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Courier-Mail
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Winx's 2025 stallion revealed by owner Peter Tighe
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Mighty mare Winx will visit Darley's champion sire Too Darn Hot in the coming spring breeding season. Winx's ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke made the much-anticipated announcement on Monday night, ending weeks of speculation about their legendary mare's next mating. 'We are thrilled to announce Too Darn Hot as the stallion of choice for Winx this season,'' said Peter Tighe on behalf of Winx's owners. 'His pedigree, performance and the early success of his progeny align with our long-term vision for Winx's breeding legacy. 'We believe this pairing has the potential to produce something very special.'' • 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! Hall of Fame champion Winx, winner of 37 of her 43 starts including her final 33 races in succession highlighted by a world record 25 Group 1 winners, has produced two foals to date – a filly by Pierro that is now a two-year-old named Quinceanera and a colt by Snitzel that will be a yearling next season. Too Darn Hot, a dual hemisphere shuttle stallion, is already the sire of four-time Group 1 winner Broadsiding and multiple stakes winners in his first two Australian crops to race. Winx's ownership group also noted in their press release that Too Darn Hot, a multiple Group 1-winning son of the great Dubawi, has 'quickly established himself as one of Europe's most exciting young stallions.'' 'His progeny has demonstrated early precocity, exceptional athleticism and outstanding temperament – qualities that strongly complement Winx's remarkable racing attributes and pedigree,'' the owners wrote. • 'A bit of a freak': Wootton Bassett's incredible run continues Too Darn Hot's service fee of $275,000 this spring breeding season reflects the demand for the stallion who stands at Darley Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley. Quinceanera, the first foal out of all-time great Winx, created headlines around the racing world when Debbie Kepitis, a part-owner of Winx, went to $10 million – a world record for a yearling filly – to buy back the filly at the Inglis Easter Sale last year. Trainer Chris Waller has Quinceanera in light work at his Rosehill stables but the trainer said the two-year-old would not be rushed to the races over the winter months. 'She's progressing well but she won't be racing as a two-year-old,'' Waller said last week. 'It's unlikely she will even get to a barrier trial this season. Maybe by early August she could get to a trial.'' Tighe said no decision has been made whether Winx's colt by Snitzel will be sold as a yearling next season. Originally published as Champion mare Winx to visit Darley sire Too Darn Hot in spring breeding season
Herald Sun
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Trainer Jason Warren sets Benedetta task ahead of Stradbroke
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Victorian trainer Jason Warren will roll the dice and run his star mare Benedetta in Saturday's Kingsford Smith Cup before backing up in the Stradbroke Handicap just seven days later. The Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) was meant to be contested last Saturday but heavy rain at Eagle Farm forced several races to be rescheduled to Wednesday and this weekend. Warren admitted that the decision could hurt his Stradbroke hopes but with Brisbane's fickle weather this year, he didn't want to risk five-year-old Benedetta running on a heavy track at Eagle Farm on June 14 in Brisbane's premier race. • 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 jeopardises the Stradbroke without any shadow of a doubt but there's a good week of weather and we probably have to take it while we've got it,' Warren said on Monday. 'I'd hate to wait a week and end up on a heavy track in the Stradbroke. 'We've got a horse ready to go and win a Group 1 and if we get a decent surface then I think we've got to take it. 'She's in great order, apart from having to spend four hours at the races last Saturday for no reason.' • Pride's plea: 'What about the Kingsford Smith Cup horses?' Two-time major winner Joliestar is the $3 favourite for the Kingsford Smith Cup ahead of Giga Kick ($5) and Benedetta ($8.50). William Reid Stakes runner-up Benedetta hasn't raced since finishing fourth as a $4.80 chance in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 17 behind Sunshine In Paris, Queensland warhorse Rothfire and Payline. The Joe Pride-trained veteran gelding Private Eye will bypass the Kingsford Smith Cup to focus on the 1400m Stradbroke. The 2021 Group 1 Epsom Handicap winner is a $21 chance in the Stradbroke, won last year by Stefi Magnetica. Last-start Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) winner Bosustow will contest the rescheduled Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben on Wednesday, giving the Rob and Annabel Archibald-trained colt a 10-day lead-up to the Stradbroke, where he and Benedetta are $10 chances. Originally published as Trainer Jason Warren will run star mare Benedetta in Saturday's Kingsford Smith Cup ahead of 2025 Stradbroke Handicap tilt
Mercury
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mercury
Michael Hawkes declares Gallo Nero ‘horse to beat' in BRC Sires' Produce Stakes
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. A bullish Michael Hawkes has declared 'we're not wary of anybody' in Saturday's BRC Sires' Produce Stakes, believing the wide spaces of Eagle Farm will suit his colt Gallo Nero. Leading jockey Tommy Berry will step up to steer Gallo Nero after regular rider Tyler Schiller suffered a fractured back on Wednesday when filly Rockabye Roxy bucked the hoop in a frightening incident at Canterbury Park. Schiller will miss at least six weeks, ruling him out of the Queensland winter carnival, including the plum ride on $4.20 favourite Gallo Nero in the $1m BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m). • 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! The Michael Freedman-trained gelding Aerodrome is $6.50, with local star Grafterburners next on the line at $7. 'It's very disappointing for Tyler,' Michael Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his father John and brother Wayne, said on Friday. 'Tommy Berry's a great back-up but Tyler's done all the work on the horse. His time will come.' Hawkes believed Gallo Nero deserved to win his last-start – the Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben (1200m) two weeks ago when he finished runner-up behind Cool Archie after being forced to run wide without cover for most of the trip on a Heavy 8 track. • No Frankie, no worries for Giga Kick in Group 1 attack 'He should've won first-up, everyone saw it,' he said. 'In this day and age unfortunately barriers win races and he was no closer than four-deep probably the whole way. 'He deserved to win. Take nothing away from the other horse (Cool Archie) but he got the breaks and went through them while we had to go around them. 'He had a hard run – first-up on a bog track is not ideal – but his first time at 1400m should suit. 'Hopefully he gets a lovely run because I think Eagle Farm will definitely suit him. It's a big, roomy track that he'll appreciate. 'We're not wary of anybody, he's the horse to beat. 'As long as he gets a good run in transit, everything goes his way and he has a bit of luck then he's going to figure in the finish.' Tyler Schiller riding colt Gallo Nero to victory at Royal Randwick last December. Picture: Getty Images Both Aerodrome and Gallo Nero are $8 chances for the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) for 2YOs on June 14 at Eagle Farm. Freedman said he would prefer a dry track on Saturday for the undefeated Aerodrome, despite him winning the Clarendon Stakes (1400m) last start on heavy ground at Hawkesbury. But with persistent rain on Friday and up to 40mm forecast for Brisbane on Saturday, the Golden Slipper-winning trainer won't get his wish. • One-time Derby fancy can bounce back from second-up syndrome 'I was hoping we'd get a firmer track because he's got such a good action,' Freedman said. 'Whilst he won on a Heavy 8 track at Hawkesbury, I don't think he was as good on that surface as he was the start before on a drier track. 'But look, he's travelled up well and he's very bright and happy. I was happy with his work here (in Sydney) on Tuesday. 'It just remains to be seen how the track plays.' Originally published as Michael Hawkes declares Gallo Nero 'horse to beat' in BRC Sires' Produce Stakes
Herald Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Herald Sun
Big Swinger bails out favourite backers with stunning burst in Caulfield win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Favourite backers were poised to write off their money with 200m to run in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (1200m). The Charlotte Littlefield-trained Big Swinger carried the hopes of thousands of punters in win bets and multis but they had a tough watch throughout the $150,000 race. • 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! A combination of Big Swinger's racing manners and goings on ahead of him left jockey Ben Allen to negotiate a difficult trip from the start. Big Swinger got up on to the heels of other runners at least twice midrace as the strong galloper looked for racing room. Big Swinger was still held up behind a wall of horses halfway down the straight, leaving Allen searching for options. However, Allen managed to ease Big Swinger off heels from where the smart prospect charged to a narrow win over the $21 chance Flyer. Big Swinger's finishing burst was a relief to the gelding's band or owners on course as well as those that took the short odds about the three-year-old son of Trapeze Artist. 'About 100(m) to go, we were going to run an unlucky fifth,' Littlefield's husband Julian Hay said. 'It takes a good horse to do that.' Hay said Big Swinger's finishing burst was no surprise, adding the gelding clocked some 'scary' trackwork times at Littlefield's Pakenham base. Big Swinger's win left the Creswick Series of three-year-old sprints as ideal winter targets for the winner of four of six starts. However, Hay said Big Swinger was still 'soft-boned', meaning Littlefield was more likely to give the emerging prospect more time to develop. 'He's the best horse we've ever trained, we think, he's got that much ability,' Hay said. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ PREBBLE REPAYS PAYNES Apprentice jockey Tom Prebble sealed a Saturday double at Caulfield with victory on Jimmy The Bear for his uncle and aunty Patrick and Michelle Payne. Prebble, who by his own admission did not give Jimmy The Bear the best steer first-up when second to the in-form War Machine, more than made amends on Saturday. Jimmy The Bear finished over the top of tenacious leader Regal Zeus, courtesy of a perfectly-timed and economical Prebble steer. Prebble faced the potential of being posted wide again on Jimmy The Bear but the rising star found cover at a crucial stage in the 1600m Benchmark 100 JRA Handicap to set up the win. 'The race probably didn't unfold exactly how I planned, I didn't want to repeat the same thing that happened last start, being caught three deep on a fast tempo,' Prebble said. 'I was able to get in and he was good … 1400m up to 1600m, second up, his record is pretty impeccable, so I knew he would be strong. 'He's a complete and utter fighter, he wants to race and I'm very fortunate Patrick has given me the opportunity now to ride him twice after probably not giving him the best of steers first ride.' Prebble piloted the impressive winner Splash Back earlier on the card for Grahame Begg. WHITE LINE FEVER LANDS JOURNAL ANOTHER WIN A touch of 'white line fever' brought imported galloper Dublin Journal victory in the Ian Miller Handicap (2000m). Dublin Journal has been a good money spinner for connections, especially after trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes worked out the gelding loves the cut and thrust of racing among other horses. Luke Currie rode the seven-year-old in that fashion at Caulfield, opting against going out wide when held up on the home turn, instead driving Dublin Journal ($9) along the inside to beat I Am The Empire ($26). 'He requires a lot of luck and Luke executed it perfectly,' JD Hayes said. 'He's a funny horse. As soon as he gets outside them, he gives up but he loves the crash and bash and pokes through late.' Earlier, Currie combined with the Hayes brothers in Madiyya's third straight win in the Rod Griffiths Handicap. Madiyya sustained a long run from the rear of the field before the $1.75 favourite defied the late challenge of the $10 chance I ONLY WISH. PRESS THE BUTTON Trial By Press answered the call to run down Extreme Virtue in the Selangor Turf Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield. The Greg Eurell-trained five-year-old daughter of Danerich preserved a perfect second-up record – now three from three – with the win under apprentice jockey Ryan Houston. Extreme Virtue looked set to pinch the race around the bend, the Lindsay Park-trained mare skipped clear under apprentice jockey Dakotah Keane, but Trial By Press would not be denied. 'I thought coming into the turn the leader started to skip away a little bit and thought gee we might struggle to run this down and to her credit she dug deep,' Eurell said. 'Typical of the mare, as I said to Ryan, she's very push button, the more you ask the more she gives and that's exactly what she did today.' Originally published as Big Swinger bails out favourite backers with stunning burst in Caulfield win
Courier-Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Brisbane Cup on cards for Kiwi import Campaldino after third straight win at Eagle Farm
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Former Kiwi Campaldino must have felt like he was back in his former homeland as he relished the heavy Eagle Farm conditions to take out the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m). There were wild betting fluctuations in the staying event, raced on a Heavy 8 surface, as one-time favourite Immediacy took a bath in betting and blew from $4.20 to $7. • 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! Immediacy was given a good run in transit by James McDonald but the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained gelding never fired a shot and was beaten out of sight. Punters zeroed in on former import Dillian, trained by locals Will and Peter Hulbert, and he was backed from $10 to $5.50 favourite in the belief he was a swimmer. Dillian was also well beaten but, meanwhile, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Campaldino ($7.50) was enjoying the conditions under jockey Tim Clark. This was a big step up from wins at a midweek event and the Orange Cup. But the four-year-old who started his racing career on the other side of the ditch has now put three consecutive wins on the board. 'He relished the conditions and he's been a progressive horse and he is starting to put is all together now,' Bott said. 'There's more upside there and he is racing with a bit of confidence. 'We came up here with a bit of confidence the way he'd been working since his last run and the way he's been all preparation. 'When the rain came it filled us with confidence.' Bott said it was onwards and upwards towards the Group 2 Brisbane Cup over 3200m on Stradbroke Handicap day at Eagle Farm in a fortnight. Clark said Campaldino felt like a new horse. 'He made a really big leap there coming from midweeks,' Clark said. 'He's just been a different horse since Gai and Adrian took the blinkers off him. 'He was wanting to overdo it. With the blinkers off he relaxes really well. 'He conserves his energy and it was a really dominant performance there. 'The way he's relaxing in his races is the key and I'm sure over two miles he'll do the same.' The Waterhouse and Bott and Clark team was back in business in the following race with New Endeavour taking out the Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup (1800m). It was the former import's first win Down Under but he did boast a runner-up finish in last year's Group 1 Doomben Cup. Originally published as Brisbane Cup on cards for Kiwi import Campaldino after third straight win in Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Eagle Farm
