Latest news with #TABHandicap
New Paper
11-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Nock, Knock, who's there?
SYDNEY Apprentice jockey Braith Nock has announced himself as a rising talent this season and he has another strong book of rides at Randwick. Just over six months ago, the Scone-based rider headed to Sydney on a three-month loan to trainer Peter Snowden with little more than a desire to improve his riding. The stint proved so successful that he readjusted his goals and set his sights on claiming the Sydney junior riders' crown, a title he has now sewn up with three weeks of the 2024-25 season still remaining. A double at Canterbury on July 9 took Nock to 38 metropolitan wins this term, 14 clear of nearest rival Molly Bourke, catapulting him into ninth place on the Sydney jockeys' premiership. The moustachioed rider has booted home 109 winners state-wide, second only to Aaron Bullock (114) and still a rough chance of capturing New South Wales riding honours. Such accolades did, however, look a remote possibility at one point of his life when he took a slightly different career path, despite boasting a racing pedigree. The son of former jockey Greg Nock and Tamworth trainer Jane Clement was a natural rider from young, but at first channelled his skills into bull-riding. After a relatively successful career in that area - including a Top 10 ranking in the professional league and stints in America and Canada - he was eventually lured to the more lucrative bigger cousin that is horse racing in 2022, joining leading Scone trainer Brett Cavanough as his apprentice. The switch to Snowden has opened doors to the "Big Smoke" from the leading Sydney trainers, which will be the case at Randwick on July 12. Two scratchings have reduced his full book to eight, but he will still be sporting silks for the likes of Ciaron Maher, Annabel and Rob Archibald, and Bjorn Baker. Nock, who had his first Group 1 ride in the Sydney Cup (3,200m) in April and finished fourth on Mostly Cloudy, admitted he sometimes had to pinch himself. "It has been a little bit surreal," said Nock. "But it's good to get the opportunities and make the most of them." His four rides for the powerful Maher operation include It's A Knockout in the A$160,000 (S$134,000) TAB Handicap (1,400m) at 2pm Singapore time. Nock is confident the Dundeel mare can go on with the job after he partnered her to a dominant win at the same course and distance on June 21. "She has only got to run up to that and I'm sure she is going to take improvement off the first-up run. She really came up underneath me that day," he said. Nock could have actually extended his tally with another bright chance in distance specialist Katsu for the Hayes' Lindsay Park in The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1,000m), but the five-time winner over the journey was one of his two scratchings. Despite his current rich vein of form and the rigours of traversing the state from Scone, Nock is not planning a permanent move to Sydney just yet. He enjoys the quieter lifestyle the Hunter Valley offers and is content to put in the hard yards. "There is definitely lots of travelling but if there are a couple of days of racing in the same area, I try to stay down so I'm not back and forth so much," he said. "I dare say at the end of the season I might take a week or two off. "I know I have a bit of momentum but hopefully I've got the connections to help me get straight back into it." SKY RACING WORLD
Courier-Mail
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Canterbury preview: Signor Tortoni to add to long partnership
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. A working relationship stretching back six decades is still fruitful for Ron Quinton and the Tait family that can land further success with the promising Signor Tortoni. Quinton career as a jockey netted winners for the Tait's including a Canterbury win on two-year-old Baguette against open age sprinters before he won the Golden Slipper in 1970. 'I certainly go back a long way with the Tait family,' said Quinton. 'I rode for Sandy and Kathy Tait and his sister, Jill Nivison. I also rode for their parents (Griff and Daisy). 'They are great racing people and it is a pleasure to train for them.' Sandy Tait and Jill Nivison bred and race Signor Tortoni who is from a half-sister to their champion galloper, Tie The Knot. Trainer Ron Quinton saddles up two favourites at Canterbury on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images Signor Tortoni is also a half-brother to the stakes winner Cherry Tortoni and Wings Of Song. The gelding has shown Quinton that he possess his share of ability, placing runner-up in three of his first four starts before breaking his maiden at Gosford with a four length win from Justice Warrior. 'It was a very good win. The only thing that surprised me is that I thought he would have broken through before that,' Quinton said. 'Anyway, he has done it now and let's hope he can go on with it.' The son of Too Darn Hot is favourite to make it back-to-back win in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1200m) with Jason Collett aboard. 'His gallops at home have always been good and we thought he might develop into a really nice horse. Hopefully that might still be the case,' he said. 'He is still lightly-raced and the family does get better with time. I certainly hope the best is still to come with him.' Quinton's other runner is Bryant who is favourite in the TAB Handicap (1200m). The two-year-old son of Brutal resumed with a handy fourth to Miss Freelove at Canterbury in April before aa second to the progressive Raging Force on the Kensington on June 25. 'He is a horse who has got a bit of talent as well,' Quinton said. 'It was a handy effort last start behind a horse who came out and won again impressively at Rosehill last Saturday. 'I have said all along he will be a much better three-year-old so it's nice to see him showing what he is at this stage.'
The Age
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Impressive chase puts Bryant on track for success at Canterbury
Trainer Ron Quinton is encouraged by the form holding up around his lightly raced youngster Bryant and hopes it translates into success at Canterbury on Wednesday. Bryant was the best of the chasers behind Raging Force when they met on the Kensington track two weeks ago and Quinton was pleased to see the winner go on with it up in class last weekend. The onus is on his gelding to put a win on the board, but the trainer said whether it comes in the TAB Handicap (1200m) or later, he's heading in the right direction. 'His run was very good the other day,' Quinton said. 'He was beaten easily, but he beat the others just as easily as the winner beat us. 'We thought he'd run well for sure and he did, we have a little bit of an opinion of him. He's going to keep getting a bit better each time. He's a nice enough horse.' The son of Bruta had a gap of almost two months going into that last-start second, and Quinton said he has plenty of upside. In a late-season two-year-old race with a number of first starters, he said it was hard to know what the opposition might produce, but was confident Bryant will have a chance to improve on that fresh effort. 'He's drawn a reasonably good alley, and I wanted to see him draw well because you need to ride him a bit patiently and you don't want to fire him up,' he said. 'That should work in his favour and he should be sharp enough for 1200m. He will get a bit further for sure.'
Sydney Morning Herald
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Impressive chase puts Bryant on track for success at Canterbury
Trainer Ron Quinton is encouraged by the form holding up around his lightly raced youngster Bryant and hopes it translates into success at Canterbury on Wednesday. Bryant was the best of the chasers behind Raging Force when they met on the Kensington track two weeks ago and Quinton was pleased to see the winner go on with it up in class last weekend. The onus is on his gelding to put a win on the board, but the trainer said whether it comes in the TAB Handicap (1200m) or later, he's heading in the right direction. 'His run was very good the other day,' Quinton said. 'He was beaten easily, but he beat the others just as easily as the winner beat us. 'We thought he'd run well for sure and he did, we have a little bit of an opinion of him. He's going to keep getting a bit better each time. He's a nice enough horse.' The son of Bruta had a gap of almost two months going into that last-start second, and Quinton said he has plenty of upside. In a late-season two-year-old race with a number of first starters, he said it was hard to know what the opposition might produce, but was confident Bryant will have a chance to improve on that fresh effort. 'He's drawn a reasonably good alley, and I wanted to see him draw well because you need to ride him a bit patiently and you don't want to fire him up,' he said. 'That should work in his favour and he should be sharp enough for 1200m. He will get a bit further for sure.'
Courier-Mail
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Warwick Farm preview: Doyle backs Llewellyn in metro debut
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Apprentice jockey Shannen Llewellyn impressed new boss Nathan Doyle with her winning ride on Aroha Stone and he didn't hesitate in keeping the combination together as they make their metropolitan debuts. Llewellyn had only been with Doyle's Newcastle stable for 10 days when she guided Aroha Stone to a near two length win from Cha Cha Cha over 1600m at Gosford. It was also just reward for Aroha Stone who was just pipped by stablemate Caltsar at Kembla the start prior. 'They did get all the favours. They went lickety-split up front and she just camped behind them,' said David Dyson, Doyle's racing manager. 'That was Shannen's (Llewellyn) first ride for the stable and she did everything right. Shannen Llewellyn will again ride Aroha Stone. Picture: Bradley Photos The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'She never went around a horse, quickly pouncing on the inside run when it come and they were too strong late. 'Each run this preparation has been good in its own right. It was just good to see her get the monkey off her back last start. 'Hopefully she can go on with it now.' Aroha Stone steps out in the TAB Handicap (1600m) where she has drawn ideally in barrier 5. 'Nathan has always thought she was a metropolitan class filly and she gets the chance to prove it this week,' Dyson said. 'Shannen started with us on June 9 - she is on loan to us for three months – and she is a very hard worker, very dedicated to what she does. 'Nathan had no hesitation in keeping her on this week. The minute we nominated Aroha Stone for this race, we told Shannen she had the ride. 'They have drawn to get the perfect run and Shannen's three kilo claim brings her into it quite well. 'If they get the breaks, lightning might strike twice.' Doyle loyalty also extends to Andrew Gibbons who sticks with Mornington Pier in the Hawaii Five Oh @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1600m). Gibbons had to work overtime to guide Mornington Pier to a first-up win at Newcastle when he came from last to run down Dalio and Tango Queen. 'He was first-up over 1400 metres and Andrew rode him every step of the way. He never travelled at any stage,' said Dyson. 'I spoke to Andrew about him a couple of days ago and he said 'it wasn't until the 150 metres where I thought I was going to win'. 'It was a really good effort to actually win. 'He came to us with the thinking he was a stayer but in his trials he looked a little sharp which is why we went to 1400 metres first-up instead of a mile. 'Everything he did prior to coming to us suggested he will get a trip and what he showed us the other day says the same thing. 'He will appreciate stepping up to the mile and will be even better as he gets out further.' Doyle also saddles up Mercy Me who makes her debut in the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1200m) for two-year-old fillies where she has barrier 5. The daughter of Hellbent has been very good in her trials including a last start win in her Wyong heat on June 16. After leading, she was given a shake up after straightening and extended nicely before pricking her ears near the line to beat Raging Force. 'She was asked to find the line by intent in that trial,' said Dyson. 'Nathan has a very good opinion of this filly. 'She is a very sharp filly and drawn to get a beautiful run in the race. 'Ash (Morgan) rode her in her trials and was keen to ride her on race day.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Trainer John Thompson couldn't have been happier with the way American Starlet performed first-up and gives her a great chance to break through. The daughter of American Pharoah was the victim of a wide barrier when resuming in the 1200m Midway Handicap at Rosehill on June 14. Having to go back to last in the field of 14, American Starlet was spotting the leaders a conservative eight lengths approaching the home turn before closing nicely between horses to finish just over two lengths off Motoscafo in fifth place. 'She ran really well first-up. She closed off very well and the jockey (Braith Nock) came back very happy,' said John Thompson. American Starlet has fared much better in the draw this week where she drew barrier 3 in the Castelvecchio @ Arrowfield Handicap (1400m) with Braith Nock again on board. 'This is another nice race for her. Up a little bit in distance suits, she's got a good draw and a good rider so she ticks a few boxes,' Thompson said. 'The good draw is the key. She is going to get a nice run from there. 'I would expect she is box seating and be prominent in the finish.' While American Starlet is one of the favourites in her race, Thompson saddles up a couple of long price runners in other races but feels they can run cheeky races on a likely heavy track. Welcome Gypsy has been a victim of outside barriers in both starts back from a spell forcing her to endure wide runs in Benchmark 78 races at Randwick. She has again drawn out in the Brave Smash @ Yarraman Park Handicap Benchmark 72 (1000m) where she has gate 9. 'She just can't draw a barrier,' Thompson said. 'This is a good drop in grade for her though so that should help. 'She can run a much improved race. 'She loves it wet, a Heavy 10 is her go. She's a swimmer. 'The draw could turn out to be not so bad because they will probably want to get to the middle of the track. She will go forward and make her own luck.' Stablemate Hellaine also has a wide gate to overcome in the Traffic Warden @ Darley Handicap (1200m) but will relish the wet track. 'She hasn't had much luck of late. Doing it a bit tough up front,' he said. 'We will ride her a bit quieter this week and I expect her to run alright.'
