Latest news with #TooDarnLizzie
News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Gai Waterhouse shows faith in leading Adelaide apprentice Rochelle Milnes for Group 1 Australasian Oaks assault with Phenom
Adelaide's star apprentice Rochelle Milnes prefers to let her riding do the talking, and her riding has caught the attention of racing's first lady, Gai Waterhouse. Milnes, 23, will pilot the aptly named Phenom in Saturday's $1m Australasian Oaks at Morphettville, a Zoustar filly trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. • 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! It's the biggest race of Milnes' fledgling career, but her daring Adelaide Cup win aboard Silent Surrente in March, proved she has right temperament for the elite stage. 'I think you could call it the next challenge, whether or not I feel as prepared as I could be, is another thing,' Milnes, who grew up in Port Lincoln, said. 'I guess that's how my career has always been, kind of jumping in before I felt ready and taking on the challenge as it comes.' It's an approach that has served Milnes effectively, she won the Dux of the Racing SA Apprentice Academy in January, and leads the Adelaide jockeys' premiership with 37 wins. Milnes is unearthing herself as latest female prodigy to emerge from South Australia, and riding in her first Group 1 for 'Gai', the doyenne of racing, is an opportunity that isn't lost on Milnes. 'It's definitely a privilege, to have someone of Gai's status and respectability in the game have faith in me,' she said. 'Especially being an apprentice, that's something I go on about a lot, not only is it a great opportunity as a jockey, but as an apprentice jockey, it's even more special to me. 'It is a Group 1, and even though she's had plenty of Group 1 success, every (Group 1) is important – to be a part of that is pretty special.' • Milnes has been given the brief by Waterhouse, who saddles up two runners in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m), Phenom ($27 Sportsbet) and Too Darn Lizzie ($4.80). 'I've spoken to Gai a few times now, I've been riding her horses trackwork,' she said. 'I was up against her in the Adelaide Cup, and now I get to ride for her, so that's pretty cool. She makes me want to be better, she's not afraid to tell you what you're doing right or wrong, she's very well spoken, very well-mannered. 'Everyone knows that she's very flamboyant, she's a real character but a lovely, lovely lady and giving me an opportunity like this, it's very cool to be a part of.' An Adelaide Cup win was naturally good for self belief, but Milnes has maintained a level head throughout her achievements. 'I guess it's given me confidence in myself, but that never takes away from the challenges you face, there's plenty of room for improvement,' she said. Milnes got the better of star jockey Jamie Melham on the day, another South Australian, who finished second aboard Newfoundland. The pair meet again on Saturday with Melham piloting equal third favourite, Polymnia, for John O'Shea and Tom Charlton. Milnes holds a fond recollection of what Melham said to her after the Adelaide Cup. 'She definitely said some things I'm not allowed to say,' Milnes said. 'They were used in a good way, she's a really good sport, it came across in a very friendly, personal manner – we had a laugh after. 'I think that made it even sweeter. She's had lots of success herself, she could look at it and relate, she knew what it would mean to me, I had a lot of respect for her from that.' Milnes piloted Phenom to third last start in the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m), and the hoop has been pleased with the filly's trackwork since.  'She's another class of horse that I've never ridden before,' she said. 'That last start, she was a little flat-footed mid-race but she stormed home really good, she picked up really nicely under riding and finished off so strong. 'Her work since then has given me nothing but confidence in her, she's quite a fizzy little mare, it would be nice to see her settle in her run and finish off strong like she did in the last race. 'It's been nice getting to know her not on race day, seeing a little personality and having that rapport with the horse.'
7NEWS
25-04-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Star trainer combo Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott out to break Australasian Oaks drought
It is 24 years since Gai Waterhouse tasted success in the Australasian Oaks when Tempest Morn took out the 2000m Classic. Now in a training partnership with Adrian Bott, the pair will have dual representation in Saturday's Group 1 contest for three-year-old fillies. Too Darn Lizzie and Phenom will line up in the 16-horse strong field at Morphettville. After three runs so far this campaign, Bott said the stable was prepared to roll the dice and try Too Darn Lizzie for the first time at 2000m on Saturday. Too Darn Lizzie has placed in all three outings this campaign, all at Stakes level at Caulfield, Flemington and Moonee Valley respectively, but has not raced since The Valley effort when second in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m). 'She's had a trial in between runs,' Bott said. 'Her form this time in has been excellent. The 2000 metres is new territory for her, but she's shown indications that she will handle that sort of trip and we have to take in her class as well. 'We always wanted to stretch her to a mile. We did that early in her three-year-old season and now she's had a couple of preparations and some grounding for it. 'Against her own age and sex, there's plenty there to suggest she will see it (2000m) out strongly.' Phenom has had a slightly different campaign to her stablemate after starting the preparation in a Stakes race in Sydney before winning a benchmark race at Sandown in early March. Waterhouse and Bott stepped the filly up to Stakes company again with a third-place finish in the Alexandra Stakes before running third in the Oaks lead-up, the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on April 12. Bott said Phenom had stayed on in Adelaide following that assignment to prepare for Saturday's Group 1 outing. 'She ran over 1800 metres last time and I thought she ran it out strongly after hitting a bit of a flat spot, or getting a little bit lost on the turn,' Bott said. 'She had raced that way of going, before but she seemed to get a little bit unbalanced and lost a bit of momentum, but she was very good through the line. 'Indications are that she should appreciate the 2000 metres as well.' In form jockey Blake Shinn partners Too Darn Lizzie while leading South Australian jockey, apprentice Rochelle Milnes, will ride Phenom.
