Coronavirus restrictions have led to apprentice Alex Patis riding her first metropolitan winner at the Gold Coast. Queensland is split into regions because of the coronavirus outbreak with metropolitan racing divided between the Gold Coast on Friday and Doomben on Saturday. Patis, 20, did part of her apprenticeship in Victoria… Read More »
SIRES’ PRODUCE STAKES 1400m, $500,000 Group One for two-year-olds at Randwick * Prize money halved for this year because of coronavirus pandemic and reduced wagering income HISTORY * First run in 1867 when won by Glencoe * Some greats of the Australasian turf have won the race including Furious (1921),… Read More »
A Sydney Cup berth is in the pipeline for Victoria Derby winner Warning if he can reproduce a similar performance in the ATC Australian Derby at Randwick. The last three-year-old to win the Sydney Cup was outstanding stayer Tie The Knot 22 years ago. He was runner-up to Gold Guru… Read More »
Gerald Ryan will have up to three runners in the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes and regards his best chance as the only member of the trio yet to be tested at black-type level. Return With Honour, Mission River and Cultural Amnesia will be Ryan’s squad for Saturday’s 1400m-contest, the… Read More »
No-one is happier to hear there is a soft track at Randwick ahead of the opening day of The Championships than Mike Moroney. Melbourne-based Moroney has two horses entered in Group One races on Saturday, Tofane in the TJ Smith and Rainbow Thief, an emergency, in the Doncaster Mile. Both… Read More »
Grand Piano will face some promising young horses in the Carbine Club Stakes, but none with the credentials of his recent galloping partner. Trainer John Thompson’s Randwick stable is home to some high-profile visiting horses for the Sydney autumn carnival including champion New Zealand mare Melody Belle who is among… Read More »
The absence of a crowd will not dull Josh Parr’s excitement if he can capture the ATC Australian Derby on his personal pin-up horse Shadow Hero. Parr feels a sense of unfinished business with the three-year-old, who was the beaten favourite in the Victoria Derby last spring. He has warned… Read More »
Colin Little has not lost faith in Vegas Knight despite what looks on paper to be some disappointing recent form. The Caulfield trainer is expecting to see the Vegas Knight he knows when the three-year-old runs in the Neds Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Little holds Vegas Knight in… Read More »
THE DONCASTER MILE * A race synonymous with Randwick. Usually the world’s richest Group One mile at $3 million but prize money has been halved for year because of the coronavirus pandemic and reduced wagering income Market 💰: View the Odds for the Doncaster Mile HISTORY * Highlight of first… Read More »
Trainer Phillip Stokes rarely has a Sydney runner but is hopeful stable star Mr Quickie can cause an upset in the signature Group One Doncaster Mile. Stokes, who has stables in South Australia and Victoria, has only had one Sydney Group One runner when Hucklebuck was unplaced in the George… Read More »
Trainer Peter Hulbert admits he had to look twice and then a third time when the fields were released for Doomben. Hulbert, who trains in partnership with his son Will, has a strong hand on Saturday with Oh Five Glory (Three-Year-Old Handicap) and Moonlight Lady (Class Six). Both have been… Read More »
The decision to switch the Brisbane meeting from Eagle Farm to Doomben is a bonus for classy mare Femme Fireball as she strives for her first win at 1600 metres. Eagle Farm has been given a three-week break for repairs with its meetings, including Saturday, transferred to Doomben. Metropolitan racing… Read More »
New Zealand racing’s governing body is making plans to get the sport back up and running in the second half of the year. Racing in New Zealand was shut down last month in line with government protocols surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. NZ Thoroughbred Racing has been working on a schedule… Read More »
British bookmakers are behind a virtual running of the Grand National with profits to be donated to the National Heath Service. Flat racing in Britain has been suspended until at least the end of April because of the coronavirus pandemic with jumps racing on hold until July 1. The world’s… Read More »
Those looking for million dollars winners, and wearing Elton John ‘dollar sign glasses,’ then don’t go past Newgate Farm’s First Season Sire Bonus Incentive at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. It may be your own Capitalist, the Golden Slipper Stakes winner, your own Blue Diamond Stakes winner in Extreme… Read More »
More in the mould of family pet than racehorse, Bobbing is in line to achieve a feat that may never be replicated when he tackles the Country Championships Final at Randwick. Twelve months ago, Bobbing won the Provincial version for trainer Bernie Kelly, who was then based at Hawkesbury. Kelly… Read More »
James McDonald has given Japanese visitor Danon Premium the seal of approval after riding him in a gallop ahead of his Group One assignment in Sydney. Danon Premium is the third northern hemisphere horse to make it to Sydney for the carnival with English-trained Young Rascal and Addeybb already winners… Read More »
Gerald Ryan is keeping a close eye on the weather and will scratch Standout from the Group One TJ Smith Stakes if Randwick is rain-affected. An outstanding winner over older horses first-up, Standout appeared to be travelling strongly in the Canterbury Stakes but as soon as he came off the… Read More »
Queensland apprentice jockey Zoe White has been disqualified for six months for refusing a steward’s direction to stand down from riding while she self-quarantined. White was the leading rider in central Queensland for several years but in recent times has been competing in both southern and northern parts of the… Read More »
Tasmania has shut down racing as part of the state government’s latest response to the coronavirus pandemic. Premier Peter Gutwein said greyhound and horse racing would stop, effective immediately, for the next month. A statement on the Tasmanian Racing authority’s website says Tasracing would work closely with the Minister for… Read More »
