The 2026 edition of the Blue Diamond Stakes has been run, with Clinton McDonald’s talented filly Streisand proving too strong in a race full of interference and hard-luck stories. Below is what the winning trainer, winning jockey and beaten riders had to say following the Group 1 feature. 🥇 Winning… Read More »
Pericles is a Group 1 maiden no longer after the hardy gelding scored an overdue win at the highest level in Saturday’s $750,000 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield. The anguish of six top-flight placings, including a Futurity Stakes second two years ago, was eased when the six-year-old son of Street Boss… Read More »
Pakenham-based trainer Phillip Stokes might have got lost at Rosehill Gardens but his brilliant colt Stretan Ruler found the shortest way home to score an emphatic win in the Group 2 $300,000 Silver Slipper (1100m) on Saturday. Stretan Ruler made everyone sit up and take notice as he ripped about… Read More »
The Victorian Racing Tribunal has reduced Luke Nolen’s suspension from 24 meetings to 20, enabling the experienced jockey to take part in upcoming feature race days at Flemington and Morphettville. Nolen was initially suspended following an incident beyond the winning post at Pakenham on February 12, where he pleaded guilty… Read More »
Jockey Jye Mcneil will reunite with Cox Plate placegetter Buckaroo when he has the first run of his autumn campaign at Caulfield. Buckaroo makes his return in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday with McNeil in the saddle. McNeil has ridden Buckaroo just once in the gelding’s 31… Read More »
Westbury Stud today announced with great sadness the passing of high-class racehorse and outstanding sire Reliable Man, who was humanely euthanised on veterinary advice due to post-surgical complications following the removal of a melanoma. The sire of 29 stakes winners to date — including four individual Group 1 winners —… Read More »
Ben Thompson is in demand in New Zealand, and he will make the trip south to take seven rides at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Brisbane based jockey attracted attention in New Zealand when he partnered the Liam Birchley trained Dream Rica to victory in the NZ$1 million Karaka Millions 2YO… Read More »
The longer Geegees Mistruth has been with the Mark Walker stable at Cranbourne the more they have grown to love her. The Tasmanian-raised four-year-old only joined the Walker stable last spring after being prepared by Stuart Gandy. A winner of six of her 15 starts, Geegees Mistruth is winless on the mainland, but the Walker team… Read More »
The very smart, eleven-time winner Watch Me Rock will race outside of Western Australia for the first time when he tests his mettle in a highly competitive edition of the Group 1, $750 000 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Watch Me Rock already has a Group 1 win behind… Read More »
Top jockey Tommy Berry believes a summer trip to Queensland has rewired former bad boy Ninja and is putting his faith in the gelding to measure up to the topline three-year-olds at Rosehill. Ninja had three starts during his interstate sojourn, capturing the Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) at Eagle Farm before enduring… Read More »
Trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton are sweating on a start for new recruit Sam Hawkens in the Parramatta Cup, although stablemate and fellow Sydney Cup-bound gelding Athabascan is safely in the field. Formerly trained by William Haggas, Sam Hawkens is first emergency for Saturday’s 1900-metre feature and Charlton is keen to… Read More »
Trainer Danny O’Brien will not hear of the lack of race experience counting against Closer To Free when he lines up in Victoria’s premier two-year-old race at Caulfield. Closer To Free won his way into Saturday’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield off the back of a debut victory in… Read More »
A canter at Cranbourne followed by x-rays has ruled favourite Big Sky out of Victoria’s premier two-year-old race. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained colt was favourite to win the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, but Price was not happy with the colt after he cantered… Read More »
The Willaim Kropp-trained Prince Levi, the track record holder for the Doomben 2000m, will face the starter in a BM80 Handicap over 2200m at Doomben on Saturday, two weeks after lowering Antino’s track record when trouncing his field over the 200m shorter trip. The 2200m distance is not unfamiliar territory… Read More »
Jace McMurray gave everybody … but particularly his fellow apprentices … notice that he was back in South-East Queensland in the strongest possible terms by riding a double at Eagle Farm on Wednesday in his first meeting back in the Sunshine State since December 27 … the same way he… Read More »
Victoria has farewelled one of its most influential stallions with the passing of Bel Esprit at the age of 26 at Widden Stud’s Victorian base. The revered sire succumbed to old age, drawing to a close a career that encompassed racetrack excellence and a profound legacy in the breeding barn…. Read More »
Blue Diamond Stakes favourite Big Sky has been sensationally scratched from Saturday’s Group 1 feature, with co-trainer Mick Price confirming the colt will not take his place in the $2 million race. Price said he was unhappy with how the two-year-old trotted on Friday morning, prompting connections to err on… Read More »
Glenn Thornton knows that Run Lucy Run has ability but getting her to perform at those levels is a matter of patience which he hopes can go on and pay dividends. The former Victorian-based trainer who now calls the Gold Coast home is building his 12-strong 2026 team into form and Run… Read More »
Super Seth, sire of four Group 1 winners from his first two crops, has been purchased by Coolmore from Waikato Stud to stand at its Hunter Valley base. The Caulfield Guineas-winning son of Dundeel was purchased as a yearling by Dean Hawthorne on behalf of leading owner/breeder Jonathan Munz who… Read More »
Staying three-year-old Autumn Mystery will kick off his South Australian Derby campaign against older horses at Caulfield. Last seen when finishing eighth in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington in November, Autumn Mystery lines up in the Lamaro’s Hotel Handicap (1400m) on Saturday, a benchmark 84 grade race. Trainer Rory… Read More »
