Latest news with #Queanbeyan
News.com.au
11 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Kembla best bets, inside mail for Saturday, June 21, 2025
Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Kembla and best bets for Queanbeyan on Saturday. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. â– â– â– â– â– KEMBLA BEST BET Race 4 No. 3: SPACEBALLS Will benefit from her first-up run and well placed down in grade. NEXT BEST Race 3 No. 3: CUBAN RAIN Broke through with a nice win last start and can go back-to-back. VALUE BET Race 7 No. 7: ALLEGRO MISS Back to provincial grade after two runs in town. QUADDIE Race 4: 1, 5 Race 5: 3, 7, 11 Race 6: 1, 5 Race 7: 2 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Comeback jockey BROCK RYAN has good book of rides and looks hard to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge. â– â– â– â– â– QUEANBEYAN BEST BET Race 1 No. 11: VESCOVI Narrowly beaten at Wagga last start. Can go one better. NEXT BEST Race 5 No. 9: MISS INDI Broke her maiden in good fashion last start. Chance again. INSIDE MAIL – KEMBLA JAMARNI (2) was runner-up behind his stablemate Cuban Rain over 1300m on a heavy track here on June 3 and followed with a solid third to Caelus at Hawkesbury. Good chance to break through. WHY WHY WHY (4) was good on debut when third to Jared at Goulburn. Battled away okay when sixth to Shalaa Jet at Wyong. Gets in well with the 4kg claim. SO LONG FAREWELL (3) has claims on his second to Kundabung on the Kensington. GAMBLER (3) has always trialled well but hasn't delivered. He was caught wide at Newcastle last start. Won both recent trials nicely and time to show it on race day. CODENAME (2) is a first starter by Hanseatic. Was okay when third in his first trial here on May 12. Took benefit from the experience and was very good leading all-the-way to a near four length win in his second 17 days later. COSMIC EAGLE (6) was a handy third to First Landing on debut at Newcastle. CUBAN RAIN (3) showed a glimpse last preparation when a strong closing second to Rybakina over 1400m here. Kicked off this campaign with a third to Winner Of Kowloon before a smart win from Jamarni. Good chance again. JARED (2) had been runner-up six times with a number of close finishes. Finally broke through at Goulburn first-up before failing on the heavy track at Newcastle. Can bounce back. BUTTERFLY STYLE (5) dug deep to run down Rubilace in a tight finish at Sapphire Coast last start. SPACEBALLS (3) will take improvement from his first-up fourth to Mia Ballerina in a Bm64 at Canterbury. Scored a good win at Warwick Farm first-up last time in followed by a close third at Rosehill. Well placed dropping back to a Class 1. POINT SCORE (6) started third favourite on debut when down the track behind Rivellino at Randwick in January. Returned with a stylish win over 1000m here on May 31. HIPPOLYTE ROCK (2) has claims on his Super Maiden win at Newcastle before a spell. RAINBOW GODDESS (3) had a tough run out wide and was no match for Ninagloo Reef but held on for second when resuming at Hawkesbury. Had a bit of trouble getting a clear run on straightening when a nose second to Inncourt at Wyong. Can give this a shake. WILD THOUGHTS (1) did a nice job on debut when third behind Modella here back on Jan 29. Resumes here off a hard held all-the-way trial win. Wide gate the concern. BORDER TOWN (9) will take improvement from his first-up third here on June 3. UP AND UNDER (1) will appreciate a drop back in grade from two placings at Warwick Farm. Led from a wide gate when third to Knights Armour then tracked leader when third to Trapalanda over 2200m. Gets in well with the 4kg claim. PIPLUP (4) finished seventh in that race behind Trapalanda beaten two-and-a-half lengths. His two wins were over this trip, one of the at The Valley last November. ANT (5) got home well for a close third to Dark Arts at Canterbury second-up before a win over this track and trip. ALLEGRO MISS (7) scored a strong closing win in a Class 1 at Newcastle before jumping up to Midway company and not beat far in both goes. Best form is on wet tracks but she has placed on a Good 4. DIAMOND SHOW (6) followed a second to Bella Montagna here before back-to-back wins at Hawkesbury and Wyong. Chance for the hat-trick. TOM CRUISING (9) produced a good effort for second over 1212m at the Sapphire Coast first-up. Will appreciate stepping up to the mile where he has won twice. AUDENZIA (9) was wide early before getting outside the leader then going to the from on turn when just caught by Twilight Elegance here two runs back. Similar story here two weeks later when just beaten by Charleroi. Due for a win. STEEL RAIN (6) is also closing in on a win after three placings this time in. Narrowly beaten at Goulburn before a two length second to Unusual Prospect in a Gosford Super Maiden. CHEEKY DANCER (10) was third at Hawkesbury before being beaten a nose on a Good 4 in a Super Maiden at Tamworth. Not far behind the placegetters at her two runs since.
ABC News
12-06-2025
- ABC News
Court hears of 'bad blood' between alleged Oaks Estate shooter and victim
Prosecutors in the trial of a man allegedly involved in a shooting at Oaks Estate last year say the victim still has shotgun pellets lodged in his body. The victim and a woman had been walking on George Street in Oaks Estate at the time of the shooting, the court heard, after the victim's brother's house one street over was raided by police and they were asked to leave. It is alleged the pair saw an orange or gold coloured hatchback with no number plates drive past, which then did a U-Turn and stopped. In a recorded interview with police — played to the court — the woman told officers then-20-year-old Bronson Cross got out of the car with a shotgun and approached them saying: "Do you want to get shot?" The woman said she hid behind a tree while the victim talked to Mr Cross, telling him there were police nearby. Mr Cross allegedly shot the victim, who then ran down the road to seek help. "I didn't think he'd been shot because he ran," the woman told police. She said she also ran, fearing Mr Cross would fire another shot. Prosecutor Nathan Deakes told the court a man who'd been visiting his son in Oaks Estate heard a "loud bang" at about 1am that morning. When the man went outside, he was approached by the victim who told him: "Bronson Cross shot me". The court heard the victim was taken to the Queanbeyan Hospital and was later transferred to the Canberra Hospital, where he required a chest drain and surgery to remove shotgun pellets. Mr Deakes said Mr Cross and the victim knew each other from school but there had been some "bad blood" between them, including a physical altercation in the years before the shooting. Mr Cross was arrested on May 1, 2024 and extradited to the ACT accused of firearms offences and inflicting grievous bodily harm. Police released a CCTV image and photographs of the car which they allege Mr Cross was driving — later identified as a Nissan Micra. The prosecution alleged Mr Cross has been linked to the vehicle, with the identification of the offender the primary issue in the case. The trial continues.
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘What else am I going to do?' My Last Hooray no last hurrah for veteran trainer Frank Cleary
Frank Cleary, the racehorse trainer who can't retire, often finds himself reminiscing about what might have been during State of Origin time. A talented rugby league fullback in his day, Cleary earned selection in 1970 for Country Seconds against City Seconds at the SCG. This was 10 years before State of Origin was introduced and Country teams were made up of part-timers from bush regions against City sides full of the sport's best players. The City team Cleary was opposed to boasted 13 players who either had already worn the green and gold of Australia or were to soon earn Test selection including greats like John Sattler, Bob Grant, Fred Jones, Phil Hawthorne, John Brass, Bob O'Reilly, Denis Pittard and Paul Sait. But Cleary's country team made a game of it against the City side, losing the representative clash 24-13. 'We tried not to pay too much attention to who we were playing against or you would be overawed,'' Cleary recalled. 'So, we just relied on each other, bush boys having a go, and we held our own. It wasn't a whitewash, put it that way.'' Some years later, Cleary was having a quiet beer with some mates in a Queanbeyan pub when he was 'belted in the ribs'. 'I turned around and it was John Sattler,'' Cleary said. 'I asked him what that was all about and he said 'SCG, 1970 – now we are square'. 'He had a good memory because during that game, I did give Sattler one in a tackle and he waited to get even with me. We had a good laugh about it.'' Cleary enjoyed his footy but knew the time would come when he needed to make a choice – keep playing rugby league or concentrate on training racehorses. He took out a trainer's licence in 1971 but continued playing footy for another three years before hanging up the boots. 'I had that many injuries and (wife) Sue and I were starting our family,'' Cleary said. 'Plus I had a horse in the stable called Wayne's Bid – and I knew how good he was so I thought I had better give up footy and concentrate on training.'' Wayne's Bid was a brilliant sprinter and gave Cleary his first Group 1 winner when he won the 1976 The Galaxy when ridden by 'Miracle' Mal Johnston. Cleary remembers that race like it was yesterday. 'Wayne's Bid was a great horse to me and he was in great form that autumn,'' he said. 'But he was up against Sticks And Stones who was very fast. 'The race turned into a sprint replica of the Bonecrusher-Our Waverley Star Cox Plate (1986). 'They broke clear at the 600m and they went stride for stride to the line. Wayne's Bid was able to edge in front in the last 30-40m.'' Wayne's Bid was all the vindication Cleary needed he had made the right career choice. Cleary has since carved out a very successful training career, mainly from Queanbeyan, preparing topliners like Select Prince, Friend's Venture, and particularly Clan O'Sullivan and Catbird. Clan O'Sullivan was an outstanding two-year-old and won the Magic Millions and Black Opal Stakes before his narrow loss to Burst in the 1992 Golden Slipper. The trainer was stung by that defeat but seven years later he finally won the Golden Slipper with Catbird. A brilliant colt by Danehill, Catbird won five of his 14 starts including the coveted Black Opal-Golden Slipper double. Cleary's classy colt also had a successful career at stud, siring 22 stakeswinners including Green Birdie, winner of the Singapore International Sprint, Cats Fun who won the Western Australian Derby and Perth Cup, and Monton, winner of the Villiers Stakes. It was the Catbird connection that was the clincher for Cleary to delay his retirement from training. The story goes that Cleary was cajoled by his close friend, former Canberra Raiders chairman, John McIntyre, to check out a yearling by Harry Angel at the Inglis Classic Sale two years ago. 'I told John I've had enough of training but he insisted I have a look at this yearling,'' Cleary said. Cleary noticed the yearling's great-grandam just happened to be Fitting, herself the dam of Catbird. 'I'd never heard of Harry Angel at the time but I studied the horse's pedigree and he was closely related to Catbird on his dam's side,'' he said. 'He was a lovely colt to look at and John kept saying I need to get another horse to train. 'I thought bugger it we will try and get him. He only cost us $40,000. 'So, I agreed to train the horse. I said this would be the last one, and that is how we came up with the name, ' My Last Hooray '.'' The name is a misnomer now but more about that later. My Last Hooray, who is owned by some of Cleary's longstanding clients including McIntyre, is now a three-year-old with potential, winning three races (and three placings) from nine starts. He's already recouped his purchase price with interest having earned nearly $80,000 prizemoney. At Royal Randwick on Saturday My Last Hooray is topweight with 61kg for the $120,000 TAB Highway (1200m). Cleary has booked 3kg-claiming apprentice Will Stanley to off-set My Last Hooray's handicap and the likelihood of heavy track surface doesn't concern the trainer. 'The kid (Stanley) is a good young rider and the 3kg he claims will be very handy,'' Cleary said. 'I'm not worried by the heavy track, either. My Last Hooray gets through it so we will take all the help we can get.'' My Last Hooray is at $19 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting behind the promising mare So You Pence at $2.40 favouritism, emerging Scone sprinter Shropshire Lad is at $4.80 with Chemtrail ($7) the only other runner under double figure odds. There is a truism in racing that trainers never retire and Cleary's success with My Last Hooray means he has shelved retirement plans – probably for good. 'I've also got a two-year-old in training now so I guess I'll keep going for a few more years,'' he said. 'But what else am I going to do? I don't play golf or anything and I would go mad if I couldn't go to the stables every morning. It makes me get out of bed and get on with my day. 'I'm 76, my health is good, so why not keep going. My Last Hooray – well, it's the wrong name now.'' Cleary still follows the footy closely and regularly attends Canberra Raiders games. There are some who believe the Raiders could challenge for the NRL premiership this season but Cleary is more circumspect. 'The Raiders are going really 'good' this season, they have all these young blokes coming through and they are a very fast team,'' Cleary said. 'They are great to watch, they might be 12 months away, but Ricky (Stuart, coach) has them playing good footy so you never know.'' Cleary saved the best for last with his thoughts on the Origin clash between NSW and Queensland next Wednesday and My Last Hooray's chances at Royal Randwick on Saturday. 'I would have picked James Tedesco at fullback and maybe found a spot for Ryan Papenhuyzen in the Blues team,'' he said. 'But it does look a very strong side and I think NSW can win the first Origin game. 'At Randwick, we are going to get a wet track and that won't bother My Last Hooray because the day he won at Goulburn the track was bottomless. 'I realise track surfaces are different everywhere but if they handle the wet, they handle the wet. 'My Last Hooray is going terrific, he's in good form and should be hard to beat. He's not a bad horse.''
Mercury
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Mercury
Parkes preview, tips: Nestor gambles on Lockdown in Cup
Jockey Kody Nestor was successful on the Parkes Cup from a wide barrier two years ago and he hopes history can repeat when he partners Lockdown Gamble in this year's edition. In 2023, Nestor partnered the Mack Griffith-trained up and comer Osman to a three length win from barrier 10 – the outside gate. Nestor and Lockdown Gamble have the outside gate in this year's Parkes Cup (1600m) - barrier 14 of 14 – but will jump from barrier 12 under his big weight of 63kg. 'I haven't ridden him in a race before but I have seen plenty of him,' said Nestor. 'Obviously, he has to lump it again and he has drawn wide but he is the proven galloper in the field. 'He's won a Wellington Cup which is a Big Dance Qualifier. The Parkes Cup which is more of a second tier country cup. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'He looks the one to beat on paper, no doubt.' The David Smith-trained gelding heads into the race in terrific form. He resumed this campaign with third to Osman in the Mudgee Cup on February 23 and his next run at Mudgee last Sunday when he won the Benchmark 82 over 1400m with 63kg. 'It was a good, tough win the other day with a big weight,' Nestor said. 'He's got a couple of things against him – his big weight and wide barrier- but he has the class to overcome them. 'His greatest attributes are his last 100m to a furlong along with his toughness and consistency.' Nestor was pleased with the first-up run of Kora Magic at Dubbo two weeks ago and partners the mare again when she contests the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m). The Mark Jones-trained mare led from barrier 11 and was only caught in the last 20m to finish third behind Cumnock and Twilight Rock. 'She was just beaten the other day first-up without a barrier trial. I thought she was really game,' he said. 'She had a good blow coming back in so she is going to improve off that run. 'We have drawn wide again but she has the early pace to offset the gate. I expect her to lead easily and with the circumference of Parkes, it will be a lot easier on her than Dubbo. 'Dubbo is a very open track and you are exposed a long way from home whereas at Parkes, you can skip off the corner and it's not the longest run home. 'She will be thereabouts in the finish again.' Nestor and Queanbeyan trainer Nick Olive have enjoyed a couple of winners together in recent months including Just Go Bang in the Gilgandra Cup and combine with two good chances this weekend. Sooboogeliscious has been just behind the placegetters in two runs back from a spell and looks ready to peak in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m). 'It's a nice competitive race and he is one of the chances,' Nestor said. 'It was a nice run last start and he looks ready to peak third-up. 'He should get a lovely run without doing any work from the inside gate. We just have to pick and choose our runs at the right time.' Midnight Affair will appreciate a drop in grade when she returns to country racing in the Class 2 Handicap (1600m). 'She has been competitive in Highways and better class races than what she is going around in this weekend,' he said. 'We just need an ounce of luck from the barrier. 'Egyptologist is the one to beat but he first-up over the mile. 'I'm just hoping the fitness edge we have can make the difference.' ADAM SHERRY'S TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 5 No. 10: COUGARS Will take improvement his first-up fifth. Soft track suits. NEXT BEST Race 6 No. 1: LOVE SHUCK Was good late in the Wagga Town Plate. This is easier. VALUE BET Race 8 No. 4: SOOBOOGELISCIOUS Just behind the placegetters in both runs back and ready to peak. QUADDIE Race 5: 4, 9, 10 Race 6: 1, 8, 10 Race 7: 1, 5, 7, 9 Race 8: 1, 4, 13 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Kody Nestor has a nice book of rides and looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge. Kody Nestor looks set for a good day at Parkes. Picture: Bradley Photos INSIDE MAIL – PARKES RACE 1: Telescope Tyres Group Inglis Xtra Bonus Country Boosted Mdn Hcp 1000m SPRING PROSPECT (8) lost the rider pre-race then raced keenly when fifth on debut at Mudgee in December. Has been very good in both trials this time back. Was kept under a hold to beat Egyptologist in his May 4 Dubbo heat. AMORUSO (6) is a debutant by Santos. Led by a big margin and kept on the bridle to win her Apr 1 Tamworth trial by nearly four lengths. CERONS (1) was just behind the placegetters in two recent Queensland runs. Was second in the Maribyrnong Trial on debut. Bet: Spring Prospect to win RACE 2: Mcpherson's Parts & Service / Aeh Group Super Mdn Showcase Hcp 1400m BILLABONG ROSE (8) resumes without a trial. Was momentarily held up on straightening when second to Bondi Prophet at Muswellbrook first-up last campaign. TURNING CIRCLE (13) was a handy third to Oakfield Saturn first-up then raced wide when down the order at Kembla. She didn't handle the Heavy 10 when fourth as favourite at Wyong last start. SWEET KICK (12) was a two length fourth at Sale on debut on Sept 11. Changed stables and well beaten first-up before an improved run when fourth at Dubbo on May 4. Bet: Billabong Rose to win RACE 3: D'aquino's Grand Hotel / Standen Building Showcase Hcp (C2) 1600m MIDNIGHT AFFAIR (2) drops back in grade after running in TAB Highways at her past two starts, the latest a fourth to Canadian Ruler at Hawkesbury's stand-alone meeting. Had a win and two close seconds at her previous three runs in the country. EGYPTOLOGIST (1) was good last preparation when a first-up second at Dubbo before back-to-back wins at Mudgee and Dubbo. Given a shake up when second to Spring Prospect in his May 4 Dubbo trial. NAVAL OFFICER (4) made ground when fourth to Zoomorphic at Dubbo before winning at Wellington. Bet: Midnight Affair each-way RACE 4: Mca Engineering / Tanswell Transport Showcase (Bm58) 1000m KORA MAGIC (8) led from a wide gate and just run down late when third to Cumnock when resuming at Dubbo. Went in without a trial and will be better for the run. SHERIDAN STREET (6) led all-the-way for a debut win at Gundagai on Apr 6. Began awkwardly and over-raced when always well back at Wagga last start. Can bounce back. THE MOOCH (11) was a close second to All Astern at Queanbeyan last start. Gets a nice run from the draw. Bet: Kora Magic each-way RACE 5: McMahon Building / Zac Kelly Golf Showcase Plate (C2) 1200m COUGARS (10) sat outside the leaders before racing away to a big maiden win at the Sapphire Coast to end last campaign. Copped a decent bumped at the start before working forward to be outside the leader and just faded late when resuming with a fifth to Miss Emma at Wagga on May 2. MICRO MIKKI (4) made his NSW debut with a nose win at Narromine before a good win from Joy Of The World at Wellington both over 1100m. LADY ISHIKAWA (9) resumes for a new stable. Scored back-to-back wins at Newcastle last campaign. Bet: Cougars to win RACE 6: Coachman Hotel Punters Club Satellite Hcp 1200m LOVE SHUCK (1) hasn't had a lot of luck this campaign. Held up on the bend when second to Fangela at Canberra first-up. Again held up until passing the 200 when third to I Am Lethal in the Town Plate Prelude at Wagga and knuckled on jumping when sixth to Compelling Truth in the Wagga Town Plate. KEIKOKU (10) was help up until near the 70m when seventh to So You Pence at Wagga last start. Should have finished much closer. STARROS (8) tackled a Randwick Highway last start. Nice Hawkesbury win and made ground at Canterbury when seventh to Yiska. Bet: Love Shuck to win RACE 7: Parkes Services Club Parkes Cup 1600m LOCKDOWN GAMBLE (1) is backing up from a solid first-up win under 63kg over Stratified at Mudgee last weekend. Has the same big weight again but is the class runner of the field. Did win the Wellington Cup last year. LOOSE LOVE (7) won over 1400m here to start his current campaign. Ran on nicely to finish a nose third behind Dark Vador at Wagga last start. ROUGE MOULIN (9) raced in the Highway at Scone yesterday. SIZZLE MINIZZLE (5) is back from a Queensland campaign. Just behind the placegetters at Eagle Farm his last two. Bet: Lockdown Gamble to win RACE 8: Parkes Courier Service / Parkes Farm Centre Country Boosted (Bm58) 1300m SOOBOOGELISCIOUS (4) sat outside the leader and battled away for fifth at Queanbeyan when resuming before a half-length fourth to Capital Heart at the Sapphire Coast. Ready to peak third-up and gets an ideal run from the inside gate. RAYMOND'S REWARD (1) is shooting for a hat-trick after a handy win at Armidale followed by an al-the-way win at Gunnedah. MISS CAPRICORN (13) was badly crowded on jumping and settled a long way back when seventh to Zoomorphic at Dubbo last start. Nice win there the start before. Bet: Sooboogeliscious each-way
ABC News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Samuel Johnson
Skip to main content Introduced Australian Story presenter by Leigh Sales. Actor Samuel Johnson has just celebrated a milestone he never dreamed he'd reach. Love Your Sister, the charity he founded with his late sister Connie, recently hit the target of $20 million raised for cancer research. It's one of many remarkable feats Samuel has pulled off in his rollercoaster life. The actor-turned-advocate has broken the world unicycling record, won a Gold Logie playing music legend Molly Meldrum and more recently, survived a near-fatal road accident. Sam shot to fame at the age of 21 in the hit TV series The Secret Life of Us but his 20s and 30s were turbulent years. He lost loved ones to illness and suicide and battled mental illness and addiction. Now he's found new purpose in his work raising money for cancer research. We go on the road with Sam as he travels to halls, clubs and campsites from Queensland to Queanbeyan, raising money and speaking candidly about grief, love and self-acceptance. Airs Monday, May 19, 8:00pm (AEST), on ABCTV and ABC iview.
