Latest news with #TheGalaxy
Herald Sun
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Horse racing news: Group 1-winning trainer Ben Smith dead at 42, In Her Time, El Dorado Dreaming
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Newcastle racing community is in mourning after the passing of trainer Ben Smith. He was 42. Newcastle police are investigating the cause of Smith's death but it is understood there are no suspicious circumstances. Smith was nearing the end of a 13-month ban after he and one of his horses tested positive to banned substances and his death has shocked his many friends in the racing industry. Smith was a rising star in the NSW training ranks and won Group 1 races in 2018 with In Her Time (The Galaxy) and El Dorado Dreaming (ATC Sires Produce Stakes). In Her Time was being readied for the world's richest turf race, the 2018 The Everest, when Smith's training career was put on hold after he was hit with a three year-nine month ban after being found guilty of cobalt and conduct charges by Racing NSW stewards. Smith resumed his training in late 2022 but again struck trouble with stewards and was hit with a 13-month ban in May last year, when he and one of his horses tested positive to banned substances. Racing NSW stewards charged Smith with two separate offences, one of which was for the use of a banned substance while handling a horse. He was given a 12-month ban, reduced to nine months for the offence, while he received a further four-month suspension after one of his runners, Arale, tested positive for an anti-inflammatory drug. A pre-race blood sample from Arale found the mare to have meloxicam in her system after she won at Canterbury last year. Arale was subsequently disqualified from the race. Smith trained 17 winners in his comeback 2023-24 season and appeared to have his career back on track before incurring a second lengthy stewards ban. • 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!
Sydney Morning Herald
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘It's very exciting': TJ Smith winner Briasa books Everest slot
Briasa became the second horse into the $20 million The Everest (1200m) after the Hawkes training team announced on Saturday that the four-year-old had secured the slot held by Max Whitby, Steve McCann, Colin Madden and Neil Werrett. Nathan Doyle's unbeaten colt Private Harry was the first into the October 18 race at Randwick last month when Kurrinda Bloodstock struck a part-ownership deal with slot-holders Yulong Investments after winning the group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) on March 22. Briasa, a homebred son of Smart Missile for Ian and Anthony Johnson, pressed his claims for a spot when taking out the $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on April 5 at Randwick for John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes. He was an $8 Sportsbet chance for the richest race on turf behind Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising ($2) and Private Harry ($7). Regular jockey Tyler Schiller was thrilled to hear the news between races at Gosford. 'It's very exciting,' Schiller said. 'We were hoping [for a slot], because he's a very good, up-and-coming sprinter and on what he did last prep, he showed he's a group 1 sprinter. 'Weight for age should be fine. He's a big boy and hopefully a little spell just does him well. Really pleased with him and very happy to hear.' Big Dance plans Trainer Adrian Bott said Les Vampires was likely headed to the paddock before a preparation aimed at the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) in November after stamping his ticket with a commanding win in the Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) on Monday. A $2.90 favourite, Les Vampires led the $300,000 listed race under Winona Costin and was challenged approaching the home turn, only to kick clear late and win by one-and-a-third lengths from Etna Rosso.
The Age
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘It's very exciting': TJ Smith winner Briasa books Everest slot
Briasa became the second horse into the $20 million The Everest (1200m) after the Hawkes training team announced on Saturday that the four-year-old had secured the slot held by Max Whitby, Steve McCann, Colin Madden and Neil Werrett. Nathan Doyle's unbeaten colt Private Harry was the first into the October 18 race at Randwick last month when Kurrinda Bloodstock struck a part-ownership deal with slot-holders Yulong Investments after winning the group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) on March 22. Briasa, a homebred son of Smart Missile for Ian and Anthony Johnson, pressed his claims for a spot when taking out the $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on April 5 at Randwick for John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes. He was an $8 Sportsbet chance for the richest race on turf behind Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising ($2) and Private Harry ($7). Regular jockey Tyler Schiller was thrilled to hear the news between races at Gosford. 'It's very exciting,' Schiller said. 'We were hoping [for a slot], because he's a very good, up-and-coming sprinter and on what he did last prep, he showed he's a group 1 sprinter. 'Weight for age should be fine. He's a big boy and hopefully a little spell just does him well. Really pleased with him and very happy to hear.' Big Dance plans Trainer Adrian Bott said Les Vampires was likely headed to the paddock before a preparation aimed at the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) in November after stamping his ticket with a commanding win in the Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) on Monday. A $2.90 favourite, Les Vampires led the $300,000 listed race under Winona Costin and was challenged approaching the home turn, only to kick clear late and win by one-and-a-third lengths from Etna Rosso.
News.com.au
05-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
The Everest placegetter Growing Empire retired to stand at stud
The Everest placegetter Growing Empire has run his last race and will stand at stud in the spring. Owners Yu Long Investments announced the three-year-old would head to the breeding barn after only 11 starts. Growing Empire won four of his 11 starts and more than $3 million in prizemoney. The Zoustar colt was a Group 3 winner at both two and three but measured up to sprints when placed against the older horses in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes and The Everest last spring. The Ciaron Maher-trained Growing Empire had three unplaced runs in the autumn, finishing fourth in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and fifth in The Galaxy at his last two outings. Yulong has set Growing Empire's stud fee at $22,000 (including GST) for his first season. 'Growing Empire is a gorgeous, athletic colt with the kind of looks breeders love to see in the (sales) ring,' Yulong's chief operating officer Sam Fairgray said. 'On the track, he showed blistering speed and precocity, winning stakes races in his spring three-year-old season, and he mixed it with the best sprinters in the country. 'Importantly, he has the competitive attitude and toughness we prize in our stallions. 'Being by Zoustar out of a fast Snitzel mare, his pedigree is pure speed on speed. He's a perfect fit for Yulong's roster, and we believe breeders will be as excited about him as we are, especially once they lay eyes on him.' Growing Empire will join the likes of Written Tycoon, Alabama Express, Pierata and Grunt on Yulong's 2025 stallion roster.
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Aim up against the boys': Queensland Oaks-bound filly Churchill's Choice to excite in Queensland Guineas
Young Group 1 winning trainer Nathan Doyle has no qualms about taking on the boys with his exciting young filly Churchill's Choice in Saturday's Queensland Guineas. Newcastle trainer Doyle, who soared into the Group 1 club when sprint weapon Private Harry won The Galaxy, feels Churchill's Choice could arguably be coming to the Sunshine State unbeaten. The filly has won three from four with her only defeat when she resumed over 1400m in a Group 3 race at Randwick last start, finishing fourth and beaten a length after seeing little clear air. Churchill's Choice, which gets a two-kilo advantage on her male rivals, is a $5 chance in the Group 2 Guineas and Doyle points out she would have been shorter in Guineas betting had she arrived in Queensland with a picket fence of wins next to her name. She is already highly rated as a Group 1 Queensland Oaks chance – at $6 in betting – and can zoom into Oaks favouritism with an impressive display over 1600m at Eagle Farm on Saturday. 'I know she is in the Guineas against the boys, but I think she can aim up,' Doyle said. 'She was in restricted room the whole straight last start, she should have been in the finish and Kerrin McEvoy thought the same as me. 'The last few strides she really just dashed at them, she was just winding up. 'If she got a bit of room last start she could be going up to Queensland unbeaten and she would be a lot shorter in the (betting) market than she is. 'I really like the horse, she wants to be a racehorse and she attacks the line. 'She has got a bright future.' Doyle rates Churchill's Choice every bit as good as stablemate Harlem Queen, the filly which was Group 1 placed last spring and also ran fourth in the VRC Oaks behind rising superstar Treasurethe Moment. Harlem Queen didn't fire at Eagle Farm last Saturday, failing to flatter when finishing 11th in the Princess Stakes after starting the $2.90 favourite. But there was an excuse for the flop when it was discovered the filly had sustained a wound on her leg in the race. Harlem Queen will most likely press on in an Oaks campaign with her next start likely to be in The Roses later this month where she could tangle with Churchill's Choice. As for Churchill's Choice, Doyle says the filly is giving him every indication the 2200m of next month's Oaks won't pose a problem. 'She shows me she just wants to relax and doesn't over do it in her races and she gets into a nice rhythm,' Doyle said. 'I feel 2200(m) shouldn't be an issue. She is just so unassuming, when you take her to race day she just produces. 'In the Guineas on Saturday, she has a perfect gate (9) to give her a bit of room and let her balance up, I think she will be very competitive.'
