Rawiller claims Nathan Berry Medal
Nash Rawiller claimed his first Nathan Berry Medal win during The Star Championships at Royal Randwick.
Rawiller sealed the award with his amazing win on Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S.
“I watched Nathan Berry come through the ranks as a very talented young rider and we all felt great sadness when he passed away,” Rawiller said on accepting the award.
Nash Rawiller is presented with the Nathan Berry Medal from Tommy Berry | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“This Medal means a great deal to me and all the other riders and it’s fantastic to receive it from Tommy (Berry) – it’s one I will treasure.
“I’d also like to thank all the owners and trainers that supported me with rides during The Championships.”
The Nathan Berry Medal is awarded to the most successful jockey over the 12 races of The Championships and pays tribute to the former top jockey who passed away in early April 2014.
Sangster could fit for Bella Nipotina
A third stakes win from smart sprinting mare Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) has co-trainer Ciaron Maher thinking about the G1 Robert Sangster S. with the 4-year-old.
Bella Nipotina proved too classy in the G3 Sapphire S. at Randwick on Saturday and co-trainer Ciaron Maher indicated she has earned another shot at the top level.
“Like everything today it’s hard fought. The owners, the jockey, the trainer everyone had to really roar to get her over the line. It’s been a great result, she’s been a real revelation," Maher, who trains with David Eustace, said.
Bella Nipotina, winner of the G3 Sapphire S. at Royal Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“She’s Group 1-placed twice so Adelaide Sangster might be an option, Queensland is an option for her. She’s got plenty of options. The main thing is she won today and great to get a winner on Championships day.”
Bred and owned by a syndicate led by Michael Christian of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Bella Nipotina has now won over $1.6 million in prizemoney.
Nettuno on the up
The G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic looms as the next stop for classy I Am Invincible colt Nettuno after his effortless victory in the opening race at Doomben on Saturday.
The Tony Gollan-trained colt traded his rivals with due contempt at his second start, bolting clear to win by 4.5l in the 1200-metre contest, having won by a similarly big margin on his debut at Sunshine Coast last month.
Gollan has a huge opinion of Nettuno, who was a $500,000 yearling purchase from the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is raced by a syndicate which involves his breeders at Yarraman Park, Black Soil Bloodstock and Segenhoe Stud, in whose colours he carries.
The trainer said post-race he would freshen up Nettuno with a view to aiming him up at feature 2-year-old races during the Queensland Winter Carnival, starting off with the Ken Russell, which will be run at the Gold Coast on May 7.
Lees continues Championship dominance
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees won the Provincial Championships for the fourth time in eight years, with Kinloch (I Am Invincible), owned by Lib Petagna, Bruce Perry and Waikato Stud among others, securing an upset win in Saturday's $500,000 race.
Lees won the race last year with Cristal Breeze (Ire) (Gale Force Ten {GB}) and went in the 2022 edition, the first to include Midway eligible trainers, and went into the race iths even of the 16 runners.
Kinloch fought doggedly to just hold off the Tracey Bartley-trained Kiss Sum (Shamus Award) in a tight finish to the 1400-metre race.
Lees' stablemates French Marine (Epaulette) and Rustic Steel (Deep Field), filled third and fourth spots.
Vilana delivers for family again
Vilana (Hallowed Crown) became the third stakes winner from Redoute's Choice mare Retsina when victorious in the Listed South Pacific S. a Randwick on Saturday.
Vilana, winner of the Listed South Pacific S. at Royal Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Godolphin colt, trained by James Cummings, joined his half-sister Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) and half-brother Athiri (Lonhro) as a black-type winner with his third victory at just his fourth start.
Reith taken to hospital after Newcastle fall
Jockey Christian Reith was transported to John Hunter Hospital with a shoulder injury after falling in the concluding stages of the opening race at Newcastle.
Reith fell from the Jason Deamer-trained Graphite Mist (Capitalist) about 100 metres out from the finish in the 1400-metre maiden.
He complained of shoulder soreness and has been taken to hospital.
Stakes quinella for Jollys
Training partnership Richard and Chantelle Jolly achieved a memorable result in the Listed Dequetteville S. with See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) and Aitch Two Oh (Headwater).
The result wasn't quite what the market expected with See You In Heaven powering over the top of the much-more fancied Aitch Two Oh for jockey Paul Gatt.
It was the third leg of a treble for the father-daughter training partnership who marked their 14th stakes success together.
Oaks dreaming for My Whisper
A fast-finishing success by the Yulong-owned and Peter and Paul Snowden-trained My Whisper (Frankel {GB}) in the G3 Auroria S. has connections thinking about Group 1 success in the upcoming Schweppes Oaks.
My Whisper launched late with Michael Poy in the saddle to defeat Bon's A Pearla (Bon Hoffa) with early leader Gonnadancealot (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) in third.
She becomes the ninth stakes winner for Frankel (GB) in Australia, something achieved from just 56 runners.
Reputabelle a chance of Australian trip
A possible trip to Australia could be on the cards for South Island filly Reputabelle (NZ) (Pins) after she took out the Listed NZB Insurance S. at Riccarton on Saturday.
The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained daughter of Pins was looking for her fourth win in succession in the black-type feature and delivered with a 0.5l win.
Matthew Pitman said there was ongoing stakes plans for Reputabelle.
Reputabelle (NZ), winner of the Listed NZB Inaurance S. at Riccarton | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“We will just see how she comes through today, but if she does well, then the Warstep S. could be next,” Pitman said.
“Some really nice horses have won this race, including Atishu who went over to Sydney and impressed over there so the thought of taking this filly to Queensland later on does hold some appeal.”
Bred by Waikato Stud, Reputabelle is raced by a group that includes New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Adviser Jim Bruford who purchased the filly off Gavelhouse.com for NZ$14,000.
Sy Dog wins on Keeneland opener
Head of Plains Partners' Sy Dog (USA) (Slumber {GB}) remained undefeated in three career appearances, holding off Grand Sonata (USA) (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) for a narrow success in the G3 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania S. on the opening day of the spring meet at Keeneland.
Racing at the back of the field and to the inside of favoured Verbal (USA) (Flintshire {GB}) as they raced under the wire for the first time, Sy Dog found himself detached from the peloton as they cornered to the backstretch.
Verbal made a run into the stretch and looked dangerous for a stride or two, but Sy Dog was asked for his best by Irad Ortiz, Jr.
“My horse was travelling perfect the whole race,” the winning jockey commented. “At the three-eighths pole, I thought it was time to pick it up. He did everything I asked for. He was ready. (Trainer) Graham Motion did a great job and I thank the owner (Head of Plains Partners) and the trainer for the opportunity.”
