Latest news with #Group3
Herald Sun
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Peter Snowden aiming to turn Queensland winter carnival fortunes around in Eye Liner Stakes
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Sydney trainer Peter Snowden hopes another gear change will do the trick for his underperforming gelding Xidaki in the $200,000 Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher-trained Warnie ($2.40) is definitely the horse to beat in the 1350m race but Xidaki poses a genuine threat if he can rediscover the form that led to his last victory, in the $300,000 Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) at Caloundra last July. Snowden decided to put a cross-over nose band on the gelding this campaign because the four-year-old was 'over-racing badly' but the results have been lacklustre. • 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! Xidaki finished seventh in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April, ninth in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on May 10 and seventh in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben two weeks later. He is rated as a $7.50 chance in the Eye Liner Stakes behind Warnie and the Tony Gollan-trained Devastate ($7). • Warnie can honour cricket legend with consolation victory 'I've had a cross-over noseband on him this time in because he was struggling last time in and I felt it cost him a couple of races,'' Snowden said. 'But it seems he has been resenting it this preparation because he's been getting too far back in his races. 'So I've taken the noseband off for Saturday and hope he can settle closer in the run. 'Ipswich is a track where you have to stay positive and he has drawn five. I don't want him to get too far back from there. 'I'm confident he has the tactical speed to be in the first five or six in the run. 'He's going great at home and I can't believe he won't be running well on what he has been showing me in his trackwork.' Xidaki last win was in the Group 3 Winx Guineas in July last year. Picture: Trackside Photography. Lindsay Park star War Machine emphatically won the BRC Sprint before impressively taking out the $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) three weeks later at Eagle Farm. Xidaki crossed the winning post almost five lengths behind War Machine in the BRC Sprint but on the bright side, Snowden was pleased with how his galloper hit the line. 'He got too far back last start and had a lot of work to do but he was one of those finishing hardest late,'' Snowden said. 'The horse that won it (War Machine) went on to win the Stradbroke Handicap. 'If he can hold his spot on Saturday it will go a long way to helping his chances at Ipswich.'' • Lipp out to fulfil $40m Lotto winner's spring carnival dream It will also comfort Snowden knowing that Xidaki was a narrow runner-up to Ostraka in the $1m Group 3 Silver Eagle (1300m) at Randwick last October but finished ahead of the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained War Machine. It's fair to say that Snowden is due for some luck in this Queensland winter carnival. His mare Tashi has twice just missed the chocolates - in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) - while the appropriately named gelding Need Some Luck finished half a length behind winner Compelling Truth in the Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m) last Saturday at Eagle Farm. Originally published as Trainer Peter Snowden banking on gear change bringing out best from Xidaki in Eye Liner Stakes
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Ryan Moore gives front-running lesson on Aidan O'Brien's Trinity College in Hampton Court at Royal Ascot
Lining up after a fourth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, the son of Dubawi set even fractions before pouring it on in the straight, ultimately winning by a commanding three and a half lengths. Runner-up Tornado Alert (9/1) appreciated the drop back in trip after finishing sixth in the G1 Derby. All-weather Listed scorer Glittering Legend (11/1) was a length further back in third. Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said: 'Ryan gave Trinity College a beautiful ride. He had him in a lovely rhythm and, when he started getting him to move, he really kept going to the line, so you would be very happy with him now. 'Ryan was going to go forward. He does that a lot and is happy to be forward. I didn't ask him but I imagine Trinity College would be happy to get a lead as well. He got it exactly spot on. 'Trinity College would have a lot of options. He could be an Eclipse horse or an American Derby horse. I would say he is improving. We always thought he was a high enough class horse last year as a two-year-old, but things just didn't fall for him. He has probably matured and got stronger now." O'Brien, who is closing in on 100 Royal Ascot winners, added: 'One day at a time! It is great, and I am delighted for everybody. A lot of hard work goes in to each of those horses.' Moore said: 'This is the way Trinity College has been ridden most of the time. He likes it that way. The day at Epsom, when we held on to him a little bit, he just hung down the camber. He is out of a very good mare [Hermosa] and we are learning about him. 'He quickened up very well and had the race in safe-keeping at the two – a smart colt. It was a big run in the French Derby and a quick turnaround. His mother sort of came out of nowhere and got better as a three-year-old, and he's a Dubawi – they usually progress." Co-owner Paul Smith said: 'This is really special. I am delighted for everybody. I think this is Ryan's first winner in my colours. Trinity College ran a super race in the French Derby. He was really strong from the front end there. Ryan got a great possy and quickened off the bend. It was quite an impressive run. He is a progressive horse who seems to like all surfaces. He gets the trip well, so it does open a lot of doors now.' Saeed bin Suroor said of Tornado Alert: 'He ran well to finish sixth in the Derby, and now second in a nice race here is good. He is improving. We will see how he comes out of this, but we will look for a Group 3 race.' James Fanshawe said of Glittering Legend: 'He ran really well. He got a bump early on, which just set him alight a bit, but he dropped his head really well and kept on well. Unfortunately, I think he's off to Hong Kong now, but he's done really well. I think it will turn out to be a good race.'
Irish Examiner
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Copacabana Sands swoops late to claim Barberstown Castle Stakes
Successful at listed level in Naas last time, Copacabana Sands took a successful step into Group 3 company when swooping late to land the Group 3 Barberstown Castle (Ballycorus) Stakes in rain-softened ground at Leopardstown. Carrying the colours of Mrs Barbara Keller for the first time, Michael O'Callaghan's charge ran into trouble early in the straight but, when switched to the outside, picked-up well for Epsom derby hero Wayne Lordan and swept past Easy to score by a length and three-quarters. "She was a listed winner coming here and quickened up well,' stated O'Callaghan. 'Wayne feels she improved for that softer ground. 'She found trouble, which she often does, but showed a bit of grit and class and won going away. 'She's been on the go quite a while and tries very hard in her races, so she deserves a little break. I'll talk to Barbara (Keller) and we might plan an autumn campaign for her.' Winner of recent barrier-trial in Naas, installed as morning favourite but usurped as market-leader by Dancing Saxon, Brownstown gave Gavin Cromwell his second two-year-old success of the season in the opener, enjoying a clear lead early in the straight before holding Flawless Fusion by a half-length. The Cracksman filly was ridden by Gary Carroll, who commented. 'She's a big, long-striding filly, with the size and scope to keep improving. She travelled around very easily, put the race to bed, but got a bit tired. She'll appreciate better ground, and, hopefully, might be a stakes filly.' Masoun, successful twice for Johnny Murtagh last year, triumphed for the first time since joining Joseph O'Brien when taking the '1878 At 3Arena' Apprentice Handicap under a positive ride from Wayne Hassett, the 9/2 joint-favourite proving too strong for Bill Silvers. 'He's been running fairly well and I think nine or ten furlongs is a good trip for him,' said O'Brien. 'He won nicely and, if he gets into one of the handicaps in Ascot next week, he'll go there – the owners will be over. If not, we'll find something for him at the Curragh on Derby weekend.' Confirming recent Leopardstown scorer Zahrann on course for the 'King Edward VII' at Royal Ascot next week, Johnny Murtagh saddled Shaool (in first-time cheekpieces) to land the nine-furling fillies handicap on her handicap debut. A second winner of the season for apprentice Yudish Geerdharry, the Belardo filly sluiced through the soft ground to win by more than four lengths, prompting Murtagh to comment 'It's taken a while to get her head in front, but she likes soft ground and that was a big help. We'll see what the handicapper does before we make plans for her.' Delivered late by Chris Hayes, the Dermot Weld-trained Sindria, a Kodiac filly, got up to foil favourite Shakazia by a head in the seven-furlong fillies maiden, the pair finishing clear of the rest. 'The ground was a bit quick and she was too keen and fresh in Naas, but didn't finish far behind the favourite' explained Weld. 'We had to get her to relax at home and help her enjoy her work. And it has paid off tonight.' Course specialist Smaoineamh Sile (Jamie Powell) toughed it out to take a division of the (0-60) Boylesports Handicap, recording her fourth success over course and distance. And the father and daughter combination of Robbie and Nicola Burns struck in the second division when Deuteronomy, off the mark at the 29th attempt last time, got up late to foil Still She Blooms.
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Basher Watts turns down massive £2.2m offer for star horse ahead of Classic
A social media influencer who has become obsessed with horse racing has turned down a massive offer for one of his horses. Basher Watts created his own TikTok channel two years ago to document his days out on the racecourse before launching his own syndicate, made up mostly of first-time racehorse owners. Basher Watts Racing has nine horses in training, the best of which Shes Perfect gave them an unforgettable yet frustrating day out when she was controversially demoted to second in the French 1,000 Guineas after finishing first past the post at Paris-Longchamp. After an unsuccessful appeal against the stewards' decision, Shes Perfect has been lined up for a second Classic bid by trainer Charlie Fellowes in the £827,000 French Oaks (Prix de Diane) at Chantilly on Sunday in the hope she can continue one of the underdog stories of 2025. The filly was originally bought privately for £42,000 and since winning on debut at Haydock last August, has finished second in the Group 3 race and runner-up, on a demotion, in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. But Watts revealed on Thursday that an offer had been received on behalf of connections in Japan for a life-changing sum. Watts told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, "I have nothing to hide. It was £2.2 million. For me that's nowhere near enough money. You are basically asking someone to pay you to take your dream away from you. "You get involved in horse racing with a dream of owning a horse like her. There are a lot of things in life which mean more than money. There will come a time in her racing career when the right step is for her to go to breeding but that's definitely not now. "There's 38 owners involved in Shes Perfect and 37 of them instantly voted she's not for sale. We're all in on the dream and hopefully there is another chapter in the fairytale on Sunday." Shes Perfect is set to face 11 opponents including Mandanaba for the same Aga Khan connections awarded victory in the French Guineas. Watts added: "We go there with a lot of pressure and a lot of expectation. In both of her runs in France there was no expectation. There was every chance she wasn't going to be good enough and then we went back to the Pouliches. Never in our wildest dreams did we think we'd have a runner. "We won it. It doesn't say that in the racecard but we know it. We won the Guineas, which is incredible to say and we go back 5-2 favourite and there is a whole heap of pressure on which gives it a different feel. "The whole thing is a fairytale and it still doesn't feel real. She was the second horse I ever bought. It still hasn't sunk what she is doing and what we're doing. I have everything crossed and I pray she can win again in France."
Daily Telegraph
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Scone preview: It Stays In Vegas can kickstart another big day for Scott Singleton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Local trainer Scott Singleton will again be a force at Scone's first meeting since their annual Cup day/stand-alone carnival where he posted his 400th career win and won the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic. Singleton is represented by three of his string on Tuesday starting with the lightly-raced three-year-old It Stays In Vegas who tackles the Arrowfield Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1000m). The son of one-time Arrowfield resident stallion Shalaa resumed in the coveted Red Crown at Muswellbrook on June 1 but proved no match for the long odds-on winner, Raging Force. • 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! 'I was happy enough for him to run second to that horse there but I was disappointed that he couldn't,'' Singleton said. 'I thought he was just a little bit plain but admittedly, he was first-up and he had to sit outside the leader. 'And it was a funny track that day, it was really gluey and a lot of horses didn't like it so I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that those couple of things might have played against him. 'I think he is a better horse than he went the other day so I am wanting to see him bounce back and do something there on Tuesday.' It Stays In Vegas is a third generation Australian thoroughbred but does indeed have some American blood and via the likes of two epic stallions, one of them an immortal. His third dam was a daughter of Seeking The Gold while her fourth was by Seattle Slew, who this week 48 years ago, completed the US Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes. Singleton, meanwhile, has the honour and distinction of saddling up one of the shortest-priced favourites racing at Scone on Tuesday in Ritzsun ($1.85) in the third race on the eight-event program. Ritzsun has been a model of consistency throughout his nine starts, winning twice (both of them at Scone) together with four placings, three of them seconds. The son of Rosebud winner Sebring Sun's most recent performance was a brave and determined on-pace second in the 1200m TAB Highway conducted at Gosford on the Gold Cup and The Coast day. His Tuesday assignment is the Scone CWA Centenary Benchmark 82 Handicap (1000m). 'Up in grade but down in weight,'' Singleton said. 'He's in an 82 there but he is only carrying 55(kg) so from a good draw and the way he has been working, I would be expecting him to win to be honest.' Ritzsun has already contested three Highways inside his nine starts and win, lose or draw on Tuesday, there will be a fourth somewhere down the road. 'That would be the plan,'' Singleton said. 'He has only won the two (races) so he can win again and still go to a Highway. 'He is definitely good enough to win a Highway if all the stars align.' Singleton is naturally eager for the well-bred mare Insightful Award to post her fourth win in the Darley Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m) having placed at two of her last three 'away' runs. 'I am hoping that given when she won at Scone earlier in the prep, she bolted in, and that was down to the home-track and she can repeat that because it sort of came from nowhere,'' Singleton said. 'But she has remained in good order. 'She a little bit keen the other day at Warren but she certainly seems in good shape and she'll run well.' Originally published as Scone preview: Three-year-old It Stays In Vegas can kickstart another big day for Scott Singleton
