Latest news with #VictoriaDerby
The Australian
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Arcora to be put on Victoria Derby path after Byerley Handicap win at Flemington
Arcora could be back at Flemington in the spring with Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) ambitions. The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Justify colt claimed the Byerley Handicap (1800m) on Saturday at Flemington from Bayou Music and Arabian Prince. • 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! 'Trent and Natalie, not many better at getting a middle distance three-year-old up to (derby) trip, there's lots of nice 2000m races coming up in September,' stable representative Sam Griggs said. 'We'll plot a course with him, whatever is going to suit him best, but get him here Derby Day and he'll make his presence felt.' Arcora travelled outside the leader and kicked strongly in the straight. Runner-up Bayou Music enjoyed a lovely run behind the speed and looked the win but proved reluctant to take a split. Once manoeuvred around heels, the Godolphin colt Bayou Music charged late but could not bridge the gap to the winner. Arcora deserved the win after being placed the past two starts. 'I thought off his first-up run over 1400m (second), I said to Trent and Natalie 'he's the derby horse', he's got so much improvement ahead of him,' Griggs said. 'It's nice to tick the (win) box and will do him a world of good to get his head down in front because he's been going close and got the killer blow today.' Victoria Derby-winning jockey John Allen endorsed the spring ambitions. 'He's quite well developed as a two-year-old and got plenty of strength about him … I'd imagine they'd be thinking a derby for him in the spring,' Allen said. 'He certainly feels like he has the raw ability.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Gilbert Gardiner Sports reporter Gilbert Gardiner is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun. @gilbertgardiner Gilbert Gardiner
News.com.au
19-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Arcora to be put on Victoria Derby path after Byerley Handicap win at Flemington
Arcora could be back at Flemington in the spring with Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) ambitions. The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young -trained Justify colt claimed the Byerley Handicap (1800m) on Saturday at Flemington from Bayou Music and Arabian Prince. 'Trent and Natalie, not many better at getting a middle distance three-year-old up to (derby) trip, there's lots of nice 2000m races coming up in September,' stable representative Sam Griggs said. 'We'll plot a course with him, whatever is going to suit him best, but get him here Derby Day and he'll make his presence felt.' Arcora travelled outside the leader and kicked strongly in the straight. Runner-up Bayou Music enjoyed a lovely run behind the speed and looked the win but proved reluctant to take a split. Once manoeuvred around heels, the Godolphin colt Bayou Music charged late but could not bridge the gap to the winner. Arcora books his spot in the Derby! A gritty win for the son of Justify, can he make an impact come Spring? @busuttin â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 19, 2025 Arcora deserved the win after being placed the past two starts. 'I thought off his first-up run over 1400m (second), I said to Trent and Natalie 'he's the derby horse', he's got so much improvement ahead of him,' Griggs said. 'It's nice to tick the (win) box and will do him a world of good to get his head down in front because he's been going close and got the killer blow today.' Victoria Derby-winning jockey John Allen endorsed the spring ambitions. 'He's quite well developed as a two-year-old and got plenty of strength about him … I'd imagine they'd be thinking a derby for him in the spring,' Allen said. 'He certainly feels like he has the raw ability.' â– â– â– â– â–
Perth Now
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Racing world rocked by sudden death of ‘legendary' trainer
The racing community is mourning the sudden death of Group 1-winning trainer Robbie Laing, just hours after he celebrated a second-place finish at Flemington. Tributes poured in on Sunday after it emerged Laing had died in his sleep overnight. The veteran, aged in his 60s, had fought back from bankruptcy and a ban to return to top competition in recent years. Laing's El Soleado, ridden by apprentice Sheridan Clarke and carrying 64.5kg, finished second in the last race at Flemington on Saturday. The horse was a winner at Bendigo in April last year — a spirit-boosting win for Laing, who watched from hospital with a leg injury — and has recently bounced back from throat surgery. Laing famously trained Roman Arch, ridden by Craig Newitt, to an upset win in the 2006 Australian Cup at Flemington. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Seven years later Hugh Bowman rode Laing's $4000 yearlings purchase Polanski to victory in the 2013 Victoria Derby. 'My life in racing's been fantastic, really,' Laing said in a Channel 7 feature in early 2024. 'It's had its highs and lows, but if you're not prepared to suffer the lows, you're in the wrong caper. 'I don't like failure. Generally whatever I set myself to do, I've done it. 'As a kid I wanted to win the league's best and fairest and I did that. I wanted to be captain of the footy team and I did that. 'I became apprentice in 1974 at the age of 15. I think I rode OK but I got heavy very quick. At the age of 23 I trained my first Group 1 winner Perfect Bliss. 'The Group 1s for me are extra special.' Away from the racetrack, his daughter Grace finished third on The Voice Kids in 2014 while his children were enrolled at Haileybury College in Melbourne. But it all went downhill in 2017 with some of his stable stalwarts leaving his yard, including the loss of fan favourite So Si Bon after he was banned from racing for grabbing The Taj Mahal by the leg in a race. 'The owners decided to give him to someone else, meaning he left the stable. Miss Rock was close to retirement, and she'd won $1.3 million,' Laing recalled. 'Lord Of The Sky won The Standish in early 2018, but he was coming up to an eight-year-old, so the team looked like it was going to be fairly light on. 'The girls were still going to Haileybury. We had a farm to pay off, and there was just so much. 'The stables on course were costing $4000 a week, the rental on our property was $1500 a week and then feed and staff and next thing, we ran out of money. So, the wife and the three kids, they took off. 'I had all the motor vehicles repossessed, lost the farm, smashed my hip in, had to have a brand new hip operation and was declared bankrupt. November 30th, 2019, I had to hand my licence in due to bankruptcy.' If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Laing's appeal to regain his licence, scheduled for early 2020, was delayed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, he was forced to stay on the sidelines during that time. 'Luckily, my parents are still fit and healthy. I've got a little bedroom at their place. Rick Smith from PFD Foods gifted me a Holden ute, and that's all I've got at the moment,' he said 'I think it was going to be horses or the dole.' On Sunday, former jockey turned trainer Gavin Bedggood remembered Laing as 'far from conventional but a man who was very good to me'. 'Gave me my first horse as a trainer, many winners as a rider and plenty of advice over the years. Was never given the credit he deserved as a trainer — always had a good two-year-old, handicapper and jumper. Rest easy,' he wrote. Samuel Hyland said: 'Very sorry to hear of the passing of Robbie Laing, always loved riding for Laing. His horses were always tough and fit, he was a great character, an outstanding horseman as well as trainer, thoughts are with Eddie and Sylvia Laing and the Laing Family.' Bryan Martin said: 'The saddest news with the passing overnight of Robbie Laing. Outstanding horseman and always good fun to be around. Amazing mind on pedigrees. Rob could train, young ones, top liners and the jumpers. Very sadly missed Robbie Laing. Prayers with his extended family.' Journalist Bruce Clark wrote: 'Thoughts to the extensive family and many friends of legendary horseman Robbie Laing on hearing his sudden passing.'
7NEWS
08-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Racing world mourns sudden death of ‘legendary' trainer Robbie Laing
The racing community is mourning the sudden death of Group 1-winning trainer Robbie Laing, just hours after he celebrated a second-place finish at Flemington. Tributes poured in on Sunday after it emerged Laing had died in his sleep overnight. The veteran, aged in his 60s, had fought back from bankruptcy and a ban to return to top competition in recent years. 'Thoughts to the extensive family and many friends of legendary horseman Robbie Laing on hearing his sudden passing,' journalist Bruce Clarke wrote. Laing's El Soleado, ridden by Sheridan Clarke and carrying 64.5kg, finished second in the last race at Flemington on Saturday. The horse was a winner at Bendigo in April last year — a spirit-boosting win for Laing, who watched from hospital with a leg injury — and has recently bounced back from throat surgery. Laing famously trained Roman Arch, ridden by Craig Newitt, to an upset win in the 2006 Australian Cup at Flemington. Seven years later Hugh Bowman rode Laing's $4000 yearlings purchase Polanski to victory in the 2013 Victoria Derby. 'My life in racing's been fantastic,' Laing said in a Channel 7 feature in early 2024. 'It's had its highs and lows. I don't like failure. Generally whatever I set myself to do, I've done it. 'As a kid I wanted to win the league's best and fairest and I did that. I wanted to be captain of the footy team and I did that. 'I became apprentice in 1974 at the age of 15. I think I rode OK but I got heavy very quick. At the age of 23 I trained my first Group 1 winner Perfect Bliss. 'The Group 1s for me are extra special.' Former jockey turned trainer Gavin Bedggood described Laing as 'far from conventional but a man who was very good to me'. 'Gave me my first horse as a trainer, many winners as a rider and plenty of advice over the years. Was never given the credit he deserved as a trainer — always had a good two-year-old, handicapper and jumper. Rest easy,' he wrote. Samuel Hyland said: 'Very sorry to hear of the passing of Robbie Laing, always loved riding for Laing. His horses were always tough and fit, he was a great character, an outstanding horseman as well as trainer, thoughts are with Eddie and Sylvia Laing and the Laing Family.' Bryan Martin said: 'The saddest news with the passing overnight of Robbie Laing. Outstanding horseman and always good fun to be around. Amazing mind on pedigrees. Rob could train, young ones, top liners and the jumpers. Very sadly missed Robbie Laing. Prayers with his extended family.'
Herald Sun
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Victoria Derby hopeful Thunderbolt Way to debut at Flemington
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Long term plans aplenty could form after Saturday's Trevor Clarke Handicap (1400m) at Flemington. The 1400m contest for two-year-olds will be the point at which sprinting or staying futures are decided for many of the 14 acceptors for the $150,000 race. • 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! Flemington trainer Simon Zahra expects to follow the staying path with his charge Thunderbolt Way, who will debut on his home track on Saturday. Thunderbolt Way is a son of the former smart sprinter Pariah, who twice won over 1100m in his racing days, but Zahra said the youngster showed all the attributes of a distance prospect. 'He's got stayer written all over him,' Zahra said. 'He's got good ability and might be a Derby horse as a three-year-old.' Thunderbolt Way is a longshot chance to make a winning debut at Flemington but Zahra said the chestnut would improve sharply on whatever he did first-up. • Singapore champ has mountain to climb at Flemington He said Thunderbolt Way's jumpouts indicated the stable had plenty to work with but time would produce an imposing specimen. 'He jumped out well but he's got a lot of improvement to come,' Zahra said. 'He's going to be a really nice horse next time in. 'He's got a bit of presence, a good action and a great attitude. 'We might get a couple of runs into him now and he'll be back in the spring.' Drawing barrier 13 made Thunderbolt Way's task more difficult over the Flemington 1400m course, which presents a long sweeping turn soon after the start. However, Zahra said the draw would present an opportunity to continue Thunderbolt Way's education. 'He'll go back from the wide draw and we expect to see him running on well in the straight,' Zahra said. 'That will be the best thing for him, to teach him to relax and finish the race off strongly.' Originally published as Thunderbolt Way to start on possible Victoria Derby path at Flemington
