Latest news with #WrittenTycoon
Herald Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Trainer Ethan Ensby saddles up Maximum Vortex at Casino
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Casino trainer Ethan Ensby has declared electric sprinter Maximum Vortex is ready and able if called upon by slot-holders for a Kosciuszko mission in the mid-October $2 million showdown. A fourth generation direct descendant of former Woodlands Stud owned crack filly-cum-foundation mare Shaybisc, Maximum Vortex has won seven races on both sides of the Tweed River, most of them by big margins in slick time. Ensby's gelding went within inches of winning the John Carlton at the Grafton carnival just 10-days prior to his uncommonly poor run in the time-honoured Ramornie Handicap. • 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 Ramornie was just an absolute trainwreck,'' Ensby said. 'The trainer needs his head read for starting him from that bad gate (14 of 15). 'He pulled up fine but we tipped him out for three weeks, he is back and he looks enormous. 'He'll start a bit of pacework (this week) and the idea is he will trial, I think it is the day before tickets are drawn for the Kosciuszko. 'The stable has put together a bit of a syndicate to buy some tickets, we have got a fair bit of coin in the bank to go and buy some, so (the Kosciuszko) is the plan.' • Everest possibility for Waller's new leading Lady Ensby will be represented by four of Maximum Vortex's stablemates – Vendemmia, So Sain, Intelligencer and the Tasmanian-born blueblood, In The Blink – at his hometown meeting at Casino on Monday. Vendemmia finished out of a place at his first run for Ensby (and jockey Ben Looker) at Kempsey last month but it comes as no surprise he is the punter's favourite to make amends on Monday. 'Benny jumped off and said he just made a mess of that,'' Ensby explained. 'He said he lobbed in what he thought was going to be a perfect position and then he said he had all these horses around him that weren't carting him anywhere. 'He got caught behind a wall of them and darted back to the inside and the inside probably ended up being the worse place to be all day, it was like quicksand.' Vendemmia will have company, and competition, in her assignment from her new stablemate So Sain who makes her Northern Rivers debut on Monday having originally been stationed at Kembla with Robert and Luke Price. 'She's a nice little horse,'' Ensby said. 'I probably should have had her in the 1000m (race), the 1200m might just be a furlong too far. Look for her second-up but that's not saying that she can't run a race.' Ensby warned punters not to unduly punish his Written Tycoon filly Intelligencer ($51) for her almost 20-lengths last at Grafton four weeks ago. 'Once again the trainer needs his head read for starting from an outside gate,'' Ensby said. 'Benny (Looker) came back and said he was never going to get in any closer than six-wide and then another horse in the race just carted him clean off the track. 'Be looking for big improvement on Monday. 'She is a very, very nice horse.' Intelligencer boasts a rare 3x4 double cross of Kenmare whose numerous Australian-born stakes-winners include fast and furious types like Keltrice, Kenvain and Kenfair, milers Brave Prince and Baryshnikov, AJC Oaks winner Kenbelle and the Melbourne Cup placegetter, Lahar. Ensby's final runner on Monday is another stable debutant, this one being the seven-year-old mare, In The Blink. 'She has been a work in progress,'' Ensby said. 'I tell you what, if looks could win races, she'd win by 10 lengths. She looks absolutely outstanding and her work has been exceptional.' Originally published as Casino Monday preview: Trainer Ethan Ensby takes it to the Max
News.com.au
23-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Vets advised owners to put down Dandruff but brave galloper continues to thrive for trainer Toby Lake
Dandruff didn't win at Wagga on Sunday, but the Bendigo galloper ticked off a major milestone for a horse that wasn't expected to live long, let alone race as a six-year-old. The Toby Lake -trained Dandruff broke through the $100,000 prizemoney threshold with his third placing in a 2000m race at Wagga, something the stable never thought would happen. Luck deserted Dandruff as a young horse when multiple infections racked his facial structure, requiring surgeries just to save his life. Racing wasn't a thought as vets initially thought their efforts to keep Dandruff alive would fail. 'He should be dead, this horse,' Lake said. 'He's had two sinus operations, and he's got a big chunk of bone missing out of his face. 'It was all infected and he had a bone infection as well. 'He also had a bit of bone sticking out. 'After a couple of operations, the vet advised the owners to put him down.' Thankfully Lake and Dandruff's owners didn't immediately take veterinary advice. Instead, they decided to let the gelding relax in a paddock while they worked out what to do with the son of Written Tycoon. However, Mother Nature had a surprise in store for Lake a few months later. • Richard Callander: Yes, the Brits do racing well … but not as well as us 'Anyway, we just went back to nature, and he went out into the paddock with some young horses for about six months and we just forgot about him,' Lake said. 'We went out to the farm when the six months was done, and he trotted up to us in the paddock and his face had healed. 'It had all healed over. Sometimes time just heals everything. 'We brought him back into work and he's been a great money-spinner ever since.' Dandruff showed staying ability in his first few starts before achieving what was thought impossible a year earlier when he posted his maiden win in emphatic fashion at Swan Hill in April last year. "Dandruff is head & shoulders above its opposition." Poetry from Adam O to start the day 🎙ï¸� @TLakeRacing @chookahope — (@Racing) April 9, 2024 While not being a world beater, Dandruff posted a second win at Swan Hill last year and victories at Ararat and Albury this year. 'He's just been an honest old horse and a few more of them would be great for any stable,' Lake said. 'He's earned everything he's got. 'He's tough and he's brave.' Lake said Dandruff has attracted his own following as he travels from his Bendigo base to tracks in Victoria and southern New South Wales. There's a great story behind all of them, but this horse has been amazing. 'He's got a little bit of a cult following on the country circuit,' Lake said. 'Every time we're at the races, everyone is asking about him. 'He's just a ripper that old horse.' — (@Racing) March 27, 2025 Punters can expect to see Dandruff on a wet track in the coming weeks. 'We've been waiting for wet ground and now the rain has come, there's plenty of options for him,' Lake said. 'He doesn't take much work between runs, but we're sort of weather-dependent with him.'
South China Morning Post
14-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Ricky Yiu puts faith in Eason and Giant Leap in bid to consolidate third place in championship
Giant Leap (outside) is one of Ricky Yiu's top chances at the Valley on Wednesday night. Photos: Kenneth Chan Ricky Yiu Poon-fai is confident the consistent Eason and last-start winner Giant Leap will figure prominently at Happy Valley on Wednesday night as the veteran handler bids to consolidate third place in the trainers' championship. In a tight battle behind title leader John Size (47 wins) and David Hayes (41), only five wins separate Yiu (37) and the 11th-placed Cody Mo Wai-kit in the premiership standings. Yiu, who is tied on wins with Francis Lui Kin-wai but holds the ascendancy with more seconds than last season's champion trainer, will take a team of six runners to the city circuit on Wednesday night. Eason continues his bid for a breakthrough win in the first section of the Class Three Violet Handicap (1,200m) after a pair of close seconds and a third from his six starts this term after switching from the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen stable. The Written Tycoon gelding was only beaten a head when runner-up to Gustosisimo and Gallant Valour at the course and distance of his latest assignment. He struggled on a rain-affected Valley track when fifth to Spicy Gold last month before backing up seven days later to run an eye-catching fourth to Happy Fat Cat. 'We've got a good jockey on in Hugh Bowman,' Yiu said. 'The horse has been running well and hopefully he finishes in the first three. He'll be close again.' One tough customer! Happy Fat Cat seals a Cody Mo double at Happy Valley with a determined victory under @AntoineHamelin... ✌️#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 12, 2025 After a wide draw in barrier 11 forced him back to last on his latest appearance, Eason should get a far more economical run from gate three on Wednesday night. He strikes an incredibly even field featuring Bundle Of Charm, Nucleozor, Chateauneuf, Storming Dragon, Crimson Flash, King Miles, Shinyu Kokoroe, California Deeply and Up With Charm. Giant Leap jumps back into Class Three in the second section of the Violet Handicap after a tough Class Four triumph under visiting jockey Richard Kingscote last start. While the son of Capitalist tends to struggle at this level, Yiu is optimistic he can hold his form and take advantage of dropping 15 pounds to carry 119. 'He has a light weight this time. He's another genuine horse, especially at the Valley,' Yiu said. 'He's held his condition since his last start, so he'll go well. He can finish in the first three.' In-form jockey Andrea Atzeni, who won on Giant Leap earlier this season, hops back aboard Yiu's charge on Wednesday night but he must overcome the outside draw in the field of nine. Yiu's other Valley runners are Diamond Soars, Floof, Sure Joyful and Mega Bonus, who was elevated from first reserve for the second section of the Class Four Dianthus Handicap (1,200m) when Sunny Galaxy was scratched on Monday with a head injury. Yiu is also preparing for a strong FWD Champions Day assault on Sunday week, with stable star Voyage Bubble set for the Group One Champions Mile and Straight Arron bound for the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m). The 67-year-old had a change of heart after indicating Straight Arron would also tackle the Champions Mile after his last-start Group Three Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) victory over Galaxy Patch. 'Last time when he ran over the mile, it was a bit short and the second horse probably should have won. I think 2,000m is his best trip,' Yiu said.
