Latest news with #SnoopyNow
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Snoopy Now set for Victorian test in Darren Galley Mile at Flemington
Port Adelaide Guineas winner Snoopy Now has bounced back to winning ways, and trainer Darryl Hewitt has him poised to give his rivals a shake in Saturday's Darren Galley Mile at Flemington. Following an unplaced run in the $1m SA Derby, Snoopy Now powered home to win a Benchmark 74 at Murray Bridge last month, setting up the gelding's first interstate tilt on Saturday. A quirky son of Sir Prancealot, Snoopy Now was a bargain buy Hewitt purchased for less than $5000 on an online sale. The three-year-old has now accumulated $185k in earnings, with two wins from 11 starts. 'He worked well again on Tuesday,' Hewitt, who trains at Karoonda, said. 'The last sectionals for him at Murray Bridge last start were pretty good. 'That track was a little bit firm, and you know he handles any wet, I think it's a slow (Soft) 7 over there at the moment. 'It'll hopefully help him a bit, obviously if you're going over there there's going to be some nice ones around.' Snoopy Now, the winner of the Port Adelaide Guineas, is far too good at the Bridge ðŸ'« @murtagh_connor — (@Racing) May 24, 2025 Snoopy Now, will be without his partner in crime, Sir Now, for the trip to Victoria. Sir Now is set for a freshen up after dead-heating for first at Morphettville last Saturday. 'I had them both nominated. There's nothing wrong with Sir Now, he's been bouncing around like a lunatic,' he said. 'I thought he done it hard (last start), pushing up on the inside, on the worst part of the going, all the way up the straight.' • Kimochi heads into unknown for Group 1 double shot English jockey Connor Murtagh will make the journey to Melbourne for the ride, the in-form hoop has ridden five winners in the past week, and has been aboard for both of Snoopy Now's career wins. The gelding was also nominated for a Benchmark 76 (1550m) at Morphettville Parks on Saturday, but Hewitt deemed the Melbourne assignment more suitable. 'We virtually have to (head over), he's going well enough but there's no three-year-old races in South Australia for him,' Hewitt said. 'All you've got is benchmark races, even the benchmark I put him in on Saturday, he's up against horses like Maracourt, not getting much weight off them. 'They are horses that are Murray Gold Cup winners, and he's only a three-year-old – there's just nothing for him.' Hewitt has saddled up three winners from his past four runners courtesy of his gun Sir Prancealot duo. The handler enjoyed plenty of success with talented gallopers Moet Now, Sparkling Now and Merlot Now in years gone by, and is enjoying the journey with his two latest stable stars. 'You go to the races hoping, but now you go to the races expecting to run well,' he said. 'Nothing points to a poor run, they work well, they handle wet, they handle dry. 'They stand in the tie ups all right, they are a bit of a handful at the track for Connor to ride around but everything else, it indicates that they are just going to keep doing what they are doing. 'Even bringing him (Snoopy) back from 2500m to 1600m, I think I gave him 10-11 days off, pushed the reset button and he's back.'
Daily Telegraph
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
South Australian Derby setback for trainer after banned jockey loses ride
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. He was hoping to ride the race of his life, but English jockey Connor Murtagh will instead avoid Saturday's $1m South Australian Derby at Morphettville due to a suspension that has left him gutted. Murtagh, 25, won the Port Adelaide Guineas aboard the Derby-bound Snoopy Now, yet a careless riding ban at Oakbank (April 21) saw Murtagh handed a three-meeting ban, which has ultimately ruled him out of Saturday's 2500m Group 1. • 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! A desperate Murtagh appealed the three-meeting ban on Thursday at the Racing Appeals Tribunal, hopeful of a stay of proceedings, but the appeal was unsuccessful. It has left Karoonda handler Darryl Hewitt in a race against time to find a new rider for his talented yet challenging gelding, who only Murtagh has gelled with. 'It (Derby) was exciting before the hearing on Thursday, it's put a spanner in the works,' Hewitt, a former SANFL footballer of over 200 games, said. 'We are struggling for a rider now. That's where we are at, I was almost going to scratch him. 'It's just ridiculous, the kid's deflated, he's gone to Melbourne to get away from it.' An abandoned Port Augusta meeting on April 27, would have been included in the ban, that also comprised Wednesday's Murray Bridge card, and Friday's Bordertown meeting. • 'Lucky place for me': Modest Allen in quest for fifth SA Derby The Port Augusta meeting was cancelled on April 15, due to a delay with resurfacing the track. Hewitt said that Murtagh, who pleaded guilty and accepted the three-meeting ban, was unaware the Port Augusta meeting was cancelled, with the suspension therefore including Saturday's Derby. 'You would think that's fairly good grounds to appeal,' he said. 'It's so disappointing. He (Connor) rode him this morning (Friday), after all that Thursday, I think he was absolutely beside himself, but he said I'll be there. 'He lobbed here at seven this morning, did the business, and said 'I've got to get out'.' Hewitt toyed with scratching Snoopy Now, a $15 hope with Sportsbet for Saturday's SA Derby, but Murtagh urged Hewitt to stay course. 'I asked Connor, I said 'I feel like scratching him',' he said. 'He said 'no, it's all my work too, you know'. I thought 'fair enough'.' Julie Preston and Connor Murtagh celebrate Snoopy Now's Port Adelaide Guineas win in April. Picture: Makoto Kaneko • South Australian Derby runner-by-runner form analysis and tips Murtagh was one of six jockeys to be suspended at Oakbank on April 21, with premiership-winning hoop Jake Toeroek, and Teagan Voorham also slapped with three-meeting bans that impeded their autumn carnival. Chief steward Matt Santoro said the abandoned Port Augusta meeting was taken into account by the hoops facing suspension. 'Toeroek and Voorham both had to make a tough decision. Toeroek decided he would ride Sangster Day and miss the Derby,' Santoro said. 'Teagan wanted to speak to her manager, she decided she would miss the lead up ride in the Chairman's (Stakes), and would ride on Derby Day. 'Connor wanted to discuss with his manager, he came back to us and decided he would miss the Derby, and ride in the Chairman's. 'He was given five meetings, discounted by one for his guilty plea, and given one discount (meeting) because he was going to miss a Group 1 day. 'He's appealed that and asked for a stay of proceedings and he wasn't granted one by the appeals tribunal.' Snoopy Now with Darryl Hewitt and partner Julie Preston, who is also a part-owner. Picture: Racing SA • Busuttin's surprise $41 top seed in three-pronged Derby assault Despite the setback, Hewitt was pleased with Snoopy Now's sixth placing in the Chairman's Stakes (2000m) last Saturday. 'He got out late. He made good ground considering how far back (he was) and how they quickened on the lead,' Hewitt said. The son of Sir Prancealot has quirks, but is in top order heading into Saturday's Derby, which will be Hewitt's first Group 1 runner. He prepared five-time stakes winner Merlot Now to Group-level appearances, but rates Snoopy Now even higher. 'The horse is as good as gold,' he said. 'There's a few antics, that won't be a problem, he gets led around by the clerk of the course and gets held in the gates. 'He did everything right last Saturday, it's just putting someone on who may think 'oh this thing might drop its head or do this' then they're riding on a short rein and they've got his head overracing. 'Connor knows he's doesn't do that in a race, and rides him on a long rein which allows him to settle, I'm not sure if we'll get that with someone riding him for the first time.' Originally published as 'I feel like scratching him': South Australian Derby setback for trainer Darryl Hewitt after banned jockey Connor Murtagh loses ride
News.com.au
02-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘I feel like scratching him': South Australian Derby setback for trainer Darryl Hewitt after jockey Connor Murtagh has ban upheld
He was hoping to ride the race of his life, but English jockey Connor Murtagh will instead avoid Saturday's $1m South Australian Derby at Morphettville due to a suspension that has left him gutted. Murtagh, 25, won the Port Adelaide Guineas aboard the Derby-bound Snoopy Now, yet a careless riding ban at Oakbank (April 22) saw Murtagh handed a three-meeting ban, which has ultimately ruled him out of Saturday's 2500m Group 1. A desperate Murtagh appealed the three-meeting ban on Thursday at the Racing Appeals Tribunal, hopeful of a stay of proceedings, but the appeal was unsuccessful. It has left Karoonda handler Darryl Hewitt in a race against time to find a new rider for his talented yet challenging gelding, who only Murtagh has gelled with. 'It (Derby) was exciting before the hearing on Thursday, it's put a spanner in the works,' Hewitt, a former SANFL footballer of over 200 games, said. 'We are struggling for a rider now. That's where we are at, I was almost going to scratch him. 'It's just ridiculous, the kid's deflated, he's gone to Melbourne to get away from it.' An abandoned Port Augusta meeting on April 27, would have been included in the ban, that also comprised Wednesday's Murray Bridge card, and Friday's Bordertown meeting. @murtagh_connor — (@Racing) April 12, 2025 • The Port Augusta meeting was cancelled on April 15, due to a delay with resurfacing the track. Hewitt said that Murtagh, who pleaded guilty and accepted the three-meeting ban, was unaware the Port Augusta meeting was cancelled, with the suspension therefore including Saturday's Derby. 'You would think that's fairly good grounds to appeal,' he said. 'It's so disappointing. He (Connor) rode him this morning (Friday), after all that Thursday, I think he was absolutely beside himself, but he said I'll be there. 'He lobbed here at seven this morning, did the business, and said 'I've got to get out'.' Hewitt toyed with scratching Snoopy Now, a $15 hope with Sportsbet for Saturday's SA Derby, but Murtagh urged Hewitt to stay course. 'I asked Connor, I said 'I feel like scratching him',' he said. 'He said 'no, it's all my work too, you know'. I thought 'fair enough'.' • South Australian Derby runner-by-runner form analysis and tips Murtagh was one of six jockeys to be suspended at Oakbank on April 22, with premiership-winning hoop Jake Toeroek, and Teagan Voorham also slapped with three-meeting bans that impeded their autumn carnival. Chief steward Matt Santoro said the abandoned Port Augusta meeting was taken into account by the hoops facing suspension. 'Toeroek and Voorham both had to make a tough decision. Toeroek decided he would ride Sangster Day and miss the Derby,' Santoro said. 'Teagan wanted to speak to her manager, she decided she would miss the lead up ride in the Chairman's (Stakes), and would ride on Derby Day. 'Connor wanted to discuss with his manager, he came back to us and decided he would miss the Derby, and ride in the Chairman's. 'He was given five meetings, discounted by one for his guilty plea, and given one discount (meeting) because he was going to miss a Group 1 day. 'He's appealed that and asked for a stay of proceedings and he wasn't granted one by the appeals tribunal.' Darryl Hewitt gets another black-type winner under his belt after Snoopy Now's incredible breakthrough maiden win in the Port Adelaide Guineas 🙌 — (@Racing) April 12, 2025 • Despite the setback, Hewitt was pleased with Snoopy Now's sixth placing in the Chairman's Stakes (2000m) last Saturday. 'He got out late. He made good ground considering how far back (he was) and how they quickened on the lead,' Hewitt said. The son of Sir Prancealot has quirks, but is in top order heading into Saturday's Derby, which will be Hewitt's first Group 1 runner. He prepared five-time stakes winner Merlot Now to Group-level appearances, but rates Snoopy Now even higher. 'The horse is as good as gold,' he said. 'There's a few antics, that won't be a problem, he gets led around by the clerk of the course and gets held in the gates. 'He did everything right last Saturday, it's just putting someone on who may think 'oh this thing might drop its head or do this' then they're riding on a short rein and they've got his head overracing. 'Connor knows he's doesn't do that in a race, and rides him on a long rein which allows him to settle, I'm not sure if we'll get that with someone riding him for the first time.'
