Latest news with #RacenetiQ
Herald Sun
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
2025 Gai Waterhouse Classic: Gerringong for John Singleton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The party-style atmosphere on Ipswich Cup day may not be the ideal sweet spot for a 'delicate' filly but it is where John Singleton's youngster Gerringong can make a spring carnival statement. Larrikin owner Singleton has slashed his racing interests in recent years but thought enough of Gerringong to keep her to race, in partnership with some rugby league greats including Mick Cronin, Bob O'Reilly and Peter Wynn. The three-year-old filly is favourite for the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) as Waterhouse tries to win the race named after her for the second time in six years. • 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! Gerringong has won two of her five career starts and what stands out on stalks is her effort in the $3m Sunlight 3YO slot race on the Sunshine Coast in January. She finished only 4½ lengths off subsequent Group 1 winner Private Harry, with 2024 Golden Slipper champ Lady of Camelot the runner-up that night. 'The first and second horses in that race were two proper Group 1 horses and she wasn't too far off them, having a luckless run,' co-trainer Adrian Bott said. • Lipp out to fulfil $40m Lotto winner's spring carnival dream 'She was only having her third race start and also probably coming to the back end of her preparation. 'She did a remarkable job in that one campaign and she has shown improvement this time in. 'She is quite a delicate sort of horse but she has got plenty of natural talent. 'As she keeps getting deeper into her career and matures and becomes seasoned, hopefully we can see a nice progressive filly. 'She was showing promise in her early days so Singo was more than happy to hold onto her and some of the other partners (owners) he put into the horse were keen to race her as well.' Gerringong will have plenty of admirers in Saturday's Gai Waterhouse Classic. Picture: Bradley Photos • Warnie can honour cricket legend with consolation victory Gerringong has had two starts this campaign for two runner-up finishes, in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone and the Listed Queensland Day Stakes at Eagle Farm. At Eagle Farm, she got well back and rattled to the line. From a wide barrier around the tricky Ipswich track, Bott is hoping the filly can be closer in the run and show she can be a spring carnival player. 'We should be able to give her a nice freshen up after this and find something in the spring for her,' Bott said. • EXPERT TIPS: Graeme Carey's best bets, quaddie picks and race-by-race analysis for Ipswich on Saturday 'Last start, she was a bit slow into stride when I thought she might have been a bit more forward in the run. 'She does have tactical speed, so she may have an opportunity to be a bit more forward at Ipswich to try to offset the barrier. 'This race used to be raced over 1350m and I wouldn't have minded if it still was. 'I think we could stretch this filly to 1400m-1600m going forward, but she will still be good at 1200(m) at this point.' Adrian Bott. Picture: Getty Images • Uncommon James on spring mission after passing 'make or break' prep Sydney jockey Regan Bayliss will have the job of working some magic with Gerringong from the wide barrier. Bayliss has a strong book of rides on Ipswich Cup day including Osmose for Waterhouse and Bott in the Ipswich Cup and Eye Liner Stakes favourite Warnie for Ciaron Maher. Originally published as John Singleton's 'delicate' filly Gerringong to rock Ipswich as Gai Waterhouse bids to win her own race
Herald Sun
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Peter Snowden aiming to turn Queensland winter carnival fortunes around in Eye Liner Stakes
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Sydney trainer Peter Snowden hopes another gear change will do the trick for his underperforming gelding Xidaki in the $200,000 Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher-trained Warnie ($2.40) is definitely the horse to beat in the 1350m race but Xidaki poses a genuine threat if he can rediscover the form that led to his last victory, in the $300,000 Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) at Caloundra last July. Snowden decided to put a cross-over nose band on the gelding this campaign because the four-year-old was 'over-racing badly' but the results have been lacklustre. • 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! Xidaki finished seventh in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April, ninth in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on May 10 and seventh in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben two weeks later. He is rated as a $7.50 chance in the Eye Liner Stakes behind Warnie and the Tony Gollan-trained Devastate ($7). • Warnie can honour cricket legend with consolation victory 'I've had a cross-over noseband on him this time in because he was struggling last time in and I felt it cost him a couple of races,'' Snowden said. 'But it seems he has been resenting it this preparation because he's been getting too far back in his races. 'So I've taken the noseband off for Saturday and hope he can settle closer in the run. 'Ipswich is a track where you have to stay positive and he has drawn five. I don't want him to get too far back from there. 'I'm confident he has the tactical speed to be in the first five or six in the run. 'He's going great at home and I can't believe he won't be running well on what he has been showing me in his trackwork.' Xidaki last win was in the Group 3 Winx Guineas in July last year. Picture: Trackside Photography. Lindsay Park star War Machine emphatically won the BRC Sprint before impressively taking out the $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) three weeks later at Eagle Farm. Xidaki crossed the winning post almost five lengths behind War Machine in the BRC Sprint but on the bright side, Snowden was pleased with how his galloper hit the line. 'He got too far back last start and had a lot of work to do but he was one of those finishing hardest late,'' Snowden said. 'The horse that won it (War Machine) went on to win the Stradbroke Handicap. 'If he can hold his spot on Saturday it will go a long way to helping his chances at Ipswich.'' • Lipp out to fulfil $40m Lotto winner's spring carnival dream It will also comfort Snowden knowing that Xidaki was a narrow runner-up to Ostraka in the $1m Group 3 Silver Eagle (1300m) at Randwick last October but finished ahead of the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained War Machine. It's fair to say that Snowden is due for some luck in this Queensland winter carnival. His mare Tashi has twice just missed the chocolates - in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) - while the appropriately named gelding Need Some Luck finished half a length behind winner Compelling Truth in the Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m) last Saturday at Eagle Farm. Originally published as Trainer Peter Snowden banking on gear change bringing out best from Xidaki in Eye Liner Stakes
Herald Sun
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Trainer James Cummings has a slew of chances at Randwick
Cummings will also saddle up Contemporary, Pereille and Razors in the Randwick closer with all four of the stable's sprinters prominent in TAB Fixed Odds betting. But Kerguelen is the $2.40 favourite even though the promising gelding is only third emergency and needs another scratching to gain a start. 'Kerguelen's going really well and it would be nice to get him into the race carrying 52kg,'' Cummings said. 'For a horse on the rise that is a great recipe.'' • 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! A five-year-old son of former champion racehorse and sire Lonhro, Kerguelen has only been to the races six times for three wins and three seconds. But Kerguelen resumed with a strong win over the talented Brave One at Rosehill and drops 5.5kg for the Randwick sprint, albeit he is up sharply grade. 'We have been so patient with this horse,'' Cummings said. 'Although we have always held him in high regard, he's needed time to mature and I would like to think our patience will be rewarded now. 'This might be one of the drier tracks he's raced on but he's going along so sweetly and is a chance to rocket through his grades.'' • EXPERT TIPS: Clinton Payne's race-by-race tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday Kerguelen is the pick of the Godolphin quartet and the $2.40 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds with his stablemates Razors at $9, Pereille $9.50 and Contemporary at $11. Razors was twice stakes-placed as a three-year-old but hasn't raced for 12 months. Cummings has given the gelding two recent barrier trials to ready him for a Randwick return. 'I thought it was good work from Razors the other day in his trial and he's coming into this race looking pretty athletic for a horse coming off a long break,'' he said. Pereille ran fourth behind Headley Grange in a strong form race at Randwick last start and Cummings feels the sprinter is at his peak after two runs from a spell. 'He is going well and has come on from that last run,'' Cummings said. 'This does look a suitable race for him.'' • Ray & Duff's Randwick tips: Punters should plan their Exit on Saturday Topweight Contemporary has to shoulder 59kg after apprentice Benjamin Osmond's 2kg claim but his second-up effort when third to In Flight in the Listed Bob Charley Stakes is very good form for the Randwick closer. 'Contemporary is knocking on the door and is ready to win,'' Cummings said. 'He is up there where it hurts in the ratings but that is offset with the claim and he should be very strong late in the race.'' Cummings, who will take a break from training at the end of next month before moving to Hong Kong for the 2026-27 season, also has three-year-old fillies Amusing and Glorioso entered for the Quayclean Handicap (1300m) although the trainer hinted only the former was a certain starter. 'I like the look of Amusing, her trials have been good and I'm happy for her to go back to the races,'' he said. 'Glorioso won last start (Gosford) but I'm just considering the options with her, we might even wait for Wednesday (Kensington.'' • Saturday Market Movers: Feature race favourite $3 to $2.40 Cummings also has chances interstate with Kin contesting the Listed $160,000 Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) at Ipswich while boom two-year-old Observer lines up in the TAB We're On (1420m) at Flemington. 'Kin has a lovely barrier (two) at Ipswich she should be able to be ridden to her strengths,'' the trainer said. 'As for Observer, there is a lot to like about that horse. He was stylish winning last start (by five lengths at Sandown), he has come a long way and will only get better.'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Hooligan Tommy 'right in the race' Hooligan Tommy, part-owned by NRL legend Greg Alexander, can continue his form surge in the Midway Handicap (1600m). The John Sargent-trained Hooligan Tommy has won two of his five starts this campaign including his dominant effort at Kembla Grange last start by more than three lengths under 60.5kg. Tough four-year-old Hooligan Tommy drops to 58kg and is at $8.50 behind Callistemon at $3.40. 'Hooligan Tommy is on top of his game and is right in the race,'' Sargent said. 'He is better on a firmer track which he will get on Saturday, and a good, hard run mile will suit him. He's worked well during the week and looks great in the coat.'' Hooligan Tommy seems to have found his niche race distance around 1600m after being tried as a stayer last season when he ran unplaced behind Riff Rocket and Ceolwulf in the ATC Australian Derby. Sargent also ran Glad You Think So in that Derby with the gelding finishing a very game third in the prestigious Group 1 classic. Glad You Think So hasn't lived up to that promise since but Sargent is optimistic the stayer can find something like his best form this winter, starting with a comeback run in the Traffic Warden At Darley Handicap (1400m). • Racing Confidential: The tribute to Gai that's fit for a Queen 'He had a so-so campaign last time but I think he's come back in very good order this time,'' Sargent said. 'I think he will sprint well fresh. Although he will get back a bit, as long as he is hitting the line I will know he is on the right track.'' Meanwhile, Sargent has sent emerging filly Bearings interstate for the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) at Flemington. Sargent was hoping to get Bearings to the Queensland Oaks but the filly failed to qualify despite consistent results this campaign including wins at Goulburn and Newcastle. 'Bearings has gone to Melbourne as this looks a nice race for her with good prizemoney,'' Sargent said. 'She does gets back in her races so hopefully they run along because she will be hitting the line.'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Hopper ready to Medal at Randwick The winning form of Mickey's Medal has given trainer Peter Snowden added confidence Hopper will be hard to beat in the QMS Media Handicap (1600m). Hopper, a son of former super sire Snitzel, made a race of it with Mickey's Medal at Rosehill three weeks ago, finishing a close second. Mickey's Medal then franked the form by winning again at Rosehill last Saturday. 'The form around Hopper is good, it's always nice to see the form hold up,'' Snowden said. 'The Randwick race sets up well for Hopper. He's drawn a nice gate and should get his chance.''
Herald Sun
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Trainer Matt Smith saddles up Millie De Lune at Randwick
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. 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). •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! 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.' • EXPERT TIPS: Clinton Payne's race-by-race tips and analysis for Randwick on Saturday 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. Millie De Lune is well fancied at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images • Lipp out to fulfil $40m Lotto winner's spring carnival dream 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. Originally published as Trainer Matt Smith chasing back-to-back wins with Millie De Lune at Royal Randwick as stakes test looms
Herald Sun
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Jockey Zac Spain, ‘Zachariah the Electrifier', targets darts glory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. A professional jockey is not your typical darts player stereotype but Zac Spain has mixed with the best of both worlds. Spain, or 'Zachariah the Electrifier' on the competition circuit, has a dream exhibition match-up next month against Shane McGuirk, the reigning WDF world champion. Spain, an avid thrower off the track, won a tournament in March for the shot at McGuirk on July 19 at the St Kilda Sports Club. • 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 28-year-old tuned up last weekend with solid performance at the three-day DartPlayers Australia event in Albury. 'I was more than competitive, which was good,' dartboard sniper Spain said. 'I made quarter-finals Friday and then I made top 16 in both events Saturday. 'I got knocked out first round Sunday but I had my chances to go further … probably nerves got to me a little bit, to be honest, a little bit of pressure, but I was rapt. 'I wanted to see how I went against the best in Australia and I felt like I held my own.' Group 1 jockey Spain played darts from an early age, followed his father into the sport growing up in the Northern Territory, and made junior representative squads but eventually racing took priority. • Four-Play, Quadzilla: Gilbert Gardiner's Flemington Saturday tips Spain picked up the arrows again two years ago and now spends about three hours a day behind the oche. 'I love it, something outside of racing,' Spain said. 'Every day I'm not riding, I'm pretty much on the board. 'Even at night, my partner Tyrah is studying at the moment, so when she's downstairs I'm upstairs having a throw on the board.' Spain plays competition darts on Wednesday and Thursday nights respectively in Gladstone Park and Boronia. Spain, who also plays online for fun and bragging rights against brother Adrian, has the social media alter ego, The Darting Jockey, on Instagram and TikTok. • Moody, Purton, Tapp join turf legends in Hall of Fame The 'Electrifier' nickname is saved for main events only. 'My old man gave me the name when I was younger,' Spain laughed. 'My full name is Zachariah and he used to call me 'Zachariah the Electrifier'. 'I got a shirt made up with the name on the back and I wear it to the bigger events … it's a bit lairy.' Spain has seven rides on Saturday including Losesomewinmore, one of three for leading Adelaide trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly who recently opened satellite stable at Flemington. 'He's a nice horse, I had a little gallop on him Tuesday and put him through his paces,' Spain said. 'He worked up super.' Originally published as Jockey Zac Spain – 'Zachariah the Electrifier' – targeting darts glory
