Latest news with #Rosehill
The Australian
2 days ago
- General
- The Australian
From setback to success: Andrew Adkins shines with Lord Mayor's Cup success
A new improved model of jockey Andrew Adkins reaped the rewards for his hard work at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday when success in the Listed Lord Mayor's Cup was one of his two winners. Adkins, 27, had done it tough since he was involved in a horror fall in 2020 when he broke his leg in four different places, punctured a lung and broke a collarbone. He returned to the saddle eight months later but the opportunities started drying up and in 2024 he made the decision to change tact and move his riding career in a different direction. • 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! 'I was coming to town, riding two or three 100-to-one chances, and I just spoke to the manager and we decided to try a different path,' Adkins said. 'We decided to take a step down, go back and get full books of chances at the provincials rather than coming to town on a Saturday and things have gone really well. 'The last 18 months or so, I've really been enjoying my riding and things have been going really well. 'Then you have a day like this, and you know you've done the right thing.' After riding less than 40 winners in each of the previous two seasons, Atkins is closing in on 60 race winners at a career best strike rate of 12.3 per cent for the 2024/25 season with two months still remaining until it draws to a close on July 31. 'Any Stakes winner is rewarding but to get two winners back in town today is very satisfying and it helps build that confidence,' he said. 'I've been back at the provincials for a while now and I've had great success there. 'It's been great for my confidence and now as we head into the winter months, the opportunities to come back and ride in town are opening up and like today, I've made the most of some really great opportunities.' • Eagle Farm to host Super Saturday after Derby Day washout Atkins win earlier in the day was aboard the impressive Joe Pride-trained King's Secret in the Toyota Forklifts 3&4YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) but his steer on the sometimes tricky Touristic in the Lord Mayor's Cup (2000m) was that of a mature rider at the peak of his powers. Touristic, a sometimes barrier rogue, jumped swiftly and rolled forward with Adkins finding a spot in the first three pairs of the field, switching him mount off to conserve energy before wheeling out four wide from the top of the straight and surging to the front 200m from home. 'The main thing for him today was to begin well, which is something he's not really known for, so that was box one ticked early on and from there I just wanted to have the most economical run as I could so that was another box ticked,' Adkins said. 'He had a really fluent run and he was always going to be strong late and he'd been crying out for a wet track like we've got today. 'He's a fit horse that was never going to stop so once he got the first half right, I was pretty confident he'll take some beating and that's the way it played out.' Touristic ($9) defeated Major Beel ($6) by two-and-a-quarter lengths with the $3.60 favourite Glory Daze another three-quarters of a length back in third. • McMurray's magic moment with first Saturday Sydney success Winning trainer Peter Snowden said the son of former British superstar Frankel was deserving of the victory while also praising the piloting skills of Adkins. 'He won well and he's done a really good job,' Snowden said. 'He's a horse that needs things to go right for him in a race and Andrew executed perfectly. 'He's a genuine enough horse but with cut in the ground, he relished the conditions and when he got put into the race like he was, he was always going to take some beating. 'Really happy for Andrew too. A genuine good guy that can ride light. 'He listens, works hard and we've had quite a bit of success over the years so yep, very happy for him.' Snowden said while Touristic 'has been up for a while' he would see how he comes through the run and consider a trip to Queensland for a race on the first weekend in July. 'A race like the Caloundra Cup might suit him,' he said. 'He can run a mile and a half. 'He ran second to Deny Knowledge in the Grafton Cup last year so he can get a trip and that might be on the cards.'
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Jockey Andrew Adkins' strategic shift yields stakes success in Lord Mayor's Cup at Rosehill Gardens
A new improved model of jockey Andrew Adkins reaped the rewards for his hard work at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday when success in the Listed Lord Mayor's Cup was one of his two winners. Adkins, 27, had done it tough since he was involved in a horror fall in 2020 when he broke his leg in four different places, punctured a lung and broke a collarbone. He returned to the saddle eight months later but the opportunities started drying up and in 2024 he made the decision to change tact and move his riding career in a different direction. • 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! 'I was coming to town, riding two or three 100-to-one chances, and I just spoke to the manager and we decided to try a different path,' Adkins said. 'We decided to take a step down, go back and get full books of chances at the provincials rather than coming to town on a Saturday and things have gone really well. 'The last 18 months or so, I've really been enjoying my riding and things have been going really well. 'Then you have a day like this, and you know you've done the right thing.' After riding less than 40 winners in each of the previous two seasons, Atkins is closing in on 60 race winners at a career best strike rate of 12.3 per cent for the 2024/25 season with two months still remaining until it draws to a close on July 31. 'Any Stakes winner is rewarding but to get two winners back in town today is very satisfying and it helps build that confidence,' he said. 'I've been back at the provincials for a while now and I've had great success there. 'It's been great for my confidence and now as we head into the winter months, the opportunities to come back and ride in town are opening up and like today, I've made the most of some really great opportunities.' See the sights! Touristic wins the Listed Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill, and that's a double to Andy Adkins today! 🙌 ðŸ�† @SnowdenRacing1 | @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 • Eagle Farm to host Super Saturday after Derby Day washout Atkins win earlier in the day was aboard the impressive Joe Pride -trained King's Secret in the Toyota Forklifts 3&4YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) but his steer on the sometimes tricky Touristic in the Lord Mayor's Cup (2000m) was that of a mature rider at the peak of his powers. Touristic, a sometimes barrier rogue, jumped swiftly and rolled forward with Adkins finding a spot in the first three pairs of the field, switching him mount off to conserve energy before wheeling out four wide from the top of the straight and surging to the front 200m from home. 'The main thing for him today was to begin well, which is something he's not really known for, so that was box one ticked early on and from there I just wanted to have the most economical run as I could so that was another box ticked,' Adkins said. 'He had a really fluent run and he was always going to be strong late and he'd been crying out for a wet track like we've got today. 'He's a fit horse that was never going to stop so once he got the first half right, I was pretty confident he'll take some beating and that's the way it played out.' Touristic ($9) defeated Major Beel ($6) by two-and-a-quarter lengths with the $3.60 favourite Glory Daze another three-quarters of a length back in third. What's next for Touristic after his Lord Mayors Cup win? Find out from Aaron Lau and Andy Adkins ðŸ'� @SnowdenRacing1 | @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 • McMurray's magic moment with first Saturday Sydney success Winning trainer Peter Snowden said the son of former British superstar Frankel was deserving of the victory while also praising the piloting skills of Adkins. 'He won well and he's done a really good job,' Snowden said. 'He's a horse that needs things to go right for him in a race and Andrew executed perfectly. 'He's a genuine enough horse but with cut in the ground, he relished the conditions and when he got put into the race like he was, he was always going to take some beating. 'Really happy for Andrew too. A genuine good guy that can ride light. 'He listens, works hard and we've had quite a bit of success over the years so yep, very happy for him.' Snowden said while Touristic 'has been up for a while' he would see how he comes through the run and consider a trip to Queensland for a race on the first weekend in July. 'A race like the Caloundra Cup might suit him,' he said. 'He can run a mile and a half. 'He ran second to Deny Knowledge in the Grafton Cup last year so he can get a trip and that might be on the cards.'
Daily Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
Zebra Finch eyes Group 1 JJ Atkins glory after Rosehill triumph
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Progressive Godolphin colt Zebra Finch will be given the opportunity to emulate his big-hitting stablemate Broadsiding, earning himself a crack at the JJ Atkins Stakes after lowering the boom on a couple of his more fancied rivals at Rosehill on Saturday. Yesterday's seven-horse affair held more interest than most of the other nine races on the Lord Mayor's Cup undercard given it overflowed with JJ Atkins aspirants including the Chris Waller duo Hidden Achievement and pricey Frankel colt, Sarapo. The Waller pair were expected to fight out on the finish as they had when they met at Gosford on Cup Day but were unable to make the same impact this time despite racing at home. • 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! Both horses were marked at $15 to win the JJ Atkins prior to their respective efforts yesterday. Hidden Achievement blew out to $26 while Sarapo was wound out to $51. Zebra Finch, meanwhile, had his price halved from $51 into $26 for the June 14 feature and carrying the imprimatur of one of the sport's champions. 'If he pulls up well, I'd send him up there, because he is going to get a mile,'' winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy said after the Schweppes Handicap (1300m). 'You obviously need a horse that runs a mile and you need a horse on the improve and that's possibly what he is going to be. ' It wasn't a big winning margin but I am sure with a better quality horse to aim at, he is going to be better again. 'He is the sort of colt that only does enough (but) I am sure if he got challenged there was an extra kick in the lock. 'So if James (Cummings) and the team decide to go to Brisbane for that mile race, I wouldn't be against it.' At least one of the Waller-trained runners from the race looks likely to still make his way up to Brisbane for the last Group 1 two-year-old feature of the season with a decision pending on the other. Yu Long Investments colt Hidden Achievement clocked in third behind Zebra Finch with future Guineas/Derby colt Sarapo three lengths behind in sixth. 'The race lacked tempo, it was a sit and sprint,'' assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth began. 'When Adam (Hyernonimus) won on Hidden Achievement last start, he was mindful that he probably rode him too close that day and took him out of his comfort zone. But he drew so well in a small field today that we basically had to do the same again. 'Adam's adamant that when you can put the bit in his mouth a little bit better, he'll have a better turn of foot. 'Adam is strongly pushing for Chris (to go to Brisbane with him). He said 'I don't care if I ride him or not but you should be running the horse in the JJ', that's his opinion.' As for pricey $750,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase Sarapo, Team Waller will let the dust settle on the colt's second career start before they decide on his next move. 'He was obviously a long way back off a soft tempo,'' Duckworth explained. 'He is going to be a miler at three you'd imagine, it's just whether you try and break through for that maiden win at two. 'Obviously he is by Frankel so if he ends up in the breeding barn, they're going to be worried about him if he doesn't win at two so it might be an important start for him or do we just look after him and just trust that he'll measure up at three.'' As for Zebra Finch, his own stud career will naturally hinge on the outcome of the JJ Atkins but Darley would dearly love to add another Group 1 winning son of Exceed And Excel to their roster. Not only is Zebra Finch by one of the truly global stallions of the modern era, his dam was a handy performer herself and by Lonhro who holds the rare honour of being crowned both Australian Horse of the Year and Champion General Sire. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Tough as teak gelding Mickey's Medal helped edge the former rodeo rider Braith Nock one step closer to a medal collection of his own as the race for Sydney's Champion Apprentice enters the home straight. Nock and former Riverina whiz Molly Bourke are locked in an arm wrestle to decide who will join an Honour Roll that includes the likes of Jack Thompson, George Moore, Ron Quinton, Malcolm Johnston, Wayne Harris and Darren Beadman. Nock's win on the Annabell and Rob Archibald-trained Mickey's Medal extended his lead over Bourke by five metropolitan wins with August 1 now exactly two months away. Sitting three-wide with no cover may not have been the text-book ride from Nock on Mickey's Medal but it proved to be the winning formula on a day where it paid to be away from the inside fence. 'Everyone just seemed to take their time to get their spots and all of a sudden there were people inside me,' Nock explained. '(But) it was a slow tempo and he was able to travel really good. 'Actually, he was really relaxed coming to the 600m and I had to wake him up and then I was able to idle-up and I still think he might have had a little bit of a think about it things once we got there, but he got left alone for a long time so it was a really good effort. 'He seems to be just relishing his racing and he tries his best every time.' Yesterday's Precise Air Handicap (1500m) was the gelding's sixth run of the current campaign. His $82,500 collect was a tangible reward to effort on his part, drawing some high praise from the stable. 'It was brilliant to see him win,' stable representative Megan O'Leary said. 'I was almost waiting for (runner-up) Hopper to come down the outside of us but he really deserved that win, he's been running so well this prep.' Mickey's Medal was sold twice before he ever saw a racetrack. The great-grandson of broodmare gem Shantha's Choice was secured for $70,000 as a weanling before being reoffered at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale where he fetched $225,000. Originally published as Godolphin colt Zebra Finch pushes for Group 1 JJ Atkins start after his impressive victory at Rosehill
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Godolphin's promising colt Zebra Finch pushes for Group 1 J J Atkins start after his impressive victory at Rosehill
Progressive Godolphin colt Zebra Finch will be given the opportunity to emulate his big-hitting stablemate Broadsiding, earning himself a crack at the J J Atkins Stakes after lowering the boom on a couple of his more fancied rivals at Rosehill on Saturday. Yesterday's seven-horse affair held more interest than most of the other nine races on the Lord Mayor's Cup undercard given it overflowed with J J Atkins aspirants including the Chris Waller duo Hidden Achievement and pricey Frankel colt, Sarapo. The Waller pair were expected to fight out on the finish as they had when they met at Gosford on Cup Day but were unable to make the same impact this time despite racing at home. Both horses were marked at $15 to win the J J Atkins prior to their respective efforts yesterday. Hidden Achievement blew out to $26 while Sarapo was wound out to $51. Zebra Finch, meanwhile, had his price halved from $51 into $26 for the June 14 feature and carrying the imprimatur of one of the sport's champions. 'If he pulls up well, I'd send him up there, because he is going to get a mile,'' winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy said after the Schweppes Handicap (1300m). 'You obviously need a horse that runs a mile and you need a horse on the improve and that's possibly what he is going to be. ' It wasn't a big winning margin but I am sure with a better quality horse to aim at, he is going to be better again. 'He is the sort of colt that only does enough (but) I am sure if he got challenged there was an extra kick in the lock. A great battle in the opener at Rosehill with Zebra Finch victorious! ðŸ¦'ðŸ'° @JamesCummings88 | @KPMcEvoy | @godolphin | @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 'So if James (Cummings) and the team decide to go to Brisbane for that mile race, I wouldn't be against it.' At least one of the Waller-trained runners from the race looks likely to still make his way up to Brisbane for the last Group 1 two-year-old feature of the season with a decision pending on the other. Yu Long Investments colt Hidden Achievement clocked in third behind Zebra Finch with future Guineas/Derby colt Sarapo three lengths behind in sixth. 'The race lacked tempo, it was a sit and sprint,'' assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth began. 'When Adam (Hyernonimus) won on Hidden Achievement last start, he was mindful that he probably rode him too close that day and took him out of his comfort zone. But he drew so well in a small field today that we basically had to do the same again. 'Adam's adamant that when you can put the bit in his mouth a little bit better, he'll have a better turn of foot. 'Adam is strongly pushing for Chris (to go to Brisbane with him). He said 'I don't care if I ride him or not but you should be running the horse in the JJ', that's his opinion.' "It worked out perfect!" Hear from Paul Reid and @KPMcEvoy on Zebra Finch, who might be headed north after his win today! @JamesCummings88 | @godolphin | @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 As for pricey $750,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase Sarapo, Team Waller will let the dust settle on the colt's second career start before they decide on his next move. 'He was obviously a long way back off a soft tempo,'' Duckworth explained. 'He is going to be a miler at three you'd imagine, it's just whether you try and break through for that maiden win at two. 'Obviously he is by Frankel so if he ends up in the breeding barn, they're going to be worried about him if he doesn't win at two so it might be an important start for him or do we just look after him and just trust that he'll measure up at three.'' As for Zebra Finch, his own stud career will naturally hinge on the outcome of the J J Atkins but Darley would dearly love to add another Group 1 winning son of Exceed And Excel to their roster. Not only is Zebra Finch by one of the truly global stallions of the modern era, his dam was a handy performer herself and by Lonhro who holds the rare honour of being crowned both Australian Horse of the Year and Champion General Sire.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Apprentice jockey Jace McMurray grabbing the attention of trainers in NSW
Trainer Michael Freedman concedes it was only a matter of time before the secret started to get out. Freedman's new stable apprentice, Jace McMurray, is quickly establishing himself as one of the most talented young riders in Sydney racing and goes to Rosehill after a confidence-boost midweek double at Canterbury. 'Jace is a good, young rider, he's working hard, he wants to learn and is doing all the right things,'' Freedman said. 'I think he is starting to catch the attention of quite a few people now as he is a very good 3kg claiming option. 'Actually, my brother Lee (Hall of Fame trainer) rang me about a year ago and said I should keep an eye on this kid as he has a good future.'' Sky Thoroughbred Central presenter and former champion jockey Corey Brown has also been an admirer of McMurray's talents for some months and was instrumental in convincing the Queensland-based apprentice to move to Sydney and join the Freedman stable last month. McMurray is finding his feet in the cauldron of Sydney racing and his brace of midweek wins were for Freedman on Just Feelin Lucky and Inside Man. Therefore, it is no surprise Freedman has entrusted the emerging apprentice with his three stable rides at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. They include the underrated Spanish Fox who is aiming for his sixth win of the season and his fourth in the metropolitan area in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1200m). Spanish Fox struck a rich vein of form late last year winning five races in succession and his two comeback efforts this campaign indicate he is close to regaining top form. Freedman said Spanish Fox will strip fitter for Rosehill after his recent runs including a last-start third to Zealously over 1100m at the Scone stand-alone meeting two weeks ago. 'I was really happy with Spanish Fox at Scone,'' Freedman said. 'He had a bit of ring rust first-up as he had been off the scene a while but he came on nicely between his first and second runs. 'I think he has trained on again since then and this does look a nice race for him on Saturday.'' McMurray, who has a busy afternoon at Rosehill with eight rides, also partners the Freedman-trained Codetta who resumes in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1100m). Codetta was bred and is owned by Debbie Kepitis of Winx fame. The filly is a half-sister to the ill-fated three-time Group 1 winner Riff Rocket. Although Riff Rocket won the ATC Australian Derby and Victoria Derby double, Codetta is showing more brilliance and is very effective over sprint distances with two wins and two second placings from five starts this season. She is resuming off a four month spell and has had one barrier trial hitout when third at Randwick earlier this month. 'I have only given her the one barrier trial but she did have a jump out on the Polytrack over 800m last week,'' Freedman said. 'She's good to go. She's a nice, genuine filly and if the track is on the soft side, it won't worry her.'' Freedman and McMurray also combine with the tough Edited By in the Ranvet Handicap (1500m). This is where the apprentice's 3kg claim is crucial as he reduces Edited By's impost from 61kg to 58kg. 'Edited By has become an awkward horse to place because he has crept up in the ratings,'' Freedman said. 'I don't think he is quite up to (benchmark) 88 races so has had to carry big weights in these 78 races. 'But I thought we would go back to where he has won over 1500m at Rosehill before and see how he goes. Certainly, Jace's claim helps, too.'' Freedman, who prepared brilliant filly Marhoona to win the Golden Slipper earlier this autumn is chasing more big-race two-year-old success with unbeaten Aerodrome in the Group 2 $1m BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm. Aerodrome defeated subsequent winner Hidden Motive on debut at Warwick Farm then wore down Hereward to win at Hawkesbury on a heavy track last start but Freedman is hoping Eagle Farm has a drier surface for the Sires. 'I think probably in the Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury while Aerodrome got the job done I don't think he was at home on heavy 8 as he has such a big, long stride on him,'' Freedman said. 'If he can get back onto a slightly firmer deck that would be more to his liking as well.''
