Latest news with #Exosphere
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Joe Pride expects another bold showing from 2025 Civic Stakes favourite Headley Grange
Trainer Joe Pride is yet to find Headley Grange's ceiling but expects the bombproof galloper will be up to the challenge of Saturday's Listed $200,000 Civic Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick. Pride will launch a three-pronged attack in the feature with Headley Grange the clear pick of the litter in the main event of the 10-race card alongside Cool Jakey and Estadio Mestalla. Headley Grange has been a revelation for Pride over the past 12 months and hasn't finished worse than second in nearly a year with four wins in his past eight starts. The son of Exosphere was a well-backed favourite when scoring first-up from a break with a strong victory in Benchmark 94 grade at Randwick. 'I can't remember the last time he missed the place, he is very honest and genuine,' Pride said. 'I think he is one of those ones where you don't need the trainer to recommend him to punters. I am sure they will all pile in. 'He is the clear favourite for a reason, very consistent. I guess if you have to pick holes in what he has to do on Saturday, it's his first time in Listed grade so that has to be against him. 'The conditions of the track are neither here nor there for him. He goes just as well on wet or dry. 'The 1400m is spot on so there's seemingly not many chinks in his armour.' Headley Grange wins first up to give @PrideRacing a Randwick double! 🙌 @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 The Civic Stakes will be the first time in his 17-start career that Headley Grange has been tested in stakes grade but Pride believes his four-year-old is more than worthy of the opportunity. Headley Grange has been one of the most consistent horses in Pride's stable and has continued on an upward trajectory. 'He could well go to another level. I figure he has a ceiling there somewhere,' Pride said. 'He has got the engine there and he won like a Listed race would be well within his mark. He is a going well.' Headley Grange, to be ridden by Jason Collett, is the $2.70 favourite for the Civic Stakes with Cool Jakey at $10 and Estadio Mestalla at $23. Cool Jakey is dropping back in trip with Reece Jones aboard after leading from the front and tiring late in a mile event at Randwick a fortnight ago. • Ray & Duff's Randwick tips: Punters should plan their Exit on Saturday 'It was a mile race and he was OK at the mile on a leaderish track two starts ago but last start at a mile at the pace he went it was too far for him,' Pride said. 'Back 200m here. He has been fortunate enough to race on some wet tracks of late and it's been to his advantage. 'Saturday will be the driest he has had. It could be an issue for him.' While Estadio Mestalla is the outsider of Pride's trio, he's expecting an improved effort from the gelding. Estadio Mestalla finished five lengths off Headley Grange first-up from a break with Chad Schofield to take over the ride. 'He will run much better than his place in the market suggests,' Pride said. 'I can't quite put my finger on what happened to him first-up but he has pulled up well and is a horse that is very capable at this level. 'He has run second in a Little Dance and placed in this race last year. 'I am not asking him to do anything he hasn't before and I think he can get back to that form on Saturday.' He will saddle up another in-form galloper when Storm The Ramparts ($4.20) goes in search of a third consecutive victory in the Asahi Super Dry Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m). Storm The Ramparts will have to lug the topweight of 61.5kg after scoring back-to-back victories at the same venue this prep. 'He keeps creeping up in the weights but weights in 1000m races don't matter as much,' Pride said. 'I am happy with him. He is honest and genuine. 'He is another one that has been able to hit those soft and heavy tracks at those last three runs. 'Coming back to a track that is a soft 5 is he disadvantaged? Probably.'
New Paper
18 hours ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Headley Grange should frank Pools form
There is a good chance that the inaugural Singapore Pools Handicap (1,300m) at Royal Randwick on June 7 may well have set the stage for a Listed winner at the same track two weeks later. Headley Grange's winning burst in the Benchmark 94 race named after the Singapore gaming company was so impressive that newfound fans have been waiting for his next outing with bated breath. Trainer Joseph Pride has picked the A$200,000 (S$167,000) Listed Civic Stakes (1,400m) on June 21 as the race to keep the seven-time winner by Exosphere on the up. On paper, the four-year-old's task looks stiffer up against better-rated customers like Iknowastar (105) and Willaidow (103), but his hike of only five points from 88 to 93 after such an explosive turn of foot in the Singapore Pools race gives him a strong fighting chance to go back-to-back. On handicap, he will have only 54kg on his back, in receipt of six kilos from the topweight Iknowastar on 60kg. While Headley Grange beat Green Shadows by only three parts of a length at his last start, most pundits would agree he should have scored by a wider margin had he found daylight earlier. Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus then, he was seen clambering on heels at the 300m while he was clearly raring to go. When the opening came through, he quickly put his rivals to the sword. With the in-form Hyeronimus not riding at 54kg, Pride did not have to search high and low for a rider who could make the weight. The booking of top jockey Jason Collett can only enhance his chances, as will the handy barrier No. 4. Headley Grange currently heads the market at 11-5, but, somehow, the next popular pick is a fifth emergency (down to second standby after three horses - Warnie, Chrysaor and Another One - were scratched), Raikkonen, for the in-form Bjorn Baker yard at 9-2. Surprisingly, Green Shadows' bid to turn the tables on Headley Grange is not that fancied at 11-1, presumably because of his horror gate in 20 as well as the unfavourable pull in weights. On-pace sprinter Whinchat was a beaten favourite in the Singapore Pools Handicap after he bombed the start. The David Pfieffer-trained speedster did pass a barrier test with flying colours and gets a chance to make amends by lining up in the Civic Stakes, but the outermost alley in 22 may bring his downfall again. It may well be Headley Grange's stable companion Cool Jakey who will make his presence felt when the whips are cracking following his creditable fifth in the Singapore Pools Handicap. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Bases Loaded should not be written off either, after finally drawing in following a run of rotten luck with the barriers. With Stradbroke-winning jockey Tim Clark up, it would not surprise anyone if the China Horse Club-owned Deep Field four-year-old shoots to the lead from gate No. 2, and goes all the way. manyan@
New York Post
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘The Wizard of Oz' is coming to Sphere Las Vegas. Get tickets today
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. There's no place like home Sin City. Las Vegas Sphere just announced 'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere' is coming to the iconic venue for an extended run starting Aug. 28. The immersive experience will take audience members to dusty sepia-toned Kansas with Dorothy and Toto before heading to the vibrant technicolor Munchkinland, poppy fields and Emerald City at all screenings by employing wraparound 360° visuals, vibrating haptic seats, environmental effects and custom scents that bring the film's original 4:3 aspect ratio to Sphere's 160,000 sq. foot and 16K resolution screen. Advertisement 'Imagine what it would be like to be in a tornado in the Sphere where you've got wind coming at you, you've got scents coming at you, you've got leaves coming at you, your hair is flying all over, you feel as though you are in that tornado with Dorothy, and that's what it's all about,' Sphere President Jennifer Koester told The Hollywood Reporter. 'You're not going to watch a movie, you are going to live a movie. You're going to feel it, to see it, to touch it, to smell it.' This one-of-a-kind spectacle was constructed using the original 1939 film and source material like schematics, set plans and scores to create an approximately 75-minute cinematic experience that maintains the integrity of the classic motion picture while bringing it to life in a wholly new and groundbreaking way. As proof of the scale ahead of 'Oz's' Sphere premiere, the venue unveiled a larger-than-life installation where it appears the massive event space crash-landed on the Wicked Witch of the East. Her 50-foot-long legs and 22-foot-tall ruby slippers are paired with a display on the Exosphere featuring the iconic scene where Dorothy's farmhouse nosedives out of a twister and onto the Wicked Witch as seen in this gobsmacking Instagram Reel. Should you find yourself on the Strip, the legs are on display to the general public outside Sphere at the time of publication. If you can't wait to get somewhere over the rainbow, tickets are available for purchase for all upcoming 'Wizard of Oz at Sphere' screenings on sites like Vivid Seats. Advertisement Vivid Seats is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They have a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and will be delivered before the event. 'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere' schedule Once 'The Wizard of Oz' begins its Sphere stint, you can catch Judy Garland and co. seven days a week for the foreseeable future — although Oz goes dark on select dates. Matinees start at 10 or 11 a.m. depending on the day of the week; afternoon screenings go down at 1, 2 and 5 p.m. Evening showings start at 8 p.m. Advertisement To find the show that makes the most sense for you, a complete 'Wizard of Oz at Sphere' calendar that goes all the way to March 2026 can be found here. Other Las Vegas Sphere shows When Dorothy, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow aren't skipping down Sphere's Yellow Brick Road, you can catch Academy Award-nominated director Darren Aronofsky's ambitious immersive film 'Postcard From Earth' or U2's 'V-U2' concert film at the jaw-dropping venue on most nights. Both paved the way for 'Wizard of Oz' at Sphere. That's not all, though. These next few weeks, country superstar Kenny Chesney has a handful of shows lined up at Sphere. Advertisement Then, come July, Backstreet Boys kick off a 21-concert run that runs until Aug. 24. After that, UNITY, an exciting collaboration between EDM festival Tomorrowland and producer Insomniac will drop beats at nine shows from August through October. Finally, Rock Hall of Famers The Eagles wrap their long-running residency at Sphere with a dozen shows from September through November. If you're planning a Las Vegas trip and don't know what show makes the most sense for your schedule (or wallet), you can find a complete calendar of all events at Sphere here. 'Wicked' on Broadway East Coasters who want their 'Oz' fix can catch the long-running musical 'Wicked' at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway. Wondering if a touring version of the show is headed to a theater near you? Check out 'Wicked's' complete schedule here. About the Wicked Witch's legs While the Wicked Witch's gams appear to have magically materialized under Sphere seemingly overnight, quite a bit of work went into them. According to a press release, designers spent 500 hours printing, building and assembling the 690-pound behemoth that has be held down by 8,000 pounds worth of sand bags to hold the installation in place. They were created using 1,000 yards of specialty fabric made of a polyester-Oxford cloth combination. Advertisement Ten people inflated and installed the legs, which took four hours (breakdown takes four hours as well). For scale, the 22-foot ruby red slippers are 29x the size of a woman's size six shoe. You won't find those at Steve Madden. Huge Las Vegas residencies Curious what other shows are going down in the Entertainment Capital of the World these next few months? In that case, here are just five biggies you won't want to miss in the near future. Advertisement • Kelly Clarkson (July 4 through Aug. 16 and Nov. 8-15) • Bruno Mars (Aug. 22 through Sept. 6) • Janet Jackson (Sept. 10-20) • Alanis Morissette (Oct. 15 through Nov. 2) Advertisement • Jennifer Lopez (Dec. 30, 2025 through March 28, 2026) Not going to Las Vegas anytime soon? Check out our list of all the biggest concert tours in 2025 to find the show for you. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Earth Day 2025: Student artwork decorates the globe-shaped Sphere in Las Vegas
Earth Day 2025: Student artwork decorates the globe-shaped Sphere in Las Vegas Las Vegas students from elementary schools to UNLV competed to have their Earth Day-themed artwork displayed on the massive Sphere's Exosphere. Eight lucky winners got their wish on April 22. Show Caption Hide Caption Las Vegas Sphere displays winners of student artwork challenge Eight students were selected and awarded prizes as part of the second annual Sphere XO Student Design Challenge. The Sphere in Las Vegas gets some homegrown imagery for Earth Day. Eight local students – all winners of the Second Annual Sphere XO Student Design Challenge – will have their art creations displayed on the mammoth installation's Exosphere throughout the summer, starting the night of April 22. Students from Clark County elementary, middle and high schools and from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas collectively submitted thousands of Earth Day-themed artworks for the chance to be displayed on Sphere. From those, more than 100 were entered into an online public vote, from which four winners were selected. Four additional winners were chosen by a panel of artists. "It feels so cool. Like, out of this world cool! It's super exciting that my art is going to be on Sphere," said Leena Luu, a fifth-grader at Lucille S. Rogers Elementary School, who wants to pursue a career in science, said in a news release. Her drawing of the Earth humanized the globe with a pair of pensive eyes. Las Vegas Sphere concerts: All the bands that are playing and how to get tickets Sphere Earth Day art contest rewards artists, their schools Winning elementary and middle school students get a $10,000 donation for their school's art program and tickets for their entire school to attend The Sphere Experience. The high school and UNLV winners get a $10,000 educational scholarship from Sphere. UNLV senior Gage Glass plans to use the scholarship prize towards tuition and a goal of graduating with a major in entertainment engineering and design and a minor in music technology. Glass created a verdant scene of mountains, fields, a massive tree and a river to showcase the four seasons. "It's quite incredible to have my art featured on the biggest canvas in the world after all this hard work and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it!" Glass said. For last year's contest, competitors created 4th of July-themed art to display on the Exosphere, which measures 580,000 square feet as the largest LED screen on Earth. This year, students were asked to create imagery with the theme of Earth Day. In addition to the fan vote, held during March to select four of the eight winners, another four were selected by a panel of artists including Shepard Fairey and Jen Stark, both of whom have designed art to appear on the Exosphere. "The Exosphere is an impactful platform for public art and nearly a quarter of a million votes were cast in this year's Challenge in support of the talented young student artists in our Las Vegas community," said Rich Constable, Sphere's global head of government affairs and social impact, in a statement. "We are proud to collaborate with CCSD (Clark County School District) and UNLV on this important initiative and we encourage all participants to continue to pursue their interests in the arts, science and technology." Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sphere Entertainment's Financial Outlook Remains Strong Despite Stock Dip, Analyst Says
J.P. Morgan analyst David Karnovsky reiterated an Overweight rating on the shares of Sphere Entertainment Co (NYSE:SPHR) and lowered the price target from $57.00 to $54.00. The analyst has revised the estimates for SPHR following their fourth-quarter earnings report. The Sphere segment's AOI came in at -$1 million (or +$4 million excluding management transition costs), which was better than the analyst's forecast of -$10 million, primarily due to stronger contributions from residencies. During the call, management expressed confidence in the upcoming Experience show, expected to launch in third-quarter, and noted strong year-end demand for Exosphere, which has carried over into the current quarter. Additionally, they highlighted growing artist interest in performing at the venue. The company also mentioned opportunities to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency, with the overall message that the Vegas location could significantly contribute to AOI this year. Also Read: Regarding international expansion, SPHR is still in talks for additional locations, potentially adding one or two venues similar to Abu Dhabi. They also discussed the possibility of developing smaller venues, possibly even in U.S. markets. Despite the improved AOI and what the analyst expects to be higher consensus estimates based on management's commentary, shares fell by 14% (compared to SPX's -2%). This performance seems inconsistent with the results, and the analyst notes the lack of updates on international locations or debt restructuring doesn't fully explain the drop. Therefore, the analyst wouldn't be surprised to see a short-term rebound as the positive messages about the company's fundamentals are absorbed. The analyst continues to see a favorable risk/reward outlook with potential catalysts such as additional partner announcements, updates on Abu Dhabi, new residency deals, and the debut of new content. After more than a year, the Las Vegas Sphere has solidified its position as a key attraction in the destination tourism sector, drawing both visitors and artists. The company's financial performance since its opening strengthens the analyst's confidence that it will successfully secure additional international franchise partners. The analyst notes the potential growth from this expansion is not yet fully reflected in the stock price. Price Action: SPHR shares are trading higher by 0.42% at $37.85 at last check Tuesday. Read Next:Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Sphere Entertainment's Financial Outlook Remains Strong Despite Stock Dip, Analyst Says originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
