Month: April 2020

William Thomas charges home in Bel Esprit

AAP

William Thomas has produced a last-to-first finish in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield. Trainer John Price says the stars had to be aligned for William Thomas to take out the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield. Coming back in distance, combined with a quick back-up and a fast pace has enabled William Thomas to come from last place before the turn to claim Saturday’s 1100m sprint. Ridden by Michael Dee, William Thomas ($10) stormed home widest on the track to score by 1-1/2 lengths from Humma Humma ($7)…

Tofane takes out Group One All Aged Stakes

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Tofane has denied Pierata a winning farewell with a thrilling victory in the All Aged Stakes. Tofane has crashed Pierata’s farewell party with a last-stride win in the All Aged Stakes to end Group One racing in Sydney for the season. Pierata ($5.50) gave his rivals the slip halfway down the straight with Tofane ($12) the one to give chase. Under hard riding from Opie Bosson, Tofane gave her all to nail Pierata by a half head in his final racetrack appearance before he joins the Aquis stallion roster. Fasika…

Berry rebounds to make a Mark on Greyworm

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Greyworm has continued an impressive rise through the classes with his Hall Mark Stakes success. Tommy Berry has landed a consolation win aboard Greyworm in the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick, forty minutes after finishing a heart-wrenching second on Pierata in the sprinter’s final race. Chasing back-to-back wins in the Group One All Aged Stakes, Pierata surged to the front, only to be nailed by Victorian mare Tofane in the final bound. Berry was gutted he wasn’t able to send Pierata out a winner but he gathered his emotions to…

Ranier beats Phaistos in thrilling finish

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Ranier has burst through between runners to deny stablemate Phaistos right on the line and make a winning return at Randwick. Godolphin trainer James Cummings admitted the team had to be patient and wait until just before scratching time on Saturday morning before deciding whether multiple stakes winner Ranier would take his place in the JCDecaux Handicap (1400m). Phaistos was first emergency for the benchmark-100 race and the team were keen for him to resume in the race while there were also other possible options for Ranier to begin his…

Bosson, Berry fined for overuse of whip

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Compounding his last-stride defeat aboard Pierata in the All Aged Stakes, Tommy Berry has been suspended and fined for flouting the whip rules in the Group One race. Berry was hit with a $1000 fine for exceeding the legal number of times he was allowed to strike Pierata with the whip before the 100 metres. Stewards also issued him with a seven-day suspension, starting after he rides next Saturday. Despite the penalties, Berry kept his sense of humour. “You must have been on the phone to (Berry’s wife) Sharni, trying…

Pierata bows out with a close Group 1 second

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A proud Greg Hickman will farewell Pierata from his Warwick Farm stable with mixed feelings after the five-year-old went down by a half head in his final race start. Pierata, who will join the Aquis Farm stallion roster, was caught by Tofane on the line in his defence of the Group One All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday. “That was cruel. Just cruel,” Hickman said. “I thought he had it but he found a horse a nose better than him on the day. “He has been just a…

Florent gives Noonan team a Caulfield win

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Trainer Tony Noonan gave his jockey son Jake a football-style rev-up before going out to win The VOBIS Sires Guineas at Caulfield. The coaching style talk paid off with Florent scoring a long shot victory in Saturday’s 1600m race for three-year-olds. In an all fillies finish, Florent ($51) scored by a long neck from Leale ($31) with the $3.40 favourite Affair To Remember an unlucky third, a half length away. Noonan said Saturday’s $427,500 race had been a long range target for Florent and the trainer went into the race…

Master Cornhill

Editor BOAY

Harcourt owner-trainer Scott Gibson, 48, is a johnny-come-lately to greyhound racing. But the waste disposal worker is certainly making up for lost time. Gibson resided in Mooroopna as a teenager and had a keen interest in the sport. He would often attend meetings at the now defunct greyhound track at the Shepparton showgrounds. However, he never took the next step until ‘biting the bullet’ in his early 40s. “I came in cold and didn’t realise there was so much involved in training greyhounds,” Gibson said. Fortunately, Gibson has the experience…

Auld doubtful Quality will prevail

Editor BOAY

Astute Tatura trainer Jimmy Auld fears box seven could bring the perfect start to Pure Quality’s career to a shuddering halt at The Meadows. Pure Quality, which won’t turn two until late August, has lived up to his optimistic moniker in winning his first two starts at The Meadows in brilliant fashion, taking out heat and final of a maiden series in 29.91s and 30.10s respectively. WATCH: Pure Quality win the Maiden Final at The Meadows last week from box two. The home-bred son of super sire Barcia Bale will…

Meet the ‘Riot boys’ unleashed

Editor BOAY

Group 1 Melbourne Cup hero Whiskey Riot retired to stud last week but the racing drums still beat for his litter brother, Group 1 Australian Cup champ Fernando’s Riot. Both superstars’ stellar careers have been well documented, but ‘a lot of water passes under the bridge’ for a greyhound prior to gracing a racetrack. So, in an informal Q&A, I asked Schofields, NSW, breeders Colin and Sandra Camden-Bermingham (who also owns Whiskey Riot) what makes the ‘Riot boys’ tick? Do you still pinch yourself every day that it is not…