Latest news with #Quirindi
Daily Telegraph
28-05-2025
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Gosford, Inverell previews: Adam Duggan hoping for a Divine result in the wet
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Adam Duggan had a nice opinion of Divine Bene in his early trackwork and trials but a couple of unflattering runs to start his career put that into question. It wasn't until Divine Bene got onto a wet track that he started to perform to a higher level and placed in three consecutive runs as he built into his first campaign. 'He is a horse I had a bit of time for early days but didn't show a lot in his first couple of runs,' said Duggan. 'Once we got him going with a couple of runs under his belt, we worked out he didn't have much of a turn of foot but he could sustain the same speed throughout. 'We also found he had a real liking for wet track. I don't think I've had a horse who has had so many runs on a wet track.' Divine Bene has raced on wet ground in eight of the 10 career starts with seven of them on heavy where he has a win and four minor placings. He returned this campaign with a nice win first-up over 1550m on the Beaumont before a third to Lutetia at Newcastle both on Heavy 8 tracks before a second to Sirius Flyer in a Soft 5 at Quirindi last start. 'It probably wasn't wet enough for him at Quirindi the other day,' he said. The four-year-old gets his preferred conditions when steps out in the Class 1 Handicap (1200m). 'I'm happy to have Ash Morgan back on. He rode him really well to win first-up,' Duggan said. 'He's also in at Inverell. I'll discuss it with his owners but Gosford is my preferred option.' Duggan also has Purple Haze entered for the Super Maiden Handicap (1200m) on his home track. The gelding battled away for third to Yes Siree on a Heavy 10 at Wyong on debut on May 1. 'He has been a real work in progress,' said Duggan. 'He was aided by a fair few scratchings in a fairly soft race on debut if I'm being honest but in saying that, I would be surprised if he doesn't improve. 'I think the 1200m will suit him better and eventually a bit further than that.' Warwick Farm trainer Clarry Conners has been pleased with the way Okami Star has raced this campaign and gives him a change of securing another win in the Class 1 Handicap (1600m). The gelding resumed with a second to Pelosa at Hawkesbury followed by a fifth at Kembla before breaking through with a narrow win from Murphilly at Wyong. Last start, he boxed on a long neck fourth to Ocean One at Hawkesbury. 'He has come back a nice horse this time in,' said Conners. 'At Hawkesbury last start, he went around and got to the front then just eased up on him. 'He's a big striding horse and it would have been better if he kept going on him. 'I'm happy with the horse though.' Conners also feels Proclivity can bounce back from a luckless run last start when he contests the 2&3YO Maiden Handicap (1600m). After a debut second to Caltsar at Newcastle, the gelding finished sixth to Monte Veebee at Kembla. 'It was a good run at Newcastle on debut then at Kembla everything went wrong. He got knocked down and pushed back,' he said. 'Aaron Bullock rode him in his first start and was impressed with the horse. 'I'm very happy to be able to get him again this week. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ A slow start and untimely bump put paid to the chances of Angels Cloud last start but trainer Marc Quinn couldn't be happier with his mare and expects her to break through for a well-earned win when she heads to Inverell. Angels Cloud started a $1.90 favourite at Glen Innes earlier this month following three handy placings since joining Quinn's stable. Unfortunately, she was put out of business in the first couple of strides when she settled further back than expected on her way to finishing second behind Immortal Lass. 'I really thought she would have won at Glen Innes the other day but she took a backwards step when the gates opened and Cody's (Morgan) horse got a march on us and that was the end of the race for her,' said Quinn. 'She has had a good couple of weeks since then. 'Obviously last week was a bit of a washout for us. We missed trackwork for a couple of days but they are not going to lose much fitness going on the walker for a couple of days. 'Despite the weather, the horses coped with it really well and she had a lovely gallop on Saturday.' Angels Cloud has drawn ideally on barrier 4 in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m) with Matthew McGuren to again partner her. 'She has drawn well and Matthew decided to stick with her which is good,' he said. 'All she needs to do is step away and I think she will be hard to beat. Quinn is weighing up his options for Perhaps Perhaps in the Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1800m) but expects her to run a much improved race if she does start. The four-year-old debuted for Quinn with a handy fifth to Justifiably at Port Macquarie on April 19 before backing up on a heavy track there eight days later when down the order behind Imarealamerican over 1500m. She then finished a somewhat unlucky fifth to Visualise over 1400m at Glen Innes. 'Her first run for us was really good and we thought we would try and rider her handier second-up but I don't think she appreciated that and the quick back-up,' he said. 'We didn't want to come back in distance but there wasn't a lot of options for her after so we took her to Glen Innes. 'I thought the run was passable and the step up to 1800m suits her quite well.'
News.com.au
28-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Gosford preview: Local trainer Adam Duggan is banking on Divine Bene's love of wet tracks to land another win
Trainer Adam Duggan had a nice opinion of Divine Bene in his early trackwork and trials but a couple of unflattering runs to start his career put that into question. It wasn't until Divine Bene got onto a wet track that he started to perform to a higher level and placed in three consecutive runs as he built into his first campaign. 'He is a horse I had a bit of time for early days but didn't show a lot in his first couple of runs,' said Duggan. 'Once we got him going with a couple of runs under his belt, we worked out he didn't have much of a turn of foot but he could sustain the same speed throughout. 'We also found he had a real liking for wet track. I don't think I've had a horse who has had so many runs on a wet track.' Divine Bene returns strong, winning first up for @adugganracing with @AshMorgan6 in the saddle! ðŸ'� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 24, 2025 Divine Bene has raced on wet ground in eight of the 10 career starts with seven of them on heavy where he has a win and four minor placings. He returned this campaign with a nice win first-up over 1550m on the Beaumont before a third to Lutetia at Newcastle both on Heavy 8 tracks before a second to Sirius Flyer in a Soft 5 at Quirindi last start. 'It probably wasn't wet enough for him at Quirindi the other day,' he said. The four-year-old gets his preferred conditions when steps out in the Class 1 Handicap (1200m). 'I'm happy to have Ash Morgan back on. He rode him really well to win first-up,' Duggan said. 'He's also in at Inverell. I'll discuss it with his owners but Gosford is my preferred option.' Duggan also has Purple Haze entered for the Super Maiden Handicap (1200m) on his home track. The gelding battled away for third to Yes Siree on a Heavy 10 at Wyong on debut on May 1. 'He has been a real work in progress,' said Duggan. 'He was aided by a fair few scratchings in a fairly soft race on debut if I'm being honest but in saying that, I would be surprised if he doesn't improve. 'I think the 1200m will suit him better and eventually a bit further than that.' Okami Star takes out the opener at Wyong and breaks his maiden! ðŸ'¥ @HeavelonVan â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 1, 2025 Warwick Farm trainer Clarry Conners has been pleased with the way Okami Star has raced this campaign and gives him a change of securing another win in the Class 1 Handicap (1600m). The gelding resumed with a second to Pelosa at Hawkesbury followed by a fifth at Kembla before breaking through with a narrow win from Murphilly at Wyong. Last start, he boxed on a long neck fourth to Ocean One at Hawkesbury. 'He has come back a nice horse this time in,' said Conners. 'At Hawkesbury last start, he went around and got to the front then just eased up on him. 'He's a big striding horse and it would have been better if he kept going on him. 'I'm happy with the horse though.' Conners also feels Proclivity can bounce back from a luckless run last start when he contests the 2&3YO Maiden Handicap (1600m). After a debut second to Caltsar at Newcastle, the gelding finished sixth to Monte Veebee at Kembla. 'It was a good run at Newcastle on debut then at Kembla everything went wrong. He got knocked down and pushed back,' he said. 'Aaron Bullock rode him in his first start and was impressed with the horse. 'I'm very happy to be able to get him again this week. â– â– â– â– â– A slow start and untimely bump put paid to the chances of Angels Cloud last start but trainer Marc Quinn couldn't be happier with his mare and expects her to break through for a well-earned win when she heads to Inverell. Angels Cloud started a $1.90 favourite at Glen Innes earlier this month following three handy placings since joining Quinn 's stable. Unfortunately, she was put out of business in the first couple of strides when she settled further back than expected on her way to finishing second behind Immortal Lass. 'I really thought she would have won at Glen Innes the other day but she took a backwards step when the gates opened and Cody's (Morgan) horse got a march on us and that was the end of the race for her,' said Quinn. What A Rush leads all the way to win the Port Mac opener! ðŸ'¥ â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 27, 2025 'She has had a good couple of weeks since then. 'Obviously last week was a bit of a washout for us. We missed trackwork for a couple of days but they are not going to lose much fitness going on the walker for a couple of days. 'Despite the weather, the horses coped with it really well and she had a lovely gallop on Saturday.' Angels Cloud has drawn ideally on barrier 4 in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m) with Matthew McGuren to again partner her. 'She has drawn well and Matthew decided to stick with her which is good,' he said. 'All she needs to do is step away and I think she will be hard to beat. Quinn is weighing up his options for Perhaps Perhaps in the Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1800m) but expects her to run a much improved race if she does start. The four-year-old debuted for Quinn with a handy fifth to Justifiably at Port Macquarie on April 19 before backing up on a heavy track there eight days later when down the order behind Imarealamerican over 1500m. She then finished a somewhat unlucky fifth to Visualise over 1400m at Glen Innes. 'Her first run for us was really good and we thought we would try and rider her handier second-up but I don't think she appreciated that and the quick back-up,' he said. 'We didn't want to come back in distance but there wasn't a lot of options for her after so we took her to Glen Innes. 'I thought the run was passable and the step up to 1800m suits her quite well.'
News.com.au
11-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Preview: Stirling Osland confident stunning debut winner Calico Miss can repeat the dose at Quirindi
ONE of the most impressive debut winners in the Northwest region so far this year will strive to make the quantum leap from a maiden to a Class 1 when she returns to Quirindi on Monday. Calico Miss, a Scone-bred, Armidale housed three-year-old filly, landed some substantial wagers when she burst away from her nine rivals to win her 1200m Maiden debut on April 29. 'She is a very nice horse,'' Osland said. 'We thought we would run her on New Year's Day but she went a bit shinny so she went to the paddock. 'We always thought she was a nice horse. 'She works well and does everything right, I thought she raced pretty tractably at her first start and didn't do a lot wrong in the running. 'She put herself everywhere she needed to be.' Calico Miss was given the perfect steer by prolific winning jockey Mikayla Weir at Quirindi 12-days ago. She'll need an even better ride this time given Calico Miss swaps barrier one for 13 which has unsettled her trainer somewhat. 'I'm still a little undecided given the sticky draw at Quirindi whether we go around there or go to Scone on Friday where there is a Class 1 on Cup Day,'' Osland said. 'If there are a few scratchings and the draw looks a bit more favourable, we'll go around at Quirindi but if it holds as it is, we'll be going around at Scone. 'I just get a little bit worried, Quirindi being a tight track, that being drawn wide and lightly-raced, we can get ourselves beaten by bad luck rather than ability.' Calico Miss is a long way off retirement but is sure to become a valued and welcome member of the elite Ramsey Pastoral broodmare band when the time comes. The filly is one of only 20 foals sired by Better Land which was narrowly beaten in the Rosebud and Up And Coming Stakes early on his career. Better Land's dam, Amelia's Dream, will forever be remembered as 'the Golden Slipper winner that wasn't' given her sensational withdrawal from the 2008 juvenile feature in the wake of her epic six-lengths win in the Silver Slipper. On top of that, Calico Miss can lay claim to being a member of one the most influential female families in the Australia Stud Book. All of its ongoing success can be traced directly to the Grand Chaudiere mare, Easy Date, whose four stakes-winners include the two fillies. Asawir and True Blonde, as a Apollo Stakes winner Quick Score and Max Lees' Champion Sprinter and later Champion Sire, Snippets. Meanwhile, Osland and Weir will combine early on the Quirindi card today when and where Skit 'N' Skat contests the Jockey Club Maiden Plate over 1450m. The five-year-old had his first three career starts under the care of John O'Shea, finishing second at Kembla on debut. His last start for O'Shea was an eye-catching, closing fourth, at Goulburn almost 12 months to the day that he made his Osland stable debut at his new home at Armidale. 'It looked he needed the run bad and was carrying a heap of weight,'' Osland said. 'He travelled nice then his legs got heavy and he blew out so obviously a couple of weeks between runs will tighten him up a bit so he should improve. 'He's got a sticky draw at Quirindi which doesn't but I am definitely heaps happier with him.'
News.com.au
11-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Best Bets and Inside Mail for Quirindi and Murwillumbah on Monday
The Daily Telegraph's Shayne O'Cass previews racing at Quirindi and Murwillumbah on Monday. QUIRINDI BEST BET Race 6 No. 12: Shutter Lightly-raced mare perfectly set-up for her first mile contest. NEXT BEST Arrives here in country grade with good recent provincial form. VALUE Drawn one; resumes off an impressive trial win. Handy mare on her day. QUADDIE Race 4: 12,14 Race 5: 6,7.9 Race 6: 12 Race 7: 4,12 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Mikayla Weir has some good rides at Quirindi on Monday. â– â– â– â– â– MURWILLUMBAH BEST BET Race 1 No. 10: Stynsy Reliable Man 3YO who should run this trip right out. NEXT BEST Race 3 No. 4: Pear Bellini Peach of a race for this in-form Waller filly. VALUE Race 6 No. 8: Russian Diva Won twice already this prep and seems to handle the slop. RACE 1 Wanavan wears the same silks as her Hawkesbury Guineas winning 'auntie' Shazee Lee. Wanavan's best run of her five starts so far was a neck second (led) in a 1000m Super Maiden at Muswellbrook. Rest assured, she'll be in this for a long way. Clan D'Oro remains winless after 20 starts but she has placed nine times and in some quite respectable races around the place. Take note, she was a distant (led) second here on April 29 to a potentially smart horse, that being Calico Miss which runs in the last today. Bet: Wanavan to win, exacta 6 to beat 8 RACE 2 Bouzy's Babe (no rider booked) will be hard to beat in the event if she starts. If not, all roads lead to the John Ramsey filly Pathelia who is a valuable broodmare given she is by The Autumn Sun out of G3 winner Dawnie Perfect whose own dam, Zagalia, was fourth in a Cox Plate. Pathelia comes back from 2200m to 1450m but has done that before effectively. Cup Of Ambition has gone 26 starts now without a win but this is winnable. Bet: Bouzy's babe to win or if scratched Pathelia each-way RACE 3 Press Forward has won only three races in his 41 starts but has 10 seconds and six thirds. Long story short, some of those seconds were by very narrow margins and barriers haven't always been kind to him. Happy days here for the Brett Robb trained gelding who should get every possible chance from barrier 4. Might not be a faster horse in action at Quirindi today than Too Darn Lovely. Boasts a win and a third at his only two runs at the track/trip. Bet: Press Forward to win, quinella 1,2 RACE 4 The Piccolino was runner-up to two pretty good horses on March 24 and April 14 respectively. Looked close to a good thing on April 29 in a weaker Maiden but was beaten. In his defence, he was well back, came wide and ran on really well. It's time! Speaking of which, Holy Song is a 14 start maiden but he has run more races than bad. Well placed in this affair. Gerry Harvey's Musumeci was a shade disappointing at $3.40 last start but can atone. Bet: The Piccolino to win RACE 5 Arrabbiata is a handy mare and a very well bred broodmare for later on too given her direct descendant of the noteworthy producer - Subterfuge. As for her own talents, Arrabbita boasts two wins, four seconds and a third from her 17 starts. She broke her maiden here (at her only visit) by six lengths and has run some very respectable races in country, provincial and city grade. Great trial too. Insightful Award has won three of 12, one of those wins was here at Quirindi. Very fit and very well weighted; can't say the same about her barrier (10/10). Bet: Arrabiata to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 9, 2nd Leg (4) RACE 6 Shutter has had six starts for a Gunnedah maiden win and two thirds. That is the chronological order of her form leading into Monday's mission so she is in good form. The most appealing thing about her today is that it is a mile and she should relish that. Ditto that for Girly Pop who is another lightly-raced type; in her case a 3YO filly who won over 1400m on debut and is, as mentioned, crying out for 1600m now. Old hardheads, Bill Peyto and Badboy McCoy, are in contention. Divine Bene has a fascinating pedigree; mostly because of his sixth dam, Sweet Embrace, still the longest priced winner of the Golden Slipper when she took out the 1967 edition, while still a maiden, at 40/1. As for Divine Bene, he heads back to the bush armed with Newcastle form. Sagaponack is a very valuable great granddaughter of Lady Jakeo. She was super impressive winning her Maiden at Port Mac last start. Has obvious talent. Eager to see how Calico Miss follows up her emphatic debut win here from April 29.
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Grafton previews: Leading jockey Ben Looker has a strong hand to add to his home track record
Country Championship Final winning jockey Ben Looker aims to add the $500,000 The Coast to his resume but not before boosting his extraordinary Grafton tally. The one-time apprentice to local legend and Kosciuszko winning trainer John Shelton, Looker brought up his 1,300th winner when Point Out won at Quirindi 11 days ago. Not surprisingly, Grafton is Looker's most successful track with a current total of 259 wins. The most recent of those came on April 13 when Looker steered the lightly-raced and promising Olivershare to his first win at career start number two. 'He's still learning what it is all about but he was really good to win a Maiden from an awkward gate without a lot of luck in the middle stages,' Looker said. 'When he got to the second horse, he got passed it, then just floated a little bit. Olivershare wins the battle at Grafton to take Race 2! ðŸ'° @DavidMccolm2 â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 13, 2025 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'Going from a Maiden to a 58 is pretty hard to do nowadays with the Benchmark system. 'He's racing horses that have won more than one or two races but he has got a lot of upside and from the one alley he is going to be able to put himself there and he'll look the winner at some stage. 'He's a nice enough horse that I've got a lot of time for.' Looker is naturally eager to reacquaint himself with the well-bred Veandechance in the Brett Bellamy Congratulations On 1000 Benchmark 82 Handicap (1435m). The last time he rode the Colt Prosser -trained relative of Melbourne Cup winner Jezabeel was at her most recent start, winning a slogging mile affair at Taree on March 25. 'She hasn't raced for a bit over six weeks just with all the wet weather there really hasn't been any races for her,' Looker explained. 'Whatever she does over the 1400m, I feel that she is going to improve getting back up to a mile and 2000m down the track. 'But Grafton is rain-affected at the moment and she is very dynamic on a wet track.' Looker's first chance to win on the day comes in Edwards Irrigation Consulting Maiden (1030m) where he pilots the Showtime two-year-old Ol' Mate Coop. 'He went around a while ago at Coffs Harbour,' Looker said. Veandechance takes out the fifth at Taree for the @ColtProsser stable! ðŸ'� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 25, 2025 'Obviously Shaggy won the race and won quite well but the second horse has come out and won a race since and my horse ran third. 'Tony Newing's horses race well at their home track. 'He's a nice horse with a lot of upside.' While Looker's immediate focus centres on Grafton, all roads lead to Gosford on Saturday where the trusty hoop will hop aboard the Dynamic Syndications mare Rapt in a shared quest for the $500,000 The Coast. 'I was meant to ride Overriding in (The Coast) last year but unfortunately Nathan (Doyle) had to scratch,' Looker said. 'Rapt is not a short-price fancy but you can't really fault her form. 'She has raced well at Gosford in the past, she's three from three at the distance, and I thought her run was pretty good in the Provincial Championship Final. 'In a race where not a lot made ground from back in the field, I thought she did a good job to make up the ground she did. 'If she gets the luck, I think she'll beat more home than beat her home.' â– â– â– â– â– Donna Grisedale has provided an update on her husband/jockey Jon, weeks after a dangerous incident at a set of post-race barrier trials at Grafton. Grisedale, who has ridden close to 1,350 winners, was dislodged from his mount after it reared and fell on top of him while parading behind the barriers prior to the first of two Heats at Grafton on April 13. 'Jon's good,' Donna Grisedale said. 'It's probably halfway through with his broken leg but he is mending well and now it is a just a matter of time, hopefully another three weeks.' Jon Grisedale will be watching on from home as his wife saddles-up two of the string at Grafton, namely the stable recruit Ostracised together with the speedy Super One son, Super Jaie. Ostracised was bought, and sold, for a fourth time in his career, when knocked down for $10,000 at the Inglis February Online Sale in 2024. West Germany ($26) was second-up off a two-year break and led throughout in Race 2 at Grafton for trainer Lisa Sheppard. â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 29, 2024 The one-time Team Hawkes resident has been a model of consistency since his change of address, posting four thirds in his nine starts for Grisedale. 'We haven't had a jumpout or a trial so he is literally going straight into it pretty much raw but he still should run well, he loves the wet,' the trainer said. 'He's a good money-spinner. His first-up run is usually his worst and after that, he is very consistent. 'We've been trying to find a wet track but they just seem to be getting too wet and washed so hopefully Friday is his day.' Super Jaie, meanwhile, seems blessed with a favourable alley (two) in the last of the ten races on the marathon card. 'Ideally a Good 4 would be what he is looking for opposed to a Heavy track but we are going four and five weeks between runs with every horse so I am just losing fitness tremendously with too many of them,' said Grisedale. Grisedale's gelding's three wins career have come at distance ranging from 1106m to 1250m. Super Jaie's broodmare sires read like a who's who of Australia's most recognisable stallions including Snitzel, Century, Vain, Todman and Heroic.
