Terravista has produced a late surge to post a Group One breakthrough in the $1 million Darley Classic. Confirming the unwavering faith of trainer Joe Pride and jockey Hugh Bowman, Terravista burst between runners after coming from worse than midfield in the 1200-metre sprint at Flemington. Terravista joined the fray… Read More »
Murray Bridge galloper Lord Aspen has kept an unblemished record with a fighting win at Flemington. After winning his first three starts in Adelaide, Lord Aspen graduated to Listed level with victory over 1400m on Saturday. Ridden by South Australian jockey Matthew Neilson, Lord Aspen, backed from $3.80 to $3.30… Read More »
The addition of blinkers sparked two-year-old Mishani Di Caprio to upset an old fashioned plunge on rival The Wildman at Doomben on Saturday. The Wildman, who had beaten Mishani Di Caprio by 5 1/2 lengths only a week ago, was backed from $1.80 into $1.55 in the final three minutes… Read More »
Saint Or Sinner has given trainer Mike Moroney and his team a morale-boosting win at Flemington. The Moroney-trained Araldo, the stayer which finished seventh in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup but had to be euthanised after breaking his leg in an accident while returning to scale. Saint Or Sinner, who races in… Read More »
The well-bred Hauraki has stamped himself as an autumn prospect for Godolphin, producing his best work late to win over 1400 metres at Randwick. A Reset half-brother to South Australian Derby winner, Hauraki lived up to his $2.70 favouritism in the Benchmark 70 for three-year-olds to claim his second win… Read More »
A break beckons for Held Hostage before connections aim higher in the autumn, following her win at Flemington. Given a perfect ride by Craig Williams, Held Hostage ($7) scored by 1-1/2 lengths from Clang And Bang ($41) with Shenzhou Steeds ($31) 1-1/4 lengths away third. Adelaide-based trainer Phillip Stokes said… Read More »
Race experience proved telling in the Maribyrnong Plate as the Danny O’Brien-trained colt Prompt Return raced to a convincing victory. Prompt Return was one of four two-year-olds with race experience in the 14-horse field and it had been 18 years since a horse on debut had won the Group Three… Read More »
Owner Rupert Legh says he has already discussed the possibility of having a horse walkway at Flemington named in honour of Araldo. Araldo had to be euthanised after breaking a leg in a freak accident while returning to the mounting yard after running seventh in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. The horse… Read More »
DARLEY CLASSIC – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HISTORY: * Million-dollar, 1200m weight-for-age sprint * First run in 1960, Group One since 1979 * Held on Victoria Derby day until 2007, switched to final day of Melbourne Cup carnival * Black Caviar won by four lengths in 2010, her first… Read More »
Mick Price has been waiting all spring to get Australian Horse of the Year Lankan Rupee to Flemington. The Mick Price-trained Lankan Rupee returns to Flemington for Saturday’s Darley Classic where Group One newcomer Chautauqua is the horse to beat. Lankan Rupee won the Manikato Stakes last start after an… Read More »
In the same week two Melbourne Cup runners died, two more thoroughbreds have met a similar fate at country race meetings across NSW. Four-year-old Rich Love died when he returned to the mounting yard at Grafton in northern NSW after running in the first race on Wednesday. Like Cup favourite… Read More »
Irish sprinter Slade Power is ready for one last test – against Australia’s best – as he bids to cap his career in the Group One Darley Classic at Flemington. International horses have claimed the three biggest races in Melbourne this spring but trainer Ed Lynam is under no illusions… Read More »
A Melbourne Cup week race he didn’t win seems certain to hold the key to one of trainer Chris Waller’s best chances at Randwick. Waller’s stable set a hectic pace on the first day of the Flemington carnival, winning the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Victoria Derby as well a… Read More »
Popular Tasmanian galloper The Cleaner’s travel itinerary could extend beyond Melbourne if he can run a big race in the Group One Emirates Stakes. The Cleaner has raced in Tasmania and Melbourne during his career but trainer Mick Burles is considering taking him to Perth for a Group One race… Read More »
The race that stops the nation is meant to be the celebration of a great sporting event, not a time to be talking about animals suffering. But the deaths of two racehorses after Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup switched the national conversation. Instead of the sensational four-length win by Germany’s Protectionist, talk… Read More »
Trainer Andrew Williamson hopes a lack of better-class staying races in Brisbane could prove a blessing in disguise for Darci Be Good. Darci Be Good will drop back 200m when he tackles the Garrards Horse and Hound Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday. Williamson has done a wonderful job with… Read More »
EMIRATES STAKES – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HISTORY: * Million-dollar 1600m race, final Group One event of the Melbourne Cup carnival * Bart Cummings has trained six winners * Notable winners: Aquanita (1960-61), Wenona Girl (1963), Storm Queen (1966), Vain (1969), Gunsynd (1971), Better Loosen Up (1989), Testa Rossa… Read More »
The Victoria Derby win by Preferment was a milestone for trainer Chris Waller who is much more familiar with the Emirates Stakes, Waller is two-handed in his pursuit of a third victory in four years in Saturday’s Group One 1600m handicap at Flemington. His leading contender, Bull Point, is Group… Read More »
Outstanding 1990s galloper Rough Habit, a New Zealand horse who became a cult hero in Queensland, is dead at the age of 28. The winner of nearly $NZ5.2 million was euthanised at his retirement home of Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge, where he has starred in horse shows for the last 15… Read More »
Hugh Bowman has salvaged his spring carnival with a Group One victory aboard Set Square in the VRC Oaks at Flemington. But a few things had to fall into place for it to happen. The leading Sydney jockey missed several major meetings with a suspension for improper riding aboard the… Read More »
