Latest news with #TomCharlton
News.com.au
26-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘We have to focus on the positive things about our sport': Trainer John O'Shea calls for unity after Rosehill sale decision
John O'Shea is looking forward to getting out to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday – and not just because his stable has some strong winning chances. The champion trainer is sensing Sydney racing is finally starting to put behind it months of controversial, divisive and negative debate over the Rosehill sale proposal which was rejected in a vote by Australian Turf Club members. O'Shea, who trains in partnership with Tom Charlton, felt there was a turning of the tide at Royal Randwick last Saturday. 'It was the middle of winter but there was a really good feel to the meeting,'' O'Shea said. 'I got enjoyment out of going to the races last Saturday, it was like we are starting to take away the negativity that was associated with the whole Rosehill sale issue.'' O'Shea is no shrinking violet and isn't afraid to voice his opinion. He was against the Rosehill sale from the outset. But he also provides intelligent and thoughtful insight into an issue which has fractured friendships and divided the racing industry. • 'The most disappointing thing about the Rosehill issue to me was the negativity it brought to our industry as a whole,'' O'Shea said. 'It did a lot of damage to our brand because our industry became the focus of mainstream media in a negative manner. 'Whether you were for or against it (Rosehill sale), we were looked upon in a negative manner irrespective of anything else. 'I think we have to focus more on the positive things about our sport. We need to concentrate on getting people back to the races, building the membership base and racing good horses.'' When it comes to 'racing good horses', O'Shea and Charlton have been doing just that over the last 12 months since their first runner together, Bartolf, won at Scone on July 2. The trainers have prepared 73 winners during the 2024-25 season including three Group 1 wins with Linebacker (Randwick Guineas), Maison Louis (Queensland Derby) and Schwarz (William Reid Stakes). Stable Talk 🎥 The boys look back on the Queensland Derby win, how it played out and what was going through their heads as it happened. #StableTalk #QueenslandDerby #RaceReplay — O'Shea & Charlton Racing (@JohnOSheaRacing) June 13, 2025 O'Shea and Charlton are equal sixth on the Sydney trainers premiership with 34 city races at a strike-rate of an outstanding 15.7%. 'It's been a pretty good 12 months, we can't complain,'' O'Shea said. 'But I think we haven't really changed that much in the way we do things because Tom's involvement was pretty substantial anyway. It's just made it official on the job sheet.'' O'Shea revealed the stable strategy has been to develop a team that is going to be competitive at the elite level. 'It has been a building process and getting quality animals into the yard,'' he said. 'We have a group of nice young horses coming through.'' But leading the stable charge at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday is one of their older horses, rising seven-year-old imported mare Awesome Wonder in the Stayer's Cup (2400m). Just awesome 🙌 Awesome Wonder wins the TAB Hcp for @stanley_jett and @JohnOSheaRacing! @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 10, 2024 • Awesome Wonder is out of the former brilliant filly, Nechita, winner of the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, but she hasn't inherited her dam's natural speed. Instead, Awesome Wonder throws to her sire, the great Galileo, arguably the most influential European stallion of the modern era. Galileo, who was superbly bred by the mighty Sadler's Wells out of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Urban Sea, won six of his eight starts including the 2001 English Derby. But as good as Galileo was on the racetrack, he has been even better at stud. He was leading sire in Britain a record 12 times and is the only stallion to sire over 100 individual Group 1 winners, including a record five English Derby winners. Awesome Wonder hasn't won since scoring over 2400m at Randwick in August last year but she has been improved by three runs from a spell. 'She had a long time out but is coming along well,'' O'Shea said. 'We are trying to get her to the Grafton Cup next month.'' O'Shea and Charlton also have the promising Livin' Thing lining up in the TAB Handicap (1100m). Livin' Thing, a three-year-old son of The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, has won three of his six starts and impressed at his most recent run scoring easily at Kensington. Livin' Thing records an impressive win in Race 4 at Randwick Kensington. @JohnOSheaRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 11, 2025 'He's a really nice horse,'' O'Shea said of Livin' Thing. 'He won well the other day with a bunch of weight. 'The step to 1100m will suit him, he maps well, and comes in nicely at the weights with Jace McMurray 's claim so we are looking forward to Saturday with him, to be fair.'' The trainers also have smart mare Captain Amelia going third-up in the Precise Air Handicap (1400m). 'Both her runs have been good this time in,'' O'Shea said. 'She is back to mares grade on Saturday and also has Jace's claim which helps.'' What a thriller! Captain Amelia gives @Loughnane_blly his first Randwick winner! @JohnOSheaRacing | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024 The O'Shea-Charlton stable had Quietness entered for the Listed $200,000 WJ McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill but have withdrawn the promising former English mare and will start her instead in the Listed $200,000 Tattersall's Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm. 'Quietness is a really nice, little mare, she has been a delight to train,'' O'Shea said. 'She will go to Brisbane and hopefully add to her performances that she had before coming to Australia. We like her a lot and feel she is a very good staying mare.'' With the subject on a race north of the border, we couldn't let the opportunity pass without asking O'Shea his view on the State Of Origin decider between his beloved Queensland and NSW at Accor Stadium on July 9. The Maroons, playing with an 8-0 penalty count in their favour during the first half of Game 2, defeated the Blues 26-24 to level the series. Although O'Shea was happy with the result, he was honest in his appraisal of the quality of the game and, in particular, the match officials. 'This is not a criticism of the referee (Ashley Klein) but I don't enjoy Origin as much with that referee as opposed to (Adam) Gee,'' O'Shea said. 'I think Gee lets the game flow a lot more. He usually has say five penalties but this guy (Klein) has up to 10 or more (per game). 'I don't think that is what State Of Origin is about, I think it is better left alone. 'It's not that he is a bad referee but he has a different way of refereeing State Of Origin and I don't think that is as conducive to making it a better game as to when Gee referees and just lets it flow. 'I would be interested to watch Gee referee at Origin and see if it is not a better game. But I can't wait for Game 3 and I believe it will be a lot closer than most people think.'' â– â– â– â– â– O'Shea backs star gelding against Group 1 elite Linebacker will be given his chance in Sydney's biggest races but Maison Louis is unlikely to be tested at the highest level during the spring carnival. This was trainer John O'Shea's initial assessment of spring carnival plans for his stable's two Group 1 stars ahead of their four-year-old seasons. The talented Linebacker underlined his quality during autumn holding off Broadsiding, Swiftfalcon and Aeliana in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas before he was luckless when beaten just over a length into eighth position in Stefi Magnetica 's Doncaster Mile. But the striking chestnut has shown he is not out of place against racing's elite which gives O'Shea and training partner Tom Charlton every reason to aim high with the gelding in the coming spring carnival. Linebacker has WON the G1 Randwick Guineas for @JohnOSheaRacing! ðŸ�† @ZacLloydx with a flawless performance to land Linebacker his first G1! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025 'We have to go to the Epsom Handicap with Linebacker and play ball after that,'' O'Shea said. 'We will just be guided by what happens in the Epsom but we feel he could be a horse that might run in the King Charles (III Stakes) and then the Golden Eagle.'' Although their brilliant sprinter and winner of the William Reid Stakes, Schwarz has been retired to stud, O'Shea and Charlton have unearthed an exciting young stayer in Maison Louis who defeated stablemate King Of Thunder in the Queensland Derby earlier this month. But O'Shea and Charlton are likely to take a 'softly-softly approach' with Maison Louis who won the Derby at the end of a seven-start debut race campaign. He's home! The G1 Queensland Derby belongs to Maison Louis thanks to a lovely ride by @RMaloney_Jockey - and @JohnOSheaRacing get the quinella with King Of Thunder in second spot! ðŸ'¥ ðŸ'° @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 'Maison Louis is a horse we are going to have to bring along steadily,'' O'Shea said. 'He was able to achieve so much in his first preparation but he wouldn't be ready to start butting heads with those European imports in open company. 'So we are just going to use the next 12 months or so to try and 'season' him more. 'Obviously a horse that can win a Group 1 race in his first preparation is very progressive but he needs to get some miles under his legs. He's only rated 100 so we will poke along with him next season.'' Maison Louis was too good for stablemate King Of Thunder in the Eagle Farm classic but the latter is also a stayer of considerable potential.
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Matthew Poon ‘can't wait' to chase Group One glory in the Doomben Cup
Matthew Poon is ready to take his chance at Doomben on Saturday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Matthew Poon Ming-fai is relishing the challenge as he gets ready to partner Klondike in Saturday's Group One Doomben Cup (2,000m). Poon, who sits on 34 wins for the season, will head to Brisbane to ride the Galileo galloper, who was a smart horse in the United Kingdom before shipping to Australia. Winner of the Listed Grand Cup Stakes (2,800m) at York, he produced his best performance for top trainer William Haggas when running out a convincing winner of the Group Three Prix de Reux (2,400m) at Deauville in August. He recently transferred into the care of joint trainers John O'Shea and Tom Charlton and did not immediately hit the ground running, beating just one of the 11 finishers home in the Group Three JRA Plate (2,000m) won by last year's Doomben Cup hero Bois D'Argent. That was his first run since September 2024, however, and Poon believes the best is firmly yet to come from the five-year-old. 'I know he's a very good stayer who can handle two miles, so 2,000m is no problem for him – I think he will improve a lot for his first run in terms of fitness and experience,' said Poon. 'His second run in Australia should be much better than his local debut and I hope he will run well from a good draw in barrier five. 'I'm very thankful to the owner [Matthew Li Man-hei] who has given me the opportunity. He asked me to come ride him and I said 'of course'. I can't wait to take the chance. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Matthew Poon is relishing the chance to head to Australia for a Group One ride. 'I fly across on Friday, will ride the race on Saturday and then return to Hong Kong on Sunday ready for Sha Tin.' The race is one of three stakes contests being simulcast from Doomben, with the Group Two The Roses (2,000m) and Group Three HKJC World Pool BRC Sprint (1,350m) making up the rest of the billing. Also on Saturday, the Group One Irish 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) headlines a nine-race offering from The Curragh in Ireland. The race revolves around Group One 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) runner-up Field Of Gold, who bids to avenge his narrow defeat to Ruling Court at Newmarket. RULING COURT strikes in the @Betfred 2000 Guineas! — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 3, 2025 Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the Kingman galloper got going slightly too late when beaten half a length in the first Classic of the season, prompting connections to replace jockey Kieran Shoemark with Irish champion jockey Colin Keane. He sets the form standard, but will be heavily challenged by fellow Juddmonte-owned galloper Cosmic Year, who looked the real deal when landing the Listed King Charles II Stakes (1,400m) at Newmarket with a late burst and looks certain to suit the new trip. Ireland's biggest hope of keeping the 2,000 Guineas at home is Jessie Harrington's Hotazhell, who ended last season by beating leading Group One Epsom Derby (2,400m) fancy Delacroix in the Group One Futurity Stakes (1,600m) at Doncaster. His lack of race fitness is a concern, however, and the chief threat may come from Aidan O'Brien's Officer, the Listed Tetrarch Stakes (1,600m) winner who is totally unexposed and looks to have plenty more to offer at the trip.
The Australian
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Warwick Farm preview: Title fire still burns bright for Anna Roper
Missing the early part of the season put Anna Roper's goal of winning the Sydney Apprentices title behind the Eight ball but she hasn't given up hope and a solid book of rides at Warwick Farm can help her build on her tally. Roper missed the first three months of the current season due to a quad injury that required surgery and then getting kicked by a horse which extended her time off. 'The apprentice premiership was meant to be the target but loosing that much time made it a bit of an issue but at the same time, you never what what's going to happen in this job,' said Roper. 'In the end, it was a case of just getting on with it and do the best I can for the season. Hopefully without any more injuries. 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! 'It's not impossible. If I can keep riding consistently until the end of the season. 'Obviously Braith (Nock) has a bit of a lead on us but I will give it my best.' One of Roper's leading chances at Warwick Farm is Livin' Thing in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m). The John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding resumed with a handy win on a heavy track at Kembla from Zaragoza who franked the form with a win at the same course last weekend. 'I really have a lot of time for this horse,' Roper said. 'He gave me a very nice feel at Kembla. From the top of the straight, I always thought he would go straight past them but he had a bit of a think about things. Not because he wasn't genuine but rather he was green and didn't know what to do. 'He still managed to win on raw ability. 'He will learn a lot from that run and I think he's a nice horse going forward once he puts it together a bit better. 'I'm excited to be back on board and up to metro grade. Seeing if he is going to be competitive against the better horses.' Roper also combines with O'Shea and Charlton when Natural Deduction contests the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m). The gelding was doing his best work late when a three length seventh behind Seafall over this same track and distance on May 7. 'It was a really good run,' she said. 'Obviously he was first-up over the mile and he was very fresh and got quite keen in the run. 'To finish off the way he did, I was impressed. 'Second-up with that edge off him, he might relax better. He's drawn a better barrier so hopefully I can have him closer in the run. 'His is two from two second-up and should be a good chance. My only concern is the heavy track which he hasn't been tried on.' Roper rode Junebug to victory at Wyong before a third behind stablemate Asgoodassobergets on Gosford Cup Day. The mare drops back to a Benchmark 72 Handicap (2110m). 'She is a great little horse. The wet track is the most important thing for her,' said Roper. 'She is very honest and loves her job. As long as she gets a smooth run, she is easy to ride. 'It was a very good run last start especially as she had to jump from the outside gate and do all the bullocking work to get across to the front. It was a huge effort. 'I really like her in this field, especially come back to midweek grade.' Roper also rides Fear No Evil for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Lady Boss for Ciaron Maher. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Every time trainer Gratz Vella has raised the bar, Good Prize has responded with an even better performance. Good Prize scored a couple of nice wins at Queanbeyan over 1200m and 1460m earlier this preparation, but since stepping up to 1600m, the gelding has been even more impressive. 'He has really found his best form. I haven't done anything different with him on the track, I think he has just matured now,' said Vella. 'Once I got him over a bit longer distance has helped. 'I have a little mate with him – a goat. Ever since I put them together, that's when the results started to come.' It started with a Benchmark 65 on his home track at Canberra on April 2 with a near three length win from The Right Rein and the pair returned 16 days later in a Benchmark 84 with Good Prize beating his rival by over two lengths. Vella asked the gelding to step up to provincial company and set him for a Benchmark 68 at Kembla where he again pout a margin on his rivals, this time a two-and-a-half length win from Strawberry Impact. 'After the second Canberra win, I thought he might need two or three weeks to get over the run because he had going straight to Open company and it wasn't a bad field,' he said. 'He recovered so quickly though. He was eating well, his attitude was still good and he actually come on from the run. 'I was quite happy to go to Kembla and take Coriah (Keatings) to claim three kilos. I thought he was a big chance. 'I thought he was in a bit of trouble there at one stage but once he got his action flowing, he just left them for dead. 'I think he will be better again over 2000 metres but at the moment, we will stick with the 1600 metres where he has been doing a good job.' Vella is happy to give the four-year-old a shot at midweek company in the Drinkwise Mile Benchmark 72 where he has barrier 3. 'I think he's a very good chance again,' he said. 'He hasn't gone backwards since Kembla. He's still a very happy horse. 'He has a nice barrier and Coriah rides him again.' Good Prize opened $7 with TAB Fixed Odds and firmed into $5.50 behind Sounds Unusual at $4.20 and Naval Commission at $5.
Daily Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Warwick Farm preview: Title fire still burns bright for Anna Roper
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Missing the early part of the season put Anna Roper's goal of winning the Sydney Apprentices title behind the Eight ball but she hasn't given up hope and a solid book of rides at Warwick Farm can help her build on her tally. Roper missed the first three months of the current season due to a quad injury that required surgery and then getting kicked by a horse which extended her time off. 'The apprentice premiership was meant to be the target but loosing that much time made it a bit of an issue but at the same time, you never what what's going to happen in this job,' said Roper. 'In the end, it was a case of just getting on with it and do the best I can for the season. Hopefully without any more injuries. 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! 'It's not impossible. If I can keep riding consistently until the end of the season. 'Obviously Braith (Nock) has a bit of a lead on us but I will give it my best.' One of Roper's leading chances at Warwick Farm is Livin' Thing in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m). The John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding resumed with a handy win on a heavy track at Kembla from Zaragoza who franked the form with a win at the same course last weekend. 'I really have a lot of time for this horse,' Roper said. 'He gave me a very nice feel at Kembla. From the top of the straight, I always thought he would go straight past them but he had a bit of a think about things. Not because he wasn't genuine but rather he was green and didn't know what to do. 'He still managed to win on raw ability. 'He will learn a lot from that run and I think he's a nice horse going forward once he puts it together a bit better. 'I'm excited to be back on board and up to metro grade. Seeing if he is going to be competitive against the better horses.' Roper also combines with O'Shea and Charlton when Natural Deduction contests the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m). The gelding was doing his best work late when a three length seventh behind Seafall over this same track and distance on May 7. 'It was a really good run,' she said. 'Obviously he was first-up over the mile and he was very fresh and got quite keen in the run. 'To finish off the way he did, I was impressed. 'Second-up with that edge off him, he might relax better. He's drawn a better barrier so hopefully I can have him closer in the run. 'His is two from two second-up and should be a good chance. My only concern is the heavy track which he hasn't been tried on.' Roper rode Junebug to victory at Wyong before a third behind stablemate Asgoodassobergets on Gosford Cup Day. The mare drops back to a Benchmark 72 Handicap (2110m). 'She is a great little horse. The wet track is the most important thing for her,' said Roper. 'She is very honest and loves her job. As long as she gets a smooth run, she is easy to ride. 'It was a very good run last start especially as she had to jump from the outside gate and do all the bullocking work to get across to the front. It was a huge effort. 'I really like her in this field, especially come back to midweek grade.' Roper also rides Fear No Evil for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Lady Boss for Ciaron Maher. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Every time trainer Gratz Vella has raised the bar, Good Prize has responded with an even better performance. Good Prize scored a couple of nice wins at Queanbeyan over 1200m and 1460m earlier this preparation, but since stepping up to 1600m, the gelding has been even more impressive. 'He has really found his best form. I haven't done anything different with him on the track, I think he has just matured now,' said Vella. 'Once I got him over a bit longer distance has helped. 'I have a little mate with him – a goat. Ever since I put them together, that's when the results started to come.' It started with a Benchmark 65 on his home track at Canberra on April 2 with a near three length win from The Right Rein and the pair returned 16 days later in a Benchmark 84 with Good Prize beating his rival by over two lengths. Vella asked the gelding to step up to provincial company and set him for a Benchmark 68 at Kembla where he again pout a margin on his rivals, this time a two-and-a-half length win from Strawberry Impact. 'After the second Canberra win, I thought he might need two or three weeks to get over the run because he had going straight to Open company and it wasn't a bad field,' he said. 'He recovered so quickly though. He was eating well, his attitude was still good and he actually come on from the run. 'I was quite happy to go to Kembla and take Coriah (Keatings) to claim three kilos. I thought he was a big chance. 'I thought he was in a bit of trouble there at one stage but once he got his action flowing, he just left them for dead. 'I think he will be better again over 2000 metres but at the moment, we will stick with the 1600 metres where he has been doing a good job.' Vella is happy to give the four-year-old a shot at midweek company in the Drinkwise Mile Benchmark 72 where he has barrier 3. 'I think he's a very good chance again,' he said. 'He hasn't gone backwards since Kembla. He's still a very happy horse. 'He has a nice barrier and Coriah rides him again.' Good Prize opened $7 with TAB Fixed Odds and firmed into $5.50 behind Sounds Unusual at $4.20 and Naval Commission at $5.
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Warwick Farm preview: Talented apprentice Anna Roper keen to make the most of every opportunity
Missing the early part of the season put Anna Roper's goal of winning the Sydney Apprentices title behind the Eight ball but she hasn't given up hope and a solid book of rides at Warwick Farm can help her build on her tally. Roper missed the first three months of the current season due to a quad injury that required surgery and then getting kicked by a horse which extended her time off. 'The apprentice premiership was meant to be the target but loosing that much time made it a bit of an issue but at the same time, you never what what's going to happen in this job,' said Roper. 'In the end, it was a case of just getting on with it and do the best I can for the season. Hopefully without any more injuries. Livin' Thing takes the outside route and wins it comfortably at Kembla Grange! 🙌 @JohnOSheaRacing | @AnnaRoper_ â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 6, 2025 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! 'It's not impossible. If I can keep riding consistently until the end of the season. 'Obviously Braith (Nock) has a bit of a lead on us but I will give it my best.' One of Roper's leading chances at Warwick Farm is Livin' Thing in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m). The John O'Shea and Tom Charlton -trained gelding resumed with a handy win on a heavy track at Kembla from Zaragoza who franked the form with a win at the same course last weekend. 'I really have a lot of time for this horse,' Roper said. 'He gave me a very nice feel at Kembla. From the top of the straight, I always thought he would go straight past them but he had a bit of a think about things. Not because he wasn't genuine but rather he was green and didn't know what to do. 'He still managed to win on raw ability. 'He will learn a lot from that run and I think he's a nice horse going forward once he puts it together a bit better. 'I'm excited to be back on board and up to metro grade. Seeing if he is going to be competitive against the better horses.' Roper also combines with O'Shea and Charlton when Natural Deduction contests the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m). Junebug salutes in the Wyong opener with @AnnaRoper_ in the saddle for the @ANeashamRacing stable! ðŸ'� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 17, 2025 The gelding was doing his best work late when a three length seventh behind Seafall over this same track and distance on May 7. 'It was a really good run,' she said. 'Obviously he was first-up over the mile and he was very fresh and got quite keen in the run. 'To finish off the way he did, I was impressed. 'Second-up with that edge off him, he might relax better. He's drawn a better barrier so hopefully I can have him closer in the run. 'His is two from two second-up and should be a good chance. My only concern is the heavy track which he hasn't been tried on.' Roper rode Junebug to victory at Wyong before a third behind stablemate Asgoodassobergets on Gosford Cup Day. The mare drops back to a Benchmark 72 Handicap (2110m). 'She is a great little horse. The wet track is the most important thing for her,' said Roper. 'She is very honest and loves her job. As long as she gets a smooth run, she is easy to ride. 'It was a very good run last start especially as she had to jump from the outside gate and do all the bullocking work to get across to the front. It was a huge effort. 'I really like her in this field, especially come back to midweek grade.' Roper also rides Fear No Evil for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Lady Boss for Ciaron Maher. â– â– â– â– â– Every time trainer Gratz Vella has raised the bar, Good Prize has responded with an even better performance. Good Prize scored a couple of nice wins at Queanbeyan over 1200m and 1460m earlier this preparation, but since stepping up to 1600m, the gelding has been even more impressive. 'He has really found his best form. I haven't done anything different with him on the track, I think he has just matured now,' said Vella. 'Once I got him over a bit longer distance has helped. 'I have a little mate with him – a goat. Ever since I put them together, that's when the results started to come.' It started with a Benchmark 65 on his home track at Canberra on April 2 with a near three length win from The Right Rein and the pair returned 16 days later in a Benchmark 84 with Good Prize beating his rival by over two lengths. Good Prize gets the money in the Canberra opener for local trainer Gratz Vella! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 2, 2025 Vella asked the gelding to step up to provincial company and set him for a Benchmark 68 at Kembla where he again pout a margin on his rivals, this time a two-and-a-half length win from Strawberry Impact. 'After the second Canberra win, I thought he might need two or three weeks to get over the run because he had going straight to Open company and it wasn't a bad field,' he said. 'He recovered so quickly though. He was eating well, his attitude was still good and he actually come on from the run. 'I was quite happy to go to Kembla and take Coriah (Keatings) to claim three kilos. I thought he was a big chance. 'I thought he was in a bit of trouble there at one stage but once he got his action flowing, he just left them for dead. 'I think he will be better again over 2000 metres but at the moment, we will stick with the 1600 metres where he has been doing a good job.' Vella is happy to give the four-year-old a shot at midweek company in the Drinkwise Mile Benchmark 72 where he has barrier 3. 'I think he's a very good chance again,' he said. 'He hasn't gone backwards since Kembla. He's still a very happy horse. 'He has a nice barrier and Coriah rides him again.'
