Bear On The Loose poised to spoil Sir Lucan's hopes of back-to-back Winter Cups
In-form jockey Adam Hyeronimus, who has had six city doubles since May 3, rode Sir Lucan to victory last year and is aboard again. Sir Lucan carries a kilogram less than in 2024, but he is drawn wider.
'It had a very economical run last year [from gate seven],' Hyeronimus said. 'It's drawn 12 but if it can end up in a nice spot, he'll run a very nice race. He just needs to ridden conservatively, and to settle through the race, and it can win.'
Bear On The Loose was a $3.50 favourite, from gate 10 with Zac Wadick to wide, for the Winter Cup. With Hyeronimus aboard, Bear On The Loose was a gritty half-length second last start to Glory Daze in a benchmark 88 2000m race on a heavy Randwick surface three weeks ago. He drops 5.5 kilograms to 53kg for Saturday's test.
'He's been very good and is versatile in all conditions,' Bott said. 'He seems in good shape but is up in grade and trip again, but I think he's going well.'
Assailant ($6) is another great chance for the stable and Hyeronimus. The four-year-old import was third at Canterbury when first up in Australia and has gate eight for the 2000m benchmark 78 handicap.
Loading
'I thought it was very good on debut and I think he'll improve nicely off the back of that,' Bott said. 'The distance should suit, so looking forward to seeing it step out. He's a nice, progressive stayer.
'Adam is riding well at present and we love supporting Adam. He's always been a big part of the stable, so I'm sure he can hold that form over the spring as well.'
Ganbare was a $23 chance for Bott-Waterhouse in the sixth, a benchmark 78 over 1500m.
'It's still a bit short of his best, but we are looking for the right track conditions for him,' Bott said. 'He's not that effective in the heavy going.'
At Eagle Farm, the Bott-Waterhouse team has chances at higher honours, with Campaldino the $2.80 favourite in the group 2 Brisbane Cup, Farnicle ($10) in the group 1 JJ Atkins, The Instructor ($17) in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap and New Endeavour ($5) in The Q22.
Snowden hopes lightning strikes twice for Touristic at Rosehill
Randwick trainer Peter Snowden says Touristic's dominant Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) win – his first in almost a year – was no fluke, and he is confident the six-year-old can back it up in the Winter Cup (2400m) on Saturday at Rosehill.
But he needs all the favours again.
'He's done well,' Snowden said. 'He had everything go right for him the other day, but he's that sort of horse, too. He needs things to go his way, with the right track, the right draw and right sort of run, and he should get that on Saturday.
'He's drawn two on Saturday and he should get a soft track again. There's nothing wrong with his work, and it was no fluke either. He'd been running well without winning, so hopefully he can put two together.'
Touristic, a son of champion sire Frankel, has just three wins in 29 starts since coming to Australia, but he has placed another nine times.
Snowden said soft tracks were the key to success for Touristic, which was a $4.50 Sportsbet chance off his two-length victory in the Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill on heavy going. Andrew Adkins has the ride again.
'He's been in a lot of good races and been running really well, best sectionals in the race and that sort of thing,' Snowden said. 'But he's hit some firm tracks. His Canberra Cup run was enormous, on a rock-hard track. But he's been going super and things are now starting to fall into place.'
Snowden also had Hopper and Wave Breaker down to race at Rosehill, but he said both would likely be kept for another week because of wide draws.
King Of Roseau will run in the seventh, a benchmark 78 handicap over 1300m and was an $11 hope. The Capitalist three-year-old was last on a heavy Randwick track on May 24 but was second to Step Aside and Raikkonen in his two runs leading into that on soft going.
'He's back to 1300 here, and that track at Randwick was too difficult for him, and that was the only bad run he's put in,' he said. 'But we've put the winkers back on for Saturday and I think that will help get up there a bit closer, and he's not without a chance.
'He's been running really well, getting beat half a head and a nose twice, then that heavy track the other day, I took a punt that he could handle it, but he never went a yard in it. But he's had plenty of time to get over it.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Sun
2 days ago
- Herald Sun
2025 Gai Waterhouse Classic: Gerringong for John Singleton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The party-style atmosphere on Ipswich Cup day may not be the ideal sweet spot for a 'delicate' filly but it is where John Singleton's youngster Gerringong can make a spring carnival statement. Larrikin owner Singleton has slashed his racing interests in recent years but thought enough of Gerringong to keep her to race, in partnership with some rugby league greats including Mick Cronin, Bob O'Reilly and Peter Wynn. The three-year-old filly is favourite for the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) as Waterhouse tries to win the race named after her for the second time in six years. • 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! Gerringong has won two of her five career starts and what stands out on stalks is her effort in the $3m Sunlight 3YO slot race on the Sunshine Coast in January. She finished only 4½ lengths off subsequent Group 1 winner Private Harry, with 2024 Golden Slipper champ Lady of Camelot the runner-up that night. 'The first and second horses in that race were two proper Group 1 horses and she wasn't too far off them, having a luckless run,' co-trainer Adrian Bott said. • Lipp out to fulfil $40m Lotto winner's spring carnival dream 'She was only having her third race start and also probably coming to the back end of her preparation. 'She did a remarkable job in that one campaign and she has shown improvement this time in. 'She is quite a delicate sort of horse but she has got plenty of natural talent. 'As she keeps getting deeper into her career and matures and becomes seasoned, hopefully we can see a nice progressive filly. 'She was showing promise in her early days so Singo was more than happy to hold onto her and some of the other partners (owners) he put into the horse were keen to race her as well.' Gerringong will have plenty of admirers in Saturday's Gai Waterhouse Classic. Picture: Bradley Photos • Warnie can honour cricket legend with consolation victory Gerringong has had two starts this campaign for two runner-up finishes, in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone and the Listed Queensland Day Stakes at Eagle Farm. At Eagle Farm, she got well back and rattled to the line. From a wide barrier around the tricky Ipswich track, Bott is hoping the filly can be closer in the run and show she can be a spring carnival player. 'We should be able to give her a nice freshen up after this and find something in the spring for her,' Bott said. • EXPERT TIPS: Graeme Carey's best bets, quaddie picks and race-by-race analysis for Ipswich on Saturday 'Last start, she was a bit slow into stride when I thought she might have been a bit more forward in the run. 'She does have tactical speed, so she may have an opportunity to be a bit more forward at Ipswich to try to offset the barrier. 'This race used to be raced over 1350m and I wouldn't have minded if it still was. 'I think we could stretch this filly to 1400m-1600m going forward, but she will still be good at 1200(m) at this point.' Adrian Bott. Picture: Getty Images • Uncommon James on spring mission after passing 'make or break' prep Sydney jockey Regan Bayliss will have the job of working some magic with Gerringong from the wide barrier. Bayliss has a strong book of rides on Ipswich Cup day including Osmose for Waterhouse and Bott in the Ipswich Cup and Eye Liner Stakes favourite Warnie for Ciaron Maher. Originally published as John Singleton's 'delicate' filly Gerringong to rock Ipswich as Gai Waterhouse bids to win her own race
The Age
5 days ago
- The Age
Race-by-race tips and previews for Wednesday's meeting at Canterbury
Selections based on a soft track Race 1 1. Central Coast made a promising debut despite going down as an odds-on favourite just over a week ago. Sprinted like the winner only to be grabbed late by a stablemate who jumped out of the ground. He gets his chance. 2. Caviar is a Frankel colt on debut for the Waterhouse/Bott stable and he seemed to improve at his second trial when up a bit in distance. Likely he'll improve further under race conditions and is a big watch. 8. Crossbow has raced experience having debuted at Rosehill in January in the race won by Wodeton. Returns as a gelding and both trials have been more than acceptable. One to keep an eye on. How to play it: Central Coast WIN. Race 2 6. Straight Sets is a nicely bred filly on debut and she's looked the part winning both her trials. Led the first trial when scoring narrowly then sat last and finished strongly to win the latest over 1030m. Well drawn and looks a good chance to kick off with a win. 1. Ernaux was a huge drifter in betting first-up at Warwick Farm and she worked home pretty well at the end of 1100m to run second. Shapes as though the extra ground will be in her favour and she has to be considered. 2. Avenue Montaigne and 4. Kakadu Sunset are stablemates from the Waterhouse/Bott yard and both have trialled handily enough to suggest they could produce something first-up. How to play it: Straight Sets WIN. Race 3 7. Pierro's Girl was unwanted in betting when she resumed at Warwick Farm but she found the line well late to run into third over the 1300m in what looks likely to be a solid form race. Better for the extra ground and has struck a winnable race if she can reproduce. 3. Sleuth is an 11 start maiden but there was enough in her first-up run at Kembla Grange when in the market to say she's come back well and can lift from it. Nice weight drop with the 3kg claim and another who will appreciate the trip. 2. Righteous Legend has been a little disappointing even though he was second in his first two runs back. Last time out had his chance and weakened when fifth at Kembla Grange. Have to include but it's something of a D-Day. H ow to play it: Pierro's Girl EACH-WAY. Race 4 8. Cinsault has registered six placings from as many starts and might have bumped into a smart one when resuming at Warwick Farm. Still ran well with a handy gap to third and this looks a suitable race for her to break through. Entitled to take some beating. 2. Dyami was solid in the betting first-up at Warwick Farm when beaten into third in a close finish over 1100m. Fitter for that and might well appreciate that extra bit of ground now. 10. Miss Jones had some support when resuming in the same race and she was just a bit soft late when running fourth. Fitter for it and she's shown enough to say she can improve, particularly if the track continues to dry out a bit. How to play it: Cinsault WIN.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- News.com.au
2025 JJ Atkins champion Cool Archie is so versatile that trainer Chris Munce isn't sure where he'll end up
'He's probably the best horse that I've ever trained.' Brisbane trainer Chris Munce has never doubted the immense talent of his wonder colt Cool Archie. But the newly crowned JJ Atkins champion is so versatile that Munce is about as muddled about the spring plans for his stable star as rival trainers are in devising a scheme to beat him. Cool Archie has gone to the paddock after an incredible but gruelling campaign that saw him catapult from a maiden win to Group 1 glory in the space of just two months. From the first crop of Newhaven Park-based stallion Cool Aza Beel – a Group 1-winning son of Cox Plate-winner Savabeel – Cool Archie has demonstrated his remarkable versatility in nine career starts. He's won from 1000m to 1600m, racing on and off the speed on both firm and heavy tracks, in the process taking his career prizemoney past the $1.6m mark. 'The world is his oyster because he could be anything,' said Munce, who will attend the famous Royal Ascot Carnival in England this week alongside son and co-trainer Corey Munce, plus Cool Archie's colourful owner Max Whitby. 'Is he a stayer, is he a sprinter, is he just a middle-distance horse? We don't know because we haven't got to the bottom of him.' Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 • Cool Archie has put forward a convincing case to earn this season's Champion Two-Year-Old honours, with his value as a stallion prospect skyrocketing after stamping a Group 1 on his CV. 'It doesn't get much better than this,' said Whitby, also raced Cool Archie's grandsire Savabeel. 'If he's not voted Champion Two-Year-Old of the year then I'll drop my duds. He can be anything – five straight (wins) is unbelievable. 'You show me a better two-year-old around the country. He deserves it on his merit. 'I think this bloke (Cool Archie) has got everything – he's won a maiden, black type, now Group 1 in literally his first prep so to speak. 'I'm just over the moon and so proud of him, the jockey (Martin Harley) and the Munces.' • ' There were dark days': Harley's Group 1 glory caps inspirational return Munce heaped praise on Irish jockey Harley, who has jetted off for a well-deserved break in the UK, where he will also attend Royal Ascot races this week. 'I just think he's very professional and he's a good judge,' Munce said about Harley, who has ridden Cool Archie to five successive victories this campaign. 'He assesses horses very well and their level of ability. He can give you a good guide and feedback on how they're going. 'He doesn't just steer them around for the wages, he actually takes a bit of interest in them and pride in his work. 'He enjoys giving constructive feedback to help the trainer improve the horse.' "You can mount a case he should be 2YO of the season." Cool Archie just keeps getting it done! What a star â� @munceracing @michaelmaxworth @bernadetecooper @BenWayAUS @CoreyGoodSkillz @BradJGray — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2025 • There are spring options aplenty for Cool Archie next campaign and while the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on November 1 looms as a likely target, Whitby said he and Munce had also discussed the possibility of setting the colt for the Group 1 $20m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 18. Team Hawkes -trained Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes winner Briasa already locked in.
