Latest news with #SingaporePoolsHandicap
New Paper
a day ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Headley Grange should frank Pools form
There is a good chance that the inaugural Singapore Pools Handicap (1,300m) at Royal Randwick on June 7 may well have set the stage for a Listed winner at the same track two weeks later. Headley Grange's winning burst in the Benchmark 94 race named after the Singapore gaming company was so impressive that newfound fans have been waiting for his next outing with bated breath. Trainer Joseph Pride has picked the A$200,000 (S$167,000) Listed Civic Stakes (1,400m) on June 21 as the race to keep the seven-time winner by Exosphere on the up. On paper, the four-year-old's task looks stiffer up against better-rated customers like Iknowastar (105) and Willaidow (103), but his hike of only five points from 88 to 93 after such an explosive turn of foot in the Singapore Pools race gives him a strong fighting chance to go back-to-back. On handicap, he will have only 54kg on his back, in receipt of six kilos from the topweight Iknowastar on 60kg. While Headley Grange beat Green Shadows by only three parts of a length at his last start, most pundits would agree he should have scored by a wider margin had he found daylight earlier. Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus then, he was seen clambering on heels at the 300m while he was clearly raring to go. When the opening came through, he quickly put his rivals to the sword. With the in-form Hyeronimus not riding at 54kg, Pride did not have to search high and low for a rider who could make the weight. The booking of top jockey Jason Collett can only enhance his chances, as will the handy barrier No. 4. Headley Grange currently heads the market at 11-5, but, somehow, the next popular pick is a fifth emergency (down to second standby after three horses - Warnie, Chrysaor and Another One - were scratched), Raikkonen, for the in-form Bjorn Baker yard at 9-2. Surprisingly, Green Shadows' bid to turn the tables on Headley Grange is not that fancied at 11-1, presumably because of his horror gate in 20 as well as the unfavourable pull in weights. On-pace sprinter Whinchat was a beaten favourite in the Singapore Pools Handicap after he bombed the start. The David Pfieffer-trained speedster did pass a barrier test with flying colours and gets a chance to make amends by lining up in the Civic Stakes, but the outermost alley in 22 may bring his downfall again. It may well be Headley Grange's stable companion Cool Jakey who will make his presence felt when the whips are cracking following his creditable fifth in the Singapore Pools Handicap. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Bases Loaded should not be written off either, after finally drawing in following a run of rotten luck with the barriers. With Stradbroke-winning jockey Tim Clark up, it would not surprise anyone if the China Horse Club-owned Deep Field four-year-old shoots to the lead from gate No. 2, and goes all the way. manyan@
New Paper
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Pools' Pride and joy in Sydney
Sydney racing was the latest international venue to honour Singapore Pools at one of its metropolitan meetings on June 7. The Singapore gaming company has been regularly named after races from around countries where it offers horse racing wagering in the last two years. After Korea Racing Authority, Hong Kong Jockey Club, 4Racing of South Africa and Perth Racing, Tabcorp was the next to host Pools' delegation at Royal Randwick. The Pools team comprised board member Lee Kwok Cheong, who was accompanied by his wife Sachiko Tamamura, chief product officer Simon Leong and senior manager (product content) Steven Tan. "Singapore Pools is pleased to partner with Tabcorp to bring more variety and quality racing content to our customers," said Leong. "With Tabcorp's extensive simulcast rights across Australia and key global racing jurisdictions, this collaboration enables us to deliver a richer and more exciting racing experience for fans in Singapore." As per custom, a race was picked to commemorate the collaboration. The ninth event on the card of 10, the A$160,000 (S$134,000) BM94 (1,300m) was named the Singapore Pools Handicap. "We would also like to thank Tabcorp for naming a race in honour of Singapore Pools," added Leong. "It is a gesture that affirms the strong and long-standing partnership between our organisations." The race was not without its fair share of drama when favourite Whinchat bombed the start. As Whinchat has won all his six races by leading, backers knew they had burned their fingers. Jockey Jay Ford tried to salvage the situation by restraining Whinchat at the rear instead of playing catch-up with the early pace, but it was to no avail. He beat one home. With the main threat out, $16 second-elect Headley Grange won. Under jockey Adam Hyeronimus, the Exosphere four-year-old dashed to the line a slashing 3/4-length winner from outsiders Green Shadows (Braith Nock) and Dark Glitter (Molly Bourke) to knock in his seventh career win. The win also brought up the middle pin of a treble for trainer Joseph Pride, who sensationally swept the last three races on the card. Earlier, the Warwick Farm handler took the A$200,000 Listed Bob Charley Stakes (1,100m) with $9 favourite In Flight (Ford). Not content with a running double, Team Pride recombined with Hyeronimus in the last, a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1,000m), to wrap up the day in style with Storm The Ramparts ($15). Up north at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, Pride had less joy with his sole runner at the Queensland riches, Lekvarte, who was well beaten by Adiella in the Magic Millions National Classic (1,400m). The three rained-off Group 1 races from last weekend went to an assortment of squads. The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar (James McDonald, $8) was the only favourite to salute, nabbing Zarastro late in the A$1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1,300m). You Wahng (Tommy Berry) then won the A$700,000 Queensland Oaks (2,200m) at $114 for trainer Kris Lees. Maison Louis (Ryan Maloney, $194) sent more favourite backers licking their wounds in the A$1 million Queensland Derby (2,400m) by beating better-fancied stablemate King Of Thunder (Mark Zahra) for a John O'Shea and Tom Carlton quinella. manyan@
