Latest news with #YouWahng
Mercury
3 days ago
- Sport
- Mercury
Kris Lees filly You Wahng claims Queensland Oaks after marathon float trip
Recent floods nearly left You Wahng stranded in NSW, but the Kris Lees filly overcame travel challenges to take out the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm. Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Kris Lees-trained filly You Wahng was lucky to be even running in Saturday's Queensland Oaks (2200m), let alone winning the Group 1 at Eagle Farm. But that's exactly what she did in a stirring performance, although it nearly didn't happen because of the recent floods on the NSW Mid North Coast. • 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! Lees said it took a marathon 16 hours of travel, comprising two trips, to even get the filly to Brisbane and didn't the waiting game pay off. In an exciting fight to the line, $19 chance You Wahng held on grimly to defeat the James Cummings-trained Pinito ($6), with Group 1 Australasian Oaks champion Benagil a distant third in the $700,000 contest for 3YO fillies. • What the jockeys said: 2025 Queensland Oaks 'There were floods at Taree so I had to spend the night at Armidale and then come across,' a jubilant Lees said. 'Each trip was like eight hours, so it was two lots of eight hours just to get here (to Brisbane). 'It doubled the travelling time. 'She was very stirred up in The Roses (at Doomben) and I thought 'oh we're off here' and I was thinking she'd be going to the paddock. 'But she actually ran super and came out of it well so she's a tough filly.' â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 You Wahng finished a creditable fifth in The Roses (2000m) on May 24 in a Group 2 race won by Queensland Oaks favourite Philia, who struggled to cope with the extra 200m on Saturday. Philia dropped out to finish eighth, ending her four-race winning streak, after starting as the $4.20 favourite. • Dale ponders shot at Stradbroke with Front Page Lees admitted he was a little surprised at the victory, although he knew You Wahng was capable of an upset following her excellent third in the Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 12 behind super filly Treasurethe Moment and Sun 'N' Sand. When You Wahng finished last in the Listed The Coast at Gosford last month, Lees wasn't exactly brimming with confidence. 'Look we lost confidence after she went to Gosford for a prep run to get her back on track but she was a bit plain,' he said. • Sunrays ends stellar campaign as trainer resists Group 1 lure '(Jockey) Andrew Gibbons suggested putting a tongue-tie on and she's reacted really well to that. 'It was a lovely ride from Tommy. He was able to get us straight across from the gate and got into a lovely position in running. 'He had a lot of horse coming to the corner, but I was always just a little guarded that last furlong when she presented, but she was able to find under pressure. 'She probably got to him a bit early in The Roses, so Tommy was adamant we just needed to hold her up for a furlong sprint and he produced her at the right time today. 'She looked the winner a long way from home. 'She was on her last legs late but she found something extra under pressure so that was very pleasing.' You Wahng will now head to the paddock for a 'well-deserved' spell. 'That's her first city win, actually,' Lees said. 'She'll have a well-deserved rest because she's had a good prep. She's been up all throughout and we thought after the Oaks in Sydney we were a chance and she's delivered.' Originally published as You Wahng claims Queensland Oaks after marathon float trip Horse Racing David Payne, renowned for his unconventional training methods, once again demonstrated his expertise as Shohisha claimed an upset victory at Randwick. Horse Racing Trainer Matt Dale faces a tough decision on whether to give Moreton Cup winner Front Page a crack at the Stradbroke Handicap or send the veteran sprinter for a spell.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
You Wahng gives Kris Lees a third Queensland Oaks win
You Wahng pulled out plenty at the business end to claim the $700,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The daughter of So You Think placed three runs back in the Group 1 Australian Oaks before adding Queensland's fillies' feature. You Wahng, ridden by Tommy Berry, defeated Godolphin filly Pinito and Australasian Oaks winner Benagil. The favourite Philia finished eighth. Calling for the win! ðŸ'² You Wahng takes the G1 Queensland Oaks for @Leesracing and @TommyBerry21! @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 The victory was trainer Kris Lees' third Queensland Oaks win, his second win in the race in the past three years. The other winners were Vitesse Dane (2005) and Amokura (2023). The win was You Wahng's third from nine starts and took her earnings to more than $590,000.
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
You Wahng using The Coast as stepping stone to Queensland Oaks
'This is like a $500,000 barrier trial that she could win or run well.'' Trainer Kris Lees made this honest assessment of three-year-old filly You Wahng's chances going into the Listed $500,000 The Coast (1600m) at the Gosford stand-alone meeting on Saturday. But before Lees finds himself in hot water with stewards, the champion trainer qualified his statement. You Wahng is coming off her very good third, beaten less than a length, in the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks won by Melbourne's wonder filly Treasurethe Moment a month ago. Lees is bringing You Wahng back from 2400m to 1600m for The Coast as he readies his filly for a Group 1 Queensland Oaks campaign. But with the Gosford track rated a Soft 7 – and more rain is forecast for race day – Lees said You Wahng can make her presence felt in the feature Gosford race. 'If we get more rain then You Wahng is right in this race,'' Lees said. 'She's freshened up nicely since the Oaks at Randwick and after she runs in The Coast, she will go two weeks into The Roses and then the Queensland Oaks.'' You Wahng has only had six starts and Lees pointed out that both of the filly's wins have been at 1400m. 'She might be on an Oaks preparation but I do think she will be competitive on Saturday,'' Lees said. You Wahng is at $17 in latest TAB betting on The Coast with Know Thyself, winner of the Country Championships Final earlier this autumn, a firm $3.50 favourite. Lees has some very good chances at Gosford including reliable sprinter Brudenell ($5) in the Group 3 $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m). Brudenell, a stakes winner at Moonee Valley two starts back, handles all track conditions and impressed Lees with an easy barrier trial win at Wyong late last month. 'We have freshened up Brudenell and he should be very competitive,'' Lees said. 'I like him on this style of track where he can stalk the speed.'' Lees also had last start Group 2 Sapphire Stakes winner Infancy entered for the Takeover Target Stakes but instead has decided to take the mare to the Gold Coast for the Listed $160,000 ATC Trophy (1200m). 'I just felt the Gold Coast race looked a little easier for Infancy,'' he explained. Lees also endorsed Power Of The Brave's chances at the Gosford meeting when he lines up in the $200,000 Thunder Thousand (1000m). Power Of The Brace ($10) goes to Gosford in a rich vein of form and was denied a hat-trick of wins when narrowly beaten by Shall Be at Wyong last start. 'He's an ultra-consistent horse when he gets the right set-up which he should do from the gate (barrier five),'' Lees said. The Lees-trained Memoria ($8.50) is also racing in career-best form and rates as one of the chances in a competitive closer, the Gosford Railway Hotel Handicap (1200m). A striking grey mare, Memoria has won twice and been placed three times in five starts this campaign including her impressive all-the-way win at Randwick two weeks ago. 'She is a beauty,'' Lees said of Memoria. 'She races on speed and gives herself every chance. 'Benjamin Osmond rides Memoria well and his 2kg claim is important as she is not a big mare.'' PRIDE'S RECORD BID IN DOUBT Trainer Joe Pride might have to wait another year to win a record sixth Takeover Target Stakes. Pride revealed he is having second thoughts about starting the brilliant Accredited, the $5 favourite for the Gosford Group 3 sprint. 'I'm watching the weather,'' Pride said. 'Accredited is going really well but he's at his best on a firmer track and I'm reluctant to run him first-up on a wet track. 'I've set him for the Takeover Target Stakes and I'm keen to run but we might save him for Scone next week.'' • 'On at the right time': Bayliss bullish about import at Gosford Pride said the opposite applies to Storm The Ramparts who is entered for the $200,000 Thunder Thousand (1000m). 'Storm The Ramparts loves a wet track,'' the trainer said. 'He is Dragonstone's half-brother and although he is not as good as him, he's a handy sprinter in his own right. 'Their dam, Quick's The Word, is by Shamardal and is a good producer. 'I've had a bit of luck with broodmares by Shamardal. Both Ceolwulf and Private Eye are out of Shamardal mares.'' GIGA CASHED UP Giga Kick, the 2022 The Everest hero, will move to eighth on the all-time list of prizemoney earners if he wins the Group 1 $1m The Goodwood at Morphettville on Saturday. The Clayton Douglas-trained Giga Kick has already earned $12,795,950 and is 10th on the rankings behind mighty mare Winx with $26,451,175. If Giga Kick wins The Goodwood, he will take his earnings to $13,343,200, moving past I Wish I Win ($12,844,303) and Via Sistina ($12,829,989). Giga Kick is the $2.15 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to win The Goodwood where he is extremely well weighted with 54.5kg. KA YING'S WORLD RANKING IS RISING Hong Kong's super sprinter Ka Ying Rising, the early favourite for the $20m The TAB Everest, has moved into equal second position on the 2025 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. Ka Ying Rising scored his 12th consecutive win in the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin last start and improved his official rating to 126 from 124. This moves Ka Ying Rising alongside another Hong Kong champion, Romantic Warrior, on the official world rankings. The only horse rated above the Hong Kong duo is Japan's Forever Young on 127, which he earned after defeating Romantic Warrior in an epic Saudi Cup. The highest Australian-trained horse on the world rankings is Chris Waller's champion mare Via Sistina with 119, ranking her equal 16th. Via Sistina has had a remarkable 2024-25 season winning a record-equalling seven Group 1 races including the Cox Plate-Queen Elizabeth Stakes double and is a certainty for Australian Horse of the Year honours.
