Latest news with #QueenslandWinterCarnival
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.
Mercury
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Mercury
2025 Stradbroke Handicap
The 2025 Stradbroke Handicap will be held on Saturday 14th of June at Eagle Farm Racecourse. Racenet has compiled some critical form indicators for this year's Stradbroke Handicap! Get the latest news, previews, and results for the Stradbroke Handicap at Racenet! Check out our mega Stradbroke Handicap guide: es/stradbroke-handicap Stay up to date with Racenet: Subscribe to Racenet: / @racenet_au Visit Racenet: Like Racenet on Facebook: / racenetinternetservices Follow Racenet on Twitter: / racenettweetsTranscript #QueenslandWinterCarnival #QueenslandRacingCarnival
News.com.au
08-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Joliestar to bypass Stradbroke Handicap and Tatt's Tiara
Chris Waller confirmed Joliestar won't race again during the Queensland Winter Carnival after the brilliant mare provided the Hall of Fame trainer with a record 19th Group 1 win for the season in the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Joliestar was among the favourites at $11 for next Saturday's Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and was at top of betting at $2.50 for the Group 1 Tatts Tiara (1400m) on June 28 but Waller said the mare has earned a spell. 'She won't have another run in Queensland, that's it, she's having a holiday and we will start planning for the spring,'' Waller told Sky Racing Radio. Although Waller hasn't locked in Joliestar's spring campaign, it will be tempting to again aim the mare at the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18. She finished an unlucky seventh behind Bella Nipotina in the world's richest turf race last year. ' James McDonald is adamant she should have gone close to winning The Everest last year,'' Waller said. 'But I think it is on the short side of her distance range, she is probably better over 1300m or 1400m. 'It is a tricky race, The Everest, it is obviously the race everyone wants to win but you sacrifice a few other Group 1 races along the way. 'We will see how she is the next few days and work out a plan towards the spring.' Joliestar is currently on the fourth line of The Everest betting at $11 behind Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising, who has firmed to $1.80 after he was selected for the slot now owned by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. With three Group 1 races remaining for the season, Waller hopes to enhance his new national record of 19 majors with the Stradbroke and $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Waller said he rates Hidden Achievement as his stable's 'top seed' for the JJ Atkins. 'Hidden Achievement was beaten last start but we saw enough merit in his run to feel he can go close to winning,'' Waller said. 'Hopefully, we have James (McDonald) aboard which makes a huge difference and is a big help to my team. 'In the Stradbroke, we are just working out if Coleman gets in and we might run Firestorm and Konasana.' At Canterbury on Monday, Waller has runners across seven races including first starter Central Coast in the Drinkwise Plate (1250m) to open the program. Central Coast, a superbly bred colt by sire sensation Wootton Bassett out of triple Group 1 winner Sunlight, was purchased for $1.4 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale last year. With his big pedigree and impressive recent barrier trial form, it is not surprising Central Coast is the $2.40 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to make a winning debut. McDonald, who rode his 15th Group 1 winner for the season on Joliestar and is closing in on 'Miracle' Mal Johnston's all-time record of 16 majors set in 1979-80, is on Central Coast and also partners Waller-trained favourites Gatekeeper ($4.60) in the TAB Handicap (1250m) and Pink Shalala ($2.50) in the closer, the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1550m). McDonald has seven rides on the eight-race Canterbury program including for the Godolphin stable on promising filly Blue Willow, the $3.50 favourite for the Ranvet Handicap (1550m). The James Cummings -trained Blue Willow is a half-sister to former Horse of the Year Anamoe, who McDonald rode in eight of the champion's nine Group 1 wins. Blue Willow makes her city debut at Canterbury after three starts at Newcastle for two minor placings before a dominant maiden win in very heavy going two weeks ago.
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Punters walk through each Runner for the upcoming Doomben 10,000
Alex from Punters walks us through each runner at the Doomben 10,000. The $1,500,000 Doomben 10,000 is the richest race held at Doomben and the first of the Queensland Winter Carnival. The time-honored Doomben 10,000 race is held at Doomben Racecourse in Brisbane, Australia.
News.com.au
13-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Beefed-up World Pool presence to showcase Queensland winter carnival to globe
The Queensland winter carnival will be showcased to extra global viewers, with Doomben set to play host to World Pool meetings for the first time as part of a wider portfolio across three Group 1 race days. Last year's winter carnival was the first time the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool featured in Queensland, with races from the Sunshine State beamed internationally and punters betting into a supercharged international parimutuel wagering pool. It was an immediate success, with Queensland Derby Day at Eagle Farm combining with the Epsom Derby Day in the UK to set a then-record wagering turnover, with 12 races across the two race days generating $HK385.2 million (approx. $A74.2m). In 2025, Doomben will be part of the World Pool schedule for the first time with selected races on Saturday's Group 1 Doomben 10,000 card and the following Saturday's Group 1 Doomben Cup meeting included. The races on both Doomben 10,000 and Doomben Cup days will create international double events alongside black-type racing from Newbury (UK) and The Curragh (Ireland) respectively. Stradbroke Handicap Day will stand alone as the only World Pool fixture on June 14. The trio of meetings will form a total of nine races broadcast live to Hong Kong audiences and form one international parimutuel wagering pool for racing fans across the globe. 'World Pool is the most powerful vehicle we have to showcase Queensland racing to a truly global audience,' Brisbane Racing Club CEO Karl deKroo said. 'This year, nine of our premier races will be beamed into more than 25 jurisdictions and viewed by millions of punters and racing fans worldwide. 'We're grateful to HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and his team for their ongoing support in elevating Stradbroke Season to the global stage through World Pool. World Pool returns May 17 for a double-header! 🇦🇰 Doomben 10,000 Day, @BrisRacingClub 🇬🇧 Lockinge Stakes Day, @NewburyRacing Mark your calendars… ðŸŒ�ðŸ¤� #WorldPool — World Pool (@WorldPool) May 9, 2025 'Our partnership with the HKJC continues to grow, and we're proud to reach a major milestone with Doomben included in the World Pool schedule for the first time – a significant achievement for our club and our state.' 'World Pool delivers enormous benefits through global wagering liquidity, unprecedented international exposure, and stronger collaboration between racing jurisdictions.' World Pool race footage for international viewers will be provided by BRC's media rights partner, Sky Racing.
