Latest news with #Quokka
West Australian
19-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
September Born impresses in second trial, warming up for winter three-year-old feature raid
Classy colt September Born continued his ascendance towards a racing preparation with a dynamic victory at Monday's Lark Hill trials, defeating the multiply Group-placed Miss Skyhigh in a 950m heat. The imposing son of Playing God sat midfield, bang on the back of capable type Hell I Am in a three-wide position. Cornering at the 450m, Brad Parnham eased the three-year-old four wide to chase down early leader Pompey and the youngster's big engine clicked into gear, making sustained progress down the outside. With 200m to go, he had mastered Pompey but now had Miss Skyhigh making inroads after finding a run against the rail. Despite the mare's electric burst, September Born kept up the gallop to score by a long neck with only half a length separating three Grant and Alana Williams-trained runners behind (Miss Skyhigh, Pompey and Hell I Am). It was September Born's second trial in as many weeks after he closed off in style behind stablemate Bustler at Belmont, showing noticeable physical progression from his previous preparation which featured a Fairetha Stakes win last November. After that trial, trainer Neville Parnham reported the entire to have come through the trial well but was 'extremely gross' and had a 'high heart rate', necessitating the need for Monday's hit-out. He will now aim the untapped sort at a campaign of 'two or three runs', beginning in an $80,000 three-year-old set weights and penalties event over 1200m on May 31. He will then look to emulate his full-sister Kay Cee by winning the Raconteur Stakes (1400m) and Belmont Guineas (1600m) on June 14 and 28 respectively. Earlier, Quokka winning duo Bernie Miller and Pat Carbery combined to salute in the fourth heat with a clever showing from two-year-old Forever Elite. Among the last to leave the gates, the daughter of Maschino quickly recovered along the fence to be only four lengths from leader Leg Godt at the 600m. Cuddled into the straight by Carbery, he finally poked the filly's head through a gap at the 200m and she quickened attractively, making smooth progress on Leg Godt instantaneously. Once shaken up nearing the 100m, Forever Elite steamed past the pace-maker and careered clear, scoring by a length and three quarters. It was the unraced youngster's second trial after taking the eye in a Lark Hill trial when third to Arctic Snow two weeks previous. Her mother, Brave Queen, won just once over 900m at the Gold Coast on a Heavy 10-rated track in March 2010. Shifting to WA later that year, Brave Queen had six starts at Esperance and beat just seven runners home in all of those starts cumulatively. + Junk Yard Clyde, who posted a brilliant 29.47 win to be the fastest WA Derby heat winner on Saturday at Cannington, has drawn box eight in the final. Nominal pre-series favourite West On Sidney missed a start after placing third in his qualifier.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Who is your winning look?
Juliet Cuerden & Matt Tinney at Kia Quokka Day at Ascot Racecourse. Picture: John Koh / The West Australian Bold florals, vibrant reds and a playful take on neutrals were front and centre at Kia Quokka Day's fashion on the field as a stylish crowd vied to take out the top spot. The judges — stylist Teagan Sewell, Channel 7's Matt Tinney, Suited founder Simon Crossland and Broochella founder Juliet Cuerden — had some tough competition on their hands, awarding Victoria Hutton and Peter Kerr with the top accolades. Kia Quokka Day is WA's richest ever race day, with Jokers Grin capturing this year's $5m Quokka.
Courier-Mail
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
2025 Archer: Bjorn Baker with Iowna Merc, Sandpaper in Rockhampton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Bjorn Baker has two of the leading fancies for the $1m The Archer slot race but says both come with a gentle word of caution. Iowna Merc and Sandpaper race in the colours of Darby Racing and both are making the trek north to the central Queensland beef capital of Rockhampton for Sunday's dash for cash. Both have the runs on the board to win The Archer, with Iowna Merc winning a Group 2 in Sydney before finishing five lengths off them in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile. • 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! Sandpaper has won two of his past three, including when holding off all challengers in a fighting win at Randwick over 1400m earlier this month. However there is one small concern as they look to knock off Tony Gollan's Archer favourite Transatlantic and other contenders in the rich regional slot race over 1300m. Iowna Merc has raced 10 times since last having a break and Sandpaper will be having his eighth run this campaign. • Dethroned Quokka champion set for Doomben 10,000 'Both of these horses have been up for a while, we are very mindful of that,' Baker said. 'And they also have a fairly arduous week this week, with a reasonably big trip up to Rockhampton. 'But we are in it to win it. 'Both of these horses are rock hard fit, so we haven't had to do much with them. 'Iowna Merc's best form would be good enough to win this but he's probably got to get back to that very best form, which is a little bit of a question mark. 'Regardless of what happens on Sunday, Sandpaper has had a great preparation and he will be better again next preparation.' • Potential Group 1 star who can be 'beaten a furlong' in trials Jockey Ashley Morgan, who knows how to win a slot race having scored the $3m Sunlight on Private Harry at the Sunshine Coast in January, will jet north to partner Iowna Merc. Baker also knows how to win a slot race, having won The Quokka twice in Perth with Overpass before he was dethroned last Saturday in his bid for a third. Elite Sydney hoop Nash Rawiller will ride Sandpaper. Originally published as Word of caution for Bjorn Baker pair in $1m Archer slot race
News.com.au
28-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Dethroned The Quokka champion Overpass set for 2025 Doomben 10,000
Group 1 star and seasoned traveller Overpass may have lost his $5m The Quokka crown, but will now add extra star power to the early stages of the Queensland winter carnival. Trainer Bjorn Baker and syndicator Scott Darby confirmed the $10.5m earner would attack the $1.5m Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on May 17. Overpass was striving to score his third consecutive The Quokka last Saturday but finished fifth, beaten a length-and-a-half by fairytale winner Jokers Grin, who is trained by 70-year-old Bernie Miller. • 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! Overpass, rated a $6 chance in the Doomben 10,000, will now add some extra snap and crackle to the early stages of the winter carnival. 'For sure, he will go to the Doomben 10,000, we are definitely going that way as long as all goes well,' Baker told Racenet. 'He has got a bit of a travel in front of him, but that's what we will do. 'It will just be the one run in Queensland. 'In The Quokka, I thought he was OK and still ran well and didn't get beaten that far. 'Maybe, it was a little bit of a risk going in second-up and maybe that took its toll. 'We thought we could get away with it, three weeks between runs, given he is a little bit older. 'Next year, we would look at going to The Quokka first-up.' "I think he might have got the winning hand." JOKERS GRIN storms home from the clouds & wins the $5 million Quokka! ðŸ'¥ — (@Racing) April 26, 2025 • Overpass has raced in the Doomben 10,000 before, finishing second behind Giga Kick in 2023. As the Queensland winter carnival stars start to align, Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith indicated there was a chance The Quokka and Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes placegetter Headwall could also head north for the winter. 'I won't make a decision until I get him home, I will probably know what we are doing with him early next week,' Smith said. Meanwhile, Glen Thompson indicated last Saturday's Group 1 Australasian Oaks winner Benagil could be set for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 7. Benagil was an emphatic Oaks winner in South Australia and there were emotional scenes given the passing of co-trainer Michael Moroney earlier this year. Benagil is the $4.50 favourite for the Queensland Oaks and Thompson told Racenet: 'She is a chance of coming to Queensland, depending on the next week and how she is after her (South Australian) trip.' Maiden filly Sweltering finished runner-up behind Benagil in Adelaide on Saturday and will almost certainly embark on a Queensland campaign, according to co-trainer Trent Busuttin.
Herald Sun
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Jokers Grin has last laugh with victory in The Quokka
Jokers Grin became the first West Australian galloper to win the state's biggest race – the $5m Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. The victory was by the biggest win of 70-year-old trainer Bernie Miller's career while it was redemption for winning rider Pat Carbery, who was aboard Amelia's Jewel when beaten a nose in the inaugural running of The Quokka in 2023. • 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's absolutely brilliant, how can you put that into words,' Miller told the 'I'll wake up tomorrow and still won't be able to talk about it. 'A dream come true. 'A lot of belief from a lot of people that have backed me and helped me out throughout the years, your vets, your staff at home, my farrier. 'It's just fantastic, a big dream.' The only previous Quokka winner Overpass was sent out a commanding favourite to make it three straight wins in the race and after being made to work early, he crossed the field and took up the running but this year, his winning kick wasn't there and it was left to the swoopers. Headwall emerged at the 200m and looked the winner but tagging him was Jokers Grin and late in the piece he got the better of the Sydneysider to score with another local Generosity in third while Overpass weakened into fifth. 'It was about the 150 when I saw him fan out and I thought 'we'll just use the old camber and we'll be right',' Miller said. 'I stood where I've never watched him before and the trill of watching him go past, it was tremendous.' The win also provided Carbery with the biggest victory in the career of the five-time Group 1-winning veteran. He and Miller are best mates, and the victory was a dream come true on a personal level for the pair of racing stalwarts. Joker's Grin (white cap) proves too strong for Headwall (pink cap) and Generosity (orange cap). Picture: Western Racepix 'I don't have to talk about Bernie, everyone knows what I think of him, we're best mate,' Carbery said. 'Not because we've had success together, we're just best mates. 'I'm really lucky. A lot of people don't get to work with someone that is really close to you and I'm just blessed for one, to ride for Bernie but to also be his best mate. 'This is just the pinnacle of my career.' The winning slot-holder was the Ladbrokes Racing Club which on Thursday night also won greyhound racing's version of The Quokka, The Sandgroper with Deadly Avenger. Originally published as Jokers Grin delivers for the locals in The Quokka at Ascot
