Latest news with #MurrayBridge
The Australian
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Impressive colt stands up for Phillip Stokes after favourite scratched at Murray Bridge
Trainer Phillip Stokes looks to have a handy colt in his stable following Matahga's impressive victory in the Magic Millions Racing Rewards SA 2YO (1000m) at Murray Bridge. The son of Tivaci showed very little gate speed on debut and it was the case again at start number two after flopping out the back from a wide barrier. • 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! But with the leading pack going along at a strong tempo, it allowed Matahga to get right into the race and he sprouted wings over the final 200m to steal the victory. Stokes' son, Kerrin, was on course following the victory and was rapt to see Matahga break through at his second race start. 'He's going super,' Stokes, a former A-League player for Melbourne City, said. 'He was very good on debut and he's just a horse that takes a lot of riding to get through his gears. 'Jacob Opperman has had a few sits on him now and knows him well. 'He's a nice horse.' Matahga was an $80,000 purchase for the stable at Karaka in 2024 and he was able to get a fair chunk of that back with the first placed cheque worth $57,250. They will look to notch up a similar result later this month with Stokes earmarking a Listed race for Matahga. 'He's progressive, will go to the Oaklands Plate next and it's exciting,' Stokes said. Stokes initially had the favourite for the race with Ground Control before the horse was scratched. Nothing is wrong with the talented galloper other than giving the indication he had come to the end of his preparation. 'He's just ready for the paddock and was starting to feel the pinch,' Stokes said. 'So he'll have a good spell and come back as a nicer horse.' Meanwhile, trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly went close to winning the two-year-old feature with Mostly For Show. But 35 minutes later saw the duo take out the Racing Rewards 3YO with The Sprinkler. They also trained the third placegetter in the race with the favourite Out Of Square running on well.
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Matahga wins Magic Millions Racing Rewards 2YO at Murray Bridge
Trainer Phillip Stokes looks to have a handy colt in his stable following Matahga's impressive victory in the Magic Millions Racing Rewards SA 2YO (1000m) at Murray Bridge. The son of Tivaci showed very little gate speed on debut and it was the case again at start number two after flopping out the back from a wide barrier. But with the leading pack going along at a strong tempo, it allowed Matahga to get right into the race and he sprouted wings over the final 200m to steal the victory. Stokes' son, Kerrin, was on course following the victory and was rapt to see Matahga break through at his second race start. 'He's going super,' Stokes, a former A-League player for Melbourne City, said. 'He was very good on debut and he's just a horse that takes a lot of riding to get through his gears. 'Jacob Opperman has had a few sits on him now and knows him well. 'He's a nice horse.' Matahga was an $80,000 purchase for the stable at Karaka in 2024 and he was able to get a fair chunk of that back with the first placed cheque worth $57,250. They will look to notch up a similar result later this month with Stokes earmarking a Listed race for Matahga. 'He's progressive, will go to the Oaklands Plate next and it's exciting,' Stokes said. Matahga comes from a long way back & finishes the strongest in a promising maiden win ðŸ'¥ @pstokesracing — (@Racing) June 14, 2025 Stokes initially had the favourite for the race with Ground Control before the horse was scratched. Nothing is wrong with the talented galloper other than giving the indication he had come to the end of his preparation. 'He's just ready for the paddock and was starting to feel the pinch,' Stokes said. 'So he'll have a good spell and come back as a nicer horse.' Meanwhile, trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly went close to winning the two-year-old feature with Mostly For Show. But 35 minutes later saw the duo take out the Racing Rewards 3YO with The Sprinkler. They also trained the third placegetter in the race with the favourite Out Of Square running on well.
The Australian
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Speedy filly Out Of Square scores fourth win in five starts at Murray Bridge
She's no flyer on the training track, but Out Of Square is bringing her best on race day. The speedy daughter of Hellbent nailed a fourth win in five starts at Murray Bridge on Saturday, as Richard and Chantelle Jolly continued a barnstorming run of form this month. Settling tailed off in a field of nine, jockey Jake Toeroek steered Out Of Square ($4.80 Sportsbet) to the outside at the 500m as she unleashed a powerful sprint to overhaul her rivals in a Benchmark 68 over 1200m. 'She's been a bit of a surprise packet really, at home she doesn't really show much, but it comes to race day and she really switches on,' Chantelle Jolly said. 'With the blinkers on her last two starts, it's helped her travelling in the run, at home you can hardly get her out of a canter – it's good for the connections.' • 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! Toeroek now has an unblemished record of three wins from three rides on the filly, who is set to tackle the $105,000 Racing Rewards 3YO Plate (1200m) at Murray Bridge on June 14 before a possible stakes tilt. 'She's a mare that we keep pretty fresh at home, there's a rewards race coming up in three weeks, she'll go there and after that we might give her a little freshen up and look at something like the Lightning, try and get some stakes placing on her,' she said. 'Obviously we'll take it one run at a time, but that will be the goal.' • 'That was serious, wasn't it?': Antino makes Doomben Cup a one-act affair It was the first win of a race-to-race double for the Jolly yard, who also saluted with Great Maximus in race three. The father-daughter duo have been in a purple patch, scoring eight winners over the past fortnight, and notched a 400th winner as a training partnership with Star Sirius at Flemington last Saturday. Snoopy Now and Eroica were also impressive winners on Saturday. Eroica secured a riding double for leading apprentice Rochelle Milnes, after she won earlier in the day aboard Lake's Folly. Crown Mint ($26) pulled off a boilover, the gelding flying home under Taylor Johnstone to win a Benchmark 66 (1800m) for trainers Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle. • Lindsay Park declares War in Stradbroke It was a special day for apprentice jockey Caitlin Tootell, with the talented hoop nailing a first metro win aboard Novela ($13) for Michael Hickmott. Tootell allowed the gelding to roll along in front, stretching out to a lead of eight lengths at one stage. The pair looked vulnerable at the 300m as the chasing pack reeled them in, but the son of Valentia remarkably fought back to poke his head out on the line. Tootell had family trackside to celebrate the milestone. 'I heard them across the line, I didn't even know if I had it, but I kind of did because of the screaming,' Tootell said post-race. 'Thanks to Michael for putting me on, it's a pick-up ride so anything could happen. 'It's a relief, a big relief, (thanks to) my boss (Travis Doudle), my ex-bosses Shayne and Chelsea Cahill, my family and all my friends.' Victories with Lake's Folly and Novela saw Hickmott nail a double at his home track, splitting training honours with the Jolly's on the nine-race card.
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Speedy filly Out Of Square scores fourth win in five starts at Murray Bridge
She's no flyer on the training track, but Out Of Square is bringing her best on race day. The speedy daughter of Hellbent nailed a fourth win in five starts at Murray Bridge on Saturday, as Richard and Chantelle Jolly continued a barnstorming run of form this month. Settling tailed off in a field of nine, jockey Jake Toeroek steered Out Of Square ($4.80 Sportsbet) to the outside at the 500m as she unleashed a powerful sprint to overhaul her rivals in a Benchmark 68 over 1200m. 'She's been a bit of a surprise packet really, at home she doesn't really show much, but it comes to race day and she really switches on,' Chantelle Jolly said. 'With the blinkers on her last two starts, it's helped her travelling in the run, at home you can hardly get her out of a canter – it's good for the connections.' Toeroek now has an unblemished record of three wins from three rides on the filly, who is set to tackle the $105,000 Racing Rewards 3YO Plate (1200m) at Murray Bridge on June 14 before a possible stakes tilt. 'She's a mare that we keep pretty fresh at home, there's a rewards race coming up in three weeks, she'll go there and after that we might give her a little freshen up and look at something like the Lightning, try and get some stakes placing on her,' she said. 'Obviously we'll take it one run at a time, but that will be the goal.' Out Of Square comes from last to win two races in a row for @RJollyRacing ✌ï¸� — (@Racing) May 24, 2025 It was the first win of a race-to-race double for the Jolly yard, who also saluted with Great Maximus in race three. The father-daughter duo have been in a purple patch, scoring eight winners over the past fortnight, and notched a 400th winner as a training partnership with Star Sirius at Flemington last Saturday. Snoopy Now and Eroica were also impressive winners on Saturday. Eroica secured a riding double for leading apprentice Rochelle Milnes, after she won earlier in the day aboard Lake's Folly. Crown Mint ($26) pulled off a boilover, the gelding flying home under Taylor Johnstone to win a Benchmark 66 (1800m) for trainers Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle. Novela led, lost the lead, ran off the track & still won the last 😅 What a win 🙌 — (@Racing) May 24, 2025 • It was a special day for apprentice jockey Caitlin Tootell, with the talented hoop nailing a first metro win aboard Novela ($13) for Michael Hickmott. Tootell allowed the gelding to roll along in front, stretching out to a lead of eight lengths at one stage. The pair looked vulnerable at the 300m as the chasing pack reeled them in, but the son of Valentia remarkably fought back to poke his head out on the line. Tootell had family trackside to celebrate the milestone. 'I heard them across the line, I didn't even know if I had it, but I kind of did because of the screaming,' Tootell said post-race. 'Thanks to Michael for putting me on, it's a pick-up ride so anything could happen. 'It's a relief, a big relief, (thanks to) my boss (Travis Doudle), my ex-bosses Shayne and Chelsea Cahill, my family and all my friends.' Victories with Lake's Folly and Novela saw Hickmott nail a double at his home track, splitting training honours with the Jolly's on the nine-race card.
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brazilian jockey Manoel Nunes returns to riding after suffering from kidney stones that left him ‘crying in pain'
Manoel Nunes is back in the saddle at Murray Bridge on Saturday, after a bout of kidney stones kept the Group 1-winning hoop sidelined during the Adelaide racing carnival. Nunes competed on Sangster Stakes day on April 26, but found himself in a Singapore hospital earlier this month during a quick trip back to the region to visit his girlfriend. • Nunes, 48, woke up in agony during the early hours of the morning, before being rushed to the emergency room. 'I was in the hotel at 4am, sleeping, and suddenly I woke up in a lot of pain,' Nunes said. 'The pain was really bad, I couldn't breathe, I rang my girlfriend, luckily she answered the phone. 'I was crying in pain, it was very, very painful, 'she said what's happened?', I said 'please come here, and bring me to the hospital'. 'I couldn't explain to her, I got off the phone and about half an hour later she got to the hotel and took me to the emergency in Singapore. 'I discovered I had kidney stones, straightaway they put me on a drip, they did a CT scan, and one of them had dropped, that's the one that was causing the pain. 'They removed a lot of stones from the kidneys, it was very painful.' Manoel Nunes finishes the day with a treble at Morphettville ðŸ'Š — (@Racing) November 9, 2024 • Crowther targets return to saddle from nasty injury With the SA Derby (May 3) only days away, the episode saw Nunes miss the meeting and Goodwood day the following week, in a stroke of ill-luck for the Brazilian hoop. He was in hospital for a day and a half, and returned to Adelaide last week. 'I couldn't ride for about two weeks,' he said. 'I went there to do a few things and come back for the Derby meeting, I had no intention to miss it but then that happened.' Nunes has been a welcome addition to Adelaide's riding ranks, the multiple premiership winner in Singapore and Macau has notched 25 city winners after making a move to South Australia in October following the closure of racing in Singapore. Nunes is booked for five rides on Saturday's nine-race card at Murray Bridge. 'I love what I'm doing, I love my job, you feel a little bit upset when you watch the races and cannot ride. I'm very happy to come back on Saturday,' he said. 'Adelaide is a very quiet place, I'm in Glenelg, it's a beautiful spot. I'm very happy to be here.' Nunes made the move to Adelaide on his own, his partner still lives and works in Singapore and visits him as often as she can. Singapore-owned horses Bakeel, Makin, Ghalib and Asif, owned by Mansoor Gandhi, are being transferred from Adelaide to Perth after stints with Angaston trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor. Nunes has a strong affiliation with the quality gallopers, but never entertained a move to Western Australia himself. 'Obviously when the horses run, maybe I get on the plane and ride the horses for him (Mansoor),' Nunes said. 'But no, it never come to my mind to go and move there, you never say no, but so far now it hasn't passed my mind to move to Perth.' 'I appreciate the support from the trainers and owners who support me. 'And of course Damien (Wilton) my manager, who has hooked me up with stables from Melbourne and Sydney. 'When they come over they put me on – I'm very happy with that.'
