Latest news with #WinterChallenge
7NEWS
4 days ago
- Climate
- 7NEWS
Officials on weather watch for Missile Stakes at Randwick
Australian Turf Club officials admit the weather forecast is looking 'tricky' ahead of the Missile Stakes meeting at Randwick. The course proper was a heavy 9 on Thursday after receiving over 155 mils of rain this week, or the equivalent of the usual monthly total in seven days. With further rain on the radar, particularly on Saturday, ATC assistant track manager Jake Carlaw says they will do all they can, but ultimately the fate of the meeting will hinge on the weather. 'The next couple of days, there's about five mils forecast on Friday and about fifteen on Saturday, so it is quite a tricky forecast for the team,' Carlaw said. 'Considering we had barrier trials today (Thursday) we will give the track a quick fill, hopefully mow the track this afternoon and just let Mother Nature take it's course with this rain in the next few days.' Carlaw added the rail would revert to the true position for the first time since early June, ensuring 'a nice pad of grass' for race day. The near certainty of an extremely heavy track has already robbed the Missile Stakes (1200m) of one of its biggest drawcards with trainer Joe Pride scratching Group 1 winner Private Eye. Pride made the final call on Friday morning with the gelding (later on Friday) winning a trial at Warwick Farm. Gary Portelli has also indicated he won't send Encap around on a testing track and has nominated the Doncaster Mile placegetter for a Rosehill trial next week. One horse who will take his place in the feature is the Bjorn Baker-trained Robusto. The winner of The Ingham during the summer, Robusto has the advantage of recent racing, having competed at the backend of the Brisbane winter carnival before returning to Sydney where he finished runner-up in the Winter Stakes (1400m) and captured the Winter Challenge (1500m) last month. Baker said the step back in distance would be no issue, especially given the anticipated conditions. 'Not with the track the way it is. It might be a big advantage,' Baker said. 'He's running and he is rock-hard fit.'
Courier-Mail
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Robusto too tough in Winter Challenge as Bjorn Baker eyes Group 1 target
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Bjorn Baker is considering giving Robusto another Group 1 crack in early spring after his tough galloper came out on top in a dogfight with Accredited at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Robusto and Accredited went nose-and-nose for much of the straight as Baker's gelding got the nod in a photo finish to the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m). The tough performance had Baker ready to raise the bar higher again with a fit horse in the early spring. • 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! 'We might even go to the (Group 2) Missile Stakes back to 1200m and then look at a race like the (Group 1) Winx Stakes if he was to run well there,' Baker said. 'He is up and going and fit and well.' Baker caused a boilover to win the Winx Stakes in 2019 with Samadoubt, who also wore the white and navy blue colours of Darby Racing. Robusto has already been valuable horse since joining Baker's stable after Darby purchased the gelding online for $160,000. The son of Churchill won the $2m The Ingham in his first preparation for Baker last December and banked another $109,000 for his win in the Winter Challenge. 'He has been a bit of a revelation,' Baker said. 'Another horse Darby Racing have purchased and they just find them at all levels and found another two (online) during the week. 'I am lucky enough to get both of those and I am excited about that but he has been a really good horse and was unlucky last time. 'Of course he won The Ingham and it was good to see him back today with the big weight. • Home-bred cheapie scores knockout win in July Sprint 'We can definitely try to hit the spring with a bit of fitness on our side. 'I am glad he fell in because I tipped him to the world.' Robusto put the writing on the wall second-up when a luckless second in the Listed Winter Stakes after returning to Sydney looking to bounce back from a failed Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap run. But the five-year-old was set a weighty task in his third-up assignment. No horse had carried more than 58kg to victory in the Winter Challenge in its short 15-year history but Robusto was set the task of lugging 60kg on Saturday. He was afforded an energy conserving run after jockey Josh Parr settled on the fence, in behind the leader Accredited. Parr launched off Accredited's back early in the straight and the duo paired off to fight it out with Robusto ($3.10) doing enough to score by a half-head. Chris Waller's Saltcoats ($5.50) was one-and-a-quarter lengths back in third. 'He has had to carry the weight and has earned that weight but we got through there and it turned out to be somewhat of a dogfight,' Parr said. • 'Put my neck on the line': Online buy repays Archibald gamble 'I had in the back of my mind all day, when Tim Clark won The Ingham on him, the fight he showed in the battle. 'I was relying on that but thank God we got him to win.' Robusto's victory gave Baker a personal best ninth Listed winner of the season and 24th stakes triumph in a career best season that has delivered 154 winners. It denied trainer Joe Pride a cleansweep of Sydney's sprinting-middle distance winter stakes races after he won the AO Bob Charley Stakes (In Flight), Civic Stakes (Headley Grange) and Winter Stakes (Estadio Mestalla). However, Accredited, who finished third in the Winter Stakes at his last start, lost no admirers in defeat with Pride more than happy with his performance. 'He was good,' he said. 'It just highlights the difference with this fella on a wet track and a dry track. 'He is at least a two or three lengths better horse. 'There is a 1500m here in a couple of weeks' time so we will have a think about it and see how he pulls up.' Pride's Winter Stakes winner Estadio Mestalla couldn't replicate his last start success after being caught deep in the run and battling on for fifth. Originally published as Trainer Bjorn Baker considering Group 1 target for Robusto after his fighting win in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill
News.com.au
19-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Bjorn Baker considering Group 1 target for Robusto after his fighting win in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill
Trainer Bjorn Baker is considering giving Robusto another Group 1 crack in early spring after his tough galloper came out on top in a dogfight with Accredited at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Robusto and Accredited went nose-and-nose for much of the straight as Baker 's gelding got the nod in a photo finish to the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m). The tough performance had Baker ready to raise the bar higher again with a fit horse in the early spring. • 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! 'We might even go to the (Group 2) Missile Stakes back to 1200m and then look at a race like the (Group 1) Winx Stakes if he was to run well there,' Baker said. 'He is up and going and fit and well.' Baker caused a boilover to win the Winx Stakes in 2019 with Samadoubt, who also wore the white and navy blue colours of Darby Racing. Robusto has already been valuable horse since joining Baker's stable after Darby purchased the gelding online for $160,000. The son of Churchill won the $2m The Ingham in his first preparation for Baker last December and banked another $109,000 for his win in the Winter Challenge. 'He has been a bit of a revelation,' Baker said. 'Another horse Darby Racing have purchased and they just find them at all levels and found another two (online) during the week. 'I am lucky enough to get both of those and I am excited about that but he has been a really good horse and was unlucky last time. 'Of course he won The Ingham and it was good to see him back today with the big weight. A robust win to Robusto! A thrilling battle in the Listed Winter Challenge, with the @BBakerRacing galloper victorious! â›'ï¸� @JoshuaParr8 @Darby_Racing @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 19, 2025 • 'We can definitely try to hit the spring with a bit of fitness on our side. 'I am glad he fell in because I tipped him to the world.' Robusto put the writing on the wall second-up when a luckless second in the Listed Winter Stakes after returning to Sydney looking to bounce back from a failed Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap run. But the five-year-old was set a weighty task in his third-up assignment. No horse had carried more than 58kg to victory in the Winter Challenge in its short 15-year history but Robusto was set the task of lugging 60kg on Saturday. He was afforded an energy conserving run after jockey Josh Parr settled on the fence, in behind the leader Accredited. Parr launched off Accredited's back early in the straight and the duo paired off to fight it out with Robusto ($3.10) doing enough to score by a half-head. Chris Waller 's Saltcoats ($5.50) was one-and-a-quarter lengths back in third. 'He has had to carry the weight and has earned that weight but we got through there and it turned out to be somewhat of a dogfight,' Parr said. "He's been a revelation!" Hear from @BBakerRacing and @JoshuaParr8 after Robusto's win in the Listed Winter Challenge ðŸ'� @Darby_Racing @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 19, 2025 • 'Put my neck on the line': Yoshinobu repays Archibald gamble 'I had in the back of my mind all day, when Tim Clark won The Ingham on him, the fight he showed in the battle. 'I was relying on that but thank God we got him to win.' Robusto's victory gave Baker a personal best ninth Listed winner of the season and 24th stakes triumph in a career best season that has delivered 154 winners. It denied trainer Joe Pride a cleansweep of Sydney's sprinting-middle distance winter stakes races after he won the AO Bob Charley Stakes (In Flight), Civic Stakes (Headley Grange) and Winter Stakes (Estadio Mestalla). However, Accredited, who finished third in the Winter Stakes at his last start, lost no admirers in defeat with Pride more than happy with his performance. 'He was good,' he said. 'It just highlights the difference with this fella on a wet track and a dry track. 'He is at least a two or three lengths better horse. 'There is a 1500m here in a couple of weeks' time so we will have a think about it and see how he pulls up.' Pride's Winter Stakes winner Estadio Mestalla couldn't replicate his last start success after being caught deep in the run and battling on for fifth.
News.com.au
18-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mitch Cohen and Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday
Racing writers Mitch Cohen and Shayne O'Cass present their race-by-race tips for the 10-race Winter Challenge meeting at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. MITCH'S BEST BET Race 5 No.5 SPYWIRE MITCH'S BEST VALUE Race 1 No.6 ALPHARD SHAYNO'S BEST BET Race 9 No.8 PHEARSON SHAYNO'S BEST VALUE Race 4 No.10 ISLAND DREAM â– â– â– â– â– Shayne O'Cass: Hello Mitchy. A fabulous late season bunch of soon-to-be three-year-olds to get us underway on Saturday. SPICE PRAWN (11) is the fourth foal of dual Group 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour; herself a granddaughter of Twiglet. Spice Prawn should have nearly won on debut on the Kensington track IMHO. Her two trials were excellent. The draw is a concern though. ROYAL AIR FORCE (7), a $900,000 Magic Millions Yearling and son of Wootton Bassett who was born and raised on the Apple Isle has the 'blinkers on' first time as he resumes off two typical 'Waller trials'. He looks a nice horse; oh and he's a half to Think About It too! Mitch Cohen: I can't believe they put up $26 around ALPHARD (6) and he's into his right price now at $7.50. There is no doubt in my mind that he should have won first-up behind Sapphire Rose at Canterbury when he just had no luck with plenty to offer. He only needs to get out from barrier one to show his quality. SAPLING (10) might not have beaten much in her maiden victory at Wyong last time but there was plenty to like about the performance. She will take plenty of benefit from the win. The same goes for I SHOW SPEED (4). He was excellent winning on debut at Canberra. â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: PRETTY TAVI (11) – whose seventh dam is the legendary Chicquita – has finished second and third respectively in her two 1300m Rosehill Midways, including the first-up one on June 28 behind ROLLING MAGIC (1) who runs here as well. Difference might be a more favourable draw for 'Tavi' this time. DENMAN STAR (2) had trialled exceedingly well prior to his bookie-busting Canterbury win. Got a cracking ride that day from Zac Lloyd who is back in time for Saturday. The 1300m looks like it is tailor-made for this absolute dead-ringer for his old man. Mitch: DENMAN STAR (2) has won a quarter of his 16 starts and tipping he can add to that strong record here. He showed an excellent turn of speed to win first-up at Canterbury and trainer Angela Davies has kept the freshness in his legs with a month between runs. Good draw a huge tick. There was nothing wrong with the first-up win of ROLLING MAGIC (1) in the same grade. Barrier 10 makes life harder this time but he's in form. HARRY'S BAR (6) is racing consistently and should be ready to peak third up. ✨ A sparkling win to Denman Star first up gives @ZacLloydx a Canterbury double! ✨ @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 18, 2025 • â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: Love the name, love the horse. Who else could I be talking about Mitchy than PONY SOPRANO (9)? I know you like him too – I'll leave it to you to explain the why – but I just want to give a mention to his trainer Robert Agnew who has a small team up there at Port Macquarie but he was clever enough to buy this horse for $18,000 and then of course there is the stalemate Show 'Em Howl. Of the others, HIGHWAY STRIP (2) is the obvious and VEECEE (8) is the overs. Mitch: PONY SOPRANO (9) has been slashed from $19 into $6.50 and it's easy to see why. This Robert Agnew-trained featured in a Country Championships Qualifier last preparation and wasn't far away for a horse without much experience. His trial tells me he's come back better than ever. FIRST LANDING (1) was only a touch over a length off Storm The Ramparts last start so that's always going to read well for a race like this. Barrier 15 has to be the concern. HIGHWAY STRIP (2) wouldn't know how to run a bad race. Pony Soprano get the respect and the win at Port Macquarie — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 24, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: Welcome back Jay Ford; he's riding ISLAND DREAM (10) here for Chris Waller, a filly of some promise IMHO. She's only raced four times – handed in a big debut, won the next two then was pitched into the Kembla Classic and was only beaten five-lengths. Trials are good, barrier not so good. Not even sure of she will step out of her box which leaves it to her stablemate MAORI CHIEF (3) who was close enough to a good-thing beaten here last start; barrier one can be a curse at times. That time was a curse! Mitch: AMUSING (12) is capable of bouncing back after producing an underwhelming run second-up. She was luckless before that in Saturday company so I am eager to be forgiving of her last start effort. We get a double figure quote to find out. DON'T FORGET JACK (1) is racing in top form with two wins in four starts this preparation. He will be one of the strongest late. MR VERSE (2) looks to be a progressive type and his Sunshine Coast win had plenty of merit. Dreaming of a win! Back-to-back wins for Island Dream and @cwallerracing with a treble! ðŸ��ï¸� @KPMcEvoy | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 26, 2025 • 'It was one in a million': Brad Widdup's big call on The Everest â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: SPYWIRE (5) has raced twice at Rosehill, Mitchy. You may recall he was a very easy and impressive winner on debut three starts prior to his third to Storm Boy in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Spywire's other Rosehill run came as recently as June 28 when a close (and unlucky) second to King's Secret. FLYING DESTINY (2) is another good 'Rosehill horse'. Always runs well when he draws well and he's got box three on Saturday. UNSTOPABULL (8) and AXIUS (10) are well in contention. Mitch: I am eager to stay with SPYWIRE (5) and have made him my best on the program. He didn't have the clearest passage in the straight first-up as a gelding but looks to have returned in good order. He strips fitter here and will be ready to win. Ciaron Maher-trained stablemate AXIUS (10) is the clear danger. He was impressive first-up at Randwick Kensington and the runner-up Epic Proportions has won since. YOSHINOBU (6) has raced in stakes company throughout his career and can run well fresh in lesser grade. There were some concerns as they turned for home, but @KPMcEvoy scraped the Dulux aboard Amusing and the first favourite gets home at Canterbury ðŸ'° @godolphin — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 29, 2024 • Rosehill Turf Talk: Cohen spies a special on Saturday â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: USEAPIN (9) finished sixth of nine first-up but only beaten two-lengths first-up. To be fair, if the horse had any luck, he darn near could have won. Whatever the case, we can all agree that it was a most encouraging return from the Yes Yes Yes filly. The 1200m suits big time. TUILERIES (7) is a quality filly from nose to tail. One wonders what might have been in the Magic Millions Guineas had she not drawn 18 of 18! Love the horse, hate the draw here. TOTOKA (8) is slow early/fast late, but sometimes a bit too slow early. Mitch: The only reason TUILERIES (7) isn't even shorter in the market is the wide draw. She's clearly the horse to beat in this but just needs to overcome barrier 10. Her class should carry her a long way. ART'S ALIVE (6) was tough on speed first-up and only went by less than half a length. You'd expect her to be right there again from a good draw. DOLLAR MAGIC (1) put in a rare flat run last start but she has been a consistent performer at this level throughout her career. Tuileries bulldozes home and wins in dominant fashion at Randwick for @SnowdenRacing1! ðŸ'¥ — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 26, 2024 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: FIOPROSPERO (10) was one of a handful of horses that can count themselves unlucky out that Benchmark 78 here two weeks ago won by GOOD BANTER (3) who swept home unimpeded down the outside. Given she (Good Banter) won an Adrian Knox, she is more than likely a better horse than Fioprospero but personally I like him more at 2400m being a son of Fiorente on the way to a peak. Speaking of horses looking for a trip, the Dundeel mare GENTILESCHI (9) is ripe for 2400m now. Mitch: CORMAC T (2) was on the wrong end of a photo finish last time but can go one better here. He's rock hard fit now, has a win over the 2400m to his name and a good draw too. He's right in this. ASSAILANT (7) got back and was caught deep when hard in the market last time but shouldn't suffer the same fate here from barrier one. A bounce-back performance shouldn't surprise. FIOPROSPERO (10) and GOOD BANTER (3) come out of the same form race as Cormac T and can run well again. Fioprospero makes it two wins in a row at Eagle Farm! 2ï¸�⃣ @baileywheeler05 | @mcsmithracing | @BrisRacingClub — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: Let's look at DISNECK (7) 's Rosehill 1100m runs. First of his three was in the Golden Gift in November 2022 where he was eating up the ground to finish three-lengths off Barber. Three weeks later he came back and thrashed Kimochi. His third one was June 2024 and he rushed home to finish second to In Flight on an unsuitably heavy track. Fair track would help! OUR KOBISON (4) likewise is deadly accurate at 1100m and his on-pace pattern suits Rosehill. STORM THE RAMPARTS (8) is flying. Mitch: WITH YOUR BLESSING (2) was only narrowly getting beaten in Group 3 company behind Iowna Merc the last time we saw him at the races and that looks like great form for this. He has trialled up really nicely ahead of his return and would look well-suited in better company later this prep. SOUTH OF INDIA (12) was a winner at his last visit to this track and trip. Another EPIC finish at Randwick today, with Iowna Merc getting his nose down right on the line in the G3 Liverpool City Cup to deny With Your Blessing and give @BBakerRacing a winning treble! @JoshuaParr8 | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 1, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: PHEARSON (8) is much too good a horse to have gone up at $23 and he's met with support too. For one thing, he has won six races including a Liverpool City Cup and a Heat of the Provincial Championships among other things. He is third-up on Saturday and no one would have missed him charging down the outside here in the Winter Stakes. That was the race that Bjorn Baker's rejuvenated Ingham winner ROBUSTO (1) was so good in. Love and respect the consistency of the stablemate, THUNDERLIPS (10). Mitch: ROBUSTO (1) is going to take a lot of beating in the Winter Challenge. His Stradbroke Handicap run was a clear forget but he was back to his best when surging home last start in the Winter Stakes. Third-up from a good draw, he's hard to beat. The drier the better for ACCREDITED (4). He was excellent finishing third in that Winter Stakes and will relish firmer footing here. THUNDERLIPS (10) and ESTADIO MESTALLA (2) both have big claims in a competitive affair. Phearson leads the whole way to take out the final race at Randwick! @BWiddupRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 2, 2024 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: If BUNKER HUT (4) wins, it might just be the draw we all point to. Mind you, we could say the same if he gets beat, given barrier one can sometimes be a double-edged sword for horses and riders. Whatever the case may be, Bunker Hut is just so consistent and it never hurts to be on-pace at Rosehill. CLOUDLAND (3) was spectacular winning first-up. Sure, it was run to suit but who is to say this won't be? Mitch: KING OF ROSEAU (6) comes into the last after a month freshen-up. Trainer Peter Snowden has given him a tick off trial since his last start where he was a super winner from back in the pack at this track and trip. He will be ready to launch late. BUNKER HUT (4) can run well second-up after a credible first-up performance. Expecting him to be poised to pounce from barrier one. KERGUELEN (12) hasn't been far away while WAR ETERNAL (2) can give a sight at odds.
New Paper
17-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Robusto ready to mount solid Winter Challenge
Falling mercury levels may keep Sydneysiders at home these days, but its racegoers would have more than the crisp and bracing air to lure them out of their couches to Rosehill Gardens on July 19. The hot racing action at the city track will feature its last "black type" contest of its racing calendar, the Listed Winter Challenge (1,500m) which has drawn a smallish but competitive field of 10 vying for the thicker end of the A$200,000 (S$168,000) stakes up for grabs. For those who claim cold weather can numb the brain cells, they will have no excuse this time, with the task of spotting a winner made easier by the "Winter" form line. Seven of the Winter Challenge contenders came out of the Listed Winter Stakes (1,400m) at the same course a fortnight ago on July 5. On face value, surprise but comfortable winner Estadio Mestalla will not fly under the radar this time. But without taking anything away from in-form trainer Joseph Pride's Irish-bred and a gutsy ride by young gun Dylan Gibbons, the circumstances of the race served the 60-1 long shot the victory on a platter. Other than go-forward customer Whinchat spearing over from his wide alley to camp on his haunches during the middle stages, Estadio Mestalla was untroubled and got away with some cheap sectionals. Besides, the ease of the cheeky win has not come without a price. The Galileo Gold six-year-old is the only one of the Winter Stakes sevens to cop a hefty penalty from the Sydney handicapper - from 54.5kg to 57.5kg. The weight surcharge is not the only reason why he may not go back-to-back on Saturday. Among the beaten brigade, tellingly, the next threesome past the line, Robusto, his better-fancied stablemate that day, Accredited, and Thunderlips will be among those favoured to turn the tables on him, especially the Bjorn Baker-trained Robusto. A 12-1 chance that day, he was a tragedy beaten. As jockey Joshua Parr got on his bike at the 300m, the doors closed on the A$2 million Group 2 The Ingham (1,600m) winner twice at a crucial stage, once by the laying-in Accredited and the second time when tightened for room by Welwal. By the time, the Churchill five-year-old saw daylight, the bird had already flown, but he still took stacks of ground off the winner to cut the margin back to 1½ lengths. While he shoulders the top weight of 60kg again, the 3kg swing on Estadio Mestalla as well as the extra 100m should help him exact revenge towards an eighth success. Among the three non-Winter Stakes runners who could upset the applecart, Fortunate Kiss stands out. The Adelaide challenger is at her first Sydney raid, but is unlikely to be all at sea as she did go around the clockwise way in Brisbane at her last three starts. At the last one, she even sprang a 25-1 shock in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1,400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 5 for Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans and a winning pick-up ride for underrated jockey Luke Tarrant. That day, the ride on the Divine Prophet mare was meant to go to Ronnie Stewart, but the three-time Singapore Gold Cup-winning jockey was ruled out through an injury picked up earlier in the day. Kennewell has this time engaged a safe pair of hands around Rosehill for his 9-1 chance in local veteran hoop Jay Ford, who himself would be keen to snap a run of outs since returning from a fall scare at a midweek Canterbury meeting on July 9. A head knock did call for some precautionary scans, which luckily came out clear. Ford, who is better known to Singapore racegoers as the winning jockey aboard Australia's rags-to-riches champion Takeover Target in the 2008 Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1,200m) at Kranji, returned to the saddle the week after but has yet to get back on the scoresheet in three meetings. manyan@
