Latest news with #SoYouThink
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
You Wahng gives Kris Lees a third Queensland Oaks win
You Wahng pulled out plenty at the business end to claim the $700,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The daughter of So You Think placed three runs back in the Group 1 Australian Oaks before adding Queensland's fillies' feature. You Wahng, ridden by Tommy Berry, defeated Godolphin filly Pinito and Australasian Oaks winner Benagil. The favourite Philia finished eighth. Calling for the win! ðŸ'² You Wahng takes the G1 Queensland Oaks for @Leesracing and @TommyBerry21! @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 The victory was trainer Kris Lees' third Queensland Oaks win, his second win in the race in the past three years. The other winners were Vitesse Dane (2005) and Amokura (2023). The win was You Wahng's third from nine starts and took her earnings to more than $590,000.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Rocks or Diamonds? Classy mare tests trainer David Pfieffer's patience
Oh Diamond Lil might be a slow maturing mare but she just happens to be an extremely fast racehorse. Trainer David Pfieffer spoke about the two very different sides of Oh Diamond Lil on the eve of the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. 'She is probably an owner's nightmare and a dream at the same time,'' Pfieffer explained. 'Because she has been such a slow maturer, she has taken a long time to grow into herself and I still don't think she is there yet. 'Although she is nearly a five-year-old, she's still not fully matured but her owners have been patient and they are reaping the rewards now.'' Oh Diamond Lil, a daughter of Coolmore's champion racehorse and sire So You Think, has only had nine starts but she has already won four races and only once has she missed a top three finish. At the Scone stand-alone meeting three weeks ago, Oh Diamond Lil resumed with a powerful win over 1300m and Pfieffer was confident his mare would handle the class rise at Randwick. Even the likelihood of a heavy track surface doesn't overly concern the trainer. Randwick was rated a heavy 8 late on Friday. 'Ideally, I would like to see it between a soft 6-7 as she is only second-up, but I think it will be an improving heavy,'' Pfieffer said. 'She is a horse that puts a lot into her work so she naturally gets herself fit anyway. 'The way she raced last start it was like a horse that is wanting more ground and the soft-heavy track is going to make it more of a test. 'But she's in great form and is improving every preparation.'' ðŸ'Ž Oh Diamond Lil gets the perfect run and wins at Scone! @KPMcEvoy | @DavidPfieffer — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 In latest TAB Fixed Odds betting, Oh Diamond Lil is challenging for favouritism at $3.90 behind the Ciaron Maher-trained Federer at $3.50. Pfieffer is taking two horses to the Randwick meeting with Whinchat lining up in the Singapore Pools Handicap (1300m). Whinchat resumed after a long spell at Scone last month and ran a blinder to beat all but The Instructor in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m). 'It would have been a nice feat to get a win first-up with Whinchat after such a long break,'' Pfieffer said. 'But he's pulled up well and is going great. Jay (Ford) galloped him during the week and said the horse is ready to fire. 'The barrier (10) probably works out well for him and he will appreciate the improving track, too. 'He has raced well on wet tracks in the past and 1300m second-up with three weeks between runs looks ideal.'' • 'I'll be moving to Vaucluse!': It's all in the name for Sargent filly â– â– â– â– â– Private trial shows Pride gelding on song for Stradbroke "Nash is certainly giving him a good sound out." A solid gallop for @PrideRacing star Private Eye under @nashhot as he leads all the way in a 900m trial at Rosehill on Friday beating Starman with the winner's stablemate City Of Lights third. @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) June 6, 2025 Private Eye, winner of $11.9 million prizemoney, tuned up for next week's Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap by taking out a Rosehill barrier trial on Friday. The Joe Pride -trained Private Eye began brilliantly out of the barriers and went straight to the front in the 900m heat and comfortably held Starman and City Of Lights at bay. This was Private Eye's fourth barrier trial in recent weeks as Pride prepares the gelding for an audacious first-up Stradbroke bid at Eagle Farm on June 14. â– â– â– â– â– Baker in hot form in country Jack Baker, the 3kg claiming apprentice, is starting to make a name for himself on the NSW country circuit. Baker, 21, is in only his second season of riding but scored his 35th career win and his first at the provincials on Hot Bandit at Kembla Grange earlier this week. The young apprentice rides next at Sapphire Coast on Sunday on the Luke Pepper -trained Fifty Five Mustang. For racing historians, Jack Baker's name might be familiar – and with good reason. The apprentice shares his name with the jockey who rode the legendary Phar Lap to his very first win as a two-year-old at Rosehill in 1929. The great Phar Lap only won once in his first 10 starts but during the spring of his three-year-old season, he started to turn into a famous winning machine. Phar Lap won 36 of his final 41 starts including the 1930 Melbourne Cup. Champion jockey Jim Pike became Phar Lap's regular rider and the combination won 27 of their 30 races together. The mighty chestnut went to America to win the 1932 Agua Caliente Handicap only to die weeks later after contracting a sudden but mysterious illness. â– â– â– â– â– Waller, J-Mac shooting for history Chris Waller and James McDonald are joining forces to try and break national Group 1 records at Eagle Farm. Waller is aiming to train his 19th Group 1 win of the season, which would set a new standard after equalling his all-time record of 18 majors he first achieved in 2018-19. McDonald has ridden 14 Australian Group 1 winners during 2024-25 and has the opportunity to equal or even break 'Miracle' Mal Johnston's longstanding national riding record of 16 major race winners he established in 1979-80. Waller and McDonald team up with brilliant mare Joliestar ($2.30 favourite) in the Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m), Movin Out ($8) in the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) and Belle Detelle ($7) in the Group 1 $1 million Queensland Derby (2400m). Waller has multiple runners in the three Group 1 races with Democracy Manifest ($41) in the Kingsford Smith Cup, Real Class ($51) and Lovey Dovey ($81) in the Oaks, while Imperialist ($16), Existential Bob ($34) and Liberty Park ($81) are in the Derby. â– â– â– â– â– Moore pumps for Delocroix in English Derby Ryan Moore has chosen to ride Delacroix and not stablemate The Lion In Winter as their trainer Aidan O'Brien bids to win an incredible 11th English Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday night. O'Brien has three runners in the famous English classic with Moore deciding to stay with the in-form Delacroix over The Lion In Winter, the long-time Derby favourite until his first-up defeat last month. 'It was always going to be hard for him not to ride Delacroix,'' O'Brien said of Moore's Derby choice. 'He is classy and we always thought he would be a Derby horse. 'The Lion In Winter went to the trial and did everything wrong but he has come forward a lot since. ' Lambourn is a lovely, straight forward horse he has a lovely draw in the middle, and he's a genuine, tough stayer.'' In TAB Fixed Odds betting, Delacroix is the Derby favourite at $4.20 just ahead of Godolophin's English 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court at $4.40 with The Lion In Winter at $6. â– â– â– â– â– 5 YEARS AGO Classique Legend, the brilliant sprinter trained by Les Bridge, missed the autumn carnival but returned for the Bob Charley AO (June) Stakes and despite carrying topweight of 60kg scored by a half length from Southern Lad at Royal Randwick. Later that year Classique Legend won the world's richest turf race, The Everest. The Brisbane winter carnival was impacted by the Covid pandemic and the Queensland Derby and Oaks, and Kingsford Smith Cup were not run in 2020. Welcome back Classique Legend! @KPMcEvoy teams up with the much-loved grey to take out the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes @royalrandwick — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 6, 2020 10 YEARS AGO The mighty Winx, trained by Chris Waller, won her first Group 1 race when she stormed home to take out the Queensland Oaks, run that year at Doomben. This was Winx's second successive win and she was just starting her famous 33-race winning streak to close out her extraordinary career that included a world record 25 Group 1 wins. Snitzel, trained by Peter Snowden, scored an upset win at odds of $26 in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (then called the BTC Cup). Ridden by Blake Shinn, Hot Snitzel defeated Knoydart for a career-best win. There were more upsets with the Mark Kavanagh-trained Magicool winning the Queensland Derby at odds of $14. Wouldn't It Be Nice denied top mare Avoid Lightning a second straight win in the June Stakes. The 2015 Queensland Oaks was the start of something special. Winx notched up her first of 25 career Group 1s. Connections have confirmed the champion mare will visit Too Darn Hot this season. â'‚ï¸� @HugeBowman @RaceQLD @winx_horse @cwallerracing @DKepitis — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 3, 2025 20 YEARS AGO Spark Of Life, trained by Allan Denham and ridden by Chris Munce, won the Kingsford Smith Cup (then called the BTC Cup). Hall of Fame jockey Glen Boss won two Queensland Derbys and both were for trainer John Morrisey including Lachlan River in 2005. Boss also won on Camarena in 1999. Vitesse Dane, trained by Kris Lees, won the Queensland Oaks. For Valour won the June Stakes.
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Mark Newnham confident ‘fantastic' Spicy Gold can continue consistent Happy Valley streak
Spicy Gold (purple colours) gets up close to home at Happy Valley in March. Photos: Kenneth Chan Mark Newnham is hoping his ultra-consistent Spicy Gold can collect another cheque in the Class Three Seine Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Alexis Badel has built up a brilliant partnership with Newnham's So You Think galloper, who has won three of his nine starts this season. After ending last campaign with a Class Four course and distance win, Spicy Gold has gone from strength to strength this term, doubling up on return in the same grade. He completed a track and trip Class Four hat-trick on his next start, lashing down the outside in taking style after a patient ride from Badel. Spicy Gold gets there! Mark Newnham's galloper returns a fourth course and distance win with @AlexisBadel, capping a double for the trainer tonight... 🔥#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 5, 2025 After two seconds in Class Three company, he broke through at the fifth attempt, once again diving late after sitting on the shoulder of the leader throughout the journey. Spicy Gold will arrive on the back of another good second and Newnham does not see any reason the good times will not keep rolling. 'He's probably the most consistent horse in my stable – he hasn't missed a cheque all season, winning four times since July,' said Newnham. 'He's finished second three times too and even when he didn't place, he still collected some prize money. 'He's been fantastic all season [and] for all that now he probably has found his right mark on 75. Three of his wins have been in Class Four so to be on 75 and only winning in Class Three once, he's probably near the peak of his powers. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Mark Newnham celebrates after Spicy Gold's most recent Happy Valley win. 'He's got some gate speed so he can put himself in a good position from a decent draw. He's not showing me any signs that he won't hold his form again and he's in a nice race against horses similar to him.' Newnham also runs Tactical Command in the Class Four Ciron Handicap (1,200m), who has snared a pair of wins this season over the track and trip. He arrived fast and late to grab both of those wins, most recently when saluting at $12 with a strong late surge under Badel. Things have not gone to plan since, with barriers 11 at Sha Tin and 12 at the Valley putting paid to his chances before the gates had even opened. Tactical Command goes over the top to win at the Valley in March. Much to the relief of Newnham, his Charm Spirit gelding has drawn barrier four this Wednesday, which is giving him plenty of cause for optimism. 'The draw makes a big difference. The statistics tell you that it's nearly impossible to win from stall 12 at the Valley so he was always up against it last time,' said Newnham. 'He's won four races, with the draws being one, one, two and four for those, so that tells you how crucial the draw is for him. Trainer Mark Newnham has built up a good partnership with jockey Alexis Badel. 'He doesn't have enough pace to go forward from outside draws, but when he draws inside he can take up a nice position. 'The handicapper has him pegged pretty well with where he's at – he's certainly improved this season but has paid for his consistency. 'That said, he's got a good chance because he's holding his form well and has drawn in the perfect place – inside barriers are absolutely crucial to him. 'Alexis Badel's strike rate for the stable has been excellent, he rides Happy Valley well and gets on well with him, so that helps too.'
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Race-by-race tips and previews for Saturday's meeting at Randwick
Race 1 – 11AM SPORTING CHANCE CANCER FOUNDATION HANDICAP (1200 METRES) 5. Agarwood could not have been any more impressive on debut at Warwick Farm. It was a win that ticked every box. The daughter of Wooton Bassett jumped on terms, but once she was cleared, she was happy to settle in behind the speed. She dropped her head and when asked to quicken put a margin on her rivals. What also stands out is that she clocked a time half a second quicker than the colts and gelding's 1000m race at the same meeting. That was won by 2. Regulated Affair. Her time was even quicker, marginally, than the BM72 won by Pokerjack. Two-year-olds running a faster time than the older horses is a big tick. How she handles the jump straight out to 1200m on a heavy track is the punt. 3. Sequista has been scratched several times since she tackled the Percy Sykes. That leaves her to tackle Saturday's race six weeks between runs. She came from well back to run third on debut behind Within The Law before finishing two lengths away from Tempted, arguably the season's best two-year-old. How to play it: Agarwood to win. Race 2 – 11.35AM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1400 METRES) 9. First Mission returned as a gelding at Canterbury over 1200m and landed confident late bets to win like a horse that should go through his grades. This Midway looks a perfect stepping stone out to 1400m. He still isn't the finished article, but the operation looks to have him on the right path given the way he executed three weeks ago. It's no easy task winning in any grade first up on a heavy track and that's what this three-year-old achieved. He had only one official trial prior, too. Zac Wadick takes the ride on Saturday, and the son of Snitzel will carry 53.5kg. 14. Bend The Knee made up late ground to run third at the midweeks last start. The run was better than the form guide reads. It wasn't easy work for backmarkers at that meeting. The wetter the better for the six-year-old given how he won at Wyong on a heavy 10 two back. 15. Oui Oui Oui is another untapped three-year-old. Was deep ended in the Hawkesbury Guineas where he was only beaten four lengths. How to play it: First Mission to win. Race 3 – 12.10PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1200 METRES) If a dry track awaited, you'd be happy to take the short odds about 2. So You Pence. The lightly raced five-year-old is making up for lost time having spent over two years on the sidelines before this campaign. She raced like she needed it first up. Since then, she had recorded two wins by a combined margin of 10 lengths. She was sent around $1.35 at Goulburn, winning by near seven lengths before starting a similar price at Wagga. Has good tactical speed, race sense and a turn of foot. The unknown on Saturday is how the daughter of So You Think handles a heavy track. She has only raced on good tracks. If Matt Dale is happy to run, that might be a push in itself. 1. My Last Hooray has improved with each run this time back. Has a heavy-track win already to his name, albeit in easier grade. He overachieved relative to his starting price at Warwick Farm last start in BM72 company. After settling out the back he made late ground behind Secure. How to play it: So You Pence to win. Race 4 – 12.45PM CHALOUHI HANDICAP (1800 METRES) 5. Hurstville Zagreb was eight weeks between runs when resuming at Gosford. The O'Shea and Charlton-trained galloper had to be stoked up early but kept finding the line to go down in a photo finish. A dropped whip in the straight may have proved costly. The progression out to 1800m looks perfect now as he lopes towards the Queensland Derby. The son of Divine Prophet is an imposing three-year-old. He just needs time to wind up. The Randwick expanses and a heavy track should at least ensure he isn't outsprinted. He won on a heavy track at Goulburn in maiden grade and looked very comfortable in the going. 4. Duvana had excuses through that same race at Gosford last start, yet was still beaten less than a length. He didn't get the chance to build into the race. Gosford is a momentum track. He had to make his run underneath the field, too. That was inferior ground in the straight. Duvana also has a heavy-track win to his name. 9. Sisu Spirit wasn't given much early peace at Wyong last start but kept running through the line to win well. How to play it: Hurstville Zagreb to win.
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Climate
- News.com.au
Pre-post favourite Elouyou likely to be scratched from Caulfield race because of firm ground
Many are relishing Melbourne's unseasonal warm weather, but the dry spell is providing Flemington trainer Scott Cameron with a problem. May is usually the start of consistent soft tracks in Victoria, but Melbourne is still having temperatures in the low 20s despite the start of winter being less than a month away. • 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 daily sunshine is no help to Cameron, who has talented wet tracker Elouyou racing in great form with wins in soft ground at The Valley at his last two runs. Cameron accepted to run Elouyou in Saturday's Thoroughbred Club of Australia Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield in which the gelding drew barrier one. However, Cameron said he was almost certain to scratch the son of So You Think, who is a $2.80 chance in early betting on the $150,000 race. 'I doubt I'll run Saturday,' Cameron said. 'I'm pretty sure I won't run but I just chucked him in the race in case something stupid happened with the weather. 'At this stage, he's definitely not running. 'I wouldn't be too worried if it was Flemington or something, but Caulfield just gets firmer than other tracks, which is why I'm hesitant to go there.' Cameron has repeatedly said in post-race interviews that Elouyou takes longer to recover from races on firm ground, which is one reason the rising six-year-old has only had 12 starts. 'It is a bit frustrating, because the horse is absolutely flying,' Cameron said. 'But we've just got to put the horse first but he's an easy horse to do anything with and he loves being in work, so he just ticks over between runs.' Cameron said he considered interstate options for Elouyou, who was an easy winner at Rosehill at his only run outside Victoria last June. However, he decided to keep Elouyou in Melbourne to boost his rating, which would enable to five-year-old to tackle harder races if wet tracks appeared early in the spring. 'I just wanted to stay around here and build his rating up even more,' Cameron said. 'He's still got a couple of grades to go through, then we can look at something better. 'It might work in our favour that the early spring might be wet. 'If he doesn't run Saturday, there's nothing really for him next week, but there's a couple of options the week after Sandown.' While Elouyou is likely to stay in his stall on Saturday, Cameron will unveil a promising two-year-old at Ballarat on Sunday. Cameron will run Discreet Point in a 1000m maiden on the back of three jumpout wins at Flemington. Discreet Point would give Cameron his sixth win in his last 12 runners if he can score on debut.
