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  • Amelia’s Jewel shining ahead of Golden Eagle

    Simon Miller is confident Amelia’s Jewel can bounce back in the $10 million Golden Eagle.

    His stable star may have been beaten for just the second time in her career last start, but Simon Miller couldn’t be happier with Amelia’s Jewel ahead of Saturday’s 1500m Golden Eagle at Rosehill.

    Beaten 5.5 lengths as a $2.40 favorite in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) last start, Miller is confident the Group 1 winning mare is 100%, working her the Sydney way of going at Flemington on Tuesday morning.

    “Her work was brilliant, really good, strong, weights good, she’s eating up again which is what she always does. I was just waiting for her to get back on her game before I increased her work again and she did,” Miller said.

    Damian Lane will remain on Amelia’s Jewel this weekend, forgoing rides at Flemington to partner her, something Miller takes confidence in.

    “He reverse galloped her last Tuesday… it was her first time proper reverse gallop, she got on the right lead straight away and then Saturday morning she launched onto the right lead straight away and he said “mate, she’s taken to this pretty good,” Miller said.

    “He was glowing in his post-race gallop.”

    Miller puts Amelia’s Jewel’s poor performance in the Toorak Handicap down to the occasion and an “off day”, something he noticed in her demeanour pre-race.

    “We were tickled pink going to Caulfield, and then I got into the pre-enclosure and I thought we’re in a bit of trouble here, it’s amazing how externally they can look brilliant and internally there’s something not right,” Miller said.

    Originally with a tough decision between the Golden Eagle or last Saturday’s Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), Miller and owner Peter Walsh effectively had their decision made for them after her ninth placing in the Toorak.

    “We were probably lucky we got three weeks to the Eagle… You can’t hit the Cox Plate like that… that extra week just let us idle her along so the timing was perfect,” Miller said.

    Amelia’s Jewel will travel to Sydney on Wednesday night but won’t get a feel for the Rosehill track before Saturday, set to stable her with John O’Shea.

    “I’m going to stay at Randwick, I’ve got to stay at my old bosses, at O’Shea’s, otherwise he’ll kill me… It’s interesting isn’t it, how will she go with it (Rosehill), I’m not sure. She’s pretty professional, she got around The Valley her first go… I think she’ll be fine,” Miller said.

    Miller will bring Amelia’s Jewel back to Perth after Saturday’s Golden Eagle, for which she is the $4.50 favorite, and hasn’t completely ruled out running in The Pinnacles at Ascot in December.

  • Thirteen Aussies to challenge for 2024 world surf title

    The World Surf League has confirmed the competitors who will challenge for 2024’s elite Championship Tour, with 13 Australians making the cut.

    Thirteen Australians have been confirmed for 2024’s World Surf League Championship Tour and can look forward to staking their claim to be crowned the world’s best.

    Jacob Willcox, India Robinson, Sally Fitzgibbons and Isabella Nichols have added their names to the roster of nine Aussies who qualified through last season’s final Championship Tour (CT) rankings.

    In the men’s competition, Queenslander Ethan Ewing will bid to go one better than his second-place finish in 2023 as he again suits up to challenge reigning world champ Filipe Toledo of Brazil.

    Fellow Australians Jack Robinson and Ryan Callinan finished in the top-10 last time out, while Connor O’Leary was 11th.

    Western Australia’s Willcox qualified for the CT by virtue of finishing third in the WSL’s 2023 Challenger Series, while surfing legend Kelly Slater has been handed a wildcard to take his place among the 36 men contesting the title.

    Tyler Wright was the highest-ranked Australian woman in 2023, finishing third in the rankings behind champion Caroline Marks and No.2 Carissa Moore.

    She will challenge on the CT again next season, where she will be joined by five of her countrywomen, including eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore.

    Victoria’s Robinson topped the rankings in the WSL’s qualifying Challenger Series to return to the CT, with three-time world runner-up Fitzgibbons and Queensland’s Nichols also making the step up.

    The 2024 CT campaign will kick off at Hawaii’s legendary Banzai Pipeline, with the mid-season cut at the season’s halfway point following the Margaret River event in WA.

    The season will conclude at the one-day WSL finals, where the top five men and women will battle for the world title.

    “We’re excited to welcome and officially confirm the new class of Championship Tour competitors,” Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL’s chief of sport said.

    “We’re excited to see the potential of this year’s rookie class and how they will rise to the occasion of competing against the best in the world.”

    AUSTRALIANS QUALIFIED FOR THE 2024 WSL CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR

    MEN

    Ethan EwingJack RobinsonRyan CallinanConnor O’LearyLiam O’BrienCallum RobsonJacob Willcox*

    WOMEN

    Tyler WrightMolly PicklumStephanie GilmoreIndia Robinson*Sally Fitzgibbons*Isabella Nichols*

    (* denotes: qualified through the 2023 Challenger Series)

  • Hong Kong star claims Cox Plate

    Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior has scored a last stride thrilling win in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

    Champion James McDonald’s faith in Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior has been vindicated with the jockey landing a second Cox Plate victory. 

    After guiding Anamoe to success in last year’s Group 1 weight-for-age championship, McDonald had to call on all his strength to get Romantic Warrior home in the 2040m contest at Moonee Valley on Saturday. 

    McDonald never lost faith in Romantic Warrior despite the Danny Shum-trained gelding being beaten at his Australian debut in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 7. 

    Starting the $3.60 favourite, Romantic Warrior scored by a nose from Mr Brightside ($9) with Alligator Blood ($6) a short-neck away third. 

    Romantic Warrior returned a win dividend of $2.80 on the World Pool. 

    McDonald made trips to Hong Kong to partner Romantic Warrior to win the lead up to the Hong Kong Cup as well as the Hong Kong Cup at the international meeting last year and was also aboard gelding to win the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in April. 

    “This horse is pretty special to me,” McDonald said. 

    “I mentioned if he came to a Cox Plate, he’d be a suitable horse. I meant what I said and credit to (owner) Peter (Lau Pak Fai) and Danny. 

    “It takes a hell of a lot of balls to come out of Hong Kong with all the prizemoney there. It is one of the best racing jurisdictions in the world and they come here and showcase their boy. 

    “I reckon he’s got more to come, too. 

    “He’s been bubbling. He showed a significant amount of improvement like I thought he would, and he loves the bloody Valley!” 

    The first three horses across the line were positioned third, fourth and fifth in the running line behind King Colorado and Zaaki. 

    McDonald elected to ease three wide racing to the 600m mark with Alligator Blood taking up his spot. 

    Romantic Warrior wobbled slightly around the turn, as did Zaaki which allowed Mr Brightside to get up on the fence to hit the front 50m out, only to be grabbed on the line. 

    McDonald said he was comfortable where Romantic Warrior was positioned in the race. 

    “I knew I was on the right horse, and I kept going, ‘he’s the best horse, he’s the best horse’ so I’d ride him like it,” McDonald said. 

    “I took a gamble about the 1000 (metres) or 1200. We elected to come back a spot and to the minute right now I believe that was the winning move.” 

    Shum said it had been a gamble to send Romantic Warrior from Hong Kong to contest Saturday’s race. 

    Romantic Warrior had to adapt to different training conditions in quarantine at Werribee having not raced since late in May in Hong Kong. 

    The gelding had an interrupted preparation before arrival in Australia missing an important trial and initially not taking to a change in feed. 

    But Romantic Warrior was able to overcome that adversity to claim Australia’s best race. 

    “I don’t know how to tell you how happy I am. I am really happy,” Shum said. 

    “I want to thank Peter the owner for giving permission to come here. James Mcdonald, all the team, all the Hong Kong fans, my wife Christine, my son Aaron. 

    “I love you! I love you!” 

    After Romantic Warrior’s first-up Australian defeat, Shum said he was a little deflated, but knew the gelding would improve with the outing. 

    “He was not really ready, but he got better day-by-day,” Shum said. 

    “I was confident he would run a good race, but it is a strong race. 

    “He overcame all of the challenges and the difficulties. James McDonald gave me a very good report.” 

    Shum said Romantic Warrior would return to Hong Kong as early as possible to prepare for the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on December 10.

  • 32 left in Cup, penalty for Cleveland

    Monee Valley Cup winner jumps to 14th in order of entry.

    A penalty for his Moonee Valley Cup win, combined with natural attrition, has Cleveland safely in the field for next week’s $8.4 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup.

    Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping David Hegan issued the Kris Lees-trained entire a 0.5kg penalty for Friday night’s win under 55.5kg, taking his Melbourne Cup weight to 52kg.

    Placed 24th in the order of entry prior to the win, Cleveland elevated a few spots owing to several higher-weighted runners not being paid-up as third-round acceptors and now sits in 14th position after the penalty.

    “Under the set weights and penalty conditions of the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, Cleveland was allocated the base weight on Friday night,” Hegan said.

    “Thus, he came in well at the weights against some of his opposition on the night and compared to where they are in the Melbourne Cup weights.

    “Vow and Declare and Future History will now meet Cleveland 0.5kg and 3kg better respectively in the Melbourne Cup after the penalty. If the luckless Athabascan makes the field it would be a 3.5kg turnaround in his favour against Cleveland too.”

    Cleveland becomes the first Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner to receive a Melbourne Cup penalty since 2015 when The United States moved to 52.5kg with a 2.5kg penalty.

    Cleveland will be one of two Melbourne Cup runners for six-time winner Lloyd Williams and his partners after Epsom Derby winner Serpentine jumped to 22nd in the order of entry.

    In 23rd position is More Felons with True Marvel 24th but those two are not yet guaranteed a run with a ballot exemption on offer to the winner of Saturday’s The Archer at Flemington, while Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup contains two runners – Hasta La War (29th) and Interpretation (31st) – who can elevate their position in the order of entry if they win and receive a penalty.

  • Morphettville Parks Races Review on 28th October 2023

    The three-year-old gelding Give Some Lip raced away to bring up his first win at his fourth start in the 1250 metre opening event on the Parks track at Morphettville on Saturday.

    Prepared by Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea and guided to victory by apprentice Ben Price Give Some Lip  came from a worse than midfield position with a late run to take the event.

    Jason Holder continued his purple patch of form when he rode Free Vino  to a win in the 1400 metre second race.

    Coming out of the Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle stable Free Vino raced in the rear of the field before flying home to win.

    Moving his operation from Morphettville to Murray Bridge trainer Travis Doudle was well pleased with the win of Prince Jofra in the 1550 metre third race.

    Having the services of apprentice Alana Livesey Prince Jofra raced in a forward position all the way.

    Apprentice Ben Price landed his second winner for the afternoon when Manzala won his first race in 1190 days in the 1950 metre fourth race.

    Trained by Ashton Downing Manzala settled in a midfield position before ging in to win.

    Anjopin landed his second win in seven days when he took out the 1250 metre fifth race.

    Prepared by Sue and Jason Jaensch the well placed Anjopin gave apprentice Maggie Collett her first win since being injured at Ceduna last December.

    Coming off a last start second Miss Kermie went one better when she took out the 1400 meter sixth race.

    Having the services of Emily Finnegan the Phillip Stokes prepared Miss Kermie raced one off the pace in winning her fourth race from fourteen starts.

    Apprentice Sheriden Clarke was all smiles after her win on Trumpsta in the 1950 metre seventh race.

    Being under the care of Ron Stokes Trumpsta was another runner to be well placed.

    Establishing his base at Gawler in recent times trainer George Dimitropoulos was all smiles with the win of his charge Mouse Almighty in the 1000 metre eighth race.

    Having the services of Stacey Metcalf Mouse Almighty came from a midfield position with a strong run over the concluding stages.

    Foster Street was one of the few winners to come from well back when he won the 1000 metre final event.

    Being under the care of Byron Cozamanis senior and having the services of Ryan Hurdle Foster Street brought up his third win in fourteen starts.

  • Australia close in on WC semi after classic win over NZ

    Australia have beaten New Zealand by just five runs in Dharamshala to move closer to a semi-final place at the cricket World Cup in India.

    Australia are closing in on a World Cup semi-final berth after a pulsating five-run win over New Zealand, who came perilously close to pulling off the biggest successful run chase in the tournament’s history.

    Australia appeared in the box seat after a 175-run opening stand from newly-fit Travis Head and in-form David Warner propelled them to a formidable total of 388 in Dharamshala on Saturday.

    But a second World Cup century to Rachin Ravindra (116) kept the Black Caps on track, before their last recognised batter Jimmy Neesham (58 off 39 balls) stepped up for a furious cameo.

    Only called in to replace the injured Mark Chapman, Neesham was tasked with scoring 19 from the last over to seal a famous win and once again put Australia’s knockout hopes in doubt.

    Mitchell Starc bowled a wide from his second delivery, which slipped past wicketkeeper Josh Inglis for four byes and reduced the target from 18 runs off five balls to only 13 from as many.

    But the Australians put their bodies on the line with fine fielding in the final over and the Kiwis were unable to find the boundary.

    After hitting Starc’s penultimate delivery to deep mid-wicket, Neesham was made to pay as he attempted to scramble back for a second run, run out by Inglis at the striker’s end.

    Paceman Lockie Ferguson could not hit the six required off the final ball and the Australians were home.

    “It was very close in the end, a hell of a game,” said Head, named player of the match.

    After beginning the India-based tournament with consecutive defeats, Pat Cummins’ side have now won four games in a row and will likely make the knockout stage even if they lose one more.

    They will start favourites in their three remaining group-stage games against out-of-sorts England as well as Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

    In his first hit-out since breaking his hand six weeks ago, World Cup debutant Head (109) partnered with Warner (81) to punish the Kiwis for sending Australia in to bat.

    Their 175-run partnership, posted at a run-rate of 9.13, was the fastest for an opening pair scoring over 150 runs in an ODI.

    “We complement each other really well,” Head said.

    “It’s just about making sure we react well, making sure we stay connected with each other, stay in the moment and play what’s coming towards us.”

    Kiwi quick Matt Henry (1-67) unwittingly kickstarted Head’s superb innings with two back-to-back no balls in the third over.

    Head smacked both free hits for six on his way to posting the fastest half-century of the tournament (50 off 25 balls) so far.

    Warner, for his part, was 19 runs short of becoming the first Australian in history to notch a century in three consecutive ODIs.

    Part-time off-spinner Glenn Phillips (3-37) sent both openers packing, first catching Warner from his own delivery and then bowling Head.

    He ended up as pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis, who took 5-99 after the opening onslaught to prevent what could have been an astronomical score.

    Just as Australia did against the Kiwi quicks, Ravindra took advantage of a wicket that offered little for the world-class Australian pace attack.

    He brought his century up by belting Glenn Maxwell over deep mid-wicket for six and was given an extra life shortly thereafter, dropped by a gutted Maxwell from his own bowling.

    Red-hot spinner Adam Zampa (3-74) helped ensure Ravindra was never able to form a steady partnership, though.

    Zampa removed the dangerous Daryl Mitchell (54) and later soared atop the ladder for most wickets this tournament (16).

    Late cameos from Cummins (37 off 14 balls) and Maxwell (41 off 24) reinvigorated the Australians with late runs that were ultimately crucial to holding the spirited Kiwis at bay.

  • Eddie Jones quits as Wallabies coach

    Eddie Jones has quit as Wallabies coach after a disastrous return that included Australia failing to make the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

    The Eddie Jones era is over.

    Only 10 months after Rugby Australia trumpeted his arrival – and the revival of the Wallabies – Jones has resigned following his side’s shambolic World Cup campaign.

    The veteran coach met with RA bosses on the weekend and amicably agreed to his departure.

    Jones’ exit cuts short a five-year deal that initially had the 63-year-old in charge of the Wallabies through to the next World Cup in Australia in 2027.

    Jones told AAP on Sunday that his resignation “was not far away”, with the paperwork between the parties to be signed off on this week, while RA said they weren’t in a position to comment.

    In January, Jones was heralded as the saviour of the national side, with RA chairman Hamish McLennan axing Kiwi coach Dave Rennie, citing poor results.

    But under Jones, who coached the Wallabies to the World Cup final in 2003 and England to the decider in 2019, Australia went from bad to worse, managing just two wins from nine Tests.

    His World Cup campaign got off to an embarrassing start at a pre-departure press conference when he told journalists to “give yourselves an uppercut”.

    In France, the Wallabies failed to make the quarter-finals for the first time, suffered their first World Cup loss to Fiji, and endured further humiliation with a record-breaking 40-6 defeat to Wales.

    Australia were also rocked on the eve of the global showpiece when Jones was linked to the Japan coaching vacancy, although he denied being interviewed for the post just days out from his side’s World Cup opener.

    He was heavily criticised for his youth selection policy, leaving a number of veterans out of the squad including long-time skipper Michael Hooper and playmaker Quade Cooper.

    Just two weeks ago, back in Australia, Jones spoke of his ongoing commitment to rebuilding the team ahead of the in-bound 2025 British and Irish Lions tour and the next World Cup.

    He said he was awaiting the result of an RA review of the tournament due in November.

    But he has ultimately decided to walk.

    Jones told told The Australian he had amicably agreed to the terms of his departure and that there would be no payout.

    He claimed he had no international job lined up, in Japan or elsewhere.

    Jones also insisted he had no regrets and hoped his departure would be a catalyst for change.

    He said Australia needed to improve its capture of youth talent and its high performance environment, notably Super Rugby.

    “I feel disappointment about the fact that what we wanted to do in terms of changing the system hasn’t been able to happen in the short term,” Jones told The Australian.

    “In the short and medium term, it really affects me personally. I have a major feeling of disappointment. But I don’t feel any grievance towards anyone.

    “I’ve really enjoyed coaching the players. The players have been fantastic. They just need a better environment to be training and playing in.”

    Jones is currently in the UK co-coaching the Barbarians with incoming All Blacks coach Scott Robertson ahead of their match against Wales on November 5 (AEDT).

  • Minjee Lee returns to the world’s top five

    Aussie superstar Minjee Lee is back in the world’s top five as she strives to build an everlasting legacy for the future generations of women’s golf.

    Minjee Lee has returned to the world’s top five and has more milestones in sight following her second win from her past three LPGA Tour starts.

    Lee surged from seventh to world No.4 in the standings released on Tuesday after holding her nerve to win a thrilling, high-quality sudden-death playoff at the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea.

    Up to as high as No.2 and within striking distance of world No.1 following her stellar major-winning 2022 campaign, Lee slumped to 13th in the rankings less than two months ago.

    Now the West Australian is the hottest player on the planet, with a victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati four starts ago opening the floodgates for the ball-striking queen.

    Lee followed up that victory with a runner-up showing on the Korea Tour and a tie for 13th at the Buick LPGA Shanghai before joining Celine Boutier, Lilia Vu, Jin Young Ko and Ruoning Yin as a multiple winner in 2023.

    But still more landmark feats appear in store for the 27-year-old as the race to season-ending championship glory intensifies.

    With four events remaining, Lee has soared to sixth in the season-long standings and seems certain to break into the top 10 on the list of all-time prize money winners in women’s golf.

    With Sunday’s triumph, which completed an unprecedented brother-sister double after her sibling Min Woo Lee won the Macau Open the previous week, the Perth prodigy sent her career on-course earnings to $US13,765,643. ($A21.72 million).

    She sits 11th on the all-time money list, just $US85,312 behind the 10th-placed Lexi Thompson.

    After making the cut in all 17 events she’s contested this season, Lee could surpass Thompson at this week’s inaugural Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, where the total purse is $US3 million.

    If she plays in Malaysia, Lee will tee off in the best headspace of her nine-year professional career as she strives to build an everlasting legacy for the future generations of women’s golf.

    “I actually have a really great (life) balance now because I know what I like and the routine that I do at the golf course which works for me and my body,” she said.

    “So I don’t just go out to the golf course to hit a hundred putts or do practice that is not worthy of time.

    “In that aspect, I’m much better at managing my time and my routine.

    “But in terms of the person that I want to be, I’ve always had this motto; I want to leave the LPGA Tour or the game of golf better than I found it, so that is my goal after I retire.

    “If it is on a golf course or how I am as a role model on TV, or if I’m doing clinics or anything that I can do to give back to Australian golf or LPGA girls’ golf or any junior who comes out to watch us, I’m going to try and do that.”

  • Amelia’s Jewel to race in Golden Eagle

    Glamour mare Amelia’s Jewel is back on track after a shock defeat and will now progress to the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 4.

    Amelia’s Jewel ran well below her best in the G1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield when ninth to Attrition, but a vet test cleared her of injury.

    Her worst performance in an outstanding career followed wins in the Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington and the Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley in track record time.

    Amelia’s Jewel had a few easy days recovering after the Toorak failure, but there were encouraging signs last week when back on her feed that she’d turned the corner.

    A strong reverse gallop at Flemington this morning (Tuesday) with jockey Damian Lane aboard was the clincher for Simon Miller, who said he’s tackling the Golden Eagle with renewed confidence.

    “She went super, worked unreal and looks great, looks amazing,” Miller told The Races WA.

    “She worked a thousand evens and home 400 and handled the Sydney way of going like a professional.

    “I knew last Thursday she’d turned the corner the way she was completely knocking her night and morning feed.

    “She’ll have another gallop next Tuesday going the Sydney way and Thursday week will get on a truck to Sydney.

    “She’s totally back on board.”

    TABtouch has Amelia’s Jewel the $4.40 favourite for the Golden Eagle. Kovalica is next at $4.80, Legarto $6, Hawaii Five Oh $6 and Obamburumai $8.

    Miller says he still has an ace up his sleeve for Amelia’s Jewel in the Golden Eagle.

    “I’m thinking of a gear change and blinkers,” Miller said.

    “I’m leaning to them as she is superior with them on.”

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  • Weekend wrap: Hot start for Toeroek continues, Jolly treble, Crowther double

    Leading jockey Jake Toeroek continued his sizzling start to the 2022-23 racing season with a riding treble at Morphettville on Saturday.

    Jake Toeroek and the Richard and Chantelle Jolly stable claimed an early race to race double with Deepfloat Diva and Pudding before the lethal combination added a third victory to another big day at the office when Aviatress proved superior later in the day.

    Toeroek is currently enjoying his most successful calendar year of riding, Saturday successes taking his record to 68 winners for 2023.

    The Price Bloodstock pair of Deepfloat Diva, who would have been Hong Kong bound if he didn’t fail a vet test, and Aviatress maintaining their unbeaten records, Toeroek confident both horses will find their way into better races.

    “He’s a very smart horse,” Toeroek said of Deepfloat Diva.

    “I’d say he’ll probably go for a break now but when he comes back in, we’re looking at a pretty nice one,” he said.

    Likewise, the leading jockey said there is also plenty of upside with Aviatress who had no problems jumping from a midweek maiden to city success.

    “She’s a smart horse, I think she’s black type,” Toeroek added.

    “I’m just glad we get to keep these ones,” he said of the pair.

    Kayla Crowther had a riding double winning with Sir Kingsford before the talented Sghirippa scored an impressive win in the final race of the big 10-race card.

    “He switched off really well and when I popped him out, he had a really good turn of foot,” Crowther said.

    “I reckon he had so much more up his sleeve,” she said.

    Jason Holder also had a riding double with Lights Of Broadway and Victorian Anilla, while the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea stable had a training double with Silent Surrente regaining winning form before Superior Sam scored impressively.

    DOM Tourneur and Justin Potter shared riding honours at Naracoorte on Sunday.

    Tourneur combined for a double with the Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor pair of Navy Gold and Midnight Mass while Potter claimed the bookends winning the opening race with Namadji and the last with Archway To Heaven for Scott Whittle.