This year’s Rowley Mile had a little bit of everything – a cow on the track, a winning jockey dumped ungracefully on his bottom, and a thrilling photo finish in between. The Listed feature went to the Chris Waller-trained Bold Mac ($3.80), who continued his rich vein of form with… Read More »
The scratching of Arapaho has paved the way for J J Atkins winner King Colorado to take his place in the Group 1 Winx Stakes at Randwick. The three-year-old had been first emergency for the 1400m feature but with the withdrawal of Arapaho on Thursday due to a wide gate, King Colorado was… Read More »
Joe Pride has trained some handy sprinting mares, but he can’t recall putting the polish on one with a better physical presence than Cinderella Days. The four-year-old resumes in the Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday after bursting onto the black-type scene in the autumn with a cheeky third… Read More »
Cranbourne trainers Ken and Kasey Keys have a healthy opinion of unbeaten colt Scheelite who will put his reputation on the line first-up at Caulfield. Against six opponents, Scheelite runs in the Vain Stakes (1100m) on Saturday where he will be pitted against Blue Diamond Stakes winner Little Brose and Golden Slipper runner-up Cylinder. Scheelite started his… Read More »
Formerly prepared by Ireland’s Joseph O’Brien, Cleveland will be making his debut for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, but he will have a familiar jockey in Kerrin Mcevoy, who has ridden him in his only two Australian runs. The six-year-old was part of O’Brien’s Sydney autumn carnival team and made a big… Read More »
As a Group 1 winner in New Zealand, Ulanova has paid the penalty for that success ahead of her Australian debut at Caulfield. Now in the care of Anthony and Sam Freedman, Ulanova will represent the stable, along with De Sonic Boom and Tiz Enuff, in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) on Saturday. A former member of the Stephen… Read More »
A stakes winner resuming and a race-fit filly will spearhead Tulloch Lodge’s Silver Shadow Stakes team as Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott prepare to gang tackle the race. The training partners will saddle-up five of the 15 runners and it is Gimcrack Stakes winner Platinum Jubilee and the unbeaten Taormina who shape as… Read More »
The long-range prediction of a dry spring is music to the ears of the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable when it comes to the upcoming preparation of Pounding. Pounding kicks off his spring campaign in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday with Moody looking to turn the gelding… Read More »
Winx delivered Chris Waller his 100th Group 1 win with a stunning Queen Elizabeth Stakes farewell, so there would be a certain synergy if the race named after his freakish mare is the scene of his 150th. Waller will have weight of numbers on his side in his bid to reach… Read More »
Renowned trainer Gai Waterhouse is charging ahead with her ambitious plans for the upcoming spring racing season, undeterred by a recent knee injury. With a strong stable at her disposal, Waterhouse is eyeing a dominant presence at Victoria’s opening Group 1 meeting. The centerpiece of her strategy is the prestigious… Read More »
Trainer Annabel Neasham has established a permanent Victoria base with 20 on-course boxes at Pakenham Racing Club, ahead of the Spring Carnival. The move complements her existing bases in Warwick Farm, Rosehill, Eagle Farm, and the Gold Coast. Pakenham-based trainer Bill Papazaharoudakis will lead the operation, accommodating up to 20… Read More »
Barn mates Dragonstone and Argentia had mixed first-up experiences in the Missile Stakes, but Joe Pride expects both to run boldly when they clash again in the Show County Quality at Randwick. Argentia, who was making her debut for Pride in the Missile, was racing behind stablemate Big Parade when he suffered a… Read More »
David Brideoake and Matt Jenkins crossed off a milestone with their first metropolitan double at Sandown. Now into their second season since joining forces, Brideoake and Jenkins had notched doubles at country venues, but never before on a city track, until Wednesday. Affordable got the ball rolling when taking out the Ladbroke It! Handicap (2100m) before Dunalley saluted… Read More »
The only live colt sired by Kementari, Manwe has kept his Golden Rose dream alive with an impressive debut win at Canterbury. Kementari was retired to stud in 2019 amid much fanfare but proved to be almost completely infertile, producing just a few foals from more than 50 matings, prompting Godolphin… Read More »
Spring hope Without A Fight has progressed his campaign with a gallop between races at Sandown. Joining up with stablemate Third Realm, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained pair galloped over 1000m, quickening up over the final 400m. Sam Freedman said he was grateful the Melbourne Racing Club allowed the pair to work at Sandown on Wednesday on good… Read More »
Chris Waller started the week regarding Fangirl as his top Winx Stakes seed and while he still believes she will be hard to beat, he says the barrier draw has brought stablemate Hinged right into the race. A perennial bridesmaid last season to the now-retired Anamoe, Fangirl came up with gate 11 on… Read More »
As time has gone on, Buffalo River has become his own worst enemy which has resulted in trainer Mike Moroney delving into his bag of tricks with the gelding. Instead of relying on traditional trackwork to get Buffalo River fit enough for a first-up assault on the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m)… Read More »
Jamie Kah, 27, is gearing up to contest allegations surrounding a white powder controversy, vowing to plead not guilty. The Victorian Racing Tribunal hosted a directions hearing where Kah faced a charge of conduct prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity or welfare of racing. In a video recorded by stablehand… Read More »
Spanish Mission, the 2021 Melbourne Cup placegetter, has taken a significant stride towards his return to competitive racing. The eight-year-old, on the mend from a tendon injury, completed a successful jump out on Tuesday morning. Under the guidance of jockey Jamie Kah, Spanish Mission showcased his vitality over a 1000-meter… Read More »
Racing Victoria’s inquiry into trainer Darren Weir’s misconduct is making headway, as revealed by the organisation’s integrity department. Weir, previously penalised with a $36,000 fine for animal cruelty involving electrical devices on three horses in 2018, recently met with RV stewards. RV stewards are actively pursuing an investigation into Weir’s… Read More »
