Latest news with #SingaporePoolsHandicap
New Paper
01-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Barrier concerns but Winter Stakes up Whinchat's alley
SYDNEY - For a quirky horse like Whinchat, keeping him calm and relaxed is half the battle won. For that reason, trainer David Pfieffer is likely to run the son of Russian Revolution in the Listed Winter Stakes (1,400m) at Rosehill on July 5. The five-year-old gelding, who is also nominated at Sunshine Coast in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1,400m) on July 5, has certain idiosyncrasies, especially in the barriers, that can make things tricky for riders. His eccentric behaviour was on full show two starts back in the Singapore Pools Handicap, a Benchmark 94 race (1,300m) at Royal Randwick on June 7. Ridden by regular partner Jay Ford, the 23-10 favourite missed the start by six lengths and elected to come from behind instead, but he did not threaten at all, finishing second-last to the Joseph Pride-trained Headley Grange. Pfieffer could not hide his disappointment. "I think the horse is flying," said the New South Wales trainer. "It was highly unfortunate he reared in the gates second-up because I thought it was his to win." Three weeks before that underwhelming run, Whinchat led first-up after a 14-month spell, and finished a close second to the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained The Instructor in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1,300m) at the Scone Carnival on May 17, when he was drawn in barrier 13. In fact, the six-time winner has always won by leading, over distances ranging from 1,100m to 1,400m around New South Wales, even if he had to overcome wide draws at two of his wins. While Whinchat has led at fast tempos from wide barriers, Pfieffer is still hoping the brown gelding can draw better and find a race with less pressure as he leads. A good example of wide gates being a dampener came when Whinchat was again beaten into fifth by Headley Grange at his last start in the Listed Civic Stakes (1,400m) at Royal Randwick on June 21, albeit by less than two lengths, when he jumped from barrier 16. "Last start, we had four leaders in the race and I thought he put in a very good effort," said Pfieffer. "A few of the speed horses I thought might be there (on Saturday) aren't there, and with his history in the barriers, I'd be terrified of travelling interstate." An injury forced Whinchat to miss a year of racing - after his last win in the Rosehill Bowling Club Benchmark 88 handicap (1,400m) on March 16, 2024 - leading into this campaign, and Pfieffer said he has taken a bit more time to come to hand as an older gelding. "He came back for a preparation, had two trials and then did a ligament behind his knee. Nothing overly dramatic, but it was just enough to give him a few months off," he said. "We've taken it slow, but like all of us, when you're getting old, you hold a bit more weight and it takes a little bit longer to get fitter. "He's come through that tough run well. Jay Ford worked him Tuesday morning on the course proper and he went great, recovered well. "He just needs a bit of breathing time. I think it's achievable to win a stakes race with him, and the race on Saturday should be right up his alley." Known for steering one of Australia's most iconic horses, Takeover Target, to victory in the 2008 Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1,200m) at his first ride at Kranji, the Sydney-based Ford has partnered Whinchat in all his six wins. He will be taking the reins on Whinchat - who is rated a 12-1 chance across all-in markets - again in the Winter Stakes. SKY RACING WORLD
New Paper
19-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Headley Grange should frank Pools form
There is a good chance that the inaugural Singapore Pools Handicap (1,300m) at Royal Randwick on June 7 may well have set the stage for a Listed winner at the same track two weeks later. Headley Grange's winning burst in the Benchmark 94 race named after the Singapore gaming company was so impressive that newfound fans have been waiting for his next outing with bated breath. Trainer Joseph Pride has picked the A$200,000 (S$167,000) Listed Civic Stakes (1,400m) on June 21 as the race to keep the seven-time winner by Exosphere on the up. On paper, the four-year-old's task looks stiffer up against better-rated customers like Iknowastar (105) and Willaidow (103), but his hike of only five points from 88 to 93 after such an explosive turn of foot in the Singapore Pools race gives him a strong fighting chance to go back-to-back. On handicap, he will have only 54kg on his back, in receipt of six kilos from the topweight Iknowastar on 60kg. While Headley Grange beat Green Shadows by only three parts of a length at his last start, most pundits would agree he should have scored by a wider margin had he found daylight earlier. Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus then, he was seen clambering on heels at the 300m while he was clearly raring to go. When the opening came through, he quickly put his rivals to the sword. With the in-form Hyeronimus not riding at 54kg, Pride did not have to search high and low for a rider who could make the weight. The booking of top jockey Jason Collett can only enhance his chances, as will the handy barrier No. 4. Headley Grange currently heads the market at 11-5, but, somehow, the next popular pick is a fifth emergency (down to second standby after three horses - Warnie, Chrysaor and Another One - were scratched), Raikkonen, for the in-form Bjorn Baker yard at 9-2. Surprisingly, Green Shadows' bid to turn the tables on Headley Grange is not that fancied at 11-1, presumably because of his horror gate in 20 as well as the unfavourable pull in weights. On-pace sprinter Whinchat was a beaten favourite in the Singapore Pools Handicap after he bombed the start. The David Pfieffer-trained speedster did pass a barrier test with flying colours and gets a chance to make amends by lining up in the Civic Stakes, but the outermost alley in 22 may bring his downfall again. It may well be Headley Grange's stable companion Cool Jakey who will make his presence felt when the whips are cracking following his creditable fifth in the Singapore Pools Handicap. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Bases Loaded should not be written off either, after finally drawing in following a run of rotten luck with the barriers. With Stradbroke-winning jockey Tim Clark up, it would not surprise anyone if the China Horse Club-owned Deep Field four-year-old shoots to the lead from gate No. 2, and goes all the way. manyan@
New Paper
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Pools' Pride and joy in Sydney
Sydney racing was the latest international venue to honour Singapore Pools at one of its metropolitan meetings on June 7. The Singapore gaming company has been regularly named after races from around countries where it offers horse racing wagering in the last two years. After Korea Racing Authority, Hong Kong Jockey Club, 4Racing of South Africa and Perth Racing, Tabcorp was the next to host Pools' delegation at Royal Randwick. The Pools team comprised board member Lee Kwok Cheong, who was accompanied by his wife Sachiko Tamamura, chief product officer Simon Leong and senior manager (product content) Steven Tan. "Singapore Pools is pleased to partner with Tabcorp to bring more variety and quality racing content to our customers," said Leong. "With Tabcorp's extensive simulcast rights across Australia and key global racing jurisdictions, this collaboration enables us to deliver a richer and more exciting racing experience for fans in Singapore." As per custom, a race was picked to commemorate the collaboration. The ninth event on the card of 10, the A$160,000 (S$134,000) BM94 (1,300m) was named the Singapore Pools Handicap. "We would also like to thank Tabcorp for naming a race in honour of Singapore Pools," added Leong. "It is a gesture that affirms the strong and long-standing partnership between our organisations." The race was not without its fair share of drama when favourite Whinchat bombed the start. As Whinchat has won all his six races by leading, backers knew they had burned their fingers. Jockey Jay Ford tried to salvage the situation by restraining Whinchat at the rear instead of playing catch-up with the early pace, but it was to no avail. He beat one home. With the main threat out, $16 second-elect Headley Grange won. Under jockey Adam Hyeronimus, the Exosphere four-year-old dashed to the line a slashing 3/4-length winner from outsiders Green Shadows (Braith Nock) and Dark Glitter (Molly Bourke) to knock in his seventh career win. The win also brought up the middle pin of a treble for trainer Joseph Pride, who sensationally swept the last three races on the card. Earlier, the Warwick Farm handler took the A$200,000 Listed Bob Charley Stakes (1,100m) with $9 favourite In Flight (Ford). Not content with a running double, Team Pride recombined with Hyeronimus in the last, a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1,000m), to wrap up the day in style with Storm The Ramparts ($15). Up north at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, Pride had less joy with his sole runner at the Queensland riches, Lekvarte, who was well beaten by Adiella in the Magic Millions National Classic (1,400m). The three rained-off Group 1 races from last weekend went to an assortment of squads. The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar (James McDonald, $8) was the only favourite to salute, nabbing Zarastro late in the A$1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1,300m). You Wahng (Tommy Berry) then won the A$700,000 Queensland Oaks (2,200m) at $114 for trainer Kris Lees. Maison Louis (Ryan Maloney, $194) sent more favourite backers licking their wounds in the A$1 million Queensland Derby (2,400m) by beating better-fancied stablemate King Of Thunder (Mark Zahra) for a John O'Shea and Tom Carlton quinella. manyan@
