Latest news with #EpsomHandicap
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Stradbroke Handicap runner-up Yellow Brick will be set for another attempt at Epsom Handicap
A bout of travel sickness aborted Yellow Brick 's shot at the Group 1 Epsom Handicap last year, but it is full steam ahead this time for the plucky Stradbroke Handicap runner-up. The Queensland training team of Maddy Sears and her father Tony have circled the Epsom at Randwick in October as the goal for Yellow Brick in the remainder of 2025. • 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! An Epsom mission had been on the cards last year but plans changed when Yellow Brick spiked a temperature from travel sickness and had to be scratched from one of his lead-up runs. It totally altered the Sydney spring campaign for Yellow Brick who then targeted the $2m Five Diamonds in November where he finished a valiant third. Maddy Sears is convinced five-year-old Yellow Brick has never been going better and she was delighted when her opinion was franked when he turned in a huge run at $41 to finish Stradbroke runner-up behind War Machine last Saturday. After a short paddock break, it is onwards and upwards to a Sydney spring campaign which will culminate in the Epsom over the famous Randwick mile. War Machine WINS the G1 Stradbroke Handicap! ðŸ�† Tim Clark with a flawless performance in the saddle! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 'He is so good over a mile and all the prominent form people we have spoken to say the Epsom would be an ideal race for him,' Maddy Sears said. 'He will have a couple of weeks off in a grassy paddock and then a couple of trials before we head to Sydney. 'He hasn't won an interstate race yet, but he has gone close, and we really want him to show what he can do on the big stage down south.' Yellow Brick finished three-quarters of a length off War Machine in the Stradbroke but on reflection, Maddy Sears believes he should have finished even closer. He not only suffered some interference from an incident that saw Rothfire's jockey Craig Williams suspended for 14 days, but he was also one of the few runners at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke day to make significant ground from near the back. 'He copped some interference and that probably put us a length or two back from where we really wanted to be in the run,' Sears said. 'But it really did feel like a win, Dad and I are part-owners of the horse and he owes us nothing. 'A lot of people knocked him from his prior run at Doomben, but he carried a big weight and he has never really loved Doomben. 'He seemed to get crucified on the back of one run and I thought his odds in the Stradbroke were ridiculous. 'He was the forgotten horse of the race for many people, but he certainly wasn't for us.' Yellow Brick earned $540,000 from his runner-up finish in the Stradbroke, taking his career prizemoney haul to almost $2.5m. Tony and Maddy Sears, who have moved from Toowoomba to the Gold Coast to train, are hunting their first Group 1 triumph and hope they can crack it in the Epsom.
News.com.au
19-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Bookies can't split Lady Shenandoah and Autumn Glow as spring markets are revealed
Who is the better three-year-old filly – Autumn Glow or Lady Shenandoah? It's a debate that has raged for months with opinions evenly divided after both of trainer Chris Waller 's star fillies completed perfect seasons. Even the bookies are having trouble separating them with TAB Fixed Odds price assessors rating Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah as equal favourites for some of the biggest races of the spring. TAB is today opening betting on many of the major spring carnival races and have Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah sharing favouritism at $6 for the Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap and $4.50 for the $10 million Golden Eagle. Another of Waller's outstanding fillies, the runaway ATC Australian Derby winner Aeliana, is on the second line of Epsom betting at $8 and fourth favourite for the Golden Eagle at $11. The release of the TAB markets is timely as both Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah returned to pre-training on Monday. Autumn Glow's owner John Messara said it was too early to lock in her spring program but confirmed the Epsom Handicap and Golden Eagle were likely targets. 'We have all our options open but at this stage the first Group 1 for Autumn Glow is likely to be the Epsom Handicap,'' Messara said. 'There is also the Golden Eagle to consider but it all depends on Autumn Glow and what Chris thinks is best for her. 'She has spelled really well, she's physically bigger and stronger now, and it's exciting to think what she could do in the spring.'' Autumn Glow is unbeaten in four starts including the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes and Listed Darby Munro Stakes. ðŸ�‚ Autumn Glow proves she’s the real deal and wins the G2 Tea Rose Stakes at just her third start and remains unbeaten! @cwallerracing | @mcacajamez — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 21, 2024 She was the hot favourite for the Group 1 Flight Stakes last spring only to be withdrawn on race-eve with a minor injury. In her absence, Lady Shenandoah won the Flight Stakes in a canter by more than three lengths. Lady Shenandoah trained on to win two more Group 1 races, the Surround Stakes and Coolmore Classic, to complete her five-start unbeaten three-year-old season. Make way for the lady! Lady Shenandoah makes a mess of the G1 Flight Stakes with a dominant win for @ZacLloydx and @cwallerracing! @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 5, 2024 Timeform ratings have Lady Shenandoah and Aeliana as the top fillies this season with peak 119 figures ahead of Autumn Glow at 117 and dual Oaks winner Treasurethe Moment on 115. TAB is opening big-race markets on a number of the spring carnival features including the Golden Rose, King Charles III Stakes, The Metropolitan, Flight Stakes, Coolmore Stud Stakes, Champions Stakes, Champions Mile, Champions Sprint and The Kosciuszko. Godolphin filly Tempted is the $4.50 Flight Stakes favourite with Golden Slipper winner Marhoona at $6 while the past two King Charles III Stakes winners, Fangirl and Ceolwulf, are at $4.50 and $6 respectively for a repeat success.
News.com.au
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Horse of a lifetime': Sudden death of Winx's rival Happy Clapper rocks racing world
Happy Clapper, the racehorse known as the 'people's champion' who had an intense multi-year rivalry with Winx, has tragically passed died after suffering from colic. The multiple Group 1 winner's former trainer, Pat Webster, learned of the passing of his former stable star on Thursday morning. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. 'It's a sad day,'' Webster said. 'But when I think of 'The Clapper' there are so many great memories. 'He might not have been a champion but he was the best horse I ever trained.'' Happy Clapper won 12 of his 48 races and earned more than $7.2 million prizemoney including Group 1 wins in the 2016 Doncaster Mile, 2017 Epsom Handicap and 2018 Canterbury Stakes. 'He is the only horse to win the Villiers Stakes (2015), Doncaster and Epsom Handicaps,'' Webster said. The 14-year-old also ran placings in another 10 Group 1 races including four seconds behind the great Winx. In the 2019 Chipping Norton Stakes, Happy Clapper famously attempted an all-the-way win and dashed five lengths clear on the turn. He maintained his advantage until near the 100m when, inevitably, Winx reeled in her old rival to win by more than a length in an epic finish. 'I remember the crowd gave him almost as big a reception as Winx after that race,'' Webster said. 'My family always tells me that they will be talking about Happy Clapper in 100 years' time because of Winx.'' Legendary trainer Chris Waller led the outpouring of love for the champion racehorse. 'Our thoughts go out to the connections of Happy Clapper and the Webster family,' Waller wrote in a post to X 'He was a horse who we had a lot of respect for; Winx had to be on her best game when running against him because he was capable of anything. He breathed down our neck a number of times and could have easily beaten us had luck gone his way, and against us. 'Well done Pat for what you achieved with Happy Clapper and for what he brought to Sydney racing.' While Happy Clapper's former jockey Blake Shinn shared a heartfelt tribute for the 'horse of a lifetime'. 'It's hard to put into words just how deeply the passing of Happy Clapper hits,' Shinn wrote on X. 'I was privileged to ride him on twenty occasions, sharing seven wins and nine placings, including his three Group 1 victories. He was, without question, the bravest horse I've ever ridden — he showed up every time and gave everything he had. Our Doncaster Handicap win was a standout moment, one I'll carry with me forever. 'He was the horse of a lifetime — a true warrior on the track and a crowd favourite off it. It was an honour to be part of his incredible journey.'
Courier-Mail
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Happy Clapper dies: Trainer Pat Webster mourns Group 1 winner
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Happy Clapper, the racehorse who was the epitome of the phrase the 'people's champion', has died after suffering from colic. The multiple Group 1 winner's former trainer, Pat Webster, learned of the passing of his former stable star on Thursday morning. 'It's a sad day,'' Webster said. 'But when I think of 'The Clapper' there are so many great memories. 'He might not have been a champion but he was the best horse I ever trained.'' • 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! Happy Clapper won 12 of his 48 races and earned more than $7.2 million prizemoney including Group 1 wins in the 2016 Doncaster Mile, 2017 Epsom Handicap and 2018 Canterbury Stakes. 'He is the only horse to win the Villiers Stakes (2015), Doncaster and Epsom Handicaps,'' Webster said. Happy Clapper also ran placings in another 10 Group 1 races including four seconds behind the great Winx. • What's in a name? Plenty of history … and unwanted pressure In the 2019 Chipping Norton Stakes, Happy Clapper famously attempted an all-the-way win and dashed five lengths clear on the turn. He maintained his advantage until near the 100m when, inevitably, Winx reeled in her old rival to win by more than a length in an epic finish. 'I remember the crowd gave him almost as big a reception as Winx after that race,'' Webster said. 'My family always tells me that they will be talking about Happy Clapper in 100 years' time because of Winx.'' • Clinton Payne's 2025 Australasian Oaks tips, runner-by-runner form analysis Webster's ever-reliable gelding was so popular with racing fans that the Australian Turf Club named a bar after him in the Winx Stand at Royal Randwick. Happy Clapper had been enjoying a leisurely retirement until falling ill this week and despite the best veterinary care, could not be saved. He was 14 years old. Originally published as 'It's a sad day': Trainer Pat Webster mourns the passing of Group 1-winner Happy Clapper
Perth Now
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Winx's ‘superstar' rival dies after sudden illness: ‘Sad day'
Happy Clapper, one of racing's most popular horses in recent times, has died at the age of 14 after succumbing to a bout of colic. A multiple Group 1 winner, Happy Clapper was prepared by larrikin trainer Pat Webster and was renowned for his courageous performances against champion Winx. He raced against the grand mare 11 times for six minor placings, getting closest when finishing three-quarters of a length second to her in the 2018 George Ryder Stakes (1500m). Winx's former trainer Chris Waller took to social media to pay tribute to the grand campaigner and the role he played in Winx's illustrious career. 'Our thoughts go out to the connections of Happy Clapper and the Webster family,' Waller said on X. 'He was a horse who we had a lot of respect for. 'Winx had to be on her best game when running against him because he was capable of anything. He breathed down our neck a number of times and could have easily beaten us had luck gone his way, and against us. 'Well done Pat for what you achieved with Happy Clapper and for what he brought to Sydney racing.' If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Happy Clapper gave Webster, a long-time Randwick trainer before his retirement in 2020, his first major in the 2017 Epsom Handicap (1600m) before adding the 2018 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and Doncaster Mile (1600m). All up he raced 48 times for 12 wins and 18 placings, his prizemoney earnings falling just short of $7.3 million. 'It's a sad day. But when I think of 'The Clapper' there are so many great memories,' Webster told News Corp. 'He might not have been a champion but he was the best horse I ever trained. 'My family always tells me that they will be talking about Happy Clapper in 100 years' time because of Winx.' If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.
