Latest news with #WinterStakes
7NEWS
08-08-2025
- 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.'
New Paper
19-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Robusto defies weight to win
Robusto defied his topweight to edge out Accredited in the A$200,000 (S$167,000) Listed Winter Challenge (1,500m) at Rosehill Gardens on July 19. Trained by Bjorn Baker, the Churchill five-year-old - who saluted in the Group 2 The Ingham (1,600m) on Dec 14, 2024 - was ridden by Joshua Parr again, after the pair finished an unlucky second to Estadio Mestalla in the Listed Winter Stakes (1,400m) at his last start on July 5. With Robusto shouldering the top impost of 60kg again, Parr made sure history would not repeat itself at the Winter Challenge Day meeting this time. After sitting Robusto in fourth on the rails - behind Accredited (Alysha Collett) and Robusto's stablemate Thunderlips (Ashley Morgan) while Winter Stakes winner Estadio Mestalla (Dylan Gibbons) raced three wide in third - the Sydney-based rider swiftly slotted his mount in between Accredited and Thunderlips upon straightening and went for broke at the 250m. Estadio Mestalla, who led all the way in the Winter Stakes, could not mount a challenge, but it was Accredited who would not go away. Parr had to pull out all the stops on Robusto ($11) before he eventually got the better of Accredited in a thrilling finish. Saltcoats (Zac Lloyd), who had been trailing behind the winner, punched home for third for trainer Chris Waller. Baker was rapt with the win and has picked out two feature races for the Darby Racing-owned galloper in the upcoming Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. "He's been a bit of a revelation," said Baker to Australian Turf Club. "He was unlucky last time, but he's won in The Ingham and it's good to see him back (winning) today with the weights. "We can try and head towards the Spring with a bit of fitness on our side. Great ride by Josh Parr. "His work on Tuesday was a really good winning workout. He definitely ran up to that. "We might even go to the Missile Stakes, back to 1,200m, and possibly look at a race like the Winx (Stakes) if he went well there." The Group 2 Missile Stakes (1,200m) is on Aug 9 at Royal Randwick, while the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1,400m) will be run two weeks later on Aug 23. Parr was glad Robusto showed great tenacity to win. "He's had to carry the weight. We got through and it turned out to be somewhat of a dog fight," he said. "I had him on the back of my mind all day when Timmy (Tim) Clark won The Ingham aboard this horse. (It was) the fight that he showed once in the battle, so I was relying on that, but thank god we got him to win." sharonzhang@
Sydney Morning Herald
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Breakthrough Randwick victory sparks Caulfield Cup dream for Royal Supremacy
A week after Pride won the listed Winter Stakes with $61 shot Estadio Mestalla leading all the way off a one-week back-up, Aberlour ($14) repeated the feat in a benchmark 78 handicap (1800m). The four-year-old mare, sixth a week earlier at Rosehill in a 1400m race, hung on by a short neck from Bright Red. Jockey Alysha Collett and Pride racing manager Orla Pearl both hailed the win as'unbelievable' when they met after the win. Pearl said taking off the ear muffs and the quick back-up had been the keys on Saturday. King's Secret, aided by a gun ride from Andrew Adkins, won the 1100m benchmark 72 for three-year-olds by a half-length. It was his fourth win in six starts this preparation and likely his last run before a spell. The Saturday Sydney double was Pride's third in four weeks and was capped by a Monash Stakes win at Caulfield with In Flight. He also had a Sydney treble on June 7. Adkins also had a double on Saturday, after earlier winning on Pensativa. Getafix swoops to stamp potential Trainer Tom Charlton was confident Getafix could rise to stakes level after the three-year-old produced a booming finish to nab Cool Jakey on the line in the 1400m benchmark 88. Coming off a midweek Kensington track victory, Getafix provided the most thrilling finish of the day and gave jockey Jason Collett a double. 'He's go the ability to feature in good races,' Charlton said. 'Even today, he probably didn't relax perfectly, but he's a pretty useful horse. At the end of the two-year-old season, he and Linebacker were the ones we thought could shape up well, and he's just taken a bit more time.' Collett earlier led all the way on David Pfieffer-trained Oh Diamond Lil in a benchmark 78 handicap (1600m). Pfieffer was looking to the Coffs Harbour Cup, or another Randwick benchmark race in two weeks, with the mare. Tomato Toastie hot hope for autumn Trainer Adrian Bott believed Tomato Toastie, a half-sister to his two-time group-winning mare English, could return an autumn carnival contender after a gritty victory at Randwick. Competing 10 days after a Warwick Farm win at her second start, the Too Darn Hot filly raced outside leader Pillow Fight for jockey Regan Bayliss in the 1400m handicap for two-year-olds before taking over at the 300m mark. She then survived a late lunge from Crossbow to win by a short half-head. Tomato Toastie is out of the same dam, Al Naifa, as English. 'She was out on her feet late,' Bott said. 'She's not an overly big filly, but she's got a stack of improvement to come. We made the call to come here today, to go one more run now while we can, then we can give her a good break that she deserves. 'I think rushing around for the spring is not going to be the right thing to do. This might set us up nicely for a good autumn campaign.' Scone filly on Highway to success Scone trainer Lou Mary will give filly Pensativa a short break before preparing her for another campaign aimed at a Highway race after she broke through at Randwick on Saturday. The three-year-old, second in her first Highway Handicap two weeks earlier, raced behind leader Smart Jazz under Andrew Adkins in the class 3 Highway Plate (1600m) before hitting the front at the 150m and beating Kranich by a long neck. Loading Pensativa went to three wins and four placings in 13 starts with the victory. 'She's very consistent and she's very brave, and every time we raise the bar, she seems to turn up,' Mary said. 'We are probably going to give her a break now. I think she goes better on top of the ground, and she's still eligible for one more Highway.' Mary said Braebrook Thoroughbreds filly would have four to six weeks off before coming back and working towards another Highway. Import strikes again on front foot Co-trainer Will Freedman believes Walking Painting can step up in grade, with the help of wetter ground, after he pulled off another all-the-way win in benchmark 72 Midway Handicap level. The import ended a drought in Australia with victory at Scone over 1700m on May 17 before two losses at 1800m in a higher grade. He came back to 1600m and 72 level on Saturday at Randwick and produced an even better front-running effort, winning by three-quarters of a length under three-kilogram apprentice Will Stanley. 'I think he probably has to go to 78 grade, but fortunately he handles heavy ground,' Freedman said of the six-year-old's next target. If he gets it wetter, then he will be competitive, but he just doesn't run 1800.'
The Age
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Breakthrough Randwick victory sparks Caulfield Cup dream for Royal Supremacy
A week after Pride won the listed Winter Stakes with $61 shot Estadio Mestalla leading all the way off a one-week back-up, Aberlour ($14) repeated the feat in a benchmark 78 handicap (1800m). The four-year-old mare, sixth a week earlier at Rosehill in a 1400m race, hung on by a short neck from Bright Red. Jockey Alysha Collett and Pride racing manager Orla Pearl both hailed the win as'unbelievable' when they met after the win. Pearl said taking off the ear muffs and the quick back-up had been the keys on Saturday. King's Secret, aided by a gun ride from Andrew Adkins, won the 1100m benchmark 72 for three-year-olds by a half-length. It was his fourth win in six starts this preparation and likely his last run before a spell. The Saturday Sydney double was Pride's third in four weeks and was capped by a Monash Stakes win at Caulfield with In Flight. He also had a Sydney treble on June 7. Adkins also had a double on Saturday, after earlier winning on Pensativa. Getafix swoops to stamp potential Trainer Tom Charlton was confident Getafix could rise to stakes level after the three-year-old produced a booming finish to nab Cool Jakey on the line in the 1400m benchmark 88. Coming off a midweek Kensington track victory, Getafix provided the most thrilling finish of the day and gave jockey Jason Collett a double. 'He's go the ability to feature in good races,' Charlton said. 'Even today, he probably didn't relax perfectly, but he's a pretty useful horse. At the end of the two-year-old season, he and Linebacker were the ones we thought could shape up well, and he's just taken a bit more time.' Collett earlier led all the way on David Pfieffer-trained Oh Diamond Lil in a benchmark 78 handicap (1600m). Pfieffer was looking to the Coffs Harbour Cup, or another Randwick benchmark race in two weeks, with the mare. Tomato Toastie hot hope for autumn Trainer Adrian Bott believed Tomato Toastie, a half-sister to his two-time group-winning mare English, could return an autumn carnival contender after a gritty victory at Randwick. Competing 10 days after a Warwick Farm win at her second start, the Too Darn Hot filly raced outside leader Pillow Fight for jockey Regan Bayliss in the 1400m handicap for two-year-olds before taking over at the 300m mark. She then survived a late lunge from Crossbow to win by a short half-head. Tomato Toastie is out of the same dam, Al Naifa, as English. 'She was out on her feet late,' Bott said. 'She's not an overly big filly, but she's got a stack of improvement to come. We made the call to come here today, to go one more run now while we can, then we can give her a good break that she deserves. 'I think rushing around for the spring is not going to be the right thing to do. This might set us up nicely for a good autumn campaign.' Scone filly on Highway to success Scone trainer Lou Mary will give filly Pensativa a short break before preparing her for another campaign aimed at a Highway race after she broke through at Randwick on Saturday. The three-year-old, second in her first Highway Handicap two weeks earlier, raced behind leader Smart Jazz under Andrew Adkins in the class 3 Highway Plate (1600m) before hitting the front at the 150m and beating Kranich by a long neck. Loading Pensativa went to three wins and four placings in 13 starts with the victory. 'She's very consistent and she's very brave, and every time we raise the bar, she seems to turn up,' Mary said. 'We are probably going to give her a break now. I think she goes better on top of the ground, and she's still eligible for one more Highway.' Mary said Braebrook Thoroughbreds filly would have four to six weeks off before coming back and working towards another Highway. Import strikes again on front foot Co-trainer Will Freedman believes Walking Painting can step up in grade, with the help of wetter ground, after he pulled off another all-the-way win in benchmark 72 Midway Handicap level. The import ended a drought in Australia with victory at Scone over 1700m on May 17 before two losses at 1800m in a higher grade. He came back to 1600m and 72 level on Saturday at Randwick and produced an even better front-running effort, winning by three-quarters of a length under three-kilogram apprentice Will Stanley. 'I think he probably has to go to 78 grade, but fortunately he handles heavy ground,' Freedman said of the six-year-old's next target. If he gets it wetter, then he will be competitive, but he just doesn't run 1800.'
Courier-Mail
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Pride follows Rosehill double with Group 1 win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Everest winning trainer Joe Pride can add another title to his ever growing racing resume – now a Group 1 winning greyhound owner. Pride, who had a winning double at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, had a weekend to savour after his emerging sprinter Gus The Jet produced a commanding performance to win the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic (520m) at Wentworth Park on Saturday night. It came just a few hours after Pride had been on track in Sydney's west to watch Estadio Mestalla cause a boilover in the Listed $200,000 Winter Stakes with stablemate Storm The Ramparts also saluting on the metropolitan card. Gus The Jet is the first greyhound Pride has ever owned and the Group 1 conditioner races the emerging talent with his son Brave and Hong Kong-based star jockey Brenton Avdulla. 'I reckon there would be a few jealous dog owners that have been in the game for years and never had a Group 1 winner so we've just walked straight in and got one but that's thanks to Brenton Avdulla, he knows what he's doing and a good trainer Michelle Sultana,' Pride said. 'It's my first greyhound and he's named after my Corgi and I've just got a horse called Gus The Great as well, so I might need a trotter now as well.' With wife Kylie away, Pride spent the night watching the Group 1 from the comfort of his own home with his children. 'I've actually never been to Wentworth Park,' he said. 'I am not sure what I am missing but I am sure it would have been a buzz last night. 'We gave him a cheer at home.' Pride had plenty to cheer about at Rosehill Gardens with Estadio Mestalla bouncing back to his best as a $61 outsider in the Winter Stakes while stablemate Accredited was third in the same race. The Warwick Farm conditioner has a long term plan for Estadio Mestalla with the aim of gaining eligibility for the Big or Little Dance via upcoming country cups. 'We will probably look at something like Coffs (Harbour Cup) to give him his chance to get to the Big or Little Dance,' he said. 'He was in the Little Dance last year and ran second so it seems like a nice goal for him to try and line-up on Melbourne Cup day there again this year.' Pride's stable has dominated the winter feature sprint circuit in Sydney with In Flight claiming the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes and Headley Grange scoring in the Listed Civic Stakes last month. Originally published as Trainer Joe Pride had a weekend to remember with a Rosehill Gardens double and maiden Group 1 victory as a greyhound owner
