Latest news with #PrincessStakes
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Aim up against the boys': Queensland Oaks-bound filly Churchill's Choice to excite in Queensland Guineas
Young Group 1 winning trainer Nathan Doyle has no qualms about taking on the boys with his exciting young filly Churchill's Choice in Saturday's Queensland Guineas. Newcastle trainer Doyle, who soared into the Group 1 club when sprint weapon Private Harry won The Galaxy, feels Churchill's Choice could arguably be coming to the Sunshine State unbeaten. The filly has won three from four with her only defeat when she resumed over 1400m in a Group 3 race at Randwick last start, finishing fourth and beaten a length after seeing little clear air. Churchill's Choice, which gets a two-kilo advantage on her male rivals, is a $5 chance in the Group 2 Guineas and Doyle points out she would have been shorter in Guineas betting had she arrived in Queensland with a picket fence of wins next to her name. She is already highly rated as a Group 1 Queensland Oaks chance – at $6 in betting – and can zoom into Oaks favouritism with an impressive display over 1600m at Eagle Farm on Saturday. 'I know she is in the Guineas against the boys, but I think she can aim up,' Doyle said. 'She was in restricted room the whole straight last start, she should have been in the finish and Kerrin McEvoy thought the same as me. 'The last few strides she really just dashed at them, she was just winding up. 'If she got a bit of room last start she could be going up to Queensland unbeaten and she would be a lot shorter in the (betting) market than she is. 'I really like the horse, she wants to be a racehorse and she attacks the line. 'She has got a bright future.' Doyle rates Churchill's Choice every bit as good as stablemate Harlem Queen, the filly which was Group 1 placed last spring and also ran fourth in the VRC Oaks behind rising superstar Treasurethe Moment. Harlem Queen didn't fire at Eagle Farm last Saturday, failing to flatter when finishing 11th in the Princess Stakes after starting the $2.90 favourite. But there was an excuse for the flop when it was discovered the filly had sustained a wound on her leg in the race. Harlem Queen will most likely press on in an Oaks campaign with her next start likely to be in The Roses later this month where she could tangle with Churchill's Choice. As for Churchill's Choice, Doyle says the filly is giving him every indication the 2200m of next month's Oaks won't pose a problem. 'She shows me she just wants to relax and doesn't over do it in her races and she gets into a nice rhythm,' Doyle said. 'I feel 2200(m) shouldn't be an issue. She is just so unassuming, when you take her to race day she just produces. 'In the Guineas on Saturday, she has a perfect gate (9) to give her a bit of room and let her balance up, I think she will be very competitive.'
News.com.au
27-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy is warming up nicely for a massive Queensland Winter Carnival
Champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy is back on his 'good hunting ground' and primed to make an impact in this year's lucrative Queensland Winter Carnival. The Melbourne Cup-winning hoop has won 16 Group 1 races in the Sunshine State but will be looking to break a three-year drought after his last feature in Queensland came in the 2022 Doomben Cup (2100m) aboard Huetor. • 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. McEvoy started on the right foot with an impressive pre-carnival victory in the $160,000 Princess Stakes (1600m) for three-year-old fillies with Philia at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The 44-year-old had seven rides on Saturday but he said he specifically came to Brisbane to familiarise himself with the Queensland Oaks-bound Philia for David Vandyke. 'She's headed on an Oaks path, all being well, and Dave is a pretty good judge and he can train a good horse so I'm happy to come up and give her a go,' said McEvoy, who won his first Group 1 in Queensland in 2001, riding Juanmo to victory in the TJ Smith (1600m). 'I rode a lot for David when he was in Sydney. We've had a bit of luck together. 'We haven't won a major together but it's nice to get an opportunity for Dave on a horse that he likes. 'She's showing nice promise and looks to be on an upward curve.' McEvoy missed last year's winter carnival after suffering a fractured vertebrae in an ugly fall on Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens during the autumn. He also skipped the 2020 winter carnival because of Covid restrictions. 'It's been a good hunting ground for me over the past few years and I missed out last year because I was coming back from injury,' he said. 'It's been a good place for me to ride some winners and hopefully I can do the same this year.' McEvoy is expected to retain the ride on Philia for the $700,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 7. Ladbrokes has listed Philia and the Nathan Doyle-trained Churchill's Choice as $7 chances for the Oaks, behind current favourite Benagil ($6), which convincingly won the $1m Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) in Adelaide on Saturday.
The Australian
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
‘Pretty special' filly justifies David Vandyke's Queensland Oaks ambitions in Princess Stakes
The local stars repelled the fancied southern raiders on Saturday at Eagle Farm as the major players warmed up for the Queensland winter carnival. Spicy Martini won the $160,000 Listed Mick Dittman Plate (1000m) for Gold Coast trainers Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean, before Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke took out the $160,000 Princess Stakes (1600m) for three-year-old fillies with Philia ($4.80). • 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 a particularly satisfying win for Vandyke, who has Queensland Oaks plans for Philia, which was ridden by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy. The $700,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) will be contested at Eagle Farm on June 7. Vandyke comprehensively won the Queensland Oaks three years ago with Gypsy Goddess, ridden by the 'Wizard of the West' Willie Pike. 'It's hard to draw a line through the two of them,' the trainer said after Philia's impressive victory on a Soft 7 track ahead of southern raiders Pinito ($6.50) and Meridiana ($6). 'This girl (Philia) is on-pace and she gets herself a little bit hot and worked up whereas Gypsy Goddess was more one of those relaxed fillies who gets back and finds the line. 'It's hard to draw a comparison but she's pretty special this one (Philia). 'She keeps improving. Every run she gets better and that's what's exciting about her. 'She hadn't raced for five or six weeks. 'It's funny because her half-sister (Duais) won it in 2021 and I won it with Gypsy Goddess (in 2022). 'If the connections joined forces to win the Oaks it'd be the right synergy.' Vandyke paid special tribute to trackwork jockey Quinton Cassidy, who suffered a broken arm while riding $83,000 purchase Philia on Tuesday and only got out of hospital on Friday. 'In my opinion he's the best rider I've seen. He's brilliant,' Vandyke said of Cassidy. 'This girl has been very hard to work with. She's got a very independent mind. 'He's worked with her tirelessly and he's really got her in the shape that she is today. 'Without him, she wouldn't be racing now and be as competitive as she is. 'I can't stress that enough. My name might be in the book but he's done the work. 'These blokes are the unsung heroes. It's a dangerous job and they don't get the recognition they deserve.' Noel Callow won three of the first four races, including on Tony Gollan's gelding Hurts So Good in a Benchmark 85 handicap, on a day to remember for the veteran jockey. In the Mick Dittman Plate, Spicy Martini made it three wins from her four races when Kyle Wilson-Taylor grinded away in the straight to pass McEvoy on $3 favourite Zoubaby, with $81 pop Belegato in third. 'I probably don't think I've ridden a horse that tries as hard as her,' Wilson-Taylor said. 'The other horse (Zoubaby) had her beat all the way down the straight. Kerrin started roaring and I thought 'I might try that' and then she responded. 'Gee she's a good mare and Toby's a good trainer. We work really well together.' Edmonds said Spicy Martini, bought online for just $8000, was a 'good story'. 'She's a really good filly and she's quite underdone yet,' he said. 'She's still got a wiry coat and a long way to go. We've got high hopes for her this preparation. She just digs in, she's tough and unassuming.' Edmonds said Spicy Martini would next head to the $200,000 Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) on May 10.
News.com.au
26-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Queensland pair Philia and Spicy Martini halt interstate raiders in Princess Stakes and Mick Dittman Plate at Eagle Farm
The local stars repelled the fancied southern raiders on Saturday at Eagle Farm as the major players warmed up for the Queensland winter carnival. Spicy Martini won the $160,000 Listed Mick Dittman Plate (1000m) for Gold Coast trainers Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean, before Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke took out the $160,000 Princess Stakes (1600m) for three-year-old fillies with Philia ($4.80). It was a particularly satisfying win for Vandyke, who has Queensland Oaks plans for Philia, which was ridden by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy. The $700,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) will be contested at Eagle Farm on June 7. Vandyke comprehensively won the Queensland Oaks three years ago with Gypsy Goddess, ridden by the 'Wizard of the West' Willie Pike. 'It's hard to draw a line through the two of them,' the trainer said after Philia's impressive victory on a Soft 7 track ahead of southern raiders Pinito ($6.50) and Meridiana ($6). 'This girl (Philia) is on-pace and she gets herself a little bit hot and worked up whereas Gypsy Goddess was more one of those relaxed fillies who gets back and finds the line. 'It's hard to draw a comparison but she's pretty special this one (Philia). 'She keeps improving. Every run she gets better and that's what's exciting about her. 'She hadn't raced for five or six weeks. 'It's funny because her half-sister (Duais) won it in 2021 and I won it with Gypsy Goddess (in 2022). 'If the connections joined forces to win the Oaks it'd be the right synergy.' Philia dominates Race 7 at Eagle Farm for @vandykeracing13! @KPMcEvoy â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025 Vandyke paid special tribute to trackwork jockey Quinton Cassidy, who suffered a broken arm while riding $83,000 purchase Philia on Tuesday and only got out of hospital on Friday. 'In my opinion he's the best rider I've seen. He's brilliant,' Vandyke said of Cassidy. 'This girl has been very hard to work with. She's got a very independent mind. 'He's worked with her tirelessly and he's really got her in the shape that she is today. 'Without him, she wouldn't be racing now and be as competitive as she is. 'I can't stress that enough. My name might be in the book but he's done the work. 'These blokes are the unsung heroes. It's a dangerous job and they don't get the recognition they deserve.' Noel Callow won three of the first four races, including on Tony Gollan's gelding Hurts So Good in a Benchmark 85 handicap, on a day to remember for the veteran jockey. In the Mick Dittman Plate, Spicy Martini made it three wins from her four races when Kyle Wilson-Taylor grinded away in the straight to pass McEvoy on $3 favourite Zoubaby, with $81 pop Belegato in third. Spicy Martini digs deep to win Race 6 at Eagle Farm! ðŸ'Š @EdmondsRacing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025 'I probably don't think I've ridden a horse that tries as hard as her,' Wilson-Taylor said. 'The other horse (Zoubaby) had her beat all the way down the straight. Kerrin started roaring and I thought 'I might try that' and then she responded. 'Gee she's a good mare and Toby's a good trainer. We work really well together.' Edmonds said Spicy Martini, bought online for just $8000, was a 'good story'. 'She's a really good filly and she's quite underdone yet,' he said. 'She's still got a wiry coat and a long way to go. We've got high hopes for her this preparation. She just digs in, she's tough and unassuming.' Edmonds said Spicy Martini would next head to the $200,000 Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) on May 10.
News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
David Vandyke secures Kerrin McEvoy to ride Queensland Oaks prospect Philia in Princess Stakes at Eagle Farm
The Queensland winter carnival atmosphere has come early for Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke, who has secured champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy to ride Philia in the $160,000 Princess Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday. And Vandyke expressed his surprise to see such a high quality horse as $2.80 TAB favourite Harlem Queen enter the 1600m race for three-year-old fillies. On Friday morning, Philia was paying $5.50 and the John Sargent-trained Meridiana was $6 in a big field. 'I sent Kerrin a message. He had a look at her last couple of runs and was impressed and he was keen to jump on,' Vandyke said about $83,000 purchase Philia, who has won her last two starts. 'That's worked out well and I'm hoping he can stick with her through the winter carnival. 'Kerrin will be up here to warm up for the winter carnival. It's not a big day of racing in Sydney and if this filly can measure up during the Group races in the carnival, now's the time to give her a spin around and see what he thinks.' It is one of seven rides on Saturday in Brisbane for Melbourne Cup-winning hoop McEvoy – all for different trainers. Vandyke said the main goal for Philia was the Group 1 $750,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 7, a race won by her half-sister Duais in 2021. 'I've trained her other half-sister Baccarat Baby, who won the Winx Guineas in 2019 and she was competitive at Group 1 level so it's a very strong family,' he said. 'I love the fact she (Philia) is by All Too Hard, the stallion for Alligator Blood. It was a terrific win last start and if she's improved Saturday on what we've seen, we're certainly looking at a top-three finish. 'The favourite (Harlem Queen) really is the benchmark, probably for the winter carnival because she's raced well against the top-line three-year-olds. 'I wasn't expecting a horse of that calibre in this race so early in the carnival but it'll show us where we sit. 'If we can run top three then we just march on into the winter carnival with an air of confidence that we can perform well.' • Heathcote sure Carbonara will pasta barrier test The Nathan Doyle-trained Harlem Queen has only raced nine times for two victories, but three of those runs were in Group 1s in the spring: second in the Flight Stakes (1600m) behind Lady Shenandoah at Randwick, fourth in the Champion Stakes (2000m) at the same track and fourth in the VRC Oaks at Flemington, won by Treasurethe Moment, at Flemington. Wonder fillies Lady Shenandoah and Treasurethe Moment are both three-time Group 1 champions and unbeaten this season. Meridiana will start from barrier five, just inside Harlem Queen, in Saturday's Princess Stakes. 'The favourite will be hard to beat but if Meridiana can get a soft run she's got a nice turn of foot and she's on the way up in the fillies' races,' Sargent said. Meridiana arrived on Thursday at the Gold Coast where she will stay with trainer Glenn Thornton, the father of jockey Damien Thornton, who will ride the filly on Saturday. Sargent said Meridiana would be targeted towards the $160,000 Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) on May 10 before a likely tilt at the Queensland Oaks.
