has emerging three-year-old Colophon as the $4 favourite for the NSW Bookmakers Co-Operative Handicap (1400m). Colophon comes to Randwick after a monstrous win at Kembla Grange when he led throughout and put a margin of more than five lengths on his chasing rivals. But Freedman does have concerns about the rain-affected track conditions and doesn't want Randwick to get much worse than its current Soft 7 rating. 'I need to keep an eye on the track conditions,'' the trainer explained. 'Colophon once ran on a Heavy 9 and wasn't at his best. 'He'll run on the proviso the track stays in the soft range. If he gets a track that is suitable then he is quite a progressive young horse and might earn himself a ticket to Queensland if he keeps going the right way.'' • Import has class to win but Kent Jr still wary Freedman will be at Eagle Farm where he has the superbly-bred Seascape chasing stakes success in the Listed $160,000 Mick Dittman Plate (1000m). Seascape, who is by super sire I Am Invincible out of the Group 2 winner Adrift, has won three of her nine starts including her recent Kensington win a month ago. 'With her pedigree we are hoping to get some black type,'' Freedman said. 'It is just a shame she has drawn off the track but she is going well.'' â– â– â– â– â– RANDWICK BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS RACE 4: Zealously $2.30-$1.90 after a bet of $2000 at $2 RACE 5: Saganti $4.60-$3.40 RACE 6: Lisztomania $4.60-$3.90, Piastri $8-$5 RACE 9: Colophon $8-$3.90, Engine Room $6-$5 RACE 10: Know Thyself $3.50-$2.30 EARLY QUADDIE RACE 3: 3, 6, 9, 15 RACE 4: 1, 6 RACE 5: 4, 5, 7, 8 RACE 6: 3, 6, 8, 10 QUADDIE RACE 7: 1, 2, 8 RACE 8: 2, 3, 5, 13 RACE 9: 3, 9, 10, 15 RACE 10: 1, 2, 8 PRICE CHECK SUNRISE (race 2) has been a significant shortener with TAB after the scratching of early favourite Photographics. Sunrise, who set a course record to win at Kembla last start, was $2.80 but is now into $1.90 favouritism. Zealously (race 4) has also shortened from $2.30 to $1.90 after a bet of $2000 at $2. SECTIONAL STARS SUNRISE (race 2) produced a stunning comeback effort at Kembla Grange over 1000m last month, leading throughout to win by more than seven lengths and stopping the clock at a track record-breaking 55.58sec. She ran her final 600m in a flying 32.23sec. KNOW THYSELF (race 10) was able to sustain a strong final 600m sprint to win the Country Championships Final. Despite being caught three-wide albeit with cover, then forced even wider on the turn, Know Thyself ran his final 600m in 34.28sec including a closing 200m sectional of 11.61sec to score a narrow but impressive win. Never doubt yourself! A finish for the ages in the Country Championships Final, and Know Thyself wins it by a whisker for @Paulmessara and @LGavranich with @Aaronbullock90 aboard! ðŸ'� @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025 TRIAL POINTERS PASSEGGIATA (race 4) has looked more like her old self racing away to successive barrier trial wins by big margins in recent weeks. She romped home by four lengths from classy mare Olentia in a 900m Rosehill heat then ran her rivals ragged to win by more than five lengths at Warwick Farm over 822m. She hasn't won for nearly two years but looks to be coming up really well for this preparation, she's drawn the rails and handles rain-affected going. WOOTTON VERNI (race 8) won five of his nine starts in France including a Group 3 in France. He's had two barrier trials for new trainer Chris Waller and was particularly impressive at Warwick Farm last week when he came from near last, hugged the rail and finished strongly for second behind the speedy Oh Diamond Lil. Champion jockey James McDonald rode Wootton Verni in his latest trial and sticks with the horse for his Australian debut. BEST BET ZEALOUSLY (race 4) raced through his grades late last year with three successive wins, leading throughout and winning by comfortable margins. He was then given his chance in The Sunlight and ran very well for fourth behind subsequent Group 1 winner Private Harry back in January. Zealously resumed at Warwick Farm earlier this month and trailed leader Wondereach into the straight, ranged up to win but could not get past his race-fit rival, losing narrowly. Zealously will be fitter for that run and is not badly treated at the weights after the claim. He looks placed to advantage. What a finish! 😮 Wondereach salutes by a nose to grant the @mcsmithracing stable a double! ✌ï¸� — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 2, 2025 VALUE BET INVADER ZIM (race 6) is resuming but he invariably sprints well fresh as he showed at his last two comeback runs with both second placings at Randwick. Last winter he endured a wide run and was unlucky not to have won over 1300m on a heavy track then last December he was first-up at 1200m and beat all but Disneck who was in rampant form. Invader Zim handles wet tracks and is over the odds around $12.
News.com.au
24-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Lavish Empire shooting for back-to-back 1500m wins with his new-found stamina reserves when he heads to Randwick
Champion trainer Peter Snowden is considering a Scone Cup start for Lavish Empire if he maintains winning form in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Snowden said Lavish Empire surprised him with his new-found stamina reserves when he defeated Grebeni in the Muswellbrook Cup last start. 'We had never tried Lavish Empire at 1500m before but he hit the line really well to win at Muswellbrook,' Snowden said. • 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! 'I thought he should have another crack at the trip and if he runs well again then I'm thinking about setting him for the Scone Cup next month. 'If he can run a mile (1600m) then it opens up a lot more opportunities.' Lavish Empire is second emergency but is over the odds at $21 with TAB Fixed Odds for the Randwick race where Ducasse is the $4.20 favourite. But Snowden's promising sprinter Zealously dominates at the betting at $1.80 for the Jeff Pendlebury Handicap (1000m). Zealously resumed with a close second to Wondereach at Warwick Farm and Snowden said three-year-old has been improved by the run. 'He ran super first-up and was only caught right on the line,' Snowden said. 'He has come on well from that and this looks a nice race for him on paper. 'When he was last in work he only had four runs for three wins then he ran fourth to Private Harry in The Sunlight on the Sunshine Coast so his form is very good.' A busy finish in the Muswellbrook Gold Cup at @thebrookracing and it's Lavish Empire who books his Big Dance chance!ðŸ'ƒ A double to @SnowdenRacing1 today with Mitch Bell in the saddle! @racing_nsw â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 28, 2025 • 'It's a sad day': Group 1-winner Happy Clapper dies Snowden also saddles up will King Of Roseau ($7) in the Terry Maskell Handicap (1200m) and unbeaten filly Akaysha ($8) in the ATC Bookmakers Recognition Day Handicap (1100m). King Of Roseau, who was stakes-placed twice last spring, resumed with a close fourth against older horses at Warwick Farm earlier this month. 'He ran well first-up and he will like the 'cut' in the track on Saturday,' Snowden said. 'I'm looking to take him to the Gold Coast on May 10 (Gold Coast Guineas) if he runs well at Randwick.' Akaysha won impressively on debut at Kembla Grange earlier this month, recording a very fast 55.86s for the 1000m. She is at $8 in early betting behind favourite Beskar at $2.50. At the Kensington Anzac Day meeting on Friday, Snowden has Queen Of Dragons resuming in the Gallipoli Handicap (1400m). Although Queen Of Dragons is rated at $17 for her return to racing, Snowden believes the mare is an each-way chance. 'Queen Of Dragons doesn't mind the sting out of the ground,' Snowden said. 'She trialled super the other day in a good heat and she can run well fresh.'
