Chief Stipe

2025 Stradbroke Handicap: Cejay Graham to ride The Inflictor www.racenet.com.au Pressure is your friend. Young jockey Cejay Graham has those words ringing in her ears as she prepares for the "pinch myself moment" of riding in her first Stradbroke Handicap. The words were delivered by Graham's mentor, trainer Kelly Schweida, after the young jockey came from Port Macquarie on the New South Wales mid-coast to be Schweida's apprentice in the big smoke in Brisbane a couple of years ago. And never have they been more fitting as Graham, 26, prepares to ride Queensland fairytale horse The Inflictor in Saturday's $3m Stradbroke at Eagle Farm. "The best bit of advice Kelly has given me was that pressure is your friend," Graham said. "You've got to absorb the pressure and embrace it. "That's one thing he said to me that really stuck, because coming from a few knock-backs early in my riding career I wasn't initially too confident with some things and he just said ‘don't let the pressure get to you'. "If you don't have pressure, you probably aren't going really good, are you? "So when you put it like that, you want the pressure, don't you? "It is a pretty cool saying that is stuck in my head." The Inflictor winning The Gateway at Eagle Farm to collect a golden ticket into the Stradbroke Handicap. Picture: Trackside Photography Graham might hail from New South Wales, but she now considers herself as Queensland as the Great Barrier Reef. And that's just as well because a lot of Queensland will be supporting her – and the remarkable story of The Inflictor and his 60-year-old truck driving hobby trainer Craig Cousins – in the Stradbroke. The Inflictor is the home-bred hero who qualified for the Stradbroke by winning the ballot exempt race of The Gateway at Eagle Farm last December. Graham rode the four-year-old gelding to win that day and a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then. She is pinching herself that she has a chance to ride him to glory in the Stradbroke, in a race which will be her fourth career Group 1 ride. "Craig was pretty adamant he wanted to stick with me straight after The Gateway, so it's great that he has done that and its fantastic to be given the opportunity," Graham said. "It's real pinch myself kind of stuff. "I think there will be a lot of Queenslanders cheering for us on the day. "I've done a lot of work with him behind the scenes, I definitely know the horse inside and out. "He is tough when he leads, but he doesn't have to lead. "I think he's got a great chance. "And I've really got to thank Kelly (Schweida) for his support as I wouldn't have got the gig riding up in Brisbane without him. "And if it wasn't for his continued support coming out of my apprenticeship, I might have struggled a bit. "He has backed me 100 per cent and I owe him everything."

Well no need to get upset. The ARC always had Pukekohe to butcher during the next 14 weeks. I just thought if it was so good on Saturday they'd get at least a couple more meetings in. I see though they will wring the last bit of life out of Avondale with a number of trail meetings scheduled there.

Yes Chappie and Archie.

Is that why they're not racing or trialling on it for 14 weeks? Embellishment.

Yep cut my hair once or twice.

Did the Mundy's live on Queen Street?

Did you get sold a pup @Comic Dog ? Not much if any improvement in speed.

Yep. Related to Bill Craddock who bred Durban Chief. My dad won the Westport Cup with a good horse. LOL flew on a DC3 from Hokitika to Westport to see the Grandparents and used to walk across the road to watch the horses being trained. Karamea the first place to grow Kiwifruit. Used to stay at relatives place next to the Little Wanganui pub.

@Dark Beau can you pass onto Insider that my grandparents lived in Derby Street just down from Patterson Park and my mum was born and bred in Karamea. Seems that @Comic Dog and @Pete Lane as moderators thought that post was worth a ban. cheers

Slower than here. If you want proof let me know.

Agree 100%. Perhaps though the salaries of those making the decisions are tied to turnover not revenue or they don't care and allocate their own salaries.

Perhaps a few Jockeys in NZ should take notice of that advice. I've had the opportunity to see Willo, Parr and Shinn ride in NZ and observed all three walking the track and also listening to advice.

Willo's competition with class www.racing.com With Chris Tetaz Champion jockey Craig Williams has opened up about how his friendship and rivalry with Blake Shinn is driving them both to be better. With the battle for the Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys Premiership the heading towards a conclusion, both Shinn and Williams are sitting in the top two. Shinn, who is currently injured and may miss the rest of the season, holds a substantial lead over his rival in the concluding weeks. According to Williams, their shared commitment to excellence is matched only by their willingness to support each other. “Everyone in here is your friend, but also your competitor,” Williams told young riders in Racing Victoria’s apprentice program recently. “Blake Shinn and I are one and two in Victoria this season, but we’re the best at supporting each other. He comes around and we work on the mechanical horse together.” Williams said the duo had a shared understanding that the better their opposition, the better they must be. For Williams, helping those around him – including apprentices – isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength. “You need to encourage and help your friends. But if they’re lazy and not walking tracks, that’s different – you can’t just give people free advantages and free kicks,” he said. “But at the same time, the more you share, the better you’ll be at things. And the better your opposition are, the better you are.” Williams emphasised to the apprentices the importance of mental resilience and preparation – qualities that set great jockeys apart. “If I’m in the mounting yard and it’s cold – it’s cold for everyone,” he said. “If I’ve got one of my colleagues standing there saying, ‘Oh geez, it’s cold,’ I’ve already got them beat. We need to be ahead of that. “There’s a mentality you can have. It’s up to you how you choose to approach it as a competitor. “It doesn’t matter how well you ride them – at the end of the day, the result is you need to win. Win ugly – it doesn’t matter – you need to win. “These are your colleagues. You need to make sure you’ve got respect for each other. “But respect doesn’t mean you don’t be tough out there – because that’s how people gain respect. You can’t just give it to them.”

From Ardsley Stud: It is with deep sadness we confirm the passing of Micheal Wallace son of Jim and Mary. Micheal was a much loved Father, son and brother. Family are requesting privacy. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Zi6nFyJhp/

My condolences to Jim Wallace and family.

From Prima Park: It is with heavy hearts Prima Park acknowledges the sudden passing of Michael Wallace. An incredibly talented bloodstock agent, Michael’s guidance has been instrumental in the initial development of Prima Park and has contributed deeply to our success early on. Together we selected and sold two Group One winners in Debt Collector and Sprinting sensation Beat The Clock. Debt Collector being sold through our first ever Ready To Run draft in 2013 Over the years Michael has been a close friend to the Van Dyk family and we are deeply saddened of his passing. Our deepest sympathies go out to the Wallace family. ❤️❤️ More to come...

I wonder if any Trainers got as upset as ours do?

Interesting. How much warning did they give?

Oh that explains it. There were two races abandoned and I thought given the lack of money in the pools that that was the reason. But doh they were abandoned well ahead. Interesting though that the turf looked great, the sun was out and most were wearing shorts and flip flops. Now what is really interesting is were races scheduled for the turf (other than the Grp races which were cancelled) transferred to the dirt?

One thing that I did notice was how close the public can get to the horse. Much closer than an Owner in NZ.

Yep. All about the horse, the Jockey and the Trainer. I'm sure the Owners were well looked after but I couldn't see the BGP there in the stands.

Apparently didn't like the track either.

Sovereignty gains second crown www.racing.com The Godolphin-owned Sovereignty left little doubt as to who is the best three-year-old in the United States when he took out the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga to give him two of the three legs of the Triple Crown in the United States. Just as he did in the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, he relegated Journalism to second placing. Sovereignty did not contest the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, which Journalism was successful in. Journalism surged to the lead on straightening in the Belmont Stakes, but Sovereignty cruised past him soon after and went on to win by three lengths. Sovereignty’s trainer Bill Mott said he was happy with his decision to not contest the second leg of the Triple Crown with his colt. “If we wouldn’t have won today, we would have taken a lot of criticism. It turned out good. Sometimes you make the right decision and a lot of times you make the wrong ones. But today, it really worked out well,” Mott said. Mott said he prioritised the colt’s health and wellbeing over running in the Preakness Stakes. Sovereignty was again ridden by Junior Alvarado who said winning two legs of the Triple Crown was surreal. He said five or six years ago he wondered where his career was going, and he thanked his family for their support.

No more Joliestar for Queensland Winter Carnival www.racenet.com.au Chris Waller confirmed Joliestar won't race again during the Queensland Winter Carnival after the brilliant mare provided the Hall of Fame trainer with a record 19th Group 1 win for the season in the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Joliestar was among the favourites at $11 for next Saturday's Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and was at top of betting at $2.50 for the Group 1 Tatts Tiara (1400m) on June 28 but Waller said the mare has earned a spell. Clinton Payne - Last 28 Days "She won't have another run in Queensland, that's it, she's having a holiday and we will start planning for the spring,'' Waller told Sky Racing Radio. Although Waller hasn't locked in Joliestar's spring campaign, it will be tempting to again aim the mare at the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18. She finished an unlucky seventh behind Bella Nipotina in the world's richest turf race last year. "James McDonald is adamant she should have gone close to winning The Everest last year,'' Waller said. "But I think it is on the short side of her distance range, she is probably better over 1300m or 1400m. "It is a tricky race, The Everest, it is obviously the race everyone wants to win but you sacrifice a few other Group 1 races along the way. "We will see how she is the next few days and work out a plan towards the spring." Joliestar is currently on the fourth line of The Everest betting at $11 behind Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising, who has firmed to $1.80 after he was selected for the slot now owned by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. With three Group 1 races remaining for the season, Waller hopes to enhance his new national record of 19 majors with the Stradbroke and $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Chris Waller still has more Group 1s in his sights this season. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images. Waller said he rates Hidden Achievement as his stable's "top seed" for the JJ Atkins. "Hidden Achievement was beaten last start but we saw enough merit in his run to feel he can go close to winning,'' Waller said. "Hopefully, we have James (McDonald) aboard which makes a huge difference and is a big help to my team. "In the Stradbroke, we are just working out if Coleman gets in and we might run Firestorm and Konasana." At Canterbury on Monday, Waller has runners across seven races including first starter Central Coast in the Drinkwise Plate (1250m) to open the program. Central Coast, a superbly bred colt by sire sensation Wootton Bassett out of triple Group 1 winner Sunlight, was purchased for $1.4 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale last year. With his big pedigree and impressive recent barrier trial form, it is not surprising Central Coast is the $2.40 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to make a winning debut. McDonald, who rode his 15th Group 1 winner for the season on Joliestar and is closing in on "Miracle" Mal Johnston's all-time record of 16 majors set in 1979-80, is on Central Coast and also partners Waller-trained favourites Gatekeeper ($4.60) in the TAB Handicap (1250m) and Pink Shalala ($2.50) in the closer, the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1550m). James McDonald and Joliestar after their win in the Kingsford Smith Cup on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography. McDonald has seven rides on the eight-race Canterbury program including for the Godolphin stable on promising filly Blue Willow, the $3.50 favourite for the Ranvet Handicap (1550m). The James Cummings-trained Blue Willow is a half-sister to former Horse of the Year Anamoe, who McDonald rode in eight of the champion's nine Group 1 wins. Blue Willow makes her city debut at Canterbury after three starts at Newcastle for two minor placings before a dominant maiden win in very heavy going two weeks ago.