The record books are against his horse but Sydney trainer David Payne insists Criterion can end a hoodoo for Black Opal Stakes winners in the Golden Slipper. “Out of all the two-year-olds going around, he has the most improvement,” Payne said. Criterion ($5) travelled wide in the second half of [...]
Trainer Scott Asprey is making long-term plans for Star Wars but he won’t be shocked if the strapping colt produces more immediate results, starting with the Black Opal Stakes on Sunday. Star Wars heads into the Golden Slipper lead-up at Canberra with Asprey confident the youngster is a better prospect [...]
Group One-winning stablemates Appearance and Streama will clash for the first time this autumn in Saturday’s Wiggle Stakes at Warwick Farm. Trainer Guy Walter said the mares had the same targets culminating in the Doncaster Mile and would probably follow the same path via the Coolmore Classic and the Queen [...]
The Listed TAB Stakes at Flemington came down to a battle between two track specialists with Launay prevailing in a photo-finish. Launay took his record to five wins from seven starts at the track after a confident ride from Kerrin McEvoy got the gelding home by a head over British [...]
Sydney sprinter Mrs Onassis made the most of a late decision to contest the Oakleigh Plate with victory in the Group One sprint at Caulfield. In a race of high drama, Mrs Onassis made her own luck to confirm her reputation as an 1100m specialist. The mare raced outside Adebisi [...]
Confidence in Guelph’s ability to handle a high-pressure Blue Diamond was the deciding factor in Kerrin McEvoy choosing to stick with her in Saturday’s $1 million race. Darley’s No.1 jockey left his decision until the last minute but announced he would stay with the race favourite over stablemate Metastasio after [...]
Blue Diamond Stakes favourites Guelph and Miracles Of Life have met with contrasting barrier draw fortunes for the $1 million race. While unbeaten South Australian filly Miracles Of Life drew the rails, Darley runner Guelph will have to overcome gate 13 to win the Group One at Caulfield on Saturday. [...]
Darley has confirmed it will have three runners in Saturday’s Blue Diamond Stakes, paying late entry fees for Montsegur and Metastasio. The two join Sheikh Mohammed’s leading hope Guelph who is the favourite for Victoria’s richest two-year-old race. Connections of the Peter Moody-trained Dissident also outlaid $55,000 on Monday to [...]
A relieved trainer Kris Lees headed to Melbourne on Tuesday in the knowledge Award Season would get the chance to continue his rise in the Australian staying ranks in the Mornington Cup. Newcastle-based Lees has planned to run in-form import Award Season in Wednesday’s $350,000 Mornington Cup (2400m) for more [...]
A couple of horses who are sweating on scratchings could could hold the key to Wednesday’s Mornington Cup (2400m). The French import Award Season and the locally-trained Angola are emergency acceptors for the $350,000 race, but both possess strong winning prospects. And for jockey Kerrin McEvoy the elevation of Award [...]
