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News.com.au
21 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Queensland specialist Philipsburg hunting Sunshine State hat-trick in Ipswich Cup
Hawkesbury trainer James Ponsonby will shoot for three straight wins in the Sunshine State on Saturday when his Queensland specialist Philipsburg lines up in the $250,000 Ipswich Cup (2150m). Ponsonby had initially aimed Philipsburg at last weekend's Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) on Stradbroke day at Eagle Farm but changed tack after the seven-year-old gelding had an injury scare. 'He got banged up in the paddock and we thought we'd pull the plug because he had a little bit of inflammation,' Ponsonby said. 'It turned out to be nothing, which was good. He would've struggled to beat Campaldino (in the Brisbane Cup), the way it went. 'This (the Listed Ipswich Cup) looked like a fair race on paper in terms of weight conditions. 'He's well, although he hasn't had a lot of luck since he's been home in Sydney so I thought when in Rome, do as the Romans do – back up and try to get another one.' Regular rider Winona Costin has delivered with Philipsburg on two hit-and-run missions to Queensland this year, in a Benchmark 80 (2200m) at Doomben and then a Benchmark 90 (2212m) at Eagle Farm in the space of seven days in April. But in his last three races Philipsburg has struggled, finishing no better than fifth in three Benchmark 78 races at his home track Hawkesbury, Gosford and Randwick. Asked why Philipsburg loved the Sunshine State so much, Ponsonby said: 'It's the genuine tempo. 'In all fairness to him, he's no world beater but he tries very hard and when the weights suit him in terms of benchmarking, he's been able to run in races where he probably deserves more weight but because he's got average Sydney form, then he gets the weight relief. 'In Queensland he goes to sleep in those races where they run along and the genuine tempo helps offset the weight relief sometimes. 'He's just a genuine horse. The day he draws a right number, he'll more than likely get the job done. 'There's more than one reason why Australians want to flock to Queensland to live so you can't blame a Kiwi horse, can you?' Philipsburg ($34) is at long odds to win the Ipswich Cup, with bookmakers favouring Miss Joelene ($5.50), Diablo Bolt ($6), Osmose ($6.50) and Poetic Drama ($7). However, Ponsonby is quietly confident that with Costin in the saddle and carrying a lightweight 53kg, Philipsburg can cause an upset. 'It's a good, solid line-up. We're just going to need a bit of luck in running but if the tempo of the race is genuine then it gives him somewhat of a chance,' Ponsonby said. 'It's a good cup race, no doubt. He ran at Doomben so well, and Ipswich is similar in that it's an on-pace preferential racetrack, so I can't knock him. 'Going back and looking over the Ipswich Cup winners, they're invariably not always the best horse in the race but they're the horse that has the best luck in the race. 'He gets down in the weights to 53kg and Winona is going up to ride him so I can't ask for any more than that.' Caloundra Cup (2400m) on July 5.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Huge offers': Studs clamour for Cool Archie as owner Max Whitby dreams of The Everest
Cool Archie has made a compelling case for Champion Two-year-old honours and put himself into The Everest conversation after his outstanding Group 1 win in the JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm last Saturday. The Chris and Corey Munce -trained Cool Archie made it five wins in succession – four of those at stakes level – when he comfortably held off Hidden Achievement. Unlike the Horse of the Year award which is a foregone conclusion after champion mare Via Sistina 's phenomenal 2024-25 – in which she won a record-equalling seven Group 1 wins including the Cox Plate - Queen Elizabeth Stakes double – there has been no dominant two-year-old this season. In fact, there has been a different winner of each of the five Group 1 two-year-old races with Marhoona and Devil Night scoring their only stakes win in the Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond respectively. Nepotism won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes and Group 3 Baillieu Handicap while Vinrock was unbeaten in three starts and became first horse since Full On Aces (1981) to win the Group 2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes and Group 1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes double. But Cool Archie's late season surge with five consecutive wins including the Listed Dalrello Stakes, Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic, Group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes and Group 1 JJ Atkins gives him a real shot at champion two-year-old honours. 'We feel he has done enough to win that award,'' owner Max Whitby said. 'He's an outstanding colt, he's won from 1000m to 1600m, he's won dry and wet tracks – he's a beauty.'' Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 Whitby said he had already fielded 'some huge offers' from interested studs looking to buy into Cool Archie as a potential stallion prospect. But Whitby said he wasn't going to be rushed into any decisions in the short term as he left on Sunday to attend Royal Ascot in England. 'I've waited 20 years since Savabeel to race another top class colt and I've found one in his grandson, Cool Archie,'' Whitby said. 'It's incredible that Chris Munce won the Cox Plate on Savabeel (2004) for me and all these years later he's training Cool Archie. 'This colt will make a great stallion himself one day but first we have a lot to look forward to with him next season.'' "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 Whitby said Cool Archie had earned a well-deserved spell with initial plans to set the colt for the Group 1 $3 million Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on November 1. But the owner also revealed there had been initial discussions about possibly aiming Cool Archie at the Group 1 $20 million The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18. 'Chris and I have been talking about The Everest, we are open to running him there,'' Whitby said. 'Cool Archie is such an exciting horse you have to look at everything. But we will just let the dust settle for now then see what some of the slot-holders are thinking.'' Whitby shares an Everest slot with Neil Werrett and Col Madden but they have already selected the outstanding Team Hawkes -trained Briasa for the world's richest turf race. Briasa is currently on the third line of TAB Fixed Odds Everest betting at $8 behind Hong Kong sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising at $1.80 and the unbeaten Private Harry at $6.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley recalls ‘dark days' when he feared neck injury would end his career
Newly crowned JJ Atkins champion Martin Harley remembers the 'dark days' when he feared his career as a jockey was over. In January 2023, the popular Irishman suffered multiple fractures to his neck in a sickening fall during a midweek race. Fast-forward to the Queensland Winter Carnival, and the 35-year-old hoop broke a 10-year Group 1 drought to take out the JJ Atkins (1600m) on Champion Two Year Old of the season contender Cool Archie at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Chris and Corey Munce -trained colt capped an incredible season with his fifth straight victory in a sensational campaign that began with a maiden win at Doomben in mid-April and ended with a major win on Stradbroke Handicap Day. Harley has taken a short break from riding to visit his family in Ireland and watch the races at famous racetrack Royal Ascot in England this week as a spectator. But his frightening fall in 2023 left him wondering whether he'd even be able to walk again, let alone make a comeback to riding – particularly given he was forced to wear a neck halo for several weeks during a long stint on the sidelines. 'Certainly there were dark days during that four-and-a-half month period,' he told Racenet. "I'm glad to get back on that Group 1 board." Martin Harley gets his first Group 1 win on Australian soil! — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 14, 2025 'I think the big key was that I never had any operations during that period and it was all natural healing. 'Everything went back for scans and the healing was going in the right direction. 'That was a big boost for me to even make a comeback. I didn't know if I even wanted to get back on a horse. 'When I had my first winner in my comeback – Sunfall for Barry Lockwood at Doomben (in May 2023) – I'll never forget it. 'I wasn't meant to give it up just yet and I got a big thrill out of my first winner back from the injury and to now ride a Group 1 winner (on Cool Archie), that's very special. 'He wears his heart on his sleeve. He's just the whole package and he can do it all.' Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 • The well-travelled Harley has now won six majors since 2012 – three in France and one each in Ireland, England and Australia. Asked where the JJ Atkins victory rated among his six Group 1s, the 35-year-old said: 'It's hard to split them. 'When I came out of my apprenticeship, my first Group 1 winner back in Ireland (in 2012 in the Irish 1,000 Guineas) for Mick Channon on Samitar was very special. 'Going back to my homeland to ride a Group 1 winner was unbelievable and then a Royal Ascot winner with Goldream (in 2015). 'One thing I will say, this (the JJ Atkins) is up there with the best.' JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley celebrating in style ✈ï¸� ðŸ�¾ Via Instagram / djzoro27 — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 14, 2025 Chris Munce, who will fly out to England on Sunday night with son Corey and Cool Archie's owner Max Whitby to also attend the Royal Ascot Carnival, praised Harley's ability to stay composed under pressure. 'He's very confident in his opinion and he backs himself, which is something I like,' Munce told Radio TAB on Sunday. 'He rarely gets it wrong and he's calm under pressure in the bigger races.'
The Australian
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Yellow Brick goes agonisingly close to fairytale upset in Stradbroke Handicap
Queensland hero Yellow Brick almost pulled one of the great fairytale upsets in recent Stradbroke Handicap history but the $41 roughie was narrowly outgunned by favourite War Machine in the $3m race at Eagle Farm on Saturday. It was a bittersweet moment for father-and-daughter trainers Tony and Maddy Sears, who were proud of Yellow Brick's incredible effort but the moment was tinged with some sadness given they came so close to jagging the $1.8m winner's cheque. But they will settle for $540,000 in prizemoney as the runner-up in Queensland's premier race run on a good track on a sunny day in Brisbane. • 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 Straddie is 1400m but if it was run over 1500m on Saturday, the Sears would be popping the champagne corks because Yellow Brick, with Andrew Mallyon on board, was starting to wear down War Machine ($2.65) approaching the winning post. Tony Sears said he was incredibly proud of Maddy, who had been training Yellow Brick at the pair's Gold Coast stables before he joined his daughter on the Glitter Strip just two weeks ago. • 'The boys have done it': Hayes proud of sons' landmark Stradbroke success 'I'm more proud of Maddysen than the horse,' he said. 'She's done a great job getting him ready. 'I've only been down the Gold Coast for two weeks. She's defied all the odds. People think he wasn't going very well but we knew he was going well. 'I backed him. We honestly thought he could win. He's just got to be ridden quiet like that. 'It was unbelievable, she's done a great job with him.' Maddy Sears said after the race she was 'speechless'. 'He was tremendous,' she said about Yellow Brick, who last won in a $160,000 Listed race over 1400m at Eagle Farm in October. 'That was the favourite (War Machine) in the race and he gave him a fair headstart at the top of the straight. 'He was the widest runner and he had to do things the hard way but I couldn't be any prouder.' This week Maddy Sears compared five-year-old gelding Yellow Brick to a Labrador Retriever because he 'loves to be the centre of attention'. And although the spoils of victory went to War Machine and Lindsay Park, Yellow Brick sure grabbed his share of attention. • What the jockeys said: 2025 Stradbroke Handicap Meanwhile, champion jockey Craig Williams said another Queensland hero, old warrior Rothfire, was 'gallant' in finishing seventh for trainer Rob Heathcote, who would have preferred a softer track. The seven-year-old Rothfire had battled a hoof injury for the past 10 days after suffering an untimely stone bruise and was lucky to even make the prestigious race. 'From the outside barrier draw he gave me a beautiful ride from there,' Williams said about the 2020 JJ Atkins champion. 'I got on the back of the eventual winner. He travelled so well but the winner was too good for us late. 'He just got a bit tired today and as Rob Heathcote said, he didn't have the ideal preparation.'
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hayes brothers and Tim Clark combine as War Machine lands the Stradbroke
War Machine lived up to his name with an explosive display to win the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1,400m) at Eagle Farm for the Hayes brothers. Ridden by Tim Clark, the winner of 59 races in Hong Kong including the 2013 Classic Cup on It Has To Be You, the Harry Angel gelding settled just forward of midfield, sitting three wide with cover. Hooked out on the turn, War Machine charged home down the outside and readily collared the leaders, winning by just under a length from a fast-finishing Yellow Brick. War Machine WINS the G1 Stradbroke Handicap! 🏆 Tim Clark with a flawless performance in the saddle! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 The $2.6 favourite was a popular winner for brothers Ben, Will and JD Hayes, who are the sons of Hong Kong trainer David Hayes, and co-trainer Ben was full of emotion post-race. 'We're very proud, it was an amazing result today,' Ben Hayes said. 'We're fortunate to be able to get that horse from Mike Moroney and he's an amazing, exciting horse. 'It's funny, a lot of people expect him to be a big, powerful horse. But he's got a physique like Mr Brightside, so hopefully he's the same.' And a humble Clark, who rode the perfect race, deflected all praise onto his willing partner and the trainers. David Hayes (middle) with his sons JD (left) and Will (right). HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. 'He travelled so well, I probably let him loose a bit early. But this was the grand final, there's no tomorrow, so I wasn't going to die wondering,' said Clark. 'He let rip, really let rip. Maybe just wandered a little bit late. He could feel Yellow Brick coming late and sort of surged again. 'I can't take too much credit for it. What a great job by Ben and his brothers to just have him spot on for today. I was just the lucky one to get the call up.'
