Latest news with #TakeoverTargetStakes
The Age
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Lloyd relieved to survive close shave and reunite with Barber
Zac Lloyd believes Barber can help justify his decision to ride at Randwick instead of Eagle Farm when they reunite in the listed Bob Charley AO Stakes on Saturday. Relieved to escape serious injury from a midweek scare at Warwick Farm, Lloyd was back at the trials on Friday at Rosehill. His foot hit a metal rail while riding pre-race on Wednesday and he went for X-rays on Thursday. Although results had not come back, Lloyd's doctor believed it was only severe bone bruising. Lloyd came through the trials well and was looking to a promising book of rides at Randwick before turning his focus to Queensland next Saturday when he pilots Bosustow in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap, a race he won with Stefi Magnetica last year to give him a first group 1. 'I didn't have anything stand out in Queensland this week,' Lloyd said. 'I could have had five or six 10- to 20-1 shots, but with the book I had in Sydney, I thought it was worthwhile staying.' The Richard Litt-trained Barber, a $6.50 Sportsbet hope in the feature, is among his best chances at Randwick. A former Godolphin galloper, Barber won his second start for Litt and new connections when edging out Brudenell in the listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on May 10 for jockey Tyler Schiller. With Schiller sidelined with a back fracture from a pre-race fall at Canterbury last week, Lloyd has gained the job on Barber. Lloyd won two Sydney apprentices' titles while with Godolphin and knows the four-year-old gelding well. 'I'm very excited to ride him because I had a bit to do with him as a younger horse,' Lloyd said. 'He looks to still be racing well, Richard's horses are racing really well, so he should run well.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lloyd relieved to survive close shave and reunite with Barber
Zac Lloyd believes Barber can help justify his decision to ride at Randwick instead of Eagle Farm when they reunite in the listed Bob Charley AO Stakes on Saturday. Relieved to escape serious injury from a midweek scare at Warwick Farm, Lloyd was back at the trials on Friday at Rosehill. His foot hit a metal rail while riding pre-race on Wednesday and he went for X-rays on Thursday. Although results had not come back, Lloyd's doctor believed it was only severe bone bruising. Lloyd came through the trials well and was looking to a promising book of rides at Randwick before turning his focus to Queensland next Saturday when he pilots Bosustow in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap, a race he won with Stefi Magnetica last year to give him a first group 1. 'I didn't have anything stand out in Queensland this week,' Lloyd said. 'I could have had five or six 10- to 20-1 shots, but with the book I had in Sydney, I thought it was worthwhile staying.' The Richard Litt-trained Barber, a $6.50 Sportsbet hope in the feature, is among his best chances at Randwick. A former Godolphin galloper, Barber won his second start for Litt and new connections when edging out Brudenell in the listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on May 10 for jockey Tyler Schiller. With Schiller sidelined with a back fracture from a pre-race fall at Canterbury last week, Lloyd has gained the job on Barber. Lloyd won two Sydney apprentices' titles while with Godolphin and knows the four-year-old gelding well. 'I'm very excited to ride him because I had a bit to do with him as a younger horse,' Lloyd said. 'He looks to still be racing well, Richard's horses are racing really well, so he should run well.
Herald Sun
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Barber cuts it fine to post first win for new connections in Takeover Target Stakes
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Ex-Godolphin sprinter Barber quickly proved he was a very wise investment with a stakes victory at just his second start for new trainer Richard Litt at Gosford on Saturday. Purchased for $215,000 at an Inglis Digital auction late last year, Barber paid off a significant portion of that price tag with a narrow win in the Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m). It came at just his second start for Litt and delivered his owners a $140,000 windfall. • 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! 'They are maybe a little bit short (of the investment) but today would be a good payday,' Litt said. 'He is a wonderful horse, he ran extremely well first-up at Canterbury, probably a little bit unlucky. 'Today I couldn't watch when he was three-wide, I just bowed my head and thought oh well, what will be will be, and it was good to see him tough it out.' Jockey Tyler Schiller was unable to find cover and remained in the three-deep line throughout, making his run inside the final 600m alongside the Kris Lees-trained Brudenell ($11). The paired off to fight it and went toe-to-toe over the length of the home straight. Barber ($8) got his nose down when it counted to get the measure of Brudenell to score in a photo finish with the James Cummings-trained Spacewalk ($18) surging home for third. Barber's win ensured punters landed a significant plunge after he opened as much as $26 with bookies during the week. • Know Thyself continues stellar form to win The Coast 'I saw the money coming for him, it's definitely not mine,' Litt said. 'But massive congratulations to Jason and the Monarch Racing boys. 'They put their money on the line to buy this horse and we've got a massive result.' Litt has been made a habit of winning with Godolphin cast-offs with the likes of Balkans, Huon, Sedition, Destination and Morton's Fork all successful for the trainer. 'They are wonderful to buy off,' Litt said. 'You know what you're getting. They're great horses. 'James is a wonderful trainer and they have a great team. 'They are very transparent and from my point of view, I am very lucky to be able to buy them.' Litt is open to heading to Queensland for a Brisbane winter carnival assault with Barber. The gelding holds nominations for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in the Sunshine State. Originally published as Barber overcomes tough run to post first win for new connections in Takeover Target Stakes
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Barber overcomes tough run to post first win for new connections in Takeover Target Stakes
Ex-Godolphin sprinter Barber quickly proved he was a very wise investment with a stakes victory at just his second start for new trainer Richard Litt at Gosford on Saturday. Purchased for $215,000 at an Inglis Digital auction late last year, Barber paid off a significant portion of that price tag with a narrow win in the Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m). It came at just his second start for Litt and delivered his owners a $140,000 windfall. 'They are maybe a little bit short (of the investment) but today would be a good payday,' Litt said. 'He is a wonderful horse, he ran extremely well first-up at Canterbury, probably a little bit unlucky. 'Today I couldn't watch when he was three-wide, I just bowed my head and thought oh well, what will be will be, and it was good to see him tough it out.' Jockey Tyler Schiller was unable to find cover and remained in the three-deep line throughout, making his run inside the final 600m alongside the Kris Lees -trained Brudenell ($11). The paired off to fight it and went toe-to-toe over the length of the home straight. Barber ($8) got his nose down when it counted to get the measure of Brudenell to score in a photo finish with the James Cummings -trained Spacewalk ($18) surging home for third. Barber's win ensured punters landed a significant plunge after he opened as much as $26 with bookies during the week. Barber with a gutsy win in a tight finish in the Takeover Target Stakes! @G1TySchil â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 • 'I saw the money coming for him, it's definitely not mine,' Litt said. 'But massive congratulations to Jason and the Monarch Racing boys. 'They put their money on the line to buy this horse and we've got a massive result.' Litt has been made a habit of winning with Godolphin cast-offs with the likes of Balkans, Huon, Sedition, Destination and Morton's Fork all successful for the trainer. 'They are wonderful to buy off,' Litt said. 'You know what you're getting. They're great horses. 'James is a wonderful trainer and they have a great team. 'They are very transparent and from my point of view, I am very lucky to be able to buy them.' Litt is open to heading to Queensland for a Brisbane winter carnival assault with Barber. The gelding holds nominations for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and in the Sunshine State.
Courier-Mail
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Gosford inside mail: Bjorn Baker recruit Winning Proposal has impressed with barrier trials
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Bjorn Baker is keen to test to the emerging potential of stable recruit Winning Proposal in the $200,000 Thunder Thousand (1000m) at the Gosford stand-alone meeting on Saturday. Winning Proposal is making her debut for the Baker stable but has impressed in two recent barrier trials, winning a Randwick 740m heat then finishing a close third to Group 1 winner Schwarz in a 1050m trial at the same track. • 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 talented three-year-old filly has won two of her 10 races but has been competitive against some of the best fillies in training this season. 'Winning Proposal has just joined our stable and we are still getting to know her but her trials have been great,'' Baker said. 'I've been really happy with how she is coming up this preparation and she's a filly that handles soft to heavy tracks so she's in at the right time of the season. 'This is a tough race for her first-up at Gosford but she's ready to go and I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do on Saturday.'' • Ray and Duff analyse every race for Gosford stand-alone meet Winning Proposal continues to firm in TAB betting and is challenging for favouritism at $5.50 behind Rantan at $5. Baker has a strong team for the Gosford stand-alone meeting including in-form mare Yankee One ($7.50) in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m). Yankee One, who has won three of her last four starts, has topweight of 61kg but Baker has secured 2kg-claiming apprentice Anna Roper to reduce the mare's impost. 'I can't fault Yankee One,'' Baker said. 'Her work this week has been really good and she couldn't be going better.'' Winning Proposal will have her first start for the Bjorn Baker stable at Gosford today. Picture: Bradley Photos Baker is also expecting Shezanalister ($8.50) to make her presence felt in the Group 3 $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m). Shezanalister has been freshened since finishing at the rear of the field in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes won by Briasa a month ago but the mare is back in her right grade at Gosford. 'I'm keen to run her, she's nice and fresh for this race,'' Baker said. 'She has drawn a little awkwardly but we know she has a powerful finish.'' Baker is on weather watch before deciding if he runs Thunderlips ($23 in the Listed $500,000 The Coast (1600m). The Gosford track was rated a Soft 7 on Friday and with some showers forecast for Saturday, Baker is concerned about a deteriorating track for Thunderlips. Baker also Raikkonen ($2.70 favourite) for the Gosford closer, and earlier in the program two-year-olds Tiberius ($8.50) and Cold Gin ($14) clashing in the Ortus Financial Handicap (1200m). ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ GOSFORD BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS RACE 1: Duck Egg Blue $3.60-$3.50, The Great Houdini $8-$5, Trafalgar Square $6-$5 RACE 2: Sequista $2.30-$2.15, Hidden Achievement $11-$6.50, Tiberius $11-$8.50, Green Spaces $15-$10 RACE 3: Ritzsun $8-$7.50 RACE 4: Engine Room $3.60-$3.30, Pure Alpha $26-$8 RACE 5: Cormac T $6-$5, Sun God $8-$7.50, All Hunky Dory $15-$8, Junebug $26-$10 RACE 6: Rantan $6-$5, Winning Proposal $6-$5.50 RACE 7: Les Vampires $4.60-$4.20, Hezashocka $4.60-$4.40 RACE 8: Know Thyself $4.60-$3.50, Depth Of Character $4.60-$4.40, Mare Of Mt Buller $11-$7 RACE 9: Pereille $8-$7, Warnie $8-$7, Xidaki $11-$8.50, Shezanalister $11-$8.50, Barber $26-$12 RACE 10: Raikkonen $2.80-$2.70, King Of Roseau $6-$4.80, Acappella Sun $15-$8 EARLY QUADDIE RACE 3: 1, 4, 8, 14 RACE 4: 1, 2, 4, 12 RACE 5: 3, 7, 9, 14 RACE 6: 5, 6, 7 QUADDIE RACE 7: 2, 3, 9, 12 RACE 8: 2, 4, 8, 10 RACE 9: 8, 9, 15 RACE 10: 4, 5, 6, 10 • 'On at the right time': Bayliss bullish about import at Gosford ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ PRICE CHECK PURE ALPHA (race 4) and Junebug (race 5) have been the biggest firmers in TAB betting for the Gosford meeting. The Chris Waller-trained Pure Alpha has been racing in Victoria but returns for Gosford where he likely have suitable soft-heavy tracks conditions. Pure Alpha opened at $26 but is into $8. The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Junebug, a winner of three of his last five starts, also opened at $26 and is now into $10. SECTIONAL STARS JOISELLE (race 3) has been improved by recent racing and indicated she was close to regaining winning form with her fast finishing third to Massira in a TAB Highway. She ran home her final 600m in 34.65sec, the best of the race and one of the fastest of the meeting. Joiselle was one of the few to break 12sec for her closing 200m sectional with a 11.98sec split. ENGINE ROOM (race 4) was very impressive winning on the Kensington track on Anzac Day. He was back in an awkward spot at the rear of the small field but saved ground on the rail and sprinted a brilliant 200m sectional between the 400m to 200m of 11.34sec to sprint through and takes the lead. He seized control of the race and was cruising to the line but still ran an 11.98sec final 200m to win easily. TRIAL POINTERS WINNING PROPOSAL (race 6) is a talented filly resuming for a new stable but she has impressed in two recent barrier trials. She dominated her 740m heat at Randwick last month, winning by nearly two lengths, then she took on some top class sprinters including Group 1 winner Schwarz when a close third on a heavy track at Randwick over 1050m last Monday. She is primed to sprint well fresh. ACCREDITED (race 9) is resuming after an impressive summer campaign where he reeled off three brilliant wins in succession before finishing unplaced in the Southern Cross Stakes. He's resuming in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes but has shaped well in two Warwick Farm barrier trials over about 800m, finishing seventh under hold when beaten less than two lengths and then a close second to Don't Doubt Merlin. Accredited is a noted first-up performer and his trials indicate he is going as well as ever. BEST BET SEQUISTA (race 2) ran a blinder on debut to finish a close third to top filly Within The Law in the Inglis Nursery back and at her only run since she led for home before finishing fourth to the outstanding Tempted in the Percy Sykes Stakes. Sequista had to do a lot of work first-up and it wasn't surprising she faded late. Her form does read very well for this race but just needs a touch of luck finding a position from her awkward draw and she will be hard to beat. VALUE BET OAKFIELD BADGER (race 1) is a very consistent sprinter who ran on well without threatening the impressive Sunrise at Randwick last start. He gets out to 1200m here and that should suit. He's double figure odds and will give his backers a great sight. Originally published as Gosford inside mail: Bjorn Baker recruit Winning Proposal has impressed with barrier trials
