Latest news with #QueenslandRacing
News.com.au
02-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
The Inflictor break delayed with wet weather convincing trainer Craig Cousins to tackle Glasshouse Handicap at Sunshine Coast
Truck driver Craig Cousins was driving past the Sunshine Coast on another rainy day in southeast Queensland this week when the hobby trainer suddenly realised it would be madness to send in-form gelding The Inflictor for a spell. Instead the cult galloper will back up in the $300,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) on Saturday when the Queensland winter carnival draws to a conclusion. The Inflictor, who has collected more than $600,000 in prizemoney, will run just seven days after winning the $160,000 Tattersall's Mile at Eagle Farm, with Rachel King on board. Cousins said immediately after the victory that the four-year-old would have a well-deserved rest. So what changed his mind? 'He was going for a break but he hadn't gone to the paddock,' Cousins said on Wednesday. 'I drove past the Sunny Coast on Monday morning for work and I went 'hmmm, it's raining, he likes the wet' and there you go. 'When I saw the noms I thought 'that race (the Glasshouse) isn't going to be any stronger than what he beat last week'. 'I'm not going to say the 'S (spell) word' but he'll definitely go for a break after this race. 'Every time I mention that 'S word' they don't race well.' THE INFLICTOR! The Stradbroke fairytale galloper holds on for a gritty win under @RachelK11 in the Tattersall’s Mile! ðŸ�† What a win for Craig Cousins & connections ðŸ'� — RaceQ (@RaceQLD) June 28, 2025 Not only does The Inflictor love the sting out of the ground, he also enjoys galloping on the Corbould Park race track. On soft tracks he has a superb record of four wins and four placings from 10 runs and although he's yet to salute at the Sunshine Coast, he's been runner-up three times and finished third on two occasions from five races at the track. 'One time he got beaten by King Yoshi, who's not the worst horse in the world, on a heavy track and the other time was Termagant (on a soft track in July last year),' Cousins said. 'He hasn't been beaten by slouches and he's never been out of the placings at the track. 'He's drawn barrier nine, which is perfect for him, and his blood tests were done on Tuesday and he's fine.' Jag Guthmann-Chester will steer The Inflictor on Saturday, with regular rider Cejay Graham enjoying a holiday in New Zealand while she serves a suspension incurred on Stradbroke Handicap Day last month when The Inflictor finished 11th in Queensland's premier race. Graham copped a 14-day suspension for careless riding on King Kapa in the Hinkler Handicap. Nash Rawiller guided The Inflictor to victory in a Benchmark 85 (1350m) at Doomben on May 24 but he will be riding in Rockhampton this Saturday. The Ciaron Maher -trained Warnie is the current $3.20 favourite in Glasshouse betting markets ahead of The Inflictor ($4.80) and The Kosciuszko champion Far Too Easy ($6), who also thrives on soft tracks (6:5-1-0). Cousins said the $1.5m Listed Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on October 11 would be the next target to kickstart The Inflictor's spring campaign.
News.com.au
24-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 Tattersall's Tiara
The 2025 Tattersall's Tiara will be held on Saturday 28th of June at Eagle Farm Racecourse. Racenet has compiled some critical form indicators for this year's Tattersall's Tiara! Get the latest news, previews, and results for the Tatrersall's Tiara at Racenet! Check out our mega Tattersall's Tiara guide: Stay up to date with Racenet: Subscribe to Racenet: / @racenet_au Visit Racenet: Like Racenet on Facebook: / racenetinternetservices Follow Racenet on Twitter: / racenettweetsTranscript #QueenslandWinterCarnival #QueenslandRacingCarnival
The Australian
23-06-2025
- The Australian
Trackwork rider Chris Wearne appeals 18-month ban
Rockhampton trackwork rider Chris Wearne has appealed the decision to ban him from holding a licence for 18 months for striking a horse with a lead rope and a wooden twitch seven times. Wearne's lawyer Gabe Hutchinson has lodged the appeal with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, arguing that the Queensland Racing Appeals Panel (QRAP) 'erred in law by imposing a penalty that was manifestly excessive'. Wearne was initially banned for 16 months for an incident captured on CCTV in September 2021 but after he appealed to QRAP, the penalty was increased to a disqualification of 18 months. Hutchinson has lodged an appeal to QCAT, arguing that QRAP's decision should be set aside and the penalty reduced to six months, taking into account the time Wearne has already served since starting his suspension on March 31. • 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! Wearne had pleaded guilty to a charge under section AR 231 of the Australian Rules of Racing which prohibits a person from committing an act of cruelty to a horse. Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards alleged that while trying to groom Menari Magic at trainer Paul Butterworth's Hendra stables in Brisbane, the then two-year-old filly bit Wearne on the arm before rearing, striking the trackwork jockey on the forearm. Wearne is accused of then striking Menari Magic with a lead rope five times and twice with a wooden twitch in the head region. In one video taken by stablehand Candice Piggott and later sent to QRIC, Wearne yelled at the horse 'guess what, round two c**t' and 'get up you f***ing rat'. Chris Wearne's lawyer Gabe Hutchinson. In the latest appeal, Hutchinson argues that QRAP 'breached the rules of natural justice' by relying on the evidence of Piggott, who did not give direct evidence to either the stewards' inquiry or the appeals panel. He also said that QRAP had 'erred in law' by denying Wearne a discount on the penalty after he 'admitted every particular of the charge against him and accepted that he was guilty of an alternative charge, improper conduct under (section) AR 228'. Hutchinson argued that QRAP 'unreasonably and irrationally' found that Wearne did not spend a considerable amount of time, such as 45 minutes, attempting to control Menari Magic.
News.com.au
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Hobby trainer Craig Cousins in pursuit of Stradbroke glory with The Inflictor
Craig Cousins has got the speech ready, he's got the new suit and he's got the horse. Now all the larrikin truck driver and hobby trainer has to do is win the thing. We are talking about the $3m Stradbroke Handicap. The Stradbroke, first run in 1890, has had its share of colourful and quirky stories but never before has it seen anything quite like Cousins. The 60-year-old only has three horses in work but one of them, home bred hero The Inflictor, has qualified for The Star Stradbroke. It has meant that Cousins has taken the week off his full-time job as a truck driver to enjoy everything the grandest week in Queensland racing has to offer. 'I have gone and bought a suit, I've bought some ties and I am thinking about the Stradbroke all the time,' Cousins said. 'I do little things in my mind, even when I'm driving the truck, and I've rehearsed what my victory speech is going to be if we win.' Cousins was born in Tasmania to a racing family and his much-loved Dad Des, who passed away on Caulfield Cup day nine years ago, was also a small-time trainer. Mum Carmel, now 90, hasn't been enjoying the best of health but she loves her racing and is determined to get to Eagle Farm if she can on Saturday to witness her boy's big Stradbroke moment. The Inflictor, to be ridden by young gun female jockey Cejay Graham, won a golden ticket into the Stradbroke when winning The Gateway last December. Ever since, Cousins has been plotting a path to Stradbroke glory. But they are busy days as he not only has to worry about The Inflictor and his other horses, but also keep focused on his day job of driving a truck. 'I work for a company called DMK Forest Products and I deliver particle board, plywood and other things to carpenters and shop fitters and joiners,' Cousins said. 'Every day I get up at about 3.15am and I do all the stuff that needs to be done at the stables before I take the horses to the track to do their work. 'My work rider jumps on my horses about 4.45am, then I leave for home about 5.30am. 'I get home by 6am and then I might have a shower and a shave and a coffee and then I head to work and do an eight-hour day. 'I can drive the truck anywhere from up to Gympie, to down to the Gold Coast, to out west to Toowoomba. 'Depending on what my workload is, I'm pretty bloody tired by the end of the week. 'I often find myself thinking about my horses when I'm driving the truck.' One of Cousins' earliest Stradbroke memories was when the great Daybreak Lover won the prestigious race in 1986. Now The Inflictor, a four-year-old gelding which is the son of 2016 Stradbroke winner Under The Louvre, gets an extraordinary chance to join some greats of the turf on the Stradbroke honour roll. The Inflictor is owned by a syndicate managed by Kurt Turner, the eldest son of the late trainer and breeder Ken 'Tubby' Turner. For two decades, Cousins managed a bowls club in Brisbane and he says that even if he won Queensland racing's greatest prize it wouldn't change his life. He would still return to work driving trucks next week and has no plans to expand his small team of horses. 'Dad passed away on Caulfield Cup day nine years ago, but he would be over the moon with me having a Stradbroke horse,' Cousins said. 'The two things that Dad taught me with horses are that if you can't feed them the best feed, don't have them. 'And he also said to make sure I looked after their feet and their teeth. 'This horse was wandering around cattle yards for a while as a young horse, but even then he was a good horse to handle. 'It will be a great thrill if he wins the Stradbroke, but it won't change things too much for me. 'I'm too old to suddenly start training more horses and if you do that, you have to start employing people and there's a lot of obligations. 'At the moment, I'm a one-man band with my training operation and that's the way it will stay. 'If I want to go to the footy or something, I might get a friend to give my horses some water and feed and clean up their poo, but basically I do 99 per cent of everything myself.'
News.com.au
10-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Noel Callow charged with improper conduct over track altercation with fellow jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor
Queensland stewards have slapped multiple Group 1-winning rider Noel Callow with an improper conduct charge over a physical altercation with fellow jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor. Wilson-Taylor has been advised by stewards he will not be facing any stewards' charges over the matter. The stewards' inquiry into a dramatic incident at the Doomben midweek races last month was resumed on Tuesday and took evidence from Callow, Wilson-Taylor and other jockeys. Callow had previously been unable to give evidence before the inquiry as he had left the course on the day to seek medical attention. Callow has not ridden since, after being out of action under a 12-day concussion protocol. Queensland chief steward Josh Adams told Racenet that Callow had pleaded guilty to the improper conduct charge at the resumed inquiry on Tuesday. He said multiple riders had given evidence at the resumed inquiry and Wilson-Taylor had been advised by stewards he would not face any charges. • Lloyd's dad to be trackside shot at Stradbroke history Wilson-Taylor initially insisted he had not been the aggressor in the incident. While all evidence has now been heard, Adams advised Callow had been given an extra day to provide submissions on penalty to stewards, due to the seriousness of the charge. The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission ordered the stewards' inquiry be closed, meaning Racenet has not been able to report on the specifics of any evidence given on Tuesday. Racenet was eager to make a submission before stewards as to why it believed the inquiry should be open rather than being held behind closed doors. But it was not afforded that opportunity. A statement, published earlier this week on the QRIC website, said: 'QRIC acknowledge that participants involved in stewards' inquiries may submit an application to request a closed hearing. 'QRIC stewards assess the merits of each application thoroughly, balancing the need for transparency and public interest provisions with the legitimate privacy, medical and welfare concerns of participants. 'QRIC takes these requests seriously to ensure that participants can provide evidence in an appropriate environment. 'QRIC's approach ensures that the integrity of the inquiry process is maintained while respecting the rights and wellbeing of all parties involved. 'QRIC remains dedicated to upholding fairness, transparency and the highest standards of conduct during all stewards' inquiries.'
