Latest news with #TheHunter
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Hawkesbury's strongest stand-alone program deserves to have a big-money race
The Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting, the pioneer of the popular and successful concept, deserves to have a big-money race. Hawkesbury celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday and boasts the strongest program of all the stand-alone meetings with three Group 3 races worth $250,000 prizemoney each and a Listed race of $200,000. But the stand-alone meetings at other venues have bigger prizemoney races including $1 million features at Newcastle (The Hunter) and Kembla Grange (The Gong), and $500,000 races at Wyong (The Lakes) and Gosford (The Coast). Perhaps the era of stakes increases is over for the immediate future but Hawkesbury is entitled to have a principal race with at least $500,000 prizemoney. While Hawkesbury Race Club chief executive James Heddo acknowledged the quality of the current race program, he said: 'I'm more than happy at the appropriate time to sit down with Racing NSW to see if there is an opportunity to add a new race to the card.'' â– â– â– â– â– I felt for Shane Dye after he was lambasted on social media for daring to declare Ka Ying Rising a better sprinter than the legendary Black Caviar or former Hong Kong champion Silent Witness. Dye, a Hall of Fame jockey, is certainly entitled to his opinion and whether he is right or wrong, only time will tell. But I decided to ask Timeform guru Gary Crispe for his expert view on the comparison as he was trackside for Ka Ying Rising's win in the Chairman's Sprint Prize in Hong Kong last Sunday. Ka Ying Rising takes the Chairman's Sprint Prize (G1)! â€' IFHA's Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (@worldsbesthorse) April 27, 2025 • Smith's 'unbelievable' win on game-changing day for NSW racing 'Ka Ying Rising is a very good horse but my first impression was that he reminded me of Hay List,'' Crispe said. 'My opinion is Black Caviar would be too good for Ka Ying Rising, just as she was always too good for Hay List.'' The Timeform ratings supported Crispe's assessment with Black Caviar earning a lofty 136 figure while Kay Ying Rising is on 132, the same peak rating returned by both Hay List and Silent Witness. â– â– â– â– â– Newgate Farm's super sire Extreme Choice is standing at an equal Australian record fee of $330,000 in the spring breeding season. Extreme Choice, only the second stallion to sire the winners of the Golden Slipper (Stay Inside, 2021) and Melbourne Cup (Knight's Choice, 2024), has the same fee Redoute's Choice commanded in 2007 and 2008. This means Extreme Choice has the highest fee of any stallion in the southern hemisphere with Widden Stud's Zoustar and Darley's Too Darn Hot next on $275,000, then Arrowfield's Snitzel at $247,500 and Yarraman Park Stud's I Am Invincible at $220,000. The only other stallion to sire the winners of the Golden Slipper and Melbourne Cup was Sir Tristram. The legendary New Zealand-based Sir Tristram sired three Melbourne Cup winners with Gurner's Lane (1982), Empire Rose (1988) and Brew (2000), plus a Golden Slipper with Marauding (1987). â– â– â– â– â– Racing Australia this week announced the increase of the mandatory minimum ban for any person found guilty of using an electronic device more commonly referred to as a 'jigger' on a racehorse. From Thursday, May 1, the amended rule means the minimum penalty period for jigger use is five years (up from two years). In other major rule changes, stewards Australia-wide have been given additional and wider powers on the frequency a horse is allowed to race. Under the new rule, a horse will not be allowed to race on consecutive days without approval from a Principal Racing Authority or its panel of stewards. â– â– â– â– â– Trainer Ian Wilkes is attempting to become the first Australian to win the famous Kentucky Derby with Burnham Square at Churchill Downs on Sunday. Burnham Square was an impressive last start winner of the Blue Grass Stakes and is among the early favourites at $9.50 behind Journalism at $3.50 for the 'Run for the Roses'. Wilkes, whose brother Wayne is a leading NSW country trainer based at Taree, said Burnham Square has done well this week in the build-up to the three-year-old classic. Burnham Square just solidified his spot in the @KentuckyDerby starting gate with a win in the Blue Grass (G1) @keeneland! 🌹 Trainer: @IanWilkesRacing Jockey: @b_hernandezjr 🎥 TwinSpires Replay â€' TwinSpires Racing ðŸ�‡ (@TwinSpires) April 8, 2025 • Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Hawkesbury on Saturday 'Everything is good, he is keeping a lid on it which is good,'' Wilkes told American reporters. 'He has to handle everything, the crowd, the long post parade. The mile and a quarter (a2000m) is no issue, it is just whether he is fast enough.'' Wilkes, 59, began his professional career working at Lindsay Park under legendary Hall of Fame trainer Colin Hayes before moving to America in the late 1980s. He teamed up with trainer Carl Nafzger and was associated with two Kentucky Derby winners, Unbridled (1990) as trackwork rider and then Street Sense (2007) as assistant trainer. Wilkes then started training in his own right with his biggest win in the 2012 Breeders Cup Classic with Fort Larned. He's also had Derby runners before but Burnham Square is clearly his best chance yet to win America's biggest race. 'I'm happy with the horse and I couldn't ask for a better draw (nine),'' Wilkes said. 'I'm seeing a horse that is thriving, he's moving forward and improving every time.'' Burnham Square will be ridden by Brian Hernandez who won last year's Kentucky Derby on Mystic Dan and the Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna.
News.com.au
30-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Wagga preview: Trainer Gary Nickson has bold frontrunner Felix Majestic primed for success in the Wagga Town Plate
An interrupted preparation for Felix Majestic could provide trainer Gary Nickson the opportunity to claim a second win in the Wagga Town Plate 37 years after his first with Grand Gaelic. The Wagga Town Plate (1200m) on day one of the carnival wasn't on the agenda for Felix Majestic but a missed run in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes and a lack of suitable options in Sydney has forced Nickson to look further afield. 'His preparations always seem to get interrupted,' said Nickson. 'I was getting him ready for the All Aged Stakes but it was going to be a wet track which he doesn't like so we didn't accept. 'He is screaming to go back the races and this is the only suitable race for him at the moment.' A star on the rise! â�ï¸� Briasa sits three-wide with no cover throughout and wins The Hunter! @HawkesRacing @G1TySchil ðŸ'� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 16, 2024 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! Felix Majestic resumed this campaign with an eye-catching fourth behind Eagle Nest in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill back on March 15. The gelding normally jumps quickly to take up his favoured frontrunning role but was slow out that day and settled a conspicuous last. 'The 1100m was too short but he absolutely rattled home from last at the top of the straight,' he said. 'Then we couldn't find anything for him so I had to trial him. That was over 1200m and went to the line with his head on his chest. 'It was the fastest time of the day and Molly Bourke was just sitting on him.' Josh Parr rode the gelding first-up but Bourke reunites with him this week where they have drawn ideally in barrier 6. 'He's a good horse. You just have to know how to ride him,' Nickson said. 'Molly knows exactly what to do and he goes very well for her. 'He's got a high cruising speed and can maintain it for the whole race anywhere from 1200m to 1400m. 'If anyone wants to take him on, they do so at their own peril. He will break their hearts.' Queanbeyan trainer Nick Olive doesn't have a runner in the Town Plate but saddles up two leading chances on the card in the Extravagant Choice and Exceedingly Hot. Extravagant Choice only joined Olive's stable at the start of this preparation after being purchased of Inglis Digital last October for the princely sum of $3,000. In nine starts for Olive, he was won three races and has won over $65,000. Extravagant Choice dominates Race 5 at Goulburn! ðŸ'° @nickoliveracing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 11, 2025 'He has been a little ripper for us. He has definitely exceeded our expectations and I just love the horse,' said Olive. 'He is so easy to train, he just goes through everything really nicely.' Two of his three wins have come in his last three starts over 1610m at the Sapphire Coast and 1800m at Bathurst and he looks like he will relish the step up to 2000m in the Benchmark 66 Handicap. 'He is in a rich vein of form. He has been so consistent and is absolutely thriving within himself,' Olive said. 'I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes over the 2000 metres. 'He won very well last start and was given a good ride by Caitlin (Sinclair).' Olive has Final Comment in the same race but said he will likely be scratched after drawing the outside gate. Exceedingly Hot scored a tough win at Wagga on March 1 followed by two good placings and is a leading chance in the Benchmark 66 Handicap (1600m). 'He is another horse who is really happy. He has just thrived the last couple of months,' Olive said. 'Drawing barrier 1 is ideal for him. He will should get a lovely run and hopefully he's right there in the finish.' â– â– â– â– â– Circumstances have just been against Titanium Miss at her past two starts but trainer Tracey Bartley is banking on a big drop in class and a return to her home track to get the filly back into winning form. Titanium Miss was caught three-wide without cover on a sizzling speed when ninth behind French Ruler in the Provincial-Midway Wildcard at Wyong two starts ago. She then went to Randwick for the Group 3 James H B Carr Stakes on April 19 where she finished last behind Lilac, beaten just over four and-a-half lengths. 'The other day, I think it just the quality of the race that told on the end result,' Bartley said. 'She was whacking away alright and just stopped the last little bit. 'I had a blood test dome and couldn't find anything wrong. 'She faced the breeze out wide at Wyong and they went 10 lengths faster than standard for the first 1000m that day. 'It was a ridiculous speed and she had to stop. The @BWiddupRacing trained Money Team takes out the Gosford Provincial Midway Qualifier and books a spot at Randwick for the Final! ðŸ�† Joining them in the Final is Mogul Monarch from the @kimwaugh6 stable, securing qualification with a strong second-place finish! ðŸ'� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 15, 2025 'Her two runs before that were really good and on those performances, she is right in this race.' The three-year-old filly has drawn barrier 7 in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1350m) with Tim Clark to ride. 'The barrier is ideal and she can roll forward at her own tempo,' he said. 'I think we might have fought her a little bit hard when holding her up. 'We will just let her roll forward and if she leads, she will lead on her ear and can dictate the race. We will do a Gai Waterhouse. 'She drops considerably in class so she should be able to go into this race and perform to her best.' Earlier in the day, Bartley expects Think Of One to figure prominently in the Midway Maiden Plate (1600m). The son of So You Think resumed over 1400m at Scone when sixth behind Spenzalot and will relish the step up in distance. 'Aaron Bullock come back after the race and said get him out over a mile. He will appreciate that,' Bartley said. 'They were just a bit nippy got him over the 1400m. Under the circumstances, he was quite happy with him.' 'I think he finds himself in the right race.
News.com.au
30-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Wagga, Wyong best bets, inside mail for Thursday, May 1, 2025
Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and quaddie analysis at Wagga and Wyong on Thursday. â– â– â– â– â– WAGGA TIPS BEST BET Race 1 No.2: BUCKEYE Just beaten a Scone first-up and not a lot of luck last start. NEXT BEST Made ground late at Kembla last start. Drops in grade and gets his chance from the pole. VALUE BET Race 5 No.8: GROUP CHAT Was good winning last start and looks suited stepping up in trip. QUADDIE Race 5: 2, 6, 8 Race 6: 2, 3, 4, 6 Race 7: 2, 3, 6, 7, 14 Race 8: 3, 7, 8 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW ASH MORGAN has some nice rides and is a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge. WAGGA INSIDE MAIL GROUP CHAT (8) was fifth behind One Hard Lady on debut at Albury. Took benefit from the experience with a nice win over 1200m here last start. Got clear at the 250m and extended smartly over the final 100m. Extra trip look ideal. WEXFORD MISS (6) won her maiden over this trip at Kembla last September. Will appreciate a drop in grade from her eighth to Empress Of Japan at Goulburn. XCEPTIONAL FELLA (2) scored a handy win from Ghost Walker before a third to Canadian Ruler, both at Canberra. BET: GROUP CHAT each-way. EXTRAVAGANT CHOICE (2) is on a quick back-up from a smart win over Devils Daughter over 1800m at Bathurst last Friday. Led all the way at the Sapphire Coast two starts back with close seconds either side. Stablemate FINAL COMMENT (3) is also backing up from a half-length second to Jannik over 1600m at Albury last Thursday. He is a winner over the 2000m and just pipped over 2500m on a heavy track here last October. SACRED MISTRESS (6) is chasing a sixth consecutive win. Goes to 2000m for the first time. BET: EXTRAVAGANT CHOICE each-way. FELIX MAJESTIC (2) ended last campaign with a gutsy short half-head second to Briasa in Group 2 The Hunter over 1300m at Newcastle after leading. Was slow out and made steady ground late when fourth to Eagle Nest first-up over 1100m. Is a second-up winner and will give this a shake. THE INSTRUCTOR (3) scored a big first-up win at The Valley on Mar 22 then was kept fresh to win the Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington on Apr 19 both over this trip. COMPELLING TRUTH (6) returns from a Queensland campaign with a win and two placings. BET: FELIX MAJESTIC each-way. EXCEEDINGLY HOT (8) raced outside the leader when he beat The Predictor over 1400m here on Mar 1. Was off a five-week break when third to the progressive Win The Day at the Sapphire Coast before a second to the smart Villasaurus. DARK VADOR (7) scored a nice win at Port Macquarie before handy placings at Canberra and Newcastle. Battles away when fifth at Eagle Farm before a fourth to Fiftyfivechevy at Newcastle. PERSIAN DANCER (3) was a nice second to Arthur The Great here first-up. Is a winner this track and trip. BET: EXCEEDINGLY HOT to win. â– â– â– â– â– WYONG TIPS BEST BET Race 7 No.1: JUST FEELIN' LUCKY Came from a wide gate to win first-up and can repeat it. NEXT BEST Race 5 No.5: NIGHT SKY Smart win on debut here and can go back-to-back. WYONG INSIDE MAIL RACE 5: F&M BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1100m) NIGHT SKY (5) was very good winning her two recent trials and took that to the races with an impressive win from Lunaite in a Super Maiden over this track and distance. Hard to beat again. Stablemate GLORIOSO (1) came from last at the 400m with a strong run down the outside to finish a half-length third to Oakfield Badger over 1000m here first-up. Raced just behind the speed and battled away when fifth at Caulfield last start. CORDINA (7) won well on debut at Kilmore before a third at Ballarat and a third at Canterbury on Apr 21. BET: NIGHT SKY to win. UP THE FRONT (3) was badly bumped on jumping and settled well back when fifth to Shall Be here first-up. Is a second-up winner. LIVIN' THING (4) debuted with a stylish win at Hawkesbury. Resumes for a new stable and trials have been good including a second to Photographics at Randwick on Apr 14. READY TO SHINE (2) ran a nice race first-up when second to Metallic Ruler over 1200m here on a Soft 5. Disappointed when last behind Sizzler on a Good 4 at Kembla. Gets his preferred wet conditions. BET: UP THE FRONT to win. JUST FEELIN' LUCKY (1) was a close second to One Last Shot at Hawkesbury first-up last preparation before breaking his maiden with a four-length win from Squeezebox at Kembla. Kicked off this campaign with a handy win at Newcastle and can go back-to-back. TITANIUM MISS (2) was third to Money Team on the Provincial-Midway Qualifier at Gosford before a wide when ninth in the Wyong Qualifier. Drops in grade from her last in the Group 3 James Carr at Randwick. WEXFORD MISS (8) can sneak a place. BET: JUST FEELIN' LUCKY to win. SISU SPIRIT (2) went forward from and outside gate to lead but stayed off the fence in scoring by a length from Tempranillo when resuming over 1500m at Newcastle. Drawn out again but will go close. INCANTATION (10) won nicely first-up at Goulburn before coming from a long way back right down the outside when midfield to Rockbarton Angel at Newcastle. Handy third to Let's Fly at Kembla last start. TACT (5) and have genuine claims.
Bloomberg
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
Illustrations by Ibrahim Rayintakath
By and Margi Murphy New Year's Eve. Levittown, New York. Word travels swiftly as one young woman tells the next: ' You're on the website.' Dozens of recent high-school graduates are finding out that their photos have been scraped from their social media accounts, manipulated and posted to a porn website. Who would have done this? And can the women get the images taken down? Told there isn't much the police or anyone else can do, they set out to catch whoever did this. Along the way, they get some help from a global band of investigators and hackers who could take risks that police and prosecutors sometimes couldn't. Levittown is a real-life horror story for the AI generation. In this six-part series from Bloomberg, Kaleidoscope and iHeartPodcasts, reporters Olivia Carville and Margi Murphy take listeners from quiet suburbs of New York to as far as New Zealand and into the darkest corners of the Internet. Where tech moves faster than the law, and it's up to everyday people to hold back a rising tide of explicit deepfakes. Episode 1 Me…But Not Me Stuck in her childhood home during the pandemic, Kayla is shocked to learn that photos of her, altered to make her look naked, are posted to a website where men swap violent fantasies about women. A conversation with police leaves Kayla discouraged. Episode 2 'I'm Also on the Website' Months after Kayla's discovery, dozens of women in Levittown, a New York suburb on Long Island, learn they, too, are subjects of faked porn. Most are recent graduates of the local high school, and they zero in on a culprit. One of them sets out to prove it. Episode 3 The Hunter It's not just Levittown. The website hosting the doctored photos is the nexus of campaigns to harass women across the world. A victim in New Zealand helps to spark a global battle against the site and its elusive owner.
