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 »
Trainer Jerome Hunter will wait until race morning before confirming whether Wonder Boy will run at Sandown. Wonder Boy has been in sparkling form of late and if he takes his place in the MRC Life Member David Sims 90th Birthday (1800m) on Saturday, he will be chasing a third win in his… Read More »
Like most two-year-olds, Thyme To Go is still learning her race craft, but trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald have seen enough ability from her to be entertaining a belated trip to Brisbane. A $260,000 Inglis Premier Sale purchase, the filly made a promising debut when runner-up to Knightsbridge over 1000m at… Read More »
Victorian farm Lovatsville has confirmed its six-stallion roster for 2026, highlighted by the addition of multiple Group-winning juvenile Espionage and a series of fee reductions across the board. A son of Zoustar, Espionage will stand his first season at stud for $11,000 (inc GST) after a successful racing career under… Read More »
Tasmania’s leading apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone is poised to take the next step in his career, with a move to Victoria on the horizon to join the powerful Ciaron Maher stable. The 19-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise since debuting in November 2024, riding 79 winners at an impressive strike… Read More »
The San Domenico Stakes has quickly been identified as an early spring target for promising colt Our Emperor following an impressive debut win at Warwick Farm. The son of Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside became the sire’s seventh first-crop two-year-old winner with a dominant three-and-three-quarter length victory over 1100 metres… Read More »
Promising three-year-old colt Botanist has topped Wednesday’s Magic Millions Digital Sale, selling for $55,000. The son of Wootton Bassett was secured by NSW Northern Rivers-based Viva Racing in partnership with bloodstock agent Neil Jenkinson from the Coolmore Stud draft. Botanist, out of Group-winning mare Tulip, has shown ability early in… Read More »
Patience is a virtue in racing as Pakenham trainer Bill Papazaharoudakis can vouch. Papazaharoudakis had his impressive debut winner Barbarino ready to race late last year but decided to hold off and give the gelding a little more time before opting for the Sportsbet Blackbook Plate (1200m) at Caulfield Heath on Wednesday. It paid an immediate dividend as… Read More »
After a promising three-year-old season, Firm Agreement didn’t reach the heights expected of him in the spring, but co-trainer Rob Archibald is hoping he can get back on track this campaign. Twice Group 1 placed, including when runner-up to Aeliana in last year’s ATC Australian Derby (2400m), Firm Agreement didn’t… Read More »
Trainer Adrian Bott has his sights on the spring carnival with powerful youngster Our Emperor after the colt demolished some highly touted rivals at Warwick Farm. Bott said the juvenile was likely to head straight to the paddock to prepare for bigger races having shown the stable above average ability… Read More »
Trainer Grahame Begg is hoping to enhance the chances of gaining a start with Chillies in the Queensland Derby via three-year-old race at Ipswich. A last start third in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on Anzac Day, Chillies runs in the Seven QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (2180m) on… Read More »
Pat Carey says The Goodwood was a race that got away from his Stakes winner Recon. The Group 1 race at Morphettville over 1200m on May 9 was Recon’s first try at a Group 1 contest and came on top of victory in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington three weeks early…. Read More »
Racing WA stewards have disqualified trainer Mike Santich for five months after finding he struck a horse multiple times during trackwork at Ascot. An inquiry determined Santich breached the Rules of Racing on two occasions, striking the horse twice in the head and twice in the abdomen during a session… Read More »
A $1 million race … thirty-nine nominations … track currently rated a heavy 10 … field is down to seven runners, three from one trainer … prize-money from eighth to tenth place will be left unclaimed. That’s the story … so far … of the 2026 Doomben Cup and, even… Read More »
Champion jockey Willie Pike says he is willing to push himself to the limit to secure a ride in this year’s Melbourne Cup, even if it means getting down to 50kg. Pike has been offered the ride aboard Zakouma after the Grahame Begg-trained stayer booked his spot in the $8… Read More »
Flemington trainer Steve Richards is facing a lengthy recovery after suffering serious head injuries in a fall last week that has left him in a coma. The Group 1-winning horseman struck his head on the pavement last Thursday and remains in intensive care at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Richards’ family… Read More »
The Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 10 May heralds the start of the NH Classic season, and it’s the Gr1 2000 Guineas winner Bow Echo who enters at 126. Such was his decisive 2¾ length victory that he’s said to be the ‘equal of the 2013 winner Dawn Approach… Read More »
Ben Hayes admits he’s trepidatious about the prospect of Oak Hill running out a strong 1350m but says the gelding will be given his opportunity to do so on Saturday when he contests the Group 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben. Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers Will & JD… Read More »
