Latest news with #PuissanceDeLune
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Matt Smith chasing back-to-back wins with Millie De Lune at Royal Randwick as stakes test looms
Trainer Matt Smith could be willing to contemplate a late Queensland winter carnival raid if Millie De Lune can put together back-to-back Royal Randwick victories this Saturday. Smith has the Group 3 $300,000 Winx Guineas (1600m) in the back of his mind for his progressive daughter of Puissance De Lune as she prepares to tackle the Elite Sand & Soil Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m). Millie De Lune has shown an abundance of potential this preparation with two victories in five starts and scored her biggest win to date last time with a dominant win over 2000m on soft ground in town. 'She is going really good and has progressed nicely since that last run,' Smith said. 'We have tried her a couple of times on better ground and she doesn't like it much … she might be a bit better in time but I thought she would make a reasonable nice staying filly and have always thought that. 'She has taken time to come around.' It's Millie De Lune on the inside who gives @AshMorgan6 a Randwick treble! ðŸŒ� @mcsmithracing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Saturday's run will determine if Smith puts Millie De Lune over more ground again or drops her back to a mile for the Queensland stakes assignment. The emerging three-year-old will already be dropping back a furlong from her last-start win when she lines up on Saturday. 'She was really strong late the other day so if we get tempo she will be fine with the drop back in trip but if not, it might be tricky from the barrier (12) as well,' Smith said. 'It's always a concern coming back in trip.' Ashley Morgan pilots Millie De Lune, which is a $3.70 favourite to continue her winning ways. Smith is also in the hunt for the Listed $200,000 Civic Stakes (1400m) in which Astero ($34) links up with Andrew Adkins. But Astero will need to do something he's never done in 13 attempts – win at Randwick. 'I don't know why Randwick doesn't suit him,' Smith said. 'I think at Rosehill, it suits a horse that wants a bit more speed. 'The other day he was pulling behind them and he runs his best races when he is not right up on the bridle that much. 'But he hasn't been beaten that far and his three runs this time have been better than they look.' Smith also has Time Quest ($101) as the fifth emergency.
News.com.au
29-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Grinzinger Moon makes city debut to continue winning streak that began in Towong maiden
A winning streak that started at Towong in March will go on the line at Caulfield on Saturday. Wangaratta trainer Ben Brisbourne will test Grinzinger Moon in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (1200m) after four straight wins either side of the Murray River. Grinzinger Moon went fairly in two unplaced runs in the spring but Brisbourne said a natural change of tactics in two February jumpouts was the catalyst for the three-year-old's winning run. 'I always trained her as a horse that would get over 14(00m) or a mile and I spent six months teaching her to relax behind horses and pick them up as my horses race,' Brisbourne said. 'She had a couple of starts last prep that were pass marks so I put her away and brought her back in. 'In her first jumpout, she jumped so well from the barriers and put herself in a forward position. 'Normally, when mine do that, they would be half weak in the finish but she found two more gears and looked really impressive. 'We thought, 'well, she obviously wanted to do it that way' so we trained her that way.' Wins at Benalla and Yarra Valley preceded a minor setback when the filly developed a foot abscess, which required a short break. The daughter of Puissance De Lune returned with a strong win at Albury on May 16. Brisbourne noted all of Grinzinger Moon's wins were against older horses. 'I think her times have matched up wherever she's gone and (owner) John Wheeler has just let me take her through the grades to teach her to be a winner,' Brisbourne said. 'She's stepped up every time. 'Though she's a three-year-old filly, she's gone up against the older horses. 'This will be the first time she will be in a handicap against her own age group. 'She's got a good running style for that track and I'm pretty happy with how the race has come up.' Grinzinger Moon is a $13 chance in early betting on the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap.
