Latest news with #ScottSingleton
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Gunnedah preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, May 25, 2025
Trainer Scott Singleton's 400th winner, Fiorsum Fred, could go from Highway winner to Gunnedah Cup to potential Big Dance participant should he be successful in the town feature. The son of Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente was the first leg of a Highway/Dark Jewel Classic double for Singleton at the annual Scone stand-alone. The emphatic Highway win of Fiorsum Fred propelled his trainer to a milestone, both welcomed but not entirely unexpected. 'It didn't surprise me that he won,' Singleton said. 'It might have surprised me a little bit that it was easy work for him. 'He had his ears pricked the last furlong.' Fiorsum Fred finds the gap and powers home at Scone! ðŸ'¥ @singletonracing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 There are 163 days until the first Tuesday in November and even further from a current Highway winner to Big Dance winner but Singleton is looking no further away than the Gunnedah Cup. 'Even with the Big Dance eligibility it is just a suitable race for him,' Singleton said. 'I think he'd be in that sort of race right up to his eyeballs if he gets the run right.' Jenny Duggan will steer Fiorsum Fred in his Cup quest, she'll also have the reins of stablemate Insightful Award who tackles the Pursehouse Rural Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Showcase Handicap (1250m). A daughter of Cox Plate winner Shamus Award, Insightful Award was a six lengths winner at home at Scone on March 4. She clocked in midfield at Quirindi at her most recent appearance but lost few admirers despite her somewhat costly defeat. 'She just got a bit too far back there last start and had to scout wide,' said Singleton. 'It was actually not a bad run, a better run that it will look on paper. 'I had a quick look at it and I didn't think it looked an overly deep race. 'I think she would be well in a race like that, particularly from a good gate.' Singleton's remaining runner of the Gunnedah Cup undercard is the speedy Outishka whose sole visit to the venue prior to this weekend saw her run her rivals off their legs to win a 900m Class 1 by five lengths. Insightful Award wins in good style! @weir_mikayla rings up an early race to race double aboard the @singletonracing trained galloper. â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 8, 2023 The daughter of Canonbury Stakes runner-up Outreach will no doubt find this assignment considerably easier than her May 7 mission at the midweeks where she beat one home but with excuses. 'I thought it was a pass mark,' Singleton said. 'She got taken on from the get-go and they were already going too quick so she was entitled to stop I thought. 'She had to go down there, and even though we claimed, she had topweight so she will carry less weight at Gunnedah. 'Back to country grade and those tracks like Moree and Gunnedah, places that she has run well at in the past, are her go.' Outishka wears a familiar set of colours; those of her breeder Dr Max Kowalczuk, and her two most famous equine relatives. One of those was Singleton and Kowalczuk's Hawkesbury Guineas winner, Shazee Lee. The other was Melody Again, now also known as the reigning Group 3 Dark Jewel winner. SHAYNE O'CASS' TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 4 No.14: TROUNCE Million dollar yearling who should be able to play a prominent part in the outcome. NEXT BEST Race 1 No.1: GEMOLOGIST Comfortable winner of the Star Kingdom debut. Drawn 1 and Aaron Bullock again. VALUE BET Race 5 No. 14: FULL COMMITMENT Reliable type who sent out all the right signals first-up that a win was close by. QUADDIE Race 5: 5, 6, 14 Race 6: 1, 6, 9 Race 7: 4, 8 Race 8: 1, 10 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Aaron Bullock will be short odds to win another TAB Jockeys Challenge. INSIDE MAIL - GUNNEDAH GEMOLOGIST (1) knocked off a $1 million yearling, namely Jet, when winning the coveted Star Kingdom at Muswellbrook on debut. Happily for trainer Mark Minervini, the son of Graff drew barrier 1 that day and has gate 1 of (max) 11 here with Aaron Bullock again. The Kris Lees pairing, CORNERBACK (2) and FORGING AHEAD (3), are both well-bred two-year-olds whose trials indicate that they won't be maidens for long. Bet: Cosmologist to win, box trifecta 1, 2, 3, 8 INJAIR (14) started out in Victoria where he did some good things without winning. He is in fact still a maiden after 16 starts but he hasn't run a bad race in his seven runs for Gunnedah trainer Gavin Groth. Resumes off a trial win here 11 days ago. CURRUMBIN ALLEY (1) is a Vancouver gelding out of a Savabeel mare so there's a bit to look forward to. Kicks off in a winnable race from a good draw and Bullock riding. HIDEYO (11) gave a very good account of herself at her first run past the mile when she closed off rapidly to be beaten a neck in a 2000m Benchmark 58 at Mudgee on May 11. This is 2150m so in some ways is even more suitable. Same jockey, same (great) barrier too. NATURE BOY (1) has won his 119th and 120th starts - wow. How can you knock a horse on a hat-trick and with Gunnedah form. DESCENDING MIST (2) has finished runner-up in all visits to this venue. TROUNCE (14) has the honour and distinction of being a million dollar baby. He was knocked down for seven figures at Easter, mostly because she is an I Am Invincible half-sister to Oakleigh Plate winner Booker. This is her first run for Kris Lees. Her debut run for Ciaron Maher was passable. Won a trial on May 7. IT'S A WRITTEN (8) is quite a reliable mare; seems like 1400m is suitable to her strengths. Neville Begg-bred RESUME (12) has looked the part in her trials. Bet: Trounce to win, box First 4 Nos. 5, 8, 12, 13, 14 FULL COMMITMENT (14) has a win and five placings from 10 starts. Worth noting that she has a couple of fourths and a fifth there too, just to say that she almost never runs a bad race. Runner-up at her only Gunnedah start and hit the line hard, first-up over 1280m; 1400m today. WILLINGA KARISMA (6) has 'a winning draw' here if she is good enough to take advantage, which she certainly seems to be. OAKFIELD MERCURY (5) won in debut at this track and this trip on May 5. Bet: Full Commitment each-way, box trifecta 5, 6, 12, 14 ZAKOR (9) has posted four wins and nine placings from 27 starts which is an admirable strike-rate but could have been even better with a bit of luck on his side. He finished off last campaign with a win at Muswellbrook and a second at Wyong. Clayton Gallagher a key and welcome booking. IRON HAT (6) is somewhat similar to Zakor in that luck hasn't always been on his side. He is quite a formidable sprinter when things do go his way. OAKFIELD DUKE (1) has a lot going for him. Bet: Zakor each-way, Daily Double 1st leg 9, 2nd Leg 10 FIORSUM FRED (8) has finished on the podium at 10 of his 19 starts. An even more impressive example of his talent, versatility and placement is that the son of the Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente has won from 1000m to 1600m. Even so, when it is all said and done, he's a miler from nose to tail. These Oakfield horses have been absolutely on fire right across the board for a while now it seems. Enter OAKFIELD PRINCE (4) who won at Newcastle last start with 61.5kg and Aaron Bullock on his back. He doesn't look too badly treated here. ATENTA (10) is a blue blood of sizeable proportions being the sixth foal of the mighty Streama. This daughter of Lonhro had trialled rather well prior to her debut at Muswellbrook on May 2 which she won handily, beating Naftali. Such a hard thing to win next time out for most horses but may be up to the task aided by the favourable draw. The 'best' NYALI SANDS (1) would just about have all these others covered. Just on the ratings; she is 67 and the next best is 62. Bet: Atenta to win, Nyali Sands to place BEST BETS GUNNEDAH BEST BET Race 4 No.14: Trounce Million dollar yearling who should be able to play a prominent part in the outcome. NEXT BEST Race 1 No.1 : Gemologist Comfortable winner of the Star Kingdom debut. Drawn 1/Bullock again. BEST VALUE Race 5 No. 14: Full Commitment Reliable type who sent out all the right signals first-up that a win was close by. QUADDIE Race 5: 5,6,14 Race 6: 1,6,9 Race 7: 4,8 Race 8: 1,10
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Trainer Scott Singleton achieves personal milestone and biggest win of his career with Melody Again in Group 3 Dark Jewel
Scott Singleton scored his biggest success as a trainer with Melody Again's popular hometown win at the Scone stand-alone meeting on Saturday. Melody Again overcame a slow start and an interrupted run to take out the Group 3 $250,000 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) in a thrilling finish. It was another boilover feature race result with Melody Again unwanted in betting at $41 – Summer Flame won the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at $61 earlier on the program – but Singleton 's mare had the Scone faithful cheering for another local win against the leading city stables. Singleton trains on the track and had cause for dual celebration after preparing a brace of winners with Fiorsum Fred taking out the TAB Highway to give the trainer his 400th career success only for that milestone moment to be trumped by Melody Again. Scone-based trainers Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, Brett Cavanough, Rodney Northam and Jeremy Gask also trained winners over the two-day carnival. 'That is like our Melbourne Cup,' Singleton said after winning the Dark Jewel Classic. 'I thought if Melody Again had any chance of winning a race like this it would be at home and when she was at the top of her game. 'When she walked into the yard, I thought if how she is prepared speaks for anything, she will run a good race because she looked so well.' Melody Again ($41), under an inspirational Christian Reith ride, burst between runners to run down favourite Written In Code ($3.50) near the line for a half-length win with Dark Glitter ($17) a length away third. Singleton admitted he was concerned when he noticed Melody Again was full of running on the home turn but was buried back in the field. . @CoreyGoodSkillz pick of the yard gets up! Melody Again storms home on the inside and wins the Dark Jewel Classic! ðŸ'Ž â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 • Caballus back with a bang to claim Ortensia Stakes 'She missed the start and then was bolting on the turn,' Singleton said. 'I thought this was going to need a good ride and which she got from Christian. 'I put Christian on this mare when she was being very difficult the preparation before last because he has such great hands. 'He has stuck with me and only came here today for the one ride. He's a very underrated jockey.' Singleton revealed Reith rode his very first winner as a trainer on a horse called Reginald at Bathurst 20 years ago. It was very apparent Melody Again's win meant a lot to both men. 'I always love riding for Scott, I respect him as a trainer and more so as a friend,' Reith said. 'He's been very good to me. I haven't been riding a lot but he is always giving me opportunities so it's a special moment to win this race on Melody Again.' Reith produced a masterful piece of navigation on Melody Again after the mare blew the start. 'That is just her – and she is getting worse at it,' Reith said of the mare's slow getaway from the barriers. "That's like our Melbourne Cup" An emotional Scott Singleton speaks on the massive win from Melody Again! â�¤ï¸� @singletonracing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 • Summer Flame ignites with boilover stakes win 'When she does that, you can't kick her up to try and hold a spot because you won't hold her. 'If you get room you can't let her slide into the run because if you give her a bit of rein she will just charge. 'You have to have confidence in her, keep her balanced and if you do that, then that is what she can do.' Singleton revealed Melody Again is closely related to his other Group 3 winner, Shazee Lee (2017 Hawkesbury Guineas). 'They are enigmatic horses,' Singleton said. 'But on any given day, they are very good. With Melody Again it was just a matter of getting everything right and today was that day.' Singleton admits Melody Again is a tempestuous mare who can be difficult to manage. 'She is not easy to deal with so I have to thank my team who look after her,' Singleton said. 'It is not easy when you are going around in the bush and you are trying to dream big. 'You don't want to kid yourself either but we had the belief this mare was good enough to do that one day, particularly if we had chance on her home track. 'We are only a small team so this is pretty special for us.'
Sydney Morning Herald
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Scone trainer using Quirindi meeting as warm up for home carnival
Five days out from his home Cup and stand-alone carnival, Scone trainer Scott Singleton is eying a potential treble at Monday's feature Quirindi meeting. Fresh from five individual winners from their last 20 runners, the Singleton yard is hoping to pick up from where it left off at this track a fortnight ago. That day, well-backed Enterprise Lassie led home a strong result in a Benchmark 58 Hcp over the mile, with the stable also recording a luckless and close second placings, and two thirds. Two of the placed runners from that meeting are on show at Quirindi in very suitable races. Insightful Award, a talented five-year-old mare by 2013 Cox Plate winner Shaus Award, lines up in a strong BM 66 Hcp over 1200m. Loading Already with a 25 per cent win rate from 12 starts, Insightful Award was very stiff not to win here a fortnight ago in a weaker BM 58 when she had to weave through traffic before hitting the line late to only miss by a half-length. Despite stepping up in grade and having drawn the outside barrier, she looks ready to fire on her preferred soft surface, with 2kg-claiming apprentice Leeshelle Small keeping the ride. Singleton's best hope is likely to emerge in the opening race, with tough three-year-old Wanavan primed to break through fifth-up in a Maiden Plate over 1000m.
The Age
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Scone trainer using Quirindi meeting as warm up for home carnival
Five days out from his home Cup and stand-alone carnival, Scone trainer Scott Singleton is eying a potential treble at Monday's feature Quirindi meeting. Fresh from five individual winners from their last 20 runners, the Singleton yard is hoping to pick up from where it left off at this track a fortnight ago. That day, well-backed Enterprise Lassie led home a strong result in a Benchmark 58 Hcp over the mile, with the stable also recording a luckless and close second placings, and two thirds. Two of the placed runners from that meeting are on show at Quirindi in very suitable races. Insightful Award, a talented five-year-old mare by 2013 Cox Plate winner Shaus Award, lines up in a strong BM 66 Hcp over 1200m. Loading Already with a 25 per cent win rate from 12 starts, Insightful Award was very stiff not to win here a fortnight ago in a weaker BM 58 when she had to weave through traffic before hitting the line late to only miss by a half-length. Despite stepping up in grade and having drawn the outside barrier, she looks ready to fire on her preferred soft surface, with 2kg-claiming apprentice Leeshelle Small keeping the ride. Singleton's best hope is likely to emerge in the opening race, with tough three-year-old Wanavan primed to break through fifth-up in a Maiden Plate over 1000m.
