Trainer Steve O’Dea has a big decision to make with in-form Doubt Defying after the gelding won the $100,000 Gold Coast Stakes (1800m). Doubt Defying was backed into $2.35 favourite and lived up to punters’ confidence when he beat Glendara ($7.50) by 3-1/4 lengths with 1-1/4 lengths to Capetown Hussey… Read More »
Short-priced favourite Khulaasa has broken through for a stakes win at Flemington but champion trainer David Hayes is convinced the two-year-old filly is even better than what she is showing. Khulaasa got the job done in Saturday’s Group Three TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington having finished runner-up in… Read More »
Experienced sprinter Dothraki has claimed an overdue win in the Group Three Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill but not without drama. The seven-year-old, whose previous victory was in October 2015, won Saturday’s 1100m race in the stewards’ room after Tye Angland protested against a shift out by Brenton Avdulla’s mount… Read More »
Written By has made the ideal first impression in Sydney as the unbeaten colt moved to outright second favourite for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper behind boom filly Sunlight. The Grahame Begg-trained Written By withstood a head-to-head battle with Sandbar before edging to a half-neck win in the Group Three… Read More »
Trainer Darren Weir is adamant Limestone was not lame before being scratched from a race at Flemington. Limestone was withdrawn from Saturday’s Hoppegarten Racing Trophy (1100m) on veterinary advice. Racing Victoria vet Grace Forbes ruled Limestone to be lame in the off foreleg and near hind which Weir debated. “She… Read More »
Sydney apprentice Lee Magorrian rode his first Queensland winner and helped his master Chris Waller train a trifecta in the McCain Foods Cup (2200m). Magorrian’s mount Exoteric ($7.50) was far too strong for his stablemates Xebec ($3.50) and Irish Optimism($7). Irish-born Magorrian did most of his early riding in New… Read More »
Golden Slipper favourite Sunlight has firmed for the $3.5 million race, after leading all the way to win the Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill. But she may have a serious challenger in Written By who tightened from $7 to $5 after his Pago Pago Stakes win. Sent out at $1.35… Read More »
Quilista is likely to get another crack at a Group One sprint after dropping in class and dominating her rivals in a handicap for mares at Flemington. The Darren Weir-trained former West Australian mare was tried in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield at her previous start, beaten… Read More »
French-bred stayer Auvray has had a Group One added to his autumn carnival program after an impressive win in the Sky High Stakes at Rosehill. Buoyant trainer Richard Freedman has no hesitation in nominating the Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill on March 31 as a new target for the seven-year-old… Read More »
One of the horses brought to Australia for the Championships has suffered a career-threatening fetlock injury at the Canterbury quarantine centre. Japanese sprinter Ittetsu broke down on Saturday morning during a routine work-out. He was brought to Australia by Australian Bloodstock with his long-term aim The Everest in October. He… Read More »
The world’s best horse has graced the Rosehill turf in a work-out between races ahead of her next assignment. Winx was brought over from Chris Waller’s stable to gallop over 1000 metres, a week before she tries to win the Group One George Ryder Stakes (1500m) for a third time…. Read More »
Trainer Matt Dunn’s plans to add to his NSW Country Championship arsenal came to an abrupt halt when smart Mediterranean bled from both nostrils after winning at the Gold Coast. Mediterranean ($5.50) came home strongly to beat Aggravate ($6) by a length with another length to Whycatchim ($4.80) third in… Read More »
The world’s best horse has graced the Rosehill turf in a work-out between races ahead of her next assignment. Winx was brought over from Chris Waller’s stable to gallop over 1000 metres, a week before she tries to win the Group One George Ryder Stakes (1500m) for a third time…. Read More »
Honest toiler Multifacets has snapped a 14-race losing streak with a dogged win in the Catanach’s Handicap at Rosehill. The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old gelding timed his run to perfection as the leaders faded over the latter stages of the 1900m trip. Seeking his first win since November 2016, Multifacets ($12)… Read More »
Trainer Colin Tizzard has achieved a lifelong ambition as Native River gave him the victory he has craved above everything else in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Dorset-based trainer turned what had so far been a frustrating campaign on its head when he finally got his hands on the coveted… Read More »
Cliff’s Edge has run out an impressive all-the-way winner of the Group Two Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley to set up a possible trip to Sydney. The Darren Weir-trained $1.70 favourite in the 2040m-feature, Cliff’s Edge stamped his authority early under Jamie Mott and kicked clear on the home… Read More »
Glyn Schofield has failed to in his bid to have a careless riding ban reduced and will miss Golden Slipper day. Racing NSW stewards outed Schofield for eight meetings for his ride on winner Kementari in the Group One Randwick Guineas last Saturday. He argued interference to Capital Gain in… Read More »
Luvaluva has moved to outright favouritism for the Australian Oaks after closing strongly to win the Group Three Kembla Grange Classic. The John Sargent-trained filly won the Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington during the spring before running fourth in the VRC Oaks (2500m). She confirmed she was on track for… Read More »
Chris Waller trains half the Ajax Stakes field at Rosehill, and although the favourite is among them he has a certain fondness for Tom Melbourne and Cellarman. Cast as a loveable loser after he started his first preparation for Waller with a string of four second placings, Tom Melbourne races… Read More »
The Magic Night Stakes is rarely a prelude to Golden Slipper success, but trainer Tony McEvoy is confident Sunlight can defy history. McEvoy has already used a seven-day back-up to good effect with Sunlight before the Magic Millions and believes the strategy will again deliver the desired result. Calaway Girl… Read More »
