Latest news with #Royal Randwick
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy's Randwick tips: Punters should plan their Exit on Saturday
Racenet and The Daily Telegraph's Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central's Ron Dufficy debate the chances on Saturday's 10-race program at Royal Randwick. • 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! â– â– â– â– â– DUFF'S BEST BET Race 2 No.3 EXIT FEE DUFF'S BEST VALUE Race 8 No.6 OH DIAMOND LIL â– â– â– â– â– Ron Dufficy: I liked the way AIX EN PROVENCE (5) put them away there first-up and although there's a little question mark whether he was flattered by the heavy track, I'm willing to take the risk at the price. CALLISTEMON (12) hasn't won in a while but she went close last start and she's going really well. HOOLIGAN TOMMY (6) is off a dominant win last start and could easily go on with the job. DANISH PRINCE (10) doesn't win out of turn but is very tough and never far away. Ray Thomas: HOOLIGAN TOMMY (6) was dominant at Kembla Grange to continue his consistent form this campaign. This is harder but he's very fit and suited over this course and distance. PIRAEUS (4) gets back on a firmer deck here and can improve sharply. HELLFIRE EXPRESS (2) led throughout and scored comfortably over 1500m here last start. Prefers a touch more give in the ground but he still rates among the main chances. AIX EN PROVENCE (5) bolted home at Newcastle first-up and should be further improved. Domeland 4yo Aix En Provence resumes from a spell with a strong victory for Head Trainer Sara Ryan and jockey @Grantbuckley30 at Newcastle! #TeamDomeland — Domeland Racing (@DomelandRacing) June 7, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Dufficy: Very keen on EXIT FEE (3). I've loved his two trials, he had good Highway form when last in work, and he's a young horse that could go through a few grades this preparation. The danger is SHROPSHIRE LAD (1). He will take great benefit from that Highway experience last run and I just wish he had drawn a bit better for a softer run. CALICO MISS (11) is a three-year-old filly with upside. It's not easy coming to a Highway so quickly but she is sharp and has drawn well. SATIN STILETTO (2) did enough in a lead-up and gets a better draw here. Thomas: SHROPSHIRE LAD (1) won brilliantly at the Scone stand-alone meeting then was wide albeit with cover at Randwick and was beaten by a narrow margin. Tough effort last start and he's the one to beat although his wide draw is a leveller. CALICO MISS (11) is a speedy filly who has shown plenty of promise in her debut preparation. She's confronted by a steep rise in grade but her inside draw is advantageous. PRETTY VEGAS (4) is racing consistently and EXIT FEE (3) has to be included in the main chances. The first two races at Rosehill go to @ZacLloydx with Exit Fee winning the TAB Highway for @GoulburnTrainer! ðŸ'° @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 22, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Dufficy: BRAVE ONE (4) fought hard behind a nice type last start. He has a tricky draw but with any luck this looks a nice race for him. BENGAL (3) will find this harder than his Highway win last start but he's a three-year-old on the improve from an in-form stable. LUNAITE (10) is an interesting filly off two big heavy track wins. She's Paul Snowden's first Saturday runner who looks well fancied. PRETTY POWERFUL (7) is an untapped colt resuming off two good wins and should be respected. Thomas: BRAVE ONE (4) ran well first-up on a heavy track at Canterbury then matched motors with Kerguelen as they drew clear of their rivals at Rosehill last start. Team Hawkes has found the right race for Brave One, he just needs a touch of luck from an awkward draw and he will be in the finish. LUNAITE (10) has put a margin on her rivals with easy wins at Newcastle in successive starts and deserves her chance here. AMUSING (11) showed promise in her debut preparation and is one to watch. SECURE (5) comes off two solid midweek wins. Brave One races on the speed, travels well under @ZacLloydx, and the son of Exceedance handles the wet track to win on debut for @HawkesRacing ðŸ�‡ @racing_nsw | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 6, 2024 • â– â– â– â– â– Dufficy: Tricky race. I'm with SHE'S UNUSUAL (9) who is third-up now and gives the impression she wants this distance. I'm happy to go with different form. MILLIE DE LUNE (12) was quite dominant winning last start and if she can turn that form around to a firmer track here she will be hard to beat again. PIPPIE BEACH (3) comes out of a slowly run lead-up but she is going well in two runs this preparation and can't knock her consistency. SEAFALL (2) maps better from this draw with a forgivable wet track run last start. Thomas: GENTLESCHI (8) had to come back slightly in trip and wasn't suited by an indifferent tempo but she closed the race off strongly to finish fifth, beaten only about a half length behind Shohisha over 1600m here last start. The step up to 1800m suits here and she's at value odds. MILLIE DE LUNE (12) finished her race off powerfully to beat Hurstville Zagreb over 2000m her last start and although she has to come back slightly in trip, she's a filly racing in very good form. PIGGYBACK (5) has returned in very good form and is right in the mix again. She's Unusual leads the journey and kicks away for an easy win! @JohnOSheaRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 17, 2024 â– â– â– â– â– Dufficy: I liked the way SOUNDS UNUSUAL (2) put away his rivals last start, looking like a promising middle distance type in the making. With any luck from the draw he is going to be hard to beat again. MISS KIM KAR (5) was not suited by the style of race last start but she gets nice cover with the claim here and is back in grade. INTERJECTION (3) ran a much better run with not much luck last start and does not work from the draw here on a suitable dry track. HOPPER (11) was great first-up, went up in class last time and ran well and might have more upside than most here. Thomas: SOUNDS UNUSUAL (2) demolished his rivals at Warwick Farm winning by a big margin in heavy going but he's just as effective on a firmer track. He's in the zone now and will be hard to beat again despite the outside draw. MISS KIM KAR (5) just missed a place at Randwick last start but wasn't beaten far in a race where the tempo was against her. She's racing well and can bounce back. HOPPER (11) has returned in good form and made a race of it with Mickey's Medal last start and that horse has since won again. ENGINE ROOM (6) won't be far away. ðŸ'Š Sounds Unusual wins with ease! A nice watch for punters as he sails to victory under @mcacajamez for @cwallerracing who score a double! @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 4, 2025 • â– â– â– â– â– Dufficy: I like a longshot here in SALT LAKE CITY (1). He's an import who produced a much better run behind Loch Eagle at just his second Australian start in harder grade than this when he covered ground and ran fifth. With the claim and down in grade, I'm happy to have something on him at odds. ZAPHOD (4) didn't handle the very heavy track last start but I like the blinkers going on with the inside draw. PROMITTO (7) is going well without winning and although up in class he is very well weighted and has a good chance. QUANTUM CAT (10) has his hoof on the till and this appears a suitable race for him. Thomas: QUANTUM CAT (10) struck a very heavy track at Randwick but stuck to his guns when third to Glory Daze over 2000m. He has to come back slightly in trip but is better suited in the drier conditions. This is his chance. ZAPHOD (4) was an unplaced favourite in the same Randwick race last start deserves another chance on the firmer track here. HOLLYWOOD HERO (2) didn't have a lot of luck last start and stays under notice. I'm also wary of the improving SALT LAKE CITY (1). Loch Eagle flies to win at Randwick! 🦅 @Leesracing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Dufficy: SHALL BE (4) appeals at odds to me. He's a shortcourse specialist resuming, he's a three-year-old who has done nothing wrong, he's got that coveted draw in a very fast race, and I feel he can sit right on them and run a very good race. GITALONG (2) was close up behind STORM THE RAMPARTS (1) last start and is 2.5kgs better off at the weights this time. HI DUBAI (3) might improve with that one run under her belt. LULUMON (6) was great first-up, should be forgiven for her last start failure and will be charging home off the hot speed. Thomas: GITALONG (2) travelled wide in front at Randwick last start and led for a long way only to be edged out by STORM THE RAMPARTS (1). The pair clash again, Gitalong is drawn inside his rival and meets him better at the weights. Gitalong on top from HI DUBAI (3) who ran very well when resuming and gets in nicely at the weights after the claim. LULUMON (6) ran down Storm The Ramparts at Gosford then had excuses at Rosehill and she rates among the main chances. No knock on Storm The Ramparts although he is creeping up in the weights. ⛈ï¸� Back-to-back Randwick wins for Storm The Ramparts as @PrideRacing trains the last three winners, and a double to Adam Hyeronimus! 🥳 @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Dufficy: OH DIAMOND LIL (6) was great winning first-up then a little flat last time on a softer track so back on a firmer footing and in a race where she can get some control she will be harder to run down. RAIKKONEN (1) is an exciting prospect heading in the right direction. He was fantastic with no luck last start but just that big weight and wide draw won't make it easy for him. CAPTAIN AMELIA (9) is going better than her form suggests and the drier track plays into her hands. WOOLOOWIN (3) was very good back to this class last start and she can hold that form now. Thomas: RAIKKONEN (1) is an emergency in the Civic Stakes but is in the field for that race now. If the stable runs here, he's the one to beat but it is likely they will go to the stakes race. If Raikkonen comes out as expected, then this is a very open race. CODE IN TIME (12) raced very consistently last campaign, resumes here off two even trials and he does sprint well fresh. OH DIAMOND LIL (6) can improve sharply on the drier track, as you pointed out, Ronnie. FIDDLERS GREEN (13) was very good first-up at Warwick Farm and will be finishing strongly. ðŸ'Ž Oh Diamond Lil gets the perfect run and wins at Scone! @KPMcEvoy | @DavidPfieffer — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 • â– â– â– â– â– Dufficy: This is a good Civic Stakes, Ray. This is a better option for RAIKKONEN (21) even though it is a tougher race. If he gets a run he has a huge chance. HEADLEY GRANGE (13) is building a good looking record and it is hard to knock him even though there is more depth to this race. GREBENI (6) will be running on strongly late on the back-up. WELWAL (2) has had a few excuses of late and he is capable of an upset. Thomas: HEADLEY GRANGE (13) resumed with a brilliant win over 1300m at Randwick. He was held up for a run in the straight but when the gap came, he accelerated impressively and recorded a fast closing 200m sectional to win well. He will be fitter and excels over the 1400m here. RAIKKONEN (21) will be very hard to beat. He's a promising young sprinter and will be hitting the line hard. GREBENI (6) is racing very well and deserves a win. BASES LOADED (5) sprints well fresh and is drawn to advantage. Headley Grange wins first up to give @PrideRacing a Randwick double! 🙌 @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Dufficy: Godolphin is very strong here, I like all their horses. I'm interested in RAZORS (10). Although he hasn't raced for over a year he is very genuine and is trialling nicely. KERGUELEN (19) is the pick in the market of the Godolphin team but it is a big step in grade although he does look a nice horse in the making. He just has to prove himself on a drier track. CONTEMPORARY (1) hasn't won in a while but is nicely placed here third-up and loves the track and distance. FULLY LIT (14) has blinkers on and back to a drier track is capable of improving. Thomas: I've gone with KERGUELEN (19). He's lightly raced but obviously has ability and was impressive first-up beating Brave One at Rosehill. He will be improved and should go close despite his awkward draw. ACCREDITED (5) has drawn outside Kerguelen but will be suited getting onto a drier track. CONTEMPORARY (1) is up in the weights but he was competitive in a strong form race last start and PEREILLE (3) is fitter for recent racing.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Shayne O'Cass' tips, race-by-race analysis for 2025 Civic Stakes Day at Royal Randwick
Form expert Shayne O'Cass analyses Saturday's 10-race card at Royal Randwick on Saturday, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis. • 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! â– â– â– â– â– John Sargent has won his fair share of Midways and few of them were any more ready and able for their respective mission than HOOLIGAN TOMMY (6). The son of Ocean Park ran in Riff Rocket's ATC Derby in 2024, okay he ran last but just saying. As for more recent times, you wouldn't see a more dominant win than his at Kembla on May 31. Speaking of dominant wins, AIX EX PROVENCE (5) made very light work of his rivals with a very big weight at Newcastle. Bet: Hooligan Tommy to win â– â– â– â– â– RACE 2: TAB Highway (C3) 1200m EXIT FEE (3) has eight starts on his resume, six of them are in Highways and wow, what amazingly deep Highways they were. He won one but I prefer to applaud him on the ones he lost, running so well behind the likes of Clear Thinking, Lisztomania and his stablemate, Atmospheric Rock. SATIN STILETTO (2) has the race fitness and was beaten under a length in the Denise's Joy just before that fifth in a good Highway here on June 7. Bet: Exit Fee to win, box trifecta 2, 3, 14, 16 â– â– â– â– â– RACE 3: Quayclean (Bm72) 1300m PRETTY POWERFUL (7) was born on Christmas Eve in 2021. That's as late as a foal gets in this country. How about this; he was the 10th foal of his dam, all ten are now winners, five of them are stakes winners. That's just incredible. Form is good, trials were good. AMUSING (11) improved every time last prep. Her third was behind Verona Rose at Kembla. Going to go 2000m when asked. SAKIMA (9) has black-type form. Win a deep trial too. Bet: Pretty Powerful to win, exacta 7 to beat 11 â– â– â– â– â– RACE 4: Elite Sand & Soil (Bm78) 1800m If Nash Rawiller gives SEAFALL (2) the same ride as he did at Warwick Farm two starts ago, this will win by a hundred yards. She drew 1 that day, now compare and contrast that to her 13 of 13 here on May 31 in that race where Half Yours took off 800m out etc. Actual fact, Seafall wasn't that bad in the end. PIGGYBACK (5) is back and in good form. They may have finished in a clump in that 78 at Randwick on June 7 but it was a tidy assembly of fillies and mares. Bet: Seafall to win â– â– â– â– â– LAST COMMAND (9) won the Paul Perry 2YO Handicap at start two of his career beating Just Party and Broadsiding (wow). He followed up with a distant sixth of 12 in the Baillieu behind Linebacker and co. In view of his talent, it might be wise to forgive that last run on what was a bottomless track here on May 24. Most impressive winning a trial on June 13. ENGINE ROOM (6) was back to his best self last start. Bred to be a 'Randwick Miler'. FIORSUM FRED (10) and HOPPER (11) have claims in an open race. Bet: Last Command each-way â– â– â– â– â– SALT LAKE CITY (1) was a Listed winner over a mile at Killarney in Ireland before he came down here. He was $151 at his Australian debut in a 1500m Benchmark 100 and clocked in 28 lengths last. Talk about 'being improved for the run', the son of Galileo was a Black Booker out of the Loch Eagle race here on June 7. HOLLYWOOD HERO (2) was sixth in the same race. Has been racing well, should do again. Bet: Salt Lake City each-way â– â– â– â– â– RACE 7: Asahi Super Dry (Bm78) 1000m NOBLE SOLDIER (12) can celebrate his 50th start on the weekend with what would be a ninth career win. He is true to his name; that is, he's an old warhorse who generally runs the same style of race no matter what level he is at. His first-up numbers are very good indeed, one would suspect he gets this run to suit. This is not beyond him. That said, he takes on some really fit and in-form horses right at the top here but he gets weight off all three of them (racebook order). Bet: Noble Soldier each-way, quinella 3, 12 â– â– â– â– â– The headline writes itself here with Braith Nock on I T'S A KNOCKOUT (11). As for the horse, Dean Watt bought her for $150,000 at the Gold Coast. She's won $227,675 in seven starts and has considerable value as a broodmare being a stakes-placed Dundeel. Excels here, excels fresh. No wonder KING RATEL (7) has raced here in seven of his 19 starts and no wonder two of his three wins are here. When you get as far back but finish as fast as he does, it is just the perfect venue. CAPTAIN AMELIA (9) is running so much better than her '096'. Bet: It's A Knockout each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg 11, 2nd Leg 10 â– â– â– â– â– Going back a while now but having been on WELWAL (2) in the Golden Eagle in 2022, I will always maintain he should have gone home with a medal. Welwal has been with Mick Price and Michael Kent for his last four runs; of course he won the Kevin Heffernan in Melbourne while the last two have been in Sydney. They were 'very good' and 'good' in my book anyway. Poor WILLAIDOW (3) has drawn 10 of 12, 8 of 11, 11 of 16 and now 21 of 22 (minus the scratchings) but even so, it does make it harder than it could have been for an otherwise peerlessly honest racehorse. â– â– â– â– â– Wouldn't be the least bit surprised if James Cummings trains the trifecta or even the First 4. There really isn't much at all between his awesome foursome but just for purposes of not being able to tip a triple dead-heat, I went RAZORS (10) over CONTEMPORARY (1) and PEREILLE (3). The other one is KERGUELEN (19). As for Razors, pardon the easy pun, but he looked sharp in his recent trials and we know he has the 'stamina' to go with it having finished a brave, narrow on-pace second in last year's Queensland Guineas.
News.com.au
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Shayne O'Cass' Canterbury previews: Payne's prized pair primed to parlay his success
FRESH from his Saturday win at Royal Randwick, trainer David Payne aims to carry over his success into Monday's King's Birthday meeting at Canterbury via two of the stable's mid to long term prospects. Two-year-old duo Cosmonaut and Funky Tilda were both selected and purchased by Payne at the Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale in 2024. They were the only two lots which Payne signed off on the day. Whereas Cosmonaut was a bargain at $17,000, Funky Tilda was a much-admired filly at the sale. So much so that her $115,000 price-tag made her the third most expensive yearling of the 162 sold. 'She is quite well bred,'' Payne said. 'She's by Hellbent who is doing well out of a quite a nice damline.' Funky Tilda was the seventh foal of her Flemington-placed dam, Another Sunday, whose best performer to date is the Magic Night runner-up Blanc de Blanc who happens to be a daughter of Hellbent's famous father – I Am Invincible. Funky Tilda also boasts Flight Stakes winner Oohood as well as crack two-year-olds King's Legacy, Zizou and Not A Single Doubt as relatives. Despite the presence of so many precious horses on her family tree, Rory's Jester, Redoute's Choice, Canny Lad, Snippets and Rory's Jester among them, Payne is playing a longer-term game with his blueblood miss. Though quietly confident she will hold her own on debut in Monday's ATC Chase The Dream Maiden Plate (1250m), an awkward draw coupled with a lack of experience may hold her back for now. 'She will need a race,'' Payne said. 'She'll have that run then she'll most probably go to the paddock. 'She is still a bit of a baby but just from what she has shown me in work, she'll most probably run 1600m.' Payne is understandably more bullish on the winning prospects of Cosmonaut which lines-up in a must-see ATC Drinkwise Plate (1250m) to start the day. ðŸ'¸ Cashbook cashes the cheque and wins at Scone with Adam Hyeronimus in the saddle! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 16, 2025 Payne's colt will be the only one of the eight participants with race experience having two starts on his C.V ahead of today's third. The baldy-faced bay caught the eye in more ways than one when clocking in third at his debut in the $200,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge on Scone Cup Day. He followed up with another honourable effort, this time at Kembla, when making ground late on a testing heavy (8) surface. 'Both times he found the line well which is good,'' Payne said. 'He is still learning. He did a few things wrong both times but I think he'll be better with the step-up in distance (on Monday). 'Just looking at him as a type, he looks like he would get up to a mile (but) he has drawn well on Monday and if he can maybe box-seat, that would be ideal.' Cosmonaut is a member of Cosmic Force's second crop of foals that arrived during the spring of 2022. He is the second foal of his dam, Vodianova, who won twice at Moe over 1623m. His most famous relative is Handsome Ransom who collected the Black Opal Preview and Black Opal Stakes, beating Exceed And Excel, in his first two starts. Cosmonaut is rated a $23 chance in Monday's opening race at Canterbury which is assured a widespread audience given the presence of the much touted $1.4 million yearling Central Coast. The Chris Waller -trained colt is a son of the all-conquering Wootton Bassett and the second foal of the triple Group 1 winner Sunlight. Sunlight's first foal is Dawn Service who won the Listed VRC Exford Plate (1400m) on Makybe Diva Stakes Day at Flemington on September 14. â– â– â– â– â– SHOULD Dollar Magic finish runner-up, again, at Canterbury on Monday, she will have equalled racing's perennial placegetter Tom Melbourne's extraordinary tally of 14 seconds. Scott Singleton 's mare posted the 13th second of her career when beating all bar Zealously when she resumed at home on the same day as her stablemate Melody Again won the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic. Dollar Magic's numerous seconds have been as close as a nose and as far off the winner as 2-1/4 lengths. Sometimes it has been a better horse that has beaten her, sometimes not. 'There have been a few of them that have been quite cruel seconds,'' Singleton says. 'Definitely when Fire Star beat her last prep was a cruel one, but she always does her best so I can't begrudge her. 'If she wins on Monday she is getting towards $600,000 and she hasn't won one fancy race. She's won it from just keeping on turning up and trying hard so she's terrific.' Dollar Magic has finished on the podium at 20 of her 25 starts. One of her four wins was at Canterbury which was also the venue for her only taste of black-type racing on New Year's Day. 'She got caught a little bit with no cover in the Canterbury Sprint and I thought she toughed it out really well,'' Singleton said. 'She's come on a little bit from that first-up run and gets there in really, really good order so I expect her to run well. 'Whether she can beat Zealously is the thing. It went terrific at Scone the other day but if the track is going to be a bit softer than maybe it was at Scone, I think it will suit her more than him.' Dollar Magic will have company in the float from Scone to Sydney from her in-form stablemate Fiorsum Fred which could and perhaps even should be on a hat-trick leading into the ATC Ranvet Handicap (1550m). 'He was good the other day (in the Gunnedah Cup), he only needed another half a stride,' Singleton said. 'He has been going particularly well at home and pulling up well from his runs. He's in good shape.' For all his recent heroics Fiorsum Fred was allotted 62.5kg in Monday's mission. 'I know it sounds a lot when you say it but after the 3kg comes off and when you look at what everyone else has got comparative to you, I don't think he is that badly treated to be honest,'' Singleton said.
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Randwick Turf Talk: Saturday's best bet has a Contemporary feel
Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analysts Adam Sherry and Shayne O'Cass debate all the key chances on Saturday's 10-race card at Royal Randwick. • 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! â– â– â– â– â– Shayne O'Cass: Cold and Soft. That's my bold prediction for the conditions at Randwick on Saturday buddy. Then again, that's probably par for the course for June Stakes Day now known as Bob Charley Stakes Day. Adam Sherry: G'day Shayno. It's good to come off the bench for a run and hopefully we can find a few winners. What are your thoughts in the feature? O'Cass: No Classique Legend s in this year's renewal. It's a very open race but I do like the set-up of a fast run 1100m on a big track like this for Mnemosyne's grandson Contemporary. He needs the perfect ride and no one is riding better than Adam Hyeronimus. Contemporary! 🤩 Nash gets the cash with a HUGE late run in Race 9 at Rosehill! @JamesCummings88 @nashhot — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 3, 2024 • Sherry: Cool Jakey has been very good in each of his runs this campaign including that win over Gallant Star at Hawkesbury's stand-alone meeting. O'Cass: You know I said just now, no one is riding better than Hippo. Well, I will say he has an equal in Dylan Gibbons. That's all good for me given Gibbo (Junior) is riding Royal Supremacy. Forget the Scone Cup but remember he is an Italian Derby runner-up. Sherry: I think Pereille is a good each-way chance in Race 9. He had no luck when held in the straight in the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford first-up. He has a solid second-up record and Zac Lloyd to help negotiate the wide gate. Pereille starts the day off with a win at @SCTurfClub! @mcacajamez @JamesCummings88 @godolphin — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 11, 2024 O'Cass: Another capacity field with numerous chances. The story of the day really. I landed on Fleetwood. I seem to recall that most of the Godolphin horses that raced at Scone had no luck on the day for one reason or another, Fleetwood being one. Sherry: The two-year-olds start off the day and it's an interesting affair. Hidden Motive is a very promising horse who bounced back from two defeats as favourite to win impressively at Hawkesbury. Central Coast, the $1.4 million son of Sunlight by Wootton Basset, was scratched from Warwick Farm on Wednesday to run here. I'm going with Godolphin colt Matina who was runner-up to the talented Agarwood here last start.
The Australian
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Dylan Gibbons gem lands top prize with Hollywood Hero at Randwick
Dylan Gibbons, riding with renewed confidence, produced a masterful rails-hugging ride on Hollywood Hero at Royal Randwick on Saturday. For a few strides around the turn, Gibbons looked to get out wider but decided to abruptly switch back to the inside and that proved decisive as Hollywood Hero railed through to win the Charity Challenge Handicap (1600m). Gibbons is two months into his comeback from injury after he spent five months convalescing from a shoulder injury. • 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! 'I came back at a tricky time during the (autumn) carnival but everything happens for a reason,' Gibbons said. 'This is the best I have ever felt on a horse, physically and emotionally, and I'm really enjoying my riding. 'I had a long apprenticeship but I've come out as a senior now and I'm in a very good head space. 'Physically, I've never been better and I feel very confident with my riding.' Gibbons demonstrated that confidence when he drove Hollywood Hero ($5.50) through along the inside to run down Cool Jakey ($3.40 favourite) and win by one-and-a-quarter lengths. Nellie Laylax ($21), the Irish import, was excellent at his Australian debut for Annabel and Rob Archibald to finish a length away third just in front of Green Fly. 'I was wanting speed but not quite that much speed, they went hard up front,' Gibbons said. 'I was worried he might find it tough to pick his feet up in the heavy going but he was always travelling really well. We got the run through and he was too good. 'He has loads of ability but I don't think we have seen the best of him yet.' Hollywood Hero is trained by Bjorn Baker who continued his breakout season preparing his 78th city winner for the season to be second in the Sydney premiership behind Chris Waller on 122 wins. • Pride sprinter makes most of gilt-edged opportunity Baker revealed he give Gibbons a very simple set of riding instructions pre-race. 'Hollywood Hero is a strange horse as he just has to be completely switched off early in his races,' Baker said, 'I emphasised that to Dylan and he was on the same page. It was a great ride.' Hollywood Hero scored the fifth win of his 29-start career, taking his career earnings to more than $450,000 prizemoney, going a long way to recouping the $600,000 part-owner owner Ozzie Kheir and the other syndicate members spent purchasing the gelding as a yearling. Baker is always promoting his business and wasn't about to let an opportunity pass. 'Hollywood Hero was an expensive buy for Ozzie and the team, the horse is paying his way and I'm grateful to train for them,' Baker said. 'But I'm hopeful to get more of their horses – Ozzie have you had a look at my (training) statistics!' Baker admitted he was unsure of immediate plans for Hollywood Hero but long-term he has the Little Dance in mind at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day. 'We have got something to look forward to with the Little Dance in spring,' Baker said. 'It's a big race in its own right.' Hollywood Hero gave Gibbons only his 10th winner of his injury-ravaged season – a far cry from the century of winners he rode in 2021-22 and again in 2022-23 – but it was a milestone 400th career winner for the talented young jockey. • Punters in a 'Daze' as import causes a boilover Baker and Gibbons then combined for a brace of winners in the closer with Miss Kim Kar in the Wilson Asset Management Handicap (1400m). But Gibbons' ride on Miss Kim Kar was a polar opposite of his winning effort on Hollywood Hero as this time he brought the three-year-old filly down the extreme outside in the straight. Gibbons has had more success with the Baker stable than any other trainer but Kris Lees and the trainer took particular satisfaction watching the young jockey guide Hollywood Hero and Miss Kim Kar home. 'Dylan's a great person and I've had a lot of luck with him,' Baker said. 'He rode my top sprinter Ozzmosis to his second win on this track. 'He's coming back off that shoulder injury but his career is starting to get some momentum going again.' Gibbons, who has ridden two Group 1 winners on Explosive Jack in the 2023 Sydney Cup and Kalapour in the 2024 Tancred Stakes, revealed he rides trackwork regularly for Baker at Warwick Farm. 'I think it is Mr Baker's favourite day of the week because he smashes me every Wednesday morning,' Gibbons said. 'But if you go and do the hard work, he rewards you accordingly. He's great to ride for.'
