Latest news with #RupertClarkeStakes
Daily Telegraph
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Hot to Trot: Apache on Song for Bletchingly upset
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Apache Song could be a Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) sleeper on Saturday at Caulfield. Trainer Michael Trotter is poised to reshuffle original spring plans for the progressive Group 2-placed mare based on the performance at Caulfield. Trotter initially pencilled in a sprint campaign but recent work and endorsement of champion jockey Blake Shinn has put the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) firmly on the radar. 'Blake had the pick of a couple rides in the (Bletchingly) and stuck with her, which is a good sign,' Trotter said. • 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! 'She's come back a better horse, shown us that (in work) which is great, her last jump out was really, really nice and Blake shared the same sentiment … she's improved from when he rode her last. 'We did have a rough plan in place, it will all depend how things transpire Saturday. 'There is a chance she could get to 1400m, obviously changes the dynamic a little bit … Blake felt that could be a real possibility this time around, the way she felt. 'The Rupert Clark is probably the one on our radar, if the 1400m is where she needs to go. 'We'll be guided a bit how things pan out Saturday, initially the plan was to stick around the 1200m mark but she's progressed so far … she does give you the feel maybe now she is ready to step up.' 'If you look at her last prep, she doesn't have to improve a hell of a lot to be at that elite level, as long as that maturity and strength translates into a length or so.' Apache Song completed a Valley hat-trick in benchmark company last preparation before a gallant third place in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) behind a subsequent Group 1-winner Schwarz. • EXPERT TIPS: Brad Waters' best bets, quaddie picks and race-by-race analysis for Caulfield on Saturday Apache Song, spelled after she failed in a Listed race at the end of a busy but successful campaign, has returned 'bigger and stronger'. The rising five-year-old mare is a $21 outsider in the Bletchingly Stakes. Baraqiel ($3) has led betting since the market opened last Wednesday, with Bridal Waltz ($5.50) and New York Lustre ($6.50) also rated to win. 'She had a really nice piece of work Tuesday morning, I couldn't have asked her to gallop any better so she's ready to go,' Trotter said. 'She's going to be a main player (Saturday and going forward), which is really exciting for a small team, I'm only working 10 horses.' Trotter has Group 3 winner Rumbled Again set to resume in a Benchmark 100 at Flemington next month. 'We're such a small team, to have a couple horses running around in these sort of races is pretty awesome, we'll be making the most of the opportunities.' Meanwhile, Shinn has an opportunity to put the Melbourne jockeys' premiership beyond doubt on Saturday with a full book of nine rides. Shinn has a seven-win lead over champion jockey Craig Williams, who also boasts a strong Caulfield hand. There are 17 metropolitan races left in the season, including eight on Wednesday at Sandown. Originally published as Hot to Trot: Apache on Song for Bletchingly upset
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Hot to Trot: Apache on Song for Bletchingly upset
Apache Song could be a Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) sleeper on Saturday at Caulfield. Trainer Michael Trotter is poised to reshuffle original spring plans for the progressive Group 2 -placed mare based on the performance at Caulfield. Trotter initially pencilled in a sprint campaign but recent work and endorsement of champion jockey Blake Shinn has put the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) firmly on the radar. 'Blake had the pick of a couple rides in the (Bletchingly) and stuck with her, which is a good sign,' Trotter said. • 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! 'She's come back a better horse, shown us that (in work) which is great, her last jump out was really, really nice and Blake shared the same sentiment … she's improved from when he rode her last. 'We did have a rough plan in place, it will all depend how things transpire Saturday. 'There is a chance she could get to 1400m, obviously changes the dynamic a little bit … Blake felt that could be a real possibility this time around, the way she felt. 'The Rupert Clark is probably the one on our radar, if the 1400m is where she needs to go. 'We'll be guided a bit how things pan out Saturday, initially the plan was to stick around the 1200m mark but she's progressed so far … she does give you the feel maybe now she is ready to step up.' 'If you look at her last prep, she doesn't have to improve a hell of a lot to be at that elite level, as long as that maturity and strength translates into a length or so.' Apache Song completed a Valley hat-trick in benchmark company last preparation before a gallant third place in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) behind a subsequent Group 1 -winner Schwarz. Schwarz has absolutely run them ragged in the Australia Stakes 🇦🇰😨 @JohnOSheaRacing & @blake_shinn combine for a memorable G2 victory at The Valley. — (@Racing) January 24, 2025 Apache Song, spelled after she failed in a Listed race at the end of a busy but successful campaign, has returned 'bigger and stronger'. The rising five-year-old mare is a $21 outsider in the Bletchingly Stakes. Baraqiel ($3) has led betting since the market opened last Wednesday, with Bridal Waltz ($5.50) and New York Lustre ($6.50) also rated to win. 'She had a really nice piece of work Tuesday morning, I couldn't have asked her to gallop any better so she's ready to go,' Trotter said. 'She's going to be a main player (Saturday and going forward), which is really exciting for a small team, I'm only working 10 horses.' Trotter has Group 3 winner Rumbled Again set to resume in a Benchmark 100 at Flemington next month. 'We're such a small team, to have a couple horses running around in these sort of races is pretty awesome, we'll be making the most of the opportunities.' Meanwhile, Shinn has an opportunity to put the Melbourne jockeys' premiership beyond doubt on Saturday with a full book of nine rides. Shinn has a seven-win lead over champion jockey Craig Williams, who also boasts a strong Caulfield hand. There are 17 metropolitan races left in the season, including eight on Wednesday at Sandown.
Courier-Mail
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Star jockey Craig Williams eyes rare Group 1 hat-trick in Doomben 10,000
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Craig Williams is eyeing off a famous Doomben 10,000 three-peat as he aims to conquer a new personal frontier in Saturday's $1.5m Group 1. The legendary jockey has an unexpected opportunity to make it a hat-trick of Doomben 10,000 wins after scoring the race on Bella Nipotina and Giga Kick in the last two years. • 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 82-time Group 1 winner was due to miss Saturday's Doomben 10,000 day due to a riding suspension he incurred in Hong Kong. But, in a sliding doors moment, Williams was able to successfully amend the dates of the suspension when Blake Shinn was himself suspended and sidelined from riding Schwarz in the 10,000. It gives Williams the chance to do something he has never done before. He may have won the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in Melbourne on seven occasions, but Williams said he has never won the same Group 1 race in three consecutive years. • Wet the key to Wealth in Group 1 Doomben 10,000 'I thought I was going to be on the sidelines this Saturday, but hopefully I am the right person at the right time,' Williams told Racenet. 'Trying to win three Doomben 10,000s in a row is something that I am really excited about. 'I got suspended in Hong Kong but there was a bit of flexibility with the (suspension) dates. 'Blake got suspended and had to choose which weekend and was suspended for and I was Johnny on the spot, I was quite lucky. 'My suspension is actually now starting on Sunday.' • Pride Of Jenni, Antino clash to provide cheers all around Giga Kick was the $1.65 favourite when Williams rode him to 10,000 glory in 2023 and Bella Nipotina was $7 in betting when she knocked off I Wish I Win last year. Schwarz, the last start Group 1 William Reid Stakes winner, was $7.50 in betting on Thursday morning. The sprinter, who is set to have his last run in the 10,000 before going to stud, was shorter in betting earlier in the week but the prospect of a heavy Doomben track has turned some punters off. Co-trainer John O'Shea has indicated he wouldn't like the prospects of Schwarz on a bottomless track and there is a chance Schwarz wouldn't race if the track is extremely heavy. The Doomben track was in the heavy range on Thursday and more rain is forecast – although trying to second guess the weather in south-east Queensland is a trap. Craig Williams after winning last year's Doomben 10,000 on Bella Nipotina. He will be striving for a hat-trick of wins in the race on Saturday. Picture. Grant Peters/Trackside Photography Williams has a busy riding schedule ahead but said he will set up shop in the Sunshine State for the majority of the winter carnival. • Beefed-up World Pool presence to showcase Qld to globe He is set to be reunited with Kimochi in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup later this month, having steered the Gary Portelli-trained mare to win the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes last spring. Queensland has been a happy hunting ground for Grand Slam-winning jockey Williams in recent years – the Victorian has won four winter carnival Group 1s since 2021. 'Peter Moody says there are two types of Australians,' Williams laughed. 'There are Queenslanders and those who want to be Queenslanders.' Even if Williams claims his third Doomben 10,000, he will still have some work to do to catch the legendary George Moore who won the race five times. Originally published as Star jockey Craig Williams eyes rare Group 1 hat-trick in Doomben 10,000
