Tamworth preview: Green Shadows is chasing gold in Tamworth Cup

Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Big Dance last November was an afterthought for Green Shadows according to co-trainer Gerald Ryan but it's at the forefront of his mind this year.
Ryan and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou have targeted the Tamworth Cup (1400m), which carries Big Dance eligibility, as an ideal starting point for Green Shadows who races extremely well first-up.
'The Big Dance will be the plan for him this year. He has to get through this race first and we will see how he goes,' said Ryan.
'About six weeks ago we decided to target the Tamworth Cup first-up with him.
'It would be nice if he could book his place in the Big Dance now and we can make a plan to have him spot on in November.'
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!
Green Shadows scored a first-up win in a Benchmark 78 at Warwick Farm on April 1 last year and progressed to winning a Midway at Randwick before capturing the Goulburn Cup at his eighth start for the preparation on August 25.
He then had to stay up until November 5 for the $3 million feature.
'The Big Dance was an afterthought with him last campaign. He won the Goulburn Cup at his eighth start and was over the top by the time he got to Randwick three runs later,' he said.
'He still ran an honest race. He drew bad and was out wide all-the-way.
'He spelled well and I reckon he grew which is strange at his age.
'He has comeback well, his work has been good and his trials have been solid without his blinkers on.'
He will try and replicate the success of Big Dance winner Gringotts who qualified for the race by winning the Tamworth Cup.
Inverell trainer Todd Payne has his stable star and Country Championship Final runner-up Lisztomania in the Cup as well as the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
'Tamworth looks more tempting as the rail is out nine metres at Randwick which doesn't help but he does race so well there,' Payne said.
'He hasn't missed a place in six starts there and that's what makes it hard not to look at that race.'
Lisztomania has drawn wide in gate 14 in the Tamworth Cup, the same barrier he had when a close second in the Country Championship Qualifier.
'It doesn't really matter too much with him because he will be coming down the middle of the track anyway,' he said.
'He will go for a spell after this and our next mission is The Kosciuszko and we will go into that fresh.'
Payne also has three other runners for the day including Desert Cougar, who is a half-sister to Lisztomania, in the Maiden Plate (1000m).
The daughter of Capitalist only had one run for Payne at the end of last campaign when fifth to Sharpen The Knives at Armidale on December 8.
'She ran a handy race and we put her away,' he said.
'She trialled well the other day and I'm very happy with her going into this race. I think she is a chance.'
Payne also saddles up Celestialconqueror in the Super Maiden (1400m).
'He's a nice horse but will want further as he gets into his preparation,' Payne said.
'The 1400m first-up is a good starting point for him and the blinkers go on. He's worked in them and is a lot more focused.'
Takemine will back up in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) following strong closing second over 1100m at Armidale last week.
'She is dropping back to 1000m and will get back but the last time she raced at the track and distance, she rattled home to be beaten a nostril,' he said.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
It's been a long and frustrating preparation with Duped By Spin but trainer Craig Widdison is hoping she can pick up a well-earned win when she crosses the border.
Duped By Spin started her campaign at Wagga on November 1 and had a couple of hiccups along the way but found some consistency in the past two months with consecutive placings before contesting last week's Albury Cup.
'She's had a fairly long preparation but nothing has gone right for her,' said Widdison.
'Every time we thought we had he ready, something went wrong then her last few runs had been good up until the Cup last week.
'We were hoping to get to the fence and have a cheap run but that didn't eventuate.'
The five-year-old finished second last behind Matusalem in the Listed event but will appreciate a drop back in grade when she backs-up in the Benchmark 82 Handicap (2000m).
Prior to that, she was second in the Tom Patton Cup at Wagga, second in the Albury Mile behind County Kilkenny and a close fourth to Star Buyer in the Gundagai Cup.
'Her run in the Albury Cup was good on a heavy track behind County Kilkenny who grows a leg on the wet,' he said
'In the Gundagai Cup, she was left in front and fair way out and just got swamped late. She is a better chaser.
'She has taken no harm out of the Albury Cup and this looks a nice race for her.
'Nick Souquet is back on as well. He knows her quite well and has had some luck on her.
'She deserves another win and hopefully she can get that here.'
Widdison's other runner is Sister Shay who is looking for a breakthrough win in the Maiden Handicap (1500m) after placings runner-up in her three runs for Widdison following a debut seventh at Kyneton for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.
'She has been great with three seconds in-a-row but it's also been a bit hard to take,' he said.
'I have thrown the blinkers on her this week in the hope they can help her find an extra length or so.
'We have also gone with a claim this week, not that Wardy (Brendan Ward) has done anything wrong.
'We just wanted to try something different and that two kilos might just make the difference.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Mercury

43 minutes ago

• Mercury

Murwillumbah preview, tips: Ethan Ensby's Rainbow Lass chases hat-trick

In-form mare Rainbow Lass isn't just chasing a hat-trick of wins, she is on trial for a possible feature race target at next month's Grafton carnival. Following two solid wins over 1000m and 1200m on her home track at Casino, trainer Ethan Ensby feels to time is right to test Rainbow Lass over a longer distance in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1550m). 'She is going enormous at the moment,' said Ensby. 'She is obviously stepping up to the 1500m for the first time and being by Pariah, she probably isn't bred to get that far but at home, my partner rides her work and she is showing us she is that 1400m to a mile type. 'She sat three-wide working up the hill at Casino over the 1200 metres last start which is like running 1300 or 1400 metres. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'She does like a wet track so the Soft 7 will suit her. My only concerns are the weight, she carriers 58.5kg after Izzy's (Neale) claim, and the gate if she happens to blow the start like she has been known to do. 'If she gets out and into a good position, she should be very competitive. 'If she happens to win this race, I might aim her at the Grafton Guineas.' Ensby is looking forward to seeing Mahuika Maroi make her race debut in the Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1200m). The three-year-old has been safely beaten in both her barrier trials but Ensby said things didn't go as he'd hoped on either occasion. 'When she trialled at the Gold Coast, it was supposed to be on the B Grass but they switched to polytrack which I wasn't very happy about. 'I didn't want to trial on the poly but with the weather the way it was, she had to go around and use it as a bit of a gallop and hope for the best. 'She wasn't put under any pressure that day. 'We then went to Grafton for her next trial and she slipped coming out of the gates on the wet track and tweaked a muscle hence while it's been a while until her first start. 'She finds a really nice race start off in and although the 1200 metres will be short of her best, I think she will run a nice race with the expectation she will be better for it.' Ensby has Shez Mysterious and Gold Puma in the Maiden Handicap (1550m) but is leaning towards splitting the pair and saving the later for either Port Macquarie or Lismore during the week. Shez Mysterious failed on her home track on May 30 but Ensby feels it is worth forgetting that run and judge her on her first two starts. The daughter of So You Think debuted with a fourth to Rainbow Lass on a Heavy 10 at Casino before coming from a conspicuous last when beaten just over a length in fourth place at Inverell on May 23. 'I think the heavy track and the quick back-up went against her last start. She just didn't handle it,' he said. 'I think it would pay to forgive her for that. 'I've given her a bit of time since then and the beauty of training at the farm is it allows me to put her out during the day. 'He first-up run at Casino was encouraging then second-up, she stood like a deer in the headlights in the barrier at Inverell and came out a clear last. 'She really closed of strongly though. 'I give her a really good chance with Ben Looker on board from barrier 1.' ADAM SHERRY'S TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 6 No. 1: SAXINOUE Unbeaten second-up and steps up to a suitable trip. NEXT BEST Race 8 No. 11: LUCKY NEKO Led all-the-way last start and can go back-to-back. VALUE BET Race 4 No. 7: FEATHERTOP Handy effort after a wide run last start. Looking for the extra trip. QUADDIE Race 5: 2, 5 Race 6: 1, 5 Race 7: 1, 3, 5 Race 8: 2, 11 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Hard to go past JETT NEWMAN in the TAB Jockey Challenge with her strong book of rides. INSIDE MAIL – MURWILLUMBAH RACE 1: MURWILLUMBAH CUP AUGUST 22 COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN HANDICAP 1200m HERALD ANGEL (2) settled midfield and worked home nicely between horses to finish a neck second behind the tough Diva's Reign on debut at Grafton. Will take benefit from the experience. GAVIN (3) finished a couple of close placings along with two fourths last campaign. MAHUIKA MAROI (4) is a first starter by Redwood. Wasn't pushed when third to Olivershare on an unsuitable synthetic track in her Gold Coast trial. Bred to get over further. Bet: Herald Angel to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 2: RACING MATES COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1010m NO RAGRETS (5) broke through with a big win from Barron at Ballina last start. Led and kicked away to win by nearly four lengths. Will take plenty of confidence out of that. ODETTE'S ORCHID (6) likes to lead or be right up on speed. Forced to settled near midfield when last on a Heavy 10 at Ballina first-up. Will be fitter for the run, appreciate a firmer track and can bounce back. HUMPHREE BEAR (2) missed the kick and was well back throughout first-up. Chance on Grafton win from Rainbow Lass. Bet: No Ragrets to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 3: TOPLINE THOROUGHBREDS MAIDEN PLATE 1010m SIGLO DE ORO (1) raced outside the leader and boxed on well for a two length fourth behind Make A Call when resuming over 1110m at Doomben. Back to 1010m and was beaten a nose at his only run at this trip. DARE TO LOVE (5) finished a half-length in front of Siglo De Oro when third in that Doomben race. Buffeted at start and worked early when seventh at Doomben last start. Will find this easier. MISS LINNY (7) will be better over further but can run well first-up. Bet: Siglo De Oro to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 4: TOOHEYS GRAFTON CUP PREVIEW BM 82 HANDICAP 2020m FEATHERTOP (7) ran handy races in his first two runs back at Doomben. Raced three-wide midfield when a two length seventh to Fiorsum Fred in a 1600m Highway at Scone on May 17. Up to 2000m now. Stablemate FULL OF SINCERITY (1) resumed with a good win at Ballina before a long neck third at Ipswich. Just behind the placegetters over 2200m in two runs since. Gets a 2kg claim. SHERRIFF CODY (6) jumps up to 2020m and has placed in four from six at the trip. Bet: Feathertop each-way ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 5: XXXX GINGER MAIDEN HANDICAP 1550m SILENT CALL (2) had his chance when a neck second at Benalla over 1600m in February. Resumed for a new stable with a closing fifth at Doomben over 1200m. Step up in trip suits. ALMALIKAT SARAH (5) has improved with each run. Came from well back when fifth at Grafton on debut. Led when second at Beaudesert six week later then just caught by Rick For Reward at Ballina last start. CASTERLY ROCK (3) was held up on the home turn when third to Jillaroo at Doomben last start. Bet: Silent Call to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 6: BRIMS CONCRETE & LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1550m SAXINOUE (1) settled well back before closing off nicely despite finishing seventh when resuming over 1200m at Grafton. Jumps up to 1550m. He is unbeaten second-up including a win here on his home track. ALL ABOUT ARTIE (5) has had a long campaign which started with a win at Ipswich in January and he continues to race well. Was a three-quarter length third at Warwick two starts back before a half-length second to Monastery at Ballina. BETTER YET (4) drop sin grade from his win and fourth at Ipswich at his past two starts. Bet: Saxinoue to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 7: RIVERVIEW HOTEL BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1550m INSINUATE (3) recorded her maiden win over this track and distance in February. After a couple of unplaced Eagle Farm runs, dropped back to country grade with a big win at Casino followed by a third last start both over 1400m. RAINBOW LASS (5) was just pipped at Ballina before winning her next two starts nicely at Casino over 1000m and 1200m. Up to 1550m for the first time which is a query but her dam won up to 1600m so worth a try. CAPITAL BOSS (1) has claims on his Gold Coast two starts back. Bet: Insinuate to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 8: MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1200m LUCKY NEKO (11) was caught three-wide without cover when fifth to Ultimate Say at Grafton first-up. Jumped straight to the front and scored by over a length from Rock The Machine over 1400m at Casino last start. Drops back to 1200m but drawn well and gets a 2kg claim again. FLAME TREE STAR (3) resumes here and has placed in both first-up runs. Was beaten a short half head by Neil over 1100m fresh up last time in. SUPERZOOM (6) had a tough run at Warwick last start and has been freshened. Is a winner this track and distance. Bet: Lucky Neko to win

Courier-Mail

7 hours ago

• Courier-Mail

AFLW star Tilly Lucas-Rodd ‘so happy' after gender-affirming top surgery

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFLW. Followed categories will be added to My News. AFLW star Tilly Lucas-Rodd has revealed they are 'so happy' and feel so much like themselves after having gender-affirming top surgery during the off-season. The 29-year-old Hawthorn star is the league's first current player to undergo the surgery - which removes breast tissue in a similar way to a double mastectomy - and said they feel so much more comfortable. 'People often have asked me, 'How do I feel now that I've had it' - post-surgery, seeing myself,' Lucas-Rodd, who identifies as non-binary, told ABC Sport. '... for me, it was like, 'this is how I've always looked when I saw myself' … This is what I've always thought and always seen internally.' AFLW star Tilly Lucas-Rodd says they are 'so happy' after undergoing gender affirming top surgery. Picture: Instagram/tillylr Prior to the surgery, Lucas-Rodd was taping or binding their chest and wearing a guernsey multiple sizes too large in order to reduce dysphoria. This practice however, was causing issues, sometimes restricting breathing and movement, and creating back pain. Since returning to training, however, Lucas-Rodd said they are relishing the freedom of not needing a sports bra or chest bindings. 'Going out onto the track in our training guernseys or our singlets, I just feel so, so happy and so just like me,' they said. 'I had huge discomfort around my chest, huge dysphoria. It didn't match up with what I felt internally I should look like.' The halfback came out publicly as non-binary in 2023, saying at the time that they 'don't really identify strongly as my assigned gender at birth, which is female.' 'I don't really feel strongly that I fit into that label as a female, and at the same time I don't feel like I'm a male, either. I guess I'm in between that,' they said in a video shared on the Hawthorn website. 'So for me, the label 'non-binary' feels most comfortable about how I identify in terms of my gender.' Lucas-Rodd said they feel more comfortable and like themselves since returning to training. Picture: Instagram/tillylr The Hawthorn player identifies as non-binary. Picture: Instagram/tillylr Two other AFLW players, Carlton star Darcy Vescio and former Gold Coast player Tori Groves-Little, also identify as non-binary, and two former players have undergone gender-reaffirming top surgery since leaving the league. Lucas-Rodd spoke to their Hawthorn teammates about the surgery when returning to training and said they were met with 'such love and acceptance'. While opening themselves up to public commentary by sharing their story has been nerve-racking, Lucas-Rodd said they hope to help others in a similar position. 'It's also to show gender diverse and trans people that there is a place for them in sport,' they said. 'Coming out publicly with top surgery, people will say and do what they want, but I'm trying to show people that no matter what gender you are, no matter how you express that, no matter anything about you, that you belong in sport and you belong in sport at a professional and elite level. 'That's a big thing for me … being like regardless of your gender and how you express that, there is this place for you in sport.' Since sharing their ABC Sport interview on Instagram, Lucas-Rodd has recieved many messages of support, including from Aussie musician G Flip who said, 'Hells yeah Tilly,' and Wentworth star Zoe Terakes, who shared a series of strong arm and love heart emojis. Originally published as AFLW star Tilly Lucas-Rodd 'so happy' after gender-affirming top surgery

Courier-Mail

12 hours ago

• Courier-Mail

Supercars Darwin: Barry Ryan's frank verdict on fall of Erebus

Don't miss out on the headlines from Motorsport. Followed categories will be added to My News. Erebus chief executive Barry Ryan has offered a frank reflection on a crippling 18 months that has seen his title-winning team slip to last in the Supercars standings. After a fairytale start to the Gen3 era, which saw Erebus win both the drivers' and teams' titles in 2023, the squad has endured a string of well-publicised internal struggles. Will Brown defected to Triple Eight at the end of 2023, while reigning champion Brodie Kostecki missed the start of the 2024 season while in dispute with the team, which coincided with big name sponsors such as Coca-Cola walking away. Kostecki would later return and win the Bathurst 1000, however left to Dick Johnson Racing at the end of last season – along with both Erebus race engineers George Commins and Tom Moore. Will Brown left Erebus at the end of 2023. Picture: Brendan Radke Brodie Kostecki was another high-profile departure. Team principal Brad Tremain also left the squad at the end of 2024 with plans to pursue an opportunity in IndyCar in the US. That has prompted a significant, and ongoing, internal rebuild, highlighted by Ryan himself needing to take the race engineer role on Jack Le Brocq's car. It's been tough going for Le Brocq and rookie teammate Cooper Murray, too, with Erebus slumping to last in the teams' standings ahead of this weekend's Darwin Triple Crown. 'There's no hiding behind it; the last 18 months have been really hard on our team. Really hard,' said Ryan at Hidden Valley on Friday. 'Losing key people … our last rebuild was 2021 and we got Brodie and Will and no one believed, really, in that. And we won a championship two years later, and we won Bathurst the year after. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY 'We've gone back to where we were [in 2021]. 'It's hard on the team. To replace people like George, Tom and Brodie is really hard. Brad Tremain is going to kick goals in America. That's four key people out of the team, it's really tough to replace that. 'It's going to take time. We can't hide behind that. I can only do so much and the boys that I've had there for six, seven years can only do so much. 'Unfortunately I'm still race engineering, and I say that because I shouldn't be. I should be running the business. But until we can get the right person to do that role; we're trying to self-promote from within, we're trying to find an engineer we can just put in and be really successful. Cooper Murray was 11th in the second practice session in Darwin. 'It's a balancing act and I can't say I'm really enjoying it. We got to a point where we were beating Triple Eight and we wanted to be that team that was the best year in, year out. 'Massive respect to Roland Dane for what he did for that whole time he was there, and what they're still doing. We got there and we just couldn't keep the momentum. 'No matter what everyone thinks the reason is why. We just couldn't keep that momentum that teams like that can do. 'Anyway, it's a lesson learned, this whole situation. We'll try not to go through it again. 'We'll get there again. We're confident in our team. We've got a great bunch of loyal staff that want to stay on and want to see us get there again and win championships and Bathursts. 'We're still going to go to Bathurst trying to win there this year. We'll have the belief and we'll have the drivers than can do it.' Erebus showed signs of improvement on track on Friday, with Murray 11th in the second practice session and Le Brocq in 19th as Andre Heimgartner led the way for Brad Jones Racing ahead of Ryan Wood and Will Brown. This story was written by Speedcafe Originally published as Supercars Darwin: Barry Ryan's frank verdict on fall of Erebus