Latest news with #TheTABEverest
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Joliestar to bypass Stradbroke Handicap and Tatt's Tiara
Chris Waller confirmed Joliestar won't race again during the Queensland Winter Carnival after the brilliant mare provided the Hall of Fame trainer with a record 19th Group 1 win for the season in the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Joliestar was among the favourites at $11 for next Saturday's Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and was at top of betting at $2.50 for the Group 1 Tatts Tiara (1400m) on June 28 but Waller said the mare has earned a spell. 'She won't have another run in Queensland, that's it, she's having a holiday and we will start planning for the spring,'' Waller told Sky Racing Radio. Although Waller hasn't locked in Joliestar's spring campaign, it will be tempting to again aim the mare at the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18. She finished an unlucky seventh behind Bella Nipotina in the world's richest turf race last year. ' James McDonald is adamant she should have gone close to winning The Everest last year,'' Waller said. 'But I think it is on the short side of her distance range, she is probably better over 1300m or 1400m. 'It is a tricky race, The Everest, it is obviously the race everyone wants to win but you sacrifice a few other Group 1 races along the way. 'We will see how she is the next few days and work out a plan towards the spring.' Joliestar is currently on the fourth line of The Everest betting at $11 behind Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising, who has firmed to $1.80 after he was selected for the slot now owned by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. With three Group 1 races remaining for the season, Waller hopes to enhance his new national record of 19 majors with the Stradbroke and $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Waller said he rates Hidden Achievement as his stable's 'top seed' for the JJ Atkins. 'Hidden Achievement was beaten last start but we saw enough merit in his run to feel he can go close to winning,'' Waller said. 'Hopefully, we have James (McDonald) aboard which makes a huge difference and is a big help to my team. 'In the Stradbroke, we are just working out if Coleman gets in and we might run Firestorm and Konasana.' At Canterbury on Monday, Waller has runners across seven races including first starter Central Coast in the Drinkwise Plate (1250m) to open the program. Central Coast, a superbly bred colt by sire sensation Wootton Bassett out of triple Group 1 winner Sunlight, was purchased for $1.4 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale last year. With his big pedigree and impressive recent barrier trial form, it is not surprising Central Coast is the $2.40 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to make a winning debut. McDonald, who rode his 15th Group 1 winner for the season on Joliestar and is closing in on 'Miracle' Mal Johnston's all-time record of 16 majors set in 1979-80, is on Central Coast and also partners Waller-trained favourites Gatekeeper ($4.60) in the TAB Handicap (1250m) and Pink Shalala ($2.50) in the closer, the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1550m). McDonald has seven rides on the eight-race Canterbury program including for the Godolphin stable on promising filly Blue Willow, the $3.50 favourite for the Ranvet Handicap (1550m). The James Cummings -trained Blue Willow is a half-sister to former Horse of the Year Anamoe, who McDonald rode in eight of the champion's nine Group 1 wins. Blue Willow makes her city debut at Canterbury after three starts at Newcastle for two minor placings before a dominant maiden win in very heavy going two weeks ago.
News.com.au
05-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer David Hayes reveals that sprint superstar Ka Ying Rising will have two runs in Sydney this spring
Hong Kong's super sprinter Ka Ying Rising will earn more than $10 million prizemoney in just over two minutes if he cleans up The Everest-Russell Balding Stakes double in Sydney this spring. With Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes revealing plans to set Ka Ying Rising for the two Sydney sprints, it is understood Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) is emerging as a potential buyer for a vacant slot in the $20 million The TAB Everest, which has World Pool status. There are three The Everest slots that could change hands later this year – definitely The Star's slot, and possibly TAB and Australian Turf Club. If HKJC does buy an Everest slot, it would be a logical fit for them to select their own champion, Ka Ying Rising, the world's number one ranked sprinter. Hayes confirmed Ka Ying Rising will stay in Sydney for a two-race spring campaign that includes the world's richest turf race, the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18, boasting first prizemoney of $7,500,000. Then two weeks later is the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens which offers $1.725 million to the winner. In addition, there is a $1 million bonus for any horse that can win The Everest-Russell Balding double. Bella Nipotina became the first to win both races last spring. She ran 1m 8.76s on a soft 5 track in The Everest then raced away with the Russell Balding stakes in 1m 14.96s – taking less than 2m 24s to claim the mega-rich sprint double. Ka Ying Rising, which has won 12 races in succession, is already $1.90 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds for The Everest and is set to start the shortest favourite in the race's history. Nature Strip was $1.90 when he ran fourth to Giga Kick in the 2022 The Everest. Hayes said Racing Victoria's strict veterinary protocols led to his decision to keep Ka Ying Rising in Sydney after The Everest and not aim the freakish sprinter at the Group 1 Champion's Sprint at Flemington. 'The race (Russell Balding Stakes) after The Everest carries a bonus for The Everest winner,'' Hayes said. 'It means he doesn't have to do any extra travelling and doesn't have to go through the protocols again to run in Melbourne, so the protocols made my decision very easy. 'It's a rule that needs to be looked at and reviewed, but it's the rule at the moment so while the rule's in place, I won't consider Melbourne. I would understand if it's his first run in Australia but it's not. 'I would have dearly loved to have shown him off in Victoria – it's my hometown and it would have been great to run there, but the protocols aren't making it favourable. 'I'm not asking for any favours, but I think they should review the rule. I think it's overkill. 'The horse has to go to hospital to have the tests - normally healthy horses aren't in hospital – he has to travel which is another risk, have a day away from his routine feed and be tranquillised to have it done, so it's quite an ordeal.' Hayes said Ka Ying Rising left his Hong Kong stables on Monday for a spell in China after completing a perfect season, winning eight races including four at Group 1 level culminating with the Chairman's Sprint Prize last start. Ka Ying Rising has earned a lofty Timeform figure of 132 which makes him clearly the highest-rated sprinter in the world. Hayes said he believes there is enough time after the two Sydney races to get Ka Ying Rising back to Hong Kong to prepare for his defence of the Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin in December.
Herald Sun
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Matthew Smith focused on Everest slot with improving sprinter Headwall
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Matthew Smith is prepared to bypass the feature Brisbane sprints to give Headwall every chance to qualify for the $20m The TAB Everest later this year. Headwall has emerged as a genuine Everest contender despite a winless, albeit luckless, autumn campaign. He has taken on the best sprinters in training in four successive starts and could easily have won at least two Group 1 races. • 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! Headwall was hopelessly held up in the straight before finishing fourth to Jimmysstar in the Oakleigh Plate then he ran a close second to Joliestar in the Newmarket Handicap. Smith's underrated sprinter again had an interrupted run before his third to Briasa in the TJ Smith Stakes then he was beaten narrowly by Jokers Grin in The Quokka last Saturday. Headwall is on the way back from Perth via a stopover in Melbourne on Thursday but Smith said he wants to check on the five-year-old's condition when he is back at the trainer's Warwick Farm stables before confirming plans for the gelding. 'I reckon Headwall will have a break now,'' Smith said. 'He's done a bit of travelling with a couple of trips away and there is Brisbane to consider. 'But I think when all said and done he should go for a break and then we can target The Everest in the spring.'' Improving sprinter Headwall had a luckless autumn campaign. Picture:Despite Headwall's consistent big-race form this autumn, Smith hasn't fielded any approaches from slot-holders and TAB has the sprinter at $34 in early Everest betting behind Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising at $2. Some of Headwall's adversaries this autumn, Briasa ($8), Jimmysstar ($11) and Joliestar ($11) are among the early favourites for The Everest. • Smith's 'unbelievable' win on game-changing day for NSW racing 'We haven't had any contact from slot-holders yet but the plan is to get him to The Everest,'' Smith said. 'So, by giving Headwall a break now, we can have him ready to go early in the spring. 'If he can win one of those early lead-up races to The Everest like the Concorde Stakes then surely he would get a start.'' Unbeaten Private Harry ($6) remains the only confirmed starter for The Everest after racing and breeding giant Yulong – which owns a slot in the world's richest turf race – secured a half-share in the sprinter after his win in the Group 1 The Galaxy during the Sydney autumn carnival. Originally published as Matthew Smith focused on Everest slot with improving sprinter Headwall
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Matthew Smith focused on Everest slot with improving sprinter Headwall
Trainer Matthew Smith is prepared to bypass the feature Brisbane sprints to give Headwall every chance to qualify for the $20m The TAB Everest later this year. Headwall has emerged as a genuine Everest contender despite a winless, albeit luckless, autumn campaign. He has taken on the best sprinters in training in four successive starts and could easily have won at least two Group 1 races. Headwall was hopelessly held up in the straight before finishing fourth to Jimmysstar in the Oakleigh Plate then he ran a close second to Joliestar in the Newmarket Handicap. Smith's underrated sprinter again had an interrupted run before his third to Briasa in the TJ Smith Stakes then he was beaten narrowly by Jokers Grin in The Quokka last Saturday. Headwall is on the way back from Perth via a stopover in Melbourne on Thursday but Smith said he wants to check on the five-year-old's condition when he is back at the trainer's Warwick Farm stables before confirming plans for the gelding. 'I reckon Headwall will have a break now,'' Smith said. 'He's done a bit of travelling with a couple of trips away and there is Brisbane to consider. 'But I think when all said and done he should go for a break and then we can target The Everest in the spring.'' Despite Headwall's consistent big-race form this autumn, Smith hasn't fielded any approaches from slot-holders and TAB has the sprinter at $34 in early Everest betting behind Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising at $2. Some of Headwall's adversaries this autumn, Briasa ($8), Jimmysstar ($11) and Joliestar ($11) are among the early favourites for The Everest. 'We haven't had any contact from slot-holders yet but the plan is to get him to The Everest,'' Smith said. 'So, by giving Headwall a break now, we can have him ready to go early in the spring. 'If he can win one of those early lead-up races to The Everest like the Concorde Stakes then surely he would get a start.'' Unbeaten Private Harry ($6) remains the only confirmed starter for The Everest after racing and breeding giant Yulong – which owns a slot in the world's richest turf race – secured a half-share in the sprinter after his win in the Group 1 The Galaxy during the Sydney autumn carnival.
