Latest news with #PrideRacing
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.'
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Trainer Joe Pride sets sights on clean sweep of Randwick quaddie on Saturday
Trainer Joe Pride can become the 'Quaddie King' if his stable quartet of Cool Jakey, In Flight, Headley Grange and Storm The Ramparts sweep the final four races at Royal Randwick on Saturday. In three of the four Quaddie legs, Pride has the early TAB Fixed Odds favourite including brilliant mare In Flight ($3.40) for the Listed $200,000 Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m). In Flight scored a breakthrough stakes win in the Listed Bright Shadow Quality at Doomben last start and Pride has brought her back to Sydney for the Australian Turf Club's feature winter sprint. 'I just feel this is the right race for her,'' Pride said. 'She is a little ripper, I love taking her to the races because she has some serious talent and the outstanding thing about her is her ability to handle wet tracks.'' In Flight is having only her fourth run back this preparation and Pride plans to keep her going over the winter months. 'I want to make the most of the fact she is up for winter as she is such a good wet tracker,'' Pride said. 'I'll wait until after Saturday's race and then work out what we do with her. The Ramornie Handicap is a chance although I'd like it to be on a wet track. 'But the Queensland carnival goes on forever so I would be surprised if there wasn't a race up there on a wet track that is suitable for her.'' In Flight finds clear air to win the Magic Millions Bright Shadow for @PrideRacing! ✈ï¸� — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 • In Flight might be working into her winter preparation but stablemate Cool Jakey has already had an extended race campaign but seems to be improving with every start. Cool Jakey started his campaign in midsummer and is about to line up for his eighth run this time in when he contests the Sydney Roosters Partners Handicap (1600m). The Pride-trained 'miler' is the $2.80 favourite after finishing a close last start second to Hollywood Hero – with Nellie Leylax third – over the same course and distance two weeks ago. But the big difference this time is Cool Jakey, with the benefit of apprentice Jace McMurray 's claim, meets his two rivals significantly better at the weights. 'Jace can ride at 52kg and can use a fair bit of his claim for Cook Jakey,'' the trainer said. 'So, he is 5kg better off against Hollywood Hero and a couple of kilos better off against the third horse. 'You rarely hear me talking about weights particularly in sprint races, I don't worry about them too much, but when they are on a wet track over a mile they (weights) mean something.'' Hollywood Hero takes the inside alley and wins well at Randwick! ðŸ'� @BBakerRacing @djgibbons22 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 Storm The Ramparts, a half-brother to Pride's 2022 Bob Charley Stakes winner Dragonstone, is the $4.60 favourite for the closer, the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1000m). Pride said Storm The Ramparts had done well since winning over the Randwick 1000m course two weeks ago. 'He will be thereabouts again, he loves the mud,'' the trainer said. Storm The Ramparts leads from start to finish and wins at Randwick! ðŸ'Œ Hippo gets his double! ✌ï¸� @PrideRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 Pride also has Cosmonova entered for the final leg of the Quaddie but conceded the mare was an unlikely starter on a heavy track. This leaves the remaining Quaddie leg, the Singapore Pools Handicap (1300m), where Pride has four entries – Headley Grange, Testator Silens, Estadio Mestalla and Accredited. Although Accredited ($6) is the shortest in betting of the stable's four runners, Pride said the sprinter would not run on a heavy track. 'Accredited and Cosmonova will come out on a heavy track and I couldn't see how it wouldn't be heavy,'' he said. This means Headley Grange ($6.50) is looming as the Pride pick given the gelding's penchant for rain-affected going. It's a double for Adam Hyeronimus! HEADLEY GRANGE gets the better of them late to take out race 6 from @WyongRaceClub. @PrideRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 11, 2025 • 'It's a good race for Headley Grange, he's an extremely genuine horse and his share of talent,'' Pride said. 'He is a good horse on any track but he's very effective on wet tracks. He was unlucky one day earlier in his career at Kembla on a heavy track and ran into Briasa! 'Testator Silens ($17) has had the right preparation for this race. He's had two runs back, that probably counts for a bit and he is massively down in the weights from last start. He is a bit underestimated by the market for sure.''
News.com.au
01-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
The Ray Thomas Blackbook: A recap of Lord Mayor's Cup Day at Rosehill
Racing expert Ray Thomas has run the rule over Saturday's Lord Mayor's Cup meeting at Rosehill Gardens and found a few he reckons are worth following. â– â– â– â– â– FIVE TO FOLLOW Codetta (Race 5) had to ease towards the centre of the track to get into the clear before charging home for a first-up second to King's Secret. Codetta's closing sectionals were the fastest of the day and she can be placed to advantage next start. Island Dec (Race 5 ) was the 'hidden' run of the meeting. She was held up for a run on the turn and had to ease off heels to get to the outside. The race was over at this point but Island Dec ran on to finish only eighth, recording a fast final 600m of 34.27s and closing 200m split of 11.59s. It's no secret that King's Secret has a bright future! ðŸ'' He wins at Rosehill for @PrideRacing and Andrew Adkins! @aus_turf_club | @ProvenTbreds — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 Kerguelen (Race 7) always looked to be in a controlling position and sprinted home strongly under 57.5kg to score a good first-up win from a very game Brave One. The winner and runner-up put nearly three lengths on their chasing rivals. Kerguelen gives @JamesCummings88 and @KPMcEvoy a Rosehill double! ðŸ'° @godolphin | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 Don Diego De Vega (Race 8) was first-up in the Lord Mayor's Cup and his effort to finish fourth was full of merit. The winner, Touristic was far too good, but Don Diego De Vega caught the eye running on strongly late for fourth, recording fast closing sectionals. See the sights! Touristic wins the Listed Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill, and that's a double to Andy Adkins today! 🙌 ðŸ�† @SnowdenRacing1 | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 Liberty State (Race 10) was never on the track, racing three-and-four wide without cover then went even wider on the turn before unleashing a brilliant burst of acceleration to reel in her rivals for an outstanding first-up win. Follow her with confidence as she has an unbeaten second-up record. Liberty State returns after a spell with a big win in the last at Rosehill, and that's a double to @djgibbons22! 🥳 @HawkesRacing | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– ON THE CLOCK Hidden Achievement (Race 1) wasn't suited by the slow early tempo but ran on well for third, producing a final 200m of 11.55s, the second fastest closing sectional of the day. A great battle in the opener at Rosehill with Zebra Finch victorious! ðŸ¦'ðŸ'° @JamesCummings88 | @KPMcEvoy | @godolphin | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 Lady Extreme (Race 3) was resuming in the Midway but impressed with her fast-finishing win. She ran her final 600m in a swift 34.60s with a final 200m split of 11.85s. Lady Extreme swoops on them to take the Midway at Rosehill first up! ðŸ'¨ @blakeryan86 | @AlyshaCollett | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 Codetta (Race 5 ) didn't have a lot of galloping room in the straight but still sprinted her final 600m in 34.07s with her closing 200m split of 11.45s to finish second. Both sectionals were the best of the day. It's no secret that King's Secret has a bright future! ðŸ'' He wins at Rosehill for @PrideRacing and Andrew Adkins! @aus_turf_club | @ProvenTbreds — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 Touristic (Race 8 ) reeled off a sub-12s final 200m split at the end of 2000m to win the Lord Mayor's Cup. Touristic ran his closing 200m in 11.98s to win by a widening margin. See the sights! Touristic wins the Listed Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill, and that's a double to Andy Adkins today! 🙌 ðŸ�† @SnowdenRacing1 | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 Liberty State (Race 10 ) covered so much extra ground but was still able to rip home her final 600m in 34.89s to score a very good win. Liberty State returns after a spell with a big win in the last at Rosehill, and that's a double to @djgibbons22! 🥳 @HawkesRacing | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– WHAT THEY SAID 'It wasn't a big winning margin but I am sure with a better quality horse to aim at, Zebra Finch is going to be better again. He is the sort of colt that only does enough (but) I am sure if he got challenged there was an extra kick in the locker,'' jockey Kerrin McEvoy said. 'The race lacked tempo, it was a sit and sprint. Adam (Hyeronimus, jockey) is adamant that when you can put the bit in his mouth a little bit better, he'll have a better turn of foot. Adam is strongly pushing for Chris (Waller to go to Brisbane with him). He said 'I don't care if I ride him or not but you should be running the horse in the JJ', that's his opinion','' stable representative Charlie Duckworth said. 'Today was my first time on Kerguelen 's back and he really took my eye in the parade. He's a nice horse and gave me a really good feel. He travelled like the winner during the race and to dig in first up at the 1200m like that was a good effort,'' jockey Kerrin McEvoy said. ' King's Secret switched right on today, showed good speed, travelled the whole way and when I asked for him, there was plenty there. He showed a good turn of foot so that's nice to know that he can handle a wet track like that. It's opens more doors going forward,'' jockey Andrew Adkins said. 'Any stakes winner is rewarding but to get two winners back in town today is very satisfying and it helps build that confidence. I've been back at the provincials for a while now and I've had great success there. It's been great for my confidence and now as we head into the winter months, the opportunities to come back and ride in town are opening up and like today, I've made the most of some really great opportunities,' Adkins again after winning the Lord Mayor's Cup on Touristic. â– â– â– â– â– STEWARDS SAY Maori Chief (Race 4) was hampered near the 250m when obliged to shift in away from the heels of Kundabung but was still very disappointing in the manner in which it gave ground in the home straight. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Pure Alpha (Race 6) was inconvenienced near the 1400m when carried out by Forecast. Pure Alpha had some difficulty obtaining clear running prior to the 200m then just prior to the finish line became unbalanced due to contact from Little Cointreau, which shifted in. Sir Lucan (Race 8 ) was expected to settle in a prominent position, however, due to crowding at the start between Shahzad and Kadavar, Sir Lucan was required to settle near the rear of the field. Kadavar was severely crowded on jumping between Sir Lucan and Speycaster, which jumped in abruptly, and, as a consequence, settled at the rear of the field. Liberty State (Race 10 ), the eventual winner, raced three and four wide and without cover throughout the event. Summer Flame (Race 10 ) was bumped on jumping then travelled satisfactorily through the early and middle stages, however, when placed under pressure she gave no response and made an audible respiratory sound. When Summer Flame commenced to give ground abruptly from the 200m she was eased the filly down over the final stages of the race. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to be lame (1/5) in the off-foreleg. â– â– â– â– â– NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD Monday: Corowa, Warren Tuesday: Kembla Grange, Moree Wednesday: Warwick Farm Thursday: Taree, Wagga Wagga Friday: Dubbo Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle Sunday: Wyong, Sapphire Coast â– â– â– â– â– ROSEHILL SNAPSHOT – RON DUFFICY RUN OF THE DAY Kerguelen resumed off a long spell in testing conditions doing an admirable job winning. He probably has the most upside moving forward to go through his grades. FORGET THEY RAN Pure Alpha hit more than a couple of snags in the run never really getting fully balanced. Given a clear run with momentum he probably would have won. HORSE TO FOLLOW It's hard to get carried away following horses off wet tracks but King's Secret and Liberty State  were both quite dominant in their wins on the day and have more to offer.
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Winx's half-sister City of Lights wins Hawkesbury Crown
City Of Lights, the half-sister to the incomparable Winx, added vital black type to her CV with a determined success at Hawkesbury on Saturday. The Joseph Pride -trained mare was already a valuable broodmare prospect before enhancing her worth considerably with a tough victory in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Crown (1400m). A daughter of one of the world's greatest, Japanese super sire Deep Impact, City Of Lights is out of Vegas Showgirl, the mother of champion mare Winx. Pride couldn't underestimate the value of City Of Lights' maiden stakes win. 'It is extremely important,' Pride said. 'I have never had a horse with a pedigree like hers. It's a pedigree made in heaven, a half-sister to Winx by one of the best stallions (Deep Impact) to stand on the planet. 'It's pretty amazing and that doesn't guarantee they are going to be good horses but she is a good horse. 'It's nice to see her coming good as an older mare which she was probably bred to do but a massive win to add to her CV today.' City Of Lights was ridden just off the speed with jockey Chad Schofield ominously poised stalking the leaders. He launched his challenge down the centre of the track but City Of Lights was set a task to wear down the game Tashi. Tashi's trainer Peter Snowden was chasing consecutive Hawkesbury Crown victories and a record eighth victory in the feature race. City Of Lights ($6) levelled up to Tashi ($4.60) and edged past her late to score by short head with two lengths back to the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Written In Code ($4.80). City Of Lights wins the G3 @hawkesburyrc Crown ðŸ'' in a tight finish for @PrideRacing and @SchofieldChad ðŸ'� — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025 'It was a really nice win,' Schofield said. 'She is a beautiful mare and a stunning horse to ride. 'I have ridden all her trials this preparation and won on her in previous preps. 'She has just continued to get better and today looked like a great setup for her. 'Joe has been patient with her with three nice trials before she ran terrific first-up and today from a good draw, we made the most of it.' Pride is eager to raise the bar higher with City Of Lights with the Group 1 Tatt's Tiara on his radar in the coming weeks. The five-year-old is destined to end up in the Sunshine State chasing more black type. • 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 job is not done yet, we would love to take her to Queensland,' Pride said. 'She is certainly on the way. 'After winning a race like that we could give the Dane Ripper a go because there is no use winning a Listed race after a win like that. 'If she is racing she needs to be racing in better class races than she has won before otherwise she shouldn't be racing.' City Of Lights was originally trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman before joining Pride's barn in the spring of 2023. She was unplaced in all three of her previous stakes assignments but has returned better than ever this preparation. A strong first-up second at Royal Randwick provided the platform for her maiden stakes victory. City Of Lights now boasts a strong record of five wins and a placing from 13 career starts but it will be in the breeding barn where should could be the most profitable. Her mum Vegas Showgirl produced 11 foals during her time in the breeding barn before dying in October 2023. City Of Lights is the third stakes winner she has produced with El Divino, a son of Snitzel, dead-heating with Astern in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes in 2016. Winx will forever be remembered as one of the great racehorses in Australian racing history with the mare winning a world record 25 Group 1s. Her unforgettable run included a record four Cox Plates and George Ryders as well as Queen Elizabeth Stakes with more than $26 million in stakes earnings.
