Latest news with #SirJohnMonashStakes
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Joe Pride mare In Flight on Group 1 path after success in Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield
Sydney raider In Flight completed a stylish Caulfield reconnaissance in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m). The Joe Pride -trained mare hunted New York Lustre on Saturday with Recommendation in third. Pride has future Group 1 targets in mind for the talented mare, including the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield next autumn. In Flight coursed wide around the home bend but let down powerfully under champion jockey Craig Williams, who sealed a Caulfield treble with the feature success. 'Getting around Caulfield the first time … thought we'd be in the run a lot closer,' Pride said. 'Probably not tracking out so wide, and that's probably what made it awkward for her but as soon as she straightened up and balanced up (let rip), she's pretty good mare this. 'I'm probably thinking in the autumn, she's a likely type for an Oakleigh Plate or a Galaxy, a couple nice 1100m races there for her. 'She hasn't got too much to prove to get to that level because she's going through the grades very quickly, it's very exciting.' IN FLIGHT ✈ï¸� Joe Pride's mare is a beauty! She takes the Group 3 Sir John Monash in style, and it's that man @CWilliamsJockey again! @PrideRacing @ProvenTbreds â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 12, 2025 In Flight returned $2.50 for favourite backers. Pride has placed the talented mare, an eight-time winner from 18 starts, to perfection. In Flight placed twice in Sydney to start the breakout winter campaign before a Listed success in Brisbane against fillies and mares. She repeated the effort last start in Sydney, defeated the boys. 'She's won in three different states her last three starts, says something about her toughness,' Pride said. 'She's handling it all really well and I'd like to say that was her best run today … she's heading in the right direction, I don't like to think about (future plans) on race day. 'Happy to have a horse heading in that direction because they're very hard to find these horses, she's a very talented mare, not a gross mare so she can cop a little bit of time in the paddock.' Williams praised In Flight's performance and potential. 'She is favourite for a reason,' Williams said. 'Joe has really developed her and taught her well, she's very effective when tracks have a bit more give in the track. 'This is probably the firmest track she's been on this preparation and she won with a bit of authority today. 'She was a pleasing ride, I could do what I wanted with her … first start around Caulfield, one of the plans I had for her was help her around Caulfield but she towed me around.' Williams used fancied Kallos, ridden by champion jockey and current premiership leader Blake Shinn, as cover to give In Flight the best chance. 'She probably could've sat three-wide and closer and still won,' Williams said. 'But we want the perfect ride. I was either going to be following Blake or be in front of Blake and I didn't think Blake was going to be able to get cover. 'His horse had been trialling up really well, so I thought it was the one to beat drawn near where we were, so then I was in a position I decided to be negative, save some energy early and finish off late.'
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Jockey Jordan Childs eyeing Group 3 Monash Stakes with Cleo Cat at Caulfield
Jockey Jordan Childs has the task of completing a trainer's long-term mission in Saturday's Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig earmarked the Sir John Monash Stakes as a target for smart mare Cleo Cat as the mare started her preparation back in May. Dabernig wanted to have Romantic Choice and Fickle alongside Cleo Cat in top form in the last month of the season but the latter will be the only stable representative in Saturday's feature. 'The theory is to have them in work all through winter and maybe have a crack at the Bletchingly or Monash, those sprints they have in July before the spring horses get fit,' Dabernig said in May. 'Often you get the spring horses in it that need the run and the fit winter horse can pick them up.' Cleo Cat won a Group 3 sprint in Adelaide on May 10 before running second to Niance in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes and Marble Nine in an open sprint at Flemington at subsequent runs. Marble Nine went on to salute in a Listed contest at Flemington last Saturday, boosting Childs' confidence in Cleo Cat returning to winning ways in the Monash Stakes. 'There's good form around her,' Childs said. Speaking to Tom, he said she's in good shape so I'm going in confident on Saturday.' Cleo Cat has remained solid in early Monash Stakes betting at $5.50 despite drawing barrier 10 in the 11-horse field. However, Childs said varying factors such as the prevailing winds or track condition, could mitigate the effects of the potentially awkward barrier. 'She doesn't have to lead and if the track is a bit wet too, it might not be a bad thing being out there,' Childs said. 'The other side of it is that there is only one corner so you can sit a bit wide in that Caulfield chute. 'It will depend on how the day is playing and how the race unfolds but she is in great form.' While Childs kept an open mind on his Monash Stakes tactics, he ruled out firing Cleo Cat out of the barriers to make her take a forward position. He said the mare would find her own spot early in the $200,000 race. 'Every time I've ridden her, I've just let her race where she's comfortable,' Childs said. 'You don't pull but you don't push her either. 'Whether that lands us in front or taking a sit, you've just got to be really smooth on her to keep the momentum and keep her in a happy spot.' Marine Empress at Geelong on Friday. The Grahame Begg -trained Marine Empress ran on hard for second on debut at Geelong with the daughter of Camelot showing she had a bright future as distances increased. 'She hadn't shown at home so we weren't too sure how she'd go first-up,' Childs said. 'She drew wide, so we rode her nice and quiet but she absolutely rocketed home. 'She feels like a stayer that is a very kind ride. She just comes back underneath you and that will take her a long way.'
News.com.au
08-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Lingani in great shape ahead of Sir John Monash Stakes after overcoming autumn injury
A hamstring injury wiped out her autumn, but SA mare Lingani is thriving ahead of Saturday's Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield. The talented sprinter finished fourth behind Sir Now at Morphettville last month, her first race since running ninth in the Wylie Handicap last September. Lingani returned to trackwork in December, eager to build on a sole stakes win, but a tweaked hamstring ruled her out of an autumn campaign in Melbourne. 'It wasn't very bad, but she did need three months off,' trainer Peter Blanch, who trains in partnership with wife Belinda, said. 'Like any footballer, she needed some time for it to heal, she's come back and it hasn't bothered her at all.' The mare hit the line strongly first-up over 1000m, and the performance gave Blanch confidence an interstate test was next on her radar. 'She got some fitness out of it which she needed. Her work on Tuesday was good - we'll head over,' he said. 'She is a stakes winner, we are reasonably high in the ratings her in Adelaide, so it's time to see where she sits. 'She's had that run under her belt and come through it really well - she looks great.' Lingani from the clouds! 😮 @domjock nails the ride & wins the Lightning Stakes! âš¡ï¸� — (@Racing) July 27, 2024 • While injury temporarily derailed Blanch's plans with Lingani, it has also provided the mare time to physically mature. 'Sometimes it (time off) can be a blessing, she was only early in her four-year-old career, and she's had a really nice grow and fill out,' he said. 'She likes wet tracks, she goes on either, but she doesn't go any slower on a wet track. 'Horses are taking longer to get to their peak maturity, she's there now, it's her time to see how good she is over there.' Lingani will be ridden by Group 1-winning jockey Paul Gatt on Saturday. 'I'm really keen to see where we lob after it, if she performs well, it opens up that early part of the spring for her,' Blanch said. 'I thought her run the other day was better than it looked, her sectionals late were very, very fast, it's good to see her back on track.'
The Australian
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
2025 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield: Recommendation returns
Recommendation has undergone barrier re-education to help the out-of-sorts sprinter start sharper and regain form. Trained by Ciaron Maher, Recommendation burst onto the Melbourne winter circuit last year with a seven-length Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) demolition. He turned a blistering first-up performance into a Group 3 sprint hat-trick at Caulfield with subsequent wins in the Bletchingly Stakes and Heath Stakes. Recommendation competed solidly in higher grade last spring but then only battled abroad in the Hong Kong Sprint. • 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 five-year-old gelding returns to Caulfield third-up on Saturday to defend the Sir John Monash title after two lacklustre performances in Listed and Open company. Recommendation has not been as sharp out of the barriers this time in compared to electric starts last year. He missed the start a length at Flemington a fortnight ago and finished last of eight, beaten five lengths. Maher stable representative Leigh Allen said Recommendation had benefited from the barrier refresh. • Gilbert Gardiner's horses to follow, forgive from Flemington on Saturday 'We sent him to Julien Welsh's, had a bit of time there, and then had a piece of work (last Saturday),' Allen said. 'He'll have a little pop out on Tuesday and hopefully we're back on the right leg there. 'It's nothing bad (barrier manners), not that he's a rogue or anything, but he's missed the start and from there (he's on the back foot) as an on speed runner he needs to be thereabouts … as soon as he flops out of the barriers it's game over basically. 'We're hoping for an improved showing (in the Sir John Monash) … he'll then target races similar to last preparation.' • Revealed: Melbourne Cup set for major prizemoney boost Allen said Recommendation had taken a bit of time to get up to speed this year, following the Hong Kong trip last December. 'It probably did take a lot out of him going to Hong Kong because he had a really good prep this time of year … took him a while to get over that so we're trying to get him back in form,' Allen said. The Maher stable saddled a treble at Flemington last Saturday, including the emerging stayer Shockletz. • 'Awesome again': Stern Idol reigns supreme in Thackeray test Allen said Shockletz, a rising four-year-old daughter of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, had the potential to advance to the spring. Shockletz has won three of her past five starts and just missed in a photo finish two back. 'She's only a little slight thing … it's all happened in a very short amount of time so she might not be one you quickly put into a good race,' Allen said. 'I'd imagine she'll have a reset (freshen up for spring).' Gilbert Gardiner Sports reporter Gilbert Gardiner is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun. @gilbertgardiner Gilbert Gardiner
News.com.au
07-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Ciaron Maher makes a Recommendation for barrier re-education for out-of-sorts star
Recommendation has undergone barrier re-education to help the out-of-sorts sprinter start sharper and regain form. Trained by Ciaron Maher, Recommendation burst onto the Melbourne winter circuit last year with a seven-length Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) demolition. He turned a blistering first-up performance into a Group 3 sprint hat-trick at Caulfield with subsequent wins in the Bletchingly Stakes and Heath Stakes. Hong Kong Sprint. The five-year-old gelding returns to Caulfield third-up on Saturday to defend the Sir John Monash title after two lacklustre performances in Listed and Open company. Recommendation has not been as sharp out of the barriers this time in compared to electric starts last year. He missed the start a length at Flemington a fortnight ago and finished last of eight, beaten five lengths. Maher stable representative Leigh Allen said Recommendation had benefited from the barrier refresh. "It's daylight to the others." Recommendation returns in fine style & destroys his opposition in the G3 Sir John Monash Stakes ðŸ'¥ @cmaherracing @blake_shinn — (@Racing) July 13, 2024 'We sent him to Julien Welsh's, had a bit of time there, and then had a piece of work (last Saturday),' Allen said. 'He'll have a little pop out on Tuesday and hopefully we're back on the right leg there. 'It's nothing bad (barrier manners), not that he's a rogue or anything, but he's missed the start and from there (he's on the back foot) as an on speed runner he needs to be thereabouts … as soon as he flops out of the barriers it's game over basically. 'We're hoping for an improved showing (in the Sir John Monash) … he'll then target races similar to last preparation.' "They're not going to get to him." Recommendation becomes the third horse to complete Monash-Bletchingly double ðŸ'¥ @cmaherracing @blake_shinn — (@Racing) July 27, 2024 Allen said Recommendation had taken a bit of time to get up to speed this year, following the Hong Kong trip last December. 'It probably did take a lot out of him going to Hong Kong because he had a really good prep this time of year … took him a while to get over that so we're trying to get him back in form,' Allen said. The Maher stable saddled a treble at Flemington last Saturday, including the emerging stayer Shockletz. Shockletz responds to @HTCoffey 's urgings & claims Ant in the final bound in the Mahogany Challenge Final âš¡ï¸� @cmaherracing — (@Racing) July 5, 2025 Allen said Shockletz, a rising four-year-old daughter of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, had the potential to advance to the spring. Shockletz has won three of her past five starts and just missed in a photo finish two back. 'She's only a little slight thing … it's all happened in a very short amount of time so she might not be one you quickly put into a good race,' Allen said. 'I'd imagine she'll have a reset (freshen up for spring).'
