So, it’s worth noting his lofty opinion of promising youngster Friendly Fire, a tough winner of the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. “Friendly Fire still has a lot to learn but that was a really strong win,” Portelli said. “He is not there physically yet… Read More »
The Brisbane Cup will be among the options considered for emerging stayer Thebudgiesmugla after he maintained his unbeaten 2400 metre record with a hard-fought win at Randwick. Purchased out of New Zealand by syndicators Darby Racing, Thebudgiesmugla has now won three of his six starts for Bjorn Baker, all over… Read More »
Tributes have poured in across the country following the passing of Queensland country jockey Shane McGovern, who died on Saturday after a heartbreaking health battle stemming from a freak trackwork accident. The 67-year-old had been placed in palliative care just a day earlier, after complications from injuries sustained when he… Read More »
Racing Victoria stewards have disqualified licensed farrier Umesh Joseph for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to multiple sexual harassment-related charges under the Rules of Racing. Joseph admitted to two offences under AR 233(c) relating to sexual harassment and a further charge under AR 232(i) for providing false or misleading… Read More »
The Next Episode is still about $2 million short of recouping his purchase price, even after his win in Friday night’s $1 million feature on the Gold Coast, but there would be few rising three-year-olds in training that connections would swap him for. The Ciaron Maher-trained son of Snitzel enhanced… Read More »
The racing community is bracing for the loss of Queensland country jockey Shane McGovern, who has been transferred to palliative care following a tragic trackwork incident. The Australian Jockeys’ Association confirmed the 67-year-old was moved to the palliative care unit at Townsville Hospital due to ongoing complications. “He has been… Read More »
Trainer Nick Ryan is likely to resist the temptation of a trip to Brisbane with Highvol to concentrate on building the three-year-old’s bank balance. Highvol registered the third win of his career when successful at Caulfield last start and will look to add to that tally in the Sportsbet Fixed Odds Exotics Handicap… Read More »
A year can be a long time in racing especially with a horse on the sidelines. It will be a year and one week by the time Just Folk makes it back to the racetrack for the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1400m) at Sandown on Saturday. The last time Just Folk… Read More »
One of the headline acts of this year’s Doomben Cup will need to pass a race-morning veterinary inspection before being cleared to take his place in the race. Half Yours was deemed to be mildly lame by Queensland’s racing vets when inspected on Friday morning. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained… Read More »
Chris Waller has run into Pride Of Jenni enough times to know that taking on the front-running mare will bring most horses undone, and leaving her to her own devices will play into her hands. Finding a happy medium is something not even the champion trainer can attest to having… Read More »
His current connections can’t lay claim to coming up with his name, but they are hoping Thebudgiesmugla can continue making a name for himself as a stayer of promise. The former New Zealander rises to 2400 metres for the first time this preparation in Saturday’s Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation Handicap… Read More »
Banknote Hustler is unlikely to ever scale the heights hoped for earlier in his career, but the son of Capitalist gets his shot at completing a winning hat-trick this weekend. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained gelding will be out to back up wins at Geelong and Pakenham in… Read More »
Racegoers at Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben Cup will have extra reason to cheer, with Brisbane Racing Club and XXXX offering a complimentary drink if either Pride Of Jenni or Half Yours claims victory. The “XXXX Cheers to the Champs” promotion is built around a highly anticipated rematch between two of… Read More »
Racing NSW stewards have fined co-trainers Richard and Will Freedman a total of $5,800 following a hearing into three separate rule breaches. The inquiry examined the detection of oxazepam and temazepam in a post-race urine sample taken from Luna Bay after she finished second at a provincial meeting in September,… Read More »
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is banking on a drop in grade proving beneficial for Amedei at Sandown. The daughter of Zoustar drops from a Listed race for three-year-olds to a benchmark 78 race for fillies when she contests the Sportsbet Feed Handicap (1400m) on Saturday. Amedei resumed with a first-up win in a… Read More »
A quick back-up into one of the signature two-year-old events of the Brisbane winter carnival is on the table for emerging filly I Am Dirty if she can make it two wins in succession in the Bill Carter Stakes at Doomben. After enduring a wide run when unplaced on debut at… Read More »
Trainer Grahame Begg was left scratching his head when he looked at the barrier draws for his three runners at Sandown. Oman, Upstage and King Zephyr all drew barrier 14 in their respective races on Saturday. “What would the odds be of that?” Begg asked. “You couldn’t write a ticket for what odds that would be. “I… Read More »
The Australian racing industry is mourning the loss of longtime Flemington trainer Steve Richards, who passed away in a Melbourne hospital on Wednesday night. Richards, 70, had been in intensive care after suffering serious head injuries in a fall in the city last week. A licensed trainer at Flemington since… Read More »
There will be no pressure on Declichy Boulevard to make a winning return at Randwick despite the mare being one of the best credentialled gallopers at the off-season meeting. The four-year-old resumes in the Taylor Construction Handicap (1400m) on Saturday, her first appearance since finishing third to Treasurethe Moment in… Read More »
The Doomben Cup has been a long-range goal for Vauban, and with the horse as well as his trainers can get him, Tim Clark is banking on the import’s staying prowess to be an asset in his clash with star mare Pride Of Jenni. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott opted… Read More »
