Latest news with #Zealously
News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Randwick inside mail: Sydney race looks ideal for Ducasse after draw dents Brisbane bid
Golden Slipper-winning trainer Michael Freedman is hopeful his decision to keep the in-form Ducasse in Sydney is rewarded with victory in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Freedman had Ducasse entered for the $300,000 Listed Brisbane Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm but when the gelding drew barrier 17 he decided to race for half the prizemoney at Randwick. 'We kept Ducasse in Sydney because of the wide barrier he drew at Eagle Farm,'' Freedman confirmed. 'He seems to be in good order and the rain around won't hurt him, either. 'Randwick is his favourite track and this is about his best distance so potentially this race sets up nicely for him.'' TAB price assessors agree with Ducasse the $4.40 favourite to continue his form surge this autumn. Ducasse resumed with a strong win over 1400m at Rosehill then ran competitively at stakes level in successive starts when fifth to Iowna Merc in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes before a close third to Just Folk in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude. • Ray and Duff's Randwick tips: Best bet 'jumps out at me' Freedman, who prepared Marhoona to win the Golden Slipper during the Sydney autumn carnival, also has emerging three-year-old Colophon as the $4 favourite for the NSW Bookmakers Co-Operative Handicap (1400m). Colophon comes to Randwick after a monstrous win at Kembla Grange when he led throughout and put a margin of more than five lengths on his chasing rivals. But Freedman does have concerns about the rain-affected track conditions and doesn't want Randwick to get much worse than its current Soft 7 rating. 'I need to keep an eye on the track conditions,'' the trainer explained. 'Colophon once ran on a Heavy 9 and wasn't at his best. 'He'll run on the proviso the track stays in the soft range. If he gets a track that is suitable then he is quite a progressive young horse and might earn himself a ticket to Queensland if he keeps going the right way.'' • Import has class to win but Kent Jr still wary Freedman will be at Eagle Farm where he has the superbly-bred Seascape chasing stakes success in the Listed $160,000 Mick Dittman Plate (1000m). Seascape, who is by super sire I Am Invincible out of the Group 2 winner Adrift, has won three of her nine starts including her recent Kensington win a month ago. 'With her pedigree we are hoping to get some black type,'' Freedman said. 'It is just a shame she has drawn off the track but she is going well.'' â– â– â– â– â– RANDWICK BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS RACE 4: Zealously $2.30-$1.90 after a bet of $2000 at $2 RACE 5: Saganti $4.60-$3.40 RACE 6: Lisztomania $4.60-$3.90, Piastri $8-$5 RACE 9: Colophon $8-$3.90, Engine Room $6-$5 RACE 10: Know Thyself $3.50-$2.30 EARLY QUADDIE RACE 3: 3, 6, 9, 15 RACE 4: 1, 6 RACE 5: 4, 5, 7, 8 RACE 6: 3, 6, 8, 10 QUADDIE RACE 7: 1, 2, 8 RACE 8: 2, 3, 5, 13 RACE 9: 3, 9, 10, 15 RACE 10: 1, 2, 8 PRICE CHECK SUNRISE (race 2) has been a significant shortener with TAB after the scratching of early favourite Photographics. Sunrise, who set a course record to win at Kembla last start, was $2.80 but is now into $1.90 favouritism. Zealously (race 4) has also shortened from $2.30 to $1.90 after a bet of $2000 at $2. SECTIONAL STARS SUNRISE (race 2) produced a stunning comeback effort at Kembla Grange over 1000m last month, leading throughout to win by more than seven lengths and stopping the clock at a track record-breaking 55.58sec. She ran her final 600m in a flying 32.23sec. KNOW THYSELF (race 10) was able to sustain a strong final 600m sprint to win the Country Championships Final. Despite being caught three-wide albeit with cover, then forced even wider on the turn, Know Thyself ran his final 600m in 34.28sec including a closing 200m sectional of 11.61sec to score a narrow but impressive win. Never doubt yourself! A finish for the ages in the Country Championships Final, and Know Thyself wins it by a whisker for @Paulmessara and @LGavranich with @Aaronbullock90 aboard! ðŸ'� @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025 TRIAL POINTERS PASSEGGIATA (race 4) has looked more like her old self racing away to successive barrier trial wins by big margins in recent weeks. She romped home by four lengths from classy mare Olentia in a 900m Rosehill heat then ran her rivals ragged to win by more than five lengths at Warwick Farm over 822m. She hasn't won for nearly two years but looks to be coming up really well for this preparation, she's drawn the rails and handles rain-affected going. WOOTTON VERNI (race 8) won five of his nine starts in France including a Group 3 in France. He's had two barrier trials for new trainer Chris Waller and was particularly impressive at Warwick Farm last week when he came from near last, hugged the rail and finished strongly for second behind the speedy Oh Diamond Lil. Champion jockey James McDonald rode Wootton Verni in his latest trial and sticks with the horse for his Australian debut. BEST BET ZEALOUSLY (race 4) raced through his grades late last year with three successive wins, leading throughout and winning by comfortable margins. He was then given his chance in The Sunlight and ran very well for fourth behind subsequent Group 1 winner Private Harry back in January. Zealously resumed at Warwick Farm earlier this month and trailed leader Wondereach into the straight, ranged up to win but could not get past his race-fit rival, losing narrowly. Zealously will be fitter for that run and is not badly treated at the weights after the claim. He looks placed to advantage. What a finish! 😮 Wondereach salutes by a nose to grant the @mcsmithracing stable a double! ✌ï¸� — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 2, 2025 VALUE BET INVADER ZIM (race 6) is resuming but he invariably sprints well fresh as he showed at his last two comeback runs with both second placings at Randwick. Last winter he endured a wide run and was unlucky not to have won over 1300m on a heavy track then last December he was first-up at 1200m and beat all but Disneck who was in rampant form. Invader Zim handles wet tracks and is over the odds around $12.
News.com.au
24-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Lavish Empire shooting for back-to-back 1500m wins with his new-found stamina reserves when he heads to Randwick
Champion trainer Peter Snowden is considering a Scone Cup start for Lavish Empire if he maintains winning form in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Snowden said Lavish Empire surprised him with his new-found stamina reserves when he defeated Grebeni in the Muswellbrook Cup last start. 'We had never tried Lavish Empire at 1500m before but he hit the line really well to win at Muswellbrook,' Snowden said. • 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! 'I thought he should have another crack at the trip and if he runs well again then I'm thinking about setting him for the Scone Cup next month. 'If he can run a mile (1600m) then it opens up a lot more opportunities.' Lavish Empire is second emergency but is over the odds at $21 with TAB Fixed Odds for the Randwick race where Ducasse is the $4.20 favourite. But Snowden's promising sprinter Zealously dominates at the betting at $1.80 for the Jeff Pendlebury Handicap (1000m). Zealously resumed with a close second to Wondereach at Warwick Farm and Snowden said three-year-old has been improved by the run. 'He ran super first-up and was only caught right on the line,' Snowden said. 'He has come on well from that and this looks a nice race for him on paper. 'When he was last in work he only had four runs for three wins then he ran fourth to Private Harry in The Sunlight on the Sunshine Coast so his form is very good.' A busy finish in the Muswellbrook Gold Cup at @thebrookracing and it's Lavish Empire who books his Big Dance chance!ðŸ'ƒ A double to @SnowdenRacing1 today with Mitch Bell in the saddle! @racing_nsw â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 28, 2025 • 'It's a sad day': Group 1-winner Happy Clapper dies Snowden also saddles up will King Of Roseau ($7) in the Terry Maskell Handicap (1200m) and unbeaten filly Akaysha ($8) in the ATC Bookmakers Recognition Day Handicap (1100m). King Of Roseau, who was stakes-placed twice last spring, resumed with a close fourth against older horses at Warwick Farm earlier this month. 'He ran well first-up and he will like the 'cut' in the track on Saturday,' Snowden said. 'I'm looking to take him to the Gold Coast on May 10 (Gold Coast Guineas) if he runs well at Randwick.' Akaysha won impressively on debut at Kembla Grange earlier this month, recording a very fast 55.86s for the 1000m. She is at $8 in early betting behind favourite Beskar at $2.50. At the Kensington Anzac Day meeting on Friday, Snowden has Queen Of Dragons resuming in the Gallipoli Handicap (1400m). Although Queen Of Dragons is rated at $17 for her return to racing, Snowden believes the mare is an each-way chance. 'Queen Of Dragons doesn't mind the sting out of the ground,' Snowden said. 'She trialled super the other day in a good heat and she can run well fresh.'
