Australian jockey Chad Schofield has ridden his first winner in England aboard Imtiyaaz for trainer Roger Varian. The odds-on chance lived up to her favouritism with a 4-1/2 length victory in an 1100m maiden at Bath on Friday. Schofield is spending the Australian winter in England and has been riding… Read More »
Ryan Moore is bidding for his third Classic of the season when Giovanni Canaletto lines up in the Derby at Epsom. Narrowly out of luck on his 1000 Guineas winner Legatissimo on Friday in the Oaks, Moore has completed a 2000 Guineas double on Gleneagles already this season and was… Read More »
HOW KENTUCKY DERBY AND PREAKNESS WINNERS HAVE FARED IN THE BELMONT STAKES: 2015 – American Pharoah (to be determined) 2014 – California Chrome (fourth-DH) 2012 – I’ll Have Another (scratched) 2008 – Big Brown (ninth) 2004 – Smarty Jones (second) 2003 – Funny Cide (third) 2002 – War Emblem (eighth)… Read More »
Trainer Bob Baffert’s road from brash upstart to elder statesman has him on the brink of US thoroughbred racing’s most fabled achievement, for the fourth time. American Pharoah lines up for the Belmont Stakes on Saturday (Sunday AEST) aiming to become just the 12th horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby,… Read More »
Qualify has caused a major upset in the Oaks at Epsom, giving trainer Aidan O’Brien his fifth win in the Classic. The filly came with a late run under Colm O’Donoghue on Friday to foil well-supported favourite and 1000 Guineas winner Legatissimo. As expected, Star Of Seville set the early… Read More »
Trainer Chris Waller is poised to reach another milestone with his runners during Brisbane’s feature meeting at Doomben. The champion Sydney trainer has again been a dominant figure at the Brisbane winter carnival, winning seven stakes races so far including the Group One Queensland Oaks and Doomben 10,000. His 13… Read More »
Group One placegetter Bring Me The Maid has figured in a change of plans with trainer Peter Moody redirecting her campaign towards the Tatt’s Tiara. Moody originally hoped to run the filly in Saturday’s $2 million Stradbroke Handicap but those plans were abandoned when it became clear she would struggle… Read More »
Robbie Griffiths is having second thoughts about sending Nadeem Lass into the first leg of the Leilani Series at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Griffiths has barrier draw concerns for Nadeem Lass in the Cafetto Evo Handicap in which she is a $15 chance from the widest stall. “She’s a Valley… Read More »
Having been resigned to Lumosty contesting a support race on Stradbroke Handicap day, trainer Robert Smerdon is more than happy the filly now has her chance at the lion’s share of $2 million in the main event. The race-eve scratching of Lord Of The Sky paved the way for first… Read More »
The Melbourne trainers’ premiership is well within Peter Moody’s grasp although he says winning the title for the fifth time is the furthest thought from his mind. A Moonee Valley treble last Saturday propelled Moody into second place on the premiership table, four behind Darren Weir. Moody will be in… Read More »
The best chance Our Voodoo Prince has to win since he was among the early favourites for last year’s Caulfield Cup will also double as an audition for a new racing career. Our Voodoo Prince holds a marginal call as favourite in the Stayers Cup, a 3200m race at Randwick… Read More »
Robbie Laing’s Stradbroke Handicap hopes for Lord Of The Sky came to nothing but the trainer is a chance to post a consolation win on Saturday with another sprinter. Lord Of The Sky was ruled out of Brisbane’s premier sprint on Friday after the horse pulled a plate and split… Read More »
Surpass is at long odds in the Brisbane Cup but trainer Mike Moroney is not writing off the New Zealand stayer. “If he puts his best foot forward he’ll be pretty hard to beat,” Moroney said. “He’s quite a smart horse on his day. “He’s a dangerous lightweight because he… Read More »
The decision not to send Rocky Sturdy to Brisbane in the hope of a Stradbroke Handicap start sits well with his trainer Joe Pride. As second emergency for Saturday’s $2 million race at Doomben, Rock Sturdy edged closer to the field with the scratching of Lord Of The Sky and… Read More »
Ben Ahrens believes Queensland Derby outsider Chillin With Dylan is good enough to overcome a wide barrier in the Group One race. Chillin With Dylan turned in a solid Derby trial when he ran home strongly to be fourth in the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (2020m) two weeks ago…. Read More »
Englishman Ryan Moore has been locked in to ride Shamal Wind at Royal Ascot. The mare arrived in England on Friday (AEST) along with fellow Australian sprinters Brazen Beau and Wandjina and trainer Robert Smerdon said all reports were the Oakleigh Plate winner handled the 30-hour trip well. The trainer… Read More »
A sales ring gamble by trainer Toby Edmonds could have a Group One payday at Doomben. The Edmonds-trained Sagaronne will be taking a major step up in class on Saturday but the usually conservative Gold Coast trainer is convinced she is up to it. Sagaronne earned her place in the… Read More »
Australia’s three sprinters have arrived safely in England ahead of their missions at Royal Ascot. Brazen Beau, Wandjina and Shamal Wind are now stabled at Newmarket after a 30-hour flight from Melbourne with International Racehorse Transport. “The Australian #RoyalAscot runners have arrived safely in the UK,” IRT said via Twitter… Read More »
Phillip Stokes’ first Brisbane winter carnival experience ended in disappointment but leading Adelaide trainer believes the lessons learned a year ago will help him snare a Group One win this time around. Stokes has only started one horse in a Brisbane carnival with stable star Hucklebuck missing the placings in… Read More »
Reigning Stradbroke Handicap favourite Lumosty has gained a start in the $2 million race with the scratching of Lord Of The Sky. The Robert Smerdon-trained filly was the first emergency but gained a start on Friday after travel problems on the way from Melbourne to Brisbane took their toll on… Read More »
