Latest news with #RoyalRandwick
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Champion mare Via Sistina to kick off latest Cox Plate pursuit in Randwick trial
Champion mare Via Sistina's build-up to her latest Cox Plate tilt will gather momentum when she headlines a star-studded barrier trial session at Royal Randwick on Tuesday. Trainer Chris Waller will get an early guide on how his spring carnival arsenal are going when Via Sistina steps up alongside star stablemates Fangirl, Aeliana, Autumn Glow and Wodeton. Via Sistina is making her first public appearance since her dominant Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April as she prepares to chase consecutive Cox Plate wins this spring. She lines up in a 850m heat alongside Fangirl while Canadian Group 1 winner Full Count Felicia also steps out. Golden Slipper runner up Wodeton, brilliant Australian Derby winner Aeliana, unbeaten boom filly Autumn Glow and Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes victor Lazzura contest a second 850m heat. 'They will all have very quiet trials on Tuesday, they are a month away from racing,' Waller said. 'The 23rd of August they will be racing. If everything goes to plan (they will have two trials). 'We allow an extra week just in case for a temperature or sore foot and things like that. 'Nine times out of 10 you need it and sometimes you will see them have an exhibition gallop if they haven't had a problem. 'It's just about being careful. You are a month away so you can imagine how much fitness is going to be done in the next month.' Sydney's first Group 1 of the new season, the Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes, will be staged on August 23. Waller is considering another heavy-handed assault of the race with past winners Via Sistina and Fangirl while Aeliana and Lady Shenandoah, which will trial on Friday at Warwick Farm, are also candidates. 'All four of them could clash in the Winx first-up – Lady Shenandoah, Aeliana, Via Sistina and Fangirl ,' Waller said. 'Autumn Glow will probably go down a handicap path towards an Epsom.' Waller conceded the Winx Stakes may be Via Sistina's only run in Sydney this spring as the stable gives serious consideration to the Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 13 for her second-up assignment. She followed the same path last year after winning the Winx Stakes. “This is a demolition job!â€� Pride Of Jenni runs her rivals ragged with a fantastic front-running ride by @decbates to win the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes! Via Sistina ran on into second and Mr Brightside finished third. @cmaherracing @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 13, 2024 'I think the Makybe Diva will create a bit of interest to us with there being such a gap between the Winx and the King Charles,' Waller said. 'Then you have the Chelmsford but I think the Makybe Diva might suit her and then maybe the Turnbull. 'The Winx could be here only run in Sydney but I won't rule out that she won't stay here either.' Waller will also get a glimpse of one of his soon to be new arrivals when Silver Slipper winner Beiwacht contests the same heat. Beiwacht is among a string of Godolphin heavyweights that will step out on the morning as they prepare to move to new homes next season. Tom Kitten Zardozi, which heads to Ciaron Maher at the beginning of next season.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Rosehill inside mail: Our Kobison can revive winter fortunes in July Sprint
One-time Everest fringe-dweller Our Kobison can reset his winter campaign at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday in the same race that was taken out by three-times Everest participant Eduardo five years prior. The Angela Davies -trained five-year-old was in the mix for a spot in last year's $20m sprint after finishing runner-up to Joliestar in the Show Country Stakes. It wasn't enough to entice any of the slot-holders but there are plenty of avenues open to Davies in season 2025/26 including in the first stakes race of the new racing year, the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Royal Randwick in three weeks time. Horse and trainer's immediate focus is on Saturday's July Sprint (1100m) after a recent trip north of the border. The Gosford housed gelding's first interstate test in the Lightning Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 7 was as forgettable as it was forgivable as Davies explained. 'He sat five-deep and hung off the turn, I thought he finished off terrific, he was entitled to drop out of it with where he was and how the race was run, he never got on the track,'' Davies said. 'He is back to a favoured track and a favoured trip on Saturday. 'I could have gone to the Ramornie at 1200m but I think his pet distance is 1100m and I think Rosehill is his pet track.' Davies, who boasts a phenomenal winning strike rate of 24 per cent (52 per cent when placings are added), took her career tally to 204 when Denman Star charged past his rivals to post a not entirely unexpected first-up win at Canterbury last month. A near replica of his Golden Rose winning father, Denman, Davies' gelding lines up in this weekend's Midway over 1300m. • Mitch & Shayno's Rosehill tips: 'Too good a horse to go up $23' 'It's probably an ideal distance,'' Davies said. 'I don't know whether the track is ideal for him because he does tend to drop the bit and get back a little bit but we will have to try and ride him accordingly. 'He has just continued to improve and continues to please me last prep and this preparation. 'We just seem to have got him going good at this stage and he is just a happy horse. 'He is entitled to have a crack at a Midway for sure and certain.' â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET PHEARSON (race 9) was bought for $65,000 as a yearling and has earnings of $686,075 with the promise of more to come. The Brad Widdup-trained son of Exosphere has won a Liverpool City Cup and Festival Stakes so is comfortable in stakes grade. He is third-up in Saturday's Winter Challenge off two improving runs in the Civic and Winter Stakes on the way there. Keep in mind that one of his two track/distance runs was his 2023 Festival Stakes win with (same jockey) Tom Sherry up. BEST VALUE ISLAND DREAM (race 4) was a big third on debut at Newcastle then won at Hawkesbury and Rosehill Gardens in quick succession. Trainer Chris Waller even pitched her into the Group 3 Kembla Classic at start four of her first preparation when and where she was only beaten five and a half lengths. Back now and the trials have been rather good. Has a bright future ahead and soft won't worry her. Dreaming of a win! Back-to-back wins for Island Dream and @cwallerracing with a treble! ðŸ��ï¸� @KPMcEvoy | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 26, 2025 EARLY QUADDIE RACE 3: 1, 2, 8, 9 RACE 4: 2, 3, 10 RACE 5: 2, 5, 8, 10 RACE 6: 7, 8, 9, 11 QUADDIE RACE 7: 3, 7, 9, 10 RACE 8: 1, 2, 4, 8 RACE 9: 8, 9, 10 RACE 10: 1, 3, 4 PRICE CHECK DISNECK (race 8) has traversed the Rosehill 1100m three times prior to his impending return to racing in the July Sprint priced at an inviting $13. The first one was his debut, which was a closing eighth of 14 in the Golden Gift. He was back there three weeks later and thrashed Kimochi et al. The third and last time over the t/d was an honourable second in the Listed Starlight Stakes. If they can run on, then he can run on faster than the rest. SECTIONAL STARS TOTOKA (race 6) has only managed two wins in her 15 starts but she has contested races including the Gimcrack, Sweet Embrace, Magic Night, Up And Coming, Callander-Presnell and Denise's Joy. She ran well in some, not so well in others, but to be fair to her, she has to be ridden stone cold early so she can unleash her powerful finish. UNSTOPABULL (race 5) has finished with a medal at 12 of his 21 starts which speaks to his consistency. Four of them were gold medals but one wonders how many of his placings could have been wins with a bit of luck here and there, that is to say, he usually gets back in his races, especially when he draws wide. He just needs a fair track on Saturday so he can post what would be a somewhat deserved win for a horse who almost never runs poorly. Last at the turn, first over the line! ðŸ'¥ Unstopabull wins up along the inside, it's a @nashhot running double! ðŸ'� @cwallerracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 28, 2024 TRIAL POINTERS SPICE PRAWN (race 1) is the fourth foal of the dual Group 1 winner, Cosmic Endeavour. Her third dam is Twiglet who was a bonny racemare herself but nothing short of a broodmare gem given the success of her foals Easy Rocking and the epic Hong Kong sprinter, Fairy King Prawn. Spice Prawn showed enough in her two losing runs at her first prep (one unlucky) to indicate talent. Easy trial winner on July 7 at Hawkesbury. PONY SOPRANO (race 3) was purchased by his trainer Robert Agnew for $18,000 at the Inglis Gold Yearling Sale in 2023. It has proven to be a canny buy on Agnew's behalf, the gelding has already won $50,000 in just five starts and he's not quite turned four yet. So much to like about his two trials up at Port Macquarie (second) and Taree (won) in two uncommonly strong Open heats.
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Early spring carnival contenders in action at Rosehill barrier trials
Sydney's first two stakes races of the upcoming 2025/26 racing season are in the sights of some trainers who put candidates through their paces at the Rosehill Gardens barrier trials on Tuesday. The Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 9 and the Listed Rosebud (1100m) seven days later at Rosehill Gardens starts the black-type action in the new racing season. A handful of next season's three-year-olds that stepped out on Tuesday could head towards the Rosebud which is the first lead-up race for the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) which is also run at Rosehill Gardens on September 27. Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup plans to charge out of the blocks in the new season with two emerging gallopers Nashville Jack and Savvy Hallie which both won their respective 900m trials. The two-year-olds are still maidens but Nashville Jack finished fourth on debut in the Group 2 Silver Slipper while Savvy Hallie is two-time Group placed. 'I was really happy with the way both horses trialled,' Widdup said. 'That was Nashville Jack's second trial and he's really developed and is coming up well this prep. 'I'd like to give him a taste of winning and then if everything's going how we want, maybe he's one for the Rosebud. 'Savvy Hallie will have another trial then I want to find the easiest race I can for her. 'She's still a maiden so that box needs to be ticked first and then she'll step up to tackle the good fillies races.' West Of Swindon, now with Ciaron Maher, contested the same trial as Nashville Jack, finishing fifth, and the Silver Slipper and Group 3 Golden Gift runner-up pleased his jockey Dylan Gibbons during the workout. 'He was still a bit woolly and had a bit of a sweat up but he trialled OK and gave me a lovely feel,' Gibbons said. 'The one I did like was his stablemate Stormfront. He felt great.' A horse that missed much of the autumn was the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou -trained Blitzburg which was in the paddock after winning the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes in February. He too was on display for the first time of the preparation on Tuesday and was never allowed off the bridle finishing fourth in his 900m trial. 'He's never been a brilliant trialler but I was happy with what I saw from him,' Ryan said. 'He was only out there to have an easy time because he's trialling again. 'He'll probably head to the Rosebud first-up and then we'll go from there.' Two trainers indicated the Missile Stakes could be on the agenda. , signalled the race as a potential start point for Elettrica and Bjorn Baker is considering it for Perfumist. Freedman also trialled Group 2 Tulloch Stakes winner Pocketing ahead of his four-year-old season while Baker put Point And Shoot through his paces. Both horses are Epsom Handicap candidates and the $10m Golden Eagle is also on the table. Meanwhile, two of Chris Waller and Yulong's high class imported mares Anisette and Moira made their first public appearance ahead of the spring as did last year's Group 1 Metropolitan winner Land Legend and 2022 New Zealand Derby winner Asterix. Moira, the winner of last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mares Turf (2200m), was the pick of those performers.
News.com.au
12-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Imported gelding Royal Supremacy announces himself a Spring Carnival contender with breakthrough Randwick win
Royal Supremacy declared his spring carnival hand after producing his best performance on Australian soil to salute at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher -trained import showed a glimpse of his undoubted talent to score a breakthrough victory in the Eremein Benchmark 88 Handicap (1800m). Royal Supremacy was purchased by Melbourne Cup winning syndicators Australian Bloodstock last year with multiple stakes placings to his name in Europe, including a placing in the Group 3 King Edward VII Stakes (2414m) at Royal Ascot. Australian Bloodstock had intentions to aim the son of Make Believe at the Caulfield Cup. The Irish-bred galloper never made it to the races during the last spring carnival but now looks ready to make a dash for higher honours next season. 'He is very talented,' Maher's assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said. 'He was well bought by Australian Bloodstock but like a lot of Europeans, they can have their little quirks. 'You just need to work them out. 'First-up he was very good and unlucky but looked like there was a lot there and last start, he was just laying in a bit and did a few things wrong. 'We changed a few things and the way we trained him, sending him to the beach up at Bob's Farm for something different and it obviously did the trick.' Royal Supremacy was caught in traffic first-up in the Listed Scone Cup and didn't beat a runner home before failing to fire last start over the Randwick mile. He looked a different horse third-up from a spell after enjoying an energy conserving run on the fence. Apprentice Braith Nock took the right runs when they opened from the top of the straight as Royal Supremacy ($19) outlasted Chris Waller 's Canberra Legend ($15) by a half-length. The Kris Lees -trained Zaphod ($3.60 favourite) was four lengths away in third. Today's the day for Royal Supremacy! ðŸ'¥ @NockBraith provides a quality ride to get the @cmaherracing trained gelding first over the line! ðŸ'Œ â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 12, 2025 • Pride finds the Secret to latest rising star 'When the horse went around and put a bit of speed into it, it was really good. He's put his best foot forward today,' Nock said. Johann-Dubord paid Nock the ultimate compliment following the win. 'I think the ride today was just perfection,' he said. 'We were here to build a bit of confidence for the horse and from the gate, he ended up in a good spot and did no work. 'He just came between them and building slowly, it gave him that confidence and he went on with it. 'He will keep improving and should stay a lot further than that.' Bookies reacted by shortening Royal Supremacy from $26 into $15 for the Group 1 The Metropolitan while he remains $26 for the Caulfield Cup. What path Maher's team take through the spring remains to be scene by the stable are adamant he can be a carnival contender. 'He is a spring horse,' Gerard-Dubord said. 'Now he is up and going we will space his runs because he is obviously good fresh. 'There are some nice options in four or five weeks like the Premier's Cup Prelude and Wyong Cup, and if you keep spacing them you get into the spring. 'You get up his rating and a bit of confidence and there are races like The Metropolitan if he's not up to better.'
News.com.au
12-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Joseph Pride's progressive young sprinter King's Secret continues his hot form with an impressive win at Randwick
Private Eye's little brother King's Secret enhanced his growing reputation as an emerging star in his own right with another super sprinting performance at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The Joseph Pride -trained galloper continued his remarkable preparation when scoring his fourth victory in six starts in the Petaluma Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m). Jockey Andrew Adkins has forged a hugely successful partnership with King's Secret throughout his preparation and produced a peach from an awkward alley to get the gelding home again. 'Joe and the team keep raising the bar and he keeps saying how high,' Adkins said. 'He is going super this preparation. He has really come to and is maturing. 'I was a bit worried going to the gates, that is the calmest he has ever been, I thought if he'd had enough or not. 'It is just him maturing and switching on and learning to the do the right things and all the basics. 'He's got the hang out if and is winning with style now.' King's Secret had been beaten two starts ago but has bounced back to his best in a big way with victories at Rosehill Gardens and Randwick at his past two. 'You have to take your hat off to Joe, he knows his horses so well,' Adkins said. 'Two back sort of went amiss, I said I don't know what's going on with him but Joe said we had him too fresh. 'They took him back home and sorted him out. Gave him a bit of work and he came back and won.' King's Secret had to give weight to his rivals with the topweight of 60.5kg but it did little to stunt his momentum. He three-wide early but Adkins was able to put himself in the perfect spot, one out and one back. King's Secret wins again! A fourth win for the preparation ðŸ'° Andrew Adkins with an early double at Randwick ðŸ'�ðŸ'� @PrideRacing @ProvenTbreds â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 12, 2025 • Tomato Toastie triumphs in thrilling finish King's Secret ($6.50) let down powerfully from the furlong pole, holding off the Bjorn Baker -trained Stardeel ($3.90 favourite) by a half-length with Godolphin's Celerity ($6.50) close up in third. 'He puts his best foot forward and Andrew rode him brilliantly today,' Pride's stable representative Orla Pearl said. 'He knows him so well now. 'Before the race he said, 'we won't be riding the race, we'll be riding the horse' and that's exactly what he's done. 'And the horse, he is just so versatile and he has proved that.' 'It's impressive. To see a mare throw horses like that again and again and to have the family in the stable, it's something special.' King's Secret is a son of Shalaa out of Confidential Queen, which produced Private Eye. Private Eye has been a revelation for Pride and Proven Thoroughbreds throughout his career with more than $12 million in prizemoney earned. The son of Al Maher was placed in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap during the Brisbane winter carnival. The leader holds on! 🙌 Aberlour wins at double figure odds with @AlyshaCollett in the saddle for the @PrideRacing stable! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 12, 2025 • Maher smells more success with unbeaten filly Just how high King's Secret reaches remains to be seen but Adkins, who had an earlier winner aboard Pensativa, is adamant the future is bright. 'He has carried topweight there against some good gallopers and has done a terrific job so I really don't know (what his ceiling is),' he said. 'It will be interesting to see after a spell how he develops and matures again and how he comes back, then we could probably tell.' His latest victory seals the BOBS horse the year crown for the stable and owners for consecutive years after In Flight claimed the title by winning the same race. King's Secret has banked $73,125 in bonuses this season. Pearl confirmed King's Secret will now be headed for a well-deserved spell with a fantastic record of four wins and three placings from eight starts. Pride, who was in Melbourne to watch In Flight in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes, enjoyed a quick fire double in Sydney with Aberlour also scoring in the Toyota Forklifts Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m). It was Pride's third Saturday metropolitan double in the past four weeks with Estadio Mestalla and Storm The Ramparts both scoring for the stable last weekend. His in-form galloper Headley Grange will attempt to qualify for the $3 million Big Dance when he contests Sunday's South Grafton Cup at Grafton.
