Latest news with #WrittenInCode
Sydney Morning Herald
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Written In Code primed for valuable farewell in Dark Jewel Classic
Trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald are counting on the spacious, typically even Scone track to give Written In Code every chance to add valuable black type to her CV on Saturday in the group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) before heading to the sales ring. The five-year-old I Am Invincible mare, a $4.60 Sportsbet favourite for the feature race on Scone's annual standalone program, is set to go to the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale on May 27-28, making Saturday's run a likely farewell. Written In Code's only black type placing was a second in the listed Denise's Joy Stakes on the same card two years ago, and Rob Archibald hopes she can bow out with an even better result at Scone, where the training operation now has stables. In-form Scone apprentice Braith Nock has the ride from gate three. 'She's drawn well, and we've been really happy with her, so if she goes there in her best order, then she should be hard to beat,' Archibald said. Written In Code had her biggest result when finishing her spring campaign with victory at Moonee Valley in October, and she returned with midweek wins on the Kensington track and at Hawkesbury. She then came with a wide run in the Hawkesbury Crown last start to finish fourth on a day horses struggled to make ground on that section of the wet course. 'She closed off really nicely last time out in the Hawkesbury Crown,' Archibald said. 'They were going through one part of the track, and we ended up a little bit wide.
The Age
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Written In Code primed for valuable farewell in Dark Jewel Classic
Trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald are counting on the spacious, typically even Scone track to give Written In Code every chance to add valuable black type to her CV on Saturday in the group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) before heading to the sales ring. The five-year-old I Am Invincible mare, a $4.60 Sportsbet favourite for the feature race on Scone's annual standalone program, is set to go to the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale on May 27-28, making Saturday's run a likely farewell. Written In Code's only black type placing was a second in the listed Denise's Joy Stakes on the same card two years ago, and Rob Archibald hopes she can bow out with an even better result at Scone, where the training operation now has stables. In-form Scone apprentice Braith Nock has the ride from gate three. 'She's drawn well, and we've been really happy with her, so if she goes there in her best order, then she should be hard to beat,' Archibald said. Written In Code had her biggest result when finishing her spring campaign with victory at Moonee Valley in October, and she returned with midweek wins on the Kensington track and at Hawkesbury. She then came with a wide run in the Hawkesbury Crown last start to finish fourth on a day horses struggled to make ground on that section of the wet course. 'She closed off really nicely last time out in the Hawkesbury Crown,' Archibald said. 'They were going through one part of the track, and we ended up a little bit wide.
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Winx's half-sister City of Lights wins Hawkesbury Crown
City Of Lights, the half-sister to the incomparable Winx, added vital black type to her CV with a determined success at Hawkesbury on Saturday. The Joseph Pride -trained mare was already a valuable broodmare prospect before enhancing her worth considerably with a tough victory in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Crown (1400m). A daughter of one of the world's greatest, Japanese super sire Deep Impact, City Of Lights is out of Vegas Showgirl, the mother of champion mare Winx. Pride couldn't underestimate the value of City Of Lights' maiden stakes win. 'It is extremely important,' Pride said. 'I have never had a horse with a pedigree like hers. It's a pedigree made in heaven, a half-sister to Winx by one of the best stallions (Deep Impact) to stand on the planet. 'It's pretty amazing and that doesn't guarantee they are going to be good horses but she is a good horse. 'It's nice to see her coming good as an older mare which she was probably bred to do but a massive win to add to her CV today.' City Of Lights was ridden just off the speed with jockey Chad Schofield ominously poised stalking the leaders. He launched his challenge down the centre of the track but City Of Lights was set a task to wear down the game Tashi. Tashi's trainer Peter Snowden was chasing consecutive Hawkesbury Crown victories and a record eighth victory in the feature race. City Of Lights ($6) levelled up to Tashi ($4.60) and edged past her late to score by short head with two lengths back to the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Written In Code ($4.80). City Of Lights wins the G3 @hawkesburyrc Crown ðŸ'' in a tight finish for @PrideRacing and @SchofieldChad ðŸ'� — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025 'It was a really nice win,' Schofield said. 'She is a beautiful mare and a stunning horse to ride. 'I have ridden all her trials this preparation and won on her in previous preps. 'She has just continued to get better and today looked like a great setup for her. 'Joe has been patient with her with three nice trials before she ran terrific first-up and today from a good draw, we made the most of it.' Pride is eager to raise the bar higher with City Of Lights with the Group 1 Tatt's Tiara on his radar in the coming weeks. The five-year-old is destined to end up in the Sunshine State chasing more black type. • 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! 'The job is not done yet, we would love to take her to Queensland,' Pride said. 'She is certainly on the way. 'After winning a race like that we could give the Dane Ripper a go because there is no use winning a Listed race after a win like that. 'If she is racing she needs to be racing in better class races than she has won before otherwise she shouldn't be racing.' City Of Lights was originally trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman before joining Pride's barn in the spring of 2023. She was unplaced in all three of her previous stakes assignments but has returned better than ever this preparation. A strong first-up second at Royal Randwick provided the platform for her maiden stakes victory. City Of Lights now boasts a strong record of five wins and a placing from 13 career starts but it will be in the breeding barn where should could be the most profitable. Her mum Vegas Showgirl produced 11 foals during her time in the breeding barn before dying in October 2023. City Of Lights is the third stakes winner she has produced with El Divino, a son of Snitzel, dead-heating with Astern in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes in 2016. Winx will forever be remembered as one of the great racehorses in Australian racing history with the mare winning a world record 25 Group 1s. Her unforgettable run included a record four Cox Plates and George Ryders as well as Queen Elizabeth Stakes with more than $26 million in stakes earnings.
