Latest news with #WithYourBlessing
News.com.au
18-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
With Your Blessing ready to launch in July Sprint ahead of Missile Stakes bid
Trainer John Thompson would be eager to put next month's Group 2 Missile Stakes on the agenda if With Your Blessing can fire first-up at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. With Your Blessing has already shown he's up to stakes company after only narrowly being defeated by Iowna Merc at his final autumn run in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup. 'He just has to keep stepping up,' Thompson said. 'He nearly won that stakes race last time in so he isn't far away. 'If won on Saturday, you would say yes to a Missile Stakes.' The Group 2 $300,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) is Sydney's first stakes race of the new season on August 9. With Your Blessing can earn his crack at the feature when he returns in the July Sprint (1100m). The son of Vadamos has trialled up well and is a $6 elect with Alysha Collett continuing her association with the gelding. Thompson is hoping With Your Blessing can break his Rosehill drought after only placing twice in seven starts at the venue. 'He will run really well and if was Randwick I would be really confident because he hasn't won at Rosehill,' Thompson said. 'I wouldn't read too much into it but he is going as good as ever so I am really happy with the horse. 'He has about seven runs at Rosehill and hasn't won there but hopefully we can change that.' Thompson will be chasing a quick fire double with Impunity ($15) in the Mostyn Cooper Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m). The son of Dundeel gets to his ideal trip third-up and is expected to relish the step up in distance with Chad Schofield aboard. 'He is just a real 2400m horse,' Thompson said. 'I didn't bother going again shorter because it is just too short for him but he's got a good draw there and a good jockey. 'He will be a lot closer in the run and should run well.' Thompson had a winner last weekend with Bundeena before producing untapped talent Sea Admiral to salute at Kembla Grange on Tuesday. I SHOW SPEED CAN LIVE UP TO HIS NAME Trainer Todd Smart didn't know I Show Speed was named after a YouTube star but the name could prove fitting if his Canberra galloper can remain unbeaten in the 2YO Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. IShowSpeed is an American online personality with more than 42 million subscribers on YouTube and close to five billion views with videos with the likes of footballing superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. 'I didn't know this until my son Harry told me,' Smart said. 'I thought he must have thought it was fast, calling it I Show Speed but he told me one day and told me he was a YouTuber. 'I didn't know much about it by he is by Peltzer, who has only had a handful of starters and I think he will run a credible race.' I Show Speed made a terrific first impression in his maiden start, doing his best work late to score in a 1050m event at Canberra. Smart was rapt with the victory but concedes his promising two-year-old's form is hard to get a guide on with that victory coming on the polytrack. 'I always say with the polytrack wins, you can't line it up at all,' Smart said. 'If you have decent horse that goes and wins on the poly, you go up to Sydney and they are long odds. 'You can only win but if he was to win on the grass somewhere you would probably think he was a better chance.' 'I think he is a good place chance and we will ride him in a similar way to first-up. 'There are a few horses in the race have trialled well but haven't had the race pressure but he has had a race and was strong through the line.' I Show Speed is a $19 chance with Jean Van Overmeire aboard. INDIA MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME Speedy sprinter South Of India can put a mid-prep setback behind him in a touch over 60 seconds at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Trainer Ross McConville had plans to take South Of India to Queensland for a $200,000 race over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast earlier this month but had to pull the pin after the gelding got a virus. South Of India can claim a handy consolation prize in the $160,000 July Sprint (1100m). 'He had a bit of a virus so it took a week to get over but he's fine now,' McConville's assistant trainer Nigil Monahan said. 'His work was very good on Tuesday and he comes back with a lightweight too with Anna Roper riding him. 'The only other start he's had over the Rosehill 1100m was a win and sometimes it can play leaders bias on Rosehill. 'I think he should be a really good chance, especially with that In Flight form, but we are really happy with him.' South Of India produced a strong first-up display when he led the field up and was collared late to finish fourth behind In Flight in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick. In Flight franked the form last weekend when the speedy mare produced a scintillating burst to score in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. Bookies rated South Of India, a winner at the same track in trip in January, as an $8.50 chance to win the Schweppes Sprint with the lightweight of 52kg before he was supported into a $4.80 favourite. The four-year-old will jump towards the outside of the field but apprentice Anna Roper is hopeful he can overcome it. 'South Of India has obviously drawn a bad barrier and we've got Storm The Ramparts so he is a horse you can't really hold up,' Roper said. 'He is horse that likes to roll along and get in his own mindspace out in front so he can be difficult in that way. 'As long as he gets a little bit of peace up in front and Storm The Ramparts can take a sit behind us, he's definitely a chance.'
Sydney Morning Herald
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Has there been a more consistent horse this Sydney winter than Storm The Ramparts?
'He's been going super. What generally finishes up these winter horses is the dry tracks, and he'll get one this weekend. 'He's been on two dryish tracks and run well, but sooner or later one of them will pull him up. It's also his first start out of 78 grade, he steps up to a [benchmark] 88, but he's very consistent, and makes his own luck up in front. He'll be hard to beat again.' Storm The Ramparts is by Headwater, a stallion whose progeny are a bit like a poorly brewed beer – fizz and excitement early on, but prone to going flat quickly. Pride, however, said Storm The Ramparts had been able to improve with each preparation because of his mare, Quick's The Word. 'He's out of a really good mare, he's a half-brother to Dragonstone, which is probably what's carrying him along,' Pride said. 'He's a dream horse to own. A lot of people don't like that 'wet-tracker' term for their horses, but it doesn't bother me. If he's a wet-tracker, he's a wet-tracker.' Pride also starts Estadio Mestalla and Accredited in the feature Winter Challenge, with his pair, and favourite Robusto, the three horses that all slugged it out in a finish a couple of weeks ago in Sydney. 'I think they've got the market right, and I'll be shocked if my two or Robusto doesn't win,' Pride said. 'He's a dream horse to own ... If he's a wet-tracker, he's a wet-tracker.' Joe Pride on Storm The Ramparts 'Estadio Mestalla is racing well and will make his own luck up front again, while Accredited, the turnaround from wet tracks to dry tracks, it's massive when you look at his record. He's a different horse on top of the ground. He raced on a soft 7 last start ... he got through it, but not well. 'Saturday's track will be much firmer, and he'll love it. They're both in their grade now, and I'm happy to pick off races in their grade.' Meanwhile, Pride has a lot of time for two-year-old Reflect, the first horse he has trained for the Think Big Stud, whose white, black and yellow colours were made famous by late owner Dato Tan Chin Nam. The $310,000 Magic Millions purchase has already had one race start, but the big black filly has enormous upside, said Pride, which punters will see over time. Pride also confirmed several Godolphin horses that would be headed to his stable next month, including Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile, and Comedy, a two-year-old Snitzel colt that ran in the major lead-up races to the Golden Slipper. Thompson gives his Blessing Randwick trainer John Thompson won't have a runner in the feature Winter Challenge – a race he won last year with $31 shot Jojo Was A Man – but he is counting on the form and impressive fresh record of With Your Blessing to give him a winner at Rosehill on Saturday. With Your Blessing resumes in the July Sprint, an open 1100m handicap, after a 14-week spell and three sharp trials. The six-year-old raced just off the leaders before hitting the line in all three trials, winning the past two at Canterbury and Hawkesbury. The encouraging return follows an excellent summer campaign which included wins at Randwick over 1100m and 1300m in benchmark 78 and 88 respectively on good going, and a photo-finish second to Iowna Merc in the group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at the track on March 1 in his most recent outing. Thompson believed With Your Blessing was 'a great chance' to return with a win on Saturday. 'He's won a couple of trials, and he's going really good,' Thompson said. 'He had a great prep last prep, and he is first up, and he normally goes well fresh. He's had three trials waiting for this race, so he's ready to go.' Loading With Your Blessing, a $70,000 buy as a yearling, has won $568,205 across 29 starts, including six victories and 10 placings. Three of those wins and two placings have come when the son of Vadamos and Super Trouper was resuming. Thompson's stable will be searching for back-to-back Saturday city successes after Bundeena won first-up at Randwick last week in a 1000m benchmark 78 handicap. The five-year-old Spirit Of Boom gelding, plagued by wide draws last preparation, made the most of an inside barrier and trouble-free run to win by one and a quarter lengths. He has drawn barrier eight with Alysha Collett to steer.
The Age
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Has there been a more consistent horse this Sydney winter than Storm The Ramparts?
'He's been going super. What generally finishes up these winter horses is the dry tracks, and he'll get one this weekend. 'He's been on two dryish tracks and run well, but sooner or later one of them will pull him up. It's also his first start out of 78 grade, he steps up to a [benchmark] 88, but he's very consistent, and makes his own luck up in front. He'll be hard to beat again.' Storm The Ramparts is by Headwater, a stallion whose progeny are a bit like a poorly brewed beer – fizz and excitement early on, but prone to going flat quickly. Pride, however, said Storm The Ramparts had been able to improve with each preparation because of his mare, Quick's The Word. 'He's out of a really good mare, he's a half-brother to Dragonstone, which is probably what's carrying him along,' Pride said. 'He's a dream horse to own. A lot of people don't like that 'wet-tracker' term for their horses, but it doesn't bother me. If he's a wet-tracker, he's a wet-tracker.' Pride also starts Estadio Mestalla and Accredited in the feature Winter Challenge, with his pair, and favourite Robusto, the three horses that all slugged it out in a finish a couple of weeks ago in Sydney. 'I think they've got the market right, and I'll be shocked if my two or Robusto doesn't win,' Pride said. 'He's a dream horse to own ... If he's a wet-tracker, he's a wet-tracker.' Joe Pride on Storm The Ramparts 'Estadio Mestalla is racing well and will make his own luck up front again, while Accredited, the turnaround from wet tracks to dry tracks, it's massive when you look at his record. He's a different horse on top of the ground. He raced on a soft 7 last start ... he got through it, but not well. 'Saturday's track will be much firmer, and he'll love it. They're both in their grade now, and I'm happy to pick off races in their grade.' Meanwhile, Pride has a lot of time for two-year-old Reflect, the first horse he has trained for the Think Big Stud, whose white, black and yellow colours were made famous by late owner Dato Tan Chin Nam. The $310,000 Magic Millions purchase has already had one race start, but the big black filly has enormous upside, said Pride, which punters will see over time. Pride also confirmed several Godolphin horses that would be headed to his stable next month, including Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile, and Comedy, a two-year-old Snitzel colt that ran in the major lead-up races to the Golden Slipper. Thompson gives his Blessing Randwick trainer John Thompson won't have a runner in the feature Winter Challenge – a race he won last year with $31 shot Jojo Was A Man – but he is counting on the form and impressive fresh record of With Your Blessing to give him a winner at Rosehill on Saturday. With Your Blessing resumes in the July Sprint, an open 1100m handicap, after a 14-week spell and three sharp trials. The six-year-old raced just off the leaders before hitting the line in all three trials, winning the past two at Canterbury and Hawkesbury. The encouraging return follows an excellent summer campaign which included wins at Randwick over 1100m and 1300m in benchmark 78 and 88 respectively on good going, and a photo-finish second to Iowna Merc in the group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at the track on March 1 in his most recent outing. Thompson believed With Your Blessing was 'a great chance' to return with a win on Saturday. 'He's won a couple of trials, and he's going really good,' Thompson said. 'He had a great prep last prep, and he is first up, and he normally goes well fresh. He's had three trials waiting for this race, so he's ready to go.' Loading With Your Blessing, a $70,000 buy as a yearling, has won $568,205 across 29 starts, including six victories and 10 placings. Three of those wins and two placings have come when the son of Vadamos and Super Trouper was resuming. Thompson's stable will be searching for back-to-back Saturday city successes after Bundeena won first-up at Randwick last week in a 1000m benchmark 78 handicap. The five-year-old Spirit Of Boom gelding, plagued by wide draws last preparation, made the most of an inside barrier and trouble-free run to win by one and a quarter lengths. He has drawn barrier eight with Alysha Collett to steer.
