Latest news with #RoyHiggins
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Phillip Stokes working on Memsie Stakes return for Melbourne Cup contender Deakin
Time is something of which trainer Phillip Stokes has plenty when plotting Deakin's road to November's Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Stokes had the benefit of knowing he had a Melbourne Cup runner the moment Deakin earned a ballot exemption with his win as an odds-on favourite in the Listed Roy Higgins at Flemington in March. Bookmakers thought enough of Deakin's win months out from the 2025 edition of Australia's great race to position him on the fourth line of Melbourne Cup betting at $15. Deakin surprised Stokes with his rapid development at his first Australian campaign. • 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! Stokes noted many imports improved at their second local preparations but Deakin posted an easy win at Pakenham at his second Victorian start before saluting by more than five lengths in the Listed Torney Cup at The Valley two starts later. 'It's very unheard of,' Stokes said of Deakin's immediate impact on Victoria's staying ranks. 'I remember I had a horse years ago, Aesop, his first prep I was getting beaten in benchmark 64s at Sale and said this horse is no good and he came out the next prep winning Saturday races. 'That's the improvement they can make.' Stokes said Deakin had further acclimatised to Victoria, aligning his coat with the current conditions instead of being out of sync as he was when first arrived. Deakin refuses to give in to Berkshire Breeze, who made a race of the Roy Higgins, but wasn't able to go past the gallant @pstokesracing stayer ðŸ'° We'll see you on the first Tuesday in November, Deakin 😉 @DanielStack33 — (@Racing) March 29, 2025 • 'She is lucky not to be blind': Appeal launched to aid fallen track rider 'Last time he had a winter coat in the middle of summer. He's one we're very excited about,' Stokes said. 'We're really happy with him. He's come back stronger.' Stokes said Deakin was set to trial at Caulfield at the end of July. He said the son of Australia would build fitness for the Melbourne Cup via the traditional path, starting with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes before building to the Makybe Diva Stakes, Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup. 'He was out for nearly eight weeks. Had a good break,' Stokes said. 'His first two runs will be too short, but in the Turnbull, he'll run well. 'Going through previous winners of all those Melbourne Cups, Caulfield Cups, they all seem to start there, seems to be a traditional path. 'We're going to try and repeat history, what all the good horses have done.' Stokes has a good guide to Australia's 3200m features via the deeds of the recently retired Daqiansweet Junior, who won an Adelaide Cup, finished third in a Sydney Cup as well as fifth and sixth in two cracks at the Melbourne Cup. Stokes said Deakin had a talent edge on Daqiansweet Junior but a question remained over the promising stayer. 'He's better than Daqiansweet Junior,' Stokes said. 'We'll find out.'
Courier-Mail
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Silent Surrente continues bid for Melbourne Cup ticket after disastrous Roy Higgins
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. It all went pear-shaped for Silent Surrente in the Roy Higgins in March, but the Adelaide Cup winning-mare has her chance to hit back at Flemington in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m). Silent Surrente's bid for a Melbourne Cup golden ticket took a blow in the Roy Higgins (2600m), the mare finished ninth behind talented stayer Deakin in a race where nothing went right. • 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! Co-trainer Niki O'Shea dashed a line through the run, and the Fiorente mare bounced back to form with a third placing in the Port Adelaide Cup (2500m) at Morphettville last start. 'It was a disaster (the Roy Higgins), we couldn't have planned for it, no one knew that was going to happen,' O'Shea, who trains in partnership with Will Clarken, said. 'She stepped slowly, ended up behind them and then over-raced really badly. 'On the corner it looked like he (Craig Williams) was going to pull her up, and then she actually ran on again, so she actually ran well – but obviously just draw a line through it.' Silent Surrente was beaten by two lengths in the Port Adelaide Cup, finishing behind Sir Kingsford and Basilinna. The mare looked at risk of fading out at the 500m, but stuck to the task bravely under leading apprentice jockey Rochelle Milnes. • Emerging stayer ready to Rise for Melbourne Cup golden ticket 'She was good, solid, tough as usual,' he said. 'It was obviously a hard set up for her, she had a tough weight (58kg), the race didn't run on the minimum so it was always going to be difficult. 'She ran creditably, she was keeping at it going to the line. I was happy with her five weeks between runs, she could've been a bit soft but she was very good.' O'Shea is confident his honest mare will put her best foot forward again, but is wary Saturday will mark her eighth run of a taxing campaign. 'She never wants to give up, we're hopefully this weekend again,' he said. 'In fairness to her, she's had a long prep, she's going to run out of steam at some stage but she seems to be getting the trip well in these races. 'You'd think she would run well again, there's a little bit of rain due, if that came it would be great, she would love a bit of juice in the ground. 'She's just so tough, she just keeps wanting to turn up.' Niki O'Shea and Will Clarken (left to right) celebrate following Silent Surrente's Adelaide Cup win. Picture: Makoto Kaneko • Warren says no worries if it's a wet Doomben 10,000 Silent Surrente ($14 Sportsbet) is attempting to replicate the effort's of fellow SA mare The Map, who won last year's Andrew Ramsden, securing a Melbourne Cup berth. 'It's a tough race, I'd be delighted with her if she placed, there's some good horses in it, I think it's probably her last run of the season.' John Allen will pilot the mare on Saturday, replacing Milnes, who received a five-meeting ban for careless riding in the Port Adelaide Cup. It's rotten luck for Milnes, who also missed the mare's Roy Higgins run due to suspension. 'It's unfortunate, because she (Milnes) seems to be getting on great with her,' O'Shea said. 'She's been riding her very well and it's a pity she doesn't get the chance because I'm sure she would love to ride her in one of these bigger races.' Originally published as Silent Surrente continues bid for Melbourne Cup ticket after disastrous Roy Higgins
Mercury
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Mercury
Silent Surrente continues bid for Melbourne Cup ticket after disastrous Roy Higgins
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. It all went pear-shaped for Silent Surrente in the Roy Higgins in March, but the Adelaide Cup winning-mare has her chance to hit back at Flemington in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m). Silent Surrente's bid for a Melbourne Cup golden ticket took a blow in the Roy Higgins (2600m), the mare finished ninth behind talented stayer Deakin in a race where nothing went right. • 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! Co-trainer Niki O'Shea dashed a line through the run, and the Fiorente mare bounced back to form with a third placing in the Port Adelaide Cup (2500m) at Morphettville last start. 'It was a disaster (the Roy Higgins), we couldn't have planned for it, no one knew that was going to happen,' O'Shea, who trains in partnership with Will Clarken, said. 'She stepped slowly, ended up behind them and then over-raced really badly. 'On the corner it looked like he (Craig Williams) was going to pull her up, and then she actually ran on again, so she actually ran well – but obviously just draw a line through it.' Silent Surrente was beaten by two lengths in the Port Adelaide Cup, finishing behind Sir Kingsford and Basilinna. The mare looked at risk of fading out at the 500m, but stuck to the task bravely under leading apprentice jockey Rochelle Milnes. • Emerging stayer ready to Rise for Melbourne Cup golden ticket 'She was good, solid, tough as usual,' he said. 'It was obviously a hard set up for her, she had a tough weight (58kg), the race didn't run on the minimum so it was always going to be difficult. 'She ran creditably, she was keeping at it going to the line. I was happy with her five weeks between runs, she could've been a bit soft but she was very good.' O'Shea is confident his honest mare will put her best foot forward again, but is wary Saturday will mark her eighth run of a taxing campaign. 'She never wants to give up, we're hopefully this weekend again,' he said. 'In fairness to her, she's had a long prep, she's going to run out of steam at some stage but she seems to be getting the trip well in these races. 'You'd think she would run well again, there's a little bit of rain due, if that came it would be great, she would love a bit of juice in the ground. 'She's just so tough, she just keeps wanting to turn up.' Niki O'Shea and Will Clarken (left to right) celebrate following Silent Surrente's Adelaide Cup win. Picture: Makoto Kaneko • Warren says no worries if it's a wet Doomben 10,000 Silent Surrente ($14 Sportsbet) is attempting to replicate the effort's of fellow SA mare The Map, who won last year's Andrew Ramsden, securing a Melbourne Cup berth. 'It's a tough race, I'd be delighted with her if she placed, there's some good horses in it, I think it's probably her last run of the season.' John Allen will pilot the mare on Saturday, replacing Milnes, who received a five-meeting ban for careless riding in the Port Adelaide Cup. It's rotten luck for Milnes, who also missed the mare's Roy Higgins run due to suspension. 'It's unfortunate, because she (Milnes) seems to be getting on great with her,' O'Shea said. 'She's been riding her very well and it's a pity she doesn't get the chance because I'm sure she would love to ride her in one of these bigger races.' Originally published as Silent Surrente continues bid for Melbourne Cup ticket after disastrous Roy Higgins
