Latest news with #WoodlandsStakes
The Age
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Our Melbourne Cup': Local trainer savours special victory at Scone
Reith, a group 1 winner, spent a year on the sidelines after fracturing vertebrae in a fall in 2022. Fiorsum Fred earlier gave Singleton a hat-trick of wins on Scone's biggest day of the year when he claimed the class 3 Highway Handicap (1600m). Singleton won benchmark handicaps on the standalone program the past two years with Dollar Magic and Comonic, and Fiorsum Fred added to the record with a strong finish for a three-quarter length victory. Former Gold Coast apprentice Jace McMurray rode Fiorsum Fred, giving him a first Sydney metro win. He has joined Randwick trainer Michael Freedman on loan. Filly shows star potential Zoustar filly Stardom is set to chase more black type at the Queensland winter carnival after securing a valuable win in the Woodlands Stakes (1100m) as part of a listed double for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. The Torryburn Stud talent, out of Snitzel mare Diddums, raced outside leader Rainbow Glow before taking over at the top of straight for jockey Adam Hyeronimus and finding late to hold off Kris Lees-trained Wollzeile by a half length. Favourite Akaysha was strong late for third after getting too far back. The Instructor later gave Hyeronimus and the Waterhouse-Bott yard another big win, overhauling Whinchat in the final metres of the Luskin Star Stakes. The son of Russian Revolution is also set to hunt stakes wins in Queensland. Caballus comeback soured Throat and gelding operations proved pivotal for Caballus when he returned with victory in the listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m), only to suffer a bleeding attack. The Bjorn Baker-trained four-year-old, last year's Eskimo Prince Stakes winner, got the sit behind leader The Novelist from gate one. Jockey Ash Morgan then took the $5.50 favourite up the inside in the last furlong for a two-thirds of a length victory. Caballus, which raced at group 1 level before his breathing problems prompted the throat operation, was set to chase bigger targets in Queensland before he was found to have bled from both nostrils post-race, triggering a mandatory suspension. Godolphin's Renosu also bled in the same race. Long shot lifts for Penza Experienced provincial jockey Jeff Penza was rewarded for a long day's work when $61-shot Summer Flame lifted late to win the listed Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m). Penza gave the Chris Waller-trained daughter of Written Tycoon from Rosemont Stud an ideal run behind leader Overfull before hitting the front 100m out to beat Gerringong by a neck. Summer Flame resumed in the 3YO fillies feature after recording a win and two placings in Victoria in her first preparation. Waller assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said the win was great reward for Penza. 'Whenever he's asked, he'll come in [for trackwork],' Duckworth said. 'He came in this morning and galloped four for us, then went home and rode his two show-jumpers, then got in the car and came here, so he's a hard worker.' He said the performance of Summer Flame was not a surprise for Waller. 'Chris was tipping it, so he might be happy because she was obviously a crazy old price,' he said. Archibald import finds edge Annabel Archibald believes she may have found a key to Cormac T after the import edged out Gentileschi following an unusual lead-in. Cormac T was scratched on vet's advice last Saturday at Gosford with abrasions to his near-hind leg after becoming fractious in the gates. He bounced back in the benchmark 78 (1700m), hitting the front late for jockey Tom Sherry then holding out Gentileschi and Kind Words in a thriller. Gentileschi's co-trainer Paul Messara and stewards reviewed the photo before correct weight was declared. 'He obviously didn't gallop last Saturday and we went pretty steady with him early in the week because we wanted to check he was OK,' Archibald said. 'So maybe he's shown us that he likes to be kept slightly on the fresh side.' It was part of a great day for the Annabel and Rob Archibald yard, which later won the group 1 Doomben 10,000 with Sunshine In Paris. Snowden has Eagle eye on next race Champion trainer Peter Snowden was eyeing the listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) on June 7 at Eagle Farm with Zealously after the three-year-old cruised to victory in the 1100m benchmark 78. Loading A $3.50 favourite after Snowden scratched him last week at Gosford in the hope of firmer ground this week, Zealously relished the drying soft 5 going, kicking clear at the top of the straight and beating Dollar Magic by one and three-quarter lengths. The winning time of 1:02:13 was inside the track record but may not be official because it was hand timed. 'I'll go to Brisbane with him,' said Snowden, who was born and bred in Scone. 'There's a three-year-old race for him in about three weeks, so I'll head to that, if we get good ground.' Freedman and Collett find key Trainer Richard Freedman praised in-form jockey Alysha Collett after she produced a perfectly timed front-running ride to score a breakthrough win on import Walking Painting at Scone in the Midway Handicap (1700m). Freedman, who trains in partnership with his son, Will, and has stables in Scone, wanted the six-year-old to lead after seven fruitless starts in Australia. Collett, who had a winning double at Gosford last Saturday, found the front then stacked them up before Walking Painting held on narrowly Northern Eyes and Highborn Harry. 'I said to Alysha, you just go forward and lead, and I said to Kerrin [McEvoy on Let's Fly], you follow her,' Freedman said. 'I said, you slowly ease down and then wait until they straighten up and let him go.'
Sydney Morning Herald
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Our Melbourne Cup': Local trainer savours special victory at Scone
Reith, a group 1 winner, spent a year on the sidelines after fracturing vertebrae in a fall in 2022. Fiorsum Fred earlier gave Singleton a hat-trick of wins on Scone's biggest day of the year when he claimed the class 3 Highway Handicap (1600m). Singleton won benchmark handicaps on the standalone program the past two years with Dollar Magic and Comonic, and Fiorsum Fred added to the record with a strong finish for a three-quarter length victory. Former Gold Coast apprentice Jace McMurray rode Fiorsum Fred, giving him a first Sydney metro win. He has joined Randwick trainer Michael Freedman on loan. Filly shows star potential Zoustar filly Stardom is set to chase more black type at the Queensland winter carnival after securing a valuable win in the Woodlands Stakes (1100m) as part of a listed double for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. The Torryburn Stud talent, out of Snitzel mare Diddums, raced outside leader Rainbow Glow before taking over at the top of straight for jockey Adam Hyeronimus and finding late to hold off Kris Lees-trained Wollzeile by a half length. Favourite Akaysha was strong late for third after getting too far back. The Instructor later gave Hyeronimus and the Waterhouse-Bott yard another big win, overhauling Whinchat in the final metres of the Luskin Star Stakes. The son of Russian Revolution is also set to hunt stakes wins in Queensland. Caballus comeback soured Throat and gelding operations proved pivotal for Caballus when he returned with victory in the listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m), only to suffer a bleeding attack. The Bjorn Baker-trained four-year-old, last year's Eskimo Prince Stakes winner, got the sit behind leader The Novelist from gate one. Jockey Ash Morgan then took the $5.50 favourite up the inside in the last furlong for a two-thirds of a length victory. Caballus, which raced at group 1 level before his breathing problems prompted the throat operation, was set to chase bigger targets in Queensland before he was found to have bled from both nostrils post-race, triggering a mandatory suspension. Godolphin's Renosu also bled in the same race. Long shot lifts for Penza Experienced provincial jockey Jeff Penza was rewarded for a long day's work when $61-shot Summer Flame lifted late to win the listed Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m). Penza gave the Chris Waller-trained daughter of Written Tycoon from Rosemont Stud an ideal run behind leader Overfull before hitting the front 100m out to beat Gerringong by a neck. Summer Flame resumed in the 3YO fillies feature after recording a win and two placings in Victoria in her first preparation. Waller assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said the win was great reward for Penza. 'Whenever he's asked, he'll come in [for trackwork],' Duckworth said. 'He came in this morning and galloped four for us, then went home and rode his two show-jumpers, then got in the car and came here, so he's a hard worker.' He said the performance of Summer Flame was not a surprise for Waller. 'Chris was tipping it, so he might be happy because she was obviously a crazy old price,' he said. Archibald import finds edge Annabel Archibald believes she may have found a key to Cormac T after the import edged out Gentileschi following an unusual lead-in. Cormac T was scratched on vet's advice last Saturday at Gosford with abrasions to his near-hind leg after becoming fractious in the gates. He bounced back in the benchmark 78 (1700m), hitting the front late for jockey Tom Sherry then holding out Gentileschi and Kind Words in a thriller. Gentileschi's co-trainer Paul Messara and stewards reviewed the photo before correct weight was declared. 'He obviously didn't gallop last Saturday and we went pretty steady with him early in the week because we wanted to check he was OK,' Archibald said. 'So maybe he's shown us that he likes to be kept slightly on the fresh side.' It was part of a great day for the Annabel and Rob Archibald yard, which later won the group 1 Doomben 10,000 with Sunshine In Paris. Snowden has Eagle eye on next race Champion trainer Peter Snowden was eyeing the listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) on June 7 at Eagle Farm with Zealously after the three-year-old cruised to victory in the 1100m benchmark 78. Loading A $3.50 favourite after Snowden scratched him last week at Gosford in the hope of firmer ground this week, Zealously relished the drying soft 5 going, kicking clear at the top of the straight and beating Dollar Magic by one and three-quarter lengths. The winning time of 1:02:13 was inside the track record but may not be official because it was hand timed. 'I'll go to Brisbane with him,' said Snowden, who was born and bred in Scone. 'There's a three-year-old race for him in about three weeks, so I'll head to that, if we get good ground.' Freedman and Collett find key Trainer Richard Freedman praised in-form jockey Alysha Collett after she produced a perfectly timed front-running ride to score a breakthrough win on import Walking Painting at Scone in the Midway Handicap (1700m). Freedman, who trains in partnership with his son, Will, and has stables in Scone, wanted the six-year-old to lead after seven fruitless starts in Australia. Collett, who had a winning double at Gosford last Saturday, found the front then stacked them up before Walking Painting held on narrowly Northern Eyes and Highborn Harry. 'I said to Alysha, you just go forward and lead, and I said to Kerrin [McEvoy on Let's Fly], you follow her,' Freedman said. 'I said, you slowly ease down and then wait until they straighten up and let him go.'
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Masterful ride by Adam Hyeronimus helps Stardom to victory in Woodlands Stakes at Scone
Stardom lived up to her name with an important stakes success at the Scone stand-alone on Saturday. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained Stardom shared the early lead, broke clear around the turn and held off her chasing rivals to win the Listed $200,000 Woodlands Stakes (1100m). Owner-breeder John Cornish, the former Australian Turf Club chairman, cheered Stardom home from the Scone media room. 'That was exciting,' Cornish said. 'Stardom's a promising filly and has kept improving with every run. ''It's been a while since we have had a good filly so this is a big thrill. 'I thought she might have been beaten a few times but she put her head down and kept fighting hard which is a good sign.' Stardom ($3.60), ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, held off the late surge Wollzeile ($26) to win by a half length with favourite Akaysha ($2.40) coming from a long way back on the turn to finish a length away third. Tulloch Lodge stable representative Neil Paine said Stardom is a talented filly with a big future. 'Wasn't that a top win and Adam rode her a treat,' Paine enthused. 'I reckon he could have led on her but restrained her to be in second position to the turn then the filly just refused to give in down the straight. 'At the 150m I thought the second horse was going to grab her but Adam kept her balanced and it was a terrific win. 'John Cornish has been a great supporter of Gai and Adrian. Everyone has got a real kick out of winning the race for him.' â� Stardom holds on to win at Scone with Adam Hyeronimus doing the steering! @GaiWaterhouse1 â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 Hyeronimus praised the training effort of Waterhouse and Bott to bring Stardom back from 1200m when she won at Wagga Wagga to be sharp enough for a Listed race at 1100m. 'Generally, Gai and Adrian's horses progress out over further once they start racing so they deserve a lot of credit for bringing Stardom back to 1100m,' Hyeronimus said. 'She is sharp out of the gates and puts herself into a really good position. She showed a lot of determination, too.' The Woodlands Stakes has a history of producing top class fillies including recent winners like Lazzura (2024), In Secret (2022), Libertini (2019) and Flippant (2015). But to underline the merit of Stardom's effort, she was able to run the Scone 1100m in 1m 03.07s which is faster than any other Woodlands Stakes winner. Early leader Rainbow Glow dropped out to finish a long last, beaten more than 15 lengths, so Stardom's win was outstanding considering she settled on speed in a fast-run race but still found plenty under pressure in the straight. Stardom is superbly bred by champion sire Zoustar out of the Snitzel mare, Diddums, herself the winner of the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes when she defeated a future Group 1 winner, Prompt Response. Stardom jumps out the best and finishes the best to take out the first at Wagga! 🌟 @GaiWaterhouse1 | @stanley_jett â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 1, 2025 Diddums is also a half-sister to Hong Kong superstar Voyage Bubble, winner of the Hong Kong International Mile and Hong Kong Gold Cup this season. Since Diddums produced Stardom, she has had a filly by Toronado and is back in foal to Zoustar. Stardom's Listed win in the Woodlands Stakes immediately makes the filly a priceless potential broodmare while significantly enhancing her dam's value. Paine was unsure of immediate plans for Stardom who improved her record to two wins and a third from just three starts. 'There are some nice stakes races for fillies coming up in Brisbane and I'm sure Gai and Adrian will have a close look at the program,' Paine said. 'I'm sure they will want to see how Stardom comes through today's race before deciding what they do next with her.' The Kris Lees -trained Wollzeile, a daughter of Tassort, was having her first start since winning an Ipswich maiden back in January and her fast-finishing second suggests she is a filly to follow. Akaysha drew wide and jockey Tom Sherry elected to go back early and the filly had most of the field in front of her at the 400m before she made a strong late surge to grab the minor placings. â– â– â– â– â– Zealously sprinted his way back to stakes grade after a brilliant display of sustained speed to smash the track record at the Scone stand-alone meeting on Saturday. It was a hometown win of sorts for trainer Peter Snowden as Zealously ran his rivals ragged in the GRO Events Handicap (1100m). The flying Zealously stopped the clock at a hand-timed 1m 02.13s, breaking the previous fastest time of 1m 02.23s established by Divine Vicky two years ago. There was some conjecture about whether Zealously's time should stand as a track record given the electronic timing system was not working during the race but Racing NSW are looking into the matter to verify the Snowden sprinter's actual winning time. But none of this mattered to Snowden who was relieved to get on the board at the Scone carnival. Snowden grew up in the Scone area before he moved to Sydney and chased his dream of becoming a trainer. Zealously with a big win after leading all the way at Scone! ðŸ'¨ @NockBraith | @SnowdenRacing1 â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 That was more than 40 years ago and these days Snowden is recognised as one of the nation's leading trainers with nearly 2700 career wins including 49 at Group 1 level – but he still gets a kick out of winning at the Scone Cup Carnival. 'There's a bit of pressure to get a winner when we come home,' Snowden said. 'So, it always means a lot to win here at Scone in front of my family and friends.' Zealously ($3.50 favourite), ridden by apprentice Braith Nock, jumped straight to the front and gave nothing else a chance as he scored by nearly two lengths from a game Dollar Magic ($5.50) with Spanish Fox ($41) a half-length away third. Snowden said Zealously deserves another chance at stakes level and will add the promising young sprinter to the stable's Brisbane carnival team. 'Zealously's very talented as he showed in that $3 million race on the Sunshine Coast (The Sunlight) when he ran fourth to Private Harry and Lady Of Camelot – that's a very good form race,' Snowden said. 'As a colt, Zealously was a bit of a handful but as a gelding he is very genuine. 'He has a lot of speed and the key to him is good ground. He still tries on rain-affected tracks but he's not the same horse. 'I will take him to Brisbane for the carnival as long as the tracks are suitable.'
Daily Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Adam Hyeronimus helps Stardom to victory in the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Stardom lived up to her name with an important stakes success at the Scone stand-alone on Saturday. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Stardom shared the early lead, broke clear around the turn and held off her chasing rivals to win the Listed $200,000 Woodlands Stakes (1100m). Owner-breeder John Cornish, the former Australian Turf Club chairman, cheered Stardom home from the Scone media room. • 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! 'That was exciting,' Cornish said. 'Stardom's a promising filly and has kept improving with every run. ''It's been a while since we have had a good filly so this is a big thrill. 'I thought she might have been beaten a few times but she put her head down and kept fighting hard which is a good sign.' Stardom ($3.60), ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, held off the late surge Wollzeile ($26) to win by a half length with favourite Akaysha ($2.40) coming from a long way back on the turn to finish a length away third. Tulloch Lodge stable representative Neil Paine said Stardom is a talented filly with a big future. 'Wasn't that a top win and Adam rode her a treat,' Paine enthused. 'I reckon he could have led on her but restrained her to be in second position to the turn then the filly just refused to give in down the straight. 'At the 150m I thought the second horse was going to grab her but Adam kept her balanced and it was a terrific win. 'John Cornish has been a great supporter of Gai and Adrian. Everyone has got a real kick out of winning the race for him.' Hyeronimus praised the training effort of Waterhouse and Bott to bring Stardom back from 1200m when she won at Wagga Wagga to be sharp enough for a Listed race at 1100m. 'Generally, Gai and Adrian's horses progress out over further once they start racing so they deserve a lot of credit for bringing Stardom back to 1100m,' Hyeronimus said. 'She is sharp out of the gates and puts herself into a really good position. She showed a lot of determination, too.' The Woodlands Stakes has a history of producing top class fillies including recent winners like Lazzura (2024), In Secret (2022), Libertini (2019) and Flippant (2015). But to underline the merit of Stardom's effort, she was able to run the Scone 1100m in 1m 03.07s which is faster than any other Woodlands Stakes winner. Early leader Rainbow Glow dropped out to finish a long last, beaten more than 15 lengths, so Stardom's win was outstanding considering she settled on speed in a fast-run race but still found plenty under pressure in the straight. Stardom is superbly bred by champion sire Zoustar out of the Snitzel mare, Diddums, herself the winner of the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes when she defeated a future Group 1 winner, Prompt Response. Diddums is also a half-sister to Hong Kong superstar Voyage Bubble, winner of the Hong Kong International Mile and Hong Kong Gold Cup this season. Since Diddums produced Stardom, she has had a filly by Toronado and is back in foal to Zoustar. Stardom's Listed win in the Woodlands Stakes immediately makes the filly a priceless potential broodmare while significantly enhancing her dam's value. Paine was unsure of immediate plans for Stardom who improved her record to two wins and a third from just three starts. 'There are some nice stakes races for fillies coming up in Brisbane and I'm sure Gai and Adrian will have a close look at the program,' Paine said. 'I'm sure they will want to see how Stardom comes through today's race before deciding what they do next with her.' The Kris Lees-trained Wollzeile, a daughter of Tassort, was having her first start since winning an Ipswich maiden back in January and her fast-finishing second suggests she is a filly to follow. Akaysha drew wide and jockey Tom Sherry elected to go back early and the filly had most of the field in front of her at the 400m before she made a strong late surge to grab the minor placings. Originally published as A masterful ride by Adam Hyeronimus helps Stardom to victory in the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone
Sydney Morning Herald
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Peter Snowden puts faith in filly to lead charge at Scone
Peter Snowden always tries to take decent chances to the Scone Cup carnival, when he heads back to where it all started for him. And while he could not get a runner into the traditional headline race on Friday, the champion trainer is confident his team, especially Akaysha, have the form to deliver wins on Saturday's standalone card. Akaysha spearheads the Scone born and bred horseman's hopes in the listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m) for two-year-old fillies, in which he also has Miss Freelove. Akaysha has the distinction of beating Snowden's boom Snitzel colt Beadman, which won the group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Gold Coast last Saturday by a remarkable eight lengths. Beadman's brilliant win, after a strong victory at Newcastle, has put him into the market for the $20 million The Everest (1200m), but Snowden was looking at three-year-old features when the rising star returns from a spell. 'It's crazy saying that,' he said of Beadman being in The Everest discussion. 'But, I mean, he is a talented horse. 'The Coolmore is the race we are looking at, but there's a lot of water to go under the bridge before then. The San Domenico Stakes will probably be his first one back, then there's the Run to the Rose, the Golden Rose.' While Beadman goes for a break, Akaysha gives Snowden another two-year-old for stakes targets.
