Arabian Summer, the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained filly sired by Too Darn Hot, will not be seen in the Blue Diamond Stakes or Golden Slipper as she heads for a well-deserved spell following her gutsy run in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic. While Arabian Summer finished fifth, 5.2… Read More »
Trainer Patrick Payne is adjusting Dunkel’s 2024 campaign, targeting the Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington in late March instead of the Adelaide Cup. Dunkel, a lightly raced Group 1 winner of the SA Derby, impressed in his recent fresh win at The Valley. Payne believes the listed Roy Higgins with… Read More »
A hectic week at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sales saw Annabel Neasham have a hand in the purchase of more than $5 million of young horseflesh, but another previous sale eye-catcher in Learning To Fly is readying for a return to the races after a lengthy recovery. Group and listed performers… Read More »
Caulfield’s new inner track, originally slated for racing on April 17, might see an earlier start based on forthcoming trials. Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) officials, encouraged by horses’ recent gallops on the track, are open to the possibility of advancing the launch date. Jake Norton, MRC’s executive director of racing,… Read More »
Persistent muscle troubles continue to plague star racehorse Giga Kick, as revealed by his connections. The four-year-old is set to undergo scintigraphy scans in the coming weeks to assess the ongoing issue. The troublesome injury, located deep in the gluteal muscle, originated from the McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley during… Read More »
Pre-race in the Magic Millions Guineas, there were tense moments as Sydney Bowler, then an equal $5.50 favourite with bookie sites, encountered trouble in the barriers. The horse reared up, attempted to burrow underneath the front gates, and got cast in the process. This prompted horses and jockeys to return… Read More »
Yulong ensured an Extreme Choice colt topped the final session of this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with the Victorian operation paying $1.4 million for a youngster from Kingstar Farm. The colt is from the Shamardal mare Mischief Night, who is a half-sister to Pierata and Ashokan and… Read More »
He produced one of the most memorable victories in recent times when sailing down the outside rail at Royal Randwick to take out the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2022. And now, the Kerry Parker-trained Think It Over is back for another throw at the stumps. The eight-year-old will return to the… Read More »
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s Pride Of Jenni made history during Melbourne Cup week, becoming the first horse in 24 years to win two races over the carnival and the six-year-old mare will target more riches in the Autumn. A winner of both the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) and… Read More »
Martin Harley capped a Magic Millions fairytale when he partnered the Robert Heathcote-trained Abounding to a belated win in Saturday’s $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on the Gold Coast. It was the biggest win in Australia for the Irishman, who first rode Down Under in Victoria, but relocated to Queensland where… Read More »
They haven’t gone that quick over the 2000m at Rosehill since 1996 but the Annabel Neasham-trained Naval College ($3F) has flown around the Sydney circuit. The European import has registered a time of 1.59:19 breaking the previous track record of 1.59:99 held by both Octagonal (1996) and Danewin (1995). Not bad company to… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse added another Magic Millions 2YO Classic to her glittering resume when Storm Boy justified short-priced favouritism to make a one-act affair of the $3 million event on the Gold Coast on Saturday. The son of Justify made it three dominant wins from as many starts when he outclassed his… Read More »
A substantial delay has occurred in the Magic Millions Guineas as efforts are underway to extract Sydney Bowler from the barriers. Despite being cast, stewards assure that the horse is still safe. Stewards express confidence in their ability to proceed with and conclude the program. UPDATED: Trainer John O’Shea has… Read More »
It appears the sky is the limit for Sghirripa who is progressing rapidly through the Melbourne sprinting ranks, notching up his first group win with a dominant victory in the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) down the Flemington straight. A last-start winner of the Listed Xmas Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield, $2.05… Read More »
He’d been a frustrating commodity for punters after finishing runner-up at his past three outings, but the Chris Waller-trained Louisville ($2.40F) has found the winning post at Rosehill Gardens in a patient steer by hoop Sam Clipperton. After winning first-up at Canterbury this preparation, the son of Redwood had been rolled… Read More »
Lord Lloyd Webber’s decision to back the first crop of Australian yearlings by his former star racehorse Too Darn Hot reaped an immediate reward when Too Darn Lizzie won Saturday’s The Fillies Debut at the Gold Coast. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly was a $1 million purchase at… Read More »
She’s no stranger to winning a Highway and rider Mikayla Weir got the job done again at Rosehill Gardens aboard the Brett Thompson-prepared Smart And Dapper ($16). The Smart Missile progeny had a fairly tough run in transit but was still too strong for outsider Fear The Knight ($31) by a head… Read More »
The Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) is the pie in the sky for Otago who backed up a dominant debut win at Bendigo with a narrow in at Flemington on Saturday, taking out a 3yo benchmark 70 over 1400m. Backed into $1.75 with betting sites, Otago landed just behind the speed… Read More »
Ben, Will and JD Hayes have options aplenty for Zestiman after the two-year-old colt won well down the Flemington straight over 1000m on debut. The son of Zoustar was kept safe as the $3.60 favourite with top betting sites and wore down $8.50 chance I’m Kenough who kicked clear at the… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott were the heaviest-hitters on Day 4 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, landing the highest-priced lot of the sale and another seven-figure youngster who boasts bloodlines they know well. A few hours before they paid $1.7 million for the session-topping filly by I Am… Read More »
