Latest news with #WJMcKellCup
News.com.au
29-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from McKell Cup day
Racing expert Mitch Cohen has analysed all the chances from Listed W J McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens and has found a few worth following. • 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! â â â â â FIVE TO FOLLOW KINGSTON CHARM (6th, Race 1) She didn't get the clearest passage in the straight and was untested late when she looked to have plenty to offer. There is another Midway race over a mile in a fortnight that has her name on it. SPYWIRE (2nd, Race 5) Early signs indicate the gelding operation has done the trick with this gelding, which would have gone even closer had he got out earlier. Take nothing away from King's Secret, he was excellent too. BEREZKA (4th, Race 5) Just ended up too far back on the inside but made up good ground in the straight behind King's Secret. She is building towards a win for sure. PIGGYBACK (3rd, Race 8) The Ciaron Maher-trained mare got caught in traffic in the home straight and was only able to build momentum late to finish third behind Misterkipchoge. She's racing well and another win isn't far away. BELVEDERE BOYS (2nd, Race 9) New import Elamaz's win in the McKell Cup had plenty of merit first-up in Australia while this Matt Dunn-trained stayer surged home to just miss. He will be ready to win third-up. â â â â â STEWARDS SAY New Pharoah (Race 1): Reared when the gates opened and lost seven lengths at the start. He will be forced to trial to the satisfaction of stewards before racing again. How Much Better (Race 1): Apprentice Anna Roper was suspended for careless riding after her mount caused Pretty Tavi to lose its rightful running after shifting in at the 1000m. Vella's Best (Race 5): Winona Costin was suspended for careless riding after shifting in on this galloper when insufficiently clear of Loafer, resulted in it being carried in onto Sovereign Hill. Sir Artie (Race 6): Gave ground over the final 100m. He was found to be 1/5 lame in the near-foreleg post-race. Step Aside (Race 6): Came under pressure at the 600m with jockey Ash Morgan indicating he laid out rounding the home turn and did not respond to riding. No abnormalities were found other than a superficial abrasion to the near-fore bumper. Townsend (Race 9): Was found to be 1/5 lame in the off-foreleg. Deprivation (Race 10): The gelding was a late scratching at 1.46pm after being fractious en route to the course and sustaining a haematoma to its hip. â â â â â CRUNCH TIME Red Rags To Bulls (Race 2): Near last on the turn, she rattled off a slick 33.70 seconds last 600m to win. All three of her closing splits of 11.61, 10.96 and 11.73 were the best of the race. Changing Colours (Race 4): Only had one runner behind turning for home before finishing off with a race-best last 600m of 34 seconds. Her final furlong of 11.44 was the difference. Elamaz (Race 9): Ran the best first three splits of the race to control the McKell Cup before running his last 600m in 34.76 seconds. Runner-up Belvedere Boys run home of 34.18 saw him just come up short. Slinky (Race 10): The fastest last 600m of the meeting went to this Bjorn Baker-trained mare, which settled a clear last in the final event before rocketing home in 32.88 seconds. â â â â â TRACK TALK 'I am quite taken by him. His demeanour was good, his action remarkable.' Jockey Josh Parr on McKell Cup winner Elamaz. 'I have been going to Brisbane and it has been a whitewash to be honest.' Parr after returning to form with a winning treble. 'I still think the best is yet to come, once we get him up over a bit further.' Bjorn Baker on Rosehill winner Puntin. 'We are just hanging in there…I'm hoping we can get to 100 but are going to struggle.' Baker again on his season pursuit of 100 metro winners. 'Autumn Glow, Lady Shenandoah and Aeliana have had good spells, and we will see how they come up before deciding on their spring programs.' Champion trainer Chris Waller's star fillies have returned to work. â â â â â THIS WEEK IN NSW RACING Monday: Taree Tuesday: Beaumont Newcastle Wednesday: Warwick Farm Thursday: Hawkesbury Friday: Tamworth Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Wyong, Nyngan, Cowra Sunday: Grafton, Mudgee Originally published as Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from McKell Cup day
News.com.au
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Tulloch Lodge import Elamaz leaves bookies reeling
Elamaz landed a sizeable betting plunge to give trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott a stable-best season of stakes wins and provide jockey Josh Parr with the third leg of a winning treble at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The former French galloper was backed from $4.60 earlier in the week into $2.15 favouritism and made all from the front to win at his Australian debut in the Listed $200,000 WJ McKell Cup (2000m). Although Elamaz's winning margin was only slender – he had a short head to spare from the fast finishing Belvedere Boys – the five-year-old gelding created a big impression with his rider. 'I am quite taken by him,'' Parr said. 'His demeanour was good, his action remarkable. 'The interesting part of it all is I wanted to be as kind as possible to him so he could get the 2000m first time on dry ground. 'Our plan wasn't to lead, we were looking for cover but cover wasn't going to eventuate so I pressed on to the front, trusted the stable and how well they had him, and he did the rest. 'There was a period down the side where he had no clue where he was leading the race at Rosehill but he fought off every challenger. What a brilliant performance by him,'' Elamaz improved his race record to five wins and three seconds from just eight starts when he held off Belvedere Boys ($6.50) to score an exciting win with Glory Daze ($5.50) one-and-a-half lengths away third. First Australian win, and what a way to do it! 🇦🇰 Elamaz hangs on in a McKell Cup thriller! 🥳ðŸ�† That's three winners to @JoshuaParr8 at Rosehill today! @GaiWaterhouse1 @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 28, 2025 Waterhouse prepared her sixth win in the McKell Cup after previous successes with Grand Connection (1995), We're Dancing (2002), Ecuador (2016), Hush Writer (2019) and Zoumon (2023). Elamaz gave Bott his third winner in the race since forming a training partnership with the Hall of Famer nearly a decade ago. The boom French import's win also provided Waterhouse and Bott with their 36th Group or Listed win for the 2024-25 season, a career-best for the training partnership. Elamaz is raced in similar interests to stablemate Eliyass, who also came from France with a record of six wins and two second placings from eight starts before he won the Lord Mayor's Cup over the Rosehill 2000m course at his Australian debut 12 months ago. Eliyass trained on to win the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes defeating Ceolwulf then ran third to champion mare Via Sistina in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes. There are obvious similarities between Eliyass and new stable recruit Elamaz which had not raced beyond 1600m in France before winning the McKell Cup first-up at 2000m. Bott was interstate and Waterhouse overseas but their stable representative, Neil Paine, said the trainers have a very high opinion of Elamaz. 'Elamaz is an excellent horse. We were confident he would win today, albeit he fell in,'' Paine said. 'We actually didn't think he would lead. Josh was given open instructions by Gai and Adrian, so it's good the horse has another string to his bow that he can lead, he can run 2000m and he can win on a firm track. They are all plusses. 'And what can you say about Gai and Adrian, they do it all the time with these horses from overseas. We seem to have luck with them first-up. 'Sir Delius won first-up, so did Eliyass last year. Gai and Adrian bought four at the Goffs Sale recently and they have all gone to our owners. We love them.' Paine said Elamaz is obviously extremely versatile and could be aimed at either the Epsom Handicap (1600m) or The Metropolitan (2400m) in the spring. 'They were 'umming and ahhing' what to do after this, whether to give him a bit of a break and bring him back (for the spring),'' Paine said. 'If he had of got beaten he probably would have had another run because our aim was to get him up in the ratings for the better races. 'But now that he has won this race that will help him get his rating up so Gai and Adrian will talk about what to do with him. A hard mile might be his go but who knows, he's a very nice horse.'' Elamaz also provided Parr with his third win of the day after the jockey won earlier on Rolling Magic and Thunderlips. 'I have been going to Brisbane and it has been a whitewash to be honest. I had a bit of luck early with Bosustow and then it was downhill from there,'' Parr said. 'It just slowed my momentum up so I was really happy to take a good book of rides here today and they have turned up and delivered for me.''
News.com.au
27-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Matt Dunn insists best yet to come for six-year-old Belvedere Boys
Trainer Matt Dunn has declared Belvedere Boys' best is still ahead of him as his stable looks to cap off a sensational week with a Sydney stakes success at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Dunn trained a four-timer at Thursday's Lismore meeting, which was moved to his home track of Murwillumbah while also enjoying a winning double at Doomben on Wednesday. The leading country trainer heads to Sydney with a pair of strong contenders with Belvedere Boys ready to fire in the Listed $200,000 WJ McKell Cup (2000m). Belvedere Boys took out the Country Classic at the same track and trip last November and has continued on an upward trajectory since then. 'He is still improving and we haven't seen the best of him yet,' Dunn said. 'He has the pedigree to do that. 'We have looked after him and brought him through nice and gently. 'Last prep we held him back in trip, looking at races that were probably a bit short for him but he showed later on in his preparation last time around that he is very effective over a distance. 'He is a nice horse with a good future.' Belvedere Boys is just about to go into his six-year-old season but is only lightly-raced with six wins and five placings in 16 starts. The son of Maurice kicked off his preparation in Listed grade over an unsuitable trip, finishing ninth in the Spear Chef Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm on June 7. 'We went to 1500m first-up and thought he would be competitive and he was just a bit run off his feet early in the race,' Dunn said. 'Trying to hold a spot went against him late so I think the 2000m second-up should be perfect for him. 'I had him in the Ipswich Cup but it was 2150m and I thought that might have been a shade far for him second-up. 'This race is strong but I think he has proven he is up to this level and he gets in better at the weights than I would have would have anticipated.' Dunn has secured the services of Sydney's star apprentice Braith Nock to pilot Belvedere Boys, which is rated a $6.50 contender against new European arrival Elamaz ($3.90 favourite), consistent gelding Glory Daze ($4) and Lord Mayor's Cup victor Touristic ($6.50). Emerging stablemate Think Like Paddy will give Dunn a great chance of claiming another winning double on the card with the lightly-raced three-year-old set to contest the TAB Highway Class 3 Handicap (1500m). Think Like Paddy was formerly trained by Danny O'Brien but has made an instant impression in his first campaign for Dunn. The son of So You Think won his first two starts for the new yard at Ipswich and the Gold Coast before running a competitive fourth in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm. Despite the significant drop in grade on Saturday, Think Like Paddy is a $5.50 chance with apprentice Jace McMurray booked to ride the gelding. 'I can't believe his price,' Dunn said. 'He is dropping from a Group 3 to a Class 3. 'The only risk would be coming back in trip again. When Blake (Shinn) won on him at the Gold Coast he thought a mile would pull him up and then Craig Williams thought he could get a bit further. 'But I think coming back to 1500m in this grade from a good gate, he should put himself into the race.' Dunn will spend the afternoon in Sydney but will also chase stakes success in Queensland with Cranky Harry ($15) in the Listed $160,000 Tattersall's Mile at Eagle Farm. Cranky Harry was fifth last start in the Listed Wayne Wilson Handicap and will be partnered by Jake Bayliss. Dunn also has Godfather in the Eagle Farm 160 Years Raceday Benchmark 85 Handicap (1200m).
News.com.au
27-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Top trainer Peter Snowden looks set to play a strong hand at both Rosehill Gardens and Eagle Farm on Saturday
Champion trainer Peter Snowden has made a compelling case for both Touristic and Manaajem to rebound from disappointing last start defeats at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Touristic ran only seventh in Sir Lucan's Winter Cup but is dropping back 400m for the Listed $200,000 WJ McKell Cup (2000m). Manaajem was beaten out of a place as an odds-on favourite when resuming at a midweek meeting and the filly is at generous each way odds for the TAB Handicap (1100m). Snowden is confident Touristic has retained the form that won him the Lord Mayor's Cup over the Rosehill 2000m course two starts back. ' Touristic got a bit too far back the other day,'' Snowden said. 'He was giving them too much start but he still hit the line hard. He certainly hasn't lost his way, he's going well.'' TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have Touristic at $6 in latest betting behind French import Elamaz at $3.90. Manaajem is a well-bred filly by Tassort out of Najoom, the dam of two stakes winners including Group 1 winner Charm Stone. Snowden's three-year-old filly was brilliant on debut at Wyong back in December but has been beaten out of a place in two starts since including her first-up effort at Warwick Farm earlier this month. 'I feel it was the wet track that beat Manaajem the other day,'' Snowden said. 'She's going really well and getting back on a firmer track will suit her. She will run a much better race.'' Snowden will be at Eagle Farm where he has chances in three feature races including the very consistent but luckless Tashi in the Group 1 $700,000 Tatt's Tiara (1400m). Tashi has been placed in seven stakes races without winning, including three successive seconds in recent starts in the Hawkesbury Crown, Helen Coughlan Stakes and Dane Ripper Stakes by an aggregate margin of about a half length. 'She has been racing so well for so long but unfortunately it doesn't come down to your turn,'' Snowden said. 'This is a very hard race, it's very even, but she will come into a nice barrier around eight after the scratchings. She is going very well and I'm sure there is another good run in her.'' The Snowden-trained Need Some Luck has been racing up to his name after second placings at stakes level in the ATC Trophy and Hinkler Stakes at his last two starts. 'Need Some Luck has been stepping away slowly and that has been against him a bit,'' Snowden said. 'Last start, the track was very leader bias, it was almost impossible to make up ground late so he did a great job to finish as close as he did. 'Then at his previous start, it was also an amazing run to finish second. 'He is going really well and if he steps better and the track is not too leaderish, he will get his chance.'' Snowden is also upbeat about the chances of Queen Of Dragons in the Listed $160,000 Tattersall's Mile (1600m). Queen Of Dragons comes off a close fourth, beaten a half length in the Pam O'Neill Stakes, and Snowden says the mare gets her chance. 'Her form was franked when the horse that beat her half a head for second (Adelia) won the mares' race (Magic Millions National Classic) next start,'' Snowden said. 'This is the right race for her.'' THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS Rosehill Gardens R1: Crafty Eagle $8-$7, Miss Spacegirl $8-$7 R2: New Pharoah $8-$4, Red Rags To Bulls $15-$9.50 R3: Puntin $4.60-$4.20, Don't Forget Jack $6-$5 R5: Livin' Thing $8-$4.40 R8: Alpha $4-$3.90, Piggyback $6-$4.20, Federer $6-$4.40 R9: 3-Elamaz $4.60-$3.90, Glory Daze $6-$4.60, Townsend $11-$7.50 R10: Snack Bar $8-$3.60, Eye Of The Fire $11-$7 EARLY QUADDIE R3: 2,3,9,10 R4: 1,5,7,10 R5: 3,5,13 R6: 1,2,3,7 QUADDIE R7: 2,3,8,10 R8: 9,10,12,15 R9: 2,3,4,6 R10: 9,10,12,13 PRICE CHECK Elamaz (race 9) is a firming favourite for the McKell Cup, with TAB Fixed Odds punters backing him from $4.60 into $3.90. In the Stayer's Cup (race 7), there has been a couple of significant moves for Mormona $15 to $6.50 and Bacio Del Mist $15 to $7.50. The other big firmer is Livin' Thing (race 5) which was $8 but is into $4.40. SECTIONAL STARS Mickey's Medal (race 6) has won successive Rosehill 1500m races including his very impressive effort here last start when he broke 34s for his final 600m (33.93s) with a brilliant closing 200m sectional of 11.23s as he took control of the race for a convincing win. Green Shadows (race 6) ran a blinder when sixth in the Civic Stakes last week. He drew the 'car park' and had to go back to near last in a big field before he charged through the ruck to be beaten two lengths behind Headley Grange. The true merit of Green Shadows' effort was reflected in the sectional times – he ran his final 600m in 34.90s with a closing 200m of 12.30s which were among the best splits all day. TRIAL POINTERS Soldier Of Rome (race 3) usually sprints well fresh and has indicated he is quite forward for his return to racing with two good barrier trial efforts. He ran third to the speedy The Instructor at Randwick then was a close second to Braveheart at the same track. He's ready for a competitive comeback race. Spywire (race 5) has run well at stakes level earlier in his career but has only had two starts this season, both in summer, without winning. But there has been a lot to like about his two recent barrier trials including his close third at Warwick Farm earlier this month. He has a touch of class and is drawn to advantage for his return to racing. BEST BET Weeping Woman (race 4) ran well first-up on an unsuitable heavy track when third to Liberty State at Rosehill then led for a long way in a fast-run race only to be collared near the line by a very impressive Sacred Rocks. It took a good horse to beat Weeping Woman last start but she is primed third-up from a spell. The firmer track is in her favour and she will make her own luck riding the speed. Hopeful (race 7) hasn't won for three years but his recent form is solid and he gets his chance in the Stayer's Cup. He ran a competitive fifth in the Group 2 Chairman's Handicap in April then last start back into a soft 5 track he ran a close third to Sir Lucan in the Winter Cup. Hopeful will enjoy the drying track here and at $9 he's worth a gamble for his attempt to break a long winning drought.
Courier-Mail
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
2025 WJ McKell Cup: Jeff Penza rides Je Zous for Chris Waller
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Prolific hoop Jeff Penza and champion trainer Chris Waller will be out to orchestrate another feature race heist with promising import Je Zous in Saturday's Listed WJ McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Waller has called upon one of his most reliable sources to pilot several of his key chances on home turf, including his lightly-raced new addition, with many of Sydney's big guns either on holidays or riding on Group 1 Tatt's Tiara day at Eagle Farm. Penza and Waller have made for a formidable combination for many years with the hoop riding 80 winners for the champion conditioner – the second-most of any trainer he has ridden for. • 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 was only recently when the dynamic duo combined for a shock stakes win in May when $61 outsider Summer Flame scored an upset win in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone. 'We've had a terrific run together,' Penza said. 'It's always a pleasure riding his horses. 'They are always extremely well trained and tractable. 'Chris at Rosehill is always going to have plenty of runners and he always looks after me on provincial Saturdays.' • 'We have to focus on the positive things about our sport': O'Shea's rallying cry Je Zous is only in her first preparation in Australia after racing with success in Europe, winning at Group 3 level in the Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes at Gowran Park last year. The Waller stable has indicated Je Zous could be a potential Caulfield Cup hopeful and the Zoustar mare could take a significant step in that direction in the McKell Cup for which she is rated a $26 chance. 'She looks to have some really nice form overseas,' Penza said. 'She is only having her second run in Australia obviously and is second up there on Saturday. 'It was short of her best the other day (1400m) so the step up to 2000m should suit her. 'It sounds like she is a horse they have some time for.' • Revealed: Controversy behind Winx, Black Caviar 'Legend' gong Penza has six rides in total for Waller across the card. A rider of more than 2300 winners, the talented hoop is closing the half century mark for this season and has a strong book at Moruya to prepare for Saturday's card. The 55-year-old is enjoying life in the saddle as much as ever. 'My body is feeling really good,' Penza said. 'If you don't enjoy it, you won't do it very well but I am enjoying it. I am very happy. 'I had a bit of a lean trot there for a while but it comes and goes and I think the last month or two months have been really good. 'Hopefully I can continue that into next season and have a good season again.' Penza will be in line to chase a Cup double on Saturday's program with the experienced hoop set to connect with Speycaster ($6.50) in the Irresistible Pools Benchmark 90 Stayer's Cup (2400m). • Rosehill Turf Talk for Saturday: $19 value bet Speycaster's last win came in the same race last year after finishing seventh in the Listed Winter Cup the previous start. He was fourth in the same lead-up this year. 'Speycaster put in an improved performance last start and the 2400m should suit him,' Penza said. 'He did win this race last year.' Penza also combines with Maori Chief (race 3), Changing Colours (race 4), Vanessi (race 5) and Lenapi Vibe (race 8). Bookies rate Changing Colours ($4.80) as the best of those chances, with the daughter of The Autumn Sun set to return to Sydney after a run of three straight close seconds in Melbourne, the most recent behind Suances at Sandown. • Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday 'Changing Colours has had those three seconds in a row down in Melbourne so she is knocking on the door,' Penza said. 'I don't know her too well given she has been racing in Melbourne but her form is very consistent so hopefully she can step up in Sydney.' Maori Chief ($14) can reap the benefits of an inside draw in the Captivant @ Kia Ora Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) while Vanessi ($15) is second-up in the TAB Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m). Lenape Vibe ($41) is an outside chance in Asahi Super Dry Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m). Originally published as 2025 WJ McKell Cup: Jockey Jeff Penza to ride Je Zous for trainer Chris Waller
